QIANG JIN JIU

AUTHOR: TANG J IUQING

 DESCRIPTION

The Six Prefectures of Zhongbo were ceded away in surrender

to the external enemies, and Shen Zechuan was taken into custody
in the capital, reduced to *a drowning dog loathed and
condemned by all. Xiao Chiye followed the scent of the furor and
made his way over. But instead of setting others on him, he kicked
Shen Zechuan with his very own leg that rendered the latter an
invalid. Who would expect this invalid to turn around and bite him
in a counterattack until he was all drenched in blood? That was the
start of an epic feud between both men who tear at each other
every time they come face-to-face with one another.

“Fate wants to bind me here for life, but this is not the path I
choose. The yellow dust submerged my brothers deep under. I
have no wish to bow in submission to an illusory fate. The imperial
edict couldn’t save my troops, and the imperial court couldn’t fill
the stomachs of my mounts. I’m no longer willing to lay down my
life for this purpose. I want to overturn that mountain. I am going to
fight for myself.”

CHARACT ER I NF O
https://qiangjinjiu.carrd.co/#characters
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 1 : FRIGID WIND

Edited by: Suika<3

“Prince1 of Jianxing, Shen Wei’s regiment suffered a crushing

defeat at the Chashi River in the Northeast. The Prefecture of
Dunzhou’s frontline fell into the enemy’s hands, and thirty
thousand soldiers were buried alive in the Chashi sinkhole. You
were among them, but why were you the only one to escape
unscathed?”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were glazed and unfocused. He did not
answer.
The interrogator pounded on the table and leaned forward to
question him with a malicious glare. “Because Shen Wei was in
covert communication with the Twelve Tribes of Biansha2 and had
the intention to present the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo over to our
external foes. You people want to collude with the enemies to
breach the defenses of Qudu from within and without. That’s why
the Biansha Cavalry did not kill you. Am I right?”
Shen Zechuan moved his dry, chapped lips. He struggled with
some effort to listen to the interrogator’s question, his Adam’s
apple throbbed as he answered haltingly. “No… no.”
The interrogator snapped in a harsh voice, “Shen Wei
immolated himself for fear of punishment. The Imperial
Bodyguards3 have already presented correspondence documents
of their secret liaisons to the emperor. And yet, lad, you still dare to
deny it. How truly pigheaded of you!”
Shen Zechuan felt as if he was in a daze. He had no idea how
long it had been since he had gotten some shuteye. It was as if he
was being suspended by a single thread high up in the air, and if
he so much let go from a moment of negligence, he would fall and
smash himself into smithereens.
The interrogator spread open the confession statement and
took a few glances at it, “You said last night that you were able to
emerge unscathed from the Chashi Sinkhole alive because your
elder brother saved you. Is that right? “
The scene that day vaguely materialized before Shen Zechuan’s
eyes. They had been trapped so deep in the sinkhole that no
matter what they did, they were unable to climb out, even with
countless soldiers all crammed within. The pile of corpses under
their feet grew thicker and thicker, but it was still not enough for
them to reach the edge of the opening. The Biansha Cavalry
surrounded the sinkhole, and the sound of flying arrows slicing
through the frigid wind pierced through the night. Blood
overflowed his calf as anguished wails and the gasps of those on
their deathbed clung to his ears.
Shen Zechuan began to hyperventilate and tremble in his seat.
He lost control of himself and clutched his hair, unable to stop a
strangled sob from escaping his throat.
“You are lying.”
The interrogator raised the confession statement and flicked it
at Shen Zechuan.
“Your elder brother is Shen Zhouji, the eldest lawful son4 of the
Prince of Jianxing. He abandoned thirty thousand soldiers before
the Chashi Sinkhole and fled on the sly with his own private
soldiers, but the Biansha Cavalry lassoed him with a rope and
dragged him along the road by the Chashi River to his death. He
was already dead by the time the Twelve Tribes of Biansha
slaughtered those soldiers. There was no way he could save you. “
Shen Zechuan’s mind was in a whirl. The interrogator’s voice
sounded so far away, and all he could hear was the neverending
wails.
Where is the way out? Where are the reinforcements? The dead
pushed against the dead, those putrid, decaying flesh was
pressing down on his hands. Mu-ge was shielding him above his
head while he laid sprawled over the bloodied carcasses. He
listened to Mu-ge’s rapid breathing, yet the cries that emerged
from his throat were those of despair.
“Your bro is superhuman.” Ji Mu struggled to smile, but tears
were already streaming down his face. He continued in a sobbing
voice, “I’m an impregnable fortress! I’m hanging in there, it’ll be
fine. We hang in there, and the reinforcements will arrive soon.
When that time comes, I’ll return home with you to join Father and
Mother. I still have to look for your sister-in-law…”
The interrogator banged the table and bellowed, “Come clean
with it!”
Shen Zechuan began to struggle. He looked as if he wanted to
break free from some invisible shackles, but the Imperial
Bodyguards swarmed over and pinned him down against the
table.
“You are in our imperial prison.5 I have not employed extreme
torture on you on account of your young age. But since you don’t
know what’s good for you, don’t blame us for being ruthless. Men,
apply the torture!”
Shen Zechuan’s arms were tied with ropes before he was
dragged to the open space in the room. Someone set a bench
down with a “clatter” and bound his legs to it. A burly man beside
him lifted his flogging rod, weighed it in his hands, and swung it
down.
“I’ll ask you one more time.” The interrogator brushed aside the
foam on the tea with the teacup’s lid. It was only after he took a few
languid sips that he asked, “Did Shen Wei collude with the enemy
to commit treason?”
Shen Zechuan refused to relent. He shouted intermittently
between the flogging. “No, no!”
The interrogator set aside the teacup, “The Shen Clan would
not be here today if you had used this fortitude on the battlefield.
Continue to flog him!”
 Shen Zechuan was gradually crumbling. He hung his head and
said in a hoarse voice, “Shen Wei never colluded with the
enemies…”
“We suffered a crushing defeat at the battle at the Chashi River
all because Shen Wei recklessly fought the enemy head-on. After
the defeat at the Chashi River, there was still a chance to redeem
the situation at the Dunzhou frontline. Yet he withdrew his troops
for no reason despite the great disparity of power between our
troops and theirs. Because of this, the three cities of the Prefecture
of Duanzhou fell into the enemy’s hands. Ten of thousands of
commoners in those cities lost their lives to the Biansha machetes.”
At this point, the interrogator let out a long sigh and continued
hatefully. “It was a bloodbath in the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo.
Shen Wei led his troops and withdrew south. The battle in the
Prefecture of Dengzhou was the fishiest of all! The Qidong Chijun
Commandery Garrison had already crossed Tianfei Watchtower to
provide assistance, but he forsook the strategy of a pincer attack
and instead mobilized thousands of cavalry to escort his own
family to the City of Dancheng. This resulted in the entire line of
defense in the Prefecture of Dengzhou to collapse— Wasn’t this all
done intentionally? If it weren’t for the Libei Armored Cavalry6
galloping for three straight nights across the River of Ice7, the
Biansha Cavalry would have already arrived at the gates of Qudu!”
Shen Zechuan felt dizzy and he was drenched in cold sweat.
The interrogator flung the confession at him in contempt, and it
smashed into the back of his head.
“You’d rather be a dog than a man of Zhongbo. And this time,
Shen Wei is a sinner of Dazhou.8 You still want to deny it? You have
no choice but to plead guilty!”
Shen Zechuan was in so much pain that half of his body was
numbed. He sprawled on the bench, looking at that confession
before his eyes. The ink writings on it were clear. Every character
was like a humiliating lash of the whip on his face as it announced
to everyone in the world:
Shen Wei betrayed his country. He’s not even worthy to be a
dog.
 He had left the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo to overrun with
bodies. No one had even gone to collect those corpses buried in
the Chashi Sinkhole yet, because everyone in the cities of Dunzhou
had been massacred.
Shen Wei burned himself to his death, but this bloodstained
debt had to be borne by someone alive. Shen Wei had a harem of
wives and concubines along with numerous sons. But they all
perished when the Biansha Cavalry invaded the Prefecture of
Dunzhou. It was only because Shen Zechuan was of lowly birth and
had been raised on the outside that he could escape unscathed.
Shen Zechuan was dragged back to his cell, and his heels left
behind trails of blood in its path. He faced the wall and gazed at
that small, narrow window. The frigid wind howled, and the snow
came pelting down. The pitch-black night stretched on without
end.
It was primal chaos in his head. Amidst the sound of the winds,
his mind wandered back to the sinkhole.
Ji Mu was dying. His breathing had grown labored. Blood
dripped down his armor onto the back of Shen Zechuan’s neck and
quickly turned icy. The wails around him had vanished, leaving
behind only the unendurable groans of pain and the bellows of the
frigid, biting wind.
Shen Zechuan was face-to-face with a dead man who was no
longer recognizable. His legs were pinned under heavy human
bodies while a shield was pressing painfully against his abdomen.
All he could smell as he breathed was the thick stench of blood. He
gritted his teeth as the tears trickled down his face, but he had to
stop himself from crying out loud. Despairing, he stared down at
this face that was trampled beyond recognition, but he could not
make out if this was a soldier he had seen before.
“Bro.” Shen Zechuan sobbed softly. “I, I’m scared…”
Ji Mu’s throat bobbed. He gently patted Shen Zechuan’s head,
“It’s alright… we’ll be fine.”
Shen Zechuan heard the singing of the soldiers at death’s door.
The gale tore apart the sound of the song and sent tattered pieces
of it fluttering away into this frigid night.
 “Battle in the city south… Death at the north of the city wall…
Left out in the open, unburied… Free for all the crows to feed.”9
“Bro.” Shen Zechuan whispered beneath him. “I’ll carry you on
my back… bro.”
Ji Mu’s body was like a distorted shield. He smiled and said in a
hoarse voice, “I can walk on my own.”
“Were you struck by an arrow?”
“No.” Ji Mu’s tears had dried up. He said breezily, “… Those
Biansha baldies can’t shoot for nuts.”
Shen Zechuan’s fingers were soaking in flesh and blood. With
some difficulty, he wiped his face, “Shiniang made dumplings.
Once we return home, we’ll eat many bowls of it.”
Ji Mu sighed, “… Bro is a slow-eater. Don’t… snatch.”
Shen Zechuan gave a firm nod beneath him.
The snow gradually blanketed Ji Mu’s body. He seemed tired
and sleepy; his voice was so, so small, and he did not even have
the energy to move his fingers. The song was sung very slowly, and
when it reached the line “the valiant cavalry perished in battle”, Ji
Mu closed his eyes.
Shen Zechuan said, “I… I’ll also give bro my money, to marry
sister-in-law…”
“Bro.”
“Bro.”
Ji Mu remained silent. It was as if he was tired of listening to his
words and could not help but fall asleep.
Shen Zechuan began to tremble all over. He forgot when the
Biansha Cavalry left and how he climbed his way out. When he
propped himself up and lifted himself out, there was only a dead
silence amidst the heavy snow. The stacked corpses cushioned
under his knees all looked like discarded burlap sacks.
Shen Zechuan looked back and began to choke with sobs.
Ji Mu’s back had been pierced with such a dense cluster of
arrows that his entire person had turned into a twisted hedgehog.
So much of his blood had trickled down onto Shen Zechuan’s back,
but Shen Zechuan had never realized it.
The sound of horse hooves came swiftly in pursuit like the
looming thunder. Shen Zechuan suddenly gave a start as he jolted
awake.
He felt like retching, but then he realized that both of his wrists
had been firmly bound, and there was a burlap sack filled with soil
on his body.
The sack became heavier and heavier as it weighed down on
his chest. He could not even utter a sound. This was the technique
of inflicting “death by crushing with an earth-filled sack” habitually
used in prisons on prisoners whom they did not want to survive the
murder attempt or leave a trace of an injury behind. If Shen
Zechuan had not woken up earlier, he would have been but a mere
corpse gone cold by daybreak.
Someone wants to kill him!

Footnotes
1. 王 Princes, or lords, during the Ming dynasty were titled
and salaried members of the imperial bureaucracy with
nominal lordship over various fiefs throughout China
2. The enemy’s tribes at the desert at the frontier/borders.
3.
4. 锦衣卫 Jin Yi Wei, or literally Embroidered Brocade(-
robed) Guards, were elite bodyguards and secret police that
directly served the Ming Emperors. They were authorized to
overrule judicial proceedings in prosecutions, with full
autonomy granted in arresting, interrogating and punishing
anyone, including nobles and the Emperor’s relatives.
5. Children in those days were classified according to
whether they were a child born to the principal wife or
concubines. A lawful son was born by the legal wife (this was
the wife who has been officially married into the family, also
known as the principal wife). Being the eldest of the legal
wife made him the legitimate heir. They also had higher
social status and often received better treatment compared
to the other common sons born by concubines. It’s
recommended to keep this in mind, as this will be a
recurring theme in the novel.
6. 诏狱 Imperial prison, a top-level prison in ancient China
where most of the criminals were senior or top-ranking
officials involved in cases that required the Emperor to issue
an imperial edict to convict them.
7. Armored cavalry (铁骑) was a kind of cavalry that bore
heavy arms while fighting on armored horses. They were
one of the powerful forces in ancient wars. Meanwhile, the
general cavalry ( 骑兵) or horsemen were simply soldiers
who fought on horseback.
8. 冰河 River of Ice, i.e. also glacier.
9. 大周 Dazhou or Great Zhou. The Dazhou here refers to
the name of the empire in this novel.
10. 《铙歌十八曲·战城南》The Eighteen Cymbal Songs –
Battle in the City South, is a folk song written for those who
perished in the battlefield. It described the cruelty of war and
expressed the poet’s opposition to it, stating that the
common folks were only the sacrifice of war.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 2 : DEATH BY FLOGGING

It was gloomy inside the Imperial Prison. Shen Zechuan’s hands

and legs felt cold. He was beginning to find it hard to breathe. He
kept twisting his wrists, but the hemp rope was so tightly secured
around him that his attempts were futile.
The sack of earth was squashing down on his chest, making
him feel as if he had been thrown into a deep pool. His ears were
humming, and his breathing, disordered. It was so hard for him to
continue breathing that it felt like he was drowning.
Shen Zechuan turned his eyes to stare at the candlelight
beyond the bars.
Several Imperial Bodyguards in the hall were drinking and
shouting as they played the finger-guessing game. They were
simply too occupied to look back at Shen Zechuan. The sack of soil
nailed Shen Zechuan down onto a crudely made straw mat.
Nausea, stemming from the suffocation, engulfed him like a surge
of floodwater.
His vision swam. Shen Zechuan raised his head high and
gritted his teeth to move his legs. Both his legs had been flogged
until they were near numb; he felt nothing when he raised them.
He stepped on the left corner of the bed made up of wooden
planks. It was already rotting from bug infestation; in fact, he had
even damaged it a little by sitting down on it on his very first day
here.
His breathing grew labored.
 Shen Zechuan stepped on that corner and stomped down on it
with all his strength. But his legs were so weak that his kick did not
even make a sound. The bed plank did not budge even the
slightest. Cold sweat streamed down in torrents until the clothes on
his back were soaked through.
He yearns to live.
Frantic whimpers escaped from Shen Zechuan’s throat. He bit
down on his tongue until it bled and stomped down again on the
bed plank.
Ji Mu’s brutalized and barely recognizable corpse was the
horsewhip igniting his desire to live. Ji Mu’s voice seemed to be still
reverberating in his ears.
He must live!
Shen Zechuan struck that wooden plank furiously until he finally
heard a “thud”. Half of the bed board collapsed, and his body fell
over on his side. The sack of soil tumbled down after him. He threw
himself onto the ground as if he had just broken through the water
surface and sucked in big mouthfuls of air.
The ground was icy cold. Shen Zechuan’s injured legs would
not heed his commands, so he propped himself up with his
elbows. Sweat trickled down the bridge of his nose. It was cold in
prison, but he felt as if his whole body was burning. It was so
searing that his insides were boiling. Eventually, he could not help
but lower his head to dry-heave.
Shen Wei deserves to die.
There were one hundred and twenty thousand military forces in
Zhongbo, divided among the Six Prefectures to establish a
defensive perimeter. After the defeat at Chashi River, the Biansha
Cavalry invaded Dunzhou. Just as the interrogator had said, there
was still a chance to redeem the situation. Shen Wei not only had a
well-trained and powerful army; he also had ample army provision.
There were also the garrison troops in the Three Cities of Duanzhou
available for his deployment. Yet, he unexpectedly abandoned
Duanzhou and shrank back like a coward to hide out in the
Dunzhou Prince’s Residence.
His retreat was the prelude to the fall of Zhongbo. The Biansha
Cavalry massacred the three cities of Duanzhou, and the morale of
the garrison troops took a nosedive. They fled south in a panic.
Everyone thought that Shen Wei would battle to the death with the
Twelve Tribes of Biansha in Dunzhou. But he took to his heels yet
again when he caught wind of the news of their arrival.
The Zhongbo army retreated in defeat one battle after another,
while the Biansha Cavalry was like a steel blade in its full glory
perforating through the Six Prefectures’ territories. They came
spurring their horses on and traveled light into battle, relying solely
on their spoils of war to pursue their way within eight hundred li 1 of
Qudu, the Imperial Capital City of Dazhou.
If Shen Wei had implemented the scorched earth policy during
his retreat and burned down the granaries in the city so that
nothing was left behind for the enemies, then there would have
been no way the Biansha Cavalry would advance this far. This was
because they carried no army supplies with them and had to rely
solely on the grains from the cities they had invaded to replenish
their provisions. Once the grains in the city had been wiped out
with fire, even the toughest Biansha Cavalry would have to go
hungry.
A starving soldier would have been unable to continue fighting.
When the time comes, the Libei Armored Cavalry would have
crossed the River of Ice to intercept the Biansha Twelve Tribes’
retreat, while the Qidong Five Commandery Garrisons would, from
the Tianfei Watchtower, seal off all their possible escape routes.
Those machetes would then be trapped like turtles in a jar. They
would never survive the winter.
But Shen Wei did not do so.
He did not just give up resisting; he also left all the granaries in
the city to the Biansha Cavalry. The Biansha Cavalry relied on the
Dazhou’s provisions to carry out a massacre of Dazhou’s cities.
Thanks to Shen Wei, their horses were well-fed enough to herd the
common folks and captured soldiers to the Chashi River, where
they were all slaughtered by the Biansha Cavalry in one night.
Shen Zechuan had a very close call with death.
And now, Qudu wanted to settle accounts. It was obvious that
Shen Wei’s deployment orders, while he was still alive, were all
sloppily made. It did indeed seem like he was colluding with the
Biansha Twelve Tribes to launch an attack from within and without.
Yet, Shen Wei’s immolated himself due to fear of punishment and
burned himself to death, destroying all the documents along with
him. Even the Imperial Bodyguards, who were effective and
efficient in their duties, were now at their wits’ end.
The Emperor wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, so all
they could do was to keep on interrogating the only remaining
person who might be in the know, Shen Zechuan. But Shen
Zechuan’s biological mother was a dancer in Duanzhou. Shen Wei
had too many sons, and Shen Zechuan was his eighth son born to
a concubine.2 There was really no place for him in the clan going
by his age or rank. So he had long been driven out by the Dunzhou
Prince’s Residence to Duanzhou to be raised without parental
guidance. Shen Wei himself probably did not even remember he
still had this son.
Someone wants to kill him.
That was not exactly a secret. He had been sent here to be a
scapegoat for his father. He was the last remaining member of the
Shen Clan in Zhongbo, and the son was obliged to pay his father’s
debts. So once the interrogation in the Imperial Prison was
concluded, the Emperor would surely use his life to offer as a
sacrifice during the memorial for the thirty thousand soldiers who
were killed at the Chashi River in Zhongbo’s Dunzhou prefecture.
Even so, it should not be through an assassination like this.
Shen Zechuan wiped the corner of his lips with his thumb and
turned his head to spit out the spittle of blood in his mouth.
If Shen Wei had indeed conspired with their foreign enemies
with the intention to commit treason, then Shen Zechuan would
have to die sooner or later. Why make an unnecessary move to
assassinate an insignificant bastard born of a concubine like him?
There was still someone in the capital worried about the
interrogation. If that was the case, then there must have been
something shady about the defeat of Shen Wei’s troops.
Shen Zechuan knew nothing.
He had a shifu in Duanzhou, and his brother, Ji Mu, was his
shifu’s only son. To him, Shen Wei was merely the Prince of
Jianxing, who had nothing to do with him. He had absolutely no
idea if Shen Wei had conspired with the enemies.
But he must deny it.
The ground that Shen Zechuan was sprawled on was so bone-
chillingly cold that he was even more awake than he had been
during the day. He was a felon the Imperial Bodyguards arrested
on the orders of the imperial edict. All arrest warrants, writs of
summons, and official rulings came directly from the top. It brought
him directly from the hands of Xiao Jiming, the Hereditary Prince3
of Libei, right to the Imperial Prison, bypassing even the Joint Trial
of the Three Judicial Offices.4
This was clearly an indication of the Emperor’s unrelenting
determination to never condone this and to get to the bottom of
the matter. But, under this kind of situation, who would have the
guts to make such a reckless move to silence him before the
Emperor could personally interrogate him?
The cold wind was still howling at the window. Shen Zechuan
turned his eyes and stared at the wall in the dark. He did not dare
to close them again.
The weather was slightly cool the next day. Shen Zechuan was
brought back to the hall again. A snowstorm raged outside. The
interrogator who had been cold towards him the other day was
now smiling as he served tea with both hands and waited with
deference at the side of the classical-styled, wooden chair.
There was an old, fair-faced, and beardless eunuch sitting on
the seat. He was wearing the official hat of the eunuchs made of
velvet for the wintry season, with in a gourd-patterned5 mandarin
square6 on his robe. His cloak was still draped over him, and he
was holding a precious, exquisite plum blossom hand warmer as
he rested his mind. He listened to the movements, then opened his
eyes to look at Shen Zechuan.
“Godfather.” Ji Lei, who was acting on the imperial edict to
interrogate Shen Zechuan, stooped over to say, “This is the
surviving descendant of the Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei.”
Pan Rugui looked at Shen Zechuan and asked, “How did it
come to this?”
 Ji Lei was aware that Pan Rugui was not asking him why Shen
Zechuan had ended up all filthy and stinky, but why he had yet to
pry the whys and wherefores out of Shen Zechuan.
Ji Lei’s forehead was drenched in sweat, but he did not dare to
wipe it away. He maintained his bow and responded, “This lad is
ignorant. He has been delirious ever since we brought him back
from Zhongbo. We don’t know who put him up to it, but he has
been refusing to confess.”
“A wanted felon His Majesty ordered to arrest.” Pan Rugui did
not accept the tea offered. “A child of fifteen or sixteen of age who
was sent to the famous Imperial Prison to be personally
interrogated by you, His Excellency Ji. And yet you still can’t even
hand over a confession statement.”
Cupping the teacup in his hands, Ji Lei said with a bitter smile,
“It’s precisely because of that I do not dare to employ the tortures
without authorization. He was already suffering from a cold when
he arrived. If he dies because we did not hold back on the torture,
then this case of Shen Wei would end up as a cold case.”
Pan Rugui scrutinized Shen Zechuan for a moment and said,
“We are all our Master’s dogs. There’s no point in keeping a dog if
its fangs are no longer sharp. I know you have your own difficulties,
but this is all part of your duties. His Majesty wants to see him now.
This is his way of showing understanding and consideration for the
Imperial Bodyguards. How could you still gripe about it?”
Ji Lei hurriedly prostrated himself in obeisance and said,
“Godfather is right. This son has been duly castigated.”
Pan Rugui gave a snort of acknowledgment and said, “Clean
him up. He can’t seek an audience with His Majesty with how filthy
he looks.”
Shen Zechuan was taken by the errand-runner to wash up and
have the injuries on his thigh simply bandaged before he was
given a set of clean cotton attire to put on. He was at their mercy as
they ordered him about. He was too indisposed to walk; it even
took him some effort to climb onto the horse carriage.
Pan Rugui finally accepted Ji Lei’s tea. He stared at Shen
Zechuan’s back and said, “He’s really the last surviving member of
the Shen Clan?”
 Ji Lei answered, “That’s right. He is the only survivor from the
Chashi Sinkhole. The Hereditary Prince Xiao of Libei personally
took him under arrest. All this while, he has been detained in the
prisoner wagon of the Libei Armored Cavalry. No one has ever
touched him on the way here. “
Pan Rugui sipped his cold tea. After a long time, he gave a skin-
deep smile and said, “Hereditary Prince Xiao is a prudent man.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan got off the carriage and let the Imperial
Bodyguards carry him along a long path. The heavy snow blew
onto his face. The internal eunuch leading the way hurried along
without uttering a word of nonsense.
The junior eunuch waiting respectfully under the eaves came
forth to receive Pan Rugui when the latter arrived before Mingli Hall.
He removed the cloak for Pan Rugui, helped him change the outer
layer of his robe, and then took over the hand warmer in Pan
Rugui’s hands. They had already announced his arrival inside. Pan
Rugui kowtowed by the door and said, “Your Majesty, this slave7
has brought the man.”
A short while later, a low and unhurried voice rang out, “Bring
him in.”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing hitched. They had already supported
him in. There was incense burning inside, but it was not stifling hot.
He listened to the sounds of intermittent coughs as he swept his
gaze out of the corner of his eye and caught a glimpse of two feet
inside the hall.
Emperor Xiande was dressed in a dark navy blue common
robe.8 He was skinny to the point of being bony, and his body was
frail. Major and minor illnesses had never stopped plaguing him in
the three years he had ascended to the throne. He sat on the
throne, his rectangular face looking particularly gentle and delicate
due to his anemic-looking complexion.
“Ji Lei has been trying him for several days.” Emperor Xiande
glanced at Ji lei, who was kneeling at the back. “Has a conclusion
been reached?”
Ji Lei kowtowed and said, “To reply His Majesty, this lad’s words
are incoherent and full of loopholes. Everything he has confessed
these few days is contradictory and cannot be believed.”
Emperor Xiande said, “Present all those he has confessed to
me.”
Ji Lei took out the tidied-up confession statement from his
bosom and handed it with both hands to Pan Rugui. Pan Rugui
hurried forward again and respectfully presented it to Emperor
Xiande.
Emperor Xiande looked through it once. When he reached the
part about Chashi Sinkhole, he covered his mouth and started
coughing. He refused to let Pan Rugui wipe it for him; instead he
wiped off the blood between his lips himself with a handkerchief.
He said in a heavy voice, “Thirty thousand soldiers lost their lives at
the sinkhole but not Shen Wei. This truly makes one’s blood boils!”
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes, and his chest began to pound.
Sure enough, the next moment, he heard Emperor Xiande’s orders.
“Raise your head!”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing quickened. His palms on the ground
that were propping himself up felt icy cold. He raised his head
slowly, his eyes carefully landing on Emperor Xiande’s boots.
Emperor Xiande looked at him and asked, “You are Shen Wei’s
son and the only survivor of the Chashi Sinkhole. What do you
have to say?”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes reddened. His body trembled ever so
slightly as he sobbed and said nothing.
Without a change in expression, Emperor Xiande demanded,
“Answer me!”
Shen Zechuan suddenly raised his eyes. The tears trickled
down along his cheeks. He raised his eyes for a fleeting moment,
then kowtowed hard onto the ground. His shoulders trembled, and
spasmodic sobs in his throat rose along with the trembling.
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty! My father is loyal to the country.
He was too ashamed to face the country and the Elders of
Zhongbo after the defeat of his troops. That’s why he immolated
himself to atone for it!”
Emperor Xiande rebuked, “What nonsense are you spouting?!
If he was that devoted to the country, why would he keep
retreating?”
 Shen Zechuan’s voice was hoarse from his sobbing. “My father
sent all his sons onto the battlefield. My eldest brother, Shen Zhouji,
was tortured to death by those Biansha people who dragged him
behind a horse along the Chashi public route! If it were not for his
loyalty, how would he have been able to go to such an extent?”
Emperor Xiande said, “How dare you bring up the Chashi
battle? Shen Zhouji fled before the battle. His crime is
unpardonable!”
Shen Zechuan looked up at Emperor Xiande with tears
streaming from his eyes. He said in a raspy voice, “The battle at
Chashi was a bloodbath. My eldest brother may be muddleheaded
and incompetent, but he defended Chashi for three days. It was
within these three days that the military intelligence of the war
situation was delivered to Qidong and Libei. If it weren’t for these
three days…”
He was so choked with emotions that he could not continue.
Emperor Xiande looked at the confession in his hand. The
entire hall was silent except for the sounds of Shen Zechuan’s sobs.
Amidst this excruciatingly long silence, Shen Zechuan dug his
fingernails into his flesh.
Emperor Xiande suddenly gave a long sigh and asked, “Has
Shen Wei ever colluded with the enemies?”
Shen Zechuan’s answer was resolute and decisive. “Never.”
Unexpectedly, Emperor Xiande set down the confession and
said in a voice that had abruptly turned cold, “This boy is cunning
and harbors the intent to deceive the ruler. I must not allow you to
live! Pan Rugui, drag him away and flog him to death at the Gates
of Duancheng!”
“This slave obeys!” Pan Rugui immediately received his orders
and bowed to retreat.
Shen Zechuan felt cold all over as if he had been doused with a
basin of icy water. He suddenly put up a struggle, but the Imperial
Bodyguards covered his mouth and swiftly dragged him out of
Mingli Hall.
Footnotes
1. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, one li = approx. 500m
2. Children in those days were classified according to
whether they were a child born to the principal wife or
concubines. A legitimate son of direct descent was born by
the legal wife (this was the wife who has been officially
married into the family, also known as the principal wife).
Being the eldest of the legal wife made him the legitimate
heir. They also had higher social status and often received
better treatment compared to the other sons born by
concubines. It’s recommended to keep this in mind, as this
will be a recurring theme in the novel.
3. Hereditary Prince, or ‘Princely Heir’, (世子, shizi) Not to be
confused with the Emperor’s Crown Prince (太子, taizi). This is
a title given to the eldest son born to the principal wife – also
the legitimate heir – of a first-ranked prince. To recap, princes
(王), or lords, during the Ming dynasty were titled and
salaried members of the imperial bureaucracy with nominal
lordship over various fiefs throughout China
4. In the Ming Dynasty, the supreme court was known as the
“Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices” (三司会审), whose
verdicts had to be submitted to the Emperor for approval.
Three Judicial Offices are namely the Ministry of Justice (刑
部), the Court of Judicial Review (大理寺), and the Chief
Surveillance Bureau (都察院).
5. 葫芦景 is a calabash or bottle gourd pattern used on
mandarin squares, or rank badges, of the official garbs (see
next footnote). From the 23rd/24th day of the 12th lunar
month to the lunar new year (also known as the Spring
Festival), internal ministers of the Ming dynasty had to wear
calabash or bottle gourd patterns on their clothes to
welcome spring.
6.
7. 补子 rank badges or mandarin squares, was a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. E.g., the use of
squares depicting birds for civil officials and animals for
military officials; there were even “seasonal” squares like the
gourd (see previous footnote).
8. 奴婢, or ‘slave’ is typically a term female slaves or
maidservants used to address themselves when speaking to
the Emperor or his imperial concubines. During the Ming
Dynasty, eunuchs (those serving at the sides of the Emperor)
also used this term to refer to themselves when speaking to
the Emperor.
9.
10. 道袍 Daopao; not to be confused with a Daoist priest
robe. This was a common robe typically worn by men in the
Ming Dynasty.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 3 : RAPTOR

Pan Rugui strode towards the Gate of Duancheng. The Imperial

Bodyguards Commandants split into two rows flanking each side
and stayed as silent as winter cicadas. Once Pan Rugui came to a
halt and announced Emperor Xiande’s verbal edict, the Imperial
Bodyguards began their work.
The Imperial Bodyguards gagged Shen Zechuan and swiftly
wrapped him up in a thick cotton-padded garment before they
made him lie face down on the ground.
Pan Rugui leaned over in the cold wind to observe Shen
Zechuan’s state. He raised his fingers to cover his lips feebly and
coughed a few times before he said softly, “You are so young, and
yet you are so gutsy that you dare to put on such a melodramatic
display before His Majesty. If you had just truthfully confessed Shen
Wei’s crime of treason, you might still have a slim shot at survival.”
Shen Zechuan shut his eyes tightly. Cold sweat had already
soaked through his clothes.
Pan Rugui rose to his feet and said, “Start flogging.”
The Imperial Bodyguards Commandants on both sides
immediately shouted in unison, “Let the rod fall!” A thunderous
roar followed right after. “Hit!”
Before the words were fully out of their mouths, the rod
wrapped in an iron sheet with barbs came whistling down on Shen
Zechuan and dealt him a heavy blow.
 After three strikes, he heard another voice. “Hit him hard!”
The pain of his flesh was like a searing fire blazing through his
body. They hit Shen Zechuan until he could no longer move. All he
could do was to clamp his teeth down tightly on the gag in his
mouth. He was unable to swallow his blood in time, and its coppery
and salty taste saturated his mouth. Shen Zechuan was still
hanging on to his last breath as the dripping sweat stung his wide-
open eyes.
The sky was overcast, and the heavy snow fell like willow
catkins.
Flogging was not a job anyone could do. As the saying “faint at
twenty strokes, lame at fifty” suggested, there were many ways to
flog a man. It was generally a family craft handed down through
the generations and was no less easier to train than learning a
trade elsewhere. Moreover, this job did not just require one to have
good martial arts skills, but also a discerning eye. These floggers
had been doing this for so long that all they had to do is to look at
the expressions of these Great Eunuchs from the Ceremonial
Directorate1 to know who should receive superficial wounds but
serious internal injuries, and vice versa.
Emperor Xiande’s decree today was death by flogging, and
Pan Rugui did not seem to value him either. That meant there was
no way an about-turn would happen; he was a man who had to
die. So these Imperial Bodyguards brought out their special skills;
within fifty strokes, Shen Zechuan must die.
Pan Rugui kept an eye on the timing and noticed that Shen
Zechuan had already gone motionless with his head drooping. He
raised his hand over the hand warmer and was about to give his
instructions when he saw an umbrella floating towards them on the
path. A beauty in royal garb stood underneath.
The dark clouds on Pan Rugui’s face dispersed in a flash and
transformed into a smile. Although he did not personally step
forward in a greeting, the quick-witted eunuch beside him had
already gone over to offer her his arm in support.
“My sincere respects to Third Missy. It’s such a cold day. If Her
Majesty the Empress Dowager has any instructions, you can just
send someone to pass the message.” Pan Rugui spoke as he took
two steps closer.
Hua Xiangyi raised her hand lightly to motion to the Imperial
Bodyguards not to move. She was delicate and beautiful. All these
years, the Empress Dowager had kept her by her side to nurture
her. Her facial features resembled those of the Empress Dowager
when the latter was young. Although she went by the address of
the Third Missy of the Dicheng Hua Clan in Qudu, everyone knew
she was a distinguished lady of the palace. Even the Emperor
doted on her like his own dear little sister.
Hua Xiangyi said in a slow and soft voice. “Gonggong, is the
one sprawled on the ground the son of Zhongbo Shen Clan, Shen
Zechuan?”
Pan Rugui moved in tandem with Hua Xiangyi’s steps and
replied, “That’s the one. His Majesty has just issued the decree to
flog him to death.”
Hua Xiangyi said, “His Majesty was in a fit of anger earlier. If
Shen Zechuan were to die, then we’ll never get to the bottom of
Shen Wei’s treason. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager had arrived
at Mingli Hall half a quarter2 ago. His Majesty heeded her advice
and has since calmed down some.”
Pan Rugui let out an “oh, my” and said, “His Majesty always
listens to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s counsel. He was in
such a terrible rage earlier that I did not dare to say a word even if I
had a mind to.”
Hua Xiangyi smiled at Pan Rugui and said, “His Majesty said to
‘flog’ him. Isn’t that what you did?”
Pan Rugui took a few more steps and smiled too. “That’s right. I
was in such a hurry earlier when I heard the word ‘flog’ and gave
this lad a good beating. May I know how we should deal with him
now? “
Hua Xiangyi swept a glance at Shen Zechuan and said, “Before
His Majesty’s retrial, drag him back to the Imperial Prison first. The
child’s life is of utmost importance. I’m counting on Gonggong to
inform His Excellency Ji to take good care of him by all means.”
“That goes without saying.” Pan Rugui said, “How would Ji Lei
dare to turn a deaf ear to Third Missy’s exhortations? The weather is
cold, and the roads are slippery. Xiaofuzi, hold Third Missy steady.”
As soon as Hua Xiangyi left, Pan Rugui turned back and said to
the two rows of Imperial Bodyguards, “His Majesty said to flog. We
are about done hitting this person. Drag him back. You’ve heard
Third Missy’s words earlier. That’s Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager’s wish. Return and inform Ji Lei that all the people
involved in this case are immortals.3 If something were to happen
to the lad under his watch…”
Pan Rugui coughed slowly.
“Even the Jade Emperor4 himself wouldn’t be able to protect
that head of his.”
Xiaofuzi returned to help support Pan Rugui by the arm. The
long and wide stretch of road was empty. He whispered,
“Forefather,5 we let him go just like this. Will His Majesty the
Emperor really not blame us later?”
Pan Rugui stepped on the snow and said, “His Majesty knows
deep down that we can’t be faulted for this.”
He walked a few steps. Snowflakes squeezed their way into his
fur collar.
“A promise is worth a thousand ounces of gold. A sovereign
fears backpedaling on his words the most. His Majesty suffered
another bout of serious illness due to the invasion of the Biansha
Twelve Tribes. These days, he has been considering conferring a
princess title on Third Missy to please Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager. At this point in time, His Majesty will have to acquiesce
even if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager were to make other
demands of him, let alone to spare a man’s life.”
As he spoke, Pan Rugui inclined his head to look at Xiaofuzi.
“When have you ever seen Her Majesty the Empress Dowager
change her orders?”
Regardless of which case it was, the real master was the one
who stood by his or her own words.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan was delirious with fever. One moment, he saw Ji
Mu dying before him. The next moment, he saw himself while he
was still living in Duanzhou.
 The wind of Duanzhou caressed its way past the banner.
Shiniang raised the curtain to step out with a white porcelain bowl
in her hand. It was filled with dumplings that had thin skins and a
large portion of fillings.
“Tell your bro to come home!” Shiniang called out to him, “He
can’t even sit still for a moment. Get him to hurry back for his
meal!”
Shen Zechuan climbed over the corridor’s railing, took a few
steps over to his shiniang, and bit the dumpling off the chopsticks
before running off. The dumpling was so scalding that he kept
huffing through his mouth. As he went out of the door, he saw his
shifu, Ji Gang, sitting on the stairs. Thus, he squatted beside him.
Ji Gang was grinding a rock with his hands. He turned his head
to harrumph at Shen Zechuan and said, “Silly lad, how much is a
dumpling worth? Look at how much of a rarity you treat it as! Go
call your bro back. The three of us father and sons will go to
Yuanyang Tavern for a big meal. “
Shen Zechuan did not continue the conversation, because
shiniang was already pulling at Ji Gang’s ear. She said, “Turning
your nose up at dumplings, huh? How capable of you. Do you really
have the money to get yourself another wife? Going over yourself
with these two silly lads in tow, hm?!”
Shen Zechuan laughed out loud. He leaped down the stairs
and waved to his shifu and shiniang before he ran out to the alley
to look for his brother, Ji Mu.
It was snowing heavily along the way. Shen Zechuan could not
find him. The more he walked, the further he went, and the colder
he became.
“Bro.”
Shen Zechuan dashed all over the place, shouting.
“Ji Mu! Let’s go home for our meal!”
Gradually, the sound of horse hooves surrounded him. The
heavy snow obstructed his view. Shen Zechuan was deeply
entrenched in the sound of horse hooves, yet he could see no one
around. The sound of fighting erupted in his ears, and warm blood
splattered over his face. There were stabs of pain in both of Shen
Zechuan’s legs as an overwhelming force pinned him down onto
the ground.
He saw the dead man close before him again. The rain of
arrows whistled in the wind. The man on his back was heavy, and
that sticky and warm liquid trickled down along his neck, along his
cheeks.
This time, he knew what it was.
Shen Zechuan woke up trembling. He was drenched in sweat,
and it was so freezing that he shivered uncontrollably. He sprawled
over the bed plank as his eyes adjusted with some difficulty to the
darkness.
There were still people in the prison room. The errand-runner
cleared away the filthy items and lit the oil lamp.
Shen Zechuan felt parched. The errand-runner seemed aware
of his thirst and poured a bowl of cold water for him before setting
it on the bed plank. Waves of hot and cold washed over Shen
Zechuan. Very slowly, he nudged the bowl over to himself, spilling
half of the water in it.
No one spoke in the prison. Shen Zechuan was the only one left
after the errand-runner withdrew. He slipped in and out of
consciousness. This night seemed to drag on endlessly. No matter
how he waited, dawn never came.
The errand-runner came again to change Shen Zechuan’s
medicine. He was already a lot more sober. Ji Lei looked at him
beyond the bars and said in a cold voice, “You are one lucky
bastard. A scourge truly never dies. Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager spared your life. I suppose you don’t know why.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his head and said nothing.
Ji Lei said, “I know your shifu is Ji Gang, the fugitive Ji Gang of
the martial fraternity. I was fellow disciples with him twenty years
ago. Together, we served as the Imperial Bodyguards in Qudu. I’m
afraid you don’t know this, but he was once a Third Grade6 Imperial
Bodyguards Vice Commander. I’m trained in that set of Ji Clan’s
Boxing Style too.”
Shen Zechuan raised his head and looked at him.
Ji Lei opened the door and waited for the errand-runner to
leave. Once there was no one around, he sat down beside Shen
Zechuan’s bed.
“Later, he committed a crime. His offense was one where he
would have to be beheaded for it. But the earlier Emperor was
benevolent. In the end, he did not put him to death and simply
exiled him beyond the Pass.” Ji Lei propped up his knee and
grinned at Shen Zechuan with his back to the light. “Your shifu—has
no capability to speak of. He’s just a lucky loser. Guess how he
survived? Through the glory of your shiniang, Just like you today.
You probably don’t even know who your shiniang is. Let me tell you
then, your shiniang is Hua Pingting.7 There are the eight cities of
Cen’nan in Qudu. The Dicheng Hua Clan among them is the clan
of the current Empress Dowager. So, it’s all because of your
shiniang that the Empress Dowager spared your life today.”
Ji Lei lowered his head and whispered.
“But who would have known that your shiniang had already
died during the military upheaval? I’m telling you. Ji Gang is a
worthless wretch. His father died twenty years ago, and twenty
years later, his wife and son died too. Are you aware of who the
main culprit is? You know it deep down. The perpetrator is Shen
Wei!”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing hitched.
“Shen Wei opened up the line of defense at Chashi River. The
Biansha Cavalry invaded and ran rampant all over. The machete
severed your shiniang’s throat. Everything that happened before
she breathed her last could make Ji Gang’s life a living hell.”
“Duanzhou fell into the enemies’ hands. You said it was your
brother who saved you.” Ji Lei leaned back, sized up the back of his
hand, and said, “Ji Mu, huh? Ji Gang raised you and watched you
grow up, so Ji Mu was your brother. He was Ji Gang’s only son—Ji
Gang’s only offspring, and the Ji Clan’s only descendant. But
because of Shen Wei and you, he died too. Pierced through the
heart with ten of thousands of arrows. His remains were even left
behind in the sinkhole, subjected to the humiliation of being
trampled by the horses of the Biansha Cavalry. I wonder how Ji
Gang would have felt if he was still alive and had to collect his
son’s body.”
 Shen Zechuan suddenly lifted his body. Ji Lei easily pushed him
back down.
“Shen Wei betrayed his country and colluded with the enemies.
This is a debt you have to shoulder. You seek to live today, and
countless ghosts of Zhongbo who have died unjust deaths wails.
You fell asleep at night, slowly distinguishing who among the
others in your dreams are your shiniang, your shifu! You are still
alive, but living is already more of an agony than dying. Can you
forgive Shen Wei? If you forgive Shen Wei and help to exonerate
him, then you will let your shifu and his entire family down. No
matter what, Ji Gang is the benefactor who has raised and
nurtured you. How can you do unto him such a disloyal and unfilial
act?”
“Besides, even if you drag out your own feeble existence, there
is no longer anyone else in this world who will empathize with you.
Once you are in Qudu, you are Shen Wei. The people are enraged
now. Those who hate you to the core are more than one could
count. You still have to die, anyway. Rather than dying a dubious
death, why not speak frankly to His Majesty and come clean about
Shen Wei’s crimes? It would also comfort your shifu’s soul in
Heaven.”
Ji Lei suddenly stopped talking when he saw Shen Zechuan,
who was pinned on the bed plank, smiling. The young man’s
deathly pale face took on a sinister, frosty turn.
“Shen Wei did not collude with the enemies.”
Shen Zechuan enunciated each word through clenched teeth.
“Shen Wei never colluded with the enemies!”
Ji Lei lifted Shen Zechuan and slammed him into the wall. A
“BANG” rang out, and bits of earth and dust rained down from the
friction. The impact caused Shen Zechuan to cough incessantly.
“There are too many ways I can use to kill you.” Ji Lei said,
“Unappreciative little bastard. You got lucky this time and managed
to escape death by the skin of your teeth. And now you really think
you can survive beyond today?”
Turning around, he dragged Shen Zechuan to the door of the
cell and kicked it open before heading out.
 “I’m impartial in my duties and will obey the will of the Empress
Dowager. But there are plenty of people in Dazhou who can do as
they please with no regard for authority. Since you are so
hopelessly foolish, then I’ll accede to your wishes. You want
someone to kill you—that person is already here!”
The city gates of Qudu suddenly opened wide, and a row of
pitch-black heavy armored cavalry swiftly galloped in from beyond
the gates, sounding like peals of thunder.
Shen Zechuan was dragged along the path. The Imperial
Bodyguards scattered, and the packed crowd split into two to clear
the way for the heavy armored cavalry.
A Libei raptor hovered in the sky as the sounds of clanking
armor drummed against his chest. The rumble of hooves drew
nearer. Shen Zechuan opened his eyes and saw the leader of the
heavy armored cavalry charging straight over.
The steed under the heavy armor was like a ferocious beast,
huffing out hot clouds of air as it galloped a few steps before them.
It was reined in just as it was about to crash into them. Hooves rose
high in the air. By the time it came to a stop, the man on the back of
the steed had already turned around and dismounted.
Ji Lei stepped forward and said aloud, “Xiao…”
The man did not even look at Ji Lei and headed right for Shen
Zechuan. Shen Zechuan had only just moved his shackles when the
man kicked Shen Zechuan right on the chest with lightning speed!
The force of this kick was so powerful that Shen Zechuan did
not even get the chance to steel himself for it. Blood splattered the
moment he opened his mouth. His entire person went tumbling on
the ground. For a moment there, he almost puked his guts out.

Translator’s Note:
Will be using “Imperial Bodyguards” in place of “Embroidered
Brocade Guards” for 锦衣卫. For consistency purposes, most of the
terms in this novel will be from Xie, B., & Mirong, C. (2013). A brief
history of the official system in China. and Zhang, Y., Xue, S., Xue,
Z., & Ni, L. (2017). Chinese-English Dictionary of Ming Government
Official Titles. (other sources in synopsis).
Footnotes
1. 司礼监 Directorate of Ceremonial, one of the Twelve
Directorates stuffed by eunuchs during the Ming Dynasty
that’s in charge of palace entertainment, ceremonies,
punishments and such. The Seal-holding Director of the
Ceremonial Directorate (司礼监掌印太监) – the most powerful
eunuch position among all the twelve directorates – and the
Imperial Bodyguards Commander-in-chief would typically
oversee the flogging.
2. one ke (一刻) is about 15 minutes. So half a ke is about 7-
8 minutes.
3. literally immortals from 神仙打架, or immortals fighting,
i.e., when people at the top fight or compete with each other
4. 天王老子 generally refers to someone who holds the
highest status and most power. That’d be the Jade Emperor
in Heaven and the Emperor on Earth. He’s also insinuating
here that the Empress Dowager’s words hold more sway
over the Emperor’s.
5. 老祖宗 literally old ancestor or forefather; sometimes the
top eunuch in the Ming Dynasty is privately addressed as
such
6. 三品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades,
with grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
7. 娉婷 also means a graceful, beautiful woman
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 4 : LAST DESCENDANT

Battle boots trampled over the accumulated snow and circled

around Shen Zechuan before stopping at his side. The man used
his toe to correct the position of Shen Zechuan’s face, causing his
boots to be smeared with bloodstains. The voice under his helmet
was muffled as he asked, “Shen Wei’s your old man?”
Shen Zechuan could not stop the blood from gushing out
through his clenched teeth. Even as he hastily used his hands, he
could not cover it up either. He did not answer.
The man looked down at him for a moment and said, “I’m
asking you.”
With blood in his mouth, Shen Zechuan lowered his head and
uttered a “yeah”.
Ji Lei availed himself to the opportunity and said from the side.
“He’s the eight son of Shen Wei. His name is Shen…”
The man lifted his arms and took off his helmet to reveal a
young face. The gyrfalcon circling in the sky rode on the cold wind
and landed on his shoulder, sending up a puff of scattered snow.
He looked at Shen Zechuan as if he were looking at a pair of worn-
out shoes. It was hard to tell if his gaze was one of disdain or
loathing; it was as frigid as a blade.
Shen Zechuan did not know him, but he recognized the Libei
Armored Cavalry.
Back then, Shen Wei had cut a sorry figure as he retreated to
the West. When he arrived at Cizhou, it was already Zhongbo’s last
line of defense. The Libei Armored Cavalry headed down from
north to south. The Hereditary Prince, Xiao Jiming, braved the
snow to spur his troops on for three days without rest, crossing the
River of Ice1 straight to Cizhou. Who would have known that Shen
Wei did not even manage to defend Cizhou, causing the Libei
Armored Cavalry to end up besieged by the enemies? If it were not
for Xiao Jiming having reinforcements in place, it would have
turned out to be another brutal battle.
After this battle, Libei came to hate the Zhongbo Shen Clan the
most.
 This man was not Xiao Jiming. But since he could spur a horse
on to Qudu with a raptor on his shoulder, then he must have been
the Prince of Libei’s youngest son and Xiao Jiming’s younger
brother—Xiao Chiye.
Ji Lei initially harbored the intention to instigate him, but he lost
the courage to fan the flames when he saw the Deputy General,
Zhao Hui, behind Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye threw his helmet to Zhao Hui in passing. The sides
of his lips curled into a smile, and the earlier penetrating stare
dissolved away like melting ice. His frivolous temperament instantly
materialized. Even the armor on him looked out of place now.
“Your Excellency Ji.” He put his arm around Ji Lei’s shoulders.”
I’ve kept you waiting.”
Ji Lei exchanged glances with Xiao Chiye and laughed. He
said, “Second Young Master, it has been two years since we last
met, and you have become so distant!”
Xiao Chiye pointed to the blade at the side of his waist and
said, “I’m carrying a blade, so I’m considered half a soldier.”
It was only then Ji Lei seemed to notice it. He laughed and said,
“Excellent blade! Second Young Master came to His Majesty’s
rescue this time. It has been hard for you along the way. Let’s have
a drink tonight after you have sought an audience with the
Emperor!”
Xiao Chiye regretfully motioned Ji Lei to look at the Deputy
General, Zhao Hui, behind him. He said, “My eldest brother has
sent someone to watch me. How can we drink to our hearts’
content like this? Once I’ve taken a breather in a few days, I’ll treat
you.”
Zhao Hui expressionlessly paid his obeisances to Ji Lei.
Ji Lei smiled in response and said to Xiao Chiye. “Then, go on
first to the palace. The Guard of Honor is still waiting for you.”
Both men chatted and laughed freely as they walked all the
way to the palace. Zhao Hui followed behind them and cast a look
at Shen Zechuan as he was leaving. The Imperial Bodyguards at
the side caught the hint and dragged Shen Zechuan back.
Ji Lei watched as Xiao Chiye entered the palace. Once the men
flanking him were his own men, he spat out a mouthful of saliva
like a man down on his luck. The smile on his face disappeared,
leaving only discontent behind.
What he had been initially thinking was that since this hoodlum
was usually impudent and audacious, it was only to be expected if
he ended up killing a man. Who would expect this numbskull to be
so crafty that he had actually handled this issue with such care?
One kick, and he had let Shen Zechuan off just like that.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye entered the palace, and Zhao Hui handed him a
handkerchief. He wiped his hands as he walked.
Zhao Hui whispered. “Young Master’s kick earlier was too risky.
If the last survivor of that Shen dog died on the spot, the Empress
Dowager would surely be displeased.”
Xiao Chiye’s smile vanished, and gloominess shadowed his
face. He had just withdrawn from the desert battlefield, and the
murderous intent and malevolent aura pouring off him were so
compelling that the eunuch leading the way before them did not
dare to eavesdrop again.
Xiao Chiye said coldly, “My intent was to kick him to death. Old
Dog Shen allowed a bloodbath to happen in Zhongbo. We have
been burying those soldiers in the Chashi Sinkhole for half a
month, and we are still not done burying them. And now the Hua
Clan wants to protect that old dog’s remaining descendant for the
sake of their personal relationship. How in the world could
something go so perfectly according to wishes? Besides, my eldest
brother has been carrying out raids for thousands of li.2 After this
battle, there is nothing else to bestow or confer him with. Our Libei
is at the peak of its glory. It has long become a thorn in the
Empress Dowager’s side.”
Zhao Hui said, “The Hereditary Prince often says that the moon
waxes only to wane.3 The reward from Qudu this time is most likely
a Hongmen Banquet.4 Young Master, the main forces are stationed
hundreds of li away from the capital, and the aristocratic clans’
eyes and ears are everywhere in the city. At this point in time, we
must not act impulsively.”
Xiao Chiye threw the handkerchief back to Zhao Hui and said,
“Got it.”
 “Is Ah5 Ye here?”
Emperor Xiande fed the parrot.
The feathered animal had been raised until it was impeccably
wily. Imitating Emperor Xiande’s words, it opened its beak and
said, “A-Ye is here! A-Ye is here! A-Ye pays his obeisances to Your
Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Long live! Long live! Long live
Your Majesty!”
With the feed in his hands, Xiao Jiming answered, “He should
be here now.”
“Two years, huh.” Emperor Xiande teased the parrot. “I haven’t
seen him for two years. This lad takes after your father. He grows so
fast. I’m afraid he will be even taller than you when he’s all grown.”
Xiao Jiming said, “He has grown taller, but he’s still a child at
heart. All he does is to stir up trouble at home.”
Emperor Xiande was about to say something when his coughs
started up again. Pan Rugui held out a cup of tea to him from the
side. Emperor Xiande moistened his throat for a moment. Before
he could continue his words, he heard the announcement of Xiao
Chiye’s arrival outside.
“Come in.” Emperor Xiande sat back on the chair and put up an
arm. “Come in and let me take a look at you.”
The eunuch carefully lifted the curtain, and Xiao Chiye strode
across the door and entered. With an air of coldness around him,
he kneeled at the bottom and kowtowed to Emperor Xiande to pay
his obeisances.
With a smile. Emperor Xiande said, “What a fine lad, looking all
mighty in your armor. I heard that when the Biansha Twelve Tribes
raided the food supplies route and relay station at the frontier the
year before last, you showed your prowess and captured several
people alive. Is that right?”
Xiao Chiye laughed and said, “Your Majesty thinks too highly of
me. I’ve indeed caught a few men, but they are all small fry.”
The year before last, the Biansha Twelve Tribes carried out a
raid on Guanbei’s food supplies route. Leading the troops, Xiao
Chiye made his debut in battle. In the end, he was thrashed up
pretty badly by those Biansha baldies. It was Xiao Jiming who
cleaned up the mess for him. This incident turned into a joke after
news of it spread that year. Consequently, Xiao Chiye was reduced
to an imbecile known to all.
Seeing him thus, Emperor Xiande’s voice softened, “You are
young, and to be able to spur a horse on while brandishing a spear
is already a skill in itself. However, your eldest brother is one of my
Dazhou’s Four Great Generals. I’m sure he usually gives you some
pointers on military tactics. Oh, Jiming. I can see that A-Ye is aware
of the need to keep forging ahead. You mustn’t be too stern on
him.”
Xiao Jiming voiced his compliance.
Emperor Xiande added, “This time, Libei Armored Cavalry has
performed meritorious service in coming to my rescue. Other than
yesterday’s major reward, I want to give A-Ye a small reward today
as well.”
Xiao Jiming rose to his feet to bow and say, “It’s his blessing to
receive His Majesty’s favor. However, he has no merit and no
contribution to speak of. How could he receive such a lofty
reward?”
Emperor Xiande paused for a moment before saying, “You
have launched a long-range raid over thousands of li and crossed
the River of Ice overnight. Your merits are immeasurable. I’ll even
bestow a reward upon your wife, Lu Yizhi, this time, let alone A-Ye.
A-Ye, Libei is a frontier of strategic importance. You are still young,
so it’s inevitable for you to find it dreary and boring if you remain
there for long. Now, I’m intending for you to come to Qudu to be a
merry Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Regalia.6 Are you willing
to?”
Xiao Chiye had been remaining motionless with his head
lowered. On hearing this, he raised his head and said, “I’m
naturally willing if it is a reward bestowed by Your Majesty. All those
in my family are warriors and generals. I can’t even find a place to
enjoy a song. If I remain in Qudu, I’d enjoy myself too much to even
think of home or work.”
Emperor Xiande laughed aloud and said, “What a lad. I’m
asking you to be a guard, but you just want to have fun! If your
father were to hear of this, I’m afraid you will not be able to escape
another beating.”
 The atmosphere in the hall relaxed. Emperor Xiande retained
both brothers to have a meal together with him. When it was time
for them to withdraw, Emperor Xiande asked, “I heard that Qidong
had sent someone over too. Who is it?”
Xiao Jiming replied, “It’s Lu Guangbai from the Bianjun
Commandery.”
Emperor Xiande seemed to be a little tired. Leaning against his
chair, he waved his hand and said, “Tell him to come tomorrow.”
Xiao Chiye followed Xiao Jiming out. The brothers had not
walked far when they saw a man kneeling on the verandah. Pan
Rugui approached and leaned forward to say with a beam on his
face, “General Lu, General Lu!”
Lu Guangbai opened his eyes and said wearily, “Pan
Gonggong.”
Pan Rugui said, “You can stop kneeling. His Majesty the
Emperor is tired today. He can only see you tomorrow.”
The reticent Lu Guangbai nodded his head and rose to his feet
to head out with the Xiao Clan brothers. It was only after they
stepped out of the palace gates and mounted their horses that
Xiao Jiming asked, “Why do you keep kneeling?”
Lu Guangbai said, “His Majesty does not want to see me.”
Both men went silent for a moment, knowing full well the
reason for this. But Lu Guangbai did not feel bitter about it. He
looked sideways at Xiao Chiye and asked, “Did His Majesty reward
you?”
Xiao Chiye held the reins and answered, “He’s keeping me on a
leash.”
Lu Guangbai reached out to pat the back of Xiao Chiye’s
shoulders and said, “How is this putting a leash on you? The ones
he’s keeping a leash on are your eldest brother and your father.”
Xiao Chiye listened to the sound of the horse’s hooves for a
while before he said, “His Majesty mentioned my eldest sister-in-
law. I almost broke out in a cold sweat then.”
Lu Guangbai and Xiao Jiming burst out laughing together. Lu
Guangbai asked, “Are His Highness and Yizhi well?”
Xiao Jiming nodded. With his cloak wrapped around his court
attire, and with his armor removed, he was not as young and
valiant like Xiao Chiye. Yet, he had a presence that inexplicably
commanded attention. He said, “They are both well. My father is
still concerned about the Old General’s leg injury. This time, he
specially instructed me to bring the medicinal plaster7 he usually
uses. Yizhi is fine too. It’s just that she has been missing all of you
very much ever since she’s with child. She wrote many letters; I’ve
brought them too. You can read them when you come over to the
residence later.”
Lu Guangbai pulled the reins uneasily and said, “Everyone in
the family is a warrior; there’s no mother or sister-in-law who could
go over to accompany her. It’s freezing cold during winter in Libei.
I’ve been worrying ever since I heard of the news when I led the
troops out of the Bianjun Commandery.”
“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye turned his head as well and said, “It’s so
dangerous in Cizhou. Brother is now a caged man and told me not
to write home so as not to worry sister-in-law. The battle broke out
too suddenly. It was only when he left home that brother and sister-
in-law found out about the pregnancy.”
Xiao Jiming has always been able to show restraint. He merely
said, “Father is keeping watch at home this time to protect Yizhi.
Don’t worry. I’ll not go anywhere else once I return home after the
new year.”8
Lu Guangbai sighed and said, “In recent years, Libei has been
caught in the heart of the storm. Every time we dispatch troops, we
have to think twice. This time, we can only hate Shen Wei for
shrinking back without putting up a fight and leaving us with such a
rotten mess. When my troops passed the Chashi Sinkhole, the
blood was all over the horses’ hooves. He could not escape the
death penalty, so he immolated himself first. But there’s indeed
something odd about this matter. Jiming, you captured his son and
had him sent to the capital. Did you notice anything?”
Xiao Jiming gathered his cloak in the wind and said, “Shen Wei
has been one to attach great importance to the distinction between
those of lawful and common birth. This son of his is his eight son of
shu birth. There’s no one in his mother’s family to back him, and so
he was abandoned in Duanzhou to be raised there. It stands to
reason that he has no access to inside information. There must be a
reason His Majesty is so insistent.”
Xiao Chiye put on his helmet and said, “It’s hard to quell the
public wrath. His Majesty personally handed the military power for
the Garrisons of the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo over to Shen Wei.
Now that such a thing has happened, he has to kill someone as
proof of his impartiality.”
However, the one with imperial sovereignty over Dazhou was
not the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager, who held court in
place of the Emperor behind a screen.9 Now that the situation was
at a stalemate, everyone all had their eyes on this life of Shen
Zechuan. If he pleaded guilty and died, then that would be all’s
well that ends well; if he did not die, then he would be doomed to
be a thorn in the flesh. The Libei Xiao Clan was now at their peak of
glory and splendor. Even Qidong Commander-in-chief of the Qi
Clan had to give way to them. Xiao Jiming was the “the River of Ice
Armored Cavalry” among the Four Great Generals, and he was also
the brother-in-law10 of Lu Guangbai of the Qidong Bianjun
Commandery. To put it more explicitly, this was a man who could
mobilize the Libei Armored Cavalry and rely on his wife’s family to
deploy the Bianjun Commandery Garrison troops. Qudu had no
choice but to guard against him.
“Her Majesty is bent on preserving his life.” Lu Guangbai pursed
his thin lips. “She’s gunning to raise a jackal in the future who can
rightfully and legitimately recover Zhongbo and, at the same time,
submissive enough to be at her beck and call. When the time
comes, she can consolidate power from within, while reining in
Libei from without. She will be a thorn in our side. Jiming, we must
not let this lad live!”
The gale on the street outside brought snow that felt like slicing
knives as it scraped across their cheeks. The three men spoke no
further. In this endless silence, Zhao Hui, who had been silent
behind them, urged his horse on forward.
“Young Master previously kicked him with eighty percent force
right at his heart. His breathing was already weak, and his old
wounds bled again when he fell to the ground.” Zhao Hui
pondered it over. “Yet, he did not die immediately.”
 Xiao Chiye lifted the horsewhip and said, “He has been on trial
for so many days and was even flogged. He was already hanging
on by his last breath. That kick of mine was to send him on his way
to the Underworld. If he doesn’t die after tonight, then I’ll
acknowledge that he’s a tenacious one.”
However, Zhao Hui frowned and said, “He’s skinny and frail,
and he has yet to recover from his cold all this time. By all logic, he
should have died a long time ago. Yet, he is still hanging on. There
is undoubtedly something odd about it. The Hereditary Prince…”
Xiao Jiming swept a glance at them out of the corners of his
eyes, and both men shut their mouths. He gazed out at the road
before them in the intense wind. After a moment’s silence, he said,
“Whether he lives or not is all fated.”
The wind howled, and the metal chimes under the eaves on
both sides clanked against one another. The murderous aura
among the snow dispersed. Sitting level atop the horse, Xiao
Jiming calmly and unhurriedly hit the horse to spur it forward.
Zhao Hui lowered his head and stooped over as he urged his
horse on to catch up.
The expression under Xiao Chiye’s helmet was vague. Lu
Guangbai punched him on the shoulder and said, “He’s your eldest
brother, after all.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to smile as he murmured, “… Fate, huh?”

Footnotes
1. 冰河 River of Ice, i.e. also translated as glacier.
2. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
3. 月盈则缺, (花盛而谢) a variant of 月满则亏, 水满则溢 The
moon waxes only to wane, (and flowers bloom only to fall/
water brims only to overflow ). i.e. things/situations reverse
or decline when they reach their extreme or limit.
4. 鸿门宴 Hongmen Banquet; a banquet set up with the aim
of murdering or dooming a guest. Refers to a famous
episode in 206 BC when future Han emperor Liu Bang (刘邦)
escaped attempted murder by his rival Xiangyu (项羽).
5. “Ah” is a prefix used before monosyllabic names to
indicate kinship and/or familiarity.
6. The Imperial Bodyguards or Brocade Guards (锦衣卫)
were originally known as the Yiluan Si (仪鸾司/仪銮司), or
Imperial Regalia Service. It was only changed by Emperor
Hongwu (historically) during the Ming Dynasty in 1382 to the
Imperial Bodyguards Command (锦衣卫亲军指挥使司).

7.
8. 膏药 medicinal/herbal paste on a plaster, used in TCM for
treating contusions, rheumatism etc.
9. 年后 Refers to the lunar/Chinese new year
10. 垂帘听政 literally to hold court behind a screen or curtain.
A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or Empress
dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial court
without actually being seen by her subjects since women
were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by
a child emperor’s mother who would serve as regent and
rule in place of the Emperor.
11. 妹婿 He’s married to the younger sister of Lu Guangbai.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 5 : FRONTLINE

The medicinal decoction leaked through the corners of Shen

Zechuan’s lips and soaked through the front of his clothes. The
physician was so anxious that he sweated profusely and kept
wiping his temples and forehead.
“He wouldn’t swallow the medicine.” The physician said, “He
definitely can’t make it through this!”
Ge Qingqing held his blade and stood to look at Shen Zechuan
for a moment before he asked, “Is there nothing else you can do?”
The physician’s hands that were holding up the medicine bowl
trembled, causing the spoon in it to clatter against the bowl. He
kowtowed to Ge Qingqing with all his might and said, “It can’t be
done! He won’t make it! Please prepare the straw mat1 as soon as
possible.”
Ge Qingqing looked to be in a predicament. He said, “Feed
him first.”, then turned around to step out of the door. Ji Lei was
standing just outside. Ge Qingqing paid his obeisances and said,
“Your Excellency, the physician said he won’t make it.”
Ji Lei crushed the peanut shell and blew away the powder. He
asked, “Has he breathed his last?”
Ge Qingqing replied, “He’s still hanging on to his last breath.”
With his hands at his back, Ji Lei turned his head back to look
at Ge Qingqing. “Keep an eye on him. Before he dies, get him to
sign the written confession.”
Ge Qingqing nodded and watched Ji Lei leave. He stood in the
courtyard for a moment, then said to the subordinate beside him,
“Go and call the errand-runner over.”
A little while later, a hunched errand-runner all wrapped in
coarse linen came pushing a cart. The sky was dark by now, and
the Imperial Prison was under tight security. Ge Qingqing raised a
lantern to illuminate the way and motioned for the man to follow
him in.
The physician had already left. There was only an oil lamp lit in
the room. Shen Zechuan lay on the bed with his face totally devoid
of color. His hands and legs were as icy as those of a corpse.
 Ge Qingqing stepped aside and said to the errand-runner,
“Uncle Ji… Here he is.”
The errand runner slowly stripped away the bundle of coarse
cloth to reveal a face destroyed by fire. He stared at Shen Zechuan,
took two steps over, and stretched out a trembling hand to caress
Shen Zechuan’s hair. When he saw how skinny and bloodied all
over Shen Zechuan was, he could not stop his tears from coursing
down his old cheeks.
“Chuan-er.”2 Ji Gang’s voice was hoarse as he called out, “Shifu
is here!”
Ge Qingqing blew out the lantern and said, “Uncle Ji, don’t be
afraid. Ever since those from the prison knew that he was your
disciple, they have been treating him with meticulous care. The
previous interrogation looked like heavy torture, but it did not hurt
his foundation. During the flogging, the brothers more or less went
easy on him on your account. He won’t be maimed even with
twenty strikes. However, the eunuch from the palace overseeing the
punishment has sharp, discerning eyes, so we didn’t dare to be too
slack. Fortunately, Third Missy Hua came in time. Otherwise, Pan
Gonggong would have gotten suspicious.”
Ji Gang’s hair was already half-white. With his world-weary face
shedding tears, he said, “I, Ji Gang, will surely repay this kindness
in the future!”
Ge Qingqing hurriedly said, “Uncle Ji! How can you think this
way?! What our brothers have repaid are the kindness and
affection you have showered on us when you guided us and saved
our lives in the past.” With that, he sighed again. “Who would have
expected a Cheng Yaojin3 to come charging out of nowhere this
suddenly? The Second Young Master of the Xiao Clan was really
trying to kill him with that kick. Uncle Ji, can he still be saved?”
Ji Gang felt Shen Zechuan’s pulse and said with a forced smile,
“Good lad. He did well with the technique Ah-Mu4 taught him. It’s
still not at the point of no return yet. Don’t be afraid, my son. Shifu
is here!”
Shen Zechuan had started following Ji Gang at the age of
seven and trained martial arts under him together with Ji Mu. Each
strike from Ji Clan’s Boxing Style was tough and fierce at the outset.
It had to be complemented by the Ji Clan’s mental cultivation
techniques. Those without a steadfast will could not practice it. Ji
Gang was a heavy drinker when he was back at home. He taught
the older one and forgot about the younger one. As the older
brother, Ji Mu had to teach his younger brother a stance every time
he learned one. No one would have expected Shen Zechuan to
have mastered it pretty well over the years.
Ge Qingqing bent over for a look and said, “But he’s still young
after all. I’m afraid his body will be in bad shape after going
through this. Uncle Ji, I’ve sent someone to decoct the medicine
the physician prescribed again. Please see if you can feed it to
him.”
Shen Zechuan was burning up so much his mouth felt parched.
His whole body was hurting all over. It was as if he was lying on
the main street of Qudu, getting crushed by the horse carriages
coming and going.
The pain was like an endless inferno consuming Shen
Zechuan’s body. In the darkness, he dreamed of the heavy dancing
snow, Ji Mu’s blood, the cold of the sinkhole, and the kick he
received before Xiao Chiye.
Ji Lei was right. To remain alive now was to suffer. He received
the flesh and blood Shen Wei gave him, and so he had to endure
such punishments. He took over Shen Wei’s sins and became the
sinner the loyal souls of those who had died unjust deaths howled
him out to be. By putting on these shackles, he would always have
to shoulder this burden as he moved on.
But he couldn’t take it lying down!
Someone suddenly pried his teeth apart, and a warm current
flooded into his throat. The bitter taste of the medicine made Shen
Zechuan’s eyes watered. Hearing a familiar call, he forced his eyes
open.
Ji Gang fed him medicine and wiped away Shen Zechuan’s
tears with his rough fingers. He whispered, “Chuan-er, it’s shifu!”
A sob formed in Shen Zechuan’s throat, causing him to choke
out the medicine along with his tears. He stretched out his fingers
to hook the corner of Ji Gang’s clothes and clenched his teeth,
fearing this to be merely a dream he had made in the stupor of
illness.
Ji Gang’s face was ugly. He turned his head slightly to avoid the
light from the oil lamp and said, “Chuan-er, stop harboring the will
to die! You’re the only one shifu has left in this ignoble existence of
his.”
Shen Zechuan could not stop his tears from streaming down
his cheeks right there and then. He averted his gaze to stare at the
pitch-black roof and whispered, “Shifu…”
His eyes gradually focused amidst the whir of the wind and
took on a hint of malevolence.
“I won’t die.” He said in a hoarse voice, “Shifu, I won’t die.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, Emperor Xiande rewarded the Three Armies with
a feast. Apart from Libei Armored Cavalry and Qidong Garrison
Troops outside the city, the palace also hosted a banquet and led
all the various ministers and officials to entertain the Commander-
in-chief of the army.
Having changed into his court attire, Xiao Chiye overshadowed
the delicateness of the scholars around him as he took his seat. The
embroidered lion beast set against a pattern of clouds5 on him
radiated an air of intensity and awe. But his frivolousness reared its
head when he sat down for a conversation.
The civil officials engrossed in drinking kept stealing glances at
him. As they said, a tiger father will not beget a dog for a son.6 But
how was it that it was only the Hereditary Prince Xiao who took after
his father?
It was with tacit understanding they nitpicked at Xiao Chiye’s
every move and action. They could feel that sense of willfulness
and frivolousness hitting them right in the face. He was a world of
difference from Xiao Jiming, who was sitting upright in the seat of
honor.
“Don’t detach yourself from this all.” Lu Guangbai sat beside
him to urge him, “Since His Majesty has rewarded you, he will
surely call you up later.”
Xiao Chiye caressed the walnut in his palm, looking a little out
of it.
 Lu Guangbai turned his head to the side to look at him and
said, “You went out drinking with others last night, huh.”
“Make merry while you can.” Xiao Chiye slacked in his seat. “If
anyone dares to do a Xiang Zhuang’s Sword Dance7 later, I’ll do a
Fan Kuai8 while in a state of inebriation. That would be the best of
both worlds, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s fine too.” Lu Guangbai poured wine. “But drinking is bad
for your health. If you want to be a good commander-in-chief, then
change this bad habit of yours.”
“I was born at the wrong time.” Xiao Chiye threw Lu Guangbai a
walnut. “I won’t have the chance to play the hero now that the Four
Generals seats are full. If you can no longer make it someday,
remember to let me know in advance. It won’t be too late for me to
kick the habit then.”
Lu Guangbai said, “Then I’m afraid you have to wait.”
Both men laughed for a moment and drank up half of the wine.
They listened as the topic of discussion at the banquet changed to
the Zhongbo Shen Clan.
Grasping the walnut in his hand, Lu Guangbai listened
attentively for a moment and asked, “Didn’t they say last night that
this person won’t make it?”
Behind him, Zhao Hui responded in a hushed tone, “That’s
right. Didn’t Young Master say that the kick was to send him on his
way to the Underworld?”
Xiao Chiye denied it. “Did I say that?” The other two looked at
him in silence, prompting him to ask, “What?”
Lu Guangbai said, “He didn’t die.”
Zhao Hui said, “He didn’t die.”
Xiao Chiye exchanged glances with the other two for a
moment and said, “It’s none of my business he’s a tough one. The
King of Hell isn’t my old man.”
Lu Guangbai looked up and said, “Let’s see what His Majesty
has in store for him. He’s really one tough cookie.”
Kneeling behind then, Zhao Hui lowered his head to stuff
himself with food. He said offhandedly, “Someone must be helping
him in secret.”
 “Even if he doesn’t die, he’ll be maimed.” Xiao Chiye glanced
coldly at the Hua Clan seat a short distance away. “The Empress
Dowager is already advanced in age. All she can do now is to rack
her brains trying to groom a stray dog.”
“What a sin.” Zhao Hui emotionlessly stuffed a spare rib into his
mouth.
Seeing that the atmosphere was satisfactory enough after three
rounds of drinking, Emperor Xiande spoke, “Jiming.”
Xiao Jiming paid his obeisances and stood by to take his
orders.
Looking as if he could not hold his wine, Emperor Xiande
leaned against the Dragon Throne9 and said, “When all is said and
done, there is no conclusive evidence for Shen Wei’s troops’ defeat
and whether he had colluded with the enemy. That Shen…”
Pan Rugui bent over and whispered, “Your Majesty, it’s Shen
Zechuan.”
Emperor Xiande paused for a moment, but instead of
continuing, he turned to the Empress Dowager and asked, “What
does Imperial Mother10 think?”
A solemn silence descended upon the banquet as the entire
court of civil and military officials lowered their heads to listen.
The Empress Dowager wore a zaoluo11 headband with a
depiction of a dragon dropping a pearl among golden clouds. A
row of golden emerald leaf beads circled around the headdress
with a dazzling array of big pearls hanging from it. She sat – poised
and dignified – high up on her seat. Her neatly combed glossy hair
was the color of frost. No one in the entire banquet hall dared to
raise their head to look directly at her.
The Empress Dowager said, “Our morale suffered a blow in the
battle of Zhongbo all because Shen Wei panicked and lost his
presence of mind. But now that he had immolated himself due to
fear of punishment, and his descendants have all died in battle,
there’s only this son of common birth left behind. It goes against
benevolence and righteousness to eliminate his whole clan. There
is no reason we can’t let him live so that he will feel gratitude
towards us.”
 The banquet hall was silent. Lu Guangbai suddenly spoke up.
“This subject12 doesn’t think it’s appropriate.” He took three steps
out of the file of officials to kneel in the hall and continued, “Her
Majesty is benevolent. But the battle of Zhongdu is different from
past battles. Although there is no evidence that Shen Wei colluded
with the enemy, he is, nevertheless, still suspected of it. This lad is
his remaining descendant. If we let him live, I fear he will become a
danger in our own backyard in the future.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Lu Guangbai for a moment
and said, “The Earl13 of Biansha has been stationed in the desert to
defend it for decades, and he doesn’t exactly emerge victorious
every battle.”
Lu Guangbai replied, “Although my father is not invincible, no
external enemies have ever been able to push deep into the
territories of the Bianjun Commandery for decades.”
The big pearls beside the Empress Dowager’s ears swayed
gently. She said, “It’s precisely because of this that it’s even more
pertinent to teach him protocol and virtue so that he can
understand the disastrous consequences of this war. It’s easy to kill
a man. The horses of the Biansha Cavalry stepped into Zhongbo
and killed tens of thousands of Dazhou commoners. We have yet
to seek redress for the humiliation of our Empire. What crime is
there for a child to be guilty of?”
“This subject finds it inappropriate as well.”
The Deputy Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat,14
Hai Liangyi, who had remained quiet all this while, supported
himself up from the table and kneeled down as well.
“Her Majesty is benevolent, but this is no trivial matter. Even if
Shen Wei did not collude with the enemy, he still deserves to be
beheaded after this battle. Moreover, this child has been tried and
interrogated thrice, and his confession statement is all over the
place. He insisted that Shen Wei did not collude with the enemy.
But he’s a son of common birth Shen Wei had raised elsewhere. If
he had no idea that Shen Wei had colluded with the enemies, then
how would he know for sure that he didn’t? It can be seen that he is
cunning by nature; he lacks credibility. Just as General Lu has said,
if we keep the last descendant of the Shen Clan alive, he will one
day become the scourge of trouble in our own backyard!”
Instead of being furious, the Empress Dowager said,
“Secretariat Elder15 Hai, please rise quickly.”
After Pan Rugui helped Hai Liangyi up, the Empress Dowager
said, “It’s as my dear ministers said. I’ve16 been biased in my
thinking. I’ll leave the decision-making on this matter to the
Emperor.”
Under the watchful eyes of his ministers, Emperor Xiande
coughed feebly. He accepted the handkerchief Pan Rugui handed
him and covered his mouth. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“What Imperial Mother has said is not without reason. The child
is innocent. However, when all is said and done, Shen Wei’s troops
were still defeated, and he had indeed abandoned the city. On
account that there is only this bloodline left in all nine generations
of his clan, I’ll give this child a chance to reflect on his sin and
redeem himself. Ji Lei.”
“This subject is at your command.”
“Take this child into custody at Zhao Zui Temple.17 Without my
order, he cannot venture out!”
Xiao Chiye threw the broken pieces of walnut onto the plate.
Zhao Hui asked, “Young Master, aren’t you eating?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Maimed and useless. Who wants?”
Zhao Hui’s eyeballs followed the plate as it turned. He said in a
lowered voice, “Isn’t this to the satisfaction of all? We didn’t get
what we wanted, neither did the others.”
“Caging him in is still better than letting him out.” Lu Guangbai
returned to his seat and said.
“Not necessarily.” Xiao Chiye pointed to himself. “Am I not a
caged man too?”
Lu Guangbai and Zhao Hui said in unison. “Good for you.”

P/S: Character glossary added! To avoid spoilers, the list will be

updated as the translation of the story progresses, e.g. when new
characters are revealed or when the characters’ titles and ranks
change.
Footnotes
1. One of the simplest forms of burial. For the poor who
can’t afford a coffin or unworthy/unidentified people, their
corpses are usually simply wrapped in a straw mat before
being buried or thrown into a mass grave.
2. “~er” (which also means ‘son’) is a suffix normally used as
a term of endearment.
3. 半路杀出个程咬金 Cheng Yaojin ambushes the enemy.
Cheng Yaojin (589-665) was a general in the period between
Sui and Tang Dynasties, who often ambushed his enemies
on the roads. This proverb is used to describe a situation
where someone shows up unexpectedly and disrupts a plan.
It is also used to describe an unwelcome busybody who
shows up where they are not wanted.
4. “Ah” is a prefix used before monosyllabic names to
indicate kinship and/or familiarity.

5.
6. Refers to the rank badge on his court attire. Animals were
used on rank badges or mandarin squares (a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it) for military
officials, while birds were used for civil officials. The lion is a
symbol used for Grade 1 and 2 military officials. (Grades 1
and 2 are top-rank officials).
7. 虎父无犬子 literally, a tiger father will not beget a dog for
a son. i.e., like father like son, a valiant father would have a
valiant son and so on.
8. 项庄舞剑 (意在沛公) lit. Xiang Zhuang (项庄) performs the
sword dance, (but his mind is set on Liu Bang); refers to 206
BC plot to murder Liu Bang (刘邦), Duke of Pei and future
Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen;
i.e., an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent or to act
with a hidden motive.
9. Fan Kuai (樊哙) was a military general of the early
Western Han dynasty, also known for defending Liu Bang at
the Feast at Hongmen, which was actually a trap set to kill Liu
Bang.

10.
11. Dragon throne (龙椅); the imperial throne or seat of the
Emperor.
12. Royal/Imperial Mother or Mother Empress, or muhou (母
后); Term of address for ‘mother’ the Emperor and his
siblings used for the Empress Dowager.
13. 皂罗 zaoluo, a thin black silk fabric. It also refers to the
headdress made of zaoluo.
14. 臣 chen, an official, minister, or subject of the Emperor. It’s
also used to refer to oneself while conversing with the
Emperor, it has the same connotation as “I, your
servant/subject”
15. Earl (伯) is one of the noble titles in the Ming Dynasty,
below Duke (公) and Marquis (侯).
16. 内阁 Grand Secretariat, or also known as the Cabinet, is a
central government institution during the Ming dynasty.
17. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Grand
Secretary of the Grand Secretariat (内阁大学士) was
addressed as gelao (阁老)
18. 哀家 ai-jia. An imperial term for “I” that a widowed
Empress/Empress Dowager used to refer to herself. I’ll just
be using “I”, “me”, “my”, etc, in the text for easier reading, but
the Empress Dowager in this novel always uses “ai-jia” when
referring to herself.
19. 寺 generally refers to a monastery or temple but in
ancient China, it also refers to a government bureau,
otherwise also translated as Court. This temple here is more
like a secluded building that serves as a detention area to
reflect on one’s sin.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 6 : IMPRISONMENT

It was a rare sunny day in Qudu the day Shen Zechuan entered
Zhao Zui Temple. White snow covered the palace tiles, with green
plums mirrored on vermillion walls. Sunlight shone through the
eaves, casting slanting lines of yin and yang1 before his feet.
He had just recovered from a bout of severe illness and was
skinny to the point of being skeletal. At fifteen years of age, his past
and old dreams were like ashes scattered clean by this biting cold
north wind the moment he opened his eyes.
Ge Qingqing went down the stairs first. He turned his head to
look back at him and said, “It’s getting late.”
Shen Zechuan supported himself against the pillar and slowly
made his way down the stairs. He was neither accustomed nor
terrified to be exposed under the sun. The childishness of youth
seemed to have been pulverized amidst that pallor of his face.
Other than the fragility of illness, they could discern nothing else
from his expression.
Ji Lei was waiting at the entrance of Zhao Zui Temple with
Xiaofuzi following beside him. Raising his head to look at this
ancient temple, Xiaofuzi marveled, “What a magnificent and queer
temple. It really doesn’t seem to be the place to imprison people.”
“You don’t know its past.” Ji Lei said, “Zhao Zui Temple was
originally a place for the imperial clan to offer incense. Lord
Guangcheng’s handwritten orders were even previously offered in
worship inside. In its heyday, all the eminent monks in the world
assembled here, and large-scale intellectual discourse was all the
rage for a time.”
“Why haven’t I heard any mention of it in recent years?”
Xiaofuzi sized up the temple gates. “It’s rather dilapidated. There
haven’t been any repairs done on it for a long time, have it?”
Ji Lei spent a moment composing himself and said, “It’s been
twenty years. The condemned Crown Prince instigated the Eight
Great Training Divisions of Qudu to plot a rebellion. After his
troops’ defeat, he retreated here and fought back like a cornered
beast. In the end, blood splattered all over the Buddha statue as he
slit his own throat to end his life. From then on, the former Emperor
no longer set foot in his place. He stripped the temple of its name
and renamed it Zhao Zui.”
“Oh man, twenty years.” Xiaofuzi clutched his throat as if this
was a surprising thing to him. “I wasn’t even born yet! That was the
time His Excellency Ji just joined the Imperial Bodyguards, wasn’t
it?”
Ji Lei did not answer him. He turned to the rear and rebuked.
“Why is he not here yet?”
Xiaofuzi was still circling around the “Zhao Zui” stone tablet.
When he was done, he asked Ji Lei, “But I’ve never heard of
anyone being locked up inside either?”
Ji Lei seemed annoyed and said, “Those imprisoned are all the
secretariat ministers involved in the case of the condemned Crown
Prince. The clans of the civil officials and military commanders
involved were all executed. Those that remained are few and far
between. It has been twenty years, who would still remember?!”
The prisoner wagon2 rolled up to them. Ge Qingqing paid his
obeisances to Ji Lei and said, “Your Excellency, I’ve brought him
here.”
“Send him in.” Ji Lei then said to Shen Zechuan, “After today’s
farewell, we probably won’t have the chance to meet again. The
Emperor’s magnanimity knows no bound. You must remember this
with gratitude for the rest of your life. ”
Shen Zechuan turned a deaf ear as he entered the Zhao Zui
Temple. That vermillion door with paint peeling off it moved with a
loud rumble. He stood in the middle and looked at Ji Lei. Ji Lei was
displeased by his gaze and was about to lose his temper when he
saw Shen Zechuan unveiled a smile on his cleansed face.
He’s gone mad.
Ji Lei thought subconsciously. But then he heard Shen Zechuan
say,
“Your Excellency Ji.” His voice was calm. “We will meet again.”
The vermillion door shut with a “bang” and stirred up a cloud of
dust. Xiaofuzi covered his nose and coughed while stepping back
repeatedly. But then, he saw Ji Lei standing motionlessly where he
was.
 Ji Lei only returned to his senses after being called a few times.
He swiftly mounted the horse. With the sun shining on his back, he
cussed, “… Bah. Just my rotten luck!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was riding his horse across the street when he
bumped into Ji Lei. Reining it in, he laughed and said, “Old Ji,
aren’t you on duty before the Emperor?”
Ji Lei looked covetously at the battle steed under Xiao Chiye’s
crotch and said, “I have to take that surviving criminal into custody
at the temple today. I’m now hurrying over to the palace. Second
Young Master, that’s an excellent steed! I heard you tamed it
yourself?”
“I had free time. “Xiao Chiye lashed out the horsewhip with a
crack, and the gyrfalcon in the sky swiftly swooped down onto his
shoulder. He said, “Torturing falcons3 and playing with horses are
all the talents I have.”
“Once you assume your duties after the new year,4 you’ll be
busy.” Ji Lei said, “Qudu’s latest eminence! I’m not on duty
tomorrow. How about a drink together?”
Xiao Chiye said, “If the wine isn’t good, I’m not going.”
Ji Lei laughed out loud and said, “Of course it’s good wine!
Who dares to invite the Second Young Master if the wine isn’t
good? I’ll call at your residence later to invite you. Would the
Hereditary Prince have the time to have fun together with us?”
Xiao Chiye caressed his bone thumb ring5 and said, “My eldest
brother, huh? He’s not a fan of such activities. Why? It’s not
prestigious enough for you if I’m the only one going?”
Ji Lei hurriedly said, “That’s not what I said! Second Young
Master, that settles it then.”
Xiao Chiye acknowledged him and kicked the horse to leave.
But just before leaving, he seemed to recall something and asked,
“How did that surviving criminal look? Can he walk?”
“Walk, he can.” Ji Lei responded. “But not nimbly enough from
the way I see it. How many can actually survive floggings without
post-injuries? He is lucky to be able to walk.”
Xiao Chiye did not say a word more as he spurred his horse on
and left.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
A little later, the errand-runner delivered the meals to Zhao Zui
Temple. Shen Zechuan lit the oil lamp but did not touch the food.
Grabbing the oil lamp, he walked a round along the small corridor
beside the main hall.
The dust had been accumulating here for a long time. Some
side rooms in the wings had fallen into a state of dilapidation with
the doors and windows already rotten. Shen Zechuan saw several
skeletons that toppled over when the wind blew. Since he did not
come across any living creature, he returned to the main hall.
The Buddha statue had collapsed, and the incense altar was
old but still durable. The size below was just right. Shen Zechuan
hung up a tattered curtain cloth and lay down underneath with his
clothes on. The cold from the floor made his legs hurt. He endured
the pain and closed his eyes to count the hours.
Fresh snow started to fall in the latter half of the night. Shen
Zechuan listened as the night owl hooted twice. He sat up and
lifted open the cloth just in time to see Ji Gang step through the
door before him.
“After you’ve eaten,” Ji Gang opened the cloth bundle.6 “Train.
This place can’t keep the wind out at night. It’s too cold. Shifu is
afraid you will fall ill if you sleep.”
Shen Zechuan looked at the roasted chicken wrapped in oil
paper and said, “One should abstain from meat when ill. Shifu, you
can have it.”
Ji Gang tore up the roasted chicken for him and said, “Bullshit!
This is the time where you should eat your fill. Shifu likes to eat the
rear end of the chicken; even at home, it’s my favorite. Save it for
me.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Since I’m following you, I will eat what you
eat.”
Ji Gang glanced at him and laughed. He said,” Brat.”
Master and disciple split the roasted chicken among them. Ji
Gang seemed to have grown a mouthful of iron teeth as he
chewed even the chicken bones into pieces. He handed the bottle
gourd to Shen Zechuan and said, “Drink some wine if you really
can’t put up with the cold. But don’t drink too much. Just sip
accordingly, just like your brother.”
They never mentioned Zhongbo, Duanzhou, or even the
Chashi Sinkhole these days. Shiniang and Ji Mu were unspoken
wounds both master and disciple shared. Both of them thought
they had hidden it pretty well, but they never realized that the
blood was already seeping out and that the pain was mutual.
Shen Zechuan took a sip and handed it over to Ji Gang.
Ji Gang did not take it. He said, “I’ve quit. Shifu doesn’t drink
anymore.”
Silence descended in the hall. Without the shelter of the door,
the snow fell before their very eyes, becoming the only scenery in
this endless night.
Ji Gang asked, “Why are you in a daze?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Shifu.”
“Just say it if you have something to say.”
“I’m sorry.”
After a long silence, Ji Gang said, “It’s not your fault.”
Shen Zechuan clenched his fist. He stared at the snow as if the
tears would fall if he blinked. His voice hitched as he said, “Did you
go looking for us at Chashi?”
Ji Gang slowly leaned against the incense altar, burying his
body within the shadows. It was as if he was looking for his own
voice. After a long time, he said, “I went. I found him.”
He found him.
Ji Gang found his son – all covered in arrows – in the pit of
snow. He had jumped into it and stepped across those thick piles of
corpses to dig out Ji Mu’s body.
Ji Mu was only twenty-three of age. He had just been promoted
to Squad Commander of the Duanzhou Garrison Army. His armor
was new. The day he put it on, Hua Pingting hung a protective
talisman for her son in the lock. When Ji Gang found him, he had
been frozen purple along with his other comrades.
Shen Zechuan raised his head slightly and said, “Shifu, I’m
sorry.”
Ji Gang was already old. He tousled his white hair and said,
“He’s the elder brother, isn’t he? That’s what he should do.
Everything that happened is not your fault. “
The snow fell for a moment.
Ji Gang huddled over and said, “Who would have known that
those Biansha baldies would come? That he would become a
soldier and charge to the very front of the battle is something that
can’t be helped. I taught him martial arts, and with that
temperament of his, you might as well kill him than to ask him to
flee. He could hardly bear to see others suffer and dragged down.
So how would he, how would he flee?”
“It’s not your fault or his. Shifu is the one to be blamed. I
indulged in excessive drinking. Your shiniang scolded me for so
long, but I never quit. When the cavalry came, I couldn’t even fight
properly. At this age, I’m old and disabled. I’ve long gone useless.”
Water dripped onto the bottle gourd. Shen Zechuan gripped it
and said nothing.
“Old and disabled.” A grinning head suddenly poked out from
behind the Buddha statue and said, “Old and disabled!”
Ji Gang sprang up like a leopard and bellowed, “Who’s
there?!”
The unkempt man gradually stretched his body out and
imitated Ji Gang. “Who, who!”
When Ji Gang heard this voice clearly, he pressed Shen
Zechuan down and involuntarily blurted out in astonishment, “…
Grand Mentor7 Qi!”
The man speedily shrank his head back. Kicking the Buddha
statue, he yelled, “I’m not! I’m not the Grand Mentor!”
Ji Gang ran a few steps behind the Buddha statue in pursuit.
When he saw the man about to bore his way through a hole to flee,
he could not help but pounce and grab him by the ankle. The man
immediately let out a squeal like a pig being slaughtered and
shouted, “Your Highness! Your Highness, flee quickly! “
Shen Zechuan covered his mouth and joined forces with Ji
Gang to carry him back.
“Who is this?” Shen Zechuan asked.
“You are young, so you’ve never heard of him.” Ji Gang’s voice
was unsteady as he pressed the man down and said, “Grand
Mentor Qi, this is great! You are still alive! What about His
Excellency Zhou? Is His Excellency Zhou here too?”
Grand Mentor Qi was thin and small. He could not kick them
away, so he glared at them and whispered, “He’s dead, dead! I’m
dead. His Highness is dead. Everyone is dead!”
Ji Gang said in a heavy voice, “Grand Mentor, I am Ji Gang!
The Imperial Bodyguards Vice Commander, Ji Gang!”
Still badly shaken, Grand Mentor Qi hesitantly raised his neck
to look at Ji Gang’s face. He said, “You’re not Ji Gang. You’re an evil
spirit!”
Ji Gang said sorrowfully, “Grand Mentor! In the twenty-third
year of Yongyi,8 I escorted you into the capital. This was where His
Royal Highness the Crown Prince met and welcomed you. Have
you forgotten this too?”
Grand Mentor Qi’s eyes glistened as he raved madly. “They
killed the Crown Prince… Your Highness!” He sobbed and said, “Ji
Gang, Your Excellency Ji! Take His Highness away! The Eastern
Palace has become the target of public censure. What crime has His
Highness committed?!”
Ji Gang dejectedly released his hands and said, “Grand
Mentor… In the twenty-ninth year, Ji Lei sold himself to the enemy.
I’ve already been kicked out of Qudu. In these twenty years, I’ve
been reduced to a mere fugitive of the martial fraternity. I have also
gone on to take a wife and fathered a child in Duanzhou of
Zhongbo.”
Grand Mentor Qi stared at him blankly and said, “… His
Highness is gone, but the Imperial Grandson is still around! Take
him away. You, take him away!”
Ji Gang could not help but close his eyes and said, “In the
thirtieth year of Yongyi, the Crown Prince slit his own throat and
committed suicide in this place. No one from the Eastern Palace
returned alive.”
Grand Mentor Qi leaned back and muttered. “That’s right, that’s
right…” He sobbed like a child. “How did it come to this?”
This night had made Ji Gang mentally and physically
exhausted. He said, “After the parting of drifting clouds, ten years
have gone like flowing water.9 Who would expect that when we
meet again in this life, it would be under such circumstances?”
Grand Mentor Qi turned his body to hide his face and said,
“Did they lock you up too? Let them lock! Let them kill all the literati
in this world.”
Ji Gang said, “My disciple is shouldering the blame for his
father.”
Grand Mentor Qi said, “Shouldering the blame for his father…
That’s great. Who’s his father? He couldn’t have angered His
Majesty too, could he?”
Ji Gang sighed and said, “Last year, Shen Wei’s troops were
defeated…”
He did not expect Grand Mentor Qi to turn his head suddenly
upon hearing the words “Shen Wei” and crawled on all fours
towards Shen Zechuan. He asked, “This, is Shen Wei’s son?”
Ji Gang had a sense of foreboding and was about to act when
Grand Mentor Qi beat him to it and pounced. Making a grab for
Shen Zechuan with his wizened fingers, he said savagely, “Shen
Wei! Shen Wei killed His Highness!”
Sharp-eyed and agile, Shen Zechuan had already grasped
Grand Mentor Qi by his wrists. Right after this, Ji Gang grabbed
hold of Grand Mentor Qi and said, “Grand Mentor! Do you want
my disciple to die today for the same reason the Imperial
Grandson did? No matter what crimes Shen Wei committed, it has
nothing to do with my disciple!”
Grand Mentor Qi gasped heavily and spoke in a trembling
voice. “Since he’s Shen Wei’s son, Shen Wei’s son…”
“He was Shen Wei’s son when he was born.” Ji Gang held
Grand Mentor Qi down and suddenly kowtowed. He continued,
“But he later became Ji Gang’s son. If I utter a single word of
falsehood tonight, then I’ll die a terrible death! Grand Mentor, are
you going to kill my son?”

P/S: For those who missed it last chapter, the character glossary
has been added! To avoid spoilers, the list will be updated as the
translation of the story progresses, e.g. when new characters are
revealed or when the characters’ titles and ranks change.

Footnotes
1. The concept of Yin and Yang represents opposing forces
such as life (yang) and death (yin), male (yang) and female
(yin), light (yang) and darkness (yin), etc. Here, it simply
refers to strips of alternating shadow and light on the
ground.

2.
3. 囚车 literally a prison/prisoner wagon used to transport
criminals over a long distance.
4. 熬鹰 literally torturing falcons, it’s one of the ways to train
them by not allowing it to sleep and torture it to exhaustion
to wear down its wild nature.
5. 年后 Refers to the lunar/Chinese new year
6.
7. Ornamental thumb ring which is often made from jade,
but in this case, it’s made of bone. It’s also typically worn by
archers in ancient times to protect the right thumb when
drawing a bowstring.

8.
9. 包袱, a cloth bundle. In the old days, people traveled
around with their clothes and possessions bundled up with a
piece of cloth. The bundle was then worn across the
shoulders and carried around. It also works for carrying food
around.
10. 太傅 Grand Mentor, or Grand Tutor, was usually in charge
of tutoring the Crown Prince.
11. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor reigned.
12. 浮云一别后，流水十年间 A line from the Tang poem, A
Greeting on the Huai River to my Old Friends from
Liangchuan 《淮上喜会梁州故人》 by Wei Yingwu (韦应物)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 7 : GRAND MENTOR

Dumbstruck, Grand Mentor Qi pulled his hands back. He turned

his head away, refusing to look at Shen Zechuan. He had been
imprisoned here, deranged for twenty years, hating everyone
beyond this place. Yet, tonight, he had to persuade himself not to
hate the son of his enemy.
“Then…” Grand Mentor Qi’s voice sounded plaintive. “Then,
who can I kill now?!”
The snow fell silently, and the crow in the courtyard flew away
from the branch. The tattered curtain in the temple fluttered along
with the wind. Grand Mentor Qi trembled and rose to his feet, then
staggered with his arms raised high, devastated and inconsolable.
“The die is cast! The victor emerges king, and the loser is the
rebel. His Highness’s virtuous name has been smeared, and you
and I are those treacherous traitors doomed to be condemned by
posterity! Who do I kill? I’ll kill this muddleheaded and blind
Heaven! Twenty years ago, His Highness’s blood was spilled here.
What have we done wrong? That the Emperor would be so ruthless
to wipe us out?!”
Tears poured down Grand Mentor Qi’s face. His body trembled
as he kneeled at the entrance of the hall and banged his head
repeatedly on the floor.
“Kill me now as well!”
The snowy night was miserably cold. No one in the empty
temple responded. It was in this way Grand Mentor Qi kneeled, just
like that deteriorating and battered Buddha statue. Fragments of
cotton-like snow covered him as he remained still and silent under
this brilliantly illuminated Qudu night.
An hour later, Ji Gang helped Grand Mentor Qi up, and the
three men sat in a circle before the incense altar.
“Many things happened tonight because of me. I will take this
opportunity and explain to my heart’s content.” Ji Gang lifted his
sleeves and said, “Grand Mentor, Chuan-er was born in the Shen
Clan. He’s Shen Wei’s eight son of common birth. Eight years ago,
the situation between the lawful and common factions in the Prince
of Jianxing’s Residence were as irreconcilable as fire and water.
Shen Zhouji, the Hereditary Prince of Jianxing, won the favor of his
father and reassigned his brothers of common birth out of the
residence. At seven years of age, Chuan-er was sent back to
Duanzhou, but his enlistment as a soldier to bolster the army
numbers failed to work out. So he lived in the side courtyard to be
raised by his mother’s maid. But that woman was greedy and
extravagant and often misappropriated the child’s food rations.
Pingting was on friendly terms with his mother. When she learned
of this, she asked me to take Chuan-er back so that we could raise
and nurture him.”
Grand Mentor Qi sneered and said, “Shen Wei himself was of
common birth and had his share of injustices in his childhood.
How ludicrous of him to favor those of lawful birth when he came to
have sons later. What’s more, he’s such a lecher and went on to
beget so many sons. What a sin!”
“We have repeatedly sent letters to the Prince Residence, but
not once has Shen Wei ever replied. Grand Mentor, look at the
Eight Great Clans of Qudu. We have never heard of such blatant
abandonment even among the son of common births of those
clans.” Ji Gang furrowed his eyebrows. “And so it was like this that
Chuan-er came to follow us. That time, Mu-er was fifteen of age. He
was so delighted to see his younger brother. Since then, our family
of four has settled down in Duanzhou. We even had to expend a lot
of effort just to be able to get into the Military Service’s Yellow
Register.”1
After a moment’s silence, Grand Mentor Qi said, “You left the
capital bearing the name of a criminal. It’s naturally difficult for you
to register your household. It was precisely to suppress rebels and
prevent civil unrest that His Royal Highness strictly enforced the
Yellow Register system to record households back then.”
Ji Gang said, “I understand. Grand Mentor, what happened in
Qudu after I left? How did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince end
up in that state?”
Grand Mentor Qi pulled over the tattered curtain and wrapped
it around his shoulders. He said gloomily, “… After you left, Ji
Wufan lost the confidence of the Emperor. Pan Rugui, having
received the Emperor’s favors for serving the Empress, took up the
post of Brush-holding Director at the Directorate of Ceremonial. As
a result, the Imperial Bodyguards fell into decline, and its Twelve
Offices existed in name only. After Ji Wufan’s death, Ji Lei took up
the mantle alone. From then on, the Eastern Depot2 became the
Godfather of the Imperial Bodyguards and ceased to associate
with the Eastern Palace. Later on, the Emperor suddenly fell ill and
was frequently bedridden, so the trivial affairs of the court were
handed over to the Grand Secretariat and the Eastern Palace to
manage. But the Hua Clan relied on the Emperor’s favor of the
Empress to install many incompetent people in the court, and this
led to the resurgence of Six Ministries’ practice of bribery. The
troubles that were the Empress Dowager’s kin3 were now out in
force. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went many times to
submit a memorial to His Majesty. But he never expected Pan Rugui
to rely on his authority of office in endorsing memorials4 to take
over control of government affairs with the Empress. There was no
way His Royal Highness’s memorial would ever make its way before
the Emperor. Not only that, after the Emperor fell ill, the Empress
stopped the Grand Secretariat and the Eastern Palace from paying
their respects to him.”
“Those castrated bunches are a menace to the empire!” Ji
Gang repeatedly sighed. “If I had known Pan Rugui harbored such
ambitions, I would never have stopped Father from killing him!”
“Even if you kill a Pan Rugui, there will still be a Pan Ruxi and a
Pan Ruyi!” Grand Mentor said in a daze. “The harem interferes in
state affairs, while their kin runs rampant. Ji Gang, you don’t
understand. These are all the deeply rooted maladies of the Eight
Great Clans. As long as all the Eight Great Clans are not
eradicated, history will just repeat! How is the Empress able to
control the affairs of the imperial court when she has lived for so
long in the inner palace? It’s all due to the long-amassed power
and influence of the Hua Clan. Even if the Empress wasn’t a Hua
back then – even if the Empress was someone from one of the
other Eight Great Clans – this would still happen.”
“But.” Shen Zechuan could not help asking, “Isn’t His Royal
Highness the Crown Prince of lawful birth by the Empress herself?”
 “No.” Grand Mentor Qi lowered his head. “His Royal Highness’s
biological mother was an imperial concubine. The Empress was
childless, having never given birth before. But His Royal Highness
was taken to the inner palace and personally raised by the Empress
herself. As the saying goes, even a tiger will not eat its own cubs…
Kinship doesn’t exist in the Imperial Clan.”
The hall fell silent again.
Ji Gang let out a breath of cold air and said in a hoarse voice,
“My father lost the favor of the Emperor because my excessive
drinking bungled up matters. If it weren’t for this, His Royal
Highness would never have come here.”
“I initially thought that Ji Lei would not have become a turncoat
if there’s Ji Wufan before you.” Grand Mentor clutched the tattered
curtain. Recalling it still left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Who would
have known that he…”
“Grand Mentor, you are unaware of it.” Ji Gang looked at Shen
Zechuan. “Chuan-er didn’t know it either. My father, Ji Wufan, was
sworn friends with the former Emperor. He was also the
Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Bodyguards. But Father’s first
wife died early and he had no intention to remarry, so he adopted
three sons. Besides me and Ji Lei, there was also Eldest Brother.
Eldest Brother could not bear the malicious acts in the Imperial
Prison, and so he left the capital in his adolescence and went to
Tianfei Watchtower to be a soldier there. Ji Lei and I served in the
Imperial Bodyguards and remained by Father’s side to look after
him as a show of filial piety. This set of Ji Clan’s Boxing Style and Ji
Clan’s Blade Style were all taught by Father. Later, due to several
incidents, Father felt that Ji Lei was harboring evil intentions and
suspected him of currying favor, so he only imparted the Ji Clan’s
Mental Cultivation Techniques to me. But this entirely created a
divide between us brothers. After Father’s death, Ji Lei did an
overhaul of those under his command. Many of the old guards
were let go. From then on, the Imperial Bodyguards… were no
longer what they once were.”
Grand Mentor Qi murmured, “Such is fate. The Eastern Palace’s
subordinates joined forces and worked as one but still failed to
protect His Royal Highness. The Emperor suspected His Royal
Highness of staging a rebellion, but the authority for the Eight
Great Training Divisions of Qudu all lay in the hands of the Eight
Great Clans. The Imperial Bodyguards found the treason
documents and asserted that it was His Royal Highness behind it.
Our people were sent to the Imperial Prison, and many of them
died. Those who could not withstand the punishments finally gave
in. The sick Emperor flew into a rage and believed Pan Rugui’s
slanders. From then on, His Royal Highness was trapped in a dead-
end.”
Tears drenched his face as he seemed to go insane again.
“His Royal Highness was here, trapped in a dead-end! Why
didn’t they kill me? How do they expect me to hang on to my last
breath till now? Living a life like this is worse than death. Yet I still
can’t hurry on my way to the Underworld.”
He suddenly stared at Shen Zechuan, and his tone turned
frenzied.
“—I can’t take this lying down! Years of strategic and tactical
planning have all gone down the drain! Countless Eastern Palace’s
aides have been killed and wounded, and the injustice His Royal
Highness suffered has yet to be redressed. I can’t take this lying
down! “He grabbed Shen Zechuan’s arm again.” You are so young.
You still have a chance!”
“Grand Mentor…” Ji Gang rose intending to stop him.
“You can protect him for a moment, but can you protect him for
life?” Grand Mentor Qi gripped Shen Zechuan tightly. “I can stop
hating or blaming him today on account of your fatherly affection,
but can you make everyone in this world think this way? As long as
his surname is Shen, there will be plenty of people wanting to kill
him! Can he really sleep with a peace of mind just because he is
skilled in martial arts? Ji Gang, your father was a martial arts
master, but didn’t he still end up dying of illness all alone?! In this
Qudu, where the tides of power ebb and flow, it’s killing someone
with invisible means that’s the most fatal! How could you have the
heart to let him face the predators stark-naked!”
Ji Gang clenched his fists and said nothing.
Tugging Shen Zechuan, Grand Mentor Qi went down on both
knees. He looked at Shen Zechuan and said in a trembling voice
that was choking with sobs, “I’m Qi Huilian from Yuzhou! You don’t
know me, so I’m telling you. I’m, I’m the Triple Yuan5 Top Scholar in
the fifteenth year of Yongyi.6 From the founding of Dazhou to this
date, there are only five people who have come out first in all three
levels of the civil examination. I’m a subordinate of the Eastern
Palace and also the Minister of Personnel of the Ministry of
Personnel-cum-Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. I
taught the Crown Prince. And I’ll now, now teach you! I’ll teach you
everything I have learned in my life—alright?”
Shen Zechuan stared into Grand Mentor Qi’s eyes. He was
unusually calm. After that brief silence, he fell to the ground on his
knees with a “thud” and kowtowed thrice to Grand Mentor Qi.
“If Teacher imparts the classics to me, I’ll kill your enemy for
you.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Ge Qingqing went out at the hour of Mao7 and headed for
Zhao Zui Temple. The air was clear and cold along the way, and it
even snowed. He huffed into his hands and looked for a steamed
bun stall as he walked.
He heard the sounds of someone calling him from afar. There
was a red silk umbrella unfurled among the snow, and the person
under the umbrella swayed slightly as he moved towards him.
Those who could hold up red silk umbrellas in Qudu were all
bigwigs of fifth grade8 and above.
Ge Qingqing stood by the side of the road and supported his
blade as he paid his obeisances. The thick smell of wine assailed
his nose as the person staggered his way before him.
“The Red Cavalry.”9 This person stopped and reached out a
hand to pull Ge Qingqing’s authority token.10 He looked at it for a
moment and said, “Where is Company Commander Ge going
now? It’s freezing cold.”
Ge Qingqing stared at the man’s black boots and answered,
“To reply Your Excellency, this humble subordinate is on office duty
today and ought to be heading for the palace.”
Xiao Chiye had been drinking all night, and his clothes were in
disarray. He dangled the authority token and said, “This doesn’t
seem to be the way to the palace.”
 Ge Qingqing raised his head to reveal a shy smile and said,
“The Second Young Master is noble and does not know how much
of a clutter these civilian alleys are. From here, you can make your
way through a few civilian alleys and you’ll be able to turn into
Shenwu Street, which will lead you straight to the palace gate.”
On hearing this, Xiao Chiye smiled and threw back the
authority token to him. He asked, “You know who I am?”
Ge Qingqing caught hold of the authority token and buttered
him up, “The Armored Cavalry of Libei are brave and skillful in
warfare. The Hereditary Prince and Second Young Master have
rendered meritorious service in coming to the Emperor’s aid. Who
in Qudu does not know of you? Second Young Master, are you
heading back to your residence? The road is slippery. May this
subordinate be so bold as to ask if you need me to send you back?”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and said, “Do I look like a drunkard?
You may leave.”
Ge Qingqing bowed again and left.
When Zhao Hui arrived, he saw Xiao Chiye rapping hard with
the red silk umbrella and yelling at the steamed bun stall to hurry.
He approached and said, “The residence has prepared breakfast.
Why is Young Master standing here to have your meal?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’m too hungry to walk back.”
Zhao Hui shook the cloak open and said, “Wine and lust will
only lead you astray. Young Master, let’s go home.”
Xiao Chiye draped himself with the cloak but did not move his
feet. He ate two steamed buns, taking no notice of the gazes of
those around him. He asked Zhao Hui, “Can one reach Shenwu
Street from here?”
“Yes, but it’s not an easy path to walk.” Zhao Hui replied.
“Civilian alleys with state-owned ditches. The narrower the alley,
the more polluted the ditch water. Qudu has never repaired the
public ditches in recent years, and this piece of land is rotten
beyond recognition. Once the weather warms up, the snow melts,
and the rain falls, the sewage will flood the streets. Think about it, is
such a path a smooth one to take?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I only asked you one question. Why give such
a long reply?”
 Zhao Hui said, “What I’m saying is that you must be sure to take
the correct path. Young Master, there’s no hurry to drink. If you take
a detour instead, you will make your way there even faster.”
Xiao Chiye wiped his hands and motioned Zhao Hui to fish out
his money. “That’s really strange. Go make some inquiries if there
are any official records of someone called Ge Qingqing on duty in
the Twelves Offices of the Imperial Bodyguards today—Old man,
find another line of work as soon as you can; this steamed bun
tastes really bad.”

Author’s Words:
I’ll briefly talk about the Imperial Bodyguards and Eastern
Depot here. Influenced by relevant films and dramas, people often
mistakenly think that the Imperial Bodyguards are a sub-committee
of the Eastern Depot and that the Imperial Bodyguards
Commander-in-chief had to obey the Eastern Depot Seal-holding
Director’s11 orders. In reality, this was not the case. The Imperial
Bodyguards and Eastern Depot all served the Emperor himself.
There is no superior-subordinate relationship between them. It’s
just that sometimes when the eunuchs gained favor, the power and
authority of the Eastern Depot would rise just as the boat rises with
the tide, and the Imperial Bodyguards would have to greet them
with smiles. But similarly, when the Imperial Bodyguards
Commander-in-chief won the confidence of the Emperor, then the
Eastern Depot would have to play the grandson with their tails
between their legs.

Footnotes
1. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman. The
military register (or Yellow Register of Military Service (军户黄
册) in this novel) was used to manage military households to
inherit military posts, bolster the army numbers, and so on.
These military households lived as peasants in peacetime
and served as soldiers in times of war.
2. 东厂 The Eastern Depot was a Ming dynasty spy and
secret police agency run by eunuchs.
3. 外戚 relatives of the Emperor on the side of his mother or
wife.
4. 批红 compilation of an endorsement on a memorial;
chief eunuchs had the right to note down remarks in red
color (pihong 批紅) on the incoming memorials, even before
the Emperor had seen them.
5. 三元 “Triple Yuan”. In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial
examination system was split into three phases: the
provincial exam (乡试); metropolitan exam (会试); and the
palace exam (殿试). The titles for the top scholars in each
exam were known as the Jieyuan (解元), Huiyuan (会元) and
Zhuangyuan (状元). These three are known as the “Triple
Yuan”. So a Triple Yuan Top Scholar is one who came first in
all these examinations.
6. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor reigned.
7. 卯时 Time in those days was divided into two hours
blocks. The hour of Mao is around 5-7am.
8. 五品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades,
with grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
9. 缇骑 tiqi; subordinates of the Imperial Bodyguards. They
are mounted cavalry of the Imperial Bodyguards that wear
red uniforms and are commonly guarded escorts of an
official’s retinue or entourage.
10.
11. 腰牌 literally authority token, it’s a small tablet hung at the
waist to prove one’s identity, especially for people in
governmental posts or acting in an official capacity.
12. The head of the Eastern Depot is called the Eastern
Depot Seal-holding Director. Among the eunuchs, he is the
second highest-ranking eunuch after the Seal-holding
Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
13.
14. 戒尺 a teacher’s ruler in the old days for punishing errant
pupils (typically by hitting them on the palms).
15. Will revise these when I think of more poetic ones ._.
16. 将在外，君命有所不受。A general in the field has to be
resourceful and sometimes, even decide against the
Emperor’s orders.
17. 疑将成虎 as opposed to tame kitties and loyal doggos a
sovereign usually prefers. Too much of a ‘tiger’ with military
power, and the sovereign might come to suspect the person
of harboring treacherous motives.
18. 水满则溢，月盈则亏。Water brims only to overflow, the
moon waxes only to wane. i.e., things/situations reverse
when they reach their extreme or limit.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 8 : SUSPICION

The Imperial Army was waiting to rotate shifts. It was so

freezing cold that they were all huddled into themselves.
The Imperial Army of Qudu was originally the Imperial Guards1
of the Eight Cities. They were the impregnable fortress of the
Imperial Palace in Qudu. Going by the rules, trivialities such as
taking a person into custody would not have been tasked to them.
But then the Eight Great Training Divisions of Qudu rose to power,
and the duties and responsibilities of both parties were switched
around. The Imperial Army was reduced to being the burden of
Qudu. It not only abolished the military drills, but even literally
became the errand-runner of Qudu. Today, they were all hereditary
military households who had never seen real weaponry and were
just idling around waiting to die.
Ge Qingqing was the Company Commander of the Imperial
Bodyguards. He was not really considered an official in Qudu, but
he was just perfect for the Imperial Army in charge of detention.
This was because they had to mutually look out for each other as
they patrolled Qudu every day. If it had been an official of a slightly
higher rank, they would not have dared to bribe as they wished.
Besides, Ge Qingqing was extremely generous in his treatment of
them. So the Imperial Army turned a blind eye and let Ji Gang take
on the chores of the original errand-runner.
Ge Qingqing greeted the Imperial Army and distributed the
hot steamed buns he had brought with him. Ji Gang had yet to
come out. The Squad Commander saw him looking pensive, so he
said, “If Brother Qing is in a hurry, please go ahead and check it out
on our behalf.”
Ge Qingqing said, “Wouldn’t that be against the rules?”
Biting the steamed bun, the Squad Commander waved his
hand to motion to the Imperial Army guarding the back door to
make way. He said, “Brother Qing isn’t an outsider. Besides, we
have surrounded this Zhao Zui Temple until not even a drop of
water can trickle through. The man within can’t escape for sure.”
 Thus, Ge Qingqing did not decline his offer further. He turned
around to enter Zhao Zui Temple.
Ji Gang was sitting under the eaves. When he saw Ge
Qingqing coming, he stood up and asked, “Is it time already?”
“It doesn’t matter since it’s still dark. Uncle Ji can stay a little
longer.” Ge Qingqing surveyed the temple courtyard as he spoke.
“This place is not fit for human living. And it happens to be in the
dead of winter right now. I’ll send some quilts over later.”
Noting that he seemed to have something on his mind, Ji
Gang asked, “What’s the matter?”
Ge Qingqing hesitated and said, “It’s not a big deal. It’s just that
I met Second Young Master Xiao on the way earlier.”
Shen Zechuan raised his head and said, “That Xiao…”
“Xiao Chiye.” Ge Qingqing said, “He’s the youngest son of the
Prince of Libei. He’s also… that same man from the other time. His
gait is unsteady, and he reeks of wine. He must have gone drinking
last night.”
“As long as it isn’t Xiao Jiming.” Ji Gang turned his head back
to say to Grand Mentor Qi, “Grand Mentor has not left this place for
twenty years. You probably don’t know the current Four Great
Generals of Dazhou. The Prince of Libei has begotten himself a
good son. That Xiao Jiming is truly remarkable!”
But Shen Zechuan asked Ge Qingqing, “Brother Qing, did he
ask you something?”
Ge Qingqing thought carefully and said, “He asked me where I
was going, and I said I was taking a shortcut to get to the
command office. Then he said that this road did not seem to lead
to Shenwu Street. So I gave him a perfunctory response. I suppose
the descendant of a princely noble like him will not personally
probe into it.”
“But this matter involves the Xiao Clan. It pays to be careful.
Later on, you should still head for the palace and put a mark on the
duty roster. “Ji Gang rubbed his hands in the snow. “Chuan-er, let’s
train.”
“Hold it.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were dark and deep. “Since it is
a miscellaneous alley in a civilian district, then what is a noble
descendant like him doing on this street so early in the morning?”
 Ge Qingqing was stupefied. He said, “That’s right… The
entertainment spots are all in Donglong Street, which is some
distance away from the residential area. He’s nursing a hangover,
and it’s such a cold day. Why did he come here?”
“He’s keeping watch at a tree to await a rabbit.”2 Grand Mentor
Qi wrapped himself in the tattered curtain and turned around,
pointing his posterior out. He said, “The matter of Shen Wei
concerns the Xiao Clan. I heard that that kick of his was clearly
aiming for this lad’s life. But the lad’s still alive and well now. How
could he not get suspicious?”
“He shouldn’t have said another word if he didn’t mean it.”
Shen Zechuan was still full of trepidation as he recalled that kick.
“Oh, no.” Ge Qingqing turned pale and said, “It’s my fault for
being negligent. What should we do? I’m afraid he’s already on the
way!”
Shen Zechuan turned towards Grand Mentor Qi. “It doesn’t
matter. Since Teacher has already guessed it, he must have a
countermeasure.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhao Hui arrived at the Imperial Bodyguards Command Office.
Although the Assistant Commander walking with him was of the
same rank as him, he did not dare to put on airs. He led Zhao Hui
to the records room and said, “What does General Zhao want to
check? These are all Twelves Offices’ duty rosters for today.”
Zhao Hui solemnly picked up a book to flip through for a look
and said, “It has been hard on our Imperial Bodyguards brothers
patrolling the restricted grounds. A few days ago, I received the
assistance of a Company Commander named Ge Qingqing. I’ve
come today bearing a gift to give my thanks. Is he on duty today?”
“The Company Commanders from the Twelves Office are a
motley crew. They are all inside.” As the Assistant Commander
spoke, he shifted over to the wall where the duty registers of the
Twelve Offices were hanging on the upper side, all clearly
categorized.
But Zhao Hui could not touch them; this was taboo in the
palace.
 The Assistant Commander asked, “Does the General know
which office does he belong to?”
Zhao Hui said, “I heard that only those from the Imperial
Carriage Office, Parasol Office, and the Domesticated Elephants
Office could be on duty on the morning shift.”
The Assistant Commander carefully checked through the
registers by name. After a while, he turned and said to Zhao Hui,
“General, there’s no such person on duty today. Let me try looking
elsewhere for you?”
Zhao Hui gently closed the book in his hands and said, “There’s
no need. I’ll find him on my own.”
When Zhao Hui left the records room, the sky had just
brightened. He went back along the road and strode out of the
palace.
The accumulated snow had been freshly swept off Shenwu
Street, but the road was slippery. The sedan bearers who came and
went as they transported the bigwigs did not dare to be rash. They
walked on the road cautiously and made every effort to stay steady
on their feet.
As Zhao Hui passed by a sedan, he caught a glimpse of the
sedan bearers bearing broadswords. Who would have known that
this one look would make him furrow his eyebrows?
“Hold it.” Zhao Hui stopped the sedan chair and asked, “Is this
the chair used by the Commander-in-Chief?”
Sure enough, the sedan bearers were the Imperial Bodyguards.
The one in the lead nodded and said, “You know who we are
transporting, and you still have the audacity to block our way?
Move out of the way quickly!”
Zhao Hui raised his hand to reveal his own Libei authority
token.3
The Imperial Bodyguard nodded and said, “General, please
excuse me for the offense!”
The sedan curtain moved as a slender hand lifted it. A delicate
face glanced lazily at Zhao Hui and pouted coquettishly to the
person within. “Your Excellency, he’s looking for you!”
Ji Lei had just returned with a hangover. Sitting unreservedly in
the sedan, he said to Zhao Hui, “General Zhao! What’s the matter?”
 Zhao Hui merely stared at the Imperial Bodyguard in the lead
and said, “It’s nothing. I heard Young Master went drinking with
Your Excellency last night. Are you only just returning?”
Ji Lei smiled and said, “So you’re worried about the Second
Young Master! The Young Master returned home the moment I
opened my eyes this morning. Is the Hereditary Prince looking for
him?”
“I just can’t help worrying.” Zhao Hui bowed. “I’m sorry to have
alarmed Your Excellency.”
“It’s fine! I just came from there myself.” Ji Lei gestured with his
hand. “Who was it that butt heads with the General earlier? Hurry
and apologize to the General.”
The Imperial Bodyguard in the lead kneeled on one knee and
said to Zhao Hui, “This humble servant, Ge Qingqing, was blind not
to recognize the General, thus offending you. I’m willing to accept
my punishment.”
Zhao Hui had not misread.
Ge Qingqing’s name was indeed written on the authority token
hanging at the side of his blade.
◈ ◈ ◈
Even after listening to Zhao Hui complete his report, Xiao Chiye
was still looking at the storytelling script 4 with one of his legs
propped up.
Zhao Hui said, “From how it looks, he didn’t lie. He was
assigned to pick up Ji Lei before he could enter the palace.”
“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye said absent-mindedly. “Qingjun Pavilion is
just nearly. Of course he can make it in time.”
“But something feels off to me.” Zhao Hui’s thumb caressed the
hilt of his blade.
Xiao Chiye turned the page and asked, “You can’t figure it
out?”
“I can’t.”
“Then I’ll tell you.” He suddenly sat up, crossed his legs, and
propped up a hand on one knee. “You entered the Capital with my
eldest brother. His Majesty the Emperor personally met and
welcomed him. The Twelve Offices of the Imperial Bodyguards
followed closely behind in a ceremonial procession. How could he
not recognize you now?”
“That’s hard to say.” Zhao Hui said, “Perhaps he didn’t
remember me.”
“You haven’t even changed your robe, and you carry a blade
on you. Even if he doesn’t recognize you, all he has to do is to use
his brain a little, and he wouldn’t dare to reproach you in such a
condescending manner right there on the street.” Xiao Chiye said,
“Besides, he doesn’t seem like he has a bad memory to me. He
could even recognize me clearly.”
“I only find it too much of a coincidence.” Zhao Hui pondered
over it. “I just happened to run into him.”
“A coincidence is exactly what they want.” Xiao Chiye cast aside
the storytelling script. “This Shen…”
“Shen Zechuan.” Zhao Hui said.
“Letting him enter Zhao Zui Temple now looks like a losing
move.” Xiao Chiye said with a thoughtful gaze.
◈ ◈ ◈
Ge Qingqing removed the fur collar and wiped his sweat.
Wu Caiquan, who was outside, came running in pressing his
legs together. He repeatedly said, “Thank you, thank you! Brother
Qing, thank goodness for you!”
Ge Qingqing said, “It’s nothing. We are all comrades.”
Wu Caiquan grinned and turned his head to yell at the person
in the records room, “Old Xu! Put Brother Qing on the record for
today, he stood in for me to carry the sedan. I caught a cold last
night and felt dizzy this morning. Fortunately, Brother Qing was
there to help.”
Ge Qingqing lowered his head to wipe his sweat. He said, “You
caught a cold. Let’s go to the Xu household’s shop for mutton soup
together later.”
Wu Caiquan hastened to say, “Sure, it’s Brother Qing’s treat!
Old Xu, did you hear that? Let’s go together later! “
“Don’t sweat it.” Ge Qingqing patted Wu Caiquan on the back.
“Rest well. If you don’t feel well the next time, don’t hold it in like
you did this time. Just tell me.”
 Wu Caiquan nodded his head like a puppy. He was craving
mutton soup so much that he could hardly care about anything
else.
◈ ◈ ◈
Grand Mentor Qi was finally bundled up in a quilt at night. He
sat opposite Shen Zechuan and said, “In another half a month, it’ll
be the Zhengdan Festival.5 Qudu will host the ‘Banquet of Ten
Thousand Officials’. When the time comes, all the Provincial
Administration Commissioners and Prefectural Surveillance
Commissioners of the various lands will enter the Capital to offer
their greetings. I’m still not clear about the current state of affairs,
so tell me now.”
Shen Zechuan was in the snow dressed only in flimsy clothes as
he struck up the starting stance of the Ji Clan Fist. Despite it, sweat
was dripping off his forehead. He said, “The Prince of Libei has
been in poor health for many years, and all military affairs have
been handed over to the Hereditary Prince, Xiao Jiming, to handle
on his behalf. In all likelihood, he won’t attend this time. The
Qidong Five Commanderies have rendered meritorious service in
coming to the Emperor’s rescue. The first one who came to receive
his bestowed title was one of the four generals, Lu Guangbai.
Commander-in-chief Qi should be arriving these few days. With
this, two major military powers of Dazhou will be temporarily
residing—”
“Hold it.” Grand Mentor Qi fished out a ruler6 from his quilt and
asked, “Which four generals are the four generals?”
“River of Ice Armored Cavalry, Xiao Jiming; Fire Beacon Amidst
Blowing Sand, Lu Guangbai; Wind Guiding the Scorching Plains,
Qi Zhuyin; Thunder Sinking the Jade Stage, Zuo Qianqiu!”7
“I have only heard about Zuo Qianqiu. But I know that Lu
Guangbai is most likely the son of the Earl of Biansha, Lu Pingyan.
Although Lu Pingyan later came to guard the deserts of the Bianjun
Commandery, he was from Libei in his early years. He’s sworn
brothers with the Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu. If this Lu Guangbai
has a sister, she would definitely be the Xiao Clan’s daughter-in-
law, am I right? “
 “Yes.” Shen Zechuan said as he dripped with sweat. “Lu
Guangbai’s younger sister is the Consort of Libei’s Hereditary
Prince.”
“So, where did the two major military powers come from?”
Grand Mentor Qi said, “With this connection, the Lu Clan is the
mole Libei planted in the Qidong Five Commanderies to lurk
within. Furthermore, there’s still the Eight Great Training Divisions
in Qudu, and the Imperial Army under the Eight Great Training
Divisions. The Eight Great Training Divisions don’t have as many
people as those from Libei and Qidong, and its reputation is not as
valiant as theirs either. But you must remember that Qudu is the
heart of Dazhou. What they are holding in their hands is the
Emperor’s life.”
Grand Mentor Qi weighed the ruler in his hand, then grabbed
the gourd and warmed himself with a few sips of wine.
“You also must remember this. Although the Imperial
Bodyguards cannot be called ‘soldiers’, their advantage is far
greater than that of ‘soldiers’. When the Emperor commands the
troops, he must be assisted by influential officials and valiant
generals. A general should exercise good discretion on the
battlefield and not be bound by orders of his sovereign.8 Keep a
tight rein, and it’d be hard for them to make something of
themselves. Maintain a loose grip, and you’ll soon suspect them of
becoming too much of a tiger.9 This yardstick is difficult to grasp.
You need to act in accordance with the situation and understand
how to adapt to changes. However, the Imperial Bodyguards is a
different matter altogether. They are the vicious hounds under the
Emperor’s command, and that chain is held by the Emperor alone.
Whether to tighten or loosen his grip, or to pamper or discard
them, wholly depends on the Emperor’s moods. Such a blade, such
a dog—If it were you, would you like them, or would you not?”
Shen Zechuan pushed himself to hang on for a moment, then
said, “Like them—and they will go wayward! Favor and trust them
too much, and they will become the source of calamity.”
“Your brother sure has taught you plenty.” Grand Mentor Qi
said, “That’s right. Remember it. Commit it to memory! Favor and
trust them too much, and they will become the source of calamity.
Keeping the virtuous close and the flatterers far is a good virtue to
cultivate. But when you are personally involved, black and white
will intersect. How will you be forever able to distinguish who are
the virtuous talents and who are the crafty sycophants? Besides,
there are many matters that even a virtuous gentleman cannot do,
while the crafty and the despicable ones can. The Emperor resides
long-term in the Imperial Palace. He must understand the principle
of checks and balances as well as listen to the voices of the various
officials and ministers. As you can see, with the Imperial
Bodyguards comes the Eastern Depot, and with Libei comes along
Qidong.”
After a pause, Grand Mentor Qi continued.
“Water brims only to overflow, the moon waxes only to wane.10
Do you know why the Xiao Clan hates Shen Wei so much this time?
Not only is there nothing else to bestow or confer them with after
this battle, but even if the Xiao Clan fights another battle, their
defeat is a defeat, while their victory is also fundamentally a defeat.
They have already reached their end.”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Their victory is also a defeat?”
“Their victory is also a defeat! Didn’t Xiao Jiming instantly offer
up his younger brother after winning the battle? For every battle he
wins in the future, he will be in even more of a peril. This time he
paid for it with his younger brother. Next time, it might be his wife,
his father, or even his own self.”

Footnotes
1. The Imperial Guards (禁卫) is not the same as the
Imperial Bodyguards (锦衣卫).
2. From 守株待兔, keeping watch at a tree to await a rabbit
or a hare, is a fable about a farmer waiting every day by a
tree stump in the hope that a hare would kill itself by
crashing into it. It refers to someone who sits back and does
nothing except to wait for good things to drop into his lap.
3. 腰牌 literally authority token, it’s a small tablet hung at the
waist to prove one’s identity, especially for people in
governmental posts or acting in an official capacity.
4. A book that’s a script for storytelling; Song and Yuan
literary form based on vernacular folk stories
5. 正旦节 Zhengdan Festival is also known as Spring Festival
which celebrates the start of the new year from the first day
of the first month in the lunar calendar.

6. 戒尺 a teacher’s ruler in the old days for punishing errant

pupils (typically by hitting them on the palms).
7. Will revise these when I think of more poetic ones ._.
8. 将在外，君命有所不受。A general in the field has to be
resourceful and sometimes, even decide against the
Emperor’s orders.
9. 疑将成虎 as opposed to tame kitties and loyal doggos a
sovereign usually prefers. Too much of a ‘tiger’ with military
power, and the sovereign might come to suspect the person
of harboring treacherous motives.
10. 水满则溢，月盈则亏。Water brims only to overflow, the
moon waxes only to wane. i.e., things/situations reverse
when they reach their extreme or limit.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 9 : PROMOTION

Since the end of the year, many of the pedestrians on the

streets of Qudu wore “nao’e”1 made of black gold paper.2 As
Zhengdan Festival3 approached, the common folks strove to
prepare pastries and cooked meat at home. The palace had started
procuring the ingredients for the ‘Banquet of Ten Thousand
Officials’ half a month in advance. Everyone from the Court of
Imperial Entertainments was busy running all over, yet the eunuchs
still got to line their pockets.
Xiao Chiye rustled his way through the book and said, “When
those officials on the outside enter the Capital, it is inevitable for
them to have to pay ‘ice respect’4 to the officials in the Capital. But
Pan Rugui is so impressive that he drew up such a well-organized
list: only when they shell out the money according to his list will
they be left in peace.”
“And these are only just the ‘small changes’ at the beginning of
the year.” Lu Guangbai brushed aside the foam in his tea. “Let me
give you an account. The money the little eunuch under Pan Rugui
receives in a year far exceeds the two-year salary of a Battalion
Commander Guard at the frontier. Dazhou uses the military troops
every year, and each time the Ministry of Revenue asks us to deploy
the troops, they have to plead with us and coax us to do so. But
after the battle is over, we become the bastards who demand our
payments.”
“It’s the ones with the money who are the masters.” Xiao Chiye
smiled and said.
“When we came to the Emperor’s rescue before the new year,
our Libei troops braved the snow to march forward. The men and
horses are tired, and the repairs for the Armored Cavalry’s
equipment need to be completed before the start of Spring. We
have owed the workshop money for too many days. Everything
requires money.” Zhao Hui carefully made the calculations in his
mind and said, “Before we entered Qudu, the Libei troops
engaged in farming duties5 converted the annual grain harvest
into money. Every day, we have to count every cent and make
every cent count. Our Hereditary Prince’s Consort does not even
dare to purchase expensive attire for the Residence during the new
year and other festivals. The money a palace eunuch like Pan Rugui
has collected has already exceeded Duanzhou’s total tax amount.
The Investigating Censors throw their weight around when they are
delegated to local governments. But so what? In Qudu, they don’t
even dare to let out a fart!”
“What to do, we are poor.” Lu Guangbai lamented, “Every year,
we have to worry about money. Jiming made a trip to the Capital
this time, so the Ministry of Revenue did not dare to delay it on his
account and had long submitted the request to the Grand
Secretariat. Pan Rugui has also behaved himself and endorsed his
approval. The funds should be handed over before he leaves the
Capital.”
“We have Eldest Brother.” Xiao Chiye set aside the book and
looked towards Lu Guangbai. “But what are you going to do?”
“His Majesty wouldn’t see me.” Lu Guangbai said, “The Lu Clan
is unpopular in Qudu. The Eight Great Clans have always regarded
us as savages from the desert, and the Hua Clan wouldn’t even
look us right in the eyes. But even if you tell me to show my
‘respects’6 to Pan Rugui, I don’t have the money to. We are so poor
at home we could barely put food on the table. Other places could
cultivate lands for their troops to farm, and that is at least an
emergency measure to meet needs. But our Bianjun Commandery
has just yellow sand for miles around. Even if we want to farm, we
don’t have the fields. This time, we dispatched the troops out on a
swift expedition, and all the food for the men and horses during
the journey were paid for with Commander-in-Chief Qi’s personal
savings. To put it bluntly, it was all thanks to Commander-in-Chief
Qi’s understanding and sympathy. Otherwise, my troops would
have never made it past Tianfei Watchtower. But how much money
would Commander-in-Chief Qi have? She’s using the remnants of
her own dowry that the Old Imperial Consort has left for her! Her
own private troops are almost on the verge of selling their own
pants! The Ministry of Revenue keeps playing Taiji7 with me every
day. Dereliction of duty, huh? They keep pushing my account aside
and refuse to allocate the funds to me, figuring that a country
bumpkin like me could do nothing about them.”
Lu Guangbai lost his temper in a rare display of anger. He could
not help it. The Bianjun Commandery was defending along the
borders of the desert, and they were the Garrison Troops that had
the most dealings with the Biansha Cavalry other than Libei. They
worked themselves to death all year round, running all over the
place just to eke out a living under the blades of the machetes.
They barely had sufficient sleep, and would never get to eat their
fill. Qudu was oppressing him, and the Earl of Biansha had long
become a well-known pauper among the Princes. His clan had
never even kept any of the rewards bestowed to them; all of it had
been converted into money and used to supplement military
supplies.
Once Xiao Jiming was neatly dressed, the maidservants left in
a single file, leaving only the four of them in the room. Xiao Jiming
held up the teacup and took a sip of his tea. He said unhurriedly,
“The timing is good this year—Zhengdan’ Banquet of Ten Thousand
Officials’. Qi Zhuyin should be here already, right?”
Lu Guangbai said, “That’s right. I was originally worried, but on
second thought, let them do as they please and drag this matter
on. If they delay it until the Commander-in-Chief enters the Capital,
well then, good luck to them.”
Xiao Jiming said, “She is now the most popular in Qudu. Even
those local ruffians and hooligans that are the ‘loansharks’ in Qudu
have to give her face. The previous debt can be repaid, but you
can’t always rely on her alone. The Bianjun Commandery is
important. From what I’ve heard of the situation yesterday, the
Ministry of Revenue will be asking you to recruit soldiers again this
year.”
Lu Guangbai caressed the rim of the teacup and said, “Recruit?
Don’t even think about it. They are all afraid of death now that
something happened to the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. They are
concerned about the Bianjun Commandery getting stabbed by the
Biansha Twelve Tribes, and they even feel that my twenty thousand
troops and horses aren’t enough. The thing is that we can recruit
the soldiers, but do we have the money to pay them? I can’t afford
to feed and train them. I will not do it even if they hold up a blade
to my neck this year.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly sat upright and said, “That’s right. In the
past, the Ministry of Revenue was the quickest when it comes to
assigning military funds and rations to the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo. The men died this time, so we can leave aside the issue
of the money. But where are the grains? The Biansha Cavalry can’t
carry away that much grain with them when they flee.”
The remaining three men looked at him.
Lu Guangbai said, “Silly lad, you can stop wondering about
that. The grain was recovered and used to make up for the salary
arrears owed to the Thirteen Cities of Juexi last year. Can’t you
guess the reason the Ministry of Revenue dodged the issue? In
recent years, the Eight Great Clans have become the Eight Great
Training Divisions, and their equipment and budgets are the best
in Dazhou. All this money is taken right from the tax funds. Think
about it, the sum of two million. Any human would know how
insane this account is. But both the Empress Dowager and
Secretariat Elder Hua did not pursue this matter. So who in the
Ministry of Revenue who would dare to bring it up? The State
Treasury is emptied of this portion of the money. Last year, the
Thirteen Cities of Juexi were hit by a plague of locusts, and there
was truly not a single grain harvested that year. So, where would
they get the money for disaster relief? It was all thanks to the
Provincial Administration Commissioner, Jiang Qingshan, who
issued a peremptory order for all the officials of various ranks
within the prefecture to release their private stock of grains to help
the disaster victims. Because of this, Jiang Qingshan saved
hundreds of thousands of commoners, but he ended up being
hated by the various officials in Juexi. Before the new year, I heard
that the debt collectors were even blocking the entrance to his
house. He is a high-ranking provincial official of the second-grade,
and yet his eighty years old mother still has to weave to pay off
their debt! It would be forcing them to their death if Qudu still did
not release the money. In the end, Secretariat Elder Hai submitted a
memorial and contended with the Grand Secretariat and Pan Rugui
for half a month before they barely made up for the shortfall.”
 Zhao Hui could not help but say, “Those people say they are
poor, but the amounts of bribe money are all large sums. On the
other hand, those doing the real work are all walking on eggshells
while tightening their belts. We might as well not come to Qudu
this time. It really makes one disheartened.”
It was snowing outside the house, but there was no festive
atmosphere within. The mess kept piling up one after another, and
all the new sights in Qudu were like mist skimming the surface. Its
wound had yet to heal, and yet they still had to cover it up even as
pus dirtied its entire grounds. The snow came at just the right time
to conceal it all so beautifully that they could pretend not to notice.
Everyone could all live like a drunk in this fool’s paradise together.
◈ ◈ ◈
In the middle of the night, Pan Rugui sat on the couch with his
eyes closed. The naturally-colored paper flower was placed by his
hand so that he could wipe his hands after meditation. Xiaofuzi did
not even dare to breathe heavily as he held a brush case in his
hands and waited carefully on the footrest.
After an hour, Pan Rugui exhaled and opened his eyes. Xiaofuzi
immediately presented the brush to him. With a frown of
concentration, Pan Rugui wrote a few words in his palm.
Xiaofuzi buttered up to him and said, “Our Forefather is
becoming more and more sagely after having recently received
His Majesty’s teachings. Earlier, this grandson even saw a faint wisp
of purple cloud8 rising!”
Pang Rugui wiped his hands and asked, “Do you know why you
have never been able to join the Directorate of Ceremonial?”
Xiaofuzi replied, “Forefather dotes on me.”
“It’s one thing to dote on you.” Pan Rugui threw the paper
flower into Xiaofuzi’s bosom. “Not being able to read the situation
is another. His Majesty has been enlightened for two years, and he
still doesn’t give off purple aura. I’m merely a slave. How can I
ascend first? Isn’t that overstepping my boundaries?”
Xiaofuzi handed the hot tea over to Pan Rugui. He smiled
ingratiatingly and said, “Forefather is my master, and so Forefather
is my Heaven. Seeing Forefather meditating is just like seeing the
Grand Supreme Elderly Lord9 descending to the mortal world!
How on earth would I give it that much thought?”
“Mmm.” Pan Rugui rinsed his mouth. “This filial piety of yours
could be called a skill in itself.”
Xiaofuzi let out a “hehe” as he moved close to Pan Rugui’s leg
and said, “I have to show my filial respect to Forefather since it’s the
Zhengdan Festival. While I was procuring for the Festival before the
new year, I saw a stunning beauty in Prince Chu’s Manor! I made
some inquiries around. His Majesty can’t use her anyway, so it’s of
utmost importance for me to give her to you as a show of my filial
piety instead.”
Pan Rugui said, “How stunning is she? Can she compare to
Third Missy? Furthermore, isn’t that Prince Chu’s woman? Given
that overbearing and domineering temper of his, I’m afraid he
won’t let her go that easily.”
Xiaofuzi said, “No matter how noble Prince Chu is, he can’t be
even nobler than his Majesty, can he? His Majesty didn’t even say
anything, so isn’t it only right for me to present her to Forefather?
Besides, you don’t have to worry about this matter. I assure you that
all the proper arrangements will be made before the beginning of
Spring. It’ll be her good fortune when the time comes for you to lay
your eyes on her regardless of whether or not you accept her.”
Pan Rugui set aside the teacup and said, “There’s no hurry. I’m
not an avaricious or a lecherous man. Since you brought up Prince
Chu, then how is the one who has the same temper as him, Mister-
Muddling-Along Second Young Master Xiao, doing lately?”
Xiaofuzi pounded Pan Rugui’s thigh in a massage and said,
“Heh! Forefather, this Second Young Master Xiao is really a legend.
From the first night since he came to the Capital, he has been out
drinking with the others! He has never done any serious work
except to drink and make merry. Prince Chu and that clique of his
all like to have fun with him. Birds of a feather truly flock together!”
“That’s fine… but he is still a member of the Xiao Clan after all.
His Majesty placed him in the Imperial Regalia Service, which is too
close for comfort. It makes me uneasy.” Pan Rugui thought about it
for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, “I have thought of
just the perfect place to send him away to. Put on my shoes. I’m
going to Mingli Hall to serve His Majesty!”
It was the Zhengdan Festival’s ‘Banquet of Ten Thousand
Officials’ the next day. There was nothing much going on during
the feast, and just as the banquet was about to break up, they all
heard Emperor Xiande say.
“A-Ye, has it been comfortable for you in Qudu these days?”
Xiao Chiye stopped peeling the tangerine and answered, “To
reply Your Majesty, it’s comfortable.”
Emperor Xiande turned towards Xiao Jiming and said, “I’ve
been thinking about it. Putting A-Ye in the Imperial Regalia Service
is a waste of talent. He’s a good child who has been on the
battlefield. Keeping him before me is too much of an aggrievement
for him. How about this? Let A-Ye go to the Imperial Army. The
Imperial Army Viceroy10 used to be Xi Gu’an, but he now has the
Eight Great Training Divisions to manage. He is really up to his ears
in work. Let A-Ye take his place.”
Right at once, Lu Guangbai frowned.
At the very least, the Imperial Regalia Service would be on duty
before the Emperor. If anything were to happen, His Majesty could
not turn a blind eye to it. But what good was the Imperial Army?
The Imperial Army was now the errand-runners of Qudu. Was this a
reward? How could this even be considered a reward?!
Lu Guangbai was about to rise to his feet when he saw that Xiao
Chiye had already bowed his thanks.
“A Viceroy sounds imposing, just like a Commander-in-Chief.”
Xiao Chiye smiled frivolously and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Secretariat Elder Hua laughed out loud and said, “His Majesty is
wise! Hereditary Prince, here’s a young hero in the making.”
The sounds of congratulations rose and fell like the tide during
the banquet. Xiao Jiming smiled and said nothing as he looked at
Xiao Chiye.
Lu Guangbai drank the wine and lowered his head to say to
Zhao Hui at the side. “… Such an arrangement is clearly a death
sentence aimed at Jiming’s heart.”
After the banquet broke up, Xiao Chiye disappeared without a
trace.
 His rowdy bunch of friends wanted to congratulate him on his
promotion. So he took them drinking. When they reemerged at
midnight after drinking, they were all staggering on their feet.
Prince Chu, Li Jianheng, was a few years older than Xiao Chiye.
He was a true scoundrel. Before getting into the sedan chair, he
even tugged at Xiao Chiye’s sleeve and said in a drunken stupor,
“How capable of you! The Imperial Army, huh. You need not bother
about patrols or defenses. It’s a very idle job, and yet you still get to
collect a salary. You get the money, and you don’t have to put your
life on the line. All the best things in the world have fallen into your
lap! You must be secretly smug!”
Xiao Chiye smiled too; it was even a wicked smile. He said,
“That’s right. That’s why I lose no time in inviting you for a drink.
Together in the future, we’ll run amok in Qudu!”
“Right, right!” Li Jianheng patted Xiao Chiye vigorously on his
shoulder. “That’s the spirit! Come to my residence a few days later.
I’ll get them to… celebrate for you again…”
Xiao Chiye watched the sedan move away into the distance
and flipped atop his horse. He had personally trained and tamed
his horse – the offspring of wild horses – at the foot of the Hongyan
Mountain Ranges. It was a swift and brave divine steed that was
black all over except for a patch of white on its chest.
Xiao Chiye clapped his horse forward. The stores on both sides
of the street were about to light the lanterns to send him off. He
raised his hand and said, “Put them out. Don’t illuminate them.”
The stores’ attendants looked at each other, but they did not
dare to disobey him. The lanterns went out one by one until there
was only the dim glow of the frosty moon and icy snow on the
road.
Xiao Chiye whistled, and the gyrfalcon swooped down from
the darkness of the night amid the whistling of the wind. He then
hit the horse to spur it on. The steed under his saddle snorted out a
puff of hot air and broke into a sudden dash.
The strong wind launched a frenzied assault against Xiao
Chiye, dissipating the hot flushes he had from drinking. In the
darkness, he looked like a cornered beast on a rampage. The
sounds of hooves became the massive crashes of collisions. He
galloped through the deserted streets. The darkness ripped his
smiling face away until all that remained was a cold and lonely
silence.
The steed had been running for an unknown period of time
when Xiao Chiye suddenly tumbled off it. He crashed heavily into
the pile of snow and remained there with his head lowered for a
moment.
The horse raised its hooves and trotted around him before it
lowered its head to nudge him. The gyrfalcon remained perched
on the back of the horse and tilted its head to look askance at him.
Xiao Chiye endured it for a moment, then propped himself up
with his arms and vomited. After a long time, he stood up and
leaned against the wall. The bone thumb ring on his thumb was a
little large and had fallen off somewhere. He searched for it in the
snow, but then he heard someone whispering a question a short
distance away. “Who’s there?”
Xiao Chiye ignored him.
The Imperial Army Squad Commander felt for his lantern to
shine at him and said, “How dare you… Your Excellency?”
Xiao Chiye turned his head and asked, “Know me?”
The Imperial Army Squad Commander shook his head
honestly. “I don’t know which of the Lords you are…”
“I’m your big brother.” Xiao Chiye cast away the dirtied cloak
and lowered his eyes to continue looking for the thumb ring. He
cussed in irritation under his breath and said, “Give me the lantern.
You can scram.”
The Imperial Army Squad Commander cautiously came nearer
and said, “You are Second Young Master, right? We have just
received the order. It’s still dark, and it’s too early for an
investigation. There’s still time if you come again tomorrow…”
Xiao Chiye held out his hand, and the Imperial Army Squad
Commander handed the lantern over to him. Xiao Chiye asked,
“What is this place?”
The Imperial Army Squad Commander respectfully replied,
“The perimeter of Qudu. Zhao Zui Temple.”
Xiao Chiye said, “You may leave.”
 The Squad Commander retreated and was about to leave when
he heard Xiao Chiye speak. “Shen Zechuan is here? Beyond this
wall?”
“That’s right.” The Squad Commander was getting more and
more apprehensive. “He’s detained in…”
“Get him to come out.”
The stunned Squad Commander hastened to say, “How would
that do?! Even if you are the Viceroy, you can’t do that! His Majesty
the Emperor strictly commanded…”
Xiao Chiye lifted the lantern and said, “I have the final say in
the Imperial Army.”
The Squad Commander said tentatively. “Don’t kill, kill…”
“I’m fucking telling him to come out and sing me a tune!” Xiao
Chiye flung the lantern aside suddenly. The light swiftly went out.
He stood in the darkness, his eyes malicious.

P/s: As a reminder for those who are confused about

characters’ names and titles, there’s a character glossary which will
be updated as the translation progresses to prevent spoilers.

Footnotes

1.
2. 闹蛾 Nao’e. A head accessories in ancient times cut out of
silk or ‘black gold’ paper into the shape of flowers or insects.
3.
4. 乌金纸 coal or ‘black gold’ paper.
5. 正旦节 Zhengdan Festival is also known as Spring
Festival, which celebrates the start of the new year from the
first day of the first month in the lunar calendar.
6. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’
during summer) is one of the objectionable practices of
‘Three Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty, along with ‘Coal
Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the Capital used to bribe the
officials in the Capital during summertime.
7. 軍屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties as well as farm corps to supply the border
garrisons with grains.
8. 孝敬 literally showing respect and filial piety to one’s
parents and elders, but it also refers to showering gifts on
one’s superiors. In this context, it refers to bribes and
currying favors with gifts and money.
9. 打太极 Taiji is an ancient Chinese exercise or form of
martial art that involves slow, circular movements. To play
Taiji with someone is to keep passing the buck around.
10. Purple cloud is thought to be an auspicious omen in the
old days.
11. 太上老君 Tai Shang Lao Jun or The Grand Supreme
Elderly Lord is a deity in Taoism. It’s believed that Laozi, who
authored the classic Tao Te Ching, is the incarnation of Tai
Shang Lao Jun.
12. Viceroy, also known as Governor-General.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 10 : DRUNKEN

Xiao Jiming gathered his cloak around him as he stood under

the lantern. Zhao Hui stood guard behind him and said, “Counting
the hours, he should be back now. The man who went to pick him
up said that the Young Master had left by himself on his horse. Why
isn’t he here yet?”
Xiao Jiming let out a breath of cold air and looked at the sky in
silence for a moment. He said, “Whenever he’s unhappy in the past,
he would go galloping on horseback at the foot of Hongyan
Mountains. This habit won’t change.”
Zhao Hui said, “At the very least, the Imperial Army is a post.”
Xiao Jiming shifted his gaze and asked, “Do you know what
Father regrets the most in his life?”
Zhao Hui shook his head honestly.
Xiao Jiming said, “It’s that he has fathered A-Ye too late. Three
years ago, we were ambushed at the foot of Hongyan Mountains.
Before Father’s reinforcements arrived, A-Ye led the twenty
members of the cavalry that had been originally assigned to guard
him and rode his horse across the Hongjiang River at night. He
groped around in the quagmire for half the night and burned
Biansha’s grains. When I saw him, he was smelly and dirty all over
as he soaked in the water until the wounds on his legs festered.
That year, he was only fourteen of age. I asked if he was afraid, and
he said that he had a blast of a time. Father often said that the Lu
Clan are the eagles of the desert, while the Xiao Clan are the dogs
of Libei. I don’t like this choice of phrasing, but we are like chained
dogs every time we deploy troops from that time onwards. It’s no
longer as satisfying as it was ten over years ago. Battling all these
years has long drained the valor in me. The members of the Xiao
Clan are not dogs, but the only one left today with the nature of the
wolf is A-Ye. What he yearns for in his dreams are the mountains of
Libei. And yet, he now has to remain in Qudu and forget about the
freedom of riding horses. Father and I have both let him down.”
After a moment’s silence, Zhao Hui looked at Xiao Jiming and
said, “There’s no need for the Hereditary Prince to put yourself
down. The Young Master is impetuous by nature and is not the best
choice of person to lead and continue the legacy. It doesn’t matter
if he’s born earlier or later; the reins of Libei must not be handed
over to him. The Commander-in-Chief must have the tenacity of
one shaped by experience, and a willpower as unwavering as a
rock. The Young Master is not up to it.”
Xiao Jiming did not say a word more.
The strong wind that night sent the lanterns swinging
ceaselessly. Master and slave waited for a little less than an hour
before they saw someone urging the horse on towards them from
a distance away.
“Hereditary Prince!” The man on the horse tumbled off and
said, “Something happened to the Young Master!”
Zhao Hui immediately held up his blade and said, “Where is the
Young Master?”
◈ ◈ ◈
An hour earlier.
The Squad Commander shoved a shackled Shen Zechuan
down the stairs.
“Sing.” The Squad Commander egged him on from behind.
“Quick, sing a few lines!”
Shen Zechuan did not utter a word as he looked at the man
squatting under the shadows of the wall. His chest hurt the
moment he saw the gyrfalcon. He could not help but purse his lips
into a tight line as he stood where he was.
Xiao Chiye said, “Come over and stand here.”
Shen Zechuan exhaled a breath of hot air and slowly shuffled
forward to stand a short distance away from Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye rose to his feet and asked, “Who is your mother?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “A dancer from Duanzhou.”.
“You know how to sing a tune, right?” Xiao Chiye’s gaze was so
terrifying that it made one flustered. “Old Dog Shen didn’t teach
you anything, but someone must have taught you something.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his head to evade his gaze as if he was
afraid of him. He said, “… I don’t know how to.”
“Lift your head.” Xiao Chiye pushed aside the lantern with his
foot. “Or are you afraid of me?”
 Shen Zechuan could only raise his head. He caught a whiff of
wine.
Xiao Chiye said, “It’s fine if you don’t want to sing. Find
something for me.”
Shen Zechuan spread out his palms to show that he was still
being chained.
Xiao Chiye frowned and said, “Just look for it like that.”
So Shen Zechuan squatted down and grabbed a few handfuls
of snow.
Xiao Chiye stared coldly at the top of his head and said, “Stand
up again.”
So Shen Zechuan propped himself up with his hands on his
knees and stood up.
Xiao Chiye said, “You can squat down and up freely, and your
legs are unaffected. Were the Imperial Bodyguards carrying out the
floggings too considerate, or is a worthless life easier to sustain?”
“Naturally, it’s because a worthless life is easier to sustain.” Shen
Zechuan said in a muffled voice. “How lucky for me.”
“That makes little sense.” Xiao Chiye pressed his whip against
Shen Zechuan’s chest. “That kick was meant to end this life. Your
martial art skills are pretty good.”
This whip gave Shen Zechuan the chills. He cowered from fear
and said, “I’m just… hanging on to my last breath. Second Young
Master is righteous. Why make life difficult for a nobody like me?
This matter has already come to such a point, and I’ve gotten what
I deserve. Please let me off.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Do you truly mean that?”
Shen Zechuan had already been reduced to sobs. He nodded
his head vigorously.
Xiao Chiye retracted the whip and said, “You can say anything,
but who knows whether or not they are true. How about this? Bark a
few times like a dog. Once I’m satisfied, I’ll let you off tonight.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing.
The Squad Commander was scared witless by Xiao Chiye’s
eyes and shoved Shen Zechuan a few times.
The color drained from Shen Zechuan’s face as he said timidly,
“… At least let me do it before you alone.”
 “Scram.” Xiao Chiye kept it short and to the point.
The Squad Commander instantly felt relieved and said joyously
to Shen Zechuan. “Scram! Let’s us scram now…”
Xiao Chiye’s cutting gaze fell upon the Squad Commander’s
face. The Squad Commander went weak in the knees. He pointed
to himself and said, “Me, me? Sure… Sure thing!”
Gritting his teeth, he curled up into a ball and rolled1 a few
rounds in the snow before standing a short distance away.
Shen Zechuan coyly shifted a little closer and whispered into
Xiao Chiye’s ear. “… Even if you let me off, will I let you off?”
Bits of snow suddenly flew up as Xiao Chiye gripped Shen
Zechuan’s arm and pressed it down forcefully. With a sinister
expression, he said, “Showing your true colors now, huh. I was
wondering what’s with this helpless and pitiful act you are putting
on!”
Both men suddenly toppled over onto the snow. With his hands
dangling from the handcuffs, Shen Zechuan kicked Xiao Chiye in
his lower abdomen and scrambled to prop himself up. “The
imperial decree was for me to be confined. Yet the Xiao Clan dares
to defy the imperial edict to take my life. After tonight—”
Xiao Chiye dragged Shen Zechuan towards him by his
shackles.
Shen Zechuan knocked hard against the ground and yelled
through clenched teeth. “—You are all the Xiao Clan’s accomplices
in defying the imperial edict! My death is not to be regretted, but
the Imperial Army will all die with me tonight!”2
Xiao Chiye clutched Shen Zechuan’s throat from behind and
forced him to raise his head. He gave a few short laughs and said
harshly, “Do you think of yourself as a golden child? Die with you?
Are you even worthy?! Killing you is just like pulling weeds!”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing was strained. He suddenly looped
his shackles around the nape of Xiao Chiye’s neck and summoned
all his strength to wrench the latter to the ground. Xiao Chiye was
caught unawares by this move. As he raised his arms, Shen
Zechuan kicked him in the chest. Both men instantly tumbled
upside down.
 “Kill me like pulling weeds?” Shen Zechuan bent his head and
stared into Xiao Chiye’s eyes, finally meeting him eye to eye amidst
the chaos. He said in a hoarse voice, “You’ve missed the
opportunity. It remains to be seen who will be the hound and who
will be the jade baby rabbit in time to come!”
“Whoever dares to help you in secret!” Xiao Chiye’s intent to kill
had been ignited. “I’ll kill one for every one of them I dig out!”
The Squad Commander was scared to death by this sudden
change and rushed over to stop them. “Your Excellency! Your
Excellency mustn’t kill!”
“That’s right!” Shen Zechuan snapped. “The Second Young
Master wants to kill me tonight!”
“Shut your trap!” Xiao Chiye made a sudden move to gag his
mouth.
Who would have known that Shen Zechuan would open his
mouth to clamp his teeth down hard on him? He pressed down on
half of Xiao Chiye’s body, having already bitten through the skin
and flesh of the web between Xiao Chiye’s thumb and forefinger.
Xiao Chiye said in a cold voice, “Do you think you can cover it
up by making a scene and acting shamelessly? Your martial arts
prowess is by no means average!”
The Squad Commander could not stop them, and so he
hurriedly called for help. “Pull him off, quick!”
Blood was oozing out between Shen Zechuan’s teeth, but still,
he refused to let go. Xiao Chiye had already sobered up by now.
He grabbed and lifted Shen Zechuan by his back collar and flung
him away. The pain in his purlicue was penetrating. Yet it was Shen
Zechuan’s eyes that were vividly seared into Xiao Chiye’s memory.
“Young Master!” Zhao Hui shouted on horseback.
Xiao Chiye turned his head and saw his elder brother on
horseback too. The latter had already dismounted and was
hurrying towards him. Right at that very instant, he felt ashamed. It
was as if someone had peeled him bare of his skin and battered
him back into his worthless original self.
Xiao Jiming went down on one knee, and Shen Zechuan
immediately let go. Xiao Chiye’s purlicue was badly mangled, and
the teeth marks on it were deep.
 “Why did you fight?” Zhao Hui followed closely behind and saw
his wound.
“Lock him up.” Xiao Jiming said in a deep voice.
Zhao Hui picked Shen Zechuan up and headed inside.
“The Young Master is drunk.” Xiao Jiming looked at the Squad
Commander and said, “Don’t let what happened tonight get out. I
will personally make an apology to His Majesty.”
The Squad Commander kowtowed to him several times and
repeated, “I’ll leave the arrangements to the Hereditary Prince!”
Xiao Jiming stood up. Zhao Hui had already thrown the man
back into the temple. On seeing this, he said to the Squad
Commander, “It has been hard on our Imperial Army brothers
tonight in sending the Young Master back to the residence all safe
and sound. It isn’t easy to stand guard on a winter night. I’d like to
invite all of you for a drink of hot wine. I hope the various
gentlemen will not turn this invitation down.”
Not daring to say no, the Squad Commander tactfully agreed.
Only then did Xiao Jiming look at Xiao Chiye, although it was
in wordless silence.
Xiao Chiye did not even wipe away the blood on his hand. He
wanted to say something, but then he saw that his elder brother
had already turned around to mount the horse.
“Dage.”
Xiao Chiye called out to him in a mutter.
Xiao Jiming heard him, but he spurred his horse on and left.

Footnotes
1. 滚 it can both mean to scram/get lost and to roll.
2. 陪葬 In some periods during the Ming Dynasty (and
some other Dynasties), when the Emperor died, other
people such as his concubines might be killed, forced to
commit suicide, or were buried alive alongside the dead
Emperor as a sign of their eternal fidelity to him by following
him to his grave. It also refers to taking someone down with
you.
3.
4. ^ Shen Zechuan
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 11 : NEW YEAR

Shen Zechuan’s shackles were removed. He moved his wrists as

he listened to the Squad Commander grumble on and on. Ji Gang
pushed the wheelbarrow and swiftly finished unloading the wine
for the Imperial Army. With a coarse cloth wrapped around his
head, he shifted over to them.
After ordering Ji Gang to finish tidying up the courtyard before
spring, the Squad Commander went outside again to instruct the
squad on guard duty that night not to spread word of the incident.
“Are you hurt?” Ji Gang pulled Shen Zechuan’s arm.
“No.” Shen Zechuan raised his hand to wipe the nape of his
neck, where Xiao Chiye had left strangulation marks. He called out,
“Shifu.”
Ji Gang asked, “Where does it hurt?”
Shen Zechuan shook his head. He considered it for a moment,
then said, “His external martial arts1 is strong and fierce, and his
fists and kicks are powerful. It feels familiar to me.”
Ji Gang’s burned and disfigured face looked astonished. He
said, “Our Ji Clan Boxing Style has never been imparted to
outsiders.”
“I didn’t dare to counter his moves the moment he struck.” The
taste of blood seemed to linger in Shen Zechuan’s mouth. He
licked the edges of his teeth with the tip of his tongue and thought
for a moment. He said, “I was afraid he might get an inkling, so I
did not dare to pull out all the stops. It’s just that making a scene
and playing dumb could not deceive him either. Shifu, why does
he hate me so much? Teacher spoke of the current political
situation. Aren’t those relatives of the Empress Dowager with her at
the lead the ones he should hate the most?”
“That brat is drunk!” Ji Gang said with loathing. “And bullies
always pick on the weak. So he could only turn to you.”
Shen Zechuan shook out his left hand. “He was looking for this.
Does shifu recognize it?”
Lying quietly on his palm was that aged and worn out bone
thumb ring.
 “Those with impressive arm strength in the army often use
large bows and must wear these kinds of thumb rings when they
are pulling the bowstring.” Ji Gang scrutinized the thumb ring and
said, “This kind of wear and tear is most likely from drawing the
Libei Cavalry’s Great Bow of Heaven. However, this Second Young
Master Xiao is not heading into war. So what is he wearing this
for?”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye slept in silence. It was Lu Guangbai who woke him
up.
“You were really a piece of work last night.” Lu Guangbai did
not hold back. He sat on the chair and said, “You have only just
gotten a post, and you have already gone and looked for trouble. I
just saw Jiming leaving the residence earlier to head for the
palace.”
Xiao Chiye’s throat felt uncomfortable as he lay covered under
the quilt. He said, “I drank too much.”
“In a few more days, we will leave the capital.” Lu Guangbai
said in all earnestness. “You can’t continue drinking like this. What
are you going to do if you drink until your martial art skills are
rendered useless and your body collapses?”
Xiao Chiye did not reply.
Lu Guangbai continued, “They devastated your elder brother’s
heart at the banquet last night, so you should show him some
understanding. He is busy with Libei’s military affairs and, at the
same time, concerned about your sister-in-law. And now he has to
leave you behind here. He feels terrible. A-Ye, who doesn’t speak
highly of him before others? But all of them hope that he will never
come back again every time he sets off for battle. For these people,
he has to lead the troops to the battlefield year after year. He won’t
say it himself, but he’s made of flesh and blood. So how would it
not hurt him?”
Xiao Chiye lifted the quilt and let out a long sigh. He said, “Do I
not understand all that you have said?”
“What do you understand?” Lu Guangbai threw the tangerine
in his hand at Xiao Chiye and said, “If you understand, then get up
and apologize to your eldest brother.”
 Xiao Chiye caught the tangerine and sat up.
Lu Guangbai looked at the bandaged wound on his hand and
could not help but laugh. Sitting on the chair, he ate the tangerine
and said, “Why did you provoke him? You just had to go and get
yourself bitten before you are satisfied!”
“I told him to sing a tune.” Xiao Chiye said. “But he said I
wanted his life. How is this guy a pushover?”
“You are no pushover either to start a fight with a confined
prisoner on the street. Fortunately, Jiming reached in time.
Otherwise, there will be another uproar in the city again today. “Lu
Guangbai asked, “Are you badly hurt?”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand for a look and said in irritation, “He’s
born in the year of the dog.”2
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Jiming came back only in the afternoon. Zhao Hui
followed behind him and saw Xiao Chiye waiting under the eaves.
“Dage.” Xiao Chiye called out.
Xiao Jiming took off his cloak, and Zhao Hui took it. The
maidservant came over, carrying a copper basin in her hands. Xiao
Jiming washed his hands and ignored him.
Zhao Hui looked back at him and said, “Young Master, aren’t
you going for the Imperial Army investigation today? Go get the
Viceroy token3 and come back for dinner tonight.”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’ll go if my elder brother tells me to.”
Xiao Jiming wiped his hands and finally looked at him. He said,
“I didn’t tell you to go last night, but you still went ahead, didn’t
you?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I ran in the wrong direction. I had meant to
return home.”
Xiao Jiming placed the handkerchief back into the copper
basin and said, “Go get the token, then come back for your meal.”
Only then did Xiao Chiye leave.
◈ ◈ ◈
Since the Imperial Army was dismissed from its duty of
guarding the capital, the former office had fallen into a state of
desolation. Xiao Chiye spurred his horse over and saw several men
in short jackets secured with waist sashes sitting around basking in
the sun chatting. Their idle and lazy looks had none of the valor
one would expect of an “army”.
Xiao Chiye dismounted his horse. Carrying his whip, he strode
into the courtyard. There was a bald pine tree standing in the
courtyard, with the accumulated snow casually shoved into a heap.
No one removed the icicles hanging on the eaves of the veranda,
and from the looks of it, the tiles on the rooftop were due for a
retiling too.
Welp, they were poor.
Xiao Chiye continued to scrutinize the surroundings. The paint
was already peeling off the plaque. He went down several steps to
the main hall. Then, lifting the curtain with his whip, he bent over
slightly to enter.
The men sitting around the stove cracking peanuts inside
immediately turned their heads over to look at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye laid down his horsewhip on the table and lifted over
the chair to sit down without standing on ceremony. He said, “So,
everyone’s here.”
The people around him all stood up with a clatter, stepping
noisily over those peanut shells under their feet. Most of them were
over forty years of age from old military households. Having
muddled along in the Imperial Army for such a long time, they had
no other capability to speak of, except for being adept at acting
shamelessly to extort money. Seeing Xiao Chiye now, their gazes
sized him up and down before they exchanged sneaky looks at
one another with ulterior motives in mind.
“Second Young Master!” One of them wiped his hands on his
robe and said with a smile, “We have been waiting for you to
collect the token today!”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’m here now, no? Where’s the token?”
The man said smilingly, “We waited for you this morning, but
you didn’t come, and the Ministry of Works were urging us to get to
work, so Assistant Commander Cao took the token first to deploy
the men. He will be back late. Once he’s back, I’ll send someone to
deliver it to your residence.”
Xiao Chiye returned his smile and said, “And you are?”
 The man said, “Me? Just call me Lao Chen!4 I used to be the
Company Commander of Dicheng’s Company.5 Master Hua Shisan
recommended me for a promotion, so here I am now in our
Imperial Army.”
“That’s weird.” With one hand on the chair’s handle, Xiao Chiye
leaned his body to the side and looked at Lao Chen. “Right below
the Viceroy should be the Imperial Guards Regional Vice
Commander. How did it end up in the hands of an Assistant
Commander?”
“You aren’t aware of it but….” When Lao Chen saw Xiao Chiye
listening attentively, his body, which had been bent over in a bow,
straightened up imprudently. “The Zhongbo’s troops were
defeated last year, and the grains from Jincheng could not be
shipped over. That led to an emergency of food shortage in Qudu.
The bureaucrats from the Ministry of Personnel could not afford to
pay out yearly salary, and so they cut the staff in the Imperial Army
Office by half. At present, we do not have a Vice Commander. The
closest is Assistant Commander Cao. All that’s left are just the few
of us.”
“So you’re saying.” Xiao Chiye said, “Anyone can get their
hands on the Viceroy’s authority token?”
“Our usual practice in the past was to just take the token and
go. The Ministry of Works’s tasks can’t wait, and it’s all lifting lumber
to the palace. We are in a humble position, and our words carry
little weight. We can’t afford to offend anyone. We don’t have a
choice.” Lao Chen started pinning the blame. “If you think this is
against the rules, you have to make it clear to the Ministry of
Works.”
“I’m a legitimate viceroy with a token of authority.” Xiao Chiye
said, “Why do I have to explain myself to the Ministry of Works? The
one in command above the Imperial Army is the Emperor. It was on
account of camaraderie that the Imperial Army helped the Six
Ministries6 out in the past without settling accounts with them when
they wanted our help. But whoever wants manpower from today
onwards, if they can’t give a proper explanation of the tasks
involved and a clear accounting of the schedules, then they better
not count on the deployment of my men.”
 “You can say anything you want.” Lao Chen and the others
began laughing. He said, “However, we aren’t in charge of patrols
and defenses now; we are errand-runners and odd-job laborers!
We could still prove ourselves useful by helping out at the Six
Ministries. Besides, His Majesty the Emperor had never said a word
about this over the past few years. Second Young Master, having
money in your pocket is not as good as having friends in the
imperial court. You lived in Libei in the past, but the situation of the
Imperial Army differs from the Armored Cavalry of Libei. Some
things simply won’t work here! Moreover, our Imperial Army is no
match for the Eight Great Training Divisions. Who—”
Xiao Chiye stood up and said, “Who did you say
recommended you for a post here?”
Lao Chen’s expression glowed as he straightened his back.
How he itched to repeat it out loud thrice. “Master Hua Shisan! You
know him too? He’s the Empress Dowager’s grandson of common
birth. He’s Third Missy Hua’s—”
With a lift of his foot, Xiao Chiye gave him a kick! Lao Chen was
still speaking with a glowing face, and the kick caught him off-
guard and sent him toppling over and crashing into the table and
chair. The teapot smashed onto the ground, splashing tea all over
the floor. It startled Lao Chen back to his senses, and he trembled
as he crawled and kneeled on the ground.
“The loafer raised by a concubine from the Hua Clan.” Xiao
Chiye swept aside the peanut shells on the table. “He used to carry
my boots in the past. What kind of influential backer do you think
he is? At best, he’s just a small potato. I want the Viceroy’s token of
authority. Instead, you tell me the rules. Are you so blinded that you
can’t even tell who I am? From now on, I’m the one who has the
final say in the Imperial Army!”
Lao Chen propped himself up with his hands and kowtowed to
him. Having received a rude awakening, he hurriedly said, “Second
Young Master, Second Young Master…”
“Who the fuck is your Second Young Master?” Xiao Chiye’s eyes
were piercingly cold. “As the Imperial Army Viceroy, I’m your
master who is in control of your life. Putting on airs before me and
pretending to be some local ruffian? The Ministry of Works needs
manpower for manual labor, and the men deployed are all from
the Imperial Army. If there were no money exchanging hands in
between, then would you have found it worthwhile for you to throw
yourselves at their feet? Everyone at the bottom is working
themselves to their deaths, but you sure have kept yourself fat
without lifting a finger. What? Hua Shisan said he would protect
you, and you really think of yourself as having the Death-
Exemption Golden Token7 in your possession?!”
“I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t dare!” Lao Chen shuffled a few
steps on his knees and said, “Your Excellency! This humble servant
was spouting nonsense…”
“Half an hour.”8 Xiao Chiye said. “Authority token, register of
names, and twenty thousand soldiers. I want to check them all. It’s
fine if one is missing, you gentlemen can just substitute it with your
heads.”
Lao Chen hurriedly rose to his feet and dashed out.
◈ ◈ ◈
The various generals left the capital a few days later. Emperor
Xiande led hundreds of officials to send off Xiao Jiming. He
coughed intermittently as he held Xiao Jiming by the arms in the
heavy snow.
“Jiming.” Emperor Xiande was wrapped in a cloak, and yet he
was still frightfully skinny. He said, “We can only meet again next
year once you leave today. It has been restless over at the Libei
frontier. Although the Biansha Cavalry had beaten a withdrawal,
they still refused to bow and submit to us. The rapacious ambitions
of the Twelve Tribes are crystal clear for all to see. You are my
trusted official, and also a valiant general of Dazhou. You must be
cautious in everything you do.”
“We came to Your Majesty’s rescue late this time, and yet Your
Majesty still showed favor to us. Both Father and this humble
servant feel stricken. As long as Your Majesty gives the command
in the future, Libei will surely risk life and limb for Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jiming said.
“Ever since your father fell ill, he has not met with me for many
years.” Emperor Xiande slowly turned his head back and gazed at
masses of human heads within the city gates. Then he looked at
the magnificent palace that had towered over Qudu for a hundred
years. He said softly, “I’ve let all the loyal soldiers who have lost
their lives on the battlefield down with the way the matter of the
surviving member of the Shen Clan played out. But I have been on
my sickbed for such a long time, and there are too many matters
where my hands are tied.”
Xiao Jiming followed his gaze. After a while, he said, “The wind
and snow are raging in Qudu. Your Majesty, please take care of
your health.”
Emperor Xiande slowly released his grip on Xiao Jiming’s hand
and said, “My good son, go.”
Lu Guangbai spurred the horse out of the city. As expected, he
saw Xiao Chiye waiting alone at the pavilion at the foot of the
mountain. He remained on his horse as he whistled at Xiao Chiye
from afar and said, “Brat, we are leaving!”
Xiao Chiye led the horse and said, “Storms are rife in the
martial fraternity; a vessel dreads its captain abandoning ship.9 You
must be careful!
“Just say it if you have something to say. Why recite a poem?”
Lu Guangbai laughed heartily. “Just wait. You will eventually be able
to return home one day.”
“That depends on fate.” Xiao Chiye smiled too.
The sound of horse hooves rang out behind them. Lu Guangbai
looked back. The horse rider coming towards them in the snow
was dressed in a simple old robe and had black hair tied up in a
high ponytail. Lu Guangbai quickly turned his horse around and
shouted, “Commander-in-Chief! Let’s leave together.”
Qi Zhuyin slowed down. She was dressed light in an overcoat
and an old outer robe while carrying a long sword on her back. If
one were to look at just her appearance, then she could have been
merely an ordinary woman in the martial fraternity. It was only after
the wind passed that her face crystallized into a surprisingly lovely
face.
“That horse of yours is second-rate.” She raised her eyebrows
and smiled, instantly showing her might. “It can’t catch up with
mine, can it?”
 But Lu Guangbai liked it. He said, “It isn’t as agile and brave as
the Commander-in-Chief’s steed, but it’s a good boy that has
survived the battlefield. Let’s have a race, and we’ll find out if it can
keep up or not.”
“Now, that one over there looks rare to me.” Qi Zhuyin raised
her chin at Xiao Chiye. “Swap with me?”
Xiao Chiye stroked his steed’s mane and said, “No, thanks. No
matter how I look at it, I’m the one losing out.”
Qi Zhuyin raised her hand and threw an object to Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye caught it with both arms. It was an unusually heavy
executioner’s blade10 still in its sheath.
“Before the new year, Libei raised a batch of fine battle steeds
for Qidong, and the credits go to you. That thing was forged by the
best craftsman in my account books. It cost me a lot of precious
materials.” Qi Zhuyin said, “How about it? Not losing out now, huh.”
Xiao Chiye weighed it in his hands and laughed. He said,
“Commander-in-Chief, from now on, you’re my dear jiejie! The
blade I’ve brought from home might be good, but it’s too light. It’s
not as smooth to wield as this one.”
Qi Zhuyin said, “Jiejie? Wait till you unsheathed the blade, and
you’ll be calling me yeye!”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Has this blade been given a name?”
“I did think of one.” Qi Zhuyin said, “He who speaks of the
ruthlessness of the wolf is himself insatiable and ruthless.11 Isn’t that
just perfect for you?”
But Lu Guangbai said, “The word ‘ruthlessness’ is a little too
fierce. He’s just—”
“Fierce.” Qi Zhuyin flung the horsewhip out with a crack, and
the steed under her saddle instantly galloped away. Without
looking back, she said, “What you’d want for a man of Libei is
precisely for him to be fierce! ”
The main army on the other side had already started moving.
The red tassels12 from the sea of spears of the Qidong Garrison
Troops followed closely behind Qi Zhuyin and surged towards the
wilderness in the east. Lu Guangbai did not linger. He waved his
hand at Xiao Chiye, then spurred his horse on to catch up with
them.
 The next moment, Xiao Chiye could hear the Armored Cavalry
stomping across the ground. It almost seemed as if the earth
beneath his feet was quaking slightly. Xiao Chiye looked out into
the distance and saw his eldest brother in the lead. Like a wave of
black tide, the familiar Armored Cavalry of Libei swept across the
snowy plains and galloped north.
The gyrfalcon broke through the wind to chase after them. It
hovered in the air over the Armored Cavalry of Libei and
screeched. Xiao Chiye stood clenching his blade, watching on as
the Armored Cavalry of Libei vanished amidst the boundless sea of
snow.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan’s mind was wandering, and Grand Mentor Qi
knocked him back to his senses.
“Now that the various generals have returned to their positions,
Qudu has once again lapsed back into a stage of impasse.” With
his hair all disheveled, Grand Mentor Qi craned his neck and
looked at Shen Zechuan. “You don’t have much time. You can’t
keep on being willing to remain a trapped turtle in a jar!”13
“They are the butcher knife, and I’m the meat on their chopping
board.”14 Shen Zechuan looked up and said, “Teacher, do I really
still have a chance to leave this place?”
“Fortune and misfortune are interdependent. Being confined is
not necessarily a bad thing.” Grand Mentor Qi opened the gourd
stopper and took a few gulps of wine. “It’s easier to lay low and
bide your time if you remain behind closed doors. You will have
plenty of opportunities in the future!”
The palace bell tolled in the distance. The new year had
begun.

Footnotes
1. 外家拳 ‘external’ martial arts, originates from Shaolin,
where one uses one’s physical strength in combat to go on
the offensive. The opposite 内家拳 ‘internal’ martial arts
originates from Zhang Sanfeng, where one mobilizes one’s
internal energy instead. The latter is more concerned about
the spiritual and mental aspects rather than the physical
aspects. An example of internal martial arts is Taiji (Tai Chi).
2. The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve-year cycle, and
each year in that cycle is related to an animal sign. These
signs in order are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake,
horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

3.
4. 腰牌 literally authority token or token, it’s a small tablet or
token hung at the waist to prove one’s identity, especially for
people in governmental posts or acting in an official
capacity. I’ll also be calling this an authority tablet or tablet of
authority.
5. 老陈 Lao Chen, or literally, Old Chen. Lao can be used as
a prefix before the surname of an older person to indicate
affection or familiarity.
6. 百户所 The “Company” here is a military unit.
7. 六部 Six Ministries, specifically the Ministry of Works,
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites,
Ministry of Revenue (or Finance in modern terms), and
Ministry of War.
8. 免死金牌 Death-Exemption Golden Token; a tablet or
token bestowed by Emperor which would allow a person to
be exempt from the death penalty.
9. 半炷香 literally the time half an incense stick takes to
burn. Some sources suggest that one stick (一炷香) takes 30
minutes or one hour (one hour is the generally agreed time),
but it really depends on a variety of factors (the environment,
wind, length of the stick, etc). So half a stick is presumably
anywhere from 15 to 30 mins.
10. 《梦李白其二》·杜甫Dreaming of Li Bai 2 by Du Fu.

11.
12. 鬼头刀 literally ghost-headed blade. It’s a kind of blade
used for beheading people sentenced to death in old times.
13. 凡言狼戾者，谓贪而戾也 by Yan Shigu (颜师古), a famous
Chinese historian, linguist, politician, and writer of the Tang
Dynasty. The full line is 「狼性贪戾，凡言狼戾者，谓贪而戾
(也)。」 (A wolf’s nature is insatiable and ruthless. He who
speaks of the ruthlessness of the wolf is himself insatiable
and ruthless.)
14.

15.
16. 瓮中之鳖 literally turtle in a jar. i.e., to be trapped in a tight
corner
17. 人为刀俎，我为鱼肉, literally translated as “he’s the knife
and chopping board; I’m the fish meat” (to be the meat at
someone’s chopping board). i.e., to be at someone’s mercy.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 12 : DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Eighth Year of Xiande.1 Midsummer.

The round-collared robe2 of the Secretary of the Ministry of
Revenue, Wang Xian, was drenched in sweat. He sat uncomfortably
on the chair as if he was sitting on pins and needles. It was not the
first time he raised his wusha hat3 to wipe his sweat.
“Your Excellency Xiao.” Wang Xian hemmed and hawed. “It’s,
it’s not that the Ministry of Revenue doesn’t want to allocate the
funds to you. It’s just that the expenditure of the treasury has yet to
be tallied, and Pan-gonggong up there has not given his
endorsement. There’s really no way we can allocate you the sum!”
“It takes time to work out the accounts.” Xiao Chiye held up the
teacup to take a few sips. “Am I not waiting here now? Take your
time.”
Wang Xian’s throat throbbed. He looked at Xiao Chiye, who
was as cool as a cucumber, and at the Imperial Army standing still
on the veranda outside.
“Your Excellency.” Wang Xian said almost pleadingly. “The
weather is hot, and I feel really bad to let the soldiers stand outside.
Let me invite the various gentlemen for some cold drinks. The ice
in reserves—”
“We have not made any contribution to deserve it.” Xiao Chiye
smiled superficially. “Our Imperial Army are sturdy and burly men
who deal with manual labor. So what’s the harm in standing for a
few hours? Pay it no mind, Your Excellency. Focus on your
accounting.”
Wang Xian grasped the account book. For a long time, he
could not bring himself to lower the brush.
That had been the beginning of spring, and the Emperor was
seriously ill. For this reason, the Empress Dowager instructed men
to carry out large-scale construction in the palace to build a temple
so that she could chant the scriptures to accumulate blessings for
him. The Ministry of Works, having received this assignment, had
to receive large quantities of lumber from Duanzhou. To save
money, they ordered the Imperial Army to transport them. The
Imperial Army transported the lumber into Qudu, but the Empress
Dowager withdrew her plan to build the temple upon receiving
Secretariat Elder Hai’s memorial against it. The Ministry of Works
was thus short of this sum of money on hand. For two months, they
had dragged this matter on, delaying settlement of payment to the
Imperial Army.
Money was in short supply. If this had been a time where the
state treasury was full, then this matter would not have been an
issue at all. Who would be willing to offend Second Young Master
Xiao for such a small sum? But right now, the Ministry of Revenue
was suffering themselves. Last year, they had spent almost a million
for the Empress Dowager’s birthday just by hosting the banquet
and giving out monetary rewards alone.
Wang Xian set aside his brush. He might as well stick his neck
out. He said, “Your Excellency, there’s no way the money can be
settled now. To tell you frankly, the expenditure at the end of the
year doesn’t match up to our budget going by the current
accounting. Even our salaries might not necessarily get paid out.
We really have no money. Even if you give me, Wang Shoucheng,4
a stab today, there’s still nothing I can do!”
“The salaries and provisions of the Eight Great Training
Divisions are paid out as usual without delay. But when it comes to
our Imperial Army, you are always desperately broke. We are all
officials serving the Emperor. It serves me, Xiao Ce’an,5 right to be
so lowly that all I can do is to hold on to this debt and wait for you
guys to have enough money to pay us.” Xiao Chiye threw the
teacup onto the table with a “clatter”. “The Ministry of Revenue cries
about being poor every year. But what has it got to do with me? Pay
up, and we’ll work. It’s all down in black and white. Once we are
done with our tasks, you have to settle the payment. Don’t talk to
me about anything else; those aren’t my responsibility. If all the
problems of the Ministry of Revenue have to bank on the
understanding of others, then what else is there for you people to
do? Vacate the position earlier and let someone else take over.”
His words turned Wang Xian’s expression livid. Wang Xian
stood up and said, “Since we are all serving the Emperor, then why
does Your Excellency have to push us into such a tight corner? Who
would be unwilling to settle the payment if we have the money? If
the Imperial Army is so capable, then why do manual labor? Go
serve as the Eight Great Training Divisions too! We’ll see who
would still not dare to pay up!”
Just as the atmosphere was hostile between both parties, a
man outside the room lifted his robe and strode in.
“There’s no need for Your Excellency Wang to get angry. The
Second Young Master is just being a forthright man speaking his
mind.” He took off his zheyang hat,6 wiped his hands with a
handkerchief, and said, “This humble one is the Chief Supervising
Secretary from the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue,7 Xue Xiuzhuo. I’m
here regarding this account.”
The Chief Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for
Revenue was merely a seventh-grade8 position. By all reasonings, it
would not even be considered an official in Qudu. But it was
special. Not only could he supervise the work progresses of the
various ministries and yamen, he could also participate in the
reviews and appraisals of the officials’ virtuous achievements that
took place every six years at Qudu’s Chief Surveillance Bureau.9
Furthermore, he could sidestep the Six Ministries to submit a
memorial directly to the Emperor himself.
Wang Xian could not afford to offend him, so he swallowed his
anger and rolled along with it. He said, “How would I dare to get
angry? The Imperial Army has done so much. I myself wouldn’t
want His Excellency Xiao to have worked for nothing. But Yanqing,
take a look at this account. The Ministry of Revenue can’t afford the
funds at all.”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s courtesy name 10 was Yanqing, and he looked
particularly scholarly and refined. Without looking at the accounts,
he said to both men, “I’m aware of the Ministry of Revenue’s
difficulties. Second Young Master, how about this? Quancheng
supplied us with a batch of silk a few days back. We’ll have it
converted into cash and settle your account with the same number
of silk. Does that work for you?”
As soon as Xiao Chiye left, Wang Xian’s expression turned cold.
He said to Xue Xiuzhuo, “Is he even asking money for the Imperial
Army? More like he’s taking it for himself to squander away. Ever
since this Second Young Master took up the post of Imperial Army
Viceroy, he has been leading a life of debauchery all day long.
Every time, he coerces us into a corner. He’s not in the least bit
sympathetic!”
Xue Xiuzhuo smiled and said nothing to continue the
conversation.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye left the Ministry of Revenue office and mounted his
horse to head for Donglong Street. He was obviously taller than he
was five years ago, and the drive and vigor that could be seen in
him in the past has diminished some.
Prince Chu, Li Jianheng, had been waiting for him an entire
morning. On seeing him, he hurriedly said, “Where the heck have
you been? The anxiety is killing me!”
“Fooling around.” Xiao Chiye sat down and gulped down the
cold drink. On seeing the basin of ice in the inner part of the room,
he stretched out his limbs and lay down on the Arhat bed.11 He
said, “This is so comfortable. It’s so hot outside it makes my head
spin. I’m going to sleep for a while.”
“That won’t do!” Li Jianheng waved his moso-bamboo fan
vigorously. With his clothes spread open, he sighed. “Wait for me
to finish saying my piece before you sleep!”
Xiao Chiye had been up to something at night, and so he was
unbearably tired and sleepy at the moment. He let out an absent-
minded “hmm”.
Li Jianheng took a sip of the iced wine with his pampered,
delicate hands and said, “Do you still remember that woman I told
you about the last time? It’s the one I kept five years ago in my
manor and was prepared to take her as mine. But that son of a
bitch, Xiaofuzi, took her to give12 to Pan Rugui, that castrated
bastard!”
Xiao Chiye uttered an “oh”.
Li Jianheng said with even more gusto, “A few days ago, I went
away to avoid the summer heat and saw her again around the
manor! That little lady has kept herself so smooth and tender. She
looks even more lovely than she was five years ago. My heart goes
into overdrive just by looking at her. How I hate those eunuchs!
Thieving son of a bitch wrestled away my love by force and broke
up a potentially good marriage. He thinks that’s the end of it? No!”
Xiao Chiye yawned.
Li Jianheng fumed, “Are you my buddy or not? You have to
help me think of a way to fix him! We can’t touch Pan Rugui, but
Xiaofuzi needs a thrashing!”
Xiao Chiye was truly tired. He said, “How? Drag him out of the
palace?”
Li Jianheng pushed aside the delicate concubine waiting on
him and shut his fan. He said, “The Dragon Boat Festival13 is
around the corner. His Majesty wants to go to Xiyuan14 to watch the
dragon boat race. When the time comes, Pan Rugui will no doubt
go along. If he follows, so will Xiaofuzi. When the Directorate of the
Imperial Stables are racing horses, we can lure him out and beat
him to death!”
Xiao Chiye seemed to be asleep. Seeing his silence, Li
Jianheng said, “Ce’an, are you listening?”
“It won’t do to beat him to death.” Xiao Chiye said with his eyes
shut. “If Pan Rugui comes to hate you because of this, all you’ll be
having in the future is trouble.”
Resentful, Li Jianheng said, “Then we can at least give him a
beating, right? If I don’t vent this anger, I won’t even be able to eat.
That said, what’s up with you lately? You always look exhausted.
What have you been doing at night? Why did you send away the
virgin I picked for you the last time?”
Xiao Chiye said nothing more as he waved his hand to indicate
his awareness of Li Jianheng’s words. There was no bone thumb
ring on his thumb, but the teeth marks on the web between the
thumb and forefinger had left scars. Li Jianheng went on to speak
about something else, but Xiao Chiye turned a deaf ear to it all.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was the Dragon Boat Festival a few days later. Emperor
Xiande, who had not held court sessions for a long time, braced
his sickly body and moved to Xiyuan in an imperial carriage. The
imperial concubines accompanying him all donned muslin clothes,
while Ji Lei and the Commander-in-chief of the Eight Great
Training Divisions, Xi Gu’an, escorted the Emperor. The Imperial
Army had free time, so they summoned Xiao Chiye over as well.
By the time Xiao Chiye arrived, it was already full of people.
Emperor Xiande finished sticking in the willow15 and was waiting
for the Directorate of the Imperial Stables to start the horse race.
The Court of Imperial Entertainments, which was also part of the
retinue, served sticky rice dumplings16 and pastries near the seat. Li
Jianheng stayed on the Prince’s seat and waved his hand at Xiao
Chiye.
Xiao Chiye threw his horsewhip to Chen Yang behind him and
entered his seat while undoing his arm guards.17
Still weighing the bamboo fan in his hands today, Li Jianheng
said, “Why are you here only now? The anxiety is killing me!”
Xiao Chiye said, “You’re anxious every day. Are you really
alright?”
Li Jianheng fanned himself and said, “I’m just used to saying it!
Look, see that? Xiaofuzi is serving over there. “
Xiao Chiye looked and saw Xiaofuzi beaming as he spoke
beside Pan Rugui’s ear. He said, “Don’t charge up later. Just get
someone to beat him up.”
An hour later, Xiaofuzi stepped at the edge of the latrine pit. He
was preparing to relieve himself when everything went black
before his eyes as someone threw a sack over him.
“Eh!” Xiaofuzi shrieked, wanting to shout, but someone dealt
him a punch so hard that he saw stars.
On seeing the sack, Li Jianheng lifted his robe without demur
and kicked him. Xiaofuzi, covered with the sack and gagged,
groaned in pain as he writhed on the ground.
The race ahead was at its most crucial juncture right this
moment, so no one heard the sounds.
They beat up Xiaofuzi for a little less than an hour, but before Li
Jianheng could vent all his pent-up anger, Chen Yang stopped
him. Chen Yang shot a glance at the guards from the Prince’s
Residence behind him, and they quickly lifted the sack and darted
off.
“Your Highness.” Chen Yang said, “He will die if you continue
beating him. Perhaps next time.”
 Li Jianheng pulled on his robe to adjust it. He took two looks at
Chen Yang and asked, “Where are you going to throw him?”
“The Viceroy has ordered us to throw him in the woods beside
the lake. Once the banquet starts later, all the serving eunuchs will
pass by, and he will then be freed of his bindings.”
Li Jianheng spat at the spot where Xiaofuzi had rolled about
earlier and returned to his seat.
◈ ◈ ◈
By the time the banquet started, Li Jianheng had already
forgotten all about him. Xiao Chiye kept his eyes open as he looked
over at Pan Rugui, but he did not see any signs of Xiaofuzi.
Li Jianheng picked up the dishes with his chopsticks and said,
“Most probably, he found it humiliating and ran back to change his
clothes. Eunuchs like them who serve the Emperor fear getting
dirty and disdained by their master the most. Do you want to go to
my manor a few days later for some fun? I can let you see the little
lady too. “
Xiao Chiye drank the cold tea and said, “I’m busy.”
Li Jianheng let out a “heh” and said, “You still want to put on an
act before me? You, busy? The Imperial Army is almost on the
verge of getting disbanded. What’s there to be busy with in such
an idle position?”
“Busy drinking.” Xiao Chiye laughed too. Those eyes of his
stared at the tea in his hand. His side profile looked a tad flippant.
“Once autumn arrives, it’ll be the inspection. It’s only by treating
others to some wine that I can secure this idle position.”
“Being human,” Li Jianheng pointed at him with his chopsticks
and said, “is to treat yourself as if you are living a life of luxury and
to live life as if you are whiling the time away. What did they say
about the Pan Rugui and those relatives of the Empress Dowager?
Aren’t they tired of fighting one another to the death? What’s the
joy in that?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye’s smile grew wicked, “Isn’t that just making
yourself more stressed and vexed? Having fun is still the most
gratifying.”
Li Jianheng looked at that gaze of his and smiled too. He said,
“So what’s with the Censorate? Who dares to deny my buddy his
post? You were personally appointed by His Majesty. We are loafing
around on imperial orders. How about this? Before autumn, I’ll host
a flower appreciation feast at my residence. You go ahead and
invite them all.”
“No hurry.” Xiao Chiye surveyed Xiyuan and saw the Hall of
Zhao Zui Temple at the corner of the rising and falling tiers of
eaves. He frowned and said, “This place is pretty near to Zhao Zui
Temple.”
“You’re still thinking about it, huh.” Li Jianheng said, “That
thumb ring has been lost for so long.”
Xiao Chiye stroked his thumb out of habit.
“That last member of the Shen Clan has been locked up for five
years, and there has been no news of him. His Majesty has never
even asked if he has died or gone insane.” Li Jianheng said, “If the
one imprisoned inside was me, I’d have gone crazy in just half a
month, let alone five years.”
Xiao Chiye’s purlicue ached. He had no wish to bring up that
man.
Just then, the sound of drums rose by the side of the lake. Li
Jianheng threw aside his chopsticks and rose to his feet to urge
him on. “Let’s go! The dragon boat race. They are certain to bet
money on it!”
Xiao Chiye was about to get up, but then he saw Ji Lei hurried
his way through the crowd and leaned over to Pan Rugui to say
something to him. Pan Rugui suddenly turned his head over for a
fleeting instant. And then he slapped down heavily on the table.
Xiao Chiye immediately looked at Chen Yang behind him.
Stunned, Chen Yang said, “Vice…”
“Your Majesty!” Ji Lei was already kneeling before the Emperor.
He spoke in a clear voice. “I’m afraid it’s not possible to go ahead
with the dragon boat race. This humble subject led the Imperial
Guards on patrol earlier, and we unexpectedly fished out Xiaofuzi,
who was on duty in the imperial palace, from the water!”
Emperor Xiande coughed violently and Pan Rugui stepped
forward to stroke his back. It was only when Emperor Xiande’s
coughing eased a little that he asked, “What is he doing in the
water?”
 Ji Lei raised his head. One could not tell if he was looking at
Emperor Xiande or the Empress Dowager. He said in a heavy
voice, “He drowned.”
A commotion rose from the entire seat of imperial concubines
as they used their silk handkerchiefs to cover their mouths.
All at once, Li Jianheng knocked over the teacup on the table.
He picked it up in a panic and looked at Xiao Chiye. “I was merely
just saying…”

Author’s Words:
Timeline from the Third Year of Xiande to the Eighth Year of Xiande
at the start of this chapter is exactly five years.

Footnotes
1. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor (Emperor Xiande, in this case) reigned.

2.
3. 团领衫 or 圆领袍 round-collared robe/attire typically worn
by officials in the Ming Dynasty.
4. 乌纱帽. Wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, consisting of a black hat with two
wing-like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
(See image in the previous footnote)
5. 王宪 Wang Xian (name) vs. 王守成 Wang Shoucheng
(courtesy name)
6. 萧策安 Xiao Ce’an, is Xiao Chiye’s courtesy name.

7.
8. 遮阳帽 zheyang hat; a ‘sunshade’ hat typically worn by
the literati, or scholar-official.
9. 户科 Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, one of the Six Offices
of Scrutiny (六科) that was set up to inspect and supervise the
Six Ministries (in the Ming Dynasty, these were respectively
the Ministry of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and
Works).
10. 七品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades,
with grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
11. 都察院 Chief Surveillance Bureau, also known as the
Censorate. (I’ll use both terms interchangeably). The Chief
Surveillance Bureau was directly responsible to the Emperor,
and their tasks involved impeaching officials for misconduct,
checking judicial records, and making regular and
unannounced inspections. While disciplining and
impeaching corrupt officials, it also cooperated with the
Ministry of Personnel to assess whether officials were able
and deserving of promotion.
12. 表字 A literary name or courtesy name , also known as a
style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in
addition to one’s given name.

13.
14. 罗汉床 Arhat bed is a kind of a long and narrow wooden
couch that also functions as a bed (榻). The arhat bed is
distinguished by railings around the back and sides of the
platform.
15. 孝敬 showering gifts on one’s superior, mostly to curry
favor or bribe them.

16.
17. 端午 Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu
Festival, is a folk festival with traditional customs such as
dragon boat racing, eating sticky rice dumplings (zongzi)
and so on.
18. 西苑 literally west gardens. 苑 is a garden or imperial
enclosed ground for growing trees, keeping animals, etc.
19. 插柳 There’s actually a saying “清明插柳，端午插艾”, Stick
in the Willows during Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day) and
Mugwort during Duanwu (Dragon Boat Festival). But in some
parts of China (e.g. the northwest), it’s a common practice to
hang up willows during the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu)
to ward off evil and sickness. In the eyes of the ancients,
mugwort and willow branches both have the same function
of warding off evil.

20.
21. 角黍 jiaoshu, also known as 粽子 zongzi, a pyramid-
shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in
bamboo or reed leaves (eaten during the dragon boat
festival)
22. 臂缚 Iron armor that ancient soldiers tied to their arms to
protect against blades.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 13 : LITTLE CICADA

Without looking at Li Jianheng, Xiao Chiye righted the lid of

the teacup slowly with his fingers. He said, “Don’t fret.”
Li Jianheng sat back in his chair, scared out of his wits. He
heard the Empress Dowager ask, “His Majesty the Emperor is here,
and the patrol is strict. How could a person drown for no reason?”
Ji Lei said, “To reply Your Majesty, this humble subject has
already sent someone to take the corpse to await the coroner’s
examination. We will know the details soon.”
“What do you mean?” Being chronically sick had laden
Emperor Xiande’s brows with an aura of gloom. He said, “Don’t tell
me there is something fishy about his death?”
Ji Lei said, “Your Majesty, he was bruised all over when we
fished him out of the water. It’s clear that he had received a
beating. Although Xiaofuzi was a court eunuch of the palace, he
didn’t hold any important post in the twenty-four yamen;1 he was
merely His Majesty’s personal eunuch. If he was tortured before he
died, then I’m afraid the murderer might be plotting something
major.”
Supporting himself on the table, Emperor Xiande stood up and
said coldly, “I have only just stepped out of the palace, and already
there are people who can’t wait.”
“Your Majesty.” Hai Liangyi stepped out and kneeled to say,
“The Imperial Guards and the Eight Great Training Divisions are on
rotation duty with one another today to conduct patrols. If the
murderer was really plotting something, how would he have dared
to do such a sloppy work of it? Xiaofuzi usually took on the job of
leaving the palace to make purchases. It’s not impossible for him to
make personal enemies out of others elsewhere.”
Secretariat Elder Hua, Hua Siqian, who had been sitting upright
without moving, said, “Renshi,2 you can’t put it that way. A man
who dares to strike before His Majesty clearly has no regard for His
Majesty and all the officials present. Who among the ordinary
commoners outside the palace would have this kind of guts?”
Xiao Chiye sat still as the gears turned in his mind.
 At the third quarter of the hour of Wu,3 Chen Yang had
dragged Xiaofuzi into the woods. In just an hour,4 the eunuchs
serving the dishes at the start of the banquet and the Eight Great
Training Divisions taking over the patrol would pass by. All those
present today were bigwigs. No one would remember everyone
who left their seats to change attire, drink tea, or make a trip to the
latrine. What’s more, the accompanying soldiers and eunuchs all
had the right to move around the garden too. Someone only
needed to give Xiaofuzi a light kick in that timespan of an hour,
and he would have drowned in the pond.
Looking at the situation now, the thorny issue was not
explaining how the bruises on Xiaofuzi’s body came about. Instead,
it was that Ji Lei had changed the course of investigation and
turned this murder case into a suspect case for rebellion.
Xiao Chiye tapped his fingertips on the lid.
This fire must never burn its way to Prince Chu.
The Emperor was gravely ill now, and the Imperial Physician
was at his wits’ end. No one could even predict the day of his
demise. However, Emperor Xiande had no heirs. Once the
unexpected happens, Li Jianheng would be the next one in line to
the throne.
What happened today was all because he did not think things
through. It was too brazen for Li Jianheng to leave his seat. This
was something he could not simply dismiss with a perfunctory
excuse.
The Xiao Clan was treading on thin ice. If they were to be
suspected of being implicated in the tussle for the imperial throne
again, then the one hundred and twenty thousand military forces
of Libei would be the executioner blade on Xiao Jiming’s neck.
This matter had come bearing down on him too fast; it was
already staring at him right in the face. He could not let it continue
burning.
Xiao Chiye suddenly flung down the teacup, shattering it. The
clear, crisp sound of “clatter” rang out, attracting the sidelong
glances of everyone at the banquet.
Li Jianheng looked at him in apprehension and said, “Ce,
Ce’an…”
 Xiao Chiye stood up and strode swiftly towards the Emperor.
He kneeled and said in a clear voice, “Your Majesty! This humble
subject dare not hide this from you. I was the one who ordered my
men to hit him.”
Emperor Xiande stared at him and asked, “He was a court
eunuch. What grudge did he have with you that you would be so
ruthless to him?”
Ji Lei also looked askance at him and said, “Your Excellency
Xiao, this matter is one of grave importance. You mustn’t take the
blame for someone else because of some personal relationship.”
“It’s no big deal, actually.” Xiao Chiye said frivolously. “Besides,
this humble subject doesn’t think it’s a crime. So what if I beat an
insignificant and lowly eunuch to death? I’m a second-grade
Viceroy of the Imperial Army. Don’t tell me I still have to put up with
this condescending dog of a slave?”
“For the Second Young Master to be this furious,” Hua Siqian
said, “I’m afraid it’s not just any typical grudge. It’s just that Xiaofuzi
normally had no dealings with you. So why are you this furious?”
“Secretariat Elder doesn’t know it, but…” Xiao Chiye said,
“when I rode my horse to the military drill ground a few months
ago, this dog’s sedan blocked my way. He looked like a big shot. If
he had not lifted the curtain, I’d have thought him to be Pan-
gonggong. I rebuked him a few words, and he mouthed off at me.
I’m a real man, and yet I was humiliated by a wretched castrated
eunuch right there on the street. If it had been someone else, I
doubt they would have been able to swallow this humiliation
either.”
Pan Rugui was still waiting on the Emperor at the outer side.
The entire banquet of attendees all wiped their sweat for Xiao
Chiye when they heard him say “castrated”.
As Emperor Xiande turned it over in his mind, the Empress
Dowager said, “Even so, killing at the slightest provocation is not
what a gentleman should do.”
Their words seemed to hit Pan Rugui’s sore point. The gray-
haired man kneeled with tears in his eyes and said, “Slaves like us
are all lowly creatures. How could we be compared to the Second
Young Master? Her Majesty is already showing us favor with her
compassion. Xiaofuzi had been spoiled so rotten that he didn’t
know to observe the etiquette when encountering military officials
of the court. Even with the Second Young Master’s advice, he
remained unrepentant… This is all this slave’s fault for being tardy
in my teaching of the child!”5
He spoke in such a conciliatory and accommodating way. Yet,
the law stipulated that eunuchs had to dismount and step back to
kneel and kowtow in a greeting whenever they saw a minister or
major court official.
The Empress Dowager was a staunch Buddhist, so she was
displeased with the killing of lives. As such, she said to Emperor
Xiande, “There has been a saying since time immemorial that all
men are equal in the eyes of the law. Xiao Chiye is so violent and
wild. By all sentiment and reason, we can’t let him off too lightly.
Besides, the Xiao Clan are all loyal and upright men. The Prince of
Libei sent his son into Qudu to be raised close to Your Majesty. If we
indulge him to the extent that he thinks so highly of himself, then
I’m afraid that we would have let down the Prince of Libei who has
entrusted him to us.”
Ji Lei was indignant. He was unwilling to let the matter go this
easily, so he said, “The Second Young Master has always been on
friendly terms with Prince Chu. Now that he has done such a thing,
His Highness—”
“This humble subject still has something to say. I might be the
one who beat him up, but I didn’t kill him. Your Majesty, this humble
subject originally had the intent to kill him to vent my fury. But
when His Highness Prince Chu knew of this matter, he persuaded
me against it. This humble subject was the one who ordered the
guards today to drag him over and give him a thrashing on the
quiet. Who would expect His Highness Prince Chu to get an inkling
of what was happening midway and leave his seat to save
Xiaofuzi’s life? With His Highness giving counsel at the side, this
humble subject would not dare to make His Highness lose face no
matter how bold this humble subject may be. So, this humble
subject let Xiaofuzi off. As for how he drowned, this humble servant
finds it strange too. Who would want to vent my hatred on my
behalf and do such an ill-advised thing? Your Excellency Ji.” Xiao
Chiye turned to Ji Lei, his eyes faintly gleaming with delight. “The
Imperial Guards are usually meticulous and impeccable in their
work. Today, he was lying by the side of the road. Yet he could still
dodge the patrol squads and fall into the pond…. Perhaps he was
the one himself who could not tell the direction with his head
covered and rolled down.”
Hai Liangyi said, “That’s true. Such a big man fell into the pond,
and the Imperial Guards never realized it even though they were
coming and going on patrol. If assassins were to infiltrate Xiyuan
today, the Imperial Guards probably wouldn’t even notice it either!”
How would Ji Lei dare to muddy the water further? He
kowtowed in a panic several times and said, “Your Majesty! The
Imperial Guards can’t do anything about it either. The Imperial
Guards rotate with the Eight Great Training Division today to
conduct patrols, so we have to organize the manpower carefully
when relieving each squad. We wouldn’t dare to neglect even the
tiniest detail!”
The Seal-holding Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Great
Training Divisions, Xi Gu’an, kneeled as well and said, “That’s
indeed the rule. The Eight Great Training Divisions do not dare to
make light of it either. The rotation of the patrol follows a fixed
schedule. It’s not impossible for someone to memorize it and seize
the chance to kill Xiaofuzi. This is a personal feud between a court
official and eunuch. It should be handed over to someone to
investigate exactly how many people have a grudge against this
Xiaofuzi.”
“Investigate.” Emperor Xiande laughed scornfully and suddenly
threw the teacup at Gu Xi’an. He said in a towering rage, “Someone
died right under your noses. Instead of self-reflecting, you just want
to shirk responsibility! To think I actually put my, my safety in all
your hands… You…”
Emperor Xiande’s voice went hoarse as he covered his mouth
and started coughing again. He was so enraged that he had to
support himself with the table before he toppled over backward.
“Your Majesty!”
The imperial concubines around him let out shrill cries of alarm.
The banquet was thrown into complete chaos.
 “Summon the Imperial Physician, quick!” The Empress
Dowager held on to someone for support and said in reproach.
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng looked as if he had seen his own mother when he
saw Xiao Chiye again. He said, “My dear brother! You scared me
just now!”
Xiao Chiye said, “I have been kneeling for so long that I’m
starving now. Bring me some snacks.”
Li Jianheng waved his hand to motion for someone to hurry
and get the snacks. He stood with Xiao Chiye at the base of the
long veranda in Xiyuan and looked at those bright lights in the
palace hall.
“If His Majesty regains consciousness, he will summon you.” Li
Jianheng said, “How did that Xiaofuzi die? I’m really down on my
luck! “
Xiao Chiye ate his snacks with herbal tea.
It was hard to say with this matter.
Pan Rugui has always favored Xiaofuzi. If someone had
deliberately wanted to take Xiaofuzi’s life, how could his timing
coincide so perfectly with Li Jianheng’s beating? If it wasn’t a
deliberate attempt to kill Xiaofuzi, then it was a spur-of-the-moment
decision. Yet, it would have been far more advantageous to untie
him than to kill him.
The thing was that Pan Rugui and Ji Lei reacted way too swiftly.
Since the man was already dead, they might as well make full use
of him. If they could frame it on Prince Chu, they would be killing
two birds with one stone.
“Has His Majesty summoned anyone to his chamber recently to
spend the night?”6 Xiao Chiye asked off-handedly.
“Yeah.” Li Jianheng answered. “The one he favors the most
lately is the lady of the Wei Clan. The Empress Dowager likes her
too.”
Xiao Chiye looked thoughtful.
It was already dark by now, but no one dared to leave. All of
them stood in small groups on the veranda and waited for
Emperor Xiande to regain consciousness.
 Xi Gu’an left the garden midway. When he returned, he
received the Empress Dowager’s orders and headed into the room
to wait. After another hour, Xiao Chiye suddenly saw the Eight
Great Training Division guards leading an errand-runner, who was
dressed in clean cotton clothing, in from the side gate.
“Who is that?” Xiao Chiye asked.
Li Jianheng craned his neck and said, “An errand-runner. There
aren’t many errand-runners in Xiyuan. But what are they bringing
an errand-runner here for?”
With the help of the dim light from the lantern, a sharp-eyed
Xiao Chiye saw that the errand-runner had an ugly appearance
with burn scars. He did not know why, but his heart suddenly
leaped as an ominous speculation took hold in his mind and
lingered.
“An errand-runner of Xiyuan.” Xiao Chiye said. “Xiyuan is a
noble ground used to receive the Emperor. It is a requirement for
all those who wait upon him to look refined. Where would such a
person come from?”
After a while, Pan Rugui strode out of the door and shouted,
“Summon the eighth son of the Shen Clan! Hurry over for an
audience with the Emperor!”
An uproar broke out amidst the throng of officials. The sound of
discussion rose multifold.
There had not been a final judgment on whether Shen Wei had
been guilty of treason after his death, but the name of Shen Wei
had already spread across the country. The wounds of Zhongbo
had yet to heal, and the blame for the defeat of the troops still
existed. The fact that the remaining member of the Shen Clan had
undeservingly got to keep his life had already roused resentment
at the frontiers. So why was he still permitted to come out now?
“What’s going on?” A stunned Li Jianheng said. “Don’t tell me
they discovered something? Ce’an, there’s enmity between you
and him. Both of you see red whenever you meet. For the sake of
the Xiao Clan’s face, they shouldn’t have let him out!”
Xiao Chiye said nothing. He merely shifted his gaze to the
entrance and stared at it closely.
 In less than half an hour, the guard at the lead strode in. A man
followed not far behind him.
After five years, this man’s hair has grown long. It hung behind
him, secured with a crude wooden hairpin. He did not wear a
crown. His old wide-sleeved robe sheltered his wrists from view,
while the rest that extended out of those sleeves were as fair and
lustrous as that of white porcelain. The lantern obstructed Xiao
Chiye’s sight. When the man walked out, the teacup in Li
Jianheng’s hand tumbled off.
Li Jianheng muttered aloud distractedly. “You never told me
this is how he looks like…”
Xiao Chiye’s thumb crooked slightly.
Shen Zechuan passed through the front of the veranda. At the
very instant both of them crossed paths, Xiao Chiye looked at this
man with coldness and detachment. Right that split second, he
locked gazes with a pair of eyes that held deep memories.
These eyes were narrow and long, with the ends raised and
curved into thin arches. Divine light shone in them. Even under the
dim light of the lantern, those eyes still looked as if they were
hiding the remnant of stars within.
In this rush of a moment, Shen Zechuan seemed to let out a hint
of a smile at Xiao Chiye. But it was so faint that there were no traces
of it left behind after Shen Zechuan brushed past him, much like
the wind of the night—thin and cold.

Footnotes
1. 二十四衙门 Twenty-four yamen was an institution of
eunuchs serving the Emperor and his household in the Ming
Dynasty. It consisted of the Twelve Directorates, Four Offices,
and Eight Services—these are collectively referred to as the
Twenty-four Yamen.
2. Hai Liangyi’s courtesy name
3. 午时 Hour of Wu, i.e., 11 am-1 pm in the system of two-
hour subdivisions used in former times.
4. 一炷香 the time an incense stick takes to burn. Some
sources suggest that one stick takes 30 minutes or one hour,
but it really depends on a variety of factors (the environment,
wind, length of the stick, etc). One hour is the generally
agreed time though.
5. There is this line in the Three Character Classic (三字经,
San Zi Jing) 养不教, 父之过; the father is to blame for his
son’s faults (because he did not teach him well). It’s also
applicable to a teacher or a superior who mentors, since a
teacher or a mentor is said to be just like a father. (一日为
师，终身为父; a teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime) .
6. 侍寝 basically to summon his concubines, palace maids,
etc, for sexual purposes and to make babies.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 14 : PRAYING MANTIS

Shen Zechuan followed the man inside and kneeled outside

the hanging screen.
Emperor Xiande leaned back partially against the head of the
bed, while the Empress Dowager sat by the side of the bed. With
both hands holding the bowl of medicinal decoction, Pan Rugui
retreated a little to reveal Shen Zechuan’s figure.
Emperor Xiande made an effort to gather himself and said,
“The patrol squad of the Eight Great Training Divisions said that
they saw your errand-runner appear at the side of the pond. I’m
asking you, what is he doing there?”
Shen Zechuan said, “To reply His Majesty, Uncle Ge was waiting
for Fu-gonggong from the palace.”
“On whose orders?”
Shen Zechuan paused, then kowtowed. He said, “It was this
sinful subject’s.”
Emperor Xiande let out a few coughs and said, “You are being
imprisoned in Zhao Zui Temple. Every month, the palace will
allocate and deliver food and clothing to you. How would you
come to have connections with Xiaofuzi?”
“His Majesty showed concern and allowed this sinful subject to
self-reflect at Zhao Zui Temple. Not only did His Majesty bestow
kindness upon me, but even grant me food. This sinful subject
recently came down with a cold. Coupled with my old ailment, it
became increasingly harder for me to get up every day.” Shen
Zechuan looked sorrowful at this point. “Although the palace
deliver my meals, they don’t send medicine. Uncle Ge has been on
duty in Zhao Zui Temple for a long time. Taking pity on this sinful
subject, he asked Fu-gonggong, who left the palace to procure
goods, for some medicine from the palace on behalf of this sinful
subject. And that’s how this sinful subject came to entrust Uncle Ge
again this time to beseech Fu-gonggong to buy some blessing oil
lamps1 for me.”
“You have no family.” The Empress Dowager asked. “Why do
you need oil lamps to pray for blessings?”
 “This sinful subject is aware of my heinous sins, so I’ve been
praying by the lamp in the temple day and night for His Majesty
and Her Majesty. At the same time, I’ve also been chanting sutras
all day for the loyal martyrs who lost their lives at the battle of
Zhongbo’s Chashi.” Shen Zechuan said devoutly. He continued,
“Having planted some vegetables on the temple’s grounds, this
sinful subject entrusted Uncle Ge to sell them for some money at
the morning market. The illness of this sinful subject is already in
such a state. Instead of using the money to buy medicine, I might
as well get some blessing oil lamps.”
The Empress Dowager gave a long sigh. “Although you are
guilty of sin, it is not unpardonable.”
Emperor Xiande wearily closed his eyes and said, “Xiaofuzi is
now dead. Do you know anyone who has a dispute with him?”
Shen Zechuan shook his head and said softly, “Although this
sinful subject might be bold enough to beseech Fu-gonggong to
buy lamps, I have never seen Fu-gonggong before or exchange
letters with him.”
“What about you?” Emperor Xiande motioned to Ji Gang. “Tell
me. Has he mentioned anything to you?”
Ji Gang did not dare to look at the Emperor directly in the face.
Like any other ordinary errand-runner, he answered with fright and
fear. “To reply Your Majesty, whenever Fu-gonggong left the palace,
it was all for purchasing purposes. With such a busy schedule, he
would usually send those serving him to meet this humble one.”
On hearing this, Emperor Xiande cast a self-mocking glance at
Pan Rugui, who stood as still as a wooden statue.
Ji Gang went on to say, “But there was a time when this humble
servant greeted Fu-gonggong before his sedan and heard him
mention something to his attendants about His Highness flying
into a rage out of humiliation and wanting to create trouble for him.
At that time, this humble servant was anxious to give Fu-gonggong
the money to buy the oil lamps, and so I moved closer to him. But
Fu-gonggong was busy that day too, so he told this humble one to
come to Xiyuan today to wait for him. That was how the military
gentlemen came to see this humble servant pacing up and down
by the pond.”
 Pan Rugui said, “Did you hear it correctly? That it was ‘Your
Highness’ and not someone else?”
Ji Gang kowtowed repeatedly and said, “I dare not deceive His
Majesty. Many people saw this humble servant in the market that
day. All you have to do is to ask around to know that this humble
one isn’t lying.”
Emperor Xiande said nothing for a long time. The smell of
medicine in the room was heavy. The Empress Dowager covered
her nose and mouth with her handkerchief and leaned over to say
to Emperor Xiande, “Your Majesty, whether or not Xiaofuzi’s death
was premeditated, you can’t just listen to Xiao Chiye’s side of the
story. The case happened just a few steps away from Your Majesty.
If it was Prince Chu who wanted Xiaofuzi’s life like this person said,
then why would Xiao Chiye prevaricate to such an extent?”
“Your Majesty.” Pan Rugui said softly as well, “Xiaofuzi’s life is
insignificant. Never mind if Prince Chu killed him because of
personal grudges. But I’m afraid things are not that simple. His
Majesty hardly steps out of the palace, while Xiaofuzi frequently did
so. Why didn’t Prince Chu choose some other day? Why did it have
to be today?”
Emperor Xiande suddenly broke out in a violent coughing fit
again. He pushed aside Pan Rugui’s hand and used his own
handkerchief to wipe away the bloodstains. Without looking at
anyone, he said, “Jianheng is my own brother. I understand his
temperament best. Since this case is already at this stage, then let
Ji Lei settle it. This all happened because Xiaofuzi used his own
position to lord it over others and overstepped his boundaries
when it came to the rules of propriety, thereby causing resentment
and envy among others. Punish Xiao Chiye by grounding him in
his residence for half a month, and punish Ji Lei and Xi Gu’an by
docking their salaries for three months! Pan Rugui, go relay the
message. Once you are done, dismiss them.”
“This…” Pan Rugui looked at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager said nothing.
Thus, Emperor Xiande looked at the Empress Dowager and
said earnestly, “Imperial Mother, we are currently in troubled times.
Autumn is approaching, and the frontier is in a precarious position.
Trade conflicts at the frontier are increasing day after day. Libei,
Qidong, and the Bianjun Commandery all need to stabilize and
maintain the soldiers’ morale. If we pursue this matter, and it ends
up implicating too many people and causing casualties at the
frontier, then the ones to suffer will be the common folks. Although
the pain of Zhongbo has passed, its humiliation has yet to be
avenged. Imperial Mother, it’s not advisable to drag this matter on
for too long, lest we lose the faith of the commoners.”
Expressing concern, the Empress Dowager tucked in the quilt
for Emperor Xiande and said, “It’s truly a blessing for the empire
that His Majesty is still worrying about state affairs when His Majesty
has yet to recover. Pan Rugui, go.”
Pan Rugui acknowledged her orders and gingerly retreated out
of the door.
The Empress Dowager continued. “The way I see it, this eighth
son of the Shen Clan truly wants to repent and mend his ways. He
is completely different from Shen Wei. He is a child you can use.”
Emperor Xiande said, “His health isn’t good. I’m afraid he’s
unable to take on any duties. Maybe it’d be better for him to remain
in the temple for recuperation.”
However, the Empress Dowager slowly put her hand down and
said, “What His Majesty has said is logical. But he is already out. If
we send him back again for no reason, it will inevitably arouse
suspicions about the case. Isn’t that contrary to what His Majesty
wants?”
Emperor Xiande smiled and turned to Shen Zechuan. He said,
“The Empress Dowager likes and thinks highly of you. You must
keep this in mind in the future. Don’t go down the same path that
disloyal and unfilial father of yours did. Let’s send you to the
Imperial Bodyuards then. The Twelve Offices have varying degrees
of duties. There will naturally be something you can do.”
Shen Zechuan prostrated himself and kowtowed to thank the
Emperor for his benevolence.
After all the others had left, Emperor Xiande leaned over the
edge of the bed and vomited out all the medicine he had drunk
earlier. The quilt covering his hand had been wrung until it was all
creased. Under the dim light of the candles in the room, Emperor
Xiande’s face was ashen. His illness was evidently already at the
critical stage.
With Pan Rugui supporting her, the Empress Dowager walked
along the water veranda.2 Hua Xiangyi held the newly picked lotus
in her hands and followed behind them at a distance together with
the other maidservants in attendance.
“Since his last bout of illness, His Majesty has been acting more
and more arbitrarily.” The Empress Dowager strolled and said,
“How can a critically ill person work so hard for the state?”
“As they say, illness comes like an avalanche.”3 Pan Rugui said,
“His Majesty is getting anxious.”
“Back then, when I chose Jianyun, it was because I valued his
gentle and refined ways, as well as his deference and
submissiveness. Although he has been ill over the years, he could
be said to have done his best.” The Empress Dowager looked at
Pan Rugui and said, “But who would anticipate that he would be so
fearful of the Xiao Clan? Every time he has to make a choice, he
would always prefer not to offend anyone. But how in the world
would things always go the way he wishes it to be?”
“When all is said and done, your orders are the ones we obey
when it comes to the matters in Qudu.” Pan Rugui said, “Wait for a
few more days for the Imperial Concubine, Wei-niangniang,4 to get
pregnant with a son, then Your Majesty will no longer need to
worry.”
The Empress Dowager turned her hand over and patted Pan
Rugui on the arm. She said meaningfully, “Before Imperial
Concubine Wei is with child, we’ll still need you to keep watching
over His Majesty’s health.”
“Ever since receiving Your Majesty’s order,” Pan Rugui
responded, “This slave has been paying attention.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The people outside had already more or less dispersed by the
time Shen Zechuan came out. He walked with Ji Gang in a single
file down the stairs and saw Xiao Chiye leaving on his horse.
“Wasn’t the Imperial Army written off?” Looking at Xiao Chiye’s
waist and legs, Shen Zechuan said, “But from all appearances, he
clearly has not fallen behind on his martial arts.”
 “An expert in horseback archery.” Ji Gang squinted his eyes
and sized him up for a moment. “But without exchanging blows
with him, I won’t know the extent of the lad’s strength. If he could
already draw the Great Bow of Heaven five years ago, then I’m
afraid he’s even stronger now. Chuan-er, don’t engage in a fight
with him unless absolutely necessary.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer. But he was taken by surprise
when the man who was about to turn the corner suddenly reined in
his horse and turned back to charge straight at him.
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye without dodging or giving
way. When Xiao Chiye’s horse was right before him, it suddenly
brushed past him. Shen Zechuan’s sleeves and robe went fluttering
from the gush of wind, falling back down after a moment.
“What does this case have to do with you?” Xiao Chiye’s horse
circled around Shen Zechuan.
“It has nothing to do with me.” Shen Zechuan smiled at him
again. “But it has a great deal to do with the Second Young Master.”
”Pan Rugui lost his lapdog, and I took a tumble. No one benefits
from it today, and yet you get to reap from it.” Xiao Chiye leaned
over from his horse and looked at him. “How does someone who is
a tough cookie still get to be so lucky?”
“It’s all by virtue of the Second Young Master’s noble aura.”
Shen Zechuan also looked at him and said with humility, “If it
weren’t for the move the Second Young Master made, then how
would I have made it out?”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes were cold. He said, “You are well-informed.”
“Just a cheap little trick.” Shen Zechuan said.
Xiao Chiye looked at the sky. The gyrfalcon had caught a
sparrow back and was hovering in the air to seek its reward.
“There’s no harm in letting you out.” Xiao Chiye whistled, and
the gyrfalcon immediately landed on the tile. It stepped on the
sparrow and tore it apart. He looked at Shen Zechuan again. “Qudu
is so big. One has to find entertainment somehow.”
“A noble is truly a noble.” Shen Zechuan said. “Even the
entertainment you seek differs from others. Dining, wining,
whoring, and gambling are all beneath your notice. You just had to
have your fun with people. However, having fun alone isn’t as good
as having fun together. How boring would it be if I’m the only one
accompanying you?”
“Look at you.” Xiao Chiye grasped the horsewhip and lifted the
corners of his mouth. “You are such a delight. Why would I want
others to butt in between us?”
Shen Zechuan said, “That would be too much for me to bear. I
have even found so many friends for the Second Young Master.”
“Better worry about yourself than worry about me.” Xiao Chiye
retracted his gaze. “There are good career prospects in the
Imperial Bodyguards, and Ji Lei thinks so highly of you. I’m sure he
will be looking forward to your presence.”
Shen Zechuan chuckled aloud. He looked at Xiao Chiye with
smiling eyes and said in a gentle tone, “You and I are but birds in a
cage. I may have good future prospects, but aren’t you having it
easy too? I have no worries and concerns, and being all alone, I’m
free from constraints. But Second Young Master, can you do the
same?”
Against the backdrop of hanging lanterns on both sides, Shen
Zechuan looked increasingly pretty, like that of jade. The gyrfalcon
finished feeding on flesh and blood and landed back onto Xiao
Chiye’s shoulder.
“Since we are all caged birds,” Xiao Chiye flicked away the dust
on the gyrfalcon’s feathers. “Then why pretend to be carefree?”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan returned to the temple at night. Once he took his
medicine, he sat across Grand Mentor Qi in the courtyard with a
small table between them.
Ji Gang had built a small courtyard in Zhao Zui Temple and
acceded to Grand Mentor Qi’s request to plant some bamboo and
set up a vegetable garden. It was truly a refreshing experience to
be sitting outside on a summer night.
“His Majesty has no wish to pursue the matter.” She Zechuan
said, “Just so he could protect Prince Chu. That was why he allowed
me out. Teacher truly has incredible foresight.”
“Incredible or not, it’s still too early to come to a verdict yet.”
Grand Mentor Qi tapped the chess piece on the table and clicked
his tongue. He said, “Last time, they said that His Majesty had been
so sick since the beginning of the year that he could not get up. He
is now in the prime of his life, and there is the Imperial Academy of
Medicine to take care of him. And yet he is even weaker now than
he was in his former residence.5 It may well be said that Pan Rugui
deserves the credit for this.”
Ji Gang squatted at the entrance grinding a stone. He said,
“His fury was most likely directed at them. Even Ji Lei was punished
with them. Obviously, he has been harboring hatred against them
for a long time.”
“If one feels that time is running out for him, then he will grow
bolder.” Grand Mentor Qi said, “All along, he has been an Emperor
who spends his entire life making concessions for the sake of
overall interest.”
“The Empress Dowager doesn’t like Prince Chu, but there is
only Prince Chu left to ascend to the throne. Today, Ji Lei kept
incriminating Prince Chu. If this was because Pan Rugui put him up
to it,” The bitterness of the medicine lingered in Shen Zechuan’s
mouth. He scrunched up his forehead and said, “Then, I’d believe
it. Since Pan Rugui has the intent to send Prince Chu to his doom, it
must be because he no longer has any concerns about future
consequences. There is another heir in the palace. One who is far
easier to manipulate than Prince Chu.”
“The former Emperor exercising self-restraint?” Ji Gang blew
away the dust and said, “I seriously doubt that. Furthermore, if there
is really an heir, how would they have been able to hide him all
these years? “
“As long as the Li blood runs in him, he’s the imperial heir.”
Grand Mentor Qi knocked the chess piece and said, “The former
Emperor might not have one, but can’t the current one beget
another? Once his harem gives birth to an heir, and he breathes his
last, then the Empress Dowager will be able to carry the baby in her
arms to hold court and administer affairs of the state without even
hanging up the bead curtain.6 When the time comes, they can
appoint Hua Siqian as the minister in custody of the infant. By then,
Dazhou will truly take on the surname Hua.”7
“But Xiao Chiye is on good terms with Prince Chu, and the Xiao
Clan has everything to gain and nothing to lose if Prince Chu
ascends to the throne.” Shen Zechuan stroked his chess piece.
“Libei will not simply sit idle and do nothing. As long as Prince Chu
is still alive, Xiao Jiming and Liu Guangbai from the Bianjun
Commandery can command their troops to storm Qudu. How
could the Eight Great Training Divisions afford to fight this battle?”
Grand Mentor Qi pressed down on the small table with his
elbows and scratched his messy hair. He said, “Lanzhou,8 how
muddle-headed are you?! You think the Empress Dowager
wouldn’t have thought of that? Then what would they want Xiao
Chiye five years ago for? With Xiao Chiye in their hands, Xiao
Jiming would not dare to make a rash move. Qudu’s Eight Training
Divisions can’t win if they come up against Libei’s Armored Cavalry,
but what about Qidong’s Garrison Troops? There is no reason for
the Qi Clan to get involved in this fight. Just for the sake of the
words “loyalty to the sovereign”, Qi Zhuyin would still have to
deploy the troops to stop Xiao Jiming.”
Seeing Shen Zechuan contemplating it in silence, Ji Gang said,
“Isn’t the current Emperor still alive? So why worry about it?! What’s
more crucial is tomorrow. Tomorrow, Chuan-er will join the Imperial
Bodyguards, right under Ji Lei’s command. I’m worried.”
“That’s why I said I didn’t have incredible foresight!” Grand
Mentor Qi said irritably. “His Majesty assigned Lanzhou to the
Imperial Bodyguards to achieve his own purpose and to acquiesce
to Her Majesty’s wish. But does he really not remember who was
the one who interrogated Lanzhou in the Imperial Prison? What do
you think he’s planning by having adversaries come face to face
with one another? There’s still something I want to ask you, Ji
Gang! When you found Xiaofuzi today, was he really still
breathing?”
Ji Gang wiped the stone with his fingertip. After a moment of
silence, he said, “It’s hard to say. The timing was too tight for me to
take a careful look.”
“That’s right.” Grand Mentor Qi looked at Shen Zechuan. “Think
about it carefully. If Xiaofuzi was already dead before we could lay
our hands on him—then who did it?”
Footnotes

1.
2. 福油灯 Oil lamps used to ask for blessings.

3.
4. 病来如山倒. The full line is 病来如山倒，病去如抽丝
sickness comes like an avalanche, but goes like spinning silk;
i.e. illness hits fast but heals slow.
5. 娘娘 Niang-niang is a term used when addressing an
empress or an imperial consort
6. 潜邸 the place the Emperor resided in before he
ascended to the throne.
7. 垂帘听政 literally to hold court behind a screen or curtain.
A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or Empress
Dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial court
without actually being seen by her subjects since women
were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by
a child emperor’s mother, who would serve as regent and
rule in place of the Emperor.
8. At this point in time, it’s the Li who rules the country. The
Empress Dowager is from the Hua Clan, so it’s saying here
that the entire empire will fall into the hands of the Hua once
that happens.
9. Shen Zechuan’s courtesy name.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 15 : ORIOLE
Note:
The titles in chapter 13, 14, 15 – Little Cicada (小蝉), Praying
Mantis (螳螂), and Oriole (黄雀) – are from the idiom “the mantis
stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” (螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在
后). i.e., to covet and pursue gains before oneself without being
aware of (or neglecting) a greater danger behind.

The next day was the day Shen Zechuan ought to make a trip
down to the Imperial Bodyguards to receive his post. It coincided
with the day Xi Gu’an’s younger brother of the same parents, Xi
Hongxuan, hosted a banquet. He had invited all the up-and-
coming scholars and promising talents in Qudu to have a civilized
discourse at the Chaodong Tavern.
Xi Hongxuan was an obese man. When he sat down, someone
had to attend to him at the side and fan him. Grasping on to a
bamboo fan, he said, “This year is this humble one’s lucky year.
Although I did not get to invite Yanqing1, I managed to invite
Yuanzhuo!”
Xue Xiuzhuo had to attend to his official duties, so he could not
make it this day. The “Yuanzhuo” Xi Hongxuan mentioned was the
current Secretariat Elder’s, Hai Liangyi, beloved disciple—Yao
Wenyu. These three men could address each other with such
familiarity as they were all from the Eight Great Clans of Qudu and
had forged a friendship since childhood.
Just then, the bead curtain was lifted, and in walked an elegant
scholar as gentle and as pure as jade. He was dressed in a raven
blue, wide-sleeved robe with slanting collars, along with a zhaowen
bag2 hanging on his waist. On hearing that, he merely smiled. The
various Confucian scholars3 at the feast rose in a welcome. For a
moment, the sounds of conventional greetings being exchanged
rang out.
Yao Wenyu said his greeting to them one at a time. It was only
after he invited everyone to take their seats that he sat down and
responded, “We meet every year. How am I worthy of the two
words, ‘rare presence’?”
 As humble as he was, none of those present dared to belittle
him. Because Yao Wenyu was the child prodigy of Qudu in his early
years. He composed poems at eight years of age, and eulogies4
and proses5 at twelve. He was the “jade” the Old Master of the Yao
Clan held in his palms. In order not to let his talents wane, he took
Hai Liangyi as his teacher. Hai Liangyi was, by nature, inflexible and
stern. To this day, he only had this one student—one that he prized
greatly.
After the small talk, they began to discuss the current situation.
Xi Hongxuan waved his hand to signify to his attendant to stop
fanning him and said, “There is indeed something strange going
on lately in Qudu. I wonder if the various brothers still remember
the Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei, who set himself on fire for fear of
punishment five years ago?”
“The vile man who colluded with the enemies and cowered
without fighting!” One of them seated in the row straightened up
and said, “He should have been beheaded under the law. Even
executing his entire clan wouldn’t be too much. It is regrettable that
His Majesty is so benevolent that he just had to spare the life of that
last remaining member of the Shen Clan. This morning, I heard
that he had been released. The evidence for Shen Wei’s crime is
conclusive. As the son of a criminal-official whose troops had
suffered a defeat, how could he take up a post? How do they
expect the virtuous talents from all over to accept this?!”
“Exactly.” Xi Hongxuan said, “How is this going to work out?
There has never been such a precedent before.”
“Most likely, it’s Her Majesty who wants to protect him.”
Someone else said, “I have long heard that this remaining member
has some relationship with the Hua Clan. But how could personal
relationships prevail over state laws? Isn’t this a violation of the law
itself?”
Xi Hongxuan sighed, heavy-hearted. “I’m afraid this will set a
precedent that will give all the future heirs of officials guilty of
crimes a loophole to exploit.”
This immediately stirred up the Confucian scholars. Owing to
the severity of Shen Wei’s crimes, they could not allow Shen
Zechuan to be released.
 “What does Yuanzhuo think?”
Yao Wenyu drank his tea and said amiably, “I haven’t been in
the capital for a long time, so I am not aware of the details. I’m not
in the position to say a word.”
Xi Hongxuan said in understanding, “That’s right. You are often
away for studies, so you aren’t aware of what’s happening in
Qudu.”
Someone among them spoke, “All of us here are learned men
who are widely read in the classics and literature. We are all men
with a sense of honor and shame, and we are all well-acquainted
with the law. We mustn’t simply sit and do nothing.”
Xi Hongxuan said, “Then, what should we do?”
That person answered, “We are all students of the Imperial
College.6 If the public sentiment is roused, then His Majesty would
have to reconsider it. Why not let us return and kneel together
before Mingli Hall to beseech His Majesty to retract his order and
punish the remaining member of the Shen Clan severely?!”
Sounds of assent rose among those at the feast. Xi Hongxuan
clapped his hands and said in commendation, “Excellent! All of
you here are indeed the pillars of the country. You will be
remembered throughout the ages for this kneel today! This humble
one is ashamed. Although I’m not a student of the Imperial
College, I’m still willing to join all of you.”
The Confucian scholar who had spoken earlier said, “That
wouldn’t do. Brother Hongxuan’s elder brother is the Seal-holding
Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Great Training Divisions. If you
get implicated in this matter, then you would only stand to lose.
Gentlemen, let’s us be the ones to go!”
As the feast came to an end, Yao Wenyu called the shopkeeper
to steam some tender and palatable meat dishes. As he waited, he
listened to the whisperings of the Confucian scholars who had
gone downstairs.
“What ‘Yuanzhuo the Unpolished Jade’?7 Isn’t he just a coward?
Look at him earlier. He didn’t even dare to say a word. How can he
be compared to Brother Hongxuan’s benevolence?”
Yao Wenyu sent a pine nut to his mouth and let loose a
soundless laugh. However, he did not step out to contend with
them. By the time he came out after his meat bun was ready, the
scholars had already more or less dispersed.
Xi Hongxuan said, “Yuanzhuo, shall I give you a lift?”
“No, thanks.” Yao Wenyu lifted the meat in his hand. “I’m
heading for Teacher’s residence.”
Both men bid each other farewell. Xi Hongxuan looked at Yao
Wenyu’s departing back and sneered for a moment before he said,
“Let’s go.”
On the other side, Shen Zechuan had already arrived at the
Imperial Bodyguards’ courtyard. He strode across the threshold
and earned himself the gaze from everyone all around. The entire
compound of hurrying and busying Imperial Bodyguards just had
to catch a glimpse at him even when they were just passing by.
The one leading the way was Ge Qingqing. He took Shen
Zechuan to the duty records room and said, “The Imperial
Bodyguards are sorted into four groups of men. The first group is
selected from civilian households,8 where their sister is the ‘female
head of household’9 who sweeps10 in the palace. The brother
would then come to the Imperial Bodyguards and put on a
temporary authority token.11 Although he is exempt from service,
he is not paid a salary. An example of this group is Xiaowu. The
second group are those who have received a recommendation by
the palace-gonggong, called ‘Conferment by Eunuch’s12
Recommendation’. A case in point is the Commander-in-Chief. The
third are those born of military households, with the position
inherited. I’m a prime example of this. The fourth group are those
with specialized skills and talents in different fields. These are
chosen by His Majesty himself irrespective of their backgrounds.
This category of men are all very formidable. You will naturally get
your chance to meet them in the future.” [1]13
As Ge Qingqing spoke, he lifted the hanging screen and
informed him, “This is the place where you need to register in the
official records to receive your post.”
When Shen Zechuan entered, the noise in the records room
came to an abrupt halt. All the Imperial Bodyguards with different
attires and different authority tokens turned their heads over. A
strange silence descended upon the hall.
 “Shen Zechuan?” The man sitting behind the table with his legs
crossed pushed aside the book before him and looked at him.
“That’s you, huh?”
Shen Zechuan saw him dressed in a flying fish attire.14 Imperial
Bodyguards whose ranks were not of Assistant Regional
Commander and above were not allowed to wear this attire. So he
gave a slight bow and replied, “That’s me.”
This man’s hair was hanging over his forehead, and his stubble
had yet to be tidied. His behavior and bearing were rather
unconventional. He touched his chin and smiled. “As expected of
the son of a dancer-courtesan. Shen Wei’s extravagant spending all
just to win the smile of the beauty back then had not been in vain.
Qingqing, give him the token.”
Saying so, he tossed the token on the table that had already
been prepared to Ge Qingqing.
Ge Qingqing caught the token and handed it to Shen Zechuan.
He said, “Lanzhou, this is the Judge15 of the Imperial Bodyguards.
He made a special trip here today just to deliver the token to you.”
“This humble servant is Qiao Tianya.” Having said that, Qiao
Tianya motioned for Shen Zechuan to look at his token.
Shen Zechuan turned the authority token over and looked at
Qiao Tianya again.
Qiao Tianya said, “The Domesticated Elephants Office, is it?
That’s where you will be going. Qingqing will lead you there later.
But first, there are some rules I have to tell you. Our Imperial
Bodyguards tokens are as precious as the tokens from the Eight
Great Training Divisions. When you are not on duty on your days
off, you have to keep it properly. You cannot lend it out to outsiders.
Although everyone is assigned to duties in the Twelve Offices,
those aren’t your main job. Our job is to serve His Majesty. We do
whatever His Majesty tells us to do. Other than the assignments in
the Twelves Office, we also have to take turns to serve as ‘eyes and
ears’. If something major happens, such as our arrest of you five
years ago, we will need His Majesty’s ‘imperial edict’.16 Only when
we have the document and the special tokens for arrests in hand
that we can proceed. Allocation for any missions we get will not be
decided by me or the Commander-in-Chief. Instead, everyone will
‘draw lots’ and let the lots decide.” [2]17
Ji Gang had briefed Shen Zechuan on this before. So he
nodded his head and said nothing.
“One last thing.” Qiao Tianya stood up and looked around
everyone in the hall. He said, “The Imperial Bodyguards are all of
one mind. Once you hang our authority token, you are our brother.
All kinds of grudges in the past will disperse with the wind. There
will be no secret attempts to frame or make a fool of our own
brother. If there is, and you are discovered, then all your tokens will
be revoked with your names struck off, and you will all be kicked
into the Imperial Prison to be dealt with severely.”
Everyone around them turned their gazes away and focused on
their own work.
Satisfied, Qiao Tianya turned and said to Shen Zechuan, “You
may go.”
Shen Zechuan bowed in farewell and followed Ge Qingqing
out of the door.
“I thought it would be an Imperial Regalia post like the Fan
Office.”18 Ge Qingqing looked at Shen Zechuan and said, “The
Domesticated Elephants Office… works fine too.”
“I have had many conjectures too.” Shen Zechuan smiled and
said, “But I never thought that I’d be going to raise elephants.”
“The Domesticated Steeds Office is currently a good place to
be posted to. The golden saddled horses are all raised on behalf of
the nobles. It’s easy to get a recommendation for a promotion once
you have contacts with them and go on to be on familiar terms with
them. As for the Domesticated Elephants Office…” Ge Qingqing
had an odd expression on his face. “… It’s not really an idle job.
You even have to attend morning court sessions.19 And those
batches of elephant lords are really a pain in the ass to serve. But
the Commander-in-chief hardly goes there, so it won’t be easy for
him to create trouble for you.”
The Domesticated Elephants Office was close to Mingli public
road in Qudu’s Imperial City, which led right to Kailing River. When
the weather was hot, they had to herd the elephants over to the
river to drink and bathe. Not only that, during the daily morning
court sessions, they also had to lead six elephants to stand at both
sides of the imperial stairs. If there was a major festive court meet,
or a hunting extravaganza, then they had to increase the number
of elephants. These elephants would not only attend morning court
sessions like the morning court officials did, but they would also be
dismissed from court sessions together with the morning court
officials. But while the morning court officials would find it a
challenge to recuperate if they were to fall ill, the elephants could,
since they were just like the Imperial Bodyguards who took turns to
be on duty. [3]20
Shen Zechuan had never even raised a dog before, and now
they were giving him the impossible challenge of raising
elephants. All he could say was that, life’s unpredictable.
Both men were still on their way when they heard someone
running after them.
Ge Qingqing looked back and asked, “What’s the matter?”
The Imperial Bodyguard who came after them looked at Shen
Zechuan and said with a solemn expression, “The token is
suspended. He can’t take up the post today. Return to the records
room quickly!”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Is there a new deployment order from
the palace?”
“There’s no new order from the palace. But three thousand
students of the Imperial College are on hunger strike and kneeling
in protest to beseech His Majesty to retract his order and to deal
with the Shen Clan severely!”
Ge Qingqing’s countenance changed as he looked at Shen
Zechuan.
Having been grounded for punishment, Xiao Chiye lay on the
couch and flipped through the storytelling script.21 Even when he
heard Chen Yang announce Prince Chu’s arrival, he could not be
bothered to get up.
“I’m being grounded.” Xiao Chiye ate a fruit without raising his
head. “So why are you swaggering in this brazenly?”
Li Jianheng tossed down Xiao Chiye’s viceroy token and said in
agitation, “Ce’an! Something big has happened!”
Xiao Chiye’s eyelid twitched.
 Li Jianheng continued, “Three thousand students have kneeled
to ask His Majesty to punish Shen Zechuan severely! They kneeled
until it was dark and went on a hunger strike to force His Majesty to
retract his orders. When His Majesty heard of this during dinner, he
was so angry that he collapsed back onto the bed again!”
Xiao Chiye looked at that authority token and said, “Toss it
out.”
“… The Eight Great Training Divisions won’t break the students
up. So they told me to deliver the token back to you. If the Imperial
Army can disperse the students tonight, then your score with them
will be written off!” Anxious, Li Jianheng stamped his foot and said,
“The Imperial Army can’t do anything else, but isn’t it easy to deal
with a few students who don’t even have the strength to truss a
chicken? It’s a good thing!”
Xiao Chiye lifted the book to cover his face. After a moment of
silence, he said through clenched teeth, “And what a fucking good
thing it is.”
The students of the Imperial College were future candidates for
the Imperial Court, and they could influence the way the wind blew
among the local Confucian scholars. Xi Gu’an knew that they were
hot potatoes he could not lay a hand on. If Xiao Chiye really moved
these three thousand students today, then the first one to be buried
under their brushes and spit in the future would be him!
“Where is Shen Zechuan now?” Xiao Chiye suddenly sat up and
asked with his hands on his knees.
“I heard that he went to the Imperial Bodyguard’s records room
early in the morning.” Li Jianheng looked at him putting on his
clothes and followed up with a question, “Where are we going?
Are we going to look for Shen Zechuan?”
Xiao Chiye went down the stairs where Chen Yang had already
prepared his horse. He mounted it and spurred it on to depart.

Author’s Notes:
(I’ve split up the three author’s notes and affixed it to the relevant
paragraphs for easier reference. Please refer to [1], [2], [3] for the
translations of Tang Jiuqing’s author notes.)
 Lianyin’s Notes:
Those titles of sources with * are translated by me and are not
official titles in English. If you wish to search for those sources,
please use the Chinese names in 《》 instead.

Footnotes
1. Xue Xiuzhuo’s courtesy name
2. 招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
3. 儒生 Confucian scholars; these scholars, whose exemplar
was Confucius, were schooled from an early age in the
canonical literature and the philosophical works of the
Confucian traditions in preparation for the civil service
examinations, especially if they had the ambition to become
government officials.
4. 颂 song; one of the three sections of The Book of Songs
(《诗经》), comprising songs in praise of imperial ancestors
sung on sacrificial occasions.
5. 赋 fu; commonly translated as “rhapsody” or “prose
poetry”; it is an intricate literary form combining elements of
poetry and prose, much cultivated from Han times to the Six
Dynasties period.
6. 国子监 Directorate of Education which evolved from the
Imperial College (or Academy), the highest educational
body in imperial China. I’ll use the term Imperial College
here from the students’ point of view.
7. 璞玉元琢 literally, Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo (Yuanzhuo
is Yao Wenyu’s courtesy name); unpolished jade here refers
to a talent who is still unknown but with the potential to be
“polished” into someone that shines, like a top scholar (also
known as a zhuangyuan (状元), who would have a bright
future before him.)
8. Households were classified and recorded into the
Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book (黃冊) according to
their occupation to provide basic data for taxation and
recruitment. It was mainly divided into three categories:
civilian (民户), military (军户), and craftsman.
9. 女户 Female(-only) household where there is no man in
the household and the woman is the head of the household.
10. 洒扫 to sprinkle or splash water over the ground before
sweeping and cleaning.

11.
12. 腰牌 literally authority token, it’s a small tablet hung at the
waist to prove one’s identity, especially for people in
governmental posts or acting in an official capacity.
13. 中官 Zhongguan, may refer to eunuch
14. Author’s Notes [1]: For relevant information, please refer
to the “Summary of the Imperial Bodyguards’ Roles”* 《锦衣
卫职能略论》, “Imperial Bodyguards”* 《锦衣卫》, and the
“Imperial Bodyguards Selection Book”* 《锦衣卫选簿》. In
fact, there were eight kinds of Imperial Bodyguards selection
if we were to go into details. But here, the plot only called for
the introduction of four kinds.
15.
16. 飞鱼服, literally “Flying Fish Attire” (no idea what its
official name in English is). It’s the official outfit of the
imperial court’s secret service (锦衣卫), who not only serve as
elite bodyguards but were also given authority to overrule
judicial proceedings in prosecutions with full autonomy in
arresting, interrogating and punishing anyone, including
nobles. (Extra Pic).
17. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there were a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
18. 钦提, orders of the imperial edict penned and approved
personally by the Emperor himself to arrest criminals of
serious crimes.
19. Author’s Notes [2]: When it came to undertaking
missions, the Imperial Bodyguards indeed decided by
“drawing lots”. This was to prevent anyone from leaking
relevant intelligence in advance.
20. 扇手司 A bureau or office in charge of fanning duties. This
office was originally a subordinate organization under the
former Imperial Procession Guards (銮仪卫) during the Qing
Dynasty. Here the author mentioned it under the Imperial
Regalia Bureau (仪銮所). Historically, the Imperial
Bodyguards (锦衣卫) were originally known as the Yiluan Si
(仪銮司), or Imperial Regalia Service. It was only changed by
Emperor Hongwu during the Ming Dynasty in 1382 to the
Imperial Bodyguards Command (锦衣卫亲军指挥使司). Thus,
the Imperial Bodyguards came to be responsible for being
the Emperor’s bodyguards, and at the same time, inherited
the ceremonial duties for the morning court sessions or the
Emperor’s inspection tour processions from their Imperial
Regalia times, including this Fan Club Office in this novel.
(Sorry, Lianyin sucks at naming stuff.) Long story short,
remember that this is a work of fiction. The author combines
elements from both the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the
novel; it’s not a 100% accurate/factual historical novel.
21. 早朝 Court sessions held in the morning for the Emperor
to discuss state affairs with his ministers.
22. Author’s Notes [3]: For details about elephants bathing
with the entire city watching, you can refer to “A Summary of
the Imperial Capital Scenery”* 《帝京景物略》. The Imperial
Bodyguards is a miraculous organization. Those who were
spies included not only those who could write in shorthand
but also painters. They had painters, physicians, beast
trainers, silversmiths, blacksmiths, explosive-makers… and
even translators. (No, Lianyin is not one of the Imperial
Bodyguards). Their selection requirements were high, and
most were top-notch professionals in their fields. Under
normal circumstances, they required recruits to be tall, with
long legs and powerful arms. In “Ming Dynasty in 1566” 《大
明王朝1566》, Liu Heping mentioned that the Imperial
Bodyguards asked for men with “arms like tigers, waists of
bees, and legs like mantises”, as well as those who “would be
able to brisk-walk over one hundred and sixty li a day”. They
could cross a two-zhang high wall just by climbing over it
with their arms, break another man’s throat with just their
bare hands, and forfeit sleep for as many days their missions
remained incomplete. So, from the looks of things, Ce’an
was actually more suited to be in the Imperial Bodyguards.
23. 话本 Script for storytelling; Song and Yuan literary form
based on vernacular folk stories.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 16 : RAINSTORM

The wind rose a while later, followed by the fall of rain.

Xiao Chiye braved the rain and galloped his horse through it.
He arrived at the Imperial College just in time to hear Gao
Zhongxiong shouting with his head raised. “As long as the traitor is
not executed, the wrath of the public will not be appeased!”
The students at the back kowtowed and echoed in unison. “As
long as the traitor is not executed, the wrath of the public will not
be appeased!”
The rain spattered upon the earth, soaking the students’ robes
and hair.
Xiao Chiye reined in his horse, and the horse trod its hooves on
the same spot. He looked at them for a moment, then said in a loud
voice, “What have you been doing earlier? If all of you gentlemen
here had kneeled to make your case back then when that surviving
descendant entered the capital, then he would never have lived to
this day.”
Gao Zhongxiong’s chest heaved. He said, “Viceroy, as they say,
it’s better late than never. This surviving descendant is still wet
behind the ears, and he has yet to spread his wings. As long as His
Majesty is willing to retract his order and deal with him severely, it
will still be a consolation to all the loyal souls of Zhongbo!”
“There is absolutely no reason to rescind an imperial edict of
the Son of Heaven.”1 Xiao Chiye said, “By kneeling, you are not
beseeching His Majesty to revoke his decree, but forcing him into
it. The various gentlemen here are all loyal and filial men of the
world. There are a hundred ways you can use to make your appeal,
so why insist on making such an unwise move?”
“Your Excellency.” Gao Zhongxiong looked up. “Men who wield
brushes die in remonstrations, while men who wield swords die in
battles! If we have to watch helplessly as His Majesty is deceived
into handling affairs in such a muddleheaded way, then we might
as well spill our blood on the imperial terrace tonight to die for our
beliefs!”
 Xiao Chiye said, “Using the threat of death at every turn. Is that
all civil servants since ancient times are capable of?”
The rain intensified. The students did not budge.
Xiao Chiye dismounted and squatted before Gao Zhongxiong.
The heavy rain poured like a waterfall. He leaned in and asked,
“Who is the instigator?”
With a look of great resolve, Gao Zhongxiong said, “My loyalty
to my sovereign is what drives me!”
Giving off the air of a ruffian, Xiao Chiye said, “I don’t think so.
Of course, if you want to protect an outsider, you can. It’s just that
your action tonight has implicated all those three thousand fellow
students behind you. If the Emperor flies into a rage and turns
tonight into a bloodbath, then you will be no different from that last
descendant of the Shen Clan—all of you will be sinners condemned
through the ages. And this isn’t even the scariest thing. What’s
worse is that His Majesty would still be unwilling to rescind his edict
even if your head rolls. You persevered in your studies despite the
hardships for twelve years, all just to do the dirty work for
another?”
Gao Zhongxiong lifted his arm and wiped away the rainwater
on his face. He said, “What I’m doing is a matter of loyalty and
righteousness. It’s completely different from the Shen Clan’s
traitorous act! Even if all three thousands of us were to die here
tonight, even if our blood were to overflow the imperial terrace, we
are doing it all for His Majesty!”
Xiao Chiye said, “The situation now is that the palace has
neither withdrawn its order for Shen Zechuan to take up post, nor
have they sent out an imperial edict to appease the students. Do
you still not understand His Majesty’s intention from this?”
“For each day His Majesty does not retract his decree.” Gao
Zhongxiong persisted, “We will neither eat, rise, nor retreat!”
The thunderstorm rumbled. Xiao Chiye rose to his feet. Chen
Yang wanted to hold up an umbrella for him, but he raised his
hand to stop him. Rain seeped into his robe. Even the token
hanging on his waist was dripping water.
“Viceroy.” Chen Yang suddenly spoke in a soft voice. “The
Imperial Bodyguards are here!”
 Xiao Chiye turned his head back in the rain and saw Qiao
Tianya arriving on his horse. The latter dismounted and cupped his
fists together from afar to pay his obeisances.
A sudden commotion rose among the students when they saw
the Red Cavalry.2
“This is a knotty issue. It wouldn’t do to trouble the Viceroy over
it.” Qiao Tianya held on to his blade and smiled. “One of the
Imperial Bodyguards is the target here. So naturally, the Imperial
Bodyguards should be the one to resolve this ourselves.”
“Resolve.” Xiao Chiye raised his arm almost thoughtlessly and
placed it on Qiao Tianya’s shoulder. He said, “How does the Judge3
want to resolve this matter? They are just a bunch of unarmed
students; there’s no need to trouble the Imperial Bodyguards over
them.”
“The Emperor is the highest authority in Qudu.” Qiao Tianya
looked askance at him. “Whoever has the gall to defy His Majesty’s
orders are the enemies of the Imperial Bodyguard.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him right in the eyes. After a moment,
both men burst into laughter.
“My man.” Xiao Chiye said. “You are gutsy.”
“It’s raining hard and cold.” Qiao Tianya tightened his grip on
his blade and said, “I’ll send someone to escort you back to your
residence.”
“I just arrived a moment ago.” Xiao Chiye’s hand remained on
Qian Tianya’s shoulder to hold his arm, which was grasping the
hilt of his blade, in place. He was still smiling as he said, “There’s no
harm in staying a little longer.”
Qiao Tianya said, “This matter is a difficult one. Why muddy the
waters?”
Xiao Chiye said, “It’s precisely because it’s tough to handle that
we can’t get rid of them all at once. These students are all great
minds of the state. None of us can take responsibility for it if there’s
one of them less.”
The man dismounting his horse at the back was dressed in a
thin, wide-sleeved garment. He did not carry a blade with him.
Sandwiched between the pack of Imperial Bodyguards, he stood
out conspicuously like a sore thumb.
 Qiao Tianya loosened his grip on his blade and shouted,
“Lanzhou, come here.”
Shen Zechuan turned around and exchanged glances with
Xiao Chiye.
Qiao Tianya leisurely shifted Xiao Chiye’s arm away and said,
“The Viceroy’s worry is valid. However, the Imperial Bodyguards
don’t merely know how to bulldoze our way through our jobs. I still
have some other arrangements on my end. In a while, the
Emperor’s order will arrive… Oh. Both of you are old friends, aren’t
you? Lanzhou, stay here with the Viceroy for a moment. He’s
scared.”
Shen Zechuan gathered his sleeves and looked at the students
in the rain.
Xiao Chiye took a few glances at him and commented, “Your
authority token has been hung up pretty fast.”
Shen Zechuan said, “The Second Young Master’s token has
been returned pretty fast too.”
Xiao Chiye’s expression was cold, but he smiled and said, “You
may seem to be the target of this matter, but the truth is that the
real target is the palace. So how’s it? Because your gains were too
little yesterday, you have to stir up trouble the moment you get out
of your cage?”
Shen Zechuan tilted his head slightly and looked at him with
pure, kind eyes. He said, “The Second Young Master thinks too
highly of me. Where on earth would I have the capability to stir
things up? Since the target is the palace, then wouldn’t the Second
Young Master know better than I who currently harbor the most
desire to see His Majesty fall out with the Hua Clan?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I don’t get what you mean. Circuitous stuff is
all beyond my understanding.”
Shen Zechuan smiled at him and said, “We are old
acquaintances; you don’t have to stand on ceremony with me.”
Xiao Chiye did not answer him. Instead, he offhandedly lifted a
finger to flick Shen Zechuan’s authority token. He said, “The
Domesticated Elephants Office is a good place. You must be
happy, huh?”
 “I am.” Shen Zechuan said, “It just happens that I have some
experience in taming ferocious beasts.”
“Not really an experience.” Xiao Chiye said. “That was a deep
conversation between the same kind.”
“How would I dare to call it such?” Shen Zechuan coughed
softly and said, “If the talks break down and I receive yet another
kick, then wouldn’t all my previous efforts go to waste?”
“Use your teeth then.” Xiao Chiye took the umbrella from Chen
Yang’s hand and held it up above his head. At the same time, he
blocked Shen Zechuan and said, “You have a sharp tongue and a
smart mouth, don’t you? So what are you afraid of?”
“I value my life.” Shen Zechuan sighed as if with emotion. “As
they said, the kindness of a drop of water given in times of need
should be repaid multifold with a gushing spring.4 There is so
much more I wish to repay the Second Young Master with.”
“Have you gotten the wrong person?” Xiao Chiye scoffed.
“That can’t be.” Shen Zechuan cast a sidelong glance at Xiao
Chiye and said calmly to him, “I recognize you.”
“Fine, then.” Xiao Chiye looked askance at him as well and
said, “I want to see how much I owe you too.”
The voices outside the umbrella were cut off. Both men stood
shoulder to shoulder, accentuating the height difference between
them.
“Actually, there is no way you can stay out of this matter.” Xiao
Chiye gazed at the students in the rain. “If one dies tonight, there
will naturally be someone who will lay the blame on you.”
“There will only be more and not less of the forty thousand
souls who have died unjust deaths.” Shen Zechuan played it down.
“Since they are afraid of death, then why be someone else’s
weapon? Even if someone wants to pin this on me, it doesn’t mean
I have to plead guilty, do I?”
Both men fell silent again.
Qiao Tianya sat astride under the shed and cracked melon
seeds. Seeing as it was almost time, he shook the seeds off his robe
and rose to his feet. Sure enough, he saw a sedan chair coming
towards them amid the color of the night.
The curtain lifted. Unexpectedly, it was Pan Rugui who came.
 The little eunuch supported Pan Rugui with a hand, while Ji Lei
followed at the side holding up an umbrella for him. Wearing a
robe with a tiger, mugwort, and five poisons5 mandarin square6 and
a yandun hat7 on his head, Pan Rugui let Qiao Tianya lead him to
the students.
“Such a heavy downpour.” Qiao Tianya reined in his smile and
said, “To think they actually sent the Director to grace us with your
presence.”
Pan Rugui looked askance at Gao Zhongxiong and asked Qiao
Tianya, “He won’t retreat?”
Qiao Tianya replied, “Scholars are all bull-headed. They are
neither enticed by the carrot nor brow-beaten by the stick.”
“Then, I’m afraid the stick isn’t hard enough.” Pan Rugui had
lost his right-handed man yesterday, and he had nowhere to vent
all his pent-up anger. With the little eunuch supporting him, he
came to stand before Gao Zhongxiong. “You are all men who are
well-read in the classics and literature. How is it that you can’t
understand the words ‘overstepping your authority’? The affairs of
the imperial court are to be discussed in the imperial court itself. It
is not something brats like you who are still wet behind the ears
can influence!”
On seeing this well-known lackey of the ‘Hua Faction’, Gao
Zhongxiong could not help but straighten his back and say, “Every
man has a duty to his country. Since the Imperial College students
receive a stipend from the sovereign, then they must serve him
loyally! Treacherous toadies abound all around His Majesty now. If
we still don’t…”
“Treacherous toadies!” Pan Rugui laughed coldly. “What a fine
way to put it! Who instigated you to slander the imperial court and
malign His Majesty?”
“A loyal…”
“Cut the crap.” Pan Rugui suddenly commanded, “You act upon
the instigation of those with sinister motives and publicly defy the
imperial decree. You incite your clique to slander the imperial court
and the people. If this man goes unpunished, then what’s the use
of the law? Men, take him down!”
 Gao Zhongxiong had never expected Pan Rugui to be so
daring that he would indiscriminately take others down. He
immediately braced himself in the rain and shouted himself
hoarse, “Who dares to? I was chosen by His Majesty himself to
study at the Imperial College! The villain stands before us, and
eunuchs endanger the state! The Empress Dowager wields control
over the state affairs and refuses to return governance to its rightful
master. The ones who should be taken down are treacherous
ministers and traitors like you!”
“Drag him away!” Ji Lei immediately said in reproach when he
saw Pan Rugui enraged.
The Imperial Bodyguards stepped forward to drag him away.
Gao Zhongxiong’s attempt to climb to his feet was thwarted. He
raised his arms in the direction of the palace and shouted, “My
death today is truly a remonstration to the death! Since the eunuch
wants to kill me, then let him kill! Your Majesty…”
Qiao Tianya gripped Gao Zhongxiong by the neck. Unable to
breathe, the latter struggled and shouted intermittently.
“Your Majesty— The treacherous ministers are in power. Then,
what’s the point of loyalty and righteousness?!”
Xiao Chiye said inwardly to himself, oh shit.
What happened next was just as he expected. Sorrow and
indignation ran high among the three thousand students. Life and
death had no place here right this instant as it was forced out by
this vehement elegy. Rising to their feet in the rainstorm, the
students charged at the Imperial Bodyguards.
“Eunuchs endanger the state!” They pulled their zhaowen
bags8 off their waists and flung them at Pan Rugui. Bitter cries rang
out. “Treacherous ministers are in power!”
Ji Lei hurriedly shielded Pan Rugui and guarded him as he
ushered the latter back in a retreat. He chided them furiously,
“What are you doing? Staging a rebellion?!”
“This is the real traitor to the nation!” The students threw
themselves against the Imperial Bodyguards as the Imperial
Bodyguards held them back. Their fingers almost jabbed Ji Lei’s
face, while specks of saliva sprayed towards them. “Traitor! Traitor!”
 Xiao Chiye swiftly tossed the umbrella to Shen Zechuan and
hurried down the stairs.
Shen Zechuan stood alone on high ground and watched the
chaos with cool detachment. Pan Rugui had been shoved back into
his sedan, and Ji Lei even lost his shoe in the melee.
“Storms are rife in the martial fraternity.” From a distance away,
Shen Zechuan said softly to Ji Lei, “Your Excellency Ji, what a truly
wonderful sight.”
A chuckle rose from under the umbrella. He leisurely turned the
umbrella and looked at Xiao Chiye’s back.
Grand Mentor Qi and Ji Gang were drinking wine and tea
under the eaves.
Ji Gang drank his tea and said, “Was killing Xiaofuzi a ploy to
let Chuan-er out?”
Grand Mentor Qi took small sips of the wine as though he
could not bear to drink it. He hugged the gourd and said, “Who
knows? Make a guess yourself.”
Ji Gang turned around and said, “No matter what, his safety is
the most important.”
Grand Mentor Qi shook the gourd and said, “It is only by
making a risky move that a soldier can take his foe by surprise. You
taught him martial arts so that he could stay calm in hours of peril.
Sometimes, we have to put safety aside. It is only when you leave
no room for maneuver or escape that one will put up a desperate
fight for survival and emerge victorious.”
Ji Gang watched the rain intensify with a worried frown and
said, “I have already made proper arrangement for the task you
entrusted me with.”
“This is called casting a long line.”9 Grand Mentor Qi scratched
his foot. “If you don’t let it brave the water for a few years before
you haul in the net, then all you will catch are lousy fishes and
prawns.10 Should there come a day you and I both lose our lives in
the midst of this, the arrangement today will be the killer move that
will preserve his life.”
Footnotes
1. 天子 Son of Heaven, refers to the Emperor. An Emperor
was as good as his word, so they would very rarely retract
their orders or go back on their words.
2. 缇骑 tiqi; a subordinate of the Imperial Bodyguards. They
are mounted cavalry of the Imperial Bodyguards that wear
red uniforms and are commonly guarded escorts of an
official’s retinue or entourage.
3. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there were a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
4. 滴水之恩当涌泉相报 i.e. to repay a favor one has received
multifold.
5. 五毒艾虎 a festive pattern of tiger, mugwort, and five
poisons (the centipede, scorpion, toad, lizard, and snake)
used on mandarin squares, or rank badges, of the official
garbs (see next footnote). Courtiers in the Ming Dynasty
wore robes with this badge from the first to the thirteenth
day of the fifth lunar month in celebration of the Dragon
Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival) and the Summer Solstice.

6.
7. 补子 rank badges or mandarin squares, was a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. E.g., the use of
squares depicting birds for civil officials and animals for
military officials; there were even “seasonal” squares like the
gourd (mentioned in chapter 2) and the tiger, mugwort, and
five poisons (see the previous footnote).
8. 烟墩帽 a hat worn by eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. It was
made of velvet or crape in winter.
9. 招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
10. 放长线 (钓大鱼) literally casting a long line (to catch a big
fish); i.e., to set in motion a long-term plan for major returns
in the future.
11. 臭鱼烂虾 literally smelly fishes and rotten prawns. It’s also
used to refer to a good-for-nothing who is so worthless and
useless that he can only be cast away like rotten meat.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 17 : STORM
Note:
The “storm” here also refers to a crisis or turmoil.

It was in the middle of the night that the Empress Dowager

draped her clothes over herself and asked through the bed
canopy, “What’s that din about?”
Hua Xiangyi nudged the canopy aside and helped the Empress
Dowager out of the incense-scented-and-warmed bedding. She
replied in a soft voice, “The students of the Imperial College want
the Emperor to retract his appointment edict.”
The Empress Dowager got up, and the maidservants on both
sides quietly lit the lamps and raised the curtains. Hua Xiangyi
helped the Empress Dowager to the Arhat bed with a girdled waist,
horses’ hooves legs, and plain boards at the sides.1 A soft cushion
and heater were presented together to the Empress Dowager,
while fermented milk2 was warmed up for her.
The Empress Dowager stirred the spoon with a light frown on
her face, “How did that happen out of the blue?” She pondered it
over for a moment. “The appointment order was only given
yesterday, and they came to stir up a ruckus tonight. Isn’t that way
too fast?”
“What’s more, the ones creating a commotion are those from
the Imperial College.” Hua Xiangyi went along with the Empress
Dowager and said, “Auntie,3 all the literary talents in the world look
to the Imperial College. Even the Secretariat Elder himself would
find it ill-advised to step in.”
The Empress Dowager scooped up the fermented milk.
Although her makeup-less face showed signs of aging, it added
character to her looks. She gradually put aside the bowl and
leaned back against the cushion to stare at the glazed lampshade.
After a short while, she said, “That’s right. Shen Wei is now
notorious for his crime. By all sentiment and logic, the Secretariat
Elder cannot come forward to rebuke the students. If the students
force His Majesty to rescind his order, then I’ll have to swallow this
bitter pill in silence this time.”
 “Auntie.” Hua Xiangyi said, “It wasn’t His Majesty’s original
intent to release Shen Zechuan. Now that he has earned himself
the infamy of being ‘muddle-headed’ for no reason because of this
order, I’m afraid it will create a distance between you both.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The Empress Dowager said, “Once Imperial
Concubine Wei is with child Dazhou will have an heir. The imperial
heir is the foundation of the empire. As long as I have the heir in
my hands, I’m still the Empress Dowager of Dazhou. His Emperor
has long been at odds with me ever since he fell ill. Even if he flies
into a rage this time, it’s merely a tantrum thrown during a moment
of illness. Let him vent.”
After his illness, Emperor Xiande gradually stopped going
along with the Empress Dowager’s will. Although these were all
trivial daily matters, it was already an indication of his dissension.
The Empress Dowager had assumed command in the palace with
Pan Rugui at her side and Secretariat Elder Hua in the imperial
court. If she wanted to ensure the continuation of the burgeoning
power and authority of the Hua Clan, then she needed a
submissive and obedient Emperor.
If Emperor Xiande could no longer fit the role, then all she had
to do was to replace him.
The sole reason the Empress Dowager did not like Prince Chu,
Li Jianheng, was because he had already come of age.4 He was not
a weak child, nor was he a child who had grown up under her. How
could such a person, if he were to ascend to the throne, be as
obedient as an imperial grandson raised by her?
“What’s more, the appeal today is a blow to His Majesty’s
dignity.” The Empress Dowager said calmly, “The nine years His
Majesty has been on the throne, his food and clothing, as well as
all other matters, whether important or trivial, have to go through
me. But now, he wants to be an independent and imperious
Emperor. For this, he emboldened himself to show goodwill to the
Xiao Clan. Not only did he refuse to release Shen Zechuan, he even
wanted to protect the Prince Chu. But I understand him. He is
outwardly strong and inwardly weak. He fears me. That’s why he
always aimed to be on both parties’ good sides. Instead, he
appears to be of two minds, and ends up thoroughly offending
both parties.”
“Didn’t His Majesty imprison Shen Zechuan for so many years
for the sake of the Xiao Clan?”
“What does imprisonment mean?” The Empress Dowager took
Hua Xiangyi’s hand and said soberly. “Imprisonment is a reprieve
from death. His Majesty thought he did a favor to the Xiao Clan, but
he’s really just sowing the seed of disaster. Xiao Jiming lost his
younger brother. What Libei wants is for Shen Zechuan to die. As
long as Shen Zechuan remains alive, His Majesty will let down all
those one hundred and twenty thousand Armored Cavalry who
came to his rescue. Think about it. Xiao Jiming worked himself to
the bone all to prove that he harbors no thoughts of disloyalty. He
even dares to leave his younger brother behind in Qudu. He has
conducted himself with frankness and sincerity towards His
Majesty. Yet, in order not to offend me, His Majesty turned around
and dismissed Shen Zechuan’s death penalty and locked him up
instead. If Shen Zechuan doesn’t die, he will become the root of
trouble. This is the period of the struggle between life and death,
and yet His Majesty is still so naïve. And need I mention the
incident this time? To protect Prince Chu, His Majesty was not
willing to launch a full investigation into Xiaofuzi’s case and
consequently cut off Pan Rugui’s subsequent move. At the same
time, he’s afraid I’d harbor ill-feelings against him, so he reluctantly
let Shen Zechuan off—He thought the Xiao Clan would understand
his difficulties, but Xiao Jiming is far away in Libei. Once he learns
about this matter, he will not be happy.”
“If that’s the case.” Hua Xiangyi said, “Could it have been
someone from the Xiao Clan who incited the Imperial College
students to stir up trouble? Forcing His Majesty to rescind his edict
this time would not only drive a wedge between His Majesty and
the Hua Clan, it would also prevent the Secretariat Elder and Auntie
from stepping forward. At the same time, it can also eliminate Shen
Zechuan through the hands of another.”
“If it’s so clear-cut.” The Empress Dowager brushed aside Hua
Xiangyi’s stray hair and said dotingly, “Then what’s the need for
Xiao Jiming to be one of the Four Generals of the world? That lad
has always been prudent in his conduct. If he were the perpetrator,
he would not be found out this easily. Besides, Libei has no
dealings with the Imperial College.”
“I can’t guess.” Hua Xiangyi leaned against the Empress
Dowager and said like a pampered child, “Tell me, Auntie.”
“Alright.” The Empress Dowager was childless this life, and she
was not close to those on her maternal grandparents’ side. The
only one she doted on was Hua Xiangyi. She said, “Auntie will
teach you. Look at the surrounding Eight Cities established beyond
Qudu. The Eight Cities are where the current Eight Great Clans5
originated. Our Hua Clan resides in the city of Dicheng at the south
of the capital. It has always been the city of choice for imperial
concubines. But it’s only during my time that the Hua Clan was
considered to be at the height of its glory and came out tops
among the Eight Great Clans. A few years earlier, when the former
Emperor had only just ascended to the throne, it was the Yao Clan
who was the most favored and honored. This was because the Yao
Clan had been conferred as the Emperor’s tutor thrice. If it weren’t
for Old Master Yao’s lack of literary talents during his time, that Qi
Huilian from Yuzhou might not even get to be the Grand Mentor of
Yongyi.6 Moreover, of the current Xi Clan, only Xi Gu’an has been
promoted to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Great
Training Divisions to manage the younger generations of the Eight
Great Clans. Just think of him as a teacher of the military camps.
The Xi Clan has always been men of inferior morals and virtues;
they will not achieve great things. Meanwhile, the Xue Clan has
already begun its decline after the glorious death of Grand Master
Xue. Xue Xiuzhuo is the only one now who has an official post in
the Central Administration. As for the remaining Wei, Pan, Fei, and
Han Clans, I’ll tell you about them next time.”
“I’ve heard Father mention these before.” Hua Xiangyi said, “So
Auntie is telling me these to suggest that the secret instigator of the
Imperial College this time might be someone else from the Eight
Great Clans.”
“That’s what I suspect.” The Empress Dowager said. “Glory is
enjoyed in turn. It has been many years since the Hua Clan has
enjoyed its rise following my ascend. It’s possible for someone to
harbor some other intent on seeing how gravely ill His Majesty is
now. Summon Pan Rugui over tomorrow morning and let him have
the Imperial Bodyguards conduct a thorough investigation in
secret. Qudu is such a big place. I don’t believe there is not a single
loose lip within.”
Xiao Chiye wrung away the water on his clothes and entered
Mingli Hall together with Ji Lei.
It was already late at night, and Emperor Xiande was still
awake.
“You have been grounded to self-reflect on the errors of your
ways.” Emperor Xiande held a memorial7 as he glanced at Xiao Chi
Ye and asked in a hoarse voice, “So why are you running around
with the Imperial Bodyguards?”
Xiao Chiye was really wronged. He said, “The Commander-in-
Chief was the one who asked this humble subject to go. This
humble subject thought that it was Your Majesty’s verbal orders.”
“After you went,” Emperor Xiande asked, “How did it go?”
Ji Lei immediately kowtowed and said, “To reply to Your
Majesty, the students of the Imperial College acted upon someone
else’s instigation and not only spoke presumptuously on state
affairs and slandered Your Majesty, but also lay their hands on Pan-
gonggong. The scene was a chaotic mess. This humble subject
wanted to take them into custody, but Viceroy Xiao was unwilling
to.”
And he wasn’t just unwilling. That Imperial Army was simply
cast in the same mold as Xiao Chiye! They had acted shamelessly
to obstruct the Imperial Bodyguards to prevent them from
rounding up the students. All that was left of them was to lie on the
floor and roll around! This bunch of idle military ruffians sure had
skins as thick as the city wall.
Emperor Xiande asked Xiao Chiye, “You obstructed the
Imperial Bodyguards from arresting the students?”
Xiao Chiye said, “They are just a group of students. If they are
really taken to the Imperial Prison, most of them might not survive.
We can disregard their lives, but what are we to do if it damages
Your Majesty’s virtuous name?”
 “They banded together for selfish purposes and colluded with
malicious people. They clearly intended to throw the Imperial Court
into chaos! If we do not take these kinds of people to trial, then
what’s the use of the Imperial Bodyguards in the future?” Ji Lei said
indignantly.
Emperor Xiande coughed for a long time before he said,
“Ce’an has done well.”
“Your Majesty!” Ji Lei could not believe it. “This group of
students rallied to stir up trouble. They even dared to shout the
word ‘rebellion’. If we do not deal with them severely, it will
endanger the empire and state!”
“I’ll be frank.” Emperor Xiande said in a lukewarm tone. “If they
hadn’t been forced to this pivotal moment, why would they come
to blows with the Imperial Bodyguards and yell such words instead
of attending classes? That remaining descendant of the Shen Clan
should have never been released! If it weren’t for… If it weren’t
for!”
Emperor Xiande cast aside the memorial and started to cough.
He was back to normal after his coughing eased up a little.
“… No matter what, they have to be punished. Reduce the
Imperial College’s fund for provisions by half and change their
meals from twice a day to once. Impose the punishment on them
for half a year.”
Knowing that Emperor Xiande had already made up his mind,
Ji Lei said nothing more. He kneeled in silence, but Emperor
Xiande knew what he was thinking.
“The Imperial Bodyguards are dogs of mine.” Emperor Xiande
stared at Ji Lei, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial
Bodyguards, why are you going around acknowledging others as
your godfather, god-grandfather? I have never brought this up on
account that you were still considered deferential! Tonight, I want
you to appease the students of the Imperial College. Do you
understand?”
Ji Lei kowtowed and said, “This humble servant obeys. The
Imperial Bodyguards serve only Your Majesty!”
By the time they came out, the rain had already lightened. A
little eunuch from the bailiff office came to hold up umbrellas for
both of them.
Ji Lei did not look good as he raised his hand at Xiao Chiye
and made to leave. But Xiao Chiye was unconcerned as he said,
“Old Ji, I had no choice too. I was grounded yesterday. Even if I
wanted to come out and play, I wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on the
students without careful consideration.”
Looking at how much of a jerk Xiao Chiye was made Ji Lei
furious, but there was nowhere for him to vent, so he merely
nodded his head at random, hoping that Xiao Chiye would leave.
“But what do you think of my Imperial Army?” Xiao Chiye took
the umbrella from the little eunuch’s hand and dismissed him. He
continued to head out of the palace with Ji Lei.
Ji Lei thought, what else? Aren’t they all nothing more than a
bunch of scoundrels?! They are even worse off now that they are
following you!
But he said politely, “They seemed to be much more spirited
than before.”
“Right?” Xiao Chiye said shamelessly, “I think the Imperial
Army’s drill ground is too small to be put to good use. Can you ask
the Commander-in-Chief on my behalf if he could allocate a place
for the Imperial Army?”
Ji Lei had heard a long time ago that Xiao Chiye had led the
Imperial Army to play polo at the drill ground. He never expected
the latter to have the guts to ask for more land. But it wasn’t good
for him to turn the latter down right in the face, so he said, “I’m
afraid that would be tough. Prince Chu expanded his residence last
month, and his forcible seizure of civilians’ residences had even
been reported to the prefectural yamen. There are people
everywhere in Qudu now, so where is Gu’an going to find the place
for you to use as a military drill ground? Besides, even if there’s a
spot in the city, it has to be granted to the Eight Training Divisions.”
“Oh.” Xiao Chiye said under the umbrella, “Even if it isn’t the
turn of our Imperial Army to get a piece of land within the city, we
can also make do with land outside of it. As long as the place is big
enough to let us play to our hearts’ content.”
It was then Ji Lei grasped the intent of his words. He looked at
Xiao Chiye and laughed. He said, “Alright, Second Young Master.
You’ve long taken a fancy to a piece of land, haven’t you? So why
still play dumb with me?!”
“I’m already here to ask you for a favor, am I not, Old Ji?” Xiao
Chiye said, “You’re the one people give face to the most in Qudu.
How would the Commander-in-Chief turn you down if you put in a
request to him? We can negotiate if it’s a done deal.”
“There’s no need to talk about money with me.” Ji Lei finally
softened his attitude. “I’ve acknowledged a godson, and I was just
wondering where to find a good horse for him! When it comes to
horses, there’s no one who is more knowledgeable than the
Second Young Master, is there?”
“I’ll send him a few horses to play with.” Xiao Chiye said, “The
horses bred from the Hongyan Mountains are no worse than mine.
In a few days, I’ll send someone to deliver them directly to your
residence.”
“I’ll speak to Gu’an.” Ji Lei said. “How big can the matter of a
drill ground be? Just wait for my news!”
The rain had stopped by the time both men parted ways. Xiao
Chiye got into the horse carriage. Chen Yang looked at Ji Lei’s
sedan and said, “Is the Viceroy really going to give the residence’s
horses to him? What a pity!”
“There’s no free lunch.”8 Xiao Chiye kicked off his boots. His
feet had long been soaked. “We need to have a drill ground. It’s
too conspicuous in the capital. If that old crook can’t deliver after
accepting the horses.” He said coldly, “Then I’ll send his son to
meet his ancestors.”
The carriage began to sway. Xiao Chiye wiped his face with a
handkerchief and asked, “Where is that man?”
Chen Yang repeated, “That, that man?”
“Shen Zechuan!”
“He went back a long time ago.” Chen Yang poured tea for Xiao
Chiye and said, “His steps seem weak and unstable to me… With
that kind of health, how is he going to take up a post in the Imperial
Bodyguards?”
“Rearing elephants.” Xiao Chiye took the tea and gulped it all
down. “Invalids are only too anxious to dodge manual labor. He’s
most definitely the kind of person who will want to loaf on the job.”
 The man who wanted to loaf on the job sneezed. He sat in the
dimness for a short while, wondering if he had caught a cold.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a rotund figure
strode in. Xi Hongxuan marveled in wonder the moment he
entered. “This place sure is fine. Even the Imperial Bodyguards
won’t be able to figure it out.”
Without turning his head back, Shen Zechuan said, “Just a
dilapidated house with a courtyard that no one wants to rent. That’s
the only good thing about it.”
“But this compound isn’t easy to get your hands on.” Xi
Hongxuan rubbed his hands and sat down. He looked at Shen
Zechuan. “This was the old courtyard that the former Emperor
bestowed to the Crown Prince, who then awarded it to Qi Huilian. It
was later sold away after Qi Huilian’s death. How did you get your
hands on it?”
Shen Zechuan sipped his tea as he exchanged a meaningful
look with Xi Hongxuan for a moment.
Xi Hongxuan raised his hand unhurriedly and said, “Look at
this cheap mouth of mine, always trying to pry into others’
backgrounds. I heard on the way here earlier that Pan Rugui was hit
too. This move of yours is truly delightful.”
“Eldest Master Xi is the Commander-in-Chief of the Eight
Training Divisions.” Shen Zechuan said. “After this incident, he will
rouse the Empress Dowager’s suspicions. His life in the days ahead
will not be easy.”
“I’ll feel good if Xi Gu’an has a hard time.” Xi Hongxuan placed
his fleshy palms on the table and said, “Instead of waiting for the
major figures in the Imperial Court to say a word, we might as well
get the students to do so first as a preemptive move. After this
incident, you could be said to be truly released.”
Shen Zechuan took the chopsticks and picked up some
vegetarian food, “Just a small trick. I’ve made a mockery out of
myself before the Second Young Master.”9
Xi Hongxuan watched Shen Zechuan eat before he touched his
own chopsticks. He said, “What are you going to do in the future?”
“Just trying to get by in the Imperial Bodyguards.” Shen
Zechuan said, “Ji Lei is Pan Rugui’s godson and Xi Gu’an sworn
brother. You want to kill Xi Gu’an, but how are you going to get past
Ji Lei? Why not you and I split their lives each among us and let
them be good buddies for life?”
Xi Hongxuan sniggered for a moment. He leaned over the
table and asked Shen Zechuan sinisterly, “What’s your grudge with
Ji Lei?”
Shen Zechuan picked away the Sichuan peppers.10 Without
even lifting his eyelids, he said, “I don’t like those shoes he’s
wearing.”

Credits: Many thanks to eggy (@peachiprint) for the correction!

♥
Footnotes

1.
2. 罗汉床 Luohan or Arhat bed is a kind of long and narrow
wooden couch that also functions as a bed (榻). The arhat
bed is distinguished by railings around the back and sides of
the platform. 束腰马蹄素围板(罗汉床) is a type of Arhat bed
with specific designs, something like the picture above. You
can also put a small table (for tea, chess, etc) in the middle
so that it can seat two people. (Example)
3. 乳酪 is typically translated as cheese but in ancient times,
it was a kind of fermented milk, kind of like yogurt in modern
days.
4. 姑母 Gu-mu, paternal aunt, i.e., father’s sister.
5. 及冠 or 弱冠, a man’s 20th birthday, i.e., coming of age at
20 for a male.
6. Eight Great Clans: Yao, Hua, Xi, Xue, Wei, Pan, Fei, Han
7. Yongyi, i.e., the former Emperor.

8.
9. 折子 zhezi, also 奏折 zouzhe, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor in folded, accordion form
10. (吃人嘴软,) 拿人手短 Literally, “(The mouth that eats the
meals of others is softened;) the hand that takes the gifts of
others is shortened.” When someone gives another person
something out of the blue (e.g. a gift or a meal), they usually
have something to ask. And since the person has taken their
gifts, it’d be harder to turn them down, so they (usually) end
up doing them the favor. The closest modern adage to
explain this is “there is no such thing as a free lunch”, that is,
there is nothing people will let you take or eat (or drink) for
free.
11. This is referring to Xi Hongxuan here, not Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye is the second young master of the Xiao Clan,
while Xi Hongxuan is the second young master of the Xi
Clan.

12.
13. 花椒 Sichuan pepper is a spice from the Sichuan cuisine
with a unique aroma and flavor. No relations to Zechuan.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 18 : DONKEY ROAST

WARNING
Animal abuse in this chapter.
If this is a trigger/landmine for you, please stop
reading now.
Xiao Chiye had a quiet time for half a month before he finally
received a reply from Ji Lei informing him that the matter of the
military drill ground was a done deal. He immediately headed out
of the city with Chen Yang to take a look at the place.
It was a piece of wasteland that was originally a mass burial
site. The platform used for execution by decapitation1 was later
shifted away to another place, and so this place became empty.
“Although Mount Feng stands between it and the city,” Chen
Yang dismounted the horse, sized up the area, and continued, “it’s
still too far.”
“We just have to run for three hours before dawn to reach it.”
Xiao Chiye pointed his horsewhip at one end. “We have to treat
those wily old men from the Ministry of Works to a good meal to
cobble together some materials so that we can fill up this side. Tidy
it up a little and make do with it. This place is so remote that even
the patrols of the Eight Great Training Divisions will not make it
here. “
“Viceroy, for us to spend money on them.” Chen Yang said, “I
can’t even say how uncomfortable that makes me.”
“Hold it in even if you are uncomfortable.” Xiao Chiye said.
“Even if they squat on our heads to pee on us, we still have to fix up
this place.”
“Okay.” Chen Yang did not dare to say a word more.
Xiao Chiye stayed until it was evening before he rode his horse
back. The moment he entered the city, he saw Li Jianheng’s guard
waiting for him at the entrance.
“What’s the matter?” Xiao Chiye reined in his horse and asked.
 The guard paid his obeisances and said, “His Highness has
organized a feast at Huixiang Tavern on Donglong Street. He’s
waiting for Your Excellency to go over for a meal.”
Xiao Chiye thought for a moment, then spurred his horse
over.
The main street of Donglong faced Kailing River. Lanterns
blazed the moment night fell. Wine taverns and pleasure houses
flanked both sides of the street, while all kinds of gaily painted
pleasure boats and small, light boats parked on the river.
Xiao Chiye dismounted his horse at Huixiang Tavern. The
shopkeeper followed at his beck and call and personally led him
up upstairs. It was only when he raised the curtain for a look that he
realized this feast was not simple.
Everyone present at the feast was either well-known or young
masters whose fathers or elder brothers were working as
governmental officials. Next to Prince Chu was a fair-faced little
eunuch who looked delicate and pretty. This should be the
grandson Pan Rugui had found for himself again after Xiaofuzi’s
death.
“Ce’an is here!” Li Jianheng called out to him. “Come and take
a seat. We’re waiting for you!”
Xiao Chiye picked a vacant seat at random to sit. He said with a
smile, “What a large turnout.”
“Let me introduce. This is Pan-gonggong’s grandson, Feng
Quan, Feng-gonggong!” Li Jianheng said to Feng Quan, “This is
my good buddy, the Second Young Master of the Libei’s Xiao Clan,
and the Viceroy of the Imperial Army, Xiao Ce’an.”
Feng Quan was more pleasing to the eye than Xiaofuzi had
been. He bowed respectfully to Xiao Chiye and said, “I’ve heard a
lot about the Viceroy.”
Xi Hongxuan sat opposite them with one leg crossed over the
other. He took up two seats and was so warm that his plump face
was perspiring profusely. He said, “Let’s dispense with the
formalities. Your Highness, which other guest has yet to arrive
today? If everyone is here, let’s start the feast!”
Li Jianheng raised his eyebrows at Xiao Chiye and said, “I have
also invited a distinguished guest whom everyone wants to meet.”
 Xiao Chiye was baffled by his unexpected gesture. Just then, he
heard the waiter behind him lift the curtain and announce, “The
distinguished guest has arrived!”
Everyone at the feast fell silent.
Xiao Chiye looked back just in time to see Shen Zechuan,
dressed in his Imperial Bodyguards’ robe, striding in. Shen
Zechuan was visibly stupefied on seeing him. However, his
expression was so obvious that Xiao Chiye did not believe it at all.
Everyone present knew that there was discord between them.
For a moment, the atmosphere was strange. Those waiting to
watch the drama exchanged meaningful glances at one another.
Li Jianheng said warmly, “This is Shen Lanzhou. Everyone
knows who he is, right? Lanzhou, take a seat. Shopkeeper, start the
feast!”
Xiao Chiye felt that Li Jianheng must have been possessed to
invite Shen Zechuan over just because of that face of his.
Of all places to sit, Shen Zechuan just had to pick the seat
beside Xiao Chiye. Both men looked at each other as he sat down.
“So, this is Shen Lanzhou, whose name has been making waves
in Qudu lately.” Xi Hongxuan looked askance at Shen Zechuan.
“Seeing is truly believing.”
“I heard that Lanzhou’s…” Li Jianheng said, “… mother was an
unparalleled beauty in Duanzhou back then. Shen Wei had to stake
half of his princely residence before he won her heart! So how
could Lanzhou not be born pretty?”
A scattering of laughter rose in the room. Everyone openly and
surreptitiously glanced at Shen Zechuan’s face. Even Feng Quan
made noises of appreciation and lamented, “If this Master had
been born a female…”
“Then what will the lady of the Hua Clan be good for?!”
The group of rich young masters tacitly burst into laughter. Out
of the corner of his eye, Xiao Chiye saw Shen Zechuan with his
head partially lowered. He could not read the latter’s emotions.
The nape of this man’s neck was shrouded under the dim light
of the glazed lamp beside him. It extended under his collar like
white jade, looking as if one could taste ecstasy by kneading it. It
waited defenselessly for someone to make a move. The contours of
his side profile were smooth and beautiful, and the arch of the
bridge of his nose was gorgeous. The corners of his eyes were the
most devastating; everything that could make one’s heart itch all
lay within them. A faint hint of a smile followed as those corners
curved upward.
Xiao Chiye took another look.
Shen Zechuan was indeed smiling.
“Have you mistaken me for someone else?” Shen Zechuan
tilted his eyes towards Xiao Chiye.
“Just looking at you in a different light.” Xiao Chiye retracted his
gaze.
Shen Zechuan raised his eyes and smiled subserviently at the
various gentlemen present at the feast. He said, “I’m just of average
looks. Everyone has been too kind to me.”
On hearing his words, those who were still carrying themselves
with decorum loosened up. The more they spoke, the more vulgar
their words.
Xi Hongxuan said, “Wasn’t there a new trick that had come into
vogue recently on Donglong Street? It’s called ‘playing with cups’.
Fill up a golden cup with top-grade wine and place it in the
fragrant shoe of a beauty and pass it around to drink for fun. Your
Highness, have you played it before?”
Li Jianheng laughed and said, “I have the wine, but I can’t find
a beauty.”
Xi Hongxuan motioned flippantly, “Isn’t one sitting right here?”
All along, Shen Zechuan looked as if he was not acquainted
with him. He forced a smile and said, “I’m not worthy of the
‘beauty’ label. If everyone really wants to have fun, then I’ll invite
everyone to the brothel tonight to play to your hearts’ content.”
When all is said and done, Shen Zechuan still had the Hua Clan
to back him. On seeing this, the others did not dare to push it. Only
Xi Hongxuan seemed as if his eight characters2 conflicted with
Shen Zechuan’s. The more ruckus he created, the uglier the
situation became. There had been news lately that Xi Gu’an had
lost favor with the Empress Dowager, so all of them simply thought
that Xi Hongxuan was venting his anger on Shen Zechuan for his
elder brother.
 Shen Zechuan was about to speak when he suddenly heard
Xiao Chiye say beside him, “How can you ask His Highness Prince
Chu to play what others have played before? This drinking from
shoes and playing with cups is such an old game from centuries
ago. Even the prostitutes in the south aren’t interested in it. How
about we try a different way of playing? Second Young Master Xi,
take off your shoes, and we can use them as boats to fool around
with.”
Those at the feast roared with laughter. Xi Hongxuan was
obese, and his feet were much bigger than the average man. No
one usually dared to bring it up, so they did not expect Xiao Chiye
to poke fun at it.
“That works too.” Xi Hongxuan rolled with it and graciously
raised his legs. He ordered, “Men! Remove my shoes!”
Li Jianheng started to have fun and cussed a few words.
Shen Zechuan did not expect Xiao Chiye to help him out of a fix
either. He and Xi Hongxuan had been putting on a show. He
looked at Xiao Chiye again.
Xiao Chiye ignored him and picked up his chopsticks to grab
some food to eat.
The little eunuch, Feng Quan, sat for a moment. When he saw
that the dishes were more or less served, he said, “Having fun is a
matter for you gentlemen here. So let me add another dish for
everyone tonight.”
As he spoke, he clapped his hands. The waiters downstairs who
were already prepared a long time ago hurriedly entered to serve
the dish.
However, this “dish” was a small donkey that was still alive.
Feng Quan said, “Of all the delicacies in the world, donkey
meat is the best. Gentlemen, have you ever tried ‘donkey roast’?”
The noise in the room died down. Everyone looked at the
donkey in the center.
Li Jianheng asked, “What’s ‘donkey roast?”
The waiters dumped some soil on the ground and deftly made
a small circular plot of land out of the soil. They chased the donkey
onto the soil and buried its four hooves in it so that the donkey’s
belly was touching the soil. Then, they covered the donkey with a
thick padded quilt.
“Gentlemen.” Feng Quan said amicably. “Watch.”
A waiter half-crouched as he took the ladle and scooped out
the boiling soup that came fresh out of the pot and poured it all
over. Those assisting beside him held down the quilt and wiped it
down over the head of the braying donkey to scald off its fur while
it was still alive. But they were still not done. The waiter who had
poured the boiling soup set aside the ladle and gouged the meat
out of this seared donkey’s body.
The meat was placed in the dish, and the man by the side of
the stove roasted it on the spot. After he was done, he passed the
plate one at a time to everyone present.
The braying of the donkey grew even more tragic. Even the
people downstairs were alarmed.
The color drained from Li Jianheng’s face. He looked at this
donkey meat and covered his nose and mouth to say, “Feng-
gonggong, isn’t this dish a little too…”
“Your Highness, why don’t you try it first? This donkey meat is
the most delicious when it is gouged out right after boiling soup
has been poured over it. Food must be eaten fresh.” Feng Quan
pointed out. “There’s a meaning to this ‘donkey roast’. Let’s take a
certain person as an example. If said person were to fall into the
hands of others, then he must put himself at the mercy of others. If
the master tells him to kneel, he must kneel. If the master wants him
to cry, he must cry. And if the master is eyeing his flesh, he must let
others gouge him like this.”
Shen Zechuan’s situation was like this donkey. He looked at the
bloodstained quilt. The blood trickled into the soil until the stench
of it permeated the air. It was as if he was looking at Ji Mu and
himself five years ago.
“Excellent taste!” Xi Hongxuan ate a few slices. He seemed like
he did not grasp the meaning behind and was only concerned
about proclaiming how much of a thrill it was.
All this time, Shen Zechuan’s chopsticks did not move, while
Xiao Chiye’s chopsticks never touched the meat.
 Li Jianheng felt something odd about those words when he
heard it. He said apprehensively, “It’s really too depraved. Take it
away!”
“Hold on.” Feng Quan finally looked at Shen Zechuan. “Young
Master Shen, my godfather was the one who specifically asked me
to serve this dish. Why aren’t you eating it?”
Pan Rugui was his god-grandfather, so by extension, Ji Lei
could really be considered his godfather! Exactly what connection
or backing did this lad have for him to get Pan Rugui’s favor and
trust this quickly? Not only did he take over Xiaofuzi’s duties, he
even got into Ji Lei’s good graces.
Ji Lei could not kill Shen Zechuan. And now that Shen Zechuan
had come under his command, he could not touch him either.
Coming up with such a lowdown way to humiliate Shen Zechuan
tonight was to make it clear that the grudge between them was not
over.
Shen Zechuan picked up the chopsticks.
“I…”
Before Shen Zechuan could finish his words, the chair beside
him was suddenly pushed aside as Xiao Chiye rose to his feet. He
picked up the plate containing the donkey meat and flung it in
Feng Quan’s direction. It crashed to the ground with a “clatter”.
Li Jianheng hurriedly stood up and said, “Ce, Ce’an…”
Xiao Chiye stared at Feng Quan.
Whoever Feng Quan wanted to humiliate on Ji Lei’s behalf was
not something he could interfere with. But he, Xiao Chiye, was also
a caged beast right this hour and day. He was no different from this
donkey.
This was a slap in his face too. And it hurt.
Feng Quan looked at him in puzzlement and asked, “Is it not to
the Viceroy’s liking?”
Xiao Chiye pressed his thumb down on the hilt of Langli Blade3
at the side of his waist. Screams rose in the entire room as he drew
his blade. His hand rose, and the blade fell to decapitate the
donkey, killing it. Its miserable braying ceased. Blood seeped out of
the soil onto the ground, turning the floor vividly red. The others all
held their breath, not knowing what Xiao Chiye would do.
 With his back to the dim light, Xiao Chiye wiped the edge of his
blade clean with the tablecloth. Only then did he casually turn
around and smiled at all those present. “—Gentlemen, please
continue.”
Li Jianheng stared at his blade and said softly, “Ce’an, Ce’an,
keep, keep it away.”
Xiao Chiye kept the blade back into its sheath and threw a look
at Feng Quan. He raised his foot to lift a chair over and sat
unreservedly in the middle. He said, “Roast it all together. I’ll be
here tonight to watch Feng-gonggong eat.”
In the end, Feng Quan called for his sedan chair and left in a
hurry.
Li Jianheng drank some wine and wept as he said to Xiao
Chiye, “Ce’an, I really didn’t think of this. Who would know that
castrated crook to be so despicable? We are buddies. You mustn’t
let this matter hurt our friendship!”
Xiao Chiye tugged at the corners of his mouth and said,
“There’s a distinction between those close to you and those distant
from you. I understand. You go on ahead first.”
Li Jianheng tugged at his sleeves, wanting to say more. Xiao
Chiye simply got Chen Yang to stuff Li Jianheng into the sedan.
“Send Prince Chu back.” Xiao Chiye said. “I’ll walk back myself.”
In no way would Chen Yang ramble on when he saw the
unhappiness in Xiao Chiye’s expression, so he got on his horse and
left with Prince Chu’s sedan.
Xiao Chiye alone stood under a lantern. After a moment, he
kicked over somebody else’s potted plant.
The potted plant, which was worth a lot of money, tumbled on
the ground and hit the bottom of the stairs. A hand gently held it
up.
Shen Zechuan stood on the stairs and said unperturbedly, “Are
you that rich? You’ll have to compensate for this, you know?”
Xiao Chiye replied coldly, “I have lots of money.”
With that, he felt around his waist. But it was empty.
Shen Zechuan waited for a while, then turned to the
shopkeeper and said, “Put it on this master’s tab. He has lots of
money.”
 Note:
The dish (or a variation of it) mentioned is in this chapter is one
of the top 10 forbidden dishes in China known as Huo Jiao Lu (活叫
驴) meaning “Live-braying Donkey” (literally). The animal would
have its legs tied and its body held down, while the chef would cut
its body and serve it immediately to the diners who then ate it
among the ear-splitting cries of the animal. A variation of this dish
is called JiaoLu Rou or “Water Donkey Meat”, where the donkey’s
skin would be pulled off, and boiling water poured on its raw flesh
until it is cooked alive.

Footnotes

1.
2. Typically, a raised wooden platform or stage where
executions by beheading were carried out.
3. 八字 Eight Characters, one’s birth data for astrological or
fortune-telling purposes, combined from year, month, day,
hour, heavenly trunk, and earthly branch. People whose
eight characters clashed with each other would be deemed
to be at odds with one another.
4. 狼戾刀 Langli Blade, the name of Xiao Chiye’s blade,
which was a gift from Qi Zhuyin (see chapter 11).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 19 : TRUTH VS. LIES

The breeze caressed past the hot summer night, whilst the
moon hung over the lush treetops.
Xiao Chiye was in tiptop form, so the rush of wine promptly
made him hot. At the moment, he was irritable. He stared at Shen
Zechuan as the latter made his way down. He said, “So Zhao Zui
Temple can still teach one to purify one’s heart of desires and
change one’s temper.”
Shen Zechuan dismissed the waiter and said, “I’m the best at
grinning and bearing it.”
Xiao Chiye accepted the waiter’s tea to rinse his mouth. Then
he wiped his mouth and said, “At least do a decent job if you want
to make it up. You probably don’t even know how to spell those last
four words.”
“We are all just playing along for fun.” Shen Zechuan wiped his
hands and smiled at him. “Yet, you took it seriously.”
Xiao Chiye did not look at him. He simply threw the
handkerchief onto the tray and said, “The show is over. Who would
believe that? Someone has to play that particular role, no? I, Xiao
Ce’an, was just perfect for it. Didn’t you feel good watching it too?”
“That blade is a treasure.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes wandered
down.
Xiao Chiye raised his hand to block his view and said, “And the
person isn’t?”
One of the lanterns upstairs went out. Shen Zechuan sighed
and said “How do you expect me to reply to that? That’s rather
inappropriate.”
“You have a good eye.” Xiao Chiye moved his hand away and
stared at him ruthlessly and fiercely. “Few people can recognize a
good blade.”
“The man himself is precious.”1 Shen Zechuan went along with
his words, “So naturally, everything he wears is quality stuff. Even a
blind cat can stumble upon a dead mouse.2 I was merely guessing.”
“Why is it that when you praise me,” Xiao Chiye said, “I feel as if
I’ve seen a ghost?”
 “You hardly get praised, huh?” Shen Zechuan comforted him
and said, “I haven’t even voiced my most sincere ones yet.”
The surrounding people had all dispersed.
Xiao Chiye said in a lukewarm tone, “You sure can endure.”
“Grand plans are ruined by a lack of forbearance. There’s more
of my capability to come.” Shen Zechuan smiled, “Don’t be so
anxious.”
“Grand plans.” Xiao Chiye said, “Qudu is only this big. What
else is there for you to strive this hard for?”
“I was just saying.” Shen Zechuan paused and looked
affectionately at Xiao Chiye. “And you really believed it. Second
Young Master, I really couldn’t tell that you are the kind who are
naïve and artless.”
“I’m just a frivolous young master who’s just loafing around
drinking and dining and waiting to die.” Xiao Chiye said. “How
would I know how treacherous the world is? There’s even someone
like you to coax me.”
“My bad.” Shen Zechuan moved a step. “I saw how pitiful you
were with your talons and fangs sealed off. Slaying with your blade
tonight must have been pretty gratifying for you.”
“A little.” Xiao Chiye lifted his leg to block Shen Zechuan’s way
and said, “Where are you going? We aren’t done talking yet. “
“Sending you back to your residence.” Shen Zechuan said, “You
helped me out a tight spot tonight. I’m so grateful I’m shedding
tears. There is no way I can ever repay you for this kindness.”
Xiao Chiye smiled and said, “You are so full of lies. You must
have deceived quite a number of people, huh?”
“There aren’t many who have been taken in.” Shen Zechuan
looked back. “A man always has to tell a few lies, like ‘I’ve lots of
money’ that kind.”
Xiao Chiye withdrew his leg and said, “I’m nothing compared
to you.”
“See.” Shen Zechuan said gently, “You’re being polite again.”
There was simply no way to chat with this man.
Because there was no way he could tell which of his words were
the truth and which were the lies. Every sentence was like the
superficial surface of muddied water. Even if he circled around it,
he could still not pry anything out of it.
Xiao Chiye turned around and whistled for his horse. He said,
“It was because of the incident tonight that you speak on such close
terms to me. Everyone is gone now. It’s meaningless to keep on
pretending.”
“Then what can I do?” Shen Zechuan picked up the lantern and
looked at him gently and obediently. “Give you another bite?”
Xiao Chiye swiftly took a step closer and said with ease, “You
use this mortal flesh of yours to bewitch others. What do you want
me to think by looking at me like that?”
Unperturbed, Shen Zechuan said to him in a soft voice, “I was
born with such a pair of expressive eyes.”
Xiao Chiye used his whip to point between Shen Zechuan’s
eyebrows without touching it. He said derisively, “What a waste of
those eyes. All they contain within are machinations.”
“I was born to be lowly.” Shen Zechuan lifted his finger and
slowly pushed aside his whip. He said, “If I don’t machinate, then
how am I going to have my fun?”
“I did what I did tonight for myself.” Xiao Chiye said mercilessly.
“Don’t you go around thinking it was because I’m interested in
you.”
“The moon is so beautiful tonight.” Shen Zechuan said, “Why
do you have to spoil the mood and stop me from thinking so?”
Xiao Chiye flipped onto the horse and looked at him for a
moment as he held the reins. He said frivolously, “I fear that you will
latch on to me because of this bit of kindness and get on my nerves
with all those weeping and wailing.”
“Did you have too much to drink?” Shen Zechuan insinuated.
“You are beyond cure.”
“Who knows about that?” Xiao Chiye said. “It’s not like you have
never made such an unreasonable scene before.”
The night quietened down.
Xiao Chiye withdrew his eyes. This could be said to be a small
victory. He spurred his horse on a few steps when he suddenly
heard the man behind him say with a smile.
“Have you found what you lost five years ago?”
 Xiao Chiye abruptly looked back and instantly reined in his
horse. He demanded in a frosty voice, “Return me the thumb ring.”
Shen Zechuan looked at him, but Xiao Chiye found the
expression in his eyes wicked.
Shen Zechuan said, “Want the thumb ring? Easy. Bark twice like
a dog, and I’ll give it back to you.”
The gyrfalcon swooped down and landed on Xiao Chiye’s
shoulder. Together with its master, it stared frostily at Shen
Zechuan. It was in the dead of night. An unnamed watchman3
struck his clapper4 and startled the lantern in Shen Zechuan’s hand
into extinguishing.
The road went dark.
It was several days later before Li Jianheng dared to show his
face before Xiao Chiye. He was surprised to find that Xiao Chiye’s
anger had yet to subside. Ice fragments kept scattering all around
them while they were listening to the music, scaring those delicate,
smooth-skinned ladies so much that not one of them dared to
come over to wait upon them.
Li Jianheng held the teacup in his hands to shield himself and
whispered, “Are you still angry?”
Xiao Chiye chomped the ice to pieces and said, “Nope.”
Li Jianheng’s hair stood on end as he heard those “crunch”
sounds. He said, “Autumn is right around the corner, so don’t eat
ice like that. It’s rather terrifying.”
“Such a big cellar of ice is prepared every year. It’d be a waste
to leave it there.” Xiao Chiye propped up both his legs and leaned
back.
“Then, I’ll tell you something happy.” Li Jianheng could not
help but shift his butt over. He said, “That Feng Quan. You know
who he is?”
“Who?”
“Remember that little lady I told you about.” Li Jianheng
beamed and said with shifty eyes, “Feng Quan is her younger
brother. She has now won the favor of Pan Rugui, so how could Pan
Rugui not promote Feng Quan? This Feng Quan is such a glib
talker. He even coaxed Ji Lei until Ji Lei was over the moon and
wanted to take him as his son!”
 “From the looks of it.” Xiao Chiye propped up his head with one
arm and glanced at Li Jianheng. “You really have your heart set on
that little lady.”
“Of course.” Li Jianheng said, “So, the incident that day was all
done by that bastard, Ji Lei. As his son, how would Feng Quan dare
to defy his father’s order?”
“So, you are saying you want me to let him off?” Xiao Chiye
asked.
Li Jianheng was a flexible man who did not have the
aspirations expected of the descendants of the imperial clan. He
hurriedly slipped down from his chair and squatted before Xiao
Chiye to implore him. “Buddy, please let him off this once for the
sake of my romance. Besides, didn’t we make him eat until he
puked? He’s Pan Rugui’s man, after all. It isn’t good not to give him
face. It has only been a few days since Xiaofuzi’s incident. His
Majesty is still watching us.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly stared at him. He sat up and asked, “Did
you touch her?”
Li Jianheng hummed.
Xiao Chiye said, “You touch Pan Rugui’s woman right under his
nose?”
“If he were a real man, I wouldn’t do it.” Li Jianheng reluctantly
stood up and said, “He’s just an old eunuch with just that bit of trick
to liven things up. He beat up a delicate and ravishing beauty all
day long until she wept! This beauty was originally mine. If you
were in my shoes, would you do it or not?!”5
Exasperated at Li Jianheng’s failure to live up to expectations,
Xiao Chiye said, “No!”
Li Jianheng pleaded again, “Ce’an, we are buddies! How big
an issue can it be? Hm? Just turn a blind eye. If you let Feng Quan
off, I’ll give you something else to play with!”
Xiao Chiye lay back again and said nothing.
If Pan Rugui found out about this incident, then Xiaofuzi’s
episode would be nothing in comparison. That old dog would
definitely think of ways to kill them both. His promotion of Feng
Quan alone was sufficient for anyone to get a glimpse of how much
he doted on that woman.
 Pan Rugui was already sixty-five years of age. He had no
biological son, and none of the pretty women around him these
years could remain by his side for so long. If he truly regarded this
woman as his wife or concubine, then he might even dare to hack
Li Jianheng to death.
Xiao Chiye listened to Li Jianheng’s incessant chatter and said,
“Since you dared to do this, does it mean you already have a plan
thought out?”
Li Jianheng sat on the carpet and lowered his head to study his
moso-bamboo fan. He said in a small voice, “… Not really… It’s just
that I’ve heard, heard that Pan Rugui had once kept a toy boy. All I
have to do is to just have to send him one to play with, no?”
Xiao Chiye said, “There aren’t many who could surpass that
beauty of yours, are there?”
Li Jianheng was on tenterhooks and did not dare to hide it
from him. He said, “Lately, quite a number of people have been
asking around about that… Shen Lanzhou.”
“Asking about what?”
“Asking about his price, and whether they could afford to raise
him.” Seeing Xiao Chiye’s expressionless face, Li Jianheng
hurriedly grabbed the chair and said, “Money is not an issue. But I
don’t dare to look for him. If he were to take desperate measures
after being pushed into the corner… Ce’an, help me this once! You
just need to send him to Pan Rugui. After the job is done, I’ll give
him silver! Or even gold!”
Xiao Chiye rested his hands on his knees in silence.
Thinking there was hope, Li Jianheng said again, “Don’t you
hate Shen Wei? Once you fix him this time, Shen Zechuan would
not dare to throw his weight before you in the future! Think about it.
If he didn’t die, he would be able to turn things around. But if he
were to be involved in such a shady deal in Qudu, he would lead a
life worse than death! Furthermore, isn’t the Empress Dowager also
thinking of…”
“I thought you were using your brain while speaking.” Xiao
Chiye slowly pulled out his legs and said, “Turns out it’s all fucking
mush inside.”
 “Ce’an, Ce’an!” Seeing him leave, Li Jianheng lifted the hem of
his robe and chased after him out of the door.
Xiao Chiye stepped out of the building and mounted his horse.
Without even turning his head back, he left.
Even if they let Shen Zechuan be Pan Rugui’s forbidden
pleasure, would Pan Rugui dare to accept him? This man was the
man the Empress Dowager was always watching with the intent to
protect. If Pan Rugui dared to take him, then he would be burning
his own bridges. Li Jianheng was out of his mind!
But, if Li Jianheng really dared to do that.
If Li Jianheng really dared to do that…
How would he suddenly dare to do that?
Shen Zechuan got off work. He had only just removed his
authority token and stepped out of the door when he saw that
excellent, handsome steed of Xiao Chiye.
He descended the stairs and asked, “Here to ask for your
thumb ring back?”
Xiao Chiye snapped off a branch with leaves and held it
between his teeth. He looked at him for a moment and said, “It’s
broad daylight, and you are still not sober? Return it to me. Stop
bullshitting me.”
“You weren’t this short-tempered that other night.” Shen
Zechuan looked at the sky. “It would be too humiliating for the
Viceroy if you were to stand here and bark like a dog. Which means
you aren’t here for the thumb ring. So what’s the matter? Spit it
out.”
“Aren’t you well aware of what’s the matter?” Xiao Chiye sat on
the rock with his long legs to prop up his elbows and arms. “Prince
Chu wanted to give Xiaofuzi a thrashing, and you could even get a
line on it from inside the temple. I forgot all about it at the turn of
the head. But now that I think about it, you must have planted a
man by his side, right? If he wasn’t an informer, then he was the
instigator who told him to do so.”
“If I were that capable.” Shen Zechuan said, “I would not have
been reduced to raising elephants.”
“Who knows if that’s the truth or a lie?” Xiao Chiye’s eyes were
aloof and cold. “You have to give me a clear account before I can
decide whether or not to believe it.”

Footnotes
1. 宝贝 baobei; treasure, or precious, but can also mean
darling or baby. e.g., parents may call their children baobei,
or lovers may address each other as baobei too.
2. 瞎猫撞上死耗子 literally, a blind cat stumbling upon a
dead mouse. i.e., by sheer luck.
3. 更夫 (or 打更人) A night watchman who typically
patrolled the streets at night with a wooden clapper or a
g/ong and a mallet and regularly sounded the instruments
at certain intervals to remind the others of the time and to
look out for potential fire hazards. (See next footnote for a
watchman with a clapper.)

4.
5. 梆子 watchman’s wooden or bamboo clapper.
6. 干 the word means “do” (an action), but it can also mean
to screw (someone sexually). So when Li Jianheng said “do
it”, it could also mean “screw her” or “do her”.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 20 : DECISION

“I’m so wronged.” Shen Zechuan said, “If anything were to

happen now, it’s definitely all Shen Lanzhou’s fault.”
“There has been trouble after trouble ever since your release.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Xiaofuzi, the Imperial College, Pan Rugui… How is
it that every incident has something to do with you?”
Shen Zechuan said wryly, “That’s right. Why is it that they all
have something to do with me? Don’t you know the reason for
this? Back then, the Hereditary Prince found me in the Chashi
Sinkhole. If he had used his blade to end me, then these incidents
today would never have happened. “
Xiao Chiye took down the branch of leaves and said, “Back
then, you fought to survive and drag out an ignoble existence. Did
you only come to realize what it feels like to live today?”
The calmness in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was so placid that Xiao
Chiye found it surreal.
This man was extremely odd.
It was the same that day during the feast. His every move
carried with it an undercurrent of “having left behind the past.” But
Xiao Chiye could still clearly remember the look in Shen Zechuan’s
eyes when the latter had bitten him five years ago on that snowy
night.
Such disconnect from reality seemed to be like a bottomless
abyss he could not get a grasp of. Those spurts of hatred seemed
to have been worn away until others had no way of telling where
his limit lay. Everyone at the feast humiliated him, and yet he
merely lowered his head and smiled. When Xiao Chiye had said
that he was seeing him in a different light, he had truly meant it.
If a man could grin and bear it to this extent, then that darkness
under that calm was, on the contrary, all the more disturbing to
Xiao Chiye.
“What it feels like to be alive.” Shen Zechuan smiled again. “I
can feel it every single day and night while I was in Zhao Zui
Temple. Now that I’ve been released, all the more I find that living
isn’t easy. I treasure my life. And I’m afraid. But they want me to
shoulder this sin and pay for all those human lives with my own. I,
Shen Lanzhou, has only this one life. How is that even enough to
pay for them all? I ingratiate myself with everyone in so many ways
all in the hope that Second Young Master and the various nobles
will be magnanimous and won’t be too hard on me. Today, you
want me to give you an account. Second Young Master, at least
give me a reason.”
By the time Xiao Chiye listened to this point, he had already
changed his mind. He has a keen nose and he always vaguely felt
uneasy every time Shen Zechuan cooperated in such a compliant
and docile manner. But Shen Zechuan yielded to neither cajolery
nor coercion. No matter how hard Xiao Chiye tried to pry it out of
him, he could not tell the truth from his lies.
He did not believe a word of what Shen Zechuan said. Just as
Shen Zechuan had said that night, everyone was just playing along
for fun. Since that was the case, so why take it seriously?
But although people could lie, the traces left behind could not.
He just had to mingle among the Nine Schools of Thoughts1 in
Qudu, and ten to one he would be able to pry something loose.
Shen Zechuan wanted to plant a man by Li Jianheng’s side, and it
was certain that this person would not be an expert. Based on Shen
Zechuan’s current circumstances, he could only bribe an errand-
runner or an attendant.
This Li Jianheng’s matter was questionable both on the inside
and on the outside. If he could not investigate this thoroughly, then
there will be no end to troubles in the future. Ever since Xiao Chiye
cast his lot with Prince Chu, he found himself sleeping less.
“I came looking for you to play. How did it become an
interrogation?” Xiao Chiye changed the topic. He blew the leaves
on the branch and lamented, “I heard that someone is making
enquiries about you recently. This involves Prince Chu’s dignity, so
naturally, I have to come and ask you.”
“Each time you come finding me to play.” Shen Zechuan said,
“I’ll lose sleep for a night.”
“You can’t put it that way.” Xiao Chiye said, “You aren’t having
an easy time, and I’m not having a good time either. We can turn
the page on the old grudges between us and let bygones be
bygones.”
Shen Zechuan laughed and said, “Tens of thousands of lives in
the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo were lost. And the Second Young
wants to bury the hatchet with me.”
“Times are different now.” Xiao Chiye finally threw away the
branch. He rose to his feet and said, “You have now received the
favor of the Hua Clan, and you’re the man in the Empress
Dowager’s good graces. How would I still dare to offend you?
Calling me Second Young Master sounds so distant. We could be
said to be nodding acquaintances now. Right? Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan merely smiled and said, “Second Young Master,
goodbye.”
Xiao Chiye got on his horse and looked at him from above. He
said, “When are you going to return the thumb ring to me,
Lanzhou? A worn-out thumb ring isn’t worth a cent and keeping it
will just revolt you. But why is it that instead of returning it to me,
you seem like you have come to treat it as a treasure?”
“I wear it on me.” Shen Zechuan said to Xiao Chiye, “Just to rely
on Second Young Master’s ferocious aura to ward off evil. So how
would I bear to return it to you this easily?”
Xiao Chiye lashed his horsewhip with a “crack” and said, “Don’t
you know? It’s exactly evil aura that Your Second Young Master
has.”
Shen Zechuan stood where he was and watched him gallop
away into the distance. His smile faded away, leaving only an
unfathomable stillness. The setting sun dipped, and the orange
light reflected under his feet extended into the shadow of Xiao
Chiye’s gradually disappearing back.
Stars adorned the night sky. Grand Mentor Qi opened the
newly drawn map and showed it to Shen Zechuan.
“The former Eastern Palace did not have the authority to deploy
troops at the frontier. But it came to receive intimate knowledge
from the Ministry of War on the setups of the various lands’
garrison troops. This is of the Libei Great Commandery’s.”
“It’s backed by Hongyan Mountains, and its west leads to
Luoxia Pass, while the east overlooks the Biansha Twelve Tribes.”
Shen Zechuan pointed at the Hongyan Mountains on the east side.
“Autumn is around the corner. There is an under-supply of pasture
for the Biansha Cavalry, so they are bound to rob the mutual trade
market at the boundary. Xiao Jiming wants to deploy his troops. So
why isn’t there a memorial2 seeking instructions being sent to
Qudu these days?”
“Because His Majesty is severely ill.” Grand Mentor Qi pondered
over it. “This year Spring, Xiao Jiming had only submitted one
memorial. He surely has an informant in Qudu. Since he still has yet
to submit a memorial for the deployment as of today, then it could
only mean one thing.”
Shen Zechuan said under his breath, “His Majesty doesn’t have
long to live.”
“So, exactly who is it that can secure the imperial court is Xiao
Jiming’s reason for biding his time now.” Grand Mentor Qi took out
a brush, dipped it in ink, and drew a circle around Li Bei. “Prince
Chu’s accession to the throne will only benefit the Xiao Clan. They
have been at odds with the Hua Clan for too long. Because of the
Zhongbo incident, they have fallen to the disadvantageous
position of being under the control of others, and the opportunity
to turn the tide in their favor is now right before them. Xiao Jiming
will definitely not pass up this opportunity.”
“But Teacher has also said that day.” Shen Zechuan pointed to
Qudu. “As long as the gates of Qudu remain closed, Xiao Chiye
remains the hostage from Libei. With him in the Empress
Dowager’s hand, how is Xiao Jiming able to act?”
“Since you mentioned this matter.” Grand Mentor Qi cast aside
his brush. “Then, I will tell you of another matter.”
“Teacher, please speak.”
“In your view, what kind of man is this Xiao Chiye?”
Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes to look at the map and replied,
“Sharp. Smart. Doesn’t like to follow the steps.”
“I think he is.” Grand Mentor Qi scratched his head as if he
could not think of a suitable word. After a moment of frustration, he
sprawled over the table and said mysteriously to Shen Zechuan, “I
think he is the opportunity Heaven sent to Libei to turn things
around. He’s a natural-born talent.”
 Shen Zechuan swung his brush and asked, “Why does Teacher
say so?”
Grand Mentor Qi immediately got under the table and pulled
out the book he had written with his own hands. Over the years, he
sensed himself becoming old and forgetful, and so he had
recorded down many matters on paper. With swishing sounds, he
flipped through several pages, then leaned over the table again
and pushed the book to Shen Zechuan.
“These are the details Ge Qingqing managed to pry from the
Ministry of War. In the first year of Yongyi,3 that is, eight years ago,
Xiao Chiye was fourteen years of age when he followed Xiao
Jiming into battle at Biansha. In the middle of the summer, Xiao
Jiming was besieged by three Biansha Tribes at the eastern side of
the Hongyan Mountain Ranges. His retreat route was cut off, and he
was trapped before the Hongjiang River. The Prince of Libei’s
reinforcements did not arrive for three days, and Xiao Jiming
pressed on with his desperate battle for survival. But the cavalries of
the three Biansha Tribes were nimble. As you know, Libei has a
legion of Armored Cavalry. They can deal a powerful blow head-on
like a wall of iron, but they can’t respond agilely enough to a battle
that entails back-and-forth pursuits. Drag it on for too long, and the
one exhausted will be Xiao Jiming’s troops.”
Grand Mentor Qi downed a few mouthfuls of wine.
“But on the third night, Biansha retreated like the ebbing of
tide. Because their heavily guarded army provisions were set on
fire. The fire spread from the center and threw their rear formation
into disarray. Xiao Jiming seized the opportunity to fight a decisive
battle and broke through the siege in one night. However, the
statement from Libei was cut off at this point. The following details
were all information that your Shifu took a lot of effort to find out.
Can you guess how the heavily guarded army provisions were sent
up into flames? Allegedly, the three Biansha Tribes constructed and
dug a trench for lavatory purposes near the river. Xiao Chiye
silently felt his way from the Hongjiang River to the trench and
crawled in that filthy and stinky ditch for half a night.”
At this point, Grand Mentor Qi stroked his chin.
 “Yet, Libei suppressed such a meritorious service and did not
report it. Not only that. Xiao Chiye came to Qudu and became an
idle hoodlum—but how could a loafer have such endurance? Just
imagine. Under that kind of circumstances, if he fails, then his
eldest brother would be the one to die. Yet, he could lay dormant
for two days until the Biansha troops let their guards down before
he set the fire. Did he know that his eldest brother’s life was at stake
during those two days? And what if he had not set the fire
correctly, or if he failed.to grasp the timing accurately? One minute
earlier, and Biansha would strengthen. One minute later, and Libei
would weaken! Yet, he struck right at that exact timing. How could
he have done it if he didn’t have extraordinary insight?”
Shen Zechuan seemed to be moved.
At last, Grand Mentor Qi said, “Moreover, this lad is insanely
wild. When he did this, he only brought with him this many
people.”
Grand Mentor Qi extended two fingers and paused for a
moment.
“Lanzhou, I thought Pan Rugui transferred him to the Imperial
Army to avoid trouble, but it turned out to be a blunder. They
thought the Imperial Army was already written off, but what was the
Imperial Army’s background? They were all from military
households who followed the Emperor back then to get into the
Eight Cities. The Eight Great Clans did not think much of them, so
they relied on the backing of the Emperor alone. But now, the
Emperor doesn’t want them anymore, and so these twenty
thousand men became weapons without a master. It’s fine if they
really fall into the hands of a hedonistic young master. But if they
fall into Xiao Chiye’s hand… then what else is there to deter Xiao
Jiming from deploying troops to protect Prince Chu?!”
So that’s it!
The part where Shen Zechuan had been puzzling over
previously suddenly cleared up.
He had thought that since Xiao Jiming left Xiao Chiye in the
Qudu, then he should understand that this was a pawn under the
control of others. Either he abandoned it, or acted with prudence. If
he was being prudent, then he should not and must not let Xiao
Chiye get so close to Prince Chu. Otherwise, he would be asking for
trouble. No matter what he did, he would always be on tenterhooks
and cleaning up messes.
“This bout of autumn chill in Qudu is about to break out in full
fury. We lack influence and power, so it’d be best to steer clear of
it.” Grand Mentor Qi’s mouth was parched. He continued, “Because
of the Imperial College incident, a distance has already formed
between the Empress Dowager and Xi Gu’an, as well as with His
Majesty. In order to ensure that her authority does not decline, the
matter of the imperial heir would be of emergency. If anything were
to happen to Prince Chu these days, then the Xiao Clan’s efforts
would have been in vain, much like drawing water with a sieve. So
it would seem that Xiao Chiye’s urgency to meet you today must
have been because he was already on the alert. However, the
Empress Dowager herself is more wary and sensitive. Back then, to
let Prince Ning ascend to the throne, she did not hesitate to
exterminate everyone from the Eastern Palace. So, today, to guard
against the unexpected, she will also wipe out Prince Chu. Xiao
Chiye wants to ensure Prince Chu’s safety, but I’m afraid that it
won’t be an easy feat to achieve.”
“Since the Empress Dowager will not use Xi Gu’an, then the
only one left is Ji Lei.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were calm. “The experts
in the Imperial Bodyguards are as plentiful as clouds. And they are
clean and efficient in their jobs.”
“The fight between those in power is one thing.” Grand Mentor
Qi said. “It’s time for you to decide whether to pursue Prince Chu or
follow the Empress Dowager.”
Shen Zechuan extended his hand and covered the map.

Note:
To make it easier to distinguish between the Princes, I have
made some small changes to the naming:
– Imperial Princes (i.e. legit princes with the surname Li): Prince
Chu, Prince Ning
– Conferred Prince (i.e. princes of other surnames; as
mentioned in chapter 1 footnotes, these are titled and salaried
officials of the imperial bureaucracy during the Ming Dynasty with
nominal lordship over various fiefs throughout the empire, typically
conferred by the Emperor and can be inherited by their
descendants (traditionally, the eldest son of legitimate birth, i.e. the
first son of lawful birth)): Prince of Libei, Prince of Jianxing

Footnotes
1. 九流 Nine Schools of Thoughts, i.e., Confucians, Daoists,
Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists,
Eclectics, Agriculturists.
2. 折子 zhezi, also 奏折 zouzhe, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor in a folded, accordion form
3. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor (in this case, Emperor Yongyi) reigned. 元年 is the
first year of the era/reign of an Emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 21 : AUTUMN HUNT

It rained several times in the tenth month of the lunar year,

following which the maple leaves in Mount Feng turned red. Shen
Zechuan had already caught sight of some slight frost while
herding the elephants during the morning court. Emperor Xiande’s
illness improved somewhat along with the coming of autumn.
Word had it that his meals had resumed, and his coughing during
the morning court had eased off a lot.
According to tradition, the Emperor could only head to the
Nanlin1 Hunting Grounds only in the eleventh month. But Emperor
Xiande seemed to be worried that traveling might prove difficult in
cold weather, so he gave orders for the preparations of the Autumn
Hunt to be carried out at the start of the tenth month.
“The ones responsible for patrol duty are still the Eight Great
Training Divisions and the Imperial Bodyguards.” Chen Yang
carried the blade for Xiao Chiye and said, “Viceroy, didn’t His
Majesty flew into a rage the last time?”
“That was last time.” Xiao Chiye had just come from the military
drill grounds. He wiped his sweat. “His Majesty was furious last time
because he felt that there were safety concerns both on the inside
and on the outside. But it’s different this time. Xi Gu’an had been
despised and shunned by Her Majesty. Having been left out in the
cold for two months, he will be desperately wanting to put himself
back into the limelight.”
“Are such small favors able to move Xi Gu’an?” When Chen
Yang saw no one nearby, he said, “After all, Her Majesty has been
gaining power for a long time, and His Majesty is ill. Even if he is
willing to hand Xi Gu’an an olive branch, Xi Gu’an wouldn’t dare to
accept it, would he?”
“You said it yourself, that it’s a small favor.” Xiao Chiye put on
the outer garment he had grabbed. “What if His Majesty gave Xi
Gu’an great power and authority? A few days ago, His Majesty even
asked about the age of the Xi Clan’s daughter. Prince Chu does not
have a Princess Consort. If he really bestowed marriage upon them,
then even if Xi Gu’an did not have the intent to, it would appear
differently to Her Majesty.”
Chen Yang said, “A pity we don’t have a Missy at home.”
“It’s better that way.” Xiao Chiye said, “If I were to have a sister,
she would have to be like Commander-in-Chief Qi. Otherwise, she
would have no control over her life. Most likely, she will be forced
to marry a husband she has never seen before.”2
Having said to this point, he slowed his pace.
“The Hua Clan has always been the first choice for imperial
concubines. At this age, Hua Xiangyi, who has been raised and
nurtured by the Empress Dowager, has yet to be bestowed a
marriage. Even His Majesty does not dare to offend her and could
only call her his younger sister. When it comes to whom she will be
betrothed to in the future, it’s Her Majesty’s arrangements that they
still have to go along with.”
Chen Yang said, “Fortunately, our Hereditary Prince is already
married… But who else can Third Missy Hua be betrothed to?
Viceroy, I really can’t tell at all. “
“The Qi Clan is the best choice.” Xiao Chiye smiled. “If Qi
Zhuyin was born a man, the Empress Dowager would have long
betrothed Third Missy Hua to her. A pity Qi Zhuyin is a girl, and the
Hua Clan does not have any man of lawful birth in this generation.
So they can only eye this piece of meat but not move their
chopsticks. They are getting anxious.”
The horse was led over, and Xiao Chiye stroked it.
“Come on. Let’s go to the East Market on Donglong Street
again.”
Shen Zechuan had only just stepped into Donglong Street.
Having been released from his imprisonment, he could
naturally no longer stay in Zhao Zui Temple. As no one mentioned
it at the outset, this matter was set aside. But in the eighth month,
Qiao Tianya suddenly took notice of it and followed him to Zhao
Zui Temple. When he saw Grand Mentor Qi all covered in mud
acting like a lunatic, he got Shen Zechuan to open an account in
advance with the Imperial Bodyguards so that he could find a
proper place to live in. Thus, at the end of the ninth month, Shen
Zechuan moved to an old alley. The rent was cheap, and the place,
suitable for his current status.
“Who exactly is this person Shifu wants me to find?” Shen
Zechuan took the indenture3 and looked at the word “Songyue”.
The place of origin above was blank.
Ge Qingqing looked around the crowd and said, “Uncle didn’t
mention it either. He only said that the teacher has permitted it.
That is, to let this person take care of your daily living in the future.”
After Shen Zechuan moved out of Zhao Zui Temple, it became
inconvenient for him to communicate with Grand Mentor Qi. He
was unwilling to raise messenger pigeons. Firstly, it was too easy to
expose themselves, and secondly, Xiao Chiye’s gyrfalcon was too
fierce—it left a deep impression on him. At present, they could only
rely on Ji Gang and meet up when Ji Gang used his identity as an
errand-runner to venture outdoors to make purchases. It was
extremely inconvenient, but they had no better option for the time
being.
“He should be in the East Market.” Shen Zechuan said to Ge
Qingqing. “Let’s go for a look.”
Donglong Street was near Kailing River. It was a pleasure
district. There was a trading market set up on the eastern side to
deal in “human goods”. Those who were selling themselves to bury
their parents would also choose this place to kneel.4 Because the
common households and residences would all come here to pick
errand-runners or maidservants.
Xiao Chiye gripped a register of names from Prince Chu’s
residence with the intention to come here to investigate some of
the men’s origins.
He had only just strode out of the middleman’s place when he
saw a familiar nape.
Chen Yang said, “Isn’t that…”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand, and Chen Yang fell silent.
Shen Zechuan kept the indenture. Feeling a chill on his nape,
he looked back. Xiao Chiye was already standing behind him.
“Oh, a bigwig.” Shen Zechuan said, “Why are you standing
behind me?”
 “Looking at you.” Xiao Chiye stuffed away the register in
passing and strolled over to Shen Zechuan’s side. “Are you here to
buy servants?”
Shen Zechuan said, as if in jest, “I’m selling myself. How on
earth can I afford to buy someone?”
“Already reduced to such a state, huh?” Xiao Chiye sized him
up. “Isn’t it said that many people are seeking you at high prices?”
“It’s all about the feels.” Shen Zechuan continued to walk. “They
have to catch my eye before I can decide whether to receive them
or not.”5
Xiao Chiye knew what kind of men they were and said, “It sure
isn’t easy to choose between the ugly and the repulsive, is it?”
“I’m no match for the Second Young Master.” Shen Zechuan
looked askance at him. “Following Prince Chu must have given you
your fair share of flesh.”6
Xiao Chiye said, “Envious? Come look for me.”
Shen Zechuan smiled too and said, “I haven’t been reduced to
that stage yet.”
Both men had almost arrived at the end. Shen Zechuan turned
aside and said, “Then I won’t bother Second Young Master to
accompany me further. I’m heading back.”
“No hurry.” Xiao Chiye remained where he was. “This Autumn
Hunt, we still have to look out for each other.”
“The Imperial Bodyguards and the Imperial Army have no
common ground.” Shen Zechuan looked at him. “So what is there
for me to look out for you?”
Xiao Chiye said, “How distant. If I often go over to you to stretch
my legs, we can come to share a common ground.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer him. After he left, Xiao Chiye was
still rooted at the same spot.
“Who is he looking for in this place?” Xiao Chiye gently stroked
the hilt of the blade with his thumb. “Ge Qingqing… As expected,
it’s Ge Qingqing. Chen Yang.”
“Here!”
“Go and check it out.” Xiao Chiye said, “Look into all eighteen
generations of Ge Qingqing’s ancestors.”7
 After Shen Zechuan’s search for the man had been disrupted
by Xiao Chiye, he was placed on consecutive rotational duties, and
so he did not manage to find any more free time. On the eve of the
Autumn Hunt, it was finally his turn to receive an assignment. Sure
enough, it was to accompany the Emperor to the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds.
One day, Shen Zechuan got off work and returned home.
Before pushing the door open, he sensed the presence of
someone else in the house.
With a cloak around him, Feng Quan drank his tea with his
fingers sticking up8 and said from the other side of the door,
“Aren’t you coming in?”
Shen Zechuan pushed the door open. There was no light lit in
the house. With his snow-white face immersed in the darkness,
Feng Quan looked like a wandering soul.
He set aside the tea and said, “I’m here to convey a message
from Her Majesty.”
Shen Zechuan threw his dirty robe on the small clothes rack9
with curvy raised ends and said, “Thank you for the trouble.”
“Yeah.” Feng Quan looked at Shen Zechuan maliciously and
tossed him an object. “If it weren’t a matter of urgency, would I
have needed to come in person? You have been graced with so
many favors from the Empress Dowager. And now it’s time to repay
it all one at a time. If this matter falls through this Autumn Hunt,
then you won’t be able to survive through it either.”
Shen Zechuan caught the object. It was an eastern pearl10
wrapped in a strip of cloth. A wipe of his fingertip revealed the ink
traces of half a character on the strip of cloth—Lin.11
—Chu.12
Shen Zechuan’s eyes shifted back to Feng Quan’s face.
Feng Quan stood up and walked over to Shen Zechuan. He
said, “If you succeed, the Empress Dowager can still spare your life
and treat you like a dog to order around. But if you fail, then there’s
no point in keeping you.”
“Martial arts experts will be as plentiful as trees in a forest.” Shen
Zechuan said. “I’ll try my best.”
 Feng Quan stared daggers at him for a while before he let out a
mocking smile. He strode out of the door, shook on his cloak, and
melted away into the darkness of the night.
Shen Zechuan lit a lamp and stood by the side of the table as
he burned away the strip of cloth.
The tongue of the flame licked the fabric, turning the word “lin”
into ashes.
The Nanlin Hunting Grounds was located on the southeast side
of Qudu and encompassed a wide area. Half of the usual
ingredients used by the Court of Imperial Entertainments came
from this place. The Eight Great Training Division forces, half of
which had been mobilized, followed after the Emperor in a grand
display of might.
Shen Zechuan was herding the elephants when he heard the
thunderous sounds of galloping horse hooves. He did not have to
look back to know whose horse it was. Sure enough, he saw the
gyrfalcon swoop over his head and haul up a wild mouse from
among the grass before it went soaring into the sky again.
Xiao Chiye and Li Jianheng, along with a group of rich young
masters from Qudu, spurred their horses past him and noisily
dashed straight ahead. The jet-black steed with a snow-white patch
on its chest under him was truly a conspicuous sight.
Xiaowu looked up in envy and said, “This Viceroy Xiao’s eagle
and horse are all wonderful treasures!”
Shen Zechuan said, “All wild animals.”
Xiaowu was young and could not stand loneliness, so he was
always wanting to converse with Shen Zechuan. Sitting on the
horse, he munched on dried sweet potatoes13 and said in a
Huaizhou accent, “Chuan-ge, do you know the names of that horse
and eagle?”
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “They are wild… there’s only so
much they can be called.”
Xiaowu stretched his body out and said expressively, “That
eagle is called Meng! Don’t you think it sounds fierce? But that
horse’s name isn’t fierce. It’s called Lang Tao Xue Jin.”
He enunciated each word, sounding so childlike that it amused
the group of adults.
 Gasping for breath, Li Jianheng looked back and said to Xiao
Chiye, “Man, each time I see him, I always wonder why he wasn’t
born a woman!”
Xiao Chiye turned around the horse and looked at Li Jianheng.
Li Jianheng said, “I know, I know. I’m not befuddled to that
extent!”
“When we arrive at the venue in a moment.” Xiao Chiye said,
“You have to tell me when you venture out. Don’t stray away from
the guards around night time. Not one of the women you brought
must be allowed into the tent either.”
“I didn’t bring a woman along.” Li Jianheng put on a bold front
to quibble.
Xiao Chiye threw him an indescribably wicked smile.
Behind them, Chen Yang spurred his horse on and caught up
to them. He said, “Viceroy, I’ve gotten someone to send all those
women back.”
Upset, Li Jianheng bit the tip of his tongue. After a while, he
said, “Ce’an, honestly speaking, if you won’t even let me sleep with
them, then what fun is there to be had at the Autumn Hunt?”
“Plenty.” Xiao Chiye said, “Even basking in the sun is more
interesting than you being cooped up in the tent.”
Li Jianheng kept sighing as he continued on, listless and
dejected, with the rest of the journey.
When they arrived, it was nearly dark.
Shen Zechuan was not on duty on the first day, so he stayed
behind to do odd jobs. Qiao Tianya came too and called the
Imperial Bodyguards over to treat them to some meat.
He saw the bowl in Shen Zechuan’s hand and suddenly said,
“So you can drink, huh.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Just a bowl.”
Qiao Tianya did not expose him. This man did not look like an
Imperial Bodyguard. He was more like someone from the martial
fraternity. He used a dagger to wipe the roast meat and said, “Eat
all you can now that you are at the hunting ground! This happens
only once a year. What you are eating is all stuff the palace usually
uses. So seize the opportunity before you miss it.”
He chewed on the meat and said.
 “You have to bring a blade while you are on duty. When your
turn comes tomorrow night, use Qingqing’s blade. Why didn’t you
bring one? Didn’t the Domesticated Elephants Office teach you
two stances?”
“The blade is too heavy.” Looking as though he was too weak to
lift it, Shen Zechuan said, “It’s too much for me to carry it along with
me.”
“The bones in your body…” Qiao Tianya said, “Couldn’t have
been broken by that kick of Second Young Master Xiao, could it?
What a pity. That’s a first-grade hoodlum, we can’t extort him.
Otherwise, with that one kick, this older brother can fleece him out
of all his family fortune.”
The Imperial Bodyguards around them laughed.
Shen Zechuan moved the corners of his lips. As he sipped the
wine, he took a quick look around along the rim of the bowl.
All of them were inseparable from their blades.
Other than him, who else was here to kill Prince Chu? Apart
from those present here, there were still the assassins in the unseen
shadows, and how many of them were lying in wait with cool
detachment? Even if Xiao Chiye was a natural-born talent, what
were the odds that he could successfully protect Prince Chu under
this heavy siege?
Several tents away, Xiao Chiye and Li Jianheng were still
drinking wine and playing dice with the others.

♥
Footnotes
1. Literally Southern Forest
2. Marriages in those days were mostly decided by the
parents. In families of status or power (e.g. nobles, officials,
the wealthy, etc), parents would usually find someone equal
to (or better than) them in status. It was common for such
families to use marriages between their children to form
alliances to strengthen or benefit both sides, and children,
especially girls, have no say over who they will marry.
3. 卖身契 more specifically, it’s an indenture or a deed of
sale of oneself or one’s family member to someone else (e.g.
into slavery, etc)

4.
5. 卖身葬父 literally selling oneself to bury one’s father
(parents). Filial piety was a big thing in those days. When the
poor had no money to give their deceased parents a decent
burial, they would sometimes kneel by the roadside with a
sign to sell themselves as slaves (girls sometimes end up as
concubines) to the person who can pay for the burial. There
were sometimes practical considerations too, e.g. if the
person selling themselves had younger siblings to raise after
the death of their parents, etc. Selling themselves would then
be a ‘better’ alternative compared to all of them starving to
death, etc.
6. As in receive them as patrons; i.e., selling his body.
7. 开荤 to begin or resume a meat diet after abstinence or
break a vegetarian diet (especially as a practice observed in
certain religions). It also refers to someone who has a novel
experience. Here it refers to him getting his taste of ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
8. 祖宗十八代, literally eighteen generations of ancestors,
i.e., he’s asking him to do a complete and thorough
background check.
9. Considered an effeminate gesture, which was typical of
eunuchs
10.
11. 翘头衣架
12. 东珠 literally eastern pearl, a rare treasure also known as
the northern pearl (北珠) or tana in Mongolian. During the
Qing Dynasty, pearls produced in northeast China were
called the eastern pearl to distinguish them from the
southern pearl produced in the south. The rulers of the Qing
Dynasty regarded the eastern pearls as treasures and used
them to inlay their crown and clothing with it to represent
authority and honor.
13. 林 (Lin). The word 林 also means woods or forest.
14. 林 (Lin) is also a radical used in 楚 (Chu) i.e. the 林 form
up half of Chu 楚. This is the same Chu in Prince Chu.
15.
16. 红薯干 dried sweet potato (strips)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 22 : THUNDER

The next morning, Emperor Xiande assumed personal

command over the Autumn Hunt’s arena. His health did not permit
him to go hunting on a horse, so he prepared some rewards and
ordered the men present to head to the hunting grounds to try
their luck at winning a prize.
Li Jianheng could not get on his horse and had to make
several attempts before he could hoist himself onto it. Emperor
Xiande looked at him and said, “Jianheng will lead by example. I’ll
be waiting to have a taste of your prey!”
Li Jianheng gripped the reins. He had already given
instructions to his guards. Even if he could not hit a target, he
would not return empty-handed. So he set out in high spirits with a
bunch of guards following closely behind him. Xiao Chiye rode his
horse beside him.
There was a stretch of forest at the end of the vast expanse of
grassland at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. Morning dews hung on
branches and leaves that had yellowed. Startled by the shouts and
sounds of horses’ hooves, prey of all sizes that had been set loose
scattered among the undergrowth.
Clenching his bow as he sat on his horse, Li Jianheng drew the
string apart with great effort and fired an arrow at a rabbit. The
arrow jabbed feebly into the ground some distance away from the
rabbit. Blind applause and cheers first rang out at the sides, then
the guard who had gone over to take a look brought back a rabbit
that had been prepared in advance.
Satisfied, Li Jianheng said to Xiao Chiye, “My archery skill isn’t
bad, right? It was Imperial Grandpa who taught me back then!”
Xiao Chiye said sincerely, “I have never seen such a display of
archery prowess even in Libei.”
Li Jianheng immediately laughed and said, “You have been in
Qudu for so long, you couldn’t have forgotten how to draw a bow,
could you?”
Xiao Chiye had only brought an ordinary bow along. It was not
even as good as the ones the Imperial Bodyguards used. He said,
“Let me show you my skill too.”
With that, Xiao Chiye drew his bow and fired an arrow at the
clearing before him. His shot was even weaker than Prince Chu’s; it
did not even stab into the ground. Blind cheers and exaltation rang
out from the sides again. Xiao Chiye reveled in it.
Qian Tianya had already grown impatient waiting behind
them. Amused when he saw this scene, he said, “See that? If you
don’t train well, you’ll be treated like a fool!”
Looking at Xiao Chiye’s shoulders and arms, Shen Zechuan was
once again reminded of that piece of bone thumb ring. He could
not help but smile.
Prince Chu had not ridden for long when his back ached. It
dampened his willingness to go further. This was the result of
having too much to drink last night. At the moment, he was not
feeling well all over. He led the horse and wandered around
aimlessly for a while, enduring it until it was almost time before he
urged his men back.
The guards at the back had not even finished shooting all their
arrows when they escorted him back like a gust of wind. They did
not even head to the forest in the east.
Li Jianheng dismounted the horse and kneeled before the
Emperor. At the side, Pan Rugui made an inventory count of the
prey for Emperor Xiande. The more Li Jianheng heard, the more
pleased he was. He said, “Imperial Elder Brother! There’s even a
red fox. What an excellent fur color. It’ll make the perfect fur collar
for you.”
Emperor Xiande was pleased too. He said, “I feel even more
spirited now than I was back in Qudu! Pan Rugui, give the stuff to
Prince Chu.”
Li Jianheng lifted the silk fabric with great delight, only to see a
great bow no ordinary man could draw presented underneath. He
instantly lost interest, although he still had to say, “Thank you Your
Majesty for the reward!”
Emperor Xiande laughed and coughed a few times before
saying, “You don’t like it? This isn’t meant for you to use either. This
bow was left behind by the Great Ancestor Emperor1 in the early
years. It’s made of black iron coupled with keel and weighs one
hundred and twenty catty.2 Even the current Four Great Generals
cannot draw it. Bestowing it upon you is because I want you to be
diligent at all times. When you face this bow, remember the
hardships of the Great Ancestor Emperor in his great undertaking
to establish the Empire.”
Li Jianheng acknowledged his words and called for his men to
carry the bow away.
During dinner, Emperor Xiande called Li Jianheng over to sit
with him and leaned against him. This was a hint that could not be
any more obvious. All the officials presented knew it, but they still
had to play dumb because Secretariat Elder Hua, Hua Siqian, was
still on an equal footing with Prince Chu.
Once everyone had their fill of wine and food, a bonfire was
started.
Emperor Xiande had not retreated this whole day, and so all
those present could not leave either. Li Jianheng had already
grown tired of sitting, but then, he saw that Emperor Xiande still
had no intent to retreat for a rest.
What’s going on?
Li Jianheng cast a questioning gaze at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye pretended not to notice.
By this time, the singing and dancing had already receded,
and the flame of the bonfire was raging. Emperor Xiande suddenly
gathered his clothes and called out, “My dear minister Hai.”
Hai Liangyi tidied his robe and respectfully kneeled before the
Emperor to answer, “This old subject is here!”
Emperor Xiande asked, “What were you going to do today?”
Hai Liangyi kowtowed and replied, “This old subject would like
to recommend the Chief Supervising Secretary of the Six Ministries’
Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, Xue Xiuzhuo, to be given the
authority to submit a petition before Your Majesty!”
Hua Siqian had already sensed something going on. He
stroked his beard and said, “Renshi, why put it in such a way? To
begin with, the Chief Supervising Secretary has the authority to
remonstrate directly with His Majesty.”
“That may be so.” Hai Liangyi said, “But Xue Xiuzhuo’s
memorial3 has repeatedly failed to reach His Majesty. He might as
well seek a direct audience with His Majesty.”
“How could there be a memorial that couldn’t make its way to
His Majesty?” Hua Siqian asked.
Emperor Xiande said, “I’m curious too. My dear minister Hai,
call him up to say his piece.”
Having received the command, Pan Rugui exchanged looks
with Hua Siqian and strode two steps out to call out, “Summon the
Chief Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue,
Xue Xiuzhuo, for an audience with His Majesty!”
Xue Xiuzhuo was not wearing his official robe. He looked travel-
worn as though he had just dismounted from his horse. He did not
look at anyone when he made his way up. Instead, he kneeled first
to kowtow and pay his obeisances to Emperor Xiande.
“What do you have to report?” Emperor Xiande asked amid the
wind.
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “This subject is the Supervising Secretary of
the Office of Scrutiny. My key task is to audit the financial affairs of
the Ministry of Revenue in minute details. In the third month of the
fifth year of Xiande,4 this subject audited the expenditure ledger for
the fourth year of Xiande and discovered a subsidy of 2,000,000
taels recorded. For the sake of prudence, especially in the light of
the Ministry of Revenue’s statement that it was a “subsidy to the
Thirteen Cities of Juexi“, this subject personally made a trip to Juexi.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, Jiang
Qingshan, conducted a reconciliation of the accounts with this
subject and discovered that out of the subsidy allocated in the
fourth year of Xiande, only 1,530,000 taels had been given to Juexi
for real. The remaining 470,000 taels had vanished without a trace.
Following this, in the eight month of the same year, the Ministry of
War disbursed the salaries and provisions to the troops at the
frontiers. The Ministry of Revenue allocated 2,800,000 taels for this
purpose. Of that amount, 1,800,000 taels were for Qidong Five
Commanderies Garrison Troops, and 1,000,000 taels were for Libei
Great Commandery. But by the time this subject chased the money
to Luoxia Pass after it was handed down, there were only 830,000
taels left! And this goes on, incident after incident. The deficit of
the State Treasury is such a huge sum. Where has all the money
gone? Who took them? Elder Secretariat Hua may be unsure, but
this subject has the records to submit for His Majesty’s perusal!”
“You are spouting nonsense!” Hua Siqian denounced him in a
cold tone. “The Ministry of Revenue has to reconcile the accounts at
the beginning of the year right in the palace itself! How is it that
you just had to be the one to know when the Minister of Revenue,
Grand Secretariat, and the Brush-holding Director of the Imperial
Palace’s Directorate of Ceremonial all had no idea that there was a
deficit?!”
Hai Liangyi raised his head and said in a steady voice, “This old
subject knows! Starting from the second year of Xiande, the
account books submitted by the Ministry of Revenue have been
split into real and fake copies. When it comes to deciding what is
handed over every year, it’s not the Minister of Revenue’s words
that counts, but yours, Hua Siqian!”
The “crackle” of the bonfire exploded like a sudden burst of
thunder that struck everyone present into silence. None of them
had expected Emperor Xiande to raise tough questions in such a
manner so suddenly.
“Fine.” Hua Siqian laughed and slapped the table to get up. “So
you are making up wild charges now? What Hua Faction?! All the
lands in the world belong to the Emperor. I, Hua Siqian, have been
open and aboveboard in everything I have done. All along, I’ve
placed His Majesty first! If there are any dubious accounts, take
them out now. Zheng Guoshi, tally it with him!”
The Minister of Revenue, Zheng Guoshi, kneeled down in a
fluster and said, “Your Majesty, this subject would like to ask Chief
Supervising Secretary Xue a question. Since it’s the accounts for the
Fourth Year of Xiande that has a problem, why did he wait until
today to bring it up? If there is truly a problem with it, then wouldn’t
he have held up a major issue!”
Xue Xiuzhuo quickly said, “Nowadays, the local officials who
have entered the capital do not meet their superiors nor pay
obeisance to Your Majesty. Instead, they first send a visitation card5
and head over to the Hua Residence and Pan-gonggong’s
secondary residence to pay their respects. The Hua Faction is so
powerful and influential. It may well be asked who still wouldn’t
dare to follow the lead of Secretariat Elder Hua?!”
“Every year, I have to tell the delegated Investigating Censors
to just voice it out if there is a problem! What do I have to fear?! The
account ledgers of my Hua Clan have all been presented before His
Majesty; it’s all clear and aboveboard!” Hua Siqian stared at Xue
Xiuzhuo. “Xue Yanqing, do you still remember who gave you a
recommendation when you had to enter Qudu to be an official
during the years of Yongyi? I could be partially considered your
teacher, and yet you framed me like this!”
Xue Xiuzhuo raised his head and met Hua Siqian’s eyes for a
moment. He said, “On the imperial court, there is only the ruler and
his ministers; there is no teacher and his student.”
Hua Siqian turned to Emperor Xiande and asked, “Does Your
Majesty believe it?”
Emperor Xiande lowered his eyelids and said, “I believe the
accounts.”
Hua Siqian raised his head and burst out laughing. He joined
his palms together and said, “Fine! Your Majesty, it was a turbulent
period in Qudu back then, and the former Emperor chose you on
his deathbed. Do you still remember who was the one who
supported you, who protected and escorted you all the way?! But
tonight, you believed it because of a few disloyal and unfilial
scums?!”
Emperor Xiande raised his hand to drink the tea. He finally
looked at Hua Siqian. With his eyes brimming with loathing, he
said, “Shouldn’t you be clear whether that was protecting and
escorting or coercing and commanding a prince?”
Hua Siqian suddenly shoved aside the table and said, “Ji Lei!”
The Imperial Bodyguards at the feast drew their blades with a
swoosh.
Hai Liangyi said, “The audacity of you to rebel!”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Hua Siqian said. “But you are already forcing
the blades right at me now. Surely you don’t expect me to sit and
wait to be killed, do you?”
“What do you want?” Emperor Xiande said coldly, “Xi Gu’an!”
 The Eight Great Training Divisions suddenly strode a step
forward to stand before the Emperor.
“Take down Hua Siqian!” Emperor Xiande commanded.
“Don’t you dare!” Hua Siqian bellowed. “Xi Gu’an, your wife
and child are now having tea with the Empress Dowager. If you
dare to take another step forward, the lineage of the Xi Clan will be
severed! The Empress Dowager has treated you well over the
years, but you have been repeatedly instigated by others. It is still
not too late for you to turn back.”
Xi Gu’an had originally been forced and left without a choice.
Now, he took a slight step back, afraid.
Emperor Xiande said in a sinister voice, “Not too late? Xi Gu’an,
was it not too late for the former Crown Prince? Was it not too late
for Shen Wei? Which of them weren’t more loyal than you were?!
They retreated, but did the Empress Dowager let them off? I have
already asked them to draft an imperial edict. As long as Prince
Chu ascended to the throne in the future, the daughter of the Xi
Clan will be the Empress of the Empire!”
“It has already become a usual practice for His Majesty to issue
and rescind his orders. And you still dare to harbor such wishful
thinking?!” Hua Siqian flicked his sleeves. “His Majesty has gone
muddle-headed from his illness! Imperial Concubine Wei is already
half-a-month pregnant, so how can Prince Chu ascend to the
throne?!”
Xi Gu’an gripped his blade. His forehead was drenched in
sweat.
Layers and layers of dark clouds had already shrouded the
night sky. The wind before the eve of a rainstorm ceased too.
Banners of flags at the hunting grounds flapped. No one moved.
Gritting his teeth, Xi Gu’an drew out his blade and turned to
Emperor Xiande. With some difficulty, he said, “The illness of His
Majesty is… beyond cure.”
“I gave you a chance.” Emperor Xiande looked at Xi Gu’an and
gradually began to laugh. The more he laughed, the louder he
became. And the louder he was, the more he coughed. He braced
himself against the table and said frostily, “If I did not have total
confidence when I came to this Autumn Hunt, then how could I
hunt down and kill treacherous ministers and traitors like you?! Qi
Zhuyin is already leading the troops over to come to my aid. She
should be here within four hours! So who are you killing? Hm? Who
dares to?!”
Ji Lei suddenly piped up. “Commander-in-Chief Qi is far away
in the Cangjun Commandery in Qidong. The Imperial Bodyguards
are responsible for all incoming and outgoing correspondences.
Your Majesty, it’s time for you to wake up from your dreams!”
Emperor Xiande glared furiously at him and said, “Qi…”
Pan Rugui suddenly covered Emperor Xiande’s mouth and
forced him to sit down. He looked around the crowd and smiled.
“His Majesty is having a relapse of his illness.”
All the civil servants’ legs were trembling. Hua Siqian looked at
Li Jianheng and grinned nastily as he said, “Prince Chu harbored
the intent to stage a revolt at the hunting grounds. He even
brought a bow and arrows along. The evidence against him is
conclusive! What are you waiting for? Kill him!”
Except for the guards beside him, the cold gleams of blades
suddenly erupted all around.
Li Jianheng dropped his chopsticks in shock. As he retreated,
he tumbled onto the ground along with his seat. He said,
“Secretariat, Secretariat Elder! I have no intent to proclaim myself
the Emperor!”
“Your Highness.” Hua Siqian said, “Do you know how the four
words, ‘in spite of oneself’ is written?”
Thunder exploded in the sky.
Hearing the swarm of footsteps towards him, Li Jianheng hid
among his guards. He could not even stand up as he said in a teary
voice, “I’m an idle prince by nature! So why go to such an extent?”
The gleam of a blade flashed past before him, and Li Jianheng
held his head and yelled. But then, he heard a tremendous crash,
and the table before him overturned with a “bang”. Someone
gripped his back collar and lifted him up.
“His Majesty bestowed the Conqueror Bow upon you, and so
you are the Crown Prince of Dazhou!” Xiao Chiye let out a sinister
smile. “As the Viceroy of the Imperial Army in Qudu, I, Xiao Ce’an,
want to see who will meet their fates under this blade of mine!
Chen Yang, help the Crown Prince up the horse!”
“Xiao the Second.” Ji Lei slowly drew out his blade. “On
account of the friendship between us, do you have to do this
tonight?”
“I’ve been fooling around for so long.” Xiao Chiye released Li
Jianheng. “I’m itching for a fight.”6
“Capture him.” Ji Lei said, “As long as there is no danger to the
Second Young Master’s life, it’s fine to break his arms and legs.”
Xiao Chiye took off his cumbersome outer robe, only to reveal a
body-fitting jinzhuang7 underneath. He cast a glance around and
said, “Whoever is able to break my arms and legs, I will not only
award him a hundred taels of gold, but also call him Master.”
Langli Blade, which had almost never once left its sheath in
Qudu, steadily slid out. Inch by inch, light the color of snow glinted,
along with a frosty, murderous aura that intimidated.
“But if he can’t break them, then his life is forfeited.”

Credits: Many thanks to saed (@saedee_) for helping with

maths because the only maths I can do is Cang Ji + Me = Babies
Footnotes
1. 太祖(皇帝) Great Ancestor (Emperor), a posthumous title
for the founder of a dynasty.
2. 斤 catty, or jin. A unit of weight. 1 catty equal to 0.5kg.

3.
4. 折子 zhezi, also 奏折 zouzhe, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor in folded, accordion form
 5. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor (Emperor Xiande, in this case) reigned.

6.
7. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a name card (or visitation card) written
or paper or wood used by officials, nobles or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
8. 皮痒 actually a colloquial term that refers to someone
who is asking for a spanking/beating.

9.
10. 劲装 Jinzhuang is a more body-fitting outfit
(compared to the usual loose, flowing robes) with the
sleeves secured to make movements easier and less
restrictive. It’s usually worn by martial arts
practitioners to facilitate combat.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 23 : DOWNPOUR

A gale assailed across the grass of the hunting grounds. The

instant the flame leaped, the sudden sound of blades colliding
against one another erupted.
The feast was thrown into chaos. Hai Liangyi climbed up from
the ground. With a burst of unexpected energy, he slammed
headlong into Pan Rugui and bellowed, “Castrated traitor! Don’t
hurt my Lord!”
Li Jianheng was on the horse, trembling all over as he watched
the glinting and flashing display of cold steels. Clinging on to the
horse’s neck, he closed his eyes and cried out, “Ce’an! Ce’an, save
me!”
All of a sudden, Xiao Chiye kicked Ji Lei back into a retreat.
Without even looking back, he backhandedly stabbed the Imperial
Bodyguard who was attempting to launch a sneak attack behind
him and snuffed the life out of the latter. Warm blood spattered
over half of his body. He pulled out Langli Blade, took two steps
forward, and struck the Eight Great Training Divisions soldier
charging at him to the ground.
Chen Yang had already flipped atop the horse. He hauled Li
Jianheng up, whistled at the top of his voice, and shouted to Prince
Chu’s guards, “Follow me to protect His Highness. We’ll break
through the siege towards the east!”
Before the horses could move, Ji Lei said in a cold voice, “Stop
him—”
Ji Lei had yet to finish his word when he saw a blade slashing
down on him. He held up his blade horizontally to block it. The next
moment, both his arms sank down heavily as Xiao Chiye’s blow
pained and numbed them. A sound escaped from Ji Lei’s throat as
the impact sent him staggering. Astonished, he looked before
him.
Xiao the Second!
“You played dumb to exploit the situation for your own ends.” Ji
Lei crouched abruptly with legs astride and forcibly lifted his blade.
He bellowed in fury, “I’ve misjudged you!”
 A gust of wind assaulted from the side, and Xiao Chiye turned
his head to dodge the attack. He swept the edge of his blade in a
diagonal arc on his right, and a stream of glistening blood
followed in its trajectory. Following right after, his blade collided
with Ji Lei’s once again.
Lang Tao Xue Jin charged in, knocked over the table, and
dragged the tablecloth along with it as it galloped through the
bonfire. In that moment, the fire surged, setting tents and withered
grass on fire. The very instant Lang Tao Xue Jin brushed past him,
Xiao Chiye flipped atop its back. With the back of his blade, he
swatted the buttocks of the horse Prince Chu was on and said a
deep voice, “Go!”
“Protect His Majesty!” Xue Xiuzhuo strode over to pull Hai
Liangyi away. “Elder Hai! Let us go to protect His Majesty!”
Emperor Xiande gasped for breath. His lips and face were pale.
Xue Xiuzhuo squatted down to hoist Emperor Xiande over his
shoulder and fled from the fire along with the other civil officials.
Xi Gu’an wanted to give chase, but Hua Siqian pointed directly
at Prince Chu and said, “His Majesty’s fate is sealed, so there’s no
need for us to kill or not kill him. But Prince Chu must die tonight! If
he escapes, then you and I will be labeled as the traitorous party! Ji
Lei, gather the Imperial Bodyguards and join forces with the two
thousand Garrison Troops in the City of Tuancheng to surround the
hunting grounds. You must kill Prince Chu! Xi Gu’an, hurry back to
the capital at top speed! The Eight Great Training Divisions will take
charge of protecting Qudu!”
By the time he spoke to this point, he had calmed down.
“We have the imperial heir in our hands, and the Empress
Dowager in command. As long Qudu doesn’t fall into chaos, even
Qi Zhuyin herself will not be able to act rashly if Prince Chu dies! As
for the Xiao Clan, there will be plenty of opportunities to deal with
them in the future!”
The stench of blood on Xiao Chiye was thick and heavy. His lips
were tightly pursed as he killed everyone in his path the entire
journey. Whoever dared to block his way, Langli Blade would
decapitate that person, regardless of whose camp they were in!
 Li Jianheng’s stomach lurched. But he covered his lips and did
not dare to puke.
The remaining forty men at the sides were all Xiao Chiye’s
personal guards. The steed under his legs galloped away without a
moment’s pause. Behind them, the Imperial Bodyguards followed
hot on their tails.
Just as their group galloped to the front of the forest, Xiao
Chiye suddenly commanded, “Scatter!”
The remaining forty men tore off their guard attires in unison to
reveal riding outfits that were exactly the same as Li Jianheng’s.
Then, the procession dispersed with a loud clamor and charged
into the forest from various spots.
With dark clouds shrouding the moon, there was no way
anyone could tell the direction in which Prince Chu had fled under
the darkness, especially from a distance away.
Ji Lei reined in his horse outside the forest and turned his head
aside to spit. He said, “Surround the hunting grounds! Dig deep
and search! If you encounter Xiao the Second, don’t engage him in
a one-on-one fight. Form a team of at least four men and attack
him from all sides!”
Branches kept whipping across his face, hurting Li Jianheng so
much that he kept using his arm to shield his face. The surrounding
guards had already dispersed, leaving only Xiao Chiye and Chen
Yang beside him.
“Dismount.” Xiao Chiye lifted Li Jianheng and threw him to the
ground to let Chen Yang take over.
Li Jianheng tumbled until even his head was soiled with dirt
and earth. He said in a plaintive voice, “Ce’an, Ce’an, what are you
going to do?”
“Your Highness, please follow me.” Chen Yang pulled Li
Jianheng up. “It’s too conspicuous to travel on a horse through the
forest! The Imperial Bodyguards are experts at encirclement and
assassination. Riding a horse is like being a live target. We can’t
take this risk!”
“I’m not leaving!” Li Jianheng fearfully yanked his arm back
and pleaded, “Ce’an, you are the only one who can protect me!”
Xiao Chiye said, “Knock him out and carry him away!”
 With that, he turned the horse around without waiting for Li
Jianheng to reply and galloped away deeper into the forest.
◈ ◈ ◈
Lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the sinister forest with
layers upon layers of spooky shadows. The sounds of horses’
hooves, of blades being drawn, and of men dashing rang out in
succession. The only thing missing was the sound of people
speaking.
A whiff of the impending rainstorm wafted through the dark
night. Xiao Chiye did not know how long he had been fleeing for.
Lang Tao Xue Jin gradually came to a halt.
Dead silence suddenly descended all around.
Raindrops came pelting down from the sky, and a drop shot
down before Xiao Chiye’s eyes. The darkness, amid that soundless
drip, looked as if a monstrous creature was creeping slowly out of
it. Countless Imperial Bodyguards stalked towards Xiao Chiye like a
tightly woven net of oppressive darkness spreading towards him.
No one gave orders.
Rain pattered down, and the sharp end of a Xiuchun Blade1
sliced through the water droplets. In the twinkling of an eye, it
reached the side of Xiao Chiye’s neck.
At the same time Xiao Chiye bent his head, Langli Blade left its
sheath. With a “clang”, the back of the blade halted the retracting
momentum of the Xiuchun Blade. He pressed Langli Blade back
into its sheath again. There was an ear-piercing sound of scraping
as the damaged sharp edge of the Xiuchun Blade cracked. Along
with its master, it was kicked back. Both tumbled and fell into the
rainwater.
Numerous figures abruptly leaped up from all four sides of his
horse.
Xiao Chiye clapped his palm on the back of the horse. His
entire body leaped out of the saddle, and once again, Langli Blade
left its sheath. This time, the glint of the blade swept across,
splitting open skin and flesh in a ring around him. Blood spattered
onto his face and trickled down to his chin along with the sound of
human bodies dropping.
 Xiao Chiye landed back onto the back of the horse but did not
sit on it. Instead, he maintained a crouching posture with the edge
of his blade partially sheathed.
The sound of breathing. The pattering of rain.
In this pitch-dark night where one was as good as blindfolded,
Xiao Chiye had already used his ears and hearing to its maximum
capacity. Not one of the Imperial Bodyguards who had been
wounded earlier made a sound. Those closely woven footsteps
circled around him a short distance away, forming an
indestructible encirclement with him in its center.
He who was impatient right this moment would expose his
weakness.
Xiao Chiye waited in silence, and it was in this moment that
Qiao Tianya, who was hiding in the darkness, truly realized what
being a lone wolf meant.
Xiao Chiye was so unhurried and calm that it was as if the more
precarious and dangerous the situation he found himself in, the
more cool-headed and unpredictable he could be. And that blade
of his was the fangs he bared this very night.
Qiao Tianya felt a rare sense of restlessness. The source of this
fretfulness came from his order not to kill Xiao Chiye. It was far
harder to trap and thwart this kind of dangerous predator than to
kill him. Because more often than not, there was only one chance
they had to get close to him. If they could not take him down, then
they would end up slaughtered by this man.
Qiao Tianya closed his eyes. When he opened them again,
ruthlessness brimmed in them.
He pulled out his own Xiuchun Blade and took a step out. The
next moment, there was a flash of his figure as he burst into action
and hacked down on Xiao Chiye’s back with a lightning move of
his hand.
Xiao Chiye reversed his blade to parry the blow and turned
around to kick Qiao Tianya on his abdomen. The men from the
remaining three sides slashed their blades down on him in unison.
He stopped the blades with one arm, but someone saw an opening
on his left and sliced the sharp end of his blade towards his face.
Xiao Chiye struck his elbow at the side of the blade. The blade
swung sideways along with Xiao Chiye’s elbow as he slammed the
other man in the face with it and sent the latter flipping over to the
ground.
Once again, Qiao Tianya followed closely on his heels.
The rain fell in torrents. There was no shouting, only the sound
of blades. Rainwater had scrubbed away at Xiao Chiye’s facial
features until they looked all the more ferocious. In this never-
ending encirclement, he maintained the acuity that was specific to
him and him alone. Time and time again, he warded off the
onslaught of assault led by Qiao Tianya, moving in the darkness as
though he was treading on thin ice.
Qiao Tianya pressed on with his offensive. They were indeed
experts at drawn-out encirclement. Was a lone wolf terrifying? They
just had to surround him and wear down his patience and
calmness into nothingness. He would surely reveal a weak point
once they tire him out with their never-ending attacks!
Pressure from the intense flurry of blades gradually made Xiao
Chiye breathless. The downpour masked some of the finer details
in the surroundings, like the crossbow being pulled out under the
cover of darkness.
The more Xiao Chiye fought, the more fierce he was. The blood
under his blade flowed endlessly. But all of a sudden, Qiao Tianya
waved his hand and led the group of black shadows into a
withdrawal, plunging Xiao Chiye once again into a silence without
human voices to rattle his soaring fighting spirit.
The rainwater glided across the back of his hands. Xiao Chiye
could no longer hear the footsteps. Heavy rain drenched him
thoroughly. Under him, Lang Tao Xue Jin anxiously treaded its
hooves.
“Twang.”
The sound from the crossbow trigger was very soft, yet Xiao
Chiye seemed as though he had heard a deafening sound. He
suddenly slapped his horse. Lang Tao Xue Jin leaped away, but he
rolled off the horse instead. In a flash, there was a succession of
“thud, thud, thud” as a row of short arrows stabbed into the
muddied water behind him.
 Xiao Chiye wiped away the rain on his face, only to hear the
sounds of “twang” from all directions. He leaped up at once and
darted away.
The irritating footsteps followed him relentlessly!
An arrow suddenly grazed Xiao Chiye’s arm. At the same time
a gash of blood materialized, he felt a twinge of numbing itch.
Anesthetic!
They were really treating him like a violent beast to subdue and
capture!
There was a dip in the terrain ahead. Xiao Chiye sprang up with
all his might and leaped across the ditch. He had only just landed
on his feet when a sudden gust of chilly wind came assaulting him
from the side.
Xiao Chiye seized the momentum to roll forward as a blade
hacked down on the spot he was just at. Before the killer could
extract his blade, there was a tightness in his throat as Xiao Chiye
shoved him down into the muddied water and broke his neck.
A jumble of arrows stabbed into the tree trunk beside him.
Before Xiao Chiye could get up, he was suddenly kicked in the
back. Caught by surprise by the man behind him, he tumbled into
the undergrowth. But in this brief period of oversight, he braced
himself against the ground to steady himself.
When Xiao Chiye got a clear look at the man before him, he
licked away the traces of blood between his teeth and called out to
him as though they were lovers, “Oh, Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan was also bracing himself on the ground with a
hand. A thin blade was sandwiched between his fingers. He stared
at Xiao Chiye in the rain and pounced.
Xiao Chiye’s palm was next to the hilt of his blade. But
unexpectedly, Shen Zechuan was already right before him. The
latter slapped back Langli Blade with one hand and grabbed the
front of Xiao Chiye’s clothes with the other hand to fling him over
to the ground.
Mud splashed all over. Xiao Chiye hooked his arm around the
back of Shen Zechuan’s neck and turned the freed Langli Blade
over and sent it slashing towards Shen Zechuan.
 Shen Zechuan immediately pressed his body down and came
face-to-face with an upside-down Xiao Chiye. The instant their eyes
met, he struck the side of Langli Blade aside with a lighting move
of his hand. Blood droplets on the edge of the blade hit his face
and slid along his chin to mingle with the rain before dripping onto
the center of Xiao Chiye’s eyebrows.
The Imperial Bodyguards behind closed in on them. Shen
Zechuan wanted to lift his body, but Xiao Chiye slid his palm up to
press him down until they could almost hear each other’s
breathing.
Panting slightly, Xiao Chiye said, “You want to court death with
me that much?”
But Shen Zechuan bowed his head and said, “Even a wolf will
not be able to run anymore once struck by an arrow. Your
movements have slowed down by so much. You can’t go on
anymore, can you?”
Xiao Chiye’s fingers teasingly caressed Shen Zechuan’s nape.
His thumb slipped to Shen Zechuan’s Adam’s apple and pressed
against it forcefully.
“I can still break a neck like this.”
The thick growth of grass rustled as a human figure bore his
way out of it. Without even looking, Shen Zechuan raised his hand
to toss out his blade. The other party instantly collapsed to the
ground. The killing intent in Shen Zechuan’s eyes did not recede,
but he pushed away Xiao Chiye’s touchy-feely hand and dragged
him along with him as he slid down the slope.
Qiao Tianya was a little late. By the time he arrived, there were
only two corpses. He briefly turned them over for a look and
plucked the blade from the throat of the dead man. He narrowed
his eyes and said, “This doesn’t seem to belong to Xiao the
Second… And how did these killers get in? Xiao the Second is the
dog leash to hold Libei in check. He cannot die. Wasn’t that the
fucking consensus?”

Footnotes
1.
2. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 24 : RAINY NIGHT

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Rain poured like

curtains of waterfalls.
Qiao Tianya stood up and handed the blade to the man behind
him to put away. He said, “Xiao the Second has been hit by an
arrow. He won’t be able to make his escape.”
At the bottom of the slope, Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan lay
prone in the mud with bated breath.
Right this moment, Imperial Bodyguards were everywhere
around them, and there were also unknown assassins in hiding. It
would prove to be harder than ascending to Heaven for both men
to escape. But breaking through the encirclement was even
tougher. The most fatal of all was Xiao Chiye. His left arm, which
the arrow had grazed, was going numb. In just an hour, the drug
would spread throughout his body and paralyze him.
Qiao Tianya brushed aside the tousled grass with his foot and
saw the messy tracks of footprints. He silently raised his hand and
pointed down the slope.
Behind him, the Imperial Bodyguards filed out, crouching as
they slowly surrounded and edged towards that sunken ditch.
Xiao Chiye’s body tensed as he listened to the approaching
sound of men stepping on mud. The hilt of his blade was pressed
against his palm. As long as someone jumped down prematurely,
he would immediately leap up like a wolf and end the other party
in a single blow.
The Xiuchun Blades1 had already swung their way to the edge
of the slope. Xiao Chiye suddenly—was stopped by Shen Zechuan
who had grabbed hold of his soaked clothes. He shifted his gaze
over and saw Shen Zechuan’s calm eyes.
Right at this moment, several figures suddenly sprang down in
the forest to engage the Imperial Bodyguards in a battle. Qiao
Tianya drew his sword at them and saw a flash of flying blades.
Following right after, a few Imperial Bodyguards toppled to the
ground. With their morale boosted, the other party instantly
pounced.
 Once chaos descended above them, Shen Zechuan kept away
the few remaining blades he had left. Without needing him to say
more, Xiao Chiye had already leaped to his feet. He climbed along
the muddy slope and rolled into the thick growth of grass on the
other side.
“Catch them!” Qiao Tianya bellowed.
The Imperial Bodyguards streaked across the air in a retreat.
Xiao Chiye extended and hung his arms up on a tree trunk and
swiftly flipped atop it. Below him, Shen Zechuan had only just
reached when the Imperial Bodyguards behind him arrived too.
Like a ferocious tiger springing down the mountain, Xiao Chiye
swiftly hacked down on them with Langli Blade like a heated knife
cutting through butter, forcing the crowd of Imperial Bodyguards
simultaneously back in a retreat.
Qiao Tianya sprang up from behind and brandished his blade
to sweep it towards Xiao Chiye, who could not retract his own
blade in time. Xiao Chiye abruptly ducked his head. Then there was
a “thud” as the edge of Qiao Tianya’s blade collided into a sheath.
Shen Zechuan pressed his sheath against the other blade. With
one foot, he stepped onto Xiao Chiye’s back, whose powerful lift of
his own body raised Shen Zechuan’s whole body up to close in
towards Qiao Tianya. The thin blade between his fingers on his
other hand suddenly went assailing towards Qiao Tianya’s eyes.
Qiao Tianya did not dodge. The Imperial Bodyguards at both
sides swiftly cleaved down their blades to obstruct the attack.
Having already gotten up, Xiao Chiye lifted his leg to kick Qiao
Tianya right in the chest. Both parties retreated in unison. Qiao
Tianya flung off the droplets of blood on his blade. The locks of
hair before his forehead had already been sliced off by Shen
Zechuan earlier.
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan took two steps back. Without
even saying a word, they turned and ran.
Qiao Tianya stared at their backs and said, “Give chase!”
Xiao Chiye reached out an arm to pull over Shen Zechuan and
said, “East!”
Shen Zechuan brushed aside the stray branches and said,
“There’s one man in every five steps and a squad in every ten. Not
to forget there’s still the Tuancheng Garrison Troops in the east!”
Xiao Chiye slowly retracted his arm. He said resolutely and
decisively, “The east is the way out.”
“The gate of death is right before us.” Shen Zechuan
backhandedly tossed out his blade, and the soldier hiding in an
ambush in the tree promptly fell headfirst to the ground. When
Shen Zechuan passed by him, he conveniently extracted the other
party’s Xiuchun Blade.
Xiao Chiye backhandedly grasped the hilt of his blade. The
next moment, he sliced through the pitch-black night to hold up
two blades in the rain. He had already lost all sensations in his left
arm. Even the fingers on his right hand were now slightly stiff.
It would be a tough battle tonight!
Shen Zechuan brandished his blade to slay the man, then
kicked over the body.
As Xiao Chiye strode forward, he staggered. He suddenly
pressed his chest against Shen Zechuan’s back and brought him
tumbling into the billowing waves of grass and rolling into the
stream.
The rain was still falling, and penetratingly cold water scoured
their bodies. Xiao Chiye’s heavy breathing weighed down beside
Shen Zechuan’s neck, forming a bizarre duality of scalding heat
and icy cold.
“Killing me won’t do you any good.” Propping himself on
Langli Blade, Xiao Chiye raised his body a little. “So I’m counting
on you for the rest of the journey.”
Shen Zechuan wiped his face with the stream water and said,
“There’s no point in saving you either.”
“You are here to look for Prince Chu.” When Xiao Chiye heard
him, he pinned him down again. “What’s to be done? The Imperial
Bodyguards can’t ferret him out either. Only I know where he is.
You have already missed your opportunity. No doubt the Empress
Dowager will fail tonight! Dote on me. I’m your way out.”
Shen Zechuan looked back, and the tips of both men’s noses
came face to face with each other. He said coolly, “I’ll hack you to
death. We can all just die together.”
 “You expended so much effort to get out of imprisonment.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Just to die with me in the name of love?”
“You might as well use that mouth to have a chat with Qiao
Tianya.” Shen Zechuan grasped hold of Xiao Chiye’s hands with his
icy fingertips. The next instant, Langli Blade swept back and beat
the pursuing troops back for a moment.
Having received an opening, Shen Zechuan lifted his leg to
shove Xiao Chiye aside. He grabbed Xiuchun Blade with one hand,
carried Langli Blade in the other, and calmed his panting caused
by the sprint earlier.
“Put that life of yours on account.” Shen Zechuan looked as
Qiao Tianya dashed closer to them and tightened his grip on the
blade. “After tonight, I’m your master.”
Snow-white light glinted in the ink-like night. Without giving
Qiao Tianya the chance to speak, Shen Zechuan slashed down on
him head-on.
Sprays of water splashed along with his footsteps. Every single
one of Shen Zechuan’s blow was deadly. As blades collided, the
edge of his Xiuchun Blade was damaged. Qiao Tianya flung it
aside with his own blade and sent it flying.
The two men instantly separated. Shen Zechuan’s empty left
hand soaked in the stream water, which washed away the blood
that had trickled down.
“A beauty should sit high behind a curtain in a pavilion.”2 Qiao
Tianya looked as though he had caught a whiff of some scent.
“Carrying a blade will hurt the hands. What if you break them?”
Shen Zechuan weighed Langli Blade with his right hand. “Isn’t
breaking my hands and legs just the thing to make me
compliant?”
“There is a kind of people in this world who cannot be
provoked.” Qiao Tianya said. “Men like you who can even be
ruthless to your own self.”
Shen Zechuan strode forward to attack.
Langli Blade was heavy, so he could not wield it smoothly and
effortlessly enough. But being heavy had its own advantage. Just
like how Qiao Tianya was now too occupied to counteract his blows
as he relied on the forcefulness of the Ji Clan Blade Technique to
hack away at the former.
As Qiao Tianya retreated, the pressure almost made him fold
over backwards. However, the moment he drew near to the stream,
he had an ill sense of foreboding. Sure enough, he saw Shen
Zechuan’s injured left hand suddenly splashed up from the water.
The dirty mud spattered into Qiao Tianya’s eyes, causing him to
momentarily expose a weak point. Then, his chest received yet
another heavy blow as Shen Zechuan kicked him down and sent
him crashing into the stream.
When reinforcements arrived, Shen Zechuan retreated a few
steps. He would definitely not persist in engaging in combat, so he
started dragging Xiao Chiye in an attempt to leave. How could he
have expected Xiao Chiye to be so tall with such long legs that he
could barely hoist him away?
◈ ◈ ◈
The search intensified, and time passed particularly slowly.
Everyone they found in the entire forest was all smokescreens.
What’s more, they were well-trained men who would give their lives
for the cause. Once they fell into the Imperial Bodyguards’ hands,
they would take their own lives by biting off their tongues to deny
Ji Lei of the chance to interrogate them.
Exactly where was Prince Chu?
Only Xiao Chiye knew!
“Little bastard!” Somewhat frustrated, Ji Lei rose to his feet to
survey the place. “Get Tuancheng Garrison Troop search along the
hunting grounds!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan climbed out of the water and dragged Xiao
Chiye out. But this slope was too steep. He bit down on Xiao Chiye’s
back collar and hauled, finally dragging him up.
The wound on Shen Zechuan’s left hand bled incessantly. He
tore his clothes, rinsed it in the water, and wrapped it around the
wound.
Xiao Chiye leaned against the moss-covered rock and said,
“There’s a handkerchief in my bosom.”
 Shen Zechuan reached into the clothes on his chest and fished
out a handkerchief that was a pile of mud. He squeezed out all the
muddy water onto Xiao Chiye’s chest.
Xiao Chiye asked, “When will the effects of this drug pass?”
“Two hours. Soon.”
“Crouching in a tree is better than taking cover in the water.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and saw that he was soaked to the skin.
His back collar was slightly open, and there were still specks of
mud on his neck. The contrast between them was very…
“The Imperial Bodyguards have offices for domesticating
beasts. Animals can smell the scent of blood.” As Shen Zechuan
spoke, he lowered his head and took a light sniff of the fingertip
that had bled earlier.
Very seductive.
Xiao Chiye watched him.
What sorcery was this? This man was still wielding a blade to
kill earlier, and he wasn’t acting like a woman, so why had he
thought of such a term?
He must have really been possessed by Li Jianheng! Harp,
harp, harp. The latter had kept harping on and on about this every
day that even he himself had come to think and see it this way, just
like those old men in Qudu with their special fetishes.
“Your swordsmanship is pretty good.” Xiao Chiye’s gaze looked
as though they could peel off Shen Zechuan’s back collar. “You
must have trained hard in the temple. And yet one can’t tell from
your body’s physical appearance alone. Did you use medicine on
yourself?”
Shen Zechuan looked askance at him. Following his gaze, he
raised his hand to touch the back of his neck. He asked in
response, “How many times a day do you have to look at it? Are
you that obsessed with it?”
Xiao Chiye licked the residual taste of blood with the tip of his
tongue and said, “The way you put it is so ambiguous. You make it
sound like I’m a lecherous ghost.”
Shen Zechuan reached over and covered Xiao Chiye’s face with
the dirty handkerchief and said, “I thought you only fool around
with women and courtesans. I never expect you to have a taste for
both men and women.”
Xiao Chiye said, “What’s this flirting? This Second Young Master
just wants you to wipe the mud off your neck.”
“Do you want me to wipe it?” With the handkerchief serving as
a partition, Shen Zechuan’s fingertip stopped between Xiao Chiye’s
eyebrows. “Or do you want to wipe it for me?”
Icy cold rainwater trickled down along his fingers and dripped
between Xiao Chiye’s eyebrows. As if they had fully absorbed that
alluring temptation, the droplets that dripped all blossomed into
ripples of water that flowed tide after tide into his collar, stirring up
in him a wet, ticklish restlessness.
Xiao Chiye wanted very much to drink some water. At the same
time, he wanted Shen Zechuan to stay a little farther away from
him.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “You sure are
something.”
“You think too much.” Shen Zechuan tightened his collar
around him, held his blade, and spoke no further.
The rain gradually abated.
The barking of hounds in the woods rang out from afar. Neither
man moved. This rock was propped against the side of the stream,
and it was covered with shrubs above. It was an exceptionally small
and narrow hiding-place, large enough for just one man.
Xiao Chiye waited for quite a while, listening as the man
leading the hound closed in on them. Shen Zechuan wedged
Langli Blade in midair and crouched over to climb his way in from
below.
Xiao Chiye felt a weight on his body as that man edged along
his legs to his chest. Both men squeezed, body to body, into this
narrow space. Xiao Chiye could feel the heat of their thighs
rubbing against each other when the other man straddled him. He
could also feel the latter’s breathing as he leaned in close beside
his temple.
Xiao Chiye covered his eyes. In the darkness, he could freely
visualize Shen Zechuan’s posture. He could not shake off the image
of that white-as-lotus-root neck either.
 “I beg of you.” Xiao Chiye sighed. “Sit on my stomach. Don’t sit
farther down.”
Shen Zechuan did not move, because the rustling sound above
came closer.
Xiao Chiye adjusted his breathing. But if he raised his head up
in this posture, he could touch Shen Zechuan’s chin. Move down a
little, and the tip of his nose could nuzzle along the contour of that
neck.
Shen Zechuan was originally listening attentively to the
movements when he suddenly lifted Xiao Chiye’s handkerchief to
look at him without saying a word.
Xiao Chiye was also looking at Shen Zechuan. He did not know
if the scent of blood tonight had gone to his head, or whatever it
was that was going on. In any case, that gradually hardening part
of his was pressing up against the man above. It made both men
uncomfortable. Fabrics that had been soaked through by rainwater
clung so closely to their skins that it was akin to physical contact
between bare skins. It was as if he shifted just a little more, he
would be intentionally creating friction to ignite a fire.
The hound above was still sniffing around.

P/s: for those who haven’t seen it yet, there’s a Revised

Character Clan Chart for those still confused about the characters
in the novel and their clans as well as departments/divisions in the
imperial court. Use the chart with the Character Guide for more
details about a character. Note that this is only for characters who
have appeared up to chapter 23. (This is to avoid spoilers and also
to avoid confusing readers further). The clan chart and character
guide will likely be updated at various stages in the future as more
characters appear and alliances change.

Footnotes
1.
2. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
3. The impression here is one of a noblewoman or
enchanting beauty who sits high and pretty behind a
hanging screen in a pavilion, far removed from things like
battles. Kind of like sitting pretty like a doll on a shelf. (I’m
keeping to the original quote to preserve the imagery of it).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 25 : DAYBREAK

Human feet trampled over the shrubbery. As though it had

smelled something, the hound nudged aside the branches and
leaves with its snout and pawed at the ground.
Shen Zechuan was doused with dirt all over his neck. Moving
up or down were both out of the question, so he could only remain
frozen in position.
Xiao Chiye felt even more uncomfortable. This posture made it
hard for him to loosen up. Every single moment, he was in constant
contact with firm, delicate skin. The man riding on his body was
not a person at all, but a mass of clouds enveloping him like wet
mist—ubiquitous, and all-pervasive.
This atmosphere whipped him up. The place he had not
relieved for a long time remained in high spirits. It was so hard he
just wanted to take a cold shower right at once.
Raindrops splashed his hair wet.
In this endless stalemate, Xiao Chiye finally regained some of
his strength. His fingers twitched as the sense of numbness slowly
receded.
The man above their heads finally moved away, but Shen
Zechuan’s tensed body did not relax. Pressing up against each
other in a corner of this danger zone turned it into another
precarious situation concerning their safety in another way.
Keeping his cool, Xiao Chiye did not shift his eyes away.
He could not look away. He only had to show just a fraction of
evasiveness and it would look like he really had a thing for Shen
Zechuan.
“You are pressing me too tightly.” Xiao Chiye said nonchalantly.
Shen Zechuan did not reply.
For the first time, Xiao Chiye knew how to read the words “he
who rides a tiger finds it difficult to dismount”.1 He wanted to raise
his head and gasp for air, but he did not do so, because doing so
would look like he was a rascal who was too impatient to even wait.
He swore that he did not have that intention.
 It was just that they were too close to each other. He was
instinctively bewitched by this minute touch and distinctive scent,
and his body consequently submitted to the impulses of his bestial
desires.
Xiao Chiye felt Shen Zechuan sliding down along his chest. The
very instant Shen Zechuan separated from him, he breathed out a
light sigh of relief as if he had been relieved of a huge burden.
But before he was done heaving his sigh of relief, his collar
tightened around him. His person rose, scraping against the moss
before he was hurled into the stream without warning.
Before Xiao Chiye landed in the water, he backhandedly
grasped hold of Shen Zechuan’s wrists. Then he lifted his leg to
hook and trip Shen Zechuan. Just as Shen Zechuan fell into the
stream too, Xiao Chiye rolled over, lifted Shen Zechuan’s wrists,
and heavily pinned him under his body.
“We have already done the amorous stuff.” An
uncompromising Xiao Chiye refused to let Shen Zechuan move.
“Isn’t it too unrighteous to raise your hand at me now?”
The ten fingers on both of Shen Zechuan’s clasped hands were
slightly parted, and his hair scattered in the water. He could only
gasp for breath with his chin slightly raised. Pulling at the corners
of his lips slightly, he said, “It’s not a good choice to force yourself
upon others.”
“I don’t have that intention.” Xiao Chiye itched so much to
crush every word into pieces with his teeth.
Shen Zechuan pressed his knee against him and looked at him
with a meaningful gaze.
With a hint of forbearance in Xiao Chiye’s expression, he hung
his head down and shook his dripping wet hair. The water droplets
spattered over Shen Zechuan’s face. Without waiting for Shen
Zechuan to react, he had already reached out his hand to rub the
back of Shen Zechuan’s neck ruthlessly and stubbornly until that bit
of mud that was always on his mind was all but rubbed away. Then,
he fastened Shen Zechuan’s collar tightly and securely around
him..
“Rainy nights are wet and cold.” Xiao Chiye loosened his grip
on Shen Zechuan and stepped down from his body. “Take care of
your body!”
With that, he dunked his head into the water without giving
Shen Zechuan a chance to reply. Water droplets slid down and
dripped when he raised his head up again, and he had already
more or less calmed down.
Splashing a handful of water, Xiao Chiye grasped his blade up
with penetrating eyes and said, “It’s almost dawn. Let’s go.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Ji Lei noticed that the day was about to break, yet they still had
yet to find the man. He could not help but increasingly fret.
Qiao Tianya peeled away the collar of the dead soldier, but he
did not find any traces.
“This batch of men are Xiao the Second’s men.” Qiao Tianya
squatted down and pondered it. “Every move of his in Qudu
cannot escape our eyes. When did he come to raise these kinds of
formidable soldiers who have no fear of death?”
“Finding him now is the top priority!” Ji Lei looked toward the
northwest of Qudu. “The Eight Great Training Divisions should
have already taken control of all the main city gates of Qudu. We
mustn’t lose our heads.”
Looking at Ji Lei’s hand that had never once left his blade, Qiao
Tianya felt that his restlessness was definitely not just because Xiao
the Second and Prince Chu had yet to be found. It seemed as
though there was another reason.
“Xiao the Second is the life-saving token.”2 Qiao Tianya
maintained his composure and watched Ji Lei. “Yet there are other
assassins thrown into the mix tonight. Does Your Excellency have
any idea?”
“The number of people the Xiao Clan has offended isn’t small.
Someone wants to fish in troubled waters.” Ji Lei suddenly stared at
Qiao Tianya. “How would I know who it is?”
Qiao Tianya spontaneously spread his hands out and said, “We
can’t find Xiao the Second at present. Your Excellency, he must
have come prepared, that’s why he has slipped from our fingers
the entire night. It’s almost dawn now, and he has played us into
running around in circles. It seems more like we have fallen into his
trap.”
 “Fallen into his trap?” Ji Lei furrowed his brows.
“I’m afraid the reason he put himself in danger is to delay time.”
Qiao Tianya stood up and looked out into the grassland in the
distance. “My guess is that he has reinforcements.”
“The troops on all four sides have not moved. So where is his
reinforcement from?”
Qiao Tianya did not answer, because he did not know either.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xi Gu’an rode his horse back to the capital and found it silent all
around when he entered the city gates. With his doubts roused, he
drew his blade while on horseback and asked his deputy general,
“Are there any anomalies in Qudu tonight?”
The deputy general came over to lead the horse. Seeing his
nervous expression, he replied, “No, it’s all as usual.”
Xi Gu’an said, “Gather the men. Except for those on strict guard
duty at the various city gates, all the rest will follow me to encircle
and defend the palace!”
With that, he spurred his horse on towards the palace. His wife
and son were still in the palace. As long as the night was not over,
the Empress Dowager would definitely not let him see his wife and
son. So even if he had to risk his own life, he had to ensure the
Empress Dowager’s safety.
The deputy general went to deploy his men, but as he led the
patrol squad, he came across a group of drunken men from the
Imperial Army.
The Eight Great Training Divisions had always looked down
upon the Imperial Army. Without getting off his horse, he
brandished the whip and cursed, “Scram!”
The vice commander of the Imperial Army was a man with a
blade scar on his face. After getting lashed, he unexpectedly
grinned and rolled at the hooves of the horse. He shouted, “We are
both a part of the garrison guard system.3 My rank is a little higher
than yours. Why did you hit me? How dare you hit me!”
The deputy general sneered, “Lowlife pests of the government
coffers.4 Scram! Don’t hold up the Eight Great Training Divisions
from important business!”
 The man swiftly turned and rose to his feet in a single move
and smiled malevolently at the deputy general. He said, “Important
business? The Imperial Army is the important business you will get
a taste of tonight!”
He had only just said that when the Imperial Army, whom had
been in various stages of drunkenness, drew their swords in
unison. The deputy general reined in his horse in shock. The rows
of men behind him already had their throats slit.
The deputy general snapped, “Is this a rebellion?! The Eight
Great Training…”
The glint from a blade flashed before him, and he instantly fell
off the back of his horse. His blood spilled over the ground.
The man kicked the deputy general’s head aside and wiped his
blade clean on the deputy general’s chest. He said in a steady
voice, “Keep daydreaming. The political situation has changed. It’s
time for my Imperial Army to piss on your heads from the top!”
Faint white lines appeared on the horizon. Sunrise was fast
approaching.
◈ ◈ ◈
Qiao Tianya hurriedly drank some water and tossed the water
bag5 in passing to the man behind him. He wiped his mouth and
said, “Keep searching.”
But then, after he took a few steps, something clicked in his
mind. He suddenly turned his head and carefully sized up the
subordinates behind him.
Where was Prince Chu hiding?
There was no way he could have escaped out of here, so why
had they been unable to find him? Because they had been
pursuing “Prince Chu” all night, but it was possible that Prince Chu
had already become an Imperial Bodyguard!
Qiao Tianya instantly gave his order. “Inspect the authority
tokens!6 Everyone on the duty record tonight must be verified face
to face. Check now!”
The Imperial Bodyguards removed their authority tokens and
presented them without exception to the Judge to authenticate
against their faces. The Judge7 checked each token and swept a
glance across each man it belonged to. He conducted his check
with his photographic memory until the very end of the line.
“Waist token.” The Judge raised his eyes and stared at the
other party like an eagle. “Hand your authority token over.”
The other party pushed his authority token onto the tray, and
the Imperial Bodyguard leaning closely next to him suddenly
began to tremble. The latter hung his head down, not daring to
raise it.
The Judge did not seem to notice. Using his brush, he drew a
tick in the book and said, “Which bureau?”
Chen Yang replied, “Office of Ceremonial Swords.”8
“I haven’t seen you during a mission.” The Judge said, “First
time?”
Li Jianheng trembled so much that Chen Yang knew they could
not escape this. He remained unruffled and said, “Strangers at the
first meeting, friends at the second. You will find me familiar
enough after seeing me a few more times.”
The Judge pointed at Li Jianheng with the brush and said,
“Waist token .”
Li Jianheng did not manage to pull it off even after a few
attempts. The Judge smiled and reached a hand out as if to
remove the token for him.
The moment the Judge extended his hand, Chen Yang’s body
tensed. Who would have expected Li Jianheng to have already lost
heart? As the Judge moved, Li Jianheng flinched back holding his
head and cried out involuntarily, “Don’t hurt me!”
—Oh, shit!
Right at this critical moment, they suddenly heard a shrill
whistle. Following right after, a horse with a white chest and black
back unexpectedly galloped out of the forest. As the day broke, the
gyrfalcon finally led the way back, circling in the air towards them.
Hua Siqian heard the movements and saw a troop of military
forces galloping across the grassland towards them in an attack.
He asked in a stern tone, “The Eight Great Training Divisions?”
But these men had no insignia on their armors. They did not
even carry banners.
 Knowing that the time had come, Chen Yang immediately
supported Prince Chu and said in a loud voice, “Under the
protection of the Imperial Army, all those who bear swords before
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be slain. Move back now!”
Hua Siqian took two steps forward in disbelief. He looked back
and shouted, “Prince Chu is being held hostage by traitors. What
are you all waiting for?!”
Li Jianheng had no way to retreat. Seeing the Judge pounce on
him, he could not help but yell. A long blade that was suddenly
tossed out from the forest stabbed into the ground right before Li
Jianheng.
Xiao Chiye leaped down, took off his authority token, and threw
it into the tray. He said a deep voice, “With the main forces
bringing up the rear, who still dares to move?”
Ji Lei had just arrived riding his horse. On seeing this, he
bellowed too, “What a load of bullshit! Just a mere Imperial Army
—”
The gyrfalcon landed on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder. Xiao Chiye
stroked the gyrfalcon as though he was rewarding it. He said, “If
Old Ji has the balls to, then try.”
Ji Lei looked towards the grassland again. The vanguards of
the Imperial Army had already arrived. Yet there seemed to be no
end to the long stretch of military forces behind. The Qidong
Cangjun Commandery banner suddenly unfurled, and he saw that
the one at the head of the galloping horses was precisely Qi
Zhuyin.
Hua Siqian retreated several steps. Holding on to Pan Rugui,
and said in a hoarse voice, “The letter to Qidong has been
intercepted. How could they so soundlessly…”
“If all the letters in the Qudu have to go through the hands of
the Imperial Bodyguards,” Xiao Chiye kept away his blade. “Then
how troublesome would that be?”
Seeing that the situation was beyond salvation, Hua Siqian sat
on the ground and murmured, “The Empress Dowager is still
around…”
“The Empress Dowager is advanced in years. In order to take
care of her health, she has already handed all matters pertaining to
the patrol and defense of Qudu to the Imperial Army to take
charge.” Xiao Chiye had run for the entire night, and now, he
pulled up Li Jianheng and said, “Your Highness has been on the
move all night. It has been hard on you!”
Qi Zhuyin’s horse had already arrived. She turned to dismount
and kneeled to Li Jianheng to pay her obeisances. She said loudly,
“Your Highness, do not worry. The 200,000 military forces under
Qidong’s command are on full alert. This subject, Qi Zhuyin, will go
all out to ensure the safety of Your Highness!”
As if he was in a dream, Li Jianheng looked blankly at Qi
Zhuyin, then looked to his left and right. Qiao Tianya was the most
discerning and astute. Seeing that the outcome was a foregone
conclusion, he immediately kneeled. As soon as he did so, the
Imperial Bodyguards discarded their blades and kneeled down
one after another in succession.
“… I…”
Li Jianheng clenched his empty palms as though he was
clutching on to some life-saving straw. He practically wept with joy.
The tears in his eyes trickled down even while he was still
muttering.
“Now that I’m the Crown Prince…9 I’ll surely heavily reward
everyone’s great kindness in the future!”

Lianyin’s Note #1:

While the author mostly based the novel on the governmental
system of the Ming Dynasty with a combination of elements from
the Qing Dynasty, please remember that it is a work of fiction after
all and is not a 100% precise and factual representation of history
itself. Also, some of the offices’ names are literally translated if I
can’t find the corresponding English term for it in my sources.
(Which you probably can tell because LiAnYiN sUcKs at nAmiNg
ThiNgS).
Lianyin’s Note #2:
Chapter 25 onwards are all VIP chapters on JJWXC! If you have
enjoyed the novel so far, please support the author Tang Jiuqing by
buying the chapters and the novel on JJWXC!
→ Qiang Jin Jiu Novel on JJWXC
→ Guide to buy on JJWXC by 書庫
Footnotes
1. 骑虎难下, lit. he who rides a tiger finds it difficult to
dismount, i.e., to have no way to back down (or find it hard
to stop what one is doing).
2. 令牌 Military token of authority
3. 卫所(编制) or 卫所(兵制), Weisuo, or the (Military) Garrison
(Guards) System was a military establishment during the
Ming Dynasty. It was a system where the troops of each
garrison were fed by agro-colonies belonging to the
garrison and worked by soldiers, while their salary came
from the central government.
4. 皇粮 i.e. imperial funding for troops

5.
6. 水囊 water bag, a portable water bag typically made out
of animals’ hide.

7.
8. 腰牌 literally waist tablet or token, it’s a small tablet hung
at the waist to prove one’s identity, especially for people in
governmental posts or acting in an official capacity.
9. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
10. 班剑司 Ceremonial (or motif) Swords was a subordinate
organization under the latter Imperial Procession Guards
during the Qing Dynasty in charge of ceremonial
banners/flags, ceremonial weaponry, and stuff.
11. He actually literally said “I’m the Eastern Palace.” 东宫, or
Eastern/East Palace is where the Crown Prince traditionally
resides. It’s also used by extension to refer to the Crown
Prince himself.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 26 : FROST

Imperial Concubine Wei was on tenterhooks as she walked.

Seeing the unfamiliar palace walls around her, she could not help
but ask in fear, “Gonggong, why aren’t we there yet? Where is the
Empress Dowager?”
The eunuch walking ahead ignored her.
Imperial Concubine Wei’s hair stood on end in this quiet and
secluded place. She stopped in her tracks, then feigned a
stomachache and stirred up a ruckus about wanting to head back.
She had never seen this eunuch leading the way before. He
looked unfamiliar and young. The eunuch turned his head back to
look at her and said in a gentle voice, “We will be there soon.
Support Imperial Concubine Wei as she walks. We mustn’t let
Niangniang fall.”
The eunuchs on both sides immediately held on to Imperial
Concubine Wei to support her. Imperial Concubine Wei started to
struggle. She raised her voice to yell, but was gagged. The eunuchs
nimbly hoisted her up and speedily walked on ahead.
There was a well in the deserted courtyard, with some water
remaining at the bottom of the well.
The eunuch craned his head to look and said, “Right here.
Send Niangniang in.”
Imperial Concubine Wei struggled with all her might, and her
well-maintained fingernails scratched the arm of the leading
eunuch. Her bun was disheveled as she shook her head and
sobbed while clinging to the edge of the well.
The eunuch stroked her pretty hand and told the men in a
pitying voice to lift the stone.
Then, a “plop” startled away the birds on the branch over the
vermilion wall.
◈ ◈ ◈
Emperor Xiande lay inside the horse carriage, while Li
Jianheng kneeled by his side holding a medicine bowl in his
hands.
 Emperor Xiande’s breathing was so weak that he could not
even cough. He beckoned to Li Jianheng. The latter quickly put
aside the medicine bowl and moved over on his knees. He said,
“Imperial Elder Brother, are you feeling better?”
Emperor Xiande placed his hand on the back of Li Jianheng’s
hand and said laboriously, “Jianheng.”
“Your younger brother1 is here.” Li Jianheng started crying
again. He said, “Your younger brother is right here.”
“The former emperor, in his later years, was impeded by others.
At that time, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was my eldest
brother, while I…” Emperor Xiande looked at him, “I was like you,
an idle Prince. The ways of the world are unpredictable. In the end,
this empire fell into my hands. But ever since I ascended to the
throne, I have been under control. Every move I make is just like a
puppet before a screen. If Imperial Mother wants me to laugh, then
I have to laugh. If she wants me to die, then, I must now die.”
Li Jianheng choked with tears.
Emperor Xiande said, “In the future, you will become that lonely
man.”2
All at once, Li Jianheng burst into tears. He held Emperor
Xiande’s hand and pleaded, “Imperial Elder Brother! How could I
be him? I’m just a worm in this Li Clan’s empire. How am I up to
sitting at the peak? Imperial Elder Brother, I’m scared, I’m so
scared.”
“Don’t be.” With a sudden burst of energy, Emperor Xiande
held Li Jianheng’s hand tightly and opened his eyes wide. “You are
different from me… the Empress Dowager’s kin3 have lost! There’s
only death left for Hua Siqian. Likewise for Pan Rugui. If you kill
them, then the Empress Dowager will have no one left to aid her!
From then on, power will fall back to you, and you will be… the
ruler of all lands under Heaven! What I couldn’t do… You can… I…”
Emperor Xiande started coughing so violently that he trembled
all over. Unwilling to release Li Jianheng, he continued with blood
in his mouth.
“Eliminate the Empress Dowager’s kin and supervise the court
officials. The Hua Clan has lost. And… and something else… you
must bear in mind. Allow no one to sleep too soundly in the bed of
imperial power!4 Those… who save you today… can kill you…
tomorrow! Military power is like a fierce tiger… Xiao…”
Emperor Xiande vomited fresh blood, throwing Li Jianheng
into a panic.
“… Never…” Emperor Xiande gasped for breath and gripped Li
Jianheng so hard that the latter hurt. “Never ever… release… A-
Ye…”
Never ever release A-Ye back to Libei!
It did not matter if he was a rich young master or an
extraordinary talent. As long as he was here, the Xiao Clan was just
a dog. Even though the Empress Dowager’s kin have been
defeated, it did not mean that the frontier would not assemble their
own personal army and consolidate their power to challenge the
central administration. Without the Hua Clan, who else could hold
the Xiao Clan in check?! Since Xiao Chiye had the disposition to be
able to endure it in silence for five whole years to transform the
Imperial Army from a degenerate bunch into remarkable soldiers,
then imagine if they gave him another five more years before
letting him return to Libei… Would he not become a menace
then?!
Li Jianheng said blankly, “Imperial Elder Brother… How can we
do that… Imperial Elder Brother…”
“Strip him of his power5 and reduce his troops.” Emperor
Xiande said weakly, “… When necessary… kill… kill…”
Kill him.
Li Jianheng saw him close his eyes and instantly wailed. Even
before his death, Emperor Xiande never released his hand. The
resentment and gloom in his expression never once dissipated.
He ascended to the throne for nine years, and he had never
made a decision even once before the Empress Dowager. It was
the Empress Dowager who had the final say over his meals,
clothing, expenses, and even the choice of woman to spend the
night in his chamber.6 The craziest move he had ever made in this
life was to communicate secretly with Qidong and draw Xi Gu’an
over to his side to pave, at the hunting grounds, what seemed like
a smooth way to the throne for Li Jianheng.
 The long procession on their way back stopped, and
tremendous cries of grief and sorrow rang out. Dense mass of
ministers kneeled. Hai Liangyi took the lead in shedding tears and
choking with sobs. He cried out, “Your Majesty”, and this, was the
last of Emperor Xiande’s honor.
The funeral bell in Qudu tolled for a very long time, and the
entire country wept bitter tears.
◈ ◈ ◈
Empress Dowager Hua sat on the couch and fed Emperor
Xiande’s parrot.
Listening to the sound of the bell, the parrot shouted, “Jianyun!
Jianyun! Jianyun is back!”
The eastern pearls7 beside Empress Dowager Hua’s ears
swayed slightly as she nodded and said, “Jianyun is back.”
The parrot then shouted, “Imperial Mother! Imperial Mother!”
Empress Dowager Hua remained motionless as she tapped her
wooden spoon. The white hair in the slanting shadow could no
longer be covered up, and the fine wrinkles at the corners of her
eyes looked like the cracks on valuable porcelain.
The parrot shouted a few more times before it suddenly fell
headlong into the cage and went permanently still.
Empress Dowager Hua set aside the wooden spoon and sat
quietly until the sound of the bell stopped. Only then she said,
“Where’s Imperial Concubine Wei? Why is she taking so long to
come?”
◈ ◈ ◈
Because of Emperor Xiande, Xiao Chiye was so busy after
returning to the capital that he could hardly get a breather. For
several days, he kneeled together with the other officials. By the
time he could really get to lie down, he was already exhausted.
But even though he was dead beat, he still had to bathe. As
Xiao Chiye wiped his body, he saw that the scrapes and grazes on
his shoulders had already scabbed over. He put on a new robe and
came out to ask Chen Yang, “Where is that man?”
This time, Chen Yang knew who he meant. He replied, “The
Imperial Bodyguards are being reorganized, so he has to re-enlist
these few days. He didn’t even go home much.”
 “I’m asking…” Xiao Chiye said, “Where is Ji Lei? Who are you
talking about?”
Chen Yang scratched his head a little abashedly and said, “Oh,
Ji Lei. He’s been detained. He should be executed by beheading
after the new Emperor ascends to the throne. Viceroy, weren’t you
the one who locked that man up?”
Xiao Chiye put on his outer garment and said in all seriousness,
“I forgot.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan, Ge Qingqing and Xiaowu were eating their
noodles at the noodle stall. When they were halfway through the
meal, Xiaowu suddenly stared fixedly ahead.
Shen Zechuan turned his head back and saw Xiao Chiye
tossing some silver to the proprietor. He then lifted his robe to sit
beside him and said, “Two bowls of noodles.”
Xiaowu slurped his noodles down. Holding the bowl, he
shuffled on his butt away to another table like a timid quail. Under
Xiao Chiye’s gaze, Ge Qingqing took his bowl and moved away
too.
Shen Zechuan picked at his noodles and said, “I’m full.”
“Finish it.” Xiao Chiye pulled out a pair of chopsticks and
clamped them at Shen Zechuan, “Afraid to see me? Look at how
anxious you are to flee.”
“Of course.” Shen Zechuan slowly took the last bite. “Anyone
who gets… pinned down once should be afraid.”
“You made your escape pretty fast that other day we were
protecting the Emperor.” Xiao Chiye’s noodles came, and he
poured vinegar into it. “It was such a good opportunity for you to
get a promotion. Why did you run?”
“I did nothing of the sort.” Shen Zechuan blew at the soup and
drank it. “So why join in the fun?”
Xiao Chiye started eating his noodles. When he was almost
finished, he suddenly piped up, “Come to think of it, you squatted
behind me that night for a long time, didn’t you? Who to choose?
Why not play it by ear? If Xi Gu’an took down Qudu, you will give
me a stab. If Xi Gu’an didn’t, you will give me a hand. Keeping an
eye on the perfect opportunity was just to wait for me to fall that
one time before you would make your move.”
“Then you’re lucky.” Shen Zechuan inclined his head and
smiled, “You’re still alive.”
Xiao Chiye said, “You couldn’t be the one who shot that arrow
at me, could you? If I weren’t in a perilous situation, then how could
your favor have appeared all the more significant?”
“I didn’t even ask for anything in return for the great favor I
did.” Shen Zechuan said. “Why are you still thinking that I’m
plotting against you?”
“It’s not asking for anything in return that’s the problem.” Xiao
Chiye did not seem to have eaten his fill. He set aside his
chopsticks and said, “That day you dare not appear before Prince
Chu, was it because you were afraid of Ji Lei, or because you were
afraid Hua Siqian would blurt out something?”
Shen Zechuan stacked his copper coins neatly, then leaned
close to Xiao Chiye to whisper, “Wrong. I was afraid of you.”
Xiao Chiye parroted, “Afraid of me?”
“That hardness, man.”
The human voices around him seemed far away. All that
remained in Xiao Chiye’s ears was this warm puff of “hard”.
Because of this word, he realized that Shen Zechuan was wearing a
fastened collar today which half-surrounded that neck, denying
him of the chance to eye it wantonly again.
His expression underwent a few changes, then he looked at
Shen Zechuan and squeezed out two words through clenched
teeth, “Don’t worry.”
“The Second Young Master has come of age now too.” Shen
Zechuan sat back upright. “Time to get a wife.”
“Your Second Young Master has more tricks to play than you.”
Seeing that he was about to leave, Xiao Chiye grasped his wrist to
forbid him from standing up. He said, “You are always wanting to
leave before I’m done talking. That’s against the rules.”
“And you’re always laying your hand on me at every turn.” Shen
Zechuan said, “Tell me again about the rules.”
Xiao Chiye released his hand and said, “I’ll repay you for the
friendly sentiment.”
 “Call me Master and I’ll consider it repaid.” Shen Zechuan said.
“But you have to return me the thing.” Xiao Chiye said. “Surely
you don’t want me to keep chasing after you for the thumb ring,
right?”
Shen Zechuan tossed the bone thumb ring to him without
demur.
Xiao Chiye caught it and said suspiciously, “What kind of
conspiracy is this? To think you would return it the moment I said
it.”
“The way honest people handle matters,” Shen Zechuan said,
“is just that straightforward.”
At this point, there was nothing more to say.
Xiao Chiye watched Shen Zechuan rise to his feet as he turned
the thumb ring around with his fingertips. Somehow, he found it
too easy.
“Going home?” He asked behind him.
“It’s my turn to be on duty tomorrow.”
“The Imperial Bodyguards have been reshuffled. So what duty
are you talking about?” Xiao Chiye said, “Winter is a difficult time.
Take care.”
“Small fry like me drift with the current and go with the flow.”
Shen Zechuan turned around. “The one who should take care isn’t
me.”
Xiao Chiye touched his knuckles and said, “And while you are
at it, send my regards to Ji Gang-shifu.”
Shen Zechuan’s leg that had already taken a step forward
paused in mid-action as he swiftly stared towards him.
Xiao Chiye wore his thumb ring properly and jested, “Lanzhou,
want to go and play together?”

Lianyin’s Note #1:

The Places Glossary has been updated with maps from the audio
drama team used in the history lesson by Li Jianyun aka Emperor
Xiande.
Lianyin’s Note #2:
As mentioned, chapter 25 onwards are all VIP chapters on JJWXC!
If you have enjoyed the novel so far, please support the author
Tang Jiuqing by buying the chapters and the novel on JJWXC!
→ Qiang Jin Jiu Novel on JJWXC
→ Guide to buy on JJWXC by 書庫
Footnotes
1. 臣弟 chen-di is an address the Emperor’s younger
brother used to refer to himself when talking to the Emperor.
2. 孤家寡人 – 孤 and 寡人 being used by feudal kings and
princes to refer to themselves. So lonely man here refers to
an Emperor who is on his own.
3. 外戚 relatives of the Emperor on the side of his mother or
wife
4. 帝王权榻，绝不允许他人酣睡 literally allow no one to
sleep too soundly in the bed of imperial power. i.e. never
allow anyone to revel in the sweet taste of imperial power, or
give them too much power and authority. I’m keeping the
original bed quote for the imagery _(:3 」∠)
5. 削藩 a historical policy by the Emperor or central
government to strip powers (especially military powers) from
vassal states or conferred princes, dukes, and lords by
withdrawing their conferred lands in order to re-consolidate
their own power and authority and/or to weaken the other
party’s power and authority, e.g. to prevent an uprising.
6. 侍寝 basically to summon his concubines, palace maids,
etc, for sexual purposes and to make babies.
7. 东珠 literally eastern pearl, a rare treasure also known as
the northern pearl (北珠) or tana in Mongolian. During the
Qing Dynasty, pearls produced in northeast China were
called the eastern pearl to distinguish them from the
southern pearl produced in the south. The rulers of the Qing
Dynasty regarded the eastern pearls as treasures and used
them to inlay their crown and clothing with it to represent
authority and honor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 27 : AUTUMN CHILL

Shen Zechuan immediately smiled and said, “This is no big

secret anyway… Goodbye.”
“Why don’t hear me out first?” Xiao Chiye was in a good mood
after recovering his lost thumb ring. “Since Ji Gang is your master,
then we are fellow disciples. I’m older than you, so it wouldn’t put
you at a disadvantage to call me shixiong.”
“The Ji Clan has nothing to do with Libei.” Shen Zechuan’s
mind quickly recalled his fight with Xiao Chiye in the snow five
years ago. Back then, he had felt a sense of familiarity that kept
bugging him.
“Not necessarily so.” Xiao Chiye said, “It’s hard to say for sure
when it comes to stuff like affinity.”
Shen Zechuan gestured to Ge Qingqing and Xiaowu and sat
back down beside Xiao Chiye. He said, “You checked Ge Qingqing
out.”
“I can’t forget it.” Xiao Chiye looked at him, “Five years ago, he
fled so fast. Five years later, he’s close to you. How could I not get
suspicious of something so glaring? So I took the opportunity to
check him out and managed to dig out all about him.”
“What do you want to do?” Shen Zechuan asked with a smile.
“Nothing.” Xiao Chiye raised a finger to point and tap at Shen
Zechuan’s eyes. “There’s no need for you to force a smile. We could
be considered sworn friends in life and death. So there’s no point
in putting on an act of bravado. Your mind is already troubled.
Afraid now, huh.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Not quite there yet.”
Xiao Chiye reversed his chopsticks and tapped the table
intermittently. He said, “Since Ji Gang is your shifu, then it makes
sense for the Imperial Bodyguards led by Ge Qingqing to spare
your life back then.”
“You are oversuspicious.” Shen Zechuan looked at the brown oil
stain accumulated on the tabletop. “Just because that kick didn’t kill
me, your suspicions were roused, and you kept probing into it. You
are really dogged.”
 “That’s all the virtues I have.” Xiao Chiye said, “And I use them
all on you.”
“Since we are from the same school of martial arts,” Shen
Zechuan said, “It wouldn’t do for you not to report your shifu’s
name, right?”
Bored stiff, Xiao Chiye tossed the chopsticks back into the
bamboo holder and said, “Let’s hear you call me shixiong first.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing.
Xiao Chiye said, “Ji Gang could be considered a real man. I
sent someone to Duanzhou to make enquiries. Everyone thought
he was burned to death—Was he the one who killed Xiaofuzi?”
“Nope.” Shen Zechuan righted the chopstick holder. “My shifu
is already advanced in age. How could he have killed him?”
A slight wind rose right then. Neither man moved.
Xiao Chiye said, “You looked like you have done nothing. Yet I
feel as if you have done everything.”
“Whether I did it or not, all of you will not let me go.” Propping
himself on his stool, Shen Zechuan turned to Xiao Chiye and
smiled slowly. He said softly, “Then why don’t I do all the bad
things so that you are justified in hating me?”
The next day.
It was only when Xiao Chiye entered the palace that he learned
Imperial Concubine Wei was dead.
Li Jianheng had already changed his attire. These days, he had
cried until he looked wan and sallow. Seated in a high position, he
said, “They said she slipped and fell into the well. They didn’t find
her body until last night.”
This slip was really too coincidental.
Seeing no one around, Li Jianheng asked in a whisper, “Ce’an,
don’t tell me it’s you…”
Xiao Chiye shook his head.
Li Jianheng seemed relieved. He fidgeted in his seat and said,
“Now that I live in the palace, I can see the eunuchs the moment I
open my eyes at night. It’s rather scary. They used to call Pan Rugui
Lao Zuzong,1 and now this Lao Zuzong is still locked up in prison!
Ce’an, do you think they will hate me…”
 He let loose a stream of grumbles, and they were all about how
afraid he was. In the end, he got Xiao Chiye to transfer the Imperial
Army over first to take over the key duty of the palace patrol.
Xiao Chiye naturally would not refuse. He stayed for a moment
and listened as Li Jianheng said, “Libei has sent a message saying
that the Prince of Libei and your eldest brother are on the way here.
Ce’an, you’ll be able to see them in a few more days.”
Li Jianheng was somewhat playing up to him. To think he had
to be even more timid than he was in the past, right before he was
about to become the master of the lands under heaven. That
insufferable arrogance of his seemed to have been worn away
during the Autumn Hunt. He had already understood who was in
power.
Xiao Chiye did not intend to accept the reward bestowed upon
him. His wish was something Li Jianheng could not be any more
clearer about. But to date, Li Jianheng had said nothing about
letting him back to Libei.
Xiao Chiye’s expression remained impassive, but his heart sank.
Five days later, the Prince of Libei entered Qudu.
That day, the autumn rain continued uninterrupted. Xiao Chiye
rode his horse out of the city early in the morning and stood in the
pavilion where he had seen them off back then. After waiting for
four hours, he finally saw several flying eagles materializing out of
the sky.
The “Meng” on his shoulder instantly grew excited and
charged into the rain to hover and catch up with its brothers and
sisters.
The Armored Cavalry galloped over in the rain, looking much
like a stroke of thick ink in the water sweeping towards Xiao Chiye.
Without waiting for the Armored Cavalry to come nearer, he
flipped out of the pavilion and dashed up in the rain to greet them.
“Father!”
Sitting on his horse, Xiao Jiming laughed aloud and said to his
father before him, “He looks so tall and strong now. But the
moment he sees Father, he shows his real self.”
Xiao Fangxu took off his bamboo hat and leaned over to rap on
Xiao Chiye’s head. He scrutinized him for a moment and said,
“You’ve grown taller.”
Xiao Chiye grinned and said, “That’s right, dage is almost
going to be half a head shorter than me!”
“What a smug lad.” Xiao Jiming said, “Ever since he outgrew
me, he has to mention it every year we meet.”
Xiao Fangxu let Zhao Hui lead his horse away as he
dismounted and raised his arms to give his youngest son a sudden
hug. Patting him heavily on the back, he said, “Silly lad!”
The pats made Xiao Chiye smile. He said, “I have been waiting
for a long time. Did something happen on the way?”
Zhao Hui said, “The little Young Master caught a chill at home.
So the Prince made a detour to Dengzhou to invite the
Venerable2 Yigui back home for a look.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Ah Xun is sick? When did it happen? Why
didn’t dage mention it in the letter?!”
Xiao Jiming said, “It’s just something minor. There’s Yizhi at
home to look after him. Don’t worry about it.”
Xiao Chiye felt a little disappointed.
Five years ago when he left Libei, his eldest sister-in-law had
been pregnant. Now, little Ah Xun was four years old, and he had
not even seen him yet. He could only learn of some interesting
tidbits of his little nephew from his father’s and brother’s letters.
He wanted to go home.
Xiao Chiye’s disappointment was fleeting. He smiled and said,
“I have already prepared a birthday present. When dage returns
home this time, please bring it back on my behalf.”
Xiao Fangxu dusted off the brim of his bamboo hat and said,
“Before we set off, Xun-er specially painted a picture for you. I’ll get
Zhao Hui to bring it to you later. This is not the place to chat. I’ll
head for the palace first. It’s not too late for us father and son to talk
when I return to the residence at night.”
The party of men mounted their horses and rode their way into
Qudu.
◈ ◈ ◈
It had already been many years since the Prince of Libei had
shown himself in public. Now that the name of the Four Generals
had spread far and wide, very few people would still remember the
Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu.
As Autumn came, Grand Mentor Qi ate so well that he put on
weight. At present, he was washing his feet in the rain, wiggling
and rubbing his toes against each other. He said, “Speaking of the
Four Generals of the world, they actually existed twenty years ago.
Back then, Xiao Fangxu of Libei, Qi Shiyu of Qidong, Liu Pingyan of
Bianjun Commandery, and Feng Yisheng of the Suotian Pass, were
the Commanders-in-chief of the military forces on all sides. Feng
Yisheng later died in battle, and the Feng Clan’s bloodline was
severed. No one probably remembers this name today. But back
then, they were all valiant warriors who stepped onto the frontier
pass with their horses and wiped out the Biansha troops.”
“Feng Yisheng?” Ji Gang responded in a loud voice as he did
the cooking inside. “What do you mean no one remembers?
Chuan-er! Both of General Feng’s sons died on the battlefield. He
later adopted a son, who is your shifu’s eldest brother.”
Shen Zechuan scooped rice into the bowls and repeated,
“Shifu’s eldest brother?”
Ji Gang smacked his own head and said, “I forgot to tell you!”
Grand Mentor Qi yelled, “Is the food ready? Aye, isn’t his eldest
brother Zuo Qianqiu?! What’s there to tell? Anyone could guess!”
Shen Zechuan served the dishes, laid out chopsticks for Grand
Mentor Qi, and said respectfully, “Teacher, please have your meal.”
Grand Mentor Qi gulped down a mouthful of wine and said,
“Having someone wait on you is still the most comfortable feeling
ever.”
Ji Gang wiped away his sweat and sat on the other side of the
table and said, “You said earlier that Xiao the Second told you he’s
from the same school of martial arts with us. Then, I’m afraid his
shifu is Zuo Qianqiu!”
Shen Zechuan took two mouthfuls of rice.
Ji Gang lamented, “I haven’t seen him in years. Did you
exchange blows with Xiao the Second this time? How was it? Were
the strokes of his blade strong and forceful?”
Grand Mentor Qi said, “Let Lanzhou eat first. We’ll talk again
when we have eaten our fill. It’s dangerous this time, and there’s no
hurry. We can rest for a few days.”
“I should have thought of it.” Ji Gang said, “Xiao the Second
wore a bone thumb ring. The one in this world who knows best
how to wield a powerful bow is Zuo Qianqiu.”
“Perhaps you will be able to meet your eldest brother now that
Xiao Fangxu has entered Qudu.” Grand Mentor Qi picked out the
dishes. “Zuo Qianqiu fought to the death at Tianfei Watchtower.
Although he warded off the Biansha cavalry, his wife died. It was
because of that battle that he obtained the name of ‘Thunder
Sinking the Jade Stage’, but it was also because of it that he never
recovered from the setback. Rumor has it that he has left home to
become a monk, but it’s also possible that he has been living
incognito to teach Xiao Fangxu’s son after receiving refuge from
the latter.”
Ji Gang said with sorrow, “A general’s success is built upon the
sacrifices of tens of thousands of people. So what if he’s renowned
for his impressive military exploits? In the end, he’ll still turn into a
handful of loess. Those who died on the battlefield are loyal to the
end, while those who survived aren’t having a wonderful time
either. Zuo Qianqiu lives incognito, Xiao Fangxu is ill, and Lu
Pingyan is old. Twenty more years later, where would the current
Four Generals be at? It’s all but the slapping of waves on sand, with
one generation after generation superseding the former.”
Grand Mentor Qi was slightly tipsy as he watched Shen
Zechuan eat his meal. After a long while, he said, “It’s too much of a
loss to suffer through an entire lifetime for nothing. All of us will
eventually die. So why not reach for the sky and fulfill your
aspirations before you die?! Lanzhou, here! Have another bowl!”
By the time they had eaten and drank to their heart’s content,
the sky was already dark.
Grand Mentor Qi lay across the mat while Shen Zechuan sat
under the eaves to wipe his teacher’s feet. Ji Gang took out two
outer garments and draped it over both of them. Then he squatted
in the corner to smoke his pipe.
Resting his head on a papaya, Grand Mentor Qi said, “Lanzhou,
tell me the situation at the hunting ground again.”
Shen Zechuan gave a detailed account of it again.
 Grand Mentor Qi listened with his eyes closed. When Shen
Zechuan was done speaking, he remained silent.
The vines in the courtyard soaked in rain, with each drop pitter-
pattering on the leaves. After the rain drummed on the leaves for
an unspecified amount of time, Grand Mentor Qi said, “Xiao the
Second seemed to be in the limelight this battle, but he is trapped
in the same situation as his father and elder brother. The new
Emperor has called him his brother for as long as five years, but he
has lain low and concealed himself so deeply, so how could the
former not be afraid? Today, the new Emperor can let it slide on
account of him saving his life, but how long can this friendship
withstand until it’s all worn away into nothing? I thought he could
still tolerate it for a little longer given his endurance. There are
countless ways he could have let Qi Zhuyin take the limelight, but
he just had to do it on his own.”
Ji Gang knocked off the ash under the dim light and said, “The
wolf cub wants to go home too. All he dreams of are the grassland
of Libei. How old is he? Having this bit of spirit is what being young
is about.”
“A little lack of forbearance upsets great plans.” Grand Mentor
Qi said. “If he had endured it this one time, then wouldn’t he have
been able to return home as a dandy young master?”
Right at this time, Xiao Chiye was standing outside the palace
gates looking up at the shadowy palace. The overhanging eaves
of these vermillion walls seemed to be a trial Heaven had given
him. Under this frivolous appearance of his, a ferocious beast
howled in silence.
Shen Zechuan sat upright. It was at this moment that he oddly
understood the meaning behind this move of Xiao Chiye.
He wanted to go home.
He wanted to go home, openly and above-board, as his own
person.

Footnotes
1. 老祖宗 literally old ancestor or forefather; sometimes the
top eunuch in the Ming Dynasty is privately addressed as
such
2. 大师 Dashi or Great Master or Venerable, an honorific
term for a monk.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 28 : DRUNK IN THE ALLEY

The Autumn rain in Qudu never stopped falling after the new
Emperor ascended to the throne. White lanterns hung high
beneath old, black tiles. If one were to stand atop the city wall
overlooking the place, they would see a bleak chill shrouding every
single spot.
Because of the Autumn Hunt incident, all the Imperial
Bodyguards had their authority tokens1 revoked. Imperial
Bodyguards of fifth grade2 and above, such as Ji Lei and Qiao
Tianya, were all imprisoned. Together with Hua Siqian and Pan
Rugui, they were handed over to be tried in a joint trial by the Three
Judicial Offices.3
Xue Xiuzhuo was transferred from the Office of Scrutiny for
Revenue and promoted to the position of Assistant Minister in the
Court of Judicial Review. This position did not seem to have as
much authority and power as the Chief Supervising Secretary of the
Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, but in truth, it gave him an in to the
central administration of Three Judicial Offices. In other words, he
not only had the authority to examine any case reviews, but also
had the power to participate in the deliberations and rebuttals of
proposals from the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Surveillance
Bureau.
“Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Empress Dowager Hua reclined against the xumi couch4 and
idly tapped the jet-black jade chess piece5 against the board.
“I have never heard of this child before the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds incident. Who is he to the Xue Clan?”
Matron Liuxiang gently fanned the incense censer and said, “To
reply Your Majesty, he is the third son of common birth of the Xue
Clan. This slave has never heard of this person before, and so this
slave specifically went to make some inquiries about him.”
“The Xue Clan has no lack of successors.” Empress Dowager
Hua said. “All these years, Yao Wenyu is the one in the limelight. I
thought that old fox, Hai Liangyi, would sooner or later
recommend Yao Wenyu into the Grand Secretariat after having
imparted all his knowledge to him. Who would have expected him
to remain silent on it and use the unremarkable Xue Xiuzhuo
instead?”
Aunt Lixiang said, “Xue Xiuzhuo first joined forces with the
Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, Jiang Qingshan,
to gather evidence on the sly, then joined up with Secretariat Elder
Hai to act as a go-between. He had access to the Six Ministries
when he held office as the Chief Supervising Secretary of the Office
of Scrutiny for Revenue. Now he has been promoted to Assistant
Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he will be hearing the case
of our Secretariat Elder. I fear that he has made up his mind to get
to the bottom of the matter and will not let it go at that.”
“I can’t go out now.” Empress Dowager Hua looked
contemplative. “If Xue Xiuzhuo wants to investigate, then let him
investigate. The Hua Clan is already at such a critical juncture. Go
and tell Eldest Brother that he needs to have the determination to
act decisively and cut his loss. Only then will we be able to stage a
comeback.”
Matron Liuxiang uttered an acknowledgement and quietly
withdrew.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan shook the rainwater off his umbrella and sat in
the run-down veranda of the deserted courtyard. Less than an hour
later, Xi Hongxuan’s mountain-like figure strode through the moon
gate6 and walked over to him while holding up an umbrella.
“This is the time when spies abound all around. I almost
couldn’t get away.” Xi Hongxuan gathered up his clothes and
frowned as he asked. “Is there some urgent matter for you to call
me here at this time?”
“Xi Gu’an is in prison.” Shen Zechuan said. “Your long-time wish
is right before you. Yet you aren’t pressing home the attack now
following the victory. Are you waiting for him to take desperate
action instead?”
“His guilt of committing a capital offense is already but certain.”
Xi Hongxuan said. “Making any more moves now would be like
drawing legs on a snake—redundant.”
 “Nothing in this world is ‘certain’.” There was no trace of a smile
on Shen Zechuan’s fair face. He said, “The more critical the
situation is, the more you cannot afford to be negligent. As long as
he remains alive in this dangerous situation, there’s a chance he
will survive through it.”
Xi Hongxuan looked at his side profile and said, “The Hua
faction case has already been handed over to the Three Judicial
Offices. With so many pairs of eyes staring, how are you planning
to make your move?”
“I’m not making any moves.” Shen Zechuan turned his eyes. “As
the Hua Clan’s lackey, his crimes during his term of office are too
numerous to record. As long as one or two document proofs is
handed over to the Three Judicial Offices, then his death will be all
but certain.”
“Bearing a weapon before the Emperor and trapping the
Crown Prince in to hunt him down. These two matters aren’t
enough to put him to death?”
“As the Commander-in-chief of the Eight Great Training
Divisions, he has the prerogative to bear a blade before the
Emperor. The hunt of the Crown Prince has nothing to do with him.
He could simply assert that he headed back to the capital to seek
and deploy reinforcements on seeing the situation go wrong. The
new Emperor now fears the Imperial Army. Although he has taken
down the Hua Clan, it is at the time where he needs the help and
cooperation of the Eight Great Clans. It takes time for the Three
Judicial Offices to review the case. The longer this drags on, the
harder it will be for Xi Gu’an to die.” Shen Zechuan sneered a little.
“As long as Xi Gu’an doesn’t die, you will remain Xi the Second,
never to step into the limelight.”
After a lengthy silence, Xi Hongxuan said, “What are you
planning to do?”
“Xi Gu’an has been assigned special duty in the Eight Great
Training Divisions since the fourth year of Xiande.7 In the four years
so far, the Eight Great Training Divisions have received a total of 9
million taels of military funds and provisions. Only 7 million of the
disbursement were accounted for. Where did the remaining 2
million taels go? They all disappeared after they passed through Xi
Gu’an’s hands.” Shen Zechuan said, “The audits of the account
books are originally handled by Xue Xiuzhuo. In all likelihood, he
will still be able to dig out more void expenses once he checks. Pan
Rugui and Hua Siqian can take such a large sum, because if they
do, they are just greedy and corrupt. But Xi Gu’an can’t. He cannot
afford to be greedy or corrupt. Control of the Eight Great Training
Divisions, whose key task is to patrol and defend Qudu, lies in his
hands. If he can’t explain the whereabouts of all that money, then
one could only suspect if he has been embezzling money to bribe
the soldiers and to raise his own private army under the name of
the Eight Great Training Divisions.”
A chill suddenly ran down Xi Hongxuan’s back. He said, “…
Raise his own private army.”
“He stands beside the Son of Heaven’s8 couch. What other
reason can there be for him to raise his own private army?” Shen
Zechuan said.
“… No way!” Xi Hongxuan vetoed it. He raised his hand to wipe
away his sweat and said, “You think I’m out of my mind? If it’s just
associating with the Hua Clan, then he’s the only one who dies. But
if it’s harboring the intent to rebel, then my whole family will die! It’s
a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan!”
Shen Zechuan laughed aloud and lowered his voice. “A change
of sovereign brings a change of ministers.9 It’s a wonderful
opportunity for you to distinguish yourself now that a new Emperor
has ascended to the throne. This is just Xi Gu’an giving you his life
as a congratulatory gift for your promotion.”
“You want me to…” Xi Hongxuan stared at Shen Zechuan for a
while and suddenly burst out laughing. He said, “You are really
vicious. At the very least, the Empress Dowager has saved you
twice. You really show no regard for the kindness shown to you.”
“Kindness, huh?” Shen Zechuan picked up the umbrella. “It’s
not too late to repay it after killing them. What’s more, the power
struggle today is all a game of chess between Xiao and Hua. What
does it have to do with me?”
With that, he opened his umbrella, nodded slightly at Xi
Hongxuan, then stepped into the night rain. Xi Hongxuan sat alone
in the veranda. After Shen Zechuan disappeared, he touched his
own back, finding it all drenched in cold sweat.
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, the Court of Judicial Review re-processed the
Autumn Hunt case.
Jiang Xie, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review,
served as the presiding judge, while Hai Liangyi served as the
supervisor, and Xue Xiuzhuo, the jury. This was a major case
examined and prosecuted by the Chief Surveillance Bureau, with
the criminal charges of “unconstitutional formation of an insurgent
faction”, “embezzlement of taxes to corrupt governance”, and
“endangerment of the state” submitted to the Court of Judicial
Review.
Of these, “unconstitutional formation of an insurgent faction”
made the Six Ministries jittery. Those who have been to the Hua
Residence, or have received recommendations from Hua Siqian
and Pan Rugui in the past all found themselves in a precarious
position. Countless officials submitted memorials to impeach and
report Hua Siqian and Pan Rugui these few days, with each one
making an impassioned statement of loyalty for fear of getting
implicated.
Seeing those memorials10 gave Li Jianheng a headache. He
was not a person who could sit still to begin with. Even so, he did
not dare to fool around during a time where the entire nation was
in national mourning. He had seen the way Hai Liangyi confronted
Hua Siqian that night; thus, he was very much afraid of Hai Liangyi.
Hai Liangyi was rigid and inflexible. His appropriately trimmed
beard was always hanging before the second clasp on the front of
his robe, while his crown was properly worn, and his hair,
meticulously combed. He never left his clothes open during the
three hottest periods of summer,11 and he never folded his arms
during the severe winter months. He was like the pine tree on the
mountain ridge when he stood, and the swift wind in the quiet
valley when he walked. When it came to handling matters, he was
never sloppy. He could even listen attentively to the details of the
case for three days and three nights without showing any traces of
weariness.
 Li Jianheng was used to fooling around. So he always went
weak in the knees on seeing this kind of elder, scholar teacher-
like12 minister.
Because of the Hua faction case, Hai Liangyi was constantly
looking for him to report the details. Li Jianheng found the Dragon
Throne13 in Mingli Hall so hard that his butt was always hurting
from sitting too long, so he got his men to pad it up with several
layers of cotton-padded mattress. But Hai Liangyi saw it and
remonstrated with him, advising him to be steadfast in his
conduct.
The thrill of having power and authority in his grasp seemed
fleeting. What followed right after was an avalanche of heavy
responsibilities. The never-ending morning court sessions14 made
it difficult for Li Jianheng to persevere. He sat on the Dragon
Throne, sometimes not even understanding what those people at
the foot of his throne were arguing about.
No money?
Then, collect taxes! Kill a bunch of corrupt officials, and the
money could be recovered, no? What’s there to argue about?
Li Jianheng did not dare to reveal his innermost thoughts. He
was afraid of Hai Liangyi, and even more afraid of these civil
servants and military commanders. He did not know what they
were fighting about, or why the Hua faction could not be executed
immediately by decapitation, let alone what the Empress
Dowager’s intention in sending him snacks every day was.
He huddled up on the Dragon Throne, as if he were merely
having a dream.
“Is His Majesty ill?”
Having been summoned, Xiao Chiye entered the palace and
met the Imperial Physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine
outside Mingli Hall.
The Imperial Physician said, “He worried too much, and the
Autumn chill has gotten to him. When the Viceroy enters later,
please persuade His Majesty. “
Xiao Chiye took off Langli Blade and strode into Mingli Hall.
Li Jianheng had just taken his medicine and was zoning out on
the couch at the moment. On hearing that Xiao Chiye had come,
he hurriedly wore his shoes like slippers and called Xiao Chiye in.
“Ce’an.” Li Jianheng said. “You’re just in time. The Imperial
Bakery15 will send the silk-nested tiger’s eye candy later. Come and
try it too. We had it at the official banquet a few years ago.”
Xiao Chiye kowtowed and said, “Thank you Your Majesty for the
bestowment.”
With his clothes draped around him, Li Jianheng went silent for
a moment, then said, “Ce’an, take a seat.”
Xiao Chiye sat down, and those serving at the sides withdrew.
Li Jianheng suddenly stood up and restlessly turned around in
circles where he was. He said, “Ce’an, why aren’t they beheading
Hua Siqian? What retrial is the Court of Judicial Review talking
about? What else is there for them to go over? Argh!”
Xiao Chiye said, “The Court of Judicial Review has to triple
check the case. This is the rule to prevent miscarriages of justice.
The evidence against Hua Siqian is conclusive. He will definitely be
executed by decapitation before the new year.”
“A long night is fraught with dreams.”16 Li Jianheng said
nervously. “The Empress Dowager doesn’t look like she’s in a
panic… You know, she keeps sending people to deliver snacks to
me every day. What is she thinking of doing? Does she want to
poison me to death too?”
“The Hua Clan now is the target of public criticism. So the
Empress Dowager somehow has to put on a show of affection.”
Seeing Li Jianheng’s flustered expression with dark circles under
his eyes, Xiao Chiye said, “Is Your Majesty not sleeping well at
night?”
“How can I sleep?” Li Jianheng said, “They aren’t dead yet… So
how would I be able to sleep? Ce’an, go tell Hai Liangyi on my
behalf to skip the retrial and carry out the execution on the spot.”
How would that do?
Xiao Chiye was the Viceroy of the Imperial Army. He had
nothing to do with the Three Judicial Offices, so how could he
interfere in the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices? Moreover,
after what happened at the Autumn Hunt, the next person they
would take down would be his own self, Xiao Chiye. The civil
officials, with Hai Liangyi at the head, were unwilling to let Xiao
Chiye go. Xiao Fangxu himself had gotten wind of it these few days
as well.
No one was willing to take a gamble when it came to this
matter. It was only with Xiao Chiye in Qudu that Libei would prove
to be diligent in all they did. The crisis in the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo was a sore point. Xiao Jiming could save Qudu once or
twice, but could he save Qudu countless times without reservation?
Even if he could, who would believe it?
Xiao Chiye would definitely not get entangled in any disputes
with the civil servants at this point in time.
Li Jianheng himself knew that it would not work, so he became
more and more dispirited. When the silk-nested tiger’s eye candy
was sent over, he took a few cursory bites of it, but could taste
nothing.
As soon as Xiao Chiye left, he lay on the couch, feeling that this
Emperor was really boring to be.
Shuanglu, who had always been following him to serve him,
kneeled beside the couch and whispered, “Your Majesty…17 How
about this slave accompanies you out for a stroll?”
Li Jianheng replied, “Not going. I’m tired.”
Shuanglu hit upon an idea and continued,” … Then how about
inviting Lady Mu Ru to play the pipa18 for you?”
Li Jianheng turned over and took another glance outside.
Seeing no one, he said, “… I don’t think I can. The nation is in
mourning. Besides, she’s still at Pan Rugui’s Residence. If I bring her
to the palace now, wouldn’t I get a scolding?”
Shuanglu let out an “oh, my” and smiled, then said, “Your
Majesty, you are the Emperor. You have the final say within this
palace. How would those officials on the outside know what
eunuchs in the inner palace does? We’ll do it on the sly…”
Li Jianheng instantly felt his spirits soar. Not even eating the
candy anymore, he said, “Secretariat Elder Hai won’t know?”
“No one will know.” Shuanglu shuffled forward on his knees.
“You are our master. He isn’t. Us slaves run errands for Your Majesty.
If Your Majesty doesn’t want to let anyone know, then no one will
know.”
 “Great!” Li Jianheng clapped his hands. “Great, I finally found
an opportunity. Go quickly, the sooner the better. Bring Mu Ru in.
Pan Rugui is going to die. Remaining in that compound will only be
inviting bad luck!”
It rained again when Xiao Chiye left the palace. He felt vexed
for no reason. The zeal and drive he had before the Autumn Hunt
seemed to have dissipated overnight. He did not even want to
draw his blade at this moment.
Chen Yang and Zhao Hui came to pick him up, and Xiao Chiye
got into the horse carriage. Halfway through their journey back,
Xiao Chiye suddenly lifted the curtain and said, “Tell Father and
dage that I won’t be going back tonight.”
Without waiting for both men to respond, he jumped off the
carriage and headed towards Donglong Street without taking
anything with him.
“He’s gone drinking again.” Zhao Hui got off the carriage as
well and said to Chen Yang, “You head back and inform the Prince
and the Hereditary Prince. I’ll follow the Young Master. It wouldn’t
look good for him to get drunk and make a scene during a time
when the nation is in mourning.”
Chen Yang said, “In just the time it takes for you to say all these,
you would have already lost sight of him. Since the Viceroy doesn’t
want anyone to follow, then… let him be.”
Zhao Hui was Xiao Jiming’s deputy general, while Chen Yang
was Xiao Chiye’s deputy general. Although both of them were
members of the Xiao Clan, the subject of their consideration were
ultimately different. Zhao Hui was more like the older brother.
He turned his head in the rain. Sure enough, he could no
longer see Xiao Chiye’s figure.
With the authority tokens of the Imperial Bodyguards revoked,
its subordinates were all temporarily assigned to the Imperial Army
to serve as patrols.
Shen Zechuan just finished his rounds tonight. As he returned
home, he passed by the back alley of Xiangyun Villa19 on
Donglong Street.
Because it was just a drizzle, he did not hold up an umbrella.
 As he was walking along the road, he suddenly heard a bout of
puking sounds before him. Then, a courtesan wearing wooden
clogs and no socks trotted out in pursuit of the person who had
been puking. The latter gently fended her off.
Xiao Chiye propped himself up against the wall and pointed at
the back door to motion to the woman to stay away from him.
The courtesans of Xiangyun Villa were all well-acquainted with
him. They knew that he would not let others touch him while he
was drunk, so this courtesan folded a handkerchief and lay it at the
side and said in a gentle voice, “Second Young Master, please go
in again once you feel better. I’ve prepared hot soup for you.”
Xiao Chiye did not respond.
The sound of wooden clogs receded into the distance, and he
squatted down. His stomach was churning so badly it was hard to
bear.
This was the way a man should live—eat, drink and make merry
as if in a drunken stupor. He had only this one way out.
He felt a sudden weight on his back.
Xiao Chiye suddenly looked back with a stare so cold it would
make one flustered. On seeing the man, he thought for a moment
before saying, “… Why did you kick me?”
Shen Zechuan said without blinking, “I didn’t.”
Xiao Chiye backhandedly touched his own back for a moment.
He pulled at his clothes and said stubbornly, “This is evidence of
your guilt!”
Shen Zechuan scrutinized him for a moment and said, “Have
you drunk yourself foolish, Xiao the Second?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Do I look like a fool?”
Without waiting for Shen Zechuan to reply, he answered
himself.
“I’m not a fool.”
Smelling him reeking of wine, Shen Zechuan said, “Don’t block
my way. I want to go home.”
Xiao Chiye turned his head back and stared blankly for a
moment before saying to the wall, “Don’t block my way. I want to
go home too.”
 Shen Zechuan was about to laugh when he heard him
continue.
“If I can’t go home, then you can forget about going home as
well.”

Footnotes

1.
3. 腰牌 literally waist tablet or token, it’s a small tablet or
token hung at the waist to prove one’s identity, especially for
people in governmental posts or acting in an official
capacity. I’ll also be calling this an authority tablet or tablet of
authority.
4. 品 Grades; Officials were classified in nine hierarchic
grades, with grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries
ranged according to their rank.
5. In the Ming Dynasty, the supreme court was known as the
“Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices” (三(法)司会审),
whose verdicts had to be submitted to the Emperor for
approval. Three Judicial Offices are namely the Ministry of
Justice (刑部), the Court of Judicial Review (大理寺), and the
Chief Surveillance Bureau (都察院).
6. Xumi couch (须弥榻), also known as the Mile couch (弥勒
榻) or short couch (短榻), is basically a couch that’s shorter.
7.
8. Chess in those days typically refers to Weiqi, or Go in
Japanese and Baduk in Korean.

9.
10. 洞门 An opening in a wall separating different courtyards
within a residence or palace. It’s also known as a moon gate
(月亮门).
11. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor (Emperor Xiande, in this case) reigned.
12. 天子 Son of Heaven, refers to the Emperor.
13. 一朝天子一朝臣 A change of sovereign brings a change
of ministers, i.e. when a new Emperor is crowned, he brings
to the court his own favorites and expels those of his
predecessor.
14.
15. 奏折 zouzhe, also 折子 zhezi, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor
16. 三伏天 three periods forming the hottest periods of
summer, from mid-July to mid-August, namely: 初伏 (mid-
July), 中伏 (late July to early August), 末伏 (mid-August)
17. 夫子 fuzi, an ancient and respectful form of address for a
Confucian scholar or for one’s teacher (particularly in the
classics and/or Confucian teachings.)

18.
19. 龙椅 Dragon throne, the imperial throne of the emperor.
20. 早朝 Court sessions held in the morning for the Emperor
to discuss state affairs with his ministers. It was typically held
daily, but occasionally varied from emperor to emperor.
21. 甜食房 Imperial Bakery or Confectionery, name of an
office manned by eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. They were in
charge of palace desserts and sweets for the Emperor’s own
consumption or to reward officials, etc. The production
method was kept secret, and all the instruments used were
made by the eunuchs themselves. It was especially famous
for silk-nested tiger’s eye candy (丝窝虎眼糖; literally
translated) and etc.
22. 夜长梦多 literally a long night is fraught with dreams. i.e.
undue delay may bring unforeseen trouble, and the longer
the delay, the more the troubles or the higher the chance of
one happening.
23. The ‘Your Majesty’ here Shuanglu used is specifically 万岁
爷 Wansui-ye, or literally Master of Long (10,000) Life, instead
of the usual 皇上. 万岁爷 is an honorific address for the
Emperor mostly used by servants such as eunuchs and
palace maids, typically seen in Qing Dynasty dramas. It
refers to the Emperor when used in general.

24.
25. 琵琶 Pipa, a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument,
belonging to the plucked category of instruments.
26. This Xiangyunfang is kind of like an entertainment or
pleasure house.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 29 : FATE

Shen Zechuan said, “Oh.”

Not getting the answer he wanted, Xiao Chiye looked back at
him and asked, “Why aren’t you rebutting?”
Shen Zechuan raised his hands to open up the umbrella and
said, “I don’t have a father or a brother back at home. No
acquaintances either. So what’s the point of going back?”
Xiao Chiye picked up the handkerchief to wipe away the water
on the back of his neck. He stood up and said, “Oh right. The Prince
of Jianxing’s Residence in Dunzhou has already been cleared out.
With your identity, you will only be cursed by all if you go back.”
“That’s why when it comes to fate,” Shen Zechuan looked at
Xiao Chiye quietly for a pause before continuing, “you will only
suffer if you don’t get reincarnated into a good life.”
Xiao Chiye did not look at him as he lifted his arm to rub away
the raindrops on his forehead. He said, “Then why are you still
alive?”
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “Millions of people want me to
die. But how could I feel at ease myself if I were to fulfill the wish of
others?”
Xiao Chiye said, “The way for you to survive is to remain in
Zhao Zui Temple.”
Shen Zechuan took two steps to bypass the water puddle on
the ground and said, “If I remain in Zhao Zui Temple, then you will
think that getting executed by decapitation is how I should end up.
Xiao Chiye, even if you try your best to hide it, you are already used
to looking down from above. You are no different from the people
who look down on you today. And all those eyes on you now
agonize you.”
He laughed out loud and patted Xiao Chiye on the back with a
palm.
“I seek to live. You seek to die. The Xiao Clan once had me
trapped, and now the Li Clan does the same to you. Isn’t the ways
of this world strange? The bird in the cage longs for its former
woods, while the fish in the pond misses the deep.1 Your lot in life
has been laid bare from start to end. If you can’t go back, then you
are nothing but a loser with lofty aspirations sans actions. The most
regrettable thing in this world is to train a wolf into a dog. How
long can your fangs remain sharp in Qudu?”
“You followed me during the Autumn Hunt,” Xiao Chiye turned
his head to the side to look at him, “and saved my life just for this
moment of gratification?”
“I am but an insignificant nobody.” Shen Zechuan said softly,
“Even if I didn’t show up, you will still live.”
“Exactly what,” Xiao Chiye’s inebriation had worn off. He asked,
“are you up to?”
“Repaying a debt of gratitude.” The brim of Shen Zechuan’s
umbrella sheltered Xiao Chiye—This was how close he was to the
latter. “Repaying all of you for your mercy in not killing me.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly grabbed Shen Zechuan by the collar and
said, “I thought you had repent and turned over a new leaf to
become a better person.”
“What wrong did I do?” The glint in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was
even colder than this Autumn rain. He pressed in a step closer,
almost sticking to Xiao Chiye, and asked, “What is my crime?”
“Didn’t you take a look at various cities of Duanzhou when you
climbed your way out of Chashi Sinkhole?” Xiao Chiye tightened
his grip. “Everyone in the eight cities was massacred. When the
hooves of horses trod through the city gates, all the blood that
splashed up was the people’s blood.”
“Shen Wei’s troops were defeated.” Shen Zechuan finally tore
off that mask of his, exposing his burning hatred. “40,000 people
from Zhongbo were buried in Chashi Sinkhole! I lost my elder
brother and shiniang to death that day! Where does my fault lie in
this?”
“Shen Wei deserves to be killed!” Xiao Chiye reached the end
of his limit too. He suddenly pressed Shen Zechuan up against the
wall and said, “Shen Wei should be put to death! You are a Shen
too! So how are you blameless?!”2
The oil-paper umbrella tumbled to the ground as Xiao Chiye
slammed Shen Zechuan into the wall and lifted him until his toes
could barely touch the floor. Shen Zechuan lifted his leg to stomp
on Xiao Chiye’s chest. Xiao Chiye retreated a few steps back in
pain, but he did not release his grip as he pulled Shen Zechuan by
the collar and flung him to the ground.
The pattering rain suddenly intensified and came pouring
down in torrents. A burst of crashes rang out from the dark lane, as
overturned odds and ends were trampled underfoot.
The courtesans of Xiangyun Villa who had been waiting for
Xiao Chiye were startled by the commotion. All of them held on to
the doors with their wooden clogs in hands to look.
“Why did they start fighting?!” Xiangyun hurriedly draped on
her upper, outer garment and slipped on her wooden clogs to rush
over. “My dear masters! Talk it over if you have something to say.
This isn’t worth coming to blows over!”
Shen Zechuan rode Xiao Chiye and punched the latter’s head
aside. Xiao Chiye grabbed Shen Zechuan’s wrist and tugged him
hard towards himself. Licking the blood between his teeth with the
tip of his tongue, he said, “Neither you nor I shall dream of having
an easy time!”
Xiangyun had already called out the hired help, and they
joined forces to drag both men apart. Xiao Chiye jerked his arm,
and those tall and strapping hirelings felt the webs between their
thumbs and forefingers going numb. However, Xiao Chiye did not
pounce again. He raised his fingers to wipe at the wound on his
face and said, “Piss off.”
Seeing that the situation did not look good, Xiangyun
motioned for the hirelings to hurry over to the prince’s residence to
call for help.
Who would have expected Xiao Chiye to say, “I’ll break the legs
of whoever dares to alert my father!”
Xiangyun’s voice softened and she took the opportunity to say,
“What is this about? Second Young Master has always shown
tenderness towards the fairer sex. Why did you frighten the ladies
tonight? It is common for gentlemen to swap pointers with one
another after a bout of drinking. Let’s forget it and bury the hatchet
with a smile, alright?”
Xiao Chiye rose to his feet, stripped off his dirty robe, and threw
it to Xiangyun. He said, “Go in.”
 Holding his outer robe, Xiangyun attempted to persuade him.
“Second Young Master, it’s so cold outside…”
Her voice trailed off as she lost the courage to let out even a
squeak. She waved her hand quietly at the courtesans and led
them back inside. However, the door was not closed tight this time.
All the courtesans clung to the sides of the door and windows to
steal a peek.
Shen Zechuan picked up the umbrella. He was so filthy all over
he was barely recognizable. He had been drenched by the rain,
and strands of hair stuck to his cheeks. The contrast of black on
white made his fair skin look even whiter.
“Next time.” Shen Zechuan said, “Go right to my door if you
want to look for me. I won’t necessarily make a trip through this
alley even in eight hundred years.”
“If I knew you would be passing by.” Xiao Chiye said, “I would
not come here even if I have to puke all over inside.”
Shen Zechuan smiled mockingly and said, “Then it must really
be a small world for enemies to meet on such a narrow path.”
Xiao Chiye walked up to him. “I’ll watch you closely from now
on.”
“You can hardly look after yourself, and you still want to
concern yourself over me?” Shen Zechuan raised his umbrella and
pulled apart the distance between them. “Old institutions die hard.
Just one Autumn Hunt, and you want to bring the Hua Clan down
to their knees. You are really delusional.”
“You’d better find a way to preserve your life.” Xiao Chiye
pressed his chest against the umbrella and looked askance at him.
“How long can you live without the backing of the Empress
Dowager?”
“There is already a new master sitting in the Imperial Court.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Isn’t it time for you to change all those
assumptions you have been taking for granted too?”
“You can’t kill any of them.” Xiao Chiye said, “The ones who
owe you are the Biansha Cavalry and Shen Wei.”
“Whatever you say.” Shen Zechuan draped on that layer of
tame outer coat again. He closed his umbrella and said gently to
Xiao Chiye, “I’ll listen to you, okay?”
 That indescribable rage within Xiao Chiye suddenly bubbled
up. He said, “Sure. Then you’ll stay with me tonight.”
“You sleep under the bed canopy of a sweet, tender lady.” Shen
Zechuan said, “And you still have the fetish to share your bed with
another man? I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
No matter how Xiao Chiye looked at him now he looked as
though he was up to no good, so he said, “What are you shying
away from? Didn’t you say, whatever I say?!”
“Are you,” Shen Zechuan pointed to his head, “out of your
mind?”
“All the idlers of the Imperial Bodyguards have been assigned
to the Imperial Army.” Xiao Chiye said, “So who is the one out of his
mind?”
Shen Zechuan paused for a moment and said, “What does the
Viceroy want me to do?”
There was still a red imprint remaining on Xiao Chiye’s cheek.
The hostility between his eyebrows dissipated, and he took on the
appearance of a lazy slacker. He turned around to sit on the
veranda under the eaves and pointed to his own boots.
Shen Zechuan unhurriedly moved the corners of his lips at him
and said, “Sure.”
Early in the morning the next day, Chen Yang came to pick him
up, and was stunned when he saw Shen Zechuan hugging Langli
Blade at the entrance of Xiangyun Villa.
Shen Zechuan, who had been leaning against the door,
straightened up his body and bowed a greeting to Chen Yang.
Chen Yang had an ill sense of foreboding for an instant and
asked, “Shen… Why is the Red Cavalry3 here?”
“Ji Lei is still in prison and has not yet been sentenced.” Shen
Zechuan said, “The Imperial Bodyguards are temporarily serving as
Imperial Army under the Viceroy’s supervision.”
Chen Yang looked at his calm face and felt a chill down his
spine. He gave a slight nod of his head and hurried up the stairs.
Shen Zechuan watched him go upstairs. At the same time,
Xiangyun was coming down the stairs while lifting the hem of her
skirt. She said tenderly, “You haven’t eaten yet right? You haven’t
changed out of those dirty clothes of yours either. Ling Ting—”
 The courtesan upstairs leaned against the railing with a tired
expression and said, “Why is Madam4 still calling out for Ling Ting?
You are always forgetting that little lass has been redeemed.”5
It dawned on Xiangyun then, and she said, “I have gotten used
to calling her! Go and bring some food over for this Red Cavalry
Excellency.”
When Chen Yang entered, he saw Xiao Chiye still sprawled on
the couch sleeping. There was no one around attending to him, so
Chen Yang went forward and called out to him softly, “Viceroy,
Viceroy?”
Xiao Chiye wearily buried his face and slept for a little longer.
He suddenly sat up and asked, “Why is it you? Where is Shen
Lanzhou?”
“He’s keeping watch downstairs. Viceroy… What happened to
your face?” Chen Yang asked in astonishment.
“Got punched while I was hunting.” Xiao Chiye got off the
couch and moved his shoulders and arms. He asked, “Did dage
ask you to come for me?”
“It was His Lordship the Prince.” Chen Yang said, “We received
information early in the morning. The Shaqiu6 Mutual Trade Market
was looted by the Biansha Cavalry last night. We still need to enter
the palace later to discuss this matter in detail. Secretariat Elder Hai
has summoned the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue for
a convention. Us Libei have to deploy our troops again.”
Xiao Chiye wiped his face with water and immediately stepped
out of the door. When he headed downstairs, he saw Shen
Zechuan with a courtesan. He strode a few steps down, grabbed
the small plate from behind, and tossed a pastry into his mouth.
Shen Zechuan looked at him and said. “Eat slowly. No one can
save you in time if you choke to death.”
Xiao Chiye swallowed it clean. He smiled at him and put his
arm on his shoulder. Leading him outside, he said, “Lanzhou…”
Shen Zechuan looked at him.
Xiao Chiye said frivolously, “Why do you still hold an overnight
grudge? I’ve already forgotten all about it after a sleep. Let’s go.
Second Young Master will take you along to look for fun…”
 Shen Zechuan swatted his hand away with the sheath of his
blade and said, “Second Young Master, don’t take advantage of
the chance to touch the back of my neck.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Many people gathered in Mingli Hall.
Li Jianheng remained seated on the Dragon Throne, not
daring to move. He first tried to figure out Hai Liangyi’s expression
with his eyes, then shifted them over to the others while trying his
best to look dignified and imposing.
“Now that the Brush-holding Director of the Directorate of
Ceremonial’s position is vacant, this old subject will present all the
various ministries’ accounts to His Majesty once they are sent to the
Grand Secretariat before signing off on them.” Hai Liangyi first said
to Li Jianheng, “What does Your Majesty think of the accounts last
night?”
Li Jianheng had been listening to the pipa7 with a beautiful
woman in his arms last night. So when Hai Liangyi kowtowed to
him, he immediately shifted his buttocks with a guilty conscience
and said, “Okay, okay!”
Xue Xiuzhuo, who had been kneeling behind Hai Liangyi,
initially had on a neutral expression. But he furrowed his brows on
hearing these words.
Hai Liangyi waited for a while. But when he saw that Li
Jianheng had no intention of saying further, he said, “Autumn is
cold and frosty at present. If Libei is to deploy troops, then they
must report to Qudu the military salaries and provisions to be paid
in advance. Your Lordship, how much do you need this time?”
Xiao Fangxu smiled and said, “I have been ill and out of
commission for a long time. All the military affairs have long been
entrusted to Jiming. Jiming, tell Secretariat Elder Hai how much
money we lack.”
Xiao Jiming kowtowed and said, “The Twelve Tribes of Biansha
looted the market at this time because winter snow is about to fall.
The grain supply of the various Biansha Tribes have run out, so they
could only loot the mutual trade market. If this were in the past, the
military fields of Libei can provide for itself and would not need
assistance with army supplies. But the former Emperor passed
away this year, so it’s likely that the Twelve Biansha Tribes is
thinking of taking the advantage of our vulnerability now. If we are
to mobilize troops, then we must not only expel them out of our
territory but also station our troops there to guard it. I have already
submitted the required sum to the Ministry of Revenue.”
The newly appointed Minister of Revenue took out the
memorial.8 Shuanglu presented it to Li Jianheng.
Li Jianheng looked at it for a moment and said, “1.2 million
taels. What’s so hard about it? As long as the soldiers don’t go cold
and hungry.”
The Minister of Revenue, Qian Jin, was a little embarrassed and
said, “Your Majesty does not know it but… we still have yet to make
up for last year’s deficiency. The State Treasury does not have that
much money at such a short notice.”
Li Jianheng said, “Then, 1 million taels should be fine, right?”
Qian Jin kowtowed and said, “During the Autumn Hunt, the
mobilization of the Eight Great Training Divisions cost us 230,000
taels, and the former Emperor spent… 540,000 taels. The
remaining money in the State Treasury still has to be used to pay
out salary arrears to all the senior and junior officials. It’s soon to be
the end of the year, and the civil officials all need to celebrate the
New Year. We definitely do not have 1 million taels. Your Majesty,
we can only allocate 600,000 taels to Libei’s Armored Cavalry. “
Li Jianheng truly never expected there to be a day he would be
poor as an Emperor. He had wanted to do Libei a favor, and doing
so could placate Xiao Chiye too. Who would have thought that he
would have no money? This suddenly put him in such an awkward
spot that he wanted so much to dig his way under the table.
Instead, he merely uttered a few vague sounds of
acknowledgements.
Mingli Hall went silent for a moment.
Xue Xiuzhuo suddenly piped up, “Your Majesty, this humble
subject has a way.”
As though he had seen his savior, Li Jianheng said, “Please
speak. Tell me.”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “When the Hua faction was in power, they put
a price on some sinecures and welcomed everyone who could pay
up. The ‘ice respect’9 they collected every year were all large sums.
Then, there’s Pan Rugui who took advantage of the loopholes in
procurement to amass wealth blatantly. Both men are now in
prison. Why not search both the Hua’s and Pan’s residences and
confiscate their possessions to subsidize the military funds? The
Second Young Master of the Xi Clan, Xi Hongxuan, has already
made amends and submitted a document to the Court of Judicial
Review yesterday to report Xi Gu’an of raising his own personal
army in private. He even leased out the Xi Clan’s residence in Qudu
to repay the empty accounts of the Eight Great Training Divisions
while Xi Gu’an was in office.”
The moment Li Jianheng heard they were going to raid the
residences, he instantly showed interest. Eager to give it a try, he
said, “Sure! I… I10 have been thinking of this too!”
Hai Liangyi hesitated for a moment, then said, “That’s not
appropriate. The Court of Judicial Review’s retrial is not concluded
yet. How can we bypass the law and carry out the sentence
straight?”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “It’s an emergency. We do not have a choice.
Qudu can wait for the retrial, but the Biansha Cavalry will not. We
cannot let Libei’s Armored Cavalry fight a war on empty stomachs.”
Hai Liangyi was still hesitating, but Li Jianheng had already
slapped the table to give his approval.
When they came out, Xiao Jiming said to Qi Zhuyin, who had
been silent the whole time earlier, “How is the Bianjun
Commandery holding up?”
Qi Zhuyin raised her head to look up at the rain beyond the
eaves and said, “Lu Guangbai is still at Bianjun, so the Twelve Tribes
of Biansha will naturally not make a move. But Libei is lacking a
chief commander; that makes it inevitably tricky for you.”
Xiao Jiming stood for a moment and sighed, “It’s hard to come
by men with military talents. They aren’t easy to find.”
Qi Zhuyin said, “No matter how the situation changes in Qudu,
it’s the duty of the commanders and generals to protect his home
and defend his country. Jiming, military talents are hard to come
by, and it isn’t easy to nurture and train them. Libei is a heavily
fortified land at Dazhou’s frontier. It will only prove to be
detrimental to Libei if you still don’t choose a successor.”
It was the original aspiration of each and every one of them to
be a valiant general of one side and to become an impregnable
fortress of Dazhou. However, a man would eventually age.
Entrusting and tethering the lives of an entire army to one
person could be overlooked if it was just for a few years, but let it
continue for more than a decade, or even a few decades, and the
Libei’s Armored Cavalry would turn into one that could not do
without Xiao Jiming.
If one day, the Libei’s Armored Cavalry were to lose Xiao
Jiming, then what would become of the army that had reigned
supreme on the battlefield for decades without any blemish to its
reputation?
“I know you have high hopes for A-Ye.” Qi Zhuyin descended
the stairs and turned her head back unhurriedly. “But he is destined
to never fly out of Qudu. You put your eyes on him. Do you think he
never noticed it all these years even though you never spoke of it?
The more expectation you have for him, the more agony he’ll be in.
Libei is not his wings, but his cage. Jiming, you and I have been
buddies for many years. Let me give you a word of advice. Choose
someone else.”
The palace eaves in the far distance were all shrouded in fog. A
lone crow cawed a few times, and silence descended once more.

Footnotes
1. 羁鸟恋旧林,池鱼思故渊.
2. The bird in the cage longs for its former woods, while the
fish in the pond misses the deep (pool/sea).
3. From “Return to Nature (or the Fields) Part 1“《归园田居·
其一》 by Tao Yuanming (陶渊明), also known as Tao Qian, a
Chinese poet who was also known as the Poet of the Fields.
4. There is a Chinese proverb, 父債子還, which means the
son is obliged to pay his father’s debt. Thus Shen Wei’s
crimes became Shen Zechuan’s to bear.
5. 缇骑 tiqi; a subordinate of the Imperial Bodyguards. They
are mounted cavalry of the Imperial Bodyguards that wear
red uniforms and are commonly guarded escorts of an
official’s retinue or entourage.
6. 妈妈 Mama or Madam, address for the procuress who
runs a pleasure house or brothel
7. 赎(身) Redeem (a person); paying a price to ‘buy’ the
freedom of those who have been sold into certain trades,
e.g. slaves and courtesans (i.e. prostitutes).
8. 沙丘 Shaqiu or sand dunes

9.
10. 琵琶 Pipa, a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument,
belonging to the plucked category of instruments.

11.
12. 奏折 zouzhe, also 折子 zhezi, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor
13. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’
during summer) is one of the objectionable practices of
‘Three Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty, along with ‘Coal
Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the Capital used to bribe the
officials in the Capital during summertime.
14. Li Jianheng uses “我” for the first “I”, the swapped to “朕”
for the second “I” in this sentence. It’s not apparent in the
English sentence, but “朕”, or zhen, is an exclusive imperial
term for “I” that the Emperor uses to refer to himself. I’ll just
be using “I”, “me”, “my”, etc, in the text for easier reading, but
Emperors typically use “zhen” when referring to himself. Li
Jianheng’s automatic use of “我” first shows that he is still not
used to being, or yet to get into his role as, an Emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 30 : KING OF WOLVES

Xiao Chiye seems to have forgotten having lost his cool last
night. He spurred his horse on through the street, causing cries of
discontent to rise all around from the stall vendors on both sides of
the street. He hurried over to the palace gate just in time to see the
horse carriage from the Xiao Clan’s Prince Residence.
Zhao Hui lifted the curtain for Xiao Fangxu and said, “Second
Young Master is here.”
With his hand on his knee, Xiao Fangxu looked out of the
carriage. His gaze passed past his youngest son and landed upon
the man inept in riding behind him—Shen Zechuan. He paused for
a moment, but said nothing. When Xiao Chiye arrived before him,
he saw the injury on Xiao Chiye’s face and asked, “What did you do
last night?”
“I went drinking.” Xiao Chiye reined in his horse and laughed
as he held his horsewhip. “I forgot the time. By the time I woke up,
it was already late. Father, are you done with the discussion?”
Xiao Fangxu nodded and asked, “Is that Shen Wei’s son?”
The Autumn wind suddenly came assaulting Shen Zechuan in
the face. It grazed past his temples. He met Xiao Fangxu’s eyes and
felt a shudder for no reason. His grip on the reins tightened in
uneasiness.
But Xiao Fangxu did nothing.
The sideburns of Libei’s old King of the Wolves were white.
Even though he was sitting all hunched over in the horse carriage,
one could still make out his extraordinary height and build. That
commanding presence was not something anyone could develop
overnight. It was a majestic dignity honed out of a mountain of
corpses and a sea of blood. It was a formidable strength so
tempered with bones and blood that even his “sickness” could not
overshadow it.
Xiao Chiye’s naturally endowed, sturdy physique was
completely inherited from his father. His shocking arm strength,
exceptional height, wide shoulders and back, and explosively swift
long legs, were all gifts from his father.
 Compared with the gentler and more elegant Xiao Jiming,
Xiao Chiye was the true wolf pup. If one were to glance over while
the two brothers stood together, there would be no doubt that Xiao
Chiye was the one who gave off a more aggressive vibe.
And now, the real King of Wolves was watching Shen Zechuan
attentively. Despite already learning how to restrain himself, Shen
Zechuan still had the strong urge to flee.
This was utterly different from being pinned down by Xiao
Chiye. This was a gaze that would make one shiver subconsciously.
At this very moment, Shen Zechuan recalled Grand Mentor Qi’s
words.
“It’s Xiao Jiming’s time to shine now that Xiao Fangxu is off-
commission from illness. Everyone fears Xiao Jiming. But, Lanzhou,
twenty years ago, the one who truly secured the frontier with his
steed was Xiao Fangxu. From today’s point of view, Qi Shiyu clearly
has more authority of office as the Commander-in-chief of the Five
Commanderies, but he has not been conferred the title of a prince.1
That is because Qidong is a ‘bestowed fief belonging to the
Emperor’. The five commanderies are all founding lands of Dazhou
that belong to the Son of Heaven. But it’s different for Libei. The
vast territory of Libei stretches from Luoxia Pass to the end of
Hongyan Mountain Ranges in the northeast, and these are all hard-
won lands Xiao Fangxu led the Armored Cavalry of Libei to
conquer inch by inch during the years of Yongyi!
“Xiao Jiming is now the Commander-in-chief of Libei’s
Armored Cavalry. ‘River of Ice Armored Cavalry’—How awe-
inspiring. But it was Xiao Fangxu who established this powerful
regiment of cavalry. The Libei’s Armored Cavalry doesn’t have a
long history like the Bianjun Commandery Garrison Troops. They
are heavy cavalry that Xiao Fangxu specially set up to deal a heavy
blow to our external foes during the years of Yongyi when the
Biansha Cavalry repeatedly invaded Luoxia Pass. Libei’s battle
steeds, Libei’s soldiers, and Libei’s steel blades with hanging
chains… Every symbol of the Libei’s Armored Cavalry you can see
today all came from Xiao Fangxu.”
“The Eight Great Clans have forcibly entrenched themselves in
Qudu For a long time. They are the sores and ulcers of Dazhou. The
Xiao Clan can stand up to the Hua Clan as equals because Xiao
Fangxu’s status is secure in Libei. As long as Xiao Fangxu is alive,
the Xiao Clan will be the towering tree firmly rooted in Libei! The
title of the King of Wolves is, by no means, undeserved.”
Xiao Chiye looked back and said, “… He’s Shen Wei’s son.”
Shen Zechuan dismounted and paid his obeisances to Xiao
Fangxu.
Xiao Fangxu looked at him for a moment and said, “Shen Wei
is already dead, and his child is innocent. Since the former
Emperor has let you out, that means he has absolved you of guilt.
But why are you following this lad?”
Shen Zechuan kneeled on one knee and hung his head down
to say, “This humble servant was assigned to the Imperial
Bodyguards. Now that it’s now temporarily under the Imperial
Army, I’m at the Viceroy’s disposal.”
“So I see.” Xiao Fangxu looked towards Xiao Chiye. “And why
are you making things difficult for him?”
Xiao Chiye licked the wound in his mouth and said, “How
would I make things difficult for him? He and I are now sworn
friends. Isn’t that right, Lanzhou?”
Without looking at Shen Zechuan again, Xiao Fangxu started to
chat with Xiao Chiye.
Shen Zechuan propped himself up with a knee and looked at
Xiao Chiye’s unrestrained smile and the way Xiao Fangxu gazed at
his son through the puddle of water on the ground.
Splashes of raindrops messed up the scene in the puddle.
Shen Zechuan retracted his gaze.
By the time Xiao Jiming emerged, Xiao Fangxu had already
left. Qi Zhuyin walked a few steps with him and suddenly asked,
“Who is that?”
Xiao Jiming looked beside Zhao Hui and replied without a
change in expression, “That’s Shen Zechuan.”
Qi Zhuyin halted in her tracks and said with some surprise,
“Shen Wei’s son? Why is he following A-ye?”
Xiao Jiming said, “A-ye is playful. Most likely, he’s making
things hard for him.”
 Qi Zhuyin looked for a long time before saying, “That
appearance of his is too outstanding. I heard that his mother was a
dancer from Duanzhou. Fortunately, she was a dancer from
Duanzhou and not the Cangjun Commandery.”
Commander-in-chief Qi Shiyu was the most fond of beauties.
He was a man who would not move his feet whenever he saw a
pretty woman. Although Qi Zhuyin had very few brothers, she had
countless yiniang2 back at home.
“Speaking of which.” Qi Zhuyin turned sideways. “A-ye is
already twenty-three years of age, right? Isn’t he going to marry a
wife?”
“Yizhi is also getting anxious on his behalf.” Xiao Jiming said.
“Libei doesn’t need him to marry a noble lady from a powerful and
honorable clan. Just a girl from an ordinary family with a clean
background will do. Yizhi keeps sending portraits of all the Libei
women she picked out on his behalf to Qudu every year, but not
one of them has ever caught his fancy.”
Qi Zhuyin laughed. “A noble lady tends to be haughty; she
can’t play with him. While a common girl is too timid; she will get
frightened the moment she’s near him. Besides, how many
maidens can handle that temper of his? Finding someone who he
is mutually in love with and vice versa is harder than ascending to
Heaven. What’s more, he loves to make his way to the alleys of
pleasure houses. You’d better keep an eye on him, or he’ll really
bring a courtesan back to marry one day.”
Xiao Jiming knew that her stepmothers were all famous
courtesans in Qidong. They would kick up such a row in the
backyard all day long that she would always get a headache the
moment she got home. That was why she had detested courtesans
ever since she was young.
“Who can stop him if he really meets someone he fancies?”
Xiao Jiming felt like letting out a long sigh. He said with a
headache. “Even ten bulls won’t be able to haul him home.”
“You’d better prepare for rainy days.” Qi Zhuyin thought for a
moment. “Never mind about all the others, but her personality must
not be too intense. Your Yizhi is gentle by nature. If he brings home
someone with a temper, then Yizhi would have to suffer indignities
every day, wouldn’t she?”
“Nothing has even begun to take shape yet.”3 Xiao Jiming
suddenly laughed out loud. “It’s still too early.”
“Marriages are the most unpredictable.” Qi Zhuyin laughed too.
“Perhaps someday he will see the light?”
Xiao Chiye felt as though there was a chill on his back. He
looked back warily and saw Shen Zechuan standing beside Zhao
Hui, looking contemplative.
“I’ll go to the Imperial Army Office in a while to collect the
authority token.” Xiao Chiye blocked the light in front of Shen
Zechuan. “Before the final deployment order of the Imperial
Bodyguards is given, you will have to follow me day and night.”
“Day and night.” Shen Zechuan repeated the words and looked
up at him. “Do I still have to lift the chamber pot for the Second
Young Master at night?”
“If you want to, then sure.” Xiao Chiye took a step closer. “I’m
busy these few days. I have to stay at the residence behind the
Imperial Army office.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer.
Xiao Chiye had already turned around to receive Xiao Jiming.
◈ ◈ ◈
The review of the Court of Judicial Review had yet to conclude
when both the Hua and Pan residences were searched and seized.
Li Jianheng took the opportunity to close off access to the Empress
Dowager’s Enci Palace on the grounds that the Empress Dowager
was “troubled by worries to the point of anxiety.”
With some difficulty, enough money was finally gathered to
make up for the shortfall in Libei’s military fund for salaries and
provisions. Xiao Fangxu and Xiao Jiming could not stay for long,
and so they left a few days after.
Xiao Chiye unexpectedly did not look reluctant to part with
them. It was as if he had abandoned the ambitions he had during
the Autumn Hunt after that night of inebriation. From time to time,
Li Jianheng would bestow him with rewards, and each time, he
would accept it with delight.
 Not only that, he also started to loaf on the job. Originally, the
Imperial Army had the important task of conducting patrols. But he
worked in fits and starts like the fisherman who fished for three
days and dried the net for two days.4 There was often no sight of
him where he should be. The Ministry of War gradually began to
voice their doubts about him as they grew more inclined to have
him replaced.
But Li Jianheng refused to agree and even used the tactics of
making a scene and throwing his tantrum. He even went to the
extent of almost falling out with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of
War who presented the petition.
He flung away the memorial5 from the Vice Minister of the
Ministry of War and said, “Xiao Ce’an has made great contributions
in coming to my rescue. Why isn’t he up to being the Viceroy of the
Imperial Army? It’s not like he has bungled matters or held things
up. I won’t replace him!”
Both men reverted to the way they were before the Autumn
Hunt, and Li Jianheng felt a little more relaxed. The Xiao Chiye of
that night was more like a figment of his imagination, while this
man without an iota of decorum was his buddy.
Li Jianheng also felt glad that Xiao Chiye did not mention a
word about returning to Libei. He was of the view that this was his
buddy’s consideration of his situation. There was really nothing he
could do! And it was still possible to play while remaining in Qudu,
wasn’t it? Now that he had even become the Emperor, Xiao Chiye
could throw his weight around as he liked given their relationship,
no?!
So why return to Libei? How could that bitter cold land be as
comfortable and carefree as in Qudu?!
When Xiao Chiye wanted to head out of the city to race his
horse, Li Jianheng approved it. When Xiao Chiye wanted to
expand the Imperial Army Office, Li Jianheng approved it too. And
when Xiao Chiye wanted to be on duty for half a day and idle at
home for the other half, Li Jianheng not only approved it, he even
approved it with great delight.
When both men had nothing to do, they would ride horses and
play ball. Li Jianheng could not head for Donglong Street to fool
around, but he could ask Xiao Chiye over to listen to the pipa6
together with him. That Mu Ru now lived in Mingli Hall. Li Jianheng
originally thought that Xiao Chiye would say a few words of
admonishments. Instead, Xiao Chiye said nothing and merely
joined in the fun with him.
It feels so fucking good to be an Emperor!
During the last rain in Qudu, Xi Gu’an was sentenced to
execution by decapitation by the Court of Judicial Review. Because
Xi Hongxuan distributed his wealth and sought forgiveness, he got
into Li Jianheng’s good graces and was transferred to the Ministry
of Revenue where he took up a modest position. Xi Hongxuan was
originally adept at having fun, and this was just perfect for Li
Jianheng, so Xi Hongxuan would go looking for Li Jianheng every
day to offer him suggestions on what and how to play.
Xi Gu’an had only just been sentenced when Hua Siqian
committed suicide by biting off his tongue in the prison. In the
testimony he gave, he shouldered all the crimes without so much a
word implicating the Empress Dowager. At present, it was just Ji Lei
and Pan Rugui who had yet to be sentenced. Hai Liangyi wanted to
pry a confession out of these two men’s mouths, but he never
succeeded.
It was not until the house was damp that Shen Zechuan
returned. As soon as he opened the door, he saw an eastern pearl7
on the table. Shen Zechuan closed the door. He had only just
picked up the pearl in his hand when he heard Chen Yang
knocking on the door.
He opened the door, and Chen Yang said, “The Viceroy is
calling for you.”
Shen Zechuan grasped the eastern pearl in his hand. The strip
of cloth it came with was soaked. He said naturally, “I’ll go once I
change my clothes.”
Chen Yang said, “Don’t bother. Just go like this. The Viceroy
doesn’t have the patience to wait for others.”
With that, he took a step aside, wanting to leave together with
Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan could only let his hands drop and
stride out of the door to leave with Chen Yang.
 Xiao Chiye was wearing a cloak. When he saw him coming, he
said, “Take the blade and come with me.”
Shen Zechuan went out of the door. It was only when Xiao
Chiye led the horse over that Shen Zechuan realized Chen Yang
had not followed them.
Xiao Chiye got up the horse, and the gyrfalcon shook the water
droplets off its neck before landing on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder. Shen
Zechuan could only follow after him. The horse left the city and
braved the rain to head for the military drill grounds at Mount
Feng.
When they arrived at the drill grounds, it was empty and void
of people. Xiao Chiye removed the reins for Lang Tao Xue Jin and
gave it a pat to let it run around to play by itself. Meng flew under
the veranda, unwilling to soak in the rain any longer.
“Take off your clothes.” Xiao Chiye turned around and said to
Shen Zechuan as he untied his cloak.
Shen Zechuan held the blade in his arms and raised his chin.
The water trickled down the front of his clothes, exposing that fair,
delicate neck of his.
Xiao Chiye felt just like a person seeing a cat every time he
looked at Shen Zechuan’s neck; he always could not help wanting
to give it a few rubs.
What the heck is wrong with him?
He had already taken off his outer garment while he was
thinking. When he saw Shen Zechuan still not moving, he urged
again, “What are you standing there blankly for? Strip quickly!”
Shen Zechuan raised his fingers and placed them on his own
waist belt. He glanced at him and said slowly, “If I strip, there will be
nothing left.”

Footnotes
1. 王 Princes, or lords, during the Ming Dynasty were titled
and salaried members of the imperial bureaucracy with
nominal lordship over various fiefs throughout China.
Conferred princes are those who were bestowed the title by
the Emperor. I have used a different naming system for both
kinds of princes to make it easier to distinguish between real
princes (Prince Chu) and conferred princes (Prince of Libei).
2. 姨娘 yiniang, or maternal aunt. Yiniang is also a term of
address for the concubines of one’s father.
3. Just some extra nugget, skip if you want! This line is from
八字没一撇 literally the first stroke of the character 八 (eight)
has yet to appear. 八字 also refers to a person’s eight
characters, one’s birth data for astrological or fortune-telling
purposes, combined from year, month, day, hour, heavenly
trunk, and earthly branch. Parents in those days would
usually check their children’s’ eight characters against each
other before matchmaking them. Their eight characters
typically had to match before a marriage could take place as
couples whose eight characters clashed would be deemed
to be at odds with one another, which in turn was believed to
lead to an unharmonious and unhappy marriage. So 八字没
一撇 here in this context could also be taken to mean their
eight characters have not even been written out for
matching purposes since they don’t know who the other
person is. i.e. it’s still too early to say since Xiao Chiye doesn’t
even have a (confirmed) love interest (yet)
4. 三天打鱼，两天晒网 literally fish for three days and dry
the net for two days; i.e., to lack perseverance and work in
fits and start.

5.
6. 奏折 zouzhe, also 折子 zhezi, is a memorial presented to
the Emperor
7.
8. 琵琶 Pipa, a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument,
belonging to the plucked category of instruments.
9. 东珠 literally eastern pearl, a rare treasure also known as
the northern pearl (北珠) or tana in Mongolian. During the
Qing Dynasty, pearls produced in northeast China were
called the eastern pearl to distinguish them from the
southern pearl produced in the south. The rulers of the Qing
Dynasty regarded the eastern pearls as treasures and used
them to inlay their crown and clothing with it to represent
authority and honor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 31 : NAPE

“Then all the more for you to strip.” Xiao Chiye took off his arm
guards and set them on the wooden ledge under the eaves
together with his cloak and outer garment. The soldiers in the inner
hall of the military drill grounds wanted to come over to pay their
obeisances, but he raised a hand to stop them. He turned around
to look calmly at Shen Zechuan and said, “That’d be just perfect for
me to see and experience for myself the difference between a body
trained by the Ji Clan’s mental cultivation techniques and mine.”
“Since we are from the same school of martial arts.” Shen
Zechuan set Langli Blade at the side. “Then the stances and moves
are naturally the same.”
“Not necessarily so.” Xiao Chiye said, “My shifu incorporated an
external boxing style1 into it, so it was already quite different from
the Ji Clan Boxing Style by the time it was imparted to me. If they
were identical, you wouldn’t have been totally oblivious of the fact
that night.”
“If you want to exchange pointers, then just say so.” Shen
Zechuan slid a leg out in an arc. “Why speak of stripping? You
sound just like a beast.”
In that very instant, Xiao Chiye felt as though Shen Zechuan
had suddenly turned into another person. Rainwater and mountain
fog overlapped, washing out Shen Zechuan’s facial features. In
contrast, his slender body became all the more striking.
“My wish is to be a beast in human clothing.” Xiao Chiye strode
down the stairs and stepped into the curtain of rain. “I gave you a
kick five years ago. Do you hate me for it?”
Shen Zechuan said, “If I say yes, wouldn’t that mean I have
been tossing and turning having sleepless nights thinking of you?
So nope. I don’t hate you at all.”
Xiao Chiye struck up a starting stance and said, “What a pity. If
you hate me, then you can get your revenge today.”
Amid the biting cold wind, Xiao Chiye slowly added on, “—That
is, if you can.”
 Raindrops came pitter-pattering down, bouncing for a few
steps before spreading their wings on the veranda. At this
moment, Xiao Chiye sprang up in the rain to make his move first.
He threw out a punch, only to strike at empty air. But the vigor
and strength of his blow sent the water droplets flying and
splashing onto Shen Zechuan’s cheeks.
Having missed his target with that strike, Xiao Chiye swept his
arm to the left. Shen Zechuan blocked his blow with a lightning
move of his hand. When both men’s arms collided, Shen Zechuan
frowned from the pain and retreated a few steps back.
Ji Clan’s Boxing Style!
Shen Zechuan pursed his lips into a tight line, but laughed out
loud instead.
Shifu’s boxing style was steady and robust. Xiao’Er2 obviously
lacked the steadiness but was far more ferocious. His strength was
too astonishing. Just a collision like this, and the impact had
already numbed Shen Zechuan’s arm.
The Ji Clan’s Boxing Style was meant to be imparted to this
kind of man, because his internal and external constitution all
made it particularly suitable for him to train in it. Xiao Chiye’s
physique granted him the qualification to hold the various heroes
in contempt. But was receiving an unfair advantage from Heaven
the crux to determining victory?
What Shen Zechuan did not believe the most was the fate
Heaven decided for them!
Shen Zechuan raised a leg up, and raindrops suddenly went
splashing towards Xiao Chiye. His leg sweep3 was quick and brutal.
Any other ordinary person would home in on the advantageous
and avoid the dangerous; thus, they would first evade an incoming
attack.
But Xiao Chiye just had to meet difficulties head-on. He lifted
his arm to block and fend off Shen Zechuan’s leg with a “thud”,
then strode a steady step forward.
It was too late for Shen Zechuan to retract his leg. Facing off
Xiao Chiye was just like facing off a tiger or a leopard poised for
action. A wavering heart, an evasive gaze, an avoidant stance—As
long as he showed any signs of these, Xiao Chiye would instantly
storm in. He would never miss any opportunity to attack his
opponent.
Letting Xiao Chiye go on the defensive was much easier to deal
with than letting Xiao Chiye go on the offensive!
Shen Zechuan exerted force with his leg, and the pressure
slightly slowed down Xiao Chiye’s movement. In a twinkling of an
eye, Shen Zechuan was lifted into the air by Xiao Chiye. He leaned
his entire body back, supported his weight with both arms on the
ground, and straightened back up like a soft willow in the wind.
The moment he sprang back to his feet, he swept his leg out again.
Once again, Xiao Chiye bent his arm to block it. This time, his
eyes were calm as he said, “An ant trying to shake a tree.4 Should I
diss you for overrating your abilities, or should I commend you for
your courage?”
Xiao Chiye had only just said this when he backhandedly
grabbed Shen Zechuan’s calf. His shoulder sank as he attempted to
flip Shen Zechuan over to the ground.
Having already been swung up, Shen Zechuan made use of the
momentum and stepped on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder. That amazing
waist strength of his came into play again as his legs twisted
around Xiao Chiye’s neck and spun him over to the ground
together with him.
Xiao Chiye’s palm slid straight up along this straightness and
hooked around the spot that had bent into an arch earlier. The
suppleness in his palm was so smooth it was incredible.
He simply wanted to touch Shen Zechuan.
Because he could not fathom it. Whether it was the Ji Clan’s
Boxing Style or the Ji Clan’s Broadsword Style, as long as a person
trained all the year-round, his body muscles would definitely, and
visibly, develop. But Shen Zechuan not only concealed it to the
extent it looked as though he had never trained in martial arts, but
also to the extent that both Chen Yang and Qiao Tianya were taken
in, thinking him to be morbidly weak and sick due to a deficiency
of vital energy and blood.5
Shen Zechuan lifted his body off the ground and slammed his
elbow towards Xiao Chiye’s head. Xiao Chiye tilted his head to
dodge the blow. He held on tight to Shen Zechuan’s waist and
pinned him against his own chest, then felt his way up from the
latter’s waist to his chest.
The eastern pearl6 was still hidden in his bosom!
The moment Shen Zechuan’s back bumped into Xiao Chiye, he
clasped hold of Xiao Chiye’s arm and flung him over his shoulder
into the rain.
The spray of water instantly wetted his hair.
Shen Zechuan wanted to retreat, but Xiao Chiye unexpectedly
hooked him with his long leg and sent him tripping towards
himself. Shen Zechuan’s body was already tilting towards Xiao
Chiye, but in that very instant, he trod on the water and gradually
stabilized himself just like the reverberations of the strings on a
qin.7
Xiao Chiye straightened up and threw himself forward again.
His hook struck at empty air, but he touched a lock of Shen
Zechuan’s long hair that had fluttered up in the rain as the latter
spun around in a retreat to evade his blow.
The rain-soaked lock of hair longingly slipped past Xiao Chiye’s
fingertips as if wanting for more, causing him to feel a wet itch.
“Not fighting anymore.” Xiao Chiye suddenly clenched his fist
and looked at Shen Zechuan. “The rain has gotten heavier.”
Shen Zechuan looked back and asked, “Have you touched
enough?”
Without batting an eyelid, Xiao Chiye said, “Not soft, but not
hard either.”
Shen Zechuan said a little mockingly, “I thought you were
going to tear off all my clothes.”
“If I really wanted to.” Xiao Chiye said, “We would be baring all
of ourselves to each other right now.”8
With that, he raised his other hand and waved the thin blade
Shen Zechuan always carried with him.
“The Ji Clan’s mental cultivation techniques need to be paired
with the broadsword. Even if you use these things every day, you
will not be able to defeat me in this lifetime. If you can’t beat me,
then how are you going to take revenge?”
Shen Zechuan’s thin blades were originally hidden on the
outside of his thighs. He glanced down, then looked at Xiao Chiye
again. He said, “Fighting and killing will hurt relationships. Isn’t it
more pleasant to play the fool together?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I only fear that you are hiding a blade behind
your smile9 to stab me when I’m the least unaware.”
“Only the word lust has a blade above it.”10 Shen Zechuan
spread out his hands. “Second Young Master is a gentleman.
What’s there to fear?”
Xiao Chiye placed the thin blade in Shen Zechuan’s palm and
said unhurriedly, “I’ve just said that I’m a beast in human clothing.
Why do you always see me as a gentleman?”
Shen Zechuan wanted to retract his hand.
But Xiao Chiye grabbed him by the wrist and said, “Seeing as
you are so obedient today, this Second Young Master will take you
someplace that’ll make you feel good.”
“Viceroy.” Shen Zechuan suddenly said with a severe
countenance, “Please, I’m not into men. Let us just part on good
terms without hard feelings. Why pester me to such an extent?”
Xiao Chiye was momentarily dumbfounded, then he turned his
head to the side and saw a whole bunch of Imperial Army soldiers
clinging all over the doors and windows of the military drill
grounds inner hall to watch the show.
The Vice Commander of the Imperial Army was the scar-faced
man who led his men to kill the Eight Great Training Divisions that
night. He clutched the window and took the lead to jeer.
“Fighting like a hoodlum taking liberties. Viceroy, what the
hell?! You never smiled at us when you lecture us every day!”
“That was pestering he said!” They winked meaningfully at
each other and started heckling, “How could that be the same?!
The Viceroy is twenty-three now, and he has no wife at home to
dote on. So all the energy in him has to be expended on someone
else. It’s not the same!”
Xiao Chiye sensed that Shen Zechuan was going to run and so
he pulled the latter hard towards himself. He said with a superficial
smile, “That’s right. I’m into pestering others. Lanzhou, why are you
running? I’m not done pestering you! The reason you aren’t into
men is that you have yet to get a sweet taste of them. Second
Young Master will teach you.”
 When it came to being shameless and stupid, he, Xiao Chiye,
would only concede defeat to Li Jianheng. Who wouldn’t know the
trick of forcing yourself on someone else? Shen Zechuan was really
belittling him by trying to use this kind of cheap trick to embarrass
him.
Without giving Shen Zechuan the chance to reply, Xiao Chiye
dragged him away.
Behind them, Tantai Hu touched his scar and asked the soldier
beside him, “Who’s that man? I’ve never seen him in our Imperial
Army before!”
“His surname is Shen.” The man beside him winked. “The one
from Zhongbo.”
The smile on Tantai Hu’s face cooled. He propped himself up
with his arms to stick his head out, then looked back and said,
“He’s that fucking Shen who brought disaster upon Zhongbo?
What’s the Viceroy doing with him! Shen Wei caused the death of
so many people. Even eight heads of his aren’t enough for us to
behead! The Prince of Jianxing’s Manor has already been wrecked
by others. Yet he’s still eating and living well in Qudu. The orphans
who have lost their parents on the Chashi River frontline are still
gnawing on mud! Fuck this! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye led Shen Zechuan up Mount Feng.
There was a narrow flight of stone steps in the mountain. The
stream soaked through the soles of their shoes, chilling them to
their bones. But Xiao Chiye did not even look back as he parted the
maple leaves dripping with water and made his way onto a path.
Their shoes sank into the mud they trod upon as they walked
farther in with uneven steps.
Less than an hour later, Xiao Chiye stopped in his tracks.
The thatched cottage in the misty rain was small and exquisite,
but it did not look like a place to live in.
He turned sideways and said to Shen Zechuan, “You saved me
once in the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. As a reward, I’ll share half of
this place with you.”
“The reward I want is cold, hard cash.” Shen Zechuan said, “…
not soaking in a bath together.”
 “Money and fame are merely worldly possessions.” Xiao Chiye
stretched out both arms to lift the fabric curtain and enter. He stood
at the entrance to strip off his attire and shouted, “This place is one
that even the Emperor’s old man himself had never enjoyed
before.”
Shen Zechuan lifted the curtain and saw Xiao Chiye’s bare
upper body. The contours of the muscles on the back of his
shoulders were clean and neat, like a physique sculpted with a
chisel.
Other than a small clothes rack with curvy raised ends11 in the
house, there was only a hot spring that led out. Xiao Chiye hung up
his clothes on one side of the clothes rack. The other end was
obviously reserved for him.
Xiao Chiye took off his boots, looked back at Shen Zechuan,
and said, “Do you want to turn your back to me and strip, or do you
want to strip while watching me?”
Pulling at his waist belt, Shen Zechuan turned his back. The
eastern pearl landed in his palm, and he conveniently put it away
into his sleeve. The gaze on his back never shifted away. Shen
Zechuan’s hand paused for a moment before he pulled off his own
outer garment.
Xiao Chiye watched that garment slip to the ground. The
fairness of Shen Zechuan’s neck finally extended downward, very
much like pear blossom rice paper immersed in moonlight. His
back looked so thin and smooth.
Xiao Chiye thought.
That’s right. It was as if he had been staring at Shen Zechuan’s
nape all for this very moment.
How could a man’s nape produce such breathtaking beauty?
This was beyond everything Xiao Chiye had seen and heard in the
past. It not only surprised him, but also baffled him.
The fangs of the little wolf from Libei were sharp, but he had
never bitten such a neck before, nor had he ever bitten such a man.
His gaze slid down from Shen Zechuan’s nape with a strength that
felt like a caress, moving along that slightly heaving contour as it
made its way farther down and down.
Smooth.
 Xiao Chiye’s mouth felt parched. He suddenly returned to his
senses with a jolt and hurriedly averted his gaze.
I must be mad!
He thought.
There were so many courtesans on Donglong Street! Which
one of them wasn’t a genuine beauty? Why was he looking at a
man’s back as though he was burning with hunger?
Xiao Chiye used to turn his nose up at people who were
seduced by beautiful women, because the elders and seniors he
admired were all men of resolute will. Every one of them could be
said to be a true gentleman with the air of a man untempted by lust
even with a beautiful woman in their laps.12
Just like his father, his brother, his shifu.
The famous generals of the world changed generation after
generation. But he had never admired Qi Shiyu before precisely
because Qi Shiyu was a lecher. After the battle in Zhongbo, the one
he loathed the most was Shen Wei, and it was because Shen Wei
was not only guilty of monstrous crimes, but was also lecherous!
But at this moment, he felt a little dizzy as that bestial instinct,
captivated by beauty and stirred by desires, once again showed
signs of rearing its head.
Xiao Chiye strained himself to rein in his gaze and vividly felt
the contradiction between his mind and his desire. He did not love
this man, but because of this man’s loveliness, the desire to
embrace him, ravage him, and tear at him with his teeth sprang up
within him for the second time.
“Aren’t you going in?” Shen Zechuan was completely oblivious
as he turned back and approached him, unperturbed.
Xiao Chiye responded in an angry voice. “…Duh!”

Author’s Words:
The back of the neck does indeed imply lust. 23313

Support the Author!

Footnotes
1. 外家拳/功夫 ‘external’ martial arts, originates from
Shaolin, where one uses one’s physical strength in combat to
go on the offensive. The opposite 内家拳/功夫 ‘internal’
martial arts originates from Zhang Sanfeng, where one
mobilizes one’s internal energy instead. The latter is more
concerned about the spiritual and mental aspects rather than
the physical aspects. An example of internal martial arts is
Taiji/Tai Chi.
2. Xiao the Second, also known as Xiao’Er and Second
Young Master Xiao, will be used interchangeably depending
on the occasion and person saying it. I’ll use Xiao’Er (萧二) to
distinguish from the -er (儿) suffix that’s normally used as a
term of endearment. e.g. Chuan-er (川儿）
3. 扫堂腿 a martial art move where one typically sweeps out
a leg in a circle.
4. 蚍蜉撼树 literally an ant trying to shake a tree; i.e.
overrate oneself.
5. 气血两虚 deficiency of vital energy (qi) and blood. In
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), qi (or vital energy) and
blood are both required to maintain and nourish one’s body
to sustain life. When one’s qi is deficient, pain, suffering, and
illness may occur, while blood deficiency is a condition that
underlies many illnesses mainly related to the liver, kidney,
heart, and spleen. The latter may seem similar to anemia, but
anemia is caused by a lack of iron in the blood, whereas
blood deficiency is seen as being a lack of blood itself.
6. 东珠 literally eastern pearl, a rare treasure also known as
the northern pearl (北珠) or tana in Mongolian. During the
Qing Dynasty, pearls produced in northeast China were
called the eastern pearl to distinguish them from the
southern pearl produced in the south. The rulers of the Qing
Dynasty regarded the eastern pearls as treasures and used
them to inlay their crown and clothing with it to represent
authority and honor.
7.
8. (古)琴 (Gu)qin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical
instrument of the zither family. One of the weapons used by
Lan Wangji (MY BAE) of MDZS is the guqin.
9. 坦诚相见 treating each other with sincerity, i.e. baring
one’s soul/heart to one another. ᕦ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ᕤ
10. 笑里藏刀 literally a blade hidden behind a smile; i.e. a
murderous heart or intents under a smiling exterior.
11. 色字头上带(一)把刀, literally, only the word lust (色) has a
knife or blade above it. (referring to the radicals that make
up the words 色, i.e. ⺈(a component form of ⼑ which means
blade) above 巴 to form the character 色. i.e., lust can lead to
bitter consequences.
12.
13. 翘头衣架
14. 坐怀不乱 In the Spring and Autumn Period, Liuxia Hui of
Lu stayed at the city gate overnight where he met a
homeless woman. Fearing the woman would be frozen from
the cold, he sat her on his lap (or embraced her in his
bosom) and blanketed her with his clothes. The night passed
without him making a single indecent move. This later came
to describe an upright man who is unaffected by temptations
even with a beautiful woman close by.
15. 233, net lingo similar to LOL
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 32 : MOUNTAIN NIGHT STAY

Thick, steaming mist, coupled with the drumming sound of the

rain.
Shen Zechuan was about to enter and soak in the water. As he
bent down, Xiao Chiye, who was behind him, got a clear look at
the curvy contours of his waist and buttocks, which became more
and more conspicuous with each of his movements.
Has muscles. Very toned.
But he did not look like a martial arts practitioner the slightest.
Because the way Xiao Chiye saw it, he did not have that
threatening vibe.
Shen Zechuan submerged himself into the water. His legs,
which had soaked in the rain until it was cold, gradually warmed
up. Xiao Chiye entered the water and leaned far away from him at
the other end.
Shen Zechuan asked in astonishment, “Why are you hiding so
far away?”
“It pleases me to.” Xiao Chiye roughly folded the wet
handkerchief to cover his eyes, then put up his arms without
looking at Shen Zechuan again.
But after a moment, Xiao Chiye found it inappropriate, so he
raised his hand to pull off the handkerchief and stared fixedly at
Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan felt that Xiao’Er was very much like
his gyrfalcon right this moment; it was as if he would start going on
the offensive with just a little jab.
“What do you want to see?” Shen Zechuan’s expression was as
warm as the spring breeze as he used the tone of one cajoling a
child eating candied hawthorns1 on the street. “Tell me. I’ll let you
see.”
Xiao Chiye bent up a leg and pulled off the only remaining
cover around his waist without batting an eyelid. He said, “I’ve
already touched them all earlier.”
Shen Zechuan sank a little lower into the water, exposing only a
pair of eyes to look at him.
 Xiao Chye felt even more irritable being sized up by that gaze
of his. He said, “What?”
Shen Zechuan revealed his lower jaw and replied, “You were in
a good mood earlier. Why the sudden change?”
“My mood right now is also pretty good.” Xiao Chiye said,
“Soaking in the bath means one can shut up; There is no need to
talk… Can you stop looking up at me like that?”
Shen Zechuan slowly lifted his body, and the water trickled
down along his chest. His scattered hair spread out like ink
saturating the water. It was as if he was a magnolia flower climbing
out among this water mist.
Xiao Chiye could not stand it anymore.
Why had he thought of “flower”?
He watched with wide-open eyes as Shen Zechuan came closer
to him. He could even smell Shen Zechuan’s scent when the latter
sat beside him.
Not fragrant. Mild scent. Feel like catching a few more whiffs.
Xiao Chiye retracted the arms he had put up at the edges and
suddenly pulled over a garment from the clothes rack. He stuffed
all of it into the water to cover up his waist. After doing this, he
looked calmly at Shen Zechuan and said, “What? Surprised? I’m
afraid you might get funny ideas at the sensual sight of Second
Young Master; hence, the cover.”
“Then I thank you…” Shen Zechuan said with a displeased
expression.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head, only to realize that the clothing
he had pulled off belonged to Shen Zechuan.
“…For washing my clothes on my behalf.” Shen Zechuan said,
“Now I’ll have to soak in here until tomorrow.”
The awkward silence permeated through the air rapidly as both
men looked at each other. Outside, the wind rustled amid the cold
and dismal autumn rain.
After a long while, Xiao Chiye said, “This clothing won’t dry
even if we leave it be. Meng can go and call Chen Yang over.”
With that, he raised his head and whistled.
There was a moment’s silence in the hot spring. Neither Lang
Tao Xue Jin nor Meng came.
 Xiao Chiye whistled again.
Outside, Meng shrank its head under its wing and ignored him.
Such a heavy rain—it had absolutely no wish to fly out and get itself
wet.
The silence seemed endless.
Eventually, Shen Zechuan said, “… I’ll wring it dry.”
Xiao Chiye pressed the clothes back down, and said while
gnashing his teeth at him, “Wait a moment!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Both men were stranded in the hot springs for a night. By the
time their clothes dried, it was already the hour of mao.2 Shen
Zechuan finally put on his clothes at long last. As he secured his
waist belt, he could still sense that ravenous gaze of a tiger eyeing
its prey. But he said nothing and feigned unawareness.
Xiao Chiye lifted the hanging screen. It was still dark outside.
The air was thick with mountain fog and the scent of dampness
after a rain. It was inconvenient to head down the mountain, as the
stone stairs were all covered in thin ice.
Both men moved in a single file, with one in front and one at
the back.
“The military drill grounds occupy the southwestern side of
Mount Feng.” Shen Zechuan surveyed the place from above.
“Although it’s very close to Qudu, its view is completely blocked by
Mount Feng. The Eight Great Training Division won’t conduct their
patrols here. Your location choice is really excellent.”
“I wouldn’t have chosen this land if not for Mount Feng.” Xiao
Chiye pushed aside the maple branches and turned back to
indicate to Shen Zechuan to make his way over under his arm.
Shen Zechuan passed under it. The scenery before him
suddenly opened up as all the obstructions turned to mist. He
could see the Imperial Army’s military drill grounds clearly. There
were already squads running around the grounds.
“The Imperial Army did not make a move during the Autumn
Hunt.” Shen Zechuan sized it up for a moment and said, “But I can
see that they are all fully equipped. Hua Siqian is dead now, the
moment the seizure of his assets following the Autumn Hunt is
concluded, the Chief Surveillance Bureau will be coming for you.”
 Xiao Chiye obviously could not afford to raise 20,000 Imperial
Army soldiers based on his salary alone, and he could not
misappropriate the military salary and provisions of the Libei
Armored Cavalry either. But going by the annual budget the
Ministry of Revenue allocated to him before the Autumn Hunt, the
Imperial Army obviously would not have the money to establish
themselves on such a scale. Xi Gu’an died because he “could not
explain” himself. And now, it was time for them to be demanding
answers from Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye said, “Let them come.”
As for where the money had come from, he did not speak
further on the issue, and Shen Zechuan did not ask again.
After a while, Xiao Chiye said, “Many errands from the Ministry
of Works requiring manual labor were all handed to the Imperial
Army to be carried out. Since five years ago, every sum of money
paid out to the Imperial Army for the assignments were all
recorded down in black and white in the account books. Even if the
Chief Surveillance Bureau investigates it, they won’t be able to find
anything nefarious.”
It was for this reason that Xiao Chiye became the infamous debt
collector in the Ministry of Revenue. All of them thought he was
asking for money to spend on women and wine. They did not
know that he was actually saving money over the years, and that
the only account he had that could be said to be an extravagant
expense was money for wine. Li Jianheng might be muddle-
headed, but he was generous when it came to his buddies. Every
time he invited Xiao Chiye to Donglong Street, he was the one who
paid out of his own pocket for the girls and for the feasts to treat his
bunch of disreputable friends .
Li Jianheng lived off government coffers, and he had no
principal wife to keep him in line. If he had no money, he would ask
the palace for it. Emperor Xiande had never been stingy with him
when it came to him spending money. Even if he had to take the
funds from his own coffers, he would also give him the money. So,
Li Jianheng never lacked money.
Xiao Chiye did not manage to return to Libei, but he had never
resented Li Jianheng for it. Because he knew it better than anyone
else that Li Jianheng regarded these disreputable friends of his as
his real brothers.
Thinking to this point, Xiao Chiye said, “The reason the
Empress Dowager saved you is naturally because she wants to use
you. If all is calm, you can perhaps enjoy a steady rise to the top in
the Imperial Bodyguards. But the former Emperor suddenly started
resisting. The Empress Dowager… The Empress Dowager has
gone looking for you, hasn’t she?”
Shen Zechuan met Xiao Chiye’s eyes.
He must not evade it. Not even for a moment. Xiao Chiye had
an extremely keen sense of smell. He only had to show a trace of
guilt and Xiao Chiye could definitely tell.
Shen Zechuan replied with certainty, “Never.”
The chilly wind brushed past them and swept up the hems of
their clothes.
Xiao Chiye slowly exhaled cold air and smiled unconcernedly.
“Then your luck is pretty good.”
It was already daybreak by the time they returned to Qudu.
Xiao Chiye said from atop his horse, “I have to rush over for the
morning court session.3 You head back first.”
Shen Zechuan nodded and watched as Xiao Chiye spurred his
horse on to leave. When he returned to the abode, he did not see
Chen Yang. Presumably, the latter had already left to wait for Xiao
Chiye at the palace gate.
Shen Zechuan took out the eastern pearl from his sleeve and
held it between his fingertips to scrutinize it under the faint light.
But before he could remove the strip of cloth, he paused.
When he undressed, he had placed the eastern pearl into his
right sleeve. But now, it was from the left sleeve he took the eastern
pearl out of.
Shen Zechuan clicked his tongue lightly and frowned.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye arrived at the palace gate, dismounted, and made
his way into his family’s horse carriage where he quickly changed
into his official robe. Chen Yang had also prepared breakfast, and
the porridge was still hot. Xiao Chiye drank a bowl.
 “I went to the military drill grounds last night to look for you, but
you weren’t there.” Chen Yang kneeled beside the curtain and
whispered, “It isn’t stable in Qudu these days. Someone ought to
go along with you when you venture outdoors.”
Xiao Chiye set aside the bowl and said, “Get someone to keep
a close watch on Shen Lanzhou at all times.”
Chen Yang acknowledged his order and said, “It’s all our own
men outside the abode. As long as he ventures outdoors, he
definitely will not escape your eyes. It’s just that the Hua Clan has
been defeated. Viceroy, what advantage is there for us to watch
him closely now?”
Xiao Chiye did not answer. He did not look too good as he
lowered his eyes for a long time. It was not until Chen Yang
mentioned the morning court session that he wiped his hands with
a clean handkerchief and said, “I find that man unpredictable. If
you look at him now, can you tell that he knows a little martial
arts?”
Chen Yang replied, “He looks clearly weaker than he was when
he joined the Imperial Bodyguards. If Viceroy had not spoken of his
help during the Autumn Hunt, I’d definitely not be able to tell. But if
Viceroy gets Zhao Hui to take a look, perhaps he might be able to
catch something.”
“Zhao Hui met him face-to-face the last time he entered the
capital, and he did not see anything off about him.” Xiao Chiye
said, “That body of his…”
His voice stopped abruptly. After a while, he continued, “Send a
letter to Libei immediately and request shifu’s presence here.”
Stunned, Chen Yang said, “You want to ask…”
“No matter what method he used to cover it up, it will definitely
not escape shifu’s eyes.” Xiao Chiye twirled his thumb ring around
and said apathetically, “Besides, there’s… something I need to
speak with shifu.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng shelved the morning court session today. He had
yet to sleep his fill when he heard Shuanglu reporting to him that
Hai Liangyi was kneeling just outside. Li Jianheng was immediately
wide awake, but Mu Ru, who was in his arms, was still asleep. For a
moment, he could not free himself, so he could only raise his neck
and instruct Shuanglu in a whisper, “Go! Send him away. “
Shuanglu had only gone out for a while before he returned to
kneel. He said, “Secretariat Elder said he must see Your Majesty.
This slave said Your Majesty is still asleep, so Secretariat Elder said
he will kneel and wait for Your Majesty.”
Li Jianheng panicked. Mu Ru had only just woken up in his
embrace when he hurriedly coaxed her, “My dear, get dressed
quickly and go to Chenming Palace at the back for your meal! I
have to receive and meet the Secretariat Elder!”
Mu Ru was dainty and delicate, with black hair like a waterfall.
At this moment, she did not pester him or make a commotion and
simply dressed herself obediently. Once she was done, she
glanced seductively at Li Jianheng with her adoring, affectionate
eyes and helped him up as if the honor he had bestowed on her
was too much for her to take.
Li Jianheng loved this look of hers to bits. He tugged at her
hand, reluctant to part, wanting so much to hold her on his knees
while holding court.
“Next time,” Li Jianheng kissed her several times in a row. “Next
time, I’ll not ask you to retreat.”
He embraced her and spoke for quite a while. It was only when
Shuanglu entered again to hurry him up that Li Jianheng
reluctantly let Mu Ru go.
Hai Liangyi entered with a solemn expression and kowtowed.
Li Jianheng sat on the dragon throne and said, “Please rise,
Secretariat Elder. Please rise quickly.”
Hai Liangyi remained in place and kowtowed again.
Not getting a response, Li Jianheng looked left and right,
feeling his face burning. He coughed twice and said, “I’ve caught a
cold these two days, so I wanted to sleep in a little longer in the
morning…”
Hai Liangyi said, “This old subject has heard that Your Majesty
has been diligently holding night courts. It’s just that there has
been no responses to all the memorials that have been submitted.
After giving the matter careful thought, this old subject has come to
admonish Your Majesty in the face. Your Majesty is now in the
prime of life and at the height of power. If Your Majesty exercises
diligence in governing the state, then a bright, thriving future will
be close at hand once the depressing atmosphere from before has
been swept away.”
Li Jianheng let out a few dry laughs and said, “I guess so…”
“But Your Majesty resides deep in the inner palace surrounded
by castrated traitors serving him. If I indulge Your Majesty and let
Your Majesty be, then Your Majesty will over time turn a blind eye
and a deaf ear to advice and stray far from current politics!” Hai
Liangyi said resolutely and firmly. “This subject has heard that
Shuanglu, the eunuch personally serving Your Majesty, has been
bribed into staffing plenty of dubious and low-down people around
Your Majesty. According to the palace rules, anyone who isn’t
acting on imperial orders yet has the audacity to lead outsiders into
the palace should be flogged to death!”
Shuanglu fell to his knees with a “thud” and looked at Li
Jianheng in terror. He said, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”
“Mingli Hall is a just and sacred place in this world. How can we
tolerate eunuchs making a din here?” Hai Liangyi looked at Li
Jianheng, “Your Majesty!”
Li Jianheng’s chest was pounding hard. He looked at the stern
Hai Liangyi and recalled the extreme danger of that night. His
palms were sweating, and he wiped them on his dragon robe like a
loser. He did not even dare to say a word in reply.
The guards outside had already entered to drag Shuanglu
away. Shuanglu cried out as he slid across the floor, “Your Majesty,
Your Majesty!”
“His crime…” Li Jianheng looked at Shuanglu. “His crime is not
punishable by death…”
“Your Majesty.” Hai Liangyi said firmly. “Pan Rugui formed an
eunuch clique and colluded with Hua Siqian to stir up havoc within
and outside Qudu. It’s now the time to nip it in the bud as a
warning to others! Not only that, promiscuous members of the
imperial harem who seduce and bewitch the Emperor in an
attempt to sway him should also be flogged to death!”
Trembling with fear, Li Jianheng said, “I wouldn’t dare, I
wouldn’t dare! With such a virtuous subject like Secretariat Elder to
supervise and prompt me every day, how would I dare to act
arbitrarily and fool around?! Secretariat Elder mustn’t be taken in
by those groundless rumors.”
But Hai Liangyi said mercilessly, “There’s no smoke without fire.
Your Majesty, we must not allow beautiful women who are the
sources of troubles4 to remain!”
Li Jianheng was really scared now. How could he bear to let Mu
Ru die? He rose to his feet in a panic, cutting a sorry figure as he
said, “Secretariat Elder, I’ve realized my mistakes. Shuanglu has
served me for many years. Just… drop the matter today, and I’ll
surely administer affairs of state with due diligence in the future!”
Hai Liangyi kowtowed, deferring to him when all had been said
and done to preserve some of his dignity.
Li Jianheng held on to the table and listened to the sound of
flogging outside. Blow after blow, one after the other. It was as if
the one being hit was himself. He looked at Hai Liangyi with mixed
feelings; there was aggrievement and also fear.
Xiao Chiye was just in time to see others splashing water and
wiping the floor when he entered. Bloodstains spread under his
feet. They were so vividly red that it was terrifying. All the eunuchs
in Mingli Hall were quietly kneeling outside; not one of them dared
to raise their heads.
Xiao Chiye strode inside, where Li Jianheng was sitting
stupefied like a piece of wood on the dragon throne. When Li
Jianheng saw Xiao Chiye enter, he stared blankly at him for a
moment before he burst out bawling.
Li Jianheng smashed objects around as he cried and shouted,
“What kind of Emperor is this? To think someone would point a
finger to my nose and humiliate me like this! Which land under the
heavens isn’t land of the Emperor?!5 What’s wrong with me
bestowing favors on a woman? Where’s the wrong in it?!”

Footnotes
1.
2. 糖葫芦 Tanghulu, aka. candied hawthorn that comes on a
stick. It is a traditional Chinese snack.
3. 卯时 hour of mao; 5-7 am
4. 早朝 Court sessions held in the morning for the Emperor
to discuss state affairs with his ministers. It was typically held
daily, but occasionally varied from emperor to emperor.
5. 红颜祸水 kind of a femme fatale; beautiful women who
bring troubles upon men.
6. 普天之下，莫非王土 Which land under the heavens isn’t
land of the Emperor?
7. From 《诗经·小雅·北山之什·北山》 the Book of Songs:
Minor Odes of the Kingdom (one of the three main divisions
of the Book of Songs) – Northern Mountain
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 33 : UNCLE AND NEPHEW

After Li Jianheng was done flinging stuff around, he covered

his face and sobbed.
Xiao Chiye avoided the shattered fragments and kneeled.
When Li Jianheng’s mood calmed a little after a while, he said.
“Get up! There’s no need for you to kneel like this. You and I are
buddies. Doing this will only make us feel estranged.”
Xiao Chiye rose to his feet and said, “The Secretariat Elder is
merely upright and frank by nature.”
Li Jianheng was in low spirits as he covered his face for a long
time. He said, “… They come here every two or three days to settle
accounts, all of which I’ve permitted. Even when money flows out
like water, I’ve never said a word. I’ve been on tenterhooks all day
long these days to the point I’ve lost appetite. It hasn’t been a good
time for me. Can’t I even ask for a few days to take a breather now
that Hua Siqian is dead and Ji Lei is about to be executed? Ce’an,
you have no idea how dissatisfied they are with me sitting here. As
long as there’s another choice in this world, they would never want
me.”
At this point, he felt sad again.
“But when have I ever thought of being the Emperor? They
were the ones who pushed me into becoming one. And now they
are also the ones to admonish me! The Censor of the Chief
Surveillance Bureau keeps watching me every day. Even when I
venture outdoors to appreciate flowers, they still had to submit
memorials to reproach me in those erudite ways of theirs! Never
mind if he killed a mere eunuch, but why can’t he, Hai Renshi, show
me due respect and give me some face? At the very least, I’m also
the Emperor of Dazhou!”
The more Li Jianheng spoke, the angrier he became. But there
was nothing else on the table that he could smash, thus he
pounded his own thigh in indignation.
“He made Mu Ru out to be a contemptible person, but it’s not
like they are noble and virtuous themselves! In the past when we
were drinking in Donglong Street, which of them did not look
dignified only for them to turn out to be scoundrels when they took
off their pants?! Mu Ru was originally picked out by me from a clan
with a clean background. If it weren’t for that dog Xiaofuzi who got
in the way, would she have fallen into that traitor Pan’s hands? My
heart aches so much it’s going to break!”
Xiao Chiye merely listened and said nothing as Li Jianheng
gave vent to all his grievances. By the time Li Jianheng stopped his
tirade, his anger had already mostly subsided.
“If they truly treat me as the Emperor and respect me, then I’d
be willing to be diligent in my study. My Imperial Elder Brother
entrusted this vast empire to me. I want to be a sovereign of a
flourishing era too.” Li Jianheng said with aggrievement. “… Hai
Renshi just doesn’t think much of me.”
It was only then Xiao Chiye said, “On the contrary. It was
precisely because the Secretariat Elder has high hopes for Your
Majesty that he dared to admonish Your Majesty so severely. Your
Majesty must not bear a grudge against him. Your Majesty has to
know that Secretariat Elder Hai is equally stern and exacting with
that ‘Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo’, Yao Wenyu.”
Skeptical, Li Jianheng asked, “Really?”
Xiao Chiye said, “If this wasn’t the case, then why would the
Secretariat Elder kill Shuanglu today?”
Li Jianheng pondered it over for a moment, then said, “… True
that.”
If Hai Liangyi did not think much of him, why would he keep
asking his opinions on every matter?
Li Jianheng recalled back to the day when he had just
ascended to the throne. After Hai Liangyi learned that the Empress
Dowager had sent him snacks, he had specifically instructed him in
private to change all his spoons and chopsticks into silver.1
Hai Liangyi was an inflexible man who conducted himself
seriously in both speech and manner. But he was different from
Hua Siqian. He has no disciples, only a student—Yao Wenyu. As Hai
Liangyi wanted to avoid rousing suspicion, Yao Wenyu had still yet
to enter the government to become an official despite being so
talented. Hai Liangyi had never joined any clique in the Grand
Secretariat, and he was also the only one who staked all he had
and charged out to save Emperor Xiande at the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds.
He was the lone minister2 mentioned in the books—difficult ike a
steep precipice, and upright like a lofty branchless tree.
While Li Jianheng was thinking back on it, Xiao Chiye was
thinking about it too.
One thing Li Jianheng said was clear, and that was, as long
there was another choice in this world, the one to ascend to the
dragon throne today would not be him, Li Jianheng. But even
Emperor Xiande could not do anything about it, because Li
Jianheng was perhaps the one and only candidate they had in this
world.
Since they had given him his support, then they had to teach
and guide him. Dazhou was a nation currently beset by difficulties.
It might seem as if a wave of troubles had just calmed in Qudu, but
in truth, the storm had already begun to stir again.
All the exceedingly loyal ministers with Hai Liangyi at the head
were now all looking at Li Jianheng. In their eyes, he was perhaps a
hopeless case, but Hai Liangyi had raised both of his hands to
support and prop Li Jianheng up with that old back of his, wanting
him to hang on, to turn over a new leaf, and to be an Emperor who
would be able to leave his good name in history.
Xiao Chiye and the civil officials had never gotten along with
one another, because the Central Administration in Qudu feared
the military power at the frontiers. These people were not only the
reason for the invisible cage in which he was trapped, but they
were also men of indomitable will and integrity in Dazhou who
could still hobble on forward.
Military commanders were not afraid of death, because they
couldn’t.
Civil officials were not afraid of death, because they were
conscientious.
Li Jianheng was used to being fawned upon. He needed a
teacher like Hai Liangyi who could castigate the contemporary
failings of the times.
“When all is said and done, Lady Mu3 doesn’t have a status. If
Your Majesty’s mind is truly set, then why not have a long heart-to-
heart talk with the Secretariat Elder. This is the time when Dazhou
needs a continuous line of imperial heirs. As long as Your Majesty
can speak to him with honesty and sincerity, the Secretariat Elder
will definitely not fob Your Majesty off.” Finally, Xiao Chiye said, “As
for Ji Lei and Pan Rugui, I heard that the Court of Judicial Review
has yet to sentence them?”
At the moment, Li Jianheng was occupied with thoughts of all
that was good with Hai Liangyi. So he nodded absent-mindedly
and replied, “The accounts don’t tally. They still need another
retrial…”
◈ ◈ ◈
The eastern pearl was hollow. When Shen Zechuan hooked the
thin fabric strip out of it, the writing on it was already smudged
from the soaking. He burned away the fabric strip.
Every one of Xiao Chiye’s actions last night was on full display
right before his eyes. Perhaps that man had touched the eastern
pearl, but it was impossible for him to see what was written inside.
Nevertheless, Xiao Chiye’s suspicions must have been roused. Shen
Zechuan had answered that question on Mount Feng wrong. Xiao
Chiye had even told him the source of the Imperial Army accounts,
all because he was waiting for him to tell him the truth frankly. Yet,
he had denied it with absolute certainty.
Shen Zechuan decocted the medicine and drank it in one gulp.
The bitter taste pervaded his mouth. He endured the bitterness, just
like the anguish he revisited every day and night. At last, he let out
a mocking smile, wiped his mouth, and lay down to sleep.
He dreamed again.
In the dream, the cold wind was still howling at the Chashi
sinkhole. He was no longer lying at the bottom, but standing alone
at the edge of the pit, overlooking those 40,000 soldiers who were
struggling like ants to survive.
The Biansha Cavalry surrounded the sinkhole like the black tide
in the pitch-dark night. They blotted out the sky and the earth,
engulfing all the Zhongbo Garrisons Troops’ chances of survival,
and turned this place into a slaughterhouse.
A hand reached out among the churning waves of withered
bones. Ji Mu stretched out his arrow-covered upper body like a
puppet and sobbed as he called out to Shen Zechuan, “Ge hurts so
much…”
It was as if Shen Zechuan was a statue carved in clay or wood;
he could not move, nor could he shout. His breathing quickened,
and he was drenched in cold sweat as he clenched his teeth
tightly.
The leader of the Biansha Cavalry was wearing a helmet. That
hair fluttering in the wind had already turned a shade of a deep
red in Shen Zechuan’s recurring nightmare. He lifted his arm and
pointed lightly at the sinkhole, and the arrows behind him all
started falling one after another like a swarm of locusts. They
stabbed into the men’s bodies in dense clusters, piercing through
flesh, spattering warm blood all over.
The heavy snow all over the sky turned red too. Shen Zechuan
watched Ji Mu fall into the bloody mud before he was swallowed
up by a sticky red wave.
His hands were cold. The blood on it was also cold.
Shen Zechuan woke up.
He sat up with his back to the light by the window as though
nothing had happened. He lowered his head and went silent for a
moment, then he got out of bed to get dressed.
The guards lurking in the courtyard watched Shen Zechuan
step out of his room to eat his meal before heading to the
bathhouse.
After an hour, the guard who had never taken his eyes off the
bathhouse frowned and asked the man beside him. “Why isn’t he
out yet?”
Two men exchanged glances and smelled a rat at the same
time. When the guards rushed into the bathhouse, all they saw was
the neatly stacked clothes. Shen Zechuan was long gone.
Xi Hongxuan had booked Bu’er Tavern to invite others to tea.
He sat until he needed to answer the call of nature, so he got up to
head to the latrine. He had only just stepped out of the door and
had not walked a few steps in the corridor when someone patted
him from behind.
Xi Hongxuan looked back and almost took a few steps back.
Then he said, “How did you… Why are you always coming and
going like a shadow?!”
“A lot has been going on lately.” Shen Zechuan poured cold tea
in passing. “The reason Ji Lei and Pan Rugui have yet to be
sentenced in the third trial by the Court of Judicial Review is
because Hai Liangyi and Xue Xiuzhuo have yet to pry out whatever
they wanted from those two men’s mouths, am I right?”
Xi Hongxuan glanced around, then whispered, “You want to kill
Ji Lei, but what can you do with everyone’s eyes on this case? The
reach of Hua faction case is too widespread, and there are too
many people who are afraid of being implicated by those two. It’s
precisely to prevent them from dying a sudden and inexplicable
death that Hai Liangyi told the men to take strict precautions when
standing guard. You won’t be able to strike.”
“I’m not going to.” Shen Zechuan smiled derisively at Xi
Hongxuan. “But I have a way to get Ji Lei to talk.”
Xi Hongxuan looked at him for a long time. Then, he personally
lifted the teapot to pour tea for him and asked, “… What way?”
Shen Zechuan sipped his tea and said, “Let me see Ji Lei.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Ji Lei had been tortured for days, and at present, he was in
shackles as he lay in the prison with disheveled hair and bare feet.
He heard someone walking over to open the prison door, then
cover his head before dragging him out.
Ji Lei was shoved up a horse carriage. After a while, he was
dragged down and thrown to the ground. It was quiet all around,
with only the sound of water dripping off the corners of the walls.
Ji Lei crawled up from the ground and asked with a black fabric
bag covering his head, “Who’s there?”
A water droplet splashed with a “plop”. No one responded.
Ji Lei felt a chill on his back. Bracing himself with his arms, he
probed tentatively, “… Secretariat Elder Hai?”
But still, no one answered.
Ji Lei’s Adam’s apple throbbed. He shuffled forward on his
knees and bumped into the bars. He fumbled around, steadied
himself, and shouted, “If you aren’t Secretariat Elder Hai, then you
are Xue Xiuzhuo! How are you planning to torture me today? Bring
it on!”
 “… Say something. Why aren’t you saying something?!”
“Who are you? Who exactly are you? What do you want to do…
Do you think I’d be afraid if you don’t talk? I’m not afraid… I’m not
afraid!”
Ji Lei bent his head down between his arms to scrape the bag
off. He moved his eyes and saw Shen Zechuan sitting in a chair
right in front of him.
Shen Zechuan was all dressed in bluish-white, with one hand
on the chair’s armrest as he propped his head up to stare
expressionlessly at Ji Lei.
Laughter escaped from Ji Lei’s throat. He grabbed the bars and
squeezed his face in between the bars, then said in a low and deep
voice, “Oh, it’s you… the stray dog of Zhongbo. What does the vile
beast want from your shishu? Revenge for Ji Gang, or revenge for
yourself?”
Shen Zechuan said nothing. The smile vanished from those
tender, expressive eyes of his, leaving only a heavy and dark gaze
behind.
Ji Lei could not even find hatred in them. He felt as if that was
not a man with flesh and blood sitting there, but a famished stray
cur that had already started to feed on human flesh.
Ji Lei lowered his eyes and said with hatred, “The Ji Clan has
no descendants, and the one who severed Ji Gang’s bloodline is
you. So what are you looking at me for? Shen Zechuan, it was your
Shen Clan who killed Ji Mu, and it was also your Shen Clan who
violated Hua Pingting. How do you face yourself having lived for so
long? You are the devil beneath the tens of thousands of ghosts
who died unjustly. You are the continuation of Shen Wei’s ignoble
existence. You deserve to be hacked to pieces…”
Ji Lei began to laugh softly. He looked demented.
“Do you think I’ll be afraid of you? The bastard whom nobody
wants. You think taking off your pants to follow Xiao the Second will
give you better days ahead? Haha!”
Shen Zechuan laughed too.
Ji Lei’s laughter gradually came to a stop. He said coldly, “Is
that funny? My plight today will also be your predicament in the
future. “
 Shen Zechuan put down his leg and leaned against the chair
like he was pondering it over. He said, “Oh, I’m so scared.”
His words were breezy with sarcasm the moment he opened
his mouth.
“Devil, bastard, stray dog, vile beast.” Shen Zechuan rose to his
feet and crouched outside the bars. He began to laugh at Ji Lei,
and said in an insane yet restrained tone, “You’re right, I’m all of
them. I’m the devil who climbed my way out of the Chashi sinkhole,
the bastard Shen Wei left behind after he burned himself to death,
the stray dog without a home to return to, and the vile beast reviled
by thousands. Shishu, I’m so delighted you know me so well.”
Ji Lei began to tremble uncontrollably.
Shen Zechuan looked askance at him. His gaze was far more
sinister and malicious than how it was back then. It was as if a man
had already died under this layer of gorgeous skin, and all that
survived was an unnamed beast.
“Five years ago,” Shen Zechuan drew closer to the bars and
scrutinized Ji Lei’s fearful expression. He said softly, “The one
kneeling here was me. What was that you said to me the day you
sent me into Zhao Zui Temple?”
Ji Lei’s throat and eyes tensed. He wanted to answer, but he
could not voice it out.
“I have been remembering everyone’s kindness with gratitude.”
Shen Zechuan said piously. “Every day. Every night.”

Footnotes
1. Using silver to test for poison. As often seen in dramas,
people in those days would test for poison by sticking a
silver needle into food or drinks; if the needle turned black,
then it would mean it was poisoned.
2. 孤臣 a lone/solitary minister, i.e., a minister without
support at court or a minister who has fallen out of power
and/or favor
3. Mu-niangzi; Niangzi (娘子) is a form of address for one’s
wife, or a polite form of address for a young woman.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 34 : INTERROGATION

“You… What exactly are you…” Ji Lei pressed himself against

the bars, looked at Shen Zechuan’s smile, and swiftly moved back.
“What exactly are you up to?!”
“You’re asking me?” Shen Zechuan said cheerfully. “You’re
asking me, huh?”
Shen Zechuan’s gaze turned malicious as he beckoned
haughtily to Ji Lei. Ji Lei did not move. He leaned back against the
wall and refused to budge even a fraction closer to Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan said, “Prisoners are all livestock waiting to be
slaughtered. Shishu, how dare you ask me?”
Ji Lei countered, “What else can you do? Kill me?”
“It’s not often us uncle and nephew get the chance to meet.
There’s not even enough time for us to play, so how could I kill you
so quickly?” Shen Zechuan slid his thumb across the bars and
softened his tone. “You aren’t saying a word because you feel that
it’s something you can exploit. With those secrets in your hands, no
one would bear to lay their hands on you. Your days in prison
become more comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about
food and clothing, nor fear for your life. There’s Pan Rugui to
accompany you, and you have plenty of leisure time. How carefree
and happy.”
Ji Lei broke out in cold sweat. He stuck to the wall, no longer
looking into Shen Zechuan’s eyes.
“But happy days are all fleeting. As long as the tongue is still
there, it’s not a big deal if a leg is missing, an arm is broken, or
both eyes are gouged out. A few months ago, shishu treated me to
donkey roast. I didn’t get to taste it at that time. But now that the
night is long, it’s a good time to dine with wine.” Shen Zechuan
slipped the thin blade out between his fingers and tapped it
between the bars. He said, “Ji Lei, time to serve you up to go with
my wine.”
“You. Are. Insane!” Ji Lei stretched his neck out and enunciated
each word, “Shen Zechuan, you’re insane!”
 “I’m insane.” Shen Zechuan stared at him and answered in the
affirmative.
“How would you dare to lay a hand on me?’ Ji Lei said furiously,
“Your life is in the Empress Dowager’s hands. How would you dare
to even touch a strand of my hair?!”
Shen Zechuan cheered up again and said with a smile, “Shishu,
why do you always have to keep saying such hilarious words
tonight? Who else do you think sent me here?”
Enraged, Ji Lei said, “Don’t even think of hoodwinking—”
“Shen Wei is dead.” Shen Zechuan quickly cut off Ji Lei’s words.
“The day Shen Wei set himself on fire, I heard that the Prince of
Jianxing Manor in Dunzhou was ablaze in raging flames. He was
burned beyond recognition when the Imperial Bodyguards
dragged him out of the ruins and hung him atop Dunzhou city
walls to be reviled by all. I didn’t see that scene with my own eyes,
but I kept attempting to imagine it over the years. After turning it
over in my mind, I finally realized something.”
Ji Lei swallowed his saliva.
“His grand plan to collude with the enemy has succeeded. Isn’t
defecting right before the battle much better for him? Duanzhou
had already fallen into the enemy’s hands. If he led his troops forth
to receive and welcome them, he could join the Biansha Cavalry
and hurry to take down Qudu before the Libei Armored Cavalry
crossed the River of Ice. However, he was so scared that he recoiled
from advancing and only dared to retreat.” Shen Zechuan stood
up. “He had already succeeded. It’s only by advancing that he
would have a chance to survive. But he kept withdrawing. Even if
he was a good-for-nothing, he should have known that retreating
would only lead him to his doom.”
Ji Lei’s breathing intensified as he said in loathing, “Because he
didn’t dare. Who in the Biansha Twelve Tribes would give him a
damn? He was already a dead man the moment he colluded with
the enemy!”
Shen Zechuan threw an eastern pearl into the cage, and the
tumbling pearl knocked into the edge of the cage and rolled its
way to Ji Lei’s feet. Shen Zechuan scrutinized Ji Lei’s face as the
color gradually drained from it. He smiled.
 Ji Lei’s hands trembled. He stared at that eastern pearl and said
with difficulty, “No… Impossible…”
“Emperor Xiande is dead.” Shen Zechuan leaned over and
said, “So is Shen Wei.”
Ji Lei suddenly kicked away the eastern pearl and said,
“Cunning lad, don’t even think of tricking me!”
Shen Zechuan said happily, “Hua Siqian has committed suicide
by biting off his tongue. Who will be the next one? You, or Pan
Rugui? Shall we draw lots? Shishu, you first.”
With that, he spun out two more thin blades between his
fingers and presented them before Ji Lei through the gap.
“If it’s chipped, we’ll kill Pan Rugui. If it isn’t, then we’ll feed all of
your flesh and blood to the dogs. Don’t be afraid. Draw one.”
Ji Lei looked at the cold glint of the thin blade. His lips opened
and closed. He said, “What nonsense are you spouting…”
“The Empress Dowager instructed me to be quick.” Shen
Zechuan stared at him. “Yet I gave you the opportunity to choose.
Shishu, there’s a chance for things to turn for the better for each
day you live.”
Ji Lei was already in a daze having been tortured for days. And
now, under this bizarre atmosphere, Shen Zechuan’s words
confused him until he could not tell the truth from lies. He fixed his
eyes on those two thin blades. Finally, and curiously enough, he
raised his hand. When his trembling fingers touched the thin
blade, he saw Shen Zechuan slowly lifting the corners of his lips.
“Oh.” Shen Zechuan smiled regrettably. “I forgot that the blades
I’ve brought along today are all new blades. The chipped ones
have already been disposed of.”
The shame of being played instantly overwhelmed Ji Lei.
Losing control of himself, he threw himself forward and shouted
hysterically as he yanked at the bars, “Do it if you want to kill me or
cut me to pieces! I’ll not say a word of what you want to know! Kill
me, kill me!”
“Wrong.” Shen Zechuan remained in firm control of the
atmosphere. “I’m not the one who wants to kill you.”
“You are!” Ji Lei dug his fingers into the bars. “You are!”
 “Am I?” Shen Zechuan gently nudged over the eastern pearl
that had rolled out and stepped on it. He looked at him coldly and
asked again, “Am I?”
Ji Lei held his head and tore at his unkempt hair. He slid down
the bars to his knees and repeated over and over again. “You are…
You are the one…”
Shen Zechuan suddenly said, “Shen Wei killed the Crown
Prince.”
Ji Lei raised his head to look at him in terror, as if he had
plunged into an ice cave. He said, “You…”
Shen Zechuan said, “You and Shen Wei killed the Crown
Prince.”
“It wasn’t me!” Ji Lei clutched at his hair. “It wasn’t me! The one
who killed the Crown Prince was Shen Wei!”
“You conspired with him to frame the Crown Prince for plotting
a rebellion.” Shen Zechuan said quickly, “You were the one who
forged the document. You forced the Crown Prince into Zhao Zui
Temple. He wanted to see Emperor Guangcheng, but you drew
your blade and killed him.”
“It wasn’t me!” Ji Lei had already gone crazy. He refuted
vehemently in the face of Shen Zechuan’s chaotic interrogation. “I
wasn’t the one who drew the blade! It was Shen Wei. It was Shen
Wei who insisted on killing him!”
“That’s why Shen Wei is dead.” Shen Zechuan circled back and
repeated, “Shen Wei set himself on fire and was burned beyond
recognition. You are the only one left now.”
This succession of insinuations pushed Ji Lei into such a corner
that all he could think of was the word “death”. He thought back
clearly to the former Crown Prince’s face when he was killed. At that
time, he had stood in the spot where Shen Zechuan was now
standing and looked down at the Crown Prince from above as if he
was looking at swine. Now, by some act of ingenuity, his position
had been reversed. The cage gave him the misconception that he
was akin to a beast. He had become the ant1 under Shen Zechuan’s
foot. All he could do was to crane his neck out and wait to be
slaughtered.2
Ji Lei did not want to die.
 His desire to survive had never been so strong. He banged his
forehead against the bars and said, “We are all just following
orders. We had no choice! You want to avenge Shen Wei? I can
help you! Shen Wei killed the Crown Prince and was conferred the
title of Prince of Jianxing. He subsequently went to Zhongbo. He
fled!”
Ji Lei cut a sorry figure as he started to choke with sobs. He had
no idea where this fear came from either. It was as if he had really
turned into a livestock at the mercy of others. All he could do was
to raise his head and look at Shen Zechuan.
“I didn’t kill the Crown Prince; I wanted to save him! But Father
suddenly died.” Ji Lei said helplessly, “Father died, and they want
to frame me for it! If I took the rap for it, Eldest Brother would kill
me, and so would Ji Gang! What could I do? I could only beg Pan
Rugui for help! If Pan Rugui were to protect me, then I had to forge
the documents! I was forced into that situation. I wanted to live
too!”
“How did Ji Wufan die?” Shen Zechuan asked out of the blue.
“I don’t know. I don’t know how Father died… Father fell ill,
because Ji Gang left. The sons he favored had all left.” At this point,
Ji Lei turned malevolent again. He hated them so much. “I was the
one who was with him in his last moments and the one who
conducted funeral rites for him! Yet he said my core was rotten. He
regarded Ji Gang and Zuo Qianqiu as his own sons and passed
the mental cultivation techniques to both of them. But my surname
is Ji too, and I didn’t even do anything. So how could he treat me
in such a way?!”
“Shen Wei couldn’t sleep at night after killing the Crown Prince.
He was afraid. When we were drinking, he told me that he had
gradually come to sense someone watching him. In his residence,
he could even hear someone moving on the roof in the middle of
the night. I told him it wasn’t the Imperial Bodyguards. But in this
Qudu, is there anything that could hide from the eyes of the
Imperial Bodyguards? I presumed there were traitors in the
Imperial Bodyguards; Men from the Eight Great Clans were
everywhere.”
 “The Hua Clan was already in power, so we were careful. But
Shen Wei’s insomnia worsened. He wanted to flee. Thus, he bribed
Pan Rugui with a lot of money, hoping to leave Qudu. At that time,
Libei was a rising force to be reckoned with. The Empress Dowager
had no other military forces other than the Eight Great Training
Divisions. In order to guard against the Xiao Clan, Shen Wei was
conferred the title of the Prince of Jianxing. He went to Zhongbo, a
large prefecture where the only routes between Qidong and Libei,
and Libei and Qudu, would pass through. The Empress Dowager
wanted him to be her watchdog with his eyes on Libei and
Qidong.”
Ji Lei spoke more and more urgently.
“Who would have expected Shen Wei to collude with the
enemy? He was asking for death! He had the documents with his
correspondences with Qudu. Once the documents fell into Libei
Armored Cavalry’s hands, Xiao Jiming would not miss the
opportunity to deal Qudu a heavy blow! So Shen Wei had to burn
himself to death! Do you understand now? Shen Wei colluded with
the enemy. He was no longer willing to be under the control of
others. Back then, the Hua Clan had a son of common birth. Going
by the Empress Dowager’s intent, once this child of common birth
grew up, outsiders would no longer be needed to keep an eye on
Zhongbo. Shen Wei had committed so many evil deeds in Qudu
for the Hua Clan. If Zhongbo no longer needed him, then he would
be but a useless chess piece3 of the Empress Dowager.”
“No one anticipated him to take desperate measures after
being driven into a corner and let the Biansha Cavalry in to
massacre the cities… This was vengeance! This was his revenge on
Qudu, on the Empress Dowager, and on Dazhou! “
Ji Lei grasped the bars and pleaded. “I’ve said all I have to
say… The Empress Dowager was the one who forced Shen Wei to
his death. She was also the one who forced the Crown Prince to his
death. And Emperor Guangcheng, Emperor Xiande, Hua Siqian…
they were all the Empress Dowager’s sacrificial chess pieces!4 And
now you are carrying out jobs for the Empress Dowager. Look at
me. I didn’t tell her that you have already thrown in your lot with
the Xiao Clan… You saved Xiao Chiye that night, didn’t you? But
the Xiao Clan will not help you. As long as Xiao Chiye is in Qudu,
the Xiao Clan cannot make their move. They can hardly look after
themselves, so how would they care about you?!”
He wanted to prove his usefulness, but his fear kept
intensifying. His crumbling line of defense left him utterly defeated.
The more inferior he felt, the more scared he became.
Shen Zechuan asked him his last question through the bars.
“Five years ago, my shiniang died when Duanzhou fell into the
enemy’s hands. No one knows about this matter, so how are you so
clear about it?”
Ji Lei looked at the expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes. In that
dead silence, a drop of sweat slowly trickled down.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xi Hongxuan waited until he fell asleep. It was not until a stack
of paper was thrown onto his body that he jolted awake. He took
the papers and shook it open for a look in the dark and saw the
vividly red fingerprints at the bottom. He let out an obscure laugh
and said, “You sure are good.”
There was a slight saltish stench on Shen Zechuan’s body. He
smiled for a moment, then said, “Whether or not this confession
can be submitted to the top depends on how Secretariat Elder Hai
views it.”
“That’s some great favor you did.” Xi Hongxuan said, “Surely
you didn’t help for nothing?”
“There’s a man named Qiao Tianya in the Imperial Bodyguards.
He’s good with the broadsword. I want him.” Shen Zechuan said
calmly.
“… Not a problem.” Xi Hongxuan hesitated for a while. “I’ll talk
to Yanqing.”
“Thank you for the trouble.” Shen Zechuan said, “It’s late now. I
should go.”
With that, he opened the door and took his leave.
It was raining in the night outside. Xi Hongxuan wanted to call
out to Shen Zechuan to get onto the horse carriage so that they
could leave together. But then he had a thought and changed his
mind. He flipped through the confession to look through it once,
feeling that it had all gone too smoothly.
 As Xi Hongxuan was thinking that he had to show Xue Xiuzhuo
this confession first, he said to the attendant at the side, “Go. Drag
Ji Lei out and send him back.”
The attendant acknowledged his order and went to open the
door. He had only just strode in when he fell to the ground on his
butt with a loud clatter and screamed as though he had seen a
ghost.
Xi Hongxuan followed the opened door and saw Ji Lei. His
stomach churned, and he covered his face to retreat, desperately
knocking aside the table and chairs as he dashed into the rain to
throw up violently.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan washed his hands until they reddened before he
wiped them with a handkerchief. There were no bloodstains on his
white outfit, but there was the lingering stench of blood. He picked
up the front of his clothes and frowned as he sniffed it.
What a stink.
Shen Zechuan squatted under the rain by the edge of the
water. Very quickly, the night rain drenched him. He slowly raised
his head and gazed at the pitch-black sky until his neck was sore.
Then, he rose to his feet and walked back.
When Shen Zechuan reached the alley of the Imperial Army’s
residence, he saw a man standing at the entrance.
Xiao Chiye was leaning against the door in the dark with
folded arms, staring at him like a cheetah.
At some point, snow had begun to fall with the rain, making
one feel damp and cold to the bone.

Footnotes
1. 蝼蚁 Also refers to a nobody
2. 引颈受戮 literally, crane one’s neck out and wait to be
slaughtered; to plead guilty and die without resistance.
3. 废子 a term in Weiqi to mean a useless stone (worthless
chess piece).
4.
5. Chess in those days typically refers to Weiqi, or Go in
Japanese and Baduk in Korean.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 35 : FIRST SNOW

The chill was bitingly cold as the wind blew at their sleeves.
Right at this time, Shen Zechuan suddenly turned his head and
sneezed, dispelling the confrontation that was on the verge of
erupting. He was soaking wet as he waved his hand at Xiao Chiye
and said in a muffled voice, “Have a handkerchief?”
Xiao Chiye strode a step forward and handed him one.
The tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose had been frozen red; even his
fingertips were red. He took the blue handkerchief and covered his
mouth and nose.
It was only then Xiao Chiye unhurriedly opened up the
umbrella. Without making way for Shen Zechuan, he asked, “Where
did you go?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “To play.”
“In any case, you’re my guard. You have to inform the office
when you head out to play.” Xiao Chiye said, “It’s really worrying if
you run off without so much a word.”
“I left my authority token in the bathhouse. Did the Second
Young Master not see it?” Shen Zechuan sniffed the scent on the
handkerchief. It smelled rather good—not the usual incense
customarily used by the nobles, but more like the surging waves of
strong, valiant wind under the scorching sun. It was the scent on
Xiao Chiye.
What a nice smell.
Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes, almost fascinated by this
scent. This was the sunlight beyond his reach; the spirit he no
longer possessed in this life. A part of him did not want to return
the handkerchief, thus he raised the corners of his eye to glance at
Xiao Chiye out of the corners of his eyes, looking as if he had
something to say but was hesitant to.
“Nope, didn’t see it.” Xiao Chiye felt around his chest but did
not touch the object he was looking for. He turned his eyes just in
time to see Shen Zechuan’s gaze on him. Taken aback, he said,
“What conscienceless deed have you done for you to look at me in
such a way?”
 “Who knows?” Shen Zechuan said a little smugly to him. “I’ve
done plenty.”
“Let’s hear a couple.” Xiao Chiye said.
“A heart-to-heart talk in the night should be done inside the
house. It’s rather cold to be standing here.” Shen Zechuan coughed
and said, “Is the bathhouse still open?”
“Closed.” Xiao Chiye replied. “You can only go to my room if
you want to take a bath. Your health is so bad. Should I call for a
physician to take a look for you?”
“That’d be great.” Shen Zechuan countered his move. “With the
Second Young Master stepping in, I’ll get to save on consultation
fees.”
“You have yet to recover from a major illness, and running
around all over only makes it even more worrying. I’ll get someone
to follow you in the future.” Xiao Chiye chivalrously made way for
him. “Let’s go. Second Young Master will hold up the umbrella for
you and send you there.”
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye’s shoulder, which was even
taller than his own self, then looked at him again. He smiled and
said, “I can stand on tiptoe to hold up the umbrella too.”
“I’m afraid of veils.”1 Xiao Chiye’s side profile was tasteful, with
a straight nose and a nice silhouette. He said, “You’re too short.”
Shen Zechuan strode through the main entrance with him and
said, “You’re really the one who’s too tall.”
“When I was young, I was a few heads shorter than my dage,
and with such a name to boot. It made me anxious, so I trained
hard in martial arts every day and made it a habit to drink milk
before going to bed.” Xiao Chiye strode over the puddle of water
with his long legs and continued, “Who would have expected my
height to shoot through the roof when I was thirteen or fourteen?”
“Ain’t that great?” Shen Zechuan said, “My dage was very tall
too.”
The rain receded, but the snow intensified.
Xiao Chiye raised the brim of the umbrella to gaze at the snow
and said, “It’s yet another year.”
Shen Zechuan gazed at the snow too and echoed. “Yet another
year.”
 “The new Emperor ascended to the throne and granted
amnesty to all.” Xiao Chiye paused. “The Empress Dowager’s
power and influence have weakened. You can leave Qudu and go
anywhere you want.”
“Then conceal my name to live incognito, forget my past, and
remain a mediocre person for my entire lifetime.” Shen Zechuan
said mildly. “This isn’t something a man who hates me should say.”
“I hate the Biansha Cavalry,” Xiao Chiye said coldly, “I hate
Shen Wei too.”
Shen Zechuan said, “You should hate me.”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes stirred.
Shen Zechuan continued, “I’m a man who lives on hatred.”
Snowflakes fell upon the stone slabs and melted in a twinkling
of an eye.
Xiao Chiye said, “The current you understand those words from
five years ago best.”
“Living is much more painful than dying.” Shen Zechuan
suddenly laughed. He exhaled and said to Xiao Chye, “That’s not
right. I’m not in pain. Hatred itself is death by dismemberment; it’s
like a knife gouging out your flesh. Day after day. Anyone would
eventually become numb. There’s nothing else in this world that
can make me feel ‘pain’ again. I feel comfortable living like this.
You’ve repeatedly advised me to drop the matter, but you yourself
understand it best that ‘stopping’ has never been something you
and I have the luxury of choosing. If warmth and tenderness can
make you feel better, then I don’t mind playing on for longer.”
Shen Zechuan raised his hand as he spoke and drew that icy
finger across Xiao Chiye’s sturdy back. He said in what seemed to
be a whisper.
“There are some things that are vividly beautiful when seen
through the mist; but when you take a closer look, they are just a
pile of dead men’s bones.”2
Xiao Chiye waited for him to retract his hand before shaking his
umbrella impatiently. He said, “Dead men’s bones won’t touch
people like this.”
Shen Zechuan smiled and was just about to stride forward
when Xiao Chiye grasped him around the shoulder.
 “You sure have guts…” Xiao Chiye wrapped his arm tightly
around his shoulder, “… to touch your Second Young Master while
you are reeking so heavily of blood. Over ten men in the courtyard
can’t even keep an eye on you, so what room are you returning to?
Just sleep with me.”
Shen Zechuan was caught off-guard. Xiao Chiye said, “The
favor you did me by saving my life has always been on my mind,
and I’ve repeatedly given you chances. Yet you just have to treat
me like some kind of fool to coax. Is it that delightful to keep
teasing me? If so, then why aren’t you smiling? Shen Lanzhou,
come on, didn’t you say you don’t mind playing on for longer?”
As soon as he said that, he tossed away the umbrella, strode a
step over, and simply hoisted Shen Zechuan over his shoulder.
A wave of dizziness washed over Shen Zechuan with his head
dangling down. He immediately covered his nose and mouth with
the handkerchief and fumed, “Xiao’Er—”
Xiao Chiye said, “If you dare to move, then I’ll dare to turn
Qudu upside down immediately to see who’s the one who
collaborated with you from the inside and outside to kill someone
in the middle of the night.”
“Go investigate then!” The moment Shen Zechuan opened his
mouth, Xiao Chiye gave him a jerk so hard that he almost threw
up.
“Look at how fast you flee when there’s a hole in the bathhouse
for you to dig your way through.” With Shen Zechuan over his
shoulder, Xiao Chiye leaped over the railing and passed through
the courtyard with withering greenery. He swiftly made his way
through the moon gate3 and headed right for his own room.
The sprawling man shadowing them on the rooftop poked his
head out for a look and clicked his tongue in wonder. “He was still
smiling and chatting in the snow earlier, looking all courteous and
refined. Why the sudden urgency?”
“That guy doesn’t want to be with Second Young Master, okay?”
The guard who was always watching Shen Zechuan took a gulp of
his shaojiu wine4 and continued, “He fled so fast yesterday likely
because he was afraid the Second Young Master would force
himself on him tonight. I went to the Imperial Army to ask around
this afternoon. Everyone all knows about this matter.”
“Do we report this to the Hereditary Prince?” The one who had
poked out his head to look around fished out a little book, licked
his brush, and pondered over it. “Ugh, this isn’t going to be easy to
write.”
“He carried him into the room so brazenly.” The one drinking
wine took a few glances. Xiao Chiye had already kicked the door
close with a “bang”. He thought for a moment, then said, “Or let’s
just not… Being a homo5 can’t be said to be a major issue, but it
isn’t a minor one either. It’d be tough to explain to both sides if we
say it wrong. The Second Young Master will get a beating.”
The other one frowned and drew a few strokes, then said,
“Well… then I’ll just record it but not report it yet. If the Hereditary
Prince comes to settle scores later, we’ll just say we buckled under
the Second Young Master’s abuse of power6 and did not dare to
report it without grounds.”
“But how on earth did he escape?” The one drinking wine
pillowed his head on his arms, still unable to fathom it.
◈ ◈ ◈
There was a heater in the room. Xiao Chye did not release Shen
Zechuan, but looped an arm around his waist as he circled around
the room to rummage through his clothing chest.
“There’s more than enough hot water. Feel free to pick the
fragrances7 and bath beans8 as you like.” As Xiao Chiye spoke, he
turned his head aside to sniff openly at Shen Zechuan’s waist. He
said, “You are not the kind of person who needs to bathe in milk
and flower petals and pearl powder,9 are you?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Put… I’m going to puke!”
“Then puke the way you are now.” Xiao Chiye took out the
clothes stowed away at the bottom of the chest and closed the
chest. Ignoring the mess of clothes dangling out through the
closed gap, he took Shen Zechuan further inside.
He lifted the hanging screen. There were two small sections of
space separated by a screen inside. One side led to hot water,
while the other side was a clothes rack. Xiao Chiye hung the attire
up on the rack and easily shifted the screen away with one arm.
Then he placed Shen Zechuan by the edge of the pool and
dragged a chair over with his leg.
“Take your bath.” Xiao Chiye sat without inhibitions and raised
his chin at Shen Zechuan. “Everything you need is all prepared. I’ll
see how you run.”
Shen Zechuan’s face turned white as he asked in astonishment.
“You watching?”
Xiao Chiye stretched out his long legs and folded his arms. He
said, “You shy? Don’t run, okay?”
“I’m afraid the one who’s shy isn’t me.” Shen Zechuan retorted
sarcastically.
“Then, go ahead and strip.” Xiao Chiye was calm and unruffled.
“Let’s see which of us throw in the towel first.”
Without saying another word, Shen Zechuan pulled his waist
belt open. Xiao Chiye looked right at him without the slightest
intent to avert his eyes. By the time Shen Zechuan stripped to his
inner garment,10 his knuckles had already turned white.
“Whether you are in pain or not, I don’t know.” Xiao Chiye
teased him. “But from the looks of it, you’re pretty angry.”
He had not even finished his words when Shen Zechuan’s
clothes were tossed onto his face.
Xiao Chiye grabbed the clothes and smiled for a moment. By
the time he removed them from his face, Shen Zechuan had
already entered the water.
Shen Zechuan leaned over on the other side without turning or
looking back. Water droplets condensed on that fair and smooth
back of his; it was so silky and moist it looked like jade petals with
dew.
Xiao Chiye sat for a moment, then said, “What a short temper.
Don’t you always have a way with your words in the past?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Not as hardcore as the Second Young
Master.”11
Never mind if he used such a double entendre for the first time.
But after saying it several times, whatever bit of bashfulness Xiao
Chiye had was all but snuffed out by him.
So, he remained firmly seated and answered with composure,
“Of course.”
 After a moment, Xiao Chiye probed, “Aren’t you going to tell
me where you went to play tonight?”
“You’re omnipotent.” Shen Zechuan said, “Go check it out
yourself.”
“There are a few places where you can get to kill people at this
time.” Xiao Chiye took the eastern pearl out of Shen Zechuan’s
clothes and pinched it between his fingertips to size it up. He said,
“The Empress Dowager is still rich. Things are already at such a
stage and she still has to put on such an ostentatious display when
sending secret messages. You couldn’t have been dazzled silly by
this pearl and set your heart on being her lackey because of it,
could you?”
“Who doesn’t love money?” Shen Zechuan said, “Even though
His Majesty favors you and trusts you now, you still have to make up
for the Imperial Army’s equipment shortfall. You know better than
me the benefits of having money.”
“She told you to kill someone.” Xiao Chiye said, “And you
simply went to kill?”
Shen Zechuan had already soaked enough and reached a
hand out for his clothes. But Xiao Chiye used his leg to hook the
clothes rack away. He got up and said, “Answer me.”
Bare-chested, Shen Zechuan said, “Yeah.”
“Liar.” Xiao Chiye stretched out his hand to take down the clean
clothes and said to Shen Zechuan, “This pearl had been soaked
rotten that night. How could you have been able to see the
Empress Dowager’s instructions clearly? The person you killed
tonight is someone you wanted to kill, am I right?”
Shen Zechuan said, “… Uh-huh.”
“Don’t uh-huh me.” Xiao Chiye caressed the fabric. “An
ambiguous answer is equivalent to no answer.”
“It’s someone I want to kill.” Shen Zechuan reached out a hand.
“You got it right.”
“Ji Lei?” Xiao Chiye said, “Or Pan Rugui?”
Shen Zechuan’s fingertips had already reached the clothes. He
said, “Why can’t it be you?”
There was a swish as the clothing was lifted high. Refusing to
give it to him, Xiao Chiye said, “Just an exchange of a few words
and you’ve changed your tone. Second Young Master doesn’t buy
sarcasm. Whether you kill Ji Lei or Pan Rugui, the Court of Judicial
Review will definitely not let the matter drop tomorrow morning.
You saved my life during the Autumn Hunt. The Empress Dowager
doesn’t know about this yet, but I can let her know. Once she finds
out, you’ll be my man even if you aren’t now. So speak properly and
don’t tease your Second Young Master for fun.”
Each time Shen Zechuan attempted to reach for the clothes,
Xiao Chiye would raise it high. Shen Zechuan put up with it again
and again until he finally rose from the water to grab the clothes.
He fumed, “Speak properly, while I’m naked?!”
Xiao Chiye leaned in for a closer look and said, “See, this is
what I mean by speaking properly. Why put on an enigmatic dead
men’s bones’ act before me? Ghost stories can’t scare me.”
Having said that, he paused for a moment.
“Since you’ve touched me, I’d have to touch back. We aren’t on
that good of a term for me to be nonchalant about it. So, where do
I touch?”

Footnotes
1. 盖头 in ancient times refers to a red veil to cover a bride’s
head. (also refer to a white head covering for mourning and
a general veil to shield a woman’s face while outdoors.) He
basically means Shen Zechuan is so short that the umbrella
will cover right above his head as if he’s wearing a veil.
2. 一堆白骨. A pile of white bone. Interestingly, there’s a
demon named white bone spirit, or baigujing (白骨精), from
the novel Journey to the West. She is a shape-shifting
demoness, and in her true form she is depicted as a
skeleton. 白骨精 also describes a sly, cunning person.
3.
4. 洞门 An opening in a wall separating different courtyards
within a residence or palace. It’s also known as a moon gate
(月亮门).
5. 烧酒 shaojiu, also known as baijiu (白酒), is a spirit that is
usually distilled from sorghum or maize.
6. 断袖之癖 lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. an euphemism for
homosexuality.
7. 淫威 as a word refers to abuse of power, although
reading it as 淫+威 can be read as the power of horniness
8. 兰草 or 佩兰 Eupatorium fortunei is a plant species used
as a herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), while the
fragrant stems and leaves are used to make fragrant oils.
These are placed together in steaming bathwater to scent it.
9.
10. 澡豆 Literally, bath beans, or soap in a ball/bean shape.
11. 珍珠粉 pearl powder is a traditional Chinese medicine
well known for beautifying the skin and soothing of nerves.

12.
13. 里衣 (or also 中衣) This is the set of garment people in
ancient days wore under their outer robes. They usually sleep
in this.
14. The original line in Chinese is 硬不过二公子 which can be
literally taken to mean “can‘t beat the Second Young Master
when it comes to being hard.” The 硬 is short for 硬脾氣
(obstinate or stubborn temper) and/or 嘴硬 (stubborn to
admit mistakes or defeat) in response to both xcy’s
comments, but it’s also a dig at you-know-what ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 36 : SCENT

Shen Zechuan suddenly imitated Xiao Chiye’s action from the

last time and splashed water droplets onto his face, then seized the
chance to grab the clothes from his hand.
Unable to open his eyes from the spray of water, Xiao Chiye
reached out an arm to pull off a dry towel. He covered it over Shen
Zechuan’s head and rubbed it at random. Shen Zechuan was still
putting on his clothes, and Xiao Chiye’s rubs sent half of his body
swaying. Seething with hate, he used his bare leg to kick out at the
latter’s chair.
With the chair under Xiao Chiye’s butt pushed back from the
kick, Xiao Chiye immediately stretched out his legs, clamped them
around Shen Zechuan tightly, and forcibly dragged the latter
towards him. Then he continued to rub Shen Zechuan’s head as if
he was wiping down a puppy.
“In that case, I’ll do as I please!” Xiao Chiye snapped.
“As you… you… son of… ‘Er!” The towel rubs caused Shen
Zechuan’s voice to break up intermittently.
Xiao Chiye pulled off the towel. Without saying another word,
he pinched Shen Zechuan’s chin with one hand, while his other
hand slid down along Shen Zechuan’s nape to his waist and hips.
“Son of a bitch.” Xiao Chiye said, “Did you call me a son of a
bitch?”
Shen Zechuan’s waist belt was not properly secured, and the
outfit on his body was Xiao Chiye’s old clothes. Thus, it hung
loosely on his body, exposing his collarbones. The water droplets
on his body wetted Xiao Chiye’s fingertips as the latter moved his
hand down, blending into one with that satiny touch.
“I didn’t say that.” Shen Zechuan backhandedly pressed down
on Xiao Chiye’s hand to hold it in place. “As they say, one should
reflect daily on three aspects.1 Second Young Master, you should
really do some reflection.”
“You don’t understand.” Xiao Chiye’s nimble fingers turned
over to grasp Shen Zechuan’s hand instead. “The first word I knew
of was ‘son of a bitch’. I’ve long told you that your Second Young
Master is a jerk. There’s absolutely no need for me to reflect. And
isn’t this waist of yours too slender?”
“It’s you who have touched too little.” Shen Zechuan said
callously.
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye pretended not to understand and
wandered into another direction. “I naturally haven’t touched your
waist that many times.”
Shen Zechuan had no wish to put on a show with him any
longer. He tightened his waist belt with one hand and said, “Since
you have touched me back, then this matter is closed.”
Xiao Chiye released his legs that were wrapped around Shen
Zechuan, and Shen Zechuan fastened his waist belt. Even his face
had turned red from the rubs Xiao Chiye was giving him with a
handkerchief.
Feeling hot, Xiao Chiye rose to pick up the eastern pearl on the
ground and happened to see Shen Zechuan’s bare legs again. It
dazed him for a moment, then he swiftly straightened up and took
two steps back before pressing in another two steps. He said,
“Sleep.”
Shen Zechuan poured a bowl of hot ginger soup. After rinsing
his mouth, he sneezed again.
Xiao Chiye found the way he looked when he sneezed
amusing, just like a cat… He soaked the handkerchief with cold
water and wiped his face.
“Don’t go that way.” Xiao Chiye undressed and pointed to his
bed. “You sleep in my bed.”
Shen Zechuan wiped his mouth and said, “Then I won’t stand
on ceremony.”
He dispensed with the formalities and sat on Xiao Chiye’s bed.
Xiao Chiye shifted the tables and chairs away, and then
dragged the xumi couch2 in the room to the vacated spot about
the distance of a stepping block away from Shen Zechuan. He
rolled over to lie down, then pillowed his head on both arms and
said, “Lan Zhou, extinguish the lamp.”
Shen Zechuan blew the lamp out and lifted his blanket to lie
down with his back facing Xiao Chiye.
 It was still snowing outside, but the inside of the room was
warm and quiet.
Xiao Chiye shut his eyes, looking as if he was sleeping. The
sensation of touching Shen Zechuan lingered on his fingertips, and
it was becoming more and more vivid at this time in the darkness.
Xiao Chiye opened his eyes to stare at the roof and began to think
about the skies in Libei.
It’s only when one is without desires that one can become a
sage.
When his shifu taught him to hold the bow, it happened to be
the season when the pastures of Libei were luxuriant. He had sat on
the fence at the edge of the horse ranch and looked up at the azure
blue sky with his head propped up with his hands.
Zuo Qianqiu had asked, “What are you thinking?”
Hanging around Xiao Chiye’s neck was the bone thumb ring.
He swung his calves and said, “I want an eagle. Shifu, I want to fly.”
Zuo Qianqiu sat on one side and looked at him. He patted the
back of his head and said, “You are also a lad burning with desires.
But in this world, it’s only when one is without desires that one can
become a sage. There are many matters that will end up being
your cage once you harbor the desire for it.”
Restless, Xiao Chiye grasped hold of the railing with both
hands and swiftly hung upside down from it, his little robe covering
his face in turfs of grass and dust. He said, “It’s only human nature
to want.”
“Wanting is the prelude to joy and misery.” Zuo Qianqiu carried
his own great bow in his arms and wiped it carefully. “If you
acknowledge that you are but a mortal with desires, then you will
be swayed by considerations of gain and loss. If you want it, you
must get it. You will be a little wolf with such a character. But A-Ye,
there will be many things in the future that you want, but will never
get. What should you do then?”
Xiao Chiye landed on the grass. He grabbed at the hem of his
robe and caught hold of a big locust. He pinched the struggling
locust and said half-heartedly, “Father said, where there is a will,
there is a way; there is nothing that can’t be obtained.”
 Zuo Qianqiu sighed, thinking he was still too young after all. So
he helplessly pointed to the sky and said, “Alright. You want to fly,
but can you really fly?”
Xiao Chiye released the locust and raised his head to look at
Zuo Qianqiu. He said in all seriousness, “I can learn how to tame
eagles. Once I tamed one, then its wings will belong to me. The sky
it flies past will be the sky I fly past. Shifu, a man has to be
adaptable.”
Zuo Qianqiu looked at him for a long time before he said, “You
are stronger than me… I’m a fool who can’t adapt to
circumstances.”
Imitating an eagle, Xiao Chiye spread his arms open and ran a
few steps on the grass in the wind. He said, “I want to tame a horse
too.”
“Eagles and horses are both strong-willed creatures.” Zuo
Qianqiu followed after him and said, “Looks like our A-Ye likes
people who are recalcitrant and hard to tame.”
“Taming.” Xiao Chiye said, “That’s the kind of process I like.”
Xiao Chiye thought.
It was not that he liked such a process. He enjoyed it. He was
fascinated by it. It was just like torturing an eagle.3 He would not let
the eagle sleep for seven days, and not feed it for four. He would
hang it until the feathers on the top of its head puffed up, and
torture it until its “eyes were comparable to that of sesame seeds.”
Only when it obeyed his orders that he could take it out for
hunting.
And now, “sexual desire” was his newly acquired eagle.
Xiao Chiye tilted his head slightly and looked at Shen
Zechuan’s back. That slanted clothes revealed Shen Zechuan’s
nape. In the darkness, it was like a piece of unpolished jade that felt
wonderful to the touch.
Xiao Chiye was hard again.
He did not move, nor did he look away. He did not believe that
this kind of shallow lust could dominate him. He did not believe
that he would succumb to this kind of crass instinct.
Before dawn the next day, both men sat up in unison as if they
finally have had enough of it.
 The guard who had been sprawling on the roof all night huffed
out a breath of hot air and watched as the maidservants entered
the room in a single file. He said, “Huh, nothing happened last
night.”
The one drinking wine said, “He didn’t succeed.”
The one holding the brush asked suspiciously, “And you know
that how?”
The one drinking wine shifted his body and watched as Shen
Zechuan stepped out of the door. He said, “Look at him. He’s
moving as per normal today. Other than the black circles under his
eyes, he clearly looked rested.”
Both men systematically turned their heads as their eyes
followed Shen Zechuan. Then they looked back at Xiao Chiye, who
had just stepped out.
The one holding the brush said, “… Second Young Master
doesn’t look too happy.”
The one drinking wine said, “He’s sex-deprived.”
Chen Yang draped a coat around Xiao Chiye. Seeing his grave
expression, he said, “Viceroy, did he screw something up?”
Xiao Chiye replied, “Uh-huh. You could say so.”
Alarmed, Chen Yang said, “Last night, he…”
“He’s pretty proficient in feigning sleep.” Xiao Chiye secured
Langli Blade and braved the snow to descend the stairs. “Let’s go.
To the military drill grounds at Mount Feng.”
Chen Yang chased up to him and said, “There’s no one on duty
today. And it’s snowing. Viceroy…”
Xiao Chiye flipped atop the horse and lowered his voice, “I’m
going to see the new equipment that has just arrived. Tell Gu Jin
and Ding Tao to keep an eye on him.”
Chen Yang nodded.
Xiao Chiye raised his head and shouted to the two men on the
roof. “If you lose him again, both of you can scram too.
The two heads that had popped out from the rooftop gave a
uniform nod and shrank back again.
Ding Tao put the brush and book properly back in his bosom
and said, “This is just great. We have turned from Second Young
Master’s guards into his guards.”
 Gu Jin shook what was left of his wine and said, “I feel that he
can fight eight men on his own. We’ll just keep an eye on him.”
“Just keep an eye on him.” Ding Tao readied himself, then
placed both hands mannerly on his knees. After sitting for a while,
he said, “But, where is he?”
Both men looked at each other, then rose at the same time and
said, “Shit!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Eating his steamed bun, Shen Zechuan opened the back door
to Zhao Zui Temple.
Ji Gang was shadowboxing in the courtyard. When he saw him
coming, he wiped his sweat with a towel and asked, “Why are you
here today?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “I’ll be busy in a few days. It’s convenient
today.”
Grand Mentor Qi was sleeping among a stack of papers. His
snores boomed like thunder, so Shen Zechuan and Ji Gang did not
enter the house but sat under the eaves to chat.
Wiping his face, Ji Gang asked, “You didn’t use your martial
arts lately, did you?”
Shen Zechuan lifted his sleeve up to reveal the bruises, courtesy
of the sparring with Xiao Chiye the day before. He said, “I fought
once with Xiao’Er.”
Ji Gang was stunned, then he flew into a rage. “He actually
dared to hit you?!”
“My guess is that he wants to see my internal martial arts.”4
Shen Zechuan put down his sleeve and said, “Shifu, he’s truly
blessed by Heaven. His physique is a notch better than the Prince of
Libei. I countered his blows with the Ji Clan’s Boxing Style, but it
was just like an ant trying to shake a tree.5 I couldn’t move him at
all.”
“Back then, Zuo Qianqiu left the capital to head to Suotian Pass,
where he met Suotian Pass’s Feng Yisheng.” Ji Gang said, “Feng
Yisheng took in Zuo Qianqiu as his adopted son and imparted the
Feng Clan’s Art of Broadsword to him. By the time it was imparted
down to Xiao the Second, it has probably already become a skill
that incorporates a blend of martial arts from various schools, thus
differing from us. But the Ji Clan’s style naturally has the Ji Clan’s
strengths. If you can truly have a match with him on broadsword
techniques alone, then you will be able to compare the
differences.”
“Langli Blade was forged by a famous craftsman on
Commander-in-chief Qi’s payroll. It slices through metal like cutting
through mud. Common blades are useless when facing up against
it.” Shen Zechuan said thoughtfully.
“The blades forged by the Qi Clan’s craftsmen are all ‘General’s
Broadsword’, specially designed for combat on the battlefield.
Look at Xiao the Second’s Langli Blade; if it can make an
appearance on the battlefield, it would be able to split human
bones with one straight slash. It was entirely made to fit the arm’s
strength of that lad.” As Ji Gang spoke, he stamped the snow off
his shoes. “As for us, we might not necessarily get used to wielding
it even if we have the chance to. But you don’t have to worry about
your blade. Shifu has already found one for you.”
“My blade?” Shen Zechuan was slightly taken aback.
“The Imperial Bodyguards is a good place.” Ji Gang smiled at
him. “The amount of time you’ve been there is still short, but you
will slowly come to understand in the future that it’s a place full of
hidden talents in Dazhou. She, Qi Zhuyin, may have a famous
craftsman, but we have no lack of them in the Imperial Bodyguards
either. I keep thinking of that blade of Ji Lei. Once shifu brings you
that blade and hands it to an old friend to reforge, it will be no less
inferior to Xiao the Second’s Langli Blade!”
“Isn’t Ji Lei’s blade Xiuchun Blade?”6
“Xiuchun Blade is the blade he generally carries along with
him, but he also has my father’s blade hidden in his collection.” Ji
Gang said with a snort. “Why isn’t he dead yet? Once the Court of
Judicial Review sentences him, that blade will be sealed into the
armory. As long as it is in there, Shifu will have a way.”
“He has been tortured for such a long time,” Shen Zechuan said
softly. “He won’t be able to endure it for much longer.”
“Did you find the person I asked you to find before the Autumn
Hunt?” Ji Gang remembered this matter and hastened to ask.
 “I’ve found him.” Shen Zechuan smiled. “I’m just waiting for him
to come out.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye did not return even during dinnertime, so Shen
Zechuan rested in his own room. It was in the middle of the night
when he heard hurried footsteps outside. Following right after,
someone knocked on his door.
Shen Zechuan wanted to pretend that he did not hear it when
he heard a sound at the window. Xiao Chiye raised the window
with his sheath and whistled at him.
Meng landed on the edge of the window and tilted its head to
look inside too.
“We agreed to sleep together,” Xiao Chiye was not pleased.
“Why did you run back here again?”
Shen Zechuan threw a pillow out of the window, and Xiao Chiye
caught hold of it. So Shen Zechuan could only get up and hugged
his blanket to open the door.
Carrying his pillow in his arms, Xiao Chiye suddenly took a sniff
and asked, “Did you put on some fragrance?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “I apply ten catty7 of rouge a day.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Chiye smiled and said.
Shen Zechuan walked in front. With Xiao Chiye standing
behind him, even the night wind could not blow onto Shen
Zechuan. Sensing a coolness on his nape, Shen Zechuan swiftly
looked back.
Xiao Chiye scraped him with a finger, then sniffed his own
finger a little dubiously.
“What is this scent on your body?” Xiao Chiye wondered, “A
whiff…”
Shen Zechuan swung the blanket over Xiao Chiye’s head and
replied calmly, “That’s the smell of gunpowder on your own body.”
Xiao Chiye stood for a brief moment, then lifted the edge of the
blanket with lightning speed and enveloped Shen Zechuan within
it too.
With his head protruding from the eaves, Ding Tao speedily
fished out a small book and exclaimed in excitement, “Way to go,
Second Young Master! You caught him!”
Footnotes
1. 日有三省, from 曾子曰、吾日三省吾身、為人謀、而不忠
乎、與朋友交、而不信乎、傳不習乎。In Chapter 4 of Book 1
of the Analects of Confucius, Confucius’s follower Zengzi lists
three questions that he asks himself every day to make sure
that he remains on the straight and narrow: whether he had
been true to others’ interests when acting on their behalf,
sincere in his interactions with friends, and practiced what
he had been taught.
2. Xumi couch (须弥榻, ), also known as the Mile couch (弥
勒榻) or short couch (短榻), is basically a shorter couch.
3. 熬鹰 literally torturing falcons, it’s one of the ways to train
them by not allowing it to sleep and torture it to exhaustion
to wear down its wild nature.
4. 外家拳/功夫’ external’ martial arts, originates from
Shaolin, where one uses one’s physical strength in combat to
go on the offensive. The opposite 内家拳/功夫’ internal’
martial arts originate from Zhang Sanfeng, where one
mobilizes one’s internal energy instead. The latter is more
concerned about the spiritual and mental aspects rather than
the physical aspects. An example of internal martial arts is
Taiji/Tai Chi.
5. 蚍蜉撼树 literally, an ant trying to shake a tree; i.e.,
overrate oneself.

6.
7. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
8. 斤 jin, catty; measure of weight. 1 catty = 0.5 kg
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 37 : BLUNDERBUSS

The world darkened before Shen Zechuan; he was now much

closer to Xiao Chiye. He heard Xiao Chiye say, “So it’s really the
smell on me. This is way too pungent.”
Shen Zechuan switched the topic and asked, “Did you just add
the blunderbuss1 to the Imperial Army’s arsenal?”
“Bronze blunderbuss.” Xiao Chiye moved his finger closed to
the tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose to let him take a sniff. “It was mixed
together with the scent on you, so I couldn’t tell it apart for a
moment.”
“There’s no scent on me.” The tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose
twitched slightly. He said, “Did you raid the Eighth Great Training
Divisions’ military armory?”
The blunderbuss was restricted by the imperial court. After it
was improved from the original bamboo tube design into the
bronze version, it became the equipment of the Eight Great
Training Divisions’ Chunquan Battalion. This weapon was lethal,
but it was not easy to control. The projectiles had limited range,
and it took time to load. However, the Eight Great Training
Divisions’ job was to guard Qudu, and it was mostly street fights
when they came to blows with others. Not only was it hard to bring
out the firearm’s full potential to do what it was meant to do, but it
also became a burden. That was why the Eight Great Training
Divisions did not popularize the use of it and chose to set it aside
instead. It was only during the yearly drills at the military drill
grounds that they would take it out to use.
It might not suit the Eight Great Training Divisions, but it was
very suitable for Libei’s Armored Cavalry. The Armored Cavalry of
Libei were heavy cavalry, with a very small number of infantry and
light cavalry.2 They favored straight-on assault that hit like a surge
of monstrous wave. In the early years, Dazhou set up a cavalry
garrison at Luoxia Pass. In order to deal with the fast speed of the
Biansha Cavalry, they spared no expense to purchase horses and
attempted to build Dazhou’s very own cavalry’s horse ranch.
However, all the horses sent by the Biansha Tribes were often
inferior steeds in their own tribes, while their own horses were true
brave horses who had fought against packs of wild wolves at the
foot of the Hongyan mountains. Paired up with machetes and
sturdy warriors, they were invincible everywhere they went.
It was because of this that Xiao Fangxu established the Libei
Armored Cavalry with heavily armored men and horses. They
formed a living metal wall in the northwest so that there was no
way the Biansha Cavalry’s storm-like assaults could pass through
this steel wall.
The northwest was a vast, boundless expanse of grassland. If
the Libei Armored Cavalry could be equipped with blunderbusses,
then the long-ranged attacks of the Biansha Cavalry would turn
into Libei’s Armored Cavalry’s advantage. Long-ranged attacks
could leave enough time for the blunderbusses to be charged. By
the time the cavalry arrived before them, they would be within the
shooting range of the blunderbusses.
To Libei, this simply served to boost their power and strength,
much like a tiger that had been given wings.
“Even with Xi Gu’an removed, the Eight Great Training
Divisions are still the Eight Great Training Divisions.” Xiao Chiye
took a step closer and pushed Shen Zechuan forward with his
chest. “There’s no raiding to talk of for a military armory. It’s just a
change of master. Don’t worry about it. I’m only just taking it to play
with.”
Shen Zechuan walked a few steps as if he really did not care
and said, “Can you just lift the blanket away and walk?”
“The days are short, and the nights are long. Why not hold a
candle for a leisure walk?”3 Xiao Chiye smiled. “Want to play with
me too?”
“Since it was not obtained in an open and above-board
manner, then it’d be safer to hide it.” Shen Zechuan lifted the
blanket and made his way out. “Making your way through Qudu
while reeking of gunpowder all over. You’re lucky it’s the middle of
the night.”
“It doesn’t matter even if it’s during the day.” Xiao Chiye
clamped the pillow under his arm and raised one arm high to prop
up the blanket as he walked. He swept his eyes across the
veranda’s eaves. “Who doesn’t know that I, Xiao Ce’an, love to
play? Even if I hold a blunderbuss, it’s also to shoot birds.”
He emphasized the word “birds”, causing Ding Tao and Gu Jin,
who were sprawled above, to shudder in unison.
After entering the room, Xiao Chiye threw the blanket and
pillow onto his bed, kicked off his boots in two or three tries, and
stepped across the woolen rug with the intent to take a bath. He
had already taken off half of his clothes when he extended his
upper body out from behind the curtain.
“Have you taken your bath?”
Shen Zechuan rinsed his mouth and said, “Yeah.”
So Xiao Chiye took a bath himself, moving fast. When he
stepped out while wiping the water on his nape, he saw that Shen
Zechuan had already lain down with his back towards him. Xiao
Chiye looked at the nape Shen Zechuan had covered up tightly,
then wiped his hair hastily and blew out the lamp.
Shen Zechuan listened as Xiao Chiye sat on the couch and
opened a box to look for something.
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye closed the box and asked, “Are you
asleep?”
Shen Zechuan answered without feelings. “Yeah.”
“The Court of Judicial Review summoned many physicians
today. Yet they did not dare to alert the Imperial Academy of
Medicine.” Xiao Chiye said, “What did you do to Ji Lei?”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Do you want to listen to ghost stories
late at night?”
“They are going to interrogate the Imperial Prison guards
tomorrow morning.” Xiao Chiye said.
Just going through the motions.
Shen Zechuan did not know whether Hai Liangyi could tolerate
such a thing, but he knew Xue Xiuzhuo could. Xue Xiuzhuo had
already gotten the confession he wanted, so Ji Lei was now
useless. This mess was created by Shen Zechuan, but never once
had he thought to clean up the mess, because Xue Xiuzhuo and Xi
Hongxuan had to clean it up.
When Shen Zechuan thought to this point, he said, “I’ve been
toeing the line. Even if they investigate…”
 Xiao Chiye lay down, then suddenly sat up and said, “Wipe my
hair.”
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
Xiao Chiye said, “Stop pretending to sleep. Hurry up.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Lanzhou.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Shen Lanzhou.”
The bed suddenly sank. Shen Zechuan opened his eyes in
shock. His blanket had already been lifted away. Xiao Chiye
squeezed in behind him and nuzzled his dripping wet head on
Shen Zechuan’s back, instantly soaking it.
Pulling his blanket, Shen Zechuan said, “Xiao’Er, you a three
years old?!”
“More or less.” Xiao Chiye replied lazily, “Didn’t you already fall
asleep? Please continue.”
The more Shen Zechuan slept, the wetter he became. That cold
mop of hair stuck to him. And following in its wake was Xiao Chiye,
who smelled the same as the scent on the handkerchief last night.
Shen Zechuan opened his eyes and said, “My clothes are wet.”
No one replied.
Shen Zechuan said, “Stop pretending to sleep.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Xiao’Er.”
Shen Zechuan propped himself up with his arms and said in the
darkness, “Xiao Ce’ an, you’re a jerk.”
The jerk handed him a dry handkerchief out of consideration,
then turned his back to him and waited.
◈ ◈ ◈
On the rooftop, Ding Tao pulled back his hands and said, “It’s
so cold even on snowy days. I’m afraid we won’t be having an easy
time this winter.”
Gu Jin handed him the wine bag4 and rubbed his hands and
said, “We have kept watch for two nights. There should be a shift
change tomorrow morning.”
Ding Tao took a sip of the wine, which warmed him up a little.
Folding his arms up into his sleeves, he lay down too and said as
he looked at the night sky, “Nothing’s happening tonight either.”
“The task is arduous, and the road is long.” Gu Jin covered the
wine bag. His ears suddenly twitched, and he turned over to lie on
his stomach. His eyes moved back and forth in the boundless
darkness like a falcon.
A subtle sound of snow being trodden on rang out in the wind.
Gu Jin acted decisively and flipped over his hand to toss out a
flying blade. He whispered, “The northwest corner!”
Ding Tao suddenly leaped up, flew across the rooftop, and
hacked at the darkness with a lightning move of his hand.
The jet-black robe in the night dodged his blow smoothly. Like
a ghost, the man concealed himself into the shadows and
attempted to flee. A lithe Ding Tao fell over to hang upside down
from the eaves. He did not expect steel needles to come for him
right in the face. Using the shaft of the brush in his hand, he struck
away the needles with a “thwack”. When he took a look again, the
person had already made his escape.
Ding Tao landed soundlessly on the ground. His qinggong was
so outstanding that he did not leave any footprints when he
landed on this thin snow.
Gu Jin surveyed the area from the rooftop and said, “Excellent
martial arts. To think he could escape my eyes. Tao-zi,5 could you
tell who it was?”
Ding Tao picked the steel needles from the veranda and
pinched them between his fingertips to scrutinize. In just a short
instant, he had already learned a lot. He said, “It’s thin as hair and
dipped in snake venom. It’s not a product of Qudu, but a foreign
gimmick imported by the Yongquan Harbor in the Thirteen Cities of
Juexi. His qinggong is good, and his ability to mask his breathing
is exceptional. Although he did not carry a broadsword with him,
he’s likely from the Imperial Bodyguards.”
He carefully put the steel needles into his own bamboo tube
and somersaulted back on to the rooftop.
“The Imperial Bodyguards have removed a bunch of officials
from office. Skilled men of fourth grade6 and below are few and far
between.” Gu Jin said, “Who would come to our Prince’s Manor at
this moment to scout around?”
“It’s hard to say.” Ding Tao touched his chest with trepidation.
“He almost stabbed my book.”
Gu Jin drank his wine, lost in thoughts.
 Ding Tao sat cross-legged and began to say in a hushed tone,
“This book has been with me for many years. What’s more, it was a
reward from the Hereditary Prince’s Consort. Even when I went to
fight those Biansha baldies, it had never been stabbed before.
What a close call. It’s really too close of a call. There are still many
things written in it. Do you know? My father’s own book was stolen
when someone slit his throat. Oh my god. Recorded in it are all
major stuff. Back then, I chased after the book until I almost died.
Jin-ge, I’m telling you. A man should always keep a journal
because they will become forgetful when they grow old. Like you.
You drink so much wine all day that before the age of forty, you will
probably forget how much money you have been squirreling away.
Why not you tell me, and I’ll write it down and remember it for
you…”
Gu Jin stuffed cotton into his ears and began to meditate.
The next day, Shen Zechuan was the first to wake up.
He did not sleep. With Xiao Chiye crowding behind him, both
of them had been up to their neck pulling the blanket back and
forth in the night. Besides, Shen Zechuan could not sleep with such
a hulk of a person beside him.
Xiao Chiye was lying still in a pretty sound sleep while hugging
the pillow.
Shen Zechuan waited for him to wake. But he ended up waiting
for something else instead.
That erected portion pressed against his buttocks. Brimming
with vigor. Hot and obvious. The temperature on the bed rose. He
did not know if Xiao Chiye was awoken by the heat or by the
hardness. In any case, he cussed in a hoarse voice and sat up in
one smooth movement.
Xiao Chiye tossed the pillow aside. He cast Shen Zechuan a
look and saw that Shen Zechuan was also looking at him. He
grabbed at his own hair and reached out a hand to cover Shen
Zechuan with the blanket to forbid the latter to look. Then he got
out of bed and headed straight into the pool without even wearing
his shoes.
Chen Yang was waiting outside listening to signs of activities
when he saw Shen Zechuan stepped out. He did not know what to
say as both men faced each other. But Shen Zechuan simply
pointed naturally in the direction of the bath hall and walked away.
By the time Xiao Chiye emerged, he was already clear-headed.
He ate a little of his breakfast and listened as Chen Yang told him
about the intruder last night.
“Imperial Bodyguards?” Xiao Chiye thought for a moment and
said, “He didn’t come for me. He should be someone here to keep
an eye on Shen Lanzhou.”
“Then, he’s the Empress Dowager’s man.” Chen Yang said, “But
manpower is scarce now. How would there still be such skilled men
in the Imperial Bodyguards?”
“The waters of the Imperial Bodyguards run deep..” Xiao Chiye
stood up. “I’ll head out for morning court.7 We’ll talk again when I
return.”
◈ ◈ ◈
At the end of the court session, Li Jianheng, holding the hand
warmer,8 sat in Mingli Hall and watched as the various officials split
up into both sides. He asked apprehensively, “… So the verdict has
been passed?”
Xue Xiuzhuo kneeled and said, “To reply Your Majesty, Ji Lei
had made a full confession regarding his intent to rebel at the
Nanlin Hunting Grounds. The evidence against him is now
conclusive. The Court of Judicial Review worked through the night
last night to straighten out the confession, and it has been
submitted to Your Majesty by Secretariat Elder Hai. In the half-
months before and after the Hua Faction case, the Three Judicial
Offices have repeatedly conducted joint trials. The two vice
Commanders and four Assistant Commanders of the Imperial
Bodyguards headed by Ji Lei are all sentenced to immediate
execution by decapitation,9 while the Judge10 and accompanying
Battalion Commanders at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds are all
sentenced to prison to await execution.”11
“As long as the sentence has been passed, it’s all good.” Li
Jianheng said. “You have worked hard, Secretariat Elder. It’s
inadvisable to stand for long. Men, bring him a seat.”
After Hai Liangyi sat down, Li Jianheng continued, “It’s truly
abhorrent of the Hua Clan to collude with the eunuchs and Imperial
Bodyguards to plot a rebellion! Pan Rugui, as the Brush-holding
Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, is greedy for power and
wealth. He’s wicked beyond redemption. This person must not be
held in custody to await execution; he should be beheaded right
away! The words Secretariat Elder has previously said to me gave
me sleepless nights. After thinking about it for a long time, I’ve
decided to work hard for the prosperity of the state from now on.”
Hai Liangyi immediately rose to bow again.
Li Jianheng quickly raised his hands and said, “Sit, Secretariat
Elder, please sit. There are now many matters that I’ll need the
Secretariat Elder’s advice on. In the future, I hope that everyone will
work as one to assist me. If you have something to say, you can
boldly speak your mind here.”
Xue Xiuzhuo looked up in surprise, but his expression remained
neutral. He kneeled in unison with the various officials on his left
and right and commended the decision.
Li Jianheng excitedly motioned for everyone to get up. After
saying a little more, he dismissed them and invited only Secretariat
Elder Hai to stay and have a meal with him.
Xiao Chiye happened to be with Xue Xiuzhuo when he came
out.
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “I wonder what the Viceroy said to His
Majesty. To think His Majesty would be willing to show such respect
to the wise.”
“His Majesty is young and strong. This is just the time for him to
show his might. Even if I said nothing, he would still do this on his
own accord.” Xiao Chiye said, “The Court of Judicial Review has
been busy these days. It has been hard on Your Excellency
Yanqing.”
“One would naturally concern himself with all matters
pertaining to his post; it’s my duty.” As Xue Xiuzhuo spoke, he
looked at Xiao Chiye and said with a smile, “I heard that the
Viceroy has been diligently heading to Mount Feng these two days.
Is there anything fun there?”
Xiao Chiye smiled too and replied, “The first snow on Mount
Feng is unparalleled in the world, and several deers have been
sighted recently. I’m thinking of hunting a few rounds for fun. If you
are free, would you like to go and have a look together?”
Xue Xiuzhuo gave a light wave of his hand and said, “I am just
a weak scholar. What would I know about hunting? I wouldn’t want
to dampen the Viceroy’s spirits.”
Both men parted ways at the entrance of the palace. As Xiao
Chiye watched him recede into the distance, his earlier smile
waned.
Chen Yang was waiting by the horse carriage. He waited until
Xiao Chiye arrived before he lifted the curtain for him and said at
the same time, “Viceroy, the venerable shifu has already left for
Qudu.”
Xiao Chiye nodded.
Chen Yang hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Our tail in
the Court of Judicial Review has brought back word that Ji Lei’s
dead.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “How did he die?”
Chen Yang raised his hands to gesture as he kept his voice
down to say, “He was skinned until he looked neither human nor
ghost. He was on the verge of dying last night, but Xue Xiuzhuo
kept him hanging onto his last breath until the confession was
presented to His Majesty. Only then did he let him breathe his last.”
Xiao Chiye sat down in silence.
Chen Yang said, “Ji Lei interrogated Shen Zechuan in the
Imperial Prison five years ago, and got Fengquan to humiliate him
in public with ‘donkey roast’. Now, Shen Zechuan has returned tit
for tat and also turned Ji Lei into… This person’s vindictive nature is
evident. Viceroy, there’s animosity between him and us too. It’s too
dangerous to let him stay with us now.”
Xiao Chiye twirled the thumb ring on his thumb and did not
reply.

Footnotes
1.

2.
3. 火铳 Huochong, or blunderbuss (according to baidu), or
sometimes known as a hand cannon, is a tube-like projection
firearm. The Huochong gun was an important invention as
the Ming Dynasty was creating weapons to defend
themselves from attackers.
4. Heavy Cavalry: heavily armed and armored men on
horses. Their primary role was to engage in direct combat
with enemy forces.
5. Light Cavalry: lightly armed and lightly armored men on
horses. Their missions were primarily reconnaissance,
skirmishing, and communications.
6. 昼短苦夜长，何不秉烛游 A line from 《生年不满百》
7. The days are short, and the nights are long. Why not
hold a candle for a leisure walk? (i.e., make merry while you
can).
8.
9. 酒囊 wine bag or pouch, a portable water bag typically
made out of animals’ hide.
10. ~子 the -zi is a suffix that means child, or sonny. 桃子
Taozi, as a word itself, means ‘peach’.
11. (四)品 (Fourth) Grade; Officials were classified in nine
hierarchic grades, with grade one being the highest rank.
Their salaries ranged according to their rank.
12. 上(早)朝 Attend court sessions. Court sessions held in the
morning for the Emperor to discuss state affairs with his
ministers. It was typically held daily, but occasionally varied
from Emperor to Emperor.

13.
14. 暖手 a small portable hand warmer that looks like a little
pot. Also known as tangpozi (汤婆子).
15.
16. 斩立决 Immediate execution by decapitation. Executions
that could be immediately carried out in the Ming and Qing
Dynasties without waiting for the Autumn Trial (judicial
hearing of capital cases during Ming and Qing) and Imperial
Trial.
17. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
18. 斩监候 Delayed execution of convicts on death row.
Convicts of serious crimes were temporarily imprisoned, with
their cases reviewed after the Autumn Trial (judicial hearing
of capital cases during Ming and Qing) and Imperial Trial.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 38 : MILITARY DISCIPLINE

The snow fell for three or four days. Xiao Chiye became lazy to
the point he hardly went to the military drill grounds. He had
recently made the acquaintance of several Longyou merchants1
and purchased some valuables such as pearls imported from
Yongquan Harbor and jasper produced from Hezhou, all of which
were exquisite items.
Li Jianheng was very diligent now. No matter how cold the
weather was, he would attend court sessions as usual and ask Hai
Liangyi to give lectures every day. When he saw Xiao Chiye
neglecting his tasks, he would also exhort him a word or two. He
seemed as if he genuinely had a change of heart.
Xiao Chiye was glad to see the change in him. He hunted two
deers from Mount Feng and presented them to the palace.
Frightened by the donkey roast the last time, Li Jianheng kept wild
creatures at arm’s length and bestowed the deers to Hai Liangyi
instead.
It was soon to be the end of the year, when the sacrificial
ceremony2 and officials’ banquet were major events. The Six
Ministries and Twenty-four Yamen of the Imperial Palace were all up
to their neck in work. The Directorate of Ceremonial lacked
manpower, and there were many matters that they could not get a
grasp on, so they still had to ask Li Jianheng. Li Jianheng was
baffled when it came to these matters too, so he had to trouble Hai
Liangyi and the Ministry of Rites to decide every time.
It began to grow busy in Qudu. When Li Jianheng saw that Xiao
Chiye had nothing to do, he gave him an important job and
handed him the task of reviewing the Eighth Great Training
Divisions’ roster. This way, Qudu’s patrols and defenses fell
completely into Xiao Chiye’s hands.
Xiao Chiye could not turn it down, so he had no choice but to
start busying around.
Shen Zechuan followed Xiao Chiye as the latter bustled about.
Consequently, that made it inevitable for him to run into the
Imperial Army.
 Tantai Hu had yet to remove his blades after his patrol ended
this one day. When he returned to the office, he saw Shen Zechuan
standing outside. He rubbed his frozen, scarred face and strode
over.
Shen Zechuan turned his head and watched as Tantai Hu
moved menacingly towards him.
“Shen the Eighth?” Tantai Hu stopped in his tracks and said
coldly to Shen Zechuan. “Shen Wei is your old man, right?”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Are you looking for my old man or for
me?”
“Of course, I’m looking for you. Shen Wei has already been
fucking burned to ashes.” Tantai Hu paced around Shen Zechuan
and said, “Your days in Qudu are still comfortable. Look at this
figure. It’s comparable to the courtesans in Donglong Street. The
pampered kind with an appetite for food and wine.”
Hearing his tone, Shen Zechuan knew that he did not come
with good intentions. Chen Yang said nothing beside him, while
the Imperial Army in the courtyard all craned their necks to watch
the show.
Tantai Hu continued, “Perky ass and a slender willow waist. Rosy
peach blossom cheeks and foxy eyes. In Xiangyun Villa, you’d be a
first-class top courtesan material. Why are you running around in
the wind and snow with our Viceroy instead of living the good
life?”
Tantai Hu stood fixed in place and stared daggers at Shen
Zechuan. He continued, “It was only because Shen Wei licked the
hooves of the Libei Armored Cavalry horses five years ago that the
Six Prefectures of Zhongbo did not turn into manure pits for the
Biansha Twelve Tribes’ horses. And now you are also learning from
your old man. Which part of our Viceroy are you going to lick? The
brothel prostitutes are all great talents skilled in a certain technique
once they let down the bed curtains. What skill do you have that
makes you worthy of standing together today with all the men who
have fought battles?”
Shen Zechuan said with a smile, “If I’m not worthy, then is the
Vice Commander going to revoke my authority token and drive me
out of the courtyard?”
 “Why would I want to waste that much effort?” Tantai Hu said,
“You are the dog at our Imperial Army’s doors. Even a kick is an
honor to you. It’s also on account of the Viceroy that I’m here
saying a few words to you. Since you have become another man’s
‘thing’, then you must have the cognizance of being an object.”
“I hung up the Imperial Bodyguards authority token on the Son
of Heaven’s3 orders. And that means I’m here on official business.
How is that being someone else’s ‘thing’?” Shen Zechuan said. “If
I’m the Imperial Army’s dog, then all of you sirs aren’t that different
either. We are all men receiving a salary from the imperial court
walking around Qudu. If there is any awareness to be had, then
everyone must work with one mind and heart to be enlightened.”
Tantai Hu’s tiger-like eyes widened in a stare as he held up his
twin blades and fumed, “You, the same as us? Disrespectful Shen
dog! Back then, I was the Senior Battalion Commander of the
Dengzhou Garrison Troops of Zhongdu.” He strode a sudden step
forward and seethed with hatred. “At that time, when Chashi River
was defeated, my brothers were in the Chashi sinkhole! Do you
know what a sight that was? Men shot alive with arrows until they
turned into hedgehogs! Forty thousand men buried together in the
sinkhole! Forty thousand men!”
Shen Zechuan’s expression remained unchanged.
Tantai Hu said, “My old man and mother were in Dengzhou too.
The Biansha Cavalry came attacking, and that traitor Shen fled,
abandoning all the old, weak, women, and children in Dengzhou
like my parents to the Biansha Cavalry! They massacred the cities
one after another. My younger sister was dragged by the Biansha
Cavalry for two li 4 before she was raped and slaughtered at the city
gates! But you are living such a carefree life with no need to worry
about the necessities! Just stick out your ass for others to fuck, and
any sin you are guilty of can be pardoned!”
The cold wind blew in the courtyard. Chen Yang saw that the
situation was getting out of hand and wanted to stop him, but it
was already too late.
Tantai Hu lifted Shen Zechuan by the collar and said, infuriated,
“How dare you talk back when I’m lecturing you today? You are all
young masters used to a life of luxury. How would you know exactly
how many people died in that battle? How would you know there
are still countless people who have starved to death in Zhongbo
even in this day and age?! How’s life in Qudu, huh? You sleep well,
live well, and there are always people absolving you of sin one after
another. Then what about those people in Zhongbo who have
died? Who is going to be held accountable for their deaths?!”
Shen Zechuan grabbed hold of Tantai Hu’s arm and suddenly
flung him over to the ground. It was such a shocking move that
everyone around them retreated in unison.
Shen Zechuan rubbed two handfuls of snow and looked at
Tantai Hu. He said, “Who? Ask your own people. It took an entire
month for the Biansha Cavalry to enter our territory and moved
along the banks of Chashi River to Dengzhou. When Shen Wei
cowered back from battle, you iron-willed, valiant men should have
broken his neck and dispatched troops to fortify defenses.”
Shen Zechuan stood up.
“Even if you humiliate me and hate me, it’s no skin off my nose.
This world calls for repaying a debt of blood with blood. Killing me
is thus considered enforcing justice on behalf of heaven and
appeasing public wrath.” He spat at Tantai Hu and smiled
maliciously. “What a fucking load of crap. The one who massacred
the cities is the Biansha Cavalry. They are also the one who killed
those forty thousands soldiers. You want to screw me, Shen
Zechuan, then get your ass straight first and wash the Biansha
Cavalry’s piss off your head. My life is lowly, and my death is not to
be regretted. But will my death write off the Biansha Cavalry’s
debts?”
Tantai Hu said, “Don’t you fucking try to absolve yourself from
guilt! Wasn’t your old man the one who let the Biansha Cavalry into
the territories?!”
“Then kill me.” Shen Zechuan raised a finger to make a slashing
motion across his neck. “Please, hurry and kill me. Kill me, and the
Shen traitor’s bloodline will be severed.”
Tantai Hu suddenly stood up, pulled out his twin blades, and
pounced on Shen Zechuan.
Having just woken up, Ding Tao had only just strode through
the door when he saw what was happening. Alarmed, he shouted,
“Laohu,5 don’t hurt him! I have to keep watch on him!”
Tantai Hu was already beyond listening. He slashed out with his
twin blades and sent the wind whistling. Ding Tao leaped three
feet6 high, intending to charge in, but Gu Jin lifted him by his back
collar to stop him from going.
“Laohu’s entire family died in Zhongbo.” Gu Jin said. “You can’t
expect him to let Shen Zechuan off.”
Ding Tao said, “But wasn’t the culprit Shen Wei? What does it
have to do with Shen Zechuan?!”
Gu Jin hesitated for a moment, but did not continue the
conversation.
Tantai Hu’s blade sliced the air before Shen Zechuan’s face, and
Shen Zechuan spun around to kick his blade-holding wrist askew.
As soon as Tantai Hu’s arm went numb, he hurled his blade out.
Right at that time, the curtain to the office was lifted. Yang
Zongzhi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, stared at the blade
with widened eyes as it came hurtling towards him.
Chen Yang instantly raised his arm in an attempt to grab the
hilt. But who would expect Xiao Chiye to be faster? With a swing of
his sheath, he struck the blade down into the snow.
The steel blade stabbed into the ground with force so violent it
shocked the entire courtyard of Imperial Army into kneeling. They
said in unison, “Viceroy, please pardon our offense!”
Ignoring them, Xiao Chiye hung his blade back and raised his
hand to lift the curtain for Yang Zongzhi. With an apologetic smile,
he said, “I failed to discipline my subordinates and have thus
caused alarm to Vice Minister Yang.”
How would Yang Zongzhi dare to linger? After concurring
awkwardly for a couple of times, he hurried out of the courtyard,
got into his horse carriage, and slipped away without even wanting
anyone to see him off.
Once Xiao Chiye was done seeing him off, he turned back to
look at the entire courtyard of kneeling men.
Knowing that he was in the wrong, Chen Yang hastened to say,
“Viceroy, it’s this subordinate who has been negligent in my
supervision and didn’t—”
 “You’ve watched the show long enough.” As Xiao Chiye spoke,
Meng landed on his shoulder. He took out some white meat and
fed it to the gyrfalcon, saying only, “Zhao Hui wouldn’t do such a
thing.”
Chen Yang’s face turned white.
Xiao Chiye did not reprove Chen Yang as he stood before the
others, because Chen Yang was his chief of guards and his trusted
aide. He could not give Chen Yang a slap in the face right under
the watchful eyes of the men, since that would make him lose his
standing among his Imperial Army brothers and make him unable
to hold his head up before them. But these words of his cut Chen
Yang’s heart the deepest.
Chen Yang and Zhao Hui were both men with good potential
that Xiao Fangxu selected himself. Zhao Hui was calm and steady,
and his meritorious military deeds were innumerable as he
followed under Xiao Jiming’s command. He was a deputy general
whom few would dare to show displeasure to when he came to
Qudu. Meanwhile, Chen Yang had remained behind in the Libei
Prince Manor until he finally followed Xiao Chiye five years ago. He
was prudent, and he was most fearful of others saying that he was
inferior to Zhao Hui. This was a contest between them brothers of
the same clan.
And Xiao Chiye’s words today not only gave him a wake-up
call, but also made him extremely ashamed.
“When I took over as the viceroy five years ago, it was said that
the Imperial Army was all a bunch of rotten ruffians who gave scant
regard to military discipline and rules and who held the viceroy in
contempt.” Xiao Chiye stroked Meng and said, “I can’t lead these
kinds of soldiers. If you want to remain in the Imperial Army, either
you buck up and abide by the rules, or you pack up and scram right
now.”
Tantai Hu’s chest heaved as he said indignantly, “It’s as what
the Viceroy said. We have all listened to you in the past. But what is
he? Can he even be called a soldier? I’m appointed the Vice
Commander, and I’m several grades higher than him. Was it
wrong of me to lecture him? I may feed myself with this job, but no
way am I going to bend myself over for someone who sells his
ass!”
“The authority token he’s hanging on his waist is of the Imperial
Bodyguards. And now he is on the job as a guard. If you can sit in
my position before giving him the attitude, then you’d have proven
yourself capable. “Xiao Chiye lowered his eyes to look at him. “You
think you aren’t in the wrong?”
Tantai Hu straightened up his neck and said, “That’s right!”
“Then why stay on and suffer indignities?” Xiao Chiye said,
“Leave.’
Tantai Hu suddenly raised his head in disbelief. “For this man,
the Viceroy wants to remove me from office?!”
“There shall be no personal grudges in the Imperial Army. So
don’t fucking try to play matchmaker. I’m not doing this for
anyone.” Xiao Chiye lowered his voice. “I have the final say in the
Imperial Army. Since you can make your own decisions, then why
call me Viceroy? Strip off this armor and remove these twin steel
blades, then you are free to demand repayment for any blood debt
you are owed. If you can take him down within three moves, I, Xiao
Ce’ an, will immediately kowtow to you and acknowledge my
mistake. But when you don this armor and hang up the Imperial
Army’s token on your waist, then you can only obey me. Every one
of you here had a great show to watch today. You trample all over
my dignity to your great delight. You have backbone. You’re gutsy
enough. So what’s there for us to talk about military discipline?
Wouldn’t it be much more gratifying for all of you to scram and
become the Kings of the Mountains7 instead?!”
Everyone lowered their heads and dared not say a word more.
Meng finished eating his meat and raised his head high to stare at
them.
Xiao Chiye said, “Don’t you usually like to say that I’m a
muddle-headed lecher? Then I’ll do precisely that today. I’ll revoke
Tantai Hu’s authority token and send him out of the door!”
The Imperial Army said in unison, “Viceroy, please be
appeased!”
Tantai Hu would not admit his mistake. He pulled the authority
token off with a trembling hand and said, “As brothers with the
Viceroy, I’ve received the Viceroy’s kindness these five years, and
I’m even willing to lay down my life for the Viceroy! But what wrong
am I guilty of today? The Viceroy wants to break my heart and
dismiss me from my post because of a pretty man. Fine! I, Tantai
Hu, concede defeat!”
With that, he placed his authority token and helmet together on
the ground and kowtowed thrice — thud, thud, thud — to Xiao
Chiye. Then he rose to his feet and stripped off his armor. Wearing
only his inner garment,8 he looked at Shen Zechuan.
“I’ll see how long you can survive by seducing those you serve!9
I will naturally seek vengeance on the Biansha baldies in the days
to come. But you won’t be able to run either!”
Tantai Hu wiped his eyes and cupped his fists to everyone
around him.
“My brothers, we shall meet again!”
Then he strode a step forward and left for real.

Footnotes
1. 龙游商人 Longyou merchants, from the Longyou Group
(龙游商帮), were famous merchants during the Ming and
Qing dynasties for its operations in jewelry, book publishing,
and paper-making industries.
2. 祭祀 offering of sacrifices to the gods or ancestors
3. 天子 Son of Heaven, refers to the Emperor.
4. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
5. 老虎 Laohu, or Old Hu (after the Hu in Tantai Hu name),
but Laohu is also a word for tiger. (the Hu 虎 in Tantai Hu
means tiger.)
6. 尺 a Chinese foot. 1 Chinese foot = one-third of a meter
7. 山大王 literally, King of the Mountains, i.e., bandits.
8.
9. 里衣 (or also 中衣) This is the set of garment people
in ancient days wore under their outer robes. They
usually sleep in this.
10. 以色侍人 from 以色事人, which refers to using one’s
own beauty to win the adoration and favors of men.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 39 : WOLF & TIGER

A charcoal fire burned in the hall, making the room hot.

Chen Yang had already been kneeling for a little less than an
hour. Xiao Chiye sat at the head seat reading military books.
Imperial Army generals of all ranks were also kneeling beyond the
curtain. It was silent, both on the inside and outside.
As the saying goes, “if the general has yet to have the prestige
to speak of, then he should first awe and intimidate to boost his
prestige.”1 When Xiao Chiye took over the Imperial Army five years
ago, he had put on an initial show of strength and power upon
assuming office. What he wanted was the absolute authority to
command this pack of heroes. In these five years, he had been fair
in meting out rewards and punishments. He never skimped on the
money that was meant to be paid out to the Imperial Army. Not
only did he not give less, he even spent much more to make up for
any deficiency. He was very generous to his subordinates. Yet, that
cloak of his was still the same one his eldest sister-in-law had sent
over three years ago.
The Autumn Hunt enabled the Imperial Army to hold their
heads high. It put them in the limelight, overshadowing the Eight
Great Training Divisions. For a moment, they had the world at their
feet. These soldiers, who have been oppressed for a long time in
Qudu, used to put on a submissive front before the Eight Great
Training Divisions. Now, they even dared to boss the Eight Great
Training Divisions around.
This was not a good sign. Complacency would lead one to get
too carried away by success.
Xiao Chiye needed an opportunity to knock some senses into
the Imperial Army. And the Tantai Hu today was it.
Chen Yang did not dare to raise his head. Xiao Chiye rapped
on the table, and Chen Yang immediately got up to refill the tea for
Xiao Chiye. Once the cup was filled, he kneeled back down again.
Xiao Chiye never said a word the entire night, so Chen Yang
kneeled on the ground all night.
 Many words, left unsaid, could make one feel more ashamed
than if it had been said.
Xiao Chiye had to attend morning court the next day. After
dressing and tidying himself up, he said to Chen Yang, “There’s no
need to follow me today. Take a break.”
Chen Yang had kneeled until both his legs were numbed. With
his hands on the ground, he kowtowed and said in a hoarse voice,
“Master…”
He had always addressed Xiao Chiye as Viceroy. This call came
right from the heart.
Sure enough, Xiao Chiye stopped in his tracks. But still, he did
not look back.
Chen Yang kowtowed again and said, “I implore Master to
punish me.”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand to signal to those waiting upon him
to leave. It was only when there was no one else in the hall that he
turned aside to look at Chen Yang. “If a man has done nothing
wrong, then what punishment is there to speak of?”
The sweat on Chen Yang’s forehead dripped past his eyes.
“This subordinate has realized the errors of his ways.” He said.
After a long silence, Xiao Chiye said, “These years, Zhao Hui
has followed dage on war expeditions to the frontier. He has been
climbing the ranks. Within five years, he should receive his own
residence and a conferred title. You are both good men Father
himself picked out. Why is it that he, Zhao Hui, could have that kind
of honor and glory while you, Chen Yang, have to follow and rot
away with a hoodlum?”
Chen Yang’s lips paled. He said, “How would this subordinate
dare to think so? The Hereditary Prince has his own strengths. But
it’s Master who is my pillar! Zhao Hui and I are both brothers of the
same clan. We share weal and woe together.”
“It’d be best if you truly understand this principle.” Xiao Chiye
said, “Brothers who fight among themselves and family who draw
swords at each other2 are all rotten to the core. Outsiders don’t
even have to make their moves for you to meet your end before
them. You followed me and remained in Qudu, leaving all the
matters back at home to Zhao Hui to look after. His younger sister
married the Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, and you are the
one who filled in the role of family from her maternal home and
backed her during Spring Festival3 and other festivities. You can
contend with will and spirit if you want to make great contributions
and accomplish great tasks, but not so when it comes to moral
principles. It’s having righteous ardor and heroic spirit that makes a
good man. What’s your fear and hurry to compete with him? Zhao
Hui wouldn’t do what happened yesterday, because he has dage’s
dignity to consider. You are now the chief of the Imperial Army’s
guards, yet you still need to rely on that bit of trick to inspire
confidence in others. For that bit for gratification, you would even
let others trample over your Master’s dignity. Tantai Hu came from
Zhongbo. You know that. But you still swapped him to yesterday’s
roster so that he could vent his anger and resentment. So, what is
it, Chen Yang? Have you been following me to fool around to the
point that you now have to play games like this to win others over?
For this moment of satisfaction, you would not even hesitate to
dent your Master’s dignity.”
Stung by remorse and self-reproach, Chen Yang lowered his
head and said, “I’ve let Master down—”
“You’ve let yourself down.” Xiao Chiye suddenly said in an
indifferent voice, “Come back on rotational duty once you’ve
figured it out. Let Gu Jin follow me these few days.”
Dazed, Chen Yang kneeled on the ground and raised his head
to watch as Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain and stepped out.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan finally had a night of sleep last night. At present,
he was standing beside the horse carriage, puffing out warm air as
he watched the gyrfalcon hover in the snowy sky.
Xiao Chiye stepped out of the door and got up the horse
carriage. Gu Jin took the horsewhip and looked at Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan did not look at him. The curtain partially opened,
and Xiao Chiye signaled to him with his eyes.
Shen Zechuan immediately felt the stares on his back as the
Imperial Army who had been freezing in the courtyard the entire
night all looked at him. He smiled at Xiao Chiye, then made his
way up.
 Gu Jin drove, and the carriage started to sway.
Xiao Chiye handed a hand warmer4 to Shen Zechuan. When
Shen Zechuan accepted it, Xiao Chiye stuck the back of his hand to
the back of Shen Zechuan’s hand.
“So cold.” Xiao Chiye said.
Shen Zechuan raised his finger to push away Xiao Chiye’s
hand. He leaned against the wall and held the hand warmer.
Xiao Chiye said, “You don’t look too happy.”
Shen Zechuan warmed up his hands and said, “I’m happy.” He
looked at Xiao Chiye and said with a smile, “It makes me happy
that the Second Young Master spoke up for me and helped me out
of a predicament.”
Xiao Chiye said, “This Second Young Master did not do it for
anyone.”
“That may be so.” Shen Zechuan said, “Now that the prestige
has been established, then when are you going to bestow them
favors?5 There aren’t many days left for me to be a guard. If you
want to use me, you must hurry.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and said nothing.
Shen Zechuan lifted his chin slightly in a pose similar to a
relaxing posture. He exhaled and said after a pause, “I’m not your
match when it comes to governing others. Shen Lanzhou is a good
target. Put him before you, and you can defend yourself and put on
a deliberate show of strength to intimidate the tiger.6 Maybe he can
even warm your bed. This kind of killing three birds with one stone
is truly hard to find. Xiao’Er, you sure are impressive.”
There was a cacophony of human voices outside the carriage,
while the atmosphere within the carriage grew increasingly heavy.
Both men were just a few inches apart, but they seemed to be
separated by a natural chasm. When the carriage arrived at its
destination, Gu Jin tactfully did not say a word to disturb them.
Having warmed his hands, Shen Zechuan put the hand warmer
back on the small table and said, “What a pity.”
Xiao Chiye said, “What?”
“Everyone thinks you enjoy yourself to your heart’s content
every night,” Shen Zechuan licked the tip of his teeth and said
unhurriedly to him. “Who would have known you, Xiao’Er, to be a
diligent and conscientious Liuxia Hui?7 I haven’t even touched your
saliva before, let alone talk about being fucked by you.”
With that, he made to lift the curtain and get off the carriage.
He did not expect Xiao Chiye to hook his waist belt.
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye smiled playfully. “Look at how eager
you are to cross swords on the bed. I shall comply with your wish.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I don’t want anyone with such fierce
eyes.”
The curtain swayed. He had already gotten off the carriage.
Xiao Chiye’s fingertips turned up empty. He waved them, as if
wanting for more.
◈ ◈ ◈
After Tantai Hui’s incident, the Imperial Army became less
ostentatious. All of them tucked their tails between their legs and
behaved themselves, thus reverting to the way they were before
the Autumn Hunt. Chen Yang, even more prudent now, no longer
dared to close an eye when others stirred up trouble. He had
previously hurt his foot in Libei, and the cold was harsh in Qudu a
few days later, so his foot would hurt for each day he was on duty.
One day, after dinner, Xiao Chiye threw Chen Yang several
bottles of medicinal paste. When Chen Yang went back and
opened them, they turned out to be the valuable paste that Xiao
Jiming had gotten from the Venerable Yigui a few years back. He
could not help but reproach himself again. From then on, he was
even more diligent in his work.
On the other side, Tantai Hu went home and found himself in
dire straits just a few days later. Everyone in his family was dead,
yet he had adopted three children from Zhongbo, all of whom
lived on his salary. He was not married either, so he had no wife to
manage affairs at home. All the money he received every month
was spent until nothing was left. At present, he was in a short
supply of rice and noodles, and he also had to prepare for the new
year too. He was a veteran of Dengzhou, and he had buddies in
Qudu. But all along, he had always been the one to take care of
others. Now that it was his turn, he could not bring himself to
borrow money from others, so he tightened his belt to feed the
children. But this was, after all, not a long-term solution.
 Tantai Hu was even thinking of being a loan shark and tagging
along with others to collect debts when Chen Yang appeared on
his doorsteps for a visit.
“The new year is right around the corner,” Chen Yang put down
the money and said. “The Viceroy still remembers that there are
three children in your family.”
Tantai Hu turned his face away as he sat on the chair and said,
“Since I’m no longer a soldier of the Imperial Army, then there’s no
reason for me to accept money from the Imperial Army.”
“You are truly a bonafide tiger.”8 Chen Yang said with a severe
countenance. “Why are you still pissed with the Viceroy? You struck
out at Shen Zechuan with many people watching that day. Where is
your respect for the Viceroy? Being too lax in military discipline is a
major taboo. You have been a Vice Commander for so long. Don’t
tell me you don’t understand that.”
Tantai Hu said, “What can I do? Whenever I see Shen the
Eighth, I’ll remember my parents!”
Chen Yang sighed and said, “Even so, you shouldn’t have
humiliated him and, consequently, the Viceroy too. You know the
Viceroy’s temperament after following him for a few years, so why
did you still shoot your mouth off?”
Tantai Hu rubbed his head.
Chen Yang continued, “I was at fault too. I knew you were rash,
but I didn’t stop you. Admit your mistakes if you make one, and
accept your punishment if you receive one. A real man can take
temporary setbacks and adapt to circumstances. Must you go to
the extent of quitting before you think yourself a real hero?”
“Then what can I do? I have already handed in the authority
token!” When Tantai Hu spoke to this point, he felt aggrieved and
sad, “I’ve followed the Viceroy for five years and worked myself to
the bone during the Autumn Hunt. It wasn’t easy for the Imperial
Army to finally make a name for itself. I get afraid when I see that
fox going in and out the whole day! The way he looks… I was really
afraid that the Viceroy’s future would be ruined! I was getting
anxious, and I hate him to death! Ding Tao said something about
how it’s not his fault. That’s right, who doesn’t know that? But who
could stand it if they were in my shoes? It was my parents and
siblings who died, not a dog by the roadside!”
Chen Yang was silent too.
Tantai Hu stamped heavily on the ground and wiped his face
haphazardly. The scar-faced man still shed tears when he recalled
the past. He choked with sobs and said, “Anyone would not be
happy to see a person they hate right in front of them, let alone
someone with such enmity. That year when Zhongbo troops were
defeated… Chen Yang, all of us who survived had our families
broken up and ruined, while we ourselves barely escaped by the
skin of their teeth! Who’s going to take pity on us? Look at those
three children in my house. They haven’t even begun to recognize
a few words before they were turned into orphans who have to dig
mud under the hooves of the Biansha Cavalry’s horses in order to
live. We are all lowly creatures.”
Chen Yang patted him and waited for him to calm down a little
before saying, “But now that you have joined the Imperial Army, the
Viceroy is king. Hu-zi,9 five years ago, when the Viceroy cleaned up
the Imperial Army, he had wanted to take in non-native military
households10 like you guys, but the Ministry of War did not agree.
Do you still remember what the Viceroy said?”
Taitai Hu’s shoulders shook slightly.
Chen Yang continued, “Isn’t the reason you still want to be a
soldier today because of what the Viceroy said that day—‘The feuds
of our families has yet to be avenged, and the humiliation of our
nation has yet to be redressed’? The Imperial Army will one day
ride the horses out of the mountain pass. Isn’t killing the enemies
with your own hands then much more gratifying than blaming
another man today? How is it that you’ve forgotten this all with the
passage of time?!”
Tantai Hu said, “How would I dare to forget? I’ve never
forgotten it for even a day. I gave this life to the Viceroy to use as he
wished, all for that one day to come.”
“Then it’s all good, isn’t it?” Chen Yang got up and pushed the
money to Tantai Hu. “Brothers don’t bear each other overnight
grudges. The Viceroy treats us as brothers. This money is from the
Viceroy himself. After you’ve celebrated the Spring Festival, return
to your original squad, hang up the Squad Commander authority
token, and do your duties well.”
With mixed feelings, Tantai Hu saw Chen Yang out of the door.
When Chen Yang returned, he saw Shen Zechuan. Both men
greeted each other on the veranda. As he lifted the curtain and
went in, Shen Zechuan knew that the matter was done.
Shen Zechuan was bored to death as he watched the falling
snow.
A vicious man11 like this could be disguised as fake even if he
was real, and be made real even if he was fake. Others simply
would not be able to tell whether the expression he put on was
happiness or anger, nor would they be able to tell if he was being
sincere or hypocritical.
It did not take long before Chen Yang came out again. He lifted
the curtain, nodded at Shen Zechuan, and said, “The Viceroy is
waiting inside for you to have a meal together.”
Shen Zechuan turned around and saw Xiao Chiye looking at
him.

Footnotes
1. 将威未行, 则先振之以威 “If the general has yet to have the
prestige to speak of, he should first use forceful means to
build up his prestige.” From Jixiao Xinshu; New Treatise on
Effective Military Discipline 《纪效新书》 by Qi Jiguang (戚继
光). It is a military treatise or manual written in 1560 by Qi
Jiguang, a Ming Dynasty General famous for defending
China from the Japanese pirates’ invasion.
2. 兄弟阋墙，同室操戈 both practically mean internal strife.
3. Spring Festival, which celebrates the start of the new year
from the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar.
4.
5. 暖手 a small portable hand warmer that looks like a little
pot. Also known as tangpozi (汤婆子).

6.
7. Refer to footnote #1, about the military strategy “if the
general has yet to have the prestige to speak of, then he
should first awe and intimidate to boost his prestige.” The
next steps following this would be to use kindness to win
them over and make friends with them in good faith. Only
then will the soldiers work hard for you. From Jixiao Xinshu;
New Treatise on Effective Military Discipline 《纪效新书》 by
Qi Jiguang (戚继光).
8. 震虎 from 敲山震虎 put on a deliberate show of strength
as a warning. The tiger here refers to Tantai Hu (and also the
rest of the Imperial Army by extension).
9. 柳下惠 Liuxia Hui, also Zhan Huo, was a man of eminent
virtue, and was said on one occasion to have held a lady in
his lap without the slightest imputation on his moral
character (mentioned in Chapter 31)
10. 虎 is literally tiger (also the Hu in Tantai Hu), but it’s also a
northeast dialect (虎了吧唧) to describe people who are
particularly dumb and would do things without thinking,
speak without thinking, etc. So Chen Yang is also saying he’s
a fool.
11. ~子 the -zi is a suffix that means child, or sonny.
12. 军户 One of the three households sorted according to
their occupation: civilian (民户), military (军户), and
craftsman.
13. 狼虎 literally wolf and tiger (or predators), also refers to a
vicious and ruthless person
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 40 : TEARING & BITING

Fresh vegetables were a rare sight in winter, and so the ones

that fetched a high price in Qudu now were all green vegetables.
Having been rewarded by Li Jianheng, Xiao Chiye’s dinner table
tonight included a plate of crisp, shredded cucumber.
“Side dishes that accompany the main dishes help to
invigorate the spleen and eliminate toxins.”1 Xiao Chiye scooped
up a bowl of hot soup and pushed it towards Shen Zechuan.
“You’ve been standing outside for so long. Warm yourself up and
have a refreshing meal before you take a rest.”
“As the saying goes,” Shen Zechuan wiped his hands and took
a seat. “One who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil
intentions.2 So, what instructions does the Second Young Master
have?”
“Plenty.” Xiao Chiye said. “We’ll talk as we eat.”
Both men lifted their chopsticks together.
There was no one else inside the room. The two bowls of rice
were quickly eaten clean, as was the plate of shredded cucumber
that they split between themselves. Neither of them touched the
meat dishes.
“The Spring Festival3 is right around the corner, and my shifu is
coming to the capital.” Xiao Chiye drank the soup. “If Ji Gang-shifu
is free, we can arrange for both elders to meet.”
“A new year celebration, or a Hongmen banquet?4 You have to
make it clear.” Shen Zechuan set down the chopsticks. “My shifu
doesn’t stake his life on games.”
“New year celebration.” Xiao Chiye said. “There are only both of
them left in this generation, and they have not seen each other in
so many years.”
“Sure. I’ll prepare a big gift later and ask shifu to come out of
obscurity.” Shen Zechuan had eaten his fill.
Seeing him get up, Xiao Chiye said, “Rest in my room as usual
tonight.”
Shen Zechuan looked back and smiled as he said, “Naturally, I
won’t run. We’ll take our turns in the bath. Take your time. I’ll go
first. “
With that, he lifted the curtain and headed inside to wash his
face and rinse his mouth.
Xiao Chiye called for the servants to clear the table. As he stood
by the window, he saw that it was snowing outside. He turned his
head and saw Shen Zechuan’s silhouette through the hazy curtain
fabric.
Shen Zechuan removed his outer garment. It was as if he was
peeling away a layer of coarse shell to reveal the fresh, tender, and
succulent flesh within. When he lowered his head to undo his waist
belt, the curve of his nape danced with tangerine-yellow light as if
to add a velvety touch of exquisiteness to that already smooth part.
Looking at him through the curtain fabric was just like
scratching an itch through a boot. It magnified that temptation,
which was brimming with desire, and scattered it, sending it
wandering aimlessly through his limbs and bones. It tickled him so
badly that it made him irritable and gave him certain violent
thoughts. The man being like jade himself counted for nothing.
What bothered Xiao Chiye the most was Shen Zechuan’s desire.
That pair of eyes. And that kind of smile. Whether by design or
accident, he seemed to exude such a sexual desire.
“Come and hug me.”
“Come and touch me.”
“Come and sweat it out with me to your heart’s content.”
This desire was as unaggressive as a drizzle, but unbeknownst
to him, it had invaded his mind. Shen Zechuan himself seemed
oblivious to it. He retained another kind of indifference that was
diametrically opposed to lust as he breezily threw out this
contradictory puzzle for others to think about.
Xiao Chiye did not want to continue to think. He was keenly
aware that the “eagle” this time was not that easy to tame. He could
only be his own master; he could not tolerate himself getting so
easily and repeatedly aroused by his impulses.
Xiao Chiye turned back his head, closed the window, and went
to the bath hall.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Both men slept on each side with a block in between. Their
backs were to each other, and their breathing was steady as if they
had already fallen asleep.
Xiao Chiye kept close to his thumb ring and thought of many
matters.
This thumb ring did not belong to him. At first, it belonged to
Feng Yisheng of the Suotian Pass. When Feng Yisheng died in
battle, he left the thumb ring to Zuo Qianqiu. Wearing this thumb
ring, Zuo Qianqiu made a name for himself during the battle at
Tianfei Watchtower, where he shot an arrow at his wife, killing her.
It was because of this that Zuo Qianqiu’s hair turned white, and
also because of this that he never recovered from the setback. He
had achieved fame and glory, but the person was dead. There was
no way Zuo Qianqiu could go on the battlefield again. His hands,
which once made significant achievements at Tianfei Watchtower,
could no longer wield the bow freely.
As a child, Xiao Chiye had followed Zuo Qianqiu to ask him,
“How did you end up shooting your wife to death?”
Zuo Qianqiu sanded the bowstring and asked, “Do you really
want to be a general?”
Xiao Chiye nodded.
Zuo Qianqiu said, “Then don’t start a family. A general dying in
a hundred battles is actually not that terrifying. What’s terrifying is
that the general, in all likelihood, will come to be confronted with
choices. What you want, and what you must shoulder, are all
different things.”
Zuo Qianqiu looked at the bow in desolation. The grassland
wind caressed his white hair. He said in a daze, “I hope you will
never be trapped in such a desperate situation. When a man
reaches that stage, he will die no matter what he chooses.”
“You saved tens of thousands of people at Tianfei Watchtower.”
Xiao Chiye leaned over the railing. “Why didn’t you want to be
conferred a title?”
Zuo Qianqiu laughed and said, “Because I died in battle.”
It was not until Xiao Chiye grew up to be a youth that he
understood Zuo Qianqiu’s words. In the battle at Tianfei
Watchtower, Zuo Qianqiu’s beloved wife was taken prisoner.
Between opening the gates to surrender, or shutting the gates to
fight to the death, he could only choose one.
Zuo Qianqiu chose neither. He headed out of the city all by
himself and drew his bow to shoot his beloved wife to death.
Legend had it that the shot was the most steady shot he had
ever fired in his life. He hit his target among countless people. The
rain was pouring that night. No one knew if he had cried himself
hoarse, or when his hair turned white. When the soldiers retreated
at dawn, Zuo Qianqiu stood upon the white expanse of bones to
collect his wife’s corpse and bury her.
From then on, his reputation of “Thunder Sinking the Jade
Stage, Zuo Qianqiu” spread far and wide. Those who respected
him would also curse him behind his back. A man who was that
heartless would only make the common man think of him as a
scourge, as if generals like him were all naturally born to be this
cold-blooded.
Xiao Chiye treasured this thumb ring very much. But he also
feared it. He was afraid that he would one day be caught in a
dilemma too. So he had never spoken of ‘like’ lightly.
Chen Yang had been with him for so long, and he still did not
know what Xiao Chiye was fond of. The wine he loved. The food he
liked. The clothing he preferred. The truth was so mixed up with
falsehood that no one could really tell.
Libei, Libei!
It was as if only this word was the destiny he had no way of
hiding. He already had a taste of being in someone else’s control
because of desire. So how could he court trouble for himself again?
Xiao Chiye sat up soundlessly and looked at Shen Zechuan. He
raised his hand. He just had to exert some force, and he could
smother this desire to death.
Shen Zechuan looked like he was having a nightmare. As he
frowned, his temples were both drenched in a cold sweat. His back
was already a little damp.
Xiao Chiye bent over to look at him and saw a Shen Zechuan
he had never seen before.
Shen Zechuan was trapped in the tide of blood. He was soaking
wet all over. He touched himself. It was blood. The dream repeated
itself every single day. He felt as if he was going mad.
All of a sudden, Shen Zechuan gave a few subtle twitches. His
tightly pursed lips slowly loosened apart to mutter something in his
sleep amid his outbreak of cold sweat.
He was this helpless.
Something else from that deep, heavy fear suddenly dawned
on Xiao Chiye. He scrutinized Shen Zechuan, like a massive beast
observing its prey.
Shen Zechuan was not invulnerable. Other than that
unexplainable probing and dreading of each other, what they had
was an even more inexplicable empathy between fellow sufferers.
Shen Zechuan felt weary. He would no longer cry in his dreams,
or strive to dig through the corpses. He had seen through the
nightmare. He knew Ji Mu was dead.
Hurry up.
It was as if Shen Zechuan was an apathetic bystander.
Let’s get this over and done with.
He urged it on brutally and ruthlessly, even wanting this blood
to spill even more, and this snow to fall even harder. How else
could he lay bare this nightmare? He no longer had any fear. This
flesh and marrow had already been soaked rotten in the blood! He
was a stray dog feeding on rotting flesh. The filthy water and
abhorrence were merely evidence of his existence.
Shen Zechuan suddenly opened his eyes and reached out to
put his hands against Xiao Chiye’s chest. In just a few moments, he
asked calmly while dripping with cold sweat, “Can’t sleep?”
Xiao Chiye’s chest was scalding hot. He could feel the iciness of
Shen Zechuan’s palms through the thin fabric. He replied, “I ate too
much.”
Shen Zechuan said, “A timid person would have been scared to
death if he saw a person right upon opening his eyes in the middle
of the night.”
“I heard you calling me,” Xiao Chiye said without batting an
eyelid. “I have to determine if you were cursing me.”
“If I curse you, it wouldn’t be in my dreams.” Scalded by Xiao
Chiye’s body temperature, Shen Zechuan wanted to retract his
fingers.
 Unexpectedly, Xiao Chiye pressed his hands back and asked,
“Are you cold?”
Shen Zechuan’s temples were still soaked. He smiled and said,
“Yeah. I’m so cold.”
He had reverted to that seductive Shen Lanzhou. He did not
care the least whether Xiao Chiye had been tempted. This kind of
ability was innate; it came to him naturally. He was a scum.
Xiao Chiye gripped his hands and pinned them down at the
head of the bed. Sniffing his scent in the darkness, he said, “You
sleep in my bed. You know very well what I think of every night. You
said that I’m impressive. Shen Lanzhou, the impressive one is you. “
“Uh… what’s to be done then?” Shen Zechuan still sounded a
little hoarse. He said nonchalantly, “I didn’t do anything.”
“I want to do it.” Xiao Chiye bent his head down to stare at him.
“I want to do you.”
“Choose some other ways to let me die.” Shen Zechuan let him
clasped both of his hands together. “It’s too much of a failure to die
in bed.”
“I changed my mind.” Xiao Chiye caressed aside Shen
Zechuan’s damp hair with a freed hand and looked at him as if he
was scrutinizing a jewel he had bought. “I don’t want you to die.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I’d advise you not to bite this neck.”
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye said his name with a sigh and jested,
“Will you let me off even if I didn’t?”
Shen Zechuan looked at him.
Xiao Chiye asked, “Is it such a pleasure to tease me?”
“Yeah.” Shen Zechuan sensed Xiao Chiye gradually drawing
closer to him. “It pleasures me to see the pitiful look of a little wolf at
a loss.”
“Then, we can be even more pleasured.” Xiao Chiye said, “The
Empress Dowager has been putting up with it without making any
moves. What did she promise to give you? Throw it away. I’ll give
you much, much more.”
“Uh-huh…” Shen Zechuan laughed, “I guess freedom is not
included in the list of things you’re giving me. Xiao’Er, how is it that
you never know that everything you want is all written in your eyes.
You want to lock me up right this moment, am I right?”
 “I want to make a gold chain.” Xiao Chiye said, “It’s too much of
a pity for this neck not to be adorned with something.”
“Dog chains were originally used to leash wolves.” Shen
Zechuan was so close to Xiao Chiye that he could hear the latter’s
breathing. He said, “I want to put a gold chain around your neck
too. For each word you say, I’ll yank it once.”
“Let’s not.” Xiao Chiye raised his eyebrows. “With your salary,
you won’t be able to afford it even if you empty your pockets.”
The tips of their noses were about to bump into each other.
Xiao Chiye’s thumb ring was pressing against Zechuan’s wrist,
which had already reddened from his grip.
Xiao Chiye said, “Since it’s—”
Shen Zechuan raised his head and kissed him on the lips. Icy
derision followed right on the heels of this encounter of soft lips.
“Want to go wild with abandon?” The expression in Shen
Zechuan’s eyes was deranged as he murmured, “Do you dare? Try
tearing me apart, Xiao’Er. I don’t care.”
The tightly wound string that was Xiao Chiye’s limit snapped
with a “twang”, and those already tempestuous waves of emotions
gushed forth with a roar. Amidst this mocking and instigation, he
ruthlessly pinned down Shen Zechuan and kissed him back as if he
was biting him.
Lust interweaved with murderous intent. Hatred entangled with
pity. Exactly who between them was the more detestable and
pitiable one?
Tongues intertwined in this wet kiss, where Xiao Chiye kissed
Shen Zechuan, and Shen Zechuan gave all he could to respond.
There was the sensual sound of licking between their lips and teeth
as desire burned up two abnormal men.
Xiao Chiye suddenly released his grip on Shen Zechuan’s wrist
and supported his back up, wanting them to press against each
other intimately, skin to skin.
This was mutual loathing.
Tainting the other party with the filthy stain that was their own.
Letting hatred turn into a bond that could not be torn apart. It was
too much of an agony to live like this, being the only ones who
could hear their own howls in the night. So why not come together
and tear each other bloody? Let this visceral intimacy
metamorphose into a form of solace they could rely on.
This life was already rotten enough.

Footnotes
1. 小菜佐食，醒脾解浊 from Suiyuan Shidan, or Recipes
from the Garden of Contentment: Yuan Mei’s Manual of
Gastronomy 《随园食单》. It’s a work on cooking and
gastronomy written by the Qing Dynasty poet and scholar
Yuan Mei (袁枚).
2. 无事献殷勤，非奸即盗 rape or robbery are the “evil
intentions” specifically mentioned in the idiom
3. Spring Festival, which celebrates the start of the new year
from the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar.
4. 鸿门宴 Hongmen Banquet; a banquet set up with the aim
of murdering a guest. Refers to a famous episode in 206 BC
when future Han emperor Liu Bang (刘邦) escaped
attempted murder by his rival Xiangyu (项羽)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 41 : LANZHOU

Clothing was shoved up high, and skin that radiated out like
moonlight felt icy cold to the touch. There were no caresses, only
the tearing apart of each other. The thick, tangible night melted
away into an expanse of spring water—into a night of heated
passion and intoxicating pleasure. Xiao Chiye scooped up this
water. He struggled to prop himself up among the tidal waves of
emotions and saw Shen Zechuan’s eyes as he gasped for breath.
In this pair of eyes, there was none of the temperature of one
drowning in lust. They even reflected his absurd behavior at this
very moment.
Xiao Chiye felt a wave of thrill cutting through him like a blade.
He fondled Shen Zechuan until he made him hot—until he made
this water rage. He bound Shen Zechuan from high in the clouds
into the crooks of his arms and squashed him hard as he licked
and nipped at him wantonly. Biting down on the back of Shen
Zechuan’s neck was like taking in a mouthful of enchantment
potion1 into his mouth.
The night was thoroughly wet, and the bedding was soaked in
sweat. Intertwining limbs thrashed around on the bed, and it was in
these urgent collisions that Xiao Chiye gradually got a grasp on
happiness. He progressed swiftly, surrendering himself in that mass
of soft clouds, and hardening in the same mass of soft clouds. He
pushed up hard silently against Shen Zechuan’s vital spot, so much
that Shen Zechuan had to strain to gulp even as his raised neck
fearlessly exposed itself before Xiao Chiye’s eyes.
Xiao Chye kissed this neck and scooped up both of Shen
Zechuan’s knees. He was no longer a hypocrite untempted by lust.2
He was an ordinary man who stormed the enemy’s den and went
in for the kill in the dark. He made it impossible for Shen Zechuan
to remember the Chashi sinkhole, and made it just as impossible
for Shen Zechuan to forget this intense merging of bodies.
They had no life-saving straw to clutch at. This was a night of
indulgence to break free of their misery. Pleasure blazed through
their bodies like a raging inferno. Shen Zechuan reached out for
the headboard, and Xiao Chiye dragged him back and locked him
in an embrace.
“Go on, show me how feral you can get.” Xiao Chiye whispered,
“You want me to go wild with abandon, so how dare you run?
Don’t you want to see who is more savage? I’m not afraid.”
Shen Zechuan’s cheek chafed against the bedding as he
closed his eyes and gasped for breath. The expression of pain, of
being unable to take it, on this face was all a captivating seduction.
How did he blossom into such a visage?
Xiao Chiye pinched his chin and held it up to kiss him without
letting him pant or rest. In the time the sides on the back of his
waist3 were numbed, he ejaculated completely into him.
Shen Zechuan was still shuddering from the climactic high, but
Xiao Chiye did not stop. He turned Shen Zechuan over and thrust
in again.
The cold wind howled endlessly outside the window, and the
suppressed sounds of panting cut through the darkness. Xiao
Chiye dripped with sweat as he kissed Shen Zechuan over and over
again.
He did not want to concede defeat.
But he had already been vanquished.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye fell asleep.
The ferocity and fury in his features had all dissolved away into
a kind of displeasure from being brash. He held onto one of Shen
Zechuan’s wrist, making it seem like both men were snuggling
against each other this winter night, consequently turning those
merciless kisses into a scalding hot furnace.
Outside, the snow fell for the entire night, drifting gently like
willow catkins. The sound of wind was nowhere to be heard.
When it was nearly daybreak, Shen Zechuan extracted his wrist
from Xiao Chiye’s grip. Xiao Chiye’s fingers chased after him,
moving under the bedding.
Chen Yang, who was outside the door, saw Shen Zechuan
come out of the room.
“Military drill grounds.” Shen Zechuan said concisely.
 Chen Yang nodded. As he was about to make way, he caught a
glimpse of the injury on Shen Zechuan’s lips. He looked as if he was
about to say a word, but hesitated.
Shen Zechuan glanced at him and saw through what he was
thinking, so he said, “The Imperial Bodyguard’s reorganization
deployment order should be issued these few days. Thank you for
your kind treatment during this period of time.”
Chen Yang said, “A few days earlier—”
“What’s over is over; there’s no need to speak of it.” Shen
Zechuan was gratuitously cold today. He said, “We will all be
patrolling Qudu in the future, so it’ll be inevitable for us to bump
into each other. I’ll act with caution, and I’d advise the various
Imperial Army brothers to be prudent as well.”
Chen Yang paused.
But Shen Zechuan smiled and continued, “It hasn’t been easy
for the Imperial Army to be where they are today. But time changes,
and every dog has its day, so who can say for sure when it comes
to the future?”
Without waiting for Chen Yang to answer, he lifted his robe and
left.
Ding Tao patted the snow off his shoulders and fell over to
hang in mid-air. Swinging with his brush in his mouth, he gazed at
Shen Zechuan’s back with a frown.
On seeing this, Chen Yang asked, “What’s the matter?”
Ding Tao said: “Don’t you think he is a little sad today?”
Chen Yang turned his head to see the corner of Shen Zechuan’s
robe. He said, “Is that so? He seems fine to me. He’s smiling.”
Ding Tao fished out his book from his bosom and wrote a few
characters while suspended in mid-air. He lamented, “Maybe it was
because he had a fight with the Second Young Master last night.
That was quite the commotion from what I’ve heard.”
Feeling a little embarrassed, Chen Yang looked up and said,
“Gu Jin, didn’t you teach him about the birds and bees? From my
calculations, this lad is already sixteen. In Libei, it’d be time for him
to marry a wife.”
Gu Jin did not reply.
Chen Yang said, “Do you hear me?”
 “He has cotton stuffed in his ears!” Ding Tao stuffed the book
back into his bosom and turned back to remove the cotton in one
of Gu Jin’s ears. He shouted, “Jin-ge! Chen Yang is calling you!”
Gu Jin gave a start and nearly slipped down from above. He
shoved Ding Tao’s face away and frowned as he poked his head
out to ask, “What?”
Chen Yang pointed to Ding Tao and said, “Send him away. Sell
him and add to your wine budget this month.”
Gu Jin grasped Ding Tao by the neck and said, “He can’t sell for
much going by this weight.”
There were movements inside the room, and all three men
simultaneously fell silent. After a while, Xiao Chiye came out of the
room. As he put on his clothes, he swept a glance around, then
looked at Ding Tao.
“Dage will be coming to the capital in a few days,” Xiao Chiye’s
lips hurt a little when he spoke. He pressed his tongue against it but
gave up quickly. “There’s no need to submit reports of trivial
issues.”
Ding Tao nodded his head hard, like a little chick pecking at
grains.
After a moment’s pause, Xiao Chiye asked, “Why are you still
here?”
Ding Tao scratched the back of his head in puzzlement. He
looked at Chen Yang, then at Gu Jin, and finally back at Xiao Chiye.
He said, “Young Master, I’m on duty today.”
Xiao Chiye questioned, “Where’s the man I told you to keep an
eye on?”
Ding Tao said, “He, he already left…”
Xiao Chiye said nothing. When Chen Yang led the horse over,
Xiao Chiye flipped onto it. Just before he left, he pointed to Ding
Tao. “Throw him out.”
Ding Tao had yet to climb up the horse. Before he could react
to Xiao Chiye’s words, he was already hoisted up by Chen Yang
and Gu Jin. The color drained from his face as he clutched his little
book and said, “Please don’t. Young Master, Young Master! I did
nothing wrong these days—”
He had already been tossed out.
 After throwing him out, Chen Yang stepped forward and said,
“Master, shifu should be arriving today.”
Without saying a word more, Xiao Chiye spurred his horse on
and headed out of the city.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan did not go to the military drill grounds at Mount
Feng. Instead, he braved the snow to return to Zhao Zui Temple.
Ji Gang had not seen him for several days, so he rushed to buy
roast chicken after letting Shen Zechuan in. It had been a while
since Grand Mentor Qi last saw him too. At this moment, he was
holding a brush and squinting his eyes to write characters. On
seeing Shen Zechuan enter, he hurriedly threw the brush away and
called out to him, “Lanzhou!”
Shen Zechuan lifted his robe to sit upright opposite Grand
Mentor Qi.
Grand Mentor Qi said, “The Imperial Bodyguards’ deployment
order is about to be issued soon, right? Where do you want to go?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “The Imperial Carriages Office. Close to
the Emperor.”
Grand Mentor Qi nodded. On seeing the wound on Shen
Zechuan’s lips, he switched the topic and asked, “Has something
happen outside lately?”
After a moment of silence, Shen Zechuan said, “Now that His
Majesty has Hai Liangyi to protect him, I fear that even a hopeless
case can pose as a pillar of the state, much like a rotten wood
pretending to be a beam.4 Back then, when I saved Xiao’Er, it was
because the ascension of His Majesty to the throne was a foregone
conclusion. Killing him would, on the contrary, mess up the
chessboard.”
“A messed-up chessboard is nothing. What’s to be feared is a
messed-up heart and mind.” Grand Mentor Qi looked at him.
“Have you gained any new perspectives all these days you were
staying by Xiao the Second’s side?”
Shen Zechuan wiped the ink stains on his fingertips and
thought for a long time before saying, “It’s too much of a pity for
him to be born after Xiao Jiming. It’s fine if they can keep him
under control in this life, but if they can’t…”
 Shen Zechuan looked at Grand Mentor Qi, but did not continue
his words.
But Grand Mentor Qi said, “Lanzhou, you still don’t get it.”
Shen Zechuan was slightly stunned.
Grand Mentor Qi stood up and paced for two steps. Gazing at
the snow in the courtyard, he suddenly let out a long sigh. “You
killed Ji Lei.”
Shen Zechuan stopped wiping.
In a rare philosophical state, Grand Mentor Qi said, “Lanzhou,
we are both trapped here. We live on hatred, but we mustn’t let
ourselves be killed by hatred. Five years ago, you couldn’t have
done such an utterly ruthless act. But five years later, you can
already take charge to do such a clean and efficient job of it. I
imparted the classics to you, but I don’t want you to be
manipulated by hatred. It’s hard to be righteous when you take the
lives of the living. You won’t be able to turn back if you fall too far.
Without exorcising your inner demons, you will forever be trapped
in a nightmare. Ji Lei deserves death, and it’s still death for him
even if you end him in one slash. Think about your days in
Duanzhou. I have no wish to see you walk a cold-blooded and
cold-hearted path. You said it’s a pity Xiao Chiye was born after
Xiao Jiming. What I’m going to tell you is the exact opposite.”
“Just imagine for a moment that Ji Mu is the Hereditary Prince
of Libei today. Can there be no other reason for him to leave you in
Qudu other than a lack of alternatives?”
“The sharp edge of a treasured sword comes only by honing it.
Xiao Chiye is a sword. He has yet to notice it himself, but his elder
brother has, for many years, placed high hopes on him. Libei has
never been stingy with praises that he deserves either. If he’s a son
without a use,5 they would have chosen to dote on him to make
him happy. But Xiao Jiming not only took him to battles, he even
gave him a free hand in leading the troops. Since he’s already left
with no room for retreat, then was his handing over his younger
brother really just to make him miserable? Five years ago, in Libei,
Xiao Chiye did not know how to exercise restraint, but now, he has
already learned how to rein in his arrogance and willfulness.
Everything learned from word-of-mouth can be superficial; It’s only
those you come to understand through your own sufferings that
are the real masterstroke. Xiao Jiming is a great elder brother.
Being born after Xiao Jiming is never the most pitiful thing about
Xiao Chiye. Lanzhou, this brotherly sentiment should be something
you understand the most. Yet it has now become the brotherliness
you understand the least.”
Grand Mentor Qi paused for a long time, looking somewhat
gloomy and depressed. Then he looked at Shen Zechuan again
and kneeled to pat Shen Zechuan slowly on the head with his
wizened palm.
“Teacher taught you the classics and gave you the courtesy
name Lanzhou. Unruffled is the orchid6 that grows on stone steps.
Boundless is the horizons of the boat7 that crosses the sea of
misery. Wide is the heart that accommodates a hundred rivers, and
broad is the vision that encompasses a thousand lakes. You’re a
good child. Killing is merely a means to an end.8 Hatred may be
hard to eliminate, but your heart must never change.9 Lanzhou, oh
Lanzhou, don’t you still have your shifu and teacher? Why must you
force yourself into such a corner? It may not be a bad idea to just
voice out your unhappiness these five years.”
Shen Zechuan stared blankly at Grand Mentor Qi.
“Twenty-five years ago, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
left. How I long every day, and resent every night, for not being
able to take that blow for him, to kill the enemy with my own hands.
I stewed in resentment until I turned into this state. I became your
teacher. I.” Grand Mentor Qi choked a little with emotion. “I want
you to kill my enemy for me. But I can’t have you turn into a blade
who has forgotten who you are… You are a person, Lanzhou. Don’t
forget your carefree days in Duanzhou. Although Ji Mu died, he
didn’t die because of you. It’s Heaven’s decree. What is past is past.
You did not escape and survived the Chashi sinkhole to shoulder a
sin. You are the continuation of existence for him, for those 40,000
soldiers! Silly child, Ji Gang has been so careful, so how did he still
let you lead yourself so astray that you’d blame the wrong
person?!”
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes.
 He heard Ji Mu’s calls, and he thought of Xiao Chiye’s scent. At
this very moment, he finally understood why he was so infatuated
with that scent. That was the brilliance of the scorching sun—the
light that could allow him to escape from the Chashi sinkhole.
Even if it were only for a moment, it would allow him to forget
the tides of blood and the rain of arrows, to forget the cold and the
corpses. He could no longer remember the days in Duanzhou.
They were too distant. So distant that they seemed to be the
memories of his past life. He could no longer even recall Ji Mu’s
heartily laughing face. He had plunged into a nightmare,
tormenting himself every single moment.
Ji Mu was dead.

Why wasn’t he the one to die that day?

The fact that his shifu did not blame him was the greatest
reproach of all. What he could not struggle free of was the sense of
guilt that would haunt him for a lifetime. There was no way he
could tell Grand Mentor Qi candidly that, with the passage of time,
he had finally killed off himself.
Xiao Chiye was the reflection on the other end who had
everything he did not have. He observed Xiao Chiye, clumsily
trying to imitate him so that he could let himself look more like a
person. He could not tell anyone that the Shen Zechuan living in
this body was a repulsive killer.
He was already standing at the edge of the abyss.
Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes under Grand Mentor Qi’s palm
like a child respectfully listening to his teachings. He listened
devoutly. Yet, it was in this very instant that he realized he was no
longer able to shed tears.
His throat throbbed slightly. Eventually, he said, feeling
comforted, “It’s… as Teacher said.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Three days later, the Imperial Bodyguards’ deployment order
was announced. Han Cheng, the original Assistant Commander of
the Eight Great Training Divisions, was transferred over to be the
Imperial Bodyguards’ Commander-in-chief, while staff from the
Imperial Bodyguards’ Twelve Offices were reassigned. Shen
Zechuan was redeployed from the Domesticated Elephants Office
to the Imperial Carriages Office, and Ge Qingqing was promoted
from Company Commander to Judge.10
Shen Zechuan’s new authority token had the word “Emperor’s
Entourage”. The Imperial Carriages Office was a great place to go,
since being close to the Emperor would make it easiest for him to
get into the Emperor’s good graces.
Xiao Chiye, originally the Imperial Army’s Viceroy, also took on
the post of the Eight Great Training Divisions’ Commander, thereby
legitimizing his authority over the patrols of Qudu. After that one
night, he welcomed Zuo Qianqiu and stayed at the military drill
grounds in Mount Feng. Even until the time Shen Zechuan left the
Imperial Army’s residence, both men never saw each other again.
“Master.” Chen Yang attended to Xiao Chiye at the latter’s side
and said in a soft voice, “The original arrangement was the
Domesticated Steeds Office. Who would have expected it to be the
Imperial Carriages Office when the deployment order was issued.”
Xiao Chiye was solving a ‘Chinese Rings’ puzzle.11 His hand
movements slowed as he said, “That could only mean he didn’t
care for it.”
Chen Yang said, “But isn’t going to work in the Emperor’s
presence makes it much easier for him to meet with misfortune
that’ll cost him his life? Secretariat Elder Hai was the one who
urged the former Emperor to kill him back then.”
“Demanding repayment right on the crux of the matter. His
heart is not on carrying out his duties lawfully.” Xiao Chiye tossed
away the rings and said, “Ji Lei is dead. Han Cheng is a stand-in
from the Eight Great Training Divisions. The Imperial Bodyguards is
now without a master. What do you think he wants to do by
stepping up now?”
Chen Yang pondered for a moment and said, “If he
becomes…”
“If he succeeds.” Xiao Chiye looked towards the military drill
grounds. “Then he will have his claws and fangs.”12
Chen Yang did not venture to speak.
A little while later, Xiao Chiye continued, “The Ji Clan
dominates the Imperial Bodyguards. He has Ji Gang as his shield.
It’s simply effortless for him to move up using past relationships
and old sentiments as his blade. Although we can’t get our men in,
we can limit his chances. There has to be a justification for getting a
promotion and riches. If nothing goes wrong before the Emperor,
then he can be held back from making any moves. Since the
Imperial Army now has the responsibility of patrolling, then why
trouble the Imperial Bodyguards?”
Chen Yang said, “This subordinate understands it now .”
Xiao Chiye drank a mouthful of water, thought for a moment,
then said, “Pick a low-key place and lay the table for a feast. Him
and I – we’ll pick our fights and we’ll still have our meals.”
He pursed the part of his lips that had been bitten.
“After all, we could be considered fellow disciples of the same
school of martial arts.”

Lianyin’s Note:
This chapter is the uncensored version.

Footnotes
1. 迷魂汤 mythological magic potion to bewitch someone
2. 坐怀不乱 In the Spring and Autumn Period, Liuxia Hui of
Lu stayed at the city gate overnight where he met a
homeless woman. Fearing the woman would be frozen from
the cold, he sat her on his lap (or embraced her in his
bosom) and blanketed her with his clothes. The night passed
without him making a single indecent move. This later came
to describe an upright man unaffected by temptations even
with a beautiful woman close by.
3.
4. 腰眼 either side of the small of the back
5. 朽木(也能)充栋梁 rotten wood pretending to be a pillar;
i.e., a hopeless case posing as a pillar of the state.
6. 废子 It’s also a term in Weiqi to mean a useless stone
(worthless chess piece). But it can also be literally read as
useless son
7. From his name “lan” 兰 orchid; one of the Four
Gentlemen (四君子) in Chinese art that refers to four plants:
the plum (梅), the orchid (蘭), the bamboo (竹), and the
chrysanthemum (菊).
8. From his name “zhou” 舟 boat. The word Lanzhou (兰舟)
as a whole also refers to a boat made of lily magnolia wood;
i.e., a poetic term for boat.
9. 杀人不过点头地 used as a metaphor to leave yourself
some leeway doing things. Don’t go too far so as to avoid
hurting innocent people or bringing more pain and
misfortune to others, which isn’t necessarily beneficial to
yourself.
10. He’s basically telling him to be magnanimous and broad-
minded. Don’t push his enemies too far. He may hate, but he
mustn’t let hatred change him.
11. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.

12.
13. 九连环 literally ‘nine interconnected rings’. Also known as
Baguenaudier, a disentanglement puzzle featuring a loop
that must be disentangled from a sequence of rings on
interlinked pillars.
14. 爪牙 also refers to lackeys or pawns or accomplices
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 42 : RED PLUM BLOSSOMS

Xiao Chiye fixed the date for the feast before the Banquet of a
Hundred Officials. Chen Yang went to deliver the invitation, but Ge
Qingqing was the one who came to receive it.
“Lanzhou has been on duty in the Emperor’s presence lately. He
doesn’t have any free time, so I’ll receive this on his behalf.” Ge
Qingqing kept away the invitation. Once he was done exchanging
conventional greetings with Chen Yang, he said. “The Imperial
Army now has the world at its feet. I suppose Deputy General Chen
is busy as well?”
“The Viceroy has been working hard on official documents
every day. As men who follow and serve him, there’s no such thing
as being busy.” Chen Yang drank the tea and said, “Ge-xiong
received a blessing out of misfortune this time and was promoted
to Judge.1 Your future is bright. That’s truly impressive.”
Both men feigned civility as they spoke cordially with one
another and tried their best not to disgrace themselves. Conflicts
had arisen between the Imperial Bodyguards and Imperial Army
lately, resulting in some discord. They were now at a point where
they would loathe each other on sight.
It was only when his cup was changed to a fresh cup of tea that
Chen Yang got up to say his farewell. Ge Qingqing saw him out,
and Shen Zechuan, who was inside, lifted the curtain to walk out.
“This invitation came at a bad time.” Ge Qingqing handed the
invitation to him. “Are you really going?”
“Why not?” Shen Zechuan opened the invitation and saw Xiao
Chiye’s forceful and bold calligraphy.
“Xiao the Second’s inhibition of the Imperial Bodyguards is
building up momentum these days. Our missions keep getting
intercepted by the Imperial Army. Furthermore, he has the trust and
favor of the Emperor. If he were to do something right this
moment…” Ge Qingqing’s voice trailed off.
“What he wants to do couldn’t be any more obvious.” Shen
Zechuan closed the invitation. “He wants to suppress the Imperial
Bodyguards and turn Qudu into a territory under his control so that
His Majesty only has his Imperial Army to rely on. As to be
expected, he will still deal a few more blows to the Imperial
Bodyguards.”
“Exactly. It’s too risky at present to take Uncle Ji along to the
feast.” Ge Qingqing said.
Shen Zechuan offhandedly tossed the invitation onto the table
and said, “This involves Zuo Qianqiu. He won’t lay a trap here.”
Ge Qingqing still did not feel too reassured.
The wound on Shen Zechuan’s lips had healed. He put on his
overcoat and said, “I’m going out for a while.”
Shen Zechuan waded through the snow and headed out. The
snow was not heavy today, but the wind was strong. He arrived at
Donglong Street and made his way to Ouhua Pavilion at the
opposite corner of Xiangyun Villa.
Xi Hongxuan had recently composed some classical poems.2
The tunes on the music scores were handed to the courtesans on
Donglong Street to sing, and it unexpectedly turned into a grand
occasion. Best of all, he had hollowed out the ground at the foot of
Ouhua Pavilion stage and filled it with open-mouthed copper jars
with only a layer of wooden plank spread out on top. At the same
time, he also bought a new batch of young girls from Juexi. After
training them for many days, he secured bells on their ankles, so
that when they danced on the stage with their wooden clogs
stepping out a rhythm, the sounds of the bells would merge into
the copper jars. It was ethereal and wonderful.
At present, those on the stage were still singing Xi Hongxuan’s
poem. Grasping his folding fan, he reclined against a rattan chair
on the third floor and listened with closed eyes. A maidservant did
not make any sound as she stepped on the woolen rug wearing
only plain socks. She kneeled outside the bead curtain and said
softly, “Second Master, the guest has arrived.”
Without opening his eyes, Xi Hongxuan shut his fan.
The maidservant rose to her feet and lifted the curtain for Shen
Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan entered and saw another girl kneeling at Xi
Hongxuan’s feet to massage his legs for him.
 “Invite Young Master Shen to take a seat.” Xi Hongxuan was still
tapping out a rhythm as he focused on the singing.
The kneeling girl shuffled over on her knees and attempted to
help Shen Zechuan take off his shoes. Shen Zechuan raised a hand
to stop her and sat down on a chair.
It was only when the tune ended that Xi Hongxuan sat up. As
he drank his tea, he pointed at the girl with his fan and said, “She’s
new and untainted.”
Shen Zechuan did not look at her.
Xi Hongxuan laughed. Looking at him, he said, “Don’t tell me
you’ve really involved yourself with Xiao the Second? What? You
still want to keep yourself chaste for him?”
The hair on Shen Zechuan’s temples looked as if they were
soaked in ink, yet in this warm room, the contrast made his facial
features seem distant. It gave him an otherworldly aura. He said,
“Since you’ve called me here, then cut the chatter.”
Xi Hongxuan spread open his folding fan. With his obese body
crammed into the rattan chair, he said, “We are buddies. I see you
having a hard time staying by Xiao the Second’s side, so I called
you here today to let you have a good time. If we were to speak of
being pitiful, then you, Shen Lanzhou, wins hands down. Xiao the
Second gave you a kick in the past, sowing the seeds of illness and
making you chronically sick and frail. And now you still have to
pretend to be chummy with him. He is really your nemesis.”
“That’s right,” Shen Zechuan did not evade the topic. He
seemed resigned. “He’s such a jerk.”
“But from how I see it, he doesn’t seem to be planning to leave
the Imperial Bodyguards any leeway.” Xi Hongxuan said. “Lanzhou,
looks like your pillow talk didn’t really sway him.”
“You are a besotted man.” Shen Zechuan accepted the warm
handkerchief the girl presented to him to wipe his hands. A smile
at the turn of his eyes, and that coolness he wore when he stepped
through the door vanished without a trace and subconsciously
embellished his usual expression. “You think of your dear sister-in-
law with such perseverance and consistency. After bedding her
once, you shower her with favor and love her to bits. But it’s just a
one-night stand between Xiao’Er and me. How could it be
considered love?”
“So what you’re saying is…” Xi Hongxuan picked up the
chopsticks. “You’re just having a fling?”
“Even having a fling is an art.” Shen Zechuan said, “Everyone
tumbled in bed once, each with his own needs. It’s over once the
merrymaking is done. If you keep thinking of it every day, then it
wouldn’t be purely a fling anymore, would it?”
Xi Hongxuan clasped his hands and laughed out loud. He said,
“Well, well! What a fine Lanzhou. I was afraid he might have you by
the balls, and you’d forget that we are the ones who are comrades
in the same boat. Here, here. Come and taste this dish. These are
wild vegetables delivered with the greatest urgency from Qinzhou.
It’s good stuff that even the Imperial Kitchen doesn’t have.”
Both men picked the dishes to sample.
Xi Hongxuan said, “This Xiao the Second is truly something
else. No one paid him any attention in the past, and then he
showed his true mettle in the Autumn Hunt. Now he can’t hide it
anymore, so he simply charges head-on with disregard to
obstacles posed by the others. He took over the military affairs of
the Eighth Great Training Divisions, yet handed all the key
positions to his trusted aides. As a result, none of the Eight Great
Clans has any real power. But he kept up his pretenses so flawlessly
that no one could get any dirt on him at all. Tell me. Doesn’t that
piss you off? Isn’t that hateful?”
Shen Zechuan saw a dish of shredded cucumbers on the table,
but he did not touch any of it. He said, “Xiao’Er burned all his boats
at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. He staked it all on the chance that
His Majesty will remember their friendship and let him go. But this
hope was all in vain, much like drawing water with a sieve. What’s
more, he ended up being closely watched by the Six Ministries. He
can’t turn back time, so he could only ensure that he holds real
military power in Qudu. Compared with the Eight Great Training
Divisions, the Imperial Army is like fireflies and the bright moon.
They are useful, but not that useful. It hasn’t been easy for him to
finally gain the upper hand now. Naturally, he will not pass up the
opportunity.”
 “In the past, there was still Pan Rugui in the Twenty-four Yamen,
and the Eastern Depot could, no matter what, take him down a
notch. But now that Pan Rugui is dead, the Eastern Depot has gone
into decline too. Fine then, there’s really no one in such a big Qudu
who can beat him, Xiao Ce’an!” Xi Hongxuan took a bite of the
food and said, “I’ve not been in His Majesty’s favor these days. His
Majesty now listens to Hai Liangyi, having made up his mind to be
a wise monarch of a golden age. He’s no longer that willing to play
with me now.”
Shen Zechuan finished his food and said unhurriedly, “A
person who has lived for over twenty years would have already
formed a fixed temper. If a mere few words can make him mend
his ways, then nothing else in this world will be difficult.”
Xi Hongxuan’s chopsticks paused. He said, “You mean…”
“Hai Liangyi is a gentleman among gentlemen.” Shen Zechuan
set aside his chopsticks. “He’s like the water so crystal clear you can
see its bottom. His encounter with the current Emperor is like water
coming into contact with hot oil. Sooner or later, it will explode and
splatter all over. Xue Xiuzhuo has long reached this position, but
why isn’t he willing to go further? Grand Secretariat, isn’t it? It’s not
like he isn’t qualified. What the Central Administration lacked right
this moment are precisely talents.”
Xi Hongxuan mulled it over in silence.
Shen Zechuan said, “Now that foreign enemies are before us,
how can the Eight Great Clans still stand divided and do things
their own ways? You have already become the head of the Xi Clan.
As they said, fortunes rise and fall. Now that the opportunity is
within reach, don’t tell me you’re going to let it go?”
Xi Hongxuan set aside his chopsticks. He wiped his sweat with
his handkerchief and looked at Shen Zechuan to ask, “You want me
to contact the Eight Great Clans and get them to join forces to deal
with Xiao the Second?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Xiao’Er is only just one of them.
Nowadays, the civil officials are in favor. Consequently, the Imperial
College looks to be on the up and up. Within a few years, the sons
of common birth from humble families will enter the official ranks
one after another. When that happens, what’s going to happen to
all the precious sons of the Eight Great Clans who are used to
loafing around? If the poor rise in power, leading to an emergence
of new nobles, then Second Young Master,3 the Eight Great Clans
will no longer be the ‘Eight’ Great Clans.”
Xi Hongxuan said, “Even so… this is too thorny an issue.
Leaving everything else aside, that Yao Wenyu will never agree.
He’s Hai Liangyi’s student, one whom Hai Liangyi himself
personally instructs. These years, he has traveled over the world for
his studies and made the acquaintance of countless talents and
sages. He definitely won’t form an alliance with us.”
Shen Zechuan said with a smile, “Eight Great Clans just mean
the eight great clans. There’s no reason for it to be just these eight
clans. If the Yao Clan doesn’t cut it, then just change to another
one.”
Xi Hongxuan did not eat anymore. He pushed aside his chair
and walked around the room. After some time, he looked at Shen
Zechuan. “But do you have any way to keep Xiao the Second still? If
he wants to protect the Emperor, then he won’t just sit and do
nothing. I’m not worried if it’s just him. But there’s the Libei
Armored Cavalry standing behind him. With Xiao Jiming around,
Xiao Ce’an can’t be touched nor harmed. He’s too tough to deal
with!”
“Xiao Jiming is formidable, but his power and prestige all lie at
the frontier.” Shen Zechuan propped up his head. The eyes under
the shadows could not be seen clearly. He gave Xi Hongxuan one
last push. “Qudu is your place. As they said, a mighty dragon is no
match for a serpent in its territory.4 Ways are aplenty if you want
Xiao’Er to be too up to his neck dealing with his own affairs to
interfere.”
Xi Hongxuan was so deep in thought that he did not realize
that Shen Zechuan had said “your” and not “our”. He asked, “What
ways?”
Shen Zechuan let out a soundless laugh and said, “Xiao’Er’s
influence depends entirely on His Majesty’s trust. They have been
buddies for many years with merry days of drinking behind them.
What’s more, Xiao’Er has saved his life. So there’s indeed nothing
to be done about it for a moment. But things like friendship are just
like autumn dew hanging on branches. It’ll be gone once you leave
it out to dry under the full, blazing sun.”
Xi Hongxuan looked at Shen Zechuan. He recalled Ji Lei on that
rainy night, and all the mountain games and wild vegetables he
had swallowed earlier churned in his stomach. He forcibly braced
himself so that he would betray nothing in his expression and said
with a smile, “Since you have got it all worked out, then tell me.”
After Shen Zechuan left, Xi Hongxuan lay back on the rattan
chair and got the waiters to clear the table. It was a challenge for
him to turn over, so he needed someone to help him. He felt
alarmingly stifled for no reason and had the men open the
windows.
Xue Xiuzhuo came out from the partitioned-off area. Xi
Hongxuan lamented, “You heard it too, right? Fortunately, he was
born as Shen Wei’s son. If he were to rise in power, he would be
even more difficult to deal with than Xiao the Second.”
“To use someone, you have to use the right method.” Xue
Xiuzhuo poured tea. “There is no one in this world who has no
desires and wants. Shen Lanzhou has his weaknesses too. As long
as we have a grasp on it, then even the most vicious dog is nothing
to be feared.”
“But we can’t find any.” Xi Hongxuan tapped the center of his
forehead with his fan. “Look at how callous he is towards Xiao the
Second. It’s obvious he turned his back on him after getting off the
bed. Humiliation and flattery don’t work on this kind of evildoers.
You can’t even threaten him.”
Xue Xiuzhuo swallowed the tea, smiled, and said in a gentle
and refined manner, “What’s the hurry? Just do as he says. Success
or not, it’s all a disaster for Xiao the Second. When the time comes,
he will expose his own true motives.”
Shen Zechuan headed downstairs, but did not rush to leave.
The procuress greeted him. She only knew he was Xi Hongxuan’s
honored guest, so she fawned on him and said, “What’s Master
looking at? Looking cannot be compared to trying them out in
person.”
Shen Zechuan sized up the gorgeously dressed courtesans and
asked, “Do you have male courtesans?”
 The procuress twisted her body around and said to the person
behind her, “Lead this Master upstairs and get a few clean, tender-
faced boys to serve him.”
Shen Zechuan sat in the room for a short while before three
male courtesans entered. He swept a glance at them; they were all
neatly tidied up.
The procuress was astute and knew how to choose
appearances. After looking through the entire building, she could
not find anyone who was more gorgeous than Shen Zechuan, so
she took the unconventional gambit of sending him delicate-
looking youths.
The boys stepped forth to take off Shen Zechuan’s shoes, but
Shen Zechuan slightly shifted his feet away; thus, they kneeled and
did not dare to move again.
Shen Zechuan gazed out of the window. After a while, he said,
“Strip.”
The three of them obediently shed off their clothes. Shen
Zechuan looked at those fair shoulders when they were midway
through stripping, but from start to end, his heart remained as calm
as still water. He then looked at their hands; each looked like girls’
hands, as if they had led pampered lives.
There were no calluses on their hands. And they were not
wearing thumb rings either.
Shen Zechuan slowly breathed out a sigh and rose to his feet.
Without even bothering to announce his departure, he pushed the
door open and left, leaving behind the three male courtesans to
look at each other in astonishment.
Ding Tao had been following Shen Zechuan. Seeing him finally
walk out of Ouhua Pavillion, he meticulously jotted down a note in
the little book that was now crumpled from being clutched by him.
By the time he was done recording, he saw Shen Zechuan merging
into the crowd. Ding Tao did not dare to be negligent, so he
hurriedly chased after Shen Zechuan and followed him at a safe
distance.
Shen Zechuan was not really walking that fast, yet, in just a blink
of an eye, he disappeared.
 Ding Tao let out an exclamation of surprise and hurried over,
only to have his path blocked by a tall and sturdy man wearing a
bamboo hat. As soon as he neared the other party, he knew that
this was a man well-versed in martial arts!
It was jam-packed with people all around. Ding Tao did not
wish to hurt them, so he endured it and did not act out. This,
consequently, allowed Shen Zechuan to shake him off. He shook a
fist, but then he felt a sense of familiarity from that tall and sturdy
man earlier.
The snow intensified as soon as it was dark.
The tall and sturdy man walked for some distance while
holding down his bamboo hat. But the moment he turned, he
entered a blind alley.
Shen Zechuan stood behind him and cast a glance at him. He
said, “You’ve been following me for half a month. What do you
want?”
The tall and sturdy man pressed his bamboo hat lower, but let
out a laugh and said, “How sharp. To think you noticed it early on.”
“Your breath-concealing skills are outstanding.” Shen Zechuan
said. “Didn’t you teach me some tricks yourself? You disappear
without a trace the moment you are released from prison, so that
they’d chase after you out of Qudu. You sure have gone to great
pains.”
The man lifted his bamboo hat to reveal a face with stubble.
Qiao Tianya blew at the wisp of hair before his forehead and said,
“It’d have been fine for you to lure me into a wine shop. Do we
have to stand here and talk?”
“Jade Rabbits are hard to catch.” Shen Zechuan looked at him
for a moment and said, “Should I call you Qiao Tianya? Or
Songyue?”
“As you please.” Qiao Tianya said, “Call me Qiao Tianya, and
we’d be acquaintances. Call me Songyue, and you’d be my
master.”
“Your Excellency is a capable man. How did you come to bow
down and submit to my teacher?” Shen Zechuan asked.
“What can I do?” Qiao Tianya let out a self-mocking laugh. “I
owe my life to Grand Mentor Qi, and I have to repay it by toiling
hard like an ox or a horse for him for the rest of my life.”
“So the reason everything went smoothly at the hunting
grounds that night…” Shen Zechuan said. “… was because of your
help.”
“Taking you as my master means that it’s your cues I’m taking.”
Qiao Tianya said, “You originally wanted to kill the Prince of Chu
that night, but you didn’t expect Xiao the Second to be so bold as
to stuff him right before the Imperial Bodyguards to dupe them and
lead them on a wild goose chase. However, you are quick-witted.
You could actually even seize the opportunity to give Xiao the
Second a helping hand.”
“That’s all the capability I have.” Shen Zechuan said.
Qiao Tianya patted the snow off his shoulders and said, “I’ll
follow you in the future, Master. If there’s meat to eat in the future,
don’t forget to give me a bowl of soup to drink. I’m much easier to
provide for than those guards of Xiao the Second.”
“Ding Tao is young,” Shen Zechuan threw the money pouch at
him in passing. “Chen Yang and Gu Jin are the ones who are the
tough nuts.”
Qiao Tianya took the money and said, “You have gotten such a
clear handle on Xiao the Second. But he is still thinking about how
you’ve saved his life.”
Shen Zechuan smiled, “You really want to follow him, huh.”
“I’m a guard with unwavering loyalty,” Qiao Tianya innocently
raised his hands. “If Xiao the Second is willing to buy me for a
thousand gold, I’ll naturally be willing to go through fire and water5
for him.”
Shen Zechuan said, “A pity it’s already crowded around him.
How would there be any place left for you?”
“My littler master…” Qiao Tianya tilted his head and squinted
an eye to say, “… has a truly vicious mouth.”
Shen Zechuan put on a “you flatter me” expression.
“But this line… “Qiao Tianya grinned, “… is applicable to both
of us.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Eight days later, Shen Zechuan and Ji Gang arrived as planned.
 Ding Tao had obviously made his complaint known. Gu Jin,
who did not drink today, stood outside the door. From a distance
away, he saw Qiao Tianya, who was following behind Shen
Zechuan.
Ding Tao immediately tiptoed and whispered, “Jin-ge, that’s
him. He’s the one!”
Shen Zechuan and Ji Gang were led through the door by Chen
Yang. Qiao Tianya naturally had to remain outside. But he did not
have that self-awareness, and his leg that was about to stride
forward was blocked by Gu Jin.
“I heard you stood in this lad’s path a few days ago.” Gu Jin
looked at the bamboo hat with sharp eyes. “What kind of hero are
you for bullying a child?”
Ding Tao snorted with righteous indignation and parroted,
“What kind of hero?!”
Qiao Tianya burst out laughing. He backhandedly took off his
bamboo hat and said with a cheeky grin, “Aren’t we here for a meal
tonight? So why are we still going to fight? It’s the first time I’ve
seen this little buddy here. Bro, have you gotten the wrong
person?”
Ding Tao let out an exclamation and fumed, “How can you say
that? I wouldn’t mistake you for someone else!”
Gu Jin stopped Ding Tao and faced Qiao Tianya.
Two men of almost the same height came face-to-face until
they were almost bumping against one another.
Gu Jin said, “Today is not the right time. Let’s set a date for
later.”
“I’m not free.” Qiao Tianya tugged at that wisp of hair before his
forehead and threw Gu Jin a provocative smile. “After all, my
Master only has me. Where on earth would I have that much free
time to raise a younger brother for fun?”
Gu Jin coldly spat out a mouthful of saliva and said, “Tell me
your name. There will be plenty of occasions for us to meet in the
future.”
“This humble servant is Qiao Yueyue.” Qiao Tianya tapped his
temple at Ding Tao with two fingers. “Also known as
Xiaosongsong.”6
 Chen Yang led Shen Zechuan and Ji Gang inside. This
courtyard was deep. They passed the chaoshou veranda7 and
stepped through a moon gate8 to the elegant view of an entire
courtyard full of red plum blossoms.
Xiao Chiye was standing under a tree waiting when Shen
Zechuan stepped in. They exchanged glances for a fleeting
second, but before that subtle feeling could be conveyed, both
men simultaneously averted their gazes.
Xiao Chiye welcomed Ji Gang and greeted him with a smile,
“Please excuse me for not going out to meet shishu even though
shishu has braved the snow to come here. The wine and dishes
have been prepared. Shifu has been waiting inside for a long time.”
Ji Gang looked at Xiao Chiye and stopped him from paying his
respects. He said, “Your shifu has broken away from the Ji Clan
over twenty years ago, and your martial arts now has a distinctive
style of its own. Since we aren’t from the same school of martial
arts, there is no need to be overly polite.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Our martial arts can be traced to the same
origin, and so that means we are from the same school. It’s all
thanks to the initiation of the Ji Clan Fist Style that I could master
the blend of martial arts from various clans today. I’ve long heard
of shishu’s reputation, and I admire shishu for it. So no matter what,
this respect must be paid.”
Xiao Chiye bowed in respect and led Ji Gang inside. He did not
forget to turn his head and said to Shen Zechuan, “Lanzhou and I
have not seen each other for a long time, too.”
Shen Zechuan strode through the door and said with a smile,
“Shixiong has such power and influence now. You must be busy.”
“We are from the same school of martial arts.” Xiao Chiye said
in a neutral tone. “I’ll have to leave some time aside for you no
matter how busy I am.”
“How would it do for you to delay your work because of me?”
Shen Zechuan said, “I’ve been on idle duties every day lately, and
this is already all thanks to shixiong for looking out for me.”
“With pleasure.” Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain. “If you want to be
busy, just come to me. I will sweep the couch clean to await you any
time.”9
 Shen Zechuan’s nape started aching when he heard the word
“couch”. There seemed to be a lingering heat at those spots where
he had been bitten before; it was so scalding that his smile faded.
Zuo Qianqiu was dressed in a wide-sleeved robe with slanting
collars, with white hair pulled up into a bun. He did not look like a
refined scholar or an awe-inspiring general. He was clearly several
years older than Ji Gang, yet he looked younger than Ji Gang. If he
had to be described, then it would be that he had an otherworldly
aura to him. It seemed that the rumors in the martial fraternity of
him becoming a monk were not totally groundless.
Zuo Qianqiu turned around and saw Ji Gang.
Ji Gang was dressed in short-length plain cotton clothing10
with a thick jacket. He stood there, with a disfigured face, and
looked at him. In an instant, the past came surging forth. Cheers
and laughter of youths rang close in his ears, but the man before
him was already old and white-haired.
Xiao Chiye broke the silence and said, “Both shifu shall have
their meals in here, while Lanzhou and I shall wait outside.”
“Chuan-er, fasten your overcoat properly.” Ji Gang looked
lonely as he turned sideways and urged Shen Zechuan, “Come in if
you feel cold.”
Shen Zechuan nodded.
Zuo Qianqiu said, “A-Ye, take care of your shidi.”
Xiao Chiye smiled in acknowledgment, and both men
retreated out.
It’s cold outside, yet it’s a rare clear night.
Shen Zechuan descended the stairs and saw the deep woods
of red plum blossoms. There was a bridge within. This courtyard
was so refined it did not seem to be Xiao Chiye’s style.
“This courtyard was bought with money from the Yao Clan.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to know what Shen Zechuan was thinking. He
stood behind Shen Zechuan and raised his hands to brush aside
the red plum blossoms to reveal the surrounding clear stream.
“Pretty. And expensive too.”
“And you still bear to part with the money.” Shen Zechuan did
not look back.
 Xiao Chiye bumped lightly into Shen Zechuan’s back with his
chest and raised a hand to cover the top of Shen Zechuan’s head.
He leaned in close to Shen Zechuan’s ear and said flippantly, “Red
plums blanketed in snow. Fragrance enveloped Lanzhou. His
smile’s worth a thousand gold.”
“You must have even put up your pants as collateral.” Shen
Zechuan really began to smile slowly.
“I had to spend a sum, yes. But Yao Wenyu was already selling it
at a low price.” Xiao Chiye paused and continued, “You ran pretty
fast. To avoid me, you’ve spent a lot of effort too.”
“It’s not that I’m avoiding you.” Shen Zechuan lifted his finger to
push away Xiao Chiye’s palm. “But is there an important matter we
need to discuss face-to-face?”
Xiao Chiye smiled and said with a little ruthlessness thrown in,
“Can’t you dote on your Second Young Master a little after bedding
him?”
Shen Zechuan took a few steps forward to leave Xiao Chiye’s
chest, then turned to scrutinize Xiao Chiye without saying a word.
In this starry night adorned with plum blossoms, both men
finally, in retrospect, came to understand something.
Xiao Chiye discovered that what he had grabbed that night
was water. Once it flowed past, it was really gone. Shen Zechuan
was not even the slightest reluctant to leave. After the frenzy of
biting and tearing at each other, that lingering heat had also
ended up buried under the colors of the night. In the ecstasy where
Shen Zechuan had raised his neck in intoxication, he had not
seared him – Xiao Ce’an – into his memories at all.
Once again, Xiao Chiye distinctly realized one thing.
He was the only one who was defeated by lust that night.
“I advised you before.” Shen Zechuan raised his fingers to hold
down the plum blossoms branch and said bewitchingly to Xiao
Chiye, “That it’d be best not to bite this nape.”
“Bedroom pleasure…” Xiao Chiye revealed a frivolous smile. “…
is not something I can do alone.”
“The greatest difference between you and me is desire. You are
covered in desire all over. You spare no effort to hide your wild
ambitions. A nape is merely one of the minor adversities. You hold
me back, wanting to resist it, wanting to defeat it, but in the end,
you still lose to it. But Ce’an.” Shen Zechuan plucked a plum
blossom, tore the petal, and delivered it to his mouth. “I don’t even
have lust. So how are you going to pit yourself against me?”
Xiao Chiye drew a step closer and grabbed Shen Zechuan’s
flower-holding hand. He bent over to press in close to him and said
breezily, “What is one time? So boring. We should do it a few more
rounds. You couldn’t use those courtesans from Ouhua Pavilion,
and you didn’t dare to touch those boys too. You pretend to be a
celibate and aloof sage. But I wasn’t the one who gasped and
panted so delicately that night.”
Xiao Chiye pulled Shen Zechuan’s hand to his lips, pressed
against it dangerously, and scoffed.
“It’s true I’ve lost to lust. But if you are that steadfast, then why
did you try stirring up a storm under the sheets11 with me? Shen
Lanzhou, you are much more afraid of succumbing to desire than I
am, aren’t you?”

Footnotes
1. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
2. 词 Ci, a type of classical Chinese poetry.
3. Refers to Second Young Master of the Xi Clan.
4. 强龙压不过地头蛇 One with great power cannot defeat a
local villain in the latter’s own territory.
5. 赴汤蹈火 go through fire and water; brave dangers and
death.
6. The Xiao in Xiaosongsong means little, so “little
songsong”. He’s cutesifying his name here.
7.
8. 抄手游廊 a kind of veranda

9.

10.
11. 洞门 An opening in a wall separating different courtyards
within a residence or palace. It’s also known as a moon gate
(月亮门).
12. 扫榻以待 literally, sweep the couch to wait, i.e., clean up to
await guests. A couch (榻) is a long and narrow wooden
couch that also functions as a →bed←

13.
14. 云雨 literally cloud and rain; a literary term for making
love, sexual intercourse
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 43 : ATLAS

After three bouts of drinking in the house, much of the sense of

estrangement had dispersed. Although they still had not warmed
up to each other, it was already more than enough for them to have
a chat over wine.
Ji Gang removed the muffler around his neck and took a sip of
wine. When Zuo Qianqiu saw the burn marks on his exposed neck
too, he could not help but ask, “Back then, the Biansha Cavalry
invaded Duanzhou. How did you… how did you end up in this
state?”
Ji Gang twirled his wine cup around and smiled, “Shen Wei
beat such a quick retreat that Duanzhou did not even hold out for a
day. The horses of the Biansha Cavalry were too fast, and my legs
aren’t as fast as they used to be, so how could I have escaped? At
that time, I was already ready to fight to the death.”
At this point, he thought of Hua Pingting and could not help but
choke with emotion. He turned his head aside and rubbed his face.
He did not continue.
Zuo Qianqiu downed the cup of wine and said, “Shen Wei
deserved to be killed!”
“It wasn’t just Shen Wei who deserves death.” Ji Gang said
bitterly, “The defeat of the Zhongbo troops was so fishy. For the
blame to be pushed to Shen Wei alone means that they were
certain he wouldn’t survive.”
Zuo Qianqiu said, “You have been away from Qudu for a long
time. How can you be so sure that Shen Wei was a scapegoat?”
“Five years ago, when Chuan-er entered the capital, someone
plotted against him while he was in the Imperial Prison.” Ji Gang
said, “At that time, Shen Wei was already dead. Yet someone still
wanted to wipe out his family to eradicate potential sources of
trouble. Why? Wasn’t it precisely because they wanted to silence
him?”
Zuo Qianqiu drank his wine in silence. After a while, he said,
“Now that they are all dead, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to relaunch
a thorough investigation into the defeat of Zhongbo troops. Is your
disciple thinking of seeking revenge for Shen Wei?”
The wine had already gotten to Ji Gang’s head. These five
years, he had completely abstained from drinking, and he could be
said to have broken his vow of abstinence tonight for Zuo Qianqiu.
Holding on to the table edge for support, he sneered, “Revenge.
Why would Chuan-er want to seek revenge for Shen Wei? Zuo
Qianqiu, how can you be as narrow-minded as they are?! Are you
telling me that everyone in the world with the surname Shen is
guilty of sin? Chuan-er has grown up. He’s sensible enough to
know better, and he can tell right from wrong. He and Shen Wei
just happened to be born as father and son. Other than that body
of flesh he got from Shen Wei, they have nothing to do with each
other. Why are all of you pushing him into such a corner? Shen Wei
is already dead! Shouldn’t you look to the Biansha Cavalry to
avenge this so-called blood feud of Zhongbo?!”
Ji Gang suddenly smashed the wine cup. His chest heaved.
“Conducting a thorough investigation of the Zhongbo’s troops
defeat isn’t for anyone, but to get to the bottom of the matter. Why
should he be made to bear such a sin?! You have been a general
too. Haven’t you thought of it? Five years ago, someone could
make the Zhongbo’s troops suffer a defeat. Five years later, he
could do the same to another place! Back then, the Biansha
Cavalry could keep up with such a tight pursuit. Would they have
been able to do it without inside help and map?!”
Zuo Qianqiu sighed and said, “Gang-di,1 please be appeased.
Back then, when Jiming rushed over to Zhongbo, the first thing he
did was to cut off the main route leading from Zhongbo to
Dancheng in order to investigate where the Twelve Tribes of
Biansha’s information came from. But the situation was critical at
that time. Do you know how difficult it was? All the evidence
pointed to Shen Wei. Yet, Shen Wei just had to burn himself to
death, leaving behind a son of common birth whom he did not
favor. How could anyone not get suspicious?”
After a moment of silence, Ji Gang said, “That kick your disciple
gave him almost killed him.”
 Zuo Qianqiu downed the wine again and said, “I won’t defend
him, but listen. Gang-di, we each have our own experiences, and
we each act in accordance with our own wants.”
Ji Gang sneered and said, “Sure thing. Just pay lip service and
consider it a closed case.”
Without saying a word more, Zuo Qianqiu turned over an
empty cup and shouted out, “A-Ye!”
The door opened right at once. Zuo Qianqiu poured wine with
one hand and tossed a cup over with the other hand and said,
“Apologize to your shishu and shidi.”
Ji Gang leveled his chopsticks and caught the wine cup on the
tip. He said, “We were the ones whose skills left much to be desired
back then. Chuan-er, come and make the toast!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned the wine cup
towards Shen Zechuan. Xiao Chiye blocked it mid-air and said,
“Lanzhou, let’s not fight with shixiong over this, alright?”
Shen Zechuan lifted his leg to hit Xiao Chiye’s arm askew. That
wine cup wobbled and fell. He said, “It’s hard for one to defy his
shifu’s orders. Shixiong, please give way to me.”
Both men’s palms intersected. Xiao Chiye backhandedly
pushed back Shen Zechuan’s arm. That wine cup was about to hit
the ground, but Shen Zechuan extended his leg and lifted it to
bring the wine cup up again.
There seems to be the sound of the wind as both men
exchanged blows. That wine cup rose and dropped, but not even a
drop of wine was spilled.
Without letting up his chopsticks, Ji Gang ate a few mouthfuls
of cold dishes and said, “This martial art stance is not imparted
from the Ji Clan.”
Zuo Qianqiu looked at both men and said, “That’s the Xiao
Clan’s martial arts. It’s like a raptor grabbing its prey. Once caught,
it’ll be hard to break free. Lanzhou, focus on attacking his lower
body to throw him into confusion.”
Shen Zechuan immediately withdrew his hand and took a step
back to throw out a sudden kick. Xiao Chiye dodged a little. He
wanted to say something to Shen Zechuan, but in the end, he said
nothing in the presence of both shifu. As he parried the blow, he
grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan’s ankle and took advantage of the
obstruction of his body to grope Shen Zechuan’s leg along the
curve of Shen Zechuan’s calf. Then he gently led Shen Zechuan
toward himself.
“How ruthless,” Xiao Chiye’s expression was calm. “Your kick
makes me too powerless to resist.”
Being touched by Xiao Chiye caused Shen Zechuan to almost
lose his balance, and he still had to catch hold of the wine cup.
Xiao Chiye patiently waited for him to catch the wine cup before he
suddenly threw out a punch right in Shen Zechuan’s face.
“Ji Clan Fist!” Ji Gang’s chopsticks paused. He held back for a
moment, but in the end, he conceded, “… No wonder Chuan-er
praised him.”
This body of his was simply too suitable. His punch was so
perfectly executed that even Ji Gang could not find fault with it.
Shen Zechuan made a grab for the wine cup with one hand, but
it was ill-advised for him to press on and catch hold of it, so he
abruptly leaned back. The wind that exploded forth from Xiao
Chiye’s fist swept past his temple. Before he could get up, Xiao
Chiye strode forward and pressed in towards him. In passing, he
lowered the fist he had thrown out and reached inside Shen
Zechuan’s collar to pinch out the remnant of the plum blossom that
Shen Zechuan had bitten earlier.
“You’ve fallen for my trap.” Xiao Chiye’s eyes glinted with
mischief as he sent this half of the plum blossom into his mouth.
Shen Zechuan wanted to get up, but Xiao Chiye thwarted his
attempt and raised his head to say quickly, “The wine is spilled!”
Stunned, Shen Zechuan lifted his head for a look—and Xiao
Chiye grasped hold of his hand and pushed his thumb up along
Shen Zechuan’s inner wrist to drink up the wine in one toast from
Shen Zechuan’s hand.
“Thank you shidi, for the wine.” Xiao Chiye immediately
stepped back and said gentlemanly, “The taste of it leaves a
lingering aroma on the buds.”2
The inner side of Shen Zechuan’s wrist was still scalding from
being stroked by Xiao Chiye. He rose to his feet and bowed with a
brandish of his sleeves before putting the wine cup back on the
table.
Ji Gang did not know about the exchange of undercurrents
between them. On seeing the outcome, he said, “The difficulty in
blending the stances of a hundred schools of martial arts is in
threading them together into one. You have taught him well.”
Zuo Qianqiu said, “He still has a long way to go. Lanzhou
specializes in Ji Clan mental techniques. His focus is truly
impressive.”
Both men poured wine again, while Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan retreated out for the second time.
The moment the door closed, Xiao Chiye grabbed hold of
Shen Zechuan and said, “This bout of drinking won’t end tonight.
It’s cold outside. Let’s sit inside the house.”
The original study of the Yao Clan was to the north of the
corridor. In order to keep the room dry so that the books would not
be damaged, a sleeper wall was built underneath. The books had
yet to be removed at the moment, and all four shelves of the open
bookcase were full of antique calligraphy and paintings.
Xiao Chiye took off his overcoat and sat at the desk with one
leg over the other to flip through a book. He said, “This courtyard
was originally built by the Old Master of the Yao Clan. Plenty of
good stuff is hidden here. Yao Wenyu doesn’t like to play with
them, so they have been shelved here all this time and have never
been moved before.”
Shen Zechuan wiped his hands clean before touching the
books on the bookshelf.
Those from the Yao Clan loved books. The Old Master of the
Yao Clan had sorted them out into different categories and
arranged them neatly. It had been so long, and yet the pages were
still clean. It must have been Xiao Chiye who got someone else to
take good care of them once he took over the compound. There
was not even a speck of dust on them.
Both men each stayed at a side. No one spoke again.
Shen Zechuan, having kept his eyes open, saw a Hongyan
picture book in the local records. He opened it and, sure enough,
saw the chorographical map of the Hongyan Mountains.
 [For help with the upcoming text, you can refer to the maps
HERE.]
Hongyan Mountains were divided into two ranges: the east
and west. The west mountain range passed through Luoxia Pass to
connect to Quancheng and separate out Huaizhou. It used to be
the line of defense at the borders of Dazhou. Later, Xiao Fangxu
expanded the territory and extended the line of defense all the way
to the east mountain range, thereby shaping Libei’s Great
Commandery into the way it was today.
Shen Zechuan flipped towards the back and saw a detailed
description of the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.
Qudu dispatched to all the granaries in the world, with army
provisions mostly transferred from Juexi’s Qinzhou. Deliveries
towards the two major regions of the north and east could not be
done through the waterways, so they could only dig out bridle
paths for the specific purpose of transporting provisions. The
situation in Qidong was more complicated, whereas Libei’s
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path was clear-cut. Food provisions
were transported from Qinzhou to Yongyi Harbor,3 from Yongyi
Harbor to Qudu, then from Qudu to Quancheng. From Quancheng
onwards, they could spur the horses on in a straight line along the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path to reach Libei Great Commandery.
The Northeast Provisions Bridle Path was an important military
supplies transportation route of Libei, guarded by multiple layers of
Libei Armored Cavalry. Even if the Emperor himself went, he would
not be able to pass through without Xiao Jiming’s Commander’s
Tally4 for Authorization of Passage. All along, the defense of the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path had always been unassailable no
matter how brutal the battles at the borders were. Not once had
they ever allowed the Biansha Cavalry to get close before.
In fact, five years ago, when the troops of Zhongbo were
defeated, the reason Xiao Jiming had been able to deploy troops
to the south so swiftly was because the Northeast Provisions Bridle
Path just happened to cut across the northwestern side of Cizhou.
This gave him the confidence to dispatch his troops right at once.
 “The Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.” At some point in time,
Xiao Chiye had leaned over towards him. He swept a few glances
down along Shen Zechuan’s hands and asked, “Are you interested
in the deployment of troops into battles too?”
“Nope.” Shen Zechuan replied without thinking.
“Doesn’t matter. Second Young Master will teach you.” Xiao
Chiye held Shen Zechuan by the wrist and led his finger to slide
towards the easternmost Chashi River. “You recognize this place,
right? The Chashi River of Zhongbo is Dazhou’s easternmost line of
defense. Pass through it, and you’d be in the Great Desert of
Biansha. Come to think of it. It’s pretty interesting. All along,
Biansha had only dared to attack the Bianjun Commandery.”
Shen Zechuan looked down along his finger at the southeast
corner of Tianfei Watchtower. There, close to the desert looking like
the only breach to Dazhou, was the Bianjun Commandery.
“Because the Bianjun Commandery is too much of a
coincidence. The places above it have Tianfei Watchtower to bar
the way, while the places below it have Suotian Pass to block off
access from the side. Only the Bianjun Commandery is a strategic
point in the southeastern part of Dazhou that cannot make use of
the terrain to fortify its defenses.” Xiao Chiye moved closer and
focused on the map. “It’s here where the Lu Clan defends. You
know of Lu Guangbai’s title? The reason he’s called ‘Fire Beacon
Amidst Blowing Sand’ is because the Lu Clan defends tens of
thousands of li 5 of desert fire beacon towers. The Biansha Cavalry
are crafty. They like to launch night assaults. Every time they cross
swords, Lu Guangbai has to light up the fire beacons. The Bianjun
Commandery Garrison Troops is Dazhou’s best infantry for night
attacks. They are experts at laying ambushes.”
Xiao Chiye was a little excited by the time he spoke to this
point. So he simply held Shen Zechuan’s finger and pointed to the
Bianjun Commandery.
“Of the four generals in the world, shifu is the general most
skilled in defenses, as necessitated by the terrain of the Tianfei
Watchtower, so there is no need to press an attack or dispatch
troops. Don’t be fooled by how unremarkable the Bianjun
Commandery look. In fact, the one best at attrition warfare6 is Lu
Guangbai. Even my eldest brother and Commander-in-chief Qi
aren’t as formidable as him when it comes to this.”
“There are no cavalry in the Bianjun Commandery.” Shen
Zechuan turned his head slightly to the side and cast a glance at
him.
Xiao Chiye smiled. He seemed particularly relaxed at this
moment. He said, “Lu Guangbai doesn’t need them. His soldiers
are the bane of all cavalries. The Lu Clan has been standing guard
in the desert for generations. The climate is bad, and the wasteland
can’t be cultivated at all. They are genuinely poor, so they can’t
afford to raise horses. But even without horses, the battles still need
to be fought. So the Lu Clan developed a battle array through trials
and errors for the specific purpose of resisting cavalries.”
Shen Zechuan looked back at the map. “By interesting, are you
referring to how unusual it was for the Biansha Cavalry to deviate
from their usual way of doing things to storm the Chashi River’s line
of defense five years ago?”
“That’s right.” When Xiao Chiye was deep in thought, he would
turn his thumb ring out of habit. But at this moment, he was
holding Shen Zechuan’s hand; thus he ended up pinching the
latter without seeming to be conscious of this act. “You have to
know one thing first. The Twelve Tribes of Biansha is a collective
title. At the start, there were over twelve tribes of them in the desert.
The Huiyan Tribe, which has dealings with Libei’s mutual trade
market, is a small tribe that was driven out of their land rich in water
and grass by the other tribes. To survive, they threw in their lot with
Dazhou. In short, the current Twelve Tribes of Biansha are
distinguished between the strong and weak too. They never had a
designated sovereign, so they have never been able to come to an
agreement with us and could only fight. Actually, each battle
fought is a heavy blow to Biansha. Their strongest tribe – the
Hanshe Tribe – lies to their north, dealing primarily with the
Armored Cavalry of Libei. While their swiftest Gouma Tribe lies to
the south, dealing primarily with the Garrison Troops of the Bianjun
Commandery. These are fixed patterns formed over long periods
of confrontations—but five years ago, the Hanshe Tribe and Gouma
Tribes came together in the middle to deliver a severe blow directly
to the Chashi River’s line of defense without warning.”
Xiao Chiye paused.
“There is only one possibility in such a situation.”
“They had a plan all worked out in advance.” Shen Zechuan
said. “They were sure that Zhongbo could not stop them, and Libei
and the Bianjun Commandery would not come to the rescue in
time.”
“And that was how rumors that Shen Wei had colluded with the
enemies came about.” Xiao Chiye said. “It was a very risky thing for
them to dive straight in. It won’t be easy for them to rely solely on
their spoils of war to continue battling7 in an unfamiliar
environment. They are already used to galloping across the desert.
To them, combat on the streets is like fighting with their hands and
feet bound. Furthermore, the closer they got to Qudu, the more
obvious the intent for their troop deployment was.”
“Breaching Qudu was not at all a good choice. Qudu is the
heart of Dazhou. Stay here for too long, and they would end up
trapped in a three-way siege from the Libei Armored Cavalry,
Qidong Five Commanderies Garrison Troops, and the Eight Great
Training Divisions.” Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes. “I’ve never
believed that the Biansha Cavalry wanted to attack Qudu.”
“You are too smart.” Xiao Chiye praised him. He slid Shen
Zechuan’s finger across the entire map and pointed to Juexi at the
westernmost part. “I think they wanted to head here. Juexi faces
the sea. It has two major harbors and three major grain reserves
prefectures. All the military provisions from Libei, Qudu, and
Qidong come from here. As long as they entered within Juexi’s
boundary, they wouldn’t even need to attack and take down the
cities and towns and they would already have all three parties by
the throats.”
“If there were no inside help, then this would be a flight of
fancy.” Shen Zechuan pondered over it and said.
“It’s just a straight line from east to west from Zhongbo to Juexi.
Crossing through Zhongbo is the shortest route. Shen Wei opened
the gates for them and gave them the courage and provisions to
continue further in. Without the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path,
dage would not be able to send troops for at least another seven
days. Seven days. If the Eight Great Training Divisions failed to
defend Qudu, then the Biansha Cavalry would have already arrived
at Yongyi Harbor.” Xiao Chiye said, “This was one reason for Libei’s
wrath. There is no room for blatant disregard of ethics in the face of
the enemy’s forces. We can forgive Shen Wei for the defeat of his
troops, but we will never forgive Shen Wei for this stab in the back.”
Shen Zechuan suddenly turned his head and looked at Xiao
Chiye in close proximity.
“What’s the matter?” Xiao Chiye did not intend to release him.
“Shen Wei colluded with the enemies,” Shen Zechuan revealed
an odd smile. “Shen Wei colluded with the enemy… The Twelve
Tribes of Biansha wanted to attack Juexi. But where did Shen Wei
get his hands on Juexi’s military map?”
“The Ministry of War has it.” Xiao Chiye said, “Money makes the
mare go. Bribe them heavily, and you can buy it.”
“In that case,” Shen Zechuan said, “… anyone else beside Shen
Wei could have done it.”

Footnotes
1. Younger brother Gang
2. 口齿生香 literally emitting fragrance in the mouth, but the
entire word by itself means words or text that are profound
or significant.
3. It says Guanyi harbor in this chapter in JJWXC, but I think
it’s supposed to be Yongyi Harbor unless this Guanyi Harbor
is a small harbor not mentioned in the rest of the novel and
map.
4. 兵符 a tally used in ancient China as a proof of military
authorization.
5. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
6. 消耗战 Attrition warfare is a military strategy where the
enemy is worn down to the point of collapse through
continuous losses in personnel, equipment, and supplies.
7. 以战养战 using the manpower, food provisions,
weaponry/armory, money, one obtained from an invaded
and occupied city to fund the next battle.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 44 : NIGHT CHAT

“That may be so.” Xiao Chiye lowered his eyes, “But the one
directly connected to the success or failure on the frontline was
Shen Wei.”
The expression in his eyes looked particularly tender and
loving when he lowered them this way. The brilliance from earlier
had yet to dissipate. It shimmered in his eyes, like fireflies in the
night.
Shen Zechuan looked at him for a moment and said, “The
Ministry of War has no personnel transfer these years.”
“Investigate if you want to.” Xiao Chiye said. “I won’t stop you.”
“Of course you won’t.” Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze back to
the book. “Because you want to investigate too. The most obvious
suspect should have been the Hua Clan, but Shen Wei was already
a tainted blade. There are thousands of simpler ways to dispose of
him. Involving too many people would only just make it easier to
leave behind a trail that could be used against them.”
“You killed Ji Lei, no?” Xiao Chiye smiled. “He should have
given you plenty of information. There is no fun in hiding it away, is
there? Lay it out on the table so that we can speculate together.”
“I know everything you have said, yet what I’ll be saying is
known only to me.” Shen Zechuan extracted his hand bit by bit. “It’s
really too unfair a trade.”
Xiao Chiye thought for a moment, then said, “How about this
then? We’ll do a one-for-one exchange.”
“Sure.” Shen Zechuan said, “You go first.”
Making use of his height, Xiao Chiye barricaded Shen Zechuan
at the side of the bookshelf and raised a hand to flip through the
pages at random. He said, “Don’t you know the rules? Secrets have
to be said on the quiet.”
Shen Zechuan leaned forward and said, “Said on the quiet, not
said while sticking together.”
“What if the walls have ears?” Xiao Chiye put the book back,
propped up his arm, and smiled at him. “After all, I’ve only just
bought this compound. I have yet to acquaint myself with it that
well. It’s better to exercise caution.”
“Xiao’Er.” Shen Zechuan looked at the book. “You’re truly an
asshole.”
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye said, “But what can you do? Alright,
I’m going to start.”
Shen Zechuan waited for a moment but did not hear any
sound. The moment he turned his head, he realized that Xiao
Chiye was still looking at him.
It was only when both men’s breathing intersected that Xiao
Chiye said, “Shen Wei didn’t set himself on fire. The fire at the
Prince of Jianxing Manor was set by the Imperial Bodyguards. The
one who went there with the orders was Ji Lei. You know that,
right?”
“Yes.” Shen Zechuan said calmly. “It’s no secret.”
“Then, do you know the real reason for the fall of Duanzhou?”
Xiao Chiye asked.
Shen Zechuan could not turn his eyes away. He could not even
take his time to ponder over it. Because the instant he could not
keep up with Xiao Chiye’s train of thought, he would easily fall into
the other party’s trap.
Shen Zechuan said, “When the Chashi River was attacked, Shen
Wei ordered the Duanzhou Garrison Troops to retreat, leaving
behind the Hereditary Prince, Shen Zhouji, to head over to Chashi
River to provide support. Shen Zhouji was cut from the same cloth
as his old man. He abandoned the Chashi River soldiers and took
his own bodyguards to flee right before the battle, but he was
dragged through the public road to his death on the same day
itself by the Biansha Cavalry. With Shen Zhouji’s death, the Chashi
River’s morale took a beating. After the soldiers were massacred,
Duanzhou no longer had any military forces to stand before them.”
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye said, “But there’s one thing you don’t
know. While Shen Zhouji was still alive, he worked with Shen Wei to
strangle the Commander of the Duanzhou Garrison Troops, Tantai
Long, to death.”
Tantai Long. Tantai Hu!
 No wonder Tantai Hu said that his own brother had been in the
Chashi Sinkhole too.
Shen Zechuan frowned and asked, “Strangled to death?”
“Because Tantai Long insisted on deploying troops to meet the
enemy head-on. He repeatedly contradicted Shen Wei in public.
After Shen Wei’s withdrawal order was issued, Tantai Long defied
the command and refused to obey. So Shen Wei pretended to
make amends with wine. After the drink, he joined forces with Shen
Zhouji to strangle Tantai Long to death in his room.” Xiao Chiye
paused. “Laohu doesn’t know. He thought Tantai Long was killed in
battle. And this is the first matter I’m telling you. Your turn.”
Shen Zechuan quickly sorted out his thoughts and said, “Shen
Wei was a participant in the struggle for the throne and carried out
assassinations for the Empress Dowager. Afterward, he was closely
watched by the Empress Dowager. Sensing danger, he bribed Pan
Rugui and went to Zhongbo.”
“One mustn’t lay a hand on one’s watchdog.” Xiao Chiye said.
“Under normal situations, the Hua Clan would not choose this kind
of risky way to take down Shen Wei. There is no benefit to the
Empress Dowager, who is already in control of Dazhou’s
administration and governmental affairs. The demand for money
after the battle far exceeded the availability in Dazhou’s Treasury.
The Empress Dowager still wants to be the Grand Emperor1 behind
the screen.2 Doing so would be detrimental to herself. Shen Wei
wasn’t worth the price.”
Shen Zechuan gave a slight nod of his head and said, “So
whatever Ji Lei said might not necessarily be entirely right, because
he himself was just a pawn too. If you want to investigate this
matter, you have to start from the Ministry of War, which could lead
you either way to the top or bottom.”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’ll investigate the top. You investigate the
bottom.”
“Top and bottom are all linked; they are inseparable.” It was
only when Shen Zechuan spoke to this point that he realized that
Xiao Chiye was making a pass at him. He flipped through the book
and feigned obliviousness.
 With a hint of a smile, Xiao Chiye stepped aside and said, “Take
a seat.”
It was hot inside the house. Xiao Chiye was dressed in a scarlet
court robe3 with an embroidered lion.4 He was now a bona fide
Second-Grade5 Viceroy of two armies in Qudu. Presumably, he had
headed straight here after leaving the palace and had yet to
change out of his attire. His facial features were all the more
dashing set against the contrast of his outfit as he sat in the chair; it
had even dismissed the frivolous air around him.
Both men faced each other across the table. Xiao Chiye looked
on as Shen Zechuan read the book. He did not even bother to hide
it now, and that undisguised interest of his circled Shen Zechuan’s
neck and settled on Shen Zechuan’s hands. He was no longer
fixated on one spot; he wanted to see all of Shen Zechuan’s body.
Shen Zechuan’s fingers would bend when he reached out to
flip the pages. This made Xiao Chiye think of a different moment
when Shen Zechuan’s fingers – slicked with hot, damp sweat –
would also curl up like this to grip the bedding even as they rocked
like the surging waves.
Shen Zechuan felt as though his fingers were still being
grasped and played with in a certain man’s palms. Feeling restless
out of the blue, he closed the book and looked right at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye said, “Hm?”
Shen Zechuan slightly clasped his fingers together and said
with a curve of his lips, “The Imperial Army is bogged down with
tasks lately. I’m afraid you won’t have the time to investigate other
matters.”
Xiao Chiye twirled his thumb ring around and said, “Being busy
is just temporary. If the Imperial Bodyguards have the time to spare,
they can share our Imperial Army’s worries and help with our
problems.”
“I’m just a mere soldier. I have no official post, nor do I enjoy
the trust and favor of the Emperor. How could I command the
Imperial Bodyguards?” Shen Zechuan leaned back slightly against
the back of the chair. “The Imperial Army has to manage patrols in
Qudu, as well as private cases of the Imperial Court. They have to
be prudent in everything they do, while the Viceroy has to go to
great pains and expend great effort. It isn’t easy.”
Xiao Chiye was truly busy now that he had suppressed the
Imperial Bodyguards. He could read the provocation in Shen
Zechuan’s words. So he laced his fingers, set them right before
Shen Zechuan, and said with certainty, “You want to create trouble
for me.”
“Tit-for-tat.” Shen Zechuan said mildly. “You intercepted all my
duties, thereby giving me free time. Naturally, I have to thank you
properly.”
“There are so many ways to express your thanks. Why not
choose one that would delight everyone?” Xiao Chiye said, “Looks
like you indeed have friends in the Six Ministries.”
“Having money at home is not as good as having friends in the
Imperial Court. My friend told me something. I guess you’d be
interested too.” Shen Zechuan said.
Xiao Chiye stared at him and said, “I’m all ears.”
But Shen Zechuan surveyed the study and said, “Come to think
of it, it’s a pity that I have yet to meet this ‘Unpolished Jade
Yuanzhuo’,6 Yao Wenyu. Are you on good terms with him?”
Xiao Chiye said, “A passing acquaintance. He can’t be
compared to you.”
“The Yao Clan is on the decline, yet they still stand among the
Eight Great Clans. It’s inevitable that there would be people who
can’t accept this.” Shen Zechuan said, “Yao Wenyu is Secretariat
Elder Hai’s pupil, yet he doesn’t join the Imperial Court as an
official. This is just like throwing away his weapon to let others
slaughter him as they please.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Even though the Yao Clan seems to be on the
decline on the surface, the remnants of power and prestige
accumulated over three reigns are still there. Yao Wenyu might be a
refined man of leisure, but he is by no means a fool. Who would
want to mess with the Yao Clan?”
Shen Zechuan put on a contemplative expression and said,
“How would I know about that?”
Xiao Chiye fell silent, but he reacted quickly and said, “You
aren’t that generous a person. By going out of your way to give me
news, you’ve instead made me uneasy, Lanzhou.”
“We are going to investigate the case together. Anything I can
help with, I’ll not decline to.” Shen Zechuan said, “It’s only when I
saw you on good terms with the Yao Clan that I remembered this.
The Eight Great Clans have stood tall for a very long time. Seeing
how powerful and mighty you are now, wouldn’t it only to be
expected if they were to be scheming something? If the Yao Clan
isn’t willing to associate with them, then they would inevitably
become the target of their ire.”
Xiao Chiye took over command of the Eight Great Training
Divisions and upset the Eight Great Clans’ military power. All along,
the Eight Great Training Divisions were the Eight Great Clans’
assets for contingency purposes that circled around Qudu. Losing
an official post was nothing; they still had the younger generations
at home to replace them. But losing the Eight Great Training
Divisions meant that they would fall under the control of others for
real. It was one thing for them to mutually contain one another, and
another to be controlled by Xiao Chiye. As the saying goes, it’s a
general truism of the world that anything long divided will surely
unite, and anything long united will surely divide.7 And now, Xiao
Chiye was the common foe the Eight Great Clans had to reunite
again to deal with.
What Shen Zechuan had said was not wrong, but Xiao Chiye
could still smell something fishy about these seemingly honest
words.
Xiao Chiye said without batting an eyelid, “The threat I pose to
them hasn’t reached that extent yet.”
“The permanent solution would be to nip it in the bud. You have
already displayed your abilities during the Autumn Hunt.
Pretending that nothing had happened now is merely deceiving
yourself, much like plugging your ears while stealing a bell.” Shen
Zechuan said.
Xiao Chiye suddenly asked, “Who’s your friend?”
Shen Zechuan smiled at him and said, “Even if I tell you the truth,
would you dare to believe it?”
Xiao Chiye stared restlessly at Shen Zechuan.
He wouldn’t believe him.
 Shen Zechuan was good at bewitching others. Every word he
said while he was sober was a cocktail of truths and lies. This man
was so difficult to deal with that Xiao Chiye even felt that he was
much easier to talk to in bed.
“I’ll ferret him out.” Xiao Chiye leaned closer to him. “You only
need to expose your trail, and you won’t be able to escape my
eyes.”
“You are already about to be unable to fend for yourself.” Shen
Zechuan said cheerfully. “You’d best think of a way first to ride out
this storm safely.”
“To think your heart doesn’t even ache for me at all.” Xiao Chiye
suddenly made a switch away from his solemn expression. “One
night together as husband and wife is affection for a hundred
more.8 Lanzhou, you are too callous.”
Shen Zechuan imitated his previous words and said, “That’s
right. But what can you do?”
Xiao Chiye sat down and propped up his leg again. Reclining
back against the chair, he pondered for a moment and said, “This
matter is an easy one to resolve. It’s not really that big of a deal. I’ll
have to thank you for your reminder tonight.”
“That’s really too kind of you.” Shen Zechuan said. “One
hundred taels will do.”
“No money.” Xiao Chiye dragged out his words. “My annual
salary as a second-grade official is only one hundred and fifty taels.
But even without money, I can use something else in exchange.
This Second Young Master will warm your bed for you.”
“Then forget it.” Shen Zechuan smiled politely. “I’m used to
sleeping alone. I don’t need to warm my bed.”
“Habits can be changed.” Xiao Chiye lifted his fingers to his
nose to take a sniff. Casting a sidelong glance at him, he jested,
“Are you getting used to sniffing my handkerchief so far?”
Caught off-guard, Shen Zechuan clenched his hands, leaving
red marks on his fingertips.
Xiao Chiye sized up the beauty under the lantern. He looked as
the latter forcibly braced himself to put on a calm front, then at his
reddened fingertips. Finally, he pointed to his own ear and said in
a wicked tone, “Lanzhou, you’re blushing.”9
Footnotes
1. 太上皇 Taishang Huang; Emperor Emeritus or Grand
Emperor; a title assumed by an emperor’s father who
abdicated in favor of his son; also refers to a backstage ruler
(or someone holding the power behind the scenes), etc.
2. 垂帘(听政) literally to (hold court) behind a screen or
curtain. A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or
Empress dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial
court without actually being seen by her subjects since
women were prohibited from politics. This would usually be
done by a child emperor’s mother, who would serve as
regent and rule in place of the Emperor.

3.
4. Round-collared robe/attire typically worn by officials in
the Ming Dynasty.
5. 补子 rank badge, or mandarin square, was a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. (i.e., the square
image on the robe in the previous footnote). Squares
depicting birds were used for civil officials while animals
were used for military officials. So for a second-grade
military official like Xiao Chiye, this animal would be a lion.
6. 品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades, with
grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
7. 璞玉元琢 literally, Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo (Yuanzhuo
is Yao Wenyu’s courtesy name); unpolished jade here refers
to a talent who is still unknown but with the potential to be
“polished” into someone that shines, like a top scholar (also
known as a zhuangyuan (状元), who would have a bright
future before him.)
8. 天下之(大)势，分久必合，合久必分 From Romance of the
Three Kingdoms (三国演义) It is a general trend of the world
that long periods of division precede unity and long periods
of unity precede division.
9. 一夜夫妻百日恩 Husband and wife for a night, affection
(devotion) for a hundred days (or for life). Once the
relationship between husband and wife is established, deep
feelings last forever.
10. Or take your pick:
11. “Lanzhou, it’s red.”
12. “Lanzhou, red tide incoming.”
13. “Lanzhou, aksjlsdsakjl.”
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 45 : NEW BLADE

Blush.
Shen Zechuan’s heart was originally as still as deep waters, but
at this moment, even he was shaken by that word. Xiao Chiye’s
handkerchief, which lay in his sleeve pocket, was like a fire that had
been stuffed within. It inexplicably obeyed Xiao Chiye’s commands
and sent the flames burning all the way up to his ears. He knew that
the slight redness flushed on the snowy paleness of his skin was
particularly striking. Even if he denied it, it would convince no one.
He seemed to be caught by Xiao Chiye in a certain
predicament where bright mirrors surrounded them on all sides.
The way Xiao Chiye looked was as if he wanted his true colors to be
revealed, and his protective shell to be cast aside.
Shen Zechuan licked his lips to get rid of the troubling dryness.
He balled up his fists and ignored such a provocation from Xiao
Chiye, refusing to give Xiao Chiye a chance to pry further.
“It’s time to sleep.” Shen Zechuan declared, “Let’s call for them.”
Xiao Chiye felt Shen Zechuan’s “I’m ignoring you” reaction to
be like a scratch that tickled him so suggestively that it stirred up
his desire to press home the attack after his victory. However, if he
were to emerge victorious, he could not rush it; impulsiveness
would only make it easy for him to fall into traps. So he let him off
this time and said, “Both shifu have their own arrangements, so
there’s no need to worry about them. If you want to sleep, the East
Wing has been vacated.”
Shen Zechuan stood up right away.
Ji Gang and Zuo Qianqiu were so dead drunk that they were
still not sober the next day. Shen Zechuan carried Ji Gang onto the
carriage and took him back.
Xiao Chiye watched the carriage ride away and said to Chen
Yang, “Keep your eyes closely on the Eight Great Clans these two
days. See who’s on the move.”
Chen Yang nodded in acknowledgment of his order.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Accompanied by the swaying of the carriage, Shen Zechuan
closed his eyes and rested. The carriage made a detour, and
midway through the journey, they swapped to an unremarkable
horse-cart before arriving at Zhao Zui Temple.
Qiao Tianya carried Ji Gang on his back and followed Shen
Zechuan into the courtyard. Ge Qingqing had been waiting for a
long while. When he saw them, he hurriedly stepped forward to
receive them.
“It’s alright.” Shen Zechuan assured. “Shifu is just drunk.”
Grand Mentor Qi, who was standing under the eaves,
instructed, “Qingqing, help Ji Gang inside and let him sleep it off.”
Ge Qingqing took Ji Gang from Shen Zechuan and carried him
into the house.
Qiao Tianya strode forward in a few steps, went on his knees in
the snow, and asked, “Has Grand Mentor been doing well?”
“All is well upon seeing you.” Grand Mentor Qi lifted his hand
and said, “Now that you have already changed your name to Qiao
Tianya, that indenture1 is no longer of any use, yet you are willing
to stay for that bit of sentiment. I should thank you.”
“To Grand Mentor Qi, what happened in the past was merely an
effortless lift of your finger. But to me, it was a kindness that saved
my life.” The merriment on Qiao Tianya’s face vanished. He added,
“During the year of Yongyi,2 when Emperor Guangcheng had
corrupt officials killed, my father and brother were both framed by
others. If Grand Mentor had not been judicious and discerning
enough to offer a helping hand, the twenty lives of the Qiao Clan
would have died unjust deaths before the Meridian Gate.”3
“Your father and brother were both honest and upright
subjects. It was just a brief moment of misjudgment that they were
wrongly accused. Even without me, they would still be safe and
sound.” Grand Mentor Qi replied.
Qiao Tianya paused for a long while before he professed, “The
Qiao Clan cannot thank Grand Mentor enough for his kindness.”
During the years of Yongyi, when Qiao Tianya’s father still
served as an official in the Ministry of War, Emperor Guangcheng
was tough on corruption. Senior Qiao, having been reported by
others, was found by the Chief Surveillance Bureau to be in the
possession of properties and lands of unidentified origins. While
he was helpless against accusations, Qi Huilian re-investigated the
case and freed Senior Qiao and a few others from the Ministry of
War. Consequently, Qi Huilian married off his daughter to the
eldest son of the Qiaos. Yet, this was not the end of the matter; a
few years later, the Eastern Palace was falsely accused, and Qi
Huilian was demoted from the Grand Mentor to a commoner. The
same time when he followed the Crown Prince into Zhao Zui
Temple, Senior Qiao defected to the Empress Dowager.
The Eastern Palace fell. Empress Dowager Hua had its
remnants thoroughly investigated using Pan Rugui’s authority of
office in endorsing memorials4 and Emperor Guangcheng’s name.
As a result, Senior Qiao was thrown into prison again. This time,
without Grand Mentor Qi as his guarantor, both he and his eldest
son were beheaded. The rest of the Qiao household were banished
to Suotian Pass. Qi Huilian’s daughter died on the way. She was
Qiao Tianya’s eldest sister-in-law.
“Let us not bring up the past,” Grand Mentor Qi tugged on his
snow-white hair and spoke, “It was not easy for you to be freed of
the underclass status.5 But you must think it through: once you
become subjected to Lanzhou, it will be a lifelong commitment. You
will no longer be in control of your life or death.”
Qiao Tianya’s hair fluttered in the wind; his smile was unruly
and unrestrained. He said, “Grand Mentor, I already have no home
to return to. In this lifetime, I’ve repeatedly received favors from
both you and Eldest Sister-in-law. These were originally sinful debts
that I had no way of repaying. Now that I can be of use, I shall
dedicate my life to Master. Qiao Songyue died with Eldest Sister-in-
law in the Cang Commandery. The Qiao Tianya of today is merely
a blade. There is no life nor death, let alone freedom, in a blade.
Since this is a dark time when evil powers hang over us like
overcast clouds that make the road you walk difficult, then pull out
this blade that is myself and use it as you please.”
Grand Mentor Qi slowly walked out. Holding the pillar for
support, he looked towards Shen Zechuan and said, “Lanzhou, this
year is about to end. Teacher has yet to give you a gift for your
coming-of-age.”6
 Shen Zechuan’s sleeves were blown apart by the breeze. He
had a feeling of what was to come.
Grand Mentor Qi said, “You can face everything head-on by
yourself now. But this road will be long: killing the sworn enemies,
demolishing the Eight Great Clans, overturning the past trials, and
bringing peace to Zhongbo. None of it is easy. Ji Gang will give
you a blade, so will I. Receive it well.”
Flurries of snow drifted down in the inner court. Shen Zechuan
lowered his head and let Grand Mentor Qi lay cold fingers on top
of his hair.
Ji Gang woke up when it was time for dinner. He had some
congee before he called Shen Zechuan into the house.
“Do you still remember the blade I mentioned to you the last
time? It was delivered last night. It’s been on my mind since.” Ji
Gang shifted aside the shelf inside the house to reveal a blade
stand in the back.
The first time Shen Zechuan saw this blade, his heart stirred. He
could no longer move his eyes away.
“Ji Lei cannot use it.” Ji Gang used a clean handkerchief to wipe
at the blade’s edge slowly, “But this blade suits you very well. I had
someone re-forge the sheath. Its past name cannot be used
anymore; you should give it another name yourself.”
Still engrossed in the blade’s luster, Shen Zechuan studied it
with fascination.
The straight blade of almost three and seven tenth chi 7 meant
that its unsheathing had to be sufficiently fast. Its width of two
fingers would make swift attacks especially easy to maneuver. The
hilt, made of sandalwood, was also newly forged. There was no
decorative carving on it. Only the top was plated in gold with a
white pearl embedded within.
This was an excellent blade that had been thoroughly
tempered. Even after having been shelved and forgotten for so
long, it still cut an imposing, grim presence when unsheathed. It
was as if it were immersed in the clear waters of autumn; not only
was it pristine and untainted, but it also carried with it an air of
solitary haughtiness.
 “Shifu has recently been pondering over a matter. It was only
when I saw Xiao’Er last night that I realized I have been too
inflexible in my teachings that you have become a little too
overcautious and hesitant.” Ji Gang laid down the handkerchief
and said, “Once you wield this blade, even Xiao’Er’s Langli Blade
will not be able to match its speed. The sandalwood hilt is
sufficiently light and will allow you to be more agile. Of all martial
arts in this world, speed is the only thing that cannot be defeated.
This is my father’s beloved blade. When it comes to the Ji Clan’s
martial arts, we now say that one has to be firm and ferocious. But
the Ji Clan’s mental technique was founded and created by my
father. What worked for him will surely work for you. You can take a
different approach and blaze out a new trail as well.”
Shen Zechuan held the hilt of the blade and lifted it.
“Give it a name.” Ji Gang retreated several steps aside.
Shen Zechuan held it lovingly, unwilling to let go, and asked,
“Shifu would give me a blade of this caliber?”
Ji Gang laughed heartily and said, “Shifu wants to box. I don’t
like using blades. This blade would be wasted if I didn’t give it to
you.”
Shen Zechuan thought for a while, then said, “Then I shall
change its name to ‘Yang Shan Xue’.”
◈ ◈ ◈
In the evening, Grand Mentor Qi sat on his heels across the
table. He wrote down the surnames of all the Eight Great Clans on
a piece of paper.
“It will soon be the Feast of A Hundred Officials. The Four Great
Generals will soon be reunited, and the regional officials will be
returning as well.” Letting the ink dry, Grand Mentor Qi spoke,
“With the ascension of the new Emperor, there will surely be
‘surveillance’ next year. This matter is of utmost importance and is
tied to the political stability during the year of Xianyang. Everyone
will use the Feast of a Hundred Officials and the annual leave as an
opportunity to reassess the situation in court. If Empress Dowager
wants to stage a comeback and return to power, she will definitely
not let this opportunity slip.”
 “After the death of Hua Siqian, the Empress Dowager has been
restrained inside the Palace and has not shown her face since. The
younger generation of the Hua Clan has been demoted and
banished. If she wants to make a move now, she could only use
external help.” Shen Zechuan furrowed his brows. “But with the
failing precedence of Xi Gu’an, who would still dare to act rashly
and be the Empress Dowager’s accomplice?”
“Cowardly rats will not achieve greatness. All collaborations in
this world are motivated by mutual benefits. As long as the
Empress Dowager still holds the bargaining chips, why would she
worry about finding a new ship to board?” Grand Mentor Qi drew a
few strokes under “Hua” on the paper, and continued, “Moreover,
the men in her clan cannot be depended on. You’ve forgotten: it is
a woman that the Empress Dowager has been personally
mentoring.”
“The Third Missy.” Shen Zechuan said, “Teacher is referring to
Hua Xiangyi.”
“Given the height of her favors while Emperor Xiande was still
alive, Hua the Third was going to be conferred the title of Princess
of Dazhou.” Grand Mentor Qi said, “But she eventually did not
become the Princess of Dazhou. It was not because Emperor
Xiande was stingy, but because the Empress Dowager would not
allow it.”
Shen Zechuan sipped a mouthful of tea and contemplated for a
moment. Swallowing the tea, he said, “I understand now.”
“Then let us hear your thoughts on it.”
Shen Zechuan propped his arm on his knee and said, “If Hua
Xiangyi had become the Princess of Dazhou, then her marriage
would be out of the Empress Dowager’s hands. The marriage of a
princess is a state affair, subject to the discretionary choice of the
Emperor and the court officials. But if she remains as the Third
Missy, then only the Empress Dowager has a say in whom she will
be married off to. In that case, Teacher, does the Empress Dowager
want to marry her off?”
“If the mountain does not come to me, then I will go to the
mountain.” Grand Mentor Qi dipped his brush in ink. “The Empress
Dowager has forsaken a chariot to save the general.8 Losing Xi
Gu’an means that she has lost control of military power in Qudu;
but if Hua Xiangyi marries Xiao Chiye, then this matter will be easily
resolved.”
Shen Zechuan lightly tapped on his teacup. Holding the cup, he
lowered his eyes and said, “This is harder than ascending the
heavens. Xiao’Er will never hand over his power.”
“I have heard that Hua Xiangyi’s beauty could make an entire
city swoon. There is no guarantee that Xiao’Er would not change
his mind if lust overcomes him.” Grand Mentor Qi commented
pointedly.
Shen Zechuan held a mouthful of tea in his mouth and did not
say a word.
Grand Mentor Qi said, “But this is indeed not easy to do. Even if
Xiao’Er had the heart to do so, Xiao Jiming would not sit idly and
let him. The Hua Clan and the Xiao Clan are like fire and water who
cannot mix; there is no reason to bury the hatchet and make peace
when the advantage is on their side.”
Shen Zechuan gave it some thought and said, “Losing military
power but having the central administration in his control is a good
choice as well. But at this time, there are barely any exceptional up-
and-coming officials. Hai Liangyi still heads the Grand Secretariat,
and the Empress Dowager cannot lower Hua Xiangyi’s status and
have her become a concubine. Then, there is no other fitting
candidate for a groom in all of Qudu.”
“If there isn’t any in Qudu, she can look elsewhere,” Grand
Mentor Qi wrote the word “Qidong” and said, “Libei won’t do, but
there is still an opportunity in Qidong.”
“Commander Qi and Lu Guangbai have both yet to marry.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Then it can only be Lu Guangbai. However,
the Lu Clan are longtime close friends with the Xiao Clan. Theirs is
by no means a relationship one can drive a wedge between
overnight.”
“Why didn’t you put your guess on the Qi Clan?” Grand Mentor
Qi said with dissatisfaction. “Other than Qi Zhuyin, the Qi Clan still
has one more person.”
“It can’t be…” Shen Zechuan looked astonished.
 A few days later, Xiao Chiye accompanied Li Jianheng outside
the city to welcome the two Qidong Commanders-in-Chief. Lu
Guangbai returned with him. On the way, he removed his helmet
and said, “I heard some news during the journey. Do you know
about it?”
Xiao Chiye spurred his horse forward and asked, “What?”
Before Lu Guangbai got his chance to speak, Qi Zhuyin spurred
her horse towards them from behind and slapped him on the
back.
“Commander!” Lu Guangbai yelled in pain.
Qi Zhuyin rarely looked unhappy. She grabbed her blade and
leaned forward to ask Xiao Chiye, “When did these rumors spread
in Qudu?”
Xiao Chiye was even more confused.
Qi Zhuyin clenched her teeth and fumed, “Someone is going to
be my stepmother.”9
Stunned, Xiao Chiye said, “Old Commander Qi wants to take a
new concubine?”
“Concubine.” Qi Zhuyin sneered derisively, “They’re already
saying that he’s going to take a second wife! Third Missy Hua is
going to be my stepmother. Is she even my age?”

Author’s Words:
Yang Shan Xue is modeled after a Tang Blade,10 which differs from
a Xiuchun Blade.11 A straight blade edge is fairly beautiful. I quite
like it. Thank you for reading.

Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin, Rie, Lam

Footnotes
1. 卖身契 more specifically, it’s an indenture or a deed of
sale of oneself or one’s family member to someone else
(e.g., into slavery, etc.)
2. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor reigned.
3. 午门 Meridian Gate, or Wumen, is the southern gate and
the only entrance now to the Forbidden City. It is said that
capital punishment was carried out outside the Meridian
gate, but there are no accurate records to verify this.
Nonetheless, punishment by flogging of officials who had
offended the Emperor did take place in the courtyard in
front of the gate.
4. 批红 compilation of an endorsement on a memorial;
chief eunuchs had the right to note down remarks in red
color (pihong 批紅) on the incoming memorials, even before
the Emperor had seen them.
5. 贱籍 citizens of the lowest social class in ancient China
who did not belong to the four classes of scholars, peasants,
artisans, and merchants.
6. 及冠 or 弱冠, a man’s 20th birthday, i.e., coming of age at
20 for a male.
7. 尺 chi; a Chinese foot, i.e., one-third of a meter
8. 弃车保帅 is literally to sacrifice the chariot (rook) to save
the general (king) in Xiangqi, or Chinese chess, which is a
strategy board game that represents a battle between two
armies, with the aim of capturing the enemy’s general. It
means to make minor sacrifices to safeguard major interests.
9. 小娘, xiaoniang, the term refers more specifically to the
concubine of one’s father.

10.
11. 唐刀 Tang Blade; a Tang dynasty officer’s saber, or “Tang
Dao”. The blade would be either straight or curved and often
only have a one-sided tip.
12.
13. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 46 : BANQUET

Hua Xiangyi was indeed not as old as Qi Zhuyin. She was

younger than Qi Zhuyin by two years. Having been kept deep in the
inner palace these days, she had thinned down a lot. Realization
dawned on her when she saw Qi Shiyu’s portrait on the table in
front of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager held her hand and grasped it for a long
time before saying, “It’s a May-December marriage, but Qi Shiyu
will still dote on you.”
Hua Xiangyi touched the purple palace robe and laid her head
on the Empress Dowager’s knee. The Empress Dowager stroked
her long hair and said, “There’s no need to feel aggrieved. All of
Hua Clan’s daughters are married away like this. A few years after
you marry him, you will become the bonafide mistress of the
Qidong Five Commanderies.”
After lighting the incense in the palace hall, Matron Liuxiang
wordlessly motioned for all the maids and eunuchs to leave.
Hua Xiangyi smiled and said, “I just can’t bear to leave you,
aunt. Cangjun Commandery is so far away; I’ll have to wait a year if
I wish to see you again.”
“Aunt can’t bear to leave you either.” The Empress Dowager
hugged her gently. Hua Xiangyi snuggled against her like she did
when she was little, listening as the Empress Dowager said, “When
I married Emperor Guangcheng, I was only fifteen. That year I left
Dicheng, the one thing I couldn’t bear parting with the most was
my family’s swing. I liked sitting on it. With each swing in the wind,
I could hear the clamor beyond those high walls. My mother
coaxed me and told me that after I came to the Imperial Palace of
Qudu, the Emperor would build me an identical swing as long as I
wanted it.”
Hua Xiangyi stayed still and silent.
The Empress Dowager was the person most favored by
Emperor Guangcheng, yet what Emperor Guangcheng gave was
not what the Empress Dowager wanted. The moment she set foot
into Qudu, she discovered that all the doting her husband
showered on her was merely fleeting, like the clouds in the sky. She
had to vie endlessly with countless women in the harem just for
that one moment of joy.
In Qudu, the most worthless thing of all was love.
The Empress Dowager patted Hua Xiangyi’s head and said,
“Since I came to Qudu, thirty-seven years have already passed by in
a blink. Now my little baby niece is also to be wedded. I’ve really
grown old. In Qudu, I realized that men are powerful in this world
because they can take the imperial exams and serve as officials to
rise in rank; they can also ride horses into battles whilst wielding
spears. Us women are taken into lady’s chambers and taught virtue
and precepts. No matter how talented and intelligent you are with
a thirst for knowledge, there will come a time when you have to
eventually marry.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes were calm.
“When Father taught me, he said that in this world, he and the
Emperor would be the sky above my head. How ridiculously funny.
Becoming the Empress means that I share the empire equally with
the Emperor. Who could be the sky above my head? No one! My
brothers at home are all useless and muddleheaded. Generation
after generation, the Hua Clan can only rely on marrying off
daughters to keep up the appearance of an affluent clan; yet we
aren’t allowed to make a single complaint. What kind of kinship is
this? Since the world wants to differentiate between the strong and
weak to determine success and failure, then I, too, can emerge
victor.”
The Empress Dowager stroked Hua Xiangyi’s temples.
“Remember this: this time, it is not Qi Shiyu who chose you but
you who chose him. I may be defeated in the days to come, but it
certainly won’t be now. My baby niece is going to Qidong not
because there is no other option, but to bide your time and ready
yourself for action. No matter what happens in the future, you may
sigh, but you must never wallow in self-resentment and self-pity. In
this game of chess with the world at stake, one can only make a
move with no regrets. Since we are surrounded and eyed by a pack
of wolves with no way of escape, then we shall fight them to the
bitter end.”
 The bamboo tube in the palace hall swung lightly. Hua Xiangyi
slowly grasped the Empress Dowager’s hand back.
“I will not forget Aunt’s teachings.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The Feast of A Hundred Officials was on Yuanchun1 night. Local
officials entered the capital one after another. There were a lot
fewer family feasts and banquets this year, as they all knew that Hai
Liangyi was keeping a close watch on them. Even coming together
in great numbers could turn into evidence of clique forming. It had
not been long since Li Jianheng’s ascension to the throne.
Everyone all wanted to use the Feast of A Hundred Officials as an
opportunity to observe this new master of theirs.
They still did not know which way the wind was blowing in
Qudu, so everyone spoke and acted with prudence. Only the
matter of Hua the Third spread like wildfire, leaving Qi Zhuyin with
nowhere else to vent her unhappiness.
Xiao Chiye was still secretly investigating the Eight Great Clans
in recent days, but this matter had also piqued his interest. It just
happened that Xiao Jiming had entered the capital, so both
brothers had a chat in the residence.
“The Hua Clan wants to rise again from the ashes. No matter
how much of a lecher Old Commander Qi is, he must not agree to
this marriage.” Xiao Chiye said off-handedly as he took out Libei
Armored Cavalry’s current year expenditure accounts for a look.
“That’s really hard to say.” Xiao Jiming sat at the table and
flipped through the military affairs.
Xiao Chiye raised his eyes and asked, “How would this benefit
his Qidong?”
Xiao Jiming endorsed the document with his name and said,
“You’re in Qudu, and you have taken over the Eight Great Training
Divisions. Haven’t you checked the Eight Great Training Divisions’
accounts?”
Xiao Chiye responded, “I took a look at the account when the
Court of Judicial Review was purged. The surplus money and
military provisions from the Eight Great Training Divisions were all
supplied to the Imperial Army this year to make up for the shortfall.
What’s wrong?”
 Xiao Jiming pondered over the document for a moment and
said, “When Hua Siqian was still alive, the annual salary and
provisions for the Eight Great Training Division was several times
higher than that of the Bianjun Commandery. The money that Xi
Gu’an couldn’t account for—Where could it have gone? Since Hua
Siqian could have two accounts for one payment, then couldn’t the
Empress Dowager have kept another account book? Money comes
and goes like flowing water, but the audit remains a constant. As
long as he could swap the auditing official to his own and place the
said official right under the Eight Great Training Divisions’ noses,
they could write the account book in any way they so desire every
year. The Hua Clan’s properties have been searched and their
possessions, confiscated. But who would dare to touch the
Empress Dowager’s private coffers? This money is now Hua
Xiangyi’s dowry. Whether it’s for official or personal reasons, Qi
Shiyu ought to be tempted.”
Looking displeased, Xiao Chiye said, “The current commander-
in-chief of Qidong Five Commanderies’ military forces is Qi Zhuyin.
Qi Zhuyin will not agree to it.”
“Even so.” Xiao Jiming finally looked at Xiao Chiye. “She can’t
stop it.”
Xiao Chiye lay down and thought for a while before saying, “All
these years, the Qi Clan has had a pretty good relationship with us.
If Qi Shiyu really marries Hua the Third, Libei will no longer be
Qidong’s buddy.”
“That’s of little importance. Once the Biansha Twelve Tribes
come attacking, everyone still has to fight side by side.” Xiao
Jiming said, “With Hua the Third, the Qidong Five Commanderies’
Garrison Troops will have money.”
“Then tell them to buy Libei’s horses in the future.” There was a
cold, tough glint in Xiao Chiye’s eyes. “How long can the Empress
Dowager’s private coffer last? Providing for 200,000 soldiers is not
as simple as raising 20 dogs. The consumption of military
expenditure is alarming. It’s definitely not something a single
person can sustain.”
“If the Empress Dowager has the Qi Clan to assist her, then the
impasse in Qudu can be broken.” Xiao Jiming said, “Once power
returns to her hand, she will be able to recoup the money.”
Xiao Chiye sat up again and said, “This marriage must not
come to pass.”
Xiao Jiming said, “There’s still a way.”
Xiao Chiye looked towards him and said, “The easiest is to kill
Hua the Third.”
Xiao Jiming looked at him in surprise and said, “You are also a
thorn in others’ flesh now. The Eight Great Clan will only be too
anxious for you to make a move.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Rumors are rife now. If we try to stop it after
the new year, it’d be too late.”
Xiao Jiming pondered it over in silence. After a while, he said,
“If the Empress Dowager wants to put this marriage together, then
she must show herself, and the Feast of A Hundred Officials is her
only opportunity. This matter is of great importance. Hai Liangyi
might not necessarily be willing to let it happen. When the time
comes, there will be a war of words.”
“The Hua clan has three generations of daughters who were
married away to Qidong. If we were to delve into it seriously, then
Hua the Third might really turn out to be Qi Shiyu’s distant blood
relative.” Xiao Chiye set aside the book and suddenly burst out
laughing. “No… I want Hua the Third to become a distant blood
relative of Qi Shiyu. This marriage must not come to pass.”
Xiao Chiye got up and pushed the door open to call for Zhao
Hui.
“It’s the Spring Festival.” Xiao Chiye said. “You still have yet to
see your younger sister.”
Zhao Hui looked at Xiao Jiming, who smiled faintly.
Zhao Hui understood and said, “I’ll pay her a visit tomorrow
morning.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Han Cheng, the new Commander-in-chief of the Imperial
Bodyguards, was the third son of lawful birth from the Han Clan,
one of the Eight Great Clans. He used to be the Assistant
Commander of the Eight Great Training Divisions. During the
Nanlin Hunt, he happened to be on a break. He did not follow Xi
Gu’an, nor did he heed the Empress Dowager’s instructions. Rumor
had it that he was still asleep when the Imperial Army knocked on
his door. As such, he escaped the autumn wind2 that had purged
the Hua Faction.
But Shen Zechuan knew that this man was someone Xue
Xiuzhuo had planted there.
On the eve of the Feast of A Hundred Officials, the Imperial
Bodyguards sorted out their duty arrangements. According to the
plan, Shen Zechuan had to remain before the Emperor, so it came
as no surprise when he got the authority token.
Han Cheng personally delivered the authority token to Shen
Zechuan. Both men were inside the Imperial Bodyguards’ office. He
said, “Everything is in order, except the easterly wind.3 When the
time comes, I’ll be at the side too. No matter what, His Majesty
mustn’t be hurt.”
“Of course.” Shen Zechuan hung up the authority token and
said with a smile, “This time, we will be depending on His
Excellency the Commander-in-chief.”
Han Cheng felt apprehensive, but it would not do for him to
reveal it. So he could only repeat, “If this matter fails and gets
exposed, you and I will be sentenced to death for this crime. But if it
succeeds, then the Imperial Bodyguards will be able to swipe a
slice of the pie from the hands of the Imperial Army. Everyone will
live well from then on, and good days will be upon us.”
“Please rest assured, Your Excellency.” Shen Zechuan said with
a serious expression. “We brothers are of one mind. Nothing will
go wrong.”
Seeing how composed and confident he was, Han Cheng
breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside, the snow fell increasingly harder. Even by the time it
was dawn, it never stopped.
◈ ◈ ◈
Before the Feast of A Hundred Officials, there was a sacrificial
ceremony.4 The Imperial Army was already on the alert and ready
for battle early in the morning. Xiao Chiye was neatly dressed in his
court attire today. When he strode through the palace gates, he
came face to face with Han Cheng. Just as he was exchanging
conventional greetings with the latter, he saw Shen Zechuan.
 “The Left Guard stands guard before the Emperor.” Xiao Chiye
asked Han Cheng, as he looked at Shen Zechuan and pretended
not to be acquainted with the latter, “So why is it assigned to
Imperial Bodyguards of the Company Commander rank and
below?”
“The Imperial Bodyguards have now been reorganized, and
many positions have been left vacant.” Han Cheng said and looked
back. “The ones who were picked are all first-rate experts. Many of
them are disadvantaged by the fact that the year for promotion is
not upon them yet, so they all seem to be of junior positions.”
Xiao Chiye was on guard when he saw Shen Zechuan. But even
if he could suppress the Imperial Bodyguards a notch, he did not
have the authority to command the other party to swap the men.
Because no matter how much the Imperial Bodyguards was
inhibited, both it and the Eastern Depot took commands directly
from the Emperor. As long as Li Jianheng said nothing, anyone
else who gave orders summarily would be overstepping their
authority.
As if knowing what he was thinking, Shen Zechuan exchanged
glances with him with eyes that spoke of a meaning Xiao Chiye
could not read.
Ahead of them, the Domesticated Elephants Office had already
herded the elephants out. Li Jianheng was about to step out of the
hall soon. Unable to stay for long, Xiao Chiye strode forward and
left.
This was the first time Li Jianheng held the ceremonial
greatsword in his hands. It was so heavy he almost could not lift it.
Even before he stepped out of the palace doors, he already felt his
neck aching with that royal crown atop his head. This coronation
attire,5 which had him shouldering the sun and the moon and
bearing the stars on his back,6 finally revealed in him a trace of
sober, imposing bearing from his typical gleeful and playful
attitude.
Li Jianheng’s palms were sweating. He held up the greatsword
before striding out of the door.
The court elephants, draped with red velvet and gold saddles,
stood at both sides. The various officials kowtowed and shouted
out wishes of longevity upon the Emperor. Li Jianheng stood atop
the stairs, his broadened field of vision taking in the panorama of
thick clouds in the east, with skies and lands cloaked in a blanket of
boundless snow. He stood up high above, so high it was almost as
if he was up there in the clouds. The deafening sounds of “long
live, Your Majesty” reverberated in his ears. Li Jianheng’s heartbeat
quickened. Pleasant surprise gradually washed over his face as his
eyes successively moved down from Hai Liangyi to Xiao Jiming to
all living beings in the world kneeling before him. He was the one
and only supreme ruler!
This is how it feels like to be the Emperor.
Li Jianheng could not help but grasp the greatsword tightly. In
this grand show of obeisances made to him, he felt as if he had
obtained the strength and courage to contend with Heaven. This
feeling was poles apart from the feeling of sitting in the Imperial
Court. It was the thrill of being kowtowed to for the first time ever
since the hunting grounds.
Li Jianheng advanced along the long stairs and walked
towards the ceremonial terrace. He walked very, very slowly,
reveling in this entire journey of honor and glory.
Of the tens of thousands of people, only Shen Zechuan slowly
raised his head. He looked along the tall stairs past Li Jianheng’s
figure, where he, too, saw the dark and gloomy sky amidst the
dancing snow.
◈ ◈ ◈
As the feast began, the Court of Imperial Entertainments began
to dish out meals, while the Imperial Winery followed on their heels
to serve wine without pause. Li Jianheng was fond of sweets, so the
Imperial Bakery made quite a number of silk-nested tiger’s eye
candies.
Li Jianheng sat on the Dragon Throne, with the Empress
Dowager and Hua Xiangyi below him, followed by Muru, who had
just been conferred the title of Imperial Concubine. Shen Zechuan
and Han Cheng stood at the bottom of the steps, opposite the
Imperial Army. A eunuch from the Imperial Food Service kneeled
behind Shen Zechuan to the right. Every dish on Li Jianheng’s
table had to be first tasted by the Imperial Food Service eunuch.
 Li Jianheng was in high spirits tonight. He repeatedly urged all
those present to drink up, while he himself was somewhat
intoxicated. Sitting on top, he said, “Ever since I’ve ascended to the
throne, I’ve been fortunate to be assisted by wise talents. With a
clear mirror7 like Secretariat Elder Hai by my side, there isn’t a day I
dare to forget to self-reflect.”
He began to shoot his mouth off as soon as he drank too
much.
“I’m very grateful to Secretariat Elder Hai, and I wish to regard
Secretariat Elder Hai as the Second Father8 of the Court. Such
honor and glory have never been accorded to past Secretariat
Elders before. Now, I shall give Secretariat Elder…”
Second Father!
How could he speak of such words? The way he put it drained
the color from Hai Liangyi’s face. Hai Liangyi had already got up in
astonishment, wanting to kneel in protest. At the same time, Li
Jianheng belched from the wine, still waving his hand.
“No need for Secretariat Elder to panic. It’s what I should do…”
“I think this is improper.” The Empress Dowager looked at Hai
Liangyi and paused for a moment. It was as if she saw through Hai
Liangyi’s shock at that very moment. Turning to Li Jianheng, she
said softly, “Secretariat Elder Hai is the leader revered by all
scholars in the world. His character is solemn and dignified. Since
entering the court to serve as an official, he has had clean hands.
He speaks bluntly and resolutely. If His Majesty were to equate this
kind of trusted aide to a Second Father, then even if this would
demonstrate Your Majesty’s favor, the Secretariat Elder’s intent to
criticize social evils of the times for public interests would be lost.”
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s mild demeanor, Li Jianheng
laughed and said, “In the past, King Xiang9 valued relationships
and respected Fan Zeng10 as his Second Father. Today, I want to
express my gratitude for Secretariat Elder’s assistance too, and
address him as Second Father. It sounds intimate, and the title itself
would give me pause for self-reflection! Secretariat Elder,
Secretariat Elder, so how about it?”
Hai Liangyi, already kowtowing, said, “This absolutely mustn’t
be done!”
 It was as if Li Jianheng was splashed in the face with cold water.
That sternly uttered phrase of “mustn’t be done” put a damper on
his enthusiasm, making him displeased. His expression underwent
a few changes before he eventually forced a smile and said, “It’s
just a form of address for me to be on more intimate terms with the
Secretariat Elder. So what does it matter?”
Hai Liangyi said, “Your Majesty is the sovereign, poles apart
from an overlord11 confined to a narrow corner. This old subject
was born in the mountain ridges of Hezhou. I’m truly nothing but
an uncouth, lowly person. How can I share the same address of
‘father’ as the sagely Emperor Guangcheng?!”
Li Jianheng’s original intention was to win over the hearts of
Hai Liangyi as well as all the scholars in the world. He wanted to
use this to affirm that he was not an idiot who disrespected
learning. But that was all the few books he had read. How could he
have known that a mere address could evoke such vehement
rejection from Hai Liangyi? He had no way to back down this very
moment, like a man who found it difficult to dismount a tiger he
had ridden.12 He even sobered up a few degrees.
Li Jianheng could not bring himself to insist on it and
embarrass himself further, so he thought of playing dumb and
glossing it over. Thus, he said, “If the Secretariat Elder is unwilling,
then forget it…”
“My thinking is that,” Hai Liangyi said, “Those at the bottom will
imitate the propensity of those at the top! Now that His Majesty has
created this precedent tonight, then there will be people who will
attempt to follow suit in the future. When that happens, they will
collude to form cliques and factions that impede the imperial court,
thereby jeopardizing the entire state. It has only been a month
since the dust from the Hua Faction case settled. Past experiences,
if not forgotten, will serve as a guide for the future. It’s truly
improper for Your Majesty to drink until dead drunk tonight!”
Li Jianheng clenched the wine cup tightly in his hands and
surveyed the crowd below. It was only when he saw the officials
hanging their heads low and not daring to look directly at him that
his fury eased off some. He could not flare up at Hai Liangyi, but he
did not want to admit the errors of his way today either. He sat
restlessly on this Dragon throne. Having tasted the sweetness of
submission from all living beings, how could he willingly open
himself up to censure?
He was the Emperor.
Li Jianheng’s eyes were already bloodshot from enduring it. He
drank the last mouthful of wine and said, “… Let’s drop this matter.
Help Secretariat Elder back to his seat.”
Hai Liangyi was aware that tonight was not the time to
admonish him, but it was hard to change his frank and outspoken
nature. “I still have something to say.”
Li Jianheng pursed his lips into a tight line and said nothing.
Silence reigned in the banquet hall. Without getting a
response, Hai Liangyi continued to kneel in place. They were now
at a deadlock. No one else touched their chopsticks. Even the
music from the reed instruments had ceased.
Suddenly, a “clack” rang out.
Xiao Chiye laid down his chopsticks at his own seat and
laughed out loud, “It delights me to see the relationship between Li
Jianheng and Secretariat Elder. The so-called sagely ruler and
virtuous subject is nothing more than precisely this, with the
Emperor and his subjects in harmonious council on state affairs, so
the ancient saying goes. The presence of such a sagely ruler and
upstanding official in Dazhou means that the age of prosperity is
sure to fall upon us soon.”
“It’s the blessing of the officials that His Majesty advocates
freedom of speech and is receptive to criticisms.” Xue Xiuzhuo
raised his cup for a toast, “It’s the new year tonight. Why not offer a
toast to this sacred scene?”
The group of officials lifted their cups and said their greetings
in unison.
Li Jianheng felt a little appeased amidst the sounds of
greetings and wishes. On seeing a still kneeling Hai Liangyi, he
could not refrain from letting loose a sigh. “Secretariat Elder, please
rise.”
With the crisis averted, the Empress Dowager looked at Xiao
Chiye for a moment before she prompted, “It’s said that a man’s
lifelong wish to start a family and establish one’s career. Does Ce’
an have a betrothal candidate in mind?”
There was a flash in Shen Zechuan’s eyes as he looked towards
Xiao Chiye too.
Xiao Chiye smiled without the slightest scruple and answered,
“To reply Your Majesty, which of the noble ladies in Qudu would be
willing to marry down to me the way I am now? Besides, it’s not my
aspiration to settle down.”
The Empress Dowager said, “The Viceroy is too humble. Up-
and-coming upstarts in the capital are few and far between
nowadays. With your appearance, there will be beauties beckoning
to you even when you cross the bridge on the eastern street.
Hereditary Prince, if you don’t urge him, it may then be too late.”
Xiao Jiming smiled too and replied, “My dear Father at home
thinks his temperament is still volatile. He’s afraid he would hold up
the marriage and life of a maiden from some family.”
The Empress Dowager turned her head aside once again and
looked at Li Jianheng with a smile. “Look at how not a single one of
them is in a hurry. When the Prince of Libei was at this age, he was
already married for three to four years.”
Li Jianheng had not come around from the previous situation,
and he was feeling a little lackadaisical at the moment. Not daring
to leave the Empress Dowager hanging, he glanced at Xiao Chiye
and replied, “Mother may not be aware, Ce’ an is reckless in nature.
The common noble lady from Qudu will not be able to hold their
own against him.”
“You can’t put it this way and delay his marriage for no good
reason.” The Empress Dowager continued, “It doesn’t have to be a
noble lady from Qudu. I’m aware that Marquis Helian’s daughter,
Commandery Princess13 Zhaoyue, is of similar age with Ce’ an. It’s a
good match.”
Marquis Helian was the Marquis of Chuancheng. He was a
member of the Fei Clan, which was one of the Eight Great Clans.
The Empress Dowager had indeed appointed a marriage14 well-
matched in status.
Marquis Helian, Fei Kun, promptly gave a toast and looked in
Xiao Jiming’s direction.
 Xiao Chiye thought that the Empress Dowager would talk about
Hua Xiangyi’s marriage at the banquet. He did not expect the
discussion this time to come directly for him instead. Outright
rejection was not an option, but neither could he marry straight off
in a muddle.
Li Jianheng was caught off guard too. Dazed for a moment, he
looked at Xiao Chiye and stuttered, “I… Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue…” Struck by a brainwave, he said, “The nation is still in
mourning. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to appoint marriage at this
time.”
“It’s one thing to pledge marriage and another to complete the
marriage. We have not been having any good times lately. We
could fix the betrothal first and wait for summertime to seek an
auspicious day to hold the rites for the union.” The Empress
Dowager added affectionately, “Zhaoyue and Xiangyi are bosom
friends. It’d be perfect for them to get married at the same time.”
She remained tight-lipped about who Hua Xiangyi was going
to marry and merely pushed Commandery Princess Zhaoyue to
Xiao Chiye. This made it clear that she regarded Xiao Chiye’s
marriage as a state affair and Hua Xiangyi’s marriage as a private
matter.
Qi Zhuyin’s expression was solemn, but unexpectedly enough,
she said nothing.
Seeing this, Lu Guangbai knew that it did not bode well and
guessed that Qi Shiyu had already given his approval and told Qi
Zhuyin not to say anything. However, getting married to
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue was absolutely out of the question.
If this marriage was decided and the Empress Dowager lifted
Zhaoyue’s status to Princess, Xiao Chiye would be marrying a
princess. The Consort of Dazhou had no power, with only a title in
name. It would strip Xiao Chiye of his military power in Qudu,
which he had only just grabbed on to.
The wine in Xiao Chiye’s throat burned like a raging fire. He
had already risen to his feet, but then he saw the Empress Dowager
smiling again.
“The Hereditary Prince is married to the daughter of the Lu
Clan’s Earl of Biansha from the Bianjun Commandery. Your little
son is now around four to five years old, right?”
Xiao Jiming replied, “He is now four years old.”
“The Grandson-Heir is already four years old, yet General Lu
still does not have a wife.” The Empress Dowager looked towards
Lu Guangbai and added, “Bianjun is a desert land. It’s not easy for
the General to guard and defend it. Starting a family early will
reduce one of the Earl of Biansha’s concerns. General Lu seems to
me to be of similar age to the Hereditary Prince. Why? Is it also not
the General’s aspiration to start a family?”
Lu Guangbai was momentarily at a loss for words. “To reply
Your Majesty——”
The Empress Dowager continued, “Zhaoyue’s disposition is
lively and playful. Frankly speaking, Ce’ an is indeed quite reckless.
The General seems a lot more reliable instead. Ce’ an, what do you
think about it?”
If Xiao Chiye did not marry Commandery Princess Zhaoyue, it
would fall upon Lu Guangbai to marry her. This headache laid out
in the banquet was precisely meant to put him in a dilemma.
Xiao Chiye had already sent Zhao Hui to bribe someone from
the Ministry of Rites. Once Her Majesty opened her mouth tonight,
he would testify to the fact that Hua Xiangyi was Qi Shiyu’s distant
relative related by blood. With the law of propriety in the way and a
wide gap in seniority, this marriage would fall apart. But the
Empress Dowager would not give him the chance to counter at all.
Who would have guessed that it would be his marriage that would
be handed over tonight?
It was at this moment Xiao Chiye saw the look in Shen
Zechuan’s eyes. As both men stood under the watchful gaze of
everyone present with this thorny issue pressing down upon them,
their eyes met for the briefest flicker of an instant.
Xiao Chiye strode a step forward and said, “To reply Your
Majesty.”
The Imperial Food Service eunuch was transferring dishes on
behalf of the Imperial Bakery. He submissively divided out the
portion he was to sample and picked up the chopsticks before
looking at Li Jianheng who was about an arm away from him.
 Li Jianheng was still undecided as he listened to their
confrontation with a frown. Sensing the lack of movement from the
eunuch near him, he cast a sidelong glance over and asked, “Why
are you standing—”
In the twinkling of an eye, the eunuch clenched the gold-clad
chopsticks and, with a lightning move of his hand, stabbed it right
towards Li Jianheng’s neck!
It happened so abruptly that Li Jianheng did not even have the
time to react. All he could do was to watch helplessly as the tip of
that chopstick came stabbing towards him. His entire body
stiffened as his eyes betrayed the fear in them. He could not even
move his fingers.
In the split second the color drained from everyone’s faces,
Shen Zechuan had already drawn out Yang Shan Xue. The cold
glint of the straight blade flashed past.
Li Jianheng’s throat tightened as he yelled as loud as he could.
As soon as he did so, hot, fresh blood splattered onto the front and
hem of his robe. Li Jianheng shouted at the top of his voice,
“PROTECT ME—”
The eunuch’s head rolled forward and fell onto Li Jianheng’s
body. Li Jianheng held on tightly to both sides of the dragon
throne for support. Under this heavy stench of blood, he watched
as someone caught hold of that headless body which was toppling
over towards him.
Shen Zechuan cast aside the body and turned around
indifferently to command, “Protect His Majesty!”
Ge Qingqing immediately drew his sword. Snow-white glint cut
through the air with a “swish” as the Imperial Bodyguards stood
before the Imperial Army like a fortified, impregnable city,
becoming Li Jianheng’s primary shield.
With the Imperial Bodyguards between them, Xiao Chiye had
to look up before he could see Shen Zechuan’s face.
The balanced status quo they had always maintained was
finally shattered right this very moment. Shen Zechuan looked
down at him from high above and threw him a meaningful smile.
That expression in his eyes was as concrete as it could be as it
trampled down upon Xiao Chiye’s chest.
Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin, Rie, Lam
Footnotes
1. 元春 Yuanchun, also known as 元旦 Yuandan, i.e., the
lunar new year’s day.
2. 秋风 literally autumn wind, but it also refers to a powerful
force that quickly and easily sweeps away all things rotten or
on the decline. (秋风扫落叶)
3. 万事妥当，只欠东风, i.e., everything all is ready except
what is crucial
4. 祭祀 offering of sacrifices to the gods or ancestors

5.
6. Putting this image because he’s handsome (See example of coronation
attire historical portrait)
7. 冕服 Mianfu, literally means coronation attire, is the
highest level of formal dress worn by Emperors and the royal
family in special ceremonial events such as coronation,
morning audience, ancestral rites, worship, new year’s
audience, and other ceremonial activities.
8. “肩戴(挑)日月，背负星辰” Literally “wearing the sun and
moon on the shoulders and carrying the stars on the back.”
The sun, moon, and constellations are part of the Twelve
Symbols of Sovereignty on the Emperor’s ceremonial robe,
with sun and moon on each shoulder, and stars on the back
or around the neck, which later came to be the established
style of the Emperors’ coronation robe.
9. Also refers to someone impartial and insightful
10. 亚父 term of respect for a man that’s second only to
father, i.e., like a father.
11. 项王 Xiang Wang, or King Xiang, refers to Xiang Yu, one
of the rebels causing the downfall of the Qin dynasty who
became the most powerful warlord, but was finally defeated
by Liu Bang.
12. 范增 Fan Zeng, originally an advisor to Xiang Yu’s uncle,
Xiang Liang, and later became Xiang Yu’s advisor. Xiang Yu
respectfully addressed Fan Zeng as his “Second Father”, or
Yafu.
13. Refers to Xiang Yu
14. 骑虎难下, lit. he who rides a tiger finds it difficult to
dismount, i.e., to have no way to back down (or find it hard
to stop what one is doing).
15. 郡主 Commandery Princess; daughter of a crown prince
or a first-rank prince.
16. 指婚 A marriage (typically of a royal descendant) which is
decided by the Emperor. (i.e., when the Emperor plays
matchmaker).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 47 : POWER STRUGGLE

Translated with: Eggy & Yunyun<3

Terrified, Li Jianheng kicked that human head away with his leg
shaking. He no longer cared about keeping up appearances. Right
this moment, he wanted so much to shrink into the Dragon Throne.
There was a roaring in his ears as he watched the fresh blood soak
through his robe. It felt as though someone was strangling him by
the throat; for a long time, he could not utter a single word.
Shen Zechuan kneeled on one knee and said with a severe
countenance, “Don’t be afraid, Your Majesty. The assassin has
already been executed. This humble subject was late in coming to
your protection. For this sin, I deserve death!”
Li Jianheng’s limbs seemed to be paralyzed as he struggled
with the effort to grasp hold of the armrests of the throne and shift
his gaze from the corpse to Shen Zechuan’s face. He almost choked
with sobs as he grabbed Shen Zechuan’s sleeve and said, “Not
late… not late at all! You… Lanzhou, you’ve done well! I, I almost…”
“Summon the Imperial Physician!” Ignoring the bloody corpse,
the Empress Dowager hurried over. She held Li Jianheng’s hand
and called out softly to him, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty?”
Li Jianheng was still in a panic from the fear. He swallowed his
saliva with some difficulty and hastily pulled out his hand from the
Empress Dowager’s palms to grasp Shen Zechuan’s sleeve tightly.
He pleaded, “Stay here. Lead the Imperial Bodyguards and remain
here to protect me!”
“The Imperial Bodyguards are His Majesty’s guards.” Shen
Zechuan said without blinking an eye. “For His Majesty, the Imperial
Bodyguards will willingly brave through fire and water. This humble
subject will immediately escort Your Majesty back to Mingli Hall.”
Everyone at the banquet was still badly shaken. Xue Xiuzhuo
took a few steps forward and said sharply, “Arrest and detain
everyone from the Imperial Food Service, Court of Imperial
Entertainments, Imperial Bakery, and Imperial Winery. To think
there is an assassin hiding among the Son of Heaven’s personal
attendants. All those involved in the arrangements of the inner
palace eunuchs and guards’ defenses must be held accountable!”
“Who is in charge of patrols tonight?” The Empress Dowager
asked.
The banquet hall fell silent. Xiao Chiye bowed and said, “To
reply Your Majesty, it’s this subject.”
The Empress Dowager did not pursue further. Instead, she
looked at Li Jianheng, as did the other officials.
For this eunuch to be someone from the Imperial Food Service,
he first had to have a clean family background and a clean history.
The time he entered the palace, the services and offices among the
Twenty-four Yamens he had worked in, and even which inner
palace eunuchs he had been on good terms with in the past, all
had to be investigated. Not only that, even the people he came into
contact with had to be checked and recorded in the official files.
Xiao Chiye was responsible for the guards’ defenses. He was
supposed to vet all these matters thoroughly before the Feast of A
Hundred Officials. The assassin had walked in through his layers of
defenses. There was no way he could escape responsibility.
With his lips pale as he dripped cold sweat, Li Jianheng said,
“Take the eunuchs of the various services into custody first. I…”
Before he could finish his words, he fainted.
◈ ◈ ◈
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one. Li Jianheng was
lying unconscious in the inner room. The Imperial Physicians
gathered in a group, while the Empress Dowager listened to their
diagnosis behind the hanging curtain once more. Hai Liangyi
waited on the side, as instructed explicitly by the Empress
Dowager.
Han Cheng led the Imperial Bodyguards to stand guard with
their swords under the eaves, while the court officials kneeled
outside. The night of Yuanchun1 was incredibly cold. Many elderly
officials were already shivering from the freezing cold, hanging on
with their sheer will alone.
 The whole palace, shrouded in a particularly chilling
atmosphere, was dead silent.
Xiao Chiye was not among them. He needed to arrest the inner
palace eunuchs with the relevant personnel from the Ministry of
Justice and the Chief Surveillance Bureau. Furthermore, the
Imperial Army also had to be detained. The Imperial Army’s
Assistant Commander responsible for screening the manpower
tonight had his authority token suspended. Together with the
eunuchs, he was thrown into prison.
There was no fire brazier set up inside the hall. Only the
lanterns were lit.
Xiao Chiye was sitting on the lower right of the Minister of
Justice, Kong Qiu. On the left was the Chief Surveillance Bureau’s
Left Censor-in-chief, Cen Yu, and Right Censor-in-chief, Fu Linye.
If this had proceeded like before, Xiao Chiye would have held
the same authority as the Minister of Justice to conduct trials, which
would have placed him on equal footing and seating as the latter.
But this time, to avoid arousing suspicion, he could only make do
with the lower right seating and hand the authority of supervision
over to the two head officials from the Chief Surveillance Bureau.
This year was a period of troubled times, where a fresh wave of
problems rose before the former had subsided. The Three Judicial
Offices had never judged cases consecutively like this; what’s
more, all the cases were major ones that concerned the Emperor’s
life.
Kong Qiu finished the tea that had cooled and said nothing as
they waited for the prisoner to be summoned. In fact, from the
moment they had sat here, no one had dared to make small talk.
Everyone knew that it was not the time to jest and joke around. All
of them wore solemn expressions on their faces.
Xiao Chiye sat in his seat and rotated his thumb ring in silence
as he lost himself in contemplation.
They had come prepared for this case, just like Xiaofuzi’s case
back then. It became all the more convoluted in the instant it had
occurred. If one could look beyond the facade the moment it
happened, it would look like countless strings being pulled behind
the scenes, concealing a deep-seated motive.
 The inner eunuchs from the Imperial Food Service had to test
the dishes for the Son of Heaven. As such, each one from top to
bottom had been thoroughly vetted for all three generations. To
use this kind of person and turn him into an assassin would be
extremely difficult. Yet, it was also very easy.
First of all, it must be someone who could come into contact
with the inner palace eunuchs, or a eunuch who was hiding in the
palace but working for powers on the outside. Only these two kinds
of people could coerce or entice the eunuch into assassinating the
Emperor.
Xiao Chiye suddenly remembered something at this point and
stopped turning his thumb ring. Right at this time, the summoned
prisoner was brought over. It was the Imperial Army’s Assistant
Commander.
Kong Qiu cut the crap and went straight to the point. “As the
Imperial Army’s Assistant Commander, you are the one responsible
for examining the armed staff of the Imperial Army who would
stand before the Emperor tonight, as well as the eunuch the
Imperial Food Service arranged to taste-test the dishes. How much
do you know about this eunuch?”
The name of the Assistant Commander was Meng Rui, a man
from a military household2 Xiao Chiye had promoted in the sixth
year of Xiande.3 He was a very prudent man who originally served
as the Office Manager4 in the Imperial Army. With a gaze that never
wavered, he answered in a steady voice, “The eunuch assassin
went by the name Guisheng. He was twenty-six and a native of the
City of Chuncheng. His father, a resident of Baishui Street in
Chuncheng, passed away from illness in the sixth year of Xiande.
As the only child in the family, Guisheng entered the palace in the
year of Yongyi and had been here for twelve years since. He joined
the Imperial Food Service in the first year of Xiande and started to
taste dishes for the former Emperor from the fourth year of Xiande
onwards. He had no special hobbies, and there is hardly anyone
he associated with.”
Kong Qiu thought for a moment and asked, “Who was the one
who arranged for him to taste the dishes tonight?”
 Meng Rui answered, “The Female Official of the Imperial Food
Service, Fuling.”
Kong Qiu first looked at the men from the Chief Surveillance
Bureau, then at Xiao Chiye before he nodded and said, “The
weapon used for the assassination was the golden chopsticks used
by the Emperor. The Imperial Army could do nothing about it even
if they did a body search or a background check on him. How
about this? Assistant Commander Meng, please wait for a moment.
Summon Fuling of the Imperial Food Service.”
Meng Rui retreated to the side. From start to end, he never
made eye contact with Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye was actually not as nervous as the others expected
him to be. He knew fully well that this assassination could not strip
him of his military power. Perhaps he would be punished and have
his salary reduced after this incident, but these would not have any
significant impact on him. When the incident happened, he was
too far away. There was no way he could beat Shen Zechuan to it
and save the Emperor. Plus, the seating arrangement was planned
according to the customs, so no one could criticize it either. And
there was one more thing. That is, the speed at which Shen
Zechuan had drawn his sword back then was simply too fast. In
almost the blink of an eye, his blade had already returned to its
sheath, and the assassin’s head had toppled to the ground. This
differed completely from the speed he had exhibited last time on
that rainy night. Even if Xiao Chiye had been standing beside him
at the time of incident, he might not have necessarily been faster
than him. But it was what was going to transpire after the
assassination that bothered Xiao Chiye the most. He had to plan
ahead and save for a rainy day. He needed to curb the possibility of
this matter burning its way to him.
Xiao Chiye thought again of that final expression in Shen
Zechuan’s eyes.
The Imperial Bodyguards’ usual practice was to have a period
of promotion once every eight years. The subordinates would first
be assigned to one of the twelve offices according to their
household register classification,5 then promoted according to
their on-the-job performance. There were just too few opportunities
for an exception to be made. Shen Zechuan’s family background
was unusual. Although he was now absolved from sin and
exempted from punishment, he still could not be considered to
have military status. If he wanted to lead and command the
Imperial Bodyguards, then he had to find a way to get promoted.
The reasons Xiao Chiye had been suppressing the Imperial
Bodyguards these few months were to consolidate the Imperial
Army’s influence and clout, and to guard against Shen Zechuan’s
advancements through the ranks. The situation in Qudu was
chaotic, yet it was also as distinct as the waters of the Jing and Wei
Rivers.6 Everyone was already familiar with one another. All of them
collaborated with one another for their own interests, then fought
with each other for their own interests. Only Shen Zechuan was an
unpredictable variable. Xiao Chiye had tried every possible way to
sound and feel him out, but he never found out what Shen
Zechuan’s actual intent was.
If he could not figure out his motive, then he could not
cooperate with him with peace of mind.
Xiao Chiye had hoped that Shen Zechuan could stay quietly at
the bottom rank. But the assassination case this time was Shen
Zechuan’s answer.
Impossible.
He was his own blade. He would kill out a path for his own. He
would not deign to be at the beck and call of others. He wanted to
tear others apart, not to obey.
What could a night of bedroom pleasure change?
That was the howls of their resentment being vented in the
pitch-dark night, a panting which stemmed from the entanglement
of both men’s desires. It was amidst the collision of bodies and
pounding of flesh that gave rise to the feeling of fellow sufferers
commiserating with one another. But this was still not enough to
hamper both men from making the choices they did.
Xiao Chiye would never give up the power in his hands. This
was the blade on which his survival depended. If he could not
return to Libei, then he must grasp tightly onto this blade. Likewise,
Shen Zechuan would not tolerate himself being subservient to
others. He would not let others decide the course of his fate. He
needed to rise through the ranks. He had to.
Xiao Chiye suddenly clenched his fist.
Seeing that Shen Zechuan was involved in the plotting of this
case, then who were his accomplices?
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng had yet to regain consciousness. Shen Zechuan
was switched off duties so he could get a little rest. As he wiped his
hands in the office, he heard the door behind him open, followed
by someone entering.
“According to the plan you spoke of, Han Cheng should be the
one stepping forward to save the Emperor.” Xue Xiuzhuo rolled up
his sleeves a little and washed his hands in the cold water basin.
He smiled and said, “The few of us brothers have been played for
fools by Your Excellency Shen.”
“The situation was critical.” Shen Zechuan did not look back. “If
Han Cheng has that ability, then it wouldn’t matter to have him do
the saving. But he just had to be slow. What can I do?”
“This matter won’t take Xiao’Er down. At most, he will just be
impeached for governance negligence. You, however, showed
your true colors before him this time. Even if you move up the
ladder, you will not have an easy time in the future.”
“I’m in the same boat with Your Excellency, the Assistant
Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. If I’m having a hard time…”
Shen Zechuan looked back and said with a smile, “… then do you
think you can rest easy?”
“I heard that there is a kind of mad dog ruthless enough to bite
one of its own.” Xue Xiuzhuo dried his palms in the air and looked
at Shen Zechuan. “Being on the same boat with someone who uses
others as stepping stones this unreservedly will, instead, strike fear
in one’s heart.”
“How can you say that?” Shen Zechuan said, “The ones who
gain the upper hand tonight are all my brothers. Am I not the
scapegoat before Xiao’Er who takes the fall for everyone? I’ll be a
thorn in Xiao’Er’s flesh in the future. He ought to hate me to death
right now.”
 “The friendship between His Majesty and Xiao’Er runs deep. His
act of saving His Majesty’s life at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds is the
hardest to forget. Even if you stand out this time, you might not
necessarily be able to top and replace Xiao’Er.”
“The first step is always the hardest.” Shen Zechuan smiled. “If
His Majesty truly is grateful to Xiao’Er for saving his life, then he
wouldn’t continue to keep him trapped in Qudu. The so-called
gratitude of man is only worth so much.”
Xue Xiuzhuo wiped his hands and laughed for a moment
before he said, “Although there was a slight deviation in our plan
tonight, it was, nevertheless, still a success. Your Honor the Judge,7
please be sure to look out for me in the future.”
The Judge of the Imperial Bodyguards was a fifth-grade8
official post. By this, Xue Xiuzhuo was telling Shen Zechuan how
much he could get during the conferment of reward in the days to
come.
Shen Zechuan was not surprised. He said, “The people from the
Imperial Food Service are going to stand trial. The Minister of
Justice, Kong Qiu, is an impartial and incorruptible official. All of
you better not buckle under his interrogations.”
“Since we dared to do it, then we aren’t afraid of them
investigating.” Xue Xiuzhuo tidied up his sleeves and said
courteously, “I hope we can continue to work together in the new
year. May we soon get what our hearts desire.”
“I’m indebted to Your Excellency the Assistant Minister for
looking after me.” Shen Zechuan stared at him and said genially,
“No doubt I will fulfill this long-cherished wish.”

Footnotes
1. 元春 Yuanchun, also known as 元旦 Yuandan, i.e., the
lunar new year’s day.
2. 军户 One of the three households sorted according to
their occupation: civilian (民户), military (军户), and
craftsman.
3. This is the name of an era during which a specific
Emperor (Emperor Xiande, in this case) reigned.
4. 都事 The sources legit said “office manager” lmfao
5. 户籍 Household registers. In the Ming Dynasty, the
central register was also known as the Yellow Register, where
households were classified according to their occupation to
provide basic taxation and recruitment data. It was mainly
divided into three categories: civilian (民户), military (军户),
and craftsman.

6.
7. 泾渭分明 as different as the waters of the Jing River
(clear) and the Wei River (muddy), i.e., poles apart from one
another
8. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
9. 品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades, with
grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 48 : BEATING THEM AT THEIR OWN
GAME

Translated with: Eggy & Yunyun<3

Li Jianheng had a nightmare.

He dreamed of that rainy night at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds,
where the branches slapped at his face harshly as he covered his
head and dodged frantically.
The horse he rode galloped wildly onward. Li Jianheng wanted
to clutch the reins in fear, but Xiao Chiye suddenly turned around
and grabbed him by the collar to toss him off the horse.
“Ce’an, save me!” Li Jianheng pleaded on his knees after
falling to the ground. “Ce’an, Ce’an! We are brothers! Don’t leave
me here!”
Xiao Chiye’s expression was grave amidst the flashes of
lightning and claps of thunder. He faced him and said callously,
“Knock him out and hoist him away!”
Li Jianheng watched with his snot and tears flowing as Chen
Yang approached him. He could not help but feel so frightened
that he moved backward and brandished his arms as he bellowed,
“I … I’m the Emperor! How can you treat me this way?”
Li Jianheng’s back bumped into someone. He turned his head
and looked back to see Emperor Xiande stooping over to grab
hold of his wrist. He immediately called out, “Imperial Brother,
Imperial Brother, save me!”
Emperor Xiande tightened his grip, his fingers digging into Li
Jianheng’s flesh. He coughed blood and said in a frosty voice, “He
who saves you today can kill you tomorrow! Do you understand?”
Li Jianheng struggled painfully, but he could not free his arm
no matter what he did. The rain from the above suddenly turned
into drops of something sticky. Li Jianheng touched it. His palm
came away full of blood. He looked up, and a head tumbled down
from the darkness with a “thud”.
 With an inscrutable burst of strength, Li Jianheng pushed and
kicked himself free from Emperor Xiande’s hand. Gasping, he
crawled up from the mud and trembled as he kicked the human
head aside before crying and shouting at the black shadows
around him, “I’m the Emperor. I—I’m the Son of Heaven! Who wants
to kill me? Who?!”
“Your Majesty.” Someone called him softly. “Your Majesty.”
Li Jianheng abruptly opened his eyes. He stared at the golden
roof absent-mindedly and murmured, “Who wants to kill me…
Who wants to kill me…”
The Empress Dowager wiped away the sweat for Li Jianheng
with a handkerchief and bent over to say, “Jianheng, Imperial
Mother is here!”
Jianheng!
Sorrow overcame Li Jianheng. His mother had died early, and
Emperor Guangcheng had never once looked at him in the eyes. In
all the years he had indulged in carnal pleasures, no one had ever
called him Jianheng.
“Imperial Mother…” Li Jianheng choked with sobs and cried
out, “Mother!”
The Empress Dowager turned her head slightly, as though she
was wiping away her tears, and said, “You’ve been out for the entire
night. I was truly afraid. If you’re still in pain somewhere, you must
tell me.”
Li Jianheng looked at the Empress Dowager and noticed that
she was still wearing the ceremonial robe from last night. She must
have been here watching over him the entire night. Li Jianheng
immediately propped himself up and saw the gray hair on the
Empress Dowager’s temples. Both her eyes were slightly red, and
she looked so much more haggard.
Li Jianheng felt warm inside. He wiped his eyes, held the
Empress Dowager’s arms, and said, “I’m sorry to have worried
Mother. I’m fine.”
Hai Liangyi was kneeling outside, where he had also been
keeping watch for the entire night. He knew that Li Jianheng had
already woken up when he heard sounds of speaking inside and
could not help but feel relieved.
 A moment later, the palace maids entered with light
movements to wait on Li Jianheng and help him wash up. The
Empress Dowager personally held the medicine bowl and tasted it
herself before feeding it to Li Jianheng.
Li Jianheng finished up the medicine. He still did not look too
good, but his complexion was much better than last night. He put
on his boots and walked out, where he saw a still kneeling Hai
Liangyi. Greatly touched, he stepped forward to help Hai Liangyi
up and said, “Secretariat Elder, I’m fine!”
Hai Liangyi almost could not stand up. Li Jianheng did not
want him to continue keeping watch and consequently dismissed
him along with all the major officials kneeling outside, leaving only
Kong Qiu, Cen Yu, and Fu Linye, who had been investigating all
night.
“What have you found out?” Li Jianheng asked impatiently,
“Minister Kong, tell me quickly.”
Kong Qiu kowtowed and said, “The Ministry of Justice has been
investigating through the night. Our investigations show that the
eunuch assassin was named Guisheng. He was assigned by Fuling,
a female official of the Imperial Food Service, to assume the duty of
tasting the dishes at the Feast of A Hundred Officials.”
“Female official?” Li Jianheng wondered in astonishment. “Why
is this female official trying to harm me?”
Kong Qiu replied, “The reason is unknown.”
Li Jianheng said anxiously, “You didn’t find out after
investigating for the whole night?”
Kong Qiu exchanged glances with the other two men. After a
moment of silence, he said, “Your Majesty is unaware, but Fuling,
knowing that she can’t escape the long arm of the law, has already
consumed poison to mute herself. She’s now awaiting her
punishment.”
Understanding suddenly dawned on Li Jianheng. He said,
“She’s a female official in the palace. Why would she do such a
thing? She must be afraid of letting something slip under heavy
torture, so she consumed poison first to make herself a mute! There
must be an instigator behind this!”
 Kong Qiu said again, “Your Majesty is wise. My two colleagues
from the Chief Surveillance Bureau and I think so too. Hence, we
dug deep into this woman and discovered that she still has an
aged mother who resides in a remote corner alley on Donglong
Street. Although her dwelling is small, it’s not something a mere
female official of the Imperial Palace can afford. This humble
subject continued investigating and discovered that she was
indeed not the one who bought the house herself. Instead, it was a
human broker of Donglong Street who let her stay there on credit.”
Li Jianheng was intimately acquainted with Donglong Street,
and Kong Qiu’s words immediately roused his doubts. He said,
“Since it’s only her and her widowed mother in the family, then, in
all likelihood, there’ll be nothing of value she can put up as
collateral for a house.”
Kong Qiu said, “Exactly. I find there to be many questionable
doubts in this case, so I summoned the human broker over to
question him and learned that it was on account of the Imperial
Army that the human broker let her have the house on credit.”
Li Jianheng’s heart skipped a beat. He was on tenterhooks as
he paused for a moment before asking, “What does this have to do
with the Imperial Army?”
Kong Qiu said, “This was what Yuan Liu, a sixth-grade Judge1 of
the Imperial Army’s Judicial Office, specifically told the human
broker. Although Yuan Liu and Fuling aren’t betrothed, there’re
long-standing rumors of an illicit affair between them.”
Li Jianheng suddenly rose and asked, “Does Viceroy Xiao
know?”
Kong Qiu knew that he was on good terms with Xiao Chiye. For
a moment, he could not tell if he intended to protect Xiao Chiye or
was planning something else, so he could only answer truthfully,
“The Viceroy pleaded to be unaware of this matter.”
Li Jianheng remained rooted in place. His expression
underwent a few changes before he eventually said, “… There are
many people in the Imperial Army. It stands to reason that he’s not
in the know about this. Don’t disclose or make this matter known
first. You may withdraw for now. Summon Han Cheng and Shen
Zechuan in. I want to reward them!”
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Standing on the hardened snow, Xiao Chiye kicked the door to
the torture prison open. The prison guard within had already
gotten news of his arrival, so he hurriedly led Xiao Chiye inside.
Fuling, only twenty-three years of age, was locked up within.
Because of the torture she received, she was now sitting
motionlessly on the hay with her bun all disheveled.
Xiao Chiye stepped through the cell door. Chen Yang took off
his cloak for him. He was so tall and imposing that the sight of him
caused Fuling to tremble out of fear the moment he strode through
the door.
Xiao Chiye was actually very dashing. He gave off a
complicated vibe that was a blend of frivolousness and ferocity. As
a result, he could be either a frivolous young master or a glacial
lord of the Asura.2 He changed his mask freely, and once
swapped, even his bearing would change to befit the occasion.
Right now, he was a noble young master who was just passing
by this place.
Xiao Chiye first sized up the cell. He bent over slightly to look
through that narrow window and saw that it was still the prison’s
high walls outside. He could not help but lose interest. Retracting
his gaze, he straightened up again, then turned his head and
lowered his eyes to look at Fuling, who was on the ground.
Fuling clung to the wall, feeling as if those eyes were filled with
innate contempt.
“Female official of the Imperial Food Service.” Xiao Chiye said.
Fuling did not raise her head and merely stared at his boots.
Chen Yang carried over a chair for Xiao Chiye to sit. He
propped a knee and looked at the top of Fuling’s head. “Yuan Liu
has a wife and concubines, yet he still risked the suspension of his
authority token to arrange a residence for you. How gorgeous are
you that he could even be coaxed into abandoning his own life?
Raise your head. Let me see.”
Fuling shrank into herself and did not respond.
Xiao Chiye leaned back and said, “He’s old enough to be your
father, and you’re still willing? Becoming a female official is
different from becoming a palace maid. When you are released,
you could at least be married to a descendant from a proper
background. Yuan Liu is a sixth-grade official of insignificance, and
a military ruffian to boot. He has neither affluence nor influence.
Are you too blind or too infatuated to be choosing him?”
The prison cell was quiet.
“Let’s not talk about Yuan Liu for now. What could you possibly
have used to coerce Guisheng into assassination? You don’t have
money either, so the instigator must have been someone else.
You’re now a mute, a scapegoat whose fate has been decided early
on. Your master is a brilliant manipulator to use the likes of you all
he can and kick you aside after. Whether you live or die has
nothing to do with me. But since you implicated me, Xiao Ce’an, in
this mess, then do you think you can just die easily like this?” Xiao
Chiye chuckled. “I don’t think so, lady.”
Chen Yang turned around and nodded to the prison guard
behind him. The clanking sounds of chains and shackles rang out
as Yuan Liu, who was filthy all over, was dragged out.
Yuan Liu stumbled towards Fuling and snapped, “You bitch! To
think you’d bring me down this way!”
Fuling trembled and crawled along the wall towards the other
side. Yuan Liu grabbed hold of her ankle and said dismally, “What
am I to you? I treated you so well, and this is how you repay me!”
Fuling’s tears would not stop as she was pulled back. She
kicked Yuan Liu and let out a raspy, glottal scream.
Yuan Liu tugged at her and said, “When your elderly mother
was critically sick, I carried her on my back to see the physician! I
gave you whatever you wanted. You not only deceived me; you
even want to drag my whole family to die with you! You despicable
woman!”
The shackles made a sound as Yuan Liu, who had lost control of
himself, was pulled back by Chen Yang. His arms were still
outstretched as he said with a ferocious expression, “I will not let
you off! I will never let you off, even when I become a ghost!”
Xiao Chiye looked again through the small window where he
sat and saw a piece of the sky the size of a square cun3 outside.
There was no snow today, only pale clouds piling up in the sky. He
was indifferent to the drama of grudges being played out before
him.
Yuan Liu sat on his heels on the ground as he bawled
inconsolably. He then crawled towards Xiao Chiye and kowtowed
to him while begging, “Viceroy, Viceroy! Forgive me this once! I’m
begging you. I was bewitched and blinded by lust! I’m willing to
slave it out for you like an ox or a horse as repayment for this
favor!”
Xiao Chiye looked at him, “I’m not the one who holds your life
in my hands. Spare me your begging and go beg her instead.
Kowtow to her for the sake of all the young and old in your family.
Consider it a repayment of the debt you owe your wives and sons
for seeking the momentary pleasure of an affair behind their
backs.”
Yuan Liu then turned to Fuling, begging and kowtowing, “Let
me off! Can’t you just let me off? I have nothing to do with this
matter! I’m begging you! I’m begging you! My whole family of
eight—I don’t want them all to die here!”
Fuling shed tears but did not look at him.
Yuan Liu’s tears poured in torrents. Genuinely afraid now, he
kowtowed until his forehead bled. He said, “Fuling… One night of
husband and wife is worth a hundred days of gratitude… Even
though we have yet to be married, the sentiments of these past
years are still here! I’m begging you, please don’t pin this on me!
I’ll be your son, your grandson in my next life! Please let me off! I
wanted to give that residence to your elderly mother as a show of
filial respect. How could you…” He was sobbing so hard that he
almost choked as he struggled to continue, “How could you take it
and… threaten my entire family’s lives with it? Do you not have a
heart?”
Fuling hoarsely uttered something with a pained expression as
she kowtowed to Yuan Liu too. Her mouth opened and shut as she
mouthed words that were clearly “sorry”.
Yuan Liu moved forward on his knees and held Fuling by the
arms. The blood streamed down his forehead as he cried
sorrowfully, “I don’t want your kowtows! I want you to explain this
clearly! I don’t want to die… Fuling! Don’t ruin me…”
 On seeing this, Xiao Chiye commented, “Plotting an
assassination will not land you a sentence of execution by
decapitation. It’s fine if you want to die. But it’s such a pity for your
mother to be this old and still have to endure the tortures. Do you
not know the kind of place the Imperial Prison is? Being skinned
and flayed are all possible outcomes if she were to fall into the
Imperial Bodyguards’ hands.”
Fuling looked up and wept.
Xiao Chiye said, “Did your master not communicate this to you?
I’ll make sure this case doesn’t end quickly. Another day of delay is
another day of punishment, for you, for him, and for your mother.
You can keep taking the tortures until I’m satisfied, then we can say
our goodbyes.”
Fuling sobbed hatefully at him.
Xiao Chiye remained still and merely looked at her as he said,
“Isn’t it said that you should look who the owner is before you beat
up a dog? Now that you’ve bitten me, Xiao Ce’ an, then we shall all
suffer together. I’ll whip you until your skin flays and your flesh is
torn, until you’d rather die than live. Let’s see who will succumb
first. Chen Yang, drag her elderly mother over.”
Chen Yang answered and exited the prison door.
Fuling suddenly screamed, but her throat was already
damaged, and the scream sounded like the cry of a beast at the
brink of desperation. She charged towards Xiao Chiye and
pounced onto the ground, using her fingers to scrawl out
characters.
Xiao Chiye leaned over and watched for a while before saying,
“Give her paper and a brush. I want this to be written down in black
and white.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Fuling was taken away by Chen Yang to sign her confession,
leaving only Xiao Chiye and Yuan Liu in the prison cell. Seeing that
Xiao Chiye was about to leave, Yuan Liu immediately grabbed hold
of the corner of Xiao Chiye’s robe.
“V-Viceroy!” said Yuan Liu, “It’s all good now… Does that mean I
can…”
 Putting on his cloak, Xiao Chiye turned his head back and said,
“When did you take up the post as a Judge at the Judicial Office?”
Yuan Liu hurriedly gestured with his fingers and answered, “The
third year after the Viceroy was appointed.”
Xiao Chiye said, “If so, then you’re with me.”
Yuan Liu nodded his head in a panic and said, “I’m Viceroy’s
man!”
Xiao Chiye was now feeling somewhat vexed after having
stayed up all night. He held onto his blade and used the sheath to
push away Yuan Liu’s hand. He said, “My men don’t have this much
clout to get Donglong Street’s human brokers to sell to them on
credit. All the newly bought estates by the Imperial Army need to
be reported, but you didn’t. Apart from this residence, you also
have farmlands outside the city. You’re faring pretty well for a sixth-
grade Judge. Do you really not know who’s feeding you?”
Tears and snot flowed as Yuan Liu burst into tears. “I’ve been
deceived. I shouldn’t have coveted those bits of things! Viceroy,
Viceroy! But I didn’t betray the Imperial Army….”
Xiao Chiye slightly stretched his neck that was becoming sore.
Without sparing him another look, he said, “How old is your son?”
“Four… four years old.”
“I’ll take care of him for you.” Xiao Chiye said expressionlessly,
“End yourself after this case concludes.”
The moment the prison cell door slammed shut, Yuan Liu
collapsed limply to the ground.
Xiao Chiye stepped into the dark and damp prison hallway. As
he listened to the wails behind him, he received the confession
statement from Chen Yang. He had only just strode out of the
prison’s main gate when he saw Gu Jin rushing over.
“Young Master.” Gu Jin said, “Fuling’s mother is dead.”
Chen Yang furrowed his brows. “Fortunately, Master didn’t
enter the palace this morning. Otherwise, Fuling would be left
without misgivings, and we wouldn’t have gotten our hands on this
confession.”
“A stack of papers.” Xiao Chiye flipped through the confession
statement under the light. “Fuling didn’t even see the other
person’s face. We can’t snare anyone with this alone.”
 Chen Yang said, “At least the Imperial Army is in the clear.
Master, will you go into the palace and present this to his Majesty?”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and asked, “Why must the Imperial
Army be in the clear?”
Chen Yang and Gu Jin were both dumbfounded.
Xiao Chiye sneered, “If I’m to be the caged beast, I should act
the part of being besieged by others. They’re in such a hurry to
splash dirty water4 on me. It’s not enough. I’ll not only take this dirty
water right to the face, I’ll even roll in the mud. The filthier, the
better. Let them vilify me so that they can pull off their unified front
and be the accomplished ones pulling the wool over the public. If
they can even trample upon the Imperial Army Viceroy this easily,
then His Majesty ought to be suspicious and afraid once he returns
to his senses. It’s only recently that the Hua Clan is done for.
Whoever wants to be the new faction will be just asking for death.”

Author’s Words:
I always thought that Lanzhou’s goal was very clear orz.
It’s in the dialogue. Maybe it’ll be clearer once more chapters
are released.
This novel will be divided into two books. It should be about the
same length as Nan Chan, or maybe a little longer.
Muacks, thank you for reading!

Footnotes
1. This is a different Judge (断事) from the Imperial
Bodyguards’ Judge (镇抚). i.e., Judge of the Imperial Army’s
Judicial Office vs. Judge of the Imperial Bodyguards’
(Military) Prison.
2. 修罗 Asura are powerful but often amoral beings (or
demigods) in Buddhism, since they are primarily driven by
envy and greed for power.
3. 方寸 square cun (Chinese unit of area: 1cun × 1cun, or
3⅓cm × 3⅓cm)
4. 泼脏水 literally splash dirty water; to sling mud or defame
and slander someone.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 49 : COLD GLINT

Translated with: Eggy & Yunyun<3

Before Xiao Chiye entered the palace, Shen Zechuan already

had an audience with Li Jianheng at Mingli Hall and was conferred
the title of a fifth-grade1 Judge2 of the Imperial Bodyguards. As
such, his authority token was replaced to a gold-plated bronze
token embossed with a Xiezhi 3 amidst patterns of clouds, and with
the words “Guard” on one side and “Emperor’s Entourage” on the
other.
Having only received some rewards this time, Han Cheng was
inwardly unhappy. He knew that he had been used by Shen
Zechuan as a stepping stone. But he also knew that Shen Zechuan
was now in the Emperor’s good graces, so he must not let ill will
form between them.
Back at the office hall, Shen Zechuan’s comrades all came forth
to congratulate him. Shen Zechuan responded to them one by one.
When Han Cheng saw that the men had more or less dispersed, he
said, “This is the first time you’re wearing a gold token. There are
matters that you’re still unsure of, right?”
Shen Zechuan humbled himself and said, “I’ll still need Your
Excellency the Commander-in-chief to guide me.”
Feeling flattered, Han Cheng said, “This gold token for guards
must be worn at the waist when you are on duty, and should not be
shown externally when you are on break. Those who are part of the
Emperor’s entourage usually still hold a post in the Twelve Offices.
You can’t behave like you used to; you have to be more prudent
with your words. Although you have carried out missions in the
past, it’s different now. For future missions, if it’s an ‘arrest warrant’,
don’t be in such a hurry to initiate the arrest. You have to head to
the Office of Scrutiny for Justice and let the Supervising Secretary
there affix his signature. If it is a ‘local order’, then you will have to
leave Qudu for said place to investigate the case. Before you leave,
you have to make a trip to the Ministry of Justice and Chief
Surveillance Bureau to sign off on it.”
With modesty, Shen Zechuan listened to his teachings.
When Han Cheng saw that his attitude was respectful and was
no different from how he was before his promotion, he could not
help but to feel an urge to foster this talent. He continued, “In the
past, the Eastern Depot lorded it over us. Each time we see the
Eastern Depot eunuchs when we head out, we have to bow down
to them and fawn on them. But now the Twenty-four Yamen is
vacant and unattended, and the Eastern Depot is all but dismissed
from office. They are the ones who should bow on seeing us now.
There’s no need to play nice to the eunuchs. However, there is one
thing you must remember—that is, although the Imperial
Bodyguards take orders from the Emperor, we still need to have
dealings with the Three Judicial Offices. Most of the time, when we
go elsewhere for fieldwork, it’s with the Censor from the Chief
Surveillance Bureau. Everyone’s functions and authority seem
detached from one another, but in fact, they still need each other.
So when you are out on missions, you must maintain a good
relationship with the officials from the Three Judicial Offices. Never
lose your temper at them. If you unwittingly leave behind pent-up
animosity, you will have a hard time with your future assignments.”
Shen Zechuan already knew these matters by heart, but he
listened intently as if this were his first time hearing of them.
Lastly, Han Cheng gave him a favor and told him, “If you need
a new batch of manpower, go to the Duty Records Room and
choose from the book register.”
After thanking him, Shen Zechuan stepped out of the door and
walked along the corridor to make his way outside. He was not in a
rush to head to the Duty Records Room to choose his men. When
he walked out of the palace gates, Xiao Chiye was sitting in the
horse carriage waiting for him.
Shen Zechuan paused in his tracks and was about to turn
around.
Xiao Chiye partially lifted the curtain and said unhurriedly,
“Now that you’ve gotten a promotion and a raise, you wouldn’t be
too stingy to treat me to a drink, would you?”
 Shen Zechuan saw Ding Tao and Gu Jin standing on either side
of Xiao Chiye, glaring at him like tigers watching their prey. So he
scoffed a breath of cold hair and answered calmly, “I wouldn’t. I
was just looking for you.”
Both men went to the courtyard that Xiao Chiye had used to
invite both of their shifu for a meal. The inside of the house had
been cleared of tables and chairs. Small screens4 were used to
partition out seats on all four sides, and there was a simple but
exquisite table with curved ends5 in the middle. It was a very
suitable place to have a drink and a chat.
It was hot in the room. Both men both took off their coats.
Xiao Chiye sat cross-legged in a casual pose, whereas Shen
Zechuan sat on his heels in a dignified fashion. Xiao Chiye laughed
and said, “When it comes to our bearings, you look more like the
gentleman of noble birth. Did Ji Gang-shifu also teach you all
these?”
This had all been beaten into him by Grand Mentor Qi’s ruler.6
Instead of answering, Shen Zechuan asked, “So why were you
waiting for me by the palace gates today?”
Xiao Chiye looked on as the maidservant served the wine
dishes and waited until she closed the door before saying,
“Weren’t you looking for me? You first.”
“I noticed that you didn’t enter the palace to seek an audience
with the Emperor. You were busy working the entire night last
night. I presumed you were at the torture prison.” Shen Zechuan
took a few sips of tea first to warm his body, then continued, “Fuling
was an easy one to investigate, wasn’t she?”
“Indeed.” Xiao Chiye poured wine for himself. “She was such a
breeze to investigate that she doesn’t seem like the kind of person
you should use.”
“Not only does she have an elderly mother, but she is also soft-
hearted. Someone like her with so many weaknesses to exploit is
the easiest to manipulate, but also the most likely to change her
tune.” Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “You’re right. If it were me,
I’d surely not use someone like her.”
“But Shen Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye stared at him as he drank,
taking a moment to moisten his throat before saying, “Even if you
did use this kind of person, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I’m human too.” Shen Zechuan took the wine jar from Xiao
Chiye’s side. “I still have some feelings.”
“But you’ve reserved none of those feelings for me,” Xiao Chiye
lamented.
Shen Zechuan poured wine slowly and said, “Same goes for
you.”
“I reached out to you repeatedly.” Xiao Chiye said with a genial
expression. “But you turned a blind eye to my efforts, and even
hardened your heart to fight it out with me, no?”
“Even if you reach out, but only give me useless information,”
Shen Zechuan set down the wine jar before looking at him and
continuing, “then wouldn’t this alliance be too cheap of a deal?”
“So you turned around and allied with Xi Hongxuan.” Xiao
Chiye scoffed, “What is he that he’s even better than your Second
Young Master?”
“Second Young Master was more impressive when he beat me
down.” Shen Zechuan said, “You can’t blame a capable man for
taking up the top position.”
“How could I bear to blame you?” Xiao Chiye asked through the
steam from the pot, “Are you annoyed that you couldn’t trample
over me last night?”
“No.” Shen Zechuan answered with a smile.
“Sometimes your gaze is truly very ruthless.” Before Shen
Zechuan could reply, Xiao Chiye continued, “But of course, a little
ruthlessness gives you flavor.”
Shen Zechuan restrained himself for a moment before
retorting, “Then you have very special tastes.”
“You’re not lacking either.” Xiao Chiye made a double
entendre. “This is the first time I’ve met someone who likes getting
bitten.”
“Back to the topic.” Shen Zechuan diverted the course of
conversation. “Why were you looking for me?”
“To have a drink.” Xiao Chiye downed the wine in his cup. “And
to have a little chat while we’re at it. The human broker on
Donglong Street has a backer. However, we each minded our own
business, so everyone has lived in harmony in the past. But now
that they are framing this on me, I’d naturally have to investigate
the one backing them.”
Shen Zechuan scooped a portion of the dish from the pot.
Xiao Chiye said, “How strange that my investigation only led
me to Xi Hongxuan. When we were here the last time, you even
went out of your way to tell me that the Eight Great Clans would
ally together to deal with me. But then you turned around and
trampled on me together with the Eight Great Clans. After thinking
it over for a long time, I still couldn’t figure out what your motives
were. But as soon as I reversed the course of events, I understood.”
Shen Zechuan ate the fish like a cat did—neatly and beautifully.
Without raising his head, he merely mumbled an “uh-huh” to
indicate that he was listening.
Xiao Chiye twirled the wine cup on the table and continued, “I
should have rearranged and put your scheme to ‘trample me’
before ‘alliance with the Eight Great Clans’. That way, everything
would make sense. Your aim was not to bring me down at all. You
incited Xi Hongxuan and urged him to ally with the other clans, but
you also leaked news of it to me. You wanted me to react and use
my authority of office over the Eight Great Training Divisions to
convince the other clans not to ally with Xi Hongxuan. What do
they call it? The art of political maneuvering?7 Using words alone to
sow discord within and to sabotage the potential alliance of the
Eight Great Clans is but a trivial issue. Leaving bad blood between
them from the subsequent fallout is the real prelude to the great
task that you truly intend to undertake.”
Shen Zechuan glanced at him and asked, “Did you come up
with this just from finding out that Xi Hongxuan was one of the
backers of the human broker on Donglong Street?”
“Some clues are like spider webs and horse tracks.” Xiao Chiye
said. “You can’t wipe them clean. When Xi Gu’an was held in the
Imperial Prison, Xi Hongxuan sold out the former’s life in exchange
for an official position. Now that I think of it, that should have been
your suggestion too. Otherwise, Xi Hongxuan wouldn’t heed your
advice so readily.”
Shen Zechuan wiped his fingers with a handkerchief and
thought for a moment before saying, “The one who can make him
listen to advice readily isn’t me.”
“I initially thought that you were in a hurry to be promoted so
that it’d be easier for you to investigate the case of Zhongbo
troops’ defeat.” Xiao Chiye poured wine once more and continued,
“Who knew your appetite would be so great? What good would it
do you to divide the Eight Great Clans? You are well aware that
Qudu is surrounded by the Eight Great Cities and that they have far
outlasted the Li Clan. You’ve seen Hua Siqian’s rebellion at the
hunting grounds and how big of a case it was, yet the Emperor
Dowager has still emerged unscathed. How can you harbor the
delusion of using the power of one man to break them up and oust
them from power? Pry apart this mist of Qudu and take a good look
underneath. You will see that they have already been standing tall
for several hundred years with their roots deeply entrenched
underground.”
Shen Zechuan’s chopsticks came to a complete stop. When he
sat upright, it felt as though he was about to launch into light
intellectual conversations. He was not angry. In fact, he was very
composed as he said, “I’ll only ask you one question.”
Xiao Chiye paused for a moment before saying, “Go ahead.”
Shen Zechuan spoke, “All along, the Xiao Clan and Hua Clan
have been holding each other back. Owing to the Nanlin Hunting
grounds incident, the Hua Clan started to show signs of decline,
while the Xiao Clan got the upper hand. But, did you win?”
Xiao Chiye gripped his wine cup tightly.
It was already dusk outside, but the lamps in the room were still
not lit. Shen Zechuan’s seated shadow before the window
appeared frail. He said, “You’ve quickly come to the realization that
it’s not just the Hua Clan you are facing. Perhaps in the beginning,
you could still console yourself that they only want the Eight Great
Training Divisions. But you only have to think of the Six Prefectures
of Zhongbo to understand that what they want is far more than
this.”
“There isn’t a decisive ruling on the defeat of Zhongbo yet.”
Concealed in the dark, Xiao Chiye stayed silent for a brief while.
“And yet you’re so sure that they are the ones who did it?”
 “This is a bad debt.” Shen Zechuan said, “We’ve gone through
the case regarding the defeat of Zhongbo again and again with
the intent to ascertain whose fault it was. But in fact, this was never
a matter that a single person could control. Furthermore, there was
one thing in the defeat that no one could quite figure out even to
this date.”
Xiao Chiye stated, “Why?”
“That’s right. Why?” Shen Zechuan affirmed his words. “Biansha
defeated the frontier and entered our territory, and everyone’s
morale and spirit took a beating. The tens of thousands of lives lost
in Zhongbo was only a temporary issue. The dilemmas that
followed also include the loss of years of taxes from the Six
Prefectures of Zhongbo, the resettlement of the population, the
redistribution of the farmlands, and the rebuilding of the
massacred cities and towns. The State Treasury could not bear this
burden, and so Zhongbo became the national debt. The most
difficult part was the restructuring of the Garrison Troops. Without
sufficient manpower, Zhongbo will be defeated once more. How
much longer can the reinforcements from Libei and Qidong last?
This directly concerns the safety of Qudu. Did all these questions
not pass through anyone’s minds before the Zhongbo’s troops
defeat, or was it done precisely because these were expected?
Perhaps the Eight Great Clans were not the main instigators, but
without their power and influence, this sort of thing could not have
been done either.”
“They are always involved each time there’s political unrest in
Dazhou. The turning point for Hua Clan’s rise to power began
twenty-five years ago while Emperor Guangcheng was on the
throne. To fortify her power, the Empress Dowager killed the Crown
Prince, a virtuous talent who observed propriety. But eighty years
ago, during Emperor Yong’an’s time, the clan who held sway over
the Imperial Court was the Yao, a prestigious clan that produced
three talents. Even the Grand Secretariat was known as the ‘Hall of
Yao’. Then, there was the Xi Clan who became the key to Dazhou’s
granaries when Juexi opened up Yongyi Harbor a hundred years
ago. Making use of this opportunity to claim the gulf saltern of the
Xu Sea to the west, they became the head of all the tycoons in the
world. Even the Li Clan has to borrow money from them for the
matrimony of their nobles. None of these happened because of
personal scores. Rather, they were taking turns to be the leading
powerhouse of the clans while Emperors came and went. Since the
beginning, none of these clans have truly been on the decline.”
“Poor households do not produce noble sons. Very few of
Dazhou’s significant officials who could influence the political
situation of the imperial court were born from a poor family. How
many years did it take for a Qi Huilian to surface? And how many
years did it take for a Hai Liangyi to appear? They are just like a
sloppy stroke of the brush that, despite having endured and
making it this far, was also hastily brushed off as a mere mention in
history.”
“If we must mention someone who is able to stand tall amidst
the iron web of the Eight Great Clans, then this man is someone
you are most familiar with.”
Shen Zechuan watched Xiao Chiye as he enunciated each
word.
“The Prince of Libei had a humble beginning and was born at
the foot of the Hongyan Mountains. At the age of fifteen, he was
drafted into the army at the Luoxia Pass, where he was promoted to
the Luoxia Pass Garrison by age twenty. The Garrison Troops was
defeated at the foot of the Hongyan Mountains when he was
twenty-three. He went on to build the horse range of Luoxia at
twenty-six and established the cavalry of Luoxia at twenty-eight.
When he was thirty, he battled against the Biansha Hanshe tribe
once more. He crossed the Hongyan Mountains by thirty-two and
set foot all over the eastern Hongyan mountain range by thirty-five.
From here onwards, the Luoxia Cavalry was disbanded and took
on the name of Libei Armored Cavalry. No longer part of the Luoxia
Pass Garrison, he was thrice bestowed and conferred the title of the
different-surnamed Prince8 of Libei in Dazhou. The scale of Libei’s
Great Commandery was then determined, and Dazhou thus
occupied the entire range of the Hongyan Mountains.”
“The war between the Xiao Clan and the Eight Great Clans is
not only a power struggle, but also a battle between nobility and
the common people. The man who had broken through the barrier
to reach the peak was Xiao Fangxu. From a very long time ago, you
and the Eight Great Clans were already at the stage of
irreconcilable antagonism.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his gaze slightly and arranged the bowl
and chopsticks in front of him neatly. He said, “To ally with me, you
have to bring forth a sincerity like mine at the very least, and not
just a word or two about the Imperial Army’s accounts. Those are
worthless to me.”
The small screens isolated the sound of wind from them as
both men sat each in their own posture opposite one another. The
window lit up slightly, and the indistinct glow of snow gleamed
upon both men’s side profiles, reflecting the chills of the pitch-black
night. Placed in opposition with one another, Langli Blade and
Yang Shan Xue were sheathed; yet the room still flashed with cold
glints from the cutting edges of both blades.

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Footnotes
1. 品 Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades, with
grade one being the highest rank. Their salaries ranged
according to their rank.
2. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
3. 獬豸 Xiezhi, a lion-like mythological creature with a single
horn and a spiky back, was a symbol of justice and law and
the insignia of the censors who sought out corruption and
maintained discipline among other court officials.
4. 小插屏 something like
5.
6. Variations: images one | two
7. (龙牙)翘头案 something like

8.
9. 戒尺 a teacher’s ruler in the old days for punishing errant
pupils (typically by hitting them on the palms)
10. 纵横捭阖(之术) from Strategies/Intrigues of the Warring
States (战国策); a maneuver among various political
groupings, i.e., the use of political and diplomatic means
either to unite the small states against a dominant, powerful
state or to undermine the solidarity of the small, weak states
and bring them under the rule of a strong one
11. 王 Princes, or lords, during the Ming dynasty were titled
and salaried members of the imperial bureaucracy with
nominal lordship over various fiefs throughout China.
Conferred princes are those who were bestowed the title by
the Emperor and typically had different surnames (i.e., not
blood-related to the royal family). We have used a different
naming system for both kinds of princes to make it easier to
distinguish between real princes (Prince Chu) and conferred
princes (Prince of Libei).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 50 : IN THE SAME BOAT

Translated with: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin & Rie<3

“Sounding somebody out is merely to test the waters.” Xiao

Chiye’s eyes were cold. “Honest sincerity is like the process of
undressing. It’s only by proceeding in a proper sequence that we
can come to have a heart-to-heart talk today. You are right. After
the incident at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds, I thought that there
would be changes to the Grand Secretariat led by Hai Liangyi.
However, he still reused Xue Xiuzhuo of the Eight Great Clans,
putting him in an important post. This shows that even when he
reached the position where he could overhaul the system, he still
had to bow to the noble clans’ power and influence. Under such
circumstances, the Xiao Clan alone cannot do anything, much like
one log alone cannot prop up an entire building.”
“Then how should one describe them?” Shen Zechuan
pondered over it a little. “When there is no common enemy, they
are their own enemies. Keeping the balance and not letting the
bowl of water overturn due to inherent bias is far more difficult than
dealing with someone else. Before the Xiao Clan’s appearance, the
Eight Great Clans merely underwent internal change following the
rise of one clan and the fall of another. But after the Xiao Clan
surfaced, they began to separate the wheat from the chaff. The
defeat of the Hua Clan is just temporary. The Imperial Court purged
itself of the Hua Clan’s remnants, but no one, not even Hai Liangyi,
proposed to hold the Empress Dowager accountable. The current
marriage alliance between the Hua and Qi Clans is to preserve the
Hua Clan’s usefulness and to whittle away external help that the
Xiao Clan can seek. Some things, when seen on its own, might not
necessarily tell you anything. It’s only when the dots are connected
that they will give you the shivers.”
“Are you talking about the defeat of the Zhongbo troops and
the Hua-Qi marriage alliance?” Xiao Chiye asked.
 “The strategy of befriending a distant state while attacking one
nearby.”1 Shen Zechuan extended a finger and drew a circle on the
table. “After taking down the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo, a void will
open up in Libei’s defense on the southwest side. Cizhou lies close
to the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path, which is the lifeblood of
Libei. With no one from Zhongbo to defend it now, it becomes the
territory of the Eight Great Clans of Qudu. Bring the marriage
alliance with the Qi Clan of Qidong into play, and you will be left
high and dry with your back to Hongyan Mountains, the Biansha
Tribes to the east, and double enemies to the south.”
“There’s a five-year gap between both events. Who could have
guaranteed that Hua Siqian would definitely rebel? And who could
have ensured that I’d surely come to the Emperor’s rescue?” Xiao
Chiye slowly furrowed his eyebrows.
“There must be a purpose for the defeat of Zhongbo’s troops.”
Shen Zechuan said after a moment of silence. “It’s not hard to
control the situation. The difficulty lies in controlling the direction in
which the situation progresses. If my guess is right, then there is
someone hidden among the Eight Great Clans who can control the
way the wind blows.”
“If there’s really such a person,” Xiao Chiye said, “then it means
that everyone is on the chessboard, and every step is within his
anticipation. He is no longer a genius, but a ‘God’ who has Dazhou
in his control. How are you going to fight him? The strategy of
driving a wedge between the Eight Great Clans can’t overcome the
relationship forged through decades of marriage alliances
between clans. They are inseparable in the face of public enemies.”
“The unpredictability of the turbulent tempest is better than the
tranquility of the calm sea. It’s only when the water is muddied that
they won’t be able to distinguish between friend or foe. In actuality,
they are not invulnerable to attacks.” Shen Zechuan retracted his
finger and continued, “How is it that Xiao Fangxu was able to break
through the noble clans’ defenses? If this web is really tight
enough, then how could significant ministers like Qi Huilian and
Hai Liangyi rise in spite of their humble backgrounds? Your father
was able to establish the Libei Armored Cavalry’s predecessor,
Luoxia Cavalry, because the officials of the Eastern Palace headed
by the Crown Prince implemented the Yellow Register system2 to
keep records of households. This enabled the frontiers to conscript
soldiers for its troops. At the same time, it allowed the soldiers to
have a hereditary household register3 so that they could belong
under the jurisdiction of the commandery city’s military. This
separated it from the command of the Qudu noble clans’ younger
generation who have been appointed a post outside the capital,
thereby allowing the Prince of Libei to unify military power so that
he would no longer be subjected to the control and surveillance of
the local civil officials. Not only that, the current well-trained and
powerful army of Libei also has Dazhou’s implementation of the
state farm system4 to thank. You know better than I how important
these military troops who carry out both garrison and farming
duties5 are.”
Why was Lu Guangbai having a harder time than Xiao Jiming?
Because the Bianjun Commandery had no way of putting the
policy of army farming into practice. The desert wastelands could
not be cultivated to produce food, so Lu Guangbai could only rely
on the subsidy of Qudu’s military funds and provisions. Deploying
“70% of the military troops for farming and 30% for military affairs
and defense” might not allow the frontier troops to achieve full self-
sufficiency. But it still greatly reduced the pressure for provisions on
the frontier troops. And this was of vital importance to the frontier
troops.
Grand Mentor Qi would rather pretend to be a lunatic if it
allowed him to drag out an ignoble existence. Other than his
unappeasable hatred, he was also loath to abandon the wounds
that had been torn open. The Eastern Palace had dozens of
subordinates, all of whom were officials from humble families the
Crown Prince had personally hand-picked himself. To assist the
Crown Prince, Qi Huilian forked out all that he had learned in his
lifetime and invested it in him. Each word of “the die is cast” he
shouted with his hands raised five years ago was tears of blood
that represented his inability to simply resign himself to it.
“You encroach into my territory one step at a time, and indulge
me again and again as I test your limit, all just for tonight—to get
me into the same boat as you.” Xiao Chiye leaned forward slowly,
his eyes cold. “But if I had not followed the trail to Xi Hongxuan
tonight or figured out your purpose, would you really trample down
on me and use me as a stepping board?”
“You are a wolf with a keen sense of smell.” Shen Zechuan said,
“Why do you make yourself out to be so pitiful? If I weren’t me, you
wouldn’t give me a chance to step in at all. We wouldn’t even be
having a conversation. You and I are such a breed of people.
Instead of asking me, why don’t you ask yourself first?”
Xiao Chiye said, “You are an asshole.”
Shen Zechuan said, “It isn’t easy to find like-minded assholes.”
Xiao Chiye stopped contending with him and went straight to
the point. He said, “You are now the one who wants to borrow and
make use of my power. But one needs a little bargaining chip
before a treaty of alliance can be established.”
“We share weal and woe.” Shen Zechuan said. “Your Yao Clan is
about to be kicked out of the game soon. Doesn’t that make you
anxious, Second Young Master?”
“I can’t use Yao Wenyu.” Xiao Chiye said, “You don’t
understand. The reason why the Yao Clan is on friendly terms with
me is really not to vie for power. It’s purely because Yao Wenyu is…
Well, if you get to meet him, you’ll understand. The reason he
didn’t enter the ranks of officials is not because Hai Liangyi couldn’t
bear to let him, but because he himself was unwilling. The
members of the Yao Clan all used to be some important ministers
in the past. It was only until his father’s time that they started to fall
into decline. But the remaining prestige of his grandfather is still
present. They are a major clan highly respected among the literati,
and their reputation among the civil officials is by no means
something people like Hua Siqian could ever compare to. It’s not
difficult if he wants to make a comeback, but he’s willing to be free
and unrestrained like a wild crane rising above the drifting clouds.
If Xi Hongxuan can really kick the Yao Clan out, then he will be all
the more carefree and unfettered by worldly concerns.”
“Seeing as the Yao Clan is already linked to the Fei Clan
through a marriage alliance, then he is Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue’s elder cousin brother?” Shen Zechuan asked suddenly.
 “That’s right,” Xiao Chiye picked up his chopsticks and
confirmed. “Zhaoyue most likely wants to marry him, but Marquis
Helian is so cowardly that he dances to the Empress Dowager’s
tune.”
“Then perhaps both of you can become relatives.”
“The marriage fell through, didn’t it?” Xiao Chiye said, “You
sabotaged my marriage and cost me a beauty. Shouldn’t you
compensate me?”
Shen Zechuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
Xiao Chiye rinsed his chopsticks in the cold tea and lifted his
eyes to look at him. He asked, “Do you know that there is only a
two-word difference between ‘sharing a boat on the same river’
and ‘sharing a pillow on the same bed’? If you ask me, there’s no
harm in mixing up these sayings, or even these actions, in the
future.”
The heat in the room smothered Shen Zechuan and made him
slightly dizzy. Without replying, he turned to open the window.
Xiao Chiye did not touch any of the dishes. Instead, he said, “I
brought you here, let you eat my dishes, drink my wine, and you
aren’t even the least suspicious?”
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye. The caress of the cool
wind finally made him feel a little parched and hot. Thin sweat
materialized. His fair neck lay within that tightly fastened collar of
his, and the red plums leaning down from the window
complimented his black hair, making him look all the more
indescribably ravishing.
Salt-like snow drifted outside the window, and some fell along
the window onto the back of Shen Zechuan’s hand, where they
quickly melted into a splotch of water. This bit of coolness made
the heat in his body even more distinct. In his trance, Shen
Zechuan really had some other thoughts—he wanted to undo his
clasps.
“This clause is not part of the alliance treaty.” Shen Zechuan
said, “And I’ve no shortage of people to warm my bed of late.”
Xiao Chiye put up his long legs and said, “Right now, you don’t
look like the kind of person who has no shortage of people to
warm your bed. Work and personal affairs are separate matters.
Now that we’re done talking about work, we can slowly straighten
out our personal affairs. Was the one from Ouhua Pavillion last time
given to you by Xi Hongxuan? I heard he only likes ladies. Since
when has he changed his taste too?”
“Homosexual relationships between men are no longer
uncommon.” Shen Zechuan replied, “I don’t know if his taste has
changed. Why? Has the Second Young Master’s taste changed?”
“I don’t have a fixed taste.” Xiao Chiye picked up the hair
hanging down before Shen Zechuan’s knees. “It always depends
on my mood.”
Shen Zechuan lifted a finger to pull back his hair that was
already matted with sweat. He said, “Some people make
themselves out to be romantic and charming. They look like they
can conduct themselves in an orderly manner when, in fact, they
only know how to gorge themselves ravenously. They must have
been out of practice.”
Xiao Chiye pushed aside the small table and grasped the wrist
Shen Zechuan was about to pull back. He said, “… And some
people look so pitiful when they are drenched in sweat.”
The heat in Shen Zechuan persisted, and the spot that Xiao
Chiye was holding onto scalded him intensely. Propping himself up
with an arm on his knee, Shen Zechuan demanded, “What drug
did you add?”
“Make a guess.” Xiao Chiye tugged Shen Zechuan on the wrist.
Changing the topic, he said, “Ji Gang isn’t up to teaching you such
stuff, so who is your shifu… or should I say, teacher?”
The corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes reddened as he replied
softly, “I’m not telling you.”
Xiao Chiye took a light sniff from a short distance away and
suddenly said, “You smell so good.”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing quickened as he countered, “Have
you reached the stage where you’d use your beauty to ensnare a
man?”6
“I’m far from being a ‘beauty’. Why? Just a little chat, and you’re
getting impatient?”
Sweat soaked through Shen Zechuan’s inner garment. His heat,
tempted by this ambiguous atmosphere that had taken shape for
no rhyme or reason, turned even more sticky and damp. He
wanted to wipe his sweat. Frowning, he asked, “What exactly did
you add?”
Xiao Chiye laughed aloud and said flirtatiously, “Just fooling
around with you. It’s just medicinal wine.”
Shen Zechuan found his gaze extremely dangerous. He could
not help but close his eyes and force himself to stay calm. He said,
“Xiao’Er—”
Xiao Chiye raised his cup and downed the cold wine. At Shen
Zechuan’s words, he suddenly bent his head down and covered
his lips. Shen Zechuan was pushed back towards the window, and
the plum blossom branch shook on contact. He leaned back
slightly, feeling like his waist was going to break under the tight
hold. Some snow fell on Xiao Chiye’s nape, but he ignored it. Half
of his body was almost pressing down on Shen Zechuan. His
fingers pushed their way through the gaps between Shen
Zechuan’s fingers, forcibly interlocking them together.
Ever since that glance at the Feast of A Hundred Officials, Xiao
Chiye had already wanted to kiss him! He wanted to even more so
during their night talk today; he had already been enduring and
restraining himself for an entire night. Xiao Chiye saw how ruthless
and merciless he was, and how he could retreat and advance as he
pleased. He could not get a feel of him among the myriad
sensations, and so he only wanted to pin him down and kiss him
until he was flushed all over with desire brimming in his eyes.
Shen Zechuan’s chest heaved. The wind had blown through his
entire body of sweat, chilling him so much that he shuddered. His
teeth could not stop the wine that Xiao Chiye was feeding him. As
it slid to his throat, he started to choke. But Xiao Chiye was biting
the tip of his tongue, preventing him from coughing it out. So all he
could do was to endure it until his eyes watered. Even if the sky
were to fall right at this moment, Xiao Chiye would not release him.
A sudden “thud” rang out above, and someone tumbled down
immediately after. Ding Tao plunged headlong into the pile of
snow, then abruptly popped out his head. It was so freezing cold
that he rubbed his arms hard. About to give someone a piece of his
mind, he raised his head and came face-to-face with the window.
He could not help but gape in shock, frightened out of his soul.
Shen Zechuan instantly kicked Xiao Chiye away and held on to
the window, coughing. The back of his ears were all flushed, and
his mouth was saturated with the fragrance of wine. Xiao Chiye’s
breathing was a little urgent as he looked darkly out of the window.
Ding Tao’s teeth chattered as they fought against each other.
Trembling, he stretched out his forefinger slowly to point up and
whispered, “So-so-sorry, Young Master…”
Above them, Qiao Tianya and Gu Jin held their breaths and
looked on with rapt attention as they wisely pretended not to be
there. Without waiting for Xiao Chiye to say a word, Ding Tao
sprang up and fled. He climbed the tree with swift movements,
then made his way back to the roof with a “swoosh”.

Author’s Words:
For relevant information on the military troops with military and
farming duties, refer to the “Treatises on military affairs in the
History of the Ming dynasty”.7 The military troops for military and
farming duties system should be interdependent with the military
garrison system,8 but many of the actual contents here have been
simplified and are not rigorous enough. Just read it for fun,
everyone.
Thank you for reading.

Footnotes
1. 远交近攻 “Befriend a distant state; attack one nearby”
from the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计)
2. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
3. 户籍 Household registers. In the Ming Dynasty, the
central register was also known as the Yellow Register.
4. 屯田制 state farm system, literally “scion fields”, were
agro-colonies, mostly in border regions, that served to
supply the inhabitants and military units with agricultural
products.
5. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties as well as farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains.
6. 美人计 honey traps
7. 明史·兵志 “Treatises on military affairs in the History of the
Ming dynasty”, or Mingshi Bingzhi, is one of the important
documents often consulted by people while studying the
military system of the Ming Dynasty
8. 卫所制度, Weisuo, or the Military Garrison (Guards)
System was a military establishment during the Ming
Dynasty. It was a system where the troops of each garrison
were fed by agro-colonies belonging to the garrison and
worked by soldiers, while their salary came from the central
government.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 51 : COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

Translated with: Yunyun<3

In the darkness, Xiao Chiye used his thumb to wipe the corner
of his mouth, where there was still residual wine. He said, “One kick
for one kiss. Neither of us loses out.”
Shen Zechuan turned back to look at him.
Xiao Chiye smiled at him. “Each is a horse of a different color;
let’s not confuse them. Aren’t you still going to trample on me in
public in the future? Go ahead and step on me, Lanzhou. I’ll pay
each debt back in full plus interest.”
Shen Zechuan used his tongue to wet the spot he had been
bitten and told him, “You won’t have this kind of opportunity every
single time.”
Xiao Chiye took a step closer, completely shrouding him under
his own shadow. He replied, “And you won’t be able to run away
every single time.”
Having said that, Xiao Chiye extended his hand to pluck the
red plum beside Shen Zechuan. He rubbed the petals into mush
and sent that redness into his mouth. Under his gaze, Shen
Zechuan had the illusion that he himself was that red plum. In his
evaluation of Xiao Chiye, he quietly added “having the
determination to win” in addition to having a “keen sense of smell”.
Shen Zechuan once thought that desire would overcome Xiao
Chiye and make him retreat from the setback. But Xiao Chiye’s
behavior was beyond Shen Zechuan’s expectation. That arrogant
character of his meant that he only knew how to march forward
bravely. Any retreat or concession was only in preparation for the
next time he made a better-planned attack.
He was an overwhelmingly dangerous threat.
“Light the lamps.” Xiao Chiye turned his head to shout out.
After a short moment, the maidservants pushed the door open
and entered. They moved out a small screen, cleared away the
leftovers, spread a mat over the rug, and swapped to a big, square
tea table with girdled waist and horse hooves’ legs.1 Chen Yang
changed his shoes and entered. He placed the Imperial Army’s
military affairs and name register of personnel on the tea table,
then took over the teapot from the maidservant’s hands and
kneeled at the side to steep tea for both men.
With someone else present, both men resumed the roles of
upright gentlemen when they took their seats again.
Shen Zechuan had partially sobered up. Bathing in the wind
had helped him break free of his earlier hot flushes and tipsiness.
Only the scarlet on his face remained, further accentuated by the
dim light of the lamp that enveloped him. Even Chen Yang did not
dare to look straight up at him, for fear that his gaze would be an
affront to both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, making them
displeased.
Chen Yang brewed the tea and thought, no wonder Tantai Hu is
worried. Shen Lanzhou is clearly born with the looks of one capable
of bringing ruin to the nation and misfortune upon the commoners.
What’s more, he has such a temperament. Anyone who is on
familiar terms with Master, even a little, should be afraid.
What was Xiao Chiye most fond of?
Taming horses and tormenting eagles!2 During the tormenting
process, Xiao Chiye would not sleep when the eagle wasn’t
sleeping. The harder it was to tame, the more attention he would
pay it. The harder it was to domesticate, the more he would favor it.
Back then, while they were fighting the Biansha Cavalry, Xiao Chiye
could lay in wait for so long simply because he adored the process
of domestication and torture. He inherited from Xiao Fangxu the
desire to conquer and subjugate, far surpassing that of the
common man. This was the most different trait between him and
Xiao Jiming.
Chen Yang presented the tea to both of them, made a slight
bow, and said, “If Master has any instructions, please call for me.”
Then he rose and retreated to change back into his boots and
stand guard outside the door.
Gu Jin hung his head down from the rooftop, tossed a wine
bag to Chen Yang, and cast him an inquiring gaze to ask about the
inside situation.
Chen Yang slowly exhaled and said, “… It’s all fine. Master has
a measure of propriety.”
Ding Tao was still hugging his head and murmuring, “Am I
going to die, die, die…”
“Hard to say.” Qiao Tianya nudged against the snow to pull out
his pipe and laughed out loud. “On this day next year, gege will
remember to burn paper offerings for you.”
Ding Tao’s tears were about to fall. Grabbing his hair, he glared
at them in anger and complained, “It’s all you two’s fault! If you
didn’t fight, I wouldn’t have tried to break up the fight. If I didn’t
intervene, then I wouldn’t have tumbled off. If I didn’t fall, then I
wouldn’t die! I hate you both!”
Qiao Tianya concentrated wholeheartedly on starting a fire
with the flint, while Gu Jin folded his arm and dozed off.
Ding Tao hated them so much that he fished out his book and
jotted at high speed to vent all his fury within, cussing them both as
the world’s greatest bastards. Once done, he wiped the tears at the
corners of his eyes, then turned around to continue venting his
thoughts as they gushed forth like spring water.
Having had a change of tea, the men in the room continued
their discussion.
Xiao Chiye said, “Returning to the topic, you said that there is
someone hiding in Qudu who is able to manipulate the Eight Great
Clans. I thought about it and found it highly unlikely.”
That medicinal wine burned up Shen Zechuan’s throat so much
that it was billowing smoke. He drank several cups of tea before
saying, “You think it is not possible because it is too difficult to do
such a thing effectively.”
Xiao Chiye said, “That’s right. Let’s leave the others aside for
now. Even the Empress Dowager herself would not deign to listen
to the directions of another.”
“What if she wasn’t aware of it herself?” Shen Zechuan asked,
“Sometimes, you don’t need to command others in order to
manipulate the situation. With just one finger, you can nudge the
‘powers’ into action and change a lot of things from there.”
 “You have to prove the existence of this person first.” Xiao Chiye
looked at him and said, “… You look like you’re feeling quite
warm.”
Shen Zechuan lifted his fingers to undo his clasp. That clasp
gently broke free of its fastener to gradually reveal his smooth neck
between his fingers before coming to a stop at the top of his
collarbone. Tiny beads of sweats slid along the contour of his neck
into that depression, wetting his fingertips.
“Although Xi Hongxuan is a chess piece in the open, he’s very
important. Xi Hongxuan is needed to confirm whether this person
exists or not, so you can’t take him off the game this time.” Shen
Zechuan paused for a moment. “You can’t take him down, anyway.
He never once showed himself during this assassination case.
Fuling’s confession can only prove that she was coerced. And the
most likely suspect is now you.”
“It was your idea to frame it on me.” Xiao Chiye looked at that
disappearing bead of sweat.
“You are now an official in the Son of Heaven’s inner ministerial
circle, one deeply favored by the Emperor. If this incident can
remove you from position and put you off duty, Xi Hongxuan will
not pass up the chance. He will definitely try to seize an opportunity
to seek the Eight Great Training Divisions’ authority of office. It’s
only by luring them out of their lairs that we can get a clearer look
at whom to attack. Besides, His Majesty trusts you. Even if he
demotes you, he will not immediately and easily put his trust in
others. After a period of time, he will see the blazing rise of the
Eight Great Clans’ power and arrogance, and he will realize that he
had been played for a fool. He will instead harbor guilt towards the
innocent ones who have been implicated, and then he will try ways
to make it up to you.” Shen Zechuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he
drank the tea. He said, “My guess is that you had already thought
of a countermeasure before you came to me.”
“Sure, let’s play.” Xiao Chiye poured tea for him. “I’ll merely be
beating you at your own game and letting you guys trample on
me.”
“This is much wiser than fighting back at this point.” Shen
Zechuan said. “The more anxious you are at this time to clear your
name and involvement in this matter, the more suspicious His
Majesty will be.”
“I know His Majesty.” Xiao Chiye said, “He is a credulous man
and easily susceptible to persuasion. He cannot stand being
instigated,3 but he cannot stand being humiliated either. I’m his
buddy, and the first person he promoted to his side after he
ascended to the throne. I’m kind of a symbol for the way he faces
his court officials. Trapped both on the inside and the outside, I’ve
become livestock in his hands—one that he penned in and raised.
To him, I’ve no one to rely on, and it’s only with his backing that I
can secure this position of mine. If someone were to scheme
against me, thereby kicking me down, then he will definitely have
the feeling of sharing the same fate, just like how teeth feel cold
when the lips are gone.4 The Hua Faction is his sore point and the
source of his anxiety. The reason he feels reassured in getting Hai
Liangyi to make decisions regarding government affairs is because
he knows that Hai Liangyi will not form cliques or join political
factions.”
“We mustn’t let such a golden opportunity slip.” Shen Zechuan
held his teacup and considered it for a moment before saying,
“This time, we must make Xi Hongxuan take action.”
“I have to remind you of one thing.” Xiao Chiye propped up his
elbow on the table and beckoned to Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan put down his teacup and leaned over.
Xiao Chiye whispered, “If you can’t hold your liquor, then don’t
go drinking with others. Not every bastard has Second Young
Master’s level of willpower to remain unswayed by distracting
thoughts5 and remain an honorable, well-behaved gentleman
before you.”
Shen Zechuan looked askance at him and emphasized his
words, “But this honorable gentleman has harbored quite the
thoughts too, hasn’t he?”
Xiao Chiye gazed at him and said, “Once we step out of this
door tomorrow morning, you and I will be mortal enemies. Since
enemies know best how to hold each other in high regard, then
isn’t it only fitting for me to think of you?”
Shen Zechuan said, “I don’t think of you.”
 Xiao Chiye said, “Every plan you make these days can’t escape
me. I’m afraid it’s not that you don’t think of me, but that you think
of me day and night.”
“How did that kick from the Feast of A Hundred Officials not get
to you?” Shen Zechuan raised his hand to block Xiao Chiye’s breath
on him and said, “It could have sobered up the Second Young
Master.”
The tip of Xiao Chiye’s nose was pressing against Shen
Zechuan’s palm. He stared at Shen Zechuan and said wickedly,
“How callous, Lanzhou. You tease me in all ways possible before
bedding me. And now that you’ve bedded me, you set up
defenses in every way possible to guard against me. You heartless
cad, fickle man.”
His gaze made Shen Zechuan slightly averted his eyes. Shen
Zechuan said, “… Xiao’Er, you sure are drunk tonight, aren’t you?”
Xiao Chiye suddenly retreated and said, “During the court
session tomorrow morning, someone will surely raise questions
and apportion blame. Kong Qiu will present Fuling’s previous
confession statement as it is. When the time comes, the Chief
Surveillance Bureau will have to hold me accountable for my
negligence in supervision.”
With his palm now empty, Shen Zechuan said, “Even if you wish
to take a step back, you can’t make it too obvious.”
“Once I’m caught in a vicious siege of verbal and written
condemnation, it’ll be up to His Majesty to decide on my
punishment.” Xiao Chiye said.
“At best, your salary will be halted for a few months. At worst,
your tablet will be suspended and you will have to reflect on your
mistake. The Hereditary Prince is still in Qudu. Everyone still has to
give him face, so they won’t overdo their criticism of you.”
“Dage’s time in Qudu is very short.” Xiao Chiye stopped. “Once
I’m punished, there’ll be no one else to stop the marriage between
Hua Xiangyi and Qi Shiyu.”
“It’ll take time for the union between Qi and Hua to happen.”
Shen Zechuan thought for a moment. “The current Commander-in-
chief of Qidong Five Commandery military troops is Qi Zhuyin.
Perhaps we can start with her.”
 Xiao Chiye thought of something and said, “I have an idea.”
Shen Zechuan asked, “What?”
“The Ministry of Rites has past marriage records of the Hua
Clan. I’ll get someone to polish it up a little, then give this
transcribed copy to Qi Zhuyin. She will not accept Hua Xiangyi
easily.”
“It’s not taboo for distant relatives to marry in Dazhou; even
marriage between cousins is fine.” Shen Zechuan said, “Or is
Commander-in-Chief Qi bothered by it?”
“She is.” Xiao Chiye explained. “As we all know, Qi Shiyu is a
lecher, and he has taken many beautiful women all over Qidong
Five Commandery into his residence as his women. One of them is
his niece. A few years back, this madam gave birth to a baby, who
was born with a defect and was abnormally sick and weak. The
baby lasted for only a few days before it was buried. From then on,
each time Qi Shiyu takes in a concubine, Qi Zhuyin would be
particularly wary of breaking this taboo. As long as there were
some blood relations between them, even if she was a distant
relative, Qi Zhuyin would not allow the woman to marry into the
family.”
“But Hua Xiangyi’s marriage to Qi Shiyu was specifically
dictated by the Empress Dowager herself.” Shen Zechuan said. “I
doubt the Commander-in-Chief can stop it even if she wants to.”
“Since there’s already no way she can stop it, then she can only
take a step back to make a concession and let Hua the Third
marry.” Xiao Chiye’s eyes were cold. “But she can’t let her give birth
to a child. Hua Xiangyi is marrying Qi Shiyu as his second wife,
which means she will be the legitimate and rightful madam of
Qidong. The child she gives birth to will be a child of lawful birth6
who can claim to be of the same direct line of descent as Qi Zhuyin.
Qi Zhuyin is a woman. It’s indeed not easy for her to subdue and
bring Qidong Five Commandery military forces under her control
for all these years. She is a great general who has truly shed blood.
But who can guarantee that no one will have something else in
mind? If Hua Xiangyi were to give birth to a son, Qi Zhuyin would
have no choice but to be caught up in an internal struggle for
military power. She is in need of a reason to suppress Hua Xiangyi.”
 “I heard that there are male sons in the Qi Clan. But Qi Shiyu
was hell-bent on having his own way to give to Qi Zhuyin the
Commander-in-Chief position of the military forces.” Shen Zechuan
said, “Wasn’t this out of an appreciation for talents?”
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye said, “Qi Zhuyin was born by his first
legitimate wife, and she is also a talented field commander he
personally taught. When he still had no sons, he treated and raised
Qi Zhuyin as one. He came to have sons later on, but none of them
could be compared to her. At that time, Qidong was still at war with
Biansha. Qi Shiyu was seriously injured and was unable to lead the
troops. They were trapped at the east side of Biansha linked camps,
and none of the Qi Clan sons dared to step up to take up the
mantle. It was Qi Zhuyin who carried a blade on her back and rode
a horse through the night to go canvassing for reinforcements
from the Chijun Commandery, Bianjun Commandery, and Suotian
Pass Garrison Troops and got them to follow her into battle. Then,
with the help of the wind, she set fire to the Biansha linked camps
and burned them all down. This was the battle that made her
famous. She’s now called ‘Wind Guiding the Scorching Plains’
precisely because of how she led the soldiers that battle to draw
their swords while braving the fire to carry out Qi Shiyu on her
back. Qi Shiyu was originally hesitant and undecided. But after that
time, he immediately handed over the commander seal and gave
the Five Commandery military troops all to Qi Zhuyin.”
“The conferment of the Commander-in-Chief title requires the
approval of Qudu.” Shen Zechuan said, “It’s not an easy feat to
achieve.”
Xiao Chiye smiled. He touched the thumb ring on his thumb
and said, “You would have never imagined that Emperor
Guangcheng was not the one who conferred the title on her.”
Shen Zechuan tilted his head slightly.
“Back then, when news of it spread back to Qudu, the various
parties all denounced it. Because Qi Zhuyin is a woman, the
Ministry of War questioned whether her military exploits were
fabricated. Thus, they submitted a petition to the Grand Secretariat
requesting them to dispatch the Chief Surveillance Bureau Censor
and Imperial Bodyguards to Qidong to carry out a thorough
investigation. Seeing how worked up the crowd was, Emperor
Guancheng delayed Qidong’s request and did not approve it. Her
meritorious military service was later verified, and the Ministry of
Rites submitted a memorial allowing her conferment. However, she
was not allowed up Yulong Terrace,7 which is used by military
officers and generals, to receive her conferment. She could only
kneel and kowtow before the stairs of Mingli Hall.”
Xiao Chiye paused for a long time.
“It was the Empress Dowager who stood her ground against
the objections and obstacles and allowed her to step onto Yulong
Terrace so that she could be conferred, in an open and
aboveboard manner, the title Commander-in-Chief of Qidong’s
military forces.”

1.
2. 束腰, 马蹄足 A table with specific designs as described.
Kind of like the above.
3. 熬鹰 literally torturing falcons, it’s one of the ways to train
them by not allowing it to sleep and torture it to exhaustion
to wear down its wild nature.
4. 最受不得教唆 this line could also be read as he cannot
hold up to instigation.
5. 唇亡齿寒, when the lips are gone the teeth will be
exposed to the cold; if one of two interdependent things
falls, the other is in danger and will most likely share the
same fate.
6. 定力 Specifically in Buddhism, this refers to the ability to
free one’s mind of distracting thoughts and the willpower to
remain unswayed by them or temptations.
7. To recap, children in those days were classified
according to whether they were a lawful or common child. A
di child (嫡子) was born by the legal wife (this was the wife
who had been officially married into the family, also known
as a zhengshi (正室)). Those of lawful birth were considered
legitimate (direct line of descendants) and they had higher
social status and often received better treatment compared
to the shu children (庶子) born by concubines.
8. 玉龙 Yulong, literally translated as Jade Dragon
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 52 : DENOUNCEMENT

Translated with: Eggy<3

White snow fell in a flurry. The night was coming to an end.

Shen Zechuan could not stay any longer. Just as he was
leaving, Xiao Chiye rose to his feet, took down the overcoat from
the rack, and handed it to him.
“This blade of yours looks unfamiliar.” Xiao Chiye bent over to
pick up Yang Shan Xue. It felt light and handy in his hands. “New?”
Shen Zechuan nodded and faced the door as he put on the
overcoat.
Xiao Chiye pressed the sword slightly out of its sheath with his
thumb to reveal a cold glint. He said, “Excellent blade. What’s its
name?”
Shen Zechuan answered, “Yang Shan Xue.”
“A lift of its head, and three mountains worth of snow it spouts;
a spread of its mouth, and a hundred rivers it devours.”1 Xiao Chiye
returned the blade to its sheath and took a step forward and stuck
to Shen Zechuan from behind. With practiced fingers, he put back
Yang Shan Xue to the side of Shen Zechuan’s waist. He lowered his
head slightly and said, “It’s not only pretty; even the name is
pretty.”
Shen Zechuan abruptly looked back, but Xiao Chiye beat him to
it and grasped him by the waist to take him into his arms.
“How are you going to look at me after leaving here today?”
“However I ought to be looking at you.” Shen Zechuan hurriedly
turned his head back. It looked as if he was intimately rubbing their
faces together.
“If you can’t handle it, you can always ask your Second Young
Master for help.” Xiao Chiye’s fingers roughly obtained a
measurement as he smiled and said.
“The Second Young Master can barely fend for himself.” Shen
Zechuan said. “Seems more likely for you to ask me for help.”
 Xiao Chiye released him and said, “You are much thinner than
the last time. If my guess is right, you are still taking medicine that
can conceal your figure.”
Shen Zechuan fastened his overcoat and said nothing.
“Let me offer you a word of advice,” Xiao Chiye said, “That
medicine hurts the body the more you take it. In a few years, it’ll be
your own body that will be wrecked.”
Shen Zechuan sighed softly as he stopped by the door. “Your
shifu has sharp eyes. He met me only once, and he could tell just by
looking.”
Xiao Chiye said, “You’re willing to go to such an extent just for
these matters?”
“My life and death hang in the balance at the mere whim of
another, so naturally, I’d have to exercise caution in everything I do
and pay due diligence everywhere I go.” Shen Zechuan’s hands
were ice cold. He said, “I’ve practiced the Ji Clan boxing style for a
long time. I wouldn’t be able to deceive Ji Lei unless I resort to
this.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Ji Lei is already dead.”
Shen Zechuan still smelled a little of wine. He said, “I’ve
stopped taking the medicine.”
After Shen Zechuan had left, Xiao Chiye stood in the blizzard as
he recalled Zuo Qianqiu’s words.
“This medicine comes from the East. Once taken, a person can
fake illness to pull the wool over the eyes of others. It’s not a
problem if it’s taken once or twice, but it could cause serious
consequences if consumed for a long time. The damage is
negligible if the toxin remains in the body for a short while, but it’ll
eventually act up in the future.”
“Act up?”
Zuo Qianqiu fixed his gaze on the teacup in his hand and said,
“Toxin accumulates to become a malady that harms. If he doesn’t
take good care of it, he might be rendered invalid when the time
comes.”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand and let the windstorm blow away
the lingering warmth on his palm. He reminisced back to that night
when he thought he had almost melted Shen Zechuan with his
caresses, but it seemed that the warmth he gave Shen Zechuan was
merely fleeting.
A beauty always gives off the illusion of fragility.
◈ ◈ ◈
With a bamboo hat on his head, Qiao Tianya drove the horse
carriage and rushed towards Shen Zechuan’s old house on
Donglong Street. Shen Zechuan leaned against the interior wall of
the carriage and closed his eyes to take a nap.
Upon reaching the entrance, Qiao Tianya commanded the
horses to stop and lifted the curtain open for Shen Zechuan. Shen
Zechuan bent over to get off the carriage and returned to his room
to take a bath and have a change of clothes.
According to the memorial, Shen Zechuan had enjoyed a
meteoric rise this time to become a fifth-grade Judge of the
Imperial Bodyguards in just one leap. But this position was split into
two—the south and north. The Southern Judge was in charge of the
affairs of the Imperial Bodyguards’ military craftsmen, while the
Northern Judge was in charge of the Imperial Bodyguards’
Imperial Prison. Li Jianheng put him in an important position with
the intent to use him. But the civil officials of the Grand Secretariat
all had their own misgivings and considerations. Because of Shen
Zechuan’s background, they were not willing to let him take charge
of the Imperial Prison. Therefore, after everyone deliberated over it,
they rejected Shen Zechuan’s appointment as the Northern Judge
and had it changed to the Southern Judge.
For this reason, the Grand Secretariat raised Shen Zechuan’s
military appointment to one of a fifth-grade Imperial Bodyguards’
Battalion Commander. This was already a great honor, especially
when coupled with the additional embroidered python robe2 and
phoenix-tail belt3 that Li Jianheng had bestowed upon him.
Shen Zechuan had long anticipated the Grand Secretariat’s
rebuttal.
This time, he had made his way up by using Han Cheng as a
stepping stone. As per their agreement, Xue Xiuzhuo let him have
his promotion, yet he gave him a kick at the most crucial part. This
was to make him understand that even if he had the merit that
came with going to the Emperor’s rescue, he was still far from
being able to cross swords with them.
When Shen Zechuan emerged all neatly dressed, Qiao Tianya
was holding up an umbrella. The latter said, “With Master’s
promotion, this house is already considered simple and shabby. It
would not be able to accommodate all the coming and going
visitors in the future.”
“There’s no hurry.” Shen Zechuan lifted his robe to get on the
carriage. As he dropped the curtain, he said, “It’s still not too late to
change it after I’m promoted to Commander-in-Chief.”
With that, the curtain drooped, and he continued to rest.
The weather was bad today. The officials waiting outside the
palace all had snow on their shoulders. They could not walk
around as they please, nor could they move at will. They could not
make a racket either, or even cough.
Shen Zechuan followed Han Cheng to stand at attention while
bearing his blade. His skin was like icy snow set against the
contrast of his crimson python robe. He was shockingly gorgeous
whenever there was a smile in the corners of his eyes. Yet, amidst
that affability, he gave off an air of malice that spoke of danger.
Xiao Chiye was donning a red robe too. The second-grade lion
on his body4 made him stand out even more from the crowd, like a
crane among a flock of fowls. He looked to be in low spirits and
merely glanced askance at Shen Zechuan.
Both men were standing apart from one another, yet they gave
others the sense that they were facing off each other in a
confrontation. Even Hai Liangyi turned his head aside to take a few
looks.
The civil officials made eye contact with one another, each
coming to a mutual, tacit understanding.
A little while later, Han Cheng said in a hushed tone, “Let’s go.”
When those palace doors opened, the eunuchs from the
Directorate of Ceremonial and major ministers of the Grand
Secretariat would be the first to enter. But now that the Directorate
of Ceremonial had been vacated, only the important ministers of
the Grand Secretariat with Hai Liangyi at the head went on ahead.
Han Cheng followed behind them, leading Shen Zechuan up the
stairs to take up position at the lower left side of the dragon throne.
Li Jianheng sat on the dragon throne with both hands on his
knees and said, “It has been two nights since the assassination
case. Has there been any new progress from the Ministry of
Justice?”
The Minister of Justice, Kong Qiu, stepped out and said after
paying his obeisances, “To reply Your Majesty, the evidence against
Fuling, the female official of the Imperial Food Service, in
instigating Guisheng to carry out the assassination is conclusive.
This subject will hand her over to the Court of Judicial Review for a
retrial today.”
For some reason, Li Jianheng cast a glance at Xiao Chiye and
turned back to continue asking, “Have you gotten to the bottom of
why she did this?”
Kong Qiu said, “Our checks show that Fuling once broke the
imperial plate of the Court of Imperial Entertainments in the palace.
Consequently, this left a record in her file, and, to work it off, the
day she could leave the palace was put off to the indefinite future.
She often told the others that her mother was already advanced in
age, and she wanted to leave the palace to wait upon the latter, but
owing to the palace rules, she was unable to do so. She repeatedly
bribed the former Brush-holding Director of the Directorate of
Ceremonial, but it was a wasted effort, and she was cheated out of
her entire life savings. And so she lost it and began to harbor the
intent to exact revenge.”
“This subject has a memorial to present.” The Vice Minister of
the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Huaixing, was the second son of
lawful birth of the Eight Great Clans’ Wei Clan. He was also the
elder brother of Imperial Concubine Wei during Emperor Xiande’s
time. He stepped out and paid his obeisances.
Li Jianheng said, “Your Excellency Wei, please speak.”
“This subject has ascertained that the female official of the
Imperial Food Service, Fuling, had a power-for-sex transaction with
Yuan Liu from the Imperial Army’s Judicial Office. It was Yuan Liu
who personally stepped forward to negotiate credit for the house
where her mother lived.” Without looking at anyone, Wei Huaixing
continued, “This case is presided over by the Ministry of Justice,
and this matter concerns Your Majesty’s safety; It cannot be said to
be unimportant. Yet, Minister Kong mentioned only half of the
confession before Your Majesty. Is there something that cannot be
said, or someone who cannot be incriminated?”
Kong Qiu turned his head to the side and said, “… This matter
is mentioned all in my memorial, so what deception is there to
speak of?”
“The morning court is an important venue for the discussion of
governmental affairs. His Majesty asked if you have gotten to the
bottom of it. Yet you were evasive before all the officials, focusing
on what’s favorable while skipping the damning statements.” Wei
Huaixing raised his head. “Officials, on entering service, should
diligently and earnestly serve with utmost loyalty.5 The imperial
court hall is by no means a place to condone corruption and abet
corrupted officials. What are you afraid of? If you don’t dare to
voice it in the person’s presence, then I’ll say it. Your Majesty, this
matter concerns not only the various twenty-four yamen in the
Imperial Palace, but also the Imperial Army!”
Xiao Chiye looked displeased, as if he were sneering.
Li Jianheng had initially meant to keep it under wraps. But now,
it would not do for him to continue fooling the others. After
hesitating for a long time, he said, “… Ce’ an, what do you have to
say to this?”
Xiao Chiye said, “The Imperial Army has 20,000 men on its
payroll. This subject can check their household registers one at a
time, but not all of their personal affairs one by one. This time, I’m
at fault for being negligent in my supervision of my men. Your
Majesty may punish me as you deem fit.”
Li Jianheng wanted to open his mouth to say a word.
Wei Huaixing kowtowed first and said, “Viceroy Xiao, why aren’t
you telling the truth before His Majesty either? It’s indeed true that
it’s not easy to probe into the personal affairs of the 20,000 men in
the Imperial Army. But that Yuan Liu doesn’t have a common
relationship with you at all. So how can you feign ignorance too?!”
Shen Zechuan looked over.
 “There are too many people who have special relationships
with me.” Xiao Chiye swept a glance at Shen Zechuan and smiled
without a care. “But with a beauty in my arms, I’d be blind to bed an
old fellow. That Yuan Liu is old enough to be your father. Your
Excellency Wei, never mind if you don’t have any proof or
evidence, but why go to this extent to bring such a false charge
against me, Xiao Ce’ an?”
Hai Liangyi gave a slight cough and said, “Please watch your
language on the Imperial Court, Viceroy.”
“His Majesty is fully aware of the kind of jerk I am. I have never
needed to put on false pretenses here.” Xiao Chiye was a tyrant
when he played the scoundrel. He did not even show any respect
to Hai Liangyi. “You want to investigate the Imperial Army, sure
thing. To steer clear of suspicion, I’ll hand over my authority token
and let the various Excellencies investigate. But if you want to pin
that groundless, trumped-up charge on me, then sorry, I won’t
plead guilty.”
“Such vulgar language. Acting all rebellious before His Majesty.
The Xiao Clan sure has produced a good son!” Wei Huaixing took
out a memorial from his sleeve. “The Viceroy says I’ve no evidence
or proof. But as an official of the Court of Judicial Review, how
would I dare to say so if that’s the case?”
Xiao Jiming, who had been listening without moving all this
while, slightly raised his head to look at Wei Huaixing, wanting to
see what evidence the latter could have.
Wei Huaixing said, “Yuan Liu was originally a Squad
Commander of the Imperial Army. It was the Viceroy who
personally promoted him to be a Vice Judge. Not two years later,
the Viceroy promoted him again into the position of a Judge. I’d
like to ask the Viceroy. These few years, the Imperial Army had no
important duties. So on what grounds does he get to be promoted
again and again?”
Xiao Chiye sneered and said, “He’s already at that age.
Although he has no merits to speak of, he has committed no grave
errors. The Imperial Army has been mass recruiting rookies in
recent years. Yuan Liu isn’t the only old-timer I’ve promoted on
account of old ties. Why doesn’t Your Excellency Wei list them all
out clearly and count them all among my personal affairs?”
“Isn’t the Viceroy’s words the law in the Imperial Army in recent
years?!” Wei Huaixing said unhurriedly. “The one each of them
pledged loyalty to is the Xiao Clan, not His Majesty, isn’t it?”
His words were laced with double layers of meaning—In itself, it
referred to Xiao Chiye, but it also implicated Xiao Jiming.
As expected, Xiao Chiye flipped. He said, “Keep the discussion
to the topic at hand. Stop fucking bringing in the Xiao Clan at every
mention! I, Xiao Ce’an, followed His Majesty to the position I am at
now. I’m not like Your Excellency Wei who is born with a silver
spoon in his mouth and with his path to officialdom all smoothly
paved out for him.”
It was only when Wei Huaixing saw Xiao Chiye losing his
temper that he opened the memorial and said, “The Viceroy went
drinking with others before the new year. During the feast, Yuan Liu
gifted you a large sum of money. Does the Viceroy admit to this?”
Even Li Jianheng was stunned the moment this word was
spoken. He clenched his fist and said nothing further.
Xiao Chiye said, “I have never gone drinking with Yuan Liu
before.”
“The courtesans of Xiangyun Villa on Donglong Street can
attest to it. That night, Yuan Liu spent a large sum of money to
entertain the Viceroy. The Viceroy got drunk during the feast, and
Yuan Liu gifted you a basket of golden peaches.” Wei Huaixing
said, “Does the Viceroy still not admit it?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’ll just ask you. Yuan Liu is a minor sixth-grade
official. Where on earth would he get the golden peaches to gift?”
“That’s something we will have to ask the Viceroy.” Wei
Huaixing finally took out his killing move. He said, “The same time
Yuan Liu got the house on credit for Fuling, he also got three street-
facing houses on Donglong Street on credit. I have ascertained
that he acted upon the Viceroy’s written instructions at that time! In
recent years, the Imperial Army first carried out repairs on its
barracks, then expanded the military drill grounds on Mount Feng.
Where did all the money for these come from? Wasn’t it the Viceroy
who used his position in the Imperial Army to obtain it illegally
from the broker? Yuan Liu was the one who handled and
completed this matter for you. And now that Yuan Liu has
instigated Fuling to assassinate His Majesty, do you dare to say that
it has nothing to do with you?”
Xiao Chiye did not answer.
Fu Linye, the Right Censor-in-chief Chief Surveillance Bureau,
stepped out and said, “This subject also has a memorial to submit.”
For some reason, Li Jianheng’s fingertips were trembling
violently. He commanded, “Speak!”
Fu Linye said, “This subject wants to bring charges against the
Viceroy of the Imperial Army too today. According to the law,
before the Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices concludes, no
irrelevant person is allowed to enter the torture prison to visit major
criminals unless he has His Majesty’s imperial edict. Yet, the Viceroy
acted on his own initiative and went to the torture prison yesterday
without an imperial edict and made no report of it afterward.”
Xiao Chiye’s expression grew more and more somber.
“The moment the Viceroy left the torture prison, Fuling’s mother
died.” Fu Linye kowtowed. “As for what happened in between, I’d
like to ask the Viceroy to give a clear account of it in His Majesty’s
presence.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Both of you are really taking action at the
same time, huh. Such coincidence!”
“Don’t dodge the topic, Viceroy.” Wei Huaixing said coldly, “I’d
advise you to explain yourself at the earliest opportunity!”
“He who wants to incriminate a man will always trump up a
charge against him.” As if surrounded in a trap, Xiao Chiye fell
silent for a moment, then said to Li Jianheng, “I’ve never done any
of the stuff they said. I’ll let His Majesty make the judgment
tonight.”
Under such a tense, anxious atmosphere, Li Jianheng clenched
his knees until they were soaked with sweat. He looked at Xiao
Chiye too, then suddenly asked, “How do you explain those written
instructions?”
Xiao Chiye lowered his gaze and said with a spurious smile,
“This subject has never written such a thing.”
 Li Jianheng stood up in an instant. He took a few steps forward
impatiently and demanded, “Let me see!”
Wei Huaixing handed over the item. Li Jianheng flipped
through it for a moment and suddenly began to tremble. His lips
quivered. “Isn’t this your handwriting… Ce… Ce’ an!”
Xiao Chiye said resolutely, “This subject has never written such
a thing!”
Li Jianheng was terrified. He set the document in his hands,
then quickly threw it away like a hot potato. Nearly losing control,
he asked, “Then, that Yuan Liu—is he your man or not?!”
Xiao Chiye raised his eyes.
Upon seeing this, Li Jianheng clutched onto the armrests. Fear
began to rise within him. In this fleeting moment of dread, he
recalled the coldness and indifference with which Xiao Chiye had
abandoned him in the past. An endless disgust also rose within
him. As if he was swatting away something terrifying, he said with
all of his might, “Strip him of his authority token first!”
Xiao Chiye said, “This subject–––”
Wei Huaixing straightened up and bellowed, “If he dares to
disobey, we can detain him right here according to the laws!”
Xiao Chiye stared at Wei Huaixing before he looked at Li
Jianheng. He said in an aloof voice, “It is fine to detain me, Xiao
Ce’ an, but there must be an acceptable allegation.”
Li Jianheng felt that he had misplaced his trust. Caught in the
crossfire taking place in the imperial court, he was already inclined
to believe the others. And now, seeing the way Xiao Chiye was
acting caused his fury to momentarily get the better of him. He
reprimanded in a stern voice, “Kneel! I will take away your authority
token today without fail!”
Xiao Chiye had yet to move.
But Li Jianheng could no longer contain his rage and barked, “I
command you to kneel!”

Footnotes
1. 仰喷三山雪，横吞百川水 It’s part of a poem from 《古风其
三十三》by Li Bai that refers to the mythological creature,
kun peng (鹍鹏). Shen Zechuan’s blade name, Yang Shan
Xue (仰山雪) makes up part of the line “仰(喷三)山雪”.
2. 北溟有巨鱼，身长数千里，仰喷三山雪，横吞百川水。
3. (There exists a massive fish in the northern sea; its body,
as long as several thousand li. The water spray it spouts with
a lift of its head falls like three mountains worth of snow;
while its mouth, spread wide open, engulfs the waters of a
hundred rivers.)
4. 蟒衣 (or 蟒袍) “python (or mang) robes” were
embroidered robes bestowed by the Emperor to officials
with merits during the Ming Dynasty. It was a sign of honor
and favor for officials who were granted the privilege of
wearing a “python robe”.
5. 鸾带 a wide phoenix tail (or luan) belt. Luan is a mythical
bird related to phoenix.
6. This refers to the animal on his rank badge (补子), or
mandarin square, which is a large embroidered badge sewn
onto the surcoat of an official to indicate the rank of the
official wearing it. Squares depicting birds were used for civil
officials, while animals were used for military officials. So for
a second-grade military official like Xiao Chiye, this animal
would be a lion.
7. 入则恳恳以尽忠 a line from “Loyal Proclamations on
Governance” 《为政忠告》 by a famous Yuan Dynasty poet,
Zhang Yanghao (张养浩).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 53 : COMPOUND SEARCH

The imperial court was so solemn and quiet that one could
even hear the drop of a pin.
Xiao Chiye’s eyes gradually dimmed as he removed his own
authority token.
With his chest heaving violently, Li Jianheng announced, “The
Imperial Army Viceroy, Xiao Chiye, is suspended from duties and
confined to his residence to await investigation! The internal and
external patrols of Qudu shall now be taken over by the Imperial
Bodyguards and the Eight Great Training Divisions.”
Xi Hongxuan, who was among the crowd, looked stolidly
through his wusha hat1 at Xiao Jiming, who had never once
uttered a word. Xiao Jiming remained stable and still on his feet,
unperturbed by what was happening.
He sure is steady!
Xi Hongxuan cursed inwardly.
As expected, this Xiao Jiming was a tough nut to deal with. To
think he could still maintain his composure on seeing Xiao Chiye in
such a predicament. He was not in the least flustered; he did not
even look like he had the intent to speak up.
After morning court was dismissed, they gathered at Ouhua
Pavillion.
After taking his golden token and changing into an elegant
pale-blue patterned robe with wide sleeves, Shen Zechuan let the
courtesan lead him upstairs. Xi Hongxuan was lying on the xumi
couch2 watching someone brew tea.
On seeing him enter, Xi Hongxuan laughed out loud and said,
“Lanzhou, that was such a delight today! Ever since the hunting
ground incident, Xiao the Second has been one-upping me in
every matter. This payback feels so gratifying!”
Shen Zechuan took his seat and said, “Fu Linye was a good
move. I never thought you could even take him under you.”
“What do you think the Fu Clan was in the past? They were cow
dung collectors outside Chuncheng’s city gates. If not for our Old
Master’s appreciation of talent and assistance in helping them to
break free of their original registration,3 their Fu Clan would still be
herding cattle today.” Xi Hongxuan accepted the tea the
maidservant presented to him and sampled a few mouthfuls before
continuing, “But what a waste of the trap Elder Wei set. Xiao Jiming
didn’t take the bait.”
“Suppressing Xiao’Er is already a challenge.” Shen Zechuan
tasted the tea and said, “I’m afraid the loss will far outweigh the
gain if you touch Xiao Jiming now.”
“The best policy is to follow up on our victory and press home
the attack. If we don’t fight now, then when are we going to wait
for?” Xi Hongxuan raised his hand to dismiss the maidservant. He
straightened up in his seat. “Even if we can only make Xiao Jiming
suffer a small loss in Qudu, it’d still be a chink in their armor.”
“I thought your intent was Qudu. I didn’t think you would
already be thinking of eyeing the outskirts for a fight even before
your foundation is stable.” Shen Zechuan said, “The Eight Great
Training Divisions have yet to get a firm grip on power. You’ll most
likely tumble and suffer a setback if you skip over Xiao’Er now.”
Xi Hongxuan set aside the teacup and asked, “Then, in your
opinion, what else should we do?”
“You said it earlier.” Shen Zechuan smiled. “The best policy is to
follow up on victory and press home the attack.”
Xi Hongxuan pondered it for a moment and said, “Our move
today has already caused Xiao the Second to lose the Emperor’s
confidence and trust in him. Even his authority token was removed,
making it impermissible for him to move about before the start of
spring. But he has been buddies with the Emperor for many years
after all. It is impossible to take him down with just this incident
alone.”
“As long as Xiao’Er is still the Imperial Army Viceroy, the
authority over Qudu patrols will still fall back into his hands. Did
you all go through so much trouble with me just to get temporary
authority of the Eight Great Training Divisions to play around with
for a month or two, before returning it to him with your thanks?”
Shen Zechuan said, “You dealt Xiao’Er a blow this time. But once he
bounces back after spring, how are you going to face his
counterattack?”
 Xi Hongxuan spread his folding fan open and fanned himself
with it a few times before saying, “What else can we do? We
definitely won’t be able to knock him down now.”
“You can’t. But you can wear him down.” Shen Zechuan was not
fond of drinking strong tea, so he did not touch it again after a
taste. He said, “His Majesty is already suspicious of him, and his
suspicion in the days to come will not be lower than this. This is the
time for you to act.”
“I have neither talent nor merit.” Xi Hongxuan smiled and said,
“So how can I be compared to him?”
“There’s no need for you to be humble.” Shen Zechuan tapped
on the tabletop. “The tunes in this Ouhua Pavillion are
unconventional and original. Even His Majesty, who is used to
fooling around red-light districts, would find it a breath of fresh air.
Second Young Master Xi, do you still feel that you can’t be
compared to Xiao’Er when it comes to playing?”
“Leaving aside Secretariat Elder for now, even if I play, there’s
no way for me to play my way up to Xiao the Second’s position.” Xi
Hongxuan said, “You must have a trick up your sleeve, don’t you?”
“After Xue Xiuzhuo entered the Court of Judicial Review, all he
has been handling one after another are major cases. But he is,
after all, just one man. When it comes to talent and fame, he is also
outdone by Yao Wenyu, who roams free and unfettered over the
lands. If he wants to go further now to prepare for his entry into the
Grand Secretariat in advance, then he needs someone to exalt
him.” Shen Zechuan drew a small circle on the tabletop with his
fingertip. “You stood in the limelight before the students of the
Imperial College the last time and left behind a good name. Isn’t
this just perfect for you to do him, Xue Xiuzhuo, a favor? Lately,
Secretariat Elder Hai has also been thinking of setting up an
Imperial College. From here, Xue Xiuzhuo would be able to choose
his soldiers and generals.”
“Expand manpower to make waves.” Xi Hongxuan turned it
over in his mind and said, “But Yanqing has his own men. Why
must he go to the Imperial College?”
“To deal with Xiao’Er, there is a need to bury the hatchet with
the other clans and join forces to strike a blow at the enemy. But the
Yao Clan isn’t willing. Think about it. The position of the Yao Clan in
the hearts of the literati is like a boulder. Never mind if they aren’t
willing to work with you. The fear is that they will turn around and
act in cahoots with Xiao’Er. If that’s the case, why not kick the Yao
Clan out as early as possible and leave the position to someone
competent enough to be up to the task?”
Xi Hongxuan unexpectedly laughed and said, “You were born
in Zhongbo, so you don’t understand the origins of the Eight Great
Clans. Even if the Yao Clan isn’t willing to join in, we absolutely
cannot kick them out. Because there’s no way to kick them out at
all.”
“Think back to the heyday of the Yao Clan and survey the
Imperial Court. There was no place for the Xi Clan.” Shen Zechuan
took out his handkerchief to wipe the water droplets. “I know about
the noble clans’ origin, but I’m asking you to hold down the Yao
Clan. The current situation can no longer allow for actions from
another party. Second Young Master, he who hesitates is lost.”
Xi Hongxuan did not dare to take the decision into his own
hands. Thus he said, “We’ll discuss this again. Let me think about
it.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was in the midst of sharpening his blade. He wiped
down Langli Blade carefully, leaving not a stain of dust on it.
Zhao Hui handed Lu Guangbai a cup of tea and asked, “Is the
Second Young Master wiping the blade over and over again to
hack someone?”
Lu Guangbai laughed as he drank his tea. “The way he is today,
venturing outdoors with his blade is going to be no piece of cake.
Jiming, did you get a clear look? I thought this lad was going to cry
when he removed his token earlier.”
“It was a rare sight.” Xiao Jiming smiled too. “To think there’d
be a day where the brat can’t vent his anger.”
“Who are you disparaging?” Xiao Chiye folded his
handkerchief rather unhappily.
“We’re praising you.” Lu Guangbai sighed and said, “As
expected of someone who has stayed too long in Qudu. What an
act that was.”
 “Isn’t that all I’ve learned here?” Xiao Chiye sheathed his blade,
then took his seat and propped up his legs. “Old Wei was trying so
hard that I really had to think a little more highly of him. Never
mind if it was someone else, but why are all my gege happy to see
me being pinned down and pummeled by others?”
“That was truly a rare sight,” Zhao Hui sighed with emotion.
“I was even worried you’d feel sad.” Lu Guangbai said, “Of all
people to play with, you just had to play with the Son of Heaven.”
“His Majesty ascended to the throne all of a sudden, and was
attacked again and again. He isn’t a bold man to begin with, so it’s
only to be expected for him to be afraid now.” Xiao Chiye said, “I
just never expected Fu Linye to be cut from the same cloth as
them.”
“Fu Linye has some connections with the Xi Clan. But he’s still
not that far gone to be the noble clans’ lackey.” Xiao Jiming said,
“He’s most likely thinking of seizing the opportunity to win His
Majesty and Wei Huaixing’s favor by impeaching you.”
“You pushed Wei Huaixing pretty hard too, to make him take
out his last trump card.” Lu Guangbai said, “Now that he has taken
it out, we can fight back.”
“Wei Huaixing has been around for so long, and yet he has
never been able to enter the Grand Secretariat. This definitely has
to do with this person’s temperament.” Xiao Chiye thought for a
moment. “Although Hua Siqian used him when he was still alive, he
disdained him a lot. Now that Secretariat Elder Hai is fearful of the
noble clans taking over the Grand Secretariat, he’s also holding
him back without letting him get promoted. He bears a grudge. If
he wants to fight it out with Secretariat Elder Hai, then he has to
join forces with Xi Hongxuan and storm through the enemy ranks
for them. He wants to cross this threshold that has been holding
him back for more than ten years. I only need to flinch back a little
this time, and he would definitely keep up his pursuit and take out
that last memorial.”
“This is a matter of utmost importance. Even if the evidence was
forged, he would still do a pretty realistic job of it.” Xiao Jiming
said, “He started from the Imperial Army’s accounts, knowing that
Hai Liangyi is so particularly nervous about the disbursement of
military funds after the Hua Faction incident that he would not
tolerate anything objectionable when it comes to this matter. The
Chief Surveillance Bureau will come to investigate you during these
few days. They can’t let Fu Linye investigate it alone. They will have
to pick someone impartial from the Chief Surveillance Bureau or
among officials with the authority to carry out audits to conduct the
investigation together.”
“Most likely, someone from the Imperial Bodyguards will
coordinate with Fu Linye to investigate.” Zhao Hui paused. “After all,
this is an assassination case.”
“Imperial Bodyguards.” Lu Guangbai looked towards Xiao
Chiye. “We are not only without a helper in the Imperial
Bodyguards; they are even full of our adversaries. A-Ye, you’re
going to take a beating for real this time.”
Xiao Chiye gave a somewhat wicked laugh and said, “…
Imperial Bodyguards, huh. I’m on familiar terms with one.”
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, the Chief Surveillance Bureau started their
investigation of the Imperial Army’s accounts. Before Fu Linye set
off, he saw Shen Zechuan, who was coordinating with him to audit
the accounts. Knowing that the other party was a favorite in the
Emperor’s employ recently, he did not dare to slight him and thus
got someone to serve up excellent tea first.
Shen Zechuan drank a few mouthfuls and said mildly, “It’s my
first time on the job, so I’ll have to trouble Your Excellency Fu to
guide me this trip.”
Fu Linye regarded him as one of the noble clans, but he still
had some fear of him in spite of the sense of closeness. Thus he
merely said,” I’m not worthy enough to guide, so I’ll have to trouble
Your Excellency the Judge to make this trip with me. The Imperial
Army is as impenetrable as a metal bucket. I’m afraid there will be
many accounts that are both authentic and doctored. When the
time comes, I’d like to ask of Your Excellency the Judge to do a
thorough search.”
As for who and where to search, Fu Linye spoke not a word
about it. He did not want to throw in with the noble clans and
offend Hai Liangyi, and he had no wish to throw in with Hai Liangyi
and step on the noble clans’ toes either. He was a fence-sitter who
observed the direction of the wind and went whichever way the
wind blew. But he knew that he had severely offended Xiao Chiye
this time. They were bound to make things hard for him when he
went to check the accounts. Who didn’t know how much of a jerk
Xiao the Second was? Searching his residence would only be
adding fuel to the fire. So he was unwilling to steal all the limelight
this time round. He shoved Shen Zechuan out and let Shen
Zechuan conduct the search, all to let Shen Zechuan be the
footsoldier.
Shen Zechuan readily accepted it.
On seeing this, Fu Linye’s fear of him receded; instead, he saw
him as a greenhorn.
Everyone split up and went about their ways. Fu Linye headed
for the Imperial Army’s office compound, while Shen Zechuan went
to the Prince of Libei’s residence.
He was still far from arrival when Ding Tao, who was sprawled
on the rooftop, saw him. He sighed and said, “How can he be like
this?”
Gu Jin asked, “What do you mean by like this or like that?”
Ding Tao hemmed and hawed.
So Gu Jin said, “You are referring to how he’s on good terms
with Second Young Master and yet still helps others investigate
Second Young Master—like this?”
Ding Tao interrupted. “They aren’t on your average good
term!”
“Such are men.” Gu Jin twisted the wine bag open. “You will
understand when you grow up. Everyone is like this. Hugging
together is a domestic affair done inside the house, but everything
else that happens once you put on your clothes and step out of the
door are public affairs that stay out there. You cannot talk about
them in the same breath… Don’t jot this down!”
Shen Zechuan came to the door, where Zhao Hui and Chen
Yang greeted him. With Zhao Hui on military appointment, Shen
Zechuan was instead the one who had to pay his obeisances to
him.
 “The Hereditary Prince’s courtyard is in the north.” Zhao Hui
said to Shen Zechuan. “It mostly houses Libei’s military affairs.”
Shen Zechuan replied tactfully, “The purpose of this humble
servant’s trip here today is to investigate the Second Young Master.
It has nothing to do with Libei.”
Understanding that he did not come here for the specific
purpose of creating trouble, Zhao Hui nodded and signaled to
Chen Yang with his eyes. Chen Yang stepped forth and said as he
led the way, “The Second Young Master’s courtyard is in the east.
May I trouble Your Excellency the Judge and the various Imperial
Bodyguards brothers to follow me.”
Shen Zechuan bowed to Zhao Hui and followed after Chen
Yang.
Xiao Chiye’s courtyard was large. Going by structure size, it
surpassed the Hereditary Prince’s courtyard, but Xiao Fangxu was
already too lazy to change it back then, and the brothers
themselves did not mind, so all along, it had been Xiao Chiye who
was staying here. After he took up office as the Imperial Army’s
Viceroy, he hardly returned. Most of the time, he rested in that
small residence near the Imperial Army office.
When Shen Zechuan saw him, he was fishing by the pond with
a woven raincoat draped over him.
“Your Excellency the Judge is so early.” Xiao Chiye held the
pole. “Have you taken your breakfast?”
“I’ve eaten back at the Chief Surveillance Bureau.” Shen
Zechuan said, “The Viceroy sure has such refined taste for leisure.”
“I’m just an idler placed on suspension. How can I be compared
with Your Excellency the Judge?” Xiao Chiye shook his pole. “To
search my courtyard, you must show me the search warrant first.”
“All of us are old hands who often run assignments in Qudu.”
Shen Zechuan said unhurriedly, “It’s pretty silly for the Viceroy to
obstruct me in a huff.”
“Let me verify the document.” Xiao Chiye stood up and tossed
away the fishing pole. “It doesn’t please me to let you enter my
courtyard without showing the warrant.”
On seeing the situation, the Censor from the Chief Surveillance
Bureau who was tagging along hurriedly stepped forth to mediate
and pacify both sides. “Easy there. Easy does it. Viceroy, please
wait a moment. Your Excellency the Judge, please don’t take
offense either.”
“The Imperial Bodyguards know better than anyone else when
it comes to playing it by the book.” Xiao Chiye moved closer and
rebuked him coldly, “Have you still not learned of this after all this
time since your release from Zhao Zui temple?”
Shen Zechuan looked at him and said, “The tiger that ends up
on the flatlands would be insulted by dogs.4 Whether a wild dog
like me gives you the document today or not, you’d still have to
welcome it all with a smile.”
Wiping his sweat, the Censor squeezed his way between both
men and cupped his hands repeatedly to plead with them. “Let’s
just talk this over. It’s all—”
“That’s quite the mouth you have there.” Xiao Chiye pushed
aside the Censor. “Don’t tell me you’d still dare to come to blows
with me?”
“No blows. You mustn’t fight!” The Censor craned his neck to
shout. “We have the search warrant. Please take a look, Viceroy. We
have to search the compound too. Judge, please wait. Let’s just talk
this over. Easy there! Why y’all gots to get so anxious fo’?!”
In his moment of anxiety, this Censor had even lapsed back
into his local accent!

Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun

Footnotes
1. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
2. Xumi couch (须弥榻, ), also known as the Mile couch (弥
勒榻) or short couch (短榻), is basically a shorter couch.
3. 脱籍 removal or erasure of oneself from the census
records (original categorization (civilian, military, and
craftsman) in the yellow register.)
4. 虎落平阳被犬欺, i.e., a powerful man who loses position
and influence may be subjected to much indignity by those
weaker than him.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 54 : OFFENSIVE

Translated with: Eggy<3

The accompanying Censor was called Yu Xiaozai, a low ranking

Investigating Censor of the seventh grade. This position was the
same as the Chief Supervising Secretary of the various offices. It
was a low-ranking post, but came with great authority. He had the
power to inspect and supervise, so it was the most appropriate for
him to step forth and mediate between both men.
It was the dead of winter at the moment, but Yu Xiaozai was so
anxious that he was sweating buckets. Even though he often
ventured out on field works and inspection rounds to run
assignments, he had never been put in such a difficult position
before. He could not afford to offend both sides! This was just great
—at his yells, both men who had been in a heated exchange were
now looking at him.
Yu Xiaozai earnestly did his best to persuade them. “T’is early
still. I’ll give over the search warrant in a while to the Viceroy to look
over slowly. I have it with me.”
As he spoke, he took out the document from his bosom and
handed it to Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye flipped through it briefly and looked towards Chen
Yang, who immediately said, “This way, Your Excellency the
Judge.”
Yu Xiaozai clasped his hands again and continued in his
accent, “T’is how it should be done. Should always go by the book.
All o’ us are doing official business fo’ His Majesty. Ain’t no need fo’
everyone to get all flustered.”
“It’s cold outside. Gu Jin, please invite this…” Xiao Chiye
hesitantly came to a pause.
Yu Xiaozai cleared his throat tactfully and resumed his official
speech, “This humble official’s surname is Yu. I’m Yu Xiaozai. My
humble courtesy name is Youjing. I thank the Viceroy in advance
for your kindness, but I’ll give the tea a miss. There’s still official
business to be done, so this humble official still has to follow after
His Excellency the Judge.”
Xiao Chiye did not continue to make things difficult for him and
gave a slight nod of his head. Gu Jin stepped forward and bowed
in respect to Yu Xiaozai, then led him to the courtyard.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan ascended the stone steps. Xiao Chiye’s study
was already open. Attendants, with all their heads bowed, stood on
both sides.
Chen Yang said, “This is the Viceroy’s study. Your Excellency,
please go ahead.”
Shen Zechuan raised his hand, and Ge Qingqing turned to the
side to nod to the Imperial Bodyguards behind him. Everyone then
dispersed and began to look through the books on the open
shelves.
Chen Yang motioned to Ding Tao to keep watch here and
continued to lead Shen Zechuan further. After turning around the
veranda and passing through the gate, they arrived at Xiao Chiye’s
bedchamber.
Chen Yang said, “This is the Viceroy’s bedroom. There are
many objects bestowed by the Emperor. Thus, I’d like to ask of His
Excellency the Judge to examine them personally.”
After thanking him for the trouble, Shen Zechuan strode in.
Xiao Chiye’s room was large, but it was surprisingly simple and
tidy. A table with horse-hooves legs sat behind the screen, with a
few military books set on top of it. There were no floral decorations
or antique calligraphy and paintings, only a territory map of the
Empire of Dazhou hanging horizontally on the wall.
Shen Zechuan picked up the military book and opened it for a
look. It was clean inside, as if no one had ever read it.
After a while, the door closed.
With his eyes never leaving the book, Shen Zechuan said,
“Accompanying Censor Yu will be coming here once he has
finished checking the study.”
Xiao Chiye undid his overcoat and said, “Just checking the
study alone will keep him occupied until noon. Fu Linye sure is
something. To dodge me, he shoved you here.”
Shen Zechuan gently flipped through the pages and said, “He
just wants to complete the investigation quickly and close the case,
all without offending anyone.”
Xiao Chiye turned his head sideways and looked at Shen
Zechuan’s silhouette through the screen. He asked, “Why are you
hiding in there?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “Checking the accounts.”
Xiao Chiye said, “The stuff you want to audit isn’t there.”
Shen Zechuan closed the book, put it back on the tabletop, and
said, “I wouldn’t know until I’m done checking.”
Xiao Chiye raised a finger to tap on the screen. He said, “Why
does it sound like you’re checking something else?”
“Treasonable texts, bribery ledgers, military correspondences.”
Shen Zechuan said to the screen, “I have to check for them all.”
“You missed something out, didn’t you?” Xiao Chiye said.
“Aren’t you going to check for lewd poems and erotic arts?”
“I’m here on official business.” Shen Zechuan said softly.
“Besides, it’s broad daylight. I wouldn’t dare to be impetuous.”
The screen was translucent, so both men’s figures were faintly
visible. Xiao Chiye’s fingers slid along the shadow to the position
where Shen Zechuan’s neck was. Although there was no physical
contact, it still ignited a heat in Shen Zechuan, as if he was being
caressed.
“Xi Hongxuan has invited you for a drink.” Xiao Chiye said with
certainty.
“Hm.” Shen Zechuan’s response was nonchalant.
The pulps of Xiao Chiye’s finger slid to Shen Zechuan’s collar.
He asked, “Was it good drinking with the courtesans?”
Shen Zechuan replied unhurriedly, “Yes.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Did you drink until you felt hot?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “I did.”
Xiao Chiye was hot too. Three of his fingers slid down,
seemingly along Shen Zechuan’s neck, to pry apart the front flaps
of his clothes before slipping further down. Instead of retreating,
Shen Zechuan advanced and let Xiao Chiye’s fingers slid across his
chest through the mist-like ink painting screen.
 “Do you wear earrings?” Xiao Chiye suddenly asked.
“Nope.” Shen Zechuan tilted his head slightly to expose his ear.
“Do you want me to wear?”
“Second Young Master will make a little jasper earring and gift
it to you to play with.” Xiao Chiye said.
“One?”
“One.” With his eyes closely following Shen Zechuan’s hazy
neck and ear, Xiao Chiye said, “Wear it on the right ear.”
Xiao Chiye was used to scoop him up with his right hand. He
just had to lower his head slightly when he turned him over, and he
would be able to take his earlobe into his mouth. Jasper set against
satiny white. His dazed and satiated expression, as his sweat-
drenched hair at his ears were brushed aside, would surely be a
sight to behold.
Shen Zechuan did not answer, but revealed a meaningful smile
through the screen. Xiao Chiye could not see his eyes clearly, but
he could see the corners of his lips; he was exuding that kind of
subconscious invitation again.
“Hug me.”
“Touch me.”
Xiao Chiye closed his eyes, feeling that Shen Zechuan always
left room for more every time. These kind of voiceless lines seemed
to urge his surging waves of desire to crash over him even more
violently. He swore that he was not originally a man who could be
this easily aroused. His desires initially lay in the blue dome of
heaven and the grassy wildernesses.
“The wine at Ouhua Pavillion is delicious, as is the wine at
Xiangyun Villa.” Shen Zechuan was unaware of the implications of
his silence. “But you’ve been hanging out in Xiangyun Villa for
years. I supposed you didn’t expect the courtesans of Xiangyun
Villa to throw themselves into someone else’s arms too.”
“There’s always a difference between the new lover and the old
flames.” Xiao Chiye said, “It’s only natural for them to be jealous
now that I’m indulging myself in you.”
“I didn’t know that Xiangyun Villa was under Xi Hongxuan’s
control either.” Shen Zechuan said. “What are you to do now that
they are unanimously claiming that you took bribes? Are you going
to get these old flames to amend their testimonies by melting them
with tenderness?”
Xiao Chiye retracted his hand and said, “The owner of
Xiangyun Villa is not Xi Hongxuan. At least not while I was still
hanging around there. Courtesan Xiangyun of Xiangyun Villa is
resourceful. She has a reputation for being talented among the civil
officials and even the students of the Imperial College. With that bit
of learning Xi Hongxuan has, he would never be able to bring her
under his control.”
“You mean?”
“There are only two possibilities that can make Xiangyun
commit perjury. One is that she fell in love with some noble young
master and was willing to stomp on me for the sake of the other
party. The second is that she was coerced by someone and had no
other choice but to submit fake testimony.” Xiao Chiye said, “If it’s
the latter, we’ll need to investigate it properly.”
“Seems like your old flame still carries some weight in your
heart.” Shen Zechuan smiled and said.
Xiao Chiye said, “Xiangyun was the one who leaked news of
the surveillance deployment in Qudu every time. Now that she has
abruptly switched allegiances… I can’t bear to see her suffer too.”
“What a considerate man.” Shen Zechuan said, “The period
after the new year is crucial. Whether or not you can turn the table
around and make a comeback at the start of spring depends on
how you take a beating now. So don’t you lose your head and go
around messing your plan up for the sake of a beauty.”
“I’m idling away at home at present. I can’t get out, so I’ll have
to ask you to help me investigate.” Xiao Chiye said, “During your
investigation, please pass a message to Xiangyun while you are at
it. Tell her that the Second Young Master is still thinking of
rekindling old flames with her.”
Shen Zechuan pushed away the screen gently and said, “I’m
busy with work these days. I’m afraid I don’t have the time. Why not
ask Ding Tao or Gu Jin to make a trip for you?”
Finally able to get a clear look at him, Xiao Chiye said, “Why?
Don’t you just happen to be residing on Donglong Street?”
 Shen Zechuan was about to answer when he suddenly heard
the sounds of footsteps outside. Before he could move, Xiao Chiye
suddenly bent over and hoisted him over his shoulder. In a few
steps, he leaped over the long table and brought Shen Zechuan
into the inner chamber.
Yu Xiaozai lifted the hem of his robe and ascended the stairs.
He knocked on the door and called out, “Your Excellency the
Judge?”
His Excellency the Judge was pressed up so close against the
wall behind the cloth racks that he could not answer. That civilian
clothing was covering his body all over. Shen Zechuan
backhandedly pressed his palm against Xiao Chiye’s chest and
turned his neck to the side, wanting to reply—but Xiao Chiye
suddenly held him high. Shen Zechuan bumped into the clothes
rack. Seeing that the clothes rack was about to tilt over to the
ground, he immediately raised his leg to stop it in its track. Xiao
Chiye exploited the opening and lifted Shen Zechuan’s other leg to
his waist, thereby trapping the latter before him.
“He has the authority to present the memorial directly to the
Emperor for the Emperor’s viewing.” Xiao Chiye said slowly. “If he
were to see you and me together, there’ll be no way we can ever
explain our way out of this.”
Yu Xiaozai knocked on the door again and asked, “Is Your
Excellency the Judge here?”
Shen Zechuan grabbed hold of Xiao Chiye’s hand and said in a
hushed tone, “Taking advantage of someone in a predicament is
not what a gentleman should do.”
“Me? Taking advantage?” With his hands cupping Shen
Zechuan’s buttocks, Xiao Chiye pressed his nose in and smiled,
“That’s right. I’m taking advantage of you while you are in a
predicament.”
Shen Zechuan locked eyes with him, his chest heaving slightly.
After quite a while of not getting a response, Yu Xiaozai pushed
the door open. With the search warrant under his arm, Yu Xiaozai
strode in and started to survey the room as he readied himself to
search.
 Shen Zechuan slowly hooked his long leg back to return the
clothes rack into place. His waist and buttocks had to move ever so
slightly as he stretched out his leg. But now, they were being
cupped in Xiao Chiye’s palms. It was only after he broke out in a
thin layer of sweat that he steadied the clothes racks.
Once the clothes rack was stabilized, Xiao Chiye pressed in
against his ear and whispered very softly, “Actually, it won’t topple
over.”
Shen Zechuan looked at him out of the corners of his eyes and
mouthed the words with a smile: You—Son—Of—A—Bitch.
Xiao Chiye readily accepted it and said into his ear, “So, wear
an earring. Lanzhou.”
Yu Xiaozai mumbled something to himself. After looking
through the antechamber, he headed for the inner chamber.
Shen Zechuan wanted to move, but Xiao Chiye persisted in
pressing against him with the stance of one who would not step
aside if he did not nod his head.
“Wear it,” Xiao Chiye’s breaths moistened Shen Zechuan’s ears.
The heat was breathed so deep inside that Shen Zechuan’s spine
tingled with numbness. Xiao Chiye murmured with a smile, “Wear it
for my eyes.”
Wear it for my eyes.
What an arrogant and presumptuous request it was. Xiao Chiye
no longer avoided his wolfish nature. He pushed and pressed this
fervent yet urgent desire towards Shen Zechuan, making sure that
Shen Zechuan felt this scalding heat.
The intercourse both men had that night when they plunged
into the abyss was one of desperation and despair, where their
bloody chests and abdomens clung inseparably close together as
their vulnerabilities lay exposed before the other party’s eyes. Xiao
Chiye did not intend to relive it all alone after daybreak. He wanted
to grab hold of Shen Zechuan by the ankle and haul him back little
by little to confine him in the sea of desires where there were only
the two of them riding its waves.
Yu Xiaozai had already walked to the side of the hanging
curtain. Shen Zechuan held on tightly to the fabric on Xiao Chiye’s
chest and, in this moment of emergency, looked face to face at him
in close quarters.
Yu Xiaozai lifted the curtain again and saw no one in the inner
chamber. The clothes rack in the corner was cluttered with
everyday clothes. It was inconvenient for him to rummage through
them, so he could only use his eyes to size up the place.
Shen Zechuan, who was lying under the bed, had difficulty
breathing. There was no room under the bed for two people to lay
over one another at all. The weight of Xiao Chiye’s chest as the
latter pressed down on him forced him to open his mouth to
breathe slowly. This strong and well-built body was truly too heavy.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to stare at him.
Shen Zechuan immediately sensed it and said soundlessly: No
way. Nope. No—
Xiao Chiye kissed him, robbing him of the chance to gasp for
breath. Shen Zechuan tightened his grip on his back, gripping him
so hard it hurt. But Xiao Chiye still lured him gradually into a state
of suffocation. The sensation of being on the verge of fainting
rendered Shen Zechuan incapable of warding off Xiao Chiye’s
offensive.
It was like he was drowning in deep waters, and only Xiao
Chiye was the driftwood that could save Shen Zechuan. Yet this
driftwood was forcefully staking his claim on his territory like huge
swells of raging waves battering away at him, wanting him to
remember deeply his ruthlessness this very moment, along with
the trepidation of being progressively invaded by him.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 55 : ACCOUNT LEDGERS

With impure intentions, Xiao Chiye raided and seized Shen

Zechuan’s lips and tongue, throwing Shen Zechuan’s mind into
chaos as he was kissed until he could not breathe for air. As the
time ticked by, his tightly clenched fingers slowly lost their
strength.
Being unable to catch his breath caused Shen Zechuan to feel
vaguely dizzy. In this murky gray narrowness, he fell prey to the net
Xiao Chiye’s set as a trap. He seemed to sink deeper into the water
in which he was drowning as the sensation of suffocation
intensified. Xiao Chiye kept him in captivity in his arms, holding in
his struggles, thereby making himself the one and only person
Shen Zechuan could rely on at this very moment.
Yu Xiaozai moved to the side of the bed again, his shoes
shuffling right beside both men.
The sound of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out outside.
Chen Yang said, “So Your Excellency the Censor is here! Please
come with this humble servant. Your Excellency is needed to
personally look through the documents found in the study.”
Thus, Yu Xiaozai followed him out with the document under his
arm. He asked, “Where is His Excellency the Judge?”
Chen Yang did not dare to look around the room. He led Yu
Xiaozai out and said as he shut the door, “His Excellency the Judge
was drinking tea at the duty office room earlier. He should be on
the way here right now.”
Yu Xiaozai asked, “Didn’t His Excellency come over way
earlier?”
Chen Yang replied,” It’s so freezing cold. He will only feel
refreshed and energized if he drinks a cup of tea to warm up…”
They moved farther away into the distance. Only then did Xiao
Chiye leave Shen Zechuan’s lips a little.
Lying beneath him, Shen Zechuan recovered his breath. His
almost blanked-out eyes were lowered. As he swallowed the saliva,
his throat bobbed in tandem with the fall and rise of his chest. His
lips had been kissed until they had gone bright red and moist. This
bout of kiss near about ended him.
Xiao Chiye was gasping for breath too.
Shen Zechuan reached a hand out from under the bed. He
made to get out and said, “You—this—”
Xiao Chiye extended a hand to grab his outstretched wrist,
pressed the tip of his nose against him, and kissed him once more.
The last time, Shen Zechuan had said that Xiao Chiye was
“ravenously gorging himself”. The latter obviously bore a grudge
with him for this. This time, Xiao Chiye “took his time savoring and
devouring” as he played around with the kiss, cutting off Shen
Zechuan’s voice that rang out intermittently and dissolving his
words between their intermingling tongues before making him
swallow them all back into his tummy.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was a little less than an hour later when Yu Xiaozai saw Shen
Zechuan again. He stepped forth to pay his obeisances and turned
pale with alarm. Deeply concerned, he asked, “Your Excellency,
this…”
“Got scalded.” Shen Zechuan replied expressionlessly.
The Imperial Bodyguards nearby were still flipping through that
extensive library of books. Ge Qingqing came over and shook his
head at Shen Zechuan.
They were originally just here to go through the motions.
Seeing that it was almost time, Shen Zechuan said to Yu Xiaozai,
“The checks here are almost done, so why don’t you and I head for
the office compound first to report back to His Excellency Fu.”
Yu Xiaozai concurred and surveyed the place again. He said,
“To avoid suspicions, the Viceroy is still sitting outside. Before we
leave, we have to notify him.”
Shen Zechuan silently pressed the tip of his tongue against the
corner of his lips and nodded his head in response.
Sure enough, when they went out, Xiao Chiye was still sitting by
the side of the pond1 fishing with the same woven raincoat draped
over him. It was as if he had been sitting there all day and had
gone nowhere else.
 “It’s already late. Why don’t both Excellencies have your meal
first before you leave?” Xiao Chiye was holding up the fishing rod
with his legs propped up. Who knew if he had even caught a fish
yet?
Yu Xiaozai declined the offer and excused himself. “Having
imposed on Your Excellency for the entire day, I wouldn’t dare to
tarry any longer. Next time, I’ll play host and treat both Excellencies
to a cup of wine.”
“Sure, if it’s drinking.” Xiao Chiye shook his rod and lifted a
small silver crucian carp out of the water. He laughed out loud,
tossed the fish into the basket, then set aside the rod, and carried
the basket over. Bending over slightly to emerge out of the grove,
he tossed the basket to Yu Xiaozai and said, “I owe it to the
consideration Your Excellency Yu has shown me today. These fishes
are a small thank-you gift from me.”
Some snowy fog fell upon them. Yu Xiaozai was still looking at
the fish basket with his head lowered; thus, he was not paying any
attention to the two men.
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye, who casually rubbed his
right ear with his thumb. Shen Zechuan promptly averted his eyes.
Overwhelmed by the favor, Yu Xiaozai said in response, “Oh no,
how can I…”
“Why?” Xiao Chiye patted Yu Xiaozai and said, “Don’t tell me
the Chief Surveillance Bureau would even consider these few fishes
a bribe?”
Yu Xiaozai said hurriedly, “It’s not that…”
“Come over often in the future.” Xiao Chiye moved aside to
make way. “Chen Yang, send them off.”
Being inexplicably thanked threw Yu Xiaozai off. He was still
unsure what to make of it when he stepped out of the door.
Shen Zechuan was about to get into the carriage when he
suddenly touched his right earlobe, feeling as though this spot had
been rubbed rotten by that jerk. It was so scalding hot that it made
him feel vexed.
◈ ◈ ◈
Fu Linye was in the Imperial Army’s office compound, sitting in
anticipation with his legs raised. Meng Rui attended to him at the
side. Seeing him drink cup after cup of tea without even shifting his
butt, Meng Rui knew that he would not leave unless he pried
something out of them.
Meng Rui was fed up deep down, but he did not dare to let it
show even the slightest. He continued to serve him premium tea
and said with a smile, “Your Excellency the Censor-in-chief Fu has
already looked through the Imperial Army accounts books. The
various lords of the Ministry of Revenue have tallied them too. If
Your Excellency has something else to check, please feel free to tell
this humble servant.”
Fu Linye said unperturbed, “Things like account books have to
be carefully audited again and again. There may well be an
omission or mistake somewhere. It can’t be rushed. Take another
look.”
Wei Huaixing said that Xiao Chiye’s repairs of the compound
and expansion of the military drill grounds in recent years could
not be accounted for. But in truth, it was all detailed in the Imperial
Army’s account books. Fu Linye knew that Xiao Chiye was not an
easy one to investigate, but he still had to churn out some dirt from
this clear water. Otherwise, he could not report favorably back to
Wei Huaixing. Moreover, Li Jianheng was always shielding the
Imperial Army in the past, so when it came to Xiao Chiye, everyone
simply let him be and steered clear of him by default. But this time,
Li Jianheng obviously spurned him. The way the wind was blowing
now, it was time to make Xiao Chiye suffer a little.
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue who had followed
along noisily flicked the beads of the abacus. Lamps had been lit in
the hall. Each of them dug into the account books with great focus,
loathing their inability to tally each account seven or eight hundred
times.
When Shen Zechuan arrived, he even saw Tantai Hu in the
corridor. He said nothing, while Qiao Tianya, who was in disguise
as an Imperial Bodyguard, followed him from behind and stepped
through the door together with him.
The sound of the abacus beads being flicked in the hall rang
out endlessly. Fu Linye set aside the teacup and rose to his feet to
greet Shen Zechuan.
 Shen Zechuan exchanged greetings with him, after which both
men took their seats together.
Fu Linye asked, “Did the compound search go smoothly?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Xiao’Er delayed us for quite some time.”
Fu Linye inwardly thought to himself, I knew it, and said with
concern, “Did he make a move? That hoodlum is the most
overbearing ever. This trip has been hard on Your Excellency the
Judge.”
Shen Zechuan thought, he did make a move, but it has nothing
to do with you. He smiled as well and said, “It doesn’t matter. I can
still endure this bit of hardship for His Majesty. Xiao’Er initially did
not permit me to search his compound. Fortunately, His Excellency
Yu was there too and tried his best to persuade him.”
As if venting on Shen Zechuan’s behalf, Fu Linye said hatefully,
“We are acting on His Majesty’s orders. By simply hindering us
whenever he wishes to, Second Young Master Xiao not only
belittles and disrespects us, but His Majesty too.”
Shen Zechuan looked into the interior of the hall and said,
“Your Excellency, is the investigation here not done yet?”
Fu Linye replied, “It’s done. But it needs to be re-audited a few
more times. As you know, account books are the easiest to fake.”
Shen Zechuan could tell what he meant from those words. After
a moment’s pause, he said, “Your Excellency is the chief official of
the search this time, so I’ll do as you say.”
Fu Linye merely smiled and did not respond. He drank tea with
Shen Zechuan until the third quarter of the hour of zi,2 when the
newly audited account books were presented before them.
Fu Linye flipped through them and suddenly asked Meng Rui,
“At the start of spring last year, a temple was constructed in the
palace on imperial decree. The Ministry of Works entrusted the
important task of transportation to the Imperial Army. But then, the
construction of the temple fell through. The Viceroy even blocked
in the Ministry of Works to demand for money, is that right?”
Meng Rui replied, “That’s right. The money was delayed for
several months. It was all the Imperial Army’s hard-earned money.
The Viceroy was anxious, so he personally went to ask for it.”
 Fu Linye closed the account books and said with a sneer, “Back
then, the state treasury’s expenditure hadn’t been accounted for
yet. Even the Directorate of Ceremonial didn’t dare to approve it
arbitrarily. How did the Viceroy get the money?”
Meng Rui said, “Our Imperial Army didn’t get the money. It was
the Secretary for the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Xian, who made
the decision to give a batch of silk from Quancheng to the Imperial
Army, and the Imperial Army traded them for money. This account
was also recorded in the book, with its coming and going all
clearly accounted for.”
Fu Linye suddenly smacked the tabletop with a force so hard
that the teapot clattered. If not for Qiao Tianya’s sharp eyes and
swift reaction in catching hold of it, the tea would have poured all
over Shen Zechuan’s legs. Shen Zechuan remained smiling in his
seat as he waited for Fu Linye to continue.
This was an account from the start of Spring. At that time, Shen
Zechuan was still staying at Zhao Zui Temple, but he knew of this
debt. The reason this debt could be eventually resolved was, in
truth, not because of Wang Xian, but Xue Xiuzhuo. Xue Xiuzhuo,
then the Chief Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue,
was the one who stepped forth to mediate and settle the debt by
offering Xiao Chiye those silk from Quancheng.
Shen Zechuan tapped his fingers on his knee. He thought,
This account is a loophole.
Sure enough, Fu Linye put on a show of authority and
questioned Meng Rui, “This account book indicates that a total of
660 silks were allocated to the Imperial Army. You people recorded
it as low-grade silk from Quancheng, but Qudu treasury records
state that they were all top-grade silk from Quancheng! It’s just a
word difference between low-grade and top-grade, but the
difference is 4,000 taels! I’m asking you, where did these 4,000 plus
taels go?”
Meng Rui’s reaction was swift. He answered methodically,
“Those allocated to us were indeed low-grade silk from
Quancheng. The stuff was dispatched by the Ministry of Revenue
themselves, and the handwritten transfer order indicated them to
be low-grade silk from Quancheng.”
 Fu Linye flung down the account book and said, “Of course.
Wang Xian, right? He has long been colluding with you people. He
wrote low-grade silk from Quancheng on the handwritten transfer
order, but the treasury records clearly state that it was top-grade
silks from Quancheng that had been taken out. What benefits did
Xiao Chiye give Wang Xian that would make Wang Xian forge such
a fake order?!”
Shocked, Meng Rui said, “You have no proof! Your Excellency
Fu, just—”
“The way I see it, the Imperial Army is a front for harvesting ill-
gotten gains. Xiao Chiye has been making a fortune through you
people. Anyone with eyes can see it for themselves how he has
been fooling around on Donglong Street all these years eating,
drinking, and making merry! He has Wang Xian working in
cahoots with him prior, and Yuan Liu currying favor and offering
him peaches after. All Xiao Chiye does with the backing His
Majesty’s favor accords him is to engage in shady deals to line his
own pockets!” Fu Linye laughed nastily. “Your Excellency the
Judge, see this? The number one rising star is the number one
thieving traitor! Tonight, you and I shall do another in-depth
investigation. There will surely be more of such rotten accounts!”
Shen Zechuan looked at Fu Linye until Fu Linye felt
apprehensive. Shen Zechuan said, “This matter has nothing to do
with the assassination case, so it’s not within the scope of my duty
this time. I’ll let Your Excellency decide.”
Fu Linye had initially intended to drag Shen Zechuan down
with him and make an accomplice out of him, but he wavered a
little when he saw that Shen Zechuan did not fall for it. But this
matter could be considered a big deal if he reported it to the top.
He was not willing to lose the merit for this, and so he steeled
himself, slapped the table, and said, “Run another audit! Check all
the Imperial Army’s account books over the years for hundreds and
thousands of times!”
Shen Zechuan suddenly smiled and averted his gaze as he sat
on the chair and drank his tea. Although he was smiling on the
surface, his heart was gradually sinking. If it were not for Xue
Xiuzhuo’s involvement in this account, he might not even have
noticed it. Most likely, Xiao Chiye himself had forgotten about it
too.
Could it be that Xue Xiuzhuo was already on guard against the
Imperial Army from that time onwards?
Shen Zechuan blew at the tea foam in silence.

Footnotes
1. It actually says ‘lake’ here, but it was ‘pond’ in chapter 52.
2. Chinese hours in ancient times came in two-hour blocks.
The hour of zi (子时) is 11pm-1am. The third quarter (三刻) is
at the 45 min mark. So the time is roughly 11.45pm-1.45am.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 56 : BLOWING THE FIRE

The lights of the Imperial Army’s office compound remained lit

until dawn. The men from the Ministry of Revenue audited until
their heads spun. At long last, they sorted out the problematic
accounts and handed them over into Fu Linye’s hands.
Shen Zechuan reviewed them all. Fu Linye attached the
memorial and submitted them together with the progress of the
assassination case to Li Jianheng’s desk.
The Grand Secretariat then discussed this matter before the
Emperor.
Fu Linye said, “Your Majesty, one can know the flavor of the
entire pot by sampling a morsel.1 It can be seen from this case that
Xiao Chiye has been taking bribes for a long time. The power and
authority of the Imperial Army has been in Xiao Chiye’s control over
these years. I’m afraid there are still many more falsified accounts
like this one. The state treasury is now hard-pressed for money to
disburse, and the local tax arrears owed have been piling up one
after another. Keeping this kind of people around is like putting a
fire under a pile of firewood—a danger whom I fear will jeopardize
the state.”
Kong Qiu had looked through the books too. But he said, “The
assassination case is still pending. It’s really not fitting to
complicate matters at this time. In this subject’s opinion, the
investigation for the bribery case can be postponed. At present, we
must focus on the assassination case.”
“How strange.” Wei Huaixing scoffed. “It’s all related to him,
Xiao Chiye. So why should we investigate the cases separately? We
might as well pull out the radish along with the mud2 and make use
of this opportunity to conclude the cases together!”
Kong Qiu remained unwavered and said, “This case has
already deviated from the main point. The way I see it, you people
do not want to expose the mastermind behind the assassination,
but to use this chance to root out dissidents!”
Fu Linye immediately retorted, “The bribery case is the melon
we followed the vines to dig out.3 Why is it that when Minister Kong
investigates, he is investigating the case; but when we do it, we are
attacking his faults? The duty of the Chief Surveillance Bureau is to
supervise. Was it wrong of me to impeach him for taking bribes?!”
Kong Qiu said, “Wang Xian has not yet been put on trial. If we
can pass a judgement on the bribery case just based on your words
alone, then what need is there for the Joint Trial by the Three
Judicial Offices in the future? We might as well let Your Excellency
Fu make the rulings alone! What the Ministry of Justice has to
investigate now is to verify the confession statement presented by
His Excellency Wei. By the end of the night, I have not even
examined the witness testimony and you people are already so
anxious to convict him. What’s the hurry? Even if he was at fault that
you want to sentence him, you still have to follow the rules and
regulations! Otherwise, where does the law stand?!”
The three men began to quarrel before the Emperor. Unable to
get a word in, Li Jianheng could only look at Hai Liangyi. Hai
Liangyi sat and listened with his head inclined. Once he finished
listening to what everyone had to say, he gave a slight nod of his
head.
Li Jianheng hurriedly asked, “What does the Secretariat Elder
think?”
“What did the Secretariat Elder think?” Shen Zechuan fiddled
with the copper coins. “Naturally, he would dismiss the memorial
for the bribery case. Hai Liangyi has been stringent for so long that
everyone regards him as a straightforward minister who is his own
man. But he’s the first one who brought down Hua Siqian and
supported Li Jianheng. It’d be strange if he still can’t tell
something’s up. Xi Hongxuan and the others want to use him as a
shield to make their move this time. Little would they imagine that
the Secretariat Elder has long been sitting on the fishing boat4
keeping a constant eye on the brewing storm.”
“You’ve done well.” Grand Mentor Qi sat at the other end of the
small table. “Instead of stopping Fu Linye, you let him make the
decision. This credit is all his alone. He is bound to get anxious,
and subsequently, he’d be unwilling to wait for a good timing. He’d
want to present the memorial right at once in an attempt to earn
praises. From that round of denouncement before the Emperor, Hai
Liangyi would already have gotten an inkling of what’s happening.
By now, he must have already guessed who are the ones who want
to take down Xiao Chiye.”
“Just blowing the fire with the wind.5 This fire isn’t raging hard
enough.” Shen Zechuan said, “It can’t even burn Xiao Chiye, let
alone Xiao Jiming. The Quancheng silk case, if they were to
investigate it seriously, is a bookkeeping mess that everyone knows
all too well. The important thing now is not to reverse the verdict
and clear his name, but how to make His Majesty partial to him.”
“That’s right. The reprimand from the suspension of the
authority token may seem serious, but in truth, it’s merely a
superficial slap on the wrist. His Majesty definitely has yet to harbor
the notion of stripping away Xiao Chiye’s military power.” Grand
Mentor Qi grasped the chess piece and pondered over it for a
while before he said, “You have to let him stay this way. Never let
him entertain the intent to take down Xiao the Second. Otherwise,
it will be a great disaster in the making even if this is a small
victory.”
Shen Zechuan pushed over the copper coins that had been
neatly arranged and began to stack them up again, one at a time.
Tirelessly enjoying himself, he said, “Hai Liangyi has control of the
Grand Secretariat. Although he has placed men of noble birth like
Xue Xiuzhuo and the others in important posts to use them, he has
also set up an Imperial College and is promoting the minor officials
from humble backgrounds. Teacher, he wants to take the
progressive approach and confront the noble clans slowly. Just
based on this alone, he cannot let Xiao’Er fall.”
“The Xiao Clan is keeping their composure because they
understand these all too well. Xiao Jiming is simply sitting and
watching without doing a thing because this battlefield is limited to
Qudu; it doesn’t extend anywhere near Libei. That makes it easy to
resolve, and Xiao the Second would have fewer issues from home
to worry about.” Grand Mentor Qi placed the chess piece down
and continued, “Everyone is now excitedly kicking a man when
he’s down. His Majesty is still angry and so thinks of Xiao the
Second as a disloyal, unfilial, and unrighteous person. But once the
fire is big enough, it will reverse.6 Then His Majesty ought to
change the status quo and come to pity his buddy who is ‘all by his
lonesome self’ instead.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng had not seen Mu Ru for a few days. After the
assassination attempt, he had to sleep with his surroundings
brilliantly lit. Not one of the eunuchs were allowed to step into the
sleeping chamber, and those attending to him at present were all
palace maidservants.
It was snowing heavily again today. Hai Liangyi was sick, so he
could not go near the Emperor. Li Jianheng got the Imperial
Academy of Medicine to head to his residence to take a look at him
and even bestowed upon him a good deal of tonics. He also
assured him repeatedly that he would study hard as usual and not
fall behind on his studies.
Ming Li Hall had quietened down. Li Jianheng flipped through
a few pages of the book before he felt his back aching. He got up
to look out of the window and saw the snow flying all over the sky
like cotton. Suddenly in the mood, he summoned the palace
maidservants to dress him and drape his cloak over him so he
could head out to appreciate the snow.
Li Jianheng roamed the garden with his entourage. When he
saw the ice frozen over the lake, he recalled the ice bed he used to
play with in the palace.
“It’s just the time to play when winter water freezes into ice.” Li
Jianheng asked around him. “Why didn’t anyone bring this up to
me this year?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he remembered.
Emperor Xiande had just passed this year, and it would not do for
him to create a disturbance or cause trouble during the state
mourning period. Else, the Chief Surveillance Bureau would scold
him. Thinking about this dampened his mood again. No longer
wanting to see the snow, he sent someone to call for Mu Ru.
Mu Ru arrived wearing a cape with a hood. Her posture was
graceful as she walked among the snow with someone supporting
her. On seeing her through the window, Li Jianheng immediately
stepped out of the door to meet her.
 “My darling.” Li Jianheng said. “The view of you walking in the
snow is truly a sight to behold! I have to get someone to draw it
down so that I can hang it up in the palace to look at it every day.”
Mu Ru lifted the hood of her cape and said with a smile, “How
would that do?” She took the food container from the
maidservant’s hands and said, “The weather is cold. I’ve made
soup for Liu-lang.”7
Li Jianheng’s mood soared when he heard her calling him “Liu-
lang”. He led her inside by the hand and dismissed the attendants,
then took his seat at the dragon throne, which he used to handle
governmental affairs.
Mu Ru ladled out the soup for Li Jianheng, who groused, “The
assassination attempt by the castrated traitor the last time scared
me so much that I could hardly sleep well these days.”
Mu Ru coaxed him, “There’s only just the two of us here now. So
why is Liu-lang using such a formal term8 again?”
Li Jianheng gave himself a light slap on his own mouth and
said, “This husband of yours is so muddle-headed.”
Mu Ru cupped his face in her hands and looked carefully for a
moment before saying, “You do indeed look haggard. I’ll keep you
company tonight, alright?”
“You’re the only one in the entire world who dotes on me… I
originally treated Ce’ an as a brother, but who knew that he would
now be implicated in the assassination attempt?” Li Jianheng let
out a long sigh. “Just stay with me.”
Mu Ru said, “Her Majesty is very concerned for Liu-lang too. She
has been chanting the sutras and going on a vegetarian diet these
few days, all to pray for a peaceful new year for Liu-lang.”
Li Jianheng caressed Mu Ru’s hand and said, “I wasn’t close
with the Imperial Mother in the past, and I saw her as the villain.
Who knew she could still treat me so kindly today? I, I… alas. It’s all
the fault of that old dog, Hua Siqian!”
“Who said it isn’t?” Mu Ru looked at him fondly. “Liu-lang has
suffered much all because of the trouble that Hua Siqian stirred up.
Her Majesty admonished him every way she could back then, but in
the end, she’s still a woman whose words hold no weight against a
man’s. He brushed off her advice and even blamed her instead.”
 “They say what you hear is just hearsay, only seeing is
believing.” Li Jianheng said regretfully. “If I could have gotten
along with Imperial Mother earlier, there would not have been so
many misunderstandings between us.”
“There was an opportunity in the past.” Mu Ru seemed to
hesitate. “I heard that many years ago when Liu-lang was still an
infant, Her Majesty was already raising the former Crown Prince.
But seeing that Liu-lang had no one to rely on, she thought of
taking Liu-lang back to her palace to raise as well. Emperor
Guangcheng gave his agreement too.”
Li Jianheng had never heard of this and could not refrain from
probing further, “Then what happened later? Why didn’t she take
me back?”
Mu Ru soothed him for a while before replying, “Later on, the
Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu, submitted a memorial saying that by
adopting the former Crown Prince, Her Majesty had the heavy
responsibility of nurturing the heir apparent to the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince is all grown. Raising another prince might be just
inviting internal strife.”
Li Jianheng said, “Li… so it’s the Prince of Libei!”
The seeds of discord had already been sown between him and
Xiao Chiye. All sorts of mixed feelings instantly welled up in him
when he heard of this old matter and thought about how Xiao
Chiye had never once mentioned it. He felt that Xiao Chiye was too
unfathomably shrewd and had never really opened his heart to
him as a friend.
“He’s so… When all is said and done,” Li Jianheng said bitterly.
“He’s the same as everyone else who treats me as a stepping stone.
How pitiable am I to be born a noble, yet not even have a buddy I
can rely on!”
Mu Ru hugged him and said, “You aren’t biological brothers
after all. Who can compare to the former Emperor when it comes to
treating Liu-lang well?”
“A pity… A pity the imperial heirs of our Li Clan are few and far
between. There’s only me left now.” At this point, Li Jianheng
suddenly asked Mu Ru, “Your younger brother has been hiding at
Xue Xiuzhuo’s residence ever since Pan Rugui was beheaded. Is he
doing fine now?”
Mu Ru replied, “yes”, then turned around and covered her face
to sob.
Li Jianheng hurriedly asked, “My dear Mu Ru, what’s wrong?
Why are you crying?”
As Mu Ru wiped her tears with a handkerchief, she looked at
him tearfully and said, “He’s doing fine, but he’s not by my side
after all, and I can only see him once every few months. He isn’t like
any other brother who can still make meritorious contributions to
serve the sovereign. All he can do now is to… wait upon others.”
Li Jianheng could not bear to see her cry the most. He
immediately said, “All you had to do was to tell me earlier, and it’d
all be fine, wouldn’t it? We are husband and wife of the same mind.
I’m willing to do anything for you! What’s more, this is human
nature. Don’t cry. My heart is going to break from your tears. My
dear Mu Ru. I’ll get Xue Xiuzhuo to send him back tomorrow and
put him on duty at my side, okay?”
With tears in her eyes, Mu Ru said, “How could that do? How
are you going to justify it to the Secretariat Elder? The others won’t
agree either. I can’t bear to put you in a difficult spot.”
Li Jianheng held her in his arms and said, “I’m the Emperor. I
have the final say when it comes to affairs in the palace! Besides, if
we get him to change his name, who can really insist on digging
up his past? Pan Rugui is already dead!”
Mu Ru let him coax her for a while before she broke into a smile
and said, “Fengquan would want to kowtow his thanks to you too.”
Li Jianheng said generously, “We are family. By all sentiment
and logic, it’s what I ought to do.”
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, the assassination case was still under
investigation. Yuan Liu was tortured, and his confession was
overturned, yet he insisted that he had never sent golden peaches
to Xiao Chiye and did not know a single thing about the shady
deal with the Donglong broker. Several times under heavy torture,
he thought of giving in and getting it done and over with. But the
moment the thought crossed his mind, he would remember that
his entire family’s life was still in Xiao Chiye’s hands.
Yuan Liu had been with the Imperial Army for a long time. He
knew Xiao Chiye was a different man when it came to treating
outsiders versus insiders. The Second Young Master said he would
take care of his son on his behalf, and that meant that he would
truly look after his son for him. If he so much said a wrong word, his
son would be a goner too.
Yuan Liu was caught in the middle of this power struggle,
unable to seek life or death. All he could hope was for the case to
conclude as soon as possible so that he could be given a quick
end.
The opportunity to conclude the case soon came.
The matter kept taking a turn for the worse. Memorials
impeaching Xiao Chiye came thick and fast. Strangely enough,
after Li Jianheng personally took up his brush to berate Xiao Chiye,
the Secretary for the Ministry of Justice submitted a report before
the Emperor and said that their investigation had led them to a
person.
This person’s name was Yinzhu. He was a eunuch from the
Imperial Bakery. According to his oral testimony, he had been
distributing fortune candies to the various imperial concubines four
hours before the Feast of A Hundred Officials was due to start when
he saw someone rebuking Fuling at the side of Caiwei Palace.
And Caiwei Palace just happened to be the place where Mu Ru
resided.

Special Thanks to: Eggy<3

Footnotes
1. 尝鼎一脔 i.e., infer the whole from a part
2. 拔萝卜带出泥 i.e., a metaphor in which the investigation
of the criminal who was arrested first leads to the exposure
of other criminals.
3. 顺藤摸瓜, i.e., track down something by following the
clues.
4. 久(稳)坐钓鱼台 i.e., stay calm during tense situations;
keeping a cool head in a crisis
5. 因风吹火 i.e., doing something by making use of the
opportunity available, or going with the flow
6. 物极必反, i.e., things will develop in the opposite
direction when they become extreme or hit their limit.
7. 郎 Lang, young man; a form of address. Also used as a
term by a woman to address her lover or husband. The Liu
refers to “sixth” here; presumably Li Jianheng is the sixth
prince.
8. In this chapter thus far, Li Jianheng has been using “朕”
to refer to himself. It’s an imperial term for “I” exclusively
used by the Emperor. It differentiates the monarch from all
his people and subjects.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 57 : CASE CLOSED

Translated with: Eggy, Yunyun<3

“It was a cold day that day, thick with dark clouds and strong
wind. This slave was distributing fortune candies to the various
imperial concubines. When I came out of Caiwei Palace, I
happened to encounter Imperial Concubine Mu-niangniang setting
out, so I withdrew to the corner of the wall. It was then I heard
someone in the midst of reprimanding another. I took a peek and
saw the eunuch-in-charge of Caiwei Palace arguing with Aunt
Fuling inside.”
“Why did you keep silent on this matter during the first trial?”
It was quiet in the hall, except for the sound of record-taking. A
few lamps had been lit. Kong Qiu, who had been investigating for
several nights in a row, had already drunk many a pot of strong
tea. Right this moment, both of his hands were clasped before him
as he asked Yinzhu, who was kneeling in the hall.
Yinzhu’s mouth opened and closed. “To reply Your Excellency,
this slave thought this was a trivial matter. And because of the
strong wind that day, I really didn’t hear what they were arguing
about. So I was afraid I would give the wrong answer.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you suddenly confess?” Fu
Linye questioned.
Yinzhu wrung the corner of his clothes and gulped down his
saliva in panic and trepidation. It took him quite some effort before
he replied in a small voice, “I was scared to death by the beatings
of the prison guard grandpa… Ever since I was thrown into the
prison, I’ve been listening to the sound of whipping every night.
This slave’s godfather was beaten half to death until he confessed
everything regardless of importance. This slave is truly afraid
now…”
“You are in the solemn place of interrogation. How dare you
ramble on and on?!” Fu Linye rebuked in a stern voice.
 Yinzhu was so frightened by him that he trembled and
stammered while kneeling on the ground, “This slave… had no
idea that she would commit such a despicable act!”
“It’s easy for one to be beaten into a confession under heavy
torture. This person’s words cannot be trusted.” Fu Linye said to
Kong Qiu. “How can such a confession be submitted before the
Emperor?”
“The detailed discussions of the third trial are all recorded in
writing. Whether it’s true or not, His Majesty will naturally make a
ruling himself.” Kong Qiu said. “Once the statement has been
transcribed and copied, the Secretariat Elder will require a copy on
their end too.”
Fu Linye had never expected a Cheng Yaojin1 to come
charging out of nowhere when the case had already progressed to
this stage. He could stomp on Xiao the Second because he was
certain that Xiao the Second could not retaliate this time. A Yuan
Liu whose name could not be clear meant that he, Xiao the Second,
would not have a clean name too. Who knew that Caiwei Palace
would be dragged in as well? This was just great. Everyone was
tainted. Could they even continue to investigate this case in-
depth?
Fu Linye could immediately tell that this Yinzhu was not a
simple man. He waited until the third trial before he was willing to
voice this out. Most likely, someone had planted him here to wait!
Fu Linye was burning with anxiety. He was different from Wei
Huaixing, who had the Wei Clan behind him, while the Wei Clan
had ties to the other clans. Even if Wei Huaixing could not explain
himself, he would only end up with a punishment based on the
outcome of the investigation. But what about him? He had no
influential clan to fall back on!
Seeing his expression undergoing several changes, Kong Qiu
said, “Caiwei Palace is the imperial harem after all. It’s not
appropriate for us external ministers to investigate, so we still have
to discuss this matter before the Emperor. Your Excellency Fu, go
back and get some rest. We’ll meet again before the Emperor.”
Fu Linye rose to his feet. Even though he was anxious, he could
still plaster a smile on his face as he cupped his hands in respect to
Kong Qiu and retreated in a hurry.
At this moment, the sky was still dark and bitterly cold. Fu Linye
urged the groom on. The horse carriage crushed noisily over the
snow as it rushed towards Ouhua Pavilion. Lifting the hem of his
robe, he stepped down and hurried on upstairs.
Xi Hongxuan, who was versed in opera tunes, was presently
discussing his new work with Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan was
tired of the Imperial Bodyguards’ robe, so he was wearing a wide-
sleeved garment as he leaned against the chair and listened, all
the while opening and closing the folding fan in his hand.
Fu Linye was not expecting Shen Zechuan’s presence when he
barged in.
Shen Zechuan closed his fan gently and turned a blind eye to
Fu Linye’s sorry sight. Without rising to greet him, he merely said
with a smile, “Your Excellency the Censor has come a little too late.
You’ve missed the wonderful timing.”
Xi Hongxuan was a little displeased. He waved away the
procuress who had hurried over and had her close the door. He
did not get up either, and simply let Fu Linye take a seat on his own
and said, “Linye, why have you come here? You should have sent
someone over in advance to give notice! It’s just a few steps away.
Did you have to hurry over like this and disgrace yourself so?”
Not only was Fu Linye older than Xi Hongxuan, his grade was
also higher than Xi Hongxuan. Yet he was now being chastised by
Xi Hongxuan like a junior being berated. This made him unhappy.
He loathed the way Xi Hongxuan was acting all high and mighty.
“It’s extremely urgent!” It was as if Fu Linye did not hear the
rebuke. He smiled as he lifted his robe to take his seat. He said, “I
rushed here as soon as I left the Ministry of Justice. So you tell me if
it’s urgent or not.”
Only then did Xi Hongxuan ask, “What’s the matter?”
Fu Linye looked at Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan lifted his fan and said, “It is I who have been
rude.”
With that, he was about to get up.
Xi Hongxuan hurriedly said, “Lanzhou, what are you doing? Sit
down. We are in the same boat, weathering through thick and thin.
What is there that you can’t listen to? Linye, go ahead and tell me!
Don’t you recognize this Shen Lanzhou? He’s the great teacher of
our Xi Clan!”
Fu Linye initially only saw Shen Zechuan as a lackey who toiled
for the Xi Clan in an attempt to survive. Who knew that Xi
Hongxuan would value him this much?
But tonight, Fu Linye had indeed come at the wrong time. If he
had been a little earlier, or a little later, Xi Hongxuan would not
have spoken so highly of Shen Zechuan. But they had only just
finalized the follow-up plan to suppress the Yao Clan, closing the
loop tight around the latter’s neck. Xi Hongxuan just happened to
be thinking of showing Shen Zechuan some due respect. Now that
he had elevated him, he would no longer be able to call him his
buddy as he wished in the future.
Shen Zechuan smiled and looked at Fu Linye. Knowing what
was expected of him, Fu Linye immediately said tactfully, “Your
Excellency the Judge, please take a seat.”
Xi Hongxuan shifted his legs to step on the tiger skin and said,
“Go on. What’s the urgency?”
Fu Linye said, “I was on jury duty earlier at the Ministry of Justice
and heard the news that Fuling, who had instigated Guisheng into
carrying out the assassination, was involved with Caiwei Palace.
Second Young Master, the one living in Caiwei Palace in Imperial
Concubine Mu-niangniang. This matter is going to be presented to
the Emperor tomorrow morning. When the time comes, it won’t be
a matter of investigating just Xiao the Second!”
Xi Hongxuan placed his hand on his leg for support. After a
moment of silence, he said to Shen Zechuan, “You don’t know it—I
forgot to mention it to you earlier, but our man is connected to Mu
Ru.”
Most likely, Xi Hongxuan did not forget to mention it, but did
not want to mention it. All this while, he had been on guard and
that he had never uttered a word.
Shen Zechuan knew this all too well and merely said, “Isn’t Mu
Ru originally Pan Rugui’s woman? I remember her younger
brother.”
 “That’s right.” Xi Hongxuan was unwilling to speak the truth and
merely told half of the story. “Pan Rugui is dead. She has nowhere
to go, doesn’t she? At that time, when his residence was searched
and raided, they wanted to release her from Pan Rugui’s residence
and had her fill in as an official courtesan.2 But His Majesty could
not bear to let her be one, so he asked me to help. I made use of
that bit of friendship I had with Yanqing and had her swapped out.
Then I found a residence for the two siblings to hide in. Later, His
Majesty could endure it no longer and insisted on getting her into
the palace. Secretariat Elder Hai even made a scene over it. You
know about this too.”
Shen Zechuan did not really seem to care. He nodded and
said, “I’ve heard of it. This doesn’t bode well then. This case should
have concluded already. Why did complications arise again?”
He looked at Fu Linye when he said this. Although he said it
with a smile, it sounded a little like he was blaming Fu Linye for not
keeping a close watch.
Xi Hongxuan was frowning too. He said, “You are on the jury to
supervise. Can’t you just think of a way to suppress this matter? It
will only stir up trouble if it gets presented to the Emperor.”
Fu Linye had plenty of complaints too, but he could only say,
“Second Young Master, my words carry little weight. We’re talking
about Kong Qiu here! He’s a stubborn man who doesn’t listen to
advice. He’s Secretariat Elder Hai’s man. How would he listen to
me? What’s of top priority now is to decide what to do next. If
Imperial Concubine Mu-niangniang is involved too, then who
would still dare to continue investigating? I’m afraid even His
Majesty himself would not be willing to!”
Xi Hongxuan pondered over it in irritation, then asked, “Where
is that Yinzhu?”
Fu Linye instantly understood his intention and hurriedly waved
his hands and said, “We can’t kill him! Second Young Master,
Secretariat Elder Hai is already on the alert now. If we silence him at
this critical juncture, then it’d only prove to him that there’s
something questionable about us!”
“It was originally going well. How did a Caiwei Palace suddenly
pop up out of the blue?!” Xi Hongxuan covered up his teacup with
the lid and said, “No. We can’t continue to investigate this case any
further. Before the Emperor tomorrow morning, we have to think of
a way to make His Majesty sever the notion of a further
investigation.”
Mu Ru was still of great use. They must let no one else take her
down right at this moment.
Fu Linye fidgeted in his seat and said, “That’s right. It’d be best
to pin it all on Fuling! Conclude this case as fast as possible, and
everyone can heave a sigh of relief. But from the way Kong Qiu
looks to me, he clearly wants to get to the bottom of the matter!”
“The crux still lies with Secretariat Elder Hai.” Shen Zechuan
pressed his fingers against the teacup for warmth. “Hai Liangyi was
the one who reviewed Kong Qiu’s papers during the imperial
examination back then, so Kong Qiu could be partially considered
a student of Hai Liangyi whom Hai Liangyi selected for promotion.
He usually has the most respect for Hai Liangyi.”
“Hai Liangyi wants to send him into the Grand Secretariat. He
handles all his cases beautifully. He’s of the right age too, and he
comes from a humble family in the Chijun Commandery. He hits all
the right notes with Hai Liangyi.” Xi Hongxuan said, “What fucking
bad luck! We set up Xiao the Second, and all of them secretly
enjoyed the show as they waited to see Xiao the Second suffer in
silence. Now that something has happened, they all want to feign
ignorance after having benefited from it.”
“Let’s do this.” Shen Zechuan said, “Your Excellency Fu, when
the confession is presented before the Emperor tomorrow
morning, don’t mention Caiwei Palace. Just say the Imperial Army’s
name is not clear yet. Yuan Liu has not admitted his guilt yet, right?
This is an opportunity. As long as Yuan Liu is still around, then he,
Xiao’Er, has accepted bribes. He won’t be able to clear himself of
suspicions.”
Fu Linye rubbed his leg and said, “But even if I don’t mention it,
Kong Qiu will still bring it up! We won’t be able to hide it.”
“Mending the fold even after the sheep is lost.” Shen Zechuan
nudged the fan open bit by bit, then closed it again and said,
“Earlier, Your Excellency’s speech before the Emperor was a
righteous one said ‘for the sake of the empire and state’. If you were
to change your statement because of a confession that has yet to
be verified, then I’m afraid His Majesty will come to question your
loyalty too. So why not latch on to Xiao’Er and put on an ‘upright’
appearance instead?”
“That’s right!” Xi Hongxuan said. “We can’t be thrown into
confusion now. Since you have already stepped forth to make your
stand, it wouldn’t look pretty if you were to pull out now. Let’s just
continue with this. As for the rest, I’ll naturally have my own way. It’s
almost dawn. You mustn’t stay for long. Head back first for a bath
and a change of clothes. Just watch the way the wind blows when
you are before the Emperor and improvise as the situation calls
for.”
Fu Linye came in a hurry, then left again in a hurry without even
taking a sip of tea. As soon as he left, Xi Hongxuan spat behind his
back.
“If he hadn’t been so eager for quick success and instant gains
and reported Xiao the Second’s Quancheng silk matter to the top
without saying a word that day, Hai Liangyi might not have noticed
it.” Xi Hongxuan felt fed up and continued, “Those who come from
poor and humble households are the most short-sighted! For that
bit of glory, he didn’t even dare to give us prior notice. See what
happens now? What a waste of the chess piece Yanqing left us!
After this, Xiao the Second will keep a tight guard over the account
books. It’ll be difficult to get at them later.”
“Position and wealth are ailments of the rich.” Shen Zechuan
said. “At present, we need to keep him from interfering in our
plans. How is it going with the Eight Great Training Divisions’
matter?”
“Han Cheng’s younger brother took over the post.” Xi
Hongxuan said, “Xiao the Second has set up the Eight Great
Training Divisions into a heavily fortified network of relationships.
We won’t be able to lay our hands on it easily. To think he managed
to hold all the important posts firmly in his hand in such a short
period of time. It’s not going to be easy to dismantle it.”
“Even so, there are also descendants of the Eight Great Clans
among the soldiers he selected for appointment.” Shen Zechuan
smiled and said, “You’ll still get your chance.”
 When Shen Zechuan emerged and got into the carriage, he
saw a guqin3 placed within.
Qiao Tianya lifted the curtain. In disguise with the face of a
burly chap, he said, “That qin is mine. Master mustn’t throw it away.
It took me quite a lot of effort to swindle it away.”
“It looks valuable.” Shen Zechuan did not touch it. “Where did
you get the money?”
Qiao Tianya laughed merrily. “A reward from the ladies.”
But this qin was obviously something that money could not buy.
Qiao Tianya had no wish to speak of it because it most likely had
something to do with his family. So Shen Zechuan did not probe
further.
As usual, the horse carriage sent Shen Zechuan home to tidy
up. After changing his robes, he entered the palace.
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng dismissed the morning court and told every
important official to take a seat in Mingli Hall. He himself read the
entire confession statement and stayed silent for a long time.
Hai Liangyi had only just recovered from his illness, so Li
Jianheng got someone to serve him a bowl of warm goat’s milk. He
took a few sips. No one in the hall said a word.
Li Jianheng said, “Why are we back to Caiwei Palace again?
Yuan Liu hasn’t been fully investigated yet.”
Kong Qiu answered, “This matter concerns the imperial harem,
so His Majesty should be the one to make a ruling.”
Li Jianheng immediately got anxious and said, “What ruling?
Even if she went to Caiwei Palace, it can’t… have anything to do
with Imperial Concubine Mu. Who knows if what he says is true or
false?”
Hai Liangyi said in a steady voice, “Of course, it’s false.”
“Right, it’s false!” With Hai Liangyi as his backing, Li Jianheng’s
voice grew louder and clearer. “The eunuchs are the most
treacherous. To survive, what kind of lies can they not fabricate? He
thought he could save his own life by getting close to Concubine
Mu; I’m going to make that absurd and befuddled head of his
roll!”
 “Even so,” Xiao Jiming, who had not uttered a word regarding
this case, raised his eyes. “This concerns the safety of the Son of
Heaven. We can’t be slipshod when it comes to certain matters.”
He hit the nail on the head as soon as he spoke.
Wei Huaixing said, “Of course we can’t muddle through this.
We have not investigated Yuan Liu yet, have we …….”
“The lead investigator of this case is the Minister of Justice. The
Left and Right Censor-in-Chiefs of the Court of Judicial Review, as
well as the Imperial Bodyguards, are on the jury. Your Excellency
Wei has repeatedly intervened. This is inappropriate.” Xiao Jiming
said with poise and courtesy, even giving Wei Huaixing time to
speak. But Wei Huaixing did not dare to continue. And so Xiao
Jiming kept going. “This case concerns the Imperial Army and the
imperial harem; a scene should not have been made right out in
the open. It’s not the reputation of everyone here that is at stake,
but the dignity of His Majesty. More than ten days have passed
since this case occurred. There is still no proof for one Judge of the
Imperial Army, and no clarity on one confession statement from the
brothel. Everything has been delayed in the hands of the
Investigating Censor of the Chief Surveillance Bureau. From what I
can see, neither the lead investigator nor the jury has done their
jobs. Let’s leave aside the wasting of time and energy for now; it’s
the overstepping of authority that is the real problem.”
Fu Linye thought of the words Xi Hongxuan had said last night.
He found himself in a difficult position again when faced up
against Xiao Jiming. But when he saw that Li Jianheng had not
said a word, and that Hai Liangyi did not seem to have the
intention to help him out of the fix, he could only brace himself to
keep his composure. He said, “The Hereditary Prince has lived in
Libei for too long; Qudu is not the frontiers, after all. There are
many matters that are settled differently based on the difference in
relevancy, so naturally …….”
“Any abuse of power within the military all falls under the
charge of insubordination. Under the military law, the offender
would be executed.” Zhao Hui, who held an official appointment in
the military, stepped out and continued, “The Hereditary Prince
should not be the one to speak on this matter, but it has been so
long, and not even one of you has thought to remind His Majesty.
Even Their Excellencies Censors-in-Chiefs seem to be in dreamland
the way they handled this case in such a muddled way! The token
of the Imperial Army Viceroy has been suspended for over ten
days. The Censor has already conducted a search thrice. And what
has the investigation thrown up? Ought we not to be given an
explanation?”
Fu Linye said, “Didn’t we find out about the matter of the
Quancheng silk?”
“You’re being asked about the assassination case right now!” Li
Jianheng threw aside the confession statement. “Why are you
dredging up this irrelevant case?”
Fu Linye answered hastily, “Xiao Chiye is the root of all
problems. He can’t clear his involvement in the other cases too.
Your Majesty, the assassination case must be investigated. But the
bribery case must be diligently followed through as well.”
“What bribe did he take?!” Li Jianheng stood up and pointed at
Fu Linye, “Quancheng silk! Quancheng silk! Did you think I didn’t
know of this matter? I was still hanging out with him on the streets
back then! I know about this more than you do! The assassin had
already killed his way right before me. Yet you aren’t anxious, and
you are still fixated on this minor issue. Looks like the safety of the
Son of Heaven is of no importance to you!”
Fu Linye did not expect Li Jianheng to turn around and rebuke
himself after fastidiously deliberating over his words to reproach
Xiao Chiye a few days back, so he could not help but kneel in fear
and said, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty is this subject’s sovereign. It’d
devastate me even if a strand of your hair was harmed. Your
Majesty!”
“Everything has its own priority in terms of importance and
urgency. For this assassination case, Minister Kong had not slept
for several nights in a row.” Xiao Jiming said, “Ce’an had handed
over his authority token too. To avoid a conflict of interest, he
doesn’t even dare to ask about the progress of the case and has
been reflecting on his faults the whole day at home. It would be
better to clarify everything all at once now—the current progress of
the case, the stage the investigation is at, and the future course of
investigation. This way, my residence can be better prepared for
it.”
The Vice Minister of Rites, Jiang Xu, stepped out and said, “The
case is clear as day and involves the Imperial Army. It does not
concern the Prince of Libei’s residence. Who went and conducted a
search there? This is against decorum. Should the news spread,
everyone will think that it’s His Majesty who is investigating the
Prince of Libei, and the friendly relations between Qudu and the
frontiers will be impacted.”
Li Jianheng knew of the search at the prince’s residence, but he
had to feign ignorance. Dumb as he was, he still understood that
Xiao Jiming had been observing everything that had happened
these few days. There would be trouble if they kept on holding Xiao
Chiye responsible.
Li Jianheng immediately kicked Fu Linye a few times with his
foot and scolded him, “How dare you! Who allowed you to
investigate the Prince of Libei’s residence? My order was for you to
investigate the Imperial Army’s office compound!”
Enduring the kicks, Fu Linye hurriedly said, “It wasn’t this, this
subject who investigated! Judge Shen was the one who went!”
Shen Zechuan was momentarily stunned before he said,
perplexed, “I received the imperial edict to assist Your Excellency in
the investigation. It was Your Excellency who exhorted me, saying
that ‘the Imperial Army is as impenetrable as a metal bucket. I’m
afraid there will be many accounts that are both authentic and
doctored. When the time comes, Do a thorough search when
you’re at the prince’s residence’, and so I went. At that time, there
were many people who were serving tea and water at the hall. Just
call in one of them for questioning, and they can all tell you that it
was Your Excellency who told me that.”
Fu Linye said through clenched teeth, “I only told you to do a
thorough search. I did not mention the words prince’s residence!”
Shen Zechuan said with a severe countenance, “I take orders
from the Son of Heaven. I would never speak a word of falsehood
before the Emperor. If I did not have Your Excellency’s order and
went alone to the prince’s residence, then how could there have
been an accompanying censor with me?”
 Fu Linye saw the malice in Shen Zechuan’s eyes and knew that
he had incriminated the wrong person in his moment of haste. He
looked around and said, “Your Excellency Wei, didn’t Your
Excellency Wei—”
Wei Huaixing instantly yelled to cut him off, “Shut up! How dare
you implicate others before His Majesty for what you’ve done of
your own accord! Do you have no shame? Delaying the case is
minor; but ruining the good will between His Majesty and Libei is of
grave concern! You really have no sense for the gravity of
matters!”
At this point, Fu Linye already knew that he had been kicked
forth to be the scapegoat. He had to take the blame for Li
Jianheng, for Wei Huaixing, for Xi Hongxuan and company! And
these were all people he could not afford to offend. When the
higher-ups were in-fighting, it was up to him to clean up the mess.
Fu Linye immediately kowtowed and said, “This subject had a
momentary lapse of judgment!”
“And yet you still dare to make excuses!” Li Jianheng pointed at
him and admonished, “Ce’an’s authority token may have been
suspended. But before the case is concluded, he is still the Viceroy
of the Imperial Army! Investigate as you will; but how dare you also
have an attitude towards the Imperial Army! Seems to me that you
aren’t investigating the case at all. You are clearly trying to
eliminate the dissidents!”
Li Jianheng had not lost his temper ever since he denounced
Xiao Chiye that day, and now he was chiding Fu Linye until the
latter trembled from head to toe. Fu Linye was sensible too, and
knew to shed tears as he kneeled, completely restoring all dignity
to Xiao Jiming.
Xiao Jiming waited until Li Jianheng rebuked to his heart’s
content before saying, “His Excellency is just eager to investigate
the case. Since the case has caused a commotion to such extent,
why not dismiss Ce’an from his post? The Chief Surveillance
Bureau’s impeachment memorials these days make reasonable
sense, if you ask me, Ce’an cannot be excused for his negligence.
He is indeed ill-suited to carry on his duties before His Majesty.”
With that, he smiled again.
 “All the testimonies are pointing the finger at him. If he really
did this kind of disgraceful, treacherous deed, then all nine
generations in his clan should be executed. With everyone present
here today, then to avoid conflicts of interests and to clear myself
of suspicions, strip me of my Libei military forces authority token
too. I have already sent a letter to Libei to ask Father to remove his
crown and robe, and enter Qudu with my wife and son as
commoners without rank4 to stand trial!”
At the drop of Xiao Jiming’s words, Li Jianheng panicked. It
would not do for him to respond or remain silent on the matter, so
he could only look toward Hai Liangyi.
Hai Liangyi held gazes with Xiao Jiming for some time. The
older man suddenly laughed and said, “The Hereditary Prince jests.
Isn’t this case already closed? So why tease this old subject
again?”
Kong Qiu composed himself and swiftly followed up, “That’s
right, the Secretariat Elder is right. Although Yuan Liu has bought a
house on credit from the Donglong broker, that is, after all, a
private affair between him and Fuling. It isn’t meant to be made
public. The Viceroy oversees twenty thousand men; how would it
be possible for him to investigate every single matter personally?
As for the bribery case, Yuan Liu had been denying all this while, so
we cannot only listen to Xiang Yun’s one-sided statement. This
subject has already ascertained that Xiang Yun most likely bore
hatred out of love towards the Viceroy, so her excuse doesn’t
stand!”
Li Jianheng personally stepped forward and said, “Since the
case is closed, then there is no need to mention it again!
Hereditary Prince, please rise quickly!”
Li Jianheng did not want to investigate further either. The
involvement of Caiwei Palace meant that it would involve Mu Ru
too. Fu Linye was already a pawn to be disposed of at one’s
convenience. To these people, Mu Ru was an even lesser being. If
there were really something between her and these cases, then he,
Li Jianheng, would really be all alone by himself 5 from then on.
Li Jianheng watched these people, who were still talking and
laughing as usual, but he felt as though they were not human. What
stood behind them were monstrosities that far surpassed that of
the throne, like the unstoppable floods and hurricanes.
Being a sovereign did not mean that he was free and
unstrained. Every single move of his could have repercussions on
the situation. Those that he raged against and delighted in could
all become vulnerabilities that proved fatal to him. He was no
longer his own master. He was a prisoner chained to the dragon
throne.
How terrifying.
Li Jianheng hugged himself somewhere deep in his heart.
It was as if he was standing on thin ice when he stood beside
these people. If he were to accidentally fall someday, then he
would end up like his Imperial Elder Brother. In the blink of an eye,
he would be trampled into a bloody pulp by the contending
hooves of the various parties in the tussle for power.
His life and death were not in the least bit important. What’s
important was merely the fact that he was the only one whose
surname happened to be Li.
But, what if there was someone else in this world with the
surname Li?
Li Jianheng trembled at the thought and instantly broke out in
cold sweat.
Impossible.
He gloomily muttered to himself.
There won’t be.

Footnotes
1. (半路)杀出个程咬金 Cheng Yaojin ambushes the enemy.
Cheng Yaojin (589-665) was a general in the period between
Sui and Tang Dynasties, who often ambushed his enemies
on the roads. This proverb is used to describe a situation
where someone shows up unexpectedly and disrupts a plan.
It is also used to describe an unwelcome busybody who
shows up where they are not wanted.
2. Official prostitutes that provided entertainment for
officials and scholars alike, not just with her body, but with
her mind (e.g., they were typically trained in poems, songs,
and the likes.).

3.
4. (古)琴 (Gu)qin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical
instrument of the zither family. That’s the weapon used by
Lan Wangji of MDZS is the guqin.
5. 白衣, a man without an official title/post (who in former
times was supposed to be dressed in white). i.e., a
commoner
6. 唇亡齿寒, when the lips are gone the teeth will be
exposed to the cold; if one of two interdependent things
falls, the other is in danger and will most likely share the
same fate.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 58 : HEAVY SNOW

Note:
The title 大雪 means both heavy snow and also Great Snow,
which is the 21st of the 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar. (i.e.
Winter).

The snow fell for several days. With the assassination case
hastily concluded, the turbulent waves of earlier were swiftly buried
under the snowstorm, turning into nothing more than a vast
expanse of white. It was at this moment that Li Jianheng heard that
Xiao Chiye had fallen ill.
He had reportedly caught a cold, and yet he still faced the wall
in self-reflection until he eventually collapsed onto the couch,
apparently too ill to even get up. Li Jianheng braved the snow and
set out on a carriage with his retinue to the Prince of Libei’s
residence. He led the various ministers, and once again, became
good buddies with Xiao Chiye.
All the others had left the room. Xiao Chiye’s complexion was
pale as he let Chen Yang help him up to sit face-to-face with Li
Jianheng.
Li Jianheng said, “I feel very ashamed for rebuking you that day
after believing those slanders.”
Xiao Chiye said, “The ruler and his ministers are
interdependent on one another. That’s the way it should be. Your
Majesty needs not take it to heart.”
Li Jianheng fell silent, as did Xiao Chiye. In the end, they had
both come to the point of addressing themselves as ruler and
minister in private.
Li Jianheng forced a laugh and said, “I used to think that you
were made of iron and wouldn’t get sick. I didn’t expect you to be
no different from the common man when you fall ill.”
Xiao Chiye said, “This subject is merely an ordinary man with a
body made of flesh and blood. I’d still bleed if I were to get
stabbed.”
 Li Jianheng recalled the night at the hunting grounds where
Xiao Chiye had spurred his horse into the Imperial Bodyguards all
alone as the Imperial Bodyguards outflanked them. He had barely
come out of it alive, and subsequently, he had put him on to the
dragon throne.
Humans were truly strange. When they abhorred a person, they
would only remember all that was bad about said person. But once
guilt came calling, they would only remember his goodness. It was
as if they had taken to heart those words they had used to cuss the
other party with others, thereby feeling more and more ashamed.
There were plenty of things Li Jianheng wanted to ask Xiao
Chiye. But at this moment, he did not feel like asking anymore.
Xiao Chiye said that a body of flesh and blood would bleed. Then,
what about the friendship that had grown apart?
So Li Jianheng said, “… Sitting in this position is not a choice
I… I1 willingly make. Ce’ an, you’ve never sat here, so you won’t
understand how it feels like to be in a precarious position. The
others all think that sitting in this position will make them happy
and carefree. In the past, I used to think so too. But this isn’t the
case at all.”
Xiao Chiye said nothing.
Li Jianheng’s eyes suddenly reddened. He did not know what
made him sad either, so he could only say, “I was originally a
hopeless case. I’m telling you; I’m very much aware of it. If my
brothers hadn’t died, this position would not fall into my hands. But
what have I done wrong? I have always wanted to be an idle
prince. You people shove me up here without even asking… I have
done my best, Ce’an. I have really done my best. I’m not capable
enough to control this power of the world; I can only let it control
me!”
Li Jianheng covered his face in agony and started to choke
with sobs.
“Ce’an, it’s too high sitting up here that I can’t even get a clear
look at anything!”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes reddened too. He said, “We are brothers.
Why would I blame you?”
 Li Jianheng forcefully wiped away his tears and said, “But when
all is said and done, I have marred our brotherhood.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Why blame yourself for something you have
no choice over? I’m the one who has been too ostentatious in the
way I do things. I deserve to be put in my place by someone else.”
Li Jianheng said, “Such is your temper. You can’t be faulted for
this. They are only egging me on like this for their own sake. I’ve let
you down, Ce’an.”
They both seemed to have buried the hatchet and returned to
the time they were each other’s confidants. But the usual
lightheartedness of clowning and jesting around had eventually
given way to an awkward atmosphere that was more deference
and less closeness.
Li Jianheng did not stay long and left after he was done saying
his piece. But before he left, he showered Xiao Chiye with lots of
rewards and urged him to rest well.
As soon as the people cleared out, Xiao Chiye tossed away the
pillow supporting his back. Rising to his feet, he draped on his
clothes and put on his shoes before heading for Xiao Jiming’s
study.
Xiao Jiming was in the study listening to Zhao Hui speaking on
military affairs. When he saw Xiao Chiye coming in, he waved his
hand at him and motioned for him to sit before him.
Zhao Hui did not stop and continued to say, “The Ministry of
Revenue has already investigated the expenditure of military funds
before the new year. The Grand Secretariat is still in discussion
regarding the sum after the new year. The snow is heavy this year,
and the people of Juexi are happy because the timely snow is an
auspicious omen for a prosperous year, and they can look forward
to a bumper harvest this year. But in Zhongdu, people are already
starting to freeze to death.”
“In recent years, the prefectural yamen in Zhongbo has been
short of manpower. With this heavy snow, there are few people
who will be able to go and repair the collapsed abodes.” Xiao
Jiming drank his hot tea and thought for a moment. “Tell the
Ministry of Revenue to set aside 40,000 silver from Libei’s military
funds at the start of the year to be used as repair funds for Cizhou
of Zhongbo.”
Cizhou was right next to the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.
This favor Xiao Jiming did could be said to be the rendering of
timely assistance, much like sending charcoal in snowy weather.2
Understanding his intent, Zhao Hui lifted his brush to record it
in the book.
“The prefectural yamen of Zhongbo lacks manpower, and there
aren’t many officials in the capital who are willing to go over. But
it’s indeed not a long-term solution to leave it hanging like this.”
Xiao Chiye poured tea for Xiao Jiming.
“Hua Siqian was unwilling to take charge of this in the past. This
is a hot potato. Taking it means having to fork out your own
money.” Xiao Jiming moved his fingers along the teacup and said,
“But now, Secretariat Hai is in charge. This year’s spring
examination3 should be to seek a suitable candidate for Zhongbo.”
“Most of the new officials are inexperienced and have no
prestige to speak of. They can be low-ranking officials, but they
won’t be able to secure their positions if they are to be high-ranking
officials of the border-provinces.” Xiao Chiye said. “The one going
to Zhongbo to run the show still has to be selected from the central
administration.”
“There is a shortage of talents who can assume responsibility
and are up to the task nowadays.” Xiao Jiming said, “Zhongbo
used to be a vassal state in the past. Thanks to the Shen Clan, there
were many deep-rooted and complicated collusions taking place
under the table and plenty of matters that couldn’t be explained or
accounted for. When Shen Wei was still around, it was already a set
stage. Five years ago, it was abruptly thrown into anarchy and is
now a land of chaos. At that time, the common folks fled away
from it because of the Biansha’s massacres of the cities. The
imperial court was tardy in coming out with a pacification policy.
Those who are still in Zhongbo are mostly the remaining military
households from the garrison army and the roving bandits. As they
say, barren hills and untamed rivers4 will produce undesirable
citizens, and the current situation in Zhongbo is nothing but such. If
the typical official were to go, he won’t be able to hold the fort. On
the contrary, he will be shown who’s the boss.”
“If the imperial court is willing to send a military general with an
army, they will still be able to take charge of the matter on the
pretext of suppressing the bandits.” Zhao Hui closed the book
neatly. “But looking at the situation, I suppose they won’t dare to do
it.”
Of course, they would not dare to. At present, Qudu already
had the Libei’s Armored Cavalry to the northeast and the Qidong
Garrison Troops to the southeast. These were both frontier lands
with massive military forces. Holding them in check was already a
strain. Taking the risk to send one out again would make it even
harder to deal with once conferment was bestowed. But it would
not do to leave things as it was in Zhongbo, either. This issue had
to be resolved through a compromise.
“This is a headache for the Grand Secretariat to deal with.” Xiao
Jiming pushed aside the military affairs and looked at Xiao Chiye.
“How did it go?”
Xiao Chiye’s elbows were propped against the armrests of the
chair. He wanted to prop up his legs too, but he could not find a
spot to. So he said, “You gave His Majesty such a scare. He’s so
frightened that he still wants to continue being buddies with me
even if it doesn’t please him to.”
“Both of you are dining and drinking buddies5 to begin with.”
Xiao Jiming smiled. “Let him fear. It’s better than him not being
afraid.”
“Fu Linye has made a great effort.” Xiao Chiye said. “I’ll have to
find a chance to thank him sometime.”
“You might as well thank the friend who has been helping you
in secret.” Xiao Jiming said. “Someone on the inside has put in
quite the effort for this case to conclude so smoothly. Given Fu
Linye’s experience, he shouldn’t have been so careless as to fall for
the trap this easily.”
“Uh-huh…” Xiao Chiye merely smiled and changed the subject.
“Where’s Gu Jin? Call him in. I have orders for him.”
“It’d be better to call all of them in. I have orders too.” Xiao
Jiming turned his head to Zhao Hui and motioned to him.
 Zhao Hui headed out to call them over, and Meng flew in
immediately right after. It landed on the clothes rack, and the snow
it shook off wetted the clothes that had been hung up to dry. Ding
Tao took off his shoes before hopping in and rushing over to stand
as straight as a ramrod before Xiao Jiming. Behind him, Chen
Yang and Gu Jin entered.
“Hereditary Prince!” The person Ding Tao held in esteem the
most was Xiao Jiming. Revealing his snowy white teeth, he said,
“Hereditary Prince, please go ahead and give your command! I,
Ding Tao, will not hesitate to brave fire and water for you!”
“Yo.” Xiao Chiye lifted the teacup and said, “Why have you
never said that to this Second Young Master?”
Ding Tao said, “You’re always throwing me out.”
“What wrong have you done to make the Second Young Master
throw you out?” Xiao Jiming asked in a mild tone.
Ding Tao immediately replied, “I haven’t. It’s just that the
Second Young Master is always getting me to keep an eye on that
—”
Xiao Chiye almost spewed out his tea. He closed the lid with a
“clatter” and signaled to Chen Yang with his eyes. Chen Yang
promptly rapped Ding Tao on the head. Ding Tao, still not knowing
what was happening, covered his head and did not dare to say a
word more.
Xiao Chiye’s tongue was hurting from being scalded. He said,
“Drag him out and bury him on the spot! What’s with that
complaint? Let Gu Jin explain!”
Ding Tao said in aggrievement, “I’m not—”
Chen Yang covered his mouth and dragged him out. After
opening the door, he really buried him in the snow.
Gu Jin thought to himself, what do I say? What the hell can I
say?
Standing before Xiao Jiming, he saw that Xiao Jiming was
about to put down the teacup, so he immediately kneeled on one
knee and respectfully took the teacup before setting it on the table.
He said clumsily, “Hereditary Prince, it’s hot!”
Xiao Jiming was not in a hurry to ask on seeing this. He looked
at each of them in turn until Xiao Chiye felt uncomfortable, as if he
was sitting on pins and needles.
Xiao Jiming asked, “What’s the matter? Is the Second Young
Master hiding someone in the residence?”
Xiao Chiye said, “How is that possible? Dage, I have not even
proposed marriage yet. There’s no reason for me to tarnish a
maiden’s reputation.”
Xiao Jiming looked at him for a long while. Xiao Chiye did not
know if Xiao Jiming had believed him, but Xiao Jiming dismissed
the topic and told him to continue.
Xiao Chiye found a comfortable position and said, “I’m thinking
of asking Gu Jin to do a check on Xiangyun Villa.”
Zhao Hui pondered and said, “Xiangyun Villa is on Donglong
Street. It’s a mixed bag of crooks and honest folks to begin with. It’ll
not be easy to investigate in secret. Does the Second Young Master
think there’s something fishy about Xiangyun?”
“There’s definitely something fishy about her.” Xiao Chiye said.
“Wei Huaixing has her testimony in hand. Why would she offend
me for no good cause?”
Zhao Hui said to Xiao Jiming, “Hereditary Prince, I heard
someone said it was hatred borne out of love.”
Xiao Jiming said to Xiao Chiye at his own pace, “Since she has
become an old flame, then you must have a new lover now. It’s
been a few days since I entered the capital; why haven’t I heard
you mention it?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’m just bored with fooling around. There’s
nothing else to it.”
“Why blink your eyes when you are talking?” Xiao Jiming said.
“Blinking means you’re lying. Which clan is this maiden from? This
matter has been on Father’s and your sister-in-law’s minds. If there’s
indeed something this time, then what’s so hard about telling me?
We’ll handle it for you immediately.”
“There isn’t one.” Xiao Chiye could not sit still any longer. He
wanted to run, but he did not dare to. So he could only say, “There
isn’t one. Really. What am I getting married for? Isn’t that just going
to hold up her future?”
“Once you get married, you’ll mature a little.” Xiao Jiming
wanted to pat his head, but he could not do it before his
subordinates and diminish his dignity and authority. Thus, he
lowered his voice, “How long can your sister-in-law and I keep you
company? In this Qudu, there has to be someone who can hold a
lantern or light a lamp for you and chat with you. No matter who
catches your eyes, Father and I will do our best. As long as you like
her, we can settle it for you even if she’s a lady of a noble clan.”
Xiao Chiye originally thought of bantering his way through it.
But on hearing this, he suddenly felt touched and said,
“Commander-in-chief Qi… You can do it even if it’s someone like
Commander-in-chief Qi?”
The expression in Xiao Jiming’s eyes underwent a slight
change. He did not expect Xiao Chiye to like someone like the
Commander-in-chief. After a moment’s pause, he said with
complicated feelings, “… I’ll consent to it if she hasn’t hacked you
to death by then.”
At night, when Xiao Chiye got on the bed, he suddenly
stepped on an object. He bent over to pick it up from the woolen
rug. It was a pearl that was used as a button.
Xiao Chiye’s eyes followed the pearl to the base of the bed.
“Chen Yang.” Xiao Chiye suddenly opened the window and
shouted.
Chen Yang walked over from the foot of the stairs. Xiao Chiye
thought for a moment while looking at him before saying, “Make a
trip to the jewelry shop on Shenwu Street tomorrow morning.”
Before Chen Yang could reply, Xiao Chiye raised his hand and
tossed a box to him.
“Tell them to make these into earrings. Make one of all the
designs available.” Xiao Chiye thought long and hard before
continuing. “Keep it simple. Nothing too fancy.”
Chen Yang looked at the box and asked, “… All?”
“All.” Xiao Chiye closed the windows. After a moment of
silence, he opened them again.
Chen Yang did not dare to move. He held the box with both
hands and called out in bewilderment, “Master?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Put it on the account!”
Footnotes
1. The first I Li Jianheng uses to refer to himself here is “朕”.
It’s an imperial term for “I” exclusively used by the Emperor.
Using this term would really differentiate Li Jianheng and
Xiao Chiye as a ruler and his subject. The second “I” he uses
is the more common “我”, which would be indicative of him
seeing himself on the same level as Xiao Chiye (as buddies).
2. 雪中送炭 to provide help in another’s hour of need.
3. 春闱 imperial examination, which usually took place in
the spring.
4. 穷山恶水 inhospitable natural environment
5. 酒肉情谊(朋友) also a term for a fair-weathered friend.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 59 : ROMANTIC LIAISONS

Yuan Liu died a sudden death in prison, and Chen Yang was
the one who went to collect his body and bury him. As per Xiao
Chiye’s wish, he settled Yuan Liu’s wife and son down in a new
house in the City of Dancheng and hired a decent teacher for Yuan
Liu’s son.
Xiao Chiye’s illness lasted until the snow in Qudu melted. By the
time he could step out to attend court sessions, Xi Hongxuan had
already been promoted to the Secretary of the Bureau of
Evaluations.
Shen Zechuan returned the Imperial Army’s authority token to
Xiao Chiye. In the time Xiao Chiye took the token, he eyed Shen
Zechuan all over thoroughly.
“Thanks.” Xiao Chiye extracted the authority token from Shen
Zechuan’s hand. “Your Excellency the Judge.”
“I’m not deserving of it.” Shen Zechuan’s fingers curled slightly,
as if he could not bear to let go.
Xiao Chiye swung the authority token and said, “Got attached
to it?”
Shen Zechuan laughed and said, “Yeah. Got used to feeling it
these days.”
Xiao Chiye saw that the people around them had all retreated
far away from them, so he said, “It’s too pathetic to just feel my
authority token alone.”
Shen Zechuan clasped his hands behind him and said to him,
“You’ve just recovered from a major illness. Second Young Master,
you can dally all you want, but you have to know when to stop.”
“I’ve been pure of heart and free of desires for more than half a
month.” Xiao Chiye felt sleepy as he basked in the sunlight. He
shuffled his feet. “The heartless cad I’ve been yearning for day and
night did not even visit me once. Now that I’m out, I have to find a
way to heal my broken heart.”
Shen Zechuan bathed in the breeze and said, “It’s better to
forget that kind of bad egg who often ditches the old for the new
and has countless new and old flames before it’s too late. Wasting
the prime of one’s youth for him is so not worth it.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Bad what?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Second Young Master.”
Xiao Chiye wanted to squeeze his nape. But it was
inappropriate to stand here and squeeze him, so he said, “Well
said. It’s so well-worded that this Second Young Master wants to
applaud.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Shen Zechuan said modestly. “It’s all
good as long as you feel my sincerity.”
“So, I see you’ve made a point of checking out who some of
those old flames are.” Xiao Chiye said. “You’re that bothered, huh.”
“Check, I didn’t.” Shen Zechuan said. “I can pry out all sorts of
love affairs just by sitting and drinking wine in Xiangyun Villa. For
example, how the Second Young Master is a regular patron and an
old hand when it comes to romantic liaisons.”
“Admirable, isn’t it?” Xiao Chiye asked.
“Indeed, indeed.” Shen Zechuan looked at him as he spoke
and slowed down. “But hearsay cannot be compared to personal
experience. The legendary man himself doesn’t seem to be the
same person as the one I’ve encountered.”
“To be fair, you didn’t get that many opportunities.” Xiao Chiye
raised his fingers to hang up the authority token. “You will
understand it better once you’ve played with me a few more times.
It’s not like we haven’t tried ‘taking the time to savor and devour’.
How was the taste of it?”
Shen Zechuan pursed his lips tightly under Xiao Chiye’s gaze.
Xiao Chiye smiled and said, “Looks like you still remember it.
Then, do you still remember what you have promised me?”
“To pass Xiangyun a message on your behalf.” Shen Zechuan
said. “Playing the matchmaker for the two of you and earning
myself a cup of wine to drink at your wedding feast. Of course, I
remember.”
“I knew you were reliable.” Xiao Chiye said. “How should I thank
you if this matter succeeds?”
“Just treat it as gift money for your wedding.” Shen Zechuan
said absent-mindedly as he lazily looked out along the stone slabs.
 Han Cheng just happened to exit the hall. He waved his hand
at both of them as the little eunuch beside him came running over.
“This way, my lords. His Majesty is waiting!”
Li Jianheng sat on the dragon throne and listened as the
others discussed official matters. It was soon to be the beginning of
spring,1 a time when the planting and cultivating of mulberry and
flaxseed were major issues. Cen Yu, the Left Censor-in-chief of the
Chief Surveillance Bureau, submitted a memorial and mentioned
that there were signs of public ditches in the various residential
areas in Qudu being illegally occupied. At present, the snow was
starting to melt. If they could not keep the clogged ditches
unobstructed, then the streets would be flooded once the rainy
season hit.
This was such a minor issue, at least compared to what was
being discussed, that it seemed insignificant in the grand scheme
of things. Li Jianheng did not even hear him clearly before letting
the matter drop as the loud voice of the Provincial Administration
Commissioner from Zhongbo drew away his attention.
Several times, Cen Yu tried to speak again but was interrupted.
When Cen Yu left the palace after court was dismissed, he
suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. He looked back
and saw that it was Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan paid his obeisances and said, “As presumptuous
as it is of me to stop Censor-in-chief Cen, this humble official has an
issue to seek your advice on.”
Cen Yu said, “Judge Shen, please speak.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I heard the Censor-in-chief mentioned the
clogged public ditches in your memorial during the court session
earlier. Are you referring to the unexpected upsurge of ditch water
in the residential area on Donglong Street?”
Cen Yu motioned for Shen Zechuan to talk as they walked. He
said, “That’s right. Donglong Street’s illegal claiming of the public
ditches has been ongoing since the reign of Xiande. At the start of
spring in previous years, it would flood the residential areas. But
since it has not resulted in any deaths or accidents, no one really
gives it that much thought.”
 Shen Zechuan promptly gave a faint, bitter smile and said. “To
tell Your Excellency the truth, this humble official is currently living
there.”
Startled, Cen Yu hurriedly asked, “Has it already been flooded
these days?”
Shen Zechuan said, “The place this humble official lives in is on
higher grounds. In my immediate neighbors’ attempt to lay claim
on the public ditch and expand their courtyards, the eaves of their
residences are already pressing up against mine. Owing to the
obstructed flow of passage, sewage water had already begun to
inundate my courtyard. Before this morning’s court session, this
humble official made a trip to the surrounding residential area. The
low-lying civilians’ houses are already all underwater.”
Cen Yu said worriedly, “It’d be bad if we were to encounter an
epidemic. Let’s leave aside the matter of the flooding for now.
Because everyone wants to snatch those few inches of land, their
houses are all built close to one another with no bricks and stones
in between; it’s all wooden planks. It is a major accident waiting to
happen if a fire were to start.”
Shen Zechuan thought about it and comforted him, “Your
Excellency, don’t worry. This humble official will speak to His
Excellency the Commander-in-chief to see if he can report to the
Emperor and send men to clear out the ditches before it’s too late.”
“Alright. I’ll also talk to the Secretariat Elder again.” Cen Yu
lifted his foot to leave, then turned his head back and said to Shen
Zechuan with a smile, “I appreciate the Judge’s thoughtfulness. If
we can resolve this matter as soon as possible, then it’d count as
one merit.”
Shen Zechuan cupped his hands in respect to him and saw him
off.
◈ ◈ ◈
The red plum blossoms in the residence had withered. When
Shen Zechuan arrived, Xiao Chiye was standing in his study,
looking at the remnants of those plum blossoms.
“It’s so terribly damp everywhere with the snow melting these
few days.” Xiao Chiye plucked a plum blossom branch. “That house
of yours is not inhabitable now, is it?”
 Shen Zechuan had indeed been fretting about this matter
recently. He gently pulled at his collar and said as he changed his
shoes, “The courtyard is already flooded.”
“When I passed by that place five years ago, Zhao Hui
mentioned the issue about the public ditches.” Xiao Chiye turned
back. “It has been so long. To think no one has gone to fix the
problem.”
“Anyway, those who soak until they rot in there are all lowly
lowlifes. What’s more, it takes time and effort to fix the issue.” Shen
Zechuan said with a mocking expression. “Who will be willing to do
it?”
“Aren’t you going to do it?” Xiao Chiye looked at him and
walked over. “This year is the first year of Tianchen. There will be a
merit and achievement appraisal by the Censorate. If something
were to happen, the entire imperial court of civil and military
officials will fight over themselves to do it.”
“Doubt it.” Shen Zechuan supported himself against the wall
and was about to step onto the mat when Xiao Chiye blocked his
way. He raised his eyes and said, “Hm?”
Xiao Chiye bent down to pick up Shen Zechuan’s boots. He
pressed a few times on the leather and said, “Is the Imperial
Bodyguards so stingy that they can’t even give you a pair of
deerskin boots?”
Shen Zechuan’s socks were half wet, so Xiao Chiye asked the
servants to fire up the charcoal basin to heat the room. Shen
Zechuan did not look too good today, and it turned out that he was
freezing.
“Deerskin boots won’t be able to withstand the soaking either.”
Shen Zechuan shifted away his foot, refusing to let Xiao Chiye grab
it. He lowered his eyes to look at Xiao Chiye and said, “The low-
lying areas of Donglong Street are all impoverished brothels. They
are all now soaking in filthy waters.”
Xiao Chiye remained squatting the way he was and raised his
head to say, “Those brothels normally don’t pick patrons. They
accept everyone who has a few copper coins to spare and let them
do as they please. They can’t afford to pay taxes at all, and are
always in arrears year after year. The lower levels at the Ministry of
Revenue who pass their days counting copper coins2 are a
worthless bunch with the specific intent to leave them out to dry in
the air.”
“The residential area has also been submerged.” Shen Zechuan
said.
“They are all used to waiting; it’ll be fine once spring is over.”
Xiao Chiye got up and said, “There are plenty of people available
to work on it, but those who are willing to handle work without any
merit to earn are few and far between. I have yet to eat after court
dismissal today. Let’s have our meal together.”
The maidservant came over to prepare wooden clogs for Shen
Zechuan. Even after putting on the wooden clogs, they did not
make him taller than Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye looked at Shen
Zechuan’s slender and pretty ankles in those socks and thought of
the medicine the latter had been consuming in the past.
“I don’t see you gaining weight during the new year.” Xiao
Chiye pushed the door open and led him outside.
“I’m so busy that I only sleep for four hours a day.” Shen
Zechuan pattered on the ground with his clogs. “I initially thought
that the Southern Judge was an idle position with little to do. Who
knew that the ways of the military craftsmen would be that many?”
“If Xi Hongxuan can’t keep you.” Xiao Chiye turned his head
aside. “Switch over to this Second Young Master’s camp while you
still can.”
“Then I reckon I won’t even have four hours to sleep.” Shen
Zechuan followed after him. “The remaining men from the Imperial
Bodyguards are mostly those who inherited the positions and
follow in their fathers’ footsteps; they rely on their ancestors for
their meals. The benefits that come with the Imperial Army aren’t
worth much in their eyes.”
The snow was in the midst of melting these few days, and so
the yard was wet as well. Xiao Chiye strode across the water
puddle and turned back to look at Shen Zechuan for a moment.
Although Shen Zechuan was wearing the clogs, the hem of his
lunar white3 robe would trail into the water unless he held it up. At
present, it was already dark. Their surrounding was bright and
clear set against the backdrop of the white, charming moon
hanging up high far on the horizon. The contrast also made Shen
Zechuan’s reflection in the water puddle thin and pleasing. He was
so focused on the road as he spoke that he did not notice when
Xiao Chiye had stopped. He lifted his white robe and, like a child,
skipped over the water puddle and landed right before Xiao
Chiye.
Without even thinking, Xiao Chiye leaned over to hug him
around his waist and hoist him over his shoulder. The wooden
clogs slipped to the ground, and Xiao Chiye picked them up. With
one hand carrying the wooden clogs and one hand around Shen
Zechuan, he headed back to the house where they had drank wine
the last time.
Chen Yang retreated several steps back and gestured to the
guards at the back, dismissing everyone in the yard with a silent
wave of his hand. Ding Tao did not dare to utter a sound on the
rooftop and only showed his eyes as he watched the Second
Young Master carry Shen Zechuan over his shoulder. Qiao Tianya
and Gu Jin each squatted at the projecting tiles of the eaves and
took a sip of wine in unison.
“You didn’t look too good this morning.” Xiao Chiye said.
“You’re burning up. Have you fallen ill?”
Sprawled over his shoulder, Shen Zechuan watched the moon
on the ground and said, “… Perhaps.”
“The grand ambition for supremacy is not something that can
be accomplished at a single stroke.” Xiao Chiye ascended the stairs
and kicked the door open. “Life is the most precious of all.”
“This wasn’t what you said back then when you hated me.”
Shen Zechuan landed on a mass of softness. He gazed at Xiao
Chiye. “Just a minor illness. I’ll sleep it off.”
Without looking at him, Xiao Chiye took off his own shoes and
removed his outer robe. The maidservants entered in a single,
ordered file and set the plates on the small table to serve up the
dishes.
Shen Zechuan finished washing his hands and was about to
pull at his collar again when Xiao Chiye reached out his hand from
the side to pull it for him. He used his fingers to part the collar
gently and saw some red rashes.
 “It’s been too damp lately.” Shen Zechuan nudged away Xiao
Chiye’s hand with the back of his hand. “In order to stake their
claims on the site, the eaves of the neighbors’ houses have even
blocked out all the light.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to pay it no mind and let the matter drop
with an “uh-huh”.
Both men took their seat. As they were eating, Xiao Chiye said,
“That residence of yours is no longer befitting of your status. Why
haven’t you moved?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “It’s close to Zhao Zui Temple, which
makes it convenient for me to see shifu. It’s also on Donglong
Street. If there’re any movements from Xi Hongxuan, it’d be easier
to look into it.”
Xiao Chiye watched him eat and said, “Ji Gang-shifu can’t keep
staying at Zhao Zui Temple as an errand-runner. It’d be more
convenient for you to act if you were to relocate and live together.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Let me see if I can find any suitable
residences these days.”
As a matter of fact, he still had Grand Mentor Qi’s residence in
his hands. But it would not do for him to live in that residence now;
it was too ostentatious and would draw too much attention. Moving
house was simple; what was hard was that Xi Hongxuan was
keeping a close watch on him. He dared not put his shifu and
teacher at risk.
It was already very late after their meal, and the weather was
still cold. Shen Zechuan stood up and prepared to take his leave,
but Xiao Chiye opened the windows and let out a whistle at the
rooftop.
Three guards plus one Meng poked their heads out in unison.
Propping himself against the window ledge, Xiao Chiye
watched Shen Zechuan pick his coat up and said to them, “Close
the doors. His Excellency the Judge is not leaving tonight.”
Shen Zechuan looked back.
Xiao Chiye did not smile. His flippancy in the morning seemed
to have been blown away by the night wind. Concealed in those
eyes were the secluded forest and thick fog, made even more hazy
and deep under the moonlight.
 Perhaps he is really an old hand when it comes to romantic
liaisons.
Shen Zechuan thought.
Just the expression in these eyes of his alone was enough.

Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun

Footnotes
1. 立春 Lichun or Beginning of Spring, i.e., the 1st of the 24
solar terms in the lunar calendar.
2. i.e., staffers who only care about collecting their salary
3. The actual word here used is 月白, which is supposed to
be a pale blue shade. But t97 used white later on in the same
paragraph. Since Shen Zechuan is frequently portrayed in
white, we’ll assume she literally means “moon/lunar white”.

4.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 60 : SHACKLES

Translated with: Eggy<3

“With early spring approaching, many troublesome matters

have cropped up. We have yet to discuss a plan today. It wouldn’t
be easy to see each other again if you just leave now.” Xiao Chiye
said, “So rest up here tonight.”
Shen Zechuan broke into a smile and said, “No hanky-panky.”
The way he enunciated these words were melodious, with a
hint of sensual suggestiveness lingering on the tip of his tongue.
His eyes were clearly stirring up the waves of lust; even the fingers
he had released from his grip at the drop of his words were
plucking away at the strings of desires, rousing it.
This despicable man.
Xiao Chiye watched Shen Zechuan intently and thought to
himself.
This was the real bad egg. He kept pushing against the
boundaries of his diminishing limit every given second and
trampled all over his endurance with cunningness and naivety, as if
he was leaning next to his ear and calling him to “come mess with
me”. The tail of the sinner that was this fox tickled its way to his
legs, his eyes full of tease.
“Serious matters.” Xiao Chiye closed the windows. “Must be
seriously discussed.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Prepare a memorial tomorrow morning regarding the public
ditches, and I’ll bring it up to His Majesty.” Xiao Chiye lay on the
rattan chair and picked up the robe that had slipped onto the floor.
One by one, he set the items in the sleeve pocket onto a cabinet
shelf.
“You can’t.” Shen Zechuan soaked in the bathwater and said
after giving it some thought, “You’re the Viceroy of the Imperial
Army; you are not in charge of the official proceedings of public
works, nor the complaints of the commoners. It does not concern
you. You will definitely draw suspicion to yourself if you submit a
memorial out of the blue.”
“Then you bring it up. You live there, so it is not strange for you
to mention it. I’ll make a note to go along as the accompanying
supervisor.” Xiao Chiye fished out an ivory folding fan. He asked,
“Why are you carrying an ivory one?”
The literati, who kept items of elegance in their sleeves and
were particular about portraying themselves as distinguished and
sophisticated, viewed the likes of ivory and ebony as the most
unbearably vulgar. Therefore, descendants of the noble clans
would never bring with them folding fans made of sandalwood or
ivory as they went out, regardless of whether they were well-read in
the classics or not. Most used folding fans of moso bamboo,
adorned with calligraphy by famous calligraphers.
Shen Zechuan said, “For fun. Such an uncouth object suits me
the best.”
He had stayed in Zhao Zui Temple for five years, so he could
not engage in literary pursuits with the noble descendants. He had
to be an uncouth commoner who was a culture snob feigning to be
refined. Only this would be right, and only this would be fitting. So
besides the ivory folding fan that he always carried with him, he
had picked the most expensive-looking kind for his jade pendant
that he hung by his waist.
Having done groping around Shen Zechuan’s sleeve pocket,
Xiao Chiye realized that they were truly polar opposites.
Xiao Chiye’s likes and dislikes seemed to be clearly
distinguished on the outside. Yet if one had really dug deeper, they
would realize that these distinctions were rather murky. Most of the
activities he seemed to indulge in could be forgotten as soon as he
closed his eyes; there were none that he truly took to heart. On the
contrary, what seemed to be shady deals he engaged in to get by
were the results of his own sweat and blood. He did not have a
favorite dish, nor did he have a favorite wine. All one could say
when the topic was brought up was that “the Second Young Master
loves to drink”. But what exactly did the Second Young Master like
to drink? No one could really say.
 On the other hand, Shen Zechuan looked as though he had no
preferences and could go along with anything. But feel him up a
little, and one would be able to get a clear grasp on his likes and
dislikes. He did not like strong bitter tea; just one sip, and he would
never ever touch it a second time. He loved eating fish. As long as
the location was right and no one was watching, he could debone
the fish just as cleanly and neatly as a cat.
Xiao Chiye found it amusing.
It was as if he had seen Shen Zechuan’s soft spots.
Shen Zechuan’s waist. Shen Zechuan’s back. Shen Zechuan’s
shoulder blades. He could recognize all these, even with his eyes
closed.
A boaster.1
Xiao Chiye thought to himself with lowered eyes as he held the
robes.
He could intimidate a person with a sudden glance. But after a
few embraces, Xiao Chiye could sense the joy and anger behind all
those gentle words and flattery of his. He was just like the moon
reflected in the water puddle tonight, where one provocation did
not seem like it would stir up any great waves. But in fact, he had
already put a black mark against you in his book and would find
the next opportunity to kick back at you.
Shen Zechuan came out with his robe draped over his
shoulders. His hair was still damp. Turning his head, he saw Xiao
Chiye seated in the chair, playing with that ivory folding of his. His
own clothes were neatly hung at the side.
“We aren’t done discussing,” Xiao Chiye stood up. “Drink the
ginger soup and sit down to talk.”
Shen Zechuan stretched out his hand to raise the curtains, but
Xiao Chiye beat him to it and raised it with the fan. Both men
stepped out. Most of the lights in the inner chamber were already
extinguished, leaving only a glazed lamp lit.
Shen Zechuan felt a little hot. After downing a bowl of ginger
soup, he felt better. Although he was fine during the day, he was
feeling dizzy and heavy-headed now.
“Xi Hongxuan has been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue.
The assessment for officials is around the corner, and he’s in the
Bureau of Evaluations.” Xiao Chiye said, “This will interfere with the
officials’ observational appraisals from the inspections. Did you
come up with this idea for him?”
Shen Zechuan shook his head with the ginger soup in his
mouth. After swallowing it down, he said, “It should be Xue
Xiuzhuo’s idea.”
“I have men in both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War.
If they were to be transferred out because of the assessment this
round,” Xiao Chiye looked at him, “then our losses will far outweigh
the gains.”
Shen Zechuan nodded and said, “This isn’t something to worry
too much about. Other than the connection through marriage
between the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Jiang Xu, and the
Deputy General, Zhao Hui, the others aren’t too conspicuous. I can’t
see how Xue Xiuzhuo would get a thorough read on you either.
Just let everyone conduct their businesses as usual. Besides, the
inspections and assessments won’t be carried out by just one clan.
Secretariat Elder Hai will send his men over too. Xi Hongxuan won’t
dare to act too brazenly.”
“The inspection this time concerns Zhongbo. The snowstorm a
while back has brought hardships upon Zhongbo; ten or so people
in total have died one after another. Hai Liangyi should be sending
an official over this year to rectify the problem.” Xiao Chiye said.
“Zhongbo.” Shen Zechuan seemed to think back on it.
“Zhongbo… isn’t easy to manage now. Should they send a literary
official, he can’t be guaranteed to hold up his own against the
bandits, nor will he be able to command the newly dispatched
garrison troops. There needs to be a proper plan for this place;
even Secretariat Elder Hai himself would have to fret over it.”
“At present, there is no suitable candidate in Qudu. It’s all
negotiable as long as the one assigned is not from the noble clan.
Cizhou has a bearing on the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path; it’d
be inviting trouble if Cizhou were to fall into their hands. There is a
need to plan ahead for rainy days… plan ahead for rainy days.”
Xiao Chiye softened his tone as he looked at Shen Zechuan’s weary
face.
 After Shen Zechuan’s promotion, he had been running around
on assignments on both ends. At night, he often had to be at
Ouhua Pavilion and socialize with Xi Hongxuan, who had fair
maidens in his arms and a position with practically no obligations.
And because he wrote tunes for Li Jianheng, he did not even have
to attend morning court sessions; he had plenty of time to rest. But
Shen Zechuan had to stand guard before the Emperor every day
with his blade. He did not sleep at night, and in the day, he even
had to deal with military craftsmen of all sorts. He was even busier
when he was on duty, so much that he might not necessarily get
the chance to eat his meals.
He did not even have the time to bother about his residence on
Donglong Street, which had been devoid of light due to the
blockage of the protruding edges of his neighbors’ eaves. It was
only yesterday that he realized that his courtyard was already
flooded. The bedding in the house was so damp that there was no
way he could stay there. He could send Qiao Tianya over to Zhao
Zui Temple to stay with his shifu and teacher. But he himself was not
at liberty to.
He looked even thinner now, let alone talk about gaining
weight after the new year.
Xiao Chiye watched him for a long time, then reached out his
hand across the small table to stroke Shen Zechuan’s cheek. That
cheek was unbelievably scalding hot; it was far from “a little hot”.
Medicine had yet to be applied on the rashes on his neck. Xiao
Chiye wanted to call out to him, and yet at the same time, he did
not feel like doing so.
But his touch woke Shen Zechuan up. Shen Zechuan braced
himself to keep his spirits up and said, “… Uh-huh, we do have to
plan ahead for rainy days. The Hereditary Prince…”
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Chiye had already
leaned over to him. Xiao Chiye’s arms were strong and sturdy, and
it was effortless for him to pick up Shen Zechuan. The bowl on the
table was knocked over, and Xiao Chiye used his leg to kick it away
as he said in a leisurely and carefree manner, “This Second Young
Master will now take you to the nuptial chamber.”
 Shen Zechuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and let
himself hang over him, saying, “Have we already finished
discussing the serious matters tonight?”
“We’re done.” Xiao Chiye clasped him around his back and
said, “And now, it’s time to repay your debt.”
After saying this, he bent his back to lay Shen Zechuan on the
bedding.
Shen Zechuan shielded his face from the light with his hand
and said under his breath, “No lights.”
“All the clearer to see you with if there’s a little light.” Xiao Chiye
undressed Shen Zechuan in this position.
Shen Zechuan’s chest was exposed, and he suddenly felt a
coldness on his nape. He looked at Xiao Chiye through the gaps
between his fingers. Xiao Chiye dipped his fingers into the
ointment and dabbed it on the rashes. This whole process was as if
he was oiling a piece of jade. The more he applied, the smoother it
felt. It was so smooth Xiao Chiye’s heart was wavering out of
control. He really did not have the makings of a gentleman.
“I’ll have to tie you up in a while, so you don’t roll all over the
place. Otherwise, this ointment would have been applied in vain.”
Xiao Chiye closed the ointment box and took out a handkerchief to
wipe his fingers slowly as he sat on the edge of the bed. He said
self-mockingly, “You are the only one this Second Young Master
has ever served in his life.”
Shen Zechuan slipped into the bedding and turned his head
aside to sleep.
Xiao Chiye sat for a while before he rose to blow out the last
lamp. The bed sank as Xiao Chiye hugged Shen Zechuan around
his waist from behind and pulled him over from the edge of the
bed to hold him captive in the crooks of his arms.
“Got you bound.” Xiao Chiye said, “I’ll throw you out right away
if you dare to kick me.”
With opened eyes, Shen Zechuan looked at the window
through which hazy moonlight was shining. His icy hands touched
Xiao Chiye’s wrists that were restraining him. He said, “You’re so
hard.”
 “Uh-huh.” After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye said, “I’d
advise you not to venture downwards.”
Shen Zechuan endured it for a while before saying, “I’m talking
about your authority token.”
“Is it the authority token?” Xiao Chiye tilted his head slightly to
the side and pressed it down beside Shen Zechuan’s ear. He
repeated, “Is it the authority token?”
His words scalded Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye said, “You can’t take it when I bite your ears, and you
start trembling when I just ask a few questions. How dare you laugh
at me for being rusty in bed when this is all you’ve got?”
Shen Zechuan composed himself for a moment before he said,
“Then why don’t we try switching positions?”
Xiao Chiye actually sat up and helped Shen Zechuan sit on top
of him. He released his hands and laughed.
“Undressing the robes or unbuckling the belts.” Xiao Chiye
said, “Do as you please.”
There was no knowing whether Shen Zechuan was too sick or
too feverish, but his breathing was in disarray, and he was not as
composed as he always was. He said softly, “Tonight––”
Shen Zechuan had yet to finish his words when Xiao Chiye held
down the back of his head to kiss him ever so fiercely and guided
his hand down to his sweet spot. Shen Zechuan cowered back.
Xiao Chiye laughed at him until Shen Zechuan felt indignant and
started to struggle.
Xiao Chiye suddenly turned over and pinned him down once
again under his body. The bed let out a creak, and the bedding
sank. It was so burning hot that Shen Zechuan’s palms were
sweating.
Xiao Chiye’s temperature was scalding. Shen Zechuan loathed
this blazing heat, but he seemed to have nowhere to run; yet at the
same time, there seemed to be still room for maneuver. They lurked
in this intricate labyrinth-like game of chess, gaining a moment of
reprieve from the illusion of mutual dependence they came to
possess in the throes of passion and intimacy.
Once they sank deep into indulgence, the feeling of ecstasy
urged them onward. Sweet, drunken whispers resonated in their
ears. Even though Shen Zechuan loathed that numbing heat, he
was pushing Xiao Chiye away, and at the same time, also pulling
Xiao Chiye towards himself.
Xiao Chiye tore away those clothes and pushed himself up
along Shen Zechuan’s back. Just as Xiao Chiye had fantasized
when he sat in the rattan chair, he did not miss a single inch of
Shen Zechuan. He dominated this man, forcefully using his own
scent to overpower the latter.
Shen Zechuan wrapped his arms around Xiao Chiye’s neck and
bit him. The two nuzzled the tips of their noses together, once
again forging an extraordinary closeness in this moment of
madness and depravity.
Kissing him, Xiao Chiye said, “You’re insane.”
Those torrents of bites that fell like a raging storm gradually
settled into tender kisses, and the softness of lips and tongues
dissolved away all defenses. It was under these intermittent
murmurs of words that the insane man fell asleep.
Xiao Chiye caressed Shen Zechuan’s cheek with his thumb and
propped himself up slightly. Shen Zechuan was still grasping some
of Xiao Chiye’s hair between his fingers as he slept soundly. Xiao
Chiye lowered his head and scrutinized him. In that instant, many
thoughts ran through his mind.
Desire is a shackle.
In this moment, Xiao Chiye invited Zuo Qianqiu over to Qudu.
Just to ask shifu one question.
Can desire be conquered?
But in the end, he did not voice his question.
Because he already knew that it was a question that Zuo
Qianqiu had no answer for; the only one who could answer it was
Xiao Chiye himself. Many people had said that he had been born
at the wrong time, but he had already come into this world. To be
in possession of desire was not a fault of his own making.
He was merely a human.
His name was Xiao Chiye.
He seemed to be the polar opposite of Shen Zechuan, yet he
also seemed to be completely similar. The only one in this world
who could understand the entirety of Xiao Chiye’s pain and
suffering without any use of words was Shen Zechuan. And this was
something they were perfectly well aware of since their very first
kiss.
Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan between his brows and on the
bridge of his nose.
It did not matter by which name this feeling was called. They
mutually staked their claims on one another, increasingly growing
closer amidst their struggles. The pit of desire was bottomless, and
the abyss of misery, unsurmountable. Grinding against each other
ear to ear, temple to temple,2 was a way to wear down their agony.
But this way was getting too addictive, as if they could mutually
alleviate their own pain by simply being next to each other.
After that bout of insatiable pleasure-making, they tacitly began
to shed their shells and reveal their true selves. The ravine of the
past had become a puddle; it was as if all it took was a single leap
or a single helping hand to stride over it before merging once
again into one.
Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan again, and Shen Zechuan, in
his slumber, tightened his grip on Xiao Chiye’s little braids.
Ripples washed over the white moon in the water puddle under
the abundance of cool breeze, while the Heartbreaker and the
Loverboy slept the entire night away nestled under the blanket of
the moonlight.

Author’s Words:
I hope that everyone won’t attack each other when you have a
difference in opinions and don’t bring any other works into the
mix. Except for this, feel free to do as you like in the comment
section. I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who
have come and gone, as well as to those who have praised or
criticized me. Even if you praise me to the skies, I won’t actually
treat it as gospel and consider myself god. With this bit I have, I
can’t even get to the passing line. Likewise, I won’t actually
consider myself a piece of trash even if there are those who decry
me as disgusting. This is all that I am good for. Enjoying what I’m
writing is what makes it all worthwhile. If you happen to enjoy
yourself while reading, then what a happy coincidence. We are
suited for each other, so let’s have fun together. If you happen to
have a bad time while reading, then no problem; we will just not
play together. Downvote me, stomp on me, or call me an asshole—I
think that’s fine. We’ll just wave and kiss each other goodbye and
consider it a souvenir of our interactions. Right? I wish for you and
for myself to be happy. Living to have fun is the right way of life. It
displeases you when I take it personally, and it displeases you when
I don’t. What good does it do to mutually torment each other and
wear each other down for love and hate? For this chuunibyou piece
of literature, everyone has lost weight from the stress. Thinking
back on this in the future is just going to fill you with regret.
So says the author who has been shouting, “stop fighting, stop
fighting”.
Lianyin’s Note:
I have said it before and I’ll say it again. We all have our own views
and tastes, and every one of us is perfectly entitled to voice his or
her own opinion, but kindly refrain from dragging the author
herself into public tirades. Drop the novel and move on if you don’t
like it. But please respect the author’s right to write her story the
way she wants. (And I say this not just for t97 but for every other
author out there.) Thank you!
This is our combined version of the original uncensored version
and new add-on text in the censored version.
Special Thanks to: Yunyun, Lin
Footnotes
1. Literally fake tiger; a person feigning to be more
intimidating and powerful than he really is.
2. 耳鬓厮磨, i.e., very close and intimate relationship
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 61 : COLLAPSE

Translated with: Lin & Rie<3

As the hour of yin1 approached, it suddenly rained. Chen Yang

washed up in the resting hall. After wiping his face, he looked
outside to see a drizzle of misty rain adorned with tiny flakes of
snow.
“Have the kitchen heat up the stove.” Chen Yang instructed to
his left and right. “Serve up the medicine for colds while it’s hot,
then prepare the ginger soup. Has Master and the Judge’s official
robes been steamed? Send them over quickly. It’s raining and
snowing today, and the ground is slippery. Be careful when you go
in and out to serve; don’t fall, lest you make a disgrace of yourself.”
Before the day broke, those who served in the courtyard were
already moving. Chen Yang held up an umbrella and made his
way to the kitchen to check on the day’s breakfast. When the cook
saw him, he hurriedly got the attendant to get the lunchboxes.
“I heard last night that the Judge had fallen ill. So I made fish
soup this morning, along with some light side dishes. I’ve also
prepared rice porridge and steamed twisted rolls.”2 The cook
personally handed the lunchboxes to Chen Yang. “These are
breakfast for you gentlemen. All of you have been on guard the
entire night last night. Drink something hot to dispel the chill.”
Chen Yang laughed when he touched the lunchboxes and said,
“Alright. You even prepare shaojiu wine3 for Gu Jin. I shall thank
you on his behalf! Get someone to serve up Master’s breakfast
without delay. I’ll hurry over to wait on him first.”
The cook sent him out, and the attendant wanted to continue
sending him on his way. Chen Yang turned the latter down and
hurried back to the courtyard with his umbrella up.
The three meals of guards like them cannot be touched by
anyone else. They could only take turns to get it themselves. This
was a hard and fast rule that had been laid down back in Libei.
 Chen Yang arrived at the courtyard and called down the other
three men. They opened the lunchboxes and stood together to
have their meals.
Biting on the steamed bun, Ding Tao looked at the house and
said, “Master is up.”
Gu Jin said, “Is the horse carriage ready? He’s running a little
late today.”
Chen Yang nodded and said, “I didn’t expect it to rain today.
Master still has to soak in the rain later when he arrives at the
palace and waits to sign his name. His Excellency the Judge’s cold
won’t go away for quite a while. Does he not plan to take a leave of
absence?”
Who’s he asking?
Gu Jin and Ding Tao looked at each other, then simultaneously
looked at Qiao Tianya, who had come along for the free meal.
Qiao Tianya drank the porridge in one mouthful and held up a
finger. Before he could speak, the other three said in unison,
“Swallow!”
He swallowed and said, “He won’t dare to take even a day off.
My master is still considered a newly appointed official. How would
he dare to be the first to take leave when the senior above him is
still fine? He can’t be busier than the Commander-in-chief, can
he?”
Ding Tao said, “You Imperial Bodyguards are really no-good.
Even when it comes to falling sick, you have to talk about
seniority!”
Qiao Tianya said, “It can’t be helped. Everyone at the top and
bottom is watching.”
As the four of them ate and chatted, the door on the other side
opened. The maidservants entered and exited with serving trays in
hands.
Shen Zechuan was drenched in sweat after being embraced by
Xiao Chiye for the entire night. The rashes on his neck had not
gone away.
Xiao Chiye had already put on his clothes. Seeing that Shen
Zechuan still did not look too good, he set his fingers against Shen
Zechuan’s forehead and said, “The medicine is on the table. Drink
it while it’s hot.”
Shen Zechuan put on his boots and got off to drink the
medicine before he draped his clothes around him to put it on.
Both men stood back to back before the mirror amid the rustling
sound of clothes scraping across skins and fabrics.
Shen Zechuan fastened his waist belt and pushed the window
open to look at the sky. He said, “This rain really comes at a bad
time.”
“There’s no movement last night. It’s still not too late to unclog
the ditches today.”
Xiao Chiye came closer. The maidservant behind him who was
trying to put on his crown for him could not reach him, so Shen
Zechuan reached out to take it. Xiao Chiye propped himself against
the window, and Shen Zechuan put it on for him. Both men locked
gazes with one another.
“Smells bitter.” Xiao Chiye said.
“If you come any closer,” Shen Zechuan said, “the smell will be
even stronger.”
The maidservants at the sides lowered themselves, not daring
to make a sound.
Qiao Tianya was already holding up the umbrella just before
they stepped out. Shen Zechuan descended the stairs. He had yet
to walk out of the courtyard when he saw Tantai Hu hurrying over.
Tantai Hu still did not look too good when he saw Shen Zechuan,
but he still bowed to him in greeting before striding up the stairs in
a hurry.
“Laohu!” Chen Yang greeted him. “What’s the matter?”
Xiao Chiye had already come out. Gu Jin put on his cloak for
him while Xiao Chiye looked at Tantai Hu and said nothing.
Tantai Hu kneeled on one knee and reported in an urgent tone.
“Viceroy! The Donglong Street patrol squad sent back word earlier
that Ouhua Pavilion has collapsed!”
Shen Zechuan halted in his tracks and waited for Tantai Hu to
continue.
Tantai Hu wiped away the rainwater on his face and said, “It’s
one thing for it to collapse on the Second Young Master of the Xi
Clan. But who knew His Majesty was inside too!”
Xiao Chiye’s gaze was cutting cold. As he raised his head, the
rain and snow fell even harder.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan took large strides out of the office. Ge Qingqing
was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs. As Shen Zechuan
hung up his authority token, he said, “Tell me the details.”
The Imperial Bodyguards swiftly followed him out of the
courtyard. With a hand on his blade, Ge Qingqing whispered, “His
Majesty sneaked out on the sly. No one knew about this when the
building collapsed this morning. When those courtesans were dug
out, men from the Eight Great Training Divisions were still urgently
looking for Xi Hongxuan. Who would have expected His Majesty to
be missing when the eunuch lifted the curtain for a look once the
time came for the palace’s morning court session to start? They
couldn’t find him. At first, they went to Caiwei Palace to check with
Imperial Concubine Mu, but Imperial Concubine Mu had no idea
either. That was when chaos erupted. It was only when the
presences of Empress Dowager and Third Missy Hua were
requested and the palace maids serving him were interrogated
that we learned that His Majesty had disguised as an eunuch last
night and insisted on going with Xi Hongxuan to Ouhua Pavilion
for some fun.”
Shen Zechuan did not look pleased as he said, “There are
patrol checks at all levels in the inner palace. He must have had
help; otherwise, he won’t even be able to stride out of Mingli Hall.”
“That’s the odd thing.” Ge Qingqing lowered his voice even
more. “During my questioning, I heard the guards say that no one
came in or out at all last night.”
Shen Zechuan’s expression remained unchanged as he
detachedly watched the Eight Great Training Divisions march past
in formation. He walked the entire way in a hurry, braving the rain;
no one dared to hold up their umbrellas at this moment. Dark
clouds hung over each of the official’s faces, their gloomy
expressions so somber it was as if their parents died.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Hai Liangyi and Xiao Chiye stood before the collapsed
building. The collapse of Ouhua Pavilion had consequently brought
down half the street of closely clustered buildings with it. The swill
in the gutter had long overflowed, causing the entire Donglong
Street to reek to high heaven in this downpour. Everyone had to
wade through the water to make their way through.
The Minister of Works, Pan Xiangjie, was the head of the Pan
Clan—one of the eight great clans. Although he shared the same
surname as Pan Rugui from the reign of Xiande, Pan Rugui was
really not in the same league as them. Pan Xiangjie was of the
same age as Hai Liangyi, and had never dared to commit any
major blunder while he held this position. Knowing that he would
never make it into the Grand Secretariat, he had always been
careful and prudent with the hope of retiring in peace after a few
more days, especially since his son was already the Vice Minister of
the Ministry of Revenue. He had never expected to get himself
some sleep, only for the sky to collapse when he woke up!
Pan Xiangjie could not even stand steady on his feet, and he
was so anxious his hands trembled. He kept saying, “Quick. Dig
quickly. His Majesty is still inside!”
The rainwater had doused Hai Liangyi to the point he was
expressionless. He had never thought that Li Jianheng would be so
muddle-headed to such an extent just to play! Several times, he
wiped away the rainwater, looking as though he was also wiping
away his tears. He said to Xiao Chiye, “Dig… Rescue His Majesty
first!”
Xiao Chiye took off his cloak and waded his way down through
the water to take a look at the situation. The current stand-in for the
Eight Great Training Divisions was Han Cheng’s younger brother,
Han Jin. Han Jin rolled up the legs of his trousers and lifted the
hem of his robe to follow Xiao Chiye down.
“Viceroy.” Han Jin shouted in the rain. “The bottom is already
hollowed out. We dare not dig!”
Not only was the lower area hollowed out, but it was also all set
with vats and jars. But no one dared to voice it out. These vats and
jars had been smashed when the building collapsed. If Li Jianheng
were to be squashed underneath, then he was really a goner! The
first emperor in the history of Dazhou who was crushed to death
when he sneaked out for a rendezvous—Which historian would
dare to write it? No one had ever seen anything so depressing.
“His Majesty rested in the upper area last night.” Shen Zechuan
removed his blade and got into the water. He said, “The place isn’t
deep.”
“I fear it will collapse further.” Xiao Chiye raised his body. “Call
the men from the Ministry of Works over.”
Cen Yu had just rushed his way over. The moment Shen
Zechuan saw him, he immediately said to Hai Liangyi, “Secretariat
Elder, the public ditch must be dredged today. If this rain doesn’t
stop, we won’t be able to drain the water.”
“And it’s near the Kailing River at the back too.” Cen Yu said. “I
went to take a look earlier. The buildings along the banks have
already all collapsed. The foundation at the bottom has long been
soaked rotten! How long has it been since the stone bricks on the
dam have been repaired? If the water rises later, half of Qudu will
be flooded! What has the Ministry of Works been doing all these
years?! Pan Xiangjie, you muddle-headed fool! How many times
have I told you about this, huh?!”
Pan Xiangjie fell to his knees with a “thud”. His old mob of hair
was already half-white. He burst out wailing, “What can I do?! Can
you blame me for this? Those from the Ministry of Revenue are all
influential bureaucrats. I’ve already mentioned this to them eight
hundred years ago. What can I do if they don’t allocate the funds
and transfer manpower?! Cen Xunyi, what can I do?!” He scooped
up this swill water, unable to speak as he choked with sobs.
Kowtowing on the ground with his head, he cried out, “We are
going to have to pay for this with our lives!”
“You are a senior of the present imperial court. Stop disgracing
yourself!” Hai Liangyi suddenly cut him off and bellowed. “His
Majesty’s fate hangs in the balance; we don’t know if he’s dead or
alive. It’s an emergency now. Even if you want to shirk responsibility
and shift the blame, at least wait for him to be rescued first! Assign
800 men from the Imperial Army’s current defense and follow the
Ministry of Works to unclog the public ditch immediately. Tear
down all the houses that have violated the regulations and
occupied land illegally. As for the Ministry of Revenue, total up the
state treasury money without delay and assemble the victims of
those whose houses have collapsed at Zhao Zui Temple to
centralize the distribution of aid reliefs. The Eight Great Training
Divisions shall patrol the major city gates. All entries and exits must
be accompanied by official documents. We are at the critical
juncture now. I expect everyone to work as one to stabilize the
situation. Don’t lose your composure!”
With that, Hai Liangyi suddenly looked at Shen Zechuan.
“Have the Imperial Bodyguards guard the inner palace. You
mustn’t let those who have no business in this matter take
advantage of this situation to stir up trouble. If there’s anyone who
rebels, then act in accordance with my orders and execute them on
the spot!”
Those starting to get restless in this heavy downpour instantly
calmed down under this succession of commands teeming with
murderous intent. Hai Liangyi walked a few steps and removed his
wusha hat4 in the rain.
“His Majesty is the Son of Heaven.” With rainwater sliding down
and dripping off his face, Hai Liangyi said with finality, “Our
Dazhou has been in power for a century. It’s still not the time for its
demise.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianheng was stuck underneath broken wood, facing down.
The icy cold water pouring on his neck jolted him awake. He found
it hard to breathe. His chest was too tightly wedged, and his ribs
were hurting terribly.
Li Jianheng coughed and shouted in a raspy voice, “S-save me
—”
These sounds were hoarse and powerless, too quiet to be
heard in the downpour.
Li Jianheng shifted his gaze to see that the courtesan beside
him had already gone cold. Her ghastly white flesh lay squashed
between broken walls, and several strands of her hair had been
stained red from the dripping blood. Li Jianheng began to
tremble; he could no longer recognize this to be the beauty he had
been clapping hands and dancing with last night.
 “Save me.”
Li Jianheng hung down his head and said with all his effort.
“Save me.”
The coughs of someone choking on water rang out below him.
Half of Xi Hongxuan’s body was soaked in the water. He was half
on his back, having crashed down right on top of the jars, and his
bloodied back was badly mangled. He gasped for air and said,
“Your Majesty, stop calling for them. No one can hear you.”
Li Jianheng was beside himself as he pushed at the broken
pieces of wood with his elbows, but it was all in vain. One of his
shoes had fallen off, and he was so freezing cold that his face had
gone pale. He said, “Someone will definitely come to save me…”
“Of course.” Xi Hongxuan began laughing in a muffled voice.
“You are the Son of Heaven.”
Li Jianheng said, “What are you laughing at?”
Xi Hongxuan smacked his lips and spat out some sandy mud.
He said, “I’m laughing at this thing called fate… Don’t you find it
strange how people seem to be repeating the cycle of life on the
wheel of reincarnation?”
Li Jianheng lifted his eyelids but could see nothing. He said
darkly, “No… There’s no cycle…”
“Your Majesty’s birth mother of the Yue Clan…” Xi Hongxuan
shifted his body with some difficulty. “… was drowned in the same
way.”
Splash.
The dirty, foul water moved away from his neck and splashed
somewhere else. In this minute trickle flow, Li Jianheng swallowed.
Drowned.
With difficulty, Li Jianheng recalled those fleeting and
ephemeral childhood memories. He looked at that morbidly white
flesh once again, yet it seemed to be his mother he was seeing.
The woman was pressed into the swill bucket, her fingernails
raking at the ground until they were bloodied pulps of flesh. As
water splashed on her face, Li Jianheng saw her ghastly white neck
and arms.
Drowned.
 Li Jianheng’s tears welled up. He frantically covered his eyes
with his hands and yelled resentfully, “Shut up! You shut up!”
Xi Hongxuan fell silent.
But Li Jianheng no longer wanted to stay close to this body any
longer. He started to cry and shoot his mouth off, hurling abuses
and profanities as he said, “Don’t mention her! I am the supreme
ruler on the imperial throne! My—”
Li Jianheng rasped for air, his face looking sinister through the
gaps of his ten fingers.
“My mother is the current Empress Dowager!”

Footnotes
1. 寅时 hour of yin, i.e., 3-5 am, based on the system of two-
hour subdivisions used in former times.
2. 金银花卷; Chinese steamed twisted bread roll, typically
yellow and white.
3. 烧酒 shaojiu, also known as baijiu (白酒), is a spirit that is
usually distilled from sorghum or maize. Also, the name of a
famous Tang dynasty wine.
4. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 62 : FAMILY BACKGROUND

Li Jianheng never spoke of his birth mother to anyone else,

because the topic was his sore spot. His birth mother of the Yue
Clan did not have an imperial concubine title and was just a lowly
palace maid. Official records had her surname shoddily listed as
“Yue”, and that was all the information provided on her.
When Li Jianheng was still in swaddles, Emperor Xiande’s birth
mother, Lady Lu, brought him back into her palace, but she merely
fed and clothed him. His lack of education and skills today was all
because no one remembered him when he was supposed to begin
schooling. Subsequently, he spent all his time playing with the
eunuchs.
He did not have an imperial concubine mother, only a nanny.
His nanny was the lover of the personal eunuch serving
Emperor Xiande. She was a snob, and she treated Li Jianheng
cruelly. Every day, she dressed him up until he looked all fine and
presentable, yet he often woke up hungry in the night. Li Jianheng
did tell his older brother about this once, and Emperor Xiande
threw a fit at his personal eunuch. The eunuch then went back to
cuss and hit the nanny. The next day onwards, the nanny gave Li
Jianheng the cold shoulder and served him cold meals. She never
hit him, but she had a tongue so sharp and cutting that Li Jianheng
never dared to mention it to anyone again. Before he learned how
to speak properly, he already knew a whole plethora of vulgar
words.
His nanny told him that his birth mother was a cheap whore
from the palace. Because of her secret pregnancy that was the
result of an illicit relationship, she was kept indoors by the former
Lady of the palace to recuperate. Although the word was
“recuperate”, she never left the compound for years and was
deathly ill. She even kept harboring the wishful thinking of getting
the chance to meet her son and speak to him.
When Li Jianheng was five, Emperor Guangcheng came to
Lady Lu’s palace to check on Emperor Xiande’s, Li Jianyun,
progress with schoolwork. As they were speaking, Li Jianheng,
who was playing cricket with others, was seen by Emperor
Guangcheng, who called him over. That was his first time meeting
his father.
The Guangcheng Emperor asked him about some writings.
Li Jianheng held the cricket tightly in his hands and did not
dare to look at Emperor Guangcheng. He was unable to speak
eloquently either, often stuttering and ignorant of what was asked
of him.
Emperor Guangcheng found him stupid. Li Jianheng was
already five, yet he was still unable to articulate himself well, had
not an ounce of decorum, and seemed timid. He did not have the
aura of a royal scion at all.
Li Jianheng really wanted to talk to Emperor Guangcheng, but
he was afraid. He did not think that this person was his father, and
he even started crying during the lengthy questioning. This made
Emperor Guangcheng disdain him utterly. And this first time was
also the last time he saw Emperor Guangcheng. It was only when
Emperor Guangcheng left that Li Jianheng realized that he had
unknowingly squashed the cricket in his hand to death.
Li Jianyun thought that this younger brother of his was useless.
His health was still fine then, and he was the prince after the Crown
Prince, who was the most in favor. He pitied Li Jianheng, so he
pleaded with Emperor Guangcheng and started to bring Li
Jianheng along to classes with him.
Li Jianheng got to know his brothers, but they were all living in
the lap of luxury. He slowly came to the realization that they were
not his brothers. They ridiculed him; they spoke of protocols and
propriety; they made him bow to them. Li Jianheng did not
understand. He did not have to kneel and kowtow to his brothers
on seeing them, but this was what they taught him. When he did
so, not one eunuch or palace maid went forward to help him up.
It was only when the Crown Prince and Li Jianyun were around
that everyone acted with brotherly affection like kin brothers. Li
Jianheng would not say a word about it, and he had no one to tell
either. Gradually, he stopped going to school on time. He started to
play the fox with Li Jianyun, feigning illness and sleeping in—he
would not go if he could help it. Li Jianyun felt that Li Jianheng was
a lost cause who could not be taught and set straight.
Subsequently, he came to give up too.
There was a time when Li Jianheng followed a eunuch through
a doghole. He squeezed his way through, and the eunuchs
covered their mouths to snicker at him. They gave him candies
from the Imperial Bakery. He was like a puppy seeking food, one
that had been coaxed into wagging his tail by those few melted
candies. It was in that doghole he obtained a lot of food he had
never sampled before, and it was also from that doghole he saw
his mother.
Li Jianheng did not recognize Lady Yue.
The eunuch egged Li Jianheng on, calling Yue a “feeble
invalid”, so Li Jianheng spat at her and called her the same. Lady
Yue leaned against the wall, crying as she looked at him. Li
Jianheng found this woman eccentric. The way she looked at him
gave him the heebie-jeebies, so much that even he himself wanted
to cry.
After getting back, his nanny scolded Li Jianheng again. When
Li Jianheng wanted to pee in the middle of the night, he heard the
nanny having a secret rendezvous with the eunuch who had egged
him into cussing. He was caught red-handed by both of them when
he accidentally kicked the chamber pot after he was done peeing.
The nanny was afraid that Li Jianheng would tell on them, so
after that night, she gave him lots of candies and never scolded
him again, instead treating him as though she yearned to hold him
in her arms and coax him all day long. There were many kinds of
candies, and one of them was called the silk-nested tiger’s eye
candy. There was only a little of it every day, which Li Jianheng
could not bear to eat; instead, he followed behind Li Jianyun every
day and gave it to him to eat. But, from that year onwards, Li
Jianyun’s health started to deteriorate to the point he was so sick
he could not even attend classes.
Lady Lu checked the food and beverages in the palace, but her
investigation threw up nothing. Every night, she wept before Li
Jianyun. The imperial physicians came and went, but Li Jianyun
never got better.
 The nanny stopped giving Li Jianheng candies. Li Jianheng
created a din, demanding his candies, so the nanny told him that
the feeble invalid in the Eastern Courtyard who had been cussed
by Li Jianheng wanted to tell on him to forbid him from eating
candies again. Li Jianheng had been thinking of the silk-nested
tiger’s eye candy, and thus, he hated that sickly woman. The nanny
also said that if Li Jianheng wanted to eat candies again, he had to
complain to Lady Lu and tell her that those earlier candies had
been given by the sickly woman.
Li Jianheng did not dare to tell Lady Lu, so he secretly told Li
Jianyun. Li Jianyun looked at him from where he lay on the couch,
and it was in that instant Li Jianheng felt that his elder brother
resembled his father.
Li Jianheng was roused awake in the night. The nanny led him
out, where he heard sploshing sounds from the main hall. From
where he was behind the hanging curtain, he saw a blur of human
figures. Li Jianyun, who was lying on the couch with an overcoat
around him, beckoned to him.
Li Jianheng ran over.
That sickly woman was half-naked, with her head pressed into
the bucket of swill. Again and again, her head was forced into it.
She choked and coughed out water, and water poured back into
her nose and mouth. Her fingernails had been reduced to
bloodied pulps from all that clawing.
Li Jianyun held Li Jianheng and said nothing. The sight
frightened Li Jianheng, and he looked back many times at Li
Jianyun. But there was no smile on Li Jianyun’s face, and so Li
Jianheng did not dare to smile too.
When the woman was pressed into the bucket, a gurgling
sound rang out. She raked her nails on the bucket in agony, her
skinny fingers digging into the wood shavings, making the slits in
her nails a dirty mess.
Li Jianheng looked at her, but he could not remember her face
clearly. But the sloshing sound stayed in his memory. The nanny
was a tall and healthy woman. Li Jianheng did not like her. All the
women he came to choose in the future were petite or sickly.
Li Jianheng did not like water either; he found it filthy.
 After that night, the nanny treated him well. Li Jianyun treated
him well, too. It was just that no one mentioned his study anymore,
and Li Jianyun no longer kept him to practice calligraphy. Li
Jianyun even assigned eunuchs to play with him. Li Jianheng was
thoroughly free. He played the whole day until he fell asleep. When
he grew to be a teenager and had to move to a separate residence,
Li Jianyun sent quite a number of pretty women to his residence.
Once Li Jianheng got a taste of them and understood the pleasure
of indulging in beautiful women, he spiraled out of control.
Until many years later.
Li Jianheng found out that that sickly woman was Lady Yue.
“My mother is the current Empress Dowager!”
Li Jianheng’s fingers trembled. He seemed to be saying it to Xi
Hongxuan and, at the same time, directing it at himself as he
muttered these words over and over like a man gone mad.
Xi Hongxuan sniffled and listened as Li Jianheng harped on.
He could not help but grin and say, “Your Majesty, to let everyone
think this, the honor accorded to the Empress Dowager has to be
sufficient. And now, the Empress Dowager… hisssss.” He sucked in
a breath from the pain and continued, “… happens to lack a son!”
Li Jianheng felt a stabbing pain in his chest as he gasped for
breath. He haphazardly wiped away his tears with his fingers and
said, “I… I1 know!”
“I don’t think you know.” Xi Hongxuan said.
Li Jianheng said, “Who gave you the audacity to… speak to me
in such a manner here?”
“The words of a man on his deathbed always come from the
heart.” Blood oozed from Xi Hongxuan’s mouth. He spat a few
more times before saying, “If you and I can’t get out today, then
there will be no ruler and his minister; we will be merely rats in a pit
waiting to drown in the water! What kind of Emperor are you?
When Xiao the Second lifted you onto the dragon throne earlier,
you ingratiate yourself with him like you would an ancestor! Have
you forgotten? You are his master to begin with. Risking his life to
save you is what he should do! What logic is there for parents to be
grateful to their sons and grandsons? It’s with the Libei Armored
Cavalry that each of the men of the Xiao Clan now enjoy such
prestige and power. Such a ridiculous thing would be totally
unheard of a few decades back with Emperor Guangcheng at the
head! I get truly worried when I look at you! How does it feel to be
an Emperor to such an extent? You aren’t even as carefree and
happy as I was during the times I was mixing around the salterns
being an imperial merchant. If you’re going to remain in this
position and suffer such trifle indignities, you might as well drown
here with me today.”
Hurting from having spoken such a big chunk, he grimaced in
pain and spent a moment to take a breather. As he listened to Li
Jianheng’s sobs, he suddenly began to choke with sobs too.
“Your Majesty…” Xi Hongxuan laid bare his feelings and said,
“My mother was a woman from Qinzhou. She was of lowly birth.
She could win my father’s favor because her mother’s old man
earned some money by relying on the pointers given by the
preceding Old Madam Yao. Look at me. I am the second son of
lawful birth, but instead of living like a man, I lead a dog’s life back
at home. Why do you think I dared to head down to the Xu Sea
when I was eighteen to beg for a living among the wind and waves
there? It’s all because my parents were biased and handed this
massive family fortune to my eldest brother! Later, I met with a
disaster at sea. With my constitution wrecked, I had to recuperate in
Qinzhou for more than half a year. See how horrifyingly obese I am.
It’s all from the nourishments I downed back then to preserve my
life. Ugly, right? Haha! But before I was injured, I was also a
handsome man in Qinzhou. Before I left, I met a woman whom I
loved very much. We were engaged to get married before I set out
to sea. But when I returned, she had already married someone else
—she became my dear sister-in-law. What a great elder brother Xi
Gu’an is. He even had to take care of my woman for me when he
heard that I had met with difficulty. Where else can I find such a
wonderful elder brother? I’ll thank him all my life!”
Xi Hongxuan cried and laughed as he spoke in this dimmed,
damp, and narrow place.
“I’ll freaking thank him all my life! Your Majesty, who in this
world isn’t pitiful? Are you willing to let me be the Grand Secretary
who holds sway over the imperial court and commoners because
you pity me? You pity Xiao the Second! And let him become the
tremendously popular Viceroy in Qudu for a time. But who will pity
you? If Xiao the Second is truly sincere towards you, then would he
have let Xiao Jiming say that kind of words before you? Isn’t that
just abusing his power to bully people around?! Then look again at
that Shen the Eighth who has landed himself Shen Wei as his old
man. Is the imperial prison such a fun place to be in? He fell into Ji
Lei’s hand at fifteen years of age and was whipped and flayed so
badly it was as if he had taken a tumble in hell itself. He may be out
of there now, but look at him, he has clearly grown into a specter.
Everyone in the world is pitiful. If you pity each and everyone of
them, then how are you going to be an emperor? As the saying
goes, every man for himself, and the devil takes the hindmost—one
has to look out for their own interests first. Your Majesty, don’t listen
to all those garrulous people who speak of the lowly origins of their
mothers and the likes. Your surname is Li, and mine is Xi. For us,
that’s enough! Men are born to be distinguished between the
superior and the inferior, the lowly and the nobles! All those
rhetorical questions insinuating no one is born to be ruling classes2
are just to goad and egg on fools. If no one goes by the rules, then
where would countries and states come from? Your name is Li
Jianheng, and therefore you are born superior to him, Xiao Chiye!
What are you afraid of even if his Xiao Clan dares to harbor wicked
intentions? You’re the one who has the hearts and minds of all the
commoners in the world. No matter what their maneuver is, they
are all traitors and rebels! Who in the world would dare to disobey
if you raise your arms and make the call? This is what the Son of
Heaven is!”
This is what the Son of Heaven is!
Li Jianheng found these words so rousing and enlightening
that it snapped him to his senses. For the first time in this wet and
filthy caved-in pit, he came to understand who he was. At some
point, the tears were already streaming down his face. He thought
back on everything that had transpired in the past, feeling as if he
had lived in vain.
Unwilling to let this opportunity slip, Xi Hongxuan braced
himself and continued in a strained voice, “Are they laughing at
you for being uneducated and cowardly? Who in this world
doesn’t fear death?! They can say anything they want when the
blade is not held against their necks. But when it is, nine out of ten
will pee in their pants! You are the emperor, not an artisan! When it
comes to matters involving learning, the students from the Imperial
College will naturally provide the answers. As for governmental
affairs, isn’t that what the Grand Secretariat is for? Isn’t it there to
deliberate over matters for you and advise you? You are the
Emperor. You are an emperor!”
“I’m the Emperor…” Li Jianheng was feeling both hot and cold
as he trembled and repeated, “You’re right. I’m the Emperor.”
Xi Hongxuan grabbed the moment with finesse. Seeing that he
was almost there, he heaved a sigh of relief.
The fucking nerve of whoever it was to tamper with Ouhua
Pavilion! With the building collapsed and flooded, all evidence
would have been washed away. With no lead in the investigation,
the blame would fall squarely on Xi Hongxuan’s head. If he could
not hold Li Jianheng in his grasp, then just the impeachment from
the Chief Surveillance Bureau alone after he had gotten out of here
was enough to skin him. He could kiss goodbye to his newly
appointed Secretary for the Bureau of Evaluations of the Ministry of
Revenue position. It was even possible that Hai Liangyi would
execute him because of this incident.
In this filthy water, Xi Hongxuan carefully ran his hands through
his interpersonal network of connections. He did not want to die,
nor did he want to be exiled. It had not been easy for him to kick
off Xi Gu’an and climb his way to this position, as well as meet such
a rare “good master” like Li Jianheng. He had to live.
Hurry up.
With his lips turning pale from the loss of blood, Xi Hongxuan
silently said to himself.
Xue Xiuzhuo, Hai Liangyi, Shen Zechuan, and even Xiao Chiye.
Whoever it was, hurry up and take him out of here. Li Jianheng
must not die here. If he were to die here, all he had done in the
past would go down the drain.
Just as Xi Hongxuan was about to close his eyes, a loud rumble
suddenly rang out above them. Following right after, the broken
wall debris tumbled down noisily. The stinky water also came
pouring in as various voices mingled in the heavy rain.
Xi Hongxuan almost wept with joy. He heard Li Jianheng being
hoisted up. Then, under the simultaneous shouts of the Imperial
Army, the heavy weights pinning him down were lifted off him.
The stinky water was already up to Xi Hongxuan’s waist. He
shifted his arms and shouted, “Save, Save—”
Xiao Chiye looked down at Xi Hongxuan from above. The
heavy rain washed down on him, and Xi Hongxuan suddenly felt a
chill rose within him. Even when the water swelled to Xi
Hongxuan’s chest, Xiao Chiye still did not look as if he had the
intention to pull him out.
“Xiao’Er…” Xi Hongxuan enunciated his words with hatred. The
water swiftly brimmed over his head. He struggled all he could as
he choked on foul water and flailed about for survival.
By the time Xi Hongxuan was dragged up, he had already been
submerged until his entire mouth reeked of sewage. As Xiao Chiye
lifted him, he dug his fingers hard into Xiao Chiye’s arms, cutting a
sorry sight as he craned his neck and gasped under his breath,
“Screw. Your. Mother!”
Xiao Chiye flipped his hand over to press him down, and Xi
Hongxuan clawed at the mud as the sludge filled his mouth and
nose. This sense of suffocation made him rake and pull with all his
might, but he could not make Xiao Chiye’s iron arms budge even
the slightest.
Xiao Chiye had the intent to kill, but he could not hold him
down to his death for real. The people at the back had yet to
withdraw completely, and Li Jianheng had been awake and sober
when he was taken out.
Xiao Chiye lifted him by the back of his collar and lowered his
head to say sinisterly, “Say that to me again.”

Footnotes
1. The first I Li Jianheng uses to refer to himself here is the
more common “我”, before he corrected it to “朕”, which is an
imperial term for “I” exclusively used by the Emperor.
2. 王侯将相，宁有种乎 a rhetorical question; Is there anyone
who is born to be a king, a duke, a general, or a minister?
Are kings and nobles given their high status by birth? (=
Every human, regardless of birth, can become something
great if she or he applies himself.)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 63 : DREDGE

Translated with: Eggy<3

Xi Hongxuan trembled as he puked, his face terrifying pale.

Han Jin, who was behind them, saw that the situation did not bode
well and hurriedly waded over to stop them. Xiao Chiye released
his hands and watched as Xi Hongxuan was lifted into the sedan.
The rain was still pouring, and all the major and minor officials
were crying as they chased after Li Jianheng’s sedan and swarmed
their way back to the palace gates.
Pan Xiangjie ran until his shoes fell off. The old man lifted the
hem of his robe, panting and not forgetting to cry out “Your
Majesty”. Everyone around them was more or less the same. Only
Hai Liangyi was as dignified as ever as he followed the sedan the
entire way back to the palace.
The imperial physicians, who have long been waiting, rushed
over to meet them in a fluster, and the chaotic procession
continued into the inner palace where a plainly dressed Mu Ru
came to receive them. The moment she saw Li Jianheng all
covered in blood, her tears began to flow.
The Empress Dowager let Hua Xiangyi help her out and said in
a hostile tone to Han Cheng, “It’s one thing for you to be anxious,
but why did you call a bunch of elder excellencies to run along? All
of them are advanced in age, and they have all got caught in the
rain. Won’t it exacerbate the situation further if anything were to
happen to them?!”
There was a rustle as the Imperial Bodyguards kneeled. Han
Cheng said, “This humble subject deserves death.”
“Hurry over and get them to prepare the soup and distribute
clothes.” The Empress Dowager then said to the ministers. “It
touches me to see how sincere and loyal everyone is. Now that His
Majesty is already back at the palace, there’s no need for any rush
at this point in time. The weather is so cold. Everyone, please head
to the side hall to seek shelter from the wind and have a bowl of
hot soup. Do not fall ill at this juncture.”
The various officials kowtowed to say their thanks.
The Empress Dowager said again, “Grand Secretary and the
Grand Secretariat, as well as the excellencies of the various
bureaus, please come in for a talk.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Cen Yu was not around. He remained at Donglong Street to
dredge up the public sewers together with Xiao Chiye. Yu Xiaozai,
who was of low official grade, followed behind them and helped
Cen Yu to carry the straw raincoat.
Xiao Chiye’s head and face were thoroughly drenched in water.
The chilly wind blew until everyone all around was trembling, yet
he was not the least bit affected. While digging up the two men
earlier, he had alone lifted up that weight that was near a hundred
jin.1 At present, he was wrapping a handkerchief around the area
between his thumb and index finger, with an expression that did
not look too good.
“It’s all poverty-stricken households living in the low-lying area.
It isn’t easy for them to have a house built out of broken wood to
live in. Nine out of ten did not give their agreements when they
heard that the houses are going to be demolished.” With his bare
feet soaking in the water, Cen Yu lifted the hem of his soaked
official robe and tucked it around his waist. He continued, “Only
Donglong Street is flooded today because Donglong Street is right
next to Kailing River. If this rain doesn’t stop, Viceroy, then the water
level on the other streets will rise tomorrow too.”
“If the imperial court is willing to give those poverty-stricken
households whose houses are demolished a subsidy of five taels of
silver, then they will all be willing.” Partially covered in mud, Tantai
Hu said, “They just want to have a place to stay. As long as we are
willing to subsidize them money, then it won’t be a problem. This
humble subject feels that those who obstruct the dredging are the
big residences. Each of those residences violated the regulations
to expand their lands, and there have been many cases where they
come to blows with one another in private. Who would be willing to
wreck a perfectly good house for just five taels of silvers now that
we are telling them to tear down their houses? They won’t even
respond if we knock on their doors!”
“I’m afraid we can’t come to an agreement regarding the
subsidy.” Cen Yu, who had run around in official circles for a long
time, was very much aware of the ins and outs of it. He said, “It is on
account of the Grand Secretary Hai that the Ministry of Revenue is
willing to take out the money to offer aid reliefs to the disaster
victims. This sum of money still has to be separately counted when
the time comes. They will never agree if they still have to subsidize
each household five taels of silver.”
“Your Excellency, don’t hold it against this uncouth fellow for
saying something unpleasant, but why are you still thinking about
the money at this juncture?!” Tantai Hu’s chest heaved. “An
epidemic might break out once this water rises and people die! At
that point, it’d be pointless keeping the silver!”
“Brother Hu, don’t get worked up.” Yu Xiaozai raised his hands
to soothe everyone. He said, “You don’t have a clear idea of this
account. The Ministry of Revenue has their own difficulties. They
don’t really begrudge this amount. As it nears the inspection, they
will have a peace of mind if they can do a wonderful job on this
matter. It will make them look good, so they will only be too happy
to do it, won’t they? But why are they unwilling? It’s all because they
are embarrassingly short of cash! Let’s say they take this sum of
money out now to deal with the emergency at hand. In a few more
days, it will be the spring plowing farming season in the various
lands. There is not a single harvest in the places affected by
disasters last year. Based on the localities’ reports, the Ministry of
Revenue has to consider allocating money to the localities so that
the affected local prefectural yamen or Provincial Administration
Commissioners can use the money to buy seeds from the
neighboring provinces with bumper harvests. This is a major issue
concerning the meals of hundreds of thousands of people. So how
would they dare to act rashly and touch the existing money in the
state treasury? Moreover, since these people are expanding their
lands against the law, they should be found guilty and punished
according to the law if the matter of illegal occupation of the public
ditches was to be investigated and pursued. The imperial court has
not even punished them, so how can they dig into the coffers to
give them money instead? If they don’t run through this matter
clearly, then our Chief Surveillance Bureau will have to impeach
their Ministry of Revenue in the future. That’s why everyone is in a
spot.”
Yu Xiaozai had the ability to calm people down. When those
slightly accented words left his mouth, even the most major of
issues could wait. What he said was the truth, not because he was
taking sides with anyone. The problem was precisely what he had
said.
The localities’ plowing and planting season in spring directly
concerned Dazhou’s course of action this year. The army provisions
of two major strategic frontier lands depended on the grain
harvests of Juexi’s thirteen cities and Hezhou’s frontline. So no one
dared to be slipshod. This was their number one priority.
What could they do?
Forcibly going ahead with the demolition would rouse public
wrath. Half of the men from the Imperial Army were currently from
military households in Qudu. There weren’t many of them who
lived in Donglong Street, but there weren’t just a few either. When
Hai Liangyi entrusted this matter to the Imperial Army, he was, in
fact, entrusting it to Xiao Chiye. Because once this matter was
handed over to the Eight Great Training Divisions, then there
would be no consideration of any compromise. Han Jin would
directly call for the place to be leveled outright. But there was no
way they could simply overlook the potential danger that could
arise as a result of this.
He had meant for Xiao Chiye to think of a way.
Xiao Chiye bandaged the area between his thumb and index
finger tightly. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a man walking
over in the rain.
Shen Zechuan cupped his hands in greeting to them and said,
“Just as I’ve guessed. All the gentlemen are here. How’s the
progress for the public ditches?”
“It’s a tough one to deal with.” Cen Yu let out a long sigh. “We
can’t very well just tear them down.”
 “Ultimately, what makes it hard for the Ministry of Revenue is
that they can’t figure out the expense quota for the upcoming
spring plow.” Although Shen Zechuan looked calm, his cheeks
were tinged with red. He looked at the rain and said, “This account
can actually be estimated. This untalented one has seen the
Imperial Bodyguards’ records archives, so I have some insights
regarding it. Would the Viceroy mind hearing what I have to say?”
Xiao Chiye stared at him and said, “Judge, please go ahead
and voice it.”
Shen Zechuan thought for a moment, then said, “Last year,
when the new emperor ascended the throne, there was general
amnesty granted to various lands. Consequently, Juexi was
exempted from 30% taxes. They had a bumper year last year. Other
than Huaizhou and Dunzhou of Zhongbo, both of which reported
damages caused by disasters, the others all had no problem.
Viceroy, Dunzhou is hard-pressed for food this year. The prefectural
yamen will definitely have to buy grains from Cizhou, whose
granaries are filled to the brim. There was heavy snow at the start
of the year, with the snow in Zhongbo blanketing all the houses.
Didn’t the Hereditary Prince set aside 40,000 taels from Libei
Armored Cavalry’s military funds this year for Cizhou so that they
would have enough for aid relief? You can get Cizhou to repay this
favor now. Ask the Hereditary Prince to send a letter to Cizhou’s
Prefectural Prefect, Zhou Gui, and get him to give a rebate for the
grains he sells to Dunzhou based on that 40,000 taels. That way,
the Ministry of Revenue will be able to save on their allocation of
funds to Cizhou and use that money for the current house
demolition subsidies.”
Yu Xiaozai pondered over it again and said, “But the matter of
illegally occupying public ditches is still a crime if it were to be
pursued further. The Ministry of Revenue can’t do it, right?”
“The illegal occupation of public ditches is indeed punishable
by the law. But special times require special treatment. We can’t just
follow the set rules and apply the same old rigid rules to the
situation every time.” Shen Zechuan paused for a moment. “The
imperial court can’t meet the disaster victims. So this subsidy is a
kindness, an act of imperial magnanimity. It’s most appropriate for
His Excellency Cen to be the one to step forth and discuss this
matter. The Ministry of Revenue is really not that hard-hearted
either. As long as it isn’t wrong, the account is clear, and the money
is sufficient, they are sure to proceed right at once.”
The inspection was just around the corner, and the assessments
and evaluations were related to the promotion of personnel from
the various bureaus. Everyone would be more than willing to get an
“outstanding”. So, as long as it was reasonable enough, they would
certainly be willing to do it.
“Let’s talk about Cizhou again.” Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao
Chiye. “Zhongbo wants to construct the former city this year.
Although we still don’t know which excellency will be assigned, it is
still going to be an expense to deploy manpower when the time
comes. The Viceroy is in Cizhou’s favor because of the matter this
time. When the time to construct the former city, you can tag that
manpower expenditure on those whose houses were demolished
today, and let the various households allocate manpower to Cizhou
for about a month or so to provide manual labor with the Imperial
Army escorting them. It can also be considered a punishment for
illegally occupying the public ditches. These five taels of silver
won’t be delayed or owed; the ones issuing them and the ones
receiving them can all do so with a peace of mind.”
Not only that, with this matter, Cizhou would also shift from
being indebted to Libei to a relationship of mutual help and
assistance. As long as Zhou Gui was not a fool, he would
understand this to be an opportunity to make friends.
As soon as the words left Shen Zechuan’s mouth, Yu Xiaozai
shook open the straw raincoat and draped it over Cen Yu.
Cen Yu was going to do it right away. He strode forward and
patted Shen Zechuan’s shoulder heavily and said, “Your Excellency
the Judge, time is pressing, so I won’t say more. Once this is over, I,
Cen Yu, shall prepare some simple meal with wine in my humble
abode and respectfully await your visit!”
He put on his bamboo hat and left with Yu Xiaozai.
“How is it going in the palace?” Xiao Chiye grasped hold of
Shen Zechuan’s wrists.
Tantai Hu made as if to speak, but stopped and said nothing.
 Shen Zechuan backhandedly hooked the authority token on his
waist and looked at it for a moment before saying, “The Empress
Dowager has summoned the top ministers of the various bureaus,
ready to settle accounts with them. It’s just as well you aren’t
among them. The public ditches have to be dredged as soon as
possible. There are some remarks made out of courtesy earlier. But
you have to understand that if you still don’t unclog the ditches
these few days, then you will be called to account.”
It was inappropriate for Xiao Chiye to touch Shen Zechuan
again as both men stood at this spot. But when he saw Shen
Zechuan getting doused with the rainwater until he looked visibly
sick, he said, “The Secretariat Elder told you to keep a watch in the
palace, so go back. You just need to sit in the office to drink a cup
of hot tea with your eyes on the door.”
“That’s Han Cheng’s job.” Shen Zechuan turned his head. “… It
worries me that shifu is at Zhao Zui Temple. There’s no time to lose.
Go about your work first. I have to follow the men from the Ministry
of Revenue and handle the aid reliefs for the disaster victims
behind the scenes.”
Xiao Chiye still wanted to say something, but Han Jin, at the
other end, was already lifting his shoes and calling out to him. So
Xiao Chiye could only release his hands and retreated a few steps
to turn around and leave with Tantai Hu and Chen Yang in tow.
Shen Zechuan had a splitting headache, although the pouring
rain cleared up his mind a little. He turned around to call out to Ge
Qingqing and brought him towards the low-lying area.
Dredging the public ditches was not an easy task. The work
was dirty and tiring. The men from the Ministry of Revenue even
had to change their shoes and lift their robes when they went into
the water. Those on the job were all cowering under the awning,
not even wanting to get wet. In any case, this was a task Hai Liangyi
gave to the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Army. They were
merely here to assist.
When Shen Zechuan arrived, he saw that there were not even
enough of those gathered to count with all his ten fingers. He knew
that those at the bottom ladder of the Ministry of Revenue who
were used to muddle along were the most slippery; unless they
had something to gain, they could not be ordered about.
Ge Qingqing asked, “It’s about to be dark soon. Why are there
so few people?”
Fawning and bowing to Shen Zechuan in subservience, the
official invited him for a seat and said, “We couldn’t get them all
here. The Imperial Army ahead of us didn’t finish digging, did
they? It’s not too late to call for more people tomorrow morning
once they are done digging tonight. No rush. Your Excellency,
come and sit! Look at how soaked you are! Have this cup of hot
tea. At least warm yourself up. Don’t let yourself get frozen!”
Shen Zechuan did not move. He looked at the awning and
smiled, “Did you set this up yourself? Good job.”
That official held out the tea and grinned from ear to ear, “Of
course! Everyone has been so busy; who’d be worrying about us?
We could only build it ourselves…”
His voice trailed off. The Imperial Bodyguards stood solemnly
behind Shen Zechuan and watched him without so much a smile.
Shen Zechuan wasn’t too bad as he received the tea and took a
sip.
The official toadied up to him. “This is fine tea from Hezhou,
especially steeped for Your Excellency—”
Shen Zechuan flipped his wrist and splashed the tea all over his
face. The official yelled in shock and backed off. Shen Zechuan
tapped on the bottom of the upside-down teacup with his
fingertips and cleared the cup of the tea leaves, all the while with
the smile still on his face. Amidst the downpour, his smiling face
was even more luscious and pleasing to the eyes.
“As for this tea…” Shen Zechuan spoke gently, “Consider it a
toast from me to you. Why didn’t you drink it?”
The official hastily wiped the tea leaves off his face in a fluster
and said, “T-too quick…”
“When the King of Hell calls for you, it won’t do for you not to
respond quickly.” Throwing aside the teacup, Shen Zechuan said,
“The Grand Secretary gave strict orders to the Imperial Bodyguards
to supervise and oversee the matter of aid relief. I reckon the order
of immediate execution hanging around your neck isn’t as tight as
we’d like. You must drink up all this tea that I’ve splashed on the
ground. Since you can’t receive it standing, allow me to send you
on your way so you can finish the drink when you’re six feet
under.”
The official kneeled to the floor in a panic and said, “Y-Your
Excellency, how can you do this?! At any rate, this humble
subordinate is a sixth-grade official of the imperial court. H-how
can you execute as you please…”
“The Imperial Prison has never taken in anyone below fourth-
grade!” Ge Qingqing lifted the hem of his robe and kicked him
into the water puddle. “If the Judge has ordered you to drink, then
drink you must. You can decide whether you’d like to drink it alive,
or drink it in the underworld when you are dead.”
The official rolled into the water. Seeing Shen Zechuan staring
at him with his hand on his blade, he immediately cupped the
water in his hands and stuffed it into his mouth, crying, “I will drink
it! I will drink it!”
The surrounding men standing and sitting in various postures
jesting and clowning around all quietly stood to stand well-
mannerly at the side.
Shen Zechuan swept a glance at them and said, “Can this task
be done immediately?”
Everyone answered in unison, “We are at Your Excellency the
Judge’s disposal.”
“I’m just a mere supervisor and inspector; what would I know
about the ins and outs of things?” Shen Zechuan took out the blue
handkerchief to wipe his hands and said with a smile, “I wouldn’t
dare to put the various gentlemen at my disposal. Us Imperial
Bodyguards will just follow you gentlemen. So, shall we go?”
Who would still dare to remain behind?!
That official trembled as he tried to come up as well. Shen
Zechuan glanced at him, and he retreated and stammered, “Your,
Your Excellency…”
“We’re on this street.” Shen Zechuan said soothingly before
leaving, “Drink it all up before you come over.”
The sky had already completely darkened, but the rain still
showed no signs of stopping. No matter how imposing and awe-
inspiring the Imperial Bodyguards were, they also had to enter the
water and soak in it until they reeked all over. Feeling the world
spinning when he got up, Shen Zechuan braced himself with a
hand on a public ditch plank and composed himself for a moment.
Everyone around him was busying around, so no one noticed it.
Only Ge Qingqing hurriedly tried to persuade him in a whisper,
“There’s no hurry for now. It’s fine to rest for a moment!”
Shen Zechuan forced a smile, feeling as if he must not open his
mouth; the taste of nausea was already pushing up against his
throat. Bracing himself against the plank, he went up and felt
around for a water bag under the partially collapsed humble
abode.
There was a sudden weight on his back as someone covered
up Shen Zechuan’s head. Shen Zechuan was still crouching, and
the obstruction before him was lifted once again. Xiao Chiye
gasped for breath as he suddenly burrowed his way in and stuffed
the still warm lunchbox to him. The next moment, he burrowed his
way out and lifted his foot to leave.
Shen Zechuan pushed aside the overcoat that was covering his
head. That man who had already taken a few steps away returned
the way he came. He stepped on the collapsed debris and
crouched down to cup Shen Zechuan’s face in his palms, then
kissed him hard. After he was done kissing, he rubbed Shen
Zechuan’s cheeks vigorously.
Rainwater poured noisily. Xiao Chiye was panting hard. He
looked at Shen Zechuan under the dimness for a split second.
Without saying a word, he turned and ran. He flipped over with
agility and vigor, putting on the dirty, wet robe hanging over the
crook of his arm again as he sped off into the alley.
If it weren’t for time constraints.
Xiao Chiye tugged at his collars as he made his way across the
ruins. Stepping on the filth as he hurried over to where the Imperial
Army was, he cursed—
Damn it!
Footnotes
1. 斤 jin; a catty. 1 catty equal to 0.5kg
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 64 : BARRAGE OF RAIN

The overcoat was too big, and it slid down along his shoulders.
Shen Zechuan scooped it up. That warmth enveloped him as his
entire being soaked in Xiao Chiye’s scent.
Shen Zechuan fished out the handkerchief again to wipe the
cheeks that Xiao Chiye had made wet with his rubs. On this noisy,
rainy night, he could not help but sniff at that handkerchief again.
It was all Xiao Chiye’s scent.
Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes for a moment and nuzzled the
handkerchief with the tip of his nose as the gloom at the corners of
his eyes and tips of his eyebrows dissipated.
The upper tier of that lunchbox was filled with steamed twisted
rolls, while the bottom contained hot medicinal decoction. Hot
steam rose the instant the lid was lifted. It was not easy to make a
hot meal on this night. Even Xiao Chiye would have to run like mad
to rush his way here before hurrying back.
Ge Qingqing initially wanted to pour a cup of tea for Shen
Zechuan. When he climbed his way up to see the latter drinking the
medicine, he could not help but feel stunned before he said in
delight, “So you have it all arranged. That’s great. I was just
thinking of sending someone to buy a bowl of medicine.”
Shen Zechuan downed the medicine and wiped the corners of
his lips with his fingers. He asked, “To what end has this street been
torn down?”
“Just past Ouhua Pavilion. It’s hard to tear down areas where
the collapse is severe.” Ge Qingqing rolled up his sleeves and said,
“There’s something fishy about this matter.”
“Another unexplainable account.” Shen Zechuan sat up and
composed himself for a moment before continuing, “Only His
Majesty himself knows who the one who sent him out of the palace
is. If he refuses to say, then this case is a dead end.”
“As I see it, this collapse is not a coincidence. Donglong Street
gets submerged every year, yet Ouhua Pavilion just had to collapse
last night.” Ge Qingqing watched the rainy night, then looked at
Shen Zechuan. “Do you have any inkling?”
 Shen Zechuan had been thinking about this matter since this
morning. The collapse had wiped out all traces in Ouhua Pavilion,
and this was, by no means, a coincidence. Xi Hongxuan was a man
who treasured his life. He had only just renovated Ouhua Pavilion
some time back, and those who knew about the hollowed-out
bottom were few and far between.
Shen Zechuan’s widened eyes looked out into the rainy night.
As if saying to himself, he said, “There’s no need to fret. There’s
bound to be a follow-up move. We still don’t know who the target is
this time.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The imperial physician retreated from the bedchamber and
paid his obeisances to the Empress Dowager and the others. From
where she was behind the hanging curtain separating them, the
Empress Dowager leaned forward to inquire about Li Jianheng’s
condition. The imperial physician gave his report in detail. It was
only when she heard that the bleeding had stopped that she felt
relieved.
“This matter is bizarre.” The Empress Dowager straightened up
in her seat and said, “To think not a single person knew when the
Son of Heaven had left the palace and headed out. How can
anyone rest reassured given the state of patrols within and outside
the palace now?”
None of the old ministers below uttered a word. All of them
hung their heads in silence, like clay sculptures.
The Empress Dowager said, “I’m a member of the imperial
harem. I’m not supposed to interfere in governmental affairs. But
this, once again, concerns His Majesty’s safety. As his mother, I’m
truly worriedly watching with my hair all gray and tears all ran dry.1
How can I take another scare like this? Excellencies, you ought to
give me an explanation this time!”
On hearing this, Pan Xiangjie’s heart clenched.
After a moment of silence, Kong Qiu said, “The patrols in the
inner palace might not necessarily be able to stop His Majesty even
if they want to. In this subject’s opinion, Xi Hongxuan should be
severely punished this time! If he had not used those temptresses
from foreign lands to lure His Majesty, then why would His Majesty
leave the palace?”
“That’s right.” The Minister of Revenue, Wei Huaigu, was the
elder di brother2 of Wei Huaixing, who had denounced Xiao Chiye
before. Wei Huaigu was the current head of the Wei Clan. He
usually did not have the habit of speaking out, but this time, he
said, “Xi Hongxuan deserves to be punished, but his crime does
not merit the punishment of death. This subject feels that it’s the
Ministry of Works the blame should fall on this time. They are the
ones in charge of the repairs in Qudu. Your Excellency Pan, how
could you let the public ditches get clogged to such an extent?”
Knowing that Wei Huaigu was about to shift the blame, Pan
Xiangjie immediately fell to his knees and said to the Empress
Dowager, “I ask of Your Majesties to discern the truth and render
fair judgment! Our Ministry of Works has already notified the
Ministry of Revenue regarding the blockage of the public ditches
during Emperor Xiande’s reign, hoping that they can allocate some
money for us to carry out repair works. But the Ministry of Revenue
kept delaying the approval of funds. What can the Ministry of
Works do? This is not a minor construction work!”
Wei Huaigu was in no hurry. He was even more of a tough nut
to deal with than Wei Huaixing. He merely said, “Our Ministry of
Revenue has to discuss it with the Grand Secretariat in order for the
funds to be moved. At that time, approval has yet to go through
Secretariat Elder Hua, so who would dare to allocate the funds
indiscriminately? Qudu has to clean up the mess in the Six
Prefectures of Zhongbo during those few years. The treasury is
almost emptied out. Even if we have the intention to help, we do
not have the means.”
“Everyone has their difficulties.” Pang Xiangjie said, “So why are
you only holding our Ministry of Works responsible? Left Censor-in-
chief, Cen Xunyi, wants to impeach the Ministry of Works for
negligence in irrigation works, saying that we failed to secure the
embankment of the Kailing River. But did it collapse today? No!
This shows that the Ministry of Works has never cut corners; we are
dependable and diligent when it comes to our work! If we had the
money, we would have long cleared out the public ditches!”
 The Ministry of Revenue would not acknowledge this debt, and
the Ministry of Works would not shoulder this blame. Both parties
were elders of the Eight Great Clans. Neither of them was willing to
take a step back, and so they both simply stood here and passed
the buck around.
Kong Qiu almost wanted to sneer. He was from a humble
background, and an official that Hai Liangyi himself had lifted to
this position. He could work together with the ministers from the
noble clans, but he could not be of the same mind with them. Now
that he was hearing them kicking the ball around, he felt vexed
and fed up.
It was true that the Ministry of Works had made a report before.
But who was the one who reported it? It was a subordinate, a minor
official, who had never set foot into the court. Did Pan Xiangjie take
it seriously? If he did, he would have taken it up with the Ministry of
Revenue himself, but he did not. Did the Ministry of Revenue know?
They did. What was the relationship between Wei Huaigu and Hua
Siqian? Both clans could be considered in-laws. Although they did
not seem to be on close terms in recent years, the ties still existed.
Wei Huaigu was far more resourceful than Wei Huaixing, and he
was the one who could discuss political affairs with Hua Siqian. But
he had never really talked to Hua Siqian about this matter. This was
a matter they simply muddled their way through—If you drowned,
then you deserved it; you could only blame your own bad luck!
Sitting behind the curtain, the Empress Dowager saw through
these people clearly. Hua Xiangyi stood behind her, listening with
rapt attention.
Hai Liangyi finally coughed a few times. Covering his mouth
with a handkerchief, he said, “There was indeed this one account
in the Grand Secretariat’s past reported accounts. But it was only
once, and no one bothered to ask about it afterward. Now that the
place has collapsed, everyone remembers it, but is this year the first
time the water level rose? Let’s not bring up what happened way
back, but did the water level rise during spring last year and the
year before last? Did the Ministry of Works report those rises?”
Pan Xiangjie turned his head away and said remorsefully,
“When the Grand Secretary puts it that way… it’s indeed an
oversight on our Ministry of Works’ part. But it really can’t be
helped. What’s of essence now is to dredge up the ditches without
delay.”
“The Ministry of Revenue has also allocated the money to the
disaster victims.” Wei Huaigu said. “The situation is critical at
present. The appropriation of blame can wait until the public
ditches have been dredged. Is the Eight Great Training Divisions
the ones digging right now?”
The Minister of War, Chen Zhenyan, replied succinctly, “It’s the
Imperial Army. Viceroy Xiao is still soaking in the water.”
The Empress Dowager was about to speak up when the palace
maid inside hurriedly rushed out and fell to her knees on the
ground. She said, “To report to Your Majesty, His Majesty has
suddenly developed a fever. His back is covered all over in
rashes!”
The Empress Dowager suddenly rose to her feet and exclaimed
in shock, “What?”
Hai Liangyi bent over and started to cough violently. Hua
Xiangyi held the Empress Dowager to support her and promptly
made a decision. “Summon the imperial physician! And support
the Secretariat Elder, quick!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xi Hongxuan had broken out into rashes too. The one who
discovered it first was the military medic of the Eight Great Training
Divisions. He promptly lifted the hem of his robe and hurried out to
report to Han Jin.
Han Jin wiped his face, still feeling a little dumbfounded as he
said, “Is it eczema? Just dispel the cold and it’ll be fine?”
“It’s not eczema.” The medic was so anxious that he stomped
his foot. “How is that eczema? It’s an epidemic disease!”
Now, it was not just Han Jin whose expression changed; the
surrounding Eight Great Training Divisions’ soldiers who were still
in the water had all gone pale. Han Jin turned his head back and
saw the Imperial Army still busying around a short distance away.
He waded through the water to them and grasped hold of Chen
Yang to yell, “Where is the Viceroy? Call the Viceroy over quickly.
It’s a matter of urgency!”
 Xiao Chiye pushed away the broken plank and walked over,
asking, “What is it?”
Han Jin’s hands trembled as he smeared the dirty water on his
clothes and said, “We can’t pull them down anymore or soak in this
water either! Viceroy, an epidemic has broken out!”
There was a cold glint in Xiao Chiye’s eyes as he asked, “Who
got it first?”
“Xi Hongxuan.” Han Jin’s breathing was hurried. “Is His, His
Majesty…”
“Gu Jin!” Xiao Chiye immediately commanded. “Rush to the
palace and report this matter to Secretariat Elder Hai!”
Gu Jin climbed up the bank and sped off. In a few steps, he
somersaulted to the rooftop and stepped across the ridge of the
roof to leap his way to the palace gates.
“Take me to see Xi Hongxuan.” Xiao Chiye said in a steady
voice. “Now!”
Xi Hongxuan was feverish and hot all over. Medicine had only
just been applied to his crushed legs, and now his legs were
already drenched in sweat. He lay on the bed, delirious and
incoherent.
The medic wiped his sweat and said, “Four hours earlier, he still
looked as if he had caught a little cold. I fed him medicine, and his
fever subsided. But who knew that when I touched him earlier, his
fever was back with even more of a vengeance! When I changed
the medicine for his legs and pulled down his pants for a look, it
was all covered in rashes!”
Xiao Chiye looked at those rashes and questioned, “Are you
sure it’s an epidemic disease?”
The medic said, “During the reign of Yongyi, an epidemic like
this had broken out in the City of Dancheng. It was reported to the
Imperial Academy of Medicine; they have past records of it on file.
Viceroy, once this rash spreads all over the body, the high fever will
not subside. In another four hours, the infected will fall unconscious
and keep vomiting. I’m afraid there are still sick people among the
disaster victims. Without losing any time, Zhao Zui Temple must
arrange for the decoction of the relevant herbs as a precaution!”
 Afraid now, Han Jin hastily asked, “What caused this? There
has to be a reason. Otherwise, how are we going to continue
digging this ditch?”
The medic said, “We’re now at the point when winter transits
into spring. It’s damp and cold. The low-lying area gathers sewage
and filth throughout the year. Their houses are closely clustered
together; it’s so cramped that there’s not even a window. The lack
of sunlight will make the people prone to illnesses.”
“If that’s the case, then how did he get infected?” Xiao Chiye
furrowed his eyebrows. “Ouhua Pavilion is far from the low-lying
area, and there are people cleaning the connected alleys at the
back, so there’s no contact with contaminated objects. Is the reason
just because he soaked in the swill water those few hours during
the collapse?”
The medic hesitated. He wiped his sweat again and mustered
out the courage to say, “I’ll be honest with the Viceroy. I’m afraid he
did not contract this illness during the collapse, but when he was
fooling around in the brothel before the collapse. Second Young
Master Xi is already burning up to such an extent, then His Majesty
—”
“Viceroy!” Meng Rui lifted the curtain and entered with a
solemn expression. “Over ten people have suddenly collapsed at
Zhao Zui Temple. Two men from the Ministry of Revenue who are
here on duty have collapsed too!”
Xiao Chiye was about to give his command when Chen Yang,
all drenched in rainwater, barged in and said, “Master! Laohu is
also down with a fever!”
The sound of the rain outside suddenly grew urgent. Like battle
drums sounding on all sides, they came pounding down for all
they were worth, as if they wanted to shatter this pitch-black night.
Xiao Chiye abruptly lifted the curtain and stepped out. He said,
“It’ll be too late to wait for the approval. Head over to the various
major medicinal stores on Shenwu Street to get the medicine. Help
anyone who caught a cold, has a fever, is vomiting, or is physically
weak to Zhao Zui Temple. Withdraw the rest of the men. Get the
men on duty from the Ministry of Revenue to start decocting the
herbal medicine! Ding Tao!”
 Ding Tao said, “Young Master!”
Xiao Chiye tugged Ding Tao over, breathing heavily in the rain
as he whispered, “Tell Shen Lanzhou to leave immediately!”

Special Thanks to: Eggy

Footnotes
1. 白发愁看泪眼枯 Line from the poem “Parting
from/Bidding Farewell to My Old Mother”《别老母》by
Huang Jingren (黄景仁)
2. 嫡长兄 Elder di brother, i.e., brother of the same mother
who is the legal wife.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 65 : EPIDEMIC

Raindrops bounced all over, while splotches of mud spattered.

People hurried in and out of Zhao Zui Temple. The awning to
provide shelter from the rain had already been erected, and the
strong, bitter aroma of the herbal decoction pervaded the air
everywhere. Even the Imperial Bodyguards keeping an eye on the
stoves were covering their noses and mouths with handkerchiefs.
With a cloth wrapped around his head, Qi Huilian distributed
the medicinal decoction together with Ji Gang. Seeing the feverish
man who had fallen unconscious vaguely mumbling some words,
he scrutinized him for a moment.
Ji Gang was clearing the bowls with nimble movements, but
when he saw an unmoving Grand Mentor, he asked, “What’s
wrong?”
“This is the Dancheng epidemic disease.” Qi Huilian pushed
apart the patient’s collars. “The rashes will spread over his body.
We cannot get close to him. It’s contagious.”
Ji Gang asked, “Can it be treated?”
Qi Huilian’s scalp itched. He scratched it a few times and said,
“Yes, but it’s troublesome. The public ditches must continue to be
dug, but who knows if any of the infected have spat or pissed in the
water? If the diggers were to get infected without realizing it and
come into contact with the others, then wouldn’t another bunch of
them topple over ill?”
“Such a sin.” Ji Gang looked beneath the rain shelter awning.
“What should be done then?”
“What should be done…” Qi Huilian suddenly pulled up the
cloth to cover his face as he looked at Zhao Zui Temple’s entrance
where some people had come. He whispered, “It all depends on
fate. First of all, the public has to be reassured; there’s no room for
unrest. Then, assemble all the big and small medicinal stores in
Qudu. The infected have to be quarantined and isolated.”
“We can’t stay for long too.” Ji Gang put the bowl down.
“There’ll be someone handling this matter. I’ll ask Chuan-er to
leave.”
 “Lanzhou can’t leave.” Qi Huilian said. “He’s the one handling
this matter. At such a juncture, can you count on Han Cheng to step
forward and handle this? All of them can hardly wait to hide and
dodge this bullet.”
“No!” Ji Gang turned pale. “He’s only just a fifth-grade Judge
now. He doesn’t even have the qualifications of a fourth-grade to
attend court. So how can they let him do it? This is a major issue.
There are plenty of higher-ranking people with more authority and
power than him!”
“Who are you reasoning with?” Qi Huilian put down the bowls.
“There’s nothing you can do if Han Cheng keeps him here in the
name of gaining experience! Once the disease starts spreading,
which high-ranking official would be willing to come down here?
Even Hai Liangyi won’t be able to come! Besides, Lanzhou can’t
leave. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. If he succeeds, he can
get promoted again! A promo—”
Ji Gang shoved him away abruptly and said, “What nonsense
are you spouting?!”
Qi Huilian fell to the ground and climbed back to his feet. He
said, “What are you still waiting for if you don’t seize the
opportunity to act now?!” His temper flared too. “This is the time
when people trample over one another for personal gain. He has to
do it no matter what! Do you understand?”
“I don’t care to understand.” Ji Gang flushed with rage. “I’m
telling him to leave. I have to take him away!”
After saying that, Ji Gang moved to head inside. Qiao Tianya
walked out towards him and blocked his path.
“Those in Zhao Zui Temple will be evacuated out. Only infected
patients can remain inside. Shifu, don’t go in again.” Qiao Tianya
said with a smile. “Teacher’s journals and notes have already been
shifted to the old residence. Master told me to rent a small building
on Shenwu Street for both of you. It’s close to the palace gates, so
there’s no way it can get flooded.”
“Move aside!” Ji Gang said. “It’s all the infected inside, so how
can Chuan-er stay for long? I have to talk to him!”
Qiao Tianya reined in his smile and said with a stern
countenance, “Shifu, why put me in a spot? Since Master has
already given the instructions, then there’s absolutely no reason to
change it. It’s all the infected here. Master will worry if you remain
here. Please come with me on account of his filial piety.”
Hearing the sound of intense coughing all around, Ji Gang
grew even more anxious. He grabbed Qiao Tianya’s arms and
pushed it back. Qiao Tianya had already anticipated that he would
make a move, so he promptly took the blow. Half of his arm had
gone numb, but his legs were faster as he moved to block Ji Gang
with his entire body.
“Shifu!” Qiao Tianya said in hushed tones, “Calm down! For
Master to make such an arrangement, he would naturally already
have a countermeasure in mind. I still have to return here later. Let
us leave earlier, and Master can go back earlier too, alright? There
are so many pairs of eyes watching. Do you think you can really
take him away? Where can you go?”
This “where can you go” calmed Ji Gang down. He looked at
the interior for a long time, then flicked his sleeves and trembled as
he pointed at Qi Huilian. But in the end, he said not another word
more.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan sat on the bench and closed his eyes to rest. His
ears had been buzzing, and he was presently feeling dizzy. Yet his
face betrayed none of his discomfort. It was only after a while when
he heard someone calling him that he opened his eyes. There was
not a single trace of weariness the instant he opened his eyes.
The official from the Ministry of Revenue said, “Your Excellency
the Judge, the supply of herbs isn’t sufficient. What are we going to
do tomorrow?”
“It’s a matter of grave importance. There won’t be a break in the
supply of herbs.” Shen Zechuan gathered the overcoat around him.
“The imperial physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine
ought to be here already. When the time comes, he will bring news
of the prepared herbs over as well. Tell them to continue decocting
the medicine. Don’t scrimp on the herbs.”
That official uttered an acknowledgment in response.
Seeing his panic-stricken expression, Shen Zechuan said,
“Which section of the Ministry of Revenue are you an official of?”
 The official hurriedly said, “This humble subordinate is not
really an official per se, but merely a minor official in charge of the
records of official documents.”
“We are all working for the people. It’s all the same whether you
are a major or minor official.” As Shen Zechuan spoke, he extended
his hand and pinched the center of his eyebrows. He composed
himself for a moment before he continued with a question, “What’s
your name?”
“This humble subordinate’s name is Liang Cuishan.”
“You will take over the supervision of the herbs tomorrow
morning. No matter how big or small, make a detailed record of
them.” Shen Zechuan said, “My guess is that the Imperial Army has
already gone to transfer the herbs. Time is tight. We most certainly
can’t wait for the palace’s memo, so the herbs these few days must
all be clearly recorded.”
He suddenly stopped and paused for a moment.
“Go and rest for now. Pay attention to your health these few
days. Report it immediately if you feel any discomfort.”
Liang Cuishan took his leave. The moment the curtain fell back
down, Shen Zechuan felt his forehead, which was scalding hot.
Ge Qingqing came in right after. Shocked at the sight, he
stepped forward and whispered, “Judge…”
Shen Zechuan asked with calm, “When did Xi Hongxuan get
the rashes?”
“Four hours after the medicine was applied.” Ge Qingqing said.
“The rashes started spreading up from his legs.”
“For me, I got the rashes first before the fever.” Shen Zechuan
said with a clear head. “The symptoms don’t match, so it’s probably
not an epidemic disease. But as a precaution, I’ll drink that
medicine too.”
Ge Qingqing felt a little more relieved. He said, “Fortunately,
you did not take leave this morning!”
The Emperor had been infected with the epidemic disease.
Which imperial physician would dare to say he got it while he was
out fooling around? They could only find an excuse to fob
everyone else off, saying that he got infected out of carelessness.
But who could infect the Emperor with the disease? If not his
personal eunuchs, then it was the guards who often moved around
the Emperor. Shen Zechuan was, at present, officially tasked to act
in the Emperor’s presence. Supposed he had taken leave this
morning, and someone got a handle against him after the fact and
made his eczema out to be rashes from the epidemic disease, then
he would lose the right to remain before the Emperor. Shen
Zechuan still carried the burden of Shen Wei’s crime on his back.
Once he went down, it would really be hard for him to rise again.
Even Shen Zechuan himself would find it hard to breathe at this
moment. Compared to schemes and intrigues, this kind of
unpredictable providence was hard to guard against. If he had not
been so cautious, he would have already fallen into someone else’s
grasp right now. His life and death would then be at the mercy of
just one utterance.
Seeing Shen Zechuan close his eyes, Ge Qingqing withdrew.
Shen Zechuan listened to the sound of the rain, but his
thoughts had already drifted far away. Those murky old memories
followed right on the heels of the sound of rain. He furrowed his
brows amid his vexation and weariness.
He did not like snowy days, nor did he like rainy days. The cold
and wetness would remind him of the Chashi sinkhole, of Ji Mu, of
all the days he had been on his knees at the mercy of another. In
addition, the cold and wetness would make him uneasy, and make
him gloomy. It would make him into nothing more than a fleshy
vessel that was all chilling forbearance and irritability within.
Just like this, Shen Zechuan leaned against the wall and dozed
off for a moment. But the more he dozed, the more drowsy he
became, until he fell asleep for real in this corner.
It was already late when Xiao Chiye arrived at Zhao Zui Temple.
He entered Zhao Zui Temple together with the imperial physician
who had hurried over. Behind him, Ding Tao looked miserable,
because he did not manage to find Shen Zechuan and missed the
time.
Xiao Chiye asked the Imperial Bodyguard who was decocting
the medicine, “Where’s the Judge? I’m looking for him!”
The Imperial Bodyguard, with half of his face covered, handed
him a bowl of medicine and said, “No matter who you are looking
for, you have to drink the medicine first. Viceroy, you Imperial Army
still has to enter the water. Please be careful and take care!”
Xiao Chiye choked down the medicine without a word.
The Imperial Bodyguard rose and yelled under the rain shelter
awning, “Qing-ge! Is Qing-ge there? Where’s our Judge? Please
notify him and tell him that Viceroy Xiao is looking for him.”
Ge Qingqing was lying on the bench, sleeping. On hearing
this, he swiftly sat up and draped his clothes around him before
walking over. When he saw that it was Xiao Chiye, he said, “The
Judge is resting inside… He hasn’t slept all night. Please take a rest
too, Viceroy. The Eight Great Training Divisions said they are going
to guard the city gates, so there will be only us digging up the rest
of this unfinished ditch tomorrow.”
“Physical work naturally has to be done by someone strong and
sturdy.” Xiao Chiye said as he walked. “Watch the door. Don’t let
anyone in.”
Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain and entered. There was no light lit
inside. He swept a glance around but did not find the man he was
looking for. It was only when he took a few more steps that he saw
Shen Zechuan, who was leaning against the wall.
Xiao Chiye was dirty, so he removed his outer garment and sat
beside Shen Zechuan to pour out the water in his boots. It was cold
inside the room. He put on his boots and went out again to borrow
a fire from the stove, then re-entered to find a copper basin to start
a fire.
Shen Zechuan opened his eyes and said, “Are you done
digging Donglong Street?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye stoked the fire. “Why aren’t you sleeping on
the bed?”
“Just taking a short nap.” Shen Zechuan said. “If I lie down, I
won’t be able to get up.”
Xiao Chiye shifted the basin before the bed and said, “Come
sleep on the bed. I’ll call you up later.”
Shen Zechuan did not stand on ceremony. He lay down, and
Xiao Chiye embraced him from behind and pressed his face
against his cheek. Shen Zechuan could still hear Xiao Chiye
whispering at first, but it grew progressively vague towards the
back.
It was only when Xiao Chiye heard Shen Zechuan’s breathing
deepened a little that he reached out to undo his collars and take a
closer look at those red rashes.
Not the same as Xi Hongxuan.
Xiao Chiye closed up Shen Zechuan’s clothes again and
hugged Shen Zechuan until he himself fell asleep.
Xiao Chiye slept for an unspecified amount of time until he felt
a scalding heat in his arms. He was still dazed when he half-
opened his eyes, but once he got a clear look at the man in his
embrace, his mind instantly cleared.
Shen Zechuan seemed to be on fire. Sweat had already
drenched his temples. Xiao Chiye felt him; Shen Zechuan was
burning up everywhere.
Xiao Chiye abruptly sat up and called out to him, “Lanzhou,
Lanzhou?”
Shen Zechuan was dripping with sweat. His brows were tightly
furrowed, and his breathing was slightly urgent. Roused half-awake
by Xiao Chiye, he said, “Qua… Quarantine… You can get infected
with this disease even if you aren’t near the water.”
Xiao Chiye wrapped him up in the overcoat and shouted,
“Chen Yang, summon the imperial physician!”
Chen Yang, who was leaning against the wall outside taking a
nap, jerked awake instantly. He rose and leaped off the steps, then
made his way under the rain shelter awning and pulled the
imperial physician into the interior.
The imperial physician lifted the overcoat open, looked for a
moment, then said in an urgent tone, “Viceroy, the Judge is
infected with the epidemic disease! Seems to me that he caught a
cold first…”
Xiao Chiye grasped the imperial physician’s arm. Staring at the
imperial physician, he said in a frosty voice, “The Judge is what?”
Panicking, the imperial physician corrected himself, “He’s…
overworked and overstressed… that’s why he fell ill…”
“That’s right. The Judge fell ill here today.” Xiao Chiye
tightened his grip. “He wasn’t ill prior to this.”
 The imperial physician repeatedly said, “Right, right, right…”
“All the medicine in Qudu is here. I know Your Excellency has
the miraculous hands of a healer in the medical field.” Xiao Chiye
suddenly softened his tone. “You can cure him, right?”
On seeing Xiao Chiye’s eyes, the imperial physician went weak
in the knees. He held on to the edge of the bed for support and
nodded in a panic as he said, “I can, I can…”
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 66 : RAIN CEASED

Translated with: Eggy<3

Access in and out of the imperial palace was strictly forbidden,

so the Empress Dowager arranged for Hai Liangyi and the other
heavyweight ministers to rest in the Grand Secretariat’s council
compound. Everyone inside and outside the palace was in a state
of anxiety.
The daily cleaning of Li Jianheng’s bedchamber was carried
out with extra caution, with those serving eunuchs and palace
maids all appointed by the Empress Dowager herself. Every time
they entered and exited, they had to wash up and change their
clothes. They were not even allowed to go out without permission
during their breaks. Mu Ru kept watch by Li Jianheng’s side, not
once relying on the servants. She personally taste-tested the
decoction and fed it to Li Jianheng herself. Even when she ate or
slept, she never left Li Jianheng’s bedchamber.
Li Jianheng drifted in and out of consciousness, and
subsequently, the Imperial Academy of Medicine was on
tenterhooks too. Even when they prescribed and decocted
medicine, they were careful. Everyone was already walking on
eggshells, ready to lose their lives at any time. An air of dread and
gloom hung over them all around. Each of them looked utterly
wretched and grieved, as if bereft of their parents.
The Imperial Academy of Medicine’s men outside the palace
made all the arrangements for the medicinal ingredients in Qudu.
Other than those already infected, all the disaster victims shifted
out from the low-lying area had to take the medicine too. The
Ministry of Revenue and Imperial Bodyguards assisted with the
distribution of aid reliefs. They set up a porridge and medicine
shack outside Zhao Zui Temple, where they gave out medicinal
decoction and rice porridge every day according to schedule.
 Han Jin had already pulled out of Donglong Street on the night
Xi Hongxuan fell ill. On the pretext of patrolling the various city
gates, the Eight Great Training Divisions completely threw the
matter of dredging up the public ditches to the Imperial Army. But
half of the Imperial Army men had been on standby on Mount
Feng awaiting orders, and now, they could not get in at all. Xiao
Chiye did not have that many elite soldiers. Fortunately, there were
still some people from the Ministry of Works who had yet to be
withdrawn. Together with the dozens of Imperial Bodyguards,
everyone pooled manpower and braved the rain to dig through
the four main streets.
By the fourth day, everyone was exhausted and weak. Chen
Yang, Ge Qingqing, Qiao Tianya, and Gu Jin gathered together
when they returned and leaned against the wall for a nap. Ding
Tao and Xiaowu were young. The various gege took care of them
and took turns to stretch and straighten out their legs for them to
use as pillows when they slept. Ding Tao could not lick ink out from
his brush, so the note-taking in his little notebook came to a halt. It
had only been a few days, and every one of them had taken on the
look of a disheveled and unkempt beggar.
Xiao Chiye did not sleep much these days. He had to lead men
to dig ditches before dawn, and there was no time for rest
throughout the day. At night, when he returned to Zhao Zui Temple,
he still had to watch over Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan was still able to remain awake and clear-headed
a few days before, but later on, his fever would not recede, and he
had a severe case of vomiting. But without food in his stomach, he
could only regurgitate bile. When he was fed medicine, he would
puke it all out in the middle of the night. So, when Xiao Chiye
returned, he would hug Shen Zechuan. He would lean against the
wall and let Shen Zechuan sprawl face-to-face on his chest or
shoulder. Each time Shen Zechuan felt like vomiting, he would rub
his back.
In the dead of night, when all was quiet, Zhao Zui Temple was
as lonely as a deserted island beyond the realm of the mundane
world. The rain had ceased, and there was nary a sound from the
birds as the thick, ink-like night shrouded everything in sight.
 Shen Zechuan’s breathing was heavy. He suddenly started to
cough, his chest heaving violently. Xiao Chiye was jerked awake
from his light sleep. He covered Shen Zechuan’s back and tiredly
jolted his legs to shake him gently.
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye coaxed him. “Where is Lanzhou?”
Shen Zechuan looked sickly and wan. The nauseating feeling of
wanting to vomit was stuck in his throat. He half-opened his eyes
and replied in a hoarse voice, “Here…”
“Give it a shake, and the illness will dissipate.” Xiao Chiye said,
“When you’ve recovered, this Second Young Master will take you
horseback riding.”
Shen Zechuan rested his head on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder and let
out a hoarse “hm” in acknowledgment.
“This is actually a position of hugging a child.” Xiao Chiye ran
his palm down Shen Zechuan’s back soothingly and, in this
moment of intimacy, whispered, “When I had a rash before, my
mother held me like this. What are you going to call me now that
I’m holding you like this today?”
Shen Zechuan nuzzled his cheeks against Xiao Chiye and
buried his face. After a long while, he said in a muffled voice, “Call
you daddy.”
Xiao Chiye’s chest shook as he chuckled and asked,
“Touched?”
Shen Zechuan coughed. He did not answer.
Xiao Chiye said, “When I tamed horses in the past, I ate and
slept with them. While Lang Tao Xue Jin was still a foal, we were
stranded in the heavy rain. We also snuggled up like this to keep
warm then. It has probably already forgotten about this.”
Shen Zechuan listened in his drowsy state.
Xiao Chiye said, “Don’t forget this. If you’re touched, you have
to remember this and repay me in the future.”
Shen Zechuan wanted to say something. He opened his mouth
but did not utter a sound. Xiao Chiye reached a finger out to brush
away Shen Zechuan’s damp hair and lowered his eyes to look at
Shen Zechuan’s pale side profile.
“Oh, Lanzhou.”
 Xiao Chiye murmured in hushed tones, and it was under these
murmurs that Shen Zechuan fell asleep. He lay immersed on the
verge of a certain kind of agony and delight, wallowing in torment.
And from the bitter depth of his misery, he tasted sweetness.
Xiao Chiye was like the blazing sun. He was also like the wind
from the grassland. He stood out from the masses. To Shen
Zechuan, hiding that handkerchief on that day with the gloomy
and damp rain and snow was like hiding a rousing and passionate
dream. In this dream, there was the unrestrained galloping of
horses over a thousand li 1 of grasslands, and the spreading of
wings soaring through ten thousand li of clear sky. These
eventually turned into an indescribable glimpse—one he would be
hard-pressed to recount in detail.
Xiao Chiye was the one who was a kind of temptation. Every
word of “oh, Lanzhou” he uttered was spoken with deep feeling.
Those frivolous cynicism and firm steadfastness of his blended
together contradictorily. He was frivolous as he whispered to Shen
Zechuan, yet he was also incomparably dependable as he opened
his arms to Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan was too powerless to resist. Those deep and
frivolous kisses deceived him into dropping his guard, until he
became a baddie on intimate terms with Xiao Chiye, until he was
muddleheaded enough to come to rely on Xiao Chiye amidst this
affliction.
Shen Zechuan’s vomiting subsided a little later. Xiao Chiye fed
him the medicinal decoction little by little. Every time Shen
Zechuan showed signs of not waking up from his lethargic sleep,
Xiao Chiye would say that phrase “where is Lanzhou?”, which
seemed to have the inexplicable power to call Shen Zechuan back
time and time again.
Xiao Chiye originally would still hug Shen Zechuan as he took a
nap. But several people died successively one after another in the
days after, and he no longer dared to sleep again at night as he
listened to Shen Zechuan’s gasps for breath whenever the occasion
demanded.
On the ninth day, two more people died under the rain shelter
awning. They could not just leave the bodies lying around, nor bury
them, so Xiao Chiye left them to Ge Qingqing to dispose of.
At the time Ge Qingqing led the men to sort out the corpses
and carry them out, Qiao Tianya was squatting by the stove
fanning the fire. As he watched the medicine, he went through
some matters in his mind.
“The Viceroy is waiting to feed the medicine.” Xiaowu came
over and asked. “Is it ready?”
“The public ditches have already been dug through, so there’s
no hurry today. Tell the Viceroy to wait.” Qiao Tianya added two
pieces of firewood and shifted aside the handkerchief covering his
mouth and nose to say, “Keep an eye on the Viceroy. He’s with my
Master every day. If he gets infected, we won’t have any surplus
medicine for him.”
“There was an epidemic at Luoxia Pass during the reign of
Yongyi. His Lordship led his men to handle it then, and he never
got infected.” Xiaowu squatted down to wait. He said, “I heard the
various gege from Libei say that the Xiao Clan has the mandate of
Heaven. That physique is not one a common man would have.”
“Tantai Hu is strong and sturdy too. Didn’t he still fall ill just like
that?” Qiao Tianya said. “It doesn’t hurt to be careful and pay more
attention. Have you drunk this morning’s medicine?”
“Yeah, I did.” Xiaowu honestly answered.
“How’s Tantai Hu today?” Qiao Tianya moved his slightly
numbed legs.
“He hasn’t vomited since yesterday.” Xiaowu said. “Chen-ge
said that it’s because he’s strong, and we found out about the
infection in time. He’s being fed enough medicine too. Plus, the
imperial physician is constantly at his side looking after him. He’ll
be fine!”
“We can’t let our guards down before he’s awake.” There
seemed to be something constantly on Qiao Tianye’s mind as he
tossed the fan to Xiaowu. “Watch the fire for me. There’s some
serious business I need to discuss with them.”
With that, he rose to his feet and headed for the rain shelter.
The curtain of the rain shelter was lifted partially as Qiao Tianya
made his way inside. It was dim inside, but not damp. The
beddings were also dry. An errand-runner from the Imperial
Academy of Medicine washed and changed them daily. He saw
Xiao Chiye in the midst of speaking to Tantai Hu, so he waited for a
while.
Xiao Chiye turned his head aside and asked, “What’s the
matter?”
Qiao Tianya lifted the hem of his robe and took a seat at the
bench by the side.
Xiao Chiye caressed his thumb ring as he looked at Qiao
Tianya with calm and composure.
Qiao Tianya said, “The Imperial Academy of Medicine and
Imperial Bodyguards have records of this disease on file. Have you
looked at it?”
Xiao Chiye nodded his head.
“Do you know the cause of the outbreak in the City of
Dancheng? Xiao… Viceroy.” Qiao Tianya almost called out Xiao the
Second again and promptly corrected himself. “Before my Master
fell ill, he checked through the Imperial Bodyguards records here
and specifically told me to make a note of certain matters. I’ve been
thinking about this disease these few days, but since Master is not
yet awake, I can only discuss this with you.”
“What did Lanzhou say?”
“He said that there’s something unusual about the origin of this
disease.” Qiao Tianya propped his elbows on his knees and
whistled at Ding Tao. “Recite the details of Dancheng’s epidemic to
the Viceroy. You have a photographic memory; you still remember,
right?”
Ding Tao thought for a moment, then said, “There was an
outbreak in the City of Dancheng during the year of Yongyi. It was
summer. The Imperial Academy of Medicine dispatched a delegate
to go with the Imperial Bodyguards to check on it, and they
discovered something strange about this epidemic disease. After
some investigation, they learned that there was a burial mound
behind the outbreak site. It was dirty and messy, with no one
having cleaned it up before. The corpses thrown there before the
start of spring had soaked at the rear until it reeked. There was
even a cooked food stall in service at the front. The weather was
hot at that time, and flies were buzzing all around. The shopkeeper
was the first one who fell ill. At first, no one paid it any attention;
even he himself suspected it to be a cold. He grabbed some
medicine and carried on with his business at the shop. Oh, my! A
whole bunch of people subsequently fell ill after those cooked
foods were sold. And that was when the prefectural yamen of
Dancheng realized something wrong.”
“A burial mound, huh? There are all kinds of people thrown
there. Perhaps it just happened that one of them had some
diseases or was bitten by some wild animals. Coincidentally, it had
already been soaked rotten, thus becoming a feast for the flies to
dine on. People are naturally susceptible to infection if they get too
close.” The imperial physician packed his case and said, “It wasn’t
easy for everyone at that time. Dancheng was sealed off for half a
year, and quite many people died. We are lucky this time to have
discovered it earlier, and we have the experience now. That’s why
we managed to take precautions in time.”
“True that. But how did the outbreak happen in Qudu?” Qiao
Tianya said, “The low-lying area of Donglong Street had indeed
been submerged in sewage. It’s only to be expected for someone
to fall ill. But there are no homicide cases on Donglong Street. I’ll
be honest. Viceroy, please don’t take offense, but being infected
with venereal diseases is to be expected on Donglong Street. Why
is it so strange this time that we would get an outbreak of the
Dancheng epidemic disease instead?”
The imperial physician tactfully found an excuse to head out.
“There’s no definitive explanation for the outbreak of Dancheng
epidemic.” Chen Yang thought for a moment, then continued,
“There’s a collapse and heavy rain this time, and everyone is in the
water, so perhaps…”
“There are too many epidemic diseases.” Qiao Tianya said. “For
example, the outbreak in Luoxia Pass at that time was a rat plague;
so no way Hezhou would have an outbreak of the same plague.
The situations in the various lands are different, so we can’t lump
them together. This humble servant is a deeply suspicious man,
and an honest person does not resort to insinuations. I think this
disease did not start in Donglong Street, but—”
Qiao Tianya lifted his thumb and pointed it at the roof.
 It fell silent under the awning. The bystanders had more or less
turned pale.
Qiao Tianya let out a chuckle and said, “Isn’t it a coincidence?
The celestial being met with misfortune upon descent to the mortal
world. It’s virtually impossible to guard against dodging a pit only
to fall into a well.2 These few days, the palace has not sent any
word out to us. Viceroy, the public ditch has been unclogged, and
the water level has gone down. But why does this matter seem to
me like it’s only the beginning?”
“Everyone living in the heavenly palace is an immortal.” Xiao
Chiye said slowly. “These immortals value their lives. They won’t
dare to play it this way. A possibility like the one you speak of is
only something a desperate person at the end of his rope staking
everything he has on this one throw would dare to do.”
“I don’t know about that.” Qiao Tianya said. “The Directorate of
Ceremonial now lacks a major-league eunuch who can take charge
and control the twenty-four yamen. Many matters exist among the
chaos where things are left unsupervised. If there’s really someone
who brings a certain something in, then he would be able to pass it
through just by hoodwinking his way through. Our Imperial Army
and Imperial Bodyguards are all soldiers from the outside. There’s
nothing we can do about what’s happening on the inside. But I feel
that we have to take precautions and be on guard when it comes to
this matter.”
Why did Li Jianheng leave the palace? Was it only just to have
fun? He had just been through an assassination attempt not too
long ago. He was not a gutsy man, so how would he dare to sneak
out on the sly? Not unless someone was putting him up to it.
Xi Hongxuan would discuss everything with Shen Zechuan
nowadays. Meeting with mishap this time was something he
himself had never expected. And now, he was still lying on the bed
with his life hanging in the balance. So who was the one who
instigated Li Jianheng and brought about the collapse of Ouhua
Pavilion at exactly the right moment?
Xiao Chiye contemplated it in silence.
His intuition told him it was not the Empress Dowager. Because
Li Jianheng was already showing signs of showing filial respect to
her. This, to her, was precisely the moment she could stage a
comeback. She definitely would not bear to let Li Jianheng die
now.
Then who else is there?
This time, the intent was not to intimidate Li Jianheng, but for Li
Jianheng to die for real. But who would benefit if Li Jianheng
died?
The curtain was lifted once again. The imperial physician poked
his head in and said joyfully, “Viceroy, His Excellency the Judge is
awake!”
Xiao Chiye quickly rose to his feet and strode a few steps out
under the awning and entered the house. Shen Zechuan, who had
been in a lethargic sleep for days, had his eyes half-opened. Xiao
Chiye crouched softly beside the bed and gazed at him.
Shen Zechuan lifted his finger and weakly caressed Xiao
Chiye’s brows and eyes. Xiao Chiye grabbed his hand and pressed
it against his cheek.
“Go ahead and touch.” Xiao Chiye leaned in closer to him and
laughed in a husky voice, “I’ll let you touch.”

Footnotes
1. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
2. 避坑落井 literally dodging a pit only to fall into a well, i.e.,
out of the frying pan into the fire.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 67 : SHARING A PILLOW

Translated with: Rie<3

Shen Zechuan was in a slight daze as Xiao Chiye’s stubble

rubbed against his palm until it felt ticklish. He gazed at Xiao Chiye
and said, “… Prickly.”
“Does it not feel comfortable to the touch?” Xiao Chiye asked.
Shen Zechuan replied, “Comfortable.”
Both men were just a short distance apart, yet it seemed as if
there was no gap between them. Xiao Chiye was dirty and
unkempt. He hardly had time to spare these few days to tidy up.
Now, he leaned close to Shen Zechuan, giving no regard to his
slovenly state as he let Shen Zechuan touch him.
Chen Yang gripped the door curtain, reckoning that it was
about time. He wanted to let the others enter, but then he did not
hear Xiao Chiye give his permission, so he remained stuck at the
entrance with a group of guards, each of them staring at the sky
and the ground with a blank expression.
“Feel good touching it?” Xiao Chiye could not help but laugh
out.
“Almost.” Shen Zechuan pursed his lips and whispered into
Xiao Chiye’s ear, “So prickly, it’s hurting me.”
“Where does it hurt?” Xiao Chiye tilted his head and pressed
his forehead against his.
Shen Zechuan gazed at him with eyes that seemed like
mountain lakes moistened with fog. He put that bit of yearning for
more in those eyes and revealed it all to Xiao Chiye as he
exchanged gazes with him. Even the corners of his eyes contained
the barest hint of faintly discernible emotion.
Xiao Chiye suddenly covered Shen Zechuan’s eyes. After a
moment’s pause, he said, “This is not the right time to egg me on,
is it?”
 Shen Zechuan said, “What are you thinking? I’m just looking at
you.”
“Not letting you look.” Xiao Chiye said, “Do it when we get
back.”
Outside, Chen Yang let out a few coughs and raised his voice to
say, “Master…”
Xiao Chiye shifted his palm away, stood up, and said, “Come
in.”
Only then did Chen Yang lift the curtain, and everyone entered
in a single file.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan leaned against the pillow with an overcoat
draped over him. As he drank the medicine, he listened to them
recount the details of what had transpired in recent days. When
Qiao Tianya was done speaking, he contemplated for a moment
before he said, “That’s right. There’s something fishy about this
matter from start to end. I also suspect that the collapse of Ouhua
Pavilion is not a coincidence, but a deliberate act that took
advantage of the opportunity offered by the blockage of Donglong
Street’s public ditches.”
“It has only been half a year since His Majesty’s ascension to the
throne. With so many things waiting to be done now, it’s just the
time for everyone to get their big break.” Xiao Chiye sat on the
bench beside him. “Who could bear to let him die?”
This was also what Shen Zechuan could not figure out. He
finished his medicine and handed the bowl to Qiao Tianya, then
said, “We can’t very well investigate matters in the palace. We need
to have a suitable person on the inside before we can do it.”
It was not a good thing for the position of the Brush-holding
Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial to be vacant. Xiao Chiye
and Shen Zechuan both could not interfere in matters within the
palace. That was the Empress Dowager’s territory. The Empress
Dowager had the final say over who would be appointed to the
post in the future. But it was better than nothing. If they had a
planted agent inside, then that would also be a lot better than
being completely blind.
 When Shen Zechuan thought to this point, he suddenly asked,
“You wanted to investigate Xiang Yun the last time. Did you find out
anything?”
Xiao Chiye said, “I was so busy I forgot about that. Gu Jin.”
Gu Jin stepped out and said, “I didn’t find out any crucial
information when I went to Xiangyun Villa. Xiangyun has only
those few patrons. I checked them out one by one, and none of
them had anything to do with the perjury matter the last time.”
Shen Zechuan somehow kept feeling as though there was
something he had missed. There was an unseen hand pulling
strings behind the scenes that gave rise to these incidents. There
must have been some causal relationship between them. He lost
himself in his thoughts again. He did not know if it was because he
had just recovered from a bout of illness, but no matter how he
thought, he could not figure out the link.
“His Majesty is still unconscious, and his disease has not
completely subsided. We still have a few days to spare; there is no
rush at this point in time.” As Xiao Chiye spoke, he moved his
shoulders and arms. “The public ditches are now unclogged. So
everyone should rest well these few days. This matter will
eventually be resolved. It’s now more important to conserve our
strength and energy for the next stage.”
The guards echoed in agreement and retreated out of the
house. Once they were all gone, Xiao Chiye sat at the edge of the
bed and took off his boots.
“You’ve gotten your fill of sleep, but this Second Young Master
is still barely hanging on.” Xiao Chiye lay down beside Shen
Zechuan and said, “Come closer. Be my blanket and cover me.”
Shen Zechuan turned his head sideways and said, “Sleep with
an overcoat draped over you.”
Xiao Chiye closed his eyes and said, “You do it.”
Shen Zechuan tucked the pillow under Xiao Chiye’s neck. Xiao
Chiye made a blind grab for Shen Zechuan’s hand and grasped his
wrist in passing. Then he pulled Shen Zechuan towards him and
embraced him.
“Too thin.” Xiao Chiye touched him. “So much that your bones
jab against me when I hug you. Once autumn arrives, the wild
game from Libei will be here too. You’ll need all the nourishment
you can get then, and you’ll be able to fatten up by the time it’s
winter.”
Xiao Chiye’s breathing was slightly heavy. Feeling sleepy, he
turned his head and pressed the tip of his nose against Shen
Zechuan’s temple. Then he forced a smile and said, “… Sleep with
your Second Young Master for a while.”
Xiao Chiye was exhausted. He had not got any shut-eye these
few days as he had to stay awake in both the day and night like a
lone wolf pacing around his base. No matter how physically strong
he was, there would come a time he would exhaust his strength
and energy. Shen Zechuan was on top of him. Xiao Chiye found
this weight just perfect, with the pressure on him making him feel
warm and content.
Xiao Chiye initially wanted to sleep for a while so he could do a
proper tally at night for the medicinal herb expenses incurred over
the last few days. But who knew that he would sleep until the third
quarter of the hour of yin1 the next day? Still in a trance when he
woke up, he turned on his side and buried himself between Shen
Zechuan’s arms.
Xiao Chiye was momentarily dazed before his mind suddenly
cleared. He propped himself up for a look. Turned out that his head
had slipped off the pillow last night, and he had been lying on
Shen Zechuan’s arm for the latter half of the night. Shen Zechuan
had turned to his side with his head resting on the pillow, while his
other hand had pulled over the overcoat and covered him with it.
This was a posture similar to a protective hug.
Dawn had yet to come. It was dark inside the room.
Xiao Chiye fell back onto the pillow and hugged Shen Zechuan
over to himself, face-first. The overcoat just about covered both of
them. He asked in a husky voice, “Did I make your arm numb?”
Shen Zechuan, half-awake, let out an affirmative “hm”.
Xiao Chiye rubbed Shen Zechuan’s stiff arm and said, “Can’t
you just call me?”
Warmed, Shen Zechuan said, “Xiao’Er…”
Xiao Chiye said, “Hm?”
 Shen Zechuan opened his eyes to look at him and said, “You
were calling out for Shen Lanzhou in your sleep.”
Xiao Chiye smiled and kept his voice down as he said, “Just
dreaming about what I think of in the daytime.”
Both of them were very close to one another. Shen Zechuan’s
gaze on him made Xiao Chiye’s body and heart both hot. His
recently recharged energy from having slept enough skyrocketed.
He wanted to tease Shen Zechuan, but at the same time, he also
wanted to let Shen Zechuan sleep.
Some random bird was cooing outside, sending a ripple
reverberating through the silent night.
Xiao Chiye said, “Was the reason you asked about Xiangyun
earlier because you thought of something?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Where is Mu Ru from? Was she the girl the
former Emperor bought?”
“She was a birthday gift the manor down there gave to His
Majesty.” Xiao Chiye wrapped his arms around Shen Zechuan. “At
first, she was kept in the manor. It took a lot of effort just to train her.
I saw from her registered birthplace that she’s a native of the City of
Jincheng. You think it’s her?”
“Because of the assassination attempt, His Majesty came to
detest eunuchs completely. There has never been any eunuch he’s
on close terms with after Shuanglu. The palace maids who usually
wait upon him by his side are all carefully selected people. The only
person who can egg him on and help him out of the palace is Mu
Ru.” Shen Zechuan lost himself in his thoughts again as he spoke.
“If it’s her, there must be a reason… She does not have an imperial
heir at present. She can only live if His Majesty is alive. So she
should be more concerned about His Majesty’s safety than anyone
else.”
“That’s the thing.” Xiao Chiye said. “The one who can pull off
such a scheme must have thought it through carefully. There has to
be a reason. The late Emperor’s sudden death and the Hua Clan’s
subsequent fall from power did not simply result in the removal of a
few wusha hats.2 It even affected the situational arrangements of
Dazhou’s various lands. In the past six months, Hai Liangyi has
been locked in a stalemate in his face-off with the noble clans and
barely managed to stabilize the situation. It would benefit no one if
the current Emperor were to meet with misfortune now.”
“We have to wait for His Majesty to wake up before we can
know more.” Shen Zechuan said. “The Ministry of Works made such
a slip-up this time. Pan Xiangjie will be hard-pressed to absolve
himself of blame. He will definitely be censured and held back for
investigation. Have you seen the governmental clerk from the
Ministry of Works, Liang Cuishan?”
“Yup, I’ve seen him.” Xiao Chiye thought for a moment. “He is
one diligent man.”
“I got him to keep a detailed record of all the medicinal herbs
coming and going these few days. Once we go out, the Ministry of
Revenue and the Chief Surveillance Bureau will come to check the
accounts. You just have to hand over this book to them.”
“Well done.” Xiao Chiye was not stingy with his praises. “When
the epidemic broke out, there was no time at all to wait for the
memo from the palace. I got my men to get the herbs from the
medicine shops. The Imperial Army has our own handwritten notes
on record. But, when all is said and done, it’s not as convincing as
the testimony of a man from the Ministry of Revenue. With this
book, the Imperial Army and the Ministry of Revenue won’t have to
rip into each other.”
Xiao Chiye hated to deal with the officials from the Ministry of
Revenue. It was so much trouble just to reconcile accounts with
them every year. With this major issue of the public ditches being
clogged, those old foxes might even think of dragging the
Imperial Army into the mire so as to put the Grand Secretariat in a
spot; after all, the law could not be enforced if everyone was an
offender! The beginning of spring was also the most complicated
time for political affairs, where piled-up mountains of official
documents instantly gave the Grand Secretariat a massive
headache.
“You have no wish to see the Ministry of Revenue, and they are
also afraid to see you.” Shen Zechuan laughed. “The matter of
Quancheng silk the last time implicated Wang Xian. I see that he
has already been transferred to the Ministry of Rites. Was that your
handiwork?”
 “I bear no personal grudge against him. The collections of
debts in the past were simply official business. Because of me, he
was implicated and slapped with an ill reputation for bribery.
Shifting him over to the Ministry of Rites is merely a stop-gap
measure.” Xiao Chiye said. “His hope of getting an ‘outstanding’
this inspection is definitely dashed. Even if he’s appointed a post
outside the capital, he’ll only be sent to somewhere remote and
barren.”
Wang Xian was unlucky. He originally served as the Secretary in
the Ministry of Revenue and had a very hard time dealing with Xiao
Chiye. A few years ago, when the Imperial Army’s equipment was
worn out, Xiao Chiye was the one who personally hemmed him in
to reconcile accounts and hound for money every time they carried
out manual labor. He had no personal relationship with Xiao Chiye
to speak of at all. Who would have expected an unexpected
calamity to come flying out of the blue? Xiao Chiye was denounced
before the Emperor, and by sheer coincidence, those Quancheng
silks passed through his hands; there was no way he could explain
himself. In the end, Xiao Chiye and Li Jianheng fell back on their
brotherly ties and acted out the roles of a harmonious ruler and his
minister. But he was stripped of his Secretary post for real and
almost became a prisoner. He could no longer be an official in
Qudu now, and even if he were to be assigned a post outside the
capital, there was nowhere decent to go. He even got an
assessment of “negligence of duty” for the inspection. Half a
lifetime of prudence and caution—wasted. What a grave injustice.
But something clicked in Shen Zechuan’s mind, and he said,
“Don’t tell me you are thinking of making use of this opportunity
and assign him to Zhongbo?”
Xiao Chiye laughed and said, “To think you could even guess
this.”
Xiao Chiye gave Wang Xian a helping hand and had him
moved to the Ministry of Rites. At the very least, the latter managed
to secure his job and means of livelihood. In the past, Wang Xian
disliked him, but now he had to be deeply grateful to him. Xiao
Chiye planned to transfer Wang Xian to Zhongbo when the latter
was appointed to a post outside the capital. At present, Zhongbo
was full of rogues and bandits. Everyone all wanted to stuff their
own people in there.
“We can’t get close to other places. But we must plant
manpower in Cizhou.” Xiao Chiye relaxed and said. “That was a
good suggestion you gave for the demolition subsidy. Cizhou’s
Prefectural Prefect, Zhou Gui, is now on good terms with us. He will
naturally understand the implication if we put Wang Xian under his
command. The Six Prefectures of Zhongbo will definitely put an
emphasis on supervision this year. But no matter who the imperial
court deploys over, Cizhou has to remain under my watch.”
Cizhou was close to the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path. By
doing this, Xiao Chiye was keeping an eye from where he was in
Qudu on the main entrances to the granaries for the Libei Armored
Cavalry. He and Xiao Jiming had hardly exchanged
correspondences, but the two brothers understood each other
perfectly.
“The Quancheng silk is a latent danger. If Fu Linye had not
been too eager for fast returns and messed up by some freak
coincidence, then this account would be a blade buried deep in the
Imperial Army’s account book.” Shen Zechuan moved his head and
said, “Was this account handled by Xue Xiuzhuo?”
“That’s him, all right.” Xiao Chiye said. “Xue Xiuzhou, huh…
What do you think of him?”
“I didn’t really pay him any notice at first. But I checked his
evaluations for the past few years’ inspections, and they were all
outstanding. He joined the imperial court during the reign of
Yongyi, those last three years of Emperor Guancheng. It was only
when Emperor Xiande ascended to the throne that he assumed the
post of Chief Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. He
held this position for eight years until the sudden rebellion at
Nanlin Hunting Grounds last year. He was then promoted and
transferred to the Court of Judicial Review, where he became the
Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He then went on
to handle two major cases that concern Hi Majesty’s safety—the Hua
and Pan’s rebellion case and the Feast of A Hundred Officials’s
assassination case. He has a good reputation, has extensive
contacts in the Eight Great Clans, and is on good terms with the
officials from humble backgrounds headed by Hai Liangyi.” Shen
Zechuan pondered over it for a moment before saying, “But I know
nothing of his background before he entered the imperial court.”
“I know of it pretty well.” Xiao Chiye said, “Ask me.”
Shen Zechuan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Tell me.”
“Why doesn’t that sound like someone who has a favor to ask
of?” Xiao Chiye gathered the overcoat around him and put his
head to Shen Zechuan’s. “I’ll tell you only if you coax me until I’m
happy.”
The way he said it was frivolous, partially to tease Shen
Zechuan. He did not expect Shen Zechuan to look at him, part his
lips to puff out a breath, and murmured under hot and soft breath
at such close quarters, “Ce’an~”
That tiny puff of damp heat landed on Xiao Chiye’s cheeks and
edged along his straight nose to the front of his lips. Both men
touched, almost imperceptibly.
Xiao Chiye suddenly rolled over and propped himself up above
Shen Zechuan, leaving a space between them. He pinched Shen
Zechuan’s chin to correct its position and said, “All talk and no
action—this Second Young Master won’t fall for it.”

Footnotes
1. 寅时 hour of yin, i.e., 3-5 am, based on the system of two-
hour subdivisions used in former times. The third quarter (三
刻) is at the 45min mark.
2. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side. Simply
refers to officials here.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 68 : LOVEMAKING

Translated with: Yunyun, Lin & Rie<3

“Then what will you fall for?” Shen Zechuan’s narrowed his eyes
from the pinch, making it hard to tell if he was in discomfort or
pleasure. His expression was very alluring, as if fanning the flames.
Light through the window was faint. Xiao Chiye observed Shen
Zechuan at close proximity, then reached out and stroked the
corner of Shen Zechuan’s lips with his thumb. He said, “Get a feel of
it yourself.”
“I’m afraid someone will say one thing but mean another.” Shen
Zechuan’s lips parted and closed as he spoke. The tip of his tongue
appeared indistinctly, casting moist warmth on Xiao Chiye’s thumb,
yet Xiao Chiye could not touch a thing.
“Who’s acting contradictorily?” Xiao Chiye leaned over and
pressed down on him. “Second Young Master is so honest.”
“Honest indeed.” Shen Zechuan sighed. “You’re so hard.”
“I just had my fill of sleep.” Xiao Chiye was feeling him up. “And
I’ve been abstaining for quite a number of days to let it all build up.
So give me a sweet little treat?”
Shen Zechuan exchanged a gentle kiss with him and said, “I
just recovered from a serious illness, so let’s keep it first for another
time. I really… don’t have the energy.”
“Who would bear to let you exert yourself in bed?” Xiao Chiye
asked, “Would I bear to do that?”
“You would.” Shen Zechuan gazed at him and said softly,
“Whatever you say now are just words to coax and trick me. Once
we get on the bed, it all counts for nothing.”
Xiao Chiye chuckled. “Is that so? So what did I say when I
cajoled you?”
Shen Zechuan lifted a finger to block Xiao Chiye’s lips, which
was about to drop a kiss. “If you want to hear all about it, then first
tell me about Xue Xiuzhuo.”
 Xiao Chiye tightened his arms around him and asked, “What
do you want to hear? His background before he served as an
official is nothing impressive. Xue Xiuzhuo is a son of common
birth, born of a concubine in the Xue Clan. Since his early years, he
has never been a favored child. Look at his age. He’s older than Xi
Hongxuan and Yao Wenyu by a few years. By all logic, he shouldn’t
be attending school at the same time as them, so how did he
become their fellow student? It’s all because he has been neglected
at home back then, and the delay by his family caused him to get a
late start in his education.”
“This person looks refined and has a way in the way he
conducts himself in society and deals with people. Compared to Xi
Hongxuan, he seemed more like a son of lawful birth from the
noble clans.”
“He was already eleven years of age when he enrolled in the
academy.” As if recalling this person, Xiao Chiye thought it over
carefully for a moment before he continued, “He’s talented and
intelligent, and he’s willing to study hard, so it didn’t take him long
to stand out from the bunch of noble clans’ descendants. But the
good times didn’t last long. A few years later, Yao Wenyu also
enrolled in the academy.”
“Everyone now wants to associate with ‘Unpolished Jade
Yuanzhuo’1 to show that they are genuine talents too. But at that
time, their teacher was Teacher Chang Zong, who was well known
for being harsh and exacting. Once Yao Wenyu joined them, the
number of times the others got criticized and punished increased.
This was because no one could outdo Yao Wenyu when it came to
strategies and literary essays. The moment his writings surfaced,
no one else’s works could ever again catch Teacher Chang Zong’s
eyes. Xue Xiuzhuo’s limelight was thus stolen in those few years.
After that, he never displayed his talents again.”
“Later on, Yao Wenyu became Hai Liangyi’s student. You know
what Hai Liangyi is like, so you can get a glimpse of how talented
Yao Wenyu must be for him to be able to become Hai Liangyi’s
student. But what the others didn’t know is that the one who first
sent a visitation card2 to Hai Liangyi was Xue Xiuzhuo. He
kowtowed thrice to Hai Liangyi, but in the end, Hai Liangyi didn’t
accept him as his student. If this had happened to someone else,
then even if they didn’t have a falling out with Hai Liangyi, they
would still bear a grudge. But that’s what’s so impressive about Xue
Xiuzhuo. He was there on the day Yao Wenyu underwent the rites to
become a formal pupil of Hai Liangyi. Not only was he there, but he
was also even the one holding the crown. Hai Liangyi disliked him,
yet Xue Xiuzhuo had never once uttered a word of grievance and
resentment. Hai Liangyi’s residence was bestowed upon him by
Emperor Guangcheng back then. The Secretariat Elder is usually
particular about having his peace and staying clean; he doesn’t
receive local officials as guests in private, and he doesn’t arrange
for excessive errand-runners to assign tasks. There was this one
year when his pavilion collapsed. When Xue Xiuzhuo heard about
it, he didn’t even take his meal and instead went to replace the
stones for Hai Liangyi personally.”
“He holds Secretariat Elder Hai in high esteem.” Remembering,
Shen Zechuan said, “When I looked up his past inspections’
evaluations, I also saw his essays on contemporary politics from
those few years when he had just entered public service. They were
all discourses on increasing incomes and reducing expenditures,
and straightening out the local field books,3 which were also issues
that gave Hai Liangyi headaches when he first entered the Grand
Secretariat.”
“He is more like Hai Liangyi’s student than Yao Wenyu. Hai
Liangyi used to serve in the Ministry of Revenue for over ten years,
so he’s very well aware of all the dirty tricks used in the local
accounts. To get to the bottom of the accounts then, Xue Xiuzhuo
was the one he assigned. As such, Xue Xiuzhuo took on the post of
the Ministry of Revenue’s Chief Supervising Secretary with the
specific purpose of inspecting and auditing the various accounts.”
Xiao Chiye lay back down on the bed with Shen Zechuan in his
embrace and continued, “I think that his current social connections
were all established back at that time. He remained in the Chief
Supervising Secretary post for eight years, and his evaluations were
all outstanding. He should have long been promoted, but he never
received a promotion. Why? Because Hai Liangyi had the intent to
hold him back.”
 “Looks like Secretariat Elder Hai was moved by his sincerity. To
think he was willing to spend time to polish Xue Xiuzhuo. With this
camaraderie, even if both men aren’t teacher and pupil in name,
the relationship between them has already surpassed even that of
one.” Shen Zechuan slowly furrowed his brows. “Serving as the
Ministry of Revenue’s Chief Supervising Secretary, he can go down
to the localities. He has subordinates handling the accounts under
his leadership, and he also holds the special privilege of directly
submitting petitions to the Emperor. It’d be a piece of cake for him
to befriend anyone he wants to be friends with.”
“That’s right. The Provincial Administration Commissioner of
Juexi is Jiang Qingshan. This is not a man to be underestimated.
The last time when Xue Xiuzhuo blew the whistle on Hua Siqian,
Jiang Qingshan was the man he investigated the accounts with.
Jiang Qingshan’s achievements are remarkable. Back then, when
Qudu fell behind on the aid relief funds to Juexi, it was him who
did all he could to bear the costs and carried on handling the
matter without letting the Thirteen Cities of Juexi succumb to
starvation. He is bold and decisive in what he does; he has the
courage to act first and report later. A man with an iron fist. But he
has a bad temper and doesn’t really socialize much with the
officials from the capital. When the parties of Hua and Pan were at
the height of their powers, he never once paid Pan Rugui ‘ice
respect’.4 He’s a dauntless man, and he has the capability to go
with it. That’s why even though Hua Siqian hated him, he was not
able to get him demoted. A man like him who doesn’t even think
much of Yao Wenyu could still be on close terms with Xue Xiuzhuo
and call Xue Xiuzhuo his brother. So you can imagine how good
Xue Xiuzhuo’s ability to make friends is.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly paused.
“It’s actually all due to Xue Xiuzhuo’s own competence that
Secretariat Elder Hai would later come to promote him. Last time,
you spoke about luring the noble clans into a trap. I think you’ve hit
the nail on the head. There’s no telling if Xue Xiuzhuo can really
make it into the Grand Secretariat.”
“I noticed that this person is very contradictory.” Shen Zechuan
said. “His essays on contemporary politics in the previous years
were all about the commoners’ welfare and livelihood. He went
down to the localities, and the stuff he did was all practical and
real. Yet, he’s inseparable from the noble clans’ younger
generations like Xi Hongxuan and the likes. The matter of
Quancheng silk is a critical point. I think he’s a deep one; he’s not
acting at random, but planning far ahead.”
“Didn’t you say that there was a man at the helm hiding in
Qudu?” Xiao Chiye’s expression grew a little more serious. “He’s a
good candidate.”
“His official grade wasn’t high six years ago when Zhongbo
troops were defeated, and he was young to boot. So how can he
manipulate those noble clans’ old foxes? Just one Wei Clan is a
pain to deal with. My guess is that if there’s really such a person, he
should be of the same age as Hai Liangyi. Otherwise, with this kind
of credentials, it would be hard to convince the others.”
“Nevertheless, there are too few clues. We’ll still need to deal
with them carefully in the future.” Xiao Chiye rubbed Shen
Zechuan’s wrist and said, “The collapse of Ouhua Pavilion is not
without benefits. Xi Hongxuan is frightened out of his wits this time.
Even if he wants to look for you for a drink in the future, there is
nowhere to go.”
“Wine can be drunk anywhere. Even if his Ouhua Pavilion has
collapsed, there are still other establishments. It’s Xiangyun who is
gone that will be really gone for good.” Shen Zechuan looked
askance at him. “Second Young Master has really suffered a loss.”
“Without Xiangyun, I can always look for someone else.” Xiao
Chiye looked at him. “Beauties are aplenty; isn’t there one right
here?”
With his fingertips, Shen Zechuan drew a few strokes on his
palm and said, “If you don’t have five hundred taels, I won’t drink
with you.
“I am filthy poor.” Xiao Chiye caught his teasing fingertips. “I
have no money, so I can only give you something else.”
“What rare item is that to be able to move my heart?” Shen
Zechuan asked.
Xiao Chiye guided his hand to land on his waist. “Second
Young Master is a fine specimen of a man. So, what do you think?”
 “I, Shen Lanzhou, am also a dashing man.” Shen Zechuan said
leisurely, “I can just admire myself in the mirror; there’s no need for
another person.”
“You still don’t know how to have fun.” Xiao Chiye said. “How
can self-admiration be as delightful as being admired by me? Both
of us have to be reflected in the mirror for it to be aesthetically
rousing.”
With glistening eyes rippling with desires, Shen Zechuan asked,
“So what’s considered aesthetically rousing?”
“Seeing is believing.” Xiao Chiye checked Shen Zechuan’s
temperature. “Try it with me one of these days, and you’ll find out.”
His caresses made Shen Zechuan gasp softly for breath. Both
men had not found relief for a long time, and they had just
survived the epidemic. All the energy that had just been recovered
pooled in their lower abdomens, weighing down on it. And now,
all these hugging and fondling had ignited the first signs of
desires.
“Shen Zechuan with a pure heart and few desires.” Xiao Chiye
sighed with deep feelings under his breath. “Why can’t I tell which
is it?”
“That is Shen Zechuan; you are calling for Shen Lanzhou.” Shen
Zechuan asked, “Who do you want?”
“I want both of them.” Xiao Chiye scooped Shen Zechuan up,
made him lean on one side, and pressed down against him from
behind. “Are you giving, or not?”
With half of his face buried in the bedding, Shen Zechuan
merely panted without saying a word. Xiao Chiye bit him. His ears
were sensitive, and the licking and biting caused his gasps to hitch.
Scarlet tints materialized at the corners of his eyes.
“Chen Yang boiled some water. I’ll let you wash up before
dawn.” Xiao Chiye lowered his head and called out to him in a
nasal tone, “Lanzhou.”
The bed was makeshift for emergency use. It was small and
narrow, and it was a strain on both men to squeeze onto it. Xiao
Chiye did not dare to thrust right in. Instead, he entered slowly and
gingerly from the side. The Imperial Bodyguards outside all had
keen hearing. Shen Zechuan did not make a sound and tugged at
the overcoat amidst those alternating deep thrusts and shallow
withdrawals, even as the sensation of melting apart engulfed him.
They were breathing unevenly—both afraid the other would cry
out loud, so they kissed, neck against neck. The bed shook gently.
Xiao Chiye’s repressed desire fired up, but he could not rock hard
into Shen Lanzhou. All he could do was to grind against him.
Between the kisses, Xiao Chiye said in a hushed tone, “Cry out
for me again.”
Shen Lanzhou said, “Ce…… Mhn……”
Xiao Chiye laughed. He thrusted a little harder and said, “What
does ‘Ce’an, mhn, Ce’an’ mean?”
Shen Zechuan could not take it anymore and did not dare to
reply. Xiao Chiye’s finger pressed into his mouth, moving and
stroking for a little while as he hugged him tightly from the back,
thrusting in deep until Shen Zechuan almost moaned out loud.
Without them realizing it, the day began to break outside as
their bout of lovemaking left them drenched in sweat. Considering
that Shen Zechuan had just woken up, and that it was not the place
for this, Xiao Chiye only did it once. Even after they hastily
concluded things, Shen Zechuan remained flushed for a long
while. He did not even want to lift a finger during the cleaning up.
◈ ◈ ◈
On the other end, Liang Cuishan looked at the sky and saw that
it was almost dawn, so he sorted out the books from these few days
and put them in order in preparation of making his report when he
met Shen Zechuan. He took a detour to the place and saw Ge
Qingqing drinking tea under the rain shelter awning, so he
greeted him and asked, “Is His Excellency the Judge better today?
This humble subordinate has tidied up the accounts and
specifically come to report the details.”
Ge Qingqing did not speak. Chen Yang just happened to walk
down and replied, “His Excellency the Judge has just recovered
from a serious illness, and the epidemic has just passed. His
Excellency is also concerned about infecting all of you, so he’s not
receiving guests today. If the nature of this account permits, I can
send it in on behalf of Your Excellency later?”
 Having been ordered by Shen Zechuan to record the accounts,
Liang Cuishan did not dare to be sloppy. Naturally, he could not
just hand the accounts over to Chen Yang. Thus, he merely said,
“I’m glad His Excellency is fine. Since it’s not convenient today, this
humble subordinate will request an audience again tomorrow.”
Chen Yang nodded, and Liang Cuishan took his leave. Before
he left, he noticed that there was no one else around that house, so
he knew that the area had been cleared of people, and there were
personal guards standing watch. The Imperial Bodyguards were on
duty, and Shen Zechuan was personally appointed by the Emperor
himself, so he reckoned that there was probably still work to be
done. Not daring to take another look or ask another question, he
hurried away.
Not long after, the shadow before the door shook slightly. Xiao
Chiye lifted the curtain and stepped out. He had already changed
into a clean robe. There was a pair of half-aged boots on his feet,
and Shen Zechuan’s ivory fan in his hand. He asked, “Was he here
to report the accounts?”
“I told him to come tomorrow.” Chen Yang said.
Xiao Chiye walked down the steps. Now that he felt refreshed,
the hostility that had been in his expression a few days before had
all dissipated. He asked, “Has Laohu’s fever subsided?”
“Yes. He’s feeling more spirited too, and he ate quite a bit this
morning. He wanted to pay his respects to Master. I told him to
come again tomorrow too.”
“I’ll go see him.” Xiao Chiye weighed the fan in his hands and
said, “The water in the streets has receded, and the sky is now
clear. We won’t need to stay at Zhao Zui Temple for two days before
there should be news from the palace. How about Xi Hongxuan?”
“He has woken up. But men from the Eight Great Training
Divisions are keeping a tight watch on him. They aren’t letting
anyone see him.”
“There’s no hurry.” Xiao Chiye said with a hint of a smile. “His
Majesty should have already woken up too. Xi Hongxuan can’t
escape this. The Chief Surveillance Bureau is waiting to impeach
him.”
 The public ditches had been dredged up, and the epidemic
did not manage to break out in full. The entire matter was
beautifully handled. The people at the top did not have to suffer,
and it was due to all the credit of those who rolled and crawled at
the bottom. It was time to settle the score. He, Xiao Ce’an, had now
slept his fill and ate to his content. He had all the spirit and energy
to dawdle with them.
Chen Yang was by his side when Xiao Chiye suddenly asked,
“The earring I had you made the last time, are they done crafting
it? When we return to the residence in a few days, I’ll go collect it
on the way.”
Chen Yang said, “I told them to craft it as quickly as possible; it
should be done by now. But what rationale is there for a master to
go personally? I’ll collect it on your behalf.”
“I have to collect this thing personally,” Xiao Chiye tossed the
ivory fan in his hands to Chen Yang and took the lead as he walked
away “Let’s go. We’ll go pay Tantai Hu a visit.”

NOTE:
This is the combined version of the original, uncensored version
and revised, censored version.

Footnotes
1. 璞玉元琢 literally, Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo (Yuanzhuo
is Yao Wenyu’s courtesy name); unpolished jade here refers
to a talent who is still unknown but with the potential to be
“polished” into someone that shines, like a top scholar (also
known as a zhuangyuan (状元), who would have a bright
future before him.)
2. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a name card (or visitation card) written
or paper or wood used by officials, nobles, or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
3. 田册 field books, a register that records fields and
farmlands.
4. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’
during summer) is one of the objectionable practices of
‘Three Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty, along with ‘Coal
Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the capital used to bribe the
officials in the capital during summertime.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 69 : EVALUATION OF MERIT

Translated with: Lin<3

Li Jianheng was unconscious for a few days, delirious with

nightmares and mumbling incoherent words no one could
understand. Mu Ru stayed by his bedside, personally feeding him
medicine and wiping down his body.
The Empress Dowager did not use her royal sedan today.
Instead, she took advantage of the good weather to take a leisurely
stroll with Third Missy Hua. She said, “Lady Mu is still staying by the
Emperor’s side keeping watch over him?”
Supporting the Empress Dowager, Matron Liuxiang said, “She
hasn’t left at all.”
“With everything she has done, the Emperor’s affections for her
would increase from a six to a ten.” The Empress Dowager said to
Hua Xiangyi, “This relationship would take on more weight now
that they have shared weals and woes together.”
“Lady Mu may seem delicate and petite,” Hua Xiangyi followed
after the Empress Dowager and said, with the Empress Dowager’s
words in mind, “But she is also a gutsy one.”
“That’s very accurate.” The Empress Dowager said, “Yesterday,
the imperial physician mentioned that His Majesty is fine now and
should wake soon. When His Majesty wakes, it’ll be Lady Mu’s time
to shine. I saw how badly she was lambasted by the imperial
censors before, but today, even Hai Liangyi himself would have to
sigh and commend her for the good woman she is. If she’s
someone timid, would she dare risk herself like this?”
Hua Xiangyi smiled as she took over the blue and white
porcelain bowl1 from Liuxiang’s hands and tossed fish baits into
the newly converted lake. She said, “How can she be His Majesty’s
favorite if she doesn’t have a little gut? She already knew how and
when to advance and retreat from her time with Pan Rugui.”
 The Empress Dowager looked at the brocade carps in the lake
vying for the food and said, “The outbreak of this epidemic is fishy.
We could have dealt with Lady Mu and have her sent away for
bewitching and leading the Emperor astray with her words. But
she’s smart. She knows that getting close to His Majesty is an
amnesty from death.2 With her taking care of him to this extent, the
only one to be in for a rough time in the aftermath is Xi Hongxuan.
In the previous suppression of Xiao Chiye, the noble clans lost Wei
Huaixing. Fu Linye has also been denounced and demoted. In the
end, no one benefited from it. And now that the Imperial Army has
carried out such an urgent task like the dredging up of public
ditches, Xiao Chiye will surely be rewarded.”
“Xi Hongxuan deserves to be punished.” Hua Xiangyi said. “He
who gives no thought to difficulties in the future is sure to be beset
by worries much closer at hand. Aunt, I think he has gotten too
carried away by his own success because of his transfer to the
Bureau of Evaluations in the Ministry of Revenue. It’s no
coincidence that this misfortune has befallen him. If he had been
prudent enough, how could anyone get the chance to plot against
him? Now that someone has given him to Xiao the Second as a
stepping stone to trample on, it’s only fitting for him to be
punished. Moreover, while I was making inquiries about the matters
concerning Qidong, I heard that the Hereditary Prince of Libei had
given Zhongbo’s Cizhou 40,000 taels as aid relief during heavy
snow3 before the new year. It was also in part due to these 40,000
taels that Xiao the Second was able to persuade the Ministry of
Revenue. Because of this, Cizhou and Libei have now become
friends in times of adversity. In the future, when the imperial court
dispatches the Provincial Administration Commissioner to
administer the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo, they would have to
show some consideration for Libei too.”
“The one who benefits the most this time is Xiao Chiye. It’s not
far-fetched even if one were to claim that he was the one who
released the epidemic.” With her fingertips, the Empress Dowager
rubbed the baits into crumbs and sprinkled them into the lake.
“Lady Mu is in such good health, so why is it there still no news of
an imperial heir? If we can’t get rid of her, then we can only have
her in our grasp. Once she has a child, I won’t have to worry about
the future.”
In truth, the Li Clan had quite a number of descendants. But
during Emperor Guangcheng’s reign, the crown prince committed
suicide by slitting his own throat, and the princes who ranked
below him either died or were deposed, leaving only Emperor
Xiande and Li Jianheng. Emperor Xiande reigned for eight years.
And because his health was poor, only Imperial Concubine Wei got
pregnant with a baby. But on those few days of national mourning,
someone drowned Imperial Concubine in a well without so much
as a squeak. Subsequently, there was only Li Jianheng left. Even
after Li Jianheng ascended to the throne, there was still no news of
pregnancy from the imperial concubines in the palace.
The Empress Dowager despised Mu Ru, who had come from an
eunuch’s compound. She had originally intended to pick a smart
and astute girl from the remaining maidens of the Hua Clan in
Dicheng and appointed her hand in marriage to Li Jianheng as an
imperial consort. Li Jianheng was not a passionate man who was
crazy about love, so once he had a new lover, he would surely give
his old flame the cold shoulder. Who would have expected Mu Ru
to be both clever and gutsy enough to sway the Emperor through
pillow talk and speak up numerous times for the Empress
Dowager? If the Empress Dowager wanted to raise the future
Crown Prince in her own palace, then she had to keep an eye on
Mu Ru’s belly now.
“Speaking of benefit, Lady Mu has also gained from this
misfortune.” Hua Xiangyi wiped her hands. “She still has a younger
brother. Does Aunt remember?”
“He’s called Fengquan.” Matron Liuxiang quietly reminded the
Empress Dowager from behind.
“I vaguely remember such a person.” The Empress Dowager
said, “Didn’t he acknowledge Pan Rugui as his grandfather? Pan
Rugui has been executed. His Majesty secretly retained him for
Lady Mu’s sake, didn’t he?”
“Fengquan has once received a recommendation from Aunt for
a promotion. I’m sure he still remembers Aunt’s kindness.” Hua
Xiangyi supported the Empress Dowager by the arm. “Aunt, this
sister and brother pair now have no one to rely on. If you give them
a little endorsement for a promotion, then to them, you’ll be like the
Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin.”
The Empress Dowager took a few steps and said, “That
Fengquan is a eunuch. Call him back. There’s so many vacancies in
the Twenty-four Yamen. Liuxiang, arrange a good post for him.
Consider it a fulfillment of the siblings’ wish.”
Liuxiang uttered an acknowledgment.
The Empress Dowager asked again, “Has Qidong replied? How
can the wedding date be scheduled in the autumn? The autumn
wind in the Cang Commandery of Qidong is strong. I can’t bear to
let you marry over during that period.”
Hua Xiangyi merely smiled. Matron Liuxiang said, “The old
commander has replied, saying that he’ll leave it all up to Your
Majesty to make the decision, as long as it falls on an auspicious
day and hour. The messenger even specially brought along a few
chests of Hezhou’s silk and satin for the Third Missy. The head
ornaments were also crafted with care and attention—he clearly has
put his heart into this.”
“Shouldn’t he put his heart into it?” The Empress Dowager’s
smile diminished. “He has received such a momentous imperial
favor.”
Liuxiang immediately lowered herself in obeisance and said,
“He should. In order not to make Third Missy feel slighted and
aggrieved, the men Qidong chose for the bridal escort squad4 are
all respectable generals, and the one leading the procession is
none other than Commander-in-Chief Qi.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression underwent a subtle
change. In the end, she did not fly into a rage and merely said,
“I’ve specifically sent a letter to the Bianjun Commandery to get the
Earl of Biansha, Lu Pingyan, to come and fetch the bride. But he
kept coming up with all kinds of excuses to decline. Isn’t it on
account of the Prince of Libei that he didn’t dare to accept? The
people from the Lu Clan are a bunch of blockheads! I’ll have to see
exactly what Libei can help them with in the future. As for Qi Zhuyin
being the one to fetch the bride… As a girl and a daughter, her
seniority is already a notch lower. The nerve of Qi Shiyu to think of
it!”
The Empress Dowager’s anger had yet to subside when a
eunuch swiftly trotted over and kneeled to say, “Greetings to Your
Majesty. Someone from the bedchamber had come earlier to say
that His Majesty has woken up!”
Liuxiang hurriedly said, “Prepare to set out!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Tantai Hu, with his clothes draped over him, was carving wood
to sculpt a crudely-made giant cricket for Ding Tao and Xiaowu.
The moment Chen Yang lifted the curtain, all of them got off the
couch and paid their proper respects in order.
“You have only just woken up, so it’s fine to sit.” Xiao Chiye
motioned for them to rise and took his seat on the chair. “How are
you today?”
“To report back to the Viceroy.” Tantai Hu wiped away the wood
shavings on his hands. “My fever is gone, and I have eaten too. I
can return to duty today.”
“There’s no hurry.” Xiao Chiye’s old robe dropped down deftly.
He sat on the chair for a moment. “You got ill so suddenly that day.
Your health is usually pretty good, so what happened? What did
the military medic say?”
“The medic can’t explain the cause of this illness either.” Tantai
Hu said. “I’ve been wondering. Why me? I never caught a cold
even when I trained bare-chested in the rain during all those times
our Imperial Army trained on the military drill grounds. I’ve seen
the name list of those who had fallen ill that the Viceroy had told
Chen Yang to compile. Although there are also elderly and
youngsters, it’s still mostly the young and strong.”
“This epidemic is bizarre.” Chen Yang piped up when he heard
to this point. “His Excellency the Judge may be right. It’s not a
natural disaster this time, but a man-made one.”
Xiao Chiye leaned back to ponder it over and said, “Regardless
of which it is, so much time has passed since then. The clues are
most likely already disposed of.”
“It’s still not too bad since I’m the one who fell ill.” Tantai Hu was
still filled with trepidation. “If Viceroy were the one who fell sick
instead, then the patrols in Qudu would be in chaos!”
Startled, Xiao Chiye’s hand, which had been stroking his thumb
ring, stopped in place. He said nothing, and the others did not
dare to interrupt his contemplation.
“This didn’t cross my mind before you said it.” After a long
while, Xiao Chiye let out a fearless smile. “Never mind. It’s a bad
debt, no? Thankfully we have a backup plan. It’s not all that
worrisome. Take a good rest today. Who is taking care of those few
children in your home these days?”
Tantai Hu did not expect Xiao Chiye to remember the children.
His eyes felt hot as he said, “Before coming in, I entrusted them to
Chen Yang. He kept them in the Imperial Army’s office compound.
With the brothers there to take care of them, they should not have
to worry about food. It’s all good.”
“Most of the original households in the Imperial Army are locals
from Qudu. You guys are non-locals from beyond Qudu who were
recruited to fill up the posts here. All of you have no houses and no
wives, so it isn’t easy for you to raise a few children. This time, you
fell ill while digging ditches in the face of a disaster. Consider it a
meritorious service. Chen Yang will report it to the Ministry of War
for you to get a promotion at the start of spring. In the future, in
addition to your monthly salary, the internal division of the Imperial
Army will also allocate you some child support funds from my
personal account.”
Allocating the money from Xiao Chiye’s personal account
meant that the money was designated and withdrawn from Xiao
Chiye’s official salary—it could be said to be money that Xiao Chiye
gave him.
Tantai Hu had already kneeled down on one knee when he
heard this. He said, “How would that do? I’m already very content
that the Viceroy didn’t boot me out and still kept me on duty!”
“Credit where credit is due; you deserve it. I’m giving it to you,
so just take it.” Xiao Chiye rose and said to Chen Yang, “Keep a
record of the soldiers who have dug the ditches this time and
distribute money to them. The epidemic is no joke; everyone is
risking their own lives here, so what is taking some money in the
grand scheme of things? Let it be known that all promotions and
assignments will be assessed according to one’s merits and
demerits in the future if this happens again. For people like Laohu,
I, Xiao Ce’an, will take care of the whole family.”
That bit of displeasure Tantai Hu had initially harbored had
utterly vanished. It would not do for him to bring up the issue about
Shen Zechuan again because of the kindness he had received.
Xiao Chiye also took a look at those few from the Imperial Army
who had fallen ill, and he did and said the same to them. Even the
young ones like Ding Tao received a monetary reward.
Shen Zechuan drank his medicine as he watched the bustling
scene outside the window.
Qian Tianya set up the fire basin and roasted a few potatoes. As
he poked the fire, he said, “See how others have gotten a
promotion and a windfall. Master, what about me?”
“I’ll keep it in mind for future reference.” Shen Zechuan set
aside the bowl.
Qiao Tianya looked at the potatoes with undivided attention
even as he said, “Xiao the Second is doing it right when it comes to
managing his subordinates. He has really put in a lot of thought
and effort to be able to consolidate the Imperial Army and turn it
into his very own impenetrable defense in the span of just a few
years.”
“It’s not surprising for him to put in a little thinking and effort
into matters that concern his safety and security.” Shen Zechuan
said. “The Imperial Army is his newly sharpened blade. Naturally,
the more smoothly he can wield it, the better. Tantai Hu is a high-
ranking military officer he recruited from the outside into the
Imperial Army. If not properly managed, then this batch of people
with Tantai Hu as the head will become the root of troubles.”
“Timing and people’s hearts are all essential and
indispensable. He has just the perfect grasp on them all. He
suppressed them and rewarded them, sorting them out until they
are all submissive and obedient. Even the root of trouble has
become a stabilizing force. 5 Given Tantai Hu’s disposition, even if
someone were to bribe him with a thousand gold in the future, it’ll
be hard to shake his loyalty.” Qiao Tianya peeled the potatoes and
sighed. “Now that I’ve compared it this way… Master, you’re really
way too cold-blooded.”
“The Imperial Bodyguards differ from the Imperial Army. All
those in the Imperial Bodyguards are men from noble clans. Each
of them is ambitious and arrogant. Being cold is just perfect.
Without any life and death tribulations, there is no way true
friendships can form. Everyone has a scale in their heart. Han
Cheng has assumed the post of Commander-in-chief for quite a
few days, and there have been quite a number of rewards he has
made out as a bribe to those below him. But how many of them
really think well of him in private?” Shen Zechuan paused for a
moment, then continued, “Now that you have eaten the potatoes,
don’t eat the meat later. You must have put on at least seven or
eight jin6 ever since you followed me.”
Qiao Tianya said, “Does Master want to listen to a tune? I can
play and even sing. I can skip the money, but you can at least
reward me with two pieces of meat, right?”
Shen Zechuan said mercilessly, “Go out.”
At the same time Qiao Tianya went out, Xiao Chiye returned.
Qiao Tianya moved to the side to make way, and Xiao Chiye strode
through the door, hooked a chair over with his leg, and sat beside
the bed.
“Did you have a good sleep?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “So-so.”
Xiao Chiye said, “That residence of yours has been torn down
too. Where are you going to live after you get out two days later?”
Shen Zechuan sighed. “Live on the streets, I guess.”
Propping himself up, Xiao Chiye whistled at him and said, “I
have a small courtyard behind the Plum Blossom Residence. Do
you want it?”
“Too close together, and it’ll be easy to arouse the suspicions of
the others.” Shen Zechuan gathered his clothes around him,
offering a brief glimpse of the marks on his nape.
“Too far apart, and it’ll be hard for us to even meet once every
few days.” Xiao Chiye reached out his hand to smooth down Shen
Zechuan’s back collar. His eyes lingered on those teeth marks.
 He was the one who left those marks, kissing that portion all
over as if he was holding his prey in his mouth.
Shen Zechuan raised his eyes to look at him and said, “See you
on the imperial court… hm?”
Xiao Chiye averted his gaze and said, “That sounds so distant.”
“Then what’s to be done?” Shen Zechuan looked at him.
“Where’s my fan?”
Chen Yang just happened to be holding a tray as he lifted the
curtain. Without even thinking about it, Xiao Chiye said, “Gone.
Chen Yang lost it.”
Shen Zechuan looked towards Chen Yang who, despite his
shock, nodded calmly and said to Shen Zechuan in a heavy voice,
“Your Excellency, this humble subordinate…”
“It’s just a fan. This Second Young Master will compensate you
on his behalf.” Xiao Chiye said leisurely. “That ivory fan is so crude.
I’ll gift you one.”
“Even if it’s crude, it’s from Xi Hongxuan.” Shen Zechuan said.
“How can I put on an act of a crude rascal if I go and meet him later
without that fan?”
“I’ll give something even more crude.” Xiao Chiye said, “Inlaid
with gold along with jade. This Second Young Master has lots of
money.”
“The military drill ground on Mount Feng has to undergo
renovations at the start of spring.” Shen Zechuan spread his palms
open. “Second Master Xiao, have you tightened your belt? You’ll
soon be so poor that you’ll have to go vegetarian. Where on earth
would you have the money to inlay gold and jade?”
Chen Yang put the tray down and backed out of the room.
Xiao Chiye said, “What? Is this going to be a check of my $ecret
$tash?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Yo, there’s even a $ecret $tash.”
Xiao Chiye said, “I’ve plenty of those.”
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “Then that’s really…”
Chen Yang, who had just exited, turned back and said outside
the curtain, “Master! An imperial edict has arrived from the
palace.”
 Both men reined in their expression. Xiao Chiye immediately
rose and single-handedly brought Shen Zechuan up as well.

Footnotes

1.
2. 青花瓷(碗) blue and white porcelain (bowl)
3. 免死金牌 Death-Exemption Golden Token; a tablet or
token bestowed by Emperor which would allow a person to
be exempt from the death penalty.
4. 大雪 means both heavy snow and also Great Snow, which
is the 21st of the 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar.
(Winter).
5. 迎亲队 a procession squad sent by the bridegroom along
with a bridal sedan to meet the bride at the bride’s home
and escort her to the bridegroom’s home for the wedding.
6. 定海神针 literally “The Sea-Anchoring Divine Needle”.
According to the novel Journey to the West 《西游记》, this
was a divine ‘needle’ (or pole) that could shrink and grow
according to its owner’s wish. At first, it was a treasure of the
Eastern Sea Dragon King’s Dragon Palace, but Sun Wukong
(孙悟空) later took it away to use as his weapon and changed
the needle’s name to the Ruyi Golden Cudgel (如意金箍棒).
It’s used to refer to a stabilizing force.
7. 斤 jin, 1 catty = to 0.5kg, so 7-8 jin is approximately 3.5-
4kg.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 70 : TEMPLE REOPENING

As it was with haste that Zhao Zui Temple received the imperial
edict, Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan were both not wearing their
official robes. Everyone gathered in the courtyard and kneeled.
The eunuch who had come to deliver the edict looked unfamiliar.
Not daring to put on airs, he quickly started to read out the imperial
edict when he saw the person it was intended for emerge.
The eunuch finished reading the imperial edict and bowed
slightly, saying to Xiao Chiye, “Viceroy, please rise quickly!”
Xiao Chiye received the imperial edict, and Chen Yang
immediately called for someone to brew and serve tea.
“Zhao Zui Temple is pervaded with the stench of illness all
over,” Xiao Chiye said, “so I won’t invite gonggong inside for a seat
today.”
“The Viceroy has been hard at work attending to official duties
and has gone without rest for days. It’s the Viceroy who should be
the one invited to take a seat first.” The eunuch merrily took a few
sips of the tea, then furrowed his brows and sighed, “How is this
tea fit for distinguished men? Viceroy, now that His Majesty is
awake, then according to the Secretariat Elder, His Excellency the
Judge and you may take a rest.”
“There are still people under the awning who are still down with
the disease. I’m on official duty, no? I wouldn’t dare to be careless.”
Xiao Chiye put on a relaxed expression as he acquainted himself
with eunuch over a few exchanges of pleasantries. Both of them
stood in the courtyard, drinking tea as they chatted and laughed.
Xiao Chiye asked, “Did His Majesty regain consciousness today?”
The eunuch, named Fuman, replied, “That’s right. He just woke
up this morning. All the niangniang in the palace are weeping tears
of joy. Her Majesty personally instructed the Imperial Academy of
Medicine to take good care of him.”
Everything mentioned in this imperial edict was merely
formalities. They simply commended the Imperial Army, Imperial
Bodyguards, and the Ministry of Revenue Secretary for their quick
actions and timely defenses this time round. But details of their
rewards were only briefly mentioned in passing.
Fuman had only just assumed office, and he usually served in
the Grand Secretariat compound. The Grand Secretariat officials
held eunuchs in contempt, and Hai Liangyi, in particular, loathed
eunuchs. So whenever Fuman was on duty before, he could not
look at Hai Liangyi right in the face; he had to retreat to the side
and kneel down to reply. Whatever Hai Liangyi asked him, he
would answer the same. He did not dare to jest and clown around,
much less grin or beam. Now, he had not only received a cup of
hot tea here; he also saw how Viceroy Xiao was a man who was
naturally carefree and not bothered about trifles. Thus, he gradually
relaxed as they conversed, intending to do Xiao Chiye a favor and
use this chance to cotton up to the latter.
“This humble slave has been going around the Grand
Secretariat these days to serve the Secretariat Elder tea, and so this
humble slave has more or less come to hear some rumors about
the Viceroy.” Fuman shifted two steps over and said in a hushed
tone.
Without a change in expression, Xiao Chiye lifted his hand to
motion for the others to back off. With his arm around Fuman’s
shoulders, he said, “Then you’re the new favorite close to the
Secretariat Elder. I myself have to watch the sky for the weather
before I act and make wild guesses as to which impending storm is
brewing. Perhaps gonggong can give me a pointer or two?”
Fuman hurriedly said, “I would not presume to be worthy of
giving pointers. For the sake of the sovereign and people, the
Viceroy carries out his official duties with conscience; the
Secretariat Elder knows this too. The Grand Secretariat has also
deliberated for a few days over the conferment of award this time.
It’s nothing bad. All the Viceroy has to do is to wait for it!”
Xiao Chiye merely smiled, “I wouldn’t dare to hanker after the
credits this time. The situation isn’t something I alone can get back
to normal. I’d feel uneasy if the reward is too much.”
“Oh, my. Viceroy!” Fuman slapped his leg. “You’re too humble.
Is Shen Zechuan the one from the Imperial Bodyguards who is in
charge of the mission?”
 “That’s right.” Xiao Chiye said. “He’s a frosty one.”
Having heard that they were on bad terms, Fuman promptly
laughed and said, “Who would have known that the Viceroy would
get together with him this time? Since the matter has been
handled, then he is bound to receive a reward too. But he serves in
the Imperial Bodyguards, so how is he going to be rewarded? The
Grand Secretariat can’t overstep their authority.1 It all depends on
His Majesty’s intent.”
“An exception was made for him when he was promoted to the
position of Southern Judge before the new year. It’s too fast for him
to be conferred another reward again now.” Xiao Chiye said. “The
Grand Secretariat didn’t object?”
Fuman carefully set the teacup aside and said, “The Viceroy is
sick and tired of him, so naturally you take note of him. But now, the
various Excellencies in the Grand Secretariat are all busy with other
matters. If he were to be promoted for real, no one would dare to
contradict and rebuff His Majesty over such a small matter like this.
His Majesty has met with misfortune one after another. Even
Secretariat Elder Hai would acquiesce to him at this point in time.
But let this humble servant tell the Viceroy something in strict
confidence. This man, if promoted too quickly, will be a latent
danger. The current officials of fifth-grade and above in the
Imperial Bodyguards are all lads that come from families with a
long history and deep roots. That Shen Zechuan… who would
think well of that family background of his? Head to the streets now
and yell out Shen Wei’s name at the top of your voice, and all you
will get is countless spittle of saliva. His promotion to the top will
only make these people humiliate him in public and in private.
Someone who has many merits to his name and has received
rewards for them will only cause the others to be jealous of him.
The Imperial Bodyguards are, to begin with, a behemoth that is as
ferocious as beasts of prey like the wolves and tigers. If he wants to
hold on to his prize, it will still have to depend on his capabilities!”
Xiao Chiye chatted a little more with Fuman before getting
Chen Yang to see him out. When Chen Yang saw him out, he gave
Fuman a hand and helped him up. It was only when Fuman got
onto the horse and was midway through his journey that he felt a
heaviness in his sleeve. He fished it out for a look and instantly
beamed with delight.
“The Viceroy is generous.” Fuman stuffed the money back into
his sleeve. “A man worthy of being a friend.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan met Liang Cuishan and listened to him give a
clear tally of the accounts. He asked him a few questions, and the
latter could answer them all readily and methodically. It was really
a shame for this person to be a minor, unranked2 official.
Shen Zechuan said, “These few days have been chaotic. There
are countless small and big medicinal shops in Qudu, and the
coming and going of the medicinal herbs is a complicated mess.
You have certainly gone to great trouble to have recorded it all this
clearly.”
“This is what this humble subordinate does in his official
capacity. This is my duty. It’s what I should do.” Liang Cuishan said
with concern, “Your Excellency looks better today.”
“The illness is eradicated once the medicine takes effect. I’m
fine now.” Shen Zechuan said. “Make copies of this account and
leave one for the Ministry of Revenue; you have to report back to
the higher-ups. Then give the Imperial Army a copy so that they
know what to expect.”
Everyone was on tenterhooks with the epidemic spreading a
few days ago, so they could set aside all old grudges and hatred.
But now that the rain has stopped, it was time to decide on the
awards on the basis of each man’s merit. With three parties all
involved in this matter, it was hard to guarantee that there would
be no mutual denunciation and backstabbing among them.
As a minor official at the lower ranks, Liang Cuishan had seen a
lot. He initially thought that Shen Zechuan did not get along with
the Imperial Army, so at present, Shen Zechuan should be
strangling the Imperial Army until he went red in the face. But
unexpectedly enough, Shen Zechuan did not step forward, nor did
he speak up on the matter. Even with the job done, he did not hog
all the credit for himself.
Liang Cuishan hesitated for a moment before he decided to
say, “It was Your Excellency who instructed this humble subordinate
to record these accounts. For me to hand it over like this…”
“I was in a muddle while I was ill. You did many of the stuff on
your own.” Shen Zechuan closed the book. “I can see that you’re
methodical when it comes to your work, and you’ve served in the
Ministry of Revenue for so many years. So why are you still just a
desk clerk?”
Liang Cuishan seemed to have a hunch and said in a pained
voice, “This humble subordinate has served in the Ministry of
Revenue, starting from the second year of Xiande. At that time, the
one in authority up there is a member of the Hua Clan. This humble
subordinate is embarrassingly short on money, and I only know
how to run errands. I don’t have the money to grease the higher-
up’s palm. The higher-up let me attend to official duties in my
original post, and my evaluations all these years have been in the
lower-middle range, with neither merits nor demerits.”
After a moment of silence, Shen Zechuan said, “His Majesty is
now opening up opportunities to air one’s views, and the Six
Ministries are lacking in talents. There’s no need for you to feel
disheartened. The opportunity will present itself when it is due.”
Knowing from this that Shen Zechuan meant to recommend
him for a promotion, Liang Cuishan hurriedly bowed to him and
said, “Your Excellency’s recognition and appreciation of this
humble subordinate is a kindness this humble subordinate will
never forget!”
Shen Zechuan got up and said nothing further as he lifted the
curtain and stepped out. Liang Cuishan looked at the floor blankly,
only realizing after a while that the tears were already streaming
down his cheeks.
What he did not tell Shen Zechuan was that he was from Juexi,
and his first few decades were spent on a prolonged period of
studying; as such, he passed the imperial examinations a few years
late. At first, he was supposed to assume duty at the Ministry of
Personnel, but someone spent bribe money to take his place. He
was then transferred to the Ministry of Works, where he received
outstanding evaluations for the few years he worked there. As he
was good in calculation, he was once again transferred to the
Ministry of Revenue. He initially thought he could show and put his
skills to good use at the Ministry of Revenue. But in the end, he was
oppressed from above by a distantly related descendant of the Hua
Clan—an utter disgrace who simply muddled his way through. He
was the one who did the job, but it was this higher-up’s name on
the reports that were submitted to the top. He tried to seek help
from his connections to get a transfer elsewhere, but those at the
top did not agree, wanting to exploit him as a manual laborer for
free. He was suppressed and oppressed again and again until he
eventually became a clerk in an official post so minor that he could
not even be considered a legit official.
He initially thought that he had to give up his dreams of glory
in this life, disillusioned as he was with worldly affairs.3 Who would
have expected that misfortune could turn out to be a blessing in
disguise? Every cloud indeed has a silver lining.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was only two days later that the order forbidding access in
and out of the palace was lifted. The operations of the Six Ministries
reverted back to normal, and Zhao Zui Temple withdrew the men.
Those who had yet to recover were all left under the continued care
of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
Shen Zechuan was all clean as he stood before the door, once
again all decked out in his embroidered python robe4 and
phoenix-tail belt5 with his authority token hanging on his waist and
sword by his side. Xiao Chiye had also tidied himself up, dressed in
a scarlet court robe with an embroidered lion rank badge,6 looking
tall and leggy.
Both men put on a hypocritical show of bidding each other
farewell.
“I’m heading this way.” Xiao Chiye whistled to summon over
Lang Tao Xue Jin. He patted his horse on the back. “Is Your
Excellency the Judge entering the palace with me?”
“Please go ahead first, Viceroy.” Shen Zechuan said politely.
“This humble subordinate has to go to the commander-in-chief to
make a report.”
“It sucks to be a subordinate.” Xiao Chiye flipped atop his horse.
“When are you coming up to play?”
 “I’m afraid of heights.” Shen Zechuan looked up at him. “You’d
do best to sit tight.”
“It’s too complicated and cumbersome to deal with the
aftermath. Whether I can sit tight depends on whether you are
willing to show mercy.” Xiao Chiye pointed and tapped at his own
chest with the horsewhip. “Be gentle.”
Both of them parted before Zhao Zui Temple. Instead of going
to look for Han Cheng immediately, Shen Zechuan drove the
carriage to the place where he had Ji Gang and Qi Huilian settled
down.
This little building was surrounded by a courtyard, with a half-
dead pear tree jutting out from the top of the wall. Shen Zechuan
entered, passed through the courtyard, and headed up the stairs,
only to see the main hall doors tightly shut. There were no signs of
Ji Gang or Qi Huilian.
Qiao Tianya sensed the oddness in the atmosphere. He could
see from the messy footprints on the ground that there were
people here. Grasping the hilt of his blade with his palm, he strode
a step forward and said with a smile, “Is there no one here? If there
isn’t, this humble servant is going to draw his blade—”
A sudden gust of wind sent the withered branches of the pear
tree swaying, and weeds in the courtyard assaulted the hem of his
robe. Qiao Tianya surveyed the place with sharp eyes; he had
already discovered that the place was teeming with people both
inside and outside the courtyard.
“What blade are you going to draw? We are all acquaintances
here.” A rather weak and feeble voice rang out from inside the
house. “Lanzhou, why aren’t you saying a word?”
The ruthlessness in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was dimly visible, yet
he forced a laugh and said, “Second Young Master, have you
recovered?”
Xi Hongxuan was all wrapped up in fox fur inside the house. He
had lost quite some weight, and he did not look too good. Holding
up the teacup, he stared askance at the door and said gloomily,
“Would I dare to see you if I haven’t recovered? My good brother,
why didn’t you tell me that you’re hiding such a bigwig here?!”
 Shen Zechuan laughed out loud and raised his head to motion
for Qiao Tianya to retreat. He abruptly pushed the door open,
startling up the dust inside the room. An entire room of guards
turned to look at him, each of their blades already drawn with
glints of snowy-white light.
Xi Hongxuan sat in the very middle, grasping the teacup.
Showing no signs of fear, Shen Zechuan strode in and said,
“One is a fool and the other, a looney. What kind of bigwig can
they be? If you want them, then why don’t you just tell me?”
Xi Hongxuan could not bring himself to laugh. He said, “If Qi
Huilian is no bigwig, then Hai Liangyi is no rarity either! Lanzhou.
Oh, Lanzhou, you are truly a deep one to hide it all this while! To
think the Grand Mentor of Yongyi taught and guided you
personally. Haha! Is he banking on you to be the Emperor?”
“He’s already crazy.” Shen Zechuan pulled out his handkerchief
to wipe the dust at his own pace. He cast a glance at Xi Hongxuan.
“You’re afraid of a madman?”
“I am!” Xi Hongxuan suddenly flung the teacup down. “A
madman taught a mad dog, whose bites caught me off guard and
turned me into a bloody pulp!”
The surrounding blades pressed in swiftly.
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “That makes no sense. If you
want to kill me, at least let me die knowing why.”
“Did you…” Xi Hongxuan said in a malevolent voice, “…
teamed up with Xiao the Second to screw me over?”
The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze. Shadows fell upon
the sides of Shen Zechuan’s face. After a moment of silence, he
suddenly smiled and braced himself against the edge of the table.
“That’s right.”
Shen Zechuan scrutinized Xi Hongxuan with darkness in his
eyes as he said both contemptuously and wickedly,
“Even if I dare to say so, do you dare to believe the same?”

Footnotes
1. As a reminder, the Imperial Bodyguards were elite
bodyguards and secret police that directly served the Ming
Emperors. The only one above them is the Emperor.
2. (不)入流 (not) within the nine grades of feudal
officialdom; i.e., a hierarchy of government officials in feudal
times where officials were classified in nine hierarchic
grades (品 ), with grade one being the highest rank. Their
salaries ranged according to their rank.
3. 生平傲杀繁华梦，已悟真空 from Tune: Joy before Palace,
Lazy Clouds Nest《殿前欢·懒云窝》by Wu Xiyi (吴西逸)
4. 蟒衣 (or 蟒袍) “python (or mang) robes” were
embroidered robes bestowed by the Emperor to officials
with merits during the Ming Dynasty. It was a sign of honor
and favor for officials who were granted the privilege of
wearing a “python robe”.
5. 鸾带 a wide phoenix tail (or luan) belt. Luan is a mythical
bird related to the phoenix.
6. 补子 补子 rank badge, or mandarin square, was a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. (i.e., the square
image on the robe in the previous footnote). Squares
depicting birds were used for civil officials, while animals
were used for military officials. So for a second-grade
military official like Xiao Chiye, this animal would be a lion.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 71 : TRAP

The atmosphere was forbidding; it was so quiet that one could

hear a pin drop.
With his hands on the chair handles for support, Xi Hongxuan
reacted quickly in this heart-stopping atmosphere and said,
“Obscuring truths with falsehoods. You are throwing out
misleading traps again! Shen Zechuan, do you really think I won’t
dare to kill you?”
“The blade is already on my neck.” Shen Zechuan turned his
head to look askance at the blade. “You can just give the command
to take down my head.”
Xi Hongxuan did not dare to let up even the slightest. In this
confrontation, he was not willing to miss any of the subtleties in
Shen Zechuan’s expression. Although he was sitting tight in the
chair, he was even more anxious than Shen Zechuan deep down.
Yet, the more he warned himself not to be influenced by Shen
Zechuan, the more he would be spurred on by the expression in
Shen Zechuan’s eyes and by his tone.
“For what it’s worth, we are brothers.” Xi Hongxuan said with a
superficial, insincere smile. “Lanzhou, tell me the truth, and I’ll leave
your corpse in one piece.”
“Much ado about nothing. Feel free to do it.” Shen Zechuan
egged him on. “Come on.”
Xi Hongxuan’s fingers dug tightly into the chair handles as he
exchanged stares with Shen Zechuan. But Shen Zechuan was too
calm and composed. Thus, Xi Hongxuan said, “Aren’t you worried
about Qi Huilian at all? Once you’re dead, I’ll skin that old dog and
sell him out to the Empress Dowager to plead for leniency.”
Shen Zechuan said, “If you handed Qi Huilian to the Empress
Dowager twenty years earlier, she might really pardon you for your
negligence this time. But Qi Huilian is now worthless. He’s not
worth alive, and he’s worth nothing dead. You are a veteran
merchant; would you feel at ease to do such a losing deal? I think
you’re lost your mind and gone silly from the illness.”
 “Qi Huilian is merely feigning insanity.” Xi Hongxuan said. “Do
you think I can’t tell? To survive, he tucks his tail between his legs
and struggles on whilst at death’s door. That’s quite the convincing
act he has put on!”
Shen Zechuan sneered, “Are you trying to sound me out at this
point in time? He’s just a lunatic.”
“If he is a lunatic, then who are you studying under?” Xi
Hongxuan stretched his neck out. “Zhao Zui Temple made you a
new person. How did that last remaining survivor of the Shen Clan
who was so much like a lapdog six years ago become so gutsy and
resourceful, huh? Lanzhou, you tell me!”
“Man proposes, Heaven disposes.” Shen Zechuan’s expression
was gloomy. “Don’t you know what it’s like to be a lapdog at others’
beck and call and have them kick you around? If I don’t shed my
skin, how can I break out of the hardships and make it out there?
It’s better to rely on oneself than on others. You and I are both
fleeing for our lives from perilous circumstances, and yet we are
now in internal strife. Xi Hongxuan, you sure are doing a good job
getting rid of someone as soon as he outlives his usefulness, much
like killing the donkey the moment it leaves the millstone.”
“If you hadn’t leaked the news, then how would Ouhua Pavilion
collapsed for no reason? We call ourselves brothers on the inside,
but the moment you step out, you backstab me in the back. I can’t
be compared to you when it comes to being ruthless! But as fate
would have it, I didn’t die!” Xi Hongxuan said in a chilling voice.
“You want to ingratiate yourselves with both parties, but there’s no
such thing as having your cake and eating it too, is there?”
“What can Xiao’er give me that is worthy enough of raising
your suspicions to such an extent?” Shen Zechuan said
sarcastically, “He’s not Xiao Jiming; he can’t be the Prince of Libei,
nor can he command the Libei’s Armored Cavalry. He’s merely a
trapped beast in this Qudu! What’s the difference between him and
me? Whatever it is that he has, I have no lack of it either.”
“He has a good life that you don’t have.” Xi Hongxuan said.
“He’s the second son of the Prince of Libei, a legitimate lawful son
from the direct line of descendants, born of the same mother who
birthed Xiao Jiming. Even if he can’t inherit the title and position of
the Prince of Libei, he has tens of thousands of willing troops at his
disposal. Aren’t soldiers precisely what you’re lacking?”
With an indifferent expression, Shen Zechuan said, “I hold a
post in the Imperial Bodyguards; why would I need troops for? It’s
only in Qudu that I have a way to survive. Leave Qudu, and there is
nowhere else I can put my abilities to use. I’m the eighth common
son of Shen Wei, while you are the second lawful son of the Xi
Clan. Have you and I ever had an easy time before? This shows that
there’s no difference between the sons of lawful or common ranks.
When it comes to people, even heaven cannot reach a final verdict
until the very end.”
“By speaking such treacherous words, you have already
regarded the societal order of this world as nothing.” Xi Hongxuan
raised his finger and pointed to his own toe. “But you got to admit
that some people are born to be masters as the continual
successions of the upper echelons of the noble clans keep it going.
This is fate! If there is no difference between those of common birth
and lawful birth, then how can the bloodline maintain its
legitimacy? He who is surnamed Li is just simply a cut above you
with the surname Shen!”
Shen Zechuan stared at Xi Hongxuan and roared with laughter.
Insanity stirred once again in those expressive eyes as he said,
“That’s right, that’s right…”
When Qiao Tianya saw the upsurge of Shen Zechuan’s
murderous intent in this split second, he almost thought that Shen
Zechuan was going to draw his blade. He did not expect Shen
Zechuan to say next in a genial tone, “If that’s the case, then what
future can I have by following Xiao’er? If you believe the rumors
and lay a trap to kill me today., then you will come to regret it
someday in the future.”
Xi Hongxuan faltered, besieged by doubts and unable to come
to a decision, but his expression betrayed nothing. He merely
lowered his eyes and said, “Even when faced with imminent death,
you’re still putting on an act! You came here as soon as you left
Zhao Zui Temple. Isn’t that proof enough that this place is important
to you?”
 “Of course.” Shen Zechuan’s emotions seemed to have sunk
into a deep pool of waters, where there was not even a trace of a
ripple to be seen. He said, “That is Qi Huilian you’re talking about.
Even though he has gone crazy, he is also the Qi Huilian who used
to be the Triple Yuan Top Scholar,1 one which the crown prince of
the eastern palace personally invited to take on a leading official
post. Now that he’s in my hands, I’ll never hand him over to anyone
else unless he’s dead.”
Shen Zechuan was right in his presumption that Xi Hongxuan
was setting up a trap to deceive him. Xi Hongxuan had no idea at
all if Qi Huilian was insane for real or just putting on an act. He
merely wanted to pre-empt and catch Shen Zechuan off-guard.
Although Xi Hongxuan did not have Xue Xiuzhuo’s capability, he
had an ability one would find hard to surpass, and that was
eloquence. The reason he was able to incite the Imperial College to
rise in rebellion with just a single teahouse meeting was all because
of his glib tongue. And this also happened to be his weak point.
If he was really certain that Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye were
setting up a trap to screw him over, then he would not give Shen
Zechuan the chance to open his mouth. He dragged his sickly
body here, because he could not be sure if Shen Zechuan was
collaborating with Xiao Chiye. That was why he had to bring out his
own special skill and engaged in a battle of words to trick Shen
Zechuan into telling the truth.
“What do you want Qi Huilian for?” Xi Hongxuan asked with
dread and fear.
Shen Zechuan suddenly hit upon an idea. Going along with it,
he bent over and said to Xi Hongxuan, “Qi Huilian was the Crown
Prince’s teacher. There was the incident at the Eastern Palace back
then, and I heard that there was an imperial grandson still in his
infancy. Ji Lei did not reveal the imperial grandson’s whereabouts
to me before his death. I was afraid Qi Huilian knew, so I had to
keep a close watch on him.”
Xi Hongxuan’s countenance changed in spite of himself. He
said, “The Empress Dowager will never leave any survivors behind.
It’s common practice to stamp out trouble at its source! So what are
you daydreaming about?!”
 Shen Zechuan said, “If there is no imperial heir in hand, who
would dare to conspire to murder His Majesty? There will be
nobody else with the surname Li in Dazhou if he dies. You aren’t
the one who did it, and it isn’t me either. Instead of falling out with
me here, why not put down your blade and discuss a
countermeasure with me?”
“How would I know that it’s not you?” Xi Hongxuan did not
move. “No one but you know the structure of Ouhua Pavilion best.
It’s simply too convenient for you to tamper with it. In addition, I
keep encountering calamities one after another, yet you keep
getting promoted again and again. Your meritorious deeds sure
have grown!”
“I have only just gotten into His Majesty’s good graces. It’s just
the time for me to build up my strength and climb my way up. So
why would I kill him? What’s more, you and I have been conspiring
together for quite some time, so why would Xiao’er believe me
based on some empty promises?” Shen Zechuan gradually let out a
smile at him. “Even if I kill you, it should be at a time when there’s
much more in it for me.”
The way he said it was half in jest, but it made the blood of
those listening run cold. Xi Hongxuan covered his lips and
coughed, using this interval to evade Shen Zechuan’s gaze.
Although they had conspired together to kill off many people,
Xi Hongxuan still could not confront Shen Zechuan head-on. This
was not a momentary fear, but fear accumulated over their course
of acquaintanceship. He could not forget the way Ji Lei looked with
his skin flayed. That was why he wanted to act quickly now that his
suspicions were aroused.
This man cannot live.
Xi Hongxuan thought.
Once the time was right, he had to kill him off no matter what!
Such a man would certainly not let himself be used for Xi
Hongxuan’s own purposes. His talk about there being no
differences between those of lawful and common birth had already
revealed his lack of respect and reverence for the Eight Great
Clans. Everyone was attempting the impossible that ran against the
interests of their opponents, much like bargaining with a tiger for
its hide. And what they were competing against was who would be
faster in the days to come.
Xi Hongxuan secretly made up his mind. He smiled too and
said, “I’m scaring you only because I myself was scared after being
crushed in that pit. Lanzhou, you’ll surely understand if you were
the one lying in there. What are you people standing around there
for? Put away your blades. Don’t hurt His Excellency the Judge.”
The surrounding blades returned to their sheaths, one after
another. But Xi Hongxuan did not tell his men to withdraw from the
room. Pulling at his fox fur, he said, “Everything happened too
suddenly these few days. With our communications cut off, it’s
inevitable that we would come to be mutually suspicious of one
another. It’s all good now that we’ve cleared the air. Come,
Lanzhou. Take your seat, and we’ll talk.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Blades and swords have no eyes. Second
Young Master, next time, give me a warning first so that I can
prepare for it and won’t be as in such haste as I am today.”
“It’s remarkable how you remain composed in the face of
danger.” Xi Hongxuan lifted the teapot to infuse tea. “As you know,
what we are doing can cost us our heads. I was really forced into a
corner this time; otherwise, how would I treat you in such a way? It’s
all because I was forced to! I got anxious seeing how Xiao the
Second is going to be as pleased as punch riding the crest of
success soon. Come, come. Take a seat quickly. Still holding it
against me?”
“I, with the surname Shen, am unworthy of being in high
position.” Shen Zechuan sized up the room. “How would I dare to
sit next to you?
Xi Hongxuan laughed out loud and said, “Those are all bullshit!
They are merely words spoken to disparage others. How can be
you the same as the others? Take a seat.”
Only then did Shen Zechuan take his seat.
Xi Hongxuan held out the tea to him and said with an
apologetic smile, “If you ask me, the surname Shen is really holding
you back. Don’t you think so? If you had been born in the Han Clan
or the Fei Clan, there wouldn’t be this much animosity between us,
right? Lanzhou, please be appeased! Now tell me seriously. What
are you keeping this Qi Huilian for?”
Shen Zechuan touched his sleeve pocket before he
remembered his ivory fan was lost. He said, “The old looney has
been scared stiff by the Crown Prince’s suicide where he slit his
own throat. I ran into him all the time when I was in Zhao Zui
Temple and heard some of his intermittent ravings, so I thought of
keeping him just in case there’s a future need.”
“You should have asked me about the matter regarding the
imperial grandson.” Xi Hongxuan brushed aside the tea foam.
“Don’t think about this matter anymore. It’s impossible.”
“Not even a chance of it happening?” Shen Zechuan turned the
teacup around gently. He did not drink it.
Xi Hongxuan drank the tea, grunted twice, and said, “That task
was carried out together by Ji Lei and Shen Wei, both of whom
were ruthless. Even the fair and beautiful Crown Princess was
strangled to death by them, and you want to pin your hopes on
them showing the imperial grandson mercy? What’s more, they
were the sworn enemies of the imperial grandson for killing his
father. You think they had nothing better to do than to sow the
seeds of future trouble for themselves?”
“Was that what Xue Xiuzhuo said too?”
Xi Hongxuan cast him a look and asked, “Why are you asking
about Yanqing specifically?”
“You’re familiar with one another.” Shen Zechuan’s gaze did not
falter. “You’re on good terms with him. Wasn’t your promotion to
the Bureau of Evaluations this time precisely because you listened
to his advice?”
“Both of you are Zhuge Liang.2 I’ll listen to whoever makes
more sense.” Xi Hongxuan kicked the ball back and said, “They
said scholars look down on one another. Why are you smart people
also mutually belittling each other?”
“That’s really not it.” Shen Zechuan said. “You were transferred
into the Bureau of Evaluations before the inspections, and
subsequently, this red-hot assignment fell upon you. That would
make others green with envy. It’s hard to say that this wasn’t the
reason you were set up. Xue Xiuzhuo has been an official for quite
some years, and he never thought of it? If he did, then why did he
still persuade you to go?”
Xi Hongxuan was drinking tea when his movement paused. He
said, “Who would have expected someone to really strike out at
me? It’s not Yanqing’s fault.”
“He has rendered a meritorious service by protecting the
Emperor at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. Yet he knew to conceal his
abilities and bide his time at that time and didn’t go all out.
Instead, he went to the Court of Judicial Review for more
experience.” Having said to this point, Shen Zechuan continued no
further and merely smiled at Xi Hongxuan. “I just find it strange.”
As if he had not heard it, Xi Hongxuan smiled too, “Oh, my!
This interruption almost made me forget about it. Lanzhou, now
that I’ve recovered and His Majesty has woken up, the Chief
Surveillance Bureau will start to impeach me. Help me think of a
way. I can’t be transferred out of Qudu.”
“The fault lies with His Majesty this time. But no one is blaming
him. And the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue are both
shirking responsibilities and shifting the blame around. You
happened to land right in the middle. Everyone will naturally target
you.” Shen Zechuan set aside the teacup. “This is a tough one to
deal with.”
“Pan Xiangjie and Wei Huaigu,3 huh!” Xi Hongxuan said. “At the
end of it all, they just want money. Getting rebuked is really no big
deal. They are only latching on to me because they wanted to take
advantage of the situation to raise the price and make me fish out
money to pay for the shortfall with my own money. How many
people died this time? As long as His Majesty is fine, everything
else can be bought.”
“Without tens of thousands of taels this time, I’m afraid it’ll be
hard to settle.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile.
“I have money.” Xi Hongxuan set aside the teacup too and said,
“But I’m not willing to give it to them. I’m at fault for accompanying
His Majesty to the brothel. But the public ditches have nothing to
do with me. I’m not going to oblige if they want to slap
unreasonable demands on me and use me as a scapegoat.”
 “An official one grade higher can oppress an official one grade
lower than him. Even if you are not in the wrong, it will still become
your fault. Reasoning with them won’t work, and it’s pointless to
leave the mess as it is.” Shen Zechuan maintained his composure
and said, “Still a pain to deal with.”
Xi Hongxuan said, “It’s not hard. I’m telling you, the Emperor’s
heart is with me. Even if they want to punish me severely, they still
have to see what the Emperor thinks. We mustn’t lose our heads
before Xiao the Second has been dealt with. I am confident that His
Majesty will definitely not be the same as he used to be after
waking up this time.”

Footnotes
1. 三元 “Triple Yuan”. In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial
examination system was split into three phases: the
provincial exam (乡试); metropolitan exam (会试); and the
palace exam (殿试). The titles for the top scholars in each
exam were known as the Jieyuan (解元), Huiyuan (会元) and
Zhuangyuan (状元). These three are known as the “Triple
Yuan”. So a Triple Yuan Top Scholar is one who came first in
all these examinations.
2. Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮) was a famous statesman,
ideologist, and strategist during the Three Kingdoms Period;
also the celebrated adviser to Liu Bei, founder of the Shu-Han
dynasty. It’s also used to refer to a mastermind.
3. To recap: Pan Xiangjie, Minister of Works from the
Ministry of Works, and Wei Huaigu, Minister of Revenue from
the Ministry of Revenue
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 72 : NOBLE RANK ADVANCEMENT

Xi Hongxuan spoke with such certainty that Shen Zechuan just

had to look askance at him. But Xi Hongxuan was not willing to
continue discussing further and merely said, “You don’t have a
proper place to stay now, so it’s not convenient to keep Qi Huilian
around. Why not leave him with me?”
“It isn’t appropriate to leave a raving looney at your place
either.” Shen Zechuan said calmly. “What do you want him for?”
“In my opinion.” Xi Hongxuan held out his hand flat, like a hand
blade. “The best option would be to finish him off. It’s inadvisable
to get yourself involved with all those old affairs. The more you
know, the worse it’ll be for you.” Xi Hongxuan brandished his hand
and looked at Shen Zechuan. “Or are you unwilling to?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Of course I’m unwilling to. He’s an old
minister during the reign of Yongyi. He knows Shen Wei well. I have
a use for keeping him alive.”
If Shen Zechuan had agreed readily, Xi Hongxuan would not
have believed him easily. So he said it with seventy percent truth
and thirty percent falsehood to throw Xi Hongxuan off.
As expected, Xi Hongxuan made no further mention of killing
him. He said, “Are you still thinking of investigating Shen Wei’s
case? You should have said so earlier. Lanzhou, do you have to go
so far as to hide this bit of matter from me?”
“When have I ever hidden it from you?” Shen Zechuan smiled
as he lifted the teapot and poured tea for Xi Hongxuan. “Isn’t this
matter obvious? As long as Shen Wei remains guilty, I’ll never be
able to live honorably.”
“The evidence against him is conclusive, and his infamy has
already been deeply impressed on everyone’s mind. Even if the
charge against him is dropped, it will not be enough to convince
the masses.” Xi Hongxuan said, “A felony like selling his country to
seek personal glory is something that can never be scrubbed clean,
even over several lifetimes. Plus, it’s pointless to just rely on the
imperial court’s pardon alone. There are many kinds of rumors in
this world. He, Shen Wei, has already been crucified to death under
the spray of spittle. Poor you. I can only advise you to forget about
this matter. It’s not something you’ll be able to clear up!”
Shen Zechuan silently set down the teapot.
Seeing the atmosphere growing heavier, Xi Hongxuan
continued, “You are already now an Imperial Bodyguard of fifth
grade, and you still take those rumors and slanders to heart?
Please don’t. Look ahead. You’ve done a good job on this mission,
so you should be getting a promotion, yes?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Nothing is confirmed yet. I haven’t even
settled down in my post of Southern Judge. Charging all the way
up to the top isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
“This time, you and I have to act carefully. We are really
gambling with our lives here.” Xi Hongxuan tucked his fox fur
properly and said, “We have to investigate and get to the bottom of
this matter. The other party is hiding in the dark, while we are out
there exposed in the open. If we can’t get to the bottom of the
matter, then it would be hard to guard against the enemy. I’m the
one who got crushed this time. But what about the next time? You
should watch out too. It’s inconvenient for me to stay for long here
today. Lanzhou, I’ll see you at the residence in a few days.”
Saying so, Xi Hongxuan rose to his feet and surveyed the
surroundings again.
“This courtyard seems decent to me. If you don’t have enough
money, just let me know. Just don’t take what happened today to
heart, alright?”
With that, Xi Hongxuan smiled. Shen Zechuan smiled too. Both
of them reconciled, as if there was no ill-feeling between them, as if
what happened earlier was merely just them horsing around with
one another.
Qiao Tianya sent Xi Hongxuan off. As soon as he returned to
the courtyard, he saw Shen Zechuan standing with his back to him
and with his face facing the main hall. He was wiping his hands
with a handkerchief.
The setting sun outside the courtyard crossed over, casting a
scarlet red hue over Shen Zechuan’s embroidered python robe. His
slightly lowered neck was as fair as jade. He wiped those slender,
flawless fingers, which were clearly clean, yet he seemed to detest
them to bits.
“Is he gone?” Shen Zechuan turned his head aside to ask.
“I saw him get on the horse carriage.” Qiao Tianya stopped a
short distance away from Shen Zechuan. He did not move forward,
but bent over to pick up a fallen leaf on the ground that had been
trampled and scrutinized it for a moment. “The men he hired are all
masters from the martial fraternity, yet a fight didn’t break out. Most
likely, Ji Gang-shifu was on his guard, and the Grand Mentor did
not resist.”
“Shifu burned his face with fire to ruin his looks, all to conceal
his identity and live incognito. Not starting a fight hastily is a wise
move.” Shen Zechuan neatly folded that blue handkerchief.
“Teacher mustn’t remain in Xi Hongxuan’s hands for too long. We
need to think of a way.”
Qiao Tianya crushed the leaf without disrupting Shen Zechuan’s
contemplation. Shen Zechuan suddenly turned around and was
dazzled by the sunset glow. But he did not flinch or hide from it as
he looked towards that towering and majestic palace.
“Legitimate bloodline…” Shen Zechuan murmured and asked
Qiao Tianya. “Who’s living there?”
Qiao Tianya followed his gaze and looked over as well. He
replied, “The Li Clan.”
“No.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were cold and indifferent as he said
with a mocking smile, “It’s a deer—If Zhou lost its deer, the heroes of
the world may all pursue it.1 Today, you say it’s the Li Clan.
Tomorrow, I can also say it’s some random person on the street.
Whoever can step onto that dragon throne at the peak will be the
legitimate, rightful one.”
Qiao Tianya prided himself on being a nonconformist with an
unconventional, rebellious streak, but even he did not expect Shen
Zechuan to have the audacity to say such words. In his
astonishment, he took a few steps back and looked out into the
distance at the palace. He said, “Such rebellious words are
tantamount to having no respect for the law.”
“You know there are countless gentlemen in this world, all of
them good men with unyielding steadfastness and unfailing
loyalty.” Shen Zechuan kept the handkerchief back into his sleeve
and said, “The Earl of Biansha, Lu Pingyan, is known as the ‘Wolf
and Tiger of the Border Town’. To protect and hold on to Bianjun
Commandery, he has given away all his family fortunes. Although
he has received a noble title conferred by the emperor, all he eats
every day are pickled vegetables and sweet potatoes.
Subsequently, Lu Guangbai becomes hard-pressed for military
funds whenever there is a war. And because Lu Guangbai is not on
good terms with the Eight Great Clans, he has never been
conferred a noble title despite all his outstanding and illustrious
military achievements. So tell me, is it that satisfying to be such a
gentleman and loyal official?”
“Ask your conscience first before we talk about satisfaction. To
be an outspoken and candid minister, you have to sacrifice the self
and give up your selfish desires.2 Suotian Pass’s Feng Yisheng’s
entire family of loyal heroes died martyrs in battles. This is what we
call the epitome of righteousness.”
Shen Zechuan’s insanity, which he had suppressed earlier,
swept over him again. He stood up and burst out laughing, saying,
“Qiao Tianya, you are not a nonconformist who has deviated from
the norms at all. You are a prisoner of the norms. You are one who
can be a gentleman.”
Qiao Tianya said, “Master—”
The sunset glow on the horizon faded into night, and darkness
came shrouding all over. The pear tree bared its withered branches
and brandished them threateningly, casting shadows over Shen
Zechuan’s raised face.
“But, in this world, someone has to be the traitor and the rebel. I
don’t believe that fate is decided by the Heavens. If there’s a blade
held against my neck someday in the future, I will not show mercy
even if it’s Li Jianheng, let alone Xi Hongxuan. The bloodline
legitimacy Xi Hongxuan speaks of is no different from the
nonsensical ravings of a fool. Anyone will die when a blade slices
across their necks; there’s no exception regardless of whether one
is a di born of the legitimate wife or a shu born of a concubine.”
In the cold, dreary night, the crow of dusk let out a few
mournful caws. Shen Zechuan looked back at Qiao Tianya.
 “My ambition is not to be a gentleman, nor is it to be a good
person. Since vindictiveness has become the tenet I live by, then a
kindness given is kindness given, a wrong done is a wrong done. I
want Xi Hongxuan to pay with his life for what happened today.”
The wind assailed the scattered clouds and scraped the
remaining leaf off the tip of the branch.
◈ ◈ ◈
The impeachments from the Chief Surveillance Bureau came
bearing down upon them in torrents. Xi Hongxuan, Pan Xiangjie,
Wei Huaixing, and even Hai Liangyi were all censured one after
another. Cen Yu took charge as the chief commentator as the few
parties attacked one another on the imperial court.
Having just woke up, Li Jianheng hardly said much these days
and simply let them argue among themselves as he held court in
Mingli Hall.
Hai Liangyi was already in ill health before the epidemic
happened, and lately he looked even more emaciated. Not once
had he had the moment to rest, and now, listening to the Ministry
of Works and the Ministry of Revenue starting an argument again,
he could not help but let out a few violent coughs.
Li Jianheng hurriedly said, “Secretariat Elder, there’s no need to
rise. If you have something to say, you may voice it out while
seated.”
Hai Liangyi bowed his thanks and covered his mouth with a
handkerchief. After his coughing eased up a little, he said, “The
Grand Secretariat has already submitted the clauses for rewards
and punishments this time to His Majesty’s table yesterday. If Your
Majesty finds any part inappropriate after looking through it, you
may reject it and let the Grand Secretariat discuss it again.”
Li Jianheng had been absent-minded, and Hai Liangyi
originally thought that he would hem and haw. He did not expect
him to say after a moment’s pause, “I’ve seen it. And there are
indeed some parts I don’t understand and would like to ask of the
Secretariat Elder to clear my doubts.”
The entire hall of officials was dumbfounded the moment the
words left his mouth.
 Li Jianheng opened the memorial and said, “The Imperial
Army has done a meritorious service by dredging up the public
ditches. Xiao Chiye is already a second-grade Viceroy of the
Imperial Army. Just the reward of some gold and jades is simply
too meager.”
Hai Liangyi answered, “The military drill ground on Mount Feng
is undergoing an expansion this year, and the money will be
arranged for by the Ministry of Revenue. This could be said to be a
waiver of his biggest expenditure this year. This humble subject
feels that the reward cannot be too excessive; this is sufficient
enough.”
Li Jianheng said, “But the deployment of medicinal herbs,
quarantine of the patients, and dredging of the public ditches are
no small matter. He has done a great job with them all.”
Hai Liangyi pondered it over and said, “It’s true that he has
rendered meritorious service. But these matters are not something
the Imperial Army can achieve on its own. If he’s shown too much
special favor—”
“I want to advance his noble rank.” Li Jianheng closed the
memorial and looked at Hai Liangyi. “He’s the second son of lawful
birth of the Prince of Libei. If he had gone into battle and slain the
enemies, then he should have a noble rank and title by now.”
Hai Liangyi did not answer immediately.
Li Jianheng said, “I’ve been thinking about these issues the few
days I was confined to my sickbed. I wish to confer the title of
‘Marquis of Dingdu’ upon Xiao Chiye. What does the Secretariat
Elder think?”
Hai Liangyi said, “You mustn’t, Your Majesty. Unless it’s military
achievements, one cannot be conferred a noble title. Although
Xiao Chiye has made great contributions this time, it’s far from the
point where he can be made a marquis. The Lu Clan of Qidong’s
Bianjun Commandery has numerous military achievements to their
name. Yet, only the old General Lu Pingyan is currently conferred
with the title of the Earl of Biansha. Firstly, Xiao Chiye has not
stabilized the borders, and secondly, he has not driven out the
enemies. I fear it will only be hard to convince the public if you
make him a marquis out of the blue.”
 “To begin with, he has done a meritorious service by protecting
me at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds, and he has, yet again, shown
no fear in the face of danger this time. It’s a good thing the
epidemic did not spread. This matter concerns the peace and
stability of Qudu; is this still not considered a merit? The Earl of
Biansha, Lu Pingyan, has transferred the garrison troops of Bianjun
Commandery in private numerous times. The reason his noble rank
has not advanced is merely because his merits are offset by his
demerits and vice versa.” As Li Jianheng spoke, his eyes reddened.
He covered his face and choked with sobs. “Don’t tell me my life is
nothing worth mentioning either? The purpose of bestowing the
title of marquis upon him is to commend and honor him. There will
be no increment of the numbers of soldiers in the Imperial Army,
and no establishments of private rights. It’s just a title in name only.
Is this not even acceptable, either?”
Wei Huaigu initially meant to impeach Xiao Chiye for privately
deploying the medicinal herbs without authorization, but seeing
that the situation was not favorable for his cause, he changed his
mind and said, “What Your Majesty thinks is reasonable. Xiao
Chiye’s decisiveness and fearlessness in times of danger should be
commended and rewarded. But what the Secretariat Elder says is
true, too. In this humble subject’s opinion, why not honor Xiao
Chiye with the title ‘Earl of Dingdu’ first?”
“No.” Hai Liangyi would not budge. “There’s absolutely no logic
in doing so. Your Majesty, if you grant Xiao Chiye a title today, then
you will greatly disappoint the Old General at the frontier. It’s an
established rule of the imperial court that a noble title cannot be
conferred on one without military achievements to his name.”
Li Jianheng said, “How about we first promote Lu Pingyan to a
marquis, then confer the title of Earl upon Xiao Chiye? Does the
Secretariat still not agree to this?”
He spoke of conferment as if it was child’s play.
Hai Liangyi’s coughing intensified. He wanted to say something
further, but Pan Xiangjie beat him to it. He said in a fluster, “This
humble subject thinks it’s a good thing. This would be Your
Majesty’s first conferment since Your Majesty’s ascension to the
throne. It’s a special honor. Secretariat Elder, one mustn’t be a
stickler for conventions on every single matter. Now that he has
indeed made a contribution, what’s the issue with making an
exception?”
Seeing the noble clans unanimously urging Li Jianheng, Kong
Qiu could not help but kowtow and said, “This humble subject
thinks the Secretariat Elder is right. Your Majesty, Lu Pingyan has
spared no effort to defend the Bianjun Commandery. Even if he’s
to be conferred a title, it shouldn’t be done in such a hasty and
sloppy—”
“Hasty? I’ve been repeatedly asking the opinions of all of you
here, and yet you still say I’m hasty!” With a fling of his sleeves, Li
Jianheng rose to his feet and pointed at Kong Qiu, saying, “I can
see that you are always going along with the Secretariat Elder’s
words on the imperial court. The sovereign and his ministers.
Exactly who is your sovereign, and whose minister are you?!”
The various ministers all kneeled and said in unison, “Your
Majesty, please be appeased!”
Kong Qiu immediately said, “Your Majesty is the sovereign of
this humble subject, and this humble subject does his Majesty’s
bidding! But it’s indeed inappropriate to bypass the regulations
and go ahead with the conferment!”
“I am going to confer the title upon him!” Li Jianheng wept as
he said, “Each time I met with calamity one after the other, it was
only with Ce’an’s help that I could avert disaster and escape
unscathed. Even when I want to bestow a title upon him, you
people have to turn me down and throw obstructions in my way!
The Secretariat Elder has the final say over all the matters in this
imperial court, so why not let the Secretariat Elder sit on this throne
instead?!”
These words truly struck Hai Liangyi where it hurts! Unstable on
his knees, Hai Liangyi covered his lips and coughed violently. He
never met with officials outside the court and the capital, and he
had never held any private feasts. In order not to get involved in a
faction or clique, he worked hard day and night. And he taught
and guided Li Jianheng with utmost care, all because he feared
getting slandered and stabbed in the back. He was the most
trustworthy minister, a right-handed man of the emperor, not a
tyrannical official in power!
Seeing Hai Liangyi coughing until he was all hunched over, Li
Jianheng did not dare to create a scene further and got someone
to help Hai Liangyi up. Nevertheless, he still said, “No matter what,
Xiao Chiye shall be conferred a title!”
With the commotion in Mingli Hall, the imperial edict was
issued a few days later. Like a bolt of thunder out of the blue, it
caused a startled wave of memorials flooding in from all over.
Lu Guangbai brought his father to receive the imperial edict at
the Bianjun Commandery. Lu Pingyan was promoted to the rank of
marquis. Even he himself was at a loss how to react in the very
moment he held the edict in his hands.
The Lu Clan had buried generation after generation of its
people in this yellow sand. In his heyday, Lu Pingyan was also
known as the ‘Wolf and Tiger of the Border Town’. He was
renowned for his military exploits, along with Xiao Fangxu and Qi
Shiyu. And now, injured and sick all over – and before he retired
from active duty to take up an advisory post – he finally received his
reward. Yet, it was all to pave the way for a junior of the younger
generation.
Xiao Chiye was originally sleeping in his residence when he
heard of the arrival of the imperial edict; thus he put on his clothes
and came out to receive it.
After reading the imperial edict, Fuman beamed and moved to
help him up, only to see a pale-looking Xiao Chiye who looked as if
he had no intention of receiving the edict.
—This title mustn’t be accepted!
What Hai Liangyi had said was true. Although he, Xiao Chiye,
had rendered meritorious service by protecting the emperor at the
Nanlin Hunting Grounds, and had played a critical role in the latest
incidents, his contributions were still poles apart from the hard-won
military merits gained from battling with real weapons at the
frontiers.
Who was Lu Pingyan?
That was the man who was on brotherly terms with his old man,
Xiao Fangxu!
 Now that they had humiliated and trampled over Lu Pingyan to
confer on him, Xiao Chiye, a title, how would Xiao Chiye be able to
take office in the various garrison troops at the frontiers? How
would he be able to convince the masses? And the most crucial
thing was, what would the Lu Clan think? Could Xiao and Lu still be
brothers?
Dingdu, Dingdu. This was simply to nail him dead in Qudu.3
Had Li Jianheng’s bout with his illness fucking short-circuited his
brain?!
Rage bubbled up in Xiao Chiye. What’s more, he had not
gotten a good sleep. He tugged at the official robe he had not
worn properly and suppressed his fury to say expressionlessly, “Go
and report back to His Majesty that Xiao Ce’an is not worthy of the
title and does not dare to accept this overwhelming favor from His
Majesty, nor does he dare to accept this heaven-sent noble rank.”

Footnotes
1. 周若失其鹿，天下群雄皆可逐之 The original quote is “Qin
lost his deer, and all under heaven chased after it” 「秦失其
鹿，天下共逐之」 from Records of the Grand Historian •
Biography of Marquis Huaiyin 《史记·淮阴侯列传》. Deer is a
metaphor for the throne. It’s an illustration of the rise of
numerous rivaling warlords contesting for supremacy to
capture the prize, the empire lost by the Qin Dynasty. So
Shen Zechuan is saying that if Dazhou lost its legitimacy on
the throne/the empire, then all the heroes in the world are
free to make a grab for it.
2. 舍小我 From 牺牲小我，完成大我 sacrifice the self for the
greater good (e.g. the team or the state, etc).
3. 定都 Basically, the title was to honor him for helping to
restore calm/stability (ding) to the capital (du). But (ding) also
means to fix in place.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 73 : CONFERMENT

Translated with: Lin<3

Xiao Chiye did not accept the imperial edict. Fuman did not
dare to persuade him further and hurried his way back to the
palace to make his report.
After hearing the whole story, Li Jianheng leapt to his feet and
said, “Is the Son of Heaven’s orders something he can reject as he
pleases? When I reward him, he should kneel and accept it! Go
again!”
Griping to himself, Fuman climbed onto the horse again and
returned to Xiao Chiye’s residence. Seeing Xiao Chiye still
kneeling, he hurriedly held the imperial edict and bowed to
persuade him, “Viceroy, Viceroy! Why do this? Didn’t we roll and
crawl down there in the ditches all for this?”
With a hint of displeasure on his face, Xiao Chiye said, “I don’t
want this noble rank. Don’t bother wasting your breath on me.”
Fuman was so anxious and desperate that he stomped his foot
where he stood. But he could not accept the edict on behalf of Xiao
Chiye. All he could do was to play for time.
“Then let him kneel!” Back at the palace, Li Jianheng promptly
flew into a rage when he heard the reply. “In order to grant him the
reward, I even rebuffed the Secretariat Elder, and he still dares to
put on airs? Let him kneel!”
So the sovereign and his minister – one within the palace and
the other, beyond – remained stuck in a deadlock.
At present, it was the third lunar month in Spring, and the
ground was icy cold all over. Xiao Chiye kneeled with a
straightened back, determined to get Li Jianheng to revoke his
order. Perhaps he could have accepted the edict, then used various
means to handle this matter in a better way. But he was not willing
to.
 The Lu Clan in Qidong was held in check by the Qi Clan at the
top and invaded by Biansha at the bottom. Li Jianheng had been
gunning for the easier target when he trampled upon Lu Pingyan,
because the Lu Clan was not on par with the Qi and Xiao Clans.
The food and clothing expenditures of those 20,000 troops of the
Biansha Commandery were all in the imperial court’s control. They
did not even have military fields. Otherwise, the Lu Clan would not
have to stoop so low as to demand payment every year, or be so
poor that they had to sell their family properties and belongings. In
the past, when Lu Guangbai entered the capital to make his report,
he was never taken seriously. Which typical official in the capital
would have such audacity? They were all merely taking their cues
from the higher-ups. When Emperor Xiande was around, it was
rare for Lu Guangbai to be able to seek an audience with the
Emperor. This was not simply a matter of him being liked or
detested, but because it concerned the balance of Qidong’s
military power.
The Xiao and Qi were both great generals stationed at the
frontiers. Why did the Hua Clan have to guard against the Prince of
Libei alone and go to so much trouble to trap Xiao Chiye in Qudu?
Because the Xiao Clan was the only dominant force in Libei Great
Commandery. There was no other leash in the entire territory that
could rein in the Xiao Clan, so they could only tie up Xiao Chiye
and turn him into a cage to restrain the Libei Armored Cavalry.
Qidong had two generals, Qi Shiyu and Lu Pingyan, who were on
par with one another back in those days. But why was Qi Shiyu
eventually the one who was conferred with the title of the Five
Commanderies’ Commander-in-Chief? This was all because Lu
Pingyan and Xiao Fangxu were on close terms with one another,
and they were in-laws to boot.1
The Lu Clan was the chess piece that provided checks and
balances to the power between the three parties.
The Lu Clan’s position in the Bianjun Commandery was crucial;
it was a heavy responsibility entrusted to them by the imperial
court. But even so, the imperial court did not generously bestow
titles and ranks upon them. This was meant to hold the Lu in their
control and let the Lu be held in check by both the Qi Clan and the
imperial court. The Lu could only be a weapon used to fight the
foreign enemies; there was no way they could be high-ranking
provincial officials with military authority at the borders, and
consequently, there would be no way they could be the second
Prince of Libei.
At present, Lu Guangbai had to consult Qi Zhuyin for the use of
troops and consult the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue in
Qudu for the use of money. Lu Guangbai was the commanding
general in charge of the Bianjun Commandery’s defenses. If Qi
Zhuyin had not been generous in delegating authority and gave
him the prerogative to self-deploy troops in times of peril, then he
would be even more of a predicament than he was at present.
This time, Li Jianheng advanced Lu Pingyan’s noble rank, yet
there was no actual promotion taking place. Thus, the Lu Clan
could only remain perpetually hungry cattle and continue to work
to their deaths at the Bianjun Commandery. Their reputation had
gone up a notch on the surface, but it was actually an insult deep
down. Half of the Lu Clan’s current difficulties had to do with the
Xiao Clan; therefore, Xiao Chiye could not—must not accept the
edict without so much a gesture.
The fact that the imperial edict could be issued made it clear
that the Grand Secretariat had given the nod. In that case, it was
certain that this order would not be revoked; there was no reason
for the Son of Heaven to change his order. But Xiao Chiye definitely
must not accept it with great delight. Even if he had to kowtow and
act unreasonably, or even throw a tantrum, he had to show the Lu
Clan his stance.
It was by virtue of power and might that Li Jianheng could
trample all over the Lu Clan, because the imperial court had the Lu
in their grasp. In contrast, it was by virtue of friendship that the Xiao
Clan did not dare to do the same, because both families had
always considered the other brother. If this friendship were to break
up, then the Xiao Clan would lose their assistive force in the
southeast.
Xiao Chiye kneeled until it was dark. Fuman did not dare to sit
down arbitrarily and stood at the side with the imperial edict in his
hands. After an unspecified amount of time, they heard the sound
of hurried footsteps from the entrance. An eunuch arrived and
conveyed the orders in an urgent tone, “Viceroy, you may stop
kneeling! Please get up! His Majesty summons you for an
audience!”
Without demur, Xiao Chiye lifted the hem of his robe to get up
and got onto his horse to leave. Fuman hurriedly got onto his horse
as well, not daring to grouse when he saw Xiao Chiye not showing
any signs of exhaustion.
Mingli Hall was brightly illuminated. Li Jianheng sat on the
dragon throne and listened as someone announced Xiao Chiye’s
arrival. But he did not summon the latter in and remained seated to
trace characters.
Without being summoned, Xiao Chiye could not enter, so he
could only kneel outside Mingli Hall. It was already late, and the
leftover cold water on the freshly scrubbed floor dampened his
robe. The entire courtyard of eunuchs moved quietly, not daring to
make a sound.
Li Jianheng stared blankly at the glazed lamp. He had been
thinking a lot this silent night. By the time he returned to his senses,
it was already the hour of chou.2 He sat for a moment, then
suddenly rose to his feet and walked out.
The palace maids withdrew, and the eunuchs kneeled on the
ground. The shadows on the ground were trodden upon. Xiao
Chiye did not lift his head.
Li Jianheng looked down at Xiao Chiye. In the past, he was
always looking up at Xiao Chiye. When they were hanging out on
the streets together, Xiao Chiye could be said to be his big brother.
They called each other brothers, and they played the fool a lot too.
Li Jianheng thought he treated Xiao Chiye with his utmost
sincerity.
How did they get to where they were today?
Li Jianheng was dressed in a bright yellow, round-necked robe
with narrow sleeves. With his hands on the amber belt on his waist,
he moved over to Xiao Chiye’s side and looked at the luminous
moon above the majestic palace eaves. He mulled it over for a
moment, then said, “There’s no one else here at the moment. Let’s
talk.”
 The cold moonlight cast a blanket over them, effusing a chill
along with the wind.
Li Jianheng said, “Aren’t you usually a bold one? To think
giving you a noble rank this time can also scare you to such an
extent.”
Xiao Chiye said, “It’s incompatible with reason and intolerable
under the law.”
Li Jianheng paced and said, “Don’t give me that. You have
never been one to talk about reason. Before the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds incident, we were still good brothers who would risk our
lives for the other. After the Nanlin Hunting Grounds incident, we
truly became the monarch and his minister, separated by a huge
rift. Ce’an, isn’t it good for me to be the emperor and for you to be
the viceroy? Why do you have to put on a front with me like this?
Just accept the rewards you are awarded with. Cowering like this is
really unlike you, Xiao Ce’an.”
Xiao Chiye could tell what he meant and said, “If Your Majesty
wants to reward me with gold and treasures, I’ll promptly kowtow
and say my thanks. But not for a noble rank. I’ve served as an
official for six years, and I do not have any notable achievements or
mentionable merits in Qudu to show for or to speak of. I feel uneasy
now that I have received Your Majesty’s kindness and become a
marquis at a sudden snap of a finger.”
“What’s there to be uneasy about?” Li Jianheng scoffed. “With
our relationship, you should have been conferred a title a long time
ago. The Grand Secretariat interferes with my every move, picking
on anything and everything I do. I never had a chance to do this,
no? This time, you’ve earned it. Earlier, when Lu Pingyan was
conferred a title, it was also because he had effectively resisted and
repelled the Biansha Calvary at the border. You protected the
Emperor in Qudu, and in that, ensured the safety of our empire and
society; I see no difference between both.”
“There’s no rush since the Grand Secretariat has qualms about
this.” Xiao Chiye said, “We can’t hurt the old officials’ feelings.”
“The older ones are always thickheaded and obstinate.” Li
Jianheng said, “How can they be so inflexible? Even those in the
flesh trade know when to be flexible and read the situation. But
these major ministers are still holding on to broken pieces. How
very meaningless. After this scare, I thought about a lot of things
during my recuperation. Since I’ve become the Emperor, it’s not
productive if I just keep crying and whining. We have to find some
way to live on, right? I’m not an unreasonable man. Just voice it out
if there is good reason to; it’s not like I’ll execute them? Like this
time, I want to confer a title upon you, but the Secretariat Elder
didn’t agree and led the others to make a scene before me, saying
that I was hasty and sloppy in my decisions. I was so troubled over
this matter that I spent nights tossing and turning, and they still say
I’m hasty!”
Li Jianheng turned back as he was speaking, and the gold
dragon on his crown flashed in the moonlight, giving him an
imposing air of elegance and nobility. He did not tell Xiao Chiye to
rise. After a long pause, he continued.
“I’m the Emperor, I can’t renege on my word. Since the edict
has been made, you just have to accept it. You’ve already rebuffed
me once today, but we are brothers, so I won’t hold it against you.
But if you continue to be so stubborn with me again, then it won’t
be something that can be settled between brothers, and neither of
us will look good for it. Deal?”
Xiao Chiye was silent for a moment before he said, “Your
Majesty, that won’t do. The inspection is around the corner. It’s a
good thing to advance Old General Lu’s noble rank; he deserves it.
But not for me. It’s for Your Majesty’s reputation that I’m not
accepting it. I’m someone Your Majesty single-handedly promoted.
If I can’t convince the masses in everything I do, then how can I still
attend to official duties for Your Majesty in the future? Those who
are in charge of military troops are all concerned about their
reputation and dignity. If you give this dignity to Old General Lu by
showing him due respect, then I will subsequently come to benefit
by association too.”
“Are you making up all kinds of excuses to decline for my sake
or for the Xiao Clan? Do you really think I don’t understand just
because you didn’t say it?” Li Jianheng stared at him. “We are
brothers who should treat each other with candor and sincerity. Yet
you keep treating me like a fool. It’s for the sake of our friendship
that I’m rewarding you, but you turned it down for your own selfish
desire! I told you to be honest with me, and you are still beating
around the bush with me! Xiao Chiye, don’t you have a
conscience?!”
This question Li Jianheng bellowed was so forceful that it faintly
reverberated through the cold, dreary night.
“You’re afraid of offending Lu Pingyan. Why is that?!” Li
Jianheng suddenly flung his sleeves. “And you still dare to say
you’re loyal to me? You are doing it all for yourself! You don’t dare
to say it, so I’ll say it for you. You’re afraid of offending Lu Pingyan
and ruining the friendship between both your clans, which would
make it hard for you to mutually look out for each other. But let me
ask you, Xiao and Lu both have their own respective military forces
to defend the borders, so what is there that you need to look out
for each other for?”
Xiao Chiye tightened his fists, with his thumb ring jammed in
the area between his thumb and forefinger.
“All of you are wolves and tigers.” Li Jianheng pointed at Xiao
Chiye. “You people have your mind set on Qudu! I was merely
sounding you out, and you showed your true colors! Military
powers gang up with one another, and the Xiao Clan wants to be in
the same faction as the Lu Clan, and then what’s next? Tell me,
what are you going to do?!”
Xiao Chiye abruptly half-propped himself up. He had a well-
built physique, and kneeling on one knee like this made him seem
as if he was a panther ready to spring into an attack. Li Jianheng
immediately took a few steps back and looked at him, badly
shaken.
“—Of course it’s to do those Biansha baldies in!” Xiao Chiye’s
expression was fierce as he looked at Li Jianheng. “Six years ago,
when the Zhongbo troops were defeated, my eldest brother rode
non-stop through the night to come to the emperor’s rescue. How
dangerous that battle at Cizhou was! Meanwhile, Lu Guangbai held
his spear in hand and a dagger in his mouth and fought for three
nights before he could break through the siege. He immediately
hurried over to Qudu without even stopping to rest to help Qudu
out of their predicament. Everything Your Majesty had said today is
an affront to the Xiao and Lu Clans’ loyalty. That’s right, the reason
I’m not accepting the noble rank today is because of Lu Pingyan,
but even more because of the unwavering loyalty of the various
generals at the frontiers. It’s all because of Your Majesty’s kindness
that I, Xiao Ce’an, a good-for-nothing, could live in this Qudu
without having to worry about my own life and death, nor stress
about heading out to war. If I could even become a high and
mighty marquis with this, then what would Commander Qi and
General Lu, both of whom are still enduring hardships at the
frontiers, think?”
“After saying so much, you are just doing it for your own
untainted reputation!”
Xiao Chiye’s words were firm and resounding. “My life is
worthless, but Your Majesty is the ruler of our prosperous lands. If
you were to reward me for this small bit of contribution and it ends
up diminishing the generals’ loyalty to Your Majesty, who would
lose out more? Your Majesty, or I?”
Li Jianheng looked hesitant and doubtful.
Xiao Chiye refused to let this go and continued. “If this is
merely a show I put on to collude with the Lu Clan, why did
Secretariat Elder Hai try so hard to convince Your Majesty? Your
Majesty, you don’t trust me, but don’t you trust the Hai Liangyi
whom the late Emperor appointed and who has come to the
emperor’s rescue thrice? Your Majesty has repeatedly met with
danger and misfortune, and immediately right after, you are
disproportionately dishing out rewards. Whoever it is that’s
instigating and abetting Your Majesty ought to be executed!”
It was as if Li Jianheng was suddenly jolted to his senses. He
retreated under the eaves, held on to the vermilion pillar for
support, and said, “But the imperial edict has already been
issued…”
“Your Majesty is the sovereign of a new reign and imperial
court. It was inappropriate to bestow rewards during the state
mourning period earlier. But now that the two great imperial affairs
of spring plowing and inspection are in full swing, why not seize
the chance to proclaim a general amnesty to the world and reward
the various generals at the frontiers according to the merit
evaluation from the Ministry of War? It’s not just permissible to
advance Lu Pingyan to the rank of Marquis of Biansha. On the basis
of the Lu Clan’s most number of enemy kills at the Bianjun
Commandery, they should be rewarded again with an increase of
military provisions—Juexi had a bumper harvest last year, and their
granaries are filled to the brim. This would not only write off the
state treasury’s additional expenditure on dishing out monetary
rewards, but also relieve the Bianjun Commandery of their pressing
needs. The wedding of Old Commander Qi is fast approaching.
Your Majesty, if you also reward and confer Third Missy Hua with
the title of Commandery Princess, then you’d be raising Qidong’s
prestige.” Xiao Chiye’s words were earnest, and his gaze, frank.
“You are the sovereign of a great empire, the common ruler of all
under the world. Who would still harbor any discontent when you
bestowed such grace and favor all around?”
When Emperor Xiande ascended to the throne, the Empress
Dowager was the one making the decisions for him, and
consequently, he missed his opportunity to make such a big splash
during his reign. The most pressing issue to Li Jianheng now was
to prove himself as an emperor. He was suspicious and reacted to
another’s instigation only because he was afraid of being declared
unworthy of his position. Xiao Chiye’s words simply pushed all his
right buttons!
“Alright…” With delight on his face, Li Jianheng came down
again to move towards Xiao Chiye. “Fine! Ce’an, get up quickly. It’s
cold on the ground!”
Fuman, who was kneeling at the bottom, listened with marvel.
Who would have thought that in just a few hours, Xiao Chiye would
be able to seize the opportunity to deal a counterattack and avert
the crisis? If not for having a firm grasp on Li Jianheng’s
temperament and mindset, he would never have been able to hit
right on the target in just one blow.
The more he thought, the more elated he was.
There’s hope for him if he throw in his lot with the Second
Young Master!
Footnotes
1. To recap, Lu Pingyan’s daughter is Xiao Fangxu’s
daughter-in-law, i.e., Xiao Jiming’s wife, Lu Yizhi.
2. 丑时 hour of chou, based on the twelve two-hour periods
of time in former times. This is around 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 74 : TOAST EXCHANGE

The second month of the lunar year was crucial for planting
mulberry and flax in spring. The various localities hurried to submit
their reports and urge the Ministry of Revenue to allocate funds.
With mountains of trivial affairs piling up, the various departments
were so busy they were burned out from exhaustion. Li Jianheng
dished out the rewards and conferments, and Xiao Chiye was
promoted to the rank of Marquis of Dingdu. Meanwhile, Shen
Zechuan received a skip in grade and was promoted to a third-
grade Vice Commander. He also concurrently took up the portfolio
of the Northern Judge and began to take charge of the imperial
prison.
The Grand Secretariat initially did not agree to this, but Cen Yu
submitted a memorial to make a strong case for a
recommendation. Hai Liangyi also saw Shen Zechuan in a new
light because of the epidemic, and so it was decided.
Xiao Chiye carried the earring case on him, but he never found
the opportunity to run into Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan was on
the go all over the imperial prison, having to go through all the
cases accumulated before the new year one at a time. He was so
busy he skipped sleep and meals. On the other side, he still had to
get Qiao Tianya to lie in wait and keep a watch on Xi Hongxuan so
that he could find a way to get Qi Huilian and Ji Gang back.
Young swallows made a ruckus on roof beams, while the young
shoots of weeping willows spouted. The vermilion walls and green
glazed tiles of Qudu gradually showed as the weather remained
clear and sunny for several days in a row. On the day when spring
rain fell uninterrupted, Cen Yu hosted a feast and invited a few
friends from the latest incident. Hai Liangyi was not one to attend
private banquets, and it just happened that he had yet to recover
from his illness, so he did not partake in the feast.
By the time Shen Zechuan arrived, it was already late. He was
led straight to the main hall. When he lifted the curtain, he saw that
it was full of officials who were familiar faces to him.
 Han Cheng, Kong Qiu, and Cen Yu shared a table. Xiao Chiye
already had his third round of wine, and he was listening with
propped arms to Yu Xiaozai – whose seat was at the bottom – telling
jokes to an entire hall of important ministers.
The moment Shen Zechuan entered, Yu Xiaozai hurriedly paid
his obeisances and greeted him. “Your Excellency is late. Please
hurry and have a seat at the head of the table.”
Shen Zechuan removed his cloak and said with a smile,
“There’s much to do in the imperial prison, so I’d like to ask of Your
Excellencies to please bear with me. I’ll sit at the bottom.”
Cen Yu stood up and beckoned to him, saying, “Those
etiquettes for public display won’t work at private banquets. Once
you are here, we are all friends despite our age differences. So why
still stand on ceremony? Old Han, you tell him!”
Han Cheng said, “It’s as he said. Lanzhou, come on up and sit
here. The few of us old and useless ones have the honor of being
in the company of the Marquis today too. Your Lordship, you could
be said to have lowered yourself for us!”
“Commander-in-chief, what you’re doing is putting me down.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to be a little drunk. He did not look at Shen
Zechuan and merely smiled, “Who present here is not a respected
elder? I’ll still have to look to all of you for advice in the future.”
Shen Zechuan had already taken his seat, which was a little
distance away from Xiao Chiye across the table where he would be
able to reach the latter if he stretched out his legs. Both men did
not look at each other, nor did they greet the other. Kong Qiu
looked left and right at them and said with a smile, “I’ve long heard
that both of you have beef with each other. Why won’t you even say
a word on meeting each other? You worked on this assignment
together, and it seemed all good to me. So why still take those past
grudges to heart?”
“The way I see it, both of you are young and promising, and
you don’t deflect the responsibility to each other when you’re
working. So why not take the chance today to bury the hatchet with
a smile?” As Cen Yu spoke, he raised his hands. “The Imperial
Bodyguards and the Imperial Army have to mutually look out for
each other, too. There are plenty of opportunities for both to
continue working together in the future. Your Lordship, what do
you think? Would that do?”
Xiao Chiye lazily cast a look at Shen Zechuan. His gaze was
indecipherable. He only said, “How would it not do for me? What is
there that I can’t do with a smile from his Excellency the Judge? I
should say my proper thanks to His Excellency for this time too.”
“When have I never greeted Your Lordship with a smile every
time I see Your Lordship?” Shen Zechuan touched the wine cup.
“I’ve long forgotten the past. It’s just that there has been no
opportunity before, isn’t it?”
Han Cheng was the one who had the most drinks with Xiao
Chiye. On seeing this, he picked up his chopsticks again and said
as he picked out the food, “Then, let’s have a drink. Your Lordship,
please do me the favor!”
Yu Xiaozai, who had not sat all this while, promptly filled both of
their cups to the brim with wine. Xiao Chiye held his cup with both
hands and said without getting up, “Then, let’s toast.”
Going by their official grades, it was indeed the case that Xiao
Chiye should not get up. Shen Zechuan stood up, revealing his
wrist bones as he lifted his cup.
Xiao Chiye suddenly said, “Since this is wine to settle old
grudges, then it naturally can’t be drunk in such a common way.
Judge, how about a nuptial exchange of matrimony wine?”1
Han Cheng promptly laughed. He pointed at Xiao Chiye and
shook his head as he said with a sigh, “Your Lordship, that’s too
unethical of you. Why put Lanzhou in a spot?”
“How is this putting him in a spot?” Xiao Chiye said, “I can’t
even begin to love and honor him. Aren’t we doing all this as an
expression of our determination?”
Knowing Xiao Chiye’s temper, Cen Yu thought that Xiao Chiye
was still harboring animosity over Zhongbo and that he was
intentionally making things difficult for Shen Zechuan. Just as he
was prepared to speak up to dissuade Xiao Chiye, Shen Zechuan
laughed.
“Sure.” Shen Zechuan said. “We’ll do as His Lordship says.”
Shen Zechuan held up the cup and leaned over, where Xiao
Chiye could see his faintly discernible collarbone. Both men’s arms
intertwined. As Shen Zechuan drank the wine, his Adam’s apple
throbbed. Xiao Chiye’s gaze seemed to let out a gurgle too as it
followed the wine down into that robe.
Xiao Chiye drank very slowly. He held the wine in his mouth, his
gaze never once leaving Shen Zechuan. All the time his arm was
hooked around Shen Zechuan’s arm, Shen Zechuan could clearly
feel his sturdiness.
Xiao Chiye seemed to let out a laugh when he finished
drinking, but no one heard it; only Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes
to look at him. His gaze was naked, and brimming over with
dangerous desire.
Shen Zechuan extracted his arm and sat back, his back
dripping with sweat. Xiao Chiye seemed unfazed as he put up his
arms again and inclined his head to listen to the conversation.
Cen Yu said, “After the spring plow, it’ll be the spring
examinations.2 The Imperial College wants to recruit new students
this year. Looks like the Ministry of Revenue will be getting another
headache.”
Kong Qiu snorted a laughter and said, “What would Wei
Huaigu ache over? He’s the money keeper! He ought to compute
them. To begin with, all these should have been suitably arranged
way earlier. For him to wait until now to do so is already considered
a dereliction of duty.”
“He’s the money keeper, and you’re the living King of Hell!”
Han Cheng set down his chopsticks. Having had his fill of wine and
meal, he said, “Zhongbo is in such a mess at present, and the
number of cases submitted to the Ministry of Justice is as
innumerable as the number of hairs on an ox. It won’t do for them
to keep delaying sending someone over to take charge of the
situation there, would it?”
“I think the Secretariat Elder is mulling over whom to send
over.” Cen Yu lamented. “If Lanzhou formally joins the central
administration as an official, then he might have a chance this
time.”
Whether it was due to the heat or the wine, Shen Zechuan’s
face was a little red. He said, “I can’t. I’m not qualified and
experienced enough to be assigned out of the capital. I won’t be
able to quell the unrest.”
“Just gain more experience and it’ll be fine.” With his interest
piqued, Han Cheng said, “It is said that officials from the capital are
wily. But how can the capital officials be as slippery and sly as the
local officials? Some years ago, I went down with the Chief
Surveillance Bureau to check the accounts, and all those ‘capital
lords’ and ‘old masters’ were all very crafty and cunning! There
were two copies of all the account books in their residences. Even if
you, Cen Xunyi, went, you would not be able to distinguish the real
accounts from the fakes. Every year, when the imperial envoy
heads down, there would be a great flurry of activities. Having long
heard the news, they would drive out all the disaster victims and
refugees in their territories before your arrival to prevent you from
seeing them. This is the so-called ‘no hunger concern in the
territory’ you see in the evaluations. Once you arrive, they would
hold a banquet and think up reasons to dunk you with wine. You’d
drink until daybreak, then sleep until nightfall. You’d be so drunk
that you can’t even stride out of the prefectural yamen. So what
energy would you still have to check the accounts? Once the time is
up, and the silver is in the pockets, the evaluation would be marked
as outstanding. Then it’s off to the next place to drink. And that’s
considered the end of the check.”
“But there are still those who do their jobs. You can’t taint them
all with the same brush.” With that, Cen Yu sighed again. “When
Xue Xiuzhuo went down a few years ago, he was a formidable sight
to behold. All the accounts of the Thirteen Cities of Juexi were
sorted out in perfect order without a single error. I originally
thought he would be assigned to the Ministry of Revenue. But who
would have expected the Secretariat Elder to transfer him to the
Court of Judicial Review instead?”
“Can he get anywhere being Wei Huaigu’s subordinate?” Kong
Qiu leaned against the chair. “The current vice minister of the
Ministry of Revenue exists in name only. Wei Huaigu alone calls the
shot and has the final say in the overall management of financial
affairs. Won’t he be rendered useless if he goes over? The
Secretariat Elder has the intent to polish him; he’s meant to achieve
great things in the future.”
Kong Qiu never had any social dealings with Wei Huaigu and
Pan Xiangjie. That he was only friendly to them on the surface but
estranged from them deep down was a fact everyone knew. So he
was not afraid to speak out in Han Cheng’s presence.
Han Cheng laughed out loud and said, “Don’t discuss state
affairs at a private feast! How can you forget this? Old Kong, you
ought to be punished!”
Thinking that they were almost done with their meals, Cen Yu
said, “When Youjing3 returned a few days back, he told me about a
game. It still seems early to me, so why don’t we give it a try?
Youjing, take those cards of yours out.”
Yu Xiaozai readily agreed in response. He took out a wooden
box, opened it to take out small carved wooden cards and said,
“This is something this humble subordinate saw others playing
when I went to Yongyi Harbor for supervision and inspection—
matching cards to pair couplets. Your Excellencies, give it a go?”
Han Cheng said to Xiao Chiye, “I’m not good at playing literary
games like these. Your Lordship, how about giving me some
advice?”
Xiao Chiye drank his wine and said, “Does the Commander-in-
chief think so highly of me, Xiao Ce’an? Do I look like a man who
reads?”
“It’s just for fun. Let’s just go along with it. Youjing, deal the
cards!”
Yu Xiaozai dealt the three of them the cards. Fiddling with his
wine cup, Xiao Chiye was just looking at the cards when something
brushed against his calf. He paused suddenly and fixed his gaze
on Han Cheng’s cards.
Han Cheng looked at his cards with a frown and said, “The
heck are these flowers and plants putting me in a spot! Your
Lordship, do you recognize this?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Throw them both a line based on the foxtail
grass. I guarantee—”
That foot with a clean sock tapped Xiao Chiye’s knee, and its
sole stepped on his kneecap, as if testing the position.
 “Guarantee they’ll be stumped!” Han Cheng tossed a card out
and said with a smile, “The swallow teases the foxtail, spring
arrives. I randomly made up the first line of a couplet. So now,
Xunyi, pair it up!”
Han Cheng truly was not a learned man, but he did not let it
hold him back. On hearing this, Kong Qiu and Cen Yu laughed.
While the three men were talking, Xiao Chiye cast a look at Shen
Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan grasped his fan, a little moso-bamboo fan that
Xiao Chiye had sent someone to deliver to him. He tapped the fan
intermittently and listened intently to the conversation. As if
sensing Xiao Chiye’s eyes on him, the corners of his eyes lifted in a
little smile.
That foot had already slid in between Xiao Chiye’s legs. It
nudged against the inside of his thigh, as if wanting for more. Xiao
Chiye held the wine cup with his thumb pressed against the rim as
he remained motionless.
“Isn’t it a fox?” After a while, Xiao Chiye let out a laugh. He lifted
his hand to pick out an ink-traced fox from Han Cheng’s cards and
tossed it onto the table. “Moist is the night as the rain seeps
through my roof; sultry is the fox’s song in my dream. Where to
seek the tide of spring? That wet, persistent drip is the hint—sorry
for the obscenity!”
Han Cheng exchanged toasts with Xiao Chiye, then laughed
and said, “We are being serious here, but why is it that you just had
to turn a fox into a vixen when it’s your turn?!” A foot reached out
from under the table. Its toe slowly slid up Xiao Chiye’s calf, playing
back and forth a few times along the curve of his calf.
“But men like me…” Xiao Chiye drank his wine and looked at
Shen Zechuan. “… simply attract foxes.”
“How is any respectable person able to continue with that? It’s
too crude.” Kong Qiu laughed and sighed. “You, Xiao Ce’an, don’t
even close the door tight when you sleep, and you still blame the
others for looking for you. You’re obviously looking forward to it
yourself, right?”
Xiao Chiye did not say a word. But when that foot stepped
down on him gently, he laughed. The upper half of Shen Zechuan’s
body was so steady that nothing seemed off. He rubbed his
fingertips, which had been tapping on the fan. In this room full of
heat, even the corners of his eyes were about to redden.
It just so happened that Cen Yu threw the card onto the ground.
Yu Xiaozai quickly stopped what he was doing and made to lean
over to pick it up.
Shen Zechuan prepared to retract his foot. But unexpectedly
enough, Xiao Chiye reached his hand down to grab hold of his
ankle. His sole was stepping on Xiao Chiye’s unmentionable spot
through the fabric. Xiao Chiye slipped two fingers into the clean
sock and stroked Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan’s fan rested on the tabletop. Yu Xiaozai had
already lifted the hem of his robe and his waist was already slightly
bending over as he said, “Your Excellencies, please lift your legs.
Let this humble subordinate see where it has dropped to…”
Xiao Chiye was not the slightest bit flustered as he steadily
grasped onto Shen Zechuan’s ankle. He exerted a little force with
his thumb, caressing Shen Zechuan until Shen Zechuan felt a tingle
of numbness run up his spine and tightened his grip on his fan.

Many thanks to Kotoni and Alex for the hornee consultation.

Footnotes
1. 交杯酒 nuptial cups; a formal exchange of cups of wine
between bride and groom as traditional wedding ceremony;
a toast in which one links one’s arm with a partner to drink
from one’s cup of wine.
2.
3. 春闱 imperial examination, which usually took place in
the spring.
4. Yu Xiaozai’s courtesy name.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 75 : NIGHT RIDE

Translated with: Yunyun, Lin & Rie<3

Yu Xiaozai held the hem of his robe up and was about to squat
down when Xiao Chiye let his wine cup drop. Han Cheng, being
near, ended up having his robe dirtied. Yu Xiaozai left the cards
and went to get a handkerchief for Han Cheng to clean himself.
Cen Yu was still squinting at his cards when the wine splashed him.
He hastily tried to dodge it too, making Kong Qiu laugh loudly.
Han Cheng tugged at his robe and said to Xiao Chiye, “Your
Lordship, you’ve had too much to drink; even your hands are
unsteady now!”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand in apology and said, “Apologies, I’ll
get someone to send you a replacement tomorrow as
compensation.”
“There’s no need. Just how much is a set of robes worth?” How
could Han Cheng really let Xiao Chiye compensate him? He did
not even dare to pull a long face as he said with a smile, “We’ll treat
this cup as a toast from Your Lordship!”
Shen Zechuan had already withdrawn his foot. He leaned over
and picked up the card from the floor. As he placed it on the table,
he heard Xiao Chiye laughing. The lingering warmth on his ankle
where Xiao Chiye had squeezed grew hotter amidst the laughter.
Kong Qiu was already drunk. He looked completely opposite of
how he usually did when he was in court as he struck a porcelain
cup with his chopsticks and sang out incomprehensible lyrics alone
in the chaotic atmosphere.
Cen Yu, seeing Kong Qiu stir up such an improper and
unsightly ruckus, tugged on his sleeve and said, “Boran! Stop
singing. Let’s go home and sleep! You still need to sit in Xi
Hongxuan’s trial the day after tomorrow!”
Kong Qiu held up his cup, struck it with increasing glee, and
said, “I remember that. I’m investigating him!”
 Cen Yu could not keep a hold of him and said, “Thankfully, I
was the one who invited you to the feast today, or else you would
be impeached for sure for behaving in such an audacious,
unrestrained manner.”
“Okay then, let them impeach!” Kong Qiu said, “Let them
impeach! Imperial censors ought to have the courage to speak.”
“Right, well said!” Han Cheng also laughed, “Before spring, we
were saddled with such a massive pile of work that we could
scarcely breathe. How many times could we enjoy ourselves to the
greatest? Let him enjoy himself to his heart’s content!”
“It’s almost time to wind down. If we make a ruckus too late into
the night, the Secretariat Elder won’t be happy with us.” Xiao Chiye
got to his feet and called to Chen Yang, “Send His Excellency Kong
back in my horse carriage!”
The attendants swarmed all around, and Chen Yang helped
Kong Qiu out the door. Cen Yu wiped away his hot sweat and said
to the remaining men, “You don’t know this, but Boran was also
once an unconventional and uninhibited person, but because
Secretariat Elder is particularly set on self-restraint and observance
of proprieties, he put him in order and whipped him into shape. It’s
not advisable to drink too much of this wine. Why doesn’t everyone
wait for a moment while I’ll tell the cook to boil some soups to
sober you up? Drink it up before you leave!”
“I was just thinking about your residence’s dough drop and
assorted vegetable soup!” Han Cheng forwent the formalities.
“Add some vinegar to mine. I’ll drink it before leaving.”
Shen Zechuan bowed and said, “The imperial prison still has
urgent cases to be processed tomorrow morning, so I won’t stay.
Everyone, please enjoy your meal. If time permits in the future, I’ll
invite everyone for another round.”
Han Cheng knew that he was indeed busy of late and told him,
“When you previously held the post of the Southern Judge, the
military craftsmen kept a close eye on you. Now that you’ve
transferred to the office of the Northern Judge, there’s no need for
you to rush between both ends until you are too busy to do
anything else. The subordinates will remember your kind treatment
of them and naturally won’t make things too difficult for you.”
 Shen Zechuan uttered a sound of acknowledgment. Cen Yu
insisted on sending him off. It would not do for Shen Zechuan to
decline, so they walked out of the doors together. It was raining
heavily outside, and everything was covered in a thick layer of fog.
The drift of fresh air on their faces dispelled the wine-induced heat
from their bodies, making them feel much more refreshed.
Cen Yu led Shen Zechuan down the stairs and said, “To find
time to attend the feast tonight, you must have pushed back a
great deal of work.”
“Not quite. The urgent cases that need to be dealt with have
been sealed and finalized before today.” Shen Zechuan replied
with a smile.
Cen Yu nodded and said, “That’s good. Assignments cannot be
delayed.”
Cen Yu accompanied him all the way to the gates and then
ordered someone to hold up an umbrella and lantern for him. He
truly valued Shen Zechuan for his talents, but it was a pity that Shen
Zechuan served in the Imperial Bodyguards.
Finally, Cen Yu said, “All the cases in the Imperial Prison are
major cases that not even the Three Judicial Offices can interfere
with. You could be said to have enjoyed a meteoric rise with this
position, so you must speak with caution and act with prudence. It
is often said that being close to the sovereign is as perilous as lying
with a tiger. Those who can handle affairs in the presence of the
emperor are all born intelligent and quick-witted. That said, you
needn’t worry too much about qualification, for you are already
considered to have reached success in your youth. You still have a
long time to go and a long way ahead of you, so remember, there
is no need to be anxious about anything else other than your
assignments. The Marquis of Dingdu is not a narrow-minded man
either. You are bound to have to work together on missions in the
future. The hatchet has been buried tonight with wine. Even if you
cannot become soulmates with him, it’s still better to be friends
who can look out for each other than to fly into a rage each time
you meet each other. Lanzhou, I value your talent, and I hope that
you will work hard and achieve success in your career!”
 Cen Yu bared his heart out with such sincerity that Shen
Zechuan was wholeheartedly convinced. He bowed, and Cen Yu
helped him up again, saying, “The road is slippery on rainy nights.
Be careful on your way. You may go.”
Shen Zechuan draped the pristinely white fur coat that Li
Jianheng had bestowed on him and bade farewell to Cen Yu. He
did not get in the sedan, but let Qiao Tianya hold up the umbrella
for him as one master and one servant walked into the rain.
The two had not been walking along the streets for long when
they heard the sound of hoofbeats behind them. Qiao Tianya
shook the rainwater off before stepping aside, and as expected,
saw Xiao Chiye on horseback galloping towards them at full
speed.
“Good timing. I—”
Qiao Tianya did not even get to finish his sentence as Xiao
Chiye bent to pick Shen Zechuan up and left with him. The water
droplets kicked up by the horse’s hooves splashed all over Qiao
Tianya. He spread his arms open and slowly finished his sentence,
“… want to drink some shaojiu.”1
Xiao Chiye was well-built. Even with Shen Zechuan in his arms,
he did not find it inconvenient. It was in this way he hugged Shen
Zechuan as he effortlessly rode his horse away. The chest backing
Shen Zechuan was firm and muscular, as if it was an indestructible
iron wall of silver.
Lang Tao Xue Jin galloped into the rain like a bolt of lightning
flashing through the pitch-black rainy night. It trod into countless
puddles of water, splattering them as it charged straight for the city
gates.
“Who goes there riding his horse this late in the night?!” The
guard at the top of the wall raised his lantern and demanded.
Xiao Chiye pulled at his cloak to wrap Shen Zechuan under it
before raising his own authority token. He said, “Open the gates.”
“Vice… Marquis!” The platoon commander at the top of the
wall immediately paid his obeisances, then waved his hands and
ordered, “Quick, open the gates!”
The gates opened with a loud rumble, and Lang Tao Xue Jin
galloped straight out. With the night wind whipping against their
cheek, Lang Tao Xue Jin galloped faster and faster, while a circling
gyrfalcon charged out from the rain and followed closely behind.
Shen Zechuan held onto the back of the horse and said, “We
can’t go too far. Tomorrow morning—”
Xiao Chiye grabbed Shen Zechuan’s chin, pulled it toward
himself, and tilted his head to kiss him. Shen Zechuan was not
gifted at horsemanship, and other than Xiao Chiye, he had
nowhere else to hold on to as they raced forth like the wind. With
one hand pressing against the jerking back of the horse and the
other clutching onto Xiao Chiye’s body for support, there was no
way for him to look at the road in front. The pitter-pattering rain
wetted his eyes as they kissed.
They had not seen each other for seven or eight days.
Xiao Chiye embraced Shen Zechuan tightly with one hand,
pressing him to his chest as he kissed down along his cheek to the
side of his neck.
Shen Zechuan’s clothes were in disarray. The official robe
beneath his white fur coat had been tugged open slightly. When he
lifted his eyes, all he could see was the jet-black rainy night. The
water droplets trickled down along the curve into his collar,
drenching his clothes, and even himself. His caresses wrinkled
Xiao Chiye’s robe even as Xiao Chiye made him gasp for breath.
The rain poured even harder and noisier as Lang Tao Xue Jin
ran blindly into the night. The path in front of them was already
hidden in the long, dark night, and the horse was like the lone boat
carrying a pair of lovers on a secret rendezvous.
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes while taking all of it, shivering
while bathed in sweat and rainwater. Xiao Chiye did not say a word
as the horse’s hooves trod on mud. The path was so uneven and
hard to navigate that a few ensuing bumps and jolts caused the
sounds to escape from Shen Zechuan’s throat.
Xiao Chiye was also sweating a little. Spurred on by the potent
wine, he grasped Shen Zechuan amidst this frenzy of pleasure,
making every rise and fall hit just the right spot. He was in even
more high spirits after drinking wine, and he used his strength
skillfully, making Shen Zechuan incapable of resisting and unable
to escape.
 “Does the friction feel good?” Seeing that Shen Zechuan
wanted to lean away, Xiao Chiye clasped his hands and pulled him
back in an embrace.
Pressed against him, Shen Zechuan said, “Mmm…”
Xiao Chiye said, “Next time, I’ll grind the right spot.”
Xiao Chiye stroked Shen Zechuan’s earlobe and fastened an
object. He pushed aside those drenched locks of hair and kissed it.
As Shen Zechuan raised his head, the jasper swayed with his
movement. He dazedly touched the pendant. Several times, he
opened his mouth to speak, but he was always disrupted by his
gasps for breath. As he rode on the tidal waves of euphoria, he
gazed at Xiao Chiye with a contradictory blend of understanding
and incomprehension.
Xiao Chiye killed off the only remaining tenderness he had left.
It was really bad for the spring days to warm up again after a
cold spell, for this was the season to have fun. Scoundrels all like
having fun. As long as they were together, they could create a stir
where there was none. The suggestive look in their eyes when their
gazes met and the tingle of numbness that sprang up their spines
was so strong that they itched to tantalize the other into ripping
apart his mask of decency. No one understood the debauchery
taking place underneath their official robes.
As long as there was no one else, they would show their true
colors.

Footnotes
1. shaojiu, also known as baijiu (白酒), is a spirit that is
usually distilled from sorghum or maize. Also, the name of a
famous Tang dynasty wine.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 76 : CASTING THE NET

The night rain had just stopped, but the sensual dampness
between the beddings lingered.
The hot springs had been renovated anew; although it was
small, it was completed. With his clothes draped over him, Xiao
Chiye fed the horse and gyrfalcon. All that could be heard on
Mount Feng at the third quarter of the hour of mao1 was the sound
of water dripping from the eaves. He soaked in the mountain
breeze for a moment with the front of his clothes opened. The chill
of early spring gradually calmed the stimulation and excitement
that had lasted all night. He had sobered up, but his passion had
become all the more thick and viscous, followed by a kind of post-
indulgence relaxation and tenderness.
This was the pleasure of indulging in desire.
Xiao Chiye removed the saddle on Lang Tao Xue Jin’s back
and gestured to Meng. Meng promptly spread its wings and flew
out of the eaves into the forest.
Xiao Chiye turned around to enter the room, where the heat
and dampness had not receded. Shen Zechuan was sprawled over
the pillow with the blanket over him. There was no way to tell if he
was asleep or not. His half-exposed right ear was still wearing the
earring. Xiao Chiye lowered his hand to take it off for him and, in
passing, rubbed his ear that had gone red from being clasped by
the earring.
Shen Zechuan let loose a sound. He had yet to fall into a sound
sleep. He laid there for a moment, then slightly opened his eyes to
look at Xiao Chiye and said in a hoarse voice, “… It’s time we
leave.”
Xiao Chiye rolled over and lay down beside Shen Zechuan. He
looked at him in the eye and said, “It’s the day off today. It’s still
early.”
Shen Zechuan uttered a sound of acknowledgment and said,
“There is still work to be done in the imperial prison.”
“A busy man.” Xiao Chiye grasped his fingertips and pulled him
towards himself. “In just one day, you rose to the position of
Northern Judge, and you were also promoted to Vice Commander.
The people you have to deal with now are all noble descendants of
hereditary ranks. It’s going to be hard for you to manage them;
there’s bound to be someone who wants to trip you up with
underhand means.”
Shen Zechuan said, “It’s not easy to be the Son of Heaven and
the officials in his inner ministerial circle.”
It was in this way Shen Zechuan lay, with the word ‘satiated’
written all over his expression. Both men looked at each other for a
moment. Like the gentleness after a rainstorm, their kiss was both
light and slow. In this humble thatched cottage, they
wholeheartedly bared themselves to one another. It was as if in
these few hours they left Qudu, they could cast aside all the so-
called maturity and prudence to become young men of similar
ages.
Xiao Chiye whispered, “This place is too small, with the view of
the sky all blocked by vermilion walls, and the mountains and
plains all surrounded by cities. Lang Tao Xue Jin can’t run to its
heart’s content… When we return to Libei someday in the future, I’ll
take you galloping all over Hongyan Mountains.”
Shen Zechuan pressed against his chest and asked, “Is the
moon in Libei as round as the moon in Duanzhou?”
Xiao Chiye thought for a long while before he said, “I’ve
already forgotten… Is the grass in Duanzhou as tall as the grass in
Libei?”
Shen Zechuan also said, “I’ve already forgotten.”
They suddenly burst out into laughter, dispelling that bit of
melancholy. Shen Zechuan took in Xiao Chiye’s scent as Xiao Chiye
pressed his chin against the top of Shen Zechuan’s head.
Xiao Chiye said, “Let’s go together.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Home?”
Xiao Chiye tightened his arms around Shen Zechuan and said,
“Home… Let’s ask Ji Gang-shifu to go together with us. Libei is so
big; there will be plenty of places to stay.”
Shen Zechuan laughed out loud and said with lowered eyes,
“Shifu wants to return to Duanzhou. I’m afraid we won’t be able to
go together.”
 Xiao Chiye also lowered his eyes and said to him, “As long as
we are out of Qudu, we will be able to go together, even to the
ends of the earth.”
Shen Zechuan met Xiao Chiye’s gaze and said, “The wolf pup
should be in Libei. Otherwise, it’d be a pity for it to become flabby
due to a long period of inactivity.”2
Xiao Chiye’s eyes were calm and serene as he said, “Libei has
my eldest brother, and the Libei Armored Cavalry has my father.
Horse-racing is the only thing that suits me.”
Shen Zechuan lifted Xiao Chiye’s chin and gazed at him. He
said, “Natural talents are bound to have their own uses; it’s just that
the time has yet to come. Ce’an, Ce’an—All of Libei’s hope lies in
these two words.”
Xiao Chiye laughed in a deep voice and suddenly rolled over
to pin Shen Zechuan down. Pressing his forehead against Shen
Zechuan’s forehead, he said, “Do you want me or not?”
Shen Zechuan’s waist was sore, and his back was aching. As he
recovered his strength and eased up his muscles, he squeezed the
back of Xiao Chiye’s neck and said in a husky voice, “Are you
giving me or not?”
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to kiss him and pulled up the
blanket over them.
◈ ◈ ◈
After that rainy night, Qudu’s weather took a turn for the hotter.
The Grand Secretariat demanded Pan Xiangjie’s dismissal from
his position of the Minister of Works, while the Chief Surveillance
Bureau submitted more than ten memorials in a row to impeach
Pan Xiangjie. Their daily contentions in the imperial court were so
heated that it made Li Jianheng’s ears ache.
Originally, Wei Huaigu and the major-league ministers from the
other noble clans would stick together for mutual benefits; thus,
they would not easily abandon anyone. For example, men like Fu
Linye were eventually demoted with a reduced salary and not
exiled out of the capital. After the fall of Hua Siqian, Hai Liangyi
took over the position of the Grand Secretary of the Grand
Secretariat. Although he entrusted Xue Xiuzhuo, who was from a
noble clan, with heavy responsibilities, he had also successively
promoted several low-grade officials from humble backgrounds.
Of them, Kong Qiu was the most conspicuous, and both sides pit
against one another, overtly and covertly. However, what
happened this time was a matter of grave importance. If Pan
Xiangjie was not impeached, then Wei Huaigu would have to be
impeached. Someone had to take the blame for the clogged
official ditches. There was no way to find a scapegoat at all.
The way things were playing out, the Ministry of Revenue was
obviously much more important than the Ministry of Works. To the
noble clans, the one who did manual labor could be cast aside, but
the one who managed money must be retained. It was not just Pan
Xiangjie who had to be dismissed and prosecuted. Even his eldest
son of lawful birth, who was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of
Revenue, had to be suspended from his post to await
impeachment.
Li Jianheng no longer spoke up on the imperial court that
easily. After adjourning the court, he called for Xiao Chiye, and
both men wandered around the garden for some spring
appreciation.
“I heard that you braved the rain to head out of the capital
some days back.” Dressed in bright yellow regular wear, Li
Jianheng picked some candied fruits from the table and shared
half with Xiao Chiye. “For what purpose?”
“The military drill grounds are close to Mount Feng. I get
worried each time it rains. It has only been a few days since the
public ditches incident, so I rushed over that night to take a look.”
Xiao Chiye smiled and replied, as if he did not notice that Li
Jianheng had sent someone to keep an eye on him. “Your Majesty
knows of that military drill grounds too. It cost the Imperial Army a
lot of money. If it were to get damaged from the rain, those 20,000
men of mine would have to share and put up with the Eight Great
Training Divisions.”
“If you bring the Imperial Army to the Eight Great Training
Divisions’ military grounds, the Ministry of Revenue will promptly
allocate the funds to you tomorrow.” Li Jianheng tossed the
candied fruit into his mouth and said, “I’ve seen enough these days
to understand that they are guarding against you. They are only
too glad to be as far away from you as possible.”
Xiao Chiye said self-mockingly, “We are all attending to official
duties. Where did they get that many ideas from?”
Li Jianheng recalled the last time Xiao Chiye was besieged and
attacked on all sides by these people on the imperial court and
promptly said, “They are full of evil tricks, and they are crafty to
boot. Each one of them is such an eloquent speaker when it comes
to handling matters, but in truth, they are all for the specific
purpose of setting others up. They even dare to cajole me, what’s
more, you? We have to punish this Pan Xiangjie this time. He did
not do his job properly and almost caused me to die. And guess
what? Last night, Commandery Princess Zhaoyue entered the
palace to keep the Empress Dowager company. The Empress
Dowager knew better and said she would not interfere in state
affairs. Only then did she manage to send her away. Tell me, how
would a lady who’s about to get married know about the insides
and outs of these matters? Isn’t it all because she was forced to by
the Marquis of Helian? After all, both of their families are in-laws!”
Xiao Chiye followed Li Jianheng down the stairs and walked
beneath those newly-sprouted branches. He said, “Has Your
Majesty made up your mind to punish Pan Xiangjie severely?”
Li Jianheng said, “Of course. We mustn’t let him off easily.
There was a picture of the disaster victims from the low-lying area
sandwiched inside the memorial Cen Yu submitted; they are really
too pitiful. I’m the Emperor who lives in the imperial palace. Just
like what the Secretariat Elder said, there are many matters I can
only find out through word of mouth. Pan Xiangjie’s negligence
and tardiness in clearing up the clogged ditches caused so much
harm to the others. I definitely have to punish him. The Secretariat
Elder has the same intent too.”
Having tasted the sweetness from dishing out rewards and
having been praised by the imperial censors, he now wanted to
single out Pan Xiangjie to make an example out of him.
“I happen to disagree with the Secretariat Elder.” Xiao Chiye
said out of the blue. “Pan Xiangjie deserves to be punished. But this
man mustn’t be too easily removed from office.”
 Li Jianheng turned his head back and said with a frown, “If we
don’t deal with him after he makes such a blunder, then are you
going to keep him around for him to make another one?”
Xiao Chiye cast a glance at the clear sky overhead and
remembered what Shen Zechuan had said. He suddenly laughed
and said to Li Jianheng, “Of course Your Majesty has to deal with
him. But if you dismiss him from his post, it’ll be tantamount to
cutting off his career path. Pan Xiangjie is currently advanced in
age, and he has also made some contributions in his position of
the Minister of the Ministry of Works. Your Majesty, the blockage of
the public ditches this time caused a surge in slop, which has
indeed flooded and damaged the streets. Yet the embankments of
Kailing River remained solid and secured like a wall of iron. In
previous years, when the localities were flooded, there were very
few dams and embankments that could hold up. Clearly, Pan
Xiangjie has put some thoughts into this and has not cut corners.”
“But his negligence and oversight of the public ditches is a fact,
too. There’s no reason to let him off easy just because of Kailing
River.”
“Your Majesty.” Xiao Chiye said, “The court assembly this
morning discussed the allocation of funds for the spring plow. The
Ministry of Revenue has been wrestling with the localities over this,
and this matter has been stuck at an impasse for half a month. If we
wait any further, we will miss the time.”
“What has this got to do with not dismissing Pan Xiangjie?” Li
Jianheng was not too pleased. “Even if we retain him, the Ministry
of Revenue will not allocate the fund. Wei Huaigu’s subordinates
are all very articulate. Even the Secretariat Elder can’t be bothered
to waste his breath on them. Only the imperial censors from the
Chief Surveillance Bureau can tie with them when it comes to
rebuking and condemning others.”
“The Ministry of Revenue? The subordinates who are currently
capable of attending official duties are all Wei Huaigu’s proteges,
so naturally, they will act according to Wei Huaigu’s will. But Pan
Xiangjie’s son, Pan Lin, also happens to hold the post of Vice
Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. If Your Majesty can simply go
through the motions in dealing with Pan Xiangjie this time, then
their Pan Clan, graced with imperial favor, will surely remember
Your Majesty’s kindness. By then, his son would be just like Your
Majesty’s son. If Your Majesty has to deal with the Ministry of
Revenue in the future, you’ll have your own man in the Ministry of
Revenue who can speak up on your behalf. Furthermore, once Pan
Xiangjie is dismissed and prosecuted, the Ministry of Works will
have to nominate someone else to take up the ministerial post. The
new person may not necessarily be more loyal than Pan Xiangjie.”
Xiao Chiye paused here and let Li Jianheng think for himself.
Li Jianheng took a few steps and said hesitantly, “But if he’s not
dismissed, there still has to be a punishment that can convince the
masses.”
“Pan and Fei are related through marriage, while Fei and Xi are
close to each other. What they don’t lack the most is money. Your
Majesty can fine Pan Xiangjie and get him to cover all the expenses
incurred during the dredging of the public ditches, then hand him
the punishment of flogging.”
“Flogging?” Li Jianheng said in astonishment. “He’s so old;
won’t he be beaten to death?!”
“How is he going to mend his ways and be grateful if you don’t
let him have a taste of ‘death’?” Xiao Chiye smiled. “Let the imperial
censors rebuke him to their satisfaction. By the time Your Majesty
summons him for an audience again, he will be deeply grateful
even if Your Majesty tells him to bark like a dog in public, let alone
cover the expenses.”
Delighted, Li Jianheng circled back and said to Xiao Chiye, “As
usual, you’re the resourceful one!”
“Wei Huaigu is also the one who ran the audit of the
expenditure this time. I fear he has, out of impure intentions,
doctored the accounts. So it’s still better for Your Majesty to go over
this case again and act with prudence.”
As expected, Li Jianheng looked to be put in a spot as he said,
“This is a job for the Ministry of Revenue. Where would I have the
man? The other ministries can’t interfere in this matter either.”
“Then find one of those in the Ministry of Revenue to do it. The
official at the top can’t give a clear explanation, but the petty
officials at the bottom are all honest men who actually carry out
tasks for Your Majesty.” Xiao Chiye brushed aside a branch and
seemed to think about it before he continued, “I met a competent
official at Zhao Zui Temple this incident, He was the one who kept
records of the accounts for the medicinal herbs which the Imperial
Army had submitted earlier. Even the Secretariat Elder was full of
praise for him. Your Majesty, how about letting him try?”
Overjoyed, Li Jianheng said, “If even the Secretariat Elder has
praised him, then we can’t go wrong with him!”
Xiao Chiye said in a steady voice, “This man’s name is Liang
Cuishan.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xi Hongxuan was taken into custody in the prison. He originally
thought that with Li Jianheng to protect him and Xue Xiuzhuo to
use his power to help him, he would be quickly released. Who
would have known that he would be locked up for so many days?
No one delivered messages to keep him updated either; thus, he
guessed that something must have gone wrong somewhere in
between.
When Shen Zechuan arrived at the prison, he had his authority
token with him. He was someone who had a drink with Kong Qiu
before, and he was a newly appointed official who rose to
prominence the fastest. So Qiao Tianya only had to use a few catty
of wine to talk the warden around.
When Xi Hongxuan saw Shen Zechuan, he hurriedly got up and
asked through the bars, “How is it? Why has there been no news?
Has Pan Xiangjie been punished? If so, then it’s time for me to be
released!”
Although Shen Zechuan had his authority token hung, he was
not wearing his official robe. He was dressed in a dark blue
everyday wear with his collars tightly secured. His facial features
were enveloped by the dim light when he entered, and the
contrast of his clothes against the color of his skin made him look
extremely white, with a hint of frostiness.
“You’re still waiting for Pan Xiangjie to be prosecuted?” Shen
Zechuan said, “There’s been nothing about Pan Xiangjie these
days.”
 “He’s in charge of the Ministry of Works. How will they justify it if
they don’t punish him after there’s such a big problem with the
public ditches? Even His Majesty won’t be able to justify it.” Xi
Hongxuan clenched and tightened his fists. “What went wrong in
between?”
“To shirk responsibility and shift the blame, Wei Huaigu
relentlessly latched on to Pan Xiangjie. But as you know too, things
can backfire when it reaches its limits. Even a jade rabbit can bite
humans when it’s forced into a corner, let alone Pan Xiangjie? To
mitigate their crime, the Pan Clan wants to cover the expenses this
time. The porridge shack over at Zhao Zui Temple has yet to be
dismantled, and the womenfolk of the Pan Clan has already gone
over to give out porridge to the disaster victims. They put on a
meticulous show and did a careful job of keeping up appearance
while assuming the stance of eating humble pie, as if they were
submitting themselves to physical and verbal abuses from the
others. Like they say, not for the sake of the monk but for that of the
Buddha.3 So even the Secretariat Elder would have to take this into
consideration and reconsider his punishment.” Without a smile on
his face, Shen Zechuan said, “There’s no way the Ministry of
Revenue’s delays of the accounts can be covered up. For
everyone’s good, Wei Huaigu should also admit his mistakes and
endure a scolding. Yet, he is simply too oblivious and doesn’t know
when to advance and retreat. Second Young Master, since Pan
Xiangjie isn’t dismissed and Wei Huaigu isn’t punished, then they
can only single you out this time and put you on the chopping
board.”
After a moment of silence, Xi Hongxuan said, “Wei Huaigu is
too money-minded. The reason he’s suppressing this matter and
refusing to relent is because he’s afraid that the Ministry of
Revenue’s disparity cannot be covered up after he admits his
mistakes, and Hai Liangyi would then have him in his grasp. Going
by his temperament, if he can’t kick out Pan Xiangjie to take the
blame for him, then he will force me to fish out the money. No
matter what, he won’t let himself suffer. Fuck it, that wily old fox!”
When they were all bashing Xiao Chiye together, they all
wanted to ride on the Eight Great Training Divisions’ coattails and
have a share in the benefits reaped from the Eight Great Training
Divisions. But now, Xiao Chiye had not even been knocked out,
and they were fighting among themselves. Xi Hongxuan felt
indignant. He had previously spent quite a sum of money on the
matter concerning Xi Gu’an. The good thing was that their family’s
salt mines were not confiscated and sealed off, so they were still
raking in money. In any case, the imperial court had no idea about
the Xi Clan’s private accounts. But it was different when Wei Huaigu
wanted money. The Eight Great Clans knew best what the Eight
Great Clans were like. The Xi Clan sold salt and headed out to sea,
and they even kept and maintained a large batch of ships at
Yongquan Harbor—these were stuff the Eight Great Clans knew all
too well.
“Spending money to ward off calamities.” Shen Zechuan said
gravely and earnestly, “With yourself behind bars now, you have to
choose a man you can trust to handle this matter for you on the
outside. You are transferring money within private accounts. If the
Wei Clan wants some ten thousand taels, then just the
transportation alone would be a big problem. There has to be
someone who can organize it all for you. Furthermore, this matter is
of utmost urgency, so have it done as quickly as possible.”
“Look for Yanqing” Xi Hongxuan blurted out. Having done so,
he hesitated again.
Xue Xiuzhuo knew the ins and outs of the Xi Clan, and it was
hard to say if he might get some other ideas during the process.
The Xi Clan’s accumulated mountain of gold and silver was
something the previous few generations risked their lives to hoard,
and they had countless successions of connected shops and
businesses in Juexi and Hezhou. Xi Hongxuan could afford the
money, but there was no one he could really entrust it with. With Xi
Gu’an dead, the few Xi Clan concubines were really going at it with
their abacuses. Perhaps even before he, Xi Hongxuan, died in
prison, he would end up dying by his own family members’ hands.
Xi Hongxuan suddenly said, “Lanzhou, you’ve been promoted
to Vice Commander, and you also manage the imperial prison. You
have the special rights to enter and exit Qudu to handle cases. It’s
too inconvenient for Yanqing, with him currently being in the Court
of Judicial Review and all. I’m afraid he will be too conspicuous and
end up being investigated by the others. How about you handle
this matter instead?”
Shen Zechuan was rather surprised and said, “I’ve neither
managed accounts nor dealt with Wei Huaigu before, and I’m not
familiar with your businesses on the outside too. So how would I be
able to handle this well?”
Unfamiliarity was exactly what he wanted!
Xi Hongxuan said, “There are managers appointed by me over
at the salterns. They are quick and efficient, so you don’t need to
worry about the money. It’s just that transportation would prove to
be particularly troublesome if the sum is too large. Tens of
thousands of money worth would pile up into mountains when
loaded onto the carts. You can’t go the water route. All my family’s
routes are sea-based. Head inward to the north, and the Hua Clan
of Dicheng has the final say, while the Yan Clan of Hezhou calls the
shots in the south. So you can only take the overland route, which
would require you to traverse the thirteen cities of Juexi…
Motherfucker! I don’t believe this much money can’t bury that Wei
Huaigu to death alive! In any case, you don’t need to fear anything
else while passing through Juexi, but you must be on guard against
Jiang Qingshan. This man is a tough one. If he catches us red-
handed, I’ll be skinned!”
Shen Zechuan was in no hurry to agree. He said, “This is an
important issue. You should have a word with Xue Xiuzhuo and let
him know.”
“No.” Xi Hongxuan considered it carefully. “Yanqing is not a
person who can handle this kind of matter. It’d work to the contrary
if he were to intervene again. You only need to tell him to continue
to think of a way to plead for mercy on my behalf on the imperial
court. His Majesty’s momentary hesitation is no big deal, but when I
get out this time, Wei Huaigu will be the first one I’ll kill!”
After he said that, he smiled at Shen Zechuan.
“There’s no need for you to panic. I know you have never
conducted a business transaction before. I left a bookkeeper in my
Qudu residence. His name is Xi Dan, an old hand in my employ. Let
him accompany you… I’ll naturally have my own plans once I see
him.”
Xi Hongxuan was quick-thinking. He did not dare to trust Shen
Zechuan just yet. He remembered how Ji Lei had been played to
death, so he held back and insisted on seeing his own man before
he would take out his money. The Xi Clan’s keys were in a place
only he knew of. Without the key, all the Xi Clan’s money vaults
could not be opened.
“Give it a few days.” Shen Zechuan said softly, “I’ll bring him to
see you.”

Many thanks to Alex for the advice! ❤

Footnotes
1. 卯时 Time in those days was divided into two hours
blocks. The hour of Mao is around 5-7am
2. 髀肉复生 literally thighs become flabby from inactivity,
i.e., to be out of action for a long time with one’s aspirations
unrealized.
3. 不看僧面看佛面 to do something for someone out of
reverence or consideration for someone else of greater
importance
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 77 : DISPUTE

Pan Xiangjie was suspended from his post as he awaited

impeachment. Having also received a flogging, he sighed and
moaned as he lay on his stomach back at home to nurse his
injuries. His son, Pan Lin, was also implicated and had to endure
the rebukes of the imperial censors every day during court
sessions. A few days later, he was also suspended from his post to
be detained and confined at home.
Xiao Chiye, having received a raise in rank, organized a
banquet and specifically invited the Marquis of Helian. The Marquis
of Helian was too embarrassed to appear before Xiao Chiye
because of the matchmaking attempt for Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue the last time.1 He was also worried that this tyrant would
be so proud of his success that he would humiliate him and make
things hard for him before the others. So, after thinking it through,
he got his son to attend the banquet on his behalf.
Marquis Junior was called Fei Shi. He was also a well-known
figure on Donglong Street. He had once gone drinking with Xiao
Chiye in the past, but none of them lesser-tyrants were as
domineering as mega-tyrant Xiao Chiye. What’s more, he feared
the Xiao Clan, so he no longer went out for entertainment with Xiao
Chiye and would make a big detour whenever he saw Xiao Chiye
and Li Jianheng. Now that he had to attend Xiao Chiye’s banquet,
he first wilted by half, then changed direction and headed to the
Pan’s Residence to ask Pan Lin to go together with him.
“Go with me. We’ll treat it as relieving our boredom!” Fei Shi
held up his robe and urged him on. “The banquet this time is on
Kailing River. There’ll be many people there.”
Pan Lin’s son was just a month old. He teased the baby for a
moment before saying, “Not going. I’ve been feeling vexed these
few days.”
“What fun is there in playing with a baby?” Fei Shi squeezed in
to intercept the nanny and said, “I can’t skip it this time. My father
has specifically made his instructions clear. Go have some fun and
make friends with him. I heard that he is friends with the Left
Censor-in-chief of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, Cen Yu. If he steps
forth and intercedes for you, then you wouldn’t have to endure as
many rebukes.”
“Seriously.” Pan Lin tossed aside the handkerchief. “Cen Xunyi’s
the one who’s the most brutal in reprimanding me! Xiao the
Second only advanced in rank this time owing to his friendship
with His Majesty. Just how much can he convince Cen Yu? I’m not
going. I don’t want to embarrass myself!”
“Look at you. How are you this inflexible?!” Fei Shi was truly
racking his brains to coax him out of the door. “He has a prior
friendship with His Majesty. If he can put in a few good words for
the Pan Clan before His Majesty, would you still need to be
aggrieved to such an extent? Come on, let’s go. I had a drink with
him before. I’ll introduce you!”
Unable to dissuade Fei Shi, Pan Lin was dragged out of the
house and onto the horse carriage, which headed right for Kailing
River.
◈ ◈ ◈
With Xiao Chiye hosting a banquet this night, all the gaily-
painted pleasure boats on Kailing River were full. He was now
famous, and all the brothels and taverns along the riverbanks
benefited from association, having gotten a piece of the action.
Money was being splashed around on the outside like water. He
did not even have to open his mouth; flocking all around him were
people trying every means to give him money.
But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world.2 If he
accepted their money, he would have to do them favors. If he did
not do it today, then there would be plenty of pretexts for them to
get him to do it in the future. Xiao Chiye knew this all too well, so
he did not accept a single coin. This was such a grand occasion,
and he paid for it all out of his own pocket.
Chen Yang flicked away noisily at the abacus in the back
behind the scene. The more he computed, the slower he became.
Eventually, he simply tossed away the abacus and said to Ding Tao
and Gu Jin, “The palace has rewarded us with so many fields and
mansions. Let’s sort them out and find an auspicious day to sell
them all.”
 Xiao Chiye just happened to come out after changing his robe.
He cut an imposing sight, all decked in a gold crown, brocade
robe, and black clouds boots. On hearing Chen Yang, his
countenance changed. He felt his way to his belt and said, “… I’m
that poor?”
“We have too many expenses at the start of spring. The villages
on the outside are self-sufficient enough to bring in some money.
But many residences in Qudu are bestowed upon us by the palace.
We can’t rent them out, and we still have to arrange for someone to
clean them daily. Our Prince Residence and Plum Blossom
Residence are permanent residences, and there are at least three
hundred people or so who serve in both. The monthly salaries,
monetary rewards, and…”
Xiao Chiye said, “And Ding Tao’s candy allowance. You have to
eat an entire frontier reconnaissance squad’s worth of rations each
year, right? We’ve spoiled you too much.”
Grabbing his little notebook, Ding Tao did not dare to make
noise and merely mumbled, “The Princess Consort gave special
permission for this when I was back at home…”
“You’ve grown up.” Xiao Chiye said callously. “You don’t need
to eat candies anymore. They are bad for your teeth.”
“I’ll temporarily hold off on the calculation of the expenses
tonight.” Chen Yang held on to the table, feeling a little dizzy. He
said, “I’ll do it tomorrow morning.”
“When it comes to dealing with matters.” Gu Jin said succinctly.
“A man’s got to be liberal with his money!”
“Do a proper audit of the accounts for those residences on the
outside. I hardly go there even in a few hundred years, and dage is
too busy to manage them on his end too. When those
subordinates go free and unchecked for too long, they would even
dare to hoodwink others.” Xiao Chiye strode a long step out, then
retreated back and said, “Calculate it now! It won’t be more than a
few thousand taels. There’s someone… managing this account.”
Gu Jin watched him step out of the door and asked, “Who?
Who in our residence can manage how our Second Young Master
spends his money?”
 Chen Yang carried the abacus back and flicked through it for a
moment before giving an equivocally worded reply.
Ding Tao rubbed his boots against each other and stretched
out his head to whisper, “I know who it is.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Not many officials were invited to this banquet. Court officials
of fourth-grade and above were all subjected to censure from the
Chief Surveillance Bureau had they gathered for private feasts. Xiao
Chiye was also the Viceroy of the Imperial Army, so he could not
invite any of the few important military officials who worked with
him on the patrols. The feast Cen Yu held the last time was also a
private feast. He first presented a memo to the Grand Secretariat,
and it was only when Hai Liangyi gave his nod that he invited the
guests. This was how it ought to be. Kong Qiu, having gotten
inebriated that feast, ended up getting censured and had to sit
through a lecture from Hai Liangyi.
The censors of the Chief Surveillance Bureau were the imperial
censors, just as described. They could rebuke the emperor at the
top and denounce the various officials at the bottom. Even Hai
Liangyi himself would receive a censure if he were slightly
negligent. For example, during the public ditches incident this
time, Hai Liangyi just so happened to hold the posts of the Grand
Secretariat’s Deputy Grand Secretary and Grand Secretary in
successive order, so he would have to bear the blame had a
problem cropped up. In the beginning, when Li Jianheng had just
ascended to the throne, he found the dragon throne in Mingli Hall
so hard that his buttocks ached if he sat on it for too long. Thus, he
griped about it to those in close attendance. Not a few days later,
he received a roundabout rebuke from the imperial censors. To this
date, he never dared to bring up the matter of padding it with a
thick cushion.
Xiao Chiye could not invite the “authorities in power”, but he
could invite the “nobles”, or more specifically, the “distinguished
nobles”. As long as it was a person of a hereditary noble rank, he
invited them all. Most of these rich young masters with noble titles
but no real power had someone in their family to back them, so
they could have fun all they want with a peace of mind. One
example was Fei Shi. His father was still alive and in good health,
and his elder sister was about to marry a man from the Han Clan,
so he did not have to worry about his daily essentials like meals
and clothing. He was not a good student either, barely learning
anything; all he did the whole day was to loaf around.
The moment Fei Shi stepped off the sedan, he dragged Pan Lin
over to meet Xiao Chiye.
“Your Lordship, congratulations!”
Xie Chiye laughed and said, “I’m glad Your Little Lordship is
willing to honor me with your presence today. Please drink all the
wine you want tonight.”
Seeing how approachable he was, Fei Shi could not help but
relax. He said, “Your Lordship is generous. I shall not leave sober
tonight!”
Xiao Chiye looked at Pan Lin and said, “Vice Minister Pan,
please drink to your heart’s content too. Is His Excellency Pan
getting better these days?”
Hearing his usual tone, Pan Lin, whose heart had been in his
mouth, relaxed a little. He returned the greeting and said, “Thank
you for Your Lordship’s consideration. My father’s health is fine. It’s
just that he feels ashamed in the face of His Majesty’s graciousness
and has been facing the wall to self-reflect on the errors of his ways
these days.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to sigh with emotion as he said, “His
Excellency Pan is a veteran minister of three reigns. He acts with
prudence and is conscientious in his handling of state affairs. It’s
truly a pity for him to meet with such an unexpected misfortune.”
Pan Lin had been suffering setbacks day after day. He had
pleaded with a great number of people to intercede on their behalf
and have their sentences reduced. Other than the Fei Clan, who
still had the heart to help them out of their difficulty, the others all
came up with every kind of excuse to turn him away. He was born a
di – a legitimate descendant – of a noble clan, and his career had
been pretty much smooth sailing. It was only now he had a taste of
the world and found out just how fickle and hypocritical society3
was. Thus, he was greatly surprised and touched by Xiao Chiye’s
words.
 “My father…” Pan Lin felt emotional, but knowing the etiquette,
he forced a smile and said, “Forget it. I’m here tonight to
congratulate and celebrate Your Lordship’s great happiness, so let’s
not mention anything else. Your Lordship, congratulations!”
“I’m just blessed to have His Majesty shower kindness and favor
upon me. All I did was to carry out the task of rolling and crawling
around in the mud. I can’t be compared to the Vice Minister and
His Excellency Pan, who worry about the state all day long. Chen
Yang.” Xiao Chiye turned aside. “Invite His Little Lordship and Vice
Minister Pan onto the boat and serve them well.”
Chen Yang bowed and respectfully led them both inside. One
side of the ship’s interior was draped with hanging sheer fabric,
and the sound of pipa flowed into the night. The seats were
arranged according to levels of superiority. Chen Yang led them
both to the seats of honor. Seated at this table were all
descendants from the noble clans.
Pan Lin saw a few acquaintances, but he did not greet them.
Seeing the unfriendly atmosphere, Fei Shi hurriedly got up to
mediate. He said, “Isn’t this Eldest Young Master Xue? What a truly
rare sight!”
Xue Xiuyi was Xue Xiuzhuo’s elder brother of lawful birth. But
this person had neither talents nor brains and relied solely on his
birth to trample over Xue Xiuzhuo for many years.4 He was an
ambitious man, and now, after seeing the Pan Clan on the decline,
he was starting to give Pan Lin the cold shoulder.
Xue Xiuzhuo drank his wine and merely said, “Hmph. And how
is the Little Lordship doing?”
Fei Shi jabbed his fan and said, “Me? Not too bad. What has the
Eldest Young Master been doing lately? Come out for some fun!”
Looking haughty, Xue Xiuyi said, “I’m busy. Been studying
some books that are the only copy extant from the previous reign.”
Fei Shi smiled and said, “My, my. The Eldest Young Master is a
man of great talent. So why do you have time today?”
All this while, Xue Xiuyi had his side to them, as unwilling as he
was to look Pan Lin in the eye. He said, “I heard Yao Wenyu has
returned to the capital. I thought I should be able to see him here
tonight, so I came. There are some issues I need to talk to him
about.”
Pan Lin had been tolerating him for a long time. Seeing this
attitude of his, he promptly sneered and said, “Not necessarily so.
The queue of people who want to pick Yuanzhuo’s brain stretches
all the way to Hongyan Mountain in accordance with their learning
and accomplishments. It’s pointless even if the Eldest Young Master
hangs around here waiting; it’s still far from your turn!”
What Xiu Xiuyi hated the most was the others making a dig at
him for his lack of talents and shallow knowledge. He promptly set
down the wine cup and said in a frosty voice, “Fine. I’m not worthy.
But I still have a little self-awareness of my own limitations. I know
my own worth. I know whether or not I’m deserving of sitting in this
position!”
At his double-edged remark, Pan Lin abruptly rose to his feet.
Xue Xiuyi had a mean mouth, and he sneered when he saw Pan
Lin go red in the face. Instead of being enraged, he chose some
scathing remarks to throw out, “Come on, Chengzhi, take a seat.
Why? Are there nails on this chair? Everyone on this boat is looking
at you. You are basking in glory tonight—Your Pan Clan has indeed
been impressive lately, even more so than the time you had a
son!”
Pan Lin’s first wife had previously died of illness, and there were
a few times his concubines got pregnant only to suffer
miscarriages. Seeing that he was already over thirty years of age
and was still without a son, Old Madam Pan went vegetarian and
prayed to Buddha while also seeking all over for prescriptions. In
order for him to beget a son,5 she stuffed batch after batch of
women into his room, causing such a hoo-ha that everyone knew
about it and mocked Pan Lin behind his back for having an
unmentionable affliction.
Rage overwhelmed Pan Lin. He trembled and pointed at Xue
Xiuyi, so furious was he that he gasped for breath and sputtered,
“You, you… and what the hell do you think you are?! You let the
common son beneath you take charge and manage the household
affairs. You’re simply, simply… as dumb as a boorish boar!”
 Xue Xiuyi slapped the table and rose to retort, “You shut up! You
are a disgrace to the educated class! You know dogshit!”
Pan Lin countered, “You’re even worse than a beast!”
Sandwiched in the middle, Fei Shi held on to his teacup as he
was splattered with a faceful of spittle. He closed his eyes and
yelled, “What the heck?! Eldest Young Master, Chengzhi, stop
quarreling! Why ruin a good banquet—”
Xue Xiuyi said, “Don’t put me in the same category as him. He’s
not worthy. He doesn’t even deserve to carry my shoes!”
Pan Lin looked to his left and right, then picked up the teacup
and smashed it. This entire table was thrown into chaos. Fei Shi
could not stop them. Both of them showed utterly no regard for
their dignity as they tangled and fought with one another.
Xue Xiuyi stayed at home all year round. He was small-sized
and thin, and he was not skilled at fistfights and kickboxing.
Subsequently, he was shoved to the ground by Pan Lin and ended
up banging his waist hard. He repeatedly wailed, “Owow… To think
you dare to hit me, you!”
Pan Lin had nothing left to smash, so he took off his shoe and
swung it to swat it right at his face, saying, “I’m teaching you a
lesson on behalf of Old Master Xue! The hell you think you are.
Your foul mouth ought to be slapped!”
There was an uproar all around. Fei Shi dodged that shoe and
said urgently, “Stop fighting! Quick, stop it! Men, men!”
Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain and entered, his expression
growing grave. Chen Yang led the guards forth to stop them and
pulled both men apart.
Xue Xiuyi had been smacked until there were red marks on his
face. He covered his face and stretched out his leg, wanting to kick
Pan Lin. With his neck craned, he spat out hatefully, “We aren’t
done yet. This is not over!”
Pan Lin was truly a sorry sight to behold. He had come to his
senses now; he never expected to make a clown of himself in
public. Avoiding all the eyes on him and enduring his misery, he
said resolutely, “Even if I, Pan Chengzhi, were to starve to death in
the future, I’ll never sit at the same table as you, Xue Xiuyi! And
even if our Pan Clan of Dancheng were to die out, I’ll never beg
your Xue Clan for help!”
With that, Pan Lin tossed the shoe to the floor. He raised his
head, but did not look at anyone, and merely cupped his hands
before his chest to Xiao Chiye.
“I, Pan Chengzhi, will compensate Your Lordship for spoiling
Your Lordship’s fun! And I, Pan Chengzhi, will also pay you back
double for all the things I’ve smashed tonight! Not only that, I, Pan
Chengzhi, will even book this entire Kailing River for Your Lordship
to have fun! Your Lordship, I shall take my leave! I’ll come calling
on you another day to offer my apologies!”
He kicked off his other shoe too. And just like that, he stepped
over the mess on the ground in his clean socks and pushed Fei Shi
aside to make his way out.
“Your Excellency, please wait.” Xiao Chiye said in an unhurried
tone. “Chen Yang, take the Vice Minister to have a change of
clothes first.”
Fei Shi hurriedly said, “Right, right, Chengzhi! Let’s get your
clothes changed first!”
When all was said and done, Pan Lin was, after all, a noble clan
young master. What’s more, he was an authorized official of the
imperial court. He had to speak tough, but if he really had to walk
on the streets in this state, it would have been better to kill him. So,
with Chen Yang and Fei Shi urging him on, he relented and went
with them.
“Eldest Young Master.” Xiao Chiye lifted a finger to beckon Gu
Jin over. He motioned, “After you, too.”

Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin

Footnotes
1. To recap, Marquis of Helian’s daughter is Commandery
Princess Zhaoyue. The Empress Dowager once tried to
matchmake her and Xiao Chiye in chapter 46.
2. The full proverb is 吃人嘴软, 拿人手短 Literally, “The
mouth that eats the meals of others is softened; the hand
that takes the gifts of others is shortened.” When someone
gives another person something out of the blue (e.g., a gift
or a meal), they usually have something to ask. And since the
person has taken their gifts, it’d be harder to turn them
down, so they (usually) end up doing them the favor. The
closest modern adage to explain this is “there is no such
thing as a free lunch”, that is, there is nothing people will let
you take or eat (or drink) for free.
3. 世态炎凉 the fickleness and hypocrisy of society, i.e.,
people are nice to you or not depending on your success
and position.
4. Children in those days were classified according to
whether they were a child born to the principal wife or
concubines. A lawful son was born by the legal wife (this was
the wife who has been officially married into the family, also
known as the principal wife). Being the eldest of the legal
wife made him the legitimate heir. They also had higher
social status and often received better treatment compared
to the other common sons born by concubines. It’s
recommended to keep this in mind, as this will be a
recurring theme in the novel.
5. Sons were valued more than daughters in those days,
especially to carry on the family line. Those who did not have
a son (thus ending the family line with them) were deemed
unfilial, and filial piety was a big thing in those days.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 78 : INDIVIDUAL SERVINGS

Pan Lin was in a depressed state of mind as he sat on the couch

near the window after he had a change of clothes. Feeling guilty,
Fei Shi sat before him and made to speak, only to have the words
die on his lips.
“You don’t have to say a word.” Pan Lin looked out of the
window at the old but brilliantly-lit brothel courtyard. “It’s just my
bad luck to come across a lowlife like him.”
Fei Shi said, “You know he’s a lowlife who has an extremely
narrow mind. Then why get angry with someone like him?
Chengzhi, it’s not worth it.”
Pan Lin let out a self-mocking laugh and said, “Has our Pan
Clan fallen into such a sorry state? I can give up my moral integrity
had it been for the sake of a meal. But I’d rather die than to let him
mock me like this.”
Seeing how sorrowful he looked, Fei Shi knew that the social
snubbing these days had really hurt him. Although Fei Shi was a
loafer, he was pretty much a person who took it easy. He
comforted, “As long as the green hills remain, one need not fear a
lack of firewood to burn—Where there’s life, there’s hope. His
Majesty has not even issued the edict yet! Chengzhi, didn’t His
Lordship say so? His Excellency Pan is a veteran minister of three
reigns. He’d still carry some weight in His Majesty’s heart.”
On the other side, Gu Jin lifted the curtain, and Xiao Chiye bent
over to enter. Fei Shi and Pan Lin stood up together to pay their
obeisances to him.
Xiao Chiye raised his hand and said, “Gentlemen, there’s no
need to stand on ceremony. Your Excellency Pan, please take a
seat.”
Pan Lin took his seat and said to Xiao Chiye, “Not only have I
ruined Your Lordship’s fun tonight, but I’ve also held Your Lordship
up from enjoying the wine. I deserve a beating.”
Xiao Chiye did not really mind. As he sat, Gu Jin served him
tea. He took a few sips and said, “I’ve long heard of Your
Excellency’s talents, but I have never had the chance to strike up a
conversation. It could be said to be fate and luck that brought us
here tonight.”
On hearing this, Fei Shi smiled and threw Pan Lin a signal with
his eyes.
Pan Lin hurriedly bowed. Xiao Chiye motioned for him to take a
seat again and said, “I was the one who carried out the task of
dredging up the public ditches, so I know very well how it feels. The
public ditches on Donglong Street were old to begin with, having
been haphazardly dug before His Excellency Pan took up the post
of Minister of Works. There are too many points in this matter that
don’t make sense. If you ask me, the blame for the rise in water
level this time shouldn’t be pinned on His Excellency Pan.”
A surge of warmth welled up in Pan Lin’s heart. He said, “A few
years ago, my father specifically asked someone to draw up a
blueprint. But the Zhongbo troops just happened to suffer a defeat
back then, and the state treasury lacked money. The Ministry of
Revenue refused to allocate the funds, so this matter was passed
over. Who would have known… sigh!”
“To think there’s still such a thing.” Xiao Chiye covered the
teacup with the tea lid. “But Wei Huaigu didn’t mention a word
about this before the emperor. Aren’t both your families on good
terms with one another?”
Pan Lin said nothing, and Fei Shi hastened to say, “Your
Lordship, why is that Wei Huaigu is going all out to curry favors? It’s
all for the sake of being a top-league official. He endured for all
these years, finally becoming qualified enough and just in time for
the inspection this year. He’s waiting for the evaluation to be
submitted so that he can be promoted to Deputy Secretary; this is
so he can stand up to Secretariat Elder Hai as equals on the
imperial court in the future. No one expected the public ditches to
end up clogged at this juncture. Of course, he has to think of ways
to disassociate himself from it. He’s not the slightest bit willing to
shoulder the responsibility for this at all.”
“I didn’t expect him to be such a person.” Xiao Chiye looked
slightly surprised. “Having seen how the Ministry of Revenue’s
accounts these years have been clear without any glaring errors, I
initially thought that it should be Wei Huaigu’s turn for a promotion
this year. But who would have known that he would turn out to be
such a vile person who seeks personal gains this shamelessly?
What happened to His Excellency Pan is truly unfortunate.”
Hearing the hint of appreciation in his words, Fei Shi could not
resist plucking up the courage to say, “Everyone has been pretty
much closemouthed about the information lately. Your Lordship,
Chengzhi and I had asked quite a number of people, and we still
don’t know what punishment His Majesty has conveyed to the
Ministry of Justice. If His Excellency were to be sentenced… would
be he assigned out of Qudu?”
With his heart in his mouth, Pan Lin looked at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye sat tight in the chair and twiddled with his thumb
ring. Only when he had them on the edges of their seats that he
said, “It’s hard to say. His Majesty seems to me to be hesitating
too.”
Fei Shi promptly said, “As long as the imperial edict has not
been issued, there’s still a chance to turn things around. Your
Lordship is truly an official in the Son of Heaven’s inner ministerial
circle now! I hope Your Lordship can put in a few good words to His
Majesty regarding this issue.”
“I won’t put in a good word for His Excellency Pan.” Seeing both
men’s expressions change, Xiao Chiye continued unhurriedly, “I’ll
only speak the truth. His Excellency is talented and has made
contributions to the state. Even if he has made some minor
mistakes, it does not merit execution or banishment. I’ll speak to
His Majesty again when I enter the palace tomorrow. If all goes
well, the pardon should arrive at your residences within four days.”
Pan Lin was so delighted that his eyes reddened when he
stood up. He did not dare to overstep his boundary and touch Xiao
Chiye, so he could only grasp his own sleeves and fall to his knees
hard as though he was transplanting rice seedlings and said,
“Many thanks… many thanks to Your Lordship for saving our
lives!”
“Gu Jin, quick, help the Vice Minister up.” Xiao Chiye said with a
smile, “This is what I should do. There’s no need for Your Excellency
to take it to heart. When you return today, tell His Excellency Pan to
rest well. There are plenty of state and governmental affairs where
His Excellency is still needed in the future.”
Fei Shi, who was frank and outspoken, said, “If there is anything
we can do for Your Lordship in the future, please just say the word!
Chengzhi, let’s go. We have to head back and tell His Excellency
the good news!”
Pan Lin thanked him again and said to Xiao Chiye with
sincerity, “Please let me know if I can be of help to Your Lordship in
the future! Libei is too far; I’m afraid I can’t help you there. But as
long as it’s in Qudu, I, Pan Chengzhi, will definitely do my utmost as
long as Your Lordship gives the word!”
Xiao Chiye said, “There’s no need to act like a stranger.
However, you mentioned earlier that His Excellency Pan had found
someone to draw up a blueprint for the public ditches of Qudu. I
also happen to be worrying about the repairs for the public ditches.
So could I trouble you to ask His Excellency Pan if he could lend me
the blueprint for a look?”
Pan Lin said, “There’s no need to ask. I’ll send someone to
deliver it right to Your Lordship’s residence once I return home.”
Xiao Chiye comforted him some more, then watched as Gu Jin
sent them off the boat. He listened to the reed pipes music from the
pleasure boat for a moment before turning back to say to Ding Tao,
“Eat what you like. Tell the cook to go ahead and dish it up. Once
you’re done eating, prepare some sweet and spicy dishes, then get
the cook to grill some fishes carefully and have it delivered to your
Young Master Shen. Don’t alert anyone else.”
With his notebook in his bag, Ding Tao ran off. Chen Yang
came up from behind and said to Xiao Chiye in a hushed tone,
“Master, Xue Xiuyi isn’t going to stay for long inside; he’s still
waiting to see Yao Wenyu. Are we going over?”
“Yes. Of course, we are going over.” Xiao Chiye looked back
with icy cold eyes, “Xue Xiuzhuo planted a time-bomb for me in the
Quancheng silk matter. I have to give him a big gift in return. Tell
the attendants to serve a few more pots of excellent wine. This Xue
Xiuyi is of great use to us.”
◈ ◈ ◈
 The prison, which fell under the charge of Kong Qiu, was strictly
monitored, so Xi Hongxuan could not send out any information. It
was as if he was cut off from the world. The more he waited, the
more anxious he became. After waking up one night, he found
himself detained in isolation, having been swapped over to a
windowless room.
“Why is there a sudden change in place?” Because Xi
Hongxuan was obese, he could not squat down as freely as he
would like. All he could do was to bend over slightly and call out
through the gap to the warden who was delivering his food, “Bro!
Sir! At least tell me something.”
That warden paid no attention to his words and opened the
flap to push the rancid rice and leftover soup in. Then he picked up
the tray and left.
“Ay, buddy, please hold it!” Xi Hongxuan raised his voice. “I still
have some silver in my pocket. Looking at how hard you’ve been
working these few days, why not take it to buy some wine?
Consider it my show of respect1 to you!”
The warden turned back and spat a mouthful of saliva at him.
Snubbed, Xi Hongxuan sat on the straw mat in a daze without
even taking his meal. He could not even sleep well these few days
he had been waiting. He thought it over from different angles, but
he did not where it had all gone wrong. The more time lapsed, the
more uncertain he felt. This taste of being subjected to the whims
of another was simply too hard to take.
This room was damp, with no ducts for ventilation and no
windows to let in light. Xi Hongxuan would usually find it tough to
sleep even on bamboo mats, and now, it was even more of a
torture for him. Eczema had broken out on his back again, and he
could not reach it even if he wanted to scratch.
Later, Xi Hongxuan heard a movement at the entrance. The
door creaked open, and Shen Zechuan strode in. Behind him, Qiao
Tianya, who was disguised as a stoic-faced youth, lit the lamp.
Xi Hongxuan struggled to move his legs and said, “What’s
going on? Why am I locked up here? Is this Kong Qiu’s idea? I’ve
never heard of there being such a room in prison!”
 “You are not a long-staying convict of the prison, so it’s only
right that you don’t know about this place.” Shen Zechuan pulled
off his cloak and handed it to Qiao Tianya, then said to Xi
Hongxuan, “The food here is not fit for human consumption. I’ve
specially prepared some dishes. Eat some, and we’ll talk.”
With the cloak hanging over one of his hands, Qiao Tianya
opened up the food box with his other hand and served up the
delicacies they had bought earlier on the way here.
Xi Hongxuan sat on the straw mat and watched Qiao Tianya’s
movements in silence when he suddenly let out a laugh. His
expression quickly cooled off, and he said, “This looks like a
farewell dinner.”
“This case doesn’t merit a death sentence, so why scare
yourself?” Shen Zechuan sat down on the bench that Qiao Tianya
had dusted clean. When he noticed that Xi Hongxuan had not
moved his chopsticks, he got Qiao Tianya to take out another pair
of chopsticks. Then, he picked a few dishes to eat before sampling
a mouthful of wine.
It was only then Xi Hongxuan moved his chopsticks.
Shen Zechuan set down the chopsticks and looked at him. He
said with a smile, “We are brothers. Do you have to be so tightly
guarded against me?”
Xi Hongxuan picked out the steamed twisted roll and gobbled
them down. It was only after his hunger subsided that he said,
“Times are special. If you were in my shoe, won’t you act the same
way? How did that matter go? Have you seen Xi Dan?”
Shen Zechuan finished up the wine in his cup and nodded to
Qiao Tianya. Qiao Tianya opened the door and led the man in.
“Second Young Master!” Xi Dan pounced in. When he saw Xi
Hongxuan, he lowered his head and wept, “You have suffered!”
Steadying his hand, Xi Hongxuan drank up the last drop of
wine and said, “Get up! Don’t make a fool of yourself! It’s not the
time for me to meet my maker yet!”
Wiping his face, Xi Dan said, “During these few days when the
Second Young Master was not at home, I’ve already informed the
shopkeepers of the various areas to manage their accounts
carefully. I wouldn’t dare to let them mess up. But you’re the pillar of
the clan. We still need you to take charge of the affairs personally.”
Xi Hongxuan ate his dishes in silence. After a long while, he
said, “Tell me the situation out there.”
Xi Dan replied, “His Majesty wants to pursue responsibility for
the matter, and both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of
Works do not want to shoulder the blame. At present, Pan Xiangjie
has already been suspended, and he has already received a
flogging. Seeing as the situation did not bode well, I went to plead
with His Excellency Xue, but he was too busy with his official duties
that I did not manage to get to see him at all!”
“Yanqing did not see you?” Xi Hongxuan suddenly threw his
chopsticks away and looked at Xi Dan with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Are you telling the truth?”
On seeing his disbelief, Xi Dan hurriedly said, “Second Young
Master, how can this be falsified? All you have to do is to ask when
you are released to find out the truth, isn’t it? How do I dare to
hoodwink you when it comes to such matters?! Doesn’t this
coincide with His Majesty’s issuance of general amnesty? The Court
of Judicial Review is going to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice
to leaf through all the past old cases. His Excellency Xue has to go
through the files with Kong Qiu and the others. I don’t dare to
block his sedan chair either, and that’s why I never got a chance to
meet him.”
It was only when Xi Dan explained it in this way that Xi
Hongxuan more or less believed him. He said, “What rotten luck to
be framed at this kind of timing… Lanzhou, exactly who instigated
His Majesty to leave the palace? Is there still no update from the
palace regarding this matter?”
“There are only so many people around His Majesty, so just
throw out a guess.” Shen Zechuan said. “But it’s obvious His Majesty
is reluctant to investigate. He’s clearly of the mind to protect the
other party.”
“Mu Ru is the only one who can make His Majesty protect her to
such an extent.” Xi Hongxuan clenched his fists. “Bitch is ruthless.
There must be a reason for her to do so. You have to be careful…
She’d better not be pregnant with an imperial heir and eyeing the
throne to rule behind the screen!”2
“Since she is in Xue Xiuzhuo’s camp, I doubt she will conceive
that easily.” Once again, Shen Zechuan brought up the past. “It was
also Xue Xiuzhuo’s idea for you to transfer to the Bureau of
Evaluations. If it’s indeed the case that Mu Ru wanted to harm
you… I can no longer get what Xue Xiuzhuo is thinking.”
On the day Xi Hongxuan abducted Qi Huilian, Shen Zechuan
had also mentioned that it was Xue Xiuzhuo’s idea for him to enter
the Bureau of Evaluations. Now that he had brought it up again half
a month later, the implication of his words had taken on a different
undertone.
Xi Hongxuan pondered it over for a while, then said, “Let’s
leave these matters aside for the time being. Lanzhou, the priority is
to get me out of here. What did Wei Huaigu say? How much does
he want? I’ll give him!”
Shen Zechuan extended four fingers.
Xi Hongxuan said, “400,000?”
Shen Zechuan did not move.
Xi Hongxuan propped himself up on the table and stood up.
He exclaimed, “4,000,000?!”
The dishes and bowls on the table collided. Xi Hongxuan’s
expression under the lamp gradually grew savage. He flung the
wine cup without warning and seethed, “Good one there, Wei
Huaigu… Well-played, the Wei Clan! So, four million…”
He began to laugh grimly.
“This is the total military expenditure of Dazhou; it’s almost as
much as the cost of rebuilding Zhongbo! So much money. Fuck.
How’s he going to get it? That’s truly a real mountain of silver. It
would take half a year just to transport it separately from the west!
And it’ll also cost money to bribe the various passes and
checkpoints during this period of time when the money is being
escorted across territories! Even if the money makes its way to
Qudu, where is he going to store it? There’s simply no way to hide
this much money!”
“What he is doing now is ripping you off by making such an
exorbitant demand, so why would he care that much? The Imperial
Bodyguards have just gotten the news that the Wei Clan indeed
has their eyes on Zhongbo. Think about it. Wei Huaigu currently has
the Ministry of Revenue in his grasp. If he manages to take down
the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo, then this sum of money would be
really used on military expenses. By the time the Wei Clan has their
own troops, and… with the Empress Dowager… then the Xi Clan
would be at their mercy.”
Xi Hongxuan suddenly turned his head to look at Shen
Zechuan, “When you advised me to join forces with them back
then, have you ever thought that this would happen today?
Lanzhou! These people are all wolves and tigers; they are all
insatiably greedy. The moment they have us in their hands, then
you and I will never be able to get back on our feet again in this
lifetime!”
“Back then, when I advised you to join forces with them and
kick out the Yao Clan, you hesitated. The Yao Clan was initially a
good target for you to punish as a warning to others. You missed
the chance, so the situation today is only to be expected. Xi
Hongxuan, if you don’t kick them, then they will think of ways to
boot you out.” As if lamenting, Shen Zechuan said, “This situation is
ever so fast-changing. It’s no longer the same as it was decades
ago when everyone could still talk reason to one another. The Eight
Great Clans is such that one clan rises when another falls. It’s
wearing down from within. You should have long swallowed up the
others and declare yourself king.”
Xi Hongxuan’s breathing quickened slightly. At this very
moment, he regretted his inaction. His palms were drenched in
sweat as he faced the flickering candlelight and said, “Lanzhou…
When I get out this time, I’ll heed your advice in all future plans!
Since it has already come to this now, we have to think of a way first
to get those four million…”
“Four million is still too much.” Shen Zechuan said. “There’s
simply no way for that much money passing through Juexi to
escape Jiang Qingshan’s eyes. Wait a little longer. I’m going to
negotiate with Wei Huaigu.”
At this point, there was no other choice but to wait. Holding
himself back, Xi Hongxuan said, “It’d be best to hurry. The situation
in the imperial court changes too fast. What’s more, His Majesty is
indecisive and doesn’t have a mind on his own. If Xiao the Second
or Mu Ru were to coax and win him over, then it’ll really be too
late.”
It was inadvisable for Shen Zechuan to stay too long. As he put
on his cloak, he asked, as if offhandedly, “Oh, right. You are in
prison, then what about Qi Huilian? He’s important too, so don’t let
anyone see him.”
Xi Hongxuan was about to say something, but he changed his
mind in a split second. He softened his voice as he said to Shen
Zechuan, “Don’t you worry. Qi Huilian will not starve to death. I’ve
found someone to watch over him. It’s just that the place is well-
concealed. I’ll return him to you when I get out of here.”
It was under this dim light that Shen Zechuan partially turned
his head back with a hint of a smile in the uplifted corners of his
eyes. As he secured his cloak, he softly said, “Sure.”
A cold draft of wind slipped in through the crack between the
door, causing the hairs on Xi Hongxuan to stand on ends. He
rubbed his arms, wanting to say a few words more to reassure him,
but Shen Zechuan had already stridden out of the door.

Footnotes
1. 孝敬 literally showing respect and filial piety, but it also
refers to bribes.
2. 垂帘听政 literally to hold court behind a screen or curtain.
A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or Empress
dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial court
without actually being seen by her subjects since women
were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by
a child emperor’s mother, who would serve as regent and
rule in place of the Emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 79 : CLUES

Translated with: Eggy<3

A cacophony of human voices hung over Kailing River. Xue

Xiuyi sat cross-legged on the couch, cracking peanut shells and
drinking wine. When Xiao Chiye entered, he hurriedly brushed his
robe clean and got off the couch to pay his obeisances to Xiao
Chiye.
Xiao Chiye sat directly opposite Xue Xiuyi, and Chen Yang
came over to pour wine. Xue Xiuyi placed his fingers at the sides of
his legs and subconsciously rubbed them on his robe to wipe his
hands. At the same time, he said, “That’s enough, that’s enough…
Your Lordship, too much of this wine is bad for your health!”
Holding the cup, Xiao Chiye said to him with a smile, “The
Eldest Young Master is quite meticulous. You must be diligent in
keeping yourself in good health back in your residence, right?”
“Only a little.” Xue Xiuyi did not dare to take his seat without
explicit permission. He was short and small-sized to begin with,
and hunching over to Xiao Chiye in a bow made him look even
more humble and lowly.
Xiao Chiye cordially said, “Please sit. I’ll still have the Eldest
Young Master’s advice to seek.”
With his backside at the edge of the couch, Xue Xiuyi said, “I
wouldn’t dare to be so presumptuous as to offer advice.”
Xiao Chiye noted from Xue Xiuyi’s appearance that the latter
was clearly poles apart from Xue Xiuzhuo. For Xue Xiuzhuo to have
to submit to such an elder brother, it was only natural for him to be
unable to take it lying down.
“It has been a while since I last saw His Excellency Yanqing.”
Xiao Chiye drank his wine. “I heard that he has been busy
investigating cases with Minister Kong. It has been hard on him.”
“It’s only because the Secretariat Elder has promoted him that
he’s basking in glory now.” Xiu Xiuyu had long disliked Xue
Xiuzhuo. He had been making things difficult in all kinds of ways
possible for this younger common-born brother of his, but a pity
Xue Xiuzhuo had always been like a cotton that cushioned all his
damages and made all his efforts come to naught.
“He’s the Eldest Young Master’s younger brother of common
birth. According to customs, the one leading the way to join the
ranks of officials in the imperial court should be the Eldest Young
Master. So why is it the other way round in your household?”
Xue Xiuyi accepted the wine, not daring to refuse it. He had
already lost his sense of propriety after downing a few cups and
was now feeling the earth spinning at his feet. At Xiao Chiye’s
question, he gripped the cup and said with a snort, “Well, he has
the capability, no? Your Lordship doesn’t know it, but he has always
been one since young to ingratiate himself with men in power for
personal gains. He’s a shrewd and deep one! There was heavy
snow in the year he was born. When the time came for him to be
named with the generation name1 ‘xiu’, he was supposed to be
named ‘gui’, but a Daoist priest predicted that he would meet an
extremely distinguished benefactor in his life, and calling him by
this name would instead prove to be adverse. His birth mother,
who was a resourceful woman, fawned upon our Old Master in all
ways possible, pleading for him to be named with a ‘zhuo’ instead.
As in, cultivation of virtues and outstanding capabilities,2 with the
courtesy name 3 Yanqing. He sure has a charmed life…”
Xue Xiuyi’s eyes dimmed when he spoke to this point.
Xiao Chiye comforted him. “Eldest Young Master, why contend
with him? You are the eldest lawful son of the Xue Clan; you are
way more esteemed than him.”4
His words hit right at Xue Xiuyi’s sore point, making him feel
stifled. Sure enough, Xue Xiuyi set down his cup and let out a long
sigh.
“Your Lordship…” Xue Xiuyi was already drunk, and
subsequently, he grew bolder. “You are the second son of lawful
birth of the Prince of Libei. There is no one of common birth to pose
as a threat to you, so you are unaware of the specifics. People like
us fear having a capable younger brother of common birth back at
home. He’s of lowly birth, yet he’s a notch above me. Whether it’s at
home or out there, who doesn’t praise him to the skies? What is
this? How am I supposed to live with this? Look at the Eight Great
Clans. Which of them has a descendant of common birth as the
head of the clan? How is it that only our Xue Clan has produced a
Xue Xiuzhuo?!”
It was all because of his own selfish desires that he detested
Xue Xiuzhuo this much. But then, it was also precisely all because of
Xue Xiuzhuo that the Xue Clan was able to make a comeback and
secure its position among the Eight Great Clans. Just the heirs born
to the principal wives in the Xue Clan alone numbered in the
hundreds, all of which took on the label of being a “lawful son”.
Beneath them, there were also countless common sons born by the
concubines. All the momentous family occasions such as marriages
and funerals, monthly salaries and monetary rewards, expenses for
living in separate residences, as well as taxes and costs for the
country estates, came from the Xue Clan’s coffers and assets.
Initially, Old Master Xue planned to support Xue Xiuyi and let
this eldest son of lawful birth of his take charge of the household as
well as manage the family affairs. But the latter was either
engrossed with cultivating the way of immortality or lavishing
money on undeserving imposters and swindlers. It was just like
what the Empress Dowager had said in the beginning. The
descendants of the current Xue generation were all worthless
good-for-nothings. Other than Xue Xiuzhuo, who was of common
birth, there was no one else worthy of notice.
At present, Xue Xiuzhuo was the Court of Judicial Review
Assistant Minister. At the same time, he was also the head of the
Xue Clan. In these few years, he managed to put a stop to the
downward decline of the Xue Clan and secured its position among
the noble clans. He had plenty of brothers at home who simply
loafed around and contributed nothing, and he still had both
paternal and maternal uncles up there who devised schemes all
day to cheat the clan out of money. All of them lived off Xue
Xiuzhuo even as they spat at him, shamelessly seeking personal
gains on the sly while cursing him for being of too lowly a birth.
Xiao Chiye was perfectly well aware of this. He had the same
thinking as Shen Zechuan, and that was, if not for their uncertainty
in where Xue Xiuzhuo stood since he had all along been hiding
behind the noble clans, then they, valuing talents, would have been
willing to pull this person over to their side. The Quancheng silk
incident was the key.; it obscured Shen Zechuan’s vision of Xue
Xiuzhuo, turning him into a person they must guard against—A man
who was so astute and shrewd to the extent that he had already
planted hundreds of thousands of threads of puppet strings as a
precaution for future planning long before everything happened
was no doubt someone who would not easily put himself at the
disposal of another.
When Xiao Chiye, who was stroking his wine cup, thought to
this point, he said, “As long as you are human, there will be times
you will be down on your luck. There’s no need for the Eldest
Young Master to be too anxious over this. He seems to me to be
doing a pretty good job of attending to official duties at the
Secretariat Elder and Minister Kong’s side. And he typically doesn’t
go drinking or fool around with the other; he’s a decent person
who knows his place.”
Xue Xiuyi immediately got all worked up. His wine-induced
hiccups persisted, and he covered his nose and mouth for a
moment to compose himself before he impatiently said, “That’s all
just an act! Your Lordship, you know of the Twin Flowers on
Donglong Street, right? That’s Ouhua Pavilion and Xiangyun Villa!
A few years back, Xue Xiuzhuo bought a batch of people from
Xiangyun villa and hid them in the residence to groom!”
Xiao Chiye suddenly smelled something fishy when he heard
Xiangyun Villa mentioned. His gaze sharpened as he repeated in a
lowered voice, “He bought people from Xiangyun Villa?”
“He did!” Xiu Xiuyi extended his fingers. “He bought over ten…
boys… and girls… all from Xiangyun Villa!”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye rose and said, “Chen
Yang, keep Eldest Young Master company. I think it’s about time for
Yao Wenyu to arrive. I’ll go welcome him.”
The moment Xue Xiuyi heard Yao Wenyu’s name, he sat upright
and repeatedly stated his agreement, not daring to pester or
bother him further.
 As soon as Xiao Chiye stepped out of the door, he shouted, “Gu
Jin!”
Gu Jin dropped down from above, got down on one knee, and
said, “Second Young Master!”
Xiao Chiye questioned, “How did you not find out Xiangyun
sold over ten people to the Xue Clan when I told you to investigate
Xiangyun Villa earlier?”
Stunned, Gu Jin did not dare to raise his head and promptly
said, “I beseech Young Master to punish me!”
In the previous assassination case, Xiangyun switched sides
and provided falsified evidence of Xiao Chiye accepting bribes.
This matter was fishy. Their investigations to this date threw up no
clues as to why Xiangyun suddenly threw in her lot with the noble
clans. Xue Xiuzhuo was no womanizer or lecher, so exactly what
secret was there in his buying of so many people from Xiangyun
Villa and taking them back to his residence to hide without so
much a word of it all this while?
Shen Zechuan was right.
Even if Xue Xiuzhuo had nothing to do with it, he had already
appeared in every single incident ever since the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds episode, perhaps even before the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds incident.
“Of course, you should be punished. You have drunk quite the
volume of wine ever since you came to the capital. Have you drunk
yourself so drunk that even those eagle eyes of yours now have
gone blind? No doubt you ought to be heavily punished for your
incompetence and dereliction of duty. Go on your own to ask Chen
Yang for a whipping!”
Gu Jin started sweating profusely.
Xiao Chiye handed Gu Jin’s this job because he appreciated Gu
Jin’s meticulousness in his work, and Gu Jin was also the most
skilled in conducting searches. As a former scout in the Libei
Armored Cavalry, he had never made such an oversight. Xiao
Chiye was right. He had stayed in Qudu for so long that he even
dared to take his assignments lightly.
“I give you two days to run another check. Get to the bottom of
the number of people Xiangyun sold to Xue Xiuzhuo, their names,
places of origins and ages, and even who their parents and distant
relatives are.” Xiao Chiye strode past him and said in a frosty tone,
“Make another oversight, and you need not remain in this position
anymore.”
Gu Jin said nothing and kowtowed, then he rose to his feet and
headed for Xiangyun Villa.
Chen Yang, having gotten freed up, came out and saw Xiao
Chiye’s displeased expression. Thus, he said, “Master, Xue Xiuyi is
taking a rest now.”
“Get someone to send him back tomorrow morning.” Xiao
Chiye turned back to cast a glance inside. “There is a set of rare
books that are the only extant copies in the Plum Blossom
Residence. Give it to him when you send him away tomorrow
morning.”
Chen Yang reminded him. “Those are the Yao Clan’s collection
of books. Should we inform Young Master Yao?”
“Yao Wenyu sold the Plum Blossom Residence to me, that
means he has already decided that he doesn’t want them
anymore. For most part of the year, he’s out there traveling and
living in foreign lands. He doesn’t care for these.” Xiao Chiye had
drunk a large amount of wine this night, yet he did not seem to be
drunk. He tossed aside the handkerchief he used to wipe his
hands. “Besides, even if he returned to the capital, he’s so elusive
that it’s hard to get hold or even catch a glimpse of him. He will
definitely not attend a banquet like this. This is not an easy man to
invite.”
“Had it not been for the fact that Young Master Yao didn’t join
the ranks of officials in the imperial court, I’m afraid Xue Xiuzhuo
would not even have the chance to shine today.”
Still looking displeased, Xiao Chiye said, “The turbulence of
politics cannot be equated with the engagement of academia. Yao
Wenyu may not necessarily do better than Xue Xiuzhuo. These two
are interesting; they are opposites in every way.”
“When all is said and done, he’s Secretariat Elder Hai’s student.
If Xue Xiuzhuo is a traveler of the secular world, then Young Master
Yao is an immortal who transcends the mundane world.” Chen
Yang pondered it over. “But looking at Secretariat Elder Hai, he
cherishes Young Master Yao more.”
“That’s right. Hai Liangyi imparts his knowledge to Yao Wenyu
without reservation. He did not hesitate to break his original beliefs
and overlook the noble clans’ prejudice to accept him as his
student. This alone is enough to see how much he values him. Xue
Xiuzhuo’s political achievements all these years are decent, yet Hai
Liangyi still would not give him the dignity of being real teacher
and pupil. What’s more, Hai Liangyi does not have the slightest
intent all these years to force Yao Wenyu to serve as an official.
Yuanzhuo, Yuanzhuo. It was out of fatherly love that Hai Liangyi
bestowed this courtesy name on Yao Wenyu back then. The
closeness of a teacher and pupil whose relationship has already
reached that extent is already something no one else can compete
with.” Xiao Chiye said, “Yao Wenyu is a legitimate noble young
master of a noble clan. Going by their way of thinking, Yao Wenyu
is even more legitimate than those so-called ‘legitimate di
descendants’ of the Pan, Fei, and Xue Clans. The Yao Clan is
honorable and distinguished. Even the ladies of the Hua Clan
would find it hard to marry into the Yao Clan in the past. Mountains
of gold and silvers are, to him, not that much of a rarity as a bowl of
wild herbs.”
Chen Yang had not seen Yao Wenyu that many times. When he
bought the residence, he only had a brief encounter with him once.
He remembered the latter as a scholar with a zhaowen bag5 on
him, one who did not like to ride horses or sit in sedans, and
instead kept a donkey.
“Is Ding Tao back?” Xiao Chiye suddenly asked.
Chen Yang said, “… He hasn’t left yet.”
“Let him play.” Xiao Chiye strode into his own house and
removed the brocade robe on him to replace with a set of ordinary
clothes. “At this point in the banquet, I should have already drunk
with all those whom I ought to keep company. There’s still some
spare time before daybreak. I’ll be back soon.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan stepped out of the alleyway, and Xi Dan
followed after him from behind. Xi Dan did not dare to overtake
Shen Zechuan and simply stood behind him as he waited for
orders with his head lowered.
Unexpectedly enough, Shen Zechuan was gentle. After turning
around to look at him for some time, he said, “You spoke well
tonight.”
Xi Dan quickly bowed and replied, “It is this lowly one’s
greatest aspiration to help Your Excellency with your frustrations
and difficulties.”
“But Xi Hongxuan is suspicious by nature; it’s not possible to
trick him out of real money with only a few words.” Shen Zechuan
commented. “Are you fully aware of his businesses across the
various lands?”
Xi Dan said, “Yes, yes, I am! His accounts, whether big or small,
would always be sent to his residence in Qudu every month. The
sixty-eight shopkeepers under him are all sons of domestic slaves;
the parents, wives, and children of these people are all in his grasp.
They were raised specifically for the purpose of managing his
accounts. There is no way to hide any big or small goings-on in the
storefronts from his eyes; he knows the score. And that’s why there
has never been a problem in his business empire all these years.”
Shen Zechuan then replied, “If Xi Hongxuan wants to withdraw
these four million, he has to brief you to take the money from the
money vault and hand you the key to open the vault door. I only
want to ask: how will this money be transferred?”
Xi Dan silently made some mental notes and said after a while,
“There is, in fact, a huge risk when traveling on land. When
escorting the money carts, cargos are needed as a front to conceal
the silvers. This is four million we are talking about. Without a
business with a long history to serve as the cover, then Jiang
Qingshan, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi,
would be able to see through it right away. Moreover, Your
Excellency, if we travel by land, then we must first bypass the
thirteen cities of Juexi, as well as Dicheng. These are all difficult
checkpoints to pass. Most importantly, Xi Hongxuan is right; there
is no place to conceal this sum of money in Qudu at all.”
These were silver ingots and not paper bills. Even if one had
vacant a quarter to keep them hidden, there was no knowing
whether it would be able to accommodate all four millions of them.
Then, there was also the headache of spending this money once
he had the money in hand.
Shen Zechuan pondered as he looked into the night, then said,
“This sum will not enter Qudu.”
Xi Dan did not dare to make a sound.
Sure enough, Shen Zechuan continued after some time, “The
shipment is subjected to inspections by Juexi whether it is
transported by land or by sea. Four million is too great of a sum.
Even if we are thorough in our planning to keep a tight lid on this
matter and hide the shipment from the prying eyes, those who
carry out the orders won’t necessarily do a good job of the same.
It’s also pointless if the money can’t be spent when it comes in. And
so, this money won’t reach Qudu.”
Trying to figure out what Shen Zechuan was thinking, Xi Dan
tentatively probed, “What Your Excellency means… is to trick the
money out of him, keep it there, and circulate it through trading?”
“One half of it will be handed to you to do just that,” Shen
Zechuan said, “I’ll come up with something for the other half. Be
prepared. The Xi Clan’s business is extensive, and they can’t do
without a manager. When Xi Hongxuan falls, you’ll be the next in
the line.”
Xi Dan quickly answered in agreement.
Without another word more, Shen Zechuan climbed into the
horse carriage and parted with Xi Dan for the time being. He still
had to return to the imperial prison to review the files of all cold
cases within the last two decades to infer some clues from them.
He did not even have the time to go home and sleep.
The horse carriage reached the Imperial Prison. Ge Qingqing,
who was on night patrol, had long since opened the gates to wait
for Qiao Tianya to drive in.
When Shen Zechuan stepped off the carriage, Ge Qingqing
came closer and whispered, “His Lordship the Marquis is here.”
Shen Zechuan unclasped his outer cloak and stepped onto the
front porch. He nodded towards Ge Qingqing, who then took his
leave. Shen Zechuan pulled off his cloak and hanged it on his arm
as he pushed open the door.
 Xiao Chiye, having drunk wine, could not rid himself of the
scent of wine even after he had a change of clothes. He slumped
on Shen Zechuan’s chair, with an opened book covering his face.
When he heard the sound, he lifted the book but did not move.
“Come sit here.” Xiao Chiye tossed the book onto the table.
Shen Zechuan shut the door. He hung his outer cloak on the
clothes rack and undid the clasps on his clothes in passing.
Meeting Xiao Chiye’s gaze, he swung one of his legs over Xiao
Chiye’s thighs, coming face-to-face with him before suddenly
drawing even closer to him. Xiao Chiye reached out to wrap his
arms around Shen Zechuan’s lower back, and their delicate lips
met as they first kissed to their hearts’ content.

Footnotes
1. 字辈 generation name, where each member of the same
generation (i.e., siblings and paternal cousins of the same
generation) share a common syllable. In the Xue Clan, this
character is “Xiu” for Xiuyi and Xiuzhuo’s generation.
2. 修德卓能 literally cultivation of virtues and outstanding
capabilities, the first and third characters are the characters
used in the name Xiuzhuo (修卓)
3. 字 A literary name or courtesy name , also known as a
style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in
addition to one’s given name.
4. Children in those days were classified according to
whether they were a child born to the principal wife or
concubines. A lawful son was born by the legal wife (this was
the wife who has been officially married into the family, also
known as the principal wife). Being the eldest of the legal
wife made him the legitimate heir. They also had higher
social status and often received better treatment compared
to the other common sons born by concubines. It’s
recommended to keep this in mind, as this will be a
recurring theme in the novel.
5. 招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 80 : BETROTHAL GIFT

Translated with: Eggy<3

This bout of sparring lasted a long time, pushing their satiety

level to an even greater height until it became an insatiable desire
for more after they had taken their first taste of the forbidden fruit.
They were used to testing each other’s limit in the dark. As their
love grew increasingly deeper, a mere kiss was no longer able to
fill their hunger. Desire, in its prime, laid bare at its rawest. Such a
cloyingly sweet and clingy intimacy was a unique treat distinct to
lovers, simply because it was a luxury to be in each other’s
company at all times. Since there were many eyes and ears inside
the Imperial Prison, a kiss could only be considered a kind of tacit
compensation between them.
When it was time to end the kiss, Xiao Chiye asked, “Where did
you go?”
As Shen Zechuan eased into his seated position, his thighs
ground against the sides of Xiao Chiye’s legs. He took his time
slowing down his breathing. With a hint of veiled seduction in his
half-lidded eyes, he replied, “Counting money.”
Xiao Chiye squeezed him and said, “Did you get off on
counting money?”
Shen Zechuan let out a husky laugh. “Getting off from being
squeezed by you.”
At Shen Zechuan’s laugh, Xiao Chiye felt restless. He grabbed
Shen Zechuan’s chin to hold it in place and said, “Keep going with
this seduction of yours.”
Shen Zechuan’s collarbone was peeking out from his undone
collars, and the brutal bite marks from the last time had yet to fade.
Paying them no mind, Shen Zechuan wetted his bitten lips and
said, “I have to discuss something with you.”
Xiao Chiye held him up and said, “What a coincidence. I have
something to discuss with you too.”
 Shen Zechuan was so scalded by Xiao Chiye’s gaze that his
mouth felt dry and parched. He said, “The military supplies this
year have to wait until April before they can be dispatched from
Juexi. I need to borrow and use the Northeast Provisions Bridle
Path.”
Xiao Chiye only had to think for a little to know what he was up
to. “The military supplies passing through the Northeast Provisions
Bridle Path are personally escorted by the Libei Armored Cavalry
themselves. There are no inspection checkpoints along the way.
You can use it to transport the silvers, but it’s all subjected to my
elder brother’s approval.”
“If this money belongs to me, the Hereditary Prince naturally
won’t agree to it. But if this sum of money is yours, the Hereditary
Prince will surely agree.” Shen Zechuan raised his chin slightly.
“Here is my betrothal gift. Keep it for me, Second Young Master.”
“Only this much as a betrothal gift?” Xiao Chiye laughed as he
freed up one hand to place the meal box on the table. “A tough
deal.”
Shen Zechuan sniffed and said, “There’s grilled fish.”
With that, he promptly forgot about the betrothal gift and
pulled out chopsticks inside the box. It was in this way that Xiao
Chiye watched as he ate. In a blink of an eye, the bowl of rice was
half gone, and there were only bones left of the fish when it
returned to the plate.
Xiao Chiye actually did not like eating fish. He had lost his
mother when he was young, and his household was not one to
spoil its children, unlike how the Eight Great Clans pampered their
offspring. Although he had a nanny and maidservants to wait upon
him, he had to feed himself once he had learned how to hold the
chopsticks. He was headstrong, and there were plenty of toys he
loved to play with, so he did not care to waste his time picking out
the fish bones. After getting choked on it enough times, he hardly
ate it anymore.
Xiao Chiye looked at him and said, “Does it smell good?
Apparently, it’s from a chef from Hezhou, who is even harder to hire
than the imperial chefs from the palace.” Shen Zechuan picked out
the fish bones and fed Xiao Chiye the meat with his chopsticks.
Xiao Chiye tasted it and commented, “Passable.”
Having eaten his fill, Shen Zechuan set down his bowl and
chopsticks and said, “What do you want to discuss with me?”
Xiao Chiye handed him a handkerchief and said, “The earlier
investigation into Xiangyun missed one piece of information. A few
years earlier, Xue Xiuzhuo bought a batch of people from Xiangyun
Villa and kept them in his residence. I’m afraid even Xi Hongxuan
doesn’t know about this matter.”
As expected, there was a shift in Shen Zechuan’s expression. He
said, “He’s not one to keep and raise prostitutes in private. This kind
of thing is also almost unheard of in Ouhua Pavilion. This action is
too abnormal.”
“That’s right. It’s abnormal.” Xiao Chiye leaned back against the
back of the chair. “I have a hunch that the reason Xiangyun made a
false charge against me lies here.”
“He bought them a few years back.” Shen Zechuan gradually
furrowed his brows. “If it was truly to get Xiangyun under his
control, then this move was planned much too early.”
“Why would Xiangyun fall under his control because of this?
Some pawns, if planted too early, would not necessarily be able to
stand up to the test of time. I feel that he’s not making such a move
just to get a handle against Xiangyun.” Xiao Chiye sorted out his
line of thought. “Your plotting of the assassination is not something
he would be able to predict in advance. So the subsequent post-
developments would definitely be hard for him to guard against.”
Xiao Chiye groped around these messy threads of clues, one at
a time. His wolf-like intuition told him that this matter would not be
that simple.
“Improvision.” Shen Zechuan suddenly righted Xiao Chiye’s
face and said, “You are right. The puppet string connected to
Xiangyun was not specifically intended to be used for dealing with
you… Xiangyun’s act of perjury was simply an opportunity he
seized for his own purpose. The fact that he could simply throw out
Xiangyun to use shows that Xiangyun is of little significance to him.
There is another reason he bought those people, and Xiangyun is
merely a convenient pawn that incidentally came with this reason.
What’s more, she’s a pawn he can’t wait to discard.”
“Then, the key to his purchase of those people is…” Xiao Chiye
was on the same wavelength.
“… among the batch of people he bought.” Shen Zechuan
completed his sentence softly.
Both men looked at each other, caught yet again in another
puzzle of unknowns. Xiangyun Villa was a brothel. What person
could there be in a brothel who would be of great importance to
Xue Xiuzhuo?
“He bought over ten people to obscure the truth and throw
everyone off scent so that no one can tell who exactly was his
intended purchase. No doubt Xiangyun herself doesn’t know the
answer either.” Xiao Chiye said. “I have to get Xue Xiuyi to probe
into this matter again. His status in the Xue Residence would allow
him free access to the residence. Xue Xiuzhou might be able to
obstruct and deny entry to outsiders, but he definitely can’t do that
to Xue Xiuyi.”
This piece of information was indeed important, but Shen
Zechuan could not figure it out at present. He had maneuvered Xi
Hongxuan into action this time also because he had apprehensions
about Xue Xiuzhuo, who similarly had Xi Hongxuan in his grasp.
Instead of becoming more distinct and decipherable with the
passage of time, this person had, on the contrary, became
increasingly obscure and unreadable.
“… There’s still time.” Shen Zechuan seemed to be thinking
aloud to himself. “We will be thrown off kilter the moment we get
overly anxious, and that could easily put us in a disadvantageous
position. Since he has not made his move, then it means it’s not
time yet, and this is an opportunity we can exploit. At this time, we
are the ones hiding in the dark, while he’s out there in the open.
We will definitely learn some crucial information if we follow the
clues… Xi Hongxuan has always been on friendly terms with Xue
Xiuzhuo all these years. Even if he’s unaware of Xiu Xiuzhuo’s
purchases of those prostitutes, there will still be something he
knows that others don’t. I’ll probe him again later.”
 “After saying so much, you still haven’t let this Second Young
Master in on the details,” Xiao Chiye did not let him get off him.
“How much silver did you swindle from him?”
Shen Zechuan snapped out of his thoughts and pursed his lips
slightly. He raised four fingers, just like he had done so before.
Xiao Chiye immediately grasped those fingertips tight without
demur. “Sweet. Worth it. Put it down as your betrothal gift, quick.”
Shen Zechuan said, “You should act with a little more reserve
instead of jumping at it. Four million is too little still.”
Xiao Chiye said, “It’s too generous. A starting price at four
million? For someone who can make this much money as you do,
this Second Young Master will take whatever price you offer.”
Amused by him, Shen Zechuan said, “I told him that Wei
Huaigu wanted four million silvers. There was not the slightest bit of
hesitation or reluctance on his part at all, which shows that four
million is simply a drop in the ocean to the Xi Clan.”
Seeing how happy he was tonight, Xiao Chiye made no further
mention of Xue Xiuzhuo’s matter. He jerked his legs to jolt him and
said, “Only the Xi Clan themselves know precisely how much
money the Xi Clan has. All the others can only see are the salterns
and copper mines they operate. The extent of their enterprise isn’t
just limited to the whole empire, but also stretches as far as the
foreign lands. The common rich young masters play by hitting the
brothels and the gambling dens, but Xi Hongxuan’s idea of fun is
to run brothels and gambling dens. That broker house on
Donglong Street is also his shop, and its internal dealings implicate
plenty of imperial court bigwigs, all of whom have fields and
businesses at stake in his hands, so they have no choice but to give
him face. This time, it’s four million, but how much will it be the next
time? The Northeast Provisions Bridle Path is only opened twice
every year. How to hide and spend that much silver are all issues
you have to think through very carefully.”
“No one has ever broken through the Xi Clan’s money vault, so
putting the money inside is the most secure. No matter how that
money is spent now, it’d be hard to escape the eyes of the imperial
court. The accounts of your 20,000-strong Imperial Army already
have to be checked and triple-checked in successive order. If this
sum of money is not spent and disposed of perfectly, then the
Second Young Master would have to be detained in jail to await
trial.”
His curiosity piqued, Xiao Chiye said, “Spending money, huh?
What else is there other than frittering it away by playing and
having fun… Or are you preparing to save it for Zhongbo?”
“Nowhere in mind for the money to go to for the time being.”
Seeing that it was almost time, Shen Zechuan fastened his cloak
with one hand. “The Second Young Master doesn’t handle
household affairs, so how would you know how valuable the daily
staples like tea, rice, oil, and salt are? There will be plenty of uses
for the money in the future, so there’s no harm in keeping it on
hand, even if we can’t spend it all for the time being. It’s better to
be prepared for all contingencies.”
Both of them were clearly set on defrauding Xi Hongxuan by
convening in this way to discuss the latter’s household finances
and assets with such serious expressions. Xiao Chiye still had to
return to Kailing River, and after saying a few words, he had to
leave. He had rushed over as soon as he had the free time to see
Shen Zechuan, and now, having fed the latter, he could not afford
to sit and linger any longer.
As Xiao Chiye turned over to mount his horse, he recalled
something else and pulled the reins to say, “The inspection will
happen these two days. The Grand Secretariat has already
proposed a candidate for the Provincial Administration
Commissioner for the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. That Jiang
Qingshan of Juexi had hurried over to report to Qudu on imperial
orders. My guess is that it’s likely him.”
“I’ve long heard of his name and reputation. I remembered
how he displayed courage and foresight when he handled the aid
relief efforts for the thirteen cities of Juexi six years ago.” At this
point, Shen Zechuan recalled that this person was also on good
terms with Xue Xiuzhuo and could not help but hesitate.
“Although his personal friendship with Xue Xiuzhuo is pretty
good, it does not necessarily mean that he’s in Xue Xiuzhuo’s
camp. When he enters the capital, you can meet him to try to get a
grasp on him. He isn’t a descendant of a noble clan, and he
doesn’t rely on the noble clans for backing. You can decide for
yourself whether or not we can use him when the time comes.”
Seeing Shen Zechuan standing on the steps, Xiao Chiye raised a
hand to beckon to him.
Shen Zechuan was all ears to hear him out. He did not expect
Xiao Chiye to simply say nothing and merely caressed a handful of
his hair with his palm. With a lift of its hooves, Lang Tao Xue Jin
broke into a gallop. Ge Qingqing pushed the gates open, and Xiao
Chiye rode away into the night.

Thanks to Alex for burning brain cells with Lianyin. Muacks<3

 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 81 : SHADOWS

The food in the prison was unclean, and so Xi Hongxuan

suffered a stomach upset. His constitution was already weakened
during the epidemic, and now he was in even more of a misery. He
was not in a good state mentally, so he often fell into a lethargic
sleep. Furthermore, it was dark all around each time he woke up,
and gradually, he lost track of time.
Without any window to ventilate the room, this narrow and
cramped room smelled foul and stale, with a damp, musty smell
thrown in for effect. There was no way an ordinary man would be
able to endure it.
Xi Hongxuan was badly ill, yet he was unable to turn and move
his body as freely as he would have wanted. All he could do was to
lay paralyze on the straw mat and let his consciousness drift along
with the dampness and cold.
As usual, the warden moved the flap open and stuffed the rice
inside, but he did not hear any movements from Xi Hongxuan
today. He looked in through the hole, but all he could see was Xi
Hongxuan’s drooping arm. The warden was afraid that Xi
Hongxuan had died, thus he opened the door and took the lamp
to shake it in front of Xi Hongxuan’s face.
Xi Hongxuan struggled to open his eyes. With dry lips and a
parched mouth, he said, “S… sir, please spare me some water.”
The warden flipped his hand over and poured a bowl of water
onto Xi Hongxuan’s face.
Xi Hongxuan exerted himself to open his mouth to receive the
water, hardly bothering with his dampened collars. He drank the
water and pulled himself together to say, “Thank you, thank you!”
The warden threw the bowl away, then grabbed the oil lamp
and made to leave.
With an unexpected burst of strength, Xi Hongxuan suddenly
grabbed hold of the warden’s clothes. He forced out a smile on his
chubby face and said, “Buddy, tell me. This *cough*! This place is
not the prison at all, am I right?”
 The warden swatted off Xi Hongxuan’s hand. But Xi Hongxuan
burst out laughing in a hoarse voice instead, gasping violently as
he lay on the straw mat. He pulled at the front of his soaked clothes
and moved his eye to stare at the pitch-dark roof. He said, “This
place isn’t the prison… I… I should have thought of it a long time
ago! It has already been a few days. Even if Kong Qiu doesn’t
interrogate me, there should be officials from the Ministry of Justice
coming over to make their rounds for a check… Too quiet… It’s too
quiet here…”
Xi Hongxuan said, then swiftly fixed his eyes on the warden in a
stare.
“I’ve done some calculations. You come to deliver food every
day at precisely the same time, and you even push and put the tray
into exactly the same position. Buddy, the average warden isn’t this
rigid! It has already been a few days, and nobody came to
exchange shifts with you in guarding the prison door… You
wouldn’t even accept my money, and even these sleeves of yours
are so clean and tidy without so much a speck of grease and dust!
You are well-built and tall, discreet and reticent—You are an Imperial
Bodyguard, right?!”
The warden’s face was expressionless as he carried the oil lamp
and walked away to close the door. Xi Hongxuan listened to the
sound of metal chains winding around it, then pounded his fists
hard on the straw mat under him.
“Shen Zechuan… Shen Zechuan!” Xi Hongxuan pounded until
his knuckles reddened. He abruptly let loose a shout at the top of
his voice, “Plotting against me… To think you’d scheme against
me! You. Tell him. Tell him to come!”
There was no response from the darkness.
Xi Hongxuan dug his fingers into the straw mat. His
consciousness was in a muddle as he spat hatefully, “He wants
money, doesn’t he? Call him over. As long as he let me out… as
long as he let me out…” He forcefully swallowed his saliva, then
suddenly pulled at his hair and gasped, “I’ll give him money! I can’t
fucking stand this anymore!”
The warden sat down outside with the oil lamp next to him and
popped the broad beans into his mouth to down with his wine.
With the metal door behind him blocking off Xi Hongxuan, all that
could be heard from within was the sound of faint sobs and
whimpers, much like the wind in the dead of the night.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xi Hongxuan’s eyes had turned cloudy. He did not dare to
sleep again out of fear that he would not wake up if he fell asleep.
By the time Shen Zechuan came again, he had already calmed
down.
Shen Zechuan remained on his feet as he sized up Xi
Hongxuan.
Xi Hongxuan once had a narrow escape from the jaws of death
when he headed out to sea. Ever since he fought his way back from
certain death, he had never cut such a sorry sight. He was different
from the other descendants of the noble clans. He was not afraid of
being caught in desperate situations, nor was he afraid of looking
wretched. He let Shen Zechuan look as he strained his dry and
hoarse throat to let out an unwarranted laugh for a moment before
he said, “Lanzhou, you have guts! Four million… I nearly met my
end being fleeced by you.”
“This hadn’t been an easy place to find. It mustn’t be too
conspicuous, and it can’t be too far away.” Shen Zechuan let out a
soft sigh. “I sure wasn’t expecting you to be this meticulous and
discerning in your observations.”
Xi Hongxuan shook his arm and said, “Men die for money,
while birds die for food. Brother, I’m more than willing to give you
this sum of money! But you can’t simply want my life for just this bit
of money…” His tone was a little weak and unsteady, but hunger
and illness were not able to deprive him of the ability to adapt to
his circumstances. He continued, “Lanzhou… I could have still
pretended to be in the dark. I’m the only one who knows where the
Xi Clan’s keys are. I could have run around in circles with you and
extracted myself out of here through trickery. But see, I didn’t do so.
I still hold this bit of brotherhood to heart… Lanzhou! We joined
forces to kill Xi Gu’an and Ji Lei. You are now the target of envy in
the Imperial Bodyguards. If you screw me to death now, you will
lose the Xi Clan’s support! The more you climb your way up in the
Imperial Bodyguards, the narrower the path you have to navigate.
You already know what it feels like to be stuck in a situation so
difficult that you can hardly move a step forward, don’t you? Which
of those old men with hereditary positions in noble clans will be
willing to submit to you? You are an ambitious one. Isn’t it also on
my account that Han Cheng could tolerate you? If you kill me, you
will become the target of all!”
Shen Zechuan squatted down, holding a handkerchief
between his fingers as he looked at Xi Hongxuan and sought his
advice with a serious expression. “Then, in your opinion, what
should I do?”
Xi Hongxuan had seen this expression of Shen Zechuan
countless times; he knew that there was no doubt Shen Zechuan’s
intent to kill had been ignited. So he dripped with cold sweat as he
traded gazes with Shen Zechuan for a moment before he replied,
“We haven’t reached the point where we fall out with one another.
Shen Zechuan, I lost this time; I concede! It’s not a disgrace at all to
suffer a business defeat. There’s no need for me to create a scene
and fall out with you over this bit of trivial matter. I fear you! This is
the truth. But it’s also precisely because of this fear that I want to
continue to work with you. Think about it. If you kill me, you will only
have four million. But if you have me in your grasp, then you’ll have
the Xi Clan’s mountains of gold and silver. I concede defeat! So
why get your hands stained with this bit of blood? We still have all
the days ahead of us to lord it over Qudu!”
“That’s a fair point.” Shen Zechuan said. “But it’s a tad too easy
to dismiss me with just the words ‘concede defeat’, isn’t it? I heard
that the Second Young Master has sixty-eight keys. So how about
we split them forty-sixty? It’d also set my mind at ease.”
Xi Hongxuan slowly propped himself up. The expression in his
eyes as he looked at Shen Zechuan was ferocious as he said, “I can
give you the keys. But once you take the keys, you can’t ask for Qi
Huilian again. How about it? Are you willing?”
Shen Zechuan slowly raised his fingers before putting it down
again as if he was bored stiff. He said, “You think Qi Huilian is worth
this sum? Naturally, I want the keys.”
“Since he’s worth nothing, then it’s pointless to retain him. I’m
killing him then!”
 Shen Zechuan suddenly began to laugh. He said, “You think I
don’t know where he is? We are already at this point, and you still
want to test me.”
“You’re the one who’s testing me!” Xi Hongxuan crawled slowly
towards Shen Zechuan, finally revealing a savage expression. “I
understand you. Lanzhou, the same trick is useless if you play it one
time too many. You are accustomed to deceive others with words.
The more you pretend not to give a hoot about someone at this
moment, the more important they are to you. You tricked me once
that day in the courtyard, and now you still want to use the same
trick on me. I, Xi Hongxuan, may not be a person of outstanding
smarts, but I’m also not dumb to that extent. You don’t know where
he is. If you know, haha! Then you’d have killed me after getting
the money! So how did it go, Shen Zechuan? Am I correct in saying
that you still couldn’t find him despite searching all over Qudu?”
Shen Zechuan slightly tightened his grip on his handkerchief.
Xi Hongxuan smoothed aside his messy hair and said, “As
much as you may be eloquent, you’ve forgotten one thing, and that
is, your meticulous and careful concealment of him is already
enough to make me suspicious. Even if I believe you a little, I still
have to be on guard against you. The thing to fear when having
dealings with you is that you’d turn around and give me a stab.”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were emotionless as he looked at Xi
Hongxuan and said, “Then, what do you want?”
“I want to get out of here.” Xi Hongxuan pointed at the door. “I
want to walk out of here unscathed. If I can’t get out tonight, then
Qi Huilian’s corpse will be left on your doorstep tomorrow morning.
Do you believe me? You can try me. Xi Dan, that traitorous bastard
who betrayed his master for wealth, must have told you that all the
men under my command are children of the domestic slaves in our
clan. My safety concerns the safety of hundreds of people. Even if I
can’t get out, I still have plenty of ways at my disposal to kill off Qi
Huilian!”
“You’re lying.”
Shen Zechuan suddenly got up, and that dreary, ruthless
emotion within him burst forth in this filthy room. He took a few
steps back, taking advantage of the dimness to blur that face of his
into some kind of behemoth lurking in the dark.
“This place is isolated from outsiders. How are you passing on
the message to others? Tricking me even when death is near at
hand, and you still tell me to try you?” Shen Zechuan said with a
shadow of a smile in a frosty tone, “Sure then. Let’s us try. I’ll send
you on your way out.”
“If I could be on guard against you in advance, then why
couldn’t I take precautions against you prior?!” Xi Hongxuan was
drenched in cold sweat on seeing the situation deteriorate. He
promptly raised his voice, “I’ve long told the guards on watch that
I’ll head down once every half a month. If I don’t, then they will
strike! You asked me the last time if I dare to believe your words.
Shen Zechuan, this time I’m asking you, do you dare to believe the
same?!”
Shen Zechuan did not make a sound.
Xi Hongxuan then slowed his tone, as if soothing him. “Since
you can buy over Xi Dan, then you must have already known that I
am the only one who knows where Qi Huilian is. I’ve long
understood that no one in this world can be trusted, so I have left
countless escape routes in place for myself. Lanzhou, why must we
both be on the losing end? It doesn’t benefit either of us to infuriate
each other. Aren’t you making all these moves for the sake of
gains? This deal is so unprofitable, no doubt you won’t do it.
Whatever it is that you’re lacking, I have it all, and I’ll give it to you.
You only need to lend me this guts and wisdom of yours, and we
can thrive and flourish in Qudu. Look at that Li Jianheng. He’s a
good emperor, one that’s few and far between. He signifies an
even faster path to success for men like you and me. This is a
meteoric rise we’re talking about, Lanzhou! Do you think Xiao the
Second would be able to accept you if you kill me and offend the
noble clans? How long can the Xiao Clan’s prestigious reputation
of being infallible and undefeated in battles continue on for? Xiao
Fangxu is already old. If Xiao Jiming were to die too, then what is
Xiao the Second alone good for? They are doomed to fail and
fall!”
 Xi Hongxuan seemed to lament, and at the same time,
encourage.
“Lanzhou, you and I both have had a hard time being under the
control of others, and now you still want to choose to submit to
Xiao the Second and be at his beck and call? The only things in this
world that can never abandon you are power and money! Join
forces with me, and I’ll give you money. You just need to help me
keep the Xi Clan’s reputation intact, and we can bring our business
deal up a level. When that time comes, it’d be hard for anyone
jockeying for power to sway you and me from our positions! You
previously wanted me to swallow up the other clans and proclaim
myself king. So why are you now bound by constraints and limits
yourself?! Then, there’s the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. Don’t you
want to rebuild Zhongbo to avenge yourself for the humiliation you
suffered in the past? Shen Wei’s name can never be fully cleared,
but you can use money to smash the gates to Zhongbo open. They
are currently so poor that they even exchange children for food1 in
their dire straits. You’ll be like a deity who has descended from
Heaven. By that time, who would still dare to refuse to yield to you?
Who would still dare to curse you? These are all what money can
give you. Can the Empress Dowager do the same? Can Xiao the
Second do the same? Lanzhou, what are you still hesitating for? We
can still continue to join forces and climb our way up to the top just
like before.”
Shen Zechuan was moved by his words. He no longer seemed
to be brimming with murderous intent, and his tone had also
softened some as he said, “If you had been this candid way earlier,
we would not have to go as far as to face off each other in a
confrontation, isn’t it? You’re right. It’s by joining forces that you
and I can save ourselves a lot of troubles.”
“I’m a merchant. To a businessman, profit comes first. If there
isn’t that much of a benefit to our collaboration, then why would I
waste my breath like this?” Xi Hongxuan’s back itched. The part
that had been wounded by the collapse the last time was scabbing
over, and it itched so much these days that it hurt. He took a little
breather, then continued, “Then there’s no time to lose. Let me out
now. Once I’m out, we can sit down for a proper discussion.”
 Xi Hongxuan had more than ten martial arts experts from the
martial fraternity in the Xi residence in Qudu. He had spent a large
sum of money to hire them to intimidate Shen Zechuan the last
time, and he had always kept them in his residence. In truth, he
was already burning with anxiety, because he could not figure out
what Shen Zechuan was thinking. As such, he had also started to
harbor the intent to kill, determined as he was to burn his bridges
and fight to the end. No matter what, he had to get out of here first
—it was only by getting out that there would be a variable he could
exploit to turn things around!
He wanted to kill Shen Zechuan so much that he could not even
wait for tomorrow, much less engage in diplomacy with him. Being
able to deal with each other for a long time often meant that both
parties were evenly matched—they had the room to be able to sit
down and trade barbs. Xi Hongxuan felt that the present him and
Shen Zechuan had already lost this balance. It was as if he had
fallen into a certain kind of pouch that Shen Zechuan had bound to
hold him in check as Shen Zechuan climbed his way up the official
ranks, thereby rendering him incapable of controlling and swaying
the development of the situation like he could at the outset.
Xi Hongxuan still did not know where the problem lay, but
based on his businessman’s instinct, he had already discovered his
current plight in which he was turning around in circles like a man
under a spell2 had everything to do with Shen Zechuan.
They had been working together in cahoots to this date, but
other than killing Xi Gu’an to get his hands on the Xi Clan’s keys,
the sweetness of every benefit Xi Hongxuan has had a taste of in all
that had happened afterwards had been fleeting. Only Shen
Zechuan had truly scaled to greater heights with power firmly in
hand.
Xi Hongxuan was sure that he had been made a fool of, but he
still had a look of sincerity on his face. It was as if he admired Shen
Zechuan to the point he worshipped the ground Shen Zechuan
walked on, while at the same time, feared him to the point he
dared not take any action.
Qiao Tianya pushed the door crack open and cast the light
from the oil lamp inside. Shen Zechuan’s exposed wrists were
clean. With his side bathed in the light from the lamp, he looked no
different from the way he appeared in the daytime as he said
politely, “After you, please.”
Xi Hongxuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thanks to Alex for the consultation services!

Footnotes
1. 易子而食 refers to dire situations during wartime or
famine that people exchange children for food (or eat them
as food).
2. 鬼打墙 a specific phenomenon in superstitions where
people find themselves lost in the evening or dark and
circled back to where they started, as if a ghost had built a
wall that kept them from walking straight.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 82 : DEBT COLLECTION

Translated with: Lin<3

The Xi residence was located in an inner street of Qudu, slightly

to the south. In comparison to the Pan’s and Fei’s residences, its
total land area was significantly smaller. It was also near Prince
Qin’s Manor during the reign of Emperor Guangcheng. The Xi had
special permission, but the first few clan heads had much foresight
and did not dare build their mansion beyond what was permitted
in the regulations. The interior architectural style of the residence
was more the style of Juexi, while the building structures such as
pavilions and terraces were all average and common.
Xi Hongxuan was on tenterhooks the entire journey back, but
once he heard the sounds of horse hooves come to a stop, he
knew he was home. Not daring to be careless, he bunched up the
hem of his robe, which had been soaked until it was wrinkled, and
hurried off the carriage, where he saw Shen Zechuan standing
before him sizing up the Xi’s Residence.
“It’s an old mansion.” Xi Hongxuan’s tone was light and relaxed
as he tried to keep up with his normal behavior. “Even though we
keep saying all these years that we want to renovate it, we never
had the time. Come over in a few days when the weather gets
warmer to take a look at the blueprint too.”
Yet, Shen Zechuan turned his gaze towards the house next
door. Those green glazed tiles at that end were obviously standard
specifications1 of a prince’s residence. But the lush trees covering
the vermilion walls only made it look eerie.
Xi Hongxuan followed his gaze over and said, “That’s the Prince
Qin’s Manor. Prince Qin suffered from tuberculosis and passed
away from his illness a year before the former emperor’s ascension
to the throne. This residence then fell into disuse. It’ll probably be
bestowed upon someone as a reward in the future.”
 “It looks even more imposing than Prince Chu’s Manor.” Shen
Zechuan did not shift his gaze away.
“Of course.” Xi Hongxuan raised his thumb. “The current
emperor was not a child favored by Emperor Guangcheng. At that
time, the Crown Prince, Prince Qin, and the former emperor were
the most outstanding ones among the imperial heirs. A pity the
Crown Prince committed suicide at Zhao Zui Temple, Prince Qin
passed away of illness in his residence, and the former emperor
lingered on his deathbed…” He suddenly smiled. “Otherwise, how
could the current emperor have had the chance to sit on the
throne? Prince Qin was also quite the pitiable one. He initially had a
close father-and-son relationship with Emperor Guangcheng
during Emperor Guangcheng’s last few years, and Emperor
Guangcheng often came here. But someone in the manor under
him used his influence to commit violence and beat a few villagers
to death. Consequently, a lawsuit was lodged against him, and
Emperor Guangcheng punished him by putting him under house
arrest in this residence. It was during that time Prince Qin
contracted tuberculosis. Emperor Guangcheng even made a
special trip down for a visit. No one knew what they talked about,
but they eventually parted on bad terms, and from then on, Prince
Qin fell out of favor. That punishment to self-reflect behind closed
doors dragged on and on, keeping him locked up until his death.”
Shen Zechuan tucked this piece of information away in his
mind, but he had no wish to discuss it with Xi Hongxuan. When Xi
Hongxuan saw that he had no interest in continuing the topic, he
raised his hand to wave away the servants who were swarming
over to them. He said, “Although this residence of mine is not as
big as the residences of princes and aristocrats, there’s still some
way to travel. Lanzhou, my body is extremely weak, and I stink to
high heavens. It’ll be faster if we take a ride in the small sedan.”2
The servants from the Xi’s residence rushed to prepare the
sedans. Xi Dan was originally the household steward, but he did
not dare to show himself now, and it was instead Xi Hongxuan’s
eldest sister-in-law who came out to greet and welcome them.
Xi Hongxuan loved this woman, or at least he said so himself.
He had repeated countless times to Shen Zechuan that he wanted
to kill Xi Gu’an because of the hatred he bore Xi Gu’an for seizing
his wife away by force. But then, his expression was indifferent as
he watched that woman descend the stairs. He did not ask for her
to help support him either, and simply dismissed her in a
perfunctory manner as he took his seat in the small sedan.
Shen Zechuan lifted the curtain with a finger and saw it all
clearly. Qiao Tianya, who was following outside the sedan, wanted
to speak, but Shen Zechuan gave a slight shake of his head to stop
him.
The small sedans entered the Xi’s residence and made several
turns before arriving at the courtyard where Xi Hongxuan usually
stayed. His courtyard was different from others. It was not overly
decorated, and the long corridor was connected to an office with
wide-opened doors and windows, as well as a row of brightly lit
lanterns. The sound of abacus within, mingled with various local
accents, proved to be particularly noisy. There was a tea table
erected under a mat awning on the open ground before the front
hall, and seated and standing underneath the awning were the
various shopkeepers and bookkeepers who had come from all over
Dazhou.
At the sight of Xi Hongxuan, this motley crew of people all
stood up and crowded around him. Those who were here to report
expenses, prepare stocks, demand payments, and send greetings
mobbed him all around, creating a din.
Xi Hongxuan first bowed to the crowd in a greeting, then said,
“This humble one has only just returned. Look, with how stinky I
smell, I won’t be able to do any work. There’s no need for any of
you to be anxious. Wait here with peace of mind and take turns to
go into the office on that end one at a time. As for me, I had merely
headed out these few days for some fun. It’s nothing of
importance. Our business will naturally continue as usual. Oh, as for
the shopkeepers here to demand payment, there’s no need for you
to fret as well. When has the Xi Clan ever missed our deadlines and
defaulted on our debts? As long as you have the memorandum
with you, I will pay back all substantiated claims in full!”
Xi Hongxuan hurriedly held Shen Zechuan firm as he pushed
aside the crowd and called for the attendants to hurry over and
serve tea and attend to them. He cupped his hands to those people
the entire way before he managed to lead Shen Zechuan to a
relatively quiet hall at the back.
“Lanzhou, take a seat first. I’ll go wash up a little and have a
change of clothes before I return!” Xi Hongxuan shook his dirty
robe and instructed the servants to prepare the food and wine.
Shen Zechuan took his seat and drank the tea. By the time the
wine and food to go with wine were served, Xi Hongxuan had
returned too. He was dressed in a brand new dark reddish-brown
silk robe. He took his seat and personally poured wine for Shen
Zechuan.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting!” Xi Hongxuan touched the
flesh between his neck and let out a cheeky chuckle. “Home is still
where I feel comfortable. That cell is so awfully damp. I feel so
refreshed all over now that I’m done washing up. Here, Lanzhou,
drink up! You really did not show mercy this time. A few more days
locked up in there, and I’ll be dead meat for sure!”
“It won’t go as far as that.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile,
“That was just to intimidate you. I won’t deal you such a vicious
blow for the sake of our friendship.”
“You really caused me so much grief!” Xi Hongxuan groused
with a bitter smile. “The state of my back looked to be in a
frightfully bad state. I’ll still have to call for a physician over to take
a look at it later. Say, wouldn’t it do for you to just tell me outright if
you lack that four million? Aye, you just had to go around in such a
big circle!”
Both men chatted merrily over wine, showing no signs of the
mutual hostility an hour earlier when they had been at daggers
drawn with each other.
The wine was excellent, as were the dishes. It was only when Xi
Hongxuan was almost done eating that he wiped his mouth with a
hand towel and spread his arms apart to sprawl back on the chair.
He said, “It’s not like I’m unwilling to give you the keys you want.
But Lanzhou, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. If I return Qi
Huilian to you, then I’d lost something to fall back on, so I can’t
hand the keys over to you on top of him.”
 Shen Zechuan, who did not eat much, set down his chopsticks
and said, “I’ve done you a disservice in this matter too. But Second
Young Master, there are some matters which I didn’t make up
myself. Go make some inquiries out there, and you’ll know that Wei
Huaigu truly doesn’t harbor good intentions and has no wish to
help you out of your predicament at all.”
“I know they all have their own ulterior motives.” Xi Hongxuan
wiped away the fine beads of sweat. “But since you were able to get
me out of prison to another place, it means that the imperial court
didn’t hand down that much of a punishment on me. This was His
Majesty’s idea, right?”
“His Majesty went to great effort to protect you, so the prison
can’t overstep their authority to investigate you. Now that you have
been temporarily suspended from your post and have returned
home, you won’t be able to carry out your duties in the Bureau of
Evaluations.” Shen Zechuan changed the topic. “I’ve already sent
you back home. The issue of the keys can be re-negotiated, but I
want to see Qi Huilian now.”
Xi Hongxuan threw aside the hand towel and smiled as he
rubbed his stomach. He said, “As for the keys, we have to discuss
and come to an understanding now. Lanzhou, you’ve never
conducted a business deal before, so you aren’t aware of the ins
and outs of it. It’s not the slightest bit simpler than being an official.
Holding those keys will allow you to transfer out the silvers, but
those are deadweight silvers. If you take them out, you will sooner
or later come to spend it all clean. So why not put it inside and let
me continue to take care of the business? Isn’t it wonderful to let
your money beget more money for you? However much you need
in the future, all you have to do is to just give me a number.”
He sat tight in his chair. The earlier din had already
disappeared without them realizing it. The windows and doors in
his hall were all wide open, and the weeping willows outside
shrouded in the color of ink looked like a row of hanged ghosts
cramming at the windows looking in. The endless night was still
and quiet, and the candle flame blazed a little. Those servants that
had been waiting upon them all seemed to have vanished. It was
as if both of them were the only ones left.
 Shen Zechuan slowly leaned back in his chair and said, “How
the situation has changed. After stepping out of that prison cell, the
Second Young Master has indeed toughened up.”
“I’m satiated after having had my fill of food and wine, and I’m
not hurting anymore.” Xi Hongxuan looked at Shen Zechuan and
pointed to his own head, “And, I’m still sober. I’m telling you, it’s
not a choice between Qi Huilian and the keys; your only option is to
take Qi Huilian away. As long as you give the nod, I will give him to
you immediately.”
Shen Zechuan took his time. The little bamboo fan slid out from
his sleeve pocket, and he grasped it for a moment to weigh it up.
He said, “That’s not what we discussed earlier.”
Xi Hongxuan answered in a low, muffled voice, “The world of
business is ever-changing at a rapid pace. Earlier, you held me by
the balls, and now, I’m the one who has you by the balls. The issues
under discussion naturally have to change following this shift.”
“What if I insist on both?” Shen Zechuan smiled.
“Then it will all come to naught.” Xi Hongxuan patted his belly.
“Let me offer you a piece of advice, Lanzhou. Don’t be that greedy
son of a bitch. As the saying goes, be content with your lot. You
have already taken away four million. I won’t pursue it further. This
is already enough for a gesture of goodwill, right?”
“Before the money has been delivered into my hands, it does
not count as having taken it.” Shen Zechuan did not divulge to him
the part where these four million taels would be split into two
portions to be transported through the Northeast Provisions Bridle
Path. Instead, he said, “It’s not an easy journey to make either. You
know it better than I do.”
“I have the channels for escorting the goods. No matter how
competent Jiang Qingshan is, he can’t keep an eye down there all
the time.” Xi Hongxuan had already gained the upper hand. “I can
think of ways to get the money to you. I said it before, and I’ll say it
again. Lanzhou, I’m willing to give you these four million. But you
have to tell me the truth. Are the three incidents of collapse,
flooding, and epidemic your doing?”
“Of course not.” Shen Zechuan said. “I’ve long told you the
honest truth. For this matter, you have to ask Xue Xiuzhuo. I can see
you keeping a tight grip over these keys, so I won’t insist on it. As
you’ve said, we cannot do without the other if we want to join
forces. Now, can you give me Qi Huilian already?”
Xi Hongxuan pushed his chair aside to get up and say, “I’ve
long gotten someone to go get him. You have been waiting for so
many days, there’s no need to fret over waiting a little longer now.”
With his rotund potbelly, he took some steps to aid digestion.
Looking as if he was considering something. he eventually walked
his way to the door and strode a step out, where he shouted,
“Where’s the man?”
The servant outside whispered something in reply.
Not hearing it clearly, Xi Hongxuan continued down the stairs.
He took a few more steps once he had descended. The courtyard
was dead silent. He suddenly jerked around and bellowed, “Shut
the doors!”
All at once, the wide-opened doors of the hall were shut tight,
and the windows were secured with slabs of planks amid the
sounds of “thud”. In the blink of an eye, the hall was completely
sealed. Amidst the rustle of the night wind, which sent the grim
willows swaying, several figures gradually materialized out of the
night to lay siege to the hall.
Xi Hongxuan gritted his teeth in hatred as he ripped off his
mask and said, “Shen Zechuan! You still want back Qi Huilian? How
insatiably greedy of you, just like a snake trying to swallow an
elephant! For treating me like a fool to push around, I shall take
your life tonight!”
He retreated a few more steps back.
“Drag over that double-crossing Xi Dan, who bites the hand
that feeds him!”
Xi Dan had already been securely bound up by the others. On
seeing him, Xi Hongxuan first gave him a kick to the face and sent
him toppling over to the ground before he stomped violently on
him.
“The audacity of you to sell your master out for money!
Despicable bastard, rotten piece of shit! You forgot that I have your
parents in my hands. I shall have your whole family follow him to
the grave tonight!”
 His eyes were already blazing with hatred as he spoke.
“Drag the Eldest Mistress up here too. Does she really think I
don’t know she’s addicted to hooking up with this lowlife behind
my back? Xi Dan, with that pea-sized gut of yours, you would never
dare to betray me. But lust is like a blade hanging above your
head.3 Who can you blame if you let someone get a handle against
you and ended up involved in the whole sordid affair of betraying
your master for money?! Scum!”
Xi Dan was kicked until he rolled all over the ground and
howled in pain, while that Eldest Mistress, whose legs had turned
to jelly, was flung before Xi Hongxuan, where she wailed and
pleaded ceaselessly.
Xi Hongxuan let her hug his thigh as he looked at her and said
grimly, “Do you know he wanted to harm me? You know, and you
still want to follow him. Were you already planning how to make
your escape to somewhere far away with him? I’ve never treated
anyone better in this life than I treated you. I put in a hundred
percent of my love and handed over eighty percent of my life. And
this is how you treat me.”
With a pair of red eyes, Xi Hongxuan hauled up the Eldest
Mistress.
“Xi Gu’an snatched you away, and I snatched you back. I give
you the same honor and prestige you have always enjoyed, and
give you gold and jade so you never lacked for nothing. I hold you
in both hands like my most precious treasure. You… oh, you!” Xi
Hongxuan was so consumed by hatred that his heart was dripping
blood. “Leave with him. I’ll send you both on your way tonight!”
Xi Hongxuan shoved her down coldly and spat, then said with
a fiendish smile, “Draw your blades! Mince up these heartless and
ungrateful creatures, and we can save on the dishes to go with the
wine tonight! This Second Master has the money!”
He fished out large quantities of gold and silver ingots from his
bosom and sleeves and dropped them to the ground, where they
rolled with a clatter. Amid the sound of money colliding against
each other, Xi Hongxuan staggered a few steps and burst out
laughing with tears streaming down his face until his laughs
gradually gave way to sobs.
 “All beings in this world are driven by benefits. I have money.
So why bemoan the lack of someone true to me? For money, one
can kill their closest kin, their flesh and blood, their beloved!”
Having thrown away all his gold and silver, Xi Hongxuan raised
both of his arms high and shouted himself hoarse under the glint
of cold steel, “Do it! I’m here to collect my debt!”
The crowd promptly drew their blades, and snow-white light
flashed.

Thanks Alex for burning brain cells with Lianyin. _(:3 」∠ )_

Footnotes

1.
2. 小轿 Small sedan chair typically carried by two people
instead of the usual four or more.
3. 色字头上一把刀, literally, only the word lust (色) has a
knife or blade above it. (referring to the radicals that make
up the words 色, i.e. ⺈(a component form of ⼑ which means
blade) above 巴 to form the character 色. i.e., lust can lead to
bitter consequences.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 83 : SCENERY OF SPRING

Translated with: Lin & Rie<3

Overcast clouds shrouded the moon, giving rise to flickers of

ghostly apparitions. The scraping sound of blades being
unsheathed was just like the sound of silk being ripped apart in the
wind, the tearing of which spelled the pressing sense of danger of
an imminent peril. There were three taps of the bamboo fan in the
hall. Shen Zechuan remained calm and composed as he held the
pot to pour himself another cup of wine.
“You’re right.” Shen Zechuan picked up the wine cup. “We
indeed have scores to settle tonight.”
Xi Hongxuan lowered his arms and watched with cool
detachment as the crowd swarmed towards the hall. He said,
“Clever as you are, if you had been willing to comply obediently
with the arrangements, you wouldn’t have needed to suffer as
much.”
“The moment you enter Qudu, you’re just like a caged bird in a
pavilion, unmindful of the spreading blaze and danger ahead.
You’re really an unfortunate and a fortunate one. Back then, you
fought the waves for a fighting chance at life, and for that, I toast
you.” As Shen Zechuan spoke, he slowly poured the wine over the
ground.1 “You and I both understand the principle that those
trapped in prior predicaments are also the ones most unlikely to be
obedient—because people who obey, nine out of ten, will not hold
out until Heaven opens its eyes and lends them a hand.”
“I fought against the battering of waves, and you are also
fighting against the same. The lives of everyone in the world are
worthless. Shen Zechuan, I toast you too! You survived in spite of all
the torture and torment back then, but tonight, you are going to fail
miserably, like a boat capsizing in a drain, haha!” Xi Hongxuan
laughed derisively, then abruptly turned indifferent, “Between you
and me, only one may live.”
 “You’ve taken your bath and drank your wine.” Shen Zechuan
tossed away the wine cup gently and rose to face the doors. He
lifted his hand and grasped the hilt of Yang Shan Xue, his thumb
pressing down against that white pearl as he laughed softly, “Do
you really not intend to tell me Qi Huilian’s whereabouts before you
go on your way?”
The flame in the courtyard abruptly intensified. Xi Hongxuan
turned his head for a look; the residence was already up in flames.
He bellowed, “Don’t bother contending with him! Whoever can
take down his head, I’ll reward said person with two hundred taels
of gold and silver!”
The doors and windows instantly broke apart as numerous
shadows pounced like wolves. Shen Zechuan’s blade had already
left its sheath. He took two steps forward, and blood went
splattering along with the movement of his blade. The long blade
that was Yang Shan Xue seemed to be forged from ice and cast of
snow as its blade slit open men’s throats. It was so fast that there
was not a stain of blood on the edge of the blade even as the
blood droplets spattered over the windows’ paper.
Yang Shan Xue was the same as Langli Blade. They lay low in
this Qudu collecting dust, restrained by their sheaths to become
the waist ornaments of refined young masters. But give them the
chance to be drawn out of their sheaths, and one would be able to
catch a glimpse of the bloodthirsty savagery of the blades and
their masters from those cold glints.
The tongue of flames came licking in a fury, and in a blink of an
eye, half of the Xi’s Residence was engulfed in a sea of fire. Qiao
Tianya leaped up the rooftop and dashed along the ridge to kick
over the incoming killers with swift flying kicks before he hooked
himself upside down and flipped atop the central hall. He stood on
the roof and flashed Shen Zechuan’s gold lacquered authority
token.
“The Imperial Bodyguards are investigating a case on imperial
orders. The Xi Clan assembled more than a hundred gallant men
from the martial fraternity for a private gathering right under the
Son of Heaven’s nose. Our investigations have unearthed the
presence of criminal fugitives and outlaws still at large among
them. Xi Hongxuan’s intention is no small matter. For this, he ought
to be executed!” Qiao Tianya said in a clear and loud voice. “This
case pertains to the incident in which the Son of Heaven was
placed in harm’s way. Anyone caught involved will be taken into
custody at the imperial prison. The Red Cavalry2 has already
surrounded Xi’s Residence. You people’d best surrender without a
fight!”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Xi Hongxuan shouted. “I’m the
Son of Heaven’s friend, one who has been through life and death
with him. The Imperial Bodyguards harbor the intent to murder
loyal ministers to cover up their crimes. Those who aid me tonight
are all upright heroes! You will all follow me to the palace gates
tomorrow morning to receive your rewards!”
That burning loft collapsed with a thunderous crash. Xi
Hongxuan did not retreat a single step amid the waves of heat as
he stared closely at the figure in the hall.
“That eunuch faction has only just been eradicated. His Majesty
advocates freedom of speech, and what he hates the most are
treacherous officials like Shen Zechuan who want to abuse his
power to deceive the masses and lord it over all! Gentlemen, the
one who kills him will be a famous hero with his meritorious deeds
recorded in history for ages to come!”
Qiao Tianya secretly spat. This Fatty Xi’s eloquence was truly
outstanding. If they could not gag that mouth of his, then he could
even make black out to be white! Qiao Tianya promptly kept away
the token and leaped down, where he drew his blade to face the
enemies head-on.
The sheen of blood stood out against the blaze in the
courtyard. Up ahead, the scene was already in chaos, with shouts
and cries everywhere as shopkeepers, bookkeepers, and servants
ran haphazardly all around. The formation of Red Cavalry outside
moved swiftly, having already blocked off all the gates.
A strapping figure suddenly stood out from the hall. Xi
Hongxuan looked on indifferently. That body leaned back, as
straight as a ramrod, and toppled over onto the stairs, the blood on
its neck gushing forth incessantly. Shen Zechuan withdrew his
blade and returned it to his sheath, then strode over the corpse’s
arm and walked down one step at a time.
Xi Hongxuan suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed until he
shook all over. He said, “I still can’t compare to you. By using this
reason to kill me, even His Majesty won’t dare to blame or censure
you.”
Shen Zechuan inclined his head to survey that raging fire and
said, “You aren’t originally meant to die this early.”
Xi Hongxuan looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh. He
was extraordinarily calm; those merry laughters and furious curses
had all become a thing of the past. He said, “Whether I die early or
later, I’m still being played for the fool in your hands. It’s too
fucking much of an aggrievement! But it’s of no loss to me to lose
to you. Shen Zechuan, I concede defeat. At the same time, I can’t
take it lying down. A hundred forges to temper steel3—do you think
you have already reached that stage? The reason I meet my end
tonight is because I underestimated my enemy. However, there are
plenty of people in this world who see you as the thorn in their side.
They are all lined up in a queue waiting for you. You may kill one,
then another one, but you will never be able to kill them all. How
lamentable…”
He gazed silently at the night sky.
“You and I were not born to be favoured. Things that are readily
available to the others are yet things you and I have to fight for with
our lives. The prejudice between children born of the principal
wives and concubines is deeply rooted.4 How absurd is it for me to
be clearly born of the principal wife, yet live a life worse than the
sons from the other clans born of concubines? My life is worthless,
and yours, even more so. You want to charge ahead, to fight, to
seize. But who exactly will succeed or fail in the days to come?” Xi
Hongxuan spread his arms open, as if he was asking Heaven. At
the same time, it was also as if he was asking Shen Zechuan, “There
is no end to strife. Who exactly will fail or succeed in the days to
come? Will you be able to secure your victory once I’m gone? You
kill the others, and the others kill you. Haha!”
The sounds of Xi Hongxuan’s laughter were wild and
unbridled. He suddenly crouched down to pull out the blade from
the corpse on the ground and stumbled his way closer towards
Shen Zechuan.
“I’m a man of the Xi Clan. In this life, I’ve triumphed thrice over
Xi Gu’an; I’m no less inferior to him! It’s my parents who were blind!
I placed my love in the wrong person, and exhausted all my love
and hatred. I—” Xi Hongxuan brandished the blade to slit his own
throat. Hot blood spurted over Shen Zechuan’s body. The blade
tumbled to the ground, and he pulled at Shen Zechuan’s sleeve as
he slid down to his knees along with the blade, slurring his words
as he completed the last of his words with a forced smile, “… shall
wait, wait for you… on the path to the underworld…”
Shen Zechuan watched Xi Hongxuan fall at his feet. Warm
blood trickled down his fingers. He stood in silence for a very long
time against a backdrop of roaring fire, then lifted his hand to
shake off the droplets of blood.
◈ ◈ ◈
The Xi residence was burned to ashes, and the Imperial
Bodyguards brought the remaining survivors in the Xi’s Residence
into the Imperial Prison. Shen Zechuan had Xi Hongxuan’s deeds –
in which he amassed hired hands and resisted arrest – all recorded
in a memorial which he submitted to Li Jianheng to make his
report when he met with the latter personally.
Li Jianheng was greatly shocked, but there was irrefutable
evidence of Xi Hongxuan gathering men in his estate, and the
Imperial Bodyguards had thoroughly checked the backgrounds of
these people through the Ministry of Justice. This matter was
handled so impeccably with no loose ends that even the imperial
censors could find no fault with it.
Wei Huaigu was the most slick and sly. On seeing this, he
promptly hinted to his pupils to first denounce Xi Hongxuan as a
treacherous villain who had poisoned the Son of Heaven’s mind
and led him astray, before decrying Xi Hongxuan for putting His
Majesty in harm’s way; the collapse of the Ouhua Pavilion was
actually entirely staged by himself. The Wei Clan really went all out
to absolve themselves of blame. Such was the state of affairs when
the tea had cooled after the company had left.5
 Yet, even when Ge Qingqing brought men to search up and
down the streets and alleys of Qudu and examine all entry and exit
documents, they still never managed to find Qi Huilian and Ji
Gang.
“They are definitely still in Qudu.” Shen Zechuan closed the
work documents on the desk. “He has the intention to use Teacher
to threaten me. Sending them out of Qudu – if he did – would only
make it harder for him to control and manipulate them.”
“Teacher is a scholar, but shifu is a worthy opponent with few
equals.” Qiao Tianya said, “I’ve already sent men to secretly search
for them these days. The search would surely throw up something.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing.
Seeing Shen Zechuan deep in his own thoughts, Qiao Tianya
was about to take his leave when Shen Zechuan called out to him,
“Since there is no other business tonight, I’ll make a trip to the Plum
Blossom Residence. There are many matters to be discussed. You
should leave first and wait for me there. Ask Gu Jin who are those
in the batch of people Xiangyun Villa sold to Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Qiao Tianya uttered an acknowledgment and took his leave.
When he stepped out the door, he saw a few people resting in the
courtyard. There were all seniors in the Imperial Bodyguards of
fourth grade and above. Among them, there were even a few
whose ancestors had been bestowed with titles and properties,
and who could don python robes6 and carry Xiuchun blades.7 Ge
Qingqing had led his men to rest on the other side. Although
everyone was an Imperial Bodyguard, Qiao Tianya could make out
the subtle split into cliques among them.
Shen Zechuan had advanced through the ranks too quickly
within the last six months, which inevitably made others green with
envy. Furthermore, with his close proximity to men in power on all
sides, he had taken over the mantle of the Northern Judge,8 which
could be considered to have established him as the top dog in the
upper echelon of the Imperial Bodyguards for real. The web of
connections between the men was as convoluted as a labyrinth;
everyone, even if picked at random, was of privileged background
and title. When the new replaced the old, it was customary for
them to swap pointers with one another. It was only because Shen
Zechuan had been too busy with his official duties that he had yet
to draw close to them. But once the busy spring farming season
had passed, everyone was bound to see each other one way or
another during their subsequent missions.
Qiao Tianya’s heart sank slightly. He let down the curtain and
left ahead of Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye had yet to return from the military drill grounds at
Mount Feng, and only Gu Jin was still at the Plum Blossom
Residence. Qiao Tianya drank half a cup of wine with him and
made some inquiries into the matter of Xiangyun Villa.
“A total of sixteen people of similar ages. All of them were
young boys and girls below the age of twenty.” Gu Jin and Qiao
Tianya sat on the railing at the bottom of the veranda. The weather
was fine today, with the sight of green buds and sprouts filling their
visions. He said, “As for their specific backgrounds and origins, I
have already told Tao-zi to write them out and hand them over to
the young master. Your master will be able to see it a little later.
However, this is not an easy matter to investigate. These people are
a motley crew, like a jumbled cluster of grass. There are no other
similarities between them other than their ages.”
“Doesn’t this already illustrate the problem?” Qiao Tianya
picked up that little porcelain cup that was half the size of a typical
cup and drank up the wine. He frowned as he savored the taste of
it. “The harder this batch of people is to investigate, the more
important they are. This wine is pretty good, but why use it with
such a cup? It’s not even the size of my finger.”
“Drinking holds you up from your work. If you reek of wine
when the masters return later, you’re bound to get scolded.” Gu Jin
did not dare to drink as liberally as he always did these few days
after having received a dressing down from Xiao Chiye the last
time. He simply sat for a moment. The patrols in the Plum Blossom
Residence were under his charge, so he left just a short while later
and let Qiao Tianya have fun by himself.
Qiao Tianya sat alone on the veranda and drank his wine as he
appreciated the sight of spring. There was no one around, and he
enjoyed himself nonetheless. He remembered that his zither was
still here; thus he thought of taking it out to play. He rose to his feet
and made a detour carrying the tray in hand, passing through
branches that looked like green mist when he suddenly heard the
zither. Qiao Tianya followed the sound in search of it. He did not
charge out hastily, but instead brushed aside the green mist and
took a peek out of the corner of his eyes.
The long walkway was facing the natural sunlight, and sitting
underneath was a brightly illuminated man who was sitting cross-
legged. This man’s entire head of black hair was adorned with an
aged wooden hairpin. He was not wearing a crown, and he was
wearing a sky-blue wide-sleeved robe with a zhaowen bag9
hanging from his waist.
Qiao Tianya could not get a clear look at his face; all he could
see was him idly plucking away at the strings. He would play a
tune, then stop. A music score was laid out beside him. He was
pondering it over when an gray-white kitten suddenly sprang onto
his back and threaded its way around the sides of his neck to fish
up locks of his hair with its paw to play with.
This man carried the cat down and tucked it in his sleeve, his
mind still on the zither. Qiao Tianya recognized the zither as his
own. He stepped forward slowly and gradually came to see this
man’s face as his angle shifted.
The willow catkins of the fourth lunar month in spring drifted,
while the green velvet buds all hung out to dry under the
resplendent sunlight This man was fair. Unlike Shen Zechuan’s icy
fairness, which looked as though he was immersed in frost, this
man seemed more like a smooth white jade placed under the
sunlight of spring. He did not have Shen Zechuan’s cutting-edge
sharpness, nor did he have Shen Zechuan’s breathtaking allure. But
he was in a class of his own—ethereal, and unforgettable.
Qiao Tianya used to be a young master of a family of officials.
In this moment, he recalled a poem his eldest sister-in-law had
previously recited.
Such is the mountain of rocks like jade; as is the forest of pines
like jadeite.
His unrivaled beauty, one of a kind; second to none, a man
divine.10
 Both of them had not even conversed with one another, and
Qiao Tianya already knew who he was.
“Truly the epitome of a man of leisure.” Qiao Tianya strode up
the railings and set the tray down on the ground. “No need to keep
looking at the score for this tune. If you’re keen to learn, I can teach
you.”
This man lifted his eyes to look at him. He laughed and said, “I
think of wine, and the wine comes. I seek the tune, and the tune
appears. Buddy, you’re truly my lucky star.”
“The springtime landscape in this residence is excellent. A pity
no one appreciates it. It’s fate that I get to encounter you while
enjoying the sights of spring. And it’s still fate that I get to listen to
this melody. Bosom guests are hard to come by in this world. I’m
no good at anything except playing the zither well. If you miss the
opportunity that is me, then there will be no one else who is up to
teaching you.” Qiao Tianya poured wine for himself while standing.
After drinking a cup, he tilted his chin at the man. “So, are you
learning or not?”
“Serving one’s teacher is akin to serving one’s father.”11 This
man put down the zither and dangled his jade pendant to tease
the cat. He said in a composed and unhurried manner, “I can
acknowledge you as my teacher, but to be someone’s teacher, you
must first convince the person.”
Qiao Tianya stroked his slightly stubbled chin and said, “I, Qiao
Tianya, never lie. Acknowledge me if you’re willing to believe me.
Else, forget it.”
This man loosened his grip on the jade pendant and looked at
Qiao Tianya again. After a while, he smiled and said, “I believe
you.”
◈ ◈ ◈
By the time Xiao Chiye returned to the Plum Blossom
Residence, it was already dark. It was only when he dismounted
that Chen Yang remembered and said as he led the horse, “Master,
they said a few days ago that Young Master Yao has returned.
Although he avoided the banquet, he will call on us to pay us a
visit.”
 “He’s a hard one to track down. Who knows when his interest
for a visit will come calling?” Xiao Chiye took off his dusty and
sweat-soaked outer robe and strode through the door to enter. “If
he comes, tell the kitchen to prepare some light dishes for him. He
has been with Secretariat Elder Hai long enough that he has grown
accustomed to it and hardly consumes meat.”
Gu Jin came out to them, then followed Xiao Chiye inside. Xiao
Chiye stroked Meng, who was on his shoulder, and said, “Bring in
some white meat and fresh water. It’s tired out today too—is my
man here?”
Gu Jin nodded and said, “He arrived a little less than an hour
ago. He’s currently handling official affairs in the study.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Has he taken his meal?”
Gu Jin replied, “No. His Excellency specially told the kitchen
that he’d wait for the Young Master to return before having dinner
together.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him as he turned his thumb ring around.
Gu Jin got the hint and averted his gaze, not daring to stare at Xiao
Chiye further. But Xiao Chiye’s mood did indeed take a turn for the
better. Before he entered the room, he took off Langli Blade and
tossed it to Gu Jin.
“Give the sheath a wipe.” Xiao Chiye pulled up the front of his
clothes to take a sniff of the scent on his own body. “Send it in in a
while. When it comes to sharpening the blade, I still ought to do it
myself. Have someone keep an eye on the serving of dishes. There
will be a lot going on tonight, but the water must be heated up
enough. Where is Qiao Tianya? Have him take his Master’s python
robe to the laundry room and scent it with incense before the
morning court. That’s all for now. You may go.”
Gu Jin acknowledged his command and withdrew, and Xiao
Chiye pushed the door open.
Shen Zechuan had been inside listening for quite a while. He
dipped the brush in ink without lifting his head and merely said,
“How virtuous. The Second Young Master is truly a man after my
own heart.”
Bless Alex♥
Footnotes
1. In Chinese customs, rice wine or tea is poured onto the
ground (usually in front of an altar or tombstone) as an
offering to the deities or in honor of the deceased.
2. 缇骑 tiqi; subordinates of the Imperial Bodyguards. They
are mounted cavalry of the Imperial Bodyguards that wear
red uniforms and are commonly guarded escorts of an
official’s retinue or entourage.
3. 百炼成钢 to be tempered into steel; i.e., to toughen up by
going through many hardships or setbacks
4. Children in those days were classified according to
whether they were a lawful or common child. A son of lawful
birth (嫡子) was born by the legal first wife (this was the wife
who has been officially married into the family, also known
as a zhengshi (正室)). They also had higher social status and
often received better treatment compared to the son of
common births (庶子) born by concubines.
5. 人走茶凉 literally “the tea gets cold when the people
leave”—feelings are gone when the people have left, i.e.,
people no longer fawn upon those who have fallen out of
power.
6. 蟒衣 (or 蟒袍) “python (or mang) robes” were
embroidered robes bestowed by the Emperor to officials
with merits during the Ming Dynasty. It was a sign of honor
and favor for officials who were granted the privilege of
wearing a “python robe”.

7.
8. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
9. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
10. 招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
11. 积石有(如)玉，列松如翠。郎艳独绝，世无其二
12. From the Tune of Master Whitestone《白石郎曲》by Guo
Maoqian (郭茂倩), a Song dynasty poetry anthologist. (T97
use 有 which is has* jade but original is supposedly 如 which
is like* jade)
13. These lines describe a man whose beautiful appearance
is difficult to describe in words. Jade and pine are often
associated with a beautiful man, and they are used here to
compare to the beauty of a male Adonis. No one else in the
world can compare to his supreme beauty. The keywords
here are his unique and unparalleled beauty.
14. 事师之犹事父也 from “Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals on
Learning” 《吕氏春秋·劝学》, a compendium of the
philosophies of the Hundred Schools of Thoughts, compiled
around 239 BC under the patronage of Qin Dynasty
Chancellor Lü Buwei.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 84 : WEALTH

Xiao Chiye was conscious of the fact that he was reeking of

sweat after having ran around the military drill grounds for the
entire day, so he did not go around to the other side of the table
but instead took his seat on this side. There were stacks of case files
on the table, some of which were sealed with the Ministry of
Justice’s memorandum slip. From the time indicated on top, they
were all from a very long time ago.
“You’re investigating old cases.” Xiao Chiye put up one hand on
the back of the chair and picked up the little bamboo fan that Shen
Zechuan had set on the table to fiddle with. “Just the Imperial
Prison’s cases alone took you half a month to investigate. Why are
you even looking at the cases from the Ministry of Justice now?”
“There was a vacuum in the imperial prison in the four years
before the former emperor ascended to the throne.” Shen Zechuan
looked at the files. “At that time, Ji Lei had Pan Rugui as his
backing, so it’s unlikely he would muck around to the point where
he did not have a single assignment. But the imperial prison did
not leave any case records behind, proving that many cases of that
time could still uphold the standard judicial process of the Three
Judicial Offices’ Joint Trial. Ji Lei could only follow behind the
Ministry of Justice running odd jobs for them.”
“What I mean is.” Xiao Chiye exerted a little force on two of his
fingers to use the fan to block Shen Zechuan’s view of the files and
lifted his chin. “What are we looking into the old cases for?”
“It was also here we previously discussed the case in which
Zhongbo’s troops were defeated.” Shen Zechuan set down the
brush. “I spoke of ‘befriending a distant state while attacking one
nearby’.1 Do you still remember?”
Xiao Chiye withdrew the fan and rose to his feet. He
sidestepped the table and walked towards the inner side of the
bookshelf. After a while, he emerged, carrying a scroll of a map.
Shen Zechuan pushed away the documents on the table, and Xiao
Chiye tossed out the scroll to spread it out on the table. It was an
extremely detailed military topographic map.
 “This is a treasure of mine I stashed away for special occasions.”
Xiao Chiye used the fan to draw a circle around the location of the
Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. “I naturally remember all that you’ve
said. You’re referring to the fact that someone used the Biansha
Cavalry to knock out the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo, which lies
close to Qudu. This is ‘attacking a nearby state’. Then, the Hua Clan
fell into decline, and the Empress Dowager was forced to marry
Hua the Third to Qidong. This is ‘befriending a distant state’. If we
put these two together, then we can see that it’s to take away Libei’s
powers by subtle means, rendering it powerless so that Libei would
be caught in a predicament where it has no support nearby and no
assistance from afar.”
“But the time such a game plan needs is too long, and the
variables are countless. If the other party wants to ensure that every
chess move he makes is without error, then he has to remain in a
position where he can view the entire game.” Shen Zechuan rose
and slid his finger from Zhongbo on the map to Qudu. “He has to
be here. The former emperor reigned for eight years, which is too
short to hatch a plot for the defeat of the Zhongbo’s troops. The
time has to be pushed forward. Many things have happened
during Emperor Guangcheng’s reign in the era of Yongyi, and
these incidents have more or less influenced the direction in which
the situation moved. He has to be somewhere within. I’m thinking
of using these old cases to find some clues.”
Xiao Chiye looked at the map and said, “It’s hard to get a full
view of it just from the files alone. You have to find someone who
was involved, or someone who knows the details.”
Propping himself up, Shen Zechuan looked aside at him and
said, “I don’t have such a person.”
Xiao Chiye returned the fan to Shen Zechuan and said, “On the
contrary, I do have a candidate to recommend… but, what are you
going to bribe me with?”
Shen Zechuan smiled and grasped the other end of the fan, but
he did not take it away. Instead, he simply looked at him in this way
and said, “Let me guess. The one you want to recommend to me is
Yao Wenyu, right?”
 “He’s a member of the Yao Clan. He would indeed know better
of the many incidents that had occurred during that period. What’s
more, he later went on to acknowledge Hai Liangyi as his teacher.
Hai Liangyi has successively served in an official capacity in the
Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel. He would, of
course, know the details best.” Xiao Chiye pulled the fan closer. “Or,
do you not care to meet him?”
“I’ve long heard of his name.” Shen Zechuan said. “Whether he
truly has the capabilities or is simply all form and no substance, I
will know after meeting him. I do want to meet him. But when will
he come? After today, I’ll be tied down with work for the latter half
of the month.”
“Everyone else is queuing up to present their visitation cards2 to
him so that they can meet him. Which of them has such the
prestige as His Excellency Shen? “Xiao Chiye said with a smile.
“He is like the banished immortal3 who has fallen from Heaven,
not meant for me to use. So even if I rack my brain and try every
means possible to play up to him, it’d be a futile effort.” What Shen
Zechuan said was the truth. He had indeed heard of Yao Wenyu,
but if they were to put this man together with Xue Xiuzhuo, he
would rather choose Xue Xiuzhuo. This was because what they
were doing was secular work; there were simply too many sordid
matters down here. So even if one were to praise such an
otherworldly divine being to the skies, he still did not have the
inclination to woo said person over to their side.
Scholars were basically and practically useless.4 Being an
official was no less carefree than the courtesan prostituting herself
in a brothel. Flattering those above you and trampling those under
you; ingratiating yourself with another; taking a beating with a
smile—each one of these acts was an art in itself. That Hai Liangyi
did not get Yao Wenyu to descend to this mundane world was
already enough to get a glimpse of Yao Wenyu’s temperament.
Who could bear to hold an immortal down in the quagmire? Just
let him remain free and happy as he always had been.
But Xiao Chiye thought differently. However, he was in no hurry
to voice it out and only said, “I’m merely a casual acquaintance of
his. He has friends all over the world, but those who can truly sit
with him for a chat are few and far between. His courteous but
distant exchange of pleasantries is just the same as yours. You can
just meet each other briefly and make an impression on each other.
Should a need arise in the future, you’d be able to make each other
acquaintances.”
Hearing him put it this way, Shen Zechuan did not turn it down
further. Xiao Chiye would not recommend a person for no rhyme or
reason. Shen Zechuan made a mental note of it, planning to get
Qiao Tianya to free up some time later to meet him first.
Xiao Chiye had spoken with Shen Zechuan as soon as he
entered. It was extremely hot at the moment. The sweat he had
worked up riding the horse on the way here had yet to dry up, and
the sky outside had already gone dark. Seeing as his temples were
still wet, Shen Zechuan said, “Go take a bath and have a change of
clothing. By the time you come out, you’ll just be in time for dinner.
We can discuss the other trivial matters later.”
“Virtuous.” Xiao Chiye lifted his leg to push aside the chair and
suddenly bent over to hoist Shen Zechuan over his shoulder again.
“Being considerate in words is only considered half of it. Let’s
bathe together. We get to save time, economize effort, and
conserve water.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his hand, wanting to correct the
position of the brush that had been knocked askew. But Xiao Chiye
had already taken a stride out to walk away. The hot water at the
back was prepared pretty fast. Once the curtain was pulled down, it
remained there for close to four hours. No one dared to interrupt
the flow of firewood throughout. Chen Yang, being the most tactful,
could read the situation best. Seeing as Xiao Chiye was about to
take a bath, he instructed the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for
the main dishes first, since there was no hurry to cook them as yet.
Shen Zechuan understood one thing, which was that he could
starve anyone but not Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye could not endure it
the slightest. He would place all those days Shen Zechuan had
owed him inside, demanding his repayment as he held him in his
grip. He was full of vigor and energy, and whatever bit of capability
Shen Zechuan had simply could not be compared to Xiao Chiye’s
diligence and thirst for learning.
 “I know it all.” Xiao Chiye reached a hand out to rub Shen
Zechuan’s right earlobe and clung close to Shen Zechuan’s ear to
say, “There’s no hurry to discuss Xi Hongxuan’s matter tonight.
You’ve been getting Ge Qingqing to scout around lately; are you
looking for Ji Gang-shifu? The Imperial Army is keeping guard at
the gates on our end. If there is an anomaly with the comings and
goings, I’ll send someone to notify you.”
Shen Zechuan reddened from the rubs. He propped his back
against Xiao Chiye’s arm and closed his eyes to catch his breath,
exposing his fair neck before him. His entire chest was heaving.
“Other than this.” Xiao Chiye fastened the earring for him. “This
Second Young Master will not talk about anything else tonight.”
Shen Zechuan leaned forward, and the waves built up, layer by
layer. He had a feeling of having a full stomach and on top of this,
he tasted the pleasure and thrill of extreme abandon. It threw his
consciousness into chaos, making him murmur vague words under
his breath, so much that Xiao Chiye, hearing him, went numb all
over.
Between them, there was no putting away the wine cups after
taking a tiny sip, only making merry to their hearts’ content.5
The undisguised desire was what they sought from the other.
Both men needed that headlong rush of when they held each
other. Every worry they had could all be washed away into oblivion
by this extremely harmonious and passionate coupling. They never
whispered sweet-nothings in the most intense moment, when the
surge of lust and desire for love interweaved. Instead, they
replaced them with kisses in unspoken agreement; the
impassioned it was, the more they had to kiss.
The water in the bathroom splashed all over the ground, and
the steamy water vapor covered all remaining light from the
window. The night was so deep, so quiet, that other than Shen
Zechuan’s voice, Xiao Chiye could not hear anything at all. He
threw himself entirely into it, leaving nothing behind.
By the time Xiao Chiye finally had his fair share, he had already
lost all track of time. He brushed away Shen Zechuan’s thoroughly
soaked hair and caressed Shen Zechuan’s wet cheeks. Shen
Zechuan lifted his fair neck high, hooked him closer, and licked his
lips wet.
Xiao Chiye had yet to pull out. He kissed Shen Zechuan in this
position and picked him up.
Shen Zechuan let him kiss as he reached out his fingers to feel
his way to the messy discharge. He rubbed it all on Xiao Chiye’s
body until he was utterly exhausted and drained.
◈ ◈ ◈
After they were done, Shen Zechuan ate a little porridge and
got stuffed several more mouthfuls of steamed twisted rolls by Xiao
Chiye. He had already changed into a clean inner garment. With
Xiao Chiye’s robe draped over him, he watched Xiao Chiye eat his
meal.
Xiao Chiye had an astonishing appetite lately. Shen Zechuan
did not know what he was doing over at the military drill grounds
at Mount Feng, but he keenly sensed that Xiao Chiye was not in a
good mood today.
“Go sleep on the bed.” Xiao Chiye lifted his head to glance and
Shen Zechuan and said, “You’ll catch a cold if you lie prone here.”
Shen Zechuan moved a fish over and grasped his chopsticks to
pick out the fish bones. He was indeed tired to the point he was
dozing off, but he still took his time to say, “The repair and
renovation of the military drill grounds have only just concluded,
and there are enough funds to cover the costs. Looking at your
expression though… is someone playing dirty tricks?”
Xiao Chiye ate for a moment with a calm expression before he
said, “I want to add the blunderbuss6 to the Imperial Army’s
arsenal.”
Tough.
Shen Zechuan instantly knew the reason for his displeasure
today.
At present, the blunderbuss was only allocated to the Eight
Great Training Divisions. This stuff was valuable, and the Ministry of
War would not assign it out easily, much less assign it to Xiao
Chiye. Xiao Chiye had long set his eyes on them. The Eight Great
Training Divisions had consigned this batch of bronze blunderbuss
to their arsenal, where they had been sitting idly all this while. He
had taken a few out to play with the last time, and it was from that
time onwards that he started harboring the intent. But Xiao Chiye
knew that this request of his would definitely hit a wall at the
Ministry of War. Even Li Jianheng himself had no say in this matter,
because it was of great significance, and the power to decide lay
firmly in the hands of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat
—Hai Liangyi.
Shen Zechuan thought for a moment. He held out the fish meat
with his chopsticks to Xiao Chiye and said, “This thinking of yours
in letting the Imperial Army test the waters in preparation for Libei’s
Armored Cavalry is too obvious. Considering the current situation
in which they can’t set you free, Hai Liangyi will no doubt
disagree.”
Xiao Chiye did not like to eat fish because he was too impatient
to pick out the fish bones, but now that he tasted it, he found it to
be still acceptable. He ate as much as Shen Zechuan fed him and
only said when the chopsticks were set down, “Even if he doesn’t
agree, I’ll still think of ways to get my hands on them. Libei has
military craftsmen. With the blueprint in hand, they should be able
to copy it, like drawing a tiger with a cat as a model.”
As long as they had the blueprint, everything else would be a
breeze.
“It’s just that this blueprint is not easy to get our hands on.”
Shen Zechuan rinsed his mouth from Xiao Chiye’s hands and
thought for a moment before he continued, “Hai Liangyi keeps a
pretty tight watch on this thing.”
But Xiao Chiye was determined to have it, and the reason he
had to have this thing was something Shen Zechuan understood
the best.
Hua Xiangyi was about to marry down to Qidong soon. Qudu’s
strategy of “befriending a distant state while attacking one nearby”
was already beginning to take shape. Libei must make
corresponding adjustments as soon as possible. The Libei Armored
Cavalry was not an invincible army. The reason it remained
infallible was that its two successive commanders-in-chief were
resourceful and adaptable to changing circumstances. If the Qi
Clan really fell out with Libei because of the marriage alliance, then,
other than considering strategies to deal with the Biansha Cavalry,
Libei would also need to consider tactics to deal with the Qi Clan’s
infantry.
“The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, and Kong Qiu come from the
same hometown. With this layer of connection, he could also be
considered an official under Hai Liangyi. This man has some
friendly relations with my father. He wouldn’t necessarily even do
my eldest brother a favor in the past. And now that it’s come to
me…” Recalling the displeasure of yesterday, Xiao Chiye paused
for a moment before he merely said, “… There got to be another
way somehow.”
Once Xiao Chiye had finished his meal, Shen Zechuan
extinguished the lamp. Both men lay on the bed, sharing a pillow.
Shen Zechuan had a plan in his mind and spoke up, “It’ll be
hard to go through Chen Zhen. Since he is from the same
hometown as Kong Qiu, then it means he’s from Qidong. Between
Qidong and Libei, he would already have an inherent bias towards
one. Blunderbuss… The Imperial Bodyguards might have the
blueprint.”
Xiao Chiye pulled him over for an embrace. He closed his eyes
and said, “Xi Hongxuan has only just died, and those keys have
already become a masterless gold mine. Everyone is watching you
now; they are all dying to rip you apart to search for them. And you
just happen to incur your colleagues’ jealousy and envy at present.
You need not bother with this matter—Look here. This Second
Young Master has a way.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer. Instead, he smiled.
Xiao Chiye slowly opened his eyes and said, “Those two million
taels of silver will not enter Libei. I’ve already spoken to my eldest
brother. The money will stop at Cizhou. You can take out these
silvers anytime you go back there. You can’t even play for nuts with
four million taels. This Second Young Master wants to give you
even more.”
They were clearly trapped in Qudu, yet the way he said it was
so genuine and sincere. Perhaps Xiao Chiye had told lies in the
past, but he would not lie at this very moment. He was like a wolf
pup collecting and hoarding up the stars, wanting to stuff it all to
Shen Zechuan like that entire jewelry box of pearls and jade
earrings. More often than not, he carried it out in action than to
voice it with words.
On hearing this, Shen Zechuan suddenly looked back and said,
“Actually, it’s not just four million. Xi Hongxuan had indeed kept his
keys securely hidden away. But he’s no sage. It would be inevitable
for him to divulge a word or two here and there to people close to
him after hearing some pillow talk. The clandestine love affair
between his eldest sister-in-law and Xi Dan had gone on for quite
some time. Both of them were actually tricking the secret out of him
all along… Sixty eight keys, thirty of which I know of… “
Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye, who was so poor that he was on the
verge of selling his residences, was a little shamed into anger. He
turned over to block off Shen Zechuan’s mouth, biting him until
Shen Zechuan gasped lightly for breath.
“Xiao’Er.” Feeling the pain, Shen Zechuan was resentful. “You’re
—”
Xiao Chiye pinched his chin to stop him from voicing it out.
Both men toppled into the bedding, trading peremptory kisses.
The wind outside the room came and went, leisurely and
carefree, sending the wind chimes under the eaves tinkling.
Ding Tao just happened to be on the rooftop feeding that
plump sparrow of his. He had kept the sparrow in his sleeves,
fishing it out from time to time to take a few looks at it. It was at this
moment he heard the sound of the pillow being pushed off inside
the room. He held the sparrow, wanting to stretch his head out for
a look, but not daring to. Looking around, he saw his various gege
each in their own respective daze. He gulped and said, “I, I, uh… I
guess I’ll tell you a story. My father previously wrote it in the book.
There was this…”
Qiao Tianya and Gu Jin kept their voices down and said evenly,
“You shut up.”

NOTE:
This is the combined version of the original, uncensored version
and revised, censored version.
Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin
Footnotes
1. 远交近攻 “Befriend a distant state; attack one nearby”
from the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计). This was in
chapter 50.
2. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a name card (or visitation card) written
or paper or wood used by officials, nobles, or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
3. 谪仙 literally, an immortal banished (to live on earth);
refers to a wayward genius
4. 百无一用是书生 Because in traditional times, the scholars
could not really do any practical work.
5. 浅尝即止 stop after scratching the surface; do something
cursorily.
6. 酣畅淋漓 make merry/indulging and drink to one’s
heart’s content. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

7.

8.
9. 火铳 Huochong, or blunderbuss (according to baidu), or
sometimes known as a hand cannon, is a tube-like projection
firearm. The Huochong gun was an important invention as
the Ming Dynasty was creating weapons to defend
themselves from attackers.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 85 : ASSIGNMENT

Translated with: Lin & Rie<3

With such a great misfortune befalling the Xi Clan, and with Xi

Hongxuan having no children to take over the mantle, the shops in
the various localities all temporarily suspended operations. The
shopkeepers sent letters to Qudu, ready to set up a mourning hall
in their old home and to discuss plans for the future.
Sitting on the chair, Shen Zechuan instructed, “This journey is a
far one to make, and you’re also bringing along womenfolk. I don’t
feel reassured. Xiaowu, lead a few of our men to escort this Elder
Brother Xi there.”
Xi Dan understood the meaning in Shen Zechuan’s words.
Afraid to doubt him, he hurriedly kowtowed to show his gratitude.
“There’s only the Eldest Mistress who can head the Xi Clan
now.” Shen Zechuan glanced at the account books before him and
said, “Pay some attention when you go back. Other matters are of
no rush; stabilize the current situation first. Don’t lose your head.
The deal we had discussed a few days back can be temporarily set
aside as well. Once you obtain the keys, keep a low profile, and
check the money vault’s entryways. A man’s wealth is his own ruin
by rousing greed in others. Now that you have to look after such a
big business and also manage the money vault, you’re bound to
encounter some trouble.”
Xi Dan naturally understood that he could only bank on Shen
Zechuan for protection now. He was a smart man who, having
followed Xi Hongxuan, knew best to assess the situation. Going all
out to work for Shen Zechuan was precisely to prevent himself from
being regarded as a sacrificial chess piece to be discarded by the
latter.
“With such guidance from Master, this lowly one dare not be
sloppy. I’ll do my best to stabilize the business for Master when I
return to my hometown.”
 “Xi Hongxuan trusted you that much all because you have the
capabilities to speak of. He was overbearing and domineering in
the past, and was only willing to get you to work on the accounts.
But it’s different now, and I’m giving you the chance to show your
mettle.” Shen Zechuan set the account book aside without looking
at him. “Be honest in your work and play by the rules, and there will
be plenty of chances for you to be in charge in the future. But if you
deceive me, even by just one word, then I will claim this tongue of
yours.”
He said it lightly and breezily, but Xi Dan felt chilled to the
marrow on hearing it. He hurriedly kowtowed again, not daring to
look at Shen Zechuan further.
It was noon after Shen Zechuan dismissed Xi Dan and when Ge
Qingqing returned. Ge Qingqing entered and removed his blade,
and the errand-runner at the side came over to serve him tea,
which he downed in one gulp.
“No one.” Ge Qingqing pulled out a chair and sat down. He
said, “All the Xi Clan’s residences in Qudu have been thoroughly
searched. There’s no sign of Teacher and shifu whatsoever.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing as he leaned against the chair in
silence with a displeased expression.
“Could they be in a manor outside the city?” Ge Qingqing
wiped his sweat. “The Xi Clan has many manors out there too. Who
knows, he might really have hidden them outside.”
“Shifu isn’t Teacher. It has been so long. He would surely think
of a way to come back and see me. But he didn’t.” Shen Zechuan’s
heart sank. “This shows that he’s trapped somewhere; he can’t
come back.”
Ji Gang was not Qi Huilian, who was too weak to truss even a
chicken. There was almost no one who was his match in Qudu.
Perhaps there was a highly skilled expert among the men from the
martial fraternity whom Xi Hongxuan had hired with a large sum of
money. But now that Xi Hongxuan was dead, this group of martial
artists should have already scattered and fled, busily dodging the
pursuit of the imperial court. So, where in the world would they care
about the detainees?
 “Call Fei Sheng over.” Shen Zechuan said, “I have a mission for
him.”
Ge Qingqing was momentarily stunned, after which he said,
“These people… Will he be willing to take it on?”
“Since he is registered to serve in the imperial prison,” Shen
Zechuan raised his eyes, his gaze cold, “then there is no ‘unwilling’
for him to speak of. If these people cannot be useful to me, then
leaving them around will only lead to disastrous consequences in
the future.”
The Imperial Bodyguards had no lack of talents, but those like
Gu Jin, who could scout everywhere and anywhere with just a pair
of eyes and ears, were few and far between. This Fei Sheng was a
son of common birth born of a concubine. He was an assistant
commander, one who inherited his father’s original post in
recognition of his meritorious services. This person was the most
outstanding in conducting searches, but he was previously one-
upped and overshadowed by Qiao Tianya. He hung on until it was
finally the eighth year in which he could be considered for
promotion, and made many trips to Marquis Helian’s place of the
same clan. He initially thought himself to be the one to assume the
position of Northern Judge. Who would expect Shen Zechuan to
appear out of nowhere? The latter completely severed his future
prospects, keeping him stagnant in his original post to await
orders.
Fei Sheng was different from Ge Qingqing. He knew more
about the circuitous official circles than Ge Qingqing, who came
from an impoverished family background. He could even strike up
a conversation with Han Cheng, who was his superior, and he
could be considered half a disciple of Han Cheng. So, he was not
like Ge Qingqing and the likes who had a former friendship with Ji
Gang—he totally did not give a damn about Ji Gang. At present, he
was a heavyweight in the Imperial Bodyguards, one on mutually
antagonistic terms with Shen Zechuan. When Shen Zechuan was at
the height of his glory a few months earlier, he had lain low and
did not face Shen Zechuan head-on. But friction had been
gradually building up in recent days.
 Shen Zechuan had wasted too much time examining old cases,
and half of that time was wasted on these people. They heeded
only half of the instructions he handed down to them, and they
were sloppy in their search and gathering of the case files. On his
end, Shen Zechuan had been unable to match the records to the
reign and had to personally make a trip to the Ministry of Justice
before he could put it all in order.
The atmosphere between both sides was already beginning to
get explosively belligerent. Ge Qingqing knew they were capable,
but he still choked with resentment to be compared to them in such
a manner. Yet, he also understood he was inferior to them. Finding
the men was now the top priority, so he did not object and rose to
go call Fei Sheng.
Ge Qingqing lifted the curtain and walked out to see Fei Sheng
in another room drinking wine and playing the finger-guessing
game with others. He stood beside the door and said, “Assistant
Commander Fei, please make your way to the central room. His
Excellency is calling for you.”
It was as if Fei Sheng did not hear him as he stepped on the
chair and shouted as he played with the others. For the entire room
of people to be creating such a ruckus in broad daylight was truly a
display of impropriety and disrespect.
Ge Qingqing had never flared up or lost his temper at the
others. He had been tagging along on missions with his old man
ever since he was young, and he had seen all sorts of people. He
knew how to take care of others, and he had a sense of propriety.
He could make the acquaintances of even the squad commanders
standing guard and errand-runners below him in rank. No matter
how uncomfortable he was at present, he would never at this time
pull a long face and show his displeasure at the other party. As
such, he strode through the door and grabbed the wine jar on the
table to personally pour a cup for Fei Sheng. He said courteously,
“It’s nothing major, and it’s not a mission on His Majesty’s order
either. It won’t take up that much time.”
Tossing the peanuts, Fei Sheng said, “If it’s not His Majesty’s
order, then just get one of the subordinates to go. What does it say
of him to be singling out someone like me with rank and authority?
That doesn’t make sense, does it?”
“His Excellency naturally has his own arrangements. Whether
you take it up or not can be negotiated.” Ge Qingqing poured a
cup for himself and clinked cups with him. “It has been hard on the
various comrades to be checking the old cases these few days.
Assistant Commander Fei has worked hard and achieved much.
Here’s a toast to you. Men of capabilities are always overworked.
Please go.”
Fei Sheng did not care to work for Shen Zechuan. He also
boasted of being Shen Zechuan’s senior, so Shen Zechuan was not
qualified enough to order him around. But when all was said and
done, they had to work together. He had no reason to create a
scene without good cause; it would not sound good either, if news
of it were to make its way to Han Cheng.
Fei Sheng drank this cup of wine and smiled insincerely at Ge
Qingqing. Without even answering him, he took his own authority
token from the table and turned around to leave.
Left behind and given the cold shoulder, Ge Qingqing set
down the wine cup and cupped his hands to the surrounding
Imperial Bodyguards – each of whom wearing various expressions
on their faces – and left too. The moment he retreated out, his own
men also stood up.
Ge Qingqing wiped his mouth and said, “Why are you all
standing up? There’s no need for formalities between us brothers.
Sit.”
Xiaowu, who was of similar age to Ding Tao, could not refrain
from wearing his heart on his sleeve. He said in anger and
resentment, “Look at his eyes growing on top of his head. He walks
like a tyrant, all so overbearing and puffed up with his own
importance that he has no fear karma might hit him hard in the
face someday.1 What kind of an honorable man is he, acting all like
a snob? Bah! Qing-ge, why do we even put up with him? Remove
his token and drag him out, then cover him with a sack and bash
him up. See if he still doesn’t learn to behave himself!”
Ge Qingqing rebuked, “What insolent remarks are you
spouting? If news that we beat up our own people gets out, we will
be making a mockery of ourselves!” He looked at every one of
them and continued, “We are all attending to official duties
together. We mustn’t leave any misunderstandings or unhappiness
festering. Otherwise, how can we all look out for each other when
we are on a mission? Since they look down on us, then we’ll work
harder to prove ourselves.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng lifted the curtain to enter and sloppily paid his
respects before the table. He still reeked of wine, the smell strong
enough for Shen Zechuan to catch a whiff of it from where he was
across the table.
Without lifting his head, Shen Zechuan said, “Drinking on duty
is punishable by a deduction from your salary, yes?”
Seeing that Shen Zechuan did not get up, Fei Sheng pulled the
chair over. But before his ass could touch the chair, Shen Zechuan
looked at him.
Shen Zechuan unhurriedly let out a smile. “Sit.”
Fei Sheng could not tell what he was up to. He sat down and
asked, “What can I do for your Excellency, since you are looking for
me?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “There’s an assignment that no one else
can do except you.”
Seeing as he had something to ask of him, Fei Sheng could not
help but relax. He touched the pipe in his sleeve pocket and started
to put on airs, first saying, “Is it a prison assignment? If it’s an order
from the Commander-in-chief, then pass me the official paperwork
and I’ll be able to work on it.”
Shen Zechuan tapped away the excess ink on the brush tip and
said, “It’s not a prison assignment, and it’s not an order from the
Commander-in-chief.”
Fei Sheng struck the flint and bit down on his pipe as he
laughed and said, “Then it’s Your Excellency’s order? I can do it, but
I still have a mission to keep track and record of late. Isn’t this just in
time for the fourth month? I have to keep an eye on the price
fluctuations of Qudu’s daily necessities of firewood, rice, oil, and
salt.”
 The so-called “keep track and record” was to have the Imperial
Bodyguards record all minor and major matters in a book,
including the prices of grains, rice, noodles, and tea; these were to
be reported to Li Jianheng and Hai Liangyi whenever necessary.
But this assignment did not have to be personally carried out by Fei
Sheng. He was a fourth-grade assistant commander, and the only
assignments in which he could be dispatched out were for arrests
and fieldwork. By putting it this way, he was, in truth, not planning
to take on the assignment.
“Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?2 Having you do that is
simply a waste of talent.” Shen Zechuan said.
“I am a person of mediocre ability to begin with. I cannot be
compared to such a naturally talented hero like Your Excellency.
You are already a third-grade Vice Commander at such a young
age, and His Majesty looks upon you favorably. What’s more, you
are a man of elegance and poise.” Fei Sheng blew out puffs of
smoke. “Men like us can only do some lowly work to muddle our
way through. We don’t dare to dream of anything else, and we
don’t dare to be one either. Wait for a few days. I’ll have free time
only after a few days.”
Shen Zechuan said, “This assignment cannot wait.”
Fei Sheng moistened his dry throat and half-leaned over to
look at Shen Zechuan to say, “Then what can I do? Each matter has
its own priorities. I have to finish the task at hand before I can take
on your assignment. This is the rule set by Ji Wufan back then, and
I can’t break it. So, you’ll have to wait.”
Shen Zechuan, having received that smoke right in his face,
looked at how fearless his expression was and knocked the ashes
away to the edge of the table. Capitalizing on his status, and
thinking that Shen Zechuan could not keep him under control, Fei
Sheng slid the chair away and prepared to bid him farewell.
Shen Zechuan suddenly extended his fingers to tack a slip of
paper before Fei Sheng and said, “I can wait. But can the Assistant
Commander wait? This year is your promotion year. But
coincidentally, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of
Juexi, Jiang Qingshan, is about to enter the capital to report for
work. Surely you understand the Grand Secretariat’s intent by
having Jiang Qingshan enter the capital at this point in time. He
will be going to Zhongbo to be the person-in-charge, and this
person lacks an Imperial Bodyguards Inspector-General by his
side… So, is Assistant Commander Fei still busy?”
Jiang Qingshan was a Provincial Governor who was
outstanding in his governance of the area within his jurisdiction,
having forged ahead and turned Juexi into Dazhou’s granary.
Libei’s and Qidong’s army provisions all came from him. This
person was someone whom even Xiao Jiming and Qi Zhuyin could
not afford to offend. Working for him meant that there would be
nothing to worry about one’s future prospects. Fei Sheng could not
advance any further in ranks. He had to find external help. But
because he was a son of common birth born of a concubine, he
could not get to play together with all the bona fide direct
descendants born of the principal wives like Han Jin, Fei Shi, and
Pan Lin. Without that layer of connection, he could not make his
way up through the ranks. Being stuck in this position made him
feel shitty all over. Otherwise, he would not greet Shen Zechuan
with such biting sarcasm and mockery.
Fei Sheng hurriedly extinguished the pipe and rubbed his
palms at the sides of his legs. He bent over slightly and said to
Shen Zechuan with a smile, “Look at me, not knowing what’s good
for me! What assignment? Tell me.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I want you to turn over the entire Qudu to
search for two men.”
“Search openly, or…” Fei Sheng looked at Shen Zechuan and
gradually cottoned on. He said, “That’s easily done. I’m good at
this. Give me their descriptions, Your Excellency. Five days. I’ll
definitely find them for you!”
Shen Zechuan lowered his voice and said, “I’m only giving you
two days.”
Fei Sheng looked at the slip of paper, clenched his teeth, and
accepted!

Footnotes
1. He literally said, “he walks like a crab, so very sideways
(横), unafraid that he’ll hit the door on his way out someday!’
Walking sideways (like a crab) refers to someone being
domineering and tyrannical or riding roughshod over
others.
2. i.e., 杀鸡焉用牛刀 a small job does not require a big
operation or a great talent
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 86 : FORMER RESIDENCE

Translated with: Eggy<3 (Author’s Notes)

Hua Xiangyi and Qi Shiyu’s wedding was scheduled to take

place on the eve of the Grain in Ear1 in the fourth month. The
Ministry of Rites had already submitted the drawn-up process to the
Empress Dowager. The internal affairs of the palace were
numerous and complex, so when it came to such a major affair, the
key government offices could not afford to be lacking in
personnel.
Fuman originally thought himself to be the perfect candidate
for the position of the Directorate of Ceremonial Seal-holding
Director. He had the qualification and experience, having attended
the Eunuch School2 and having been in charge of managing the
affairs in the Grand Secretariat and Mingli Hall. Plus, he had Xiao
Chiye to vouch for him. As such, he was even more discreet and
cautious as he attended to his official duties these days.
Unexpectedly, when the imperial edict was issued, the Seal-
holding Director turned out to be Fengquan and not him.
Fengquan was young, and he had little experience to speak of. He
had never studied in the Eunuch School. What’s more, he was a
junior eunuch who was already over the usual age when he
entered the palace. His connection to the former Pan Rugui and Ji
Lei was one that could never be severed clean. To let him take on
this post that was comparable to that of an “inner minister”—Fuman
really did not know if he should cry or sigh.
“The promotion of an outer court official depends on his family
social standing, place of origin, and teacher or master he tutored
under. I thought the promotion of us inner court eunuchs would be
exempt from this hurdle of family background and status. But,
damn.” Fuman set down the teacup and let loose a long sigh.
“Who knew that we still can’t cross this hurdle after all!”
 “What family background does he have?” Xiao Chiye listened
to Fuman’s grouses and said as he leisurely drank his tea, “He’s
only benefiting off his elder sister’s glory.”
“Your Lordship, why is it that I don’t have a sister?!” Fuman
slapped his knee and lamented.
Xiao Chiye snorted a laugh and said, “If the seal isn’t available,
there’s still the brush. The Brush-holding Director also manages the
Eastern Depot. Old Fu, by letting him take the lead at the head of
the pack, you’ll get to escape the spittles of imperial censors.”
“His Majesty’s current treatment of me can’t be compared to the
former emperor’s treatment of Pan Rugui, and the Eastern Depot
isn’t as influential as the Imperial Bodyguards.” Fuman hesitated,
then said, “Your Lordship, looking at how favored Her Ladyship Mu
is at present, if she were to give birth to an imperial heir in the
future, then wouldn’t Fengquan secure this position completely?
Never mind if he is one who knows his place. I fear that he harbors
an ulterior motive and ends up breaking the imperial court’s laws
and throwing the state into chaos. Wouldn’t that make him the
second Pan Rugui?”
Fuman had to greet Fengquan with a smiling face in the
palace, but in truth, he was jealous and sickened of him. Fengquan
had Mu Ru as a backer. If Fuman, who had been supplanted by him,
wanted to stand up to him as an equal in the Directorate of
Ceremonial, he had to win over the outer court officials.
“He is young, and he still has to rely on you for many matters.
You often move around the Grand Secretariat, and you are a known
figure to the Grand Secretary. If one were really to compare, he is
merely a lad who usurps what is others’. He is no one worthy of
mention.” Xiao Chiye comforted him in his manner, then said,
“With us looking out after each other from within and without, we
needn’t fear him. How is it going in the palace lately?”
“Second Young Master Xi is dead. His Majesty still thinks of the
tune he had yet to complete and felt sad for a few days.” Fuman
turned sideways to look at Xiao Chiye. “But Your Lordship, while I
was serving tea to the various excellencies in the Grand Secretariat,
I inferred from Minister Wei’s words that he still wants to investigate
the Xi Clan’s accounts. The Xi Clan caused such a big commotion
at the harbor, and there is no head of household this time. Such a
big business may be likened to a piece of fatty meat—it’s a gold
mine. They are all eyeing it!”
“Isn’t his family still alive?” Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan had
discussed the follow-up plans for the Xi Clan. Those keys had fallen
into Shen Zechuan’s hands, and in Xiao Chiye’s eyes, these were
Shen Zechuan’s trousseau. Biding his time, he said, “Xi Hongxuan’s
eldest sister-in-law, and Xi Hongxuan’s various cousins are all
skilled in managing the business, and they have not committed
any crimes. By investigating their accounts for no apparent reason,
Minister Wei would be accused of hitting a man when he’s down.”
“His Majesty didn’t agree. But the Grand Secretary seems…”
Fuman moved his arm onto the table and said to Xiao Chiye, “…
seems to have the intent to pursue the accounts too.”
Hai Liangyi naturally has his own considerations. The Xi Clan
had too much silver hidden away. Rather than let the remaining
few clans divide it up among themselves, they might as well take
that money into the state treasury and let the imperial court
manage it. But this meant that Hai Liangyi had to fight with the
noble clans head-on.
“The key is still His Majesty.” Xiao Chiye thought for a moment
and said to Fuman, “His Majesty is a wise ruler, and he’s the most
particular about benevolence and righteousness. It was only just
last month that he granted a general amnesty. Wouldn’t raiding
and confiscating the Xi Clan’s properties and possessions for no
rhyme or reasons this month run contrary to the original intent of
the amnesty? His Majesty is also hesitating himself. Old Fu,
Fengquan will no doubt go along with Minister Wei for this matter.
If you go along too, then it will instead look like you’re blindly
going along with the flow. Why not use the opportunity while you
are serving His Majesty to tell His Majesty in detail that it is
inadvisable to go ahead with this matter at present?”
The gears turned in Fuman’s head. He said, “Won’t this offend
Minister Wei?”
“Whether inside or outside the palace, there is only one master,
and that is His Majesty.” Xiao Chiye smiled. “Pan Rugui was
powerful and influential too, but he did not throw in his lot with the
emperor. I’m not at all surprised that he ended up executed.
Besides, how can Mingli Hall tolerate tongues wagging? How
would he, Wei Huaigu, know of the words you say to His Majesty?
His Majesty likes people who are sentimental. You don’t have to
persuade for the sake of persuasion. Just mention it in passing.”
“I shall listen to Your Lordship’s advice.” Fuman was all smiles,
looking warm and affable. “In any case, this money won’t land in
our pockets. We all might as well not want it!”
“The Ministry of Revenue has been tabulating the Imperial
Army’s accounts for the medicinal herbs used at the Zhao Zui
Temple for quite a number of days. How’s it? Have you heard
anything of it?”
“It’s been done and has already been submitted to His
Majesty’s desk. Nothing is wrong.” Fuman knew that Liang Cuishan,
from the Ministry of Revenue who was entrusted to handle this
account, had been nominated by Xiao Chiye, so he said, “His
Excellency Liang is truly something to sort out and keep the
accounts in such clear order. He could even answer readily and
smoothly when the Grand Secretary quizzed him about it. Looks
like he’s on his way to a promotion too!”
Thus, Xiao Chiye asked no further. When Fuman was leaving,
Chen Yang gave him the new tea from Hezhou they had prepared
in advance. Fuman’s hands sank when he received it, and so he
knew that there was something inside. He pretended to decline it,
and it was only after Chen Yang repeatedly persuaded him that he
finally accepted.
The next day, when the court was dismissed, Xiao Chiye waited
outside Mingli Hall for himself to be summoned. Shen Zechuan was
there too. Both men stood an appropriate distance away—not too
far, not too close.
“There are people everywhere probing into the Xi Clan’s
properties these few days.” Xiao Chiye removed Langli Blade and
handed it to Shen Zechuan, taking the opportunity when Shen
Zechuan received it to hold down his hand slightly. “Your
Excellency ought to move fast soon.”
Shen Zechuan seemed to have something else on his mind. On
hearing him, he lifted Langli Blade and said, “Yeah, he has already
left Qudu and is rushing back with the coffin in tow. There should
be news next month.”
“Hai Liangyi is not the same as the others. He has made up his
mind to take the Xi Clan’s family properties into the state treasury.
No matter how fast your man rushes, he will still lose the advantage
of the first strike.” Xiao Chiye found Shen Zechuan a little
distracted; thus, he released his grip.
Shen Zechuan’s palm sank. Barely able to hold up Langli Blade,
he said, “… No matter how fast he is, he still has to play by the rules
and follow procedures.”
Xiao Chiye cast a glance at Mingli Hall’s corridor and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “I’m looking for someone. Shifu is
missing.”
Xiao Chiye said, “As long as there is no passage document
issued, he is still in Qudu. The Eight Great Training Divisions would
not dare to let people in and out without authorization during the
epidemic. And the Imperial Army took over the patrol after the
epidemic. If Ji Gang-shifu has already left, I should have news on
my end.”
“I’m also guessing that he’s still in Qudu.” Shen Zechuan
paused for a moment. “Xi Hongxuan only did what he did to take
Teacher away. Shifu went along for the sake of protecting Teacher.
He shouldn’t have been held up for this long. But if Teacher is still in
danger, then Shifu definitely won’t be able to leave on his own.”
“Xi Hongxuan is already dead.” Xiao Chiye turned his eyes
slightly to look at the other end. “Time to get someone to check
that gentleman’s house.”
Shen Zechuan followed Xiao Chiye’s gaze. On that end, Xue
Xiuzhuo, dressed in official robes, was approaching them together
with Jiang Qingshan.
Xue Xiuzhuo was plain in appearance, but he had a scholarly
and refined bearing. He was not the same type as Kong Qiu, Cen
Yu, and the likes. He was gentle towards the others, making it likely
for the others to form a favorable impression of him. On the
contrary, Jiang Qingshan was not what one would expect. The
formidable heavyweight of Juexi from the rumors actually looked
younger than his actual age.
Both of them drew close, and the four men greeted each other.
In the past, when Jiang Qingshan came to Qudu to report on
his work, he had only seen Xiao Chiye from afar at the Banquet of
A Hundred Officials. As for Shen Zechuan, it was his first time
meeting him. But his heart was not in this, so he was neither
warmhearted nor pretentious towards them.
“Many old cases were closed this year, and it’s all thanks to the
contributions of Assistant Minister Xue and the various excellencies
from the Ministry of Justice. His Majesty will surely lavish you with
praises today when we meet with him.” Xiao Chiye said to Xue
Xiuzhuo with a smile.
Xue Xiuzhuo smiled too, shaking his head slightly as he said,
“It’s all due to His Excellency the Minister’s perceptive and wise
judgments that the cases could be closed. I merely assisted him
from the side. How is it considered a contribution? On the contrary,
it’s Vice Commander Shen who straightened out and put those
disorganized case files into order again. It has indeed been hard
on him.”
Shen Zechuan looked at Xue Xiuzhuo and said, “The imperial
prison has an archive I can check. These matters are something
that even a common clerk would be able to handle.”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression betrayed nothing. Other than Jiang
Qingshan, the other three were all feigning civility. Jiang Qingshan
seemed as though he did not want to get involved. He merely
stood at the side and said nothing.
Fuman lifted the curtain and came out to call out their names.
Only then did the four men move together into Mingli Hall. As
Shen Zechuan strode in, he instantly caught sight of Fengquan,
who was serving at the side beneath Li Jianheng’s dragon throne.
Both men’s eyes met, and Fengquan smiled.
◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng prided himself on being number one when it came
to conducting searches. There had never been a person he could
not find. Yet, there was still no trace of Ji Gang and Qi Huilian even
after he had gone through the entire Qudu these two days.
 Ge Qingqing had followed him all the way. When he saw that
Fei Sheng had now lost his arrogance and had been silent all this
while, he asked, “Is there a possibility that they have been taken out
of the city?”
Fei Sheng was serious when he was attending to official duties.
Not looking at anyone, he squatted at the bottom side of the Xi
Clan’s burned veranda and said, “Unlikely. Since one of them had
extraordinary skills, then it is only by taking them down on the spot
that would ensure no traces will be left behind. For this kind of
matter, the more the commotion, the easier it is to be exposed.”
Ge Qingqing took a few steps back and surveyed this mansion
with spacious halls and extensive gardens. He said, “But if he had
hidden them at home, then how could it have escaped the
searches of our brothers? We have long done a thorough search of
this residence.”
“Although I have never befriended or associated with Xi
Hongxuan, I have heard of his temperament.” Fei Sheng rose. “He
was suspicious by nature. So the more important things were to
him, the more he would have kept them close to him. Because he
did not trust others. Since these two men are so important, he
would definitely not put them in a place far away from him…”
Fei Sheng’s voice gradually trailed off. He climbed up along the
scorched wall and pushed aside the various branches to look over
next door.
“That’s Prince Qin’s Manor.” Ge Qingqing climbed up after him
and crouched down to look inside.
“Deserted for many years…” Fei Sheng jumped down and took
a few steps into the painted corridor, where he saw the paint at the
top had already peeled off. It was all gray and drab all around,
covered thick with cobwebs. He used his Xiuchun Blade3 to pick off
the cobwebs and tried pushing the doors with paper seals.4
“That’s right. It has indeed fallen into disuse for many years.”
Ge Qingqing looked around. “You suspected he hid them here?”
As soon Fei Sheng touched the door, he knew something was
wrong. He said, “A decades-old manor, yet the seals are merely
covered in dust. Something’s fishy!”
He took half a step back and abruptly kicked the door open.
 Author’s Notes:
I saw someone question the need to keep considering the issue
of ingots transportation instead of using banknotes outright. I’ll
explain it here so that those with the same question can also
understand the reasoning behind this.

Because I did not define banknote banks in my setting. If such a

setting were to exist, then it must be able to contain Xi clan’s wealth
and completely be beyond the imperial court’s control. It’d be
considered as a self-made entity by the merchants, and therefore,
it must have a high credit rating to ensure that the banknotes
issued under its banner can be used. Four million taels is no small
sum. Even if they were converted into banknotes, they’d still be
subjected to inspection during transportation. The banknotes
would also need to be protected against humidity and fire hazards.
Most importantly, because they are not officially issued by the
imperial court, there is no guarantee that its usage across the
various lands of Dazhou will be problem-free. As an example, for
this amount of money to come out of the Juexi, it must be
converted to banknotes at the banks in Juexi, but once it reaches
Zhongbo or Libei, it remains a question of whether or not the
banknotes can be exchanged for the same value.

If the setting were to include official banknotes, then events

such as the defeat of Zhongbo troops, corruption amongst
government officials, power struggles among political factions,
and the emptying of the state treasury during the era of Xiande
have resulted in the Ministry of Revenue being unable to audit their
own accounts clearly. They would have even less capacity to issue
and distribute official banknotes and paper currency. The issuance
and distribution of such have strict requirements for the notes’
materials as well as a standardized credit limit. So even if
banknotes were used, there is also no way a few banknotes could
net four million, given the limit on credit. If we were to consider
using denominations of one tael, five taels, ten taels, and so on, the
transfer of four million banknotes could only resolve the issue of
weight. Subsequently, if the imperial court were to have a change
of sovereign, or if the Xi Clan were to be brought to ruins, then
whether or not these banknotes will depreciate in value or render
void will also prove to be another source of headache as well.

Actually, there is an aspect of the Xi Clan’s setting. I’m not sure

if everyone has noticed. It’s that the Xi Clan controls the salterns
and copper mines. The copper mines mean that they can mint their
own copper coins, as long as they have a firm grasp on the relative
purity standard of Dazhou’s copper currency… This is the
fundamental reason they can pit themselves against the rest of the
Eight Great Clans. Besides, isn’t the large amount of silver
warehouses in their possession also an indication that they have, in
fact, already been mining silver in private and have the potential to
manipulate the flow of silver in the market?

Of course, these are a few words from whatever little

information I have on hand. Because I’m not familiar with the know-
how in this field, I’m not comfortable with blindly adding in the
setting of banknotes and banks. In the case of silver, it makes more
sense to only consider the relative purity standard of silver.

Many areas are problematic if we were to probe deeper into it,

so thank you for your tolerance and understanding! As a result,
today’s chapter isn’t much, sorry! But now that today’s matter has
been dealt with, we will return to our old schedule tomorrow.

Thank you for reading.

Footnotes
1. 芒种 Grain in Ear, the 9th of the 24 solar terms, which
marks the end of the grain-growing season and is the last
chance for sowing.
2. 内书堂 Eunuch School was established in the palace to
train young eunuchs to be literate. This was a deviation from
the ancient principle that eunuchs were forbidden to learn to
read and write.

3.
4. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.

5.
6. Strips of paper used for sealing doors, windows, etc, for
example, on a property confiscated by the government.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 87 : IMPERIAL HEIR

Translated with: Lin<3

The door panel fell to the ground with a loud “thud”, strewing
accumulated dust all over. Fei Sheng covered his nose and mouth
and strode in to check all the corners, not missing a single one.
This was the former residence of Prince Qin. Although it had
fallen into a state of disrepair for years, one could still get a glimpse
of its former opulence and grandeur. Fei Sheng lit the candle he
carried on him, extinguished the lighter,1 and headed into the
inner chamber.
“The bed-curtain and beddings are all new.” Ge Qingqing lifted
the drape and looked at the bed.
“There were still people staying here a few days ago.” Fei
Sheng stopped beside the table and pushed aside the teapot cover
to reveal the residual tea stains within. “They drank spring tea from
the Baimazhou Prefecture of Juexi. Looks like Xi Hongxuan did not
treat them shabbily.”
Ge Qingqing saw the bloodstains when he inspected the bed,
and his heart began to pound. He lifted the entire quilt, then took a
sudden step back.
Hidden under the quilt on the bed was a putrid-smelling corpse
with obvious signs of livor mortis. This person had obviously been
dead for a few days. Fei Sheng held up the light to inspect the
corpse.
“This person was strangled to death.” Fei Sheng pointed to the
corpse’s throat. “It was crushed outright.”
“There are bloodstains.” Ge Qingqing said. “He had wounds
inflicted with a blade before he died.”
“Not only that. Look at his neck. There are two sets of
strangulation marks, which means that the first time did not kill
him. How could those men Xi Hongxuan hired from the martial
fraternity alone be capable of forcing the shifu into such a corner?”
As Fei Sheng spoke, he used his blade to prop up the corpse and
slowly turned the body over. “There’s no anomaly with the livor
mortis; so he shouldn’t have been poisoned. The gashes on his
back are in such a mess. Obviously, a layman who knows nothing
of swordsmanship had haphazardly hacked away at him. The
blade missed the vital points; that’s why he chose to choke him to
death. They should have joined forces to kill this man. I suspect the
shifu was injured. It’s likely he was too physically weak, and the
Teacher had no choice but to take up the blade himself as a last
resort.”
The more Ge Qingqing heard, the more alarmed he was. He
said, “Since the corpse could be laid out in such a neat and orderly
manner, does it mean that Teacher and Shifu have not reached the
point of panic yet? As long as…”
“It’s possible that the corpse was laid out by others.” Fei Sheng
surveyed the place again. “There are no traces of a fight here
either… I think Shifu was injured and did not have the means to
display his prowess with ease, that’s why he needs Teacher’s help.
But their second transfer was definitely not arranged by Xi
Hongxuan, because none of those martial artists he hired from the
martial fraternity would dare to set themselves against the Imperial
Bodyguards for just a bit of money. Whether or not this corpse is
one of the martial artists remains to be seen. If it isn’t—”
Fei Sheng’s words came to an abrupt halt. He was willing to
work for Shen Zechuan because he was eyeing the lucrative post. If
this matter was not a personal grudge, then it was going to involve
court strife. He did not want to put himself right in the middle of it,
so he did not finish the second half of his words—If it wasn’t a
martial artist, then this kind of highly skilled expert could only
come from the imperial palace, and this corpse was possibly from
the Imperial Bodyguards themselves.
Ge Qingqing understood his concerns. Both men fell into a
silent stalemate. This house was creepy and eerie, so continuing to
stand here like this was not an option.
Fei Sheng retracted his blade and said, “They are most
certainly in Qudu. Each of the officials’ residences and princes’
manors has specialized bodyguards to stand guard. Their doors
are tightly shut, and there are secret passages built inside. It’s
simply too easy if they want to hide a few people. Sorry, this
humble one is unlearned and of little talent. I can only search this
far for His Excellency Shen!”
With that, he cupped his hands to Ge Qingqing and stepped
out the way he came in. He mounted his horse and headed back to
turn in his report.
From where he was in his spot, Ge Qingqing saw that trail of
blood drag all the way to the ground. So he followed the blood
trail and kneeled while propping himself up on the ground to look
under the bed. It was even darker beneath the bed, and there
seemed to be something there. Ge Qingqing reached out to fish it
out, but it turned out to be a handful of ashes. Ge Qingqing blew
away the ashes, leaving only a fingernail-sized piece of paper in his
palm.
It was the remnants of handwritten notes that Qi Huilian had
not thoroughly burned away.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes. Sandwiched between his fingers
was the piece of paper that had been burned yellow. There were
only a few words remaining on it, yet these were words he was the
most intimately acquainted with.
Qi Huilian’s handwritten notes touched upon quite a number of
matters. They were all treatises on contemporary politics they
discussed back then in Zhao Zui Temple. Every little thing he had
taught Shen Zechuan, and every inside story about the eunuchs he
knew when he served as Grand Mentor, were all in the notes.
During the epidemic, Qiao Tianya had transferred them all to store
in the loft for Qi Huilian to safekeep personally.
To prevent the information in them from leaking, Qi Huilian had
his own way of reading them. What treatise it was and how to read
it were all something he had thought over himself during his spare
time at the temple. If one were to read them in the usual order,
quite the number of matters would appear to be just a jumble of
words, much like the ravings of a lunatic—totally incoherent and
incomprehensible.
 But, he burned it. Was it because he was forced by
circumstances, or because he was worried that the one detaining
him would be able to read it?
Qiao Tianya, who had been leaning against the wall,
involuntarily straightened up when he saw Shen Zechuan stepping
out. Shen Zechuan swiftly walked down the steps and said,
“Prepare the carriage.”
Noting that it was already getting late, Qiao Tianya knew where
he wanted to go. The inconspicuous and common horse carriage
set off and circled twice on Shenwu Street before reaching the
Plum Blossom Residence.
“Where is His Lordship?” Shen Zechuan got off the carriage
and asked.
On seeing his solemn expression, Ding Tao did not dare to play
around and replied honestly, “His Lordship has just gone out to
invite that Eldest Master Xue for a drink. He will return later. Your
Excellency, do you need me to go and call His Lordship back? It’s
just a few streets away.”
For Xiao Chiye to invite Xue Xiuyi for a drink at this moment, he
must also be trying to probe deeper into Xue Xiuzhuo. The Xue
Residence was not an easy one to investigate. It was far more
convenient to have an insider like Xue Xiuyi around than to send
someone to grope around in the dark for clues.
Shen Zechuan walked into the courtyard and said, “You just
need to tell him that I’ll be resting here tonight. Tell him to come
back after he’s done drinking. Don’t stay out all night. But also tell
him there’s no hurry; there’s no need for him to rush back
immediately. Xue Xiuyi is not an easy one to dismiss at will.”
Ding Tao uttered an acknowledgment and left. Qiao Tianya
followed Shen Zechuan and asked, “Why the sudden hurry?”
“Xi Hongxuan didn’t trust anyone, but he trusted Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Shen Zechuan headed up the stairs under the dim light from the
lantern. “That last time Xi Dan defrauded him, he rather suspected
Xi Dan than to suspect Xue Xiuzhuo. He always had to ask about
everything. Having gotten hold of Teacher this time, he no doubt
wouldn’t dare to act on his own.”
 Before his death, Xi Hongxuan was so sure that Shen Zechuan
would lose. Why? He must have known something that Shen
Zechuan still did not know as yet. Xi Hongxuan’s promotion to the
Bureau of Evaluations was on Xue Xiuzhuo’s suggestion. He
heeded Xue Xiuzhuo’s advice that much—Why would he?
Shen Zechuan suddenly paused in his steps and stood where
he was.
The Xue Clan had already been on the decline for a long time.
Xi Hongxuan would never comply and put himself at the disposal
of a down-and-out person. He would also never be that easily won
over by anyone. They came to associate with each other through
the solidarity between fellow students. Because both clans were
related by marriage in the previous generations, they had ties of
kinship and friendship between them. But, what did Xue Xiuzhuo
use to maintain his hold over Xi Hongxuan? Xi Hongxuan put profit
before anything else. He could even kill his dear blood brother on a
whim. It was impossible for Xue Xiuzhuo to gain his trust of such
proportion with just that flimsy bit of blood relationship alone.
Shen Zechuan started to grow apprehensive for no reason. He
looked at the eaves. The shadow was like a threatening beast,
baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. It had already bitten half
of his body between its sharp fangs. Clues that he could not pry
apart clearly were just like the dense clusters of water weeds that,
along with the colors of the night, entangled and tied down his
hands and legs, giving him an inkling of the danger.
◈ ◈ ◈
When Xiao Chiye saw Ding Tao come in midway through his
drinking session with Xue Xiuyi that he had invited the latter to, he
knew that Shen Zechuan had returned to the residence. As he
socialized with the other man, he gave Ding Tao a slight nod to
indicate his awareness of it.
Xue Xiuyi was half-drunk again. He wanted to call a few
prostitutes down for company. But Xiao Chiye said nothing of this,
so he did not dare to call for them rashly. Still grabbing the wine
cup, he said to Xiao Chiye even as his wine-induced hiccups
persisted, “He… Xue Yanqing! That batch of fledglings he is raising
in the residence, he specifically put them in a big courtyard, and
even habitually hire… hire, hire a teacher to set up some kind of
private school… If you ask me, he doesn’t seem like he’s raising
prostitutes.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Chiye downed several cups of wine, showing
no sign of being drunk. Beside him, Chen Yang filled Xue Xiuyi’s
cup to the brim again. Xiao Chiye casually clinked cups with him
and said, “Then why did he buy those batch of people? There has
to be a reason.”
“There’s something odd about Xue Xiuzhuo!” Xue Xiuyi drank
several mouthfuls of wine and continued, “If not for Your Lordship’s
reminder, I would not have noticed… The people he bought are
similar in age, but they are all good-looking, with boys and girls
both pleasing to the eye. I know there are quite a number of people
in the imperial court who are into males. Each of those male
prostitutes on Donglong Street is all delicate and supple. They are
no less inferior to real, real women! Is he thinking that the ones
sold outside are unclean, and that would easily open himself up to
gossip and ridicules, so he had to raise a batch on the sly for future
connection building?”
Xiao Chiye did not listen to him prattle on. He toasted him and
said, “Then he’s going to have to put in a lot of time and effort.
Those popular and known male courtesans on Donglong Street
only got to where they are today because of patrons spending
cold, hard cash on them. He bought both boys and girls. Is the
teacher he hired only teaching the boys?”
“That’s the odd thing!” Xue Xiuyi’s drunken state was an
ungentlemanly sight to behold. He lowered his head for a moment
and finally stopped the hiccups before he said to Xiao Chiye, “Your
Lordship, he let those girls learn music, chess, calligraphy, and
painting.2 I know why; which man wouldn’t like a pretty lady as a
study companion? Yet he let those boys study essays on current
affairs.”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes swiftly turned to look at Xue Xiuyi. He
repeated, “He let those boys study essays on current affairs? Just
that alone?”
Xue Xiuyi shook his head hard. He extended his finger and
said, “He set up a small school in that courtyard. Occasionally, he
would go there to teach them himself. Your Lordship, do you know
what he taught? They were all proper classics. Just the previous
day, he was teaching these boys… contemporary politics!”
***
Xiao Chiye returned home very late. He saw that the room was
still lit, and so he knew Shen Zechuan was still waiting for him.
Chen Yang dismissed the attendants serving them, leaving only a
few of them guards to stand watch over the courtyard.
As usual, Xiao Chiye stepped inside. There was only a glazed
lamp lit inside. Shen Zechuan was before the small table, looking at
the cases. He had already removed his crown, and was draped
with Xiao Chiye’s large robe, looking as he always did before he
retired for the night.
Xiao Chiye leaned over to press down on Shen Zechuan’s back
and tilted his head to kiss his earlobe. He said, “Leave a note if
something’s the matter. It’s the same discussing it tomorrow
morning upon waking up.”
Shen Zechuan uttered an acknowledgment and turned his
head to look at him.
Xiao Chiye got up, removed his blade, took out his outer
garment, and sat cross-legged beside Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan’s fingertips pinched the page of the book, but he
did not turn it over. He said, “Some things have to be discussed in
person; it can’t be clearly explained in just a word or two.”
Xiao Chiye finally relaxed and undid his clasps. He said, “Let’s
take turns. You first or me first?”
Shen Zechuan looked at him for a moment, but Xiao Chiye did
not pull him closer, so he raised his fingers to help him undo the
clasps. After thinking for a moment, he said, “There are many
things I have yet to wrap my head around. You go first.”
Propping up his elbow on the small table, Xiao Chiye flipped
out another book from the cabinet at the side and handed it to
Shen Zechuan. As the latter read it, he said, “Of the batch of people
Xue Xiuzhuo bought, the eldest is eighteen years old, and the
youngest is fourteen. Boys and girls, both mixing in one courtyard.
The only thing they could be said to have in common is that they
are all good-looking.”
 “Eight Great Cities. Zhongbo. Juexi.” Shen Zechuan’s fingertip
followed the names. “He didn’t look at their place of origin when
he bought them.”
“This might be to obscure the truth so that others would have
nowhere to start checking even if they wanted to.” Seeing Shen
Zechuan come to a sudden stop at a certain spot, Xiao Chiye
moved in closer for a look. “You’ve seen this name before?”
Shen Zechuan looked at that name and said, “Ling Ting… I’ve
heard this name before at Xiangyun Villa.”
“They are all Xiangyun’s people.” Xiao Chiye said. “She likes
smart and sharp children; that’s why she used ‘Ling’ as a surname
and changed all the names of these fledglings.”
“You had a drink with Xue Xiuyi earlier tonight. Did he say
anything?”
“He said something strange.” Xiao Chiye paused for a moment.
“He said Xue Xiuzhuo bought this batch of people back to the
residence, where the girls learn all those stuff the brothels teach,
while the boys attended proper school. Xue Xiuzhuo hired a
teacher for these boys. There’s not only essays on current affairs
from the Imperial College but also discourse on contemporary
politics.”
Shen Zechuan pondered it over and said nothing.
Xiao Chiye said, “If he wants students, he could have picked
them from decent households. There are plenty of people from the
Imperial College who want to formally acknowledge him as their
teacher. Yet, it is in such a way to teach the boys he bought back
from the brothel. Even if these people really accomplish something
in their studies, they still can’t join the ranks of officials due to their
lowly status. So what’s in it for him? Unless he intends to raise a
bunch of in-residence hangers-on.”3
“Xue Xiuzhuo…” Shen Zechuan seemed to be drifting away, lost
in his thought. He listened to Xiao Chiye’s words and swiftly
organized his thoughts. “If he wants to keep hangers-on, there are
better candidates. You and I missed out a point earlier. Xue Xiuzhuo
and Xi Hongxuan are on good terms. It’s not like Ouhua Pavilion
can’t afford to give him the batch of brothel fledglings he wants,
isn’t it? Yet, he specifically used money to buy them from Xiangyun
Villa. This shows that he had his sights all along on a certain
someone among that batch.”
The images in Shen Zechuan’s mind flashed past. Although he
did not have Ding Tao’s photographic memory, he kept every
single matter and every single word from his past interactions with
the others in his mind to mull over. He remembered them all; he
would not forget any details.
“As long as the blood of the Li Clan runs in him, he’s the
imperial heir.”
Grand Mentor’s Qi words were like a thunderbolt that cleaved
apart the current muddle in Shen Zechuan’s mind. Once he
thought of this phrase, he thought of many more. He abruptly
straightened up in his kneeling pose, and his sleeves flipped over
and messed up several pages of papers on the small table.
“The former emperor…” Shen Zechuan grabbed hold of Xiao
Chiye’s arm. His voice gradually calmed as he said, “The former
emperor reigned for a little more than eight years. His chronic
illness went uncured, and he had no imperial heirs; the only one
who got pregnant was Imperial Concubine Wei. During the Nanlin
Hunting Grounds incident, the Hua Clan rebelled. Hua Siqian had
the guts to make his move that night precisely because of the child
in Imperial Concubine Wei’s belly. But after that night, when we
returned to the capital, Imperial Concubine Wei was already thrown
into a well to drown. At first, I suspected you, but then later on, I
suspected it to be a long-time minister from Hai Liangyi’s side. They
did it to completely sever the noble clans’ wishful thinking and let
Li Jianheng ascend to the throne smoothly. That’s why they struck
first to gain the upper hand and killed off Imperial Concubine Wei.
But now that I think about it, there’s something wrong with this
assumption. Even if Imperial Concubine Wei was with child, there
was still no knowing if it was a boy or a girl,4 so there was no way
they could pit the child against Li Jianheng, who already had the
support of Libei. To Hai Liangyi, killing Imperial Concubine Wei is
an unnecessary move.”
“Going further back, Emperor Guangcheng was on the throne
before Emperor Xiande. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace slit
his own throat in Zhao Zui Temple because of the rebellion case. At
that time, the Imperial Grandson was still an infant. If he didn’t die,
he should be twenty-six years of age this year. However, this case
was jointly handled by Ji Lei and Shen Wei. Ji Lei, in order to defect
to Pan Rugui back then and show his loyalty, would surely not dare
to be too sloppy and careless. So it’s even more unlikely for him to
leave such a big source of disaster behind. In that case, then the
one in this world who can still claim to be an imperial heir could
only be—”
Xiao Chiye grasped back Shen Zechuan’s icy cold hand and
continued in a deep, lowered voice, “The eldest is eighteen, and
the youngest is fourteen. If it’s truly the imperial heir, then the only
one who can match the timeline is Emperor Guangcheng. The
Eastern Palace was massacred in the era of Yongyi. For nearly a
decade after that, no imperial concubine was able to give birth to
an imperial heir right under the Empress Dowager’s watchful eyes.
Although Emperor Guangcheng was suffering from an illness at
that time, he wasn’t ill to the extent he was weak and frail. Unable
to break free from the Hua Clan’s hold over him, he could only
think of a way outside the palace.”
“Other than me, the only one who knew that Ouhua Pavilion
had been hollowed out beneath to be filled with jars was Xue
Xiuzhuo. The collapse case was an attempt to kill Li Jianheng, and
this is the part I haven’t been able to figure out. Assuming now that
he really has an imperial heir in hand, then everything else makes
sense. He killed Imperial Concubine Wei, then tried to kill Li
Jianheng.” That hidden unease of Shen Zechuan was becoming
more and more distinct.
Xiao Chiye was also daunted by this out-of-the-blue conjecture.
He said, “If that is truly the case, then the imperial heir is among
that batch of people.”
Both men faced each other. Shen Zechuan kept his voice down
and said, “This imperial heir—”
“Must not live.” Xiao Chiye pinched Shen Zechuan’s chin and
closed the distance between them. His gaze was deep and grave.
“Lanzhou, we cannot let a single one of these people live.”
He spoke slowly. His intent to kill was like a raging wave buried
in these depths. Both of them thought plenty in this very instant.
What was the implication of the imperial heir? It implied that
everything in the present will all turn passive. Would the noble clan
who had the imperial heir in their grasp be easily defeated? Think
about the Empress Dowager, who had ruled behind a screen5 for
as long as twenty years. The Li Clan she had in her control could
only become her puppet. The power and influence of political
factions formed of the aristocratic clans would surely rise again,
and Hai Liangyi would once again be beaten back into a
disadvantageous position!
All of a sudden, the sound of knocking rang out from the other
side of the door, breaking the heavy atmosphere between both
men.
Xiao Chiye said, “Speak.”
Qiao Tianya said with slight urgency, “Master, the man who has
been hurrying all night to catch up with Xi Dan is back.”
Shen Zechuan stood up at once, gathered his clothes together,
and opened the door. Qiao Tianya quickly stepped aside to create
a path for him. Shen Zechuan looked at Ge Qingqing, who was
kneeling on one knee in the courtyard, and went down the steps.
He said, “What’s wrong?”
“Your Excellency.” Ge Qingqing looked up. His voice was
hoarse and shaky. “Xi Dan opened the Xi Clan’s money vault, but it
has already been emptied out.”
The leaves on the branches in the courtyard rustled in the wind
as the trees abruptly inclined their heads to look askance at Ge
Qingqing. Moonlight smeared the ground white, as if paving it
with a thick blanket of frost. In the dead silence, Shen Zechuan
turned his head back a little and said to Xiao Chiye, “Er-lang, we’ve
been played for fools by him.”
His tone was soft and gentle, but it made the entire courtyard of
guards all lower their heads.

Footnotes
1.
2. 火折子 a kind of lighter used in the old times. It’s small
and portable, and to use it, you can just blow at it until it
lights up.
3. 琴棋书画 Also known as the Four Arts (四艺), which are
the accomplishments of a well-educated scholar of the old
school
4. 清客 hanger-on, or literary retainers, of the rich and
powerful (said of writers, artists, etc. who are patronized as
status symbols by rich and powerful people)
5. It was typically the males who had the rights to the
throne. A girl typically would not pose that much of a threat
than a boy would.
6. 垂帘听政 literally to hold court behind a screen or curtain.
A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or Empress
dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial court
without actually being seen by her subjects since women
were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by
a child emperor’s mother, who would serve as regent and
rule in place of the emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 88 : IMPERIAL PRECEPTOR

The refreshing breeze came blowing gently, and the chilly

night made one cold with fear.
Xiao Chiye’s earlier intent to kill was largely dispelled by this
“Er-lang”. He stayed silent for a long while, bathed in this pleasant
coolness as he calmed himself.
Shen Zechuan looked back again at Ge Qingqing. Without
looking the least bit flustered, he said, “Transporting this many
silvers is not something that can be achieved in a short time. No
matter how thorough he is, he can’t deceive the entire world.
Gather some men tonight to head out of the city. First, head to
Qinzhou and make detailed inquiries along the way. Record down
all the business transactions of the major goods in the past two
years from Juexi to the Northeast, then send someone to give me a
detailed account.”
Ge Qingqing had been heavyhearted with worries after
receiving the news. But when he saw how unperturbed Shen
Zechuan was, he could not help but feel a little relieved and
composed himself too.
“Chen Yang.” With his robe hanging off his shoulders, Xiao
Chiye motioned, “Take them to the Interpreters Institute1 in Qudu
first. Get a batch of medium-grade horses and affix their tags to the
official writ of arrest for the notorious bandit leader. Say that the
bandit is on the run in Juexi. It’s not convenient for the Imperial
Army to head out of the city to pursue and apprehend him; thus
this task is entrusted to the Imperial Bodyguards. I’ll personally
make a trip to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice
tomorrow morning to submit a report.”
The city gates were already closed, and they could not leave
the city arbitrarily. The Imperial Bodyguards were also involved in
the important tasks of conducting raids and arrests of criminals,
and they usually had to report to the Ministry of Justice and Chief
Surveillance Bureau whenever they had to leave the city for
fieldwork, then waited for the official approval in reply. By doing
this, Xiao Chiye was giving Ge Qingqing a reason to take the men
out of the capital and to excuse him from being subsequently
called to account by the Ministry of Justice.
Ge Qingqing immediately left upon getting his order. Chen
Yang threw on his robe and led the way, and both men left the
residence ahead of the others.
Xiao Chiye led the flimsily-dressed Shen Zechuan back by the
hand. When he stepped through the door into the room and saw
that Shen Zechuan was still deep in thought, he said, “What
happened to Teacher is no doubt connected to Xue Xiuzhuo. But
since he’s willing to transfer him away, that means Teacher is still of
use to him. He won’t act rashly and kill Teacher. There are too many
secrets hidden in the Xue’s Residence. I have to think of a reason to
get a special search-and-arrest warrant from His Majesty.”
“To deploy the Imperial Army, it has to be a major case where
the evidence is irrefutable. So we still have to rely on the Imperial
Bodyguards for the probe today.” Shen Zechuan did not sit back in
his original seat. He knew that resting would prove to be hard
tonight, seeing as it was already late, so he poured himself a cup of
strong tea. However, he only took a sip and gave the rest to Xiao
Chiye.
Xiao Chiye drank it all and said, “Xue Xiuzhuo is cautious in
everything he does. He would not even accept the ‘ice respect’2
those officials outside the city offered him upon their return to the
capital. In all the time during his tenure as the Chief Supervising
Secretary, the imperial censors from the Chief Surveillance Bureau
all regarded him as the most uncorrupted official. He rarely gets
impeached. So I’m afraid it’ll be hard for even the Imperial
Bodyguards to find a reason to investigate him.”
“Investigating him openly with great fanfare will inadvertently
alert the enemy.” Shen Zechuan fiddled with the teacup and
deliberated it over the bitter aftertaste of the tea. “He’s out in the
open, while we are hidden in the dark. As long as we keep the
pawn Xue Xiuyi concealed, we are still the party on the offensive.
Matters outside the palace is not an issue, but we have to be even
more careful when it comes to affairs within the palace. His intent to
kill His Majesty has already been ignited, and he has the help of Mu
Ru and Fengquan. He knows every one of His Majesty’s moves and
actions like the back of his hand. Under the circumstances, we have
no option but to guard against him.”
Xiao Chiye thought for a moment, then said, “Didn’t Fengquan
just become the Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of
Ceremonial? Given his service record, he will surely incur censure
from both inner and outer courts. Fuman, whose rank is beneath
him, is itching for a fight, while Hai Liangyi detests eunuchs.
Fengquan’s power and authority now that he has assumed the post
of the Seal-holding Director cannot be compared to Pan Rugui’s
during the latter’s time in power. Get him trapped both on the
inside and outside where he is unable to fend for himself, and he
won’t have the spare capacity to deal with anything else for Xue
Xiuzhuo.”
“It’s also of pivotal importance to secure His Majesty’s position.”
Shen Zechuan said. “No word regarding the imperial heir must get
out.”
Ever since Li Jianheng’s ascension, he had been castigated
much by the imperial censors. What’s more, he had met with
mishaps and dangers one after another. He did not have an
outstanding track record of political achievements, and his
reputation among the commoners was not comparable to that of
the former emperor. If the matter of the imperial heir were to leak, it
would no doubt unsettle public sentiment. No matter which way
one were to look at it, it would not be conducive to maintaining
stability.
“Regardless of whether it’s a real dragon or a fake dragon3 in
Xue Xiuzhuo’s hands.” Xiao Chiye pressed against his thumb ring
and stared at the glazed lamp. “The emperor of Dazhou can only
be Li Jianheng. Even if a crown prince is to be designated in the
future, it can only be Li Jianheng’s son.”
The Xiao Clan was now a notch above the Hua Clan, and they
had managed to preserve their power. Xiao Chiye, secured in his
position, was steadily making his moves, while Xiao Jiming, over in
Libei, was solid in his defenses too. They pitted against the noble
clans in Zhongbo and Qidong on the sly. The fight was not that
intense, because there were the outspoken ministers Hai Liangyi
and his people to act as an intermediary and mediate between
them, managing with some difficulty to prevent the infighting
between the two tigers4 from deteriorating further. But then, Hai
Liangyi’s greatest protection was Li Jianheng. Li Jianheng was
willing to trust him and respect him; he knew of his unyielding
loyalty. That’s why he had not immediately turned to the Empress
Dowager for support in this tug-of-war. Furthermore, Li Jianheng
was willing to lay out all the major and minor affairs of the imperial
court on the table to discuss with Hai Liangyi. This was the
fundamental reason why Hai Liangyi could secure his position in
the Grand Secretariat as the Grand Secretary after the move into
the new reign.
The person Li Jianheng was not important. But after he
ascended to the throne, “Li Jianheng” became crucial. He was in
the center of all the covert and overt attacks. And he was the cage
the three sides jointly used to restrain the other. He was also the
dagger the three sides jointly used to attack the other.
Now that Xue Xiuzhuo had already surfaced, Shen Zechuan
could not help but wonder – even as he looked for a breakthrough
– if there was another person behind Xue Xiuzhuo.
◈ ◈ ◈
There was a drizzle a few days later, when Xue Xiuzhuo had the
day off.
He was wearing a sky blue fine-woven silk robe as he paid a
formal call on Qi Huilian at the small building he was jn. Qi Huilian
took large bites of his meal and did not even cast a glance at him.
Xue Xiuzhuo did not sit at the table, and the bow he made was
a protocol observed by pupils. He saw Ji Gang sitting before the
window polishing a stone, and so he said to those in attendance,
“Elder Ji has yet to recover from his injuries and should avoid spicy
food. Go and get the chef from Duanzhou to cook up the dishes
again.”
“No need for the trouble.” Ji Gang blew away the dust and said
in a quiet voice, “I’m not eating.”
Xue Xiuzhuo did not say a word, and the attendant withdrew to
give the chef his instructions. The Xue Clan was a prominent clan of
the City of Jincheng, and they were not used to the local tastes of
Zhongbo. This chef from Duanzhou was someone he had hired
specifically for Ji Gang.
The drizzle outside the building came pitter-pattering amongst
the apricot blooms in spring, and the pink and white in the
courtyard were all beaten to mud by the rain. Having eaten and
drunk to his fill, Qi Huilian wiped his mouth and rose to look at the
bleak scene in the courtyard. He said, “No need to waste that effort.
Ji Gang is extremely obstinate. If he says he’s not eating, then it
means exactly that. Just get them to prepare some steamed buns
and pickled vegetables for him to allay his hunger.”
Xue Xiuzhuo smiled, “I can’t be so irreverent with both elders in
my house as guests.”
“Then open the doors.” Ji Gang carved a nose and eyes for the
stone. “We can go back ourselves.”
Without a change in his expression, Xue Xiuzhuo said, “There’s
a chill in the spring air lately. Seeing as Vice Commander Shen still
has nowhere to settle down, how would he be able to provide
proper accommodation for both elders?”
“Drop the pretense. Just say that you’re keeping us in captivity.”
Qi Huilian walked a few steps, and the iron chain on his ankles
clanked along with his movements. He said, “I’ve been taken
prisoner my entire life, and I’m almost reaching my end. I’m old,
and he’s disabled. What are you trying to do by holding the two of
us old, weak, sick, and disabled men captive in your hands?”
Xue Xiuzhuo personally bent over to pick up the chopsticks Qi
Huilian had pushed aside to the ground. Wiping it with a
handkerchief, he said, “Mister is a brilliant man of great stature in
the past. You originally would have enjoyed the posthumous honor
and glory of being enshrined and worshiped by the Imperial
Ancestral Temple after death. A pity you threw in your lot with the
wrong person, and ended up feigning insanity in Zhao Zui Temple
for twenty years. Today, I would like to ask of Mister to be the
Imperial Preceptor once again. Firstly, it can make up for Mister’s
regret for not being able to witness the Crown Prince’s
enthronement ceremony back then. Secondly, it can redress the
injustice and grievance Mister has suffered and allow Mister to
begin afresh in the imperial court; you can return before the eyes of
the masses in a dignified and aboveboard manner. Aren’t these
two reasons sufficient enough? I am a person who respects and
admires Mister.”
“Be the Imperial Preceptor again.” Qi Huilian took a step
backward, dragging the iron chain along with him. A laugh
escaped his throat. “You want me to be the Imperial Preceptor
again? Such arrogance! The world is now at peace, and the current
emperor is rightfully legitimate. He has that Hai Renshi to watch
over him and assist him, so why do you still need me, Qi Huilian?
I’m crazy and silly. There’s no way I can assume an important
post!”
Xue Xiuzhuo set down the chopsticks and said, “Mister ended
in such a situation only because Mister was slandered. During the
reign of Yongyi, the Empress Dowager took control over the state
affairs, which turned the law and discipline of Dazhou’s imperial
court upside down and caused corrupt officials to run amok. It was
the same during the reign of Xiande. Hua and Pan colluded with
one another and stirred up troubles in Qudu, the Eight Cities, the
entire Dazhou, bringing untold suffering to the common folk of the
various lands. Then, the troops of Zhongbo suffered a defeat, and it
was a scene of desolation and despair in the Six Prefectures as
victims and refugees swarmed all over, and bodies of the starved
littered the roads. Mister spent an idle twenty years in Zhao Zui
Temple, yet you have lost your drive and heroic spirit now that you
have come out. Have you even lost the will to compete and emerge
victorious against Hai Liangyi?”
Qi Huilian turned around and held on to the window to look at
the rain pelting the apricot blossoms. After a moment of silence, he
said, “It’s true that I wanted to compete with Hai Liangyi twenty-five
years ago to determine who was the better one. We both took the
same imperial examinations. He was so unremarkable, while I
ranked first in the imperial civil examinations at the provincial,
metropolitan, and palace level.5 I was complacent in my youth and
did not know how to navigate the official circles. I ended up
framed and demoted out of the capital. Too ashamed to face my
elders in Yuzhou, I fell depressed for several years. Later on, Hai
Liangyi was promoted, and he rose in ranks. Yet, the Crown Prince
did not take him as his teacher, but welcomed me back to Qudu
from Yuzhou. And so, I became the Grand Mentor of the Eastern
Palace. At the same time, I assumed the post of Minister of
Personnel. Hai Liangyi lost to the name Qi Huilian his entire life. But
he is a gentleman. When the Crown Prince slit his own throat, he
was condemned by all. Only Hai Liangyi believed that there was
still hope in him—that he was not beyond redemption. Just for this
alone, I cannot be compared to him. Between us, there is no
superiority or inferiority, only mutual appreciation. But alas, Heaven
is blind. Even though we share the same path, we still cannot work
together. I’ve been trapped for twenty-five years. You’re right. At
present, I no longer have the will nor desire to compete with him.”
Xue Xiuzhuo fell silent too, leaving only the sound of rain and
of Ji Gang carving and polishing in the room. The rain intensified,
and the apricot blossoms fell in an even more chaotic manner to
form a blanket of fragmentary pink among the muddy water.
“In this lifetime, I’ve only taught two people, and both times, I
imparted all the knowledge I have learned over the course of my
life to them. I thought too highly of my talents and was unwilling to
make do, and it was precisely of this conceitedness that I caused
such great harm to my first student.” Qi Huilian gazed at that dirty
water with pieces of petals, as if he was looking at his own down-
and-out half of his life. He said, “I, Qi Huilian, am not an immortal
after all. Two students are enough. As for the others, I’m not up to
teaching them.”
Ji Gang burst out coughing violently. He covered his mouth
with a handkerchief and grumbled, “Close the windows!”
Qi Huilian shut all those scenes outside and looked back at Xue
Xiuzhuo. He said, “That’s all I have to say. Don’t pester me! Leave.
Don’t stay and get in the way.”
Xue Xiuzhuo did not move. His appearance did not resemble
Xue Xiuyi; he did not even look to be a noble clan’s descendant. He
lacked the same kind of haughtiness Pan Li and Fei Shi had. His
identity as a son born of a concubine had given him a lot of grief
the past decades, and it subsequently polished him into a person
of unobtrusive but sophisticated elegance.
 “I admire Mister’s talents and learning, and I look up even more
to Mister’s philosophy on the world. I have come thrice to this small
building to beseech Mister to come out of obscurity to return to
officialdom all because I understand Mister’s aspirations. Mister, Hai
Liangyi is indeed a lofty gentleman, but a gentleman has never
been able to co-exist for long with a man with petty interests. The
current emperor is not given to accepting guidance from the
classics, and he doesn’t have the benevolence to treat worthy men
and men of virtue with due respect. He is merely a straw everyone
grasps on to as Dazhou teethers on the brink of collapse. There is
no way he can be a wise and virtuous ruler. How much strength
and energy does Hai Liangyi still have left in him? To entrust the
safety of the state entirely on him alone is a complete reversal of
hierarchy and an overlook of the more important issues at hand.”
Qi Huilian said, “To begin with, it’s the ministers’ duty to assist
the sovereign in governing the state. Hai Liangyi is doing his best
to save the situation from declining and to mediate between the
various parties. He’s a loyal subject. Don’t tell me you still want him
to be a traitor, one who replaces the Li Clan and brings about a
regime change?”
“The conflict between those from the noble clans and those of
humble backgrounds has been going on for hundreds of years. To
get rid of this age-old societal ill, one must have the determination
to commit oneself irrevocably and fight to the very end.” Xue
Xiuzhuo rose to his feet and said, “If Li Jianheng can’t do it, there
are still others. Dazhou is the empire of the Li Clan. As long as the
Li bloodline still exists, then it’s only reasonable to have a change
in person in order to tide over this crisis.”
Qi Huilian’s point of view was at odds with him. So he merely
treated him as a noble clan descendant abusing his power for
personal gains and refused to engage further in a conversation
with him.
Xue Xiuzhuo stood in silence for a moment before he said,
“Mister and I are also both kindred spirits on the same path. It’s a
pity Mister doesn’t believe me. But I still have to tell you that Shen
Zechuan is a vestige of evil who drags out his feeble existence
nursing his hatred. There is nothing else in his heart; he merely
exists for revenge. He acts with viciousness, and he is narrow-
minded. He is poles apart from the Crown Prince. Mister teaches
him with the heart and mind of tutoring a sovereign, and this is no
different from helping a villain commit evil. Even if he makes great
achievements in the future, he still won’t be a good master.”
Ji Gang slammed down his carving knife without warning and
glared furiously at Xue Xiuzhuo. He said, “How much do you
understand Chuan-er? You people keep calling him a vestige of
evil, but the way I see it, all of you are the insatiably greedy vestiges
of evil! Shut your trap and leave!”
Xue Xiuzhuo bowed and said, “I’ll be waiting, should Mister
have second thoughts.”
He exited and left after letting down the curtain.
Xue Xiuyi was wandering outside the courtyard when he saw
Xue Xiuzhuo walking back from afar. He cradled the umbrella close
and made his way to the veranda, only to bump into the students
who had been dismissed from school.
These students, who came from the brothel, paid their respects
to him. Xue Xiuyi tossed the umbrella to the maidservant behind
him and looked at them one at a time. The maidservant said, “Is
this the path for you people to walk on? How impertinent of you all
to get in the way of the Eldest Master!”
The students hung their heads down and retreated. A girl of
seventeen or eighteen stood behind them. Xiu Xiuyi noted that she
was extraordinarily good-looking, so he tugged her sleeve
frivolously and said, “Are you one of the chicks Yanqing bought
back? What’s your name?”
This girl cast a glance at Xue Xiuyi without answering. Xue
Xiuzhuo just happened to approach from the other end to block
Xue Xiuyi. He said with a smile, “Did Eldest Brother just come back?
Let’s return to the courtyard. The rain is heavy. Careful not to get
drenched.”
Xue Xiuyi slapped his hand away and said impatiently, “I
know!”
Xue Xiuyi took a few steps and heard the students behind him
pay their respects in unison and addressed Xue Xiuzhuo “Teacher”.
He turned his head back again for another look, only to see that
girl earlier looking right back at him with her head inclined to the
side.
Her gaze showed no fear or trepidation. Even after Xiu Xiuyi
discovered her looking at him, she did not avert her gaze. Instead,
she looked at him until Xue Xiuyi could not help but turn his head
around first.
The wind and the rain pelted his face. Xue Xiuyi shivered and
hurried away with his arms wrapped around himself.

Thanks to Alex & Suika for the consultation!

Footnotes
1. 会同馆 Interpreters Institute, which was devoted to oral
communication and the hosting of foreign envoys.
2. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’
during summer) is one of the objectionable practices of
‘Three Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty, along with ‘Coal
Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the capital used to bribe the
officials in the capital during summer.
3. The dragon is the symbol of the emperor. Here it refers to
the supposed imperial heir, who would be next in line to the
throne if (a childless) Li Jianheng goes kaput.
4. From 一山不容(藏)二虎, literally no two tigers can exist in
the same mountain. i.e., two rivals cannot co-exist in the
same place.
5. 三元 “Triple Yuan”. In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial
examination system was split into three phases: the
provincial exam (乡试); metropolitan exam (会试); and the
palace exam (殿试). The titles for the top scholars in each
exam were known as the Jieyuan (解元), Huiyuan (会元), and
Zhuangyuan (状元). These three are known as the “Triple
Yuan”. So a Triple Yuan Top Scholar is one who came first in
all these examinations.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 89 : THUNDER

Ge Qingqing had been out of the capital for a little less than
half a month. The Xi Clan’s money vaults that were opened one
after another all turned up empty, but the good thing was that the
stores in the various regions could be managed by Xi Dan.
Coupled with the four million silvers he had gotten earlier, Shen
Zechuan did not end up totally empty-handed with nothing to
show for.
The two million that had been transported via the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path in the fourth month had already arrived at
Cizhou. When the letter was delivered back to Qudu, it was directly
handed over to Shen Zechuan right from Ding Tao’s hands.
Shen Zechuan wiped his sweat. Before he opened it, he waved
to Xiao Chiye, who was similarly drenched in sweat. Xiao Chiye
took off his clothes and went inside to take a bath. He said from the
other side of the screen, “Just read it out to me.”
Shen Zechuan read out the letter. Xiao Jiming had been brief
and concise in his message, which was that the silver had arrived
in Cizhou without a hitch, and the army provisions for Libei’s
Armored Cavalry this summer and autumn had also arrived at the
warehouse.
“Jiang Qingshan was transferred to Zhongbo to take up the
post of the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhongbo.
Then was this batch of army provisions prepared by someone
else?”
Xiao Chiye took a quick bath. As he wiped himself, he said, “It
was jointly prepared by the Assistant Administration Commissioner
of Juexi, Yang Cheng, and the subordinated Vice Prefects along
with the various Juexi Vice Magistrates. They are all old hands
under Jiang Qingshan’s command, and they are the fastest when it
comes to the past preparation of the military provisions.”
Shen Zechuan set down the letter on the desk. He wanted to
say that since it had not been through Jiang Qingshan’s
inspection, then the military provisions should still be properly
inspected before distribution. But he thought the better of it when it
came to his mind that Xiao Chiye was not managing Libei’s military
affairs. Xiao Jiming should know the ins and outs of this matter;
there was no need for an outsider like him to interfere, so he
dropped it and did not bring it up again.
Xiao Chiye draped on a dark-colored wide-sleeved robe over
his inner garment. He could hold his own against these solemn
colors. Even with it hanging loosely over his shoulders, he cut an
imposing figure. He drank a cup of tea that had gone cold when he
came out and said, “Gu Jin went to the Xue Residence to check it
up last night. Teacher and Shifu are most likely detained in one of
the lofts.”
“Common places aren’t able to trap shifu.” Shen Zechuan
touched the brush. “I want to see it for myself.”
“If someone as vigilant and wary as him were to discover it and
transfer Teacher and Shifu to another place, then we will be looking
for a needle in a haystack.” Xiao Chiye removed the crown for Shen
Zechuan. “I’ve already called for men to take turns to keep the
periphery of the Xue’s Residence under surveillance. We have to
think of a safer method.”
“There’s still one thing I can’t figure out.” Shen Zechuan let Xiao
Chiye comb his hair for him. That clumsy back and forth was not at
all like the Second Young Master. “How exactly did he empty out
the Xi Clan’s money vaults? Ge Qingqing did not find out anything
in Qinzhou either.”
Xiao Chiye cast a glance at Shen Zechuan in the mirror and
said, “Can’t figure it out? I already did.”
Shen Zechuan looked at him.
“We know that four million silvers you got are all subjected to
inspections at the various regions’ checkpoints as long as they are
transported through a trade route, regardless of whether it was by
land or water. He must have this concern too, so there’s no point
checking the trade routes.” Even as Xiao Chiye spoke, his hands
did not remain idle. He weaved a little braid the width of a finger
for Shen Zechuan and slowly continued, “The governmental posts
Xue Xiuzhuo holds in successive order are all important positions.
A Chief Supervising Secretary audits the accounts in the various
regions, and when it’s close to the Banquet of A Hundred Officials,
he no doubt has to have dealings with the Transport Office. The
Transport Office is responsible for the management of the local
taxes paid out to the imperial court. It can’t get any more
convenient for him to enter and exit Qudu if he smuggles the
silvers in between.”
Suddenly enlightened, Shen Zechuan asked again, “Then
where did he hide them? Although the Xue’s Residence is larger in
scale than the Xi’s Residence, it’s not of a real heritage as the Yao
Clan. Even if he dug into the ground, he can’t hide that much
money.”
“That depends on how exactly he wants to use them.” Xiao
Chiye released his fingers, and Shen Zechuan’s black hair
cascaded down like water. It was soft to the touch, and totally
lacking in aggressiveness. He pressed down on Shen Zechuan’s
shoulders from the back, and both men appeared in the mirror. He
said, “His hometown is in the City of Jincheng, and down south is
the Prefecture of Hezhou. Hezhou’s waterways are developed and
are dominated by the Yan Clan, who have business dealings with
the Xi Clan’s boats in the harbors of Juexi. Now that he has kicked
off Xi Hongxuan, he will have to find someone who can play
around with money as well as Xi Hongxuan if he wants this money
to start moving once more. And this person is none other than the
Yan Clan of Hezhou. So, my guess is that he most likely entrusted
these silvers to the Yan Clan of Hezhou.”
Shen Zechuan had never been to Hezhou before. All he knew
was that the Yan Clan of Hezhou was very capable. They were not
like the Xi Clan where legitimate sons born of the principal wife
ruled the roost. What they counted on was capability, regardless of
whether one was a son of lawful birth born of the principal wife or a
son of common birth born of concubines. During the first year in
the reign of Xiande, the Yan Clan made a fortune trading in tea in
Hezhou. They rarely went near Qudu other than to pay tributes.
Shen Zechuan knew very little of them.
“Second Young Master’s braids are all so prettily done.” Even as
Shen Zechuan was thinking, he did not forget to look askance and
poke fun at him, “Truly an erudite man of many talents.”
 “This Second Young Master has braided many a number of
them.” Xiao Chiye teased him. “Aren’t Lang Tao Xue Jin’s little
braids pretty? I was the one who braided them all.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I put all my heart and soul into saving up
the betrothal gift for you. Yet you regard me as Lang Tao Xue Jin?”
Xiao Chiye lowered his body and jested to the mirror, “A horse,
hm.”
There were all sorts of expressions in Xiao Chiye’s eyes.
Pressing against Shen Zechuan like this made Shen Zechuan
remember the debauchery of the last time they rode the horse on a
rainy night. His smooth neck no longer had those love bites, yet it
had already learned to blush when Xiao Chiye whispered into his
ears.
Shen Zechuan lifted his chin slightly, completely exposing the
arc of that exquisite, jade-like neck. It was like a crescent moon in
the dim light; not that sharp, and innately smooth and lustrous. He
softly asked, “Am I?”
Xiao Chiye fell under his spell. He kissed the corner of Shen
Zechuan’s eye, then stared at the man in the mirror and said with a
smile, “Would I bear to? You’re the master of me. I only want to take
you riding.”
Shen Zechuan’s anxiety that had persisted for days on end
dispersed some. When he smiled, it carried with it a hint of
seductive allure that even he himself did not notice.
◈ ◈ ◈
The temperature in Qudu suddenly rose in the fifth month. They
had not even enjoyed the refreshing coolness of spring to their
hearts’ content when that summer heat came assaulting them in
the faces. The subordinate officials could not take sedans as they
went about their tasks, so each of them lifted their robes and
fanned themselves. They were drenched in sweat as they entered
and exited the various office compounds, with the blazing sun
already causing their lips to peel and faces to redden.
Liang Cuishan had only gotten some free time after receiving a
succession of promotions owing to his audits of the Imperial Army’s
accounts. He was now working under Pan Lin, the Vice Minister of
the Ministry of Revenue, handling the task of auditing the various
regions’ taxes.
Pan Lin was now overwhelmed with gratitude towards Xiao
Chiye. This was because not two days after he returned home the
last time, Li Jianheng really granted his father, Pan Xiangjie, a
pardon for his offense. He was not banished to the frontier;
instead, he only received a salary suspension pending observation
and was excluded from this year’s inspection.
Xiao Chiye had never recommended and vouched for Liang
Cuishan for promotion in public, but they were all astute people
who knew that Liang Cuishan was someone Xiao Chiye had
recommended before the emperor. So even though Xiao Chiye did
not give any prior notification, Pan Lin still took good care of Liang
Cuishan, sparing him from Wei Huaigu’s reproach.
“It’s the grand wedding of Hua and Qi next month. We have to
familiarize ourselves with the processes the Ministry of Rites sent
over, and the various expenses all have to be clearly calculated in
case we can’t give a flawless answer when the Empress Dowager
asks about it after the wedding banquet.” Pan Lin drank the green
bean soup. He was so hot that his back was thoroughly soaked.
Pan Lin was much younger than Liang Cuishan. But he joined
the imperial court earlier, and his rank was high, so even if Liang
Cuishan did not address himself as “this humble subordinate”
before him, he had to address himself as “this pupil”.
Liang Cuishan was feeling hot too. But they were in the office
compound, and they had to pay attention to officials’ etiquettes, so
he could not strip off his robe as he liked; otherwise, he would be
chastised if he were to encounter the imperial censors from the
Chief Surveillance Bureau. He dabbed his forehead with a
handkerchief and said with a nod, “This humble subordinate shall
heed Your Excellency’s instructions. I will not dare to forget a single
amount in this account.”
Pan Lin gave him a few more instructions on the other matters.
He still had to go to the Ministry of Rites to verify some details, so
he stepped out to get on the sedan and left.
Having owed a debt of gratitude to Shen Zechuan and Xiao
Chiye for their recognition and appreciation of his worth, Liang
Cuishan never dared to be shoddy in his work and so promptly set
about reconciling the accounts. He sat for only a moment when he
heard someone outside barging in.
It was midday at present, and there were not many people
around. Liang Cuishan hurriedly went down the steps to greet the
person. Seeing as this person was an unfamiliar face, he asked,
“Brother, who are you looking for?”
This person was sweating profusely as he shoved an entire
document to Liang Cuishan. He said, “This humble subordinate is
an official from the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path Postal Relay
Station! Your Excellency, this is an urgent report dispatched from
Juexi’s Prefecture of Baimazhou the night before. It comes with the
authentication tally from the Provincial Administration Commission
of Juexi. This is a matter of extreme urgency!”
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path!
The moment Liang Cuishan heard this name, he knew it was a
major matter which concerned Libei. He accepted the stuff and
said in an urgent voice, “Why deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue?
All the matters from Libei are considered military reports and
should be delivered to the Ministry of War!”
“This is an urgent report dispatched from Baimazhou.” This
person said. “It bears the tag of the Ministry of Revenue! Your
Excellency, please present it to the Minister’s desk quickly. The
consequence of delaying this express relay report is not something
you and I can bear!”
Liang Cuishan promptly headed inside with the document
under his arm and hurried over to the place, only to turn up empty.
But while he did not see Wei Huaigu, he saw Wei Huaigu’s
attendant. The attendant accepted the stuff, but took his time and
told Liang Cuishan to go back first, saying that there would be
arrangements made for it later.
Liang Cuishan intuitively sensed a problem. How could an
express relay report be handled so flippantly? They were clearly
stalling for time! His heart pounded hard as he retreated out. But
instead of returning to the office compound, he turned around,
lifted his robe, and ran to where the Imperial Bodyguards were on
duty.
 It was scorching hot all the way there. Liang Cuishan was
panting hard when he arrived. Without even daring to drink a
mouthful of water, he hurried into the courtyard and requested to
see Shen Zechuan.
“What’s the matter?” Qiao Tianya led him in. “Why did Your
Excellency run all the way here?”
“It’s an urgent matter!” Liang Cuishan could hardly care to
explain to Qiao Tianya. When he saw Shen Zechuan upon entering,
he hurriedly said, “Your Excellency! This humble subordinate has
something to discuss with you!”
Shen Zechuan got Qiao Tianya to serve the tea. Setting aside
his official affairs, he said with a fixed gaze, What’s wrong?”
Liang Cuishan did not dare to sit. He exerted himself to take a
breather and said, “This humble subordinate received an express
relay report dispatched from Juexi’s Prefecture of Baimazhou earlier
at the Ministry of Revenue’s office compound earlier. It concerns the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path! This humble subordinate
delivered the report to the top, but never got to meet His
Excellency the Minister. This stuff is inextricably connected to Libei.
Your Excellency, I fear something has happened to the military
provisions sent to Libei last month!”
Shen Zechuan immediately rose and said, “Head over to the
Imperial Army’s office compound and inform His Lordship of this
matter! Take my horse. Say that the Imperial Bodyguards is on
official duty and spur the horse all the way there!”
The military provisions concerned Libei’s war affairs this year. If
Wei Huaigu was indeed delaying reporting this to the higher-ups,
then there must have been a slip-up somewhere that he alone
could not shoulder the responsibility for. Although the preparation
for the military provisions was handled by the Prefecture of
Baimazhou in Juexi, the overall inspection had been carried out by
the Ministry of Revenue.
◈ ◈ ◈
This sweltering heat was abnormal. It was only the beginning of
the fifth month, yet it felt just like the Great Heat.1 The sun was still
scorching at midday, and by the afternoon, the weather had turned
overcast and windy, looking as if a rainstorm was fast
approaching.
Wei Huaigu had sat on the chair for an entire hour. His back was
already soaked through. He felt dizzy, having already finished
reading that postal relay report much earlier. Several times, he
wanted to speak, but he could not bring himself to say a word.
Eventually, he steeled himself, abruptly rose to his feet, and said,
“Prepare the sedan! We’re going into the palace!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye had not even dismounted yet, and the bean-sized
raindrops had already come pelting down. Meng stopped on his
shoulder. Just as he was about to enter the city, he saw Qiao Tianya
galloping towards him.
Qiao Tianya had not reached him when Ding Tao also came
spurring his horse over from the other end. He tumbled off the
horse’s back and said in a quivering voice, “Your Lordship!
Something bad has happened! We received a military report
earlier, which says that the Hanshe Tribe had trespassed into our
territory the day before yesterday and encountered the Hereditary
Prince on the eastern mountain range. The Hereditary Prince—”
Ding Tao’s tearful voice rose.
“The Hereditary Prince is severely wounded. We’ve been
defeated!”
Qiao Tianya abruptly reined in his horse. Sudden thunder
detonated in the sky, blasting apart the darkness cast by the billows
of gloomy clouds. Rainwater came pouring down in torrents. Xiao
Chiye was still on his horse. For the first time, he had on a dazed
expression, as if he did not understand what Ding Tao meant.
In nearly thirty years since Xiao Fangxu established the Libei
Armored Cavalry, Libei had never suffered a defeat. Even when
Xiao Jiming led his troops of light cavalry2 to pursue and attack the
Hanshe Tribe for several hundred li 3 in the past, he had been able
to retreat from the desert unharmed.
Xiao Chiye had never thought that his eldest brother would be
defeated.
Never.
Footnotes
1. 大暑 12th of the 24 solar terms, from end July to
beginning of August, the period when the heat is greatest.
2. Lightly armed and lightly armored men on horses.
3. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 90 : VETERAN GENERAL

Heavy rain splashed on the water puddles. Xiao Chiye’s horse

had already dashed its way to the palace entrance. Red silk
umbrellas emerged one after the other from the small sedans, all of
them sheltering important ministers of third-grade and above.
The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, made a special point of being
a tad late to wait for Xiao Chiye at the foot of the vermilion steps
leading up to the palace hall. When he saw Xiao Chiye coming
forth in the rain, he said, “Ce’an, listen to me. There is no army in
this world that is invincible. A defeat is a teacher that will guide one
towards another victory. Jiming has been fighting with the
Biansha’s Hanshe Tribe for years. He’s also human.”
Chen Zhen, who had some friendly relations with Xiao Fangxu,
spoke abruptly without preamble. Yet, Xiao Chiye understood what
he meant.
Xiao Chiye nodded at him with an expressionless face. He
ascended the stairs together with Chen Zhen and proceeded to
wait outside Mingli Hall to be summoned in. The rain soaked his
shoulders, and it was in this way he stood there, shunning even the
faintest of light from the lanterns.
The umbrella at the back suddenly shifted to shield Xiao Chiye.
Shen Zechuan held up the umbrella and stood side by side with
him. Standing next to each other with both of their red robes
drenched by the rain made them look like demonic fiends of the
rainy night.
About a moment later, Fuman lifted the curtain and paid his
obeisances to the group of court officials outside and called out to
summon them in. Hai Liangyi went in first, followed by the various
ministers from the Grand Secretariat. Then it was Xiao Chiye’s turn.
Even Shen Zechuan himself could not follow him in.
Xiao Chiye did not move. He remained fixed in position for a
spell and looked at Shen Zechuan. There were too many subliminal
emotions contained in this gaze. In this very instant, he turned from
a valiant and vicious hound into a lone wolf that had strayed from
the pack.
 Shen Zechuan wanted to caress Xiao Chiye’s cheeks. But he
could not do so at this moment. They stood still for a long time
under the shadows of this forbidden palace’s walls, wearing
shackles invisible to the eyes.
Xiao Jiming was severely wounded, and there were no other
valiant generals within Libei’s borders. This was an indication that
after tonight, Qudu must appoint a new general to Libei to take
over the mantle from Xiao Jiming. But this person would not be
Xiao Chiye.
Qi Zhuyin’s remarks a year earlier turned out to be prophetic.
She warned Xiao Jiming that the Libei Armored Cavalry needed a
new general. Owing to the excessive concentration of military
power, the Libei Armored Cavalry could only take after the surname
Xiao. Once the banner of the Xiao Clan fell, the constitution of the
Libei Armored Cavalry would be greatly undermined, making it
hard to sustain their glory.
The Grandson-heir, Xiao Xun, was only six years of age. If Xiao
Jiming was out of the picture, then the Libei Armored Cavalry’s
only successor was Xiao Chiye, who was in Qudu. However, Qudu
would never release him, not unless the Princess Consort of the
Hereditary Prince, Lu Yizhi, entered the capital with Grandson-heir,
Xiao Xun, to replace him as hostages in this power struggle.
In acting willfully, Xiao Chiye had been merely counting on his
powerful connections, much like a fox exploiting the tiger’s might.
But at this moment, he once again plunged into a ravine where he
could not act on his own volition. The thought of going home
roared like mad in his heart. But all he could do was to gaze like
this at Shen Zechuan. Other than Shen Zechuan, no one else would
understand.
“Your Lordship?” Fuman urged him on in a whisper.
Xiao Chiye moved his feet and entered.
◈ ◈ ◈
“The Ministry of Revenue assigned officials over for a check
before the military provisions were escorted via the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path. Since there was a problem, why didn’t the
Ministry of Revenue report it?” Cen Yu was the first to take issue with
it. He did not even have time to write the memorial and simply
stepped forth to interrogate Wei Huaigu outright. “When the
express relay report arrived at Qudu, it was delayed for an entire
two hours! If we issue the recall order now, we have to brave the
rain to speed all the way there on a route that isn’t easy to navigate.
By the time it arrives at Libei, it would have already been four days
later! Wei Huaigu, you’re going to get people killed!”
Wei Huaigu said nothing. He was just like a statue tonight as he
kneeled on the ground in a daze without even disputing a word.
The moment Xiao Chiye entered, the hall fell silent. The veteran
ministers either hung their heads low or held their foreheads. The
sound of the rain outside was noisy, but the suffocating heat inside
was even worse.
“Ce’an.” Li Jianheng made as if to speak when he saw him, but
then he hesitated. Eventually, he merely said, “Take a seat.”
Xiao Chiye did not sit. He bowed and said, “This humble
subject has only just dismounted and does not know the details.
What happened in Libei?”
“What the hell? Such a major matter, and nobody told the
Marquis!” Li Jianheng flung the memorial. “Wei Huaigu, you tell
him yourself!”
Wei Huaigu lowered his head and said without looking at Xiao
Chiye, “Something went wrong with the military provisions that
were transported to Libei last month. According to the relay report
of Yang Cheng, the Assistant Administration Commissioner of
Juexi Provincial Administration Commission, these military
provisions have been mixed with moldy substances. It was
distributed after arriving at Libei, and subsequently, thousands of
people fell ill the night before.”
Who would still dare to look at Xiao Chiye in the eye?
The Xiao Clan fought wars at the frontier. And they had
performed a tremendous meritorious service five years ago in
coming to the emperor’s rescue. The Biansha Hanshe Tribe was the
toughest of the lot to battle against, and the entire northeast area
was guarded and defended by Xiao Jiming alone. They
imprisoned the Xiao Clan’s youngest son in Qudu, and yet they let
his battle-scarred eldest brother, who fought hard with his sweat
and blood, eat moldy and rotten grains! So how would they still
dare to look Xiao Chiye in the eyes at this time?
Without turning a hair, Xiao Chiye said, “The military provisions
were prepared by the Provincial Administration Commission of
Juexi. Yang Cheng knew there was a problem. Why did he wait
until the military provisions arrived at Libei before he dared to
mention it? He’s the Assistant Administration Commissioner of the
Southwest, and he has no grudge or enmity with Libei. Why would
he risk his head to do something like this? The officials from the
Ministry of Revenue triple-checked the military provisions, and the
official reports that were sent back all stated that they were new
grains from last year. But now, they have all become old and moldy
grains. They are all minor officials of low grade. Why would they do
that? The military provisions arrived at Libei via the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path, and the Libei Armored Cavalry steward
supervising the granary also had to check before distributing them.
The multiple layers of arrangements involved for such a large batch
of moldy goods to make its way into the mouths of the officers and
soldiers at the frontier pass this easily can only be described as
methodical.”
The more he spoke, the more his words increased in gravity.
“The Libei Armored Cavalry has guarded the pass for thirty
years, and the troops deserve punishment for their defeat. But I’ll
only say one thing to everyone present here. A minor defeat of
Libei is a loss for our Xiao Clan, but a major defeat of Libei is a crisis
for Dazhou. For several years, the Hanshe Tribe has been pacing
back and forth around the Hongyan eastern mountain range. What
they are waiting for is an opportunity. When the troops of Zhongbo
were defeated, the Hanshe Tribe deployed their horses to launch
an assault. They brought the cavalry of the rest of the eleven tribes
and fought their way right outside the gates of Qudu without any
letup. It has just been a mere five years, and the page has already
been turned on the tragic massacre of the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo. We have yet to avenge our national humiliation, and we
are going to allow our own people to add another strike to it?”
The moment Xiao Chiye said his piece, the color drained from
the faces of everyone present. He was blunt in his words. He had
come here tonight to raise hell and take someone to task for this
matter. Someone played dirty tricks on the military provisions, and
they want to dismiss him with that same old trick of bureaucratese?
No way. He would go all out on a killing spree, and he would
pursue this case relentlessly. Everything else be damn; he wasn’t
going to play nice with any of them!
“The military provisions were adulterated, with new grains
substituted with moldy ones. It’s no doubt inextricably connected to
those at the bottom of the supply chain who resell the grains at a
profit. A few years earlier, Zhongbo was in short supply of grains,
and many merchants who stockpiled the grains made a killing
from this. It’s just that I never expected there to be officials and
merchants still in collusion with one another to do such
unconscionable deeds in spite of strictly enforced laws in place
nowadays.” The Minister of Justice, Kong Qiu, said. “If we can’t
carry out a thorough investigation of this matter, there we will not
be able to give the various generals of Libei an explanation. This
humble subject requests a Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices
with the Imperial Bodyguards to launch a search and investigation
from Baimazhou to Qudu. We must get to the bottom of the
matter!”
“Not only that. There’s another matter that needs to be urgently
attended to.” The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, cast a glance at Xiao
Chiye and said, “The military provisions for Qidong Five
Commanderies similarly comes from Baimazhou. We must
dispatch an urgent report immediately to Commander-in-chief Qi.
This batch of grains should not be distributed further down the
line!”
“How are we going to make up for the shortage?” Xiao Chiye’s
tone was icy. “These two batches of military provisions are the
entire hoard amassed last year from the three great granaries of
Juexi. Now that you are recalling them and rendering them
useless, how is the military provisions shortage going to be filled?
And from where are you going to supplement them? If the
shortage cannot be filled within five days, Libei and Qidong will
have to fight wars on empty stomachs. It’s a question of feeding
hundreds of thousands of people.”
 “Borrow and transfer from Huaizhou, Hezhou, and Cizhou. The
receipts for the loans shall be borne by the imperial court. This
matter is critical. The state treasury can’t take out that much money
at such short notice to buy. We can only promise to exempt these
three prefectures from taxes for approximately two years.” Hai
Liangyi said in a steady and unhurried voice.
“It’s only with all the grains from the thirteen cities that
Baimazhou was able to afford these two batches of military
provisions. The three prefectures the Grand Secretary mentioned
cannot be compared to it. Besides, these three prefectures are
separated and far away from one another.1 Preparing and
coordinating the grains to be escorted and transported will also
take up several days.”
“Tell Qi Zhuyin that Qidong’s military provision is reduced by
half this year. They still have military fields to sustain them, so they
still have extra resources. Hezhou leads straight to Qidong, while
the grains from Cizhou and Huaizhou have to be transferred
tonight.” Although Hai Liangyi was still sick, he was still clear-
headed in his arrangements. “The Hereditary Prince is wounded.
It’s inadvisable for him to remain for long at the frontline. And the
Prince of Libei is ill and is similarly indisposed to head out for war.
Chen Zhen, draw up a name list of commanding generals and
hand it to me an hour later. Within three days, Qudu must send a
capable officer to Libei to take over its military affairs.”
Hai Liangyi took charge of the situation and gave the final
word. There was no doubt that Wei Huaigu would not get away this
time. Xiao Chiye did not intend to let him off. He did not directly go
straight for him at this juncture only because the redeployment of
the commanding general was a far more important issue at
present.
Wei Huaigu was behaving a little oddly tonight. He kneeled
where he was, never once explaining to vindicate himself even
after a long time had passed.
◈ ◈ ◈
Mingli Hall’s side room was brightly illuminated, and the
officials who had withdrawn from the court all gathered here. Hai
Liangyi could not bear cold winter nights, so Kong Qiu draped an
overcoat over him. He gathered the coat around him and gestured
with his hand to motion for everyone to take a seat.
“I will send the impeachment memorial to the Grand Secretariat
tomorrow.” Cen Yu said. “Just how many incidents have the Wei
Clan been caught up in? His Majesty is mindful of showing mercy,
so Wei Huaixing’s incident the last time did not implicate Wei
Huaigu, and he wouldn’t admit his fault for what happened with
the public ditches back then. And what about the military
provisions this time? He can’t escape blame for negligence and
dereliction of duty!”
“Being an official in the imperial court has nothing to do with
one’s familial background and standing. When it comes to
attending to official duties for the sovereign, don’t keep using a
person’s surname to find faults with others. If he makes a mistake,
then impeach him if you must.” Hai Liangyi had yet to drink a drop
of water tonight. He looked at Xiao Chiye and said, “The Hereditary
Prince has been leading the troops for several years. Since he was
able to kill his way out of the heavy siege and return to Libei, his life
is not in any danger. There is no need for Your Lordship to be
anxious. If there is anything in shortage in Libei, Qudu will work
through the night to allocate and transfer it.”
Xiao Chiye had already understood what Hai Liangyi meant. To
maintain the status quo, Hai Liangyi would not let Xiao Chiye return
to Libei, no question about it. Xiao Jiming was defeated, but he was
not dead—and even if Xiao Jiming died, Xiao Chiye still could not
return home, because there was still Xiao Fangxu.
“There are countless decent generals in Qudu, but those who
can adapt to Libei are few and far between. The Hongyan eastern
mountain range is close to the desert, and we are about to head
into the Great Heat2 period in the sixth month. The frontier is
brutally hot. I’m afraid it’ll be unsuitable if we dispatch an officer
who was born in the southwest.” Xiao Chiye sat on the chair, facing
an entire room of veteran ministers, yet he was extremely calm. He
reacted quickly, to the point he could be described as unassailable.
He preemptively examined the case of the military provisions and
told Hai Liangyi that it was fine to deploy a new general to Libei,
but it had to be someone who came from Libei or Qidong; he did
not want an armchair strategist who was all talk and no action.
Hai Liangyi nodded approvingly at Xiao Chiye. At this point in
time, one should indeed not be swayed by personal feelings and
act impulsively for private gains and power. It was an indisputable
fact that Libei lacked a commander to lead the troops. A deputy
general who was skilled in warfare like Zhao Hui was formidable
too, but they were all men whom Xiao Fangxu personally taught.
They were originally meant to take on the tasks to coordinate and
assist. It was fine for them to lead a troop of soldiers to outflank the
enemies, but it was not enough to convince the masses if they were
to lead Libei.
But ever since the reign of Xiande, Dazhou had been faced with
a dearth of able generals. Of the Four Great Generals, other than
Zuo Qianqiu, the rest all had their own important duties to attend
to. The abundance of talents further down were all high-ranking
military officers from Qidong. They were all core members of the
warfare squad whom Qi Zhuyin single-handedly trained from
scratch. It was Qidong’s military affairs that they were familiar with.
To lend out any of them to Libei was easier said than done.
Besides, the Qi Clan was about to enter a marriage alliance with the
Hua Clan. If a Qidong’s general were to manage Libei’s military
affairs temporarily, then this would break the status quo again,
resulting in one clan rising in dominance and making it hard to
hold them in check.
Who to assign?
Even Hai Liangyi’s head hurt to think about it!
As they burned with anxiety inside, Fuman, who was outside,
suddenly hurried in and said, “Your Excellencies, look who’s here?”
Xiao Chiye turned his head aside and suddenly rose to his feet.
The entire hall of people followed suit and stood up too. Hai
Liangyi stepped forward to greet and welcome the person
personally.
The man who took off his overcoat revealed his white hair,
greeted Hai Liangyi, and then looked at Xiao Chiye.
“This humble one raced through the night to hurry over to
Qudu and to seek an audience with His Majesty for no other reason
than the matter of Libei.”
There was a lump in Xiao Chiye’s throat as he said, “Shifu…”
However, Zuo Qianqiu did not make conversation with him.
Instead, he said to Hai Liangyi with a smile, “It has been many years
since I last saw the Grand Secretary. I hope you are still in good
health?”
Hai Liangyi heavily gripped Zuo Qianqiu’s wrists and said, “As
old as Commander Zuo may be, can you still serve the country?”3
Zuo Qianqiu let out a long sigh and answered, “Although I am
not how I once was back in the prime of my life with this aged face
and gray hair, I still have the strength to draw a bow and shoot.
There’s no need for the Grand Secretary to worry. My purpose for
coming here this time is to: firstly, temporarily stand in for Jiming
to manage Libei’s military affairs; and secondly, deliver a message
from Xiao Fangxu.”
The entire room of people listened with rapt attention.
Zuo Qianqiu looked at Xiao Chiye with a deep, profound gaze
and said resolutely, “The might of the Prince of Libei has
reverberated like a tiger’s roar through Hongyan Mountains for
more than ten years. His son has been defeated, and as his old
man, he wants to personally reclaim victory from Amu’er4 of the
Hanshe Tribe.”
The rain thundered, and the gyrfalcon let out a long cry as it
circled among the dark clouds of Qudu. Ten millions of li 5 away,
the military flag of Libei flapped in the wind. Among the thick and
heavy ink-colored rain, Xiao Fangxu, who had not stepped into the
battlefield for decades, put on his armor and hung up his blade to
lead the troops out to battle.
The wind swept up Xiao Fangxu’s cape, and he took off his
incongruous bamboo hat.
“Amu’er.” Xiao Fangxu’s voice was deep. He raised his arm in
the rain to let out the raptors of Libei, and laughed aloud into the
wind, “Libei has drawn a demarcation line in the east, so what are
you people trespassing over for? I’ve told you decades ago that
Hongyan Mountain is the turf of my Libei Armored Cavalry!”
His voice reverberated through the rain. The armored cavalry
behind him cloaked under black armors drew out their blades in
unison, their thick, oppressive might like a creeping behemoth
opening its eyes in the rainy night.

Special thanks to Suika and Alex for the consultation! Muacks!

Footnotes
1. For map, you can refer to the glossary
2. 大暑 12th of the 24 solar terms, from end July to the
beginning of August, the period when the heat is greatest.
Note: the months in the novel are based on the lunar
calendar which is why it was translated as fourth, fifth, sixth
month instead of just May, June, July, etc. For example, the
Great Heat period in 2021 on July 22 is based on the
Gregorian solar calendar, but it’s June 13 (sixth lunar month)
on the lunar calendar. For more info, you can check this out.
3. Adapted from 廉颇老矣，尚能饭否, from《永遇乐·京口北
固亭怀古》 a poem by Xin Qiji, a poet and military leader
during the Southern Song dynasty. Literally, “Lian Po is old,
but can he still eat/make a living?” (in implication, he’s
asking if he can still serve the country.) Lian Po is a famous
general of the State of Zhao who repeatedly emerged
victorious over the States of Qin and Qi.
4. For foreign names in this novel, we decided to go with
hanyu pinyin for the time being due to unfamiliarity with the
language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the
actual names in its original language. If we do get official
subtitles someday, we will replace it in the translation (the
same goes for titles). Until then, please bear with us. _(:3 」
∠)_
5. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 91 : LIBEI

Zuo Qianqiu came just in time, leaving no chance for Qudu to

send out a new general. “Thunder Sinking the Jade Stage” was
known far and wide for his military achievements. He was the great
general after “Silver Spear of Snow Pass”, Feng Yisheng, and he
was also Xiao Jiming, Qi Zhuyin, and Lu Guangbai’s senior. It had
been many years since he left Tianfei Watchtower. He had no
private troops. Plus, he was also a child from a humble background
that Ji Wufan, the Imperial Bodyguards Commander-in-Chief
during the reign of Yongyi, adopted. He had no family background
to get in the way. His willingness to come out of obscurity to lead
the troops was something Hai Liangyi could not ask for more.
As Zuo Qianqiu waited for Li Jianheng to summon him, he
stood with Xiao Chiye under the eaves to watch the rain.
“This entire journey has been a rush, so I didn’t bring any
message for you.” Half of Zuo Qianqiu’s overcoat was wet, all
because he had never stopped the entire journey to rest except to
change horses. He slowed his tone and said, “Jiming has already
returned to the camp, and a military medic has been arranged to
take care of him… Don’t worry.”
But Zuo Qianqiu omitted the extent of Xiao Jiming’s injuries.
Xiao Chiye partially lowered his head, then asked after a moment
of silence, “What injuries?”
Zuo Qianqiu gazed out into the rainy night and said, “There are
some words that you and I can only say while standing here.
Jiming’s food had been tampered with. Even Zhao Hui fell for the
trap. The squad of soldiers dragged their sick bodies to the
battlefield and just happened to encounter Amu’er,1 who is the
toughest of the lot to battle. Jiming received three slashes. It was
Zhao Hui who tumbled off his horse and carried him on his back
while leading the ten or more remaining soldiers to break out of
the siege.”
Xiao Chiye clenched his fists.
There was darkness in Zuo Qianqiu’s eyes as he said with a cool
head, “Jiming has fought battles in the past while bogged down
with ill health. He fought for so many years. He may seem to be fine
on the surface, but in truth, he’s already plagued by old ailments.
This time, he could be said to have hurt his constitution. Using this
opportunity to let him rest for half a year will permit him to
recuperate and build up his strength again.”
That might be the case, but Zuo Qianqiu had taught the two
brothers, and he could not be any clearer about their
temperaments. Xiao Jiming was soft on the outside but tough
inside. He did not inherit Xiao Fangxu’s extraordinarily strong and
healthy physique, nor had he inherited Xiao Fangxu’s
uncompromising hard-nosed approach. Whatever he lacked, Xiao
Chiye had it all. Perhaps someone else might be jealous, but Xiao
Jiming cherished his family. He had the Princess Consort of Libei’s
compassion and benevolence ingrained in his nature, so he had
never harbored the thought nor intent to trample upon his younger
brother. He saw himself as a sanctuary for them and did all he
could to self-heal his own wounds. All these years, he never uttered
a cry of pain. Lu Guangbai repeatedly said before that he was
human, but at the same time even as he retained his human
desires, he forced himself to become the guardian of Libei.
Still, it was Xiao Jiming’s half-a-lifetime of honor and glory that
the military defeat this time destroyed.
It was at this moment Xiao Chiye abhorred his cage to the max.
His wounds, as he struggled against his shackles, hurt the more he
ground against them. They had already turned bloody. His gaze
followed the raindrops and landed upon the ground, where the
water puddle bore the weight of his silent agony. He braced
himself and calmly said, “The meals in the military are all prepared
by our own in-house errand-runners. Dage consumes the same
food as the common soldiers. Harming him means harming
thousands of men in the camp. We cannot drop this matter. I want
them to pay with their lives!”
“Those in charge of the meals have already been executed.”
Zuo Qianqiu looked at Xiao Chiye. “It was Jiming’s idea.”
Libei had to bear such a grave grievance, yet they still reported
it as “military provisions adulterated with mold” instead of
“premeditated murder attempt”. Xiao Jiming broke out of the siege
with sustained wounds. He hung on until the moment before he fell
into a coma to give the order to execute those errand-runners, all
to prevent others from investigating under the charge “conspiracy
to murder”. A deliberate attempt to murder suggested a power
struggle. Lifting the veil away would only muddy the situation. It
was all too easy for Libei to be used by someone as a weapon. With
Xiao Jiming’s retreat, the appointment for a general for Libei’s
troops would fall into Qudu’s hands. Who could guarantee that the
person who added in the poison was the real murderer? It was not
unheard of to kill by proxy. Besides, assuming the moldy grains
and poisoning were just the first steps, then if they reported the
murder case and the imperial court could not find the perpetrator,
the noble clans, in their denunciations, could distort the facts and
falsely incriminate them for stooping to deception by using Xiao
Jiming’s injuries and defeat to get Xiao Chiye back.
“You did well too. You didn’t tell them you want to return to
Libei to rally the forces and attempt a comeback.” Zuo Qianqiu
revealed a despondent expression. “If you had spoken frankly and
fought for Libei’s military power before the emperor, then their guilt
tonight would have become machinations. It would also put His
Majesty on the alert and set the stage for future troubles.”
“I expect that the Grand Secretary will not set me free.” Xiao
Chiye forced himself to pull himself together. “It’s as shifu says.
Fighting for military power will only make His Majesty afraid, and I
still have 20,000 men in the Imperial Army in my hands. This is a
big taboo. What’s more, stirring up troubles and making
unreasonable demands at this juncture will hold up Libei’s military
affairs. Shifu coming here has helped me out of my
predicament.”
“When I have my audience with His Majesty later, I’ll discuss the
dispatch issue of the military provisions with the Ministry of
Revenue and Grand Secretary in detail. I’ll have to get on my horse
and head back at dawn tomorrow morning at the very latest. Your
father has waged war with Amu’er at the eastern mountain range.
He’s launching a frontal assault first. No matter what, we have to
knock their momentum down.” This was not the place to talk after
all, and Zuo Qianqiu stopped after discussing a little about the
military situation. He merely said, “It has been a long time since I
last led the troops. I’ll have to familiarize myself with the military
affairs as soon as I can on my return to the camp. Libei is different
from Tianfei Watchtower. Libei Armored Cavalry is skilled in
storming the enemy, while I used to be on the defensive back at
Tianfei Watchtower. I have to discuss this properly with your father.
And one more thing. Zhao Hui is also seriously injured this time. He
only has a younger sister who married into Qudu left in his family.2
Remember to get Chen Yang to go over the Ministry of Rites later to
let them know that all is well.”
Xiao Chiye nodded his head in acknowledgment. Just then,
Fuman came to invite Zuo Qianqiu inside. Zuo Qianqiu took one
last look at Xiao Chiye and said, “You’re alone in Qudu. Take good
care of yourself.”
Xiao Chiye performed the disciple’s bow to him, and Zuo
Qianqiu strode forward and lifted the curtain to enter.
◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng got his wish these days to handle matters at Jiang
Qingshan’s side. Something had gone wrong with Juexi’s military
provisions tonight, and Jiang Qingshan, who still held the post of
Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, had to make a
trip to Mingli Hall to discuss the matter and would not be out for at
least a couple hours. Fei Sheng’s old ailment acted up again.
Wanting to rest for a moment in the office, he sent a junior eunuch
to get him some food.
Fei Sheng was sitting on the chair with one leg propped over
the other to wait when he suddenly heard a sound from the door.
He took a look with help from the candlelight. Seeing that it was
Han Cheng, he hurriedly got up to pay his respects.
Han Cheng, who had just arrived after braving the rain,
motioned for him to rise. Fei Sheng went up to remove the
overcoat from Han Cheng. Han Cheng asked, “Has His Majesty
summoned them to ask about it?”
Fei Sheng knew he was asking about something else, so he
replied in a deferential manner, “Commander Zuo is here.”
“Zuo Qianqiu?” Han Cheng was taken aback and blanked out
for a moment. “He lives up to his name as the Prince of Libei, with
reactions so swift that others are not given the opportunity to
exploit any openings. With Commander Zuo’s appearance, there
will be no other candidate in Qudu who can surpass him. This Libei
Armored Cavalry is still the Armored Cavalry of Libei.”
Fei Sheng concurred but did not continue the topic. He knew
that these were not matters he could involve himself in, so he
would stay for as far away as he could. Han Cheng knew what he
was thinking and held him in contempt for that.
Those shu sons born of concubines were all like this. They had
no guts and no spunk. They eyed the bit of carrot dangling before
them all day long, but made no attempt to forge ahead.
But while this was how Han Cheng thought, he still instructed
Fei Sheng with an amiable countenance. “Although this matter is
somehow linked to Jiang Qingshan, it is still not a job he handled
after all. The higher-ups won’t blame him for this. Following him is
indeed a good path that will open up opportunities for you. He is
heading for Zhongbo next month. In the future, when the Imperial
Bodyguards head there for fieldwork, they will all have to rely on
you to pave the way for them. Xiaosheng, work hard and do your
best.”
Fei Sheng hurriedly responded in the affirmative and saw Han
Cheng out. As he lowered his head to lift the hem of Han Cheng’s
robe for him, he suddenly saw the corner of the robe stained with
some grayish-black dirt. He instantly patted it away quickly for Han
Cheng and fawned on him, saying, “Did Your Excellency come
over on foot? How…”
Han Cheng unexpectedly yanked over the corner of his robe.
Fei Sheng’s voice promptly came to a halt.
Outside, the heavy rain poured, and the play of shadow and
light from the candle sunk Fei Sheng’s face into the darkness. In
that very instant, the office fell so silent that one could hear a pin
drop. But in just a blink of an eye, Fei Sheng raised his head and
squeezed out a smile as if nothing had happened. Obsequiously,
he said. “The smudge of mud has already been wiped off. Your
Excellency, please be careful on your way out.”
Han Cheng stared at him and slowly released his grip on the
corner of his robe. He smiled along with him and said after a
moment had passed, “You may go about your business.”
The moment Han Cheng had left, Fei Sheng’s face turned cold.
He lifted his hand and looked carefully at the residue of dirty mud
on his fingertips under the candlelight. There was wood ash mixed
within, and the rainwater had turned it into such a sludge that the
color was hard to make out, but the bit of red mud mixed up with it
did not escape his eyes.
The Xi’s Residence had been burned down, and the dye the Xi
Clan had used happened to be imported red clay. This stuff was
valuable and hard to get. Even a prince’s residence was not as this
capable as the Xi Clan. Other than the Xi Clan, there were no other
clans in Qudu who could use it.
What was Han Cheng doing at the Xi’s Residence at this time?
Fei Sheng wiped away the mud on his fingertip. The cold sweat
on his back had broken out earlier when his eyes had met Han
Cheng’s. He stood under the light with his thoughts in disarray, but
he was sure of one thing—Han Cheng’s intent to kill him had
already been ignited in that one exchange of gaze.
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, Zuo Qianqiu returned to Libei on horseback. Xiao
Chiye accompanied Hai Liangyi to send him out of the city. He
could not return home, but he could deploy Chen Yang and Gu Jin
out to follow the grains distribution officials to Huaizhou and
Cizhou to supervise the military provisions. Nothing must go wrong
with the military provisions this time. Xiao Chiye could not trust the
men from the Six Ministries. He had long planted Wang Xian in
Cizhou. Then he had gotten Pan Lin to transfer Liang Cuishan to
Huaizhou. This way, he would not miss a single detail of the overall
planning for Libei’s military provisions.
“When Liang Cuishan returns,” Xiao Chiye, who had not slept
for the entire night, wiped his face with a cold handkerchief and
said, “I’ll have to convey to him my proper thanks.”
Shen Zechuan sat in the carriage. He had not slept last night
either, having stood guard over the hall. On hearing him, he said,
“I have already made arrangements to settle his family down in the
residence. Someone will be on night patrol to watch over them, just
so he can do his job with peace of mind. Huaizhou differs from
Cizhou; it has no dealings with us, and now we are getting them to
prepare the military provisions at such a brief notice. Huaizhou
Prefectural Prefect must be feeling rather reluctant.”
“Huaizhou is exempted from handing over military provisions
for eight years. The reason Hai Liangyi considered them is that they
can afford to do so.” Covering himself with the handkerchief, Xiao
Chiye leaned back against the carriage wall and continued after a
moment’s pause, “We have to arrest Wei Huaigu today. We can’t let
him land in the hands of the Ministry of Justice.”
They had friendly relations with the Minister of Justice, Kong
Qiu, and they had a good time drinking wine together the last time
too. But this bit of friendship could not be compared to Hai Liangyi.
Xiao Chiye had already given up the idea of beating around the
bush with them. He wanted to sever Wei Huaigu’s retreat route, so
he could only make this case bypass the Joint Trial by the Three
Judicial Offices and have it end up in the hands of the Imperial
Bodyguards—that is, Shen Zechuan.
“Wei Huaigu.” Shen Zechuan fiddled with the authority token
that had been set aside on the small table. He thought for a
moment with a solemn expression, then said, “Since he had
already intercepted the express relay report, it means that he does
not want it to make its way to the emperor. Yet, he changed his
mind at the last minute. There must be a reason for it.”
Xiao Chiye recalled Wei Huaigu in Mingli Hall last night and
said, “He was indeed acting abnormally last night. Going by his
temperament, he should be trying every means possible to pass
the buck or pick a scapegoat from the Ministry of Revenue to take
the blame. But not only did he not try to wrangle his way out, he
even answered when asked.”
Shen Zechuan’s fingertips stopped with a “thud”. He said, “It’s
true that Baimazhou had a bumper harvest last year. Now that the
military provisions have been adulterated with substandard grains,
then where did such a big batch of grain go?”
Xiao Chiye pulled off the handkerchief. Clutching it in his
hands, he said, “It’s having designs on wealth that causes loss of
lives. If these grains were to set out from Baimazhou via Hezhou’s
waterways, then it would be able to bypass Qudu to lead directly to
Zhongbo, where they can brand it under a merchant’s label and
sell it out at a high price as grains for the common folks.”
“There were already rumors before the new year that Jiang
Qingshan was going to Zhongbo to assume the position of
Provincial Administration Commissioner. If someone were to make
much of this matter, then it’s clear what’s going on.” Shen Zechuan
raised his eyes to exchange gazes with Xiao Chiye. “Someone in
the Provincial Administration Commission of Juexi has been
colluding with the wealthy merchants to resell the military grains at
a profit. Because Jiang Qingshan was there in the past to oversee
the entire operation and to strictly check the provisions, they
carried it out on a small scale. But this year, Jiang Qingshan was
going to be transferred out of Juexi, and he entered the capital
after the new year to report for duty. He had to undergo the judicial
process of vetting and waiting for a review trial, so he had no way
to supervise Juexi’s preparation and coordination of the military
provisions, and this gave the other party an opening to exploit. It’s
just that no one expected them to be so bold as to dare to use
moldy grains as substitutes.”
“Those who can take this much grains are few and far
between.” The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was deep and
unfathomable. “Without their own caravan of traveling merchants
to conduct the transaction, no one would dare to touch it.”
“Xi Hongxuan.” Shen Zechuan said slowly.
“Xi Hongxuan.” Xiao Chiye said with certainty. “He died not
because of you and me, but because he had already become a
sacrificial pawn who could implicate others. Wei Huaigu tried every
means to make Xi Hongxuan take the blame in the collapse case.
Was it because both of them were already dealing in private to
resell military provisions for profit, and Wei Huaigu was worried
that Xi Hongxuan would be subjected to rigorous checks, that was
why he wanted him dead?”
Shen Zechuan contemplated it over for a moment, then said,
“That’s right. Xi Hongxuan had indeed said before that Wei Huaigu
did it for the money. The fact that he agreed back then to give Wei
Huaigu money so quickly shows that he knew Wei Huaigu’s
character very well and thought that Wei Huaigu would do this. If
that was the case, Xi Hongxuan is already dead. Wei Huaigu had
no need to take such a big risk to continue doing this. I suspect this
wasn’t done by Wei Huaigu this time. Someone got a handle on
him because of the earlier deals. That was why he knew he had
already been treated as a tool when he saw the relay report. There
was no escape for him now. Given how he did not argue back to
vindicate himself, it’s very likely he knew who the other party is.
He’s trying to imitate Hua Siqian at this moment—by using his life to
prevent the Wei Clan from suffering further losses.”
Listening to the sound of rain in this interval of political intrigue
against one another, Xiao Chiye felt a tinge of exhaustion washed
over him. Xiao Jiming did right. Libei’s timely execution of the
mess cooks was precisely to prevent themselves from being used
as a pawn and becoming a stepping stone for the others to
eradicate dissidents.
No. Maybe not just a stepping stone. They indeed wanted to
use this military defeat to reduce Libei’s military power. They
wanted to break up the Libei Armored Cavalry, which had always
been in the hands of the Xiao Clan, and hand it over to Qudu to
control and command. This way, even if they could not take down
Libei immediately, they could still create the effect of supervision by
an Army-inspecting Censor,3 thereby restraining and holding the
Xiao Clan in check.
“If Commander Zuo had not arrived in time tonight…” Shen
Zechuan held Xiao Chiye’s hand and looked at him in this cramped
carriage. “Then the appointment of Qudu’s new general would
have been issued this morning, and the Libei Armored Cavalry
would no longer be the Libei Armored Cavalry.”
Xiao Chiye’s hand was icy cold. It took him a long while before
he lifted his hand to stroke Shen Zechuan’s hair. He said in a hoarse
voice, “Libei Armored Cavalry is the Armored Cavalry of Dazhou…
Father personally established it with his own hands; it’s far more
important than my eldest brother and me. For so many years, Qudu
doesn’t understand that we serve as an impenetrable fortress in
Libei. We are not treasonous traitors.”
Footnotes
1. Again, for foreign names in this novel, we decided to go
with pinyin for the time being due to unfamiliarity with the
language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the
actual names in its original language. If we do get official
subtitles someday, we will replace it in the translation (same
goes for titles). Until then, please bear with us.
2. Recap, chapter 39. Zhao Hui’s younger sister is married to
the Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites.
3. 监军 Army(-inspecting) Censor or Army Supervisor or
Military Inspector, designation of an Investigating Censor
commissioned on an ad hoc basis to accompany an army on
campaign, monitor its activities, and independently report to
the throne.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 92 : ANXIETY

The sky was already dark when the rain stopped, with a few
thin rays of fading light leaking out amongst the thick clouds. Black
boots that came and went trampled on the water on the ground,
sending them splashing, with the puddles reflecting the fractured
dome of heaven. It was clearly the beginning of summer at this
moment, but Qudu still seemed to be soaking in the rainy season; it
had already been days since the capital last saw clear skies.
Having only gotten some free time now, Hai Liangyi sat on the
taishi chair1 and drank strong tea. He was old, and it was hard for
his spirit to keep up. He was already feeling fatigued. But there
were officials moving all around him attending to their duties, and
the document exchanging hands also needed his perusal and
approval. He was not at liberty to rest.
“Secretariat Elder.” Kong Qiu took a temporary rest from the
cases on his desk and said respectfully to Hai Liangyi from where
he was seated below the latter, “The Ministry of Revenue must be
held responsible for the incident with the military provisions this
time. This pupil has already submitted the request for the Joint Trial
by the Three Judicial Offices to His Majesty yesterday. This matter
can’t be delayed. What do you think if this pupil gets started on the
arrest tonight?”
Hai Liangyi was slow to answer as he stirred aside the tea foam.
He looked at the window and only said after a long time had
passed, “I’ve been sitting for so long it makes me tired. His Majesty
is still having his meal at present. Come with me for a walk
outside.”
Kong Qiu personally took Hai Liangyi’s overcoat from the junior
eunuch and put it on for him. Both men walked out of the office. It
was already dark outside. Kong Qiu carried a lantern and followed
Hai Liangyi along the small garden of the office compound.
“You want to arrest Wei Huaigu, and there is nothing wrong
with it.” Contrary to expectation, Hai Liangyi felt a little more
comfortable bathing in the night wind. He took a few more slow
steps and said, “This incident concerns the stability of the frontier.
You mustn’t be too lenient with Wei Huaigu. Just handle it in
accordance with the law.”
Kong Qiu guessed that Hai Liangyi still had something to say to
him, so he lit the way for Hai Liangyi. Already changing his form of
address, he said, “I shall do as Teacher says. This pupil thinks the
same too. He’s so audacious this time that it won’t work even if the
Empress Dowager wants to shield him. This pupil can see that he’s
been increasingly acting out of line this year. Someone should
have given him a warning a long time ago. Military affairs are not
like other governmental affairs. This matter must never be tolerated
and condoned.”
“That the Prince of Libei put on his armor once again to head
into the battlefield is an admonition to Qudu.” Hai Liangyi stopped.
He could no longer see the light between Heaven and Earth. He
stood still in silence for a long while before he said, “Xiao Fangxu is
the alpha wolf. In the power struggle between Libei and the Hua
Clan all these years, he has never once stepped out of Libei due to
ill health. He watches Xiao Jiming exhaust himself mentally and
physically, and watches Xiao Chiye trapped in the imperial city. He
places both of his sons in dangerous circumstances. Why do you
think he did that?”
Affected by Hai Liangyi’s tone, Kong Qiu subconsciously grew
more heavy-hearted. He said, “Concession. The Prince of Libei is
making concessions with his sons. The longstanding noble clans
have established themselves into a fortress in Qudu, and he broke
the ‘rule’ from the frontier. Perhaps he once had the opportunity to
advance, but he retreated.”
“He retreated. Yet the Empress Dowager didn’t understand.”
Feeling physically and mentally exhausted, Hai Liangyi said, “The
Empress Dowager didn’t understand, neither did Wei Huaigu or
the noble clans. Xiao Fangxu broke the rule, and he backed off not
because of fear, but because he was willing to accede to the
sovereign-subject relationship between Dazhou and Libei. But as
they say, things will reverse in the opposite direction when they hit
their limits.2 Chasing after the Xiao Clan this urgently to beat them
down is like urging Xiao Fangxu to turn back. Since time
immemorial, power struggles have always been unavoidable. But
when it comes to wars, it’s often an ominous sign that the situation
is hopeless. The Zhongbo troops suffered a defeat in the era of
Xiande. Back then, the entire imperial court was full of corrupt
officials who trampled upon the governmental affairs and made a
mess of it! We have now regained the mess, and we are in trouble
both internally and externally.”
Hai Liangyi coughed in the wind and refused Kong Qiu’s
attempt to support him.
“It’s only this year that the state treasury has the spare resources
to bear the expenses for the local aid reliefs. Juexi did good and
lived up to expectations by settling the military provisions issue for
the two great armies. With Libei and Bianjun Commandery stable,
and with capable minister Jiang Qingshan about to be transferred
to Zhongbo, there’s hope for Zhongbo’s revival. The Imperial
College is on the rise, and scholars from humble backgrounds are
gradually increasing. The Chief Surveillance Bureau has Cen Yu to
lead it, and of the up-and-coming talents, there’s Yu Xiaozai. His
Majesty also no longer indulges in having fun.” Sorrow gradually
washed over Hai Liangyi. “I initially thought that a new dawn was
about to begin in Dazhou, yet I now increasingly find myself in a
situation where my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.”
Alarmed, Kong Qiu forcibly held Hai Liangyi to support him. His
eyes reddened, and he said, “Why does Teacher speak of such
demoralizing words? The Prince of Libei is absolutely not that kind
of person. This pupil will preside over the trial this time. I will
definitely not let Libei suffer this injustice. There is still a chance to
turn things around!”
However, Hai Liangyi did not pull himself together. How far can
this emaciated body still walk while holding up Dazhou? He was
just one man who could not save the situation on his own, much
like one log alone could not prop up an entire building. He differed
from the others; he could not act as recklessly and unscrupulously
like the noble clans, nor could he turn completely to Libei. He was
the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, and the one he
supported was Li Jianheng. He had to make a decision that would
maintain the balance in the given situation. Even if this decision
might lead him to complete annihilation, he still must do it.
 “Libei’s fury has already been ignited. Xiao Fangxu is now
urging his troops on to Hongyan eastern mountain range, but once
the war subsides, he will no doubt turn back to settle this score with
Qudu.” Hai Liangyi calmed down amidst the sound of coughing.
“When the time comes, no matter how he rages, we mustn’t release
Xiao Chiye, even if Libei is willing to use Princess Consort of the
Hereditary Prince, Lu Yizhi, and Grandson-heir, Xiao Xun, in
exchange for him. He placed both sons in dangerous situations
with the intent to toughen them up all precisely for this day. Xiao
Jiming is severely wounded, and this is just the time for him to lie
low. Xiao Chiye made a name for himself in his youth, and Xiao
Fangxu put him in Qudu to temper him for six years. Now that this
blade is forged and his glory is known, letting him go back will be
sowing the seeds of future disaster, much like releasing the tiger
back into the mountain. I’m already at this age. Boran, I can’t hold
out for much longer! We have to treat Libei well, but we still can’t let
go of the rope we tether them with. I know that there will be many
people lambasting me for being decrepit and muddle-headed
after my death. But Boran, who dares to tell it to my face that Libei
will really not rebel? That Qidong will really not rebel? Even if the
Xiao Fangxu of today can endure it, can a Xiao Chiye who takes
over the Commander-in-Chief seat someday tolerate it? Dazhou
cannot afford to stake it all on this! I will take responsibility for
deciding what should be given to Libei; not a single item will be
lacking. This time, Wei Huaigu had the audacity to resell the
military provisions for profit. You go ahead and behead him in
accordance with the law! Whoever pleads for mercy, I will
remonstrate and impeach him!”
Kong Qiu voiced his acknowledgment.
Hai Liangyi paused for a moment to brace himself before he
continued, “I’m going to send a letter to the Prince of Libei to do
away with the need for the Army-inspecting Censor.3 This time, the
imperial court will not assign an inspection eunuch to stir up
trouble. All major and minor military affairs of Libei will still be
managed by the Prince of Libei himself.”
Kong Qiu hesitated for a moment before saying, “I am afraid
the Empress Dowager will not agree to do away with the Army-
inspecting Censor.”
“Is there no emperor in Dazhou? It is a century-old rule that the
harem should not interfere with government affairs. It’s not up to
her to decide this time. Besides, fighting a war is no joke. What’s
the use of sending a few castrated eunuchs who only know how to
fawn on others? They are just a waste of food.” Hai Liangyi took a
few more steps and continued, “The eunuchs are all personal
attendants of the Son of Heaven. The Twenty-Four Yamen could be
called the ‘inner court’. Having resided for long deep in the palace,
they know not of the sufferings of the people, nor do they
understand the ways of the sages. Pan Rugui was an eunuch who
had attended the Eunuch School, but all he did was to frame loyal,
upright men and bring harm upon the state. A wise man foresees
and mitigates risks. The eunuch faction has only just been
eliminated, we mustn’t give them any more opportunities. I’ll get
Chen Zhen to draft the memorial now. Submit it to His Majesty
tonight.”
Fuman came looking for them with a lantern in hand from the
other side. He did not dare to approach them and merely paid his
obeisances from afar and said in a solemn voice, “Secretariat Elder
and Your Excellency the Minister, this way, please. You have been
summoned to the hall.”
Hai Liangyi answered in a muted voice. He did not look kindly
upon Fuman either. Kong Qiu supported him by the arm and
walked back with him. Only when he was this close to Hai Liangyi’s
body did he realize just how skinny the Grand Secretary had
become. He felt a stab of sorrow and grief in his heart, although his
expression gave nothing away under the darkness.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye re-tidied his robes and crown and entered the hall
once again. This time, Xue Xiuzhuo was also present, with a spot at
the end.
“The case of the military provisions is of grave importance, and
it involves the collusion between officials and merchants for illegal
profits. It’s a bad influence on the local officials. If it can’t be dealt
with promptly and severely, then those scums will only take it for
granted and have no regard for the law.” Having smoked his pipe
outside, Cen Yu curbed his impatience and said, “Your Majesty, I
request to start the investigation and prosecution tonight. First,
apprehend Wei Huaigu into the penal prison and have someone
keep an eye on the Wei Clan’s account books and manors. We
can’t let them take advantage of the disorder to transfer away the
ill-gotten gains.”
Li Jianheng had also been hanging on for a day and a night,
and he was now so tired he could barely open his eyes. He
managed with some difficulty to nod his head and said, “The
military provision is a major issue. He made a mess of matters.
Whether he should be executed or have his properties sealed, the
Grand Secretariat may just deal with him at its own discretion and
as it deems fit.”
“The reach of this case stretches so far and wide that even
Jiang Qingshan has to remain in his post pending the trial. Plus,
the Wei Clan is a large clan with an extensive business empire. I’m
afraid it can’t be done within half a month with the Ministry of
Justice acting alone on its own.” Xiao Chiye’s thumb rubbed the
space between his thumb and index finger gently, and the thumb
ring slowly rotated. He said, “Likewise, the Joint Trial by the Three
Judicial Offices’ epidemic case is still pending. To strictly guard
against the emergence of similar official-merchant collusion cases
elsewhere, the Chief Surveillance Bureau still has to free up
personnel to head down and check the accounts of the various
areas. Seems to me that everyone has their own difficulties and are
similarly short on manpower.”
“Your Lordship has a point.” Xue Xiuzhuo continued in a soft
voice. “But everything has its own importance and urgency. Libei is
fighting a war at present, so the matter of the military provision is of
top priority. The Ministry of Justice and the Chief Surveillance
Bureau naturally have to put this matter first. It’s not an issue at all.”
Blockhead Li Jianheng could tell that Xiao Chiye was hinting at
something to him. But with Xue Xiuzhuo’s interruption, he did not
know how to continue. Scratching his cheeks, he looked at Hai
Liangyi and asked, “What does the Secretariat Elder think?”
Hai Liangyi did not look at any of them. After a moment’s
pause, he said, “Is Your Lordship worried that the Joint Trial by the
Three Judicial Offices will drag the case on for too long?”
Xiao Chiye said, “The workflow of the Joint Trial by the Three
Judicial Offices is too complex. Wei Huaigu has been in the top
position for so long that his thinking and methods are all different
from the common man. I’m worried that it will cause further
complications if we keep him around for too long.”
Li Jianheng hurriedly cut in, “That’s right. The Wei Clan has
always shown filial respect to the Empress Dowager. If this case
drags on for too long, I’m worried that the Empress Dowager will
be overwhelmed with worries and end up causing her health to
deteriorate.”
“But without the Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices, we
can’t thoroughly investigate the various profiteering loose ends
down there.” Disagreeing, Kong Qiu said, “These people are only
this audacious before they have Wei Huaigu to shield them. It’ll be
a disaster to let all of them run free.”
“I’m merely worried about the time. I’m not saying that we
shouldn’t investigate.” Xiao Chiye looked at Li Jianheng. “Don’t tell
me this is the only course for Qudu to take?”
Something clicked in Li Jianheng’s mind, and he slapped his
thigh and picked up the thread, “For a speedy investigation, we
should let the Imperial Bodyguards handle it! That Shen Zechuan
was pretty fast in his handling of the previous matter in which Xi
Hongxuan assembled notorious bandits. Why not let him take
charge of this case?”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “This is such a major case. I’m afraid it won’t
do to hand it over to the Vice Commander of the Imperial
Bodyguards. Shen Zechuan will be limited by his rank. It’d be more
appropriate to hand it to the Commander-in-chief, Han Cheng.”
Xiao Chiye shifted his gaze to Xue Xiuzhuo’s face and pulled his
lips into a smile. He said, “That’s right. Shen Zechuan is indeed not
suitable to take charge of this case. He’s young and lacking in
experience, and he has a longstanding grudge against me. I can’t
rest reassured if we hand it over to him.”
On the contrary, his retreat in order to advance4 convinced Hai
Liangyi. Hai Liangyi knew Han Cheng had some friendly relations
with Xiao Chiye too. He was worried that Xiao Chiye might use this
and go too far with his handling of this case, so he might as well
hand it over to Shen Zechuan, who had always been at odds with
Xiao Chiye, to handle. With both men standing in diametrical
opposition to each other and mutually monitoring one another, no
one would be able to play dirty tricks and tamper with the case.
“Your Lordship, this is just your prejudice. Shen Zechuan is
indeed young and lacking in experience, but it was by imperial
decree he was first promoted up the ranks where he dealt with one
tough case after another. Letting him gain more experience is a
good thing too.” Hai Liangyi turned to Li Jianheng and said,
“Having the Imperial Bodyguards as the chief investigators of this
case means that it’ll be handled by the Imperial Prison, and it just
so happened that Shen Zechuan is the Northern Judge.5 Given his
official duties and job responsibilities, his handling of the case is
justified and reasonable. It’s just that it’s inadvisable to persist in
aiming for speed. Although we are bypassing the Joint Trial by the
Three Judicial Offices, there is still a need for the Three Judicial
Offices to supervise. What does Your Majesty think?”
Li Jianheng knew that Hai Liangyi was making concessions by
this. He did not dare to be too overly partial towards Xiao Chiye, so
he instantly agreed and said, “I’ll issue the edict to him right at
once to start the investigation tonight.”
Two consecutive days of official discussions in Mingli Hall finally
came to a momentary halt. Everyone had to return and rest for a
night. As they stepped out of the hall, Li Jianheng specifically let
the eunuchs carry the sedan and send Hai Liangyi to the palace
gates to get on his horse carriage. Kong Qiu and the rest walked
out together. Xiao Chiye nodded farewell to them and left alone.
Kong Qiu looked at Xiao Chiye’s back and sighed, “The way I
see it, he’s too broken-hearted to trust the Ministry of Justice to
preside over the case and wants to investigate it together with Han
Cheng.”
Cen Yu descended the stairs and said, “And look at just who
Han Cheng is? The Secretariat Elder was right to choose Shen
Zechuan. Is Yanqing heading straight back to your residence?”
Xue Xiuzhuo followed behind them with a smile on his face and
said, “Yes. I’ve been resting in the office compound these few days.
I should go back tonight and get the preparations ready. There are
still cases to handle a few days later.”
Cen Yu was very caring and nurturing of his juniors, and
promoted them very often. He had personally guided Yu Xiaozai of
the Chief Surveillance Bureau, whose career had blossomed under
his mentorship, and he occasionally gave Shen Zechuan advice
too, all of which was out of concern. He also valued Xue Xiuzhuo’s
talents, so when he heard these words of his, he simply had to
encourage him some.
The three men got into their respective horse carriages at the
palace entrance.
It was deep in the night when the servant of the Xue’s
Residence heard a knock at the door, so he threw on his clothes
and came out for a look. Standing outside the door were all
solemn-looking Imperial Bodyguards with their blades. He was
startled. Before he had time to ask questions, Qiao Tianya, who was
at the lead, leisurely squeezed his way through the door and
pushed the man aside.
“Have you eaten? It’s still early at present, so you probably
haven’t taken your meal yet. Then go inform the kitchen to prepare
meals for us Imperial Bodyguards too. And while you are at it, call
everyone up. We’re going to search the residence.”
The steward lifted his lantern to stop him in his tracks and
yelled, “Your Excellency, how can you do this? You haven’t produce
the search warrant—”
“Take all those who obstruct official duties and hold up the
search and arrest into the Imperial Prison.” Shen Zechuan stood at
the entrance, his gaze sinister and ruthless. “Tell Xue Xiuzhuo that
I’m looking for him.”

Author’s Words:
First volume is ending soon.
Special Thanks to: Eggy, Yunyun, Lin
Footnotes
1.
2. 太师椅 Taishi Chair or Grand Preceptor Chair, is a
classical style of a wooden armchair in ancient China.
3. 物极必反, i.e., things will develop in the opposite
direction when they become extreme or hit their limit.
4. 监军 Army-inspecting Censor or Army Supervisor or
Military Inspector, designation of an Investigating Censor
commissioned on an ad hoc basis to accompany an army on
campaign, monitor its activities, and independently report to
the throne.
5. 以退为进 i.e. make concessions in order to gain
advantages
6. 镇抚 Judge of the Imperial Prison, which specialized in
using torture to suppress corrupt officials. During the Ming
Dynasty, there was a Southern and Northern Prison (镇抚司)
subordinated to the Imperial Bodyguards. The Southern
Prison was in charge of interpreting military laws and
managing military craftsmen while the Northern Prison was
responsible for cases entrusted by the Emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 93 : GENERAL

The Imperial Bodyguards swarmed into the Xue’s Residence

and swiftly passed through the veranda to enter within. All the
people in the various courtyards were startled awake. The women
huddled together in fear as they were herded out of their houses
towards an open space in the residence to assemble. The Imperial
Bodyguards had a reputation out there, and in these people’s eyes,
Shen Zechuan was a man-eating predator.1
Xue Xiuyi hurriedly put on his clothes and stepped out. Seeing
Xue Xiuzhuo standing under the eaves too, he could not help but
lunge forward and hauled Xue Xiuzhuo as he said resentfully,
“What did you do to bring the Imperial Bodyguards to us?! If you
implicate us and get us into trouble, I’ll boot you out and have you
disowned from the clan!”
Xue Xiuzhuo turned his head to look at this savage-looking
eldest brother of his and let him hauled as he liked. With pity and
indifference in his eyes, he said, “The whole family gets a share in
fame and fortune, but when misfortune befalls, one person alone
bears it all. Eldest brother, have no fear. It’s still far from your turn to
be the head of this clan.”
Having said that, he pushed Xue Xiuyi away and walked along
the steps towards Shen Zechuan.
This was the second time Shen Zechuan and Xue Xiuzhuo met
head-on. Xue Xiuzhuo had not gone to bed yet. He had been in the
study handling affairs pertaining to the cases and had promptly
walked out with an azure wide-sleeved robe draped over him. This
man had a calm and unhurried aura to him, and his scholarly
elegance was not something that could be feigned overnight. He
had real capabilities, and this was something Shen Zechuan never
denied.
“To what I owe the Vice-Commander’s presence in my humble
abode at this late hour?” Xue Xiuzhuo, who was about the same
height as Shen Zechuan, stood firm and said to Shen Zechuan, “I
should have prepared a simple meal with wine as a show of
hospitality and welcomed you much earlier.”
 “I’ve just received the imperial edict. His Majesty orders me to
take overall charge of the military provisions case. This is such a
major issue, and the Imperial Bodyguards, not daring to be sloppy,
have promptly arrested Wei Huaigu.” Shen Zechuan scrutinized the
couplets in the main hall and did not look at Xue Xiuzhou as he
said with nonchalance, “Wei Huaigu has always been on good
terms with Assistant Minister Xue. In order for you to avoid
suspicions, your residence will have to be searched tonight.”
“I am fully aware that the Court of Judicial Review is assisting
the Imperial Bodyguards with the case. But I am an appointed
official of the imperial court. If the Imperial Bodyguards want to
search my residence, you’ll need the warrant issued by the Ministry
of Justice.” Xue Xiuzhuo looked around the courtyard and saw
panic and confusion all around. He said, “However, this case is
urgent, and the Vice Commander has the prerogative to act first
and report later. Uncle Xue, hand the keys to the inner courtyard to
the Imperial Bodyguards as well. Lead the way to whichever area
they wish to search.”
Shen Zechuan inclined his head and said, “You are really
something to be on guard even against an impromptu imperial
edict issued by His Majesty.”
Xue Xiuzhuo smiled. “It’s only right that I act with caution when
encountering a character like the Vice Commander. It’s late and
chilly out there. If the Vice Commander doesn’t find it beneath you,
would you like to have a cup of tea with me inside? This residence
isn’t small. By the time the search is done, it would be time for
morning court.”
“I’ll skip the tea.” Shen Zechuan slowly turned around. “I can’t
afford to ask for tea from prominent clans. So does it mean I’m
going to have to return empty-handed again today?”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “That will have to depend on what the Vice
Commander is here for. If it is to investigate the case, then it’s
indeed going to be regrettable. I’m just acquaintances with Wei
Huaigu; we aren’t connected in any way.”
Shen Zechuan fell silent. As he stared at Xue Xiuzhuo, that
feeling of being played for a fool indistinctly resurfaced again.
After a long while, Qiao Tianya returned to the open ground and
shook his head at Shen Zechuan from afar. Shen Zechuan then
knew that he had come up empty-handed once again—Shifu and
Teacher were both not here.
“A wily hare has three burrows.”2 Shen Zechuan said softly.
“Just a fish swimming at the bottom of the cauldron3 taking a
momentary breather.” Xue Xiuzhuo said in a deferential manner.
“You only have this one chance with me.” Shen Zechuan moved
his feet and approached Xue Xiuzhuo. “Where are they?”
It was a moonless night, with the after-rain dampness and chill
pervasive all around. The men and women in the courtyard were all
covering their faces and weeping. Xue Xiuyi did not know the
details, but fearing Xue Xiuzhuo would infuriate Shen Zechuan, he
hurriedly stepped forth and bowed to Shen Zechuan with his hands
clasped before him. With trepidation, he said, “Who is Your
Excellency looking for? We are not harboring any fugitives from the
military provisions case! All the people in the compound are here.
Your Excellency, please feel free to interrogate them. We will
definitely tell you all we know without holding anything back!”
Xue Xiuzhuo said nothing, Seeing that he was not willing to
reveal his shifu’s whereabouts, he said, “I’m looking for wanted
criminals of the imperial court. I’ve heard that there is a batch of
prostitutes being kept in Assistant Minister Xue’s residence. Is that
right?”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s gaze flickered. Xue Xiuyi immediately butted in
and said, “Yes, yes, there is! But matters like soliciting and
consorting with prostitutes are all impeachable by the Chief
Surveillance Bureau. He has been pretty careful in hiding them, so
the imperial censors have no awareness of it. Your Excellency, Your
Excellency, please take a look. These are the children. They are just
some little playthings. How could they be wanted criminals of the
imperial court?”
Shen Zechuan noticed the slight change in Xue Xiuzhuo’s
expression at Xue Xiuyi’s words. He turned his eyes to look at those
boys and girls and said, “What place is Xiangyun Villa? Everyone in
there are all wanted criminals implicated in the assassination case.
Assistant Minister Xue bought them from Xiangyun Villa without so
much a word. Why wasn’t the Ministry of Justice notified?”
 Xue Xiuzhuo pushed Xue Xiuyi aside and said, “These people
all have proof of household registration. Although they are from
the brothel, they are all innocent. The Vice Commander is currently
on the military provisions case tonight. It has nothing to do with
them, so why keep harping on it?”
“Whether they are innocent or not, we will only find out after
they make a trip to the imperial prison.” Shen Zechuan looked back
and said, “Take all these people away.”
The group of people hugged themselves and cried out loud.
Qiao Tianya took the lead and dragged them away. Under Xie
Xiuzhuo’s tutelage, those boys had been taught to carry themselves
like the younger generation of distinguished clans, so how could
they compare to the Imperial Bodyguards? In no time, their wails
worsened. Xue Xiuyi was so frightened that his legs were
trembling. Still wanting to mediate and say a few words of
appeasement to ease the tension, he even brought out Xiao Chiye.
“Your, Your Excellency!” Bracing himself, Xue Xiuyi said with
difficulty, “Since this matter concerns Libei, then why not ask, ask
what His Lordship thinks… If there’s really something wrong, then
go ahead and take Xue Xiuzhuo away!”
Xue Xiuzhuo suddenly took a few steps forward to obstruct
Qiao Tianya. He bellowed, “The Imperial Bodyguards still have to
follow procedures even if you are officially on the case! Vice
Commander Shen, you can take my people away, but I want to see
the arrest warrant from the Ministry of Justice!”
“Take them away!” Shen Zechuan held up his blade to push
back against him, forcing Xue Xiuzhuo to take a step back. He said,
“Since you want the arrest warrant, then I will give you as many as
you want tomorrow morning!”
“Shen Zechuan!” Xue Xiuzhuo abruptly flung his sleeves. “I’m
going to impeach you for abusing the power of public office to
avenge personal grudges!”
“Then go ahead and submit the memorial for impeachment
tonight!” Shen Zechuan’s tone turned frosty. “This batch of people
is now in my hands. For each day I don’t see Teacher, I will kill one!
Guess how long will it take for me to kill my way to your precious
student?”
 “Don’t you dare!” Xue Xiuzhuo suddenly flew into a rage.
Seeing that Qiao Tianya had already dragged them away to the
other end where the wails were increasing in intensity, he grabbed
Qiao Tianya’s arm and said, “You people are accessories to crime
by willfully arresting innocent commoners. So why investigate?
Stop it!”
“If you dare to get in the way again, I’ll kill them now!” Shen
Zechuan partially pressed his blade out of its sheath with his
thumb, revealing a glint.
Seeing Shen Zechuan made to draw his blade out amidst their
dispute, Xue Xiuyi could not help but be so seized with terror that
he actually fainted from the fright. The surrounding servants all
yelled out “Eldest Master” and hurried over to help him up. Xue
Xiuzhuo, who was being dragged backward by the Imperial
Bodyguards, watched helplessly as the Imperial Bodyguards
rounded all the students up onto the wagon.
“Shen Zechuan!” Xue Xiuzhuo held on to the arm blocking his
way, his composure all but gone. With his eyes reddened, he spat
resentfully, “You dare to kill them. You dare to kill them?! You tyrant!
You aren’t worthy of being Mister’s student!”
Shen Zechuan flipped atop his horse and left Xue Xiuzhuo’s
shouts of abuse all behind.
◈ ◈ ◈
The wars in Libei were concentrated in numbers and intensity.
Likewise, it was not all quiet and still over at the Bianjun
Commandery.
Lu Guangbai returned to his camp for a rest. He had not even
dismounted when he saw his deputy general hurrying over
towards him. He asked, “What’s the matter?”
The deputy general did not look too good as he whispered,
“General, Qudu has dispatched an Army-inspecting eunuch over.
He brought this year’s military provisions too.”
After a moment of silence, Lu Guangbai dismounted, removed
his helmet, and lifted the screen to enter the tent. An eunuch was
sitting on the raised seat that had been set up inside; he was
dressed in a python-patterned robe and wore a yandun hat4 on his
head. Even when he saw Lu Guangbai stepping in, he did not get
up to pay his obeisances.
Lu Guangbai set aside his long spear and said, “Gonggong has
been rushing the entire journey. Why are you not taking a rest? I’ll
order the men to tidy up the tent.”
Yingxi was a recently promoted eunuch. He had backings in
the palace, and he knew that his masters had never looked kindly
upon the Lu clan of the Bianjun Commandery, so he looked down
upon Lu Guangbai too. On hearing him, he smiled and said, “It’s
desolate and barren here, and all the people here are clumsy fools,
so how would they know how to serve others? There’s no need for
the general to go to such trouble. I have already taken a look
around. That tent is so dark and filthy it’s not inhabitable. I’ve
gotten men to hurry over to Cangjun to buy some timber with the
plan to build a separate compound here—I still have to stay here for
half a year!”
Lu Guangbai was not good with words. He knew that the Army-
inspecting eunuchs were always this pretentious, and he could not
be bothered to make conversation either. He undid the arm guard,
and with the removal of that iron skin, filthy blood dripped onto the
ground. On seeing this, Yingxi covered his nose in horror and
exclaimed, “How did it fester to such an extent?!”
The deputy general dragged the chest over with the intent to
bandage it for Lu Guangbai. When he saw the wound, he said,
“General, it’s scraped so badly! We have to get the military medic
over to take a look.”
Lu Guangbai motioned for him to shut up and felt around the
side of his thigh for a dagger. As he poured wine around his
wound, he heated up the dagger in the candle flame until it was
searing hot. The deputy general hurriedly held up his sleeve for
him. Yingxi had never seen such a ruthless person before, and his
limbs went cold as he listened to the sound of rotten flesh being
gouged out. Lu Guangbai sprinkled the medicine over the wound
and got the deputy general to bandage it for him.
“The cavalry is hard to deal with. Without the deployment
order, we can’t pursue our way out of the delimited range, and we
are naturally too occupied to bother with this when we are going
back and forth engaged in attrition battles.” Having cleaned up his
wound, Lu Guangbai propped up his knee and looked at Yingxi to
ask, “Did gonggong come with the military provisions?”
Yingxi forced back his disgust and nausea and nodded his
head.
Lu Guangbai rose and said, “I’ll go take a look.”
With that, he stepped out of the tent with his deputy general
and headed towards the military provisions. Those who had
escorted and transported the military provisions had already
withdrawn. Lu Guangbai made his way into the granary and
opened up a burlap sack. Yet when he saw the provisions within, he
frowned. He reached out to grab a handful—it was all damp rice
and moldy flour.
“General.” The deputy general said. “It’s not just damp rice and
moldy flour that were sent this time. The quantity is pathetic too.
Our Bianjun Commandery has 20,000 men, and troops are
dispatched every day to engage in guerrilla warfare. There’s a lot
of running around involved, and naturally the amount of food
consumed is high too—it can’t be compared to the garrison troops
of the other four commanderies. This bit of provision can’t even last
us until autumn!”
Lu Guangbai’s scarred palm released these grains and said,
“The Secretariat Elder Hai has always looked out for us. Last year’s
military provisions were also allocated pretty quickly. Is there a
reason for the reduction in quantity this time?”
The deputy general’s chest heaved. Several times, he wanted to
say something, but then he held it back.
Lu Guangbai said, “Just say it if you have something to say.
What is this for? Someone gag your mouth?”
“General!” The deputy general was indignant. He stepped forth
to grab those grains, and his emotions surged. He said in a tearful
voice, “They gave us less! Why? Isn’t it all because they were in a
hurry to transfer it to Libei Armored Cavalry?! What the heck! Libei
Armored Cavalry are all good men and soldiers, while the garrison
troops of our Bianjun Commandery are all lowly bastards! They
have always loved fawning on those at the top and bullying those
at the bottom; they trampled on you every opportunity they can!
But these are wars we are waging! We are all risking our own lives
here, so on what grounds can they play favorites?! What issue do
they have with our Bianjun Commandery?! We are already this
poor, and they still want to skimp here and there! I asked those
escorts who transported the food what are we to do in autumn, and
they said the imperial court told us to play it by ear and take care of
it ourselves! Do as we deem fit. Fuck them to hell and back!”
The deputy general clenched his fists.
“Qidong’s military provisions were reduced by half to supply to
Libei. But don’t the other commanderies need to fight too?! They
still have military fields to provide them with food to eat, but we can
only eat empty air! Once autumn arrives, the horses of the Biansha
Twelve Tribes will all be fattened up, and when that time comes, the
battles will be even harder to fight! With just this bit of grains, we
—”
“Not a word more!” Lu Guangbai bellowed at the deputy
general, stopping him in his tracks. He stood for a long time in the
darkness. Eventually, he looked at the starry sky outside and said in
a hoarse voice, “… I’ll think of a way.”
The fire beacon towers of the Bianjun Commandery sat in
silence between the rolling terrains, while the night, like the
reversed flow of filthy waters, sealed this opening and obstructed
them from seeing the light. Lu Guangbai did not have the
prestigious reputation of the other three generals. He was just like
the stubborn rock stationed at the edge of the desert, enduring the
weight of oppressive pressure from three directions until it
gradually eroded his originally round and smooth body into one
with sharpened edges.5 Many people from their Lu clan had died,
leaving only him to inherit Lu Pingyan’s spear.
He was this slow-witted. And he was this unlikable. He made a
name for himself pretty late in his years, having none of the natural
talents Xiao Jiming and Qi Zhuyin possessed. He was Lu Pingyan’s
youngest and stupidest son. Yet, it was also such a “him” who held
up the Bianjun Commandery after Lu Pingyan’s retirement. He
choked off the strategic passage in which the Biansha Cavalry
wanted to penetrate and advance through. He did not have a
master; he was a general who learned his craft by following Lu
Pingyan into the desert and tumbling his way out from the yellow
sands. He treated others with sincerity. He… was riddled with scars
all over.
This very night, Lu Guangbai did not sleep. He sat hugging his
spear on the earthen slope before the camp, unable to think of a
way to resolve the shortage of military provisions. Qi Zhuyin had
jurisdiction over the Five Commanderies. All these years, she had
emptied her own private savings to give them financial aid; he
could not keep asking Qi Zhuyin for help every single time. His old
man at home was still ill too, so he could not ask Lu Pingyan to
drag his sick body around to borrow money either.
The deputy general saw Lu Guangbai’s lonely back when he
got up in the middle of the night to relieve himself. He wanted to
go over and tell him to rest, but before he could approach, he saw
Lu Guangbai bending over and reached out to touch the soil at his
feet. For a long time, Lu Guangbai never raised his head.

Footnotes
1. 狼虎 literally wolves and tigers. i.e., evildoers, oppressors
2. 狡兔三窟 literally a wily hare has three burrows; a craft
person has more than one hideout, or a sly individual has
more than one plan to fall back on.
3. 釜底游鱼 literally a fish swimming at the bottom of the
cauldron/pot; a person whose fate is sealed, or a person who
is in dire danger.
4. 烟墩帽 a hat worn by eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.
5. 棱角 may also refers to a person’s abilities. Effect here
could be taken to mean honing his abilities as well.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 94 : RAGING WAVES

Note:
The title, raging waves, also refers to a critical or desperate
situation.

Wei Huaigu was sent to prison to be placed on trial, while Yang

Cheng of the Provincial Administration Commission of Juexi was
also apprehended by the Imperial Bodyguards and taken to the
imperial prison. This was a major case in the year of Tianchen, and
the entire court of civil and military officials was watching. Shen
Zechuan moved very quickly. From the confession submitted by
Yang Chen, he found out that Wei Huaigu had been reselling
military provisions for profits ever since the fourth year of Xiande.
Using his position as the Minister of Revenue, Wei Huaigu
would buy military provisions from Yang Cheng each time he
supervised the handling of the military provisions. Then he resold it
at a higher price to Xi Hongxuan, who then separately sent these
military grains via sea and land towards the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo and Xuhai to make a huge profit off them. In this way, he
split the land tax among the commoners’ fields in the thirteen cities
of Juexi and let the common folk down there bear the tax
“Since you’ve already been doing this for so long, then why
was it only this time that you were pricked by your conscience into
reporting Wei Huaigu through the relay report?” Shen Zechuan
looked through Yang Cheng’s confession.
Yang Cheng had been in the imperial prison for a few days. He
lowered his head and said, “This time, moldy grains were used to
fill it up; it’s not the same as before. Libei is going to fight a war.
These grains would be the poison that causes the death of the
soldiers at the frontier pass if they were sent over. I was afraid that
something bad would really happen to the Hereditary Prince of
Libei.”
There were no other people at the sides of the table. Xiao
Chiye, who was sitting in the shadows, said out of the blue, “You
are so certain that these foods will reach the mouth of the
Hereditary Prince?”
Yang Cheng shifted his arms uneasily. His lips turned pale as he
said, “That’s what I was afraid of. Although I’m greedy for wealth, I
don’t want to cause anyone to lose their lives.”
“Don’t be afraid.” Shen Zechuan cast a glance at Xiao Chiye
and softened his tone at Yang Cheng, “This place may be the
imperial prison, but this is a case that is personally supervised and
tried by His Majesty. If you have anything to say, you can voice
them all out here.”
The contrast between both of them was stark. Yang Cheng
gulped down his saliva. He was already a little dazed from the non-
stop interrogation all night. He muttered, “I didn’t know it. I didn’t
—”
“What didn’t you know? Shen Zechuan asked gently.
“I didn’t know that something would really happen to the
Hereditary Prince of Libei…” Yang Cheng began to choke with sobs
as he spoke. “I didn’t know… I was worried the Libei Armored
Cavalry would suffer a defeat because of this and let the Biansha
Cavalry assault their way in once again.”
Xiao Chiye bent over slightly, his body like a vicious beast
whose shadows loomed over Yang Cheng’s face. He said in a
frosty voice, “So you know this batch of military provisions can lead
to the defeat of the Libei Armored Cavalry. Yet you still had them
sealed and loaded up the carriages. You deserve to die.”
Yang Cheng grew terrified under Xiao Chiye’s gaze. Stumped
for words, he cried incoherently, “Your Lordship… I plead guilty. I, I
deserve to die…”
“You won’t die.” With compassion brimming in his expressive,
upturned eyes on his jade-like handsome face, Shen Zechuan said,
“The main perpetrator is Wei Huaigu in this case. He used his
position to coerce you, and there was nothing you could do. I
understand these difficulties of yours. His Lordship understands it
as well. Yang Cheng, you entered government service in the era of
Yongyi. You have been an official in Juexi for half of your life, and
you have made your way up to the post of Assistant Administration
Commissioner. You are a capable man, as assessed from the
Qudu’s inspection. Now that Jiang Qingshan has left Juexi to be
transferred to Zhongbo as a provincial governor, the position of the
Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi will be vacant.
Going by age and experience, you will be the first choice for
recommendation when the Ministry of Personnel is deliberating
over it. You see, your future was supposed to be bright, and yet you
forfeited it all for that bit of money. It’s not worth it.”
Hunching over, Yang Cheng sobbed.
“I heard that you were from Baimazhou in your early years. Your
family was poor, and you lost your father at the age of six. Your
siblings and you were single-handedly raised by your mother
alone. She sent you and your brothers to school and spent most of
her life enduring hardships. She finally waited for the day you
became an official and had your own residence, yet you committed
such a grave mistake.” Shen Zechuan was particularly
compassionate as he continued, “From today onwards, she’ll be
left all alone and forsaken, and she still has to endure scorns and
curses because of this case. How can you be so heartless?”
Yang Cheng could not help himself and burst out crying. He
was a scholar to begin with, and he knew of propriety, justice,
integrity, and honor.1 He was the most filial in serving and
attending to his mother’s needs back at home. Covering his face
with both hands, he cried, “I have made such an inhumane
mistake. I’m too ashamed to see her again!”
“This case is still not closed. Whether you will be executed or
not is still up for debate.” Xiao Chiye threw down the confession
and looked askance at him. “Since you still know to be ashamed,
then you still have a shred of conscience left. All the questions I’m
going to ask you next will not be recorded in the confession. If you
answer truthfully, I’ll think of a way to preserve your life so that your
old mother may live her remaining years in peace and comfort. But
if you dare to prevaricate in an attempt to fob me off, then I’ll
immediately have you publicly beheaded at the foot of
Duancheng’s city gate as a warning to the rest. With one relay
report, you gave Wei Huaigu away and ruined many people’s
golden rice bowl.2 You are a man in the trade, so you understand
best what fate awaits those widows and orphans. Without me to
vouch for you, the lives of everyone in your family will be in
imminent danger.”
Yang Cheng cried for a long time. When he stopped, Shen
Zechuan personally held out a cup of hot tea to him. He wiped his
tears hastily and repeatedly said his thanks. With both hands
holding the tea, he fell silent for a long while before he said, “Your
Lordship’s willingness to protect me… is a great life-saving
kindness. I don’t dare to ask to re-enter government service as an
official again; all I wish for is to be sent into exile. This case
implicates way too much. It’s not something that can be clearly
explained in a short time. I’ll tell Your Lordship about it slowly.”
“Ever since the first year of the era of Xiande, the state treasury
has been depleting in substantial amounts. The Ministry of
Revenue’s accounts are all messed up. Hua Siqian, as the Grand
Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, collaborated with Pan Rugui to
approve many projects that squandered away public funds. For
example, Linlang Garden in Qinzhou. Most of them weren’t really
built for real. These gardens were merely just a pretext to pass
through the Grand Secretariat’s examination and gain its approval
so that everyone could draw out money from the state treasury
together. The collusion between officials and merchants for illegal
gains was something everyone in the palace knew. The money
really flowed like water flowing into these people’s pockets.”
“In the fourth year of Xiande, Wei Huaigu dragged me into this.
I’ll be honest, Your Lordship. I know these money shouldn’t be
touched, but I had no choice. When local officials like us enter the
capital, the Pan and Hua factions will take turns to call on us and
ask for ‘ice respect’. No doubt you would have also heard of the
widely-spread practice of spending money to get a promotion
those few years. The noble clans have the dignity of a noble clan to
uphold. Those who are truly held back by all these ‘ice respect’ and
‘coal respect’3 are officials from humble backgrounds like me.
Without money, we can’t enter the central administration. Without
money, we won’t have a job to do.”
“That year, Juexi faced a locust plague, and not a single grain
was reaped from the thirteen cities. It was Jiang Qingshan who did
all he could to shoulder this responsibility and save our lives. He
forcibly opened up the commercial granaries to release food aid
relief to the commoners, and this was how the situation did not
deteriorate into a famine. It was also because of this that Jiang
Qingshan became the thorn in the flesh of the prominent
businessmen in Juexi. Qudu also knew this at that time. The
debtors hunted him down to his residence, and his mother even
had to weave fabrics to pay off the debt even at her age. But what
debt was he repaying? We all know it very well that he was
repaying the debt on behalf of the imperial court. But there was
one thing that no one else but those of us from the Provincial
Administration Commission of Juexi knew, and that was, the defeat
of the Zhongbo troops was too timely.”
“Why do I say that? The state treasury was empty at that time,
and Juexi had faced a calamity. Libei and Bianjun Commandery
still had to deal with the Biansha Cavalry. The harvest of Hezhou
further down was dismal too. People from the various areas were
already starving to death at the beginning of the year. The Ministry
of Revenue was forced into a corner, but they had no way to
provide aid reliefs to the various areas because the state treasury
had already been emptied out. Hua Siqian had to give the various
regions an explanation, and Hai Liangyi of the Grand Secretariat
was also looking into the accounts. In no time, Hua Siqian was
caught between a rock and a hard place. This matter put him in a
terrible fix. At that time, the Hua Clan in Dicheng sold their manor,
and it was the Xi Clan who took over. We all know that Hua Siqian
wanted to backfill the state treasury by doing this; he wanted to
cover up the matter. But a vacuum of that size was not something
he alone can fill in, and so, Hua Siqian began to collect his debt
from the others.”
“I don’t know if Hua Siqian got his money back. But it was at this
juncture that the Biansha Cavalry suddenly launched an assault at
Chashi River. Duanzhou’s garrison troops suffered a crushing
defeat, and Shen Wei withdrew and holed himself up like a
tortoise, leading to Zhongbo’s defeat one after another. Libei
Armored Cavalry and Qidong Garrison Troops came from both
sides to provide reinforcements. It was at the gate of Qudu that
they stopped the Biansha Tribes from penetrating deeper. But
although the homeland was reclaimed, the massacred cities had
already turned into deserted ones. And Juexi’s subsequent
resupply of relief grains were precisely the grains of the Six
Prefectures of Zhongbo.”
Shen Zechuan abruptly rose to his feet. He stood in the
darkness without saying a word.
Xiao Chiye’s heart went icy as well. He and Shen Zechuan had
made so many assumptions in the past, but it had never occurred
to them that the defeat of the Zhongbo troops might be to fill up
the empty granaries at the back and pay off the debt for Hua Siqian
and the officials who were caught in a difficult position owing to
the state treasury investigation.
“That was more than 100,000 people.” Shen Zechuan
stupefyingly supported himself on the table and looked ahead as
he said in a hoarse voice, “That was… That was the lives of 40,000
soldiers… Do you know what you are talking about…”
Shen Zechuan was caught off-guard by these words. He spent
six years convincing himself that these people possibly died in the
struggle for power. These vivacious people, these young lives—all of
them existed once, like Ji Mu. Duanzhou was the first door in. They
all died so tragically. The singing reverberating in Chashi sinkhole
was Shen Zechuan’s nightmare for a lifetime.
The defeat of Zhongbo troops led to countless of victims. No
one went to collect the bodies of the soldiers who died in battle.
Blood inundated the dreams of survivors.
In this oppressive atmosphere, Yang Cheng held his head and
said, “The filling of military grains this time really made me afraid.
Zhongbo still had the chance to be rescued, but Libei can only rely
on the reinforcement from Luoxia Pass. Once the Biansha Cavalry
breaches Libei, I’ll become a sinner condemned through the
ages!”
“The defeat of Zhongbo troops and the arrival of the Biansha
Cavalry were too coincidental! Hanshe Tribe’s transfer of their
troops south was not a coincidence; it was because they received
news.”
In that case, Hanshe Tribe’s encounter with Xiao Jiming at the
Hongyan eastern mountain range this time was definitely no
coincidence either. There were people everywhere in Qudu,
Zhongbo, Libei, and even Qidong, to pass information to the
Twelve Tribes of Biansha. They raise the Twelve Tribes of Biansha
like they were raising a jackal so starving it would lap up
everything. And when necessary, they would let it into the territory
to gobble up all the traces that could not be wiped clean.
“I don’t know if there is anyone else in the central
administration who is still doing such a thing.” Yang Cheng said
fearfully. “But it’s really a close call this time… There are already
reserves in the state treasury, and the Grand Secretariat is also
carrying out stringent audits on the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts.
It’d be selling out the state if the Biansha Cavalry is released into
our territory again. I don’t know… I don’t dare to bet on it. There
are people monitoring my private correspondences, so I could only
inform Qudu through the relay report!”
“Since you want to report Wei Huaigu…” Shen Zechuan
suddenly lifted up Yang Cheng. “Why did you affix it with the
Ministry of Revenue’s tag when you sent out the urgent relay
report? The very first moment this report enters Qudu, it would land
in Wei Huaigu’s hands!”
Yang Cheng lost his grip on the teacup. Under the sound of the
porcelain cup shattering, he said in a trembling voice, “No, no! I
had it affixed with the Ministry of Justice’s tag!”
Shen Zechuan was stunned.
Looking fearful, Yang Cheng said in disbelief, “I’d no doubt die
if this report were to land in Wei Huaigu’s hands! I know that the
Minister of Justice, Kong Qiu, is a courageous one. He isn’t born
from a noble clan, so he will definitely not put it off or cover it up for
Wei Huaigu. That’s why I triple-checked before dispatching it that it
was the Ministry of Justice I tagged!”
“We’ve been had.” Xiao Chiye grasped hold of Shen Zechuan
in support. The expression in his eyes was ruthless. “Wei Huaigu
isn’t the culprit this time. When Wei Huaigu received the relay
report, he knew that someone had already read the content. This
was a silent coercion—he had to turn himself in!”
Footnotes
1. 礼义廉耻 propriety, justice, integrity, and honor, also
known as the four social bonds.
2. 金饭碗 golden rice bowl; a well-paid and secure job.
3. 冰敬 ‘Ice Respect’ and 炭敬 ‘Coal Respect’, together with
‘Departure Respect’, are objectionable practices of ‘Three
Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the capital used to bribe the
officials in the capital during summer-time, while ‘Coal
Respect’ refers to bribes made during winter-time.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 95 : MANSION

Wei Huaigu, who was over 50 years old, was stripped of his
official robes, thereby turning into a prisoner in white.1 He was
shackled, with iron bars separating him and Xiao Chiye. No one
had ever maltreated him these few days he had been put on trial.
His hair, which had been tied up in a bun, was tidy, and his face
was clean. It was just that he seemed to have aged by several years
in a few short days. He looked very haggard.
“The trial ended last night.” Wei Huaigu sat on the chair and
said to both of them. “My confession has already been submitted,
and I’m now waiting to be sentenced. What else do you want to
ask?”
“Embezzlement of state treasury funds, resale of military
provisions for illegal gains, and the poisoning of the generals at
the frontier—all three charges are capital crimes.” Xiao Chiye looked
closely at Wei Huaigu. “Wei Huaixing has also been removed from
his post and thrown into prison to await the impeachment order.
The fall of your Wei Clan’s line of direct descendants took out two
imperial court ministers along with it. How is it that you could bear
to let it happen this time?”
“This matter concerns Libei. Who would dare to bend the law
and play favorites? There’s no one to protect me.” Wei Huaigu
adjusted his sitting posture as if he was still sitting in the main seat
at the Ministry of Revenue’s office compound. He looked at Xiao
Chiye, “Your father has now come out of obscurity to take up the
mantle. His Majesty probably won’t even dare to sleep these few
days. The Prince of Libei is still the same tough nut as he was back
in those days. He knows what to do to give them a rap on the
knuckles.”
“You should have known that those military provisions were to
be delivered to Libei when you were filling the military provisions
up with moldy grains. But you still did it all the same, didn’t you? At
that time, you weren’t the slightest bit afraid that there’s no one
protecting you.” Xiao Chiye shifted a little and continued, “To send
these things into my eldest brother’s mouth, adulterating it was
only the first step. When the grains arrived at Libei, you bribed the
officials in charge of examining the granary so that they would
close an eye and send the stuff to the camps. This was the second
step. Then you bribed the mess cooks of the Libei Armored Cavalry
and mixed this poisonous stuff into the dishes before they were
sent to the soldiers at the frontier pass for consumption. This was
the third step.”
Xiao Chiye stopped and looked out of the corner of his eyes at
Wei Huaigu.
“These arrangements take time and effort. The moment an
accident happens, you won’t be able to deny your involvement in
it. Not only will you not get away with it, you’ll even be subjected to
a probe by the Ministry of Justice, which will bring your crime of
reselling military provisions for profits to light. You are not this kind
of person.”
Wei Huaigu did not answer Xiao Chiye’s question immediately.
Instead, he looked at Shen Zechuan, who had been sitting behind
Xiao Chiye all this while. He laughed and pointed at Shen Zechuan,
saying, “Second Young Master has made progress, having been in
Qudu for six years. Back then, when you first entered the capital,
you spent the whole day looking for fights and braying for blood.
Vice Commander Shen knows this from experience, right? That’s
why I said Xiao Fangxu is an iron fist to dare to put his son on the
edge of the blade to polish. You really have your father to thank for
being able to grow into the person you are now.”
Xiao Chiye looked at Wei Huaigu with indifference. It was
unexpectedly Shen Zechuan who pushed aside the confession
statement. With both hands slightly clasped together on the table,
he said calmly to Wei Huaigu without so much a smile or wrath,
“That’s right. You find it unfair to see such a Xiao Ce’an. Your son
spent all day mixing with the brothel crowd during the years of
Xiande. By the time the Grand Secretariat had a change of
personnel in the reign of Tianchen, it would have been
insurmountably hard for him to enter officialdom through the
imperial examinations even if he wanted to.2 You are already at this
age. Yet the Wei clan does not have a descendant of direct lineage
who is capable of keeping the Wei clan going. You placed your
hopes on a marriage alliance, but a pity the Fei clan knows that the
Wei clan is on the decline, and Commandery Princess Zhaoyue
eventually married into the Pan clan. In your post as the Minister of
Revenue, you’ve repeatedly demoted and relegated newly
appointed officials to remote areas. What you fear was being
replaced by the up-and-coming talents. Today, the Wei clan
seemed to be still at the height of its power, but in truth, it is already
water that is about to spill over—With your death, the Wei clan is
doomed to fall.”
Touching his shackles, Wei Huaigu said, “The power of a clan is
like the tides, whose rise and fall is a fact of the world. It thrives one
moment and declines the next. All of it are predestined. There’s
nothing for me to regret when the time comes for the Wei clan.
History has gone through several generation changes for as long
as Dazhou has existed to this day. Everything is ever-changing;
only the Eight Great Clans have not changed. Therefore, it’s only
with my death that the Wei clan can survive.”
“Will the Eight Great Clans really remain unchanged?” Xiao
Chiye said. “The internal strife between the Xi brothers led to the
end of all their di and shu descendants. There is already no one
left today to carry on the bloodline. In the future, the Xi clan will no
longer be the Xi clan it used to be. It’s only a matter of time before
they are squeezed out of the political game.”
But Wei Huaigu laughed it off and said, “As long as the Xi clan
still exists, they won’t be booted out of the game. Today, you kill Xi
Hongxuan, wanting to cut up the Xi clan’s family fortune, yet you
can’t bear to give up the Xi clan’s businesses, so you still have to
continue to rely on others to put things in order for you. So tell me,
is the Xi clan still considered dead then? They merely lost a
helmsman at the head. This is a temporary predicament. As long
as that eldest madam of theirs still wants to control the business
under Xi’s name, then when she finds a new flame in the future, the
other party can only marry into the family3 and change his
surname. The child they bear will still take on the surname Xi. And
this, is a new direct line of descendants that will continue the Xi
clan’s lineage.”
 Candle wax dripped, like tears mottling the sides of it. Night
was coming to an end. Silence reigned on the outside. Wei Huaigu
stood up, like an elder guiding intellectual discussions.
“I have a question. I have always wanted to ask Xiao Fangxu,
but there is no more chance for me to now, so I can only ask you.
Xiao Chiye, your father came from a humble background. He
experienced hardship at the frontier before he finally tided over the
sea of suffering to possess his own turf and title. You call yourselves
people who broke the shackles of the noble clans. But it has been
thirty years now, and Libei and the Xiao clan have become a single
inseparable entity. He came to have sons too. You and Xiao Jiming
are both legitimate sons born of the principal wife. To avoid
disputes between the son of lawful births born of the principal
wives and son of common births born of concubines, he even
refused to remarry4 or get a concubine. He turned Xiao Jiming and
you into the only choices to lead the Libei Armored Cavalry. Isn’t
this precisely the impenetrable fortress built as a safeguard at the
inception of a noble clan? You are now walking the same exact
path as us.”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye said, “You think this way
because you don’t understand that there are people in this world
willing to be tied down by love. My father doesn’t remarry or take a
concubine simply because he is only willing to exchange lifetime
vows of conjugal bliss with my mother in this life of his. Libei
Armored Cavalry is a heavy cavalry5 he established. He
understands this army better than anyone else. This is his third son,
one that is far more important than my eldest brother and me. All
along, the ones who have been seeing my eldest brother and me
as the only choices for Libei Armored Cavalry are you people. My
being in Qudu doesn’t tether the Libei Armored Cavalry at all, only
Xiao Fangxu and Xiao Jiming. You still have not understood one
thing. My father has indeed set up an impenetrable fortress around
the position of the Libei Armored Cavalry’s commander-in-chief.
But that is not a bastion of iron to safeguard the status of a noble
clan. Rather, it is a weight – a test – of whether one can truly become
the chief commander of an army to lead Libei Armored Cavalry
into bearing the ravages of the elements against the fortress
amidst those ceaseless confrontations with Biansha. Thirty years
ago, Xiao Fangxu was the man who broke through this layer of
fortress. Ten years ago, the one who did the same was Xiao Jiming.
If someday, someone is similarly able to break through this layer of
fortress, has no fear of hardships and suffering, and is willing to be
forged and tempered in such a way, then, he shall be the new
commander-in-chief of the Libei Armored Cavalry.”
“You made it out to be all so honorable and dignified for Xiao
Fangxu, but in reality, the Xiao clan has been monopolizing the
military power of Libei all these years.” The expression in Wei
Huaigu’s eye was slightly mocking.
“That’s just because the two men who have borne such a
weight one after another happen to be surnamed Xiao.” Xiao
Chiye’s eyes suddenly revealed a brilliance that made it hard for
one to look right at him in the eyes. In the dimness of this fading
light, he was both Xiao Fangxu and Xiao Jiming, as well as the
pride the three men of the Xiao clan had hidden deep under their
armors. He said, “You people called my father an alpha wolf. There
are no prejudices against one’s blood lineage in a pack of wolves.
As long as you can defeat us., you can lead us. Everything the Libei
Armored Cavalry has to show for today is what it deserves.
Someday—”
Xiao Chiye’s voice came to a stop.
But Shen Zechuan knew what he was going to say next. He
wanted to say that someday when he returned to Libei, he would
also participate in such a fight amongst the wolves. As long as he
could defeat the others, he would be the third alpha wolf. The
source of their pride and willfulness was that they had never feared
resistance. This was Xiao Fangxu’s soul, and he taught this kind of
spirit to both of his sons, as well as the Libei Armored Cavalry.
“Do you know why the Qi clan, who similarly guards the frontier
and who holds military power firmly in their hands, has never faced
such animosity from the noble clans as the Xiao clan did?” Wei
Huaigu and Xiao Chiye looked at each other. He said mildly,
“Because you were all born with a rebellious bone. This pride is
precisely the root cause of Qudu’s distrust of Libei. And do you
know why the noble clans would not fall? Because we know to go
with the flow and seize the opportunities presented to us. The Li
clan is the root – the foundation – of Dazhou. We surround it, see it
born, let it grow. We alternate with one another, and we give each
other. We are the soil that sustains Dazhou. The land you step on
under your feet, and the sky you look at when you raise your head—
they are the stability that arises as a result of the noble clans
holding together. All those who want to break such a stability are
enemies. Twenty-six years ago, the Crown Prince of the Li clan led
the eastern palace in an attempt to break the status quo. That was
naïve. The Crown Prince didn’t understand that once the noble
clans collapsed, the Li clan would rapidly wither too. That was why
he was sure to die.”
“Hua Siqian may die, as may Xi Hongxuan. Same goes for me.
But it’s just our bodies that perish. The noble clan is not a world that
can be overthrown by human power alone. Nobody, and I mean
nobody, can defeat us. All these years, the only scholar of a humble
background in the imperial court who truly broke through the siege
to endanger us all is Hai Liangyi. He used close to thirty years to lie
low in patience. He has made his way up now, but does he dare to
turn the world upside down without careful consideration? He
rejuvenated the Imperial College and promoted scholars of
humble backgrounds. Every step he takes is that careful and
cautious, because he knows the outcome of using brute force to
tussle will be the ruin of the empire. But how long can he still live?
After his death, this phase will crumble and fall apart. It’s
impossible for him to succeed.” Wei Huaigu suddenly burst out
laughing. He held on to the bars and looked at Shen Zechuan. “Qi
Huilian led the eastern palace to act with haste and resolve. He
would never let us off easily. He thought he could do it, but he
ended up causing the death of the Crown Prince. All the geniuses
in this world should learn to reflect on their shortcomings. He is a
cautionary tale of political radicalism.”
“Stop him!” Shen Zechuan suddenly rose.
Xiao Chiye immediately reached out, but it was already too late.
Wei Huaigu started to cough violently. He bent over, cupping the
blood in his hands, and lifted his eyes to look at both of them.
Amidst his intense pain and with blood in his mouth, he said,
 “You can’t win… You are doomed… doomed to fail!”
Xiao Chiye kicked the cell door open, hauled Wei Huaigu up,
and pinched his mouth open. The filthy blood within trickled down.
Wei Huaigu was just like the expiring candle in the wind. His limbs
gradually stiffened amidst his convulsions, until he finally stopped
moving, his eyes still open in a glare.
The flame of the candle went out. Only the whimpers of the
wind could be heard inside the prison.
“The imperial heir!” Xiao Chiye let go of the corpse and strode
out.
The sky was brightening up a little outside, although it was still
shrouded with dense, dark clouds. The rainstorm that had stopped
seemed as if it was about to stage a comeback. Oppressiveness
pervaded the air along with the sounds of chaotic footsteps. Xiao
Chiye pushed the door open and saw the panic-stricken girls in the
prison. The stench of blood came assailing their nostrils. All the
boys had been killed, their bodies lying haphazardly on the
ground. Sweat formed on Xiao Chiye’s temples. He clutched Langli
Blade as his eyes swept across each of these terrified faces.
He and Shen Zechuan had not made their moves yet. So who
killed the imperial heir?
Cool wind blew against Xiao Chiye’s soaked back. He had yet
to turn around when he heard the gallops of a horse.
Amidst the jolts and bumps, Fuman shouted in a fluster, “Your,
Your Lordship! Please head into the palace quickly! His Majesty is in
imminent danger!”
Xiao Chiye abruptly turned back, but Shen Zechuan pressed his
hand down on Xiao Chiye’s arm. He was so calm that his gaze
made Fuman’s limbs tremble. He asked, “What do you mean by
imminent danger? Make yourself clear.”
With snot and tears running down his face, Fuman cried, “His
Majesty is critically ill. He is urgently summoning His Lordship over
for an audience with him. There is an important matter he wishes to
entrust to His Lordship!”

Footnotes
1.
2. Prisoner typically wore white (or their inner garment after
their robes have been stripped)
3. Unless his son was truly smart enough to pass the exam
on his own merit, he was likely to bribe his way into passing.
But with a reign change and Hai Liangyi now helming the
Grand Secretariat instead of Hua Siqian, bribery would be
out of the question.
4. 入赘 marry into the bride’s family, in effect becoming a
member of her family. Some rich clans do this when they
need a ‘son’ or a man to continue on the family legacy.
(Usually, the girl is the one marrying into the man’s family.)
5. 续弦 specifically of a widow who remarry a second
(principal) wife after his first principal wife’s death.
6. Heavy Cavalry: heavily armed and armored men on
horses. Their primary role was to engage in direct combat
with enemy forces.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 96 : COLLAPSE

Translated with: Eggy, Yunyun<3

Note:
The titles for this and last chapter make up 大厦倾塌, or “the
mansion collapses”, which is from the idiom 大厦将倾, or “the
mansion on the verge of collapse”. The original idiom refers to a
hopeless situation, like a mansion on the brink of collapse. The
words in this and the last chapter suggest that this mansion has
already collapsed, or i.e., the situation is a total goner.

The sky’s overcast foreshadowed the incoming rainstorm.

Xiao Chiye took off Langli Blade by the palace entrance and
stepped into the dark and long hallway. Eunuchs kneeling on
either side all kept quiet with their heads lowered. Silence befell in
and outside of Mingli Hall. With scuttling steps, Fuman led Xiao
Chiye to the door and lifted the curtains. The bed curtains within
the bedchamber were not drawn up. There was a suffocating heat
inside, mixed with a hint of blood.
Fuman whispered between sobs, “Your Majesty, look. His
Lordship is here!”
Li Jianheng answered from within and said, “Tell the rest to
take their leave. I want to speak with the marquis before the
Secretariat Elder arrives. Do not disturb us.”
Fuman quietly exited with the other servants.
“Ce’an.” Li Jianheng seemed to have shifted his body. He said,
“Pull the bed curtains open.”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand and pulled the hanging curtains
back. The bed was stained all over with blood. Li Jianheng looked
as if he was soaking in a pool of filthy color. His chest heaved as he
struggled to gasp for breath.
“Brother.” Li Jianheng’s pale face was full of tears and sweat. He
wiped off the sweat with his trembling hand, but smeared his entire
face with blood instead, “Where the heck have you been? The
anxiety is killing me.”
Mu Ru was lying beside Li Jianheng. Dead.
Xiao Chiye suddenly felt a little lonesome. Even though he
knew this meeting was a trap, he still agreed to this invitation just to
live up to this word of “brother” from Li Jianheng. The brotherhood
of their reckless youth was already crushed and shattered to
smithereens under the unforgiving wheel of power; yet in this
moment, it seemed as though it was glued back together again. He
felt as if he had returned to the past. He hung up the curtains and
said in a raspy voice, “It was very windy on the way here, and there
were too many people on Shenwu Street, which made it
inconvenient to ride a horse.”
Li Jianheng raised the hand that was covering up his wound
and looked at where he was stabbed. He said, “You have been a
good brother to me. You clearly knew this trip was dangerous, yet
you still came. It is not in vain that I, Li Jianheng, could be buddies
with you.”
Xiao Chiye pulled over a chair to sit down and looked at Li
Jianheng as his Adam’s apple bobbed several times. He said, “I
had already told you a long time back that she was not a good
match for you.”
“But I liked her so much,” Li Jianheng blankly rubbed the blood
between his fingers. “I thought she liked me too. Fuck… so this is
how much it hurts to be stabbed with a knife.”
Xiao Chiye rubbed his face and propped his elbows on his
knees. He said, “What did you want to tell me now that you have
called me over?”
Li Jianheng turned his eyes and chuckled at Xiao Chiye
through his tears before his face fell again. Choking with sobs, he
said with a broken voice, “I called for you, so you came. The fuck is
wrong with you, Xiao Ce’an. Do you know that it’s full of people out
there… waiting for you with swords in their hands?”
Just like Xiao Chiye had done when he was resolving tough
situations for him in the past, he calmly nodded and said, “I know.”
Li Jianheng forced down a sob and said, “If you didn’t come,
I’d not have to apologize.”
 Xiao Chiye’s eyes reddened. He said, “You are the emperor.
There is no need for the emperor to apologize.”
Li Jianheng covered his wound and bawled his eyes out while
shaking his head. He sobbed, “I… Brother… I really… wanted to be
a good emperor. I even memorized the texts a few days ago. Tell
this to the Secretariat Elder on my behalf when you head out.”
Xiao Chiye said, “You are the emperor. Tell him yourself.”
Gasping and crying in a hoarse voice, Li Jianheng said, “That
won’t do. I’m the emperor; I cannot go myself. It’s too humiliating.
He is a loyal subject. Tell me, why am I this, this stupid? I, really
wanted to call him my second father.1 I’m scared, scared that after I
die, both of you will also end up stabbed by the others.”
Xiao Chiye’s voice turned raspy as he answered, “How are you
going to leave when you are such a scaredy-cat?”
Li Jianheng gestured, “Imperial Brother is waiting for me. I’m
scared that he’s going to scold me again. I’ve let him down.”
Xiao Chiye snorted a laugh and said, “That’s all you’ve got?”
“I…” Li Jianheng’s breath grew rapid. He pursed his parched
lips again and again, then said, “I’ve let you down too. I’ve not
stuck by you enough. We are both in situations that we have control
over. I really… really regret it. Ce’an, leave. When you get outside,
just go. Get on your horse and go home. I have nothing to give
you, but it’s also a shame not to gift you anything.”
Xiao Chiye rubbed his face again.
Li Jianheng raised a finger and pointed toward the wall. He
muttered indistinctly, “That… that bow, is what you helped me
obtain from Imperial Brother. But fuck, I-I can’t pull it… Take it with
you. The wolf pup should stay… stay in the grasslands. That thumb
ring of yours must be rusted by now.”
Xiao Chiye said heartlessly, “I don’t want it. That’s the
Conqueror Bow of your clan.”
“You are the conqueror…” Li Jianheng’s voice was already very
soft. He gazed at the bow. “In my next life… don’t… don’t make me
the emperor again… I want to be a swallow of Dazhou… nesting
under the roof of riches and glory…”
He looked quietly at the Conqueror Bow and did not move
anymore.
 The wind blew against the drapes in the bedchamber. Sitting,
Xiao Chiye listened as that muffled thunder struck and torrential
rain exploded forth.
Han Cheng finished up the last mouthful of tea and held the
teacup in his hands as he walked out of the door to look at the
Eight Great Training Divisions’ soldiers who were standing by in
combat readiness. He flung the teacup onto the ground and
boomed at the top of his voice, “The Imperial Army of Qudu only
has eight thousand people. Without receiving news, the men at
Mount Feng military grounds can’t come to provide reinforcement.
Xiao Chiye is already a trapped beast in a cage. Today, we must
take him down!”
Heavy rain rumbled. The sound of densely clustered footsteps
surrounded the imperial palace like layers of walls. Sheaths of
blades scraped against armors as the Eight Great Training
Divisions laid a heavy siege outside the bedchamber. Fuman could
no longer stand up as he listened to those sounds. The eunuchs
each cowered in the corners, lest they were taken to be sacrificed
to these swords.
Xiao Chiye finally stood up. Under the intersection of light and
shadows, he put down the bed curtains for Li Jianheng. Then he
turned around to take down the Conqueror Bow that weighed a
hundred catty.2 The doors had long been opened. Xiao Chiye
pushed aside layers upon layers of fluttering drapery and walked
towards the heavy rain without so much a look back.
Han Cheng led the men into drawing their blades. There was
nothing for him to shout, because they had already won. They
wanted to change the world in this heavy bout of downpour and
make Xiao Chiye kneel once more.
Xiao Chiye looked at those dark and dense masses of heads.
He strode a step out and walked down along the long stairs. He
had no blade. When the rainwater wiped off his indifference, he
was already clashing with that group of people. He held out the
Conqueror Bow horizontally to intercept the blades, then pushed
back against the wall of people into a retreat with an unrelenting,
indomitable aura that suppressed the roar of the torrential rain.
 Shen Zechuan spurred his horse across the street, with the
Imperial Bodyguards and Imperial Army behind him like a red
serpent as they crashed through the palace gates under the flashes
and glints of their blades and galloped their way within.
The entire palace was already surrounded by armors.
Pandemonium broke loose as the sound of fighting and killing at
close quarters filled the air. The influx of horses sped up the
fighting. Ignoring the sea of people, Lang Tao Xue Jin charged
right for Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye used the momentary opening to
flip atop the horse and caught hold of Langli Blade, which Shen
Zechuan had tossed over.
Xiao Chiye suddenly drew his blade and said, “Qudu is not the
hometown in my dreams. I’m going home today. Whoever dares to
stand in my way—I’ll kill him!”
With that, he clamped the horse tightly with his legs and drew
blood with a brandish of his blade.
With the torrential rain pouring down on them, Xiao Chiye
forcibly killed a bloody path out. The battlefield retreated from the
palace interior to the streets. Seeing as the situation did not look
good, Han Cheng hurriedly shouted, “Guard the city gate to the
death. We mustn’t let this vile spawn who killed the sovereign and
plotted a rebellion leave tonight!”
How was the Eight Great Training Divisions the Imperial Army’s
match? Even if they had many men, they were still afraid to death
as the master of these wolves and tigers forced them back into a
retreat. The city gate had long been shut. Shen Zechuan held his
blade and went up the city wall first. He kicked over the
obstructions in his way and told his men to open the city gate. That
tightly shut gate lifted with a rumble. Beyond that curtain of rain
was the home Xiao Chiye had been longing for for six years.
Han Cheng turned back and shouted, “Hurry and bring him
over!”
Xiao Chiye’s horse had already galloped out of the city. He
raised a hand to motion to Ding Tao to take the men and rush
towards the military grounds at Mount Feng; they had to take these
20,000 men from the Imperial Army away with them. He turned his
horse around among the crowd of people and opened up his arms
to Shen Zechuan, who was at the top of the city wall, and said to
him in a deep, somber voice, “Lanzhou, come with me!”
But the Imperial Bodyguards stood tall and still. In the heavy
rain, Shen Zechuan held on to the battlement of the wall and gazed
at Xiao Chiye as if he wanted to get a full, clear look at him.
The Eight Great Training Divisions had swarmed up again and
were about to pursue their way out of the city gate. That highly
suspended city gate let out a muffled groan, as if it could not hold
up to gravitational force. Iron chains swiftly recoiled, and the city
gate went crashing down with a thunderous bang.
“Ce’an.” Shen Zechuan raised his voice and said gently to him
through the heavy rain. “Go home.”
Xiao Chiye felt as though his heart had been dunked in icy
water. He clenched the reins tightly, already spurring his horse
back. The city gate slammed onto the ground with a “thud”,
completely cutting off the path of the pursuing soldiers from the
Eight Great Training Divisions, keeping them within the city, and
also completely shutting Xiao Chiye out on the other side of the
gate.
Xiao Chiye shouted himself hoarse, as if he was a beast that
had been enraged, “Shen Lanzhou!”
Shen Zechuan did not look at Xiao Chiye again. Instead, he
turned around to look at Han Cheng and that densely packed
troop of soldiers.
Han Cheng turned his head and spat out a mouthful of saliva.
He said in a ferocious voice, “Shen Zechuan, you’ve ruined things
for me!”
“You think you are worthy to call yourself an Imperial
Bodyguard?” Shen Zechuan looked down on him and said in a
frosty voice, “Since Ji Wufan, the Imperial Bodyguards have always
been heroes of indomitable spirits and clear consciences. You
people lay a trap and conspire to murder the Son of Heaven. Han
Cheng, it’s entirely justified for me to kill you!”
Han Cheng threw his head back and laughed out loud. He said,
“What are you? The last evil remnant of the Shen Clan! I treated
you well, having guided and supported you many times, and this is
how you repay me? Here! Bring the man over and show him to
Vice Commander Shen!”
A disheveled Qi Huilian was dragged out. He fell into the
rainwater and cursed, “Treacherous traitor!”
Yanking at the chain, Han Cheng spurred the horse forward
and dragged Qi Huilian through the streets. He pointed at Qi
Huilian and said to Shen Zechuan, “Haven’t you been looking for
him for a long time? He’s here! Shen Zechuan, come and get him!”
“Traitor, traitor!” Qi Huilian was boiling with fury as the
dragging smeared his face with muddy water.
Han Cheng looked at Shen Zechuan’s pale face, then at the
dark expression in his eyes. He said, “Your eldest brother is the
Hereditary Prince of Jianxing, I remember that the Biansha Cavalry
dragged him to his death alive. But there is no love lost between
you both, so you weren’t hurt by it at all. Are you hurting now that
it’s your teacher’s turn today?”
“Han Cheng!” Shen Zechuan spat out Han Cheng’s name
through clenched teeth, “You went to such trouble to hide Teacher
in your hands. What do you want?”
“He was initially of great use!” Han Cheng suddenly turned
hostile, “But you let Xiao Chiye go and ruined the trap I set. As
such, you’re no longer of use, and neither is he! If you still want him
to live, then kowtow to me and admit your mistakes! Kneel and call
me ‘father’ loudly three times, and I’ll spare him, and you as well!”
Shen Zechuan strode a big step forward and said, “Deal!”
“Bollocks!” Qi Huilian raised his head from the muddy water.
He wiped off the filth and climbed to his feet. Staring at Shen
Zechuan, he said, “The reason I taught you the classics was not for
you to allow yourself to be humiliated by anyone! I, Qi Huilian, will
not even bow down to heaven and earth. So how can you kneel to
a despicable scum?!”
The metal shackles clanked and clattered.
Qi Huilian stumbled and shouted at the top of his lungs amidst
the rain, “Hundreds of years have passed like a dream,3 and I still
come and go as I wish! I have lived a life of wealth and glory, of
fame and fortune, and I—” He laughed maniacally as he tugged at
the chains around his neck. “I have laughed at all the heroic figures
throughout the land, and there is not another talent who surpasses
me in the world! Who is there who can be compared to me, Qi
Huilian? I am the world-renowned triple-yuan4 top scholar from
Yuzhou! When I conversed in His Majesty’s presence and
counseled His Majesty on state affairs—oh, Han Cheng, where were
you? You were just a vermin in the ditch!”
It was as if Qi Huilian was intoxicated as he soaked in the rain.
“You vermins are unworthy of even carrying my shoes! The
noble clans are like the rotten boils of this land. Tell Hai Liangyi that
Dazhou is already beyond cure. He and I are both too powerless to
turn the situation around!” Qi Huilian arrogantly turned around
amid the sound of his laughter and spat at Han Cheng. He said,
“But I will not admit defeat. I will only serve as the Imperial
Preceptor in this life! Lanzhou! The cage is now broken, and the
world will rise in turbulent chaos. I have taught you all that I could
teach you. This decaying world….”
With his back to Shen Zechuan, Qi Huilian suddenly choked
with sobs. The downpour drenched his body through and through,
but it could not douse his ideals and passion that had been blazing
for years. In the past, he was always calling out for the crown
prince, yet, at this moment, he could not bear to look back at Shen
Zechuan.
“Why not overturn this decaying empire and go create a world
you can call yours. Lanzhou, go. Don’t look back. Teacher shall
shoulder the burden of these 40,000 souls who have died unjust
death on your behalf. Don’t be afraid. Have—” His blood spattered
in the rain, and he fell over on his back. Gazing at the sky, he
murmured, “Have no fear.”
A sudden clap of thunder erupted. Shen Zechuan cried out
involuntarily and fell to his knees. He stared blankly in a daze,
giving the heavy rain free rein to land blows on him. In that endless
silence, his mask was utterly torn to pieces. He finally let out the first
howl of despair in six years. There was already no more sanity left
in those reddened eyes of him. He clenched Yang Shen Xue and
suddenly drew his blade.
“Han Cheng—!”
 He hated this empire to death. He also loathed these faces to
death.
Shen Zechuan propped himself up from the ground. Yang Shen
Xue slashed through the droplets of rain and flung out blood from
among this heavy siege. He killed one, then killed another. He
strode across those bodies, yet he seemed like a beast that had
been abandoned. His blade sliced across throats, so swift that it
seemed like a stream of mercury. Blood sprayed over half of Shen
Zechuan’s face.
He was beside himself. The blood trickled like tears across his
cheek.
Retreating again and again, Han Cheng bellowed, “Kill him!”
The raindrops in the wind suddenly burst apart. In the blink of
an eye, a long arrow had reached right before Han Cheng. Xiao
Chiye leaped down from atop the city wall along the iron chain,
kicked down a man, and flipped his hand over to draw his blade
and stab it through the other party. With the corpse falling onto
him, he moved swiftly and struck away the flashes of blades. When
he extracted the blade, blood had already soaked both of his palm.
Xiao Chiye dragged Shen Zechuan back with one arm and
whistled. Meng spread its wings and pounced. In the chaos, it
pecked Han Cheng’s right eye, injuring it. Han Cheng hastily
covered his face in a panic. He heard the waves of horse hooves
beyond the city; Ding Tao had already brought the men over in a
swift charge forth.
“Break down the gate!” Ding Tao shouted himself hoarse.
The Imperial Army swept forth, but before they could take any
action, they heard that city gate let out a dull, thunderous noise
again as it was slowly hoisted up.
Dragging the iron chain, Fei Sheng gasped heavily a few times
and led the Imperial Bodyguards to draw back with all their might.
He cussed, “Fuck! Son of a bitch is so heavy, doggone it! Your
Lordship—Get on your horse and run!”
Lang Tao Xue Jin swiftly galloped in from the opening. Sounds
of killing and shouts engulfed Qudu.
Thunderous sounds of killing and shouts similarly reverberated
through the Bianjun Commandery, which was also engaged in a
life-and-death battle. Lu Guangbai could barely lift his spear now.
As he withdrew, he shouted, “Where are the reinforcements?!”
The deputy general, who had received several stabs and
slashes himself, answered, “They… didn’t come.”
The rain howled. Lu Guangbai looked back in the direction of
the camp.
Xiao Chiye had already gotten on his horse. He pressed Shen
Zechuan to his chest before him and broke through the heavy rain
towards the city gate.
Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. A rift seemed to have
been torn open in the sky. The rain poured mercilessly down.
Lu Guangbai ripped off his tattered cloak and nailed the spear
into the ground by his feet. He said over the sandstorm and
rainstorm, “We can’t fight on anymore.”
The deputy general lay at the side of the sand slope and
looked at him.
“Fate wants to bind me here for life, but this is not the path I
choose.” Lu Guangbai took off the armor with Dazhou with
Dazhou’s imprint on it. He wiped the wind and frost5 off his face,
and his eyes spoke of worldly weariness as he said a little self-
mockingly, “The yellow dust6 submerged my brothers deep under. I
no longer have a wish to bow in submission to an illusory fate. The
imperial edict can’t save my troops, and the imperial court can’t fill
the stomachs of my mounts.”
Xiao Chiye had already galloped his way out of Qudu, with
countless soldiers in pursuit behind him. They charged ahead, as if
tearing apart the dark, rainy sky.
“I’m no longer willing to lay down my life for this purpose.”
Lu Guangbai closed both of his eyes. Watery blood trickled
along his fingers and dripped onto the yellow sands. His Adam’s
apple bobbed. When he finally opened his eyes, there was
darkness in them.
The blood on Shen Zechuan’s cheek was washed away.
Grieved sobs escaped his throat. He had already forsaken all of his
past submissive obedience in this sorry escape. Like a sharp sword,
they pierced through the heavy rain.
 Lu Guangbai washed both of his hands clean in the rain and
held up his long spear once again.
They were all prisoners pursued by fate. They were once willing
to be shackled. But the rainstorm toppled over the great mansion,
and its collapsed debris came assaulting towards them like a
deluge of floodwater.7
Onward, onward!
“I want to surmount that mountain.”
“I am going to fight for myself!”
——First Volume End——

Author’s Words:
I’ve been reading everyone’s comment lately. Following the
updates has been hard on all of you. Thank you. W
Translators’ Words:
This is the end of the first volume. If you enjoy the novel, kindly
support the author by purchasing the novel on JJWXC! You may
refer to the “how to buy guide” here. Thank you and stay tuned for
more of Cezhou to come! (人･㉨･)♡

Support the Author!

Footnotes
1. 亚父 yafu, a term of respect for a man that’s second only
to father, i.e., like a father.
2. 斤 jin or catty, 1 jin equal to 0.5 kg
3. 百年(岁)光阴如梦蝶 from 《双调·夜行船·秋思》by Ma
Zhiyuan (马致远), a Chinese poet and celebrated playwright
from the Yuan dynasty.
4. 三元 “Triple Yuan”. In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial
examination system was split into three phases: the
provincial exam (乡试); metropolitan exam (会试); and the
palace exam (殿试). The titles for the top scholars in each
exam were known as the Jieyuan (解元), Huiyuan (会元) and
Zhuangyuan (状元). These three are known as the “Triple
Yuan”. So a Triple Yuan Top Scholar is one who came first in
all these examinations.
5. 风霜 literally, wind and frost, also refers to hardships and
vicissitudes of life.
6. 黄沙 Yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind, or dust
storms is a meteorological phenomenon that affects much of
East Asia year round.
7. As mentioned in the note at the top. The titles for this and
last chapter make up 大厦倾塌, or “the mansion collapses”,
which is from the idiom 大厦将倾, or “the mansion on the
verge of collapse”. The original idiom refers to a hopeless
situation, like a mansion on the brink of collapse. The words
in this and the last chapter suggest that this mansion has
already collapsed, or i.e., the situation is a total goner.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 97 : IN PAIN

Rain that had been falling for several days in a row subsided,
leaving the public roads utterly muddy.
Qudu fell into a state of mourning. With the sudden death of
the young Emperor Tianchen, rumors that the Marquis of Dingdu,
Xiao Chiye, had colluded with the Vice Commander of the Imperial
Bodyguard-cum-Northern Judge, Shen Zechuan, to assassinate the
emperor with the intent to rebel spread like wildfire as whispers
behind closed doors in Qudu.
As Emperor Tianchen did not have any imperial heir, the
ministers presented a memorial to request the Empress Dowager
to preside over the overall situation in place of the Emperor. The
Empress Dowager repeatedly excused herself on the grounds that
the harem must not interfere with state affairs. It was only after the
Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Bodyguards, Han Cheng,
kowtowed thrice in remonstration that the Empress Dowager was
convinced to step in.
The Eight Great Training Divisions were back in charge of
Qudu’s patrols and defenses, and the streets these days were
crawling with patrol squads around the clock. Common folks did
not dare to venture outdoors, and all the wine taverns and brothels
kept their doors shut. It was as if the bustling scene of Qudu was a
thing of the past. Even the color of the vermilion walls and glazed
tiles in Qudu looked washed out by the misty drizzle.
Hai Liangyi fainted several times when he wept before the
coffin. He was now lying on the bed, unable to drink even a drop of
medicine. His hair seemed to have turned entirely white overnight,
and those spirited eyes of his that once gleamed with brilliance
became dim and gloomy. They even looked particularly turbid and
cloudy, after all those tears he had shed.
“Teacher.” Kong Qiu sat at the bottom with his head lowered
and said, “You have to eat the medicine. Now that the world is in
turmoil, everyone is waiting for you to take the helm and steer the
state towards stability once more… You must take care of your
health!”
 The tear streaks at the corners of Hai Liangyi’s eyes had not
been fully wiped. His gaze drifted, and it was only after a long time
that he said, “Take the helm and steer the state towards stability
once more? Boran, there is nothing I can do anymore to save the
situation.”
The bamboo tube in the courtyard tapped gently against the
rock in the stream, exposing the cracked lines. Rain fell soundlessly.
Yet there was no way those scars could be covered up. Hai Liangyi
was too advanced in age. His vital energy had been worn out by
the ups and downs of officialdom, and now, there were signs that
he might never recover from his illness.
Sorrow overwhelmed Kong Qiu. He sat where he was, weeping
with his face covered. “How… how did it come to this?!”
“Han Cheng is a hypocrite who speaks honeyed words but has
the malicious heart of a viper. He is petty and narrow-minded. Now
that he has gained power, the entire imperial court of civil and
military officials will be on tenterhooks. He forced Xiao Chiye out,
and so Libei is now without a shackle. From now on…” Hai Liangyi
suddenly started coughing. He propped himself up and vomited
out blood. For a moment, he could not hold back his emotions,
and he cried in a hoarse voice as he held onto the edge of the bed,
“From now on, our territory will be torn asunder, and turbulent
times will rise once again. The century-old empire of the Li clan will
fall into ruins here! I’ve sinned. I’m a sinner! I, Hai Renshi, have
spent my entire life shamelessly advancing my own agenda and
navigating official circles. Yet it was all to toil in vain for the benefit
of these people! I… Oh, I…”
With a headful of ash white hair, Hai Liangyi hunched over and
wailed in a voice so hoarse and so full of despair that it was a tragic
sight to behold.
“Teacher, Teacher!” Kong Qiu hastily came over to help him up,
then looked back and shouted, “Men!”
The door curtain was lifted, but it was Yao Wenyu who entered.
On seeing what was happening, he immediately kneeled on the
footrest and disregarded the filth as he wiped the tears and blood
for Hai Liangyi. At the same time, he directed the attendant to draw
water and rinsed the handkerchief. Finally, he helped Hai Liangyi
lie down. After soothing him for a moment, he said to Kong Qiu in
a soft voice, “Your Excellency, may I ask of you to wait outside,
please.”
Kong Qiu did not dare to disturb them any further and
hurriedly retreated to wait outside.
After a long time, the sound of Hai Liangyi’s cries receded. Yao
Wenyu held the bowl in his hand and personally fed his teacher
medicine. It was only after Hai Liangyi fell into a drowsy sleep that
he lifted the curtain and stepped out.
Kong Qiu wanted to say something, but Yao Wenyu motioned
for him to follow the attendant to the main hall first, while he
himself made his way through the veranda to the back for a
change of clean clothes.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Excellency.” Yao
Wenyu got the attendant to serve tea and sat down below Kong
Qiu.
Kong Qiu held the teacup and was silent for a moment before
he said, “Teacher has no son. I feel reassured with you here to take
care of him. I shouldn’t have brought up these matters earlier…
and ended up making him sad.”
“Although Teacher has returned home ill, he is still concerned
about state affairs. Even if Your Excellency doesn’t bring it up, he
would still find it hard to dismiss it from his mind. It’d have been
better to cry it out than to bottle it all up in his heart.” Yao Wenyu
held up the teacup and stirred it a few times before saying, “The
current situation is unstable and volatile. Teacher won’t be able to
rest for long anyway,”
Kong Qiu knew that Hai Liangyi treated him like his own son.
So he did not hold back and said with a sigh, “His Majesty’s
passing is so sudden. We are now already in a disadvantageous
position. In addition, the Han clan has control of military power in
Qudu, and we are presently in an irreversible situation in which Her
Majesty is in power and in control of the government. After this
incident… what is to be of Libei in the future?”
Yao Wenyu was fair by nature, and he looked no different from
porcelain as he held that teacup. He said, “The way things stand
now, it’s vital to discuss countermeasures to deal with the situation.
Han Cheng’s original position was that of the Imperial Bodyguards’
Commander-in-chief. If he wants to overstep his authority and
enter the Grand Secretariat to take charge, his only option would
be to ask the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial edict, so he
isn’t exactly without leverage. Wei Huaigu consumed poison and
committed suicide because of the military provisions case. The
temporary vacancy in the Grand Secretariat will thus have to be
filled in by Your Excellency. With this, all the important affairs of the
imperial court will still have to be deliberated over and endorsed
by the various excellencies under Teacher.”
On hearing this, Kong Qiu set down the teacup and humbly
asked, “But the Empress Dowager is in charge of state affairs, and
any changes in the Grand Secretariat is subjected to her whims
and fancies. If she issued a change of people using Han Cheng as
a pretext, then what should we do?”
Yao Wenyu smiled and said, “The Empress Dowager being in
charge of state affairs is a desperate measure to begin with. Her
surname isn’t Li, so the authority of acting on behalf of the Son of
Heaven can’t convince the public. The others don’t matter; what’s
crucial is the Qi clan. Although Qi Zhuyin may be indolent by
nature and doesn’t care about government affairs, she has the Qi
clan’s reputation for loyalty resting on her shoulder. She will never
allow the Empress Dowager and Han Cheng to commit all kinds of
outrages in Qudu. Since the Empress Dowager wants to win her
over to her side, she won’t go too far at this point in time. Rather
than worry about the Empress Dowager’s substitution attempt, Your
Excellency might as well worry about Han Cheng’s subsequent
plans.”
Kong Qiu said, “Han Cheng went all out to ingratiate himself
with the Empress Dowager. He has succeeded.”
“In my humble opinion, it’s just the opposite.” Yao Wenyu lifted
his eyes to look at the misty rain at the entrance, “At this time, it
indeed seems like Han Cheng has gained the favor of the Empress
Dowager. But looking at the bigger picture in the long run, it’s
instead the Empress Dowager who is seeking connection with Han
Cheng. The Empress Dowager is able to rise to power because the
Emperor had no heir. The imperial court cannot be without a
master, and it was out of a lack of options that everyone
compromised and made concessions. But Dazhou will definitely
have a new Son of Heaven. The military power Han Cheng holds in
his hands is the real thing. His daringness to lay an encirclement
trap for Xiao Chiye to force him out and make his move in Mingli
Hall is a clear indicator that he has backing and, therefore, has
nothing to fear.”
“You mean…” Kong Qiu was shocked. “Han Cheng still has the
imperial heir in his hands?”
Yao Wenyu drank the tea and said, “Emperor Guangcheng
often ventured out of the palace to stay overnight. It’s hard to say
whether there is an imperial heir. It’s just the situation is already
now at this stage. Even if Han Cheng doesn’t have the imperial heir
in his hands, he will think of every means possible to push
someone out.”
Kong Qiu’s heart went cold. He said, “Han Cheng has soldiers
and horses, and the Imperial Bodyguards to boot. The officials in
the capital are all tied down by their own families and might not
necessarily be willing to conflict with him should a power struggle
really break out. If he forcibly elects someone to sit on the dragon
throne and rule the imperial court, we…”
Yao Wenyu, however, changed the topic and asked, “Has the
Imperial Army already passed through Dancheng?”
◈ ◈ ◈
The Imperial Army had already passed through Dancheng, but
they had yet to reach the territory of Zhongbo. Xiao Chiye made
haste all the way. The soldiers and horses all needed to rest, so
they made a stop midway.
Shen Zechuan was severely ill, with his old ailment and
heartbreak acting up together. He seemed to be conscious, but yet
he was not. It was as if he was lying in a puddle of dreams,
engulfed once again by the rainwater and filthy blood.
Ever since the epidemic the last time, Xiao Chiye suspected that
Shen Zechuan had never attempted to recuperate and nurse
himself back to health. Instead, the medicines he had consumed in
his early years had now turned into a form of latent poison lurking
in his body. Xiao Chiye did not dare to be negligent, so he made a
stop and immediately went looking for a physician.
Shen Zechuan’s head was in a muddle, and the roaring in his
ears persisted. He heard Xiao Chiye’s voice, yet he also seemed to
hear Teacher’s shouts. He lay on the pillow. The few times he woke
up, he thought that he was still in Duanzhou. He smelled the aroma
of dishes, as if the one standing outside the door was his shiniang,
Hua Pingting.
But he did not dare to move or look.
He seemed to possess it all, but he still had nothing to his
name. He thought he had killed off himself, and that this mortal
flesh would not shed any more tears. But he had been too young,
too full of youthful arrogance and ignorance—that was only
because he had yet to experience immeasurable pain. He came this
far, feeling as if he was just being executed by dismemberment.
Xiao Chiye hugged Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan’s nape, which had once radiated seduction, had
turned deathly pale. The man himself looked like a cloud lying
across the night. Xiao Chiye stayed close to him, hugging him so
tightly that he hurt.
“Cold?” Xiao Chiye asked in a whisper.
Shen Zechuan was a little slow to react as he nodded his head.
He tilted his head, pressing his cheek against Xiao Chiye’s cheek.
That heat warmed him up, making him seem a little more human.
He reached out his hand in the darkness to stroke Xiao Chiye’s
arm, feebly and slowly.
Xiao Chiye turned his hand around to hold Shen Zechuan’s
hand, interlocking his fingers tightly with Shen Zechuan’s. He gave
all his warmth to Shen Zechuan. His chest, being the most scalding,
pressed against Shen Zechuan’s back, as if he could dissolve Shen
Zechuan away with the heat. He seemed to be harboring Shen
Zechuan in his arms, no longer permitting anyone to get close. He
clumsily licked Shen Zechuan’s wound. This was his way of healing.
He did not want this person to be in pain ever again.
“Qiao Tianya has gone to look for shifu.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes
were dark and gloomy. “When will he be back?”
 “Soon.” Xiao Chiye squeezed Shen Zechuan’s hand and
repeated, “Soon.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I can’t wipe the blood clean.”
Xiao Chiye said, “We have both embarked on the way of the
asura1—the bloody path of carnage. We have no more need to be
clean, as long as we’re together.”
Shen Zechuan pursed his thin lips slightly and said, “I—”
He paused, dazed, as if he had forgotten what he wanted to
say. Listening to the sound of the rain, he closed his mouth again.
Xiao Chiye pinched his tightly clenched mouth open and asked,
“What do you want to say to me?”
Shen Zechuan turned his head hastily, refusing to let Xiao Chiye
look at him squarely in the face. But Xiao Chiye grasped him by his
jaws to prevent him from dodging and asked once again in a
lowered voice, “What do you want to say to me?”
Shen Zechuan’s face was pale under that gaze. He opened his
mouth several times, but could not bring himself to speak. Xiao
Chiye gazed at him, until a long time later when he finally heard
Shen Zechuan say with a sob, “It hurts.”
Xiao Chiye cupped Shen Zechuan’s cheeks and raised his face.
Shen Zechuan looked as if he had returned to the time when he
was a child. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he repeated “it
hurts” over and over again with his lips trembling.
Xiao Chiye stroked Shen Zechuan’s hair and wiped his tears
with his thumbs. He said, “Where does it hurt? Tell me all about it.”
Shen Zechuan broke out into sobs. Even his shoulders were
trembling. He was so grief-stricken as he cried, as though he was
venting all these years of anguish in this one night. But he was
dumb; he did not know where he was hurting. He clearly could no
longer endure this kind of pain anymore. He disconsolately let Xiao
Chiye wipe his cheeks. Tears brimmed in his eyes. There was
nothing left of all those machinations that spoke of a maturity far
beyond his age, only naked pain.
Xiao Chiye rolled over and embraced Shen Zechuan. He took
all of Shen Zechuan into his arms, providing a haven where Shen
Zechuan could remove his mask. They hugged each other tightly.
Xiao Chiye listened as Shen Zechuan cried himself hoarse, like a
small animal that had been abandoned, and at the same time, like
a battered child who was broken and bleeding. Gradually, Xiao
Chiye’s chest was soaked through. He caressed Shen Zechuan’s
hair, answering again and again,
“It won’t hurt anymore. I promise. Lanzhou will never hurt
again.”

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Footnotes
1. 修罗道 Literally the way or path of asura, one of the six
realms of existence in Buddhism. Asura are powerful but
often amoral beings (or demigods) in Buddhism since they
are primarily driven by envy and greed for power.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 98 : ON THE RUN

Translated with: Rie<3

The rain stopped at the crack of dawn, where heaven and earth
appeared like a vast, murky expanse under the intersection of light
and darkness. Qi Zhuyin trod on muddy water and withdrew from
the military grounds. She secured her arm guards and looked at
her own deputy general riding his horse into the camp. Her deputy
general’s name was Qi Wei, a strong and sturdy man who was also
cautious by nature. He could hoist an ax on the battlefield and hold
a needle off the battleground. He was a man of prestigious
standing among the troops in the army.
Qi Wei dismounted midway and hastily nodded in
acknowledgement to the soldiers at the sides of the road who were
paying their obeisances to him. He headed straight to Qi Zhuyin’s
side and said, “Commander-in-chief, we’ve received news!”
“Qudu or Bianjun?” Qi Zhuyin asked.
“Both.” Qi Wei was not a tall man. He looked around and
reported, “Qudu was caught in a sudden bout of rain and got
completely washed out. The Second Young Master of the Xiao clan
fled in a hurry with 20,000 Imperial Army soldiers and have already
arrived at the border of Zhongbo. Looks like he’s going to Cizhou.”
Qi Zhuyin was not at all alarmed. She tightened her arm guard
and let out a vague smile as she bit down on the rope and said,
“That lad sure runs fast.”
“First there’s the case of the military provisions, and now there’s
the encirclement of Xiao Chiye with the intent to kill. The Prince of
Libei will no doubt fly into a rage this time.” Following Qi Zhuyin as
she walked, Qi Wei said, “If Libei revolts, we will have to set up
additional garrison troops in the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. The
Zhongbo troops will also fall under the Commander-in-chief’s
command and governance….”
 Qi Zhuyin put on her outer garment and said, “Zhongbo is such
a big place. Even if they transfer them all under my command, I
wouldn’t dare to accept. Qudu’s matter is of no urgency. Tell me
first, what exactly happened to the garrison troops of Bianjun
Commandery? Lu Guangbai fought an ambush all the way into the
Biansha’s home state?”
A hesitant expression materialized on Qi Wei’s rugged face. He
said, “Commander-in-chief, General Lu disregarded military orders
this time and chased the Biansha Cavalry across the border. I
suspect…”
He fell silent and did not voice that word out.
Qi Zhuyin said, “The military provisions this year have been
reduced by half. It’ll be tough for Bianjun to hold out based just on
that. I signed a memorandum of debt with the Yan clan of Hezhou
under Father’s name. The money is meant to be set aside to buy
grains for the Bianjun garrison troops. So what’s with this suspicion
you’re telling me about? I will not listen to a word without proof.”
Qi Wei knew that Qi Zhuyin valued her generals and had
always been fair in meting out rewards and punishments. She
would never trample upon them because of a mere few words. But
it was also because he noticed something odd when he went to
Bianjun to scout this time that his suspicions were aroused. Not
daring to hide it, he truthfully said, “Commander-in-chief, I
wouldn’t dare to say a word if I had no proof. The purpose of this
trip to Bianjun is to investigate military intelligence from a few days
back. But not only did General Lu not return to camp, he even
transferred away the garrison troops at the fire beacon towers.”
Qi Zhuyin stopped in her tracks. She looked at Qi Wei and
asked, “He transferred away the garrison troops at the fire beacon
towers?”
Qi Wei nodded. He was just about to go into details when he
heard a commotion at the side. Both of them turned aside and saw
a whole new bunch of people clustered around a sedan with
embroidered borders pouring into the camp. They were stopped
by the guards.
On hearing that the guards were adamant about not letting
them enter, Yingxi could not help but lift the curtain personally and
said in a shrill voice, “Don’t you know who I am? What is there to
stop my sedan! I’m the Army-inspecting Censor His Majesty in
Qudu dispatched over! Go announce my arrival, quick. Tell
Commander-in-chief Qi that I have something important to tell
her!”
Qi Zhuyin watched from afar and said to Qi Wei, “Go tell him
that I’m busy and don’t have the luxury of time to see him. All these
eunuchs from Qudu are the same. Just offer him good food and
wine and tell him to keep his mouth shut and not cause trouble. I’m
going to the Bianjun Commandery now. Lu Guangbai is not one
who will turn deserter. Before I return, tell those from Qudu that I’m
not around. It’s troubled waters over there. Keep a close watch on
Father too. If he sends a message to Qudu, intercept it and tell him
to behave himself.”
Qi Wei had more to say, but Qi Zhuyin had already flipped atop
the horse.
Before she left, she looked back and said to Qi Wei, “Qudu’s
matter needs at least half a month to be settled. No doubt the
wedding next month has to be delayed. Remove all those red silks
at home first. They all cost money.”
Without further ado after saying her piece, she led the men to
skirt around Yingxi’s sedan and headed right for Bianjun
Commandery.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan drank the medicine, and his illness gradually
showed signs of improvement along the way. The Imperial Army
was to continue moving in the northeast direction. They had to
think of a way to convince Cizhou’s Prefectural Prefect, Zhou Gui, to
let them pass through—but before that, they still had to shake off
those pesky and persistent troops pursuing them.
“Han Jin is the one in hot pursuit behind us.” Tantai Hu carried
his blade and sat all huddled up on the rock. “If we can’t repel him
back before we arrive at Cizhou, then he will use the deployment
order to force Zhou Gui to seal off the city and trap us within
Zhongbo with our retreat paths all cut off.”
Xiao Chiye folded his arms and said nothing. There was a
rudimentary map before him. Xiao Chiye was not at all afraid of
coming to blows with Han Jin, but he had to consider the timing
too. The longer this drags on, the less advantageous it would be to
the Imperial Army. It was only because Qudu was presently in a
state of chaos due to the lack of imperial heir that Qi Zhuyin had
not deployed troops to encircle and take him down. By the time
things settled down in Qudu and Qudu had a hand free to mobilize
Qi Zhuyin to pursue and capture them, these 20,000 soldiers of the
Imperial Army would be on a collision course with a wall of metal
armors.
“That hard part is not in fighting, but in the speed of battle.”
Shen Zechuan’s pale face had yet to recover its rosiness. He picked
up a stone and drew a few lines on the ground. “Han Jin dared to
chase us this far because there is Dancheng behind him. To the
Eight Great Training Divisions in his hands, the granary of
Dancheng is just like a wide-opened door; they don’t have to worry
about food and clothing. Our 20,000 men ran all the way here in
one breath without stopping. We have no army provisions to
sustain us. If we want to get to Libei via Cizhou, then we must first
resolve this issue.”
Tantai Hu was still not used to looking at Shen Zechuan face-to-
face. He presently fell silent for a moment, then looked at Xiao
Chiye.
Without looking at him, Xiao Chiye said, “Spit it out if you have
something to say.”
Tantai Hu changed his sitting posture. Pointing at the ground
with his finger, he said, “Cizhou and us are old acquaintances.
Can’t we get Zhou Gui to let us borrow some food for emergency
use first with the excuse that there was a delay in them getting the
news?”
“No.” Shen Zechuan let go of the stone. “At this juncture, all the
actions taken implies the taking of sides. Zhou Gui may not have
the intent, but as long as he does it, then in Qudu’s eyes, he is a
traitor who provided aid to the rebel forces. After we pass through
Cizhou, he will be taken into custody in Qudu to be impeached and
punished. Zhou Gui has a family. He won’t do this.”
Ding Tao looked up from his book and said, “Chen-ge went to
make arrangements for the military provisions, didn’t he? He must
be rushing on his way back to us now.”
“The military provisions he prepared have already been
dispatched to Libei. It’s Libei Armored Cavalry’s food at the
frontline. There isn’t that much surplus left to fill the stomachs of the
Imperial Army.” Xiao Chiye squatted down and examined the map.
“Even if he and Gu Jin come, they won’t be able to bring much
food.”
As the saying goes, food and fodder should go before troops
and horses.1 Back then, Libei and Qidong were able to swiftly beat
back the Biansha Cavalry because the Biansha Cavalry had no
reserve supplies and could not afford to fight a war of attrition. And
now, the Imperial Army, caught in a dilemma and sandwiched
here, similarly could not afford to fight a war of attrition either.
Striking Cizhou down might be an option, but it was definitely a
bad one. They had successively spent close to 100,000 taels of
silver on Cizhou to foster a mutual relationship with Zhou Gui to
look out for one another, and that had been done as a safeguard
for the future.
“Turn back and attack Dancheng.” Tantai Hu pondered it over.
“Dancheng has a granary. We won’t linger for long in the city. Just
take the grains and leave. We can negotiate everything else with
Zhou Gui when we arrive at Cizhou.”
“No.” Shen Zechuan let out a soft sigh. “Dancheng has direct
military routes to Chuancheng and Qudu. Turning back is to give
Qudu time to dispatch the remaining Eight Great Training
Divisions. The journey back will take up our time and sap us of
energy, and we might not necessarily be able to take down the city
swiftly either.”
It was humiliating for Tantai Hu to have both of his proposals
vetoed by Shen Zechuan. He rubbed his hands together and said
nothing more. His elder brother, Tantai Long, was a brave man who
was also a general, but Tantai Hu had no one to teach him. At this
moment, he was feeling embarrassed and awkward, but he was
pretty much convinced deep down. He was not an unreasonable
man. At the very least, he was willing to admit that he was a boor.
Xiao Chiye seemed to have an insight into Tantai Hu’s mind. He
lifted a hand to pat Tantai Hu on the back and said nonchalantly,
“There may be a time constraint for counterattacking Dancheng,
but it is an idea. You have only fought once in the past with the
Eight Great Training Divisions on the streets of Qudu. Now that
you’ve left Qudu, just ask away if there’s something you don’t know.
In the future, there will be plenty of moments where you will be
needed to lead the troops and make decisions, and you won’t
have His Excellency Shen around every time to give you pointers.
Laohu, the sea of learning knows no bounds. It is with the
willingness to take a tumble and have fun in spite of it that you will
have a bright future ahead of you.”
With the muddy soil on the ground already drawn into a mess,
Shen Zechuan looked up at the sun and said, “Han Jin is a
descendent from Qudu who usually only rides horses on the
hunting grounds. So he won’t be able to catch up to us for the time
being.”
“We can plunder Han Jin’s food provisions with an ambush
here.” Xiao Chiye surveyed the surroundings. “We won’t even need
20,000 men.”
“He’s afraid of you.” Shen Zechuan’s fingertips were stained
with a bit of mud. He said, “He has been hesitant and timid in his
pursuit of us all this while. To let him fall for the ambush, we will
need a bait first.”
“I’ll lead 500 people to wait here for him. There is a river of silt
to the east, backed by mountains on both sides and close to the
forest on one side. Laohu will lead 2,000 people to lay in ambush
there.” Xiao Chiye wiped the mud away from Shen Zechuan’s
fingertip. “Ding Tao will bring some men to the town along the way
tonight for food and wine. Say that the Imperial Army has fled here,
and they are all demoralized because I’m too poor to buy grain
and I can’t get out of Zhongbo either, resulting in many of them
turning deserters.”
Han Jin was young, and he had interactions with Xiao Chiye
during the time the public ditches were clogged. Shen Zechuan
was right. He was indeed afraid of Xiao Chiye. In fact, there were
very few among the noble young masters in Qudu who were not
afraid of Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye’s physique and character had
already made him a veritable tyrant long before the autumn hunt.
The Nanlin Hunting Grounds was a watershed. With their fathers
and elder brothers looking out for them, it would be a breeze for
direct descendants like Han Jin who were not the eldest sons in
their family to enter officialdom. They seemed no different from
Xiao Chiye, yet they had never stood out the way Xiao Chiye did.
Perhaps he would pursue Xiao Chiye with caution because of his
misgivings of the latter, but he would definitely not pass up the
chance to defeat him.
As long as Xiao Chiye showed him a weakness.
“Other than these.” Shen Zechuan considered it for a moment
and said to Ding Tao, “You also have to say that I don’t get along
with the marquis and have had so many disputes with him on the
way that we are going our separate ways.”
“We are in a difficult position both internally and externally.”
Xiao Chiye bared his teeth. “Make it out to be as tragic as you can.”
Ding Tao swiftly took notes in his book.
Not feeling reassured, Tantai Hu asked, “Can Tao-zi act? Say it
once for us here first.”
Ding Tao rubbed his eyes and held up the book with both
hands to read, “My master is in such a miserable state, doomed as
he was by those people. The Eight Great Training Divisions keep
pursuing us relentlessly like dogs, so much that my master doesn’t
even have money for porridge. When we left Qudu, we were
fleeing for our lives, so we didn’t have time to pack up all those
manors and shop, and we didn’t even take the money in the
residence. Our pockets are now as empty as sheep poop. Master
even owes the ear ornaments shop at Shenwu Street several
thousand taels of silver, and there’s no way he can pay it back now.
His Excellency Shen fell severely ill after getting caught in the rain,
but we have no money to call for a physician. Alas, a poor cou…
uh, His Excellency has forsaken my master too. Our soldiers and
horses are now on the run on empty stomachs. I’m too hungry. I’m
so hungry that I’m regurgitating bile. I really can’t take it anymore,
so I took a few brothers to rob some houses along the way to
cobble together some money for ourselves. We were originally all
good men from decent families, and it’s all because we followed
the wrong person that we were forced into such a corner. Now we
are filling up our tummies a little before we continue on our way to
seek asylum with Han Jin in Dancheng! Aye, Han Jin is good. He
has money and grains. It’s only by throwing in with him that we will
have a future! The future is…”
Ding Tao read with great emotion and feeling.
“This master thinks that was pretty well-said.” Xiao Chiye
commented. “Laohu, strip off his little robe and smear mud all over
his face. Then give him three strings of copper coins and hurry him
on his way. There’s no need to eat and drink in a tavern anymore,
just beg for alms along the streets in the town—what are you
looking pitifully at Lanzhou for?”

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Footnotes
1. 兵马未动，粮草先行 logistics comes before military
maneuvers, i.e., proper preparations should be made ahead
of time
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 99 : THANK YOU GIFT

Han Cheng captured several deserters from the Imperial Army

one after another. All of them were covered in filth and were so
starved that they looked sallow and emaciated. After making
several enquiries, he found out about the predicament the Imperial
Army was in, but still, he did not dare to act rashly and advance his
troops without careful consideration. This was because a 20,000-
men strong Imperial Army was not a small number. He was
continually weighing his chances of winning against Xiao Chiye in
a head-on battle.
“The Imperial Army’s performance at the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds was out of the ordinary. They killed many a number of
people when they vied with us for the city gate patrol back then.”
Han Jin sat inside the tent and looked at the deserters below. “Now
that you people have followed Xiao Chiye into defecting from the
capital, how can you simply just break up at the drop of a hat?”
“To reply Your Excellency, we can’t go far.” The army deserter
who was kneeling at the foot of Han Ji’s seat said, “We fled all the
way here, far away from civilization with no villages or shops in
sight. We have no food nor camping site. Cizhou lies ahead of us,
and there’s also the Qidong Garrison Troops if we look south. It’s
obvious we are going to be caught in an encirclement like a
dumpling being wrapped.”
Han Cheng thought it over for a moment carefully and asked,
“Are there many deserters?”
The deserter said, “When I fled, there were about a few
hundred. The Imperial Army is now like duckweeds in a muddy
ditch that will scatter at just one strike. It won’t be able to withstand
a blow!”
Han Jin wondered, “And Xiao Chiye didn’t think of a way? I
heard that he strictly enforces military law. The soldiers under his
command are all very afraid of him.”
“Your Excellency doesn’t know this, but…” Having spoken for so
long, the deserter swallowed his saliva and said, “can you give me
some rations first? I fucking ran for the entire way, and I’m now so
starving I can’t explain it clearly!”
Han Jin motioned for the men to give him some rations, and
the deserter began to gobble it down on the spot. As he chewed
on his food, he said, “They are afraid of him! In the past, we
brothers had nowhere to go in Qudu, and so we had no other
choice but to follow him, and we ended up offending the various
masters of the Eight Great Training Divisions. Now that he even
went on to become a traitor, how would we still dare to continue
following him?”
Han Jin noted that all these deserters did indeed seem to be
down and out. What’s more, they were captured back. It did not
look like they were faking. He could not help but make some
mental calculations carefully in his mind. First, he got the men to
take the deserters out. Then he began to deliberate over the battle
strategy in his tent with his advisors.
Among the advisors was a man called Gao Zhongxiong, who
had been the person taking the lead back then when the Imperial
College had stirred up a disturbance. As he had offended Pan
Rugui and was thrown into prison with no one to vouch for him, he
gave up the idea of an official career and threw in his lot with Han
Jin. He was a high-spirited scholar full of patriotic fervor who
abhorred traitors to the state all his life. Shen Wei, Pan Rugui, and
the likes were all men he held in contempt. And now, hearing that
Xiao Chiye had fled the state after carrying out an assassination, he
was even more worked up, unable to condone it.
Gao Zhongxiong pointed at the map and said, “Since Xiao
Chiye is already at the end of his rope, we cannot tolerate him
being on the run within Zhongbo’s territory. The Viceroy has a
strong army with sturdy horses and Dancheng to fall back upon. In
my view, there’s no time to lose. We will be able to deploy troops to
pursue and attack him shortly. As long as he is captured before he
enters Cizhou, it’d be a meritorious service rendered.”
Han Jin was still hesitating. He said, “But Xiao Chiye still had
more than 10,000 men, and they are all real men who have been
through the Nanlin Hunting Grounds incident. If there’s a trap…”
 Gao Zhongxiong did not think the same. He said, “The soldiers
of the Imperial Army are demoralized, and they are all not of one
mind. There’s no difference between 10,000 men and one man.
They are now just a motley crew of disorganized men; they are
nothing to worry about. The Viceroy had already pursued him all
the way here. If we can’t capture him as soon as possible and bring
him to justice, we won’t be able to account for it to Qudu either. ”
Pretty much stirred, Han Jin asked, “What should I do if he’s in
cahoots with the Prefectural Prefect, Zhou Gui, to hatch a plot to do
me harm?”
Gao Zhongxiong said with slight urgency, “Viceroy, that Zhou
Gui is a man with a family. Would he cast aside a decent official
position to plot a revolt with the traitor Xiao Chiye? He won’t dare
to. If we dispatch troops now, we will definitely catch Xiao Chiye by
surprise. Then we can follow up the victory and press home the
attack, and we will be able to return in triumph.”
Han Jin had been sleeping in the tent for days in a row and was
already displeased from all the mosquitoes and bugs bites over his
body. He was still thinking of Qudu, where his eldest brother, Han
Cheng, had aided the Empress Dowager in gaining charge of the
government. The glorious rise of the Han clan was right before
him. It was just the perfect time for him to return and call up his
friends and associates for a lavish celebration. The longer he
stayed here, the more irritable he became. So right after hearing
Gao Zhongxiong’s words, he weighed over the pros and cons and
promptly agreed.
The next day, Han Jin woke up early and led the troops
onwards while there was still dew outside. Using the information
provided by the deserters, he followed the trail to the forested area
outside the river of silt. There were earthen stoves dug all over the
forest, but not in a way that could provide food for 20,000 people.
Han Jin thoroughly believed the deserters’ words now. With his
spirits soaring, he drew his blade from where he was on his horse
and brandished it forward, saying, “The traitors have no way out
now. Search the forest all over. We will surely find their traces!”
The soldiers of the Eight Great Training Divisions surged
forth.
 Xiao Chiye was squatting by the stream, washing his face. On
hearing sounds, he looked back just in time to see Han Jin spurring
his horse over.
The moment Han Jin saw Xiao Chiye, he hurriedly bellowed,
“The traitor is here. Catch him quick!”
Xiao Chiye whistled to summon Lang Tao Xue Jin. The
smattering of five hundred men all seemed to be in a panicked
fluster, shouting and yelling as they were chased through the
forest. On seeing the situation, Han Jin could not help but get all
fired up. He laughed out loud a few times, then shouted from afar,
“Your Lordship, to think you’d fall into such a state today!”
Xiao Chiye ignored the soldiers and fled away alone on his
horse. Han Jin was afraid he would make his escape and hurriedly
led his men in hot pursuit. The Eight Great Training Divisions
charged through the forest, following Han Jin towards the
northeast at full throttle. The more Han Jin ran, the more anxious
he became. He shouted after him from behind, “Xiao Chiye! You’re
already at a dead end. Surrender yourself quickly!”
Xiao Chiye looked back on horseback and led his men in an
attempt to resist, but they were no match for the Eight Great
Training Divisions’ ferociousness. The sight of the five hundred
men being chased was a sorry sight to behold. In the blink of an
eye, they had already fled out of the forest. They made a beeline
towards the river of silt, where they were finally boxed in at the side
of the river.
“Xiao Chiye!” Han Jin reined in the horse and waved his sleeve.
“Look around you. It’s all soldiers from my Eight Great Training
Divisions! You’re currently besieged and under attacked on all
sides. So what are you still struggling for? Beg for mercy now, and
I’ll spare your life!”
Lang Tao Xue Jin dug its hooves where it stood. Xiao Chiye
said frostily, “You want me to die, sure. I’ll just ask you one question.
Why didn’t Han Cheng come himself today?”
“My eldest brother is currently the noble regent, with weighty
and taxing official duties to attend to. How would he come here to
deal with you?” Han Jin pointed at Xiao Chiye with his sword. “If
you get off your horse to await capture, your Xiao clan will still have
a slim chance of survival. You alone committed such a heinous and
grave mistake, yet you are willing to let your entire family pay for it
with their lives now?
“I’ve indeed made many mistakes.” Xiao Chiye nodded slightly
and looked askance at Han Jin, “But it’s not your Han clan’s place to
talk about it with me.”
The moment the words left his mouth, several hundreds of
people suddenly climbed to their feet from both sides. Tantai Hu
took the lead and completely surrounded Han Jin from behind.
Leading the soldiers from the back, he slashed away at everyone
he saw, throwing both men and horses off their feet into utter
confusion and a crushing defeat. Han Jin’s guards on his left and
right were all Imperial Bodyguards whom Han Cheng had
assigned over to protect Han Jin. On seeing this, they realized that
they had fallen for the trap and immediately raised their whips to
whip Han Jin’s horse in an attempt to lead him to break out of the
encirclement from the side of the forest.
Where had Han Jin ever seen such a battle array before? He
was pretty much an expert when it came to past military exercises
held at the Qudu military grounds. But he had never truly fought a
war before. He was already totally frightened out of his wits. The
pain jerked the horse into action, and it broke into a mad dash
towards the periphery of the encirclement in the forest, with the
Imperial Bodyguards forming a protective circle around it.
With his blade in hand, Shen Zechuan stood in the shadows of
the tree and looked at Han Jin.
Han Jin still wanted to charge on ahead, but a sharp-eyed
Imperial Bodyguard deftly reined in the horse. Under cold sweat
and fresh blood, the group of people exchanged eye signals with
each other. Eventually, the man at the head spoke, “Vice
Commander! It’s affinity that leads us to encounter each other
today. How about letting us go on account of our past
comradeship?”
Shen Zechuan had lost a lot of weight in the past few days. The
wrist bones on the hand he was grasping the blade with looked
just like a crescent moon peeking out in an icy-colored arc from
that plain white sleeve opening of his. His eyes seemed to harbor
solid ice that never melted throughout the seasons, yet a smile
infused with the warmth of spring gradually materialized on his
face. He said, “I do understand that the various brothers have been
entrusted by another with this mission and, therefore, had no
choice but to do it.”
That man knew Shen Zechuan was malicious and ruthless by
nature. So when he saw him reveal a smile, he shielded Han Jin
and took a few steps back instead. The thunderous sound of
fighting and killing filled the air behind him. Xiao Chiye was also
closing in on them, one step at a time. Sweat trickled down the
man’s temples. He said, “Your Excellency has a bright future ahead
of you, so why follow a traitor and suffer untold hardships here? If
you are willing to release Viceroy Han back to the capital, the
Commander-in-chief will definitely forgive and forget past grudges
and welcome you back to the capital!”
Unexpectedly enough, Shen Zechuan chuckled. His voice was
clear and unhurried, and he was a pretty sight to behold when he
smiled. That pale skin of his looked extraordinarily delicate under
the speckles of sunlight. Very slowly, he drew out his blade,
scraping Yang Shan Xue’s slender and long blade against its
sheath.
“I’m very grateful to Han Cheng.” Shen Zechuan backhandedly
grasped hold of the hilt and paused. “Words cannot express the
extent of my gratitude towards him. When you return this time,
please bring him a thank you gift on my behalf.”
Han Jin felt a chill on his back and nearly tumbled off his horse.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye rinsed away the blood on the blade at the edge of
the water. Shen Zechuan squatted at the back to clean his hands.
He buried his entire palms into the stream. Even when Xiao Chiye
was done washing his blade, Shen Zechuan did not remove them.
Xiao Chiye squatted opposite Shen Zechuan. He was much taller
than him, but he could still put his head against Shen Zechuan’s.
Both men’s palms met in the water, and Xiao Chiye grasped hold
of his fingertips.
Shen Zechuan’s sobs seemed to be a dream of the night,
seeing as how he was clean and composed under the sunlight.
Very slowly, his index finger stroked along Xiao Chiye’s hand and
made its way through the gap between Xiao Chiye’s fingers. His
palm fitted into Xiao Chiye’s palm, bringing along with it the icy-
cold softness of the water current.
Tantai Hu was presently leading the men to clean up the
battlefield. They still had to stay over for a night in this forest. There
were soldiers not far away all around them, but Shen Zechuan’s
hand clung to his, as if he was nonchalantly playing with it. At the
same time, it also seemed like a seduction long premeditated.
He still had the stench of blood on him.
Xiao Chiye let him do as he wished and said, “You left only one
soldier alive and sent him back. He might not necessarily be willing
to bring the message back to them.”
Shen Zechuan looked at the shimmering surface of the stream
and said, “He’s an Imperial Bodyguard. As long as he is still alive,
he has to complete the mission. Han Jin has fallen into our hands.
If he doesn’t bring news of it back, then he has failed in his mission.
He’s going to die anyway, might as well die with a little more
dignity. Furthermore, the heads in that burlap sack are all those of
Imperial Bodyguards on the job with a authority token. He has to
bring his brothers home.”
Xiao Chiye wanted to wipe away the droplets of blood on Shen
Zechuan’s wrists. But there were people all around. Both of them
gazed at each other for a moment. He suddenly grasped Shen
Zechuan back, then slowly leaned forward and said, “The earring
dropped in Qudu. I’ll make a new one for you once we arrived in
Libei.”
“You still have an outstanding bill of several thousand taels of
silvers.” Shen Zechuan looked at him. “Tighten your belt and make
some money first, er-gongzi.”
“I can marry into a rich family. Pledge myself in marriage in
exchange for money.” Xiao Chiye lowered his voice.
Propping himself up against the soft sediment at the bottom of
the stream, Shen Zechuan whispered into Xiao Chiye’s ear, “Five
hundred taels for one night…”
That bit of enchanting sensuality had yet to pervade the
atmosphere between them when Shen Zechuan suddenly looked
back with a stern countenance and said to Tantai Hu, who had
wanted to go over but did not know what posture he should adopt
to walk over, “Han Jin must not have brought plenty of provisions
along this time considering that he had been thinking of going
back to Qudu soonest possible and that he had Dancheng to fill in
whatever he was lacking. Have everyone cook all those provisions
tonight. Tomorrow morning, we—”
Shen Zechuan stopped abruptly for a moment. He swiftly cast a
sidelong glance at Xiao Chiye before he continued, “… will
continue on our way to the northeast.”
Xiao Chiye said nothing and washed the handkerchief in all
seriousness, all the while conveniently caressing Shen Zechuan’s
hand that had been covered under the handkerchief until it turned
a shade of light red.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 100 : HIDDEN DANGER

News of Han Jin’s rash advance made its way back to Qudu,
causing quite the stir. Because the only surviving Imperial
Bodyguard brought back a sack of human heads, making it clear to
all that Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye had completely split from
Qudu. There was no longer a glimmer of possibility that both sides
could sit down for negotiation. Han Jin’s capture threw Han Cheng
into a rage. When Shen Zechuan left Qudu, the Imperial
Bodyguards were already falling apart. The Imperial Bodyguards
led by Ge Qingqing were still in Juexi looking after the Xi clan, and
Fei Sheng had gone into hiding with his own trusted men. Han
Cheng did not have much manpower left on hand.
The Imperial Bodyguards were at the height of power and the
peak of glory under Ji Wufan’s command. By the time the
command fell to Ji Lei, it was already on the decline. And now, in
Han Cheng’s hands, it had thoroughly turned into an utterly
fractured squad of ceremonial guards. The batch of men under Fei
Sheng’s command were all capable men, but Han Cheng’s
premature exposure of his intent to kill Fei Sheng had consequently
caused him to miss the chance to win Fei Sheng over to his side.
“Once the overall situation has stabilized, the Twelve Offices of
the Imperial Bodyguards will have to be reorganized. Our lack of
current manpower is really a disgrace, and we can’t get anything
done with this few people.” Han Cheng sat at the right-handed seat
below the Empress Dowager and said in a steady voice, “I noticed
that the noble clans’ descendants are mostly in positions with
practically no obligations lately. Giving them a place to go would
also prevent them from recklessly stirring up trouble at this crucial
juncture.”
The Empress Dowager wore a crown of jade, with her hair tidily
worn in a bun and her sideburns, trimmed. Pendant earrings inlaid
with gold and gems dangled at the sides of her ears. She was
really suited to dressing in such an elegant and poised manner,
just like how a peony ought to be grown in the main halls of the
nobles. Only gold and jade in its glorious splendor was worthy
enough for a divine beauty of this caliber. She was already beyond
her prime, yet her graceful demeanor was far from diminished. At
present, she was holding a wooden spoon, teasing the parrot.
Without even looking at Han Cheng, she said, “The Imperial
Bodyguards is a place where serious work is done. It’s already
providing for many hereditary descendants of the noble clans.
Keep stuffing more people inside, and it will be rendered useless
sooner or later. The Eight Great Training Divisions suffered a defeat
in the battle outside Dancheng. If you ask me, it not only needs an
infusion of new blood, but also a dismissal of some old-timers.”
It was precisely at the behest of someone else that Han Cheng
was thinking of finding decent posts for the young masters of the
noble clans. On hearing this, he said, “I have the same intent. I’ll
discuss it over with the Ministry of War tomorrow and write a
memorial to submit to the Grand Secretariat. Your Majesty, that Hai
Liangyi is so sick that he can’t even straighten his back. He has
been toiling hard his entire lifetime for state affairs. At the very
least, we mustn’t let him exhaust himself to death while on the job.
We need to come up with an arrangement for him.”
By this, he meant for Hai Liangyi to be relieved of his post and
sent back to his hometown. With a smile on her face, the Empress
Dowager tapped the wooden spoon and handed it over to Matron
Liuxiang, who was serving at the side. She said to Han Cheng with
an amicable countenance, “What he has is an affliction of the heart
for which he has yet to regain his footing. He’s still the one who
understands many of the Six Ministries’ affairs best. How can we
rashly dismiss him back to his hometown at such a crucial time?
Let’s wait for a few more days.”
Han Cheng, having been tactfully rebuffed, gnashed his teeth
inwardly, although he kept his expression unchanged on his face
and said, “Your Majesty is the one leading the administration now,
so naturally, Your Majesty is the one who decides. Since the Eight
Great Training Divisions have been defeated before the City of
Dancheng, and Xiao Chiye has already fled to Zhongbo, then it’d
be better for the Ministry of War to mobilize the Qidong Garrison
Troops to stop them as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Libei
Armored Cavalry would have a 20,000-men strong reinforcement
by the time he returns to Libei!”
The Empress Dowager cleaned her hands and said, “If you had
been able to stop him in Qudu, we would not have all these
subsequent worries now. That Prefectural Prefect, Zhou Gui, knows
how to do his job, and he is also caught in a tight spot. He still has
to come into contact with Libei in the future, so he will definitely not
offend Libei. Xiao Chiye’s return to Libei is already a foregone
conclusion. Even if we get Qi Zhuyin to go, she’ll be just fighting
the Libei Armored Cavalry in a head-on attack. It’s easy for us to
talk about deploying troops here. But where are the military
provisions to sustain the army as they head north? Hezhou can’t
bear this extra burden.”
“Then are we just going to let Xiao Chiye return to Libei just like
this?” Han Cheng stood up in astonishment. “This will make Libei
even more powerful, like a tiger that has been given wings!”
The Empress Dowager let Matron Liuxiang hold her for support
as she stood at the entrance of the front yard to look at the
beautiful flowers in a multitude of vivid colors. She asked, “Han
Cheng, do you think that Xiao Chiye will definitely be of assistance
when he returns to Libei?”
Han Cheng put on a look as if he was listening attentively and
said deferentially, “I do not understand. Please enlighten me.”
“From the time Xiao Jiming took over military power of the
Libei Armored Cavalry from Xiao Fangxu, he used ten years to get
to where he is today. He is the heart of the Libei’s military forces,
one the soldiers look up to.” The Empress Dowager watched as
Hua Xiangyi pounced on butterflies in the garden with the
maidservants and could not help but reveal a smile. She watched
for a while longer before she continued, “Xiao Chiye has left Libei
for six years. His return now makes him look like a wolf pup
intruding into someone else’s territory. He said Qudu is not the
hometown in his dreams, but he is too young to understand the
implied meaning of the phrase ‘circumstances change with the
passage of time’. Leading that 20,000-strong Imperial Army of his,
he will gradually come to realize how out of element he is in Libei.
Xiao Fangxu has always taken the hard line in setting up the Libei
Armored Cavalry under one command. This is the reason why he is
still standing, but it’s also going to be the reason why it will be hard
for Xiao Chiye to fit in. In a pack of wolves feeding on meat, Xiao
Chiye, in order to kill his way out of the encirclement to become the
alpha wolf, must first have the determination to bite the former king
of wolf to death.”
The Empress Dowager looked back and smiled at Han Cheng.
“The Xiao clan can’t bear the sight of internal strife among the
other clans. But sometimes, there is no other choice. The Xiao clan
has always been a paragon of brotherly love and respect, but how
long can this brotherhood last in the face of military power? The
battlefield is a cruel place. It is where the blood of millions of
battered soldiers is shed. But the combat zone for power is even
more brutal. A change of hands often means infighting and
fratricide.”
Han Cheng indistinctly shrank under the Empress Dowager’s
gaze. He hurriedly lowered his head in agreement and said, “Your
Majesty is wise. But Xiao Jiming is already seriously injured. It’s
entirely justifiable for Xiao Chiye to stand in for him.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “Did Xiao Jiming die?”
Han Cheng shook his head.
The Empress Dowager said, “Xiao Jiming didn’t die. He can
still assist and coordinate military affairs from the back, while Xiao
Fangxu, with his re-emergence, can command the soldiers from
the front. This pair of father and son controls the Libei Armored
Cavalry. There are many matters in which they have to show mutual
understanding in order to keep it up. But Xiao Chiye has both the
ability to unify and coordinate military affairs and the ability to
charge into battle and kill the enemies. If he barges into this
equilibrium – among that extremely unified military leadership –
then he will be the unforeseen event that hinders the Libei
Armored Cavalry from having only one commander-in-chief.
Maybe he doesn’t have the intent to take his father and elder
brother’s place. But very soon, he will understand that Libei isn’t as
indivisible as we see it. His return is the hidden danger that will
bring about Libei’s split.”
 The trajectory of such a situation was not something anyone
can deliberately direct. It was something that took shape in passing
based on the opportunities present. The seed had been sown the
day Xiao Fangxu led the Libei Armored Cavalry in an attempt to
take a stand against Qudu. But as for what fruit it would reap, no
one knew.1
“In this world, the common man has the worries of the
common men to bear, while a talented one has the agony of the
talented to endure.” The Empress Dowager said calmly. “Since
there is already a Xiao Jiming, then why beget another Xiao Chiye?
Six years is not a long time, nor is it a short time, yet it’s enough to
change many things. The source of Xiao Chiye’s agony in Qudu
comes from the fact that he is not a man of mediocre ability. But
after he returns to Libei, he will still continue to be tormented by
this kind of suffering. Once this pair of role models for brotherhood
realizes that killing each other is the only way out, the anguish will
intensify. Whether it is Xiao Jiming who gives up his position to
Xiao Chiye, or if it is Xiao Chiye who excuses himself to avoid
suspicion, even brothers who were once loyal and devoted to each
other will grow estranged.”
Under the warmth of this fifth month, Han Cheng felt a chill,
followed by a tingle of thrill.
“The former emperor has already been buried. There ought to
be some signs of progress for the preparation of the new ruler.” The
Empress Dowager said, “You said you’ve found the imperial heir.
When are you going to bring the imperial heir out for me to have a
look?”
Han Cheng said with a slight bow, “I’ve already sent men to
bring the imperial heir to Qudu at top speed. Your Majesty will be
able to see the imperial heir in five days at the latest.”
The Empress Dowager looked at him and said, “Since you’re so
sure he is the imperial heir, you must have credible proof that will
convince the others. The civil officials led by Hai Liangyi aren’t that
easy to dismiss. Han Cheng, you should go and make
preparations.”
Han Cheng kept her company for a while longer, then said his
farewell and left. The moment he left, Hua Xiangyi approached the
Empress Dowager with a flower branch in her arms.
“Han Cheng has never climbed this high before. Just let him in
on it a little, and he lost all sense of propriety.” The Empress
Dowager looked in the direction in which Han Cheng had left and
pulled Hua Xiangyi along to stroll a few steps. “What a fool that
Han Jin is to be defeated in Dancheng. He has the timing, location,
and manpower all in his favor, and he still ended up being taken
captive. How can such a person take on heavy responsibilities? Han
Cheng’s words in the palace today are all hints for me to dispatch
men to save him. Little would he imagine that they only kept Han
Jin alive to threaten him with.”
“I noticed that the commander-in-chief has been looking good
lately. He doesn’t even address himself as ‘this subject’ when he
enters the palace to pay his respects.” Hua Xiangyi leaned on the
Empress Dowager. “Auntie, he’s up to no good. Going by how early
his preparation of the so-called imperial heir is, I fear he’s already
no longer satisfied with being the Imperial Bodyguards’
Commander-in-chief.”
“He wants to be the prince regent.” The Empress Dowager took
away the flowers in Hua Xiangyi’s arms. “I’ve already made
inquiries into the child he has chosen. How is that an orphan of the
late emperor? It’s merely a child he found from a distant relative in
his native hometown. It’s a tad delusional for such a lowly thing to
dream of occupying the Li clan’s empire, isn’t it?”
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment.
“But there’s really no one else at present.”
While both of them were conversing, they suddenly saw Fuman
hurrying over. He paid his obeisance and said in an obsequious
manner, “His Excellency the Assistant Minister Xue requests an
audience.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Tantai Hu distributed the food that night. Just as Shen Zechuan
expected, Han Jin had traveled light when he led the troops in
pursuit of them and did not bring that much food. The Imperial
Army, however, had gone hungry for several days. At least they
could eat their fill tonight.
 Shen Zechuan had grown terribly thin after his teacher’s
passing, but this forest had been long cleared out, and there was
not even a rabbit around. Xiao Chiye took out the steamed bun and
meat jerky he had hoarded and gave it all to Shen Zechuan, while
he himself ate dry biscuits and rice water just like everyone else.
“I’ve done as per Master’s arrangement and sent someone to
notify Zhou Gui so that he can get prepared.” Tantai Hu crouched
down next to the fire and said, “Master will be able to go home
once we make our way past Cizhou the day after tomorrow!”
Xiao Chiye threw firewood into the bonfire and said, “Informing
Zhou Gui is just to get him to play along with us. With Han Jin in our
hands, he will have no other choice but to give way.”
“This Han Jin really came at the most opportune time.” Tantai
Hu grinned. “ Just the day before, we were still thinking about how
to get past Cizhou, and he delivered himself right to our
doorstep!”
Shen Zechuan warmed his hands by the fire and said nothing
as he looked at the fire.
Tantai Hu soaked the biscuit and said, “I’ve eaten this kind of
provision when I was a part of Dengzhou’s garrison troop a few
years back. Zhongbo, looking at it again now, is different from the
Zhongbo of the past… I almost can’t recognize it.”
Ding Tao poured out a bit of rice in his bowl to feed to the
sparrow in his sleeve. When he heard this, he said, “It’s still not too
bad here. Go further east, and that’s what it truly means to be
totally a different sight.”
Ding Tao had a photographic memory. He still remembered the
tragic scenes he had seen in Duanzhou and Dunzhou six years ago
when he followed Xiao Chiye and the army to clean up the mess.
That year, he was only ten years old. He had just gotten a little
notebook and was just starting to take notes just like his father did.
And consequently, he had nightmares the entire journey.
“You were merely passing by after the battle. You’ve never seen
how Zhongbo used to look like.” Tantai Hu lowered his eyes to look
at the soup in the bowl. “I followed my parents to Dunzhou when I
was a child. It was really big, and almost as bustling as Qudu. The
display of fireworks and lanterns during the new year2 was very
beautiful, as was the turtle mountain lantern display.3 People
crowding and jostling with one another… so many people.”
Shen Wei was the Prince of Jianxing, and the Prince of
Jianxing’s Manor was in Dunzhou. For a moment, all of them
lowered their heads. No one dared to glance at Shen Zechuan, not
to mention that they were also afraid of offending Xiao Chiye too.
These few days on the road, the Imperial Army had gradually come
to discover the subtle and delicate relationship between Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. It was a completely different feeling to
come face-to-face with it compared to when it had been merely
rumors to them before.
How should they see Shen Zechuan? Do they regard him as
their madam—the wife of their commander-in-chief? But which
household’s lady could command the Imperial Bodyguards to raid
others thrice? When he hacked off the heads of all those old
subordinates who were protecting Han Jin, not one of the Imperial
Army’s military officials could bring themselves to watch.
Shen Zechuan was too different from Xiao Chiye. He did not
look and behave like the Commander-in-chief the Imperial Army
was familiar with. He seemed to be gentle and modest, yet he
rarely changed his mind during official discussions. He would even
overrule Tantai Hu outright. Compared to Xiao Chiye, he was a lot
more cold-blooded. In the past, they all privately saw Shen
Zechuan as a mere beauty—a delicate fragility that clung on to the
stronghold of power. But after Shen Zechuan put on the scarlet
python robe,4 everything that he had once concealed was exposed
to the public. He became someone different from that last remnant
of the Shen clan they knew of in the past. His beauty was no longer
a vision anyone could wantonly admire at will—that was an
unrivaled allure that bespoke a ruthless strength.
There were very few people in the Imperial Army who were
willing to look at Shen Zechuan in the eye, other than the totally
clueless Ding Tao. Even Tantai Hu could sense a certain kind of
pressure. They took their orders from Xiao Chiye, and they did not
mind if Xiao Chiye liked men, but they had to figure out what Shen
Zechuan’s position was soonest possible—Shen Zechuan had the
might that put him on par to vie with Xiao Chiye for power and
authority. This was what they were most unaccustomed to these
few days: the subtle fear.
Xiao Chiye rubbed his thumb ring gently. He was just about to
speak when Shen Zechuan turned his palms over and said, “The
wild herbs and vegetables in Duanzhou are delicious.”
The tension in the atmosphere eased a little. Sure enough, Ding
Tao raised his head and said, “I heard from others back in Libei that
a handful of wild vegetables in Duanzhou during the winter are as
expensive as gold. I want to try them! Young master, do you eat
them often?”
“When the ice and snow melt in spring, my shiniang would
choose the most tender wild vegetables to make dumplings.” Shen
Zechuan replied in his usual tone. His fingertips were clean and
free of dust, as if they had never been tainted with those blood
stains before. He said with a smile, “I rarely eat them. That’s why I
remember it so clearly.”
Ding Tao gulped down his saliva and wrote carefully in his
notebook with that bit of ink he had. “I want to eat it. We will
definitely get the chance to in the future. If I note it down, I won’t
forget it.”
Tantai Hu rubbed the back of Ding Tao’s head and chided him
with a smile, “Grow up! What delicacy is there that you have never
tasted before? To think you are still thinking about wild
vegetables!”
Everyone laughed, and the topic of Zhongbo was thus
diverted. Shen Zechuan warmed up his hands and said nothing
more.
At night, Xiao Chiye rested his head on a stone. He had yet to
fall asleep when a slightly hot oil paper stuck to his cheek. He sat up
and took a sniff at it from Shen Zechuan’s hands. He smiled and
said, “Where did you get this bun from?”
“Ding Tao brought it back from the town. He said to keep it for
eating.” Shen Zechuan sat beside Xiao Chiye.
Both men sat side to side, with the already asleep forest belt at
their backs, and the boundless starry sky before them. Xiao Chiye
opened the oil paper and pushed it towards Shen Zechuan. He
said, “Then eat it. It’s going to get cold if you keep it any longer.”
 Shen Zechuan said, “I’m full. You can have it.”
Knowing that Shen Zechuan was keeping it specially for him,
Xiao Chiye took it and broke it into two, with one half in one hand
for himself, and the other half in the other hand for Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan took a few symbolic bites and let Xiao Chiye finish
the rest of it.
“You also have to decide whether the betrothal gift of two
million should be taken to Libei or left in Cizhou.” Xiao Chiye drank
the water from the water bag. “ Ge Qingqing will surely keep an
eye on the Xi clan’s business for you when he receives the
message. Once we reach Libei, Qiao Tianya and Chen Yang should
have also hurried back too. When the time comes, we’ll set up a
new compound…”
Xiao Chiye stopped, acutely sensing something off in this
unusual silence. He fell silent for a moment.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
Grasping the little bamboo fan that never left his side in his
hands, Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye out of the corners of his
eyes and said, “Ce’an, I can’t go with you to Libei.”
The way he spoke was so gentle. Just like that time at the top of
the city gate when he had said to Xiao Chiye with the same
tenderness, “Ce’an, go home.”

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Footnotes
1. 因果 karma, also known as cause (the seed sown) and
effect (the fruit reaped). 果 also means fruit, or the result or
consequences of something.
2. 正旦 Zhengdan, the first day of the first month in the
lunar calendar.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 101 : TREASURE

Shen Zechuan had, at Zhao Zui Temple, received Qi Huilian’s

entire lifetime of knowledge. Six years ago, when he kneeled at Qi
Huilian’s feet, he already knew which path he was going to take. It
was in pain and anxiety that he tempered his body and spirit. He
once naively thought that he could throw off the noble clans’
restraints by relying on power checks and balances alone.
But he failed.
Shen Zechuan looked ahead. The murmuring waters of the
river flowed, like life that had plunged into darkness, unable to turn
back, and twinkling only because of the starry sky reflected in it. He
slowly nudged the little bamboo fan open, then slowly closed it up
again. He said, “I left Qudu, but I’m still in a cage. This is a
punishment to me for taking my chances. I have to find a new way
out soonest possible. Teacher entrusted his entire lifetime of
convictions to me. I once promised him to walk to the end of this
battle for him. We endured it all in the past because Qudu did not
seem to have reached the stage of no return yet. But now, I’ve
come to the understanding that it has long been on the decline,
like the sun setting beyond the western hills.”
Qi Huilian shouted about the decaying empire in the heavy
downpour, yet his raised arms still seemed to be trying in vain to
hold up the mansion that was collapsing.1 He had taken an entirely
different path from Hai Liangyi, but yet they had both lit up the
same torch. In the last moment of his life that had always blazed for
the Li clan, he cast aside the crown prince whom he could never let
go of in the past and chose Shen Zechuan, who was of humble
origins.
Both of Qi Huilian’s students were what the common folks
called worlds apart, like clouds and mud. The Crown Prince was the
direct descendant of the Li clan, and he seemed to be born just to
be a wise sovereign. Qi Huilian thought that they could create a
new world, because they were the undisputed legitimate
descendants of direct lineage in this world. But then he failed.
Subsequently, he found Shen Zechuan in the mire. A Shen Zechuan
whose birth mother was of lowly birth and whose father was
defeated in battle. A Shen Zechuan who was not a direct
descendant. Qi Huilian chose such a Shen Zechuan. This was a
change of his lifelong conviction. It was a declaration that he no
longer bow to what lineage had in store for them. He wanted such
a Shen Zechuan to pierce through this wretched, decaying empire.
“I have given up enduring it all.” Shen Zechuan rested his fan
on his knee and turned slightly sideways to gaze at Xiao Chiye.
“I’m going to choose another way to fight. I want to remain in
Zhongbo. You once said to Tantai Hu, ‘the humiliation of our nation
has yet to be redressed, and the feuds of our families have yet to
be avenged’. That’s right, Ce’an, the humiliation Zhongbo has
suffered should be redressed in Zhongbo itself. This is what I want
to do. One day, we will gallop under the skies of Libei, and that will
be when I am strong and powerful enough. Two million isn’t
enough to marry the wolf pup of the Prince of Libei. Such a
betrothal gift is not worthy of my Xiao Ce’an. If I’m in Zhongbo,
however, I will one day go on to be your indestructible shield.”
The water bag hurriedly fell to the ground, splashing water all
over the ground and onto the corner of Xiao Chiye’s robe, wetting
it. Under the soft veil of moonlight, Xiao Chiye suddenly grasped
hold of Shen Zechuan’s hand and hugged him.
After a long time, Xiao Chiye’s hoarse voice rang out beside
Shen Zechuan’s ear, clinging close to it, “I’ll leave my back to you,
and you’ll leave your chest to me. We cannot do without the other.
I’ll choose the best horse for you in Libei. We’ll build a house on the
Zhongbo-Libei demarcation line and meet there every month—it’s a
must. To marry me, two million isn’t enough; I want Lanzhou’s
priceless smile that even a thousand gold cannot buy.”
Shen Zechuan raised his hands to cover Xiao Chiye’s back—to
embrace this captivating scent. Xiao Chiye was the wind traversing
across the meadow to assail and invade the turbulent river in Shen
Zechuan’s heart, allowing him to taste the sweetness of love all
over. Having lost Duanzhou and his teacher, there was not much he
had left. He eventually had to stride across that ravine of
unfathomable depths to become a fortress for whatever was left of
these remaining treasures.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Cizhou’s Prefect, Zhou Gui, had been busy with his official
duties in recent days. He had heard that the Imperial Army had
already passed Dancheng and was on their way to Cizhou.
Because of this, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep all
night.
Zhou Gui’s advisor was a man from the prefecture of Dengzhou
in Zhongbo. His name was Kong Ling, and he used to be fellow
students with Zhou Gui. He had prepared the wine and gotten the
chef to make several refreshing cold appetizers, and now, he was
sitting cross-legged on the veranda of the courtyard with Zhou Gui
across the table for a drink and chat. White flowers were falling
from the Chinese scholar tree in the courtyard, giving out a
refreshing, sweet fragrance.
“I can’t sleep these few days.” Zhou Gui said as he grasped the
wine cup.
With his sitting posture casual, Kong Ling picked up the
appetizer to eat and swallowed a mouthful of pungent wine before
he said, “I know. The bandits in Dunzhou have already converged
into a sizable group whose force is not to be underestimated. We
have no soldiers and horses; we can’t afford to provoke them. But it
just had to be the case that we had a bumper harvest last year. That
bandit chief, Lei Changming, is eyeing the granary in our Cizhou.”
“All the grains have been given to the Libei Armored Cavalry as
military provisions. The granary in Cizhou is now empty. I wrote a
letter to Dunzhou’s Prefect. But as you know, he’s a puppet
supported by Lei Changming. How would he dare to reason with
Lei Changming on our behalf? I’m really suffering in silence.” Zhou
Gui could not even gulp down a mouthful of wine. “Then there’s
that Second Young Master of Libei who rebelled and fled the
capital. 20,000 Imperial Army soldiers are about to arrive at the foot
of the city gate. Chengfeng, I’m in a dilemma. I can’t let them pass,
but I can’t refuse to let them pass either.”
Kong Ling set down his chopsticks and said, “If Libei were to
rebel, Cizhou, being sandwiched in the middle, won’t be able to
waver for long. You have to make a decision as soon as possible.”
 “It’s not up to me to decide.” Zhou Gui sighed disconsolately.
“This time we are really cornered by wolves in front and tigers at
the back. We can’t afford to offend both Libei and Qudu, and
there’s still a Lei Changming at the side eyeing us covetously like a
tiger eyeing its prey.”
Kong Ling grasped the flower of the Chinese scholar tree and
tossed it in the wine. “Lei Changming is a bandit. Sooner or later,
he will be besieged and annihilated. But the Six Prefectures each
have their own government affairs to handle and cannot join
forces to suppress the bandits. There’s no knowing when the
Imperial Court will send men over too. Seeing how Lei Changming
is getting all arrogant and giving himself air day after day, he has
already become the local tyrant of Zhongbo. There’s no point in
fretting.”
“Six years ago, when Biansha Cavalry breached into our
territory, Duanzhou and Dunzhou were the first to bear the brunt of
the attack and became barren wastelands where ‘bones of the
dead lay exposed in the wild, and nary a rooster crowed for
thousands of li 2 around’.3 The ravages of war turned those
thousands of li of fertile farmland into abandoned fields. Who is
willing to go and serve as a soldier in the garrison troop now?”
Zhou Gui looked at the courtyard and raised his hand to point
around for Kong Ling, “Cizhou was able to conserve our strength
and resources because the Libei Armored Cavalry came to the
rescue at lightning speed. I’ve always kept this show of goodwill in
mind, so I have no complaints whatsoever about the overall
arrangements for military provisions this time. But plotting to
murder the emperor is such a heinous crime that I can’t even feign
ignorance even if I want to. In less than a month, that Lei
Changming will surely come to ask for grain and money, and Xiao
Chiye will just happen to arrive in Cizhou. I’m really afraid there’ll
be a disaster when these two tyrants cross paths with each other.
This is truly what it means by ‘when it rains, it pours’!”
Kong Ling drank the wine and suddenly had a brainwave. He
said, “Xiao Chiye brought 20,000 well-trained soldiers from the
Imperial Army to Cizhou. Isn’t that our ‘soldiers’? With him here to
personally assume command, even Lei Changming himself would
have to take measure of his own abilities!”
“The Imperial Army remained in Qudu all year round. When
had they ever seen a real battlefield? Lei Changming overthrew the
garrison battalions in the two prefectures of Duanzhou and
Dunzhou, and he isn’t afraid of the Biansha Cavalry either. What he
counts on is the solidarity of the people under his command.
What’s more, he’s familiar with Zhongbo’s terrain. Even if they were
to come to blows, Xiao Chiye might not necessarily be his match.”
Zhou Gui hurriedly waved his hand. “Besides, that Second Young
Master Xiao is in the prime of his youth. He hasn’t fought that many
battles, and he has his father and elder brother to back him. If
something were to happen to him in Cizhou, I won’t be able to
account to Libei.”
Kong Ling stroked his goatee and said, “Xiao Chiye has
rendered meritorious services by helping Emperor Tianchen
ascend to the throne. The fact that the Imperial Army is willing to
follow him after he rebelled and fled from Qudu means that he has
the capability to lead an army. Otherwise, who would be willing to
risk their heads to flee this far with him? However, seeing is
believing. We’ll meet him to get a proper feel of him when he
comes later.”
“I heard he’s not easy to get along with.” This was what Zhou
Gui was worried about. “And he has stayed in Qudu for a long time.
If he acts all like a rich young master, then I have to hurry and think
of a way to send him away. We can’t afford to have him stir up
trouble!”
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, the Imperial Army arrived at the city walls of
Cizhou as expected. Zhou Gui did not dare to let them through
directly, and merely opened the gate to welcome Xiao Chiye and
Shen Zechuan in. He had long gotten his people to prepare a
banquet, but Xiao Chiye turned it down with the reason that they
were exhausted from being on the go the entire way here. Instead,
he got Zhou Gui to prepare a table of simple home-cooked dishes
to reminisce about the past.
 They had never met before and had merely corresponded
through letters, so what past was there for them to reminisce
about? He was merely looking for an opportunity to have an in-
depth negotiation.
Shen Zechuan changed his clothes and stood behind the
screen in the room to look at the courtyard through the window.
The courtyard was full of well-tended flowers and trees;
supposedly, this was a residence used specifically for receiving
guests. The unconcealable fragrance of Chinese scholar trees
permeated the air, invigorating those who caught a whiff of it.
Xiao Chiye came in late. He was still undressing himself. Having
undone half of his clothes, he leaned over the top of the screen to
look at Shen Zechuan behind the screen and asked, “Can you get a
clear look through the screen?”
Shen Zechuan saw how easily the screen was pressed down by
him and thought that this person was really tall. He said, “It’s only
when one sees it as if through a dream or an illusion that one’s
heart will be moved. It won’t be such an enchanting sight anymore
if seen clearly.”
Xiao Chiye’s opened garment exposed half of his chest. His last
piece of clothes hung uninhibitedly on him, with those firm muscles
faintly visible through the screen. He was still leaning over the top
of the screen. After leaving Qudu, he no longer wore a crown, yet
his messy hair could not conceal how dashing he was. He seemed
to be displaying more and more of his unrestrained and carefree
nature the closer he was to Libei.
“What a frivolous fellow.” Shen Zechuan strode closer and
raised his hand to cup the back of Xiao Chiye’s head before he
raised his head high to kiss him.
Xiao Chiye pinched Shen Zechuan’s chin and took advantage
of the fact that Shen Zechuan was shorter than him to lift him up.
“Take a good look.” Xiao Chiye looked at Shen Zechuan’s
radiant lips with a watery sheen on them. “Is this not enchanting
enough?”
Shen Zechuan licked the sheen of water on his lips, only to
make his lips even more red and moist. He said, “Still a little
something missing.”
 “Five hundred taels for tonight.” Xiao Chiye moved in closer
and whispered, “Satisfaction guaranteed.”4
“I’m afraid my delicate body can’t take it.” Shen Zechuan
leaned back slightly. His fingertips longingly slid their way down
along Xiao Chiye’s chest, with just the flimsy fabric of the screen
separating their flesh.
“Don’t think so little of yourself.” The expression in Xiao Chiye’s
eyes was dangerous. “Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan withdrew his hand and said, “When we came in
earlier, I saw another person beside Zhou Gui. Who is he?”
“Don’t recognize him.” Xiao Chiye nimbly changed his clothes.
“Should be Zhou Gui’s adviser. We’ll know once we ask during the
meal later.”
“Since he did not let us through immediately, it means he still
has some misgivings.” Shen Zechuan watched as Xiao Chiye
stepped out from behind the screen, then turned his gaze back to
the courtyard. “When we discuss it tonight, you mustn’t—”
Xiao Chiye suddenly picked Shen Zechuan up by the waist and
turned a circle to press him against the wall by the side of the
window. Pinning him down, he kissed him hard. Shen Zechuan
lifted his arms to hang them over Xiao Chiye’s body. The sudden
and unexpected kisses disoriented him and threw his breathing
into disarray.
“Don’t abuse my power to bully them.” Xiao Chiye’s expression
was serious. “I know. I’ll do as my wife says.”
Shen Zechuan was still panting for breath. Xiao Chiye fastened
Shen Zechuan’s collar for him, then brushed aside Shen Zechuan’s
ink-black hair to pinch his right ear.
“I want to hang an earring here as soon as possible and
engrave my name, Xiao Ce’an, on it.”

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Thank you Peach for the correction! <3
Footnotes
1. As mentioned in chapter 96. The idiom 大厦将倾 “the
mansion on the verge of collapse” refers to a hopeless
situation, like a mansion on the brink of collapse. The titles in
chapters 95 and 96 suggest that this mansion has already
collapsed, or, i.e., the situation is a total goner.
2. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
3. 白骨露於野，千里无鸡鸣 from Graveyard Song by Cao
Cao (曹操)
4. 包赚不赔 literally you’ll only stand to earn and suffer no
loss.
5.
6. 鳌山 Aoshan, turtle-shaped mountain, made up of a pile
of colored lanterns (in the shape of a giant turtle) for the
Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunisolar month.
7. 蟒衣 (or 蟒袍) “python (or mang) robes” were
embroidered robes bestowed by the Emperor to officials
with merits during the Ming Dynasty. It was a sign of honor
and favor for officials who were granted the privilege of
wearing a “python robe”.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 102 : CIZHOU

Zhou Gui did as Xiao Chiye said and set up a tableful of home-
cooked dishes in his own courtyard. Shen Zechuan, on stepping
into the courtyard, found it to be quite unconventional despite its
simple setup. It was close to nature, and had no valuable wares
such as gold and jade.
Zhou Gui welcomed Xiao Chiye and invited him to take his
seat. It was presently the sixth month. The side of the small table
was encircled by a cool and clear stream, with hanging branches
brushing against its water. It was pleasantly cool and cheery. Zhou
Gui did not get anyone else to serve them. Only Kong Ling
remained standing in attendance by his side to pour wine for
them.
Xiao Chiye cleaned his hands and watched as the wine in the
cup was gradually filled to the brim. He said, “Your Excellency Zhou
has truly gone to much trouble. Even the wine prepared is ‘On
Horseback‘ from Libei. I’ve been away from home for so many
years, and it has been a long time since I last drank it.”
This wine was wine from the Libei Armored Cavalry made out
of grains. It was bold and intense. Just a few sips in the snowy
winter could warm the body up. The reason it was called “On
Horseback” was because more than thirty years ago on his
wedding night, the Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu, received a military
report of the Biansha’s breach into the territory. With no time for
him to remove his wedding outfit, he flipped onto the horse to
head into the battlefield to kill the enemies. Before he set off, the
Princess Consort of Libei, who was similarly still dressed in her
wedding outfit, lifted the jar to pour wine and exchanged a cup of
matrimony wine1 with Xiao Fangxu, who was sitting on horseback.
This was a common scene at the frontiers, but with this person
being the reputable Prince of Libei, everyone could not help but
lament the fact. From then on, ‘for most of three hundred and sixty
days in a year, on horseback he rides, weapon in hand”2 came to
be how the Libei Armored Cavalry was portrayed.
 When Zhou Gui saw Xiao Chiye looking calm and serene, some
of his anxiety eased. He said, “We are close to the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path. When the military provisions were being
escorted for delivery last month, the army sent many jars of wine
over. Your Lordship is about to return to your hometown, but there
is nothing good in Cizhou to entertain you with, so I can only offer
you such a borrowed gift.”3
Xiao Chiye laughed and said, “It’s the local dishes that are the
most flavorful. Compared to the delicacies of Qudu, this entire
table of dishes shows more sincerity. There’s no need for Your
Excellency to be modest. The arrangements for matters relating to
the military provisions are complex, and it’s all because of Your
Excellency’s valuable assistance that Cizhou could finish sealing
and loading in just a few short days. It’s only fitting for me to give
you a toast as a show of my appreciation.”
Zhou Gui did not dare to accept the toast sitting down and
hurriedly rose to his feet. He held up the wine cup in both hands for
a toast, then drank up with Xiao Chiye. It was only after he was
done drinking the wine that he took his seat and said, “The Libei
Armored Cavalry is fighting a battle with the Hanshe Tribe at the
front line, and the military provisions are crucial to their success
and failure on the battlefield. What I did was merely my duty. How
can it be worthy enough to have Your Lordship make a special
point of expressing your thanks? I really don’t deserve it.”
“Although Cizhou had a bumper harvest last year, it has been
continuously providing aid to Duanzhou and Libei since the start of
spring. Those are all grains the commoners of Cizhou saved up. I
should thank you for this.” With that, Xiao Chiye raised his hand
and slightly stopped Kong Ling as the latter moved to pour wine.
He said, “Since it’s a private family feast, there’s no need to stand
on ceremony. This gentleman, please take a seat too.”
Kong Ling was swift to react. He promptly bowed where he
stood and sat down.
“Where is Mister from?” Shen Zechuan asked with a smile.
The gears in Kong Ling’s mind turned even faster. He saw Xiao
Chiye starting to dig in, and so he knew the main negotiator
tonight was this Vice Commander Shen. He bowed his head and
answered, “I do not dare to be addressed as such, given that I’m
merely a commoner from the countryside. I’m a native from
Dengzhou.”
“Dengzhou has no lack of talents. May I know how I should
address you?”
“My name is Kong Ling, and my humble courtesy name4 is
Chengfeng.” Kong Ling sat upright and said as he looked at Shen
Zechuan, “Tantai Hu of the Imperial Army is the blood brother of a
close friend of mine, Tantai Long.”
“To think one would run into an old friend in a foreign land.”
Shen Zechuan turned his head to the side and said to Xiao Chiye
with a smile, “Ce’an, let’s get Laohu to meet up with mister
Chengfeng another day. It isn’t easy to have an encounter in
turbulent times.”
He called Xiao Chiye Ce’an, and this address alone was
enough for Kong Ling to re-evaluate this orphan of Shen Wei. Shen
Zechuan was pretty much inconspicuous when he entered Cizhou,
or rather, far less conspicuous than his mortal flesh. Kong Ling
knew he was Shen Zechuan, the Imperial Bodyguards Vice
Commander that Emperor Tianchen personally made an exception
to promote. But after leaving Qudu, Shen Zechuan lost his basis to
command the world—In Kong Ling’s eyes, he had no soldiers and
no men. He was merely a vassal who had fled with Xiao Chiye to
this place. But then, a vassal could never sit as equals at the same
table with Xiao Chiye and call him by his courtesy name.
Xiao Chiye poured wine for himself and said, “You decide.”
Zhou Gui cast a glance at Kong Ling, then looked at Shen
Zechuan. Kong Ling stood up to toast him and said, “I’ve long
heard of the Vice Commander’s name…”
“You are too kind.” Shen Zechuan said, “Please sit and lets us
talk as we drink,”
Kong Ling said, “I’m just a minor clerk under His Excellency’s
command. How would I dare to discuss official affairs with Your
Excellency? It’s already half a lifetime of blessing for me to be able
to sit here and listen to your guidance with the cup of wine I’ve
received.”
 The corners of Shen Zechuan’s lips lifted slightly. He said,
“Mister is truly too modest. I heard that you also used to be Tantai
Long’s adviser in Duanzhou. When the Biansha Cavalry breached
into our territories, Tantai Long advocated war, and you were the
one who devised all his battle strategies.”
They had only just entered Cizhou, and they had already dug
up all the inside stories. Kong Ling’s heart sank. He said, “I was
merely an armchair strategist strategizing on paper.”
“A pity Tantai Long died in Shen Wei’s hands.” Shen Zechuan
drank his wine. “And Duanzhou fell without even being attacked.”
Shen Zechuan said it so lightly that it was as if Duanzhou’s fall
was merely a stack of paper cards that had collapsed—that it was
nothing worth hating; nothing worth resenting.
Kong Ling’s expression gradually grew glum as he remained
sitting. A long while later, he forced a smile and said, “The Vice
Commander lives a life of luxury in Qudu. How would you know the
suffering of the people after the city of Duanzhou fell? White bones
stretching thousands of li 5 from the Chashi River to Dunzhou
remained uncollected. It’s not that big of a deal that Shen Wei was
a rat who shrank from battles. But he and Shen Zhouji set up a
banquet to strangle Tantai Long to death… The troops of Zhongbo
suffered a defeat. I, Kong Chengfeng, was able to have a change of
master and continue living. But the pro-war faction led by Tantai
Long was completely wiped out. You’re right. It’s a pity Tantai Long
died in Shen Wei’s hands. He was a good man of Zhongbo.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Mister had a narrow escape. With your
talents and learning, you’d be able to come across a Bo Le6 even if
you go to Qudu. Yet you remained in Cizhou. I don’t understand.”
Kong Ling wanted to stand up, but then he could not leave his
seat arbitrarily. He could only raise his head to look at Shen
Zechuan and said, “The Vice Commander doesn’t understand.
How can you understand? The calamity that is the ravages of war
came out of the blue and turned Zhongbo into a scene of
devastation everywhere. But here, there is no fame nor fortune
here. Perhaps in the Vice Commander’s eyes, it is just like the
scattered willow catkins in the air, but to us, Zhongbo still has hope
of getting back on its feet.”
 Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “Duanzhou lost its garrison
battalion, and subsequently a band of bandits proclaimed
themselves king. The fields have fallen into disuse, and there’s no
signs of human lives beyond half a li outside the city. So is this
hope you speak of exactly the opportunity to get back on its feet for
the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo, or just for the single city of Cizhou?
On one hand, Cizhou intends to drag out an ignoble existence with
Qudu, but on the other hand, Cizhou accedes to every one of
Libei’s requests. To be such a fence-sitter… I indeed don’t
understand.”
Kong Ling suddenly rose and said, “How would you know of
Cizhou’s difficulties? Qudu had their hands full with internal strife
after the defeat of Zhongbo’s troops, and we never got a reply
despite our numerous memorials to ask for help. It was His
Excellency who personally handled the reclamation of the wasted
fields. It took three years before we could have this bumper harvest.
That’s right. Cizhou is indeed stuck in a dilemma between Qudu
and Libei, but Cizhou has always gone all out to help each time
Libei is faced with a difficulty. Vice Commander, isn’t it a tad too
cutting to say that Cizhou is a fence-sitter?!”
“It is as you said.” Shen Zechuan suddenly changed his
expression and said with a stern countenance, “I know Cizhou has
its own difficulties, so we’ve come for the specific purpose of
talking things out with both of you. We’ll go straight to the point.
Your Excellency isn’t willing to let the Imperial Army pass for fear of
being censured by Qudu in the days to come. But with the
disintegration of the current state of affairs, holding on to what is
left is not the wisest strategy. Han Cheng devised a scheme to
murder the Son of Heaven. The reason Ce’an and I left Qudu was
not to flee for our lives, but to pick up the pieces. The Empress
Dowager now has control over the administration of the imperial
court, and the noble clans have once again sealed off the main
gate of Qudu. How long can the Imperial College still thrive?
Wasn’t it precisely because of Hua Siqian’s perfunctory attitude
back then – when Your Excellency and Mister Chengfeng submitted
repeated memorials after the defeat of Zhongbo troops – that
Zhongbo has no hope of getting back on its feet? I’ve long heard
about the bandits in Zhongbo back then when I was in Qudu. As
long as those bandits aren’t eliminated, Zhongbo will remain
unstable. So how are you going to continue in your plans to restore
Zhongbo to its former glory? The beginning of an undertaking is
full of hardships, like one driving a wooden cart in tattered clothing
to blaze a new trail through the mountains and forests.7 I very
much admire both gentlemen’s determination for restoration. It’s
just that the road ahead is difficult. So why not change your course
and leave Zhongbo’s affairs to Zhongbo itself to handle?”
Holding his wine, Zhou Gui held Kong Ling in place and said,
“Since the Vice Commander is so frank, then I shall not beat around
the bush. It’s indeed the case that I’m not willing to let His Lordship
pass because I’m worried that Qudu would hold us responsible and
increase Cizhou’s tax as a punishment. If Cizhou disregards Qudu’s
deployment order and acts on its own, I fear it’d be hard for us to
accomplish anything in the future without support. We have no
military force and no wealthy merchants to provide financial aid.
Furthermore, we don’t have the same level of confidence as Libei.
The Vice Commander may persuade me thus, but there is no way I
can use the lives of Cizhou’s commoners to take a gamble.”
“On the contrary.” Xiao Chiye motioned for Kong Ling to sit. “By
saying this, Lanzhou is not persuading Your Excellency to fight
alone. Cizhou is close to the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path, and it
has, at present, yet to establish a fully working garrison of its own.
As long as Your Excellency is willing to allow my troops to come
and go without obstruction, then, until Cizhou’s garrison troop is
formed, my Imperial Army of 20,000 men can take over the patrol
duty in its place.”
Zhou Gui contemplated it in silence. Kong Ling said, “Your
Lordship will naturally keep your promise. But I also have to ask
Your Lordship, if Libei were to revolt, the Northeast Provisions Bridle
Path will naturally become obsolete. Where then will military
provisions for the Libei Armored Cavalry come from in the future?
Cizhou?”
“The Northeast Provisions Bridle Path is a key route that was
opened up for the specific purpose of escorted transportation after
the establishment of Libei Armored Cavalry. Isn’t it too much of a
pity for it to go to waste just like this?” Shen Zechuan fiddled with
the wine cup. The expression in his eyes was calm and unhurried.
“The Libei Armored Cavalry and the Imperial Army has a total of
140,000 soldiers and horses. The military provisions will still have
to go through the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path in the future.”
Kong Ling exchanged a glance with Zhou Gui and said in
astonishment, “Your Lordship currently has the charge of regicide
hanging over your head. How would the thirteen cities of Juexi still
dare to prepare military provisions for the Libei Armored Cavalry
again?”
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “Juexi is Juexi. Qudu is Qudu.
Mister Chengfeng, since I dare to say so, I naturally have my
means. How about it? As long as Your Excellency Zhou is willing to
let the Imperial Army pass through tonight, Cizhou will never have
to fight alone in the future.”
Zhou Gui hesitated and held his voice steady to say, “I can trust
His Lordship’s moral character, but I can’t trust this rapidly
changing situation. Both of you keep saying that the Imperial Army
will suppress the bandits after passing through. But if both of you
renege on your promise after the transit, then Cizhou will really be
caught in a dead end with no way out!”
“No need to fret.” Shen Zechuan put down his wine cup and
said placidly, “I alone shall remain in Cizhou until the Imperial Army
squashes the bandits. If Your Excellency still has misgivings, we can
hand over our current captive, Han Jin, to Your Excellency. That
way, even if we go back on our word in future, Your Excellency can
use Han Jin’s life as an excuse to appease the wrath of Qudu.”
Li Jianheng was dead, and there was still no news about a new
ruler from Qudu. The region was already beginning to stir and
show signs of restlessness. It was only out of fear of the Qi clan in
Qidong that no one dared to follow in the wake of Libei and set up
their own banner to stand on their own feet. But Cizhou was
different. It was so close to the Libei Armored Cavalry. If it could
really get the assistance of the military forces, then they would no
longer need to submit to the deployment orders of the noble
clans.
 “News of my entry into the city today has already spread to
Qudu.” Xiao Chiye continued unhurriedly, “Whether Your
Excellency let me through or not, the Empress Dowager will have
misgivings of Cizhou after tonight.”
Zhou Gui’s countenance suddenly changed. “Your Lordship,
Your Excellency. You!”
“Besides.” Shen Zechuan followed close on Xiao Chiye’s heels
and said in a mild tone, “If both gentlemen want to establish a fully
working Cizhou’s garrison troop, then the most pressing task at
hand is to recruit soldiers and buy horses. Cizhou relies on the farm
fields to eat and make a living. There are no businesses inside and
outside of Cizhou that are connected to Juexi and the harbors. I’m
afraid it will take you until several years later to achieve this aim if
you just use tax money alone. I just happen to have some savings,
and I’m willing to contribute whatever little I have to the best I can—
So Your Excellency Zhou, can the Imperial Army leave now?”

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Footnotes
1. 交杯酒 nuptial cups; a formal exchange of cups of wine
between bride and groom as traditional wedding ceremony;
a toast in which one links one’s arm with a partner to drink
from one’s cup of wine.

2.
3. 一年三百六十日, 多是横戈马上行 from《马上作》Qi
Jiguang (戚继光), a Chinese military general and writer of
the Ming dynasty. Refers to how most of the time he is on the
battlefield wielding his weapon on horseback.
4. 借花献佛 literally to make an offering to Buddha with
borrowed flowers (flowers given by another), i.e., make a gift
of something given by another.
5. 草字 a humble or self-deprecating term used to introduce
one’s courtesy name to another party in ancient times.
6. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
7. 伯乐 a figure famed for his ability to judge the quality of
horses. Refers to someone who is a good judge of talents.
(Here referring to a master who recognises and appreciates
his talents.)
8. 筚路蓝缕，以启山林 From Zuozhuan, or the Commentary
of Zuo《左传》i.e.; to endure great hardships of the sake of
pioneering work.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 103 : BEAUTY

How was there still room for Zhou Gui to refuse when the words
had already been laid out so clearly? Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan had hit them right where their weakness was, using both
carrot and stick. Everything they spoke about was all the most
pressing issues in Cizhou at present. The private banquet could
only end here.
Zhou Gui personally saw both men back to their courtyard, then
strolled back with Kong Ling with a lantern in hand. He asked with
a worried frown, “What do you think?”
Kong Ling said as he strolled, “Difficult. Both of them are tough
nuts to deal with. But what they have said so far is true. At present,
the Empress Dowager is in charge of the imperial court, and
Secretariat Elder is old and ill. With the recent rise of disputes
within the Grand Secretariat, Jiang Qingshan’s transfer to the post
of the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhongbo is no
longer that certain. If they arbitrarily appoint an official from the
noble clans over, then the good days in Cizhou will come to an
end.”
“That’s what I think too.” Basking in the aqueous moonlight,
Zhou Gui contemplated it for a moment and said, “I’m worried that
if we agree too quickly, both of them will think Cizhou is too easy to
control. But agree too slowly, and I fear that they will run out of
patience and Cizhou will lose the chance to get back on its feet. It’s
really hard to get a measure of this.”
“We might not necessarily be able to trick and trap Xiao Chiye
by playing cat and mouse with him.” Kong Ling looked back at
Zhou Gui. “We should make up our minds on this matter as soon as
possible. Dragging it on too long will only prove to be
disadvantageous to us.”
Kong Ling was right. They could still negotiate with Xiao Chiye
and Shen Zechuan now because Xiao Chiye was currently in a
hurry to pass through Cizhou. Considering the influence of Cizhou
on the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path, Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan could not forcibly barge their way through, nor could they
fall out with Cizhou. So, Cizhou was the one with the upper hand.
But the longer Cizhou hesitated, the more it would be detrimental
to Cizhou. This was because the group of bandits led by Lei
Changming was a menace to Cizhou. If Lei Changming entered
Cizhou’s territory to plunder them, Zhou Gui would have to ask the
Imperial Army for help. By then, Xiao Chiye would trade places with
Cizhou and become the one with the upper hand.
“Seeing how Xiao Chiye isn’t bothered about trifles, he
shouldn’t be the kind of person who will simply sit and watch from
the sidelines.” Zhou Gui was still hesitating. “Let’s wait… for Qudu
to make a move.”
“How rare of you to be this muddle-headed.” Kong Ling gave a
long sigh. “Risking all the lives in a prefecture on just an
assumption that he ‘isn’t bothered about trifles’. We may know a
person’s face, but not his heart! If they raise their prices there and
then, they won’t be this accommodating and open to negotiation
as they are today.”
“It’s precisely because this matter concerns the lives in an entire
prefecture that I’m hesitating.” Zhou Gui caught up with Kong Ling
in a few steps. He shook his sleeves to extend his hands out and
said to Kong Ling, “Chengfeng, is it really that easy to go
independent and make yourself king? Think about the former
Crown Prince. That’s truly a real fall from grace. Libei has revolted
now, but if you think about it from various angles, how is this battle
an easy one to fight? It’s not all that beneficial to Libei. They not
only need to take the Biansha Cavalry into consideration, but also
be on guard against Qidong’s advances. If the Northeast Provisions
Bridle Path is cut off too, then wouldn’t they become a trapped
beast in a cage? They can’t survive for long! When the time comes,
Libei won’t even be able to fend for themselves. Then what should
our Cizhou do? Won’t we end up at others’ mercy like meat on a
chopping board? We will even have to live with the infamy of being
a traitor!”
“With matters already coming to this stage, it’s impossible to
think of escaping unscathed.” Kong Ling said in all earnestness.
“You should think it over carefully again tonight.”
◈ ◈ ◈
 The moment Xiao Chiye stepped into the room, a graceful,
delicate figure walked towards him. This fair-skinned maidservant
with jet-black hair worn in a bun daintily kneeled before Xiao Chiye,
exposing a large portion of her nape through her low neckline.
Smoothing over the lock of hair at her temples, she called out in a
soft voice, “Your Lordship…”
Xiao Chiye did not look at her and moved to take off his outer
garment. On hearing his movement, the maidservant hurriedly got
up to take off the clothes for Xiao Chiye.
Shen Zechuan bumped into Xiao Chiye’s shoulder, and Xiao
Chiye grasped hold of him. Letting Xiao Chiye support him, Shen
Zechuan lifted his chin slightly and gently kicked off his shoes.
Xiao Chiye said, “Go prepare some hot water. The Vice
Commander is drunk.”
The maidservant gathered her clothes around her and bent
over to pick up Shen Zechuan’s shoes. But Shen Zechuan lowered
his little bamboo fan to lift her face up. She did not dare to move
and could only look up along the fan at Shen Zechuan. She saw
that Shen Zechuan’s brows were slightly knitted, yet the corners of
his eyes looked as though they were soaking with wet peach
blossoms that accentuated the glistening in his eyes. A sense of
inferiority overwhelmed her, and she hastily averted her eyes, not
daring to look right at Shen Zechuan again.
Shen Zechuan said nothing. He merely took a few looks at her
and moved his fan away. The maidservant deferentially put the
shoes together neatly, then retreated quietly with her head
lowered.
“Pretty?” Xiao Chiye waited for the door to close before he
pulled Shen Zechuan closer into his arms and asked.
With his fingers over the bamboo fan, Shen Zechuan did not
answer and merely stepped on Xiao Chiye’s insteps with feet
covered in clean socks. He pulled at Xiao Chiye’s outer garment
that had yet to be taken off and moved in closer. As Xiao Chiye led
him, he saw the indolent expression on Shen Zechuan’s face. It was
a relaxed expression of one after having drunk wine. He lowered
his head, wanting to kiss him. But Shen Zechuan leaned back
slightly and did not let Xiao Chiye kiss.
 The breaths of both men carried with it the sweet intensity of
“On Horseback”. All the weariness of being on the go the entire
journey eased up during these few days of rest. Shen Zechuan
always looked pale after leaving Qudu, but with Xiao Chiye’s care
and affection, he began to look like a jade stone that had been
warmed up by his caresses. In Xiao Chiye’s palms. he was both
hard and hot.
“Kong Ling is Tantai Long’s old subordinate. As long as Lei
Changming is not eliminated, the anxiety in his heart will remain.”
Xiao Chiye helped Shen Zechuan to undress. He pulled off Shen
Zechuan’s clothes and caressed Shen Zechuan’s lower back, even
though the words from his mouth were, “Lei Changming is anxious
to get his hands on grains. Sooner or later, he will target Cizhou. As
long as the stakes are conveyed to Kong Ling, he will think of a way
to persuade Zhou Gui.”
“Hm…” Shen Zechuan could not take such a strong wine like
“On Horseback”. His cheeks were flushed, but he was still gazing at
Xiao Chiye and listening to him seriously. Yet the expression in his
eyes revealed another kind of seriousness.
“Letting the Imperial Army take the place of Cizhou’s patrol
feels a little like holding them under duress. Never mind if it’s just
for the time being, but if it goes on for long-term, Zhou Gui will
definitely not agree. It’s all thanks to Ding Tao this time for finding
out so quickly that Kong Ling was once Tantai Long’s old
subordinate.” As if Xiao Chiye could not read the expression in
Shen Zechuan’s gaze, he muttered under his breath, “Hm?”
Shen Zechuan stood on tiptoe slightly, then dropped back
down. The more calm his expression was, the more intense the
scarlet grew. The potency of the wine made him sweat.
“Give me a kiss.” Xiao Chiye said in a deep voice. “I did as you
said today and did not bully them the slightest.”
Shen Zechuan clenched Xiao Chiye’s clothes until it was all
wrinkled. He endured it for a moment, then said, “I can’t reach
you.”
Xiao Chiye’s heart thumped, and he lowered his head once
more. Shen Zechuan wanted to kiss him, so he lifted him up and
said, “Let’s take a bath first.”
 Shen Zechuan raised his chin high and half-opened those lips
moistened red by the wine. His tongue, which was wandering
between his teeth, licked the corner of his parched lips. He was
merely gazing at Xiao Chiye like this, and he set an entire body
aflame with lust, seducing Xiao Chiye until the latter no longer
teased him. In the past, he did not understand the air of extremely
seductive allure he had about him, but with their constant intimate
interactions, he seemed to have learned how to fan the flames of
lust without saying a word.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhou Gui had only just woken up the next day when he saw
Kong Ling leading the maidservant in. Stunned, he said, “What’s
going on? Didn’t I tell you to stay by the marquis’s side and serve
him well?”
The maidservant clutched her handkerchief and turned aside
to hide her face as she said, “Your Excellency, shouldn’t one get it
clear before taking appropriate actions? Who do you think is the
man standing beside His Lordship? I don’t even dare to touch the
corner of his clothes! Both of them have the hots for each other.
Neither of them even looked at me in the eye!”
At first, Zhou Gui did not understand, but the color drained
from his face soon afterward, and the handkerchief he was wiping
his face with fell. He was a scholar over the age of forty who did not
even frequent the brothels. Even the running of his household was
very much in order, with a concubine he took at his mother’s
directive. In the past, he had only heard a little about other men’s
penchant for men. He never expected the relationship between
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan to be of this kind too.
“This… this!” Zhou Gui wiped his face and groused to Kong
Ling, “Why didn’t you remind me of this? Now we have offended
him through and through!”
Kong Ling did not look too good either as he said, “How would
I know…”
Both men looked at each other and sighed in unison. During
the stalemate, they heard a young servant lad kneel outside the
door and shout, “Your Excellency, an urgent report from last night.
Lei Changming of Dunzhou has gathered 40,000 bandits and is
heading towards our Cizhou!”
“Why are there so many people?” Zhou Gui’s heart suddenly
went cold. “Half a year earlier, he only had about 10,000 or so
people…”
“It’s truly the case that what you fear will come!” Kong Ling
promptly said, “Quick, go and invite His Lordship over. Tell him we
agree to last night’s treaty of alliance!”

Author’s Words:
Ce’an 195cm. He’s taller than his father and brother.
It’s been hard following the updates. Thank you for reading.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 104 : ELDER BROTHER

Lei Changming was a native of Chazhou. In his early years, he

served as an armed escort with the others and carried out manual
labor. He never studied or attended school. During the reign of
Yongyi, the commander of the Duanzhou Garrison Troops took his
younger sister as a concubine, and she pretty much gained favor in
the commander’s residence. Because of this, Lei Changming had a
comfortable life for a period of time and spent all day at the
gambling dens. A pity the good times did not last long. The
Duanzhou commander was not a devoted man, and within a few
years, he spurned Lei Changming’s younger sister. With no one to
repay all those debts he owed, Lei Changming could only set out
once more to work as an armed escort.
At the end of the reign of Yongyi, Lei Changming took on a job
from the Yan clan of Hezhou. During the journey, he risked his life
to fight off the robbers and protect the youngest young master of
the Yan clan, Yan Heru. Consequently, he got into the Yan clan’s
good books. In the reign of Xiande, after the defeat of the
Zhongbo troops, he used money borrowed from the Yan clan to
recruit men and buy horses. He then started a mutiny against the
Duanzhou garrison battalion and killed off the commander that the
Imperial Court had appointed at that time. From then on, he
became a bandit of Duanzhou.
Lei Changming initially only had a few thousand men, but with
the imperial court’s passive course of action after the defeat of the
troops, Zhongbo was never able to recover from the heavy blow.
People who were reduced from being commoners to being bandits
increased, and he gradually became an overlord of sorts in
Duanzhou. To date, the troops under his command had already far
exceeded the numbers of garrison troops soldiers in the various
Zhongbo prefectures.
“Half a year earlier, Lei Changming had a total of 14,000 people
or so in the prefectures of Duanzhou and Dunzhou.” Zhou Gui held
up his sleeve and pointed at the map for Xiao Chiye. “He used
Mount Luo between Duanzhou and Dunzhou as his base camp and
established his own nest of brigands. When the imperial court
rebuilt the garrison troops of Dengzhou, they once tried to besiege
Mount Luo, but they always returned empty-handed the few times
they tried. Thus, they gave up, and no one bothered about it
anymore.”
As Xiao Chiye secured his arm guards, he leaned partially
against the table to look at the map. He said, “He’s bringing 40,000
people to Cizhou. No doubt he still has to leave behind enough
men and horses to keep guard at Mount Luo. So it seems that he
has at least 60,000 soldiers and horses. This number is two Qidong
commanderies’ garrison troops worth of men.
Although Xiao Chiye had no intent of blaming anyone, he still
made Zhou Gui sweat. This was because the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo all fell under the jurisdiction of legitimately appointed
prefectural prefects, and yet, in the span of six years, they simply
just watched the bandits grow in dominance until they were on the
same scale as a regular army.
“Although His Excellency has no dealings with Duanzhou and
Dunzhou, there are usually field officials who would go forth to
handle the military garrisons’ cases.” Kong Ling sat in his chair and
said, “He has assembled this many people in just half a year, and to
think we never got wind of it.”
“Your Lordship.” Zhou Gui said earnestly. “I originally thought
that Lei Changming has merely 10,000 men or so, and besieging
him to annihilate him would be merely a matter of a month or so.
But now, he’s charging towards Cizhou with 40,000 troops, and we
only have 20,000 men from the Imperial Army. I fear we are in a
perilous position! Why not…”
Why not get someone to head for Libei immediately to pass the
news to Xiao Fangxu and have him deploy the Libei Armored
Cavalry troops guarding the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path south
to provide reinforcements?
Xiao Chiye finished securing his arm guards, yet he did not
speak. Zhou Gui still wanted to persuade him, but Kong Ling
sensed something else from Xiao Chiye’s silence. Taking
advantage of his action as he served tea, he pressed down Zhou
Gui’s arm, and Zhou Gui promptly swallowed back his words.
 “There’s no need for Your Excellency and Mister Chengfeng to
panic.” Shen Zechuan sat on another chair. He was still looking at
that courier report. “Lei Changming’s 40,000 men have to eat too.
He can’t travel fast, and his logistics squad needs to carry along
sufficient rations in order to sustain them as they stride across
hundreds and thousands of li to Cizhou to fight a battle with us.
Besides…”
A peculiar expression materialized on Shen Zechuan’s face.
“This report might not be accurate either.”
“Why does the Vice Commander say so?” Zhou Gui hurriedly
lifted the hem of his robe and approached him to look at the
courier report as well. “This is an urgent report sent back personally
by the official who went to Dunzhou to handle the bandit case.
How can it be inaccurate?”
“He didn’t see Lei Changming 40,000 soldiers and horses with
his own eyes.” Shen Zechuan mulled it over. “It’s too hasty and
sloppy to believe Lei Changming’s words based on just the traces
of earthen stoves. I suspect Lei Changming already knows that the
Imperial Army has arrived in Cizhou. That’s why he put up the
banner of 40,000 men—to throw us into disarray.”
“That’s right.” With his eyes lowered, Xiao Chiye said. “If he
really has 40,000 people, the battle would be a lot easier to fight. A
war of attrition depletes way too much resources. He would be in
more of a dire strait than us.”
“But he still has the support of the Yan clan of Hezhou.” Zhou
Gui said anxiously. “It was all because of the Yan clan’s financial
assistance that he was able to expand to such a scale. There is a
river course in Hezhou that leads right to the granary in Juexi. It’s
easy to supply him with additional rations.”
“How muddle-headed Your Excellency is.” Shen Zechuan
suddenly laughed. “If Lei Changming still has the Yan clan’s full
support behind him, then why would he be in such a hurry to rush
to Cizhou? Have you forgotten that his purpose in coming to
Cizhou is to get his hands on the grains?”
“He came once before the new year, and came visiting again a
few months later.” Xiao Chiye said, “This not only indicates that he
might have fallen out with the Yan clan, but also that his assets back
at Mount Luo are no longer enough to fill his tummy. It’s the Chashi
River to his east, and the Biansha Cavalry is even better at
plundering than he is. He has no one to turn to, so he could only
come repeatedly to Cizhou to demand grains.”
“Then why did he have to wait until the Imperial Army arrived at
Cizhou to make another trip instead of coming here earlier or
later?” Kong Ling circled around the table, slowed down for two
steps, and said, “Your Lordship’s arrival in Cizhou is clearly
disadvantageous to him.”
“Because Han Jin is in the Imperial Army’s hands.” Shen
Zechuan closed the report and stood up. He said, “It’s all because
of the Yan clan’s help that he can survive this long. Now that he has
parted ways with the Yan clan, he will have to seek new help if he
wants to continue holding on to his mountain stronghold and keep
on being his overlord. He’s a bandit. The more people he has
under his command, the more troublesome it will be. Those living
on the other mountains can live off the mountain,1 but Zhongbo is
poor and barren. Even if he digs out the entire mountain, all he can
eat is soil. This person is very good at grabbing opportunities. He’s
able to gain fame and fortune because he made the right choices
at the three turning points in his life. He has soldiers, and Zhongbo
just happens to be short of soldiers. However, he has no
connections, and Ce’an just happens to lead the Imperial Army
here to pass through Cizhou. If he is able to defeat the Imperial
Army and save Han Jin, then he would be able to report this
meritorious service of his to Qudu and seek a military official
position in Zhongbo through the Han clan.”
“A good plan indeed, to have his eyes set on metamorphosing
into a real official of the imperial court.” Indignant, Zhou Gui
stomped his foot and said, “Is he totally showing no regards for the
commoners of Cizhou?!”
“This is merely just a conjecture. We still have to trade blows
with this person before we can get a better feel of him.” Xiao Chiye
hung up Langli Blade and said to Zhou Gui, “Libei lies behind
Cizhou. If Lei Changming can’t sneak through Cizhou and go
around the back, then he won’t be able to surround the city and
trap us. Your Excellency can then immediately get people to seal
the city gate—even the dog holes have to be filled up and sealed.
Those under his command are all a motley crew not registered in
the household registers; they will not be able to guard against
this.”
“By this, is Your Lordship going to fortify the city and face them
off in a confrontation? Kong Ling looked to be in a spot. “Cizhou’s
city walls are old. I’m afraid they won’t be able to withstand Lei
Changming’s assault.”
“The Imperial Army can’t enter the city and defend to the
death.” Xiao Chiye held his sword and slightly bared his teeth. “I’ll
make a bet with you. Lei Changming will definitely not dare to
charge head-on at my soldiers. This is what he fears.”
◈ ◈ ◈
At dusk, Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan made an inspection
tour of the city walls. Both men brought their blades with them and
walked side by side atop the city wall.
“This city wall was last repaired during the reign of Yongyi.”
Shen Zechuan attempted to push at the battlement of the wall, and
earthen clay that had been eroded by the wind and rain tumbled
to the ground.
“That’s because Zhou Gui is poor. He’s been urgently trying to
resolve the issue of food these few years. Naturally, he would be
too preoccupied to pay any attention to the city’s military defense.”
Xiao Chiye picked up a chunk of earth and rubbed it into pieces in
his hand. “The Imperial Army can stand before Cizhou to defend it,
but it cannot retreat into the city.”
Xiao Chiye was well aware that Zhou Gui wanted to seek
assistance from Libei, but he was unwilling to ask for help. He could
return to Libei soon, but the arrangements for these 20,000 Imperial
Army men he had brought with him were something he had yet to
discuss with his father and eldest brother. He understood the Libei
Armored Cavalry. Such a complete army like that would be unable
to come to a swift acceptance of the Imperial Army—these two
armies would predictably have to go through a very difficult
bonding process for them to learn to get along with one another. If
he opened his mouth at this time to ask for help and Xiao Fangxu
came, then Xiao Chiye would never have the chance to shine again
when he returned to Libei.
This battle was his first battle on returning home. He had to win
it. He had to win it on his own.
The sunset clouds on the horizon spread out and tinted half of
the sky red. Rows upon rows of houses with curling smoke lined the
city amidst the clamorous buzz of human voices. Shen Zechuan
lowered his hand to cover the center of Xiao Chiye’s head. Both
men – one standing and one squatting – looked at the scene
beneath them.
“Lei Changming can be considered a capable man.” Shen
Zechuan said. “But you are the one who decides whether he is a
bandit or an ambitious man.”
“Ambitious men are born out of troubled times.” Xiao Chiye put
his arms on his knees and propped himself up. “I’ll take the
Conqueror’s Bow with me.”
He stood here, like a lush tree bathed in the dimming light of
dusk, like a mountain standing tall before the city wall. Shen
Zechuan watched those shackles gradually vanish. Poised and
ready for action, it was time for Xiao Chiye to show his real mettle
in this chaotic situation.
“When you return to Libei,” Shen Zechuan gazed at him. “His
Lordship will realize that you’ve grown taller again.”
“I was already taller than him the last time I saw him.” Xiao
Chiye smiled. “As a child, I thought my father was like a towering
tree. He put me on his shoulder and lied to me that I’d be able to
touch the clouds. My eldest brother wanted to sit on my father’s
shoulder too, but he was already old enough to attend school then,
and he felt that he had to maintain his dignity as the older brother,
so he never said a word to my father and would be happy just to
watch me sit.”
Shen Zechuan smiled too. He gazed back at the sky and said,
”They all said that the Hereditary Prince looks like the Princess
Consort of Libei.”
“Somewhat, I guess.” Xiao Chiye’s eyes reflected the entire sky
of rose-tinted clouds. “Not as much as I resemble my father.
Actually, my eldest brother was once miserable. When my father
retired back sick to the Prince’s Residence, my eldest brother was
only in his teens. All of a sudden, he had to fight a way out from
those ferocious men. Tough. Initially, he was mocked the most for
being unlike Father—he did not have a sufficiently strong and well-
built physique. He once said to Zhao Hui…”
The side of Xiao Chiye’s face was calm and serene. He seemed
to recall that day, but then a certain wave of sadness inexplicably
washed over him. He turned his head and took Shen Zechuan’s
hands. His Adam’s apple bobbed a few times before he said, “Us
brothers are truly strange. I envy my eldest brother’s steadiness,
and I also envy his composure. I used to think, ‘if only I had been
born a few years earlier’. Then I would be the eldest brother, the
Hereditary Prince. I would have been able to go galloping to my
heart’s content. I wouldn’t have to leave Libei a single step. But one
day, he came home wounded and saw me in the courtyard
shooting arrows. And he said to Zhao Hui, ‘I really envy A-Ye’.”
“I thought my father and eldest brother would never feel pain
and would never fall. They would shed blood and never tears. But
on the day my eldest brother got married, he drank himself drunk.
Yet, such a steady person like that gingerly took my eldest sister-in-
law’s hands and got all teary-eyed at her. It was as if he had already
anticipated the future. He saw her as his precious treasure. He
would feel fear too.”
“There is nothing about me that is better than my eldest
brother. If I had to say, then it’d be that I’ve totally inherited this fine
physique from my father.” Xiao Chiye gripped Shen Zechuan
tightly. “I never really understood in the past why he had to get all
teary-eyed at my eldest sister-in-law. But now, I do.”

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Footnotes
1. 靠山吃山 literally, those living on a mountain live off the
mountain. i.e., making use of local resources to survive or
make a living.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 105 : CUNNING

Lei Changming arrived at the mountainous area a hundred li 1

away from Cizhou. It started to drizzle. He did not act rashly and
march his troop on. Instead, he occupied the area to take a break
and started to set up camp.
“They meant to fight a protracted battle.” Tantai Hu crouched in
the grass and looked down. “He drags out the troops in such a
long line that it’s impossible to tell how many soldiers and horses
there are.”
“But their stoves are so densely clustered together that it makes
me afraid just to look at it.” Ding Tao drew a circle at the spot where
Lei Changming stationed his troops. “I went to the towns along the
way to probe for information. All of them said he indeed brought
more than 40,000 men this time. They took in all the bandits near
this part of Cizhou on their way here.”
“It’s by mixing falsehood with truth that would make it
impossible for others to distinguish between truth from lies.” Xiao
Chiye rose and brushed aside the branch of leaves with water
droplets on it. “If he really has that many people, why would he still
need to recruit deserters and traitors? An army that’s about to fight
a battle fears last-minute addition of soldiers the most. That will
forcibly throw the long-standing rapport between the soldiers into
disarray, thereby turning a ferocious army into a motley crew.”
“That’s what I surmised too.” Tantai Hu followed Xiao Chiye out
of the forest. “The more he wants others to know he has 40,000
men, the more he has a guilty conscience. Master, he’s afraid of
us.”
Xiao Chiye took off his cloak in the drizzle and tossed it to Ding
Tao behind him. As he hung up his blade, he looked at Tantai Hu
and said, “If he’s afraid, he wouldn’t have come. By doing this, he’s
seizing the opportunity to intimidate us. He saw that we were from
Qudu and wanted to scare us.”
A battle did not break out at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds
because Qi Zhuyin led the Qidong Garrison Troops to suppress the
rebellion. On the surface, it looked like it had nothing to do with
Xiao Chiye. The Eight Great Training Divisions used to belittle the
seemingly obsolete Imperial Army in the past back in Qudu.
Although the Imperial Army had taken over Qudu’s patrols these
few years, the substitution was due to a change of hands in
authority. They never fought a decent battle, and so they, along
with Xiao Chiye, were deemed by Lei Changming to be lads who
were still wet behind the ears.
“His underestimating of the enemy is to our advantage. But if
we follow suit and underestimate him too, then we deserve to be
beaten. Lei Changming is no ordinary man. He must have his own
strengths to be able to dominate the southeast of Zhongbo.” Xiao
Chiye flipped atop the horse, lifted the reins, and said, “Tantai Hu,
six years ago, you escaped from Dengzhou to Qudu, and now we
have returned. Let me ask you, do you still remember what I said
when you led your troops to register and join the Imperial Army?”
The rain dropped into Tantai Hu’s eyes. He looked up at Xiao
Chiye and said, “This humble subordinate would not dare to forget
for even a moment. Master said that the humiliation of our nation
has yet to be redressed, and the feuds of our families have yet to
be avenged!”
“That’s right.” Xiao Chiye reined in the horse and lifted his eyes
to look at the dense cluster of heads in the rain. He said in a quiet
voice, “The people from Biansha carried out massacres in several
cities of Zhongbo. Libei Armored Cavalry and Qidong Garrison
Troops fought them off, but was this enmity avenged? To the
Biansha Cavalry, this was merely just them riding their horses to
and fro for amusement! What was that circulating around in Qudu?
They said they’d rather be a dog than a man of Zhongbo! So how
can we now just hand over the humiliation Zhongbo suffered under
those slaughter blades to others to redress it for us?! We gallop all
night without stopping in our dreams, and now, Lei Changming is
the obstacle that stands in our way. The opportunity to battle with
the Biansha Cavalry is right before our eyes—do we lose?”
Victory and defeat were commonplace in the military, but no
army would be willing to keep losing forever. In the past six years,
they have transformed from a motley crew lacking in cohesion and
organization into a well-trained and combat-ready army. The
Imperial Army was just like Xiao Chiye’s silhouette, buried among
the golden sand as tens of thousands of worthless bugs in the
crevices of Dazhou’s mighty army. Never mind how the others
describe them as in the past. Never mind if they were slapped with
the label of a good-for-nothing. They were finally about to reveal
their true mettle from the gravel.
A sudden gust of strong wind blew the banner open. Tantai Hu
pursed his lips tightly and said, “We must win.”
The sound of rain swiftly grew urgent.
Tantai Hu wiped his eyes roughly and said in a hoarse voice as
the shouts behind him gradually became a wave, “We must win!”
We must win!
From this time on to the moment they battled to the death, “we
must win” had to become the Imperial Army’s one and only creed.
Faced up against their senior who had made a name for himself a
long time ago, they had to draw their blades; they had to spur their
horses on swiftly in an advance; and they had to defeat everyone
standing in their way, one at a time—they could only win! The Libei
Armored Cavalry could lose, as could the Qidong Garrison Troops.
Even Lei Changming’s forces could suffer a defeat. But the Imperial
Army and Xiao Chiye could not. At the same time they broke free
of their shackles, they also left their backer. If they could not win,
then they could only die.
Xiao Chiye turned his horse around and wiped away the
rainwater on his chin. It was as if he was a wolf who had caught a
whiff of blood and meat. He drew out that blade which symbolized
avarice and ruthlessness and said to the wolf pack behind him,
“Time for us to eat.”
The rain pitter-pattered down and broke up the water surface.
◈ ◈ ◈
Lei Changming heard that the special envoy from Cizhou had
arrived, so he received him in the tent.
“Mister Chengfeng.” With a cloak around him, Lei Changming
sat on the raised tiger seat and scrutinized Kong Ling. “It has been
quite some days since we last met.”
Kong Ling bowed in greeting and said, “The chief often comes
to our Cizhou in the past. We’re all old acquaintances, so why take
up arms and create such a big stir this time?”
Surprisingly enough, Lei Changming was not a boorish fellow.
There were no ornaments adorning his scarred arms, and his
clothes were simple and plain. The broadsword he carried with him
had already been polished until there were visible marks. If one
were to suddenly look over, he was no different from the peasant
commoners of Zhongbo who always had their face to the ground
and back to the sky. He never studied before. He had the aura of a
bandit who bumbled his way around the martial fraternity all year
round. But that seemed to be only a disguise, for he was quite
perceptive.
Lei Changming did not feign civility with Kong Ling. He next
fixed his eyes on Shen Zechuan and said with a grin, “Since we are
old acquaintances, why did Mister Chengfeng bring along an
Imperial Bodyguard when it’s just for a drink?”
With a composed expression, Kong Ling said, “Didn’t the chief
bring such a large number of troops to put pressure on the city all
to see His Lordship and Vice Commander Shen? Today, I’ll be so
bold as to mutually recommend both of you to each other. Your
Excellency the Vice Commander, this is Chief Lei, Lei Changming,
whose name is renowned in the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. He’s
the one of highest power in the two prefectures of Dunzhou and
Dunzhou. Chief, this is Vice Commander Shen, Shen Zechuan, an
official in the Son of Heaven’s inner ministerial circle whom Qudu
personally made an exception to promote.”
“I’ve heard much of your great name.” Lei Changming said, as
if he was a little interested. “Shen Zechuan. You’re Shen Zechuan. I
heard Han Cheng devised a scheme to seal the city and besiege
you. You alone killed his remaining elite troops. Every strike of
yours was lethal, and each blow was so fast it was hardly visible.
Why are you hanging out with Zhou Gui and the others instead of
following Xiao Chiye to Libei? Such a law-abiding Prefectural
Prefect like him can’t accommodate a killing machine like you, can
he?”
“I’m also a law-abiding person.” Shen Zechuan lifted his right
hand slightly to reveal the side of his waist. “I didn’t even bring my
blade along to see you, Chief Lei.”
 Lei Changming raised his hand to wave back the guards who
were pressing in because of Shen Zechuan’s movements. He
pointed at Shen Zechuan and said, “You don’t even remove your
blade when you see the Son of Heaven. Yet you do it
wholeheartedly on seeing me.” He laughed out loud in a booming
voice, and said loudly, “Could it be that I’m even more honorable
than the Son of Heaven?”
“The Empress Dowager is in charge now, and court discipline is
lax. There has long been no such thing as the Son of Heaven.”
Shen Zechuan smiled. “The chief is a peerless hero. I naturally have
to observe the etiquette.”
“You are all people who have been in Qudu for a long time.
Your words are all pleasing to the ears.” Lei Changming leaned
against his seat and pried apart the sweet potato on the plate. He
took two bites and said, “Spit it out. What do you want with me?”
“My purpose for coming to the chief’s tent today is to: firstly,
pay you a special visit, and secondly, express my willingness to
discuss with you about the future.” Shen Zechuan scrutinized the
tent as he spoke, “Pitching camp here is, after all, not a long-term
measure. If the Imperial Army doesn’t come, then is the chief going
to keep waiting day after day?”
“You understand Xiao Chiye better than me.” Lei Changming
finished his sweet potato in a few bites. “His father and eldest
brother are all renowned generals. How bad can he be? I’ll wait for
him to come to me for a discussion. Cizhou is only just this big. I
can guess where he is hiding even without searching. I can’t enter
Cizhou if he occupies Cizhou and refuses to leave! There has to be
a resolution to this matter, right? I’ll wait for him. I’m in no hurry.”
“His 20,000 Imperial Army are skilled in horsemanship and
archery. Their capabilities on horseback are no less inferior to the
Libei Armored Cavalry. Fighting with him now would be
detrimental to the chief instead.” Seeing those guards about to
move again, Shen Zechuan let out a pre-emptive smile and said,
“He is in the city, and has Cizhou granary for sustenance. The chief
is outside the city, and can only rely on army rations from the
backend to sustain the forces. The expenditure of 40,000 men is an
appalling amount. The longer this battle drags on, the more the
chief will lose out. I’m sure the chief understands this more than
me.”
“So what? I can afford to dawdle. But the Imperial Army can’t,
right? Xiao Chiye can’t live on Cizhou’s grains for an entire lifetime.
The Prince of Libei is still fighting a war in Libei. Xiao Chiye is in a
hurry to go home. I’ll only stand to lose money the longer this
drags on, but it’s lives that hang in the balance for Xiao Chiye. He
rebelled, but Qidong Garrison Troops didn’t. Qi Zhuyin only needs
half a month to lead her troops here. When the Libei Armored
Cavalry comes forth to provide reinforcement then, they will have a
headache on both ends. Qi Zhuyin is not easier to fight than the
Biansha Cavalry. This lass’s capability is something you people who
have had frequent dealings with her know best. She even dared to
set the Biansha’s throne on fire. It’s simply too easy for her to fight
against one Cizhou. But, does Xiao Chiye dare to?” Lei Changming
wiped his mouth. His smile was casual, and the expression in his
eyes was cool and collected. “Is Xiao Chiye even worthy?”
Shen Zechuan revealed a regretful expression and said, “If the
reserve rations the chief has is truly adequate, then there’s no need
for me to say a word more about it. Truth be told, it’s precisely
because I’m worried about Commander-in-chief Qi’s arrival any
time now that I thought of discussing a deal with you.”
Kong Lin turned slightly pale and walked two steps closer
toward Shen Zechuan. He said, “Vice Commander, we have yet
to…”
“What deal do you want to discuss with me?” Lei Changming
interrupted Kong Ling.
Shen Zechuan said, “If Xiao Chiye is able to pass through
Cizhou without a hitch, then it’s all good and well for everyone. But
since the chief has come forth with your own soldiers, then that
20,000 Imperial Army of his is no longer my only choice. The deal I
wish to discuss with the chief is precisely regarding the army
rations. I still have 2 million silver in my hands, and I’m willing to
invest it in the chief to be used for food rations expenditure this
battle. But in exchange, you have to vouch for me before Han
Cheng to preserve my life when you become an official in the
imperial court in the future.”
 Stunned, Kong Lin said, “Shen Zechuan! How can you dupe
us?! Didn’t we agree that those 2 million will be given to Cizhou to
rebuild the garrison troops?!”
“I only said I was willing to.” Shen Zechuan tilted his head a
little and said to Kong Ling with sincerity, “ I didn’t say I definitely
would.”
Kong Ling grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan’s sleeve and said,
“You lied to us! You treacherous lad!”
Lei Changming laughed again. With his hands on his knees, he
said, “Are you for real? Shen Zechuan, if you really have that much
silver, would you still have let the Imperial Army gnaw on mud the
entire way while fleeing for their lives? You people are not plotting
to deceive me, are you?”
How was Kong Ling still of the mind to listen to what he was
saying? His face flushed red, and his goatee trembled as he said to
Shen Zechuan in disbelief, “Was that impassioned speech of yours
a lie too? You! You used Zhongbo’s calamity to lie to us and lay a
trap. Are you still human?!”
“Every man has his own ambition.” Shen Zechuan smiled lazily.
“Cizhou and the Imperial Army are already cornered like turtles in a
jar. It’s natural for me to seek a new master. Mister Chengfeng, you
of all people should understand it best.”
“If you can really produce 2 million silver,” Still sitting in place,
Lei Changming said, “and help me to save Han Jin. Then I’ll take
care of it on Han Cheng’s end for you.”
“I’ve already gotten someone to bring some silver over.” Shen
Zechuan said. “So is this proof enough of my sincerity, chief?”

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Thanks to AliceLiddell for pointing out the typo!! <3
Footnotes
1. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 106 : CRUDE

Shen Zechuan was unable to bring 2 million this trip, but he

brought sincerity. Lei Changming looked at those few chests of
silvers. They were all genuine stuff, stacked neatly in order. He
grabbed a handful at random to get a feel of that heavy weight
and said, “These few chests of silver are something that even the
brothers under my command selling sugared biscuits can produce.
Aren’t you looking down on me a tad too much?”
“The chief might not necessarily dare to accept it if I had really
brought over 2 million.” Shen Zechuan had already taken his seat.
He said, “Good deals are worth discussing over slowly. The ones
who should be anxious at present are Cizhou and Xiao Chiye.”
Lei Changming waved a hand to get his men to drag Kong
Ling out of the tent, leaving only his own guards and Shen
Zechuan behind. From start to end, he remained unwilling to leave
his seat. Without taking even half a step closer to Shen Zechuan, he
said, “You and Xiao Chiye broke out of the siege in Qudu. You
could be considered sworn friends who have been through life and
death, so why did you fall out with him suddenly and come to beg
me instead?”
“Since the chief knows of me, then you must have also known
that Shen Wei is my old man. Shen Wei let the enemies into
Dunzhou and caused a long-standing grudge to form between me
and Libei. Xiao Chiye and I may be able to bury the hatchet, but
Xiao Jiming may not necessarily be willing to use me.” Shen
Zechuan looked troubled. “A man’s aspiration is to make a name
for himself. Xiao Chiye is like a clay Buddha crossing the river who
can’t even save himself. So how would he have the energy to carve
out a path for me? There is some misunderstanding between me
and His Excellency Han, but those are all minor issues that do not
warrant the death penalty. As long as someone can vouch for me,
I’ll be able to return to Qudu to serve the Imperial Court again.”
“So that means you still want to be an official, huh?” With both
hands on his knees, Lei Changming said, “Brother, to tell you the
truth, I want to be an official too. We used to hang out in the
mountains and wilderness back then, and we lived pretty much a
carefree life. But when all is said and done, it’s not a proper job.
Every single one of our movements will come under close scrutiny
by the Qidong Garrison Troops.”
“The chief and I have a common goal.” Shen Zechuan lifted his
little bamboo fan slightly. “Isn’t this just perfect?”
“But, I’ve been deceived by scholars like you until it scares me
now.” Lei Changming put on a look of dread. “This 2 million of
yours are still in Cizhou. How are you going to get it to me? And
that Han Jin too. How are you going to help me save him? Make
yourself clear today, so I know how things stand. Only then can I
truly take you under me.”
“The silver is not an issue. The chief can pick a trusted man to
go to Cizhou and ask Zhou Gui for the money. He knows where the
silvers are kept. As long as you can move it, you can take the
money away now.“
“You think he would be willing to give me if I ask him for it?” Lei
Changming rubbed his fingers together, as if he still wanted to
touch those silvers.
“You have Kong Ling in your hands. That’s Zhou Gui’s trusted
aide.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile. “You have 40,000 soldiers
and horses too. How would Zhou Gui not dare to give you? He
always wanted to be a good official who loves his people like his
children. He won’t infuriate you at this critical juncture.”
Lei Changming looked at Shen Zechuan, as if he was getting a
measure of him. The tent quietened down. It was all Lei
Changming’s guards to Shen Zechuan’s left and right. He touched
the teacup, but did not drink up. In this long stand-off, Lei
Changming suddenly laughed and said, “I have ample reserve
supplies. I’m not in a hurry to ask for money. It doesn’t matter if this
2 million is left there for a few more days. Men, serve tea to Young
Master Shen. Our top priority is to discuss how to save Han Jin.
after all, our meeting of Han Cheng in Qudu hinges on him.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Kong Ling was locked up in a stable. He lay across the weeds
and panted heavily, securely bound by coarse hemp ropes. The
horse that was resting before him stuck out its hoof and discharged
steaming hot dung. That stench made Kong Ling dizzy, and he
tried to turn his head away to gasp for breath. The band of bandits
surrounding him outside the stable roared with laughter.
Kong Ling shouted indignantly, “The traitor deceived me! Bah!
A gentleman would rather die than be humiliated. Don’t even
dream of using me to threaten Cizhou!”
Horsewhips jabbed at Kong Ling’s face. He was covered with
mud and horse dung all over, and being watched by these people
all around him caused waves of giddiness to wash over him. He
said with shame and hatred, “You people are in cahoots! You! Lei
Changming! What good end will you come to by conspiring with
such an unrighteous person?!”
But no matter how Kong Ling cursed and cussed, there were
only roars of laughter all around him. He was a well-read and well-
educated man. Whether it was Tantai Long or Zhou Gui in the past,
they all treated him with courtesy. Who would not respectfully
address him as Mister Chengfeng everywhere he went? But now,
not only was he tied up in a stable, he was even ridiculed and
laughed at by these people. He thought again of the snowy night
when he fled Dunzhou. The face of these bandits gradually
overlapped with the faces of the Biansha Cavalry, with vague
sounds of laughter everywhere. Unable to restrain his emotions for
a moment, Kong Ling started to choke with sobs.
“Patrol guards!” An officer suddenly walked out from the other
end and bellowed, “What are all of you gathering here for? Is this
old fart more important than the task of patrolling the camp? If the
patrol is delayed, I’ll see how all of you will get skinned! Move it,
disperse!”
The surrounding people broke up noisily. Kong Ling shifted
over to the edge of the stable and put his head against the railing
to let the dripping rain water wash away the filth. He took deep
breaths, as if he was breathing in fresh air. His goatee was so dirty
that it had become a cake of mud.
People went in and out of the tent in the distance. When they
lifted the flap of the tent, he could see Lei Changming preparing to
host a feast to entertain Shen Zechuan. Kong Ling spat and closed
his eyes in the rain. An unspecified amount of time later, someone
gave Kong Ling’s cheeks a light pat.
Kong Ling opened his eyes. It was the man he had seen earlier.
This person seemed to be in his early thirties. His face was dark,
and he had an air of toughness to him. He called out, “Mister
Chengfeng!”
Kong Ling was alarmed.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m Tantai Long’s old subordinate. I used to
hold a post in the Dunzhou Garrison Troops. I’ve met you once.”
This man forced a smile, then sighed and said, “Mister… really
ought not to have ended up in such a state.”
“Since you are Tantai Long’s former subordinate, how can you
follow a bandit like Lei Changming to stage a rebellion?” Kong
Ling said woodenly. “Tantai Long hated these villains the most
when he was still alive.”
“I was driven into a corner.” This man said with a bitter smile.
“After Dunzhou was recovered, the Imperial Court transferred the
grains away and used it to fill up Juexi’s deficit. Those of us who
survived were so starved that we had to chew tree barks. Although
the chief is a bandit, he is righteous and generous. It’s only by
following him we can have enough food to fill our stomachs. We
have no choice.”
Kong Ling knew he was telling the truth, but words failed him,
and he could only remain silent.
This man helped Kong Ling up and said, “I heard the intent of
the chief earlier at the table. He’s prepared to use you to negotiate
with the Prefectural Prefect of Cizhou. I was worried that you would
be too strong-willed and could not bear the humiliation. So I found
a chance to step out. Mister, I’ll take you away on horseback right
now!”
Kong Ling looked at his sincere expression and said, “If you let
me go, Lei Changming will definitely not let you off lightly.”
This man untied Kong Ling’s ropes and quickly said, “I’ll send
you to Cizhou and come back to apologize. I was originally a loyal
and righteous soldier under General Tantai’s command. But now,
I’ve been reduced to a bandit just so I have food to fill my stomach.
I can’t live with myself deep down. But the chief has been kind to
me, so I can’t turn my back on him either. Mister, let me help you up
the horse!”
After being helped up the horse, Kong Ling held his arm and
choked with sobs, “You are a sensible man.”
The man got onto the horse too and draped a cloak over Kong
Ling. With a shake of the reins, he led Kong Ling around to the
main gate of the camp. There were still people patrolling in the
rain. On seeing him, they all paid their obeisances to him. Without
saying a word more, he flashed his token and brought Kong Ling
out of the camp.
Both men had been galloping for only a moment when they
heard the sound of berating behind them. It was soldiers in pursuit
of them.
“This place is still a thousand li 1 away from Cizhou. Mister!” The
man braved the rain to guide the way. “We’ll run without a break all
night!”
Kong Ling swayed from the jolts and bumps. He clutched the
reins tightly and followed swiftly after the man. The sound of
pursuit behind him never stopped. Branches in the dark night
lashed at his face. Kong Ling did not even dare to look back. He
endured the pain, determined to hurry back to Cizhou and waste
no time in tipping off Zhou Gui!
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan ate very little. He ignored the singing and
dancing in the tent and sat down at the lower area to drink wine.
Lei Changming had brought along quite a number of
concubines with his troops in their march forward; many of them
were women he had grabbed in broad daylight back in Duanzhou.
He told one of them to go over and pour wine for Shen Zechuan,
then urged him with great gusto as he sat on his seat. “Brother
Shen, drink up! I bought plenty of excellent wine this trip. Drink as
much as you want tonight.”
Shen Zechuan saw that Lei Changming had drunk until he was
flushed in the face. His voice was growing increasingly loud, and
he did not hold back as he teased the others. The woman in his
arms had been pinched until her neck and shoulders were covered
in bruises. Shen Zechuan raised the cup slightly and downed the
wine without saying a word.
Lei Changming said as he ate the meat, “You’re the son of the
Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei. You never had to endure hardships
since you were young, so you don’t know how valuable grains are.
But you sure have the candor of someone from the marital
fraternity by giving this 2 million at the mere drop of a hat! Brother
Shen, not that I’m bragging, but I think you did well by throwing in
your lot with me now! That Xiao Chiye is just a brat. He could still be
of some use in Qudu, but now that he’s returning to Libei, what
available path is there for him? He still has 20,000 soldiers with him.
The Libei Armored Cavalry will definitely not take them in! Don’t
tell me the Prince of Libei can still make him the commander-in-
chief of Libei? That Xiao Jiming is the one who’s truly formidable!”
Not letting those women touch his wine jar, Shen Zechuan
poured himself a cup of wine and said with a smile, “Yeah.”
Lei Changming gobbled down the pork shoulder and wiped
his mouth before he said, “Speaking of these generals, I’m only
afraid of Qidong’s Commander-in-chief, Qi Zhuyin! Of the four
great generals of the world, she’s the only woman. I saw her once
when I worked as an armed escort in Hezhou. What the fuck. Such
a pretty lass, and yet the weapon she wields is an executioner’s
blade! An executioner’s blade.2 The blade Xiao Chiye uses is also
an executioner’s blade, isn’t it?! One straight slash, and it can
cleave apart bones and flesh. What it relies on is real physical
strength. It’s also to do her a favor that I came to Cizhou this time.
I’ll capture Xiao Chiye on her behalf and send him back to Qudu.
This will allow their Qidong to break with Libei without being
directly involved. Say, with such a merit like this, will I be able to get
a position as a general under her command?”
“I heard that Commander-in-chief Qi has five great generals
under her command. Each of them is skilled in combat, and they
are all men she single-handedly trained all these years over at the
Qidong Garrison Troops.” Shen Zechuan said. “If you really go over,
you’ll naturally come up top and be the big brother of them all.”
Lei Changming boomed with laughter. He scooped up the
woman in his arms and kissed her haphazardly in spite of the cries.
He wiped his greasy hands clean on those silk fabrics and said, “It
is from the mountains that I made my mark. I’ve been running all
over all these years, and I’ve also fought some battles. Mention me,
Lei Changming, in Zhongbo, and who doesn’t know that I can
fight? Brother Shen, you know Lu Guangbai of the Bianjun
Commandery, right? Their Lu clan is poor as heck. He gives one the
impression of being an unyielding man, and it’s all by virtue of his
vigor that he could keep up the desperate fights at Bianjun. He
doesn’t have any other capabilities. In my opinion, Lu Guangbai is
the most incompetent one among the four great generals. He’s
called, what do you call it, the ‘Fire Beacon Amidst Blowing Sand’
or something. Bianjun lights up the beacon towers every year, so
what’s so special about this? Might as well vacate his post and let
me take over instead. I guarantee I’ll be way better than him!”
Seeing that he was drunk and starting to boast, Shen Zechuan
lowered his fingers and gently righted the chopsticks on the table,
He said with a smile, “He’s indeed not very impressive.”
“Men like Commander Zuo are the real heroes.” Lei Changming
poured wine into his mouth, which leaked over half of his body.
Too late to wipe it, he tossed the wine cup away and said to Shen
Zechuan, “He who took down the enemies’ heads from a thousand
li away, and he who struck fear in enemies’ hearts with one arrow!
He was all the storyteller in the teahouse in Hezhou spoke of in the
past. Said he killed his wife to protect the city, and consequently,
his hair rapidly turned white. Oh man, one can’t help but shed tears
to hear his story! A pity there was no avoiding the disillusionment
of a hero, and he still ended up retiring early. Otherwise, he and I
might even get to be sworn brothers!”
It was pandemonium in the tent, as if a host of demons were
dancing and running wild within. Those so-called guards, deputy
generals, all showed their true colors as they stood or lay down
and pulled the prostitutes over to drink and make merry. Such an
army like this has no military discipline to speak of. They were the
same as Lei Changming—bandits who depended on weapons at
the very beginning to plunder and loot.
Sitting among them, Shen Zechuan had a subtle sense that
something was off .
 Lei Changming should not be such a man. If he was this kind of
short-sighted man who enjoyed life while he could, then how could
he have stood out from among the crowd of bandits? What this
man had on display was completely different from what Shen
Zechuan had heard of him from rumors.
Lei Changming got up to chase after the prostitute and pulled
her into his arms to fondle and grope. He drank the wine, sang
some obscure farm song from Dengzhou, and danced and
gesticulated with merriment like a bull that had rashly crashed its
way onto the chessboard. He enjoyed himself to his heart’s
content, and drank himself drunk. But unexpectedly, he smacked
his forehead and said as he pointed at Shen Zechuan, “Your
mother is a dancer from Duanzhou! Brother Shen, quick, get up
and dance for us!”

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Thanks Peach for the typo correction! <3
Footnotes
1. 里 li, ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m

2.
3. 鬼头刀 literally ghost-headed blade. It’s a kind of blade
used for beheading people sentenced to death in old times.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 107 : ODD

⚠ TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of child sexual abuse. ⚠

If this is a trigger/landmine for you, please stop reading now.

The sound of rain outside the tent grew softer, and the tent flap
was opened, dissipating the heat within. Lecherous howls of the
drunk men rang out from the camp in the deep of the night, while
soldiers with arms around one another played guessing games. Lei
Changming was so hot that he undid his clothes and laid his chest
bare. His chest was tanned, with plenty of scars and a tuft of chest
hair that grew unchecked like weed beneath his clothes. Drunkenly
embracing the woman in his arms, he sang and danced, and even
called out to Shen Zechuan, “Brother Shen, get up!”
At this point in time, the flap moved, and several servile and
submissive soldiers entered to place down the food.
Shen Zechuan partially opened the little bamboo fan and stood
up. The candle flames in the tent were not bright enough. He
raised his hand to block the side of his face at an angle with the
fan, then looked at Lei Changming and said softly, “What dance
does the chief want to see?”
Lei Changming felt that Shen Zechuan was really good-
looking. He was not only astonishingly beautiful when seen this
way, but also so gorgeous that he overshadowed and outshone
everything else in the room. Lei Changming drank the wine to
embolden himself, then shoved the woman away and pounced on
Shen Zechuan. He did not expect to trip over the wine jar at his feet
and cut a sorry sight as he fell at Shen Zechuan’s feet. It was in this
way Lei Changming sprawled on the ground and gasped for
breath that reeked of wine. He wanted to grab the hem of Shen
Zechuan’s robe, but he grasped at nothing but empty air. He let
loose a chuckle and began to laugh.
“Smell nice.” Lei Changming stretched his neck out and sniffed
the air hard. “You really smell so good. Brother Shen, come on.
Help me up. I’ll dance with you. Dance whatever you like! Damn, so
this is what others mean by the fragrance of a beauty!”
Shen Zechuan looked askance at him and watched him crawl
on the ground like a pot-bellied hairy spider as he chased after the
corner of Shen Zechuan’s plain, white clothes. For some reason,
Shen Zechuan felt an extremely sudden wave of abhorrence wash
over him in this absurdly comical moment. His hatred, which had
broken free of its dam, was just like magma, so scalding that his
fingers, which had been gripping the fan, went white.
His teacher told him to leave Qudu and return to Zhongbo. Yet
the Duanzhou, which he once pined for, was successively handed
over to men like these. Lei Changming and the others were just like
personification of malice. They were the evil ghosts who had taken
over the state.
Shen Zechuan lightly rested his bamboo fan at the side of his
lips. He let out a smile and slowly took a step back. In the din under
the flickers of ghostly shadows, he bent over slightly and said,
“Come over.”
Lei Changming originally wanted to climb to his feet, but now,
it seemed like he could not care less as he crawled on his hands
and knees towards Shen Zechuan. In his trance, he felt that what he
was seeing was not a human being, but an untouchable, nocturnal
demon. He salivated and swallowed his saliva before he realized
that Shen Zechuan had a tiny white jade stone on his right ear.
Someone had carefully polished that jade into a perfect sphere,
and it looked exceedingly gentle on Shen Zechuan’s earlobe under
the glow of the light. It was the only accessory he had on his entire
body, other than his bamboo fan.
“Brother Shen…” Lei Changming said with urgency. “Quick,
help me up.”
The soldiers set down the plates with their heads lowered.
Then, with trays in hands, they stepped aside as if they were
preparing to leave. The shouts and laughter of the men and
women were like the drizzle which, in Lei Changming’s ears,
became another seemingly elusive world. He seemed to be a
drooling jackal that had been chained and pulled towards Shen
Zechuan by an invisible force. The tent was all upside down. Lei
Changming felt a little dizzy from drinking too much.
Brother Shen.
Lei Changming chanted as though he was paying religious
homage.
Shen Zechuan. Beauty. Brother Shen.
Lei Changming haphazardly tore away at his own opened
clothes, feeling as if the scars on his chest were burning. He had
never been like this before. His eyes were clearly opened, yet he
seemed to be asleep. He was still crawling. It seemed as if he had
finally gotten near to Shen Zechuan’s feet. He tilted his head up
and let out a vague laugh as he tried to tug at the hem of Shen
Zechuan’s white-as-clouds robe.
“What a temptress…” Lei Changming reached out a shivering
hand and murmured ingratiatingly at Shen Zechuan, “How
ravishing can you be…”
Lei Changming killed people like flies in Zhongbo, grabbed
countless women, and coerced many children. He was the kind of
person who seemed to love beautiful and exquisite people by
nature. He wanted to tear all those who were delicate, untainted,
and even ignorant into bloodied, tainted masses. He committed
much evil, and he even thought that ghosts would all take a detour
on seeing him. He did not fear karma at all—they had done wrong,
and yet they were still able to sleep well with dreams of limitless
wealth and glory. They would not think back of all those bodies
they had trampled into pieces. All those were like the clouds—
people they once could not touch.
Lei Changming’s vision was somewhat blurred. Shen Zechuan’s
face gradually became more and more vague. On the contrary,
that round little jade stone increased in clarity until it turned into a
little jade stone that he seemed to have seen before.
Little buddy.
Lei Changming once hoodwinked a child in this way. He
pinned down the other party’s limbs, and violated the other party
in the pitch-dark tent. He still remembered drinking that day too.
The scars on his chest were burning like this too. Those hands and
legs he was gripping were so thin and slender that Lei Changming
even had the thought to break them in his stimulated state. He bent
and twisted them hard and watched as that rosiness turned pale
until it eventually turned into a mess of rotten flesh.
Panting, Lei Changming pounced at Shen Zechuan several
times and attempted to grab the latter, but failed. He shook his
head hard. The cacophony of human voices gave him a splitting
headache. He hastily crawled forward and bumped into a small
table at the side. Wine and dishes splattered all over his half-naked
body. He shouted, “Shen—”
The tent reflected in Lei Changming’s eyes suddenly righted
itself. Blood splashed over his cheeks. He opened his mouth wide.
His body was still frozen in place, but his head had already gone
rolling. It knocked against the wooden leg of the small table, its
expression so vivid that it was nauseating.
The laughter in the tent came to an abrupt stop. The candle
flames were still flickering. Everyone still maintained their initial
actions, but they looked like they had all gone stiff and were
already dead. Wind blew through the opened flap – revealing the
drizzling scene outside where night was like the creeping silence –
and extinguished the last of the candle flame.
Shen Zechuan placed Yang Shan Xue, which he had pulled out
from under the cushion, and wiped it in silence. Fresh blood,
removed from the blade, left behind a long red scar on the cotton
cloth. He wiped it very slowly. No one saw when he had drawn the
blade, so they could only appreciate the sight of him wiping it
patiently.
Shen Zechuan inexplicably started to laugh. This laughter
seemed to be the most unbridled one he had ever let loose these
days. He kept the blade, held up his folding fan again, and stepped
on Lei Changming’s head to correct its position.
“Dancing, huh?” Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes and said to
Lei Changming. “Are you even worthy?”
◈ ◈ ◈
The soldier who was about to pee had only just let his pants
down when someone sliced his throat and dragged him into the
undergrowth. Small groups of Lei Changming’s soldiers gathered
at the foot of the watchtower to play dice, unaware that their own
men were silently dwindling in numbers.
“Tell the mess cook to save some meat and serve a plate to us.
This rain falls like diarrhea. It’s so unbearable. It’ll be too hard to
bear if we don’t drink a little wine!” The squad commander tossed
the dice and lifted his head to yell at the man behind, “You go. Yes,
you. You’re getting in the way by standing here!”
With that, he lowered his head again. They put their heads
together and chewed on the meat jerky as they tossed the
remaining bit of copper coins they had left in the waistband of their
pants into the bet, all of them hoping to get lucky.
“Ain’t this hand way too cursed?!” One of them slapped his
palm as if he was swatting at bad luck, then wiped and rubbed it on
his thigh. He said, “I’m not playing anymore!”
“No!” Another one tugged at him. “That’d be no fun! We’re
entering the city tomorrow. Don’t you need money to visit the
brothels and get on the pleasure boats? Give it another go! You
might get lucky!”
“Bah!” The one who wanted to leave spat at the face of the
other party. “With our chief’s reputation, do we still need money to
enter the city and visit the brothels? Slutty whores don’t deserve to
ask for money. We are already doing them favors by patronizing
them! Who knows if they will spread some filthy diseases to me?!
I’m not playing! Those in the tent seem to me like they are going to
stay up all night. With the state they have drunk themselves into, I
doubt they can even fight a battle tomorrow. I’m going to sleep for
a few hours.”
As soon as this person turned around, he bumped into
someone else. He hit his head on the armor and heard a “thwack”.
The collision dazed him, and he blanked out for a moment before
he started to push and shove at the other party. He cussed, “The
fuck you blocking—”
There was a muffled sound of stabbing. This person did not
even have the chance to speak when he fell forward with a blank
stare. The forward trajectory of the body was blocked by the other
party, and it fell back towards the crowd, who were still shaking the
dice, and crashed into them. The dice promptly tumbled to the
ground. The men were already in a bad temper from having to
take the night watch, so they grabbed the man’s collar, wanting to
hit him. But when they turned him over for a look, they saw those
eyeballs of his bulging out in a glare—the man was already dead!
The Imperial Army swiftly drew their blades. Without giving
these bandits the chance to react, they charged forth and cut them
down. Blood splattered onto armors. Tantai Hu wiped his face and
shouted, “Kill!”
Without the tip-off from the patrol squad, the soldiers that had
already gone to rest in the camping grounds were caught off-
guard by the Imperial Army. Leading his men, Tantai Hu charged
into the tent and covered their mouths and noses, and stabbed
them one at a time, leaving behind a mattress of crimson red. The
surviving bandits ran out of the military camp in a panic. They did
not receive any orders, and so they ran around flustered in the
rainy night like headless chickens. The campsite was already
completely surrounded by the Imperial Army. The moment those
wily old foxes who had hung out in the martial fraternity all year-
round saw those drawn blades, they instantly surrendered without
a fight and crowded together as they waded across the muddy
waters to kneel and beg for mercy.
Xiao Chiye spurred his horse over. Lang Tao Xue Jin trod its
hooves before the crowd of people. The gyrfalcon descended from
the sky and landed on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder, bringing along a gust
of bitterly cold wind as it closed up its wings. Xiao Chiye’s well-built
body was like an ink-black cloud in the rainy night that blotted out
the light. His back was to that faint and distant candlelight in the
tent, while his gaze was like a blade so cutting that those prying
glances vanished in a fluster.
Tantai Hu was doing a headcount.
Xiao Chiye turned his horse around. His shoulders were already
drenched. Meng tilted its head to look askance at that deadly still
military tent, as if it knew that there were bloody fleshes inside for it
to eat. Shen Zechuan was not in the tent. He was standing outside,
carrying an umbrella with his head lowered to look at his own
bloodstained boots.
 Xiao Chiye leaned down, and Meng hopped onto Shen
Zechuan’s shoulder. Shen Zechuan raised his head and met Xiao
Chiye’s eyes.
“This young master,” Xiao Chiye lifted a finger and lightly
scraped it across the tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose. “Why are you
standing here alone in the rain?”
Shen Zechuan spread his little bamboo fan open to show it to
Xiao Chiye. He said a little sulkily, “My fan is dirty.”
There were a few splotches of blood splattered on the feebly-
opened fan, like red plums spilling over the words. It was unlikable,
no matter how one looked at it. What’s more, these words were
written by Xiao Chiye himself. Ever since this fan was gifted to him,
it never left Shen Zechuan’s side, just like that blue handkerchief.
“The way those drops are splashed is pretty unique.” Xiao
Chiye’s gaze never left Shen Zechuan’s face. He said, “Give this fan
to me. I’ll make you another one.”
Shen Zechuan inserted the fan at a slanting angle into Xiao
Chiye’s back collar and nodded his head. Xiao Chiye smiled at him
and asked, “Was the feast delicious?”
Shen Zechuan shook the umbrella open to shield both of them
and answered, “Passable. It’s too noisy.”
Xiao Chiye dismounted and took over the umbrella. He only
covered Shen Zechuan, leaving half of his own body exposed
outside in the rain. He lifted the tent flap with one hand and
surveyed the interior. After a period of time, he said, “There’s
something odd with this camp.”
Shen Zechuan raised his hand to cover up Meng, who wanted
to fly inside, and said, “I don’t think he’s the same Lei Changming
who is rumored to be able to subdue the two prefectures of
Duanzhou and Dunzhou.”
Both of them were still talking when they suddenly saw Tantai
Hu hurrying over to them. The blood on Tantai Hu’s body had yet to
be wiped away. He did not look too good as he paid his respects to
both men and said, “Master, their numbers don’t tally at all. I asked
some squad commanders, and they couldn’t even say how many
men they have under them. It was only after I pressed them further
that I learned that they are all bandits Lei Changming had just
taken in. They are not men he brought along from Mount Luo!”

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 108 : SILVER

No wonder it was all so easy tonight!

In that instant, Shen Zechuan came to an understanding about
many matters. He abruptly looked back and was about to blurt it
out when he held back and looked at Xiao Chiye.
“Laohu.” Xiao Chiye said swiftly. “Separate out two thousand
men to guard this place. Ding Tao, get on your horse and go
around to the northeast of Cizhou. Tell the men lying in ambush to
head south immediately and block the road on the southern side
of Cizhou. The rest of you, follow me back to the city.”
This strategy of luring the enemy away from his base had been
planned for a long time already. Very likely, it was already in the
works before Lei Changming left Mount Luo. Those reports that
were sent back to Cizhou from Mount Luo were all vague
statements, the most frequent of which was their sightings of the
earthen stoves built by the bandits in Mount Luo. This turned the
precise number of Lei Changming’s men into a matter of opinion.
The mix of truth and falsehood, reality and pretenses, lured them
into conveniently guessing that the 40,000 men were just a front.
And so, they assumed that the other party would not dare to
launch a surprise attack without careful consideration. No one
would have expected the other party to harbor no intent to fight
with Xiao Chiye head-on at all.
“It’s impossible for Kong Ling not to recognize Lei Changming.”
Shen Zechuan got on the horse using Xiao Chiye’s arms as support.
“I suspect at this point that all the rumors about Lei Changming are
false. ‘Lei Changming’ is just this person’s ‘shell’.”
Xiao Chiye tossed the umbrella to Tantai Hu and covered Shen
Zechuan up with his cloak. Then he put up his arms and turned his
horse around. He said, “It’s useless even if he holds Kong Ling
under duress. Most likely, he wants to rely on Kong Ling to open
Cizhou’s gate. By doing this, he will be the one inside, and we will
be the ones outside.”
Xiao Chiye was able to fight against Lei Changming’s “40,000
men” all because he still had Cizhou’s granary behind him to back
him up. This allowed him to act promptly and swiftly cut down this
mixed batch of soldiers who were already weary from being on the
go. To think the other side knew their own shortcomings and did
not fight with Xiao Chiye head-on. Instead, they drew on their foes’
strength to make up for their own deficiencies and turned Xiao
Chiye into a stray dog in the wilderness. They reversed everyone’s
initial position, causing the Imperial Army to be stranded outside
with access to the military provisions cut off.
“He has always been in the shadows all this while.” Shen
Zechuan said in the wind with his cloak around him. “He knows all
our moves like the back of his hand.”
“Cizhou is not our territory after all. He must have an informer in
the city. Yet we know nothing about him.” Xiao Chiye suddenly
laughed when he spoke to this point. He tightened his arms
around him and said, “This man sure is something!”
By now, the rain had subsided. Only the night breeze still
carried with it a few threads of rain. Horses’ hooves trampled upon
mud as they galloped noisily towards Cizhou. However, no matter
how fast they were, they could not catch up with the speed of the
other party. Kong Ling had already arrived in Cizhou.
Kong Ling had been a weak scholar ever since he came out of
obscurity to take up an official post, and he was almost forty-five
now. His bones almost fell apart on impact when he reined in his
horse, and he could hardly catch his breath as he slid off the horse
to the ground. He let the man hold him up in support, then cupped
his hands at the man and said, “It’s, it’s all thanks to you this time.
Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
“Mister, you are too courteous.” Even though this man looked
competent and tough, he had been looking after Kong Ling the
entire journey. “I’m afraid the pursuing soldiers behind us will be
here in a flash. Mister, drink some water, and we’ll move on. Once
we reach the foot of the city gate, get them to open the gate as
soon as possible!”
They rested midway in an inn that still had lanterns hung up,
although it was not to stay overnight, but to allow Kong Ling –
whose legs were still trembling – to drink some hot tea and take a
breather. The sides of Kong Ling’s legs were badly scraped,
making it inconvenient for him to sit down. He held the bowl in the
hall to gulp down. As they were resting, they suddenly heard the
sound of horse hooves outside. Although the man did not stand
up, his hand quietly fell upon the blade at the side of his waist. He
turned slightly sideways to hide his face in the darkness and
looked at the door.
A group of travel-worn travelers strode through the door, led by
two men of similar stature. The strange thing was that this group of
people were all tall and similarly well-built. Even though they were
wearing the cotton clothes of commoners, they still had an
imposing aura around them.
One of them removed his bamboo hat to reveal a face with
stubble and a lock of hair hanging down over his forehead. He
swept a seemingly nonchalant glance at the two men in the hall
who were still drinking tea. With a smile on his face, he tossed out a
bag of money and said to the innkeeper, “Staying for the night.
One deluxe room and three wide beds. Any cooked food left? Give
us some steamed bun and braised beef with shaojiu wine.”
“We have money, so why do you have to be so frugal?” The
other one removed his bamboo hat too. He was powerfully-built.
He opened the bag of money and said to the innkeeper, “Deluxe
rooms for all!”
A muffled cough rang out from the center that was surrounded
by the men. An old man who was wearing a cloak all this while said
in a lowered voice, “It’s not easy for us to save up this money. We
still have not reached the place. Let’s endure it for one more day.
Tianya. Let everyone rest after eating their fill. Don’t goof around.”
Qiao Tianya blew at the hair that had fallen and took the bag of
money back from Fei Sheng’s hands. He tossed it into the
innkeeper’s hands and said, “Do as I said earlier. Serve the wine
and dishes as soon as possible, don’t drag your feet. Shifu, you
have braved the elements with us the entire journey, so how can we
still let you sleep on the wide beds with us now that we are here?
You are our elder. This is something we should do as a show of
respect to you. Furthermore, if Master were to know that I let you
sleep with us on the wide beds, he will definitely not be happy.
Please take a good rest, and you’ll be doting on us.”
 Not to be outdone after Qiao Tianya was done talking, Fei
Sheng immediately said, “I was too insensible earlier. Shifu, let me
help you up to rest. Once the dishes are served in a while, I’ll bring
them up to you.”
Ji Gang’s physical strength was not as good as it was before, so
he did not turn Fei Sheng down and let Fei Sheng guide him
upstairs.
Although Kong Ling did not know who these travelers were, he
could sense that they were not one to be messed with. He was
worried that they were also bandits, as they were all armed with
blades. He thought about it, then put down his teacup and said to
the man beside him, “Warrior, I’ve had enough rest. Let’s continue
on our way!”
But before they could move, those travelers had already taken
their seats. The inn was not big, and all the four square tables were
fully occupied. No one knew if it was intentional or a coincidence,
but Qiao Tianya sat down right beside Kong Ling and cut off Kong
Ling’s access path.
“Yo.” Qiao Tianya poured tea for himself and said offhandedly,
“Are both of you in a hurry to get on with your journey too?”
The man curbed his air of toughness, turning himself into an
ordinary farmer. He rubbed his hands and smiled shyly, as if he
was not accustomed to dealing with unfamiliar inquiries like this,
and said, “Aye, I’m hurrying along with my eldest brother.”
Qiao Tianya did not think to make way on his own initiative. He
drank the tea and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was scalded,
and said, “Where are you going? Perhaps we are going the same
way. It hasn’t been easy for us on this journey. Didn’t some marquis
in Qudu rebel? It’s all men from the local authorities on our way
here. They are all so good at fishing for bribes that we are forced to
take a detour. Sorry about this chatty mouth of mine. I’ve gotten
carried away. Where are you going?”
Kong Ling could neither sit nor walk out. His inner thighs
burned with pain. Maintaining his composure, his goatee quivered
a little as he replied in Dengzhou dialect, “Malian Town. You know
of Malian Town, buddy?”
 “The town near Cizhou, huh. Then we are going the same way.
We’re heading for the City of Cizhou ahead of Malian Town.” As
Qiao Tianya spoke, he put up an arm on the table. He stared at the
man and said, “Buddy, you look familiar.”
At this point, the man had already sensed that he was being
watched. He glanced at the figures of these travelers in his
peripheral vision. The wheels turned a little in his mind, and he
more or less could make some guesses about them. But he thought
that these travelers were Imperial Bodyguards disguising
themselves to hunt down and capture Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan, and that they were only suspicious because of the blade
he was carrying. So he relaxed to appear more simple and honest
as he answered, “I’m a farmer from Dengzhou.”
As he spoke, he fumbled around his bosom and fished out a
crumpled travel permit and a hand-copied household register.
There was the official seal of Dengzhou on it. He opened it to show
Qiao Tianya and said, “We are going to Malian Town to visit our
elder sister who has married over. She has just given birth, and
they are hosting a banquet.”
“Oh, a joyous event.” Qiao Tianya was even happier than the
man was. He said, “I love kids the most! And when it comes to
drinking wine, I love the ones at babies’ one-month celebrations
best!”
Seeing as Qiao Tianya was still prattling on, Kong Ling forced a
smile and said, “The rain has stopped. In that case, we shall
continue on our way. If not, it’ll cost us money to stay here
overnight.”
On the other side, Fei Sheng had already come down the stairs.
He did not notice it at first, but seeing as Qiao Tianya had never
moved away after so long, he started to size up the man too. He
suddenly flashed over and sat down behind the man, boxing him
in from the front and back together with Qiao Tianya.
“What are you chatting about?” Fei Sheng picked up a steamed
bun from the plate the waiter brought over and took a big bite out
of it. He looked at them. “Look at how well you’re hitting it off.”
“Chatting about sons.” Qiao Tianya moved the chopsticks over
and said warmly, “Have both of you eaten? You didn’t have the
time to yet, have you? Then, come on, let’s have our meals
together! Waiter! Bring over two more pairs of chopsticks.”
Kong Ling also sensed something off by now. He wanted to sit
down and interact with them, but the teacup suddenly overturned,
splashing tea over the man. The man hurriedly got up. As he hastily
wiped himself with his sleeves, he said to Fei Sheng before him,
“Sorry, sorry!”
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he squeezed past Fei
Sheng and took two steps towards the waiter, pleading, “Buddy,
lend me a towel to wipe myself with.”
Fei Sheng had already stood up. He exchanged glances with
Qiao Tianya. Their astute brothers, who had already taken their
seats, all grasped their blades. Fei Sheng strode out from behind
and bumped into the man’s right back shoulder fast and hard. He
pulled the man up by his clothes and said, “You did it on purpose,
didn’t you?”
The impact of the bump sent the man knocking into the table
and chairs right in front of him. He almost lost his balance. His
temples were drenched in sweat, and he was so anxious that he
did not know where to put his hands. He repeatedly bowed to Fei
Sheng in a conciliatory manner and apologized, “Sorry, sorry…”
This man did not know martial arts.
Fei Sheng cast another glance at Qiao Tianya and shoved the
man again. He yelled, “Just my fucking luck.”
The man’s entire body fell backward, tilting the table and chairs
over as he crashed into them. He cut a sorry sight as the back of his
head struck the corner of the table. Kong Ling exclaimed in
surprise and said anxiously, “Why did you hit out at him? He’s
bleeding!”
Only then did Qiao Tianya feign to stop Fei Sheng. He said to
Fei Sheng, “Forget it, forget it. We are all travelers. Why put others
in a spot?”
Fei Sheng let loose a torrent of expletives and acted all like a
bigwig as Qiao Tianya persuaded him to go back. He even glared
at that man several times. Their party started digging into their
food. Fei Sheng stood up again and said, “I got so pissed that I
forgot I still have to deliver the meal to shifu!”
 Kong Ling had already helped support the man to the
entrance. The man touched the back of his head and came away
with an entire hand full of blood. He glanced back at Qiao Tianya
and the rest as if he was fearful of them, then hastily shrank his
head back, looking all timid and afraid of incurring trouble. He
untied the horse and walked off into the night with Kong Ling.
Only then did Fei Sheng drop his act and asked, “Why are you
interrogating them? We are on the wanted list too. It’s better to lie
low now that we are about to reach the threshold of Cizhou; don’t
stir up trouble.”
“I always feel like this man…” Qiao Tianya drank two mouthfuls
of shaojiu and thought about it for a moment with a frown. “Is there
really no reaction from him when you bumped into him?”
“Nope.” Fei Sheng took two bites of the beef. “The person
himself can put on an act, but once his body is accustomed to
reacting swiftly, then it’ll be very difficult to control himself from
parrying a sudden blow. This man is pretty weird, but he indeed
doesn’t seem to be a martial artist.”
“What if he can indeed control himself?” Qiao Tianya suddenly
asked.
“Then he’s a formidable one.” Fei Sheng gestured with his
chopsticks in the air. “He will have to be of the same caliber as Ji
Gang-shifu. Think about His Lordship. With a body like His
Lordship, there will be no way to hide it. His naturally-endowed
physique has blessed him with explosive strength. You have to be
careful even when you approach him while he’s asleep or you risk
your own life, what’s more touching him? This endurance can only
be built up through years and years of practice. This man doesn’t
seem to be that old. So, I doubt he can.”
Qiao Tianya ate the dishes and did not ask further. When they
had eaten and drunk their fill, the innkeeper worked out the bill for
Qiao Tianya. As he returned the silver, Fei Sheng had nothing
better to do, so he felt it up and realized something unusual. The
weight and relative purity of this silver were subtly different from
the silvers they had brought out of Qudu, the ones that had been
minted and directly issued by the Ministry of Revenue.
 Although Fei Sheng was usually a competitive man who loved
to fawn on others, his special skill was unrivaled. With his
suspicions aroused by these subtle differences, he held the silver
high and scrutinized it for a moment before he asked Qiao Tianya,
“Zhongbo has had dealings with Juexi all these years. Most of the
silvers in circulation come from Juexi, right?”
“So it is said.” Qiao Tianya propped himself on the counter and
turned his head aside to look at those silvers. “This kind of new
silvers is rarely seen. The businesses they do are all shady scalping
deals, and the general public typically won’t dare to use silvers
from Juexi directly. Everyone will exchange them into copper coins,
or use silvers issued out from other areas. But with the state treasury
empty during the reign of Xiande, there have been very few newly-
minted silvers from the various areas. The only one who can still
have very new silvers is the Xi—”
The silver warehouses of the Xi clan, who owned silver mines
and mined silver.
If these money did not come from Shen Zechuan’s hands, then
it came from the people who schemed to empty out the Xi clan’s
silver warehouses. Regardless of whether it was the former or the
latter, both were important to them!
Qiao Tianya straightened up in a flash and said, “Leave half of
the men in place to keep night watch and take care of shifu. The
rest of you, come with me. Fei the tenth, you were fucking wrong
about him! Chase!”

Author’s Words:
Good morning, baby.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Thank you Alex for the burning of brain cells!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 109 : JINGZHE

Qiao Tianya led the men out of the inn in pursuit. There were
already no traces of both men on the streets. Fei Sheng mounted
the horse from behind, pointed to the west, and said, “Since he has
been alerted, he should know that he can’t remain here for long;
he definitely won’t be able to escape our eyes if he’s in town. In all
probability, he will choose to leave the town and take a detour to
hurry towards Cizhou.”
According to the information Qiao Tianya knew of, Shen
Zechuan should still be in Cizhou. He stuffed that silver ingot back
into his bosom. Before he could speak, he heard Ji Gang’s voice
behind him.
Ji Gang gathered the cloak around him and drank up the bowl
of medicine in his hand in one gulp. “Don’t stop for my sake
tonight. Let’s head for Cizhou now. No matter what, we have to
inform Chuan-er of this matter first.”
As this concerned Shen Zechuan’s safety, Qiao Tianya knew
that Ji Gang would definitely not rest tonight, so he motioned for
the Imperial Bodyguards at the back to lead the horse over. Ji
Gang got onto the horse and straightened his back. Then, with a
jerk of the reins, he led the men in a charge towards the town gate.
◈ ◈ ◈
Kong Ling was miserable beyond description. Both his legs
had been scraped until they were burning with pain. He did not say
a word and followed with a frown behind the man’s horse. Just as
Fei Sheng predicted, they did not linger further in the town, but left
the town quickly with the man leading the way as they took a
detour.
“Mister, please bear with it for a few more hours.” As the man
spurred his horse on, he looked back to shout. “We will be able to
reach the foot of Cizhou’s city gate before daybreak!”
Kong Ling panted as he nodded and said, “Seems like the road
is full of forked paths around here. I don’t think they would be able
to catch up even if they wanted to?”
 “But the rain has already stopped.” The man’s stamina was so
good that he did not even gasp for breath once the entire journey.
He continued, “Mister, there’s no way our trail can be covered up
now. They are bound to speed up their pursuit of us!”
Kong Ling pulled at the robe on his knees. He gritted his teeth
and said, “Continue on! Warrior, we’ll continue on our way! As long
as we can reach the foot of Cizhou’s city gate, we can avert
disaster.”
That might be the case. But the path they had been taking was
very muddy after they diverged from the public road. With their
hooves stuck in the mud, the horses could not run at their original
speed, and so it was with difficulty that both men traveled. Looking
at the man’s back, Kong Ling sighed and said emotionally, “It’s all
thanks to your help this time. If you still insist on returning to Lei
Changming after we arrived at Cizhou, I’ll select the best horse for
you.”
The man let out a hearty laugh and said, “Mister, there’s no
need to stand on ceremony. This is what I should do. I’m just a
soldier who only knows how to fight and kill. There are some
things that need to be done by lofty scholars like you. I hold you in
great esteem, and I’m already content to be able to travel with you
tonight.”
Kong Ling was taken by surprise. He found this man to be a
righteous man and felt a lump in his throat. Then he remembered
Shen Zechuan, the turncoat who switched his allegiance to the
enemy at the critical juncture, and could not help but wipe his eyes
with his sleeve and said, “To think there are still such good men like
you in Zhongbo. There’s hope for Zhongbo’s rejuvenation yet!
Warrior, may I know how I should address you?”
The man looked back and said, “My name is Piaopo. A crude
and inelegant name like this isn’t fit to be heard by Mister’s ears.
My parents are both honest people who make a living on the few
mu1 of fields they have. There was a drought the year I was born;
that’s why my father gave me such a name.”2
Kong Ling hurriedly said, “Brother Piaopo is a righteous man. A
name is but a momentary form of address. It sounds good to me!”
 It was too dark for Kong Ling to see the path ahead. He did not
know if the route Piaopo picked was too well-hidden, but there
were really no soldiers in pursuit of them. Kong Ling pounded his
thighs. After looking up at the sky several times, he finally saw the
first rays of dawn on the horizon as well as the city walls of Cizhou
at the end.
“Mister!” Piaopo suddenly pulled at Kong Ling’s horse and led
him to ride alongside. “Tell the city officer to open the gate. We
shall go pay our respects to His Excellency Zhou now!”
Both men galloped out of the path and trampled through the
puddles of water. They had already arrived at the foot of Cizhou’s
city walls. Kong Ling hugged the neck of the horse, his energy all
spent. He smoothed his goatee to tidy it up, then lifted his head to
shout in a hoarse voice, “It’s me!”
Heads popped out above the battlement of the city walls. A
military officer was shocked to see Kong Ling and could not help
but blurt, “Mister Chengfeng!”
“Quick! Go get His Excellency!” Kong Ling dismounted the
horse with trembling legs. He handed the reins to Piaopo. “Tell him
I’m back!”
“Open the city gate immediately.” Piaopo said. “Mister, then—”
Kong Ling nodded in response at the same time he gasped for
breath. He bent over, with his hands on his knees, and said with a
bitter smile, “Let me catch my breath. We are going to enter the city
soon. It’s only when we meet His Excellency that we can clear all
suspicions of you. Otherwise, we will still end up delayed by the city
officer’s interrogation of you.”
Not long after, Zhou Gui hurried over. When he saw Kong Ling
from above, he immediately said, “Chengfeng, what’s going on?
Quick, open the gate!”
The city gate made a dull noise as several soldiers from within
lifted the horizontal bar and pushed the city gates open, letting
through the first rays of the morning sun through the gap. Kong
Ling wiped his sweat and moved to stride in first. There was a
section of bridle path behind the city gate. Zhou Gui hurriedly
descended from the city gates and led his man to the head of the
bridle path, wanting to meet and receive Kong Ling.
 But Kong Ling, who had been walking in front, abruptly
changed countenance and bellowed, “Shut the gates!”
The soldiers behind him who were still pushing against the city
gate froze. But in that instant, Piaopo had already burst forth. He
grabbed hold of Kong Ling’s back collar and dragged him back in
a swift retreat. However, Kong Ling staggered and half-kneeled on
the ground, dragging his body and waving his hands as he
shouted at Zhou Gui, “This man is up to something! Zhou Gui, tell
the men to release the arrows! You mustn’t let him go free!”
Zhou Gui had already taken a step forward. He shouted, “Take
him down!”
That originally docile horse suddenly neighed. It raised its
hooves and turned around to trample over the soldiers who were
pushing against the gate. Piaopo flipped atop the horse, and the
horse instantly crashed its way out of the city gate. He hauled Kong
Ling with just one hand, causing Kong Ling’s entire body to be
partially suspended at one side of the saddle with his legs and feet
scraping across the ground as he was forcibly dragged along.
Excellent strength!
Such strength was by no means inferior to Xiao Chiye.
Kong Ling was unable to break free as he was dragged along
at high speed. His back hit the iron buckle at the side of the saddle,
which knocked the wind out of him. That thin and frail chest of his
seemed as if it was about to be perforated from the strikes. He was
forced to look at the sky while he struggled with his arms and
kicked out with both legs as the man’s grip on him tightened
increasingly. He said, “Zhou Gui… release… the arrows! This man
has reinforcements!”
An irritated “tsk” escaped between Piaopo’s lips. He suddenly
lifted Kong Ling up by the neck and hollered at the soldiers
surging out from the city gates, “Go ahead! Zhou Gui, release the
arrows! We’ll see if I die first or Mister Chengfeng dies first!”
Zhou Gui was but a mere civil official. At this startling change,
he pushed away the guards and shouted, “Stop!”
Kong Ling had been strangled until his face had gone all red.
He clawed at his collar with his ten fingers. Piaopo moved his head
closer to him and said with a smile, “Mister is truly sharp. Weren’t
you still regarding me as a righteous man on our way here? So why
have you turned against me?”
“Tantai, Tantai Long’s soldiers!” Kong Ling gasped and said
with difficulty, “are all from the three, three prefectures in the east.
None of them is familiar with, with the roads in Cizhou!”
Piaopo burst out laughing. He settled down on the horse and
said, “So I see. Mister is truly formidable. You were still acting with
such sincerity earlier. But since I’ve already arrived at Cizhou, do
you think you can simply settle the matter by tricking me into the
city and killing me?”
He turned his head to the side and spat.
“Too late!”
With that, those pursuing soldiers who had vanished earlier
came forth from behind. Although they did not have the uniformed
armor expected of a regular army, their numbers were terrifying.
They were all dressed in various kinds of clothes, holding up their
broadswords and swords as they urged their horses through the
woods and grasses in a straight charge forth. Kong Ling could not
even catch sight of the end of their line.
“I told Lei Changming to tell you people a few months back that
we want grains. Instead, you let the Imperial Army into the territory
and let Xiao Chiye take over our granary.” Lei Jingzhe flung Kong
Ling to the ground. Reining in the turning horse, he motioned to
Zhou Gui, “Do you think you can scare me into retreating by relying
on Xiao Chiye’s 20,000-strong Imperial Army? I repeatedly sent
men to persuade you to surrender and pledge allegiance to me,
but you keep putting off giving me an answer! Zhou Gui, you are
now a traitor who financially aids the rebels. I’ll rid the people of a
scourge by massacring Cizhou today!”
Zhou Gui looked at those more than 10,000 men, and his heart
went half-cold. He even felt a little dizzy. He hastily held on to the
person beside him for support and squeezed out the words
through gritted teeth, “I can open the granary and give you grains.
But you mustn’t hurt the commoners of Cizhou!”
Lei Jingzhe cracked the whip, and the bandits behind him
roared with laughter. The hooves of his horse trod around Kong
Ling, and those people surrounded Kong Ling, forcing him to roll
and crawl. Lei Jingzhe pointed to Kong Ling on the ground with his
horsewhip and said, “Now I’m the host, and you’re the guest. The
granary is already mine, whether or not you open it up. The fuck
you still dare to negotiate with me when I’m taking my men home
to eat?”
Zhou Gui staggered a few steps and fumed, “We have already
filled up half a granary worth of grains for you Mount Luo bandits
last year when Cizhou was hit with famine. If not, how many people
on Mount Luo would have starved to death?! Can’t you spare the
commoners of Cizhou on account of this favor we’ve done you?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Lei Jingzhe’s expression
suddenly underwent a change. He said coldly, “Lei Changming
bought those grains last year with money at my behest.”
That was right. Lei Changming did indeed pay for the grains
last year. But he bought half a granary worth of fine rice in Cizhou
at the dirt-cheap price of unpolished rice. The total amount paid
was so meagre that it was not even enough to send away a beggar
in Cizhou.
Zhou Gui was so stunned by his brazenness and shamelessness
that he could not breathe. Thumping his chest and stamping his
foot in anger, he said, “You! Are you people still human?! Don’t
even think of entering the city today!”
Lei Jingzhe had already run out of patience. He knew that he
would not be able to hide the truth at Lei Changming’s end for
long. The Imperial Army was very likely to be on the way already.
So he lowered his voice and growled, “Zhou Gui, I merely want to
enter the city to play for a few days. Must you insist on fighting with
me against overwhelming odds like you would throw an egg
against a rock?!”
Kong Ling trembled as he hunched over in the mud and let
loose a sneer. With a fling of his sleeve, he pointed at Lei Jingzhe
and let fly a torrent of curses, “Play for a few days? When have you
ever kept your men under control of all the times you people
entered the city? For each time Lei Changming comes, more than
ten of the womenfolk in Cizhou would meet their end! Bah! You’re
clearly all rotten eggs, so what benevolent and righteous act are
you putting on?! Everyone will die if we let you enter the city today,
so we the folks of Cizhou might as well fight you to the death
together!”
The horsewhip at the rear struck Kong Ling so hard on his back
that his skin and flesh split apart. Kong Ling initially thought that
they could take this man down at the city gate, but he never
expected the other party’s soldiers to be following right behind
them. He was very much aware that his gullibility this time had
brought a catastrophe upon Cizhou. Overwhelmed with grief and
sorrow, he bent over the ground and started vomiting.
Lei Jingzhe rode his horse out and led his men in a straight
charge towards Zhou Gui. He said. “Kill our way into the city. Once
the imperial court’s appointment order is issued, we will become
the garrison troops of Cizhou who have eliminated the rebels for
the imperial court!”
Zhou Gui saw that fierce horse charging right for him and those
countless blades reflecting the morning rays behind him. With an
unexpected burst of strength, and despite knowing that he should
not do so, he still spread his arms apart and bellowed, “Even if I die
today, I cannot let you enter the city!”
Sunlight pierced through the clouds on the horizon, and that
wave of golden light broke through the darkness like the raging
tides. With his eyes wide open, Zhou Gui watched as those blades
came rushing right towards him. In that moment, the ear-piercing
sound of a string being pulled rang out, and that “twang” from
close to the ground reverberated through the air as an arrow
hurtled right for Lei Jingzhe’s head with a violent gust of strong
wind following in its trail!
The Conqueror Bow stood firm and steady in the wind. Under
the shocked gazes of all those around him, Xiao Chiye held his
pose of pulling the bow. The opening of the bone ring on his
thumb shifted, revealing the penetrating and forbidding eyes
behind the bowstring.
 Support the Author!
If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Thanks to Alex and Ami for the help! Muacks! <3
Footnotes
1. 亩, mu, or Chinese acre, measure of land equal to 0.0667
hectares
2. 瓢泼 his name literally means “heavy downpour”.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 110 : SON OF A CONCUBINE

Lei Jingzhe did not dare to be too complacent. Unable to

dodge in time in his haste, he could only brandish his broadsword
to ward off the blow. The arrow struck the blade with a loud clang,
and the impact numbed Lei Jingzhe’s entire arm. He promptly and
decisively spurred his horse past Zhou Gui in an attempt to lead his
men into charging into the city.
“Shut the gates quick—!” Zhou Gui was swept off his feet and
thrown to the ground. Paying no mind to the sorry sight he
presented, he lifted the hem of his robe and shouted at the city
soldiers.
Pressing their shoulders against the city gates, the city soldiers
bellowed in unison and shoved the gates towards the center to
shut it. But Lei Jingzhe’s horse was faster. His blade arrived at the
same time as his horse, cutting down the men who were pushing
away at the gates. He was just about to drive straight in to take over
Cizhou, but in that critical moment, Lei Jingzhe felt a chill at the
back of his head and swiftly bent the upper half of his body over.
Following right after, the back of the horse sank as a youth of about
sixteen or seventeen of age climbed onto it.
Ding Tao’s slashed his palm towards Lei Jingzhe’s neck. Lei
Jingzhe turned aside to dodge it and backhandedly made a stab
at Ding Tao’s chest and abdomen. Ding Tao clung onto the saddle
and slid down to evade the blade. His legs touched the ground,
and he raced along with the madly galloping horse for a few
moments before he hoisted himself up with his arms and
clambered back up again.
“Hey!” Ding Tao gripped Lei Jingzhe’s arm and raised a hand
to fling a brush worth of ink onto Lei Jingzhe’s face when he turned
back.
For all Lei Jingzhe’s plotting, he never expected such a move
from the youth who had come to the rescue. He could no longer
see his surroundings with the ink splashed in his eyes, but he had a
keen sense of hearing. The instant Ding Tao launched a sneak
attack on him, he sensed Ding Tao’s movement, and in their
confrontation, he hauled Ding Tao by the collar and flung him off
the horse.
Ding Tao fell heavily on the ground and felt the stab of pain in
his back. He yelled out in pain, but before he was done yelling, a
horse’s hoof came aiming right for him. Ding Tao hurriedly rolled
over to dodge the hoof. But as he rolled over, his back was
inadvertently exposed right under Lei Jingzhe’s eyes.
It’s now or never!
Lei Jingzhe promptly hurled his steel blade out.
Ding Tao wanted to evade it, but a bandit who had caught up
with them from behind grabbed hold of his ankle. He was forced to
sprawl flat in the muddy water. He propped himself against the
ground with both arms, wanting to lift himself up, but he was
dragged down again. The steel blade was already right behind
him. With his face all smeared with filthy mud, Ding Tao gritted his
teeth and straightened up his upper body to shout at those in the
city, “Open up the south gates! The reinforcements are here!”
Lei Jingzhe cussed in fury. But then he saw the steel blade he
had hurled out intercepted mid-air by an extremely narrow sheath.
The impact of the collision sent his blade hurtling off-course until it
stabbed into the ground at a slanting angle and remained there.
Ding Tao was still badly shaken as he turned back for a look.
The bandit who had been yanking his ankle earlier was already
dead, his head separated from his body. Ding Tao immediately
crawled up from the ground, hopped several times in succession,
then poked his head out from behind Shen Zechuan and said to
Lei Jingzhe, “You’re dead meat!”
One side of the city gates had already been shut. Lei Jingzhe
led his men to crowd at the entrance of the bridle path to squeeze
their way through but was obstructed. He recognized the man
blocking his path. The entire outfit of white peeking out from under
the cloak was a color the other man had not changed out of after
leaving Qudu. Lei Jingzhe’s horse took a few steps back, but then,
in the next instant, he brandished his whip and barged his way
over. Shen Zechuan pulled off his cloak and tossed it into Ding
Tao’s arms, Lang Tao Xue Jin raised its hooves and charged forth.
In the split second the wind rose, Yang Shan Xue had already left
its sheath.
Lei Jingzhe’s broadsword slipped out of his hand. Right before
he was about to collide with Shen Zechuan, he drew out his
subordinate’s broadsword in passing. The neighing of the horse
was just like the sounding of a war horn. The forces of both powers
collided as the edges of their blades met and let out a shrill shriek
in unison, the sound so piercing that it made one quake with fear.
Lei Jingzhe had encountered an opponent who was completely
different from the ones he had faced in the past. That terrifying
strength of his seemed to have plunged into water. No matter how
forceful and fierce he was in wielding his blade, it would all be
neutralized by a force as gentle as water until it eventually
dissolved into nothingness. The more he went all out, the more it
felt like he was being led around by the nose by Shen Zechuan.
Gradually, he found himself trapped into a vicious cycle in which he
could never escape from.
Lei Jingzhe was very shrewd. He held up his broadsword and
pushed back, pretending as though he was going to launch a
sudden strike, but in the next instant, he turned around and fled.
The earlier opportunity had already slipped him by. He was
already harboring thoughts of retreating at Ding Tao’s
“reinforcements are here” earlier, and it was also evident that his
men had already been surrounded by Xiao Chiye. If he did not
withdraw posthaste and insisted on staying on to attack the city,
then he would be trapped in a situation where he was besieged on
all sides; he would not be able to hold out for long!
“Retreat!” Lei Jingzhe took the lead and turned his horse in the
southeast direction.
Shen Zechuan did not give chase. Xiao Chiye, who was still in
the east, leaped onto his horse and led his men to follow after Lei
Jingzhe in hot pursuit. Lei Jingzhe whipped his horse and tore off
at great speed. Amid all the jolts and bumps, he looked back and
pointed at Xiao Chiye from afar, then at Shen Zechuan, and
bellowed savagely, “We will meet again!”
The bandits wore no armors, so their speed was faster. Plus,
they were already good at fleeing to begin with. All of them
dashed back to the mountain forest without any regard for battle
formation. In the blink of an eye, all of them had fled helter-skelter,
shouting loudly as they hid among the undergrowth.
Once again, Xiao Chiye lifted the Conqueror Bow. The sound of
the string being drawn on that powerful bow that weighed a
hundred catty was bone-chilling. Xiao Chiye’s eyes stared fixedly at
Lei Jingzhe’s back. Lei Jingzhe was about to dart into the mountain
forest, yet Xiao Chiye still seemed to have no intention of releasing
the arrow.
With a cry, Meng whirled around and nosedived down to
pounce right at Lei Jingzhe with its sharp talons held in a hook,
aiming right for Lei Jingzhe’s eyes. Lei Jingzhe knew that this did
not bode well, and he was forced to slow down. He waved his
hands to cover his face and turned around to dodge the incoming
blow. At this precise instant, Xiao Chiye, who was behind him,
released his fingers. The arrow burst forth like a golden ray
shooting out from the blazing sun, its afterimage and the wind
trailing closely behind its tail. In just the moment it took to gasp for
breath, it had already arrived right before Lei Jingzhe’s eyes.
In this perilous juncture of life and death, Lei Jingzhe dragged
over his subordinate beside him and leaned the entire half of his
body back at the same time he exerted all his strength to shove the
man before his own body. The arrow pierced through the chest of
the subordinate, and the force of it sent Lei Jingzhe falling off his
horse. He rolled on the ground, climbed to his feet, and tossed
away the body, then got on his horse and continued to flee.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhou Gui met Shen Zechuan at the foot of the city gates. Not
knowing if he should cry or laugh, he wiped his face and said,
“What perfect timing! You came just in time!”
Shen Zechuan dismounted to help Kong Ling up personally. He
said remorsefully, “I’m sorry to have made Mister Chengfeng
suffer.”
Seeing his impeccable etiquette, Kong Ling waved his hand.
Supporting himself up, he looked at the Imperial Army and said,
“There’s no need for the Vice Commander to take it to heart. I’m
willing to do whatever it takes to take down the bandits.”
 “But when all is said and done, I did not inform you in
advance.” Shen Zechuan turned his head back to call out to Ding
Tao, “Go get a clean robe for Mister, and call the physician over
too.”
For Cizhou’s sake, Kong Ling would not hold a grudge against
Shen Zechuan. Although he still had some ill-feeling, he
understood that there was a reason for Shen Zechuan’s actions,
and so he let Ding Tao support him as he bowed to Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye, who had also gotten off his horse, walked swiftly
towards them.
“I never thought there would be another person behind Lei
Changming.” Kong Ling looked at the mountain forest. He had just
survived a great catastrophe, yet he was still plagued by worries
and anxiety. He said, “This man is heartless and skilled at disguises.
He’s also cautious to boot. Now that we have let him escape today,
there will surely be trouble again in the future.”
“If His Lordship and the Vice Commander had not arrived in
time, Cizhou would not have escaped this calamity.” Zhou Gui put
down his sleeves and gave both of them a long, deep bow.
“It was because Your Excellency showed no fear in the face of
danger that bought us time.” Xiao Chiye turned his head aside to
wipe away the dust off his face. He said, “The Imperial Army still
has troops lying in ambush at the public road south of Cizhou.
There are also troops stationed at the old camp Lei Changming left
behind in the east to stand guard. He is already surrounded by the
Imperial Army. It won’t be easy for him to escape.”
“It’s all thanks to Your Lordship’s reinforcements from the south
that he eventually retreated.” Kong Ling sighed with emotion. “Your
Lordship is wise. We’ll send someone to open the south gate right
away.”
Xiao Chiye laughed and looked at Shen Zechuan. But he did
not say a word.
Shen Zechuan said, “There’s no need for Your Excellency and
Mister to rush. The Imperial Army’s reinforcements are still on the
public road more than ten li away.”
Stunned, Zhou Gui looked at Ding Tao and said, “Then, that
means…”
 Ding Tao’s back was still hurting. When he saw everyone
looking at him, he hurriedly nodded his head solemnly and
replied, “They are still on the public road and are not heading
towards Cizhou. On our way here, Young Master told me to yell that
phrase when I’m in a desperate situation, saying that it’s a magical
weapon that would lead us to victory. Sure enough, that man fled
after I shouted it!”
Kong Ling faced Shen Zechuan and made to bow again. He
said, “Vice Commander, please accept this bow of mine.”
Lei Jingzhe wanted to lure the Imperial Army away and charge
right into Cizhou all because he feared a confrontation with Xiao
Chiye head-on. This man was very smart. He did not know if Xiao
Chiye had real capabilities to speak of, but he was unwilling to
stake his troops on this gamble with Xiao Chiye at this point in
time. That was why Shen Zechuan knew for certain that he would
flee instantly as soon as he thought there were still reinforcements
at the south. However, if an adult among them were to speak of
“reinforcements”, they would not be able to convince Lei Jingzhe
right away. Only Ding Tao, who yelled it out at the most critical
juncture when his life was hanging in the balance, would be able to
make Lei Jingzhe believe him without a doubt.
“My good lad.” Zhou Gui liked Ding Tao so much at this
moment that he wanted so much to acknowledge the latter as his
son. He patted Ding Tao several times and praised, “You make it
sound so convincing that even I believed it!”
Ding Tao’s back was in pain, but he did not dare to voice it out,
and so he could only endure it and nodded his head vigorously.
“I initially thought he was merely a bandit who had forcibly
occupied the mountain forest.” Kong Ling walked into the city with
them and said, “But his way of speaking throughout the journey
here was really out of the ordinary. Although he claimed to be from
a poor and humble background, I don’t think that’s the case. He
had control over Lei Changming, yet he’s a generation younger
than Lei Changming. I made several attempts to guess who he is,
but I couldn’t figure it out.”
“He let Lei Changming be the chief, yet he could freely deploy
these bandit-soldiers. This is a clear indication that this man is
someone who moves around Lei Changming year in and year out.
Seen from an outsider’s perspective, this man is likely a trusted
subordinate or equivalent.” Xiao Chiye lifted his hand to lead Lang
Tao Xue Jin.
“Not only that.” Shen Zechuan, who had given it some deep
thinking last night, added, “Given Lei Changming’s headstrong
character, he would not be willing to lower himself to be someone
else’s chess piece. The fact that this man has such power and
influence among the bandit-soldiers shows that Lei Changming
had never suspected him before and believed in him completely.
It’s much easier for blood kin to achieve such a level of trust with Lei
Changming. Mister Chengfeng, does Lei Changming have any
relatives?”
Kong Ling thought for a moment before he replied, “Lei
Changming’s family is poor. I only heard that he has a younger
sister who married the commander of Duanzhou’s Garrison Troops
as a concubine. Later, Biansha invaded, and his younger sister and
the commander were both massacred…” He sucked in a breath
and said, “That’s it. His younger sister bore the commander a son.”
“The son of a concubine from the Zhu clan in Duanzhou.” Zhou
Gui added. “I remember it now. When I was still a tax circuit
intendant during the reign of Yongyi, I followed His Excellency to
participate in the baby’s one-month celebration banquet. Although
the child Lei Changming’s younger sister gave birth to was a son of
common birth born of a concubine of the Zhu clan, he was the
eldest son—the first son of Zhu Jie, the commander of Duanzhou at
that time.”
“If it’s really him, then it’s not surprising for him to have that
kind of shrewdness.” Kong Ling turned his head to explain to Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. “The value of the mother depends on her
son, and mother and son lived well in the Zhu’s residence. But after
Zhu Jie’s principal wife gave birth to a legitimate son of direct
descent, they were both disdained and spurn by Zhu Jie.”
Just as Shen Zechuan was about to ask the name of this person,
Zhou Gui suddenly exclaimed aloud and stared dazedly at Shen
Zechuan.
 “The Vice Commander’s mother was also present at the full
month celebration banquet!”

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 111 : MOTHER

The moment the words left Zhou Gui’s mouth, he felt he had
been too presumptuous.
Shen Zechuan’s birth mother was called Bai Cha, but she was
not a lady of the Bai clan from the Qidong Cejun Commandery.
She was called by this name because when she was still in the
establishment, someone praised her for being “as pure as white
jade, as if made out of porcelain; whether her face is heavily or
lightly painted, she beats them all in the establishment.” At that
time, Duanzhou was still a well-known red-light district in Zhongbo,
where the world’s beauties gathered. The literati vied with each
other to organize banquets to critique these “flowers”, and came
out with a “ranking list” for those in the establishments. Every
season, they would deliberate over the commentaries and adjust
the ranking of the beauties on the list.
Bai Cha was the “most popular flower” during the reign of
Yongyi, and in all of five years, she was never dethroned from her
top rank. Each time she listened to the commentary of the
courtesans through the screen, everyone in Duanzhou would turn
out en masse. When she danced for the Prince of Jianxing, Shen
Wei, there would be huge crowds of people thronging the streets
of the establishment. Countless people climbed onto the ridges of
roofs or stepped on the shoulders of others, all just to catch a
glimpse of that faint figure of hers through the layers upon layers of
hanging drapes. Her beauty became more and more legendary in
those odes of the flowers that others fall over themselves to sing.
Even Emperor Guangcheng, who resided deep in the imperial
palace, had heard of her. Wanting to take advantage of the
emperor’s inspection tour to catch a glimpse of this beauty in
person, he had repeatedly asked Hai Liangyi, who was still the
Grand Secretariat Deputy Grand Secretary back then, “when will
the inspection tour be scheduled?”
Zhou Gui had previously seen Bai Cha during the Zhu clan’s
newborn baby boy’s full-month celebration banquet, but he had
only sneaked a peek at that legendary beauty through a gap in the
screen. Lei Changming’s younger sister was initially from the
establishment too. Before she was taken as a concubine by the
Duanzhou commander, she was an old-hand who could be
considered a “mama” when coaching the fledglings. It was on
behalf of the girls of the establishment that Bai Cha went to attend
the banquet and send congratulations.
This had all happened many years ago, and Zhou Gui’s
memory of it was already pretty vague. But when he looked at Shen
Zechuan earlier, he realized that Shen Zechuan’s side profile was
rather similar to Bai Cha’s, and so in a moment of excitement, he
had inadvertently blurted it out.
Without a change in expression, Shen Zechuan said, “Then
that’s really a coincidence.”
He was not intrigued, nor was he worked up. His memory of his
birth mother was a blank piece of paper. Even though he had
heard hundreds of rumors about her, there was no trace of her in
his mind that was worth remembering. The role of “mother” in his
life belonged to his shiniang, Hua Pingting, just like the role of the
father belonged only to his shifu, Ji Gang. That was why he would
go to great lengths to kill and destroy Ji Lei, who had harmed Hua
Pingting. The two people who gave him life were never involved in
Shen Zechuan’s life. Bai Cha died early and never left so much a
word for Shen Zechuan, while Shen Wei detested Shen Zechuan.
The Princess Consort of Jianxing was in charge of all domestic
matters in the residence. Before the age of seven, Shen Zechuan
and Shen Wei had only met a grand total of seven times, and all of
that had been during the family feast during the Spring Festival
celebration. He and Shen Wei never even had an exchange of
words that would have been expected between a father and son.
Shen Wei’s loathing of him, however, was evident.
They were not like father and son; rather, they were more like
mortal enemies born to abhor each other. Shen Zechuan’s life in
the Prince of Jianxing’s residence was confined to a corner of an
eave in the inner courtyard; he could not leave his own courtyard
arbitrarily. His daily leisure activity was to sit on the veranda and
count the white clouds that drifted past that small corner of the
blue sky every day. When he was seven years old, he could already
recognize a lot of words, and he learned all these on the sly by
digging his way out of the dog hole in the courtyard every month
to eavesdrop under the windows of the school Shen Zhouji and his
other older brothers attended.
At that time, the power struggle between several of his older
brothers, who had already come of age, was extremely intense.
Even the various concubines of his father were scheming against
one another. It was pandemonium in the entire inner courtyard, so
much that even Shen Wei himself was reluctant to return home and
stay. He kept a mistress outside the residence, and lived there for
several months in a year, turning a blind eye to the strife within the
residence. Later, Shen Zhouji, who was a son of direct descent born
by the principal wife, emerged victorious and sent all his brothers,
who were born by the concubines and who had already come of
age, away to the various prefectures to take up various respectable
sinecures. The Princess Consort of Jianxing was worried that those
sons born of concubines who had yet to grow up would later cause
trouble again in the future. So she decided to send them away,
ostensibly to settle them down in their ancestral home in Chazhou
with a teacher hired to teach them. In truth, however, it was to
eliminate the possibility that a son born of a concubine could ever
compete for power again.
Shen Zechuan was the only son whom Shen Wei personally
issued a directive to have him sent to the old residence in
Duanzhou. Shen Wei even refused to let him attend school or even
hire a teacher for him. In that residence, he was taken care of by a
deaf and dumb old woman servant who was also hard of seeing,
while a maidservant his mother had left in the old residence would
take over the job if he stepped out of the residence. That woman
was greedy for money. Every month, she would siphon off the
silver allocated by the Prince of Jianxing and cut down on Shen
Zechuan’s meals. Three meals a day gradually became two meals a
day until it eventually became one meal a day. What’s more, these
were all cold leftovers.
Shen Zechuan felt the hunger in his tummy when he thought to
this point. He loosened his grip on Yang Shan Xue and said, “Ding
Tao, help Mister Chengfeng inside to have a change of clothes.
Ce’an and I will play the host today and invite both gentlemen to a
meal. We will talk about it in detail during the feast.”
Zhou Gui was not an articulate speaker, and Kong Ling was
afraid he might say something else to incur Shen Zechuan’s
displeasure, so he hurriedly grasped Zhou Gui by the arm and let
Zhou Gui support him into the city.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhou Gui was still turning around in circles after Kong Ling
finished changing his clothes. He said anxiously, “Say, why did I go
and mention that?”
“Really.” Kong Ling said, “Of all things to mention, you had to
go and mention that. Doesn’t bringing it up make it seem like you
are suspecting him of being involved with the traitors? Fortunately,
both of them are not suspicious by nature. Otherwise, we would be
in a quandary.”
“It was a slip in a moment of haste. I’ll have to apologize to the
Vice Commander later during the feast.” Zhou Gui sighed and said,
“He came to help Cizhou out of a fix. I can’t trample on his goodwill
like this.”
“Don’t make a conscious effort to bring it up during the feast.”
Kong Ling sat up and thought for a moment before saying, “If Shen
Zechuan is such a narrow-minded person, he wouldn’t have come.
If you take this matter too seriously and insist on apologizing to
him, then it’d look like you and I are the ones who are bothered by
it. Besides, he might not really care about this matter. Compared to
his mother, Shen Wei is the one who is truly abominable.”
It was not appropriate for them to let Shen Zechuan and Xiao
Chiye wait for long. So they only took a short break before setting
off for the feast.
Despite it being called a feast, it was actually just a simple
lunch. Everyone had been rushing on their way over last night, and
then they had engaged in close combat with the bandits at the foot
of the city today. Shen Zechuan took Kong Ling’s age into
consideration and did not keep them further for social
engagement. Once they were done with their meals, he let Kong
Ling head back early for a rest.
 Xiao Chiye had to make arrangements for the Imperial Army’s
patrol, and he still had to dispatch someone to the old camp to
keep in touch with Tantai Hu. By the time he was done busying
around, it was nearly dusk. He searched around and found Shen
Zechuan at the top of the city walls.
“There’s still work to be done after tonight.” Xiao Chiye climbed
up to the top of the city wall and said, “I thought you were still
taking a short break in the courtyard.”
“I slept for an hour.” Shen Zechuan turned his head back to
gaze at Xiao Chiye. “There is still something on my mind. I won’t be
able to sleep even if I try.”
Xiao Chiye inclined his head and patted Meng, who was
perched on his shoulder, to tell it to go and play by itself. He did
not have the time to change his clothes, and so there was still dust
and dirt on him as he stood beside Shen Zechuan. He asked,
“What can you see from here?”
Shen Zechuan looked at the rise and fall of the mountain forest.
The impending darkness that was about to blanket the sky was still
huddled among the shade of the trees, while the inclining orange-
red sunset shone in the sky at a side. Meng soared among them,
like a pebble running rampant among a sea of silk-tree flowers,
stirring up clouds of waves.
“The future.” Shen Zechuan answered calmly. “In the future,
Cizhou will be the button that connects the Libei’s merchant route.
We’ll open up a bridle path in the southwest that leads straight to
Hezhou, and it’ll end at the entrance of the berth in Hezhou. That
way, from dismounting to embarking, all the commercial goods
can arrive at Yongyi Harbor in half a month. The Xi clan’s fleets of
ships can open up trading opportunities with local specialties
internally and exotic rarities externally. The silver warehouses that
had been cleaned out can one day fill up again. I do not begrudge
those money or where they have gone; we will have even more in
the future. Cizhou is also behind Dunzhou and Duanzhou, which
have become the ‘gates’ of Zhongbo. If they want access to the
grains and commodities in the future, then they can only live in
harmony with Cizhou.”
 “No doubt there is a need to strengthen defenses after the
reclamation of Dunzhou and Duanzhou. The rebuilding of the
garrison troops is of urgent priority. You have to be very careful in
your choices. Let those you can trust and who are up to the task
attend to garrison duties. But those who are capable might not
necessarily be willing to submit to another. When the time
comes…” Xiao Chiye turns around and points in Libei’s direction.
“I’ll build an armored cavalry barracks on the southeast of the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path. If anyone dares to mess around,
just send me a whistle, and I’ll lead my men right over.”
Shen Zechuan laughed and said softly, “Cizhou is too important
to you and me. This city cannot be ceded over to anyone else.
Zhou Gui is a good official, but he isn’t suited to be the prefectural
prefect of an entire prefecture. He can’t save anyone by relying on
zeal alone, especially in this situation where he is surrounded by a
pack of wolves lying in wait on all sides.”
“We are short of people.” Xiao Chiye had been thinking about
this matter ever since he left Lei Changming’s old camp.
If Cizhou were to be the starting point for both of them, then
they would be increasingly stretched as the territory expanded.
This strain referred to the lack of capable, right-hand men to
administer official affairs. If Qiao Tianya or Chen Yang was still
around, then the perilous situation of Cizhou today might not have
materialized, but their position that was currently not obvious
would still gradually go on to reveal contradictions.
“Zhou Gui is suited to be the Tax Circuit Intendant of the Six
Prefectures. His love for the people is fundamental. A man like this
would never let officials and merchants collude for selfish gains
when he goes around on an inspection tour. But he’s also too
benevolent. He won’t and won’t dare to mete out severe
punishments, that’s why he can’t suppress the local hoodlums. It
was precisely because Kong Ling has an assessment of Zhou Gui’s
character that he went to him to help him get rid of the obstacles in
his way and to help him handle matters efficiently.” Shen Zechuan
spoke unhurriedly. “If both of them can continue to work as one,
then they would still be able to achieve plenty in the future.”
 “That Lei Jingzhe.” Xiao Chiye asked. “What do you think of
him?”
“This man must be defeated without a doubt.” Shen Zechuan
moved along the battlements of the city wall and took a few steps
forward. He said, “I also thought he was something when we left
the camp. But I no longer think so after seeing his bearing and
behavior today.”
“As expected, you and I are on the same wavelength.” Seeing
as it was getting dark, Xiao Chiye moved next to Shen Zechuan
and walked together with him. He said, “Lei Changming is his
uncle related by blood. In order to get a head start in Cizhou, he
left Lei Changming behind at the camp as an abandoned chess
piece. In doing so, he might not be able to win his men over. And
in his attempt to dodge the arrow when he was fleeing, he used
the henchman by his side as a shield. From these two incidents, we
can see that this man has no lack of shrewdness but is severely
lacking in benevolence. If he wants to submit and pledge
allegiance to Qudu and obtain an official position there, he will
have to turn the bandits under his command into a regular army.
But he still doesn’t seem to understand yet that being a bandit is
very different from being a general. Prestige and trust are not
something that can be accumulated by brutality alone. He keeps
changing his orders again and again on the battlefield. As they
say, a general does not retract the order he has given; he has to be
impartial in dishing out rewards and punishments; and he must
remain steadfast and unwavering, only then will he be able to lead
and command the soldiers.1 He is simply not cut out to be a
general at all.”
“That’s why I’m more worried about Qi Zhuyin than this man.”
Shen Zechuan hesitated before the stairs. He said, “The marriage
alliance between Qidong and the Hua clan cannot be reversed.
Now that Libei has rebelled, Qidong is the last crutch that Qudu
has left to rely on. Within the next few days, Qi Zhuyin will no doubt
receive a promotion and a noble rank. The empress dowager
already has great admiration for her to begin with. Once her noble
title is confirmed, it would be time for her to deploy troops north.
No matter what, I have to turn Cizhou into an impregnable fortress
before Qi Zhuyin arrives.”
“The Commander-in-Chief isn’t an easy one to fight. My eldest
brother is the heavy cavalry, Lu Guangbai is the guerilla, while Qi
Zhuyin is the cavalry and infantry combined. Having resided in the
Cangjun Commandery for a long time, she won’t deploy the troops
easily, but she has a tendency to launch a violent assault and storm
the enemies. Back then when she penetrated deep into the desert
to save Qi Shiyu, she was like the sudden onslaught of rainstorm
that gave her opponents a jolt. It’s her usual practice to cut down
foes with one blow to strike fear in the heart of others, so that when
they faced her in battle, they will not help but be frightened.” Xiao
Chiye mulled it over for a moment. “I want to fight a battle with
her.”
Shen Zechuan looked at him.
Xiao Chiye patted his shoulder and said, “It’s not like I want to
fight her now. The way you look at me is so fierce.”
Shen Zechuan took a step down the stairs. As if remembering
something, he looked back and asked, “Where’s my fan?”
Xiao Chiye pinched his chin and strode down three steps with
one stride. Then he crouched down before him and said, “Come
on up, and I’ll give it to you.”

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Footnotes
1. 将无还令，赏罚必信，如天如地，乃可御人; From the
Three Strategies-Upper Strategies 《三略·上略》 by Huang
Shigong (黃石公)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 112 : CHASING THE STARS

The setting sun faded away, replaced by a scattering of stars

that adorned the sky peeking through the tree branches. The
Imperial Army’s patrol squad made their rounds around the streets
and alleys. Giving Shen Zechuan a piggyback, Xiao Chiye walked
along the street shrouded under a cloak of shadows. It was a little
hot this summer night, and Xiao Chiye had his ceremonial outer
garment open as he walked at a speed that was not fast.
Shen Zechuan lifted his head high and put his chin on top of
Xiao Chiye’s hair. Xiao Chiye was too tall, causing the upper half of
Shen Zechuan’s body to be exposed to the moonlight. He only had
to turn his head, and he would have been able to look over the wall
into other people’s courtyards.
“I’ll head for the old camping grounds tomorrow morning and
intercept his escape route from the east. He won’t dare to head
north, and there are troops lying in ambush to the south. I’ll be
back in three days, at the very latest.” Supporting Shen Zechuan,
Xiao Chiye said, “It has been a long time since we last got news of
Qudu. We have to send someone to make inquiries as soon as
possible. Only then will we know of Qi Zhuyin’s movements.”
“The marriage between Hua and Qi has been delayed again
and again. To seek external aid, the empress dowager will not let
Qi Shiyu wait any longer.” Shen Zechuan estimated the dates and
said, “The wedding will not be delayed beyond the eighth month
at the very latest.”
“Hua Xiangyi can go right ahead and marry all she wants.” Xiao
Chiye said. “As long as she doesn’t have an heir, it’s still Qi Zhuyin
who has the final say in Qidong. She’s going there to be the
second wife,1 and she’s even younger than Qi Zhuyin. If she gives
birth to a son, he will be Shi Shiyu’s legitimate son of direct
descent. Once Qi Shiyu croaks, mother and son will be the hidden
obstacle that stands in the way of Qi Zhuyin from holding on to
military power.”
“The prestige of the commander-in-chief among the troops
cannot be underestimated. Will she really fear a brother of direct
descent who is younger than her by so many years?” Shen
Zechuan thought and said, “If she seeks peace back at home and
lives in harmony with Hua Xiangyi, then she would instead save
herself a lot of trouble.”
“It hasn’t been easy for Qi Zhuyin to be conferred a title. It’s
evident from the setbacks she faced when she took over Qidong’s
Five Commanderies. Not only is Qudu deeply uneasy over her
gender, but even Qidong internal military administration officials
had also begun to stir.” At this point, Xiao Chiye paused for a
moment before he continued, “Besides, I have already handed
over the genealogy records that I got someone to copy to Qi
Zhuyin a long time back in Qudu. Just with this alone, she will never
let Hua Xiangyi give birth to a child.”
As long as Hua Xiangyi’s standing in Qidong remained shaky,
the empress dowager would never be able to turn the Qidong’s
Garrison Troops into her own right-hand men. However, this was all
based on the premise that Qudu still had no real emperor. If Qudu
were to push forth a new emperor before winter arrived, then Qi
Zhuyin would be on track to face off Libei.
“I’m worried about Lu Guangbai.” Xiao Chiye kept his relaxed
expression in check and said, “After autumn, the Biansha Cavalry
will cross the boundary into our territories to plunder food. This is
the time when their horses are plump and well-fed, and they will
choose to take a risk in order to better survive the winter. The
Bianjun Commandery relies on Dazhou to allocate and distribute
their military provisions. The Twelve Tribes of Biansha are well
aware that they are poor, and they also know that the granary is
built right in Bianjun, and it’s close to the camps. That’s why they
would go after Lu Guangbai every time. Qidong’s military
provisions this year were cut by half. He’s by far the worst off when
it comes to surviving and defenses. My leaving of Qudu only serves
to exacerbate the situation and make matters worse for him.”
But this was something that even Shen Zechuan had no way to
help. If Bianjun’s position had not been so far east, and if there had
not been Tianfei Watchtower and Suotian Pass stationed on both
sides, then perhaps they could still send a message to Ge
Qingqing, who was still in Juexi’s Yongyi Harbor, and get Xi Dan to
think of ways to buy a batch of grains from Juexi and send it to
Qidong through Hezhou as an emergency measure for Lu
Guangbai. But Bianjun just had to be to the east of Cangjun. There
were obstacles both to the left and right, and there was no other
passage unless they transported it right under Cangjun’s nose.
Qidong was not Juexi either. Qi Zhuyin had set up layers upon
layers of impenetrable defenses there. It was simply impossible to
think of passing through it without so much a sound.2
Bianjun was just like the night watchman standing on the edge
of a cliff. It was a place similar to a desperate and hopeless
situation.
Finding the atmosphere heavy, Xiao Chiye turned a circle with
Shen Zechuan on his back and said, “The utmost priority now is still
to pursue and attack Lei Jingzhe. Once we manage to secure
Zhongbo, it’ll be easier to help Bianjun. As long as we can cross
over Tianfei Watchtower, we will be able to arrive there directly.
Why are you still sniffing when I’m reeking of sweat all over?”
Shen Zechuan wiped off the beads of sweat on the side of Xiao
Chiye’s neck with his fingers. He snuggled against his cheek and
said, “Start running.”
Xiao Chiye jerked him once and answered, “Too tired to run.”
Shen Zechuan pinched Xiao Chiye’s cheek and said, “If the
Second Young Master can’t do it, then I’ll do it.”
Xiao Chiye made a show of going to put him down and said,
“Get down. This Second Young Master shall see how you are going
to carry me back tonight.”
Shen Zechuan tightened his arms around him. As he lifted his
legs up, he said in all seriousness, “Why get so fired up over a
minor matter? You can do it.”
Xiao Chiye lifted him up again.
Shen Zechuan clung onto his back and edged his fingertips
down along the front flaps of his clothes, pulling it down as he said
into his ear, “Why can’t Er-lang do it? Er-lang can do anything.”
Xiao Chiye turned his head. He was surprisingly calm as he
asked, “Where to?”
Shen Zechuan said, “To—”
 Shen Zechuan had not finished his words when Xiao Chiye
took a stride out with his long legs and broke into a run. Carrying
Shen Zechuan on his back, he ran past the tree shades, stepping
upon the moonlight of the summer night as he made his way into
the alley where the lights were already extinguished. The patrol
squad came and went, but they never noticed both men’s figures.
Xiao Chiye easily leaped across the small steps, where dappled
shadows of trees fell upon his hair. There was a clatter as their
shadows crashed into and broke up the starlight on the ground,
like the free and reckless wind among heaven and earth.
The young servant boy guarding the door to the small
courtyard was still yawning. When he heard the knock on the door,
he thought the marquis and vice commander had returned. With
his clothes draped around him and with a lantern in hand, he went
to open the door with a smile on his face. But it was empty on the
other side of the door.
“A poltergeist?” The young servant boy blurted in a soft voice
and poked his head out, but he did not see anyone to his left and
right, so he quickly shrank back and trotted back to his room with
his outer garment wrapped tightly around him.
The corridor was dark, with no lit lanterns. Shen Zechuan’s
footsteps were in such disarray that he almost tripped Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye pressed Shen Zechuan up against the door panel and
pulled off the ribbon, which Shen Zechuan had used to tie up his
hair, as they kissed. The kisses left Shen Zechuan gasping for
breath. He reached out both hands behind his back and felt
around in search of the door lock.
“No key.” Xiao Chiye lifted Shen Zechuan slightly. His eyes
pressed in close before him, and he looked greedily at Shen
Zechuan. “Can’t enter.”
Shen Zechuan’s heels slid down along the back of Xiao Chiye’s
waist, but then he raised his hand and pressed his palm against
Xiao Chiye’s approaching chin to stop it in place. He breathed out a
double entendre, his breath hot, “If you can’t enter, then you can’t
enter.”
Xiao Chiye pinched Shen Zechuan’s mouth open and lowered
his head to take in that sliding tongue. All of last night’s exhaustion
from the rushed journey seemed to have been swept away clean.
Shen Zechuan swallowed the saliva and listened to the creaking of
the door panel from the bumps. He wanted to ease that jarring
sound, so he pulled Xiao Chiye closer until the latter was right on
him without the slightest gap between them.
“Let’s build a home.” Grinding against soft flesh, Xiao Chiye’s
throat tightened as he said with a sigh that had escaped, “Here. Or
anywhere else.”3
Shen Zechuan was sweating as he raised his head with misty
eyes blurred by tears. He did not make a sound. He had not done it
for a very long time, and he was being so stimulated tonight that
he was trembling slightly. Just a few times, and it was all about to
come out. He clenched the clothes on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder,
creasing it as his chest heaved violently. It was only when he
calmed a little after a while that he said under his breath, “No.
Can’t. In, into the room…”
But Xiao Chiye took this “no” as a reply to his earlier question
and abruptly straightened his back, almost causing Shen Zechuan
to cry out involuntarily.
“Why can’t Er-lang do it?” Xiao Chiye held Shen Zechuan firmly
in his arms and pinched the latter’s face to correct its position. Then
he said, ruthlessly and wickedly, “Er-lang can do anything.”4
Shen Zechuan’s words were cut off by Xiao Chiye’s kiss. The
corners of his eyes quickly reddened, and even his half-exposed
neck had gone red. He opened his mouth several times in an
attempt to answer in between the kisses, but Xiao Chiye would not
give him the chance. All he could do was to let other kinds of
sounds loose. Sweat drenched through his clothes, and Shen
Zechuan gradually found it hard to breathe. His forehead pressed
against Xiao Chiye’s chest as the waves of ecstasy crashing over
him made him dizzy. It was not even an hour, and he had already
surrendered twice.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was done taking his bath only after Shen Zechuan
fell asleep. Seeing the first glimmer of dawn outside the window,
he did not take a rest but instead drank a cup of strong tea and
crouched by the bedside to watch Shen Zechuan sleep soundly.
 He still fell asleep, after all.
Xiao Chiye raised his hand to caress Shen Zechuan’s cheek.
Once he returned to Libei, he had to invite the Venerable Yigui
over. Having turned it over in his mind from different angles after
the episodes, his conclusion was that the frequent recurrence of
Shen Zechuan’s illnesses – whether it was the cold or the epidemic
disease – definitely had something to do with that medicine.
Too thin.
Xiao Chiye gazed at Shen Zechuan and thought in the silence
that reigned.
Although he had also previously found Shen Zechuan thin back
in Qudu, it was still much better than now. Shen Zechuan’s bout of
illness after Qi Huilian’s death came and went quickly, but he had
still yet to be fed back to health. There was nothing the entire
journey here. Xiao Chiye held him, watched him, protecting his
growing reliance on him every way he could.
Shen Wei and Bai Cha did not matter.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head and pressed up against Shen
Zechuan’s cheek as he stared, with deep hostility, at the sunlight
which was attempting to cloak Shen Zechuan.
Shen Lanzhou was his—Xiao Ce’an’s.
◈ ◈ ◈
When Xiao Chiye spurred his horse out of the city, Zhou Gui
and Kong Ling saw him off. Reining in the reins, he said, “I will
return in three days, regardless of success or failure. The Imperial
Army stationed here will stay put for the time being. The instant
they detect Lei Jingzhe’s trail, send someone to inform me
posthaste. Although Cizhou’s city walls are old and worn-out, you
cannot simply just let it be and brush it aside. Lanzhou will explain
the specific arrangements for reinforcements to both of you later.”
“Rest assured, Your Lordship.” Zhou Gui said. “All our men in
Cizhou will go along with the Vice Commander’s arrangements.”
“As for matters relating to the reconstruction of Cizhou’s
garrison troops…” Xiao Chiye paused for a moment and said, “I
won’t concern myself with it. That will be military affairs Lanzhou
will be deliberating over with both of you. The Imperial Army is only
standing in as the authority on patrols. I can’t overstep authority to
handle it. So if there are any issues, please discuss them over with
Lanzhou. I’m not at liberty to decide.”
Kong Ling felt a warm buzz in his heart before it went cold
again. They were originally worried that Xiao Chiye would use the
patrols he was standing in for as an excuse to interfere with the
reconstruction of the Cizhou’s garrison troops. So he was relieved
to hear him say so, but following right after, worries overtook him
again. Xiao Chiye did not want Cizhou’s military power. He would
not accept Cizhou’s remuneration, nor would he take Cizhou’s
grains. Then why did he go to the trouble of running all over to
duke it out with Lei Jingzhe? He might as well head north and
return home to live a free and unfettered life.
Kong Ling deliberated over his words, but before he could
speak, he heard Xiao Chiye continue, “Since I’ve agreed to
suppress the bandits for both gentlemen, I’ll not renege on my
promise. Your Excellency Zhou is willing to risk his head to let the
Imperial Army pass through Cizhou. I naturally have to reciprocate
this friendly sentiment. Moreover, the Imperial Army’s food supply
these few days is being borne by the common folks of Cizhou. We
have eaten your rice, so we will surely fight the battles.”
Zhou Gui bowed to him in farewell and said, “Then we shall
wait here for Your Lordship to return in triumph.”
“There are a few more matters I’ll just tell both of you at the
same time.” Xiao Chiye’s horse took a few steps around as he
looked at Zhou Gui and Kong Ling and said, “I do not have the
intention to take a concubine in this life. Now that I’m temporarily
residing at Your Excellency Zhou’s residence, there’s no need to
send any more people to the courtyard. Man or woman, I don’t
want any of them. Moreover, we are currently bogged down with
work; I don’t have the spare energy to beat around the bush with
you both. So I’m throwing this out here today to make it clear to
both of you.”
Kong Ling knew he was referring to the incident the last time,
and he could not help but look embarrassed, stuck in a
predicament where it would be inappropriate for him to smile or
answer.
 “Lanzhou has lived in Zhongbo for a long time, and it’s
inevitable that there will be someone bringing up old affairs. But,
he, Shen Zechuan…” Xiao Chiye raised the horsewhip and pointed
in the direction of Qudu, “… is the student of Qi Huilian, the Grand
Mentor of the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace; the last disciple
of Ji Gang of Duanzhou; the former Northern Judge-cum-Vice
Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards; and the head of
household of my – Xiao Ce’an’s – future residence. He has nothing
to do with any other names.”
This time, even Zhou Gui did not know how to answer. He was
not a person who would fob others off or give others the run-
around to begin with, and Xiao Chiye’s words had rendered him
dumbstruck. His mouth opened and closed as he said, “Uh, uh…”
Xiao Chiye turned his horse around and rode away with his
gyrfalcon in tow.
It was a long time before Zhou Gui returned to his senses.
Clutching his sleeves, he asked Kong Ling, “What, what did His
Lordship mean by this? Then the Prince of Libei…”
“He has already laid out his cards on the table this clearly. He
doesn’t give a hoot about the troops in Cizhou. But don’t mention
Shen Wei.” Kong Ling calmly wiped his sweat and said, “And don’t
bring up Bai Cha again.”

This is the uncensored version with additional text from revised

version thrown in (unless otherwise stated).

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!

Thank you Peach for pointing out the typo! <3

Footnotes
1. 继室 specifically the second wife after the death of the
first principal wife. She will have legitimate status, unlike a
concubine, and her son will be a di and not a shu.
2. Map
3. In the revised version, it is:
4. “Let’s build a home.” Xiao Chiye said in a low and deep
voice right close to Shen Zechuan, with a tenderness he
himself had never realized. “Here. Or anywhere else.”
5. The words Xiao Chiye left unsaid: Including do you.
6.
7. The can’t do (不行) mentioned throughout their
conversation not only refers to Ce’an’s physical abilities (e.g.,
carry Lanzhou and run) but is also an insinuation of his
sexual prowess, i.e., he can’t get it up/can’t do Lanzhou ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 113 : REUNION

Ding Tao sat cross-legged on the veranda, moving aside the

fruits on the silver plate as he counted them over and over again.
He stood guard here, preventing anyone from coming near. It was
getting late, with a few rays of the evening sun still adorning the
courtyard walls as bits and pieces of the setting sun peeked
through the leaves of the Chinese scholar trees.
Shen Zechuan had just awoken. He had slept for too long and
too soundly, so his back and waist were sore and aching. He felt
exceptionally tired. He opened the door, blanking out for a
moment when he saw Ding Tao.
Ding Tao scratched his cheek, feeling uncomfortable with the
way Shen Zechuan was staring at him. He put the hand that was
still grasping the fruit behind his back and asked with
apprehension, “Young Master, d-dinner?”
Shen Zechuan held onto the door and stood there for a little
while, before asking in a hoarse voice, “… What time is it?”
“It’s the hour of you.”1 Ding Tao was surprisingly aware today,
and he quickly followed up with, “Young Master has slept for the
entire day! Master left the city at the hour of mao2 earlier. His
Excellency Zhou and Mister Chengfeng went to send him off
together.”
The corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes were still a little red, and
under the lingering reddish-orange glow of the evening sun, he
looked as if he was drunk. He was pale to begin with, and Ding Tao
found the way he looked when he lowered his eyes to slip on his
shoes really handsome.
“Still no word from Juexi?” Shen Zechuan went down the steps,
but he was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he stood under the
Chinese scholar tree and tilted his head up slightly to look at the
sky as he slowly recovered from the lingering effects of last night’s
exertion.
“No.” Ding Tao followed behind Shen Zechuan. Seeing as Shen
Zechuan did not look back, he seized the opportunity to hastily stuff
the other uneaten half of his fruit into his mouth and gobbled it
down ravenously.
Shen Zechuan did not see any sign of Meng, and knew that
Xiao Chiye had brought it along with him. He turned back, startling
Ding Tao so much that the latter choked and coughed. Shen
Zechuan paused for a moment, then said, “No one is going to
snatch it away from you. Take your time.”
Ding Tao was choking so much his eyes teared up. As he
waved his hand, he tugged at the front of his clothes and said with
difficulty, “Y-young Master, cough! Are we going to look for His
Excellency Zhou? His Excellency and Mister Chengfeng had taken
their dinner in the front hall and are presently discussing
matters.”
Shen Zechuan nodded and said, “Let’s go.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhou Gui had just finished his meal. At present, he was having
a discussion in the study with Kong Ling and the various Cizhou
officials of differing ranks. When he heard that Shen Zechuan had
come, he immediately got up and dismissed the others.
“His Lordship has told us that the Vice Commander is feeling
unwell today, so we thought that we would only be able to discuss
military affairs tomorrow. We didn’t expect the Vice Commander to
come over today still.” Kong Ling showed Shen Zechuan a seat,
then sat down after him so that he would not feel awkward. He
faced them slightly and continued, “Although it’s still the sixth
month, the trees we have planted in the residence are all tall, lush
trees; it’s often cold at night. The Vice Commander is used to Qudu
after staying there year in year out. Now that you’re here, you have
to take care of your health.”
Shen Zechuan took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, easing up
the dryness and hoarseness a little until it was not as obvious. Only
then he said, “Mister Chengfeng is right. Mister said that we would
be able to discuss military affairs tomorrow. Have both of you
already drawn up a charter today?”
“Ever since the Vice Commander agreed on a treaty of alliance
with us, I have gathered the advisors along with the various
ranking officials in Cizhou over these few days to draft up a simple
copy.” With a hand on his knee, Zhou Gui watched as Kong Ling
got up to hand a book to Shen Zechuan. He continued, “These are
all tentative. We will still need the Vice Commander’s approval for
the specifics. Take a look. If there’s anything inappropriate, we can
lay it all out for further discussion tonight.”
Although he said that they were waiting for Shen Zechuan’s
approval, he also said they could “lay it all out for further
discussion”. This meant that most of the content within this book
was actually already finalized. Such was the awkward situation in
which Shen Zechuan had found himself in right now. He had the
money, but no other real powers on hand to speak of; Xiao Chiye’s
attitude was the key to the fact that he could even be at the
discussion table with these two. Zhou Gui could thank him or even
hold him in high esteem, but he would not hand over Cizhou’s
policy-making power to him. Because what they had agreed upon
was a treaty of alliance, not a pledge of allegiance.
Shen Zechuan read the book amidst the silence in the study.
Only Ding Tao was on the outside, teasing his sparrow; there were
no servants walking about to disturb them. As Kong Ling drank his
tea, a sudden uneasiness overtook him. He maintained his
composure as he studied Shen Zechuan’s expression, but he could
not discern any sentiments on Shen Zechuan’s face. He then
looked at Zhou Gui, who was already letting his expression betray
his urgency. He could not help but think to himself.
This Shen Zechuan was still young, yet he was an extremely
deep and shrewd one. After spending several days together, Kong
Ling still could not tell whether he was a willing party or not; there
was no way they could find an appropriate way to deal with him. So
the drafting of this book was also meant to sound out his intention
as well.
It was only when the sky had slightly darkened that Shen
Zechuan closed the book. He rubbed his fingertips against the
teacup without saying a word.
Kong Ling was the adviser, so when they were engaged in a
serious discussion of official affairs in the study, he could not
overstep his authority and bypass Zhou Gui. At the same time Zhou
Gui got him to light the lamps, he turned slightly to his side to face
Shen Zechuan and deliberated over his words, “So what does the
Vice Commander His Excellency think?”
“Your Excellency has also recorded the price fluctuations of the
daily necessities of fuel, rice, oil, and salt in Cizhou over the past
few years in the book, and the accounts are all clear enough that
there won’t be a problem estimating next year’s approximate
expenditure. I’ve also seen that Your Excellency has also written
about the proportion of military pay and provisions to be allocated
for the garrison troops in the future. Your Excellency has worked
day and night tirelessly, taking all the various aspects into
consideration.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile.
Zhou Gui let out a light sigh of relief; he did not know why he
was so strung up. Upon hearing Shen Zechuan, he then replied,
“This book is not something I alone can write; I still have
Chengfeng and my fellow officials to thank for this. Then, shall we
begin to discuss the defenses of the city walls?”
Shen Zechuan’s fingertips paused in place. He said, “There’s no
rush. I have some questions.”
To which Zhou Gui hurriedly prompted, “Please, go on.”
“Going by Your Excellency’s estimation of Cizhou’s next year
approximate expenditures, there is also a remuneration of 16,000
dan3 of grains for the 20,000 Imperial Army troops other than the
rebuilt garrison troops. The total sum for both armies is 110,000
dan of grains.” Shen Zechuan pondered it over. “This is allocated
according to the amount of bumper harvest in Cizhou last year, and
it’s also what had been saved up for the original number of people
in Cizhou at present. But I can see that Your Excellency still has a
remaining ten thousand dan of grains left unmarked.”
“That’s right.” Zhou Gui answered.
Although Xiao Chiye said he did not want any remuneration,
they could not really not give any for real. This 16,000 dan of grains
was only enough to last the 20,000 Imperial Army troops two-and-
a-half months. This was more than the monthly amount they
allocated to the 20,000 Cizhou garrison troops. Although they were
unable to supply a year worth of grains, they had already done
their best.
 Zhou Gui was worried that Shen Zechuan found it too little, so
he said with sincerity, “It is with the hope that the Vice Commander
and His Lordship can understand that I showed Cizhou’s accounts
to the Vice Commander today. Because of the instability in Dazhou
this year, our grains from last year were all successively allocated to
Libei and Mount Luo. This is something that we could not have
foreseen. We had the Juexi’s granaries to assume responsibility for
the supply of military provisions in the past years, but now this
responsibility has been split between the two prefectures of Cizhou
and Huaizhou. I don’t know about Huaizhou, but our Cizhou really
had to skimp and save in order to be able to ship out the grains. It’s
not that I’m complaining to the Vice Commander, but to tell you the
truth, we are gritting our teeth as we shoulder the burden of the
temporary supply of grains from Cizhou to His Lordship’s 20,000
Imperial Army. But even then, we will only be able to hang on for a
couple of months. Fortunately, it’s nearing the autumn harvest, and
we will be able to make it till then after counting the days, that’s
why we are still not at the stage where we are at the end of our
rope. I would like to ask the Vice Commander to intercede with His
Lordship on behalf of Cizhou regarding this 16,000 dan of grain.
It’s not that we want to go back on our words by shifting it to next
year, but there is really too much to consider.”
There was already an imprint of a frown permanently etched
between Zhou Gui’s eyebrows given how he was always knitting his
brows in worry. He rose to his feet and paced for a few steps in the
open space before he said to Shen Zechuan.
“Cizhou is a place where the people’s livelihood is at the mercy
of the elements. But who could say if Heaven would still be willing
to grant us food next year? Seeing as Dazhou has already come to
this stage, I fear that once war arises next year, the fertile farmlands
that Cizhou had just cultivated would be destroyed in just a
moment. When the time comes, even the common folks in the city
will not be able to eat their fill. And we won’t be able to afford to
provide for the garrison troops even if we established one. We kept
a surplus of military grains not only to keep them as emergency
life-saving food relief but also as preparation for the Libei Armored
Cavalry. Vice Commander, it’s not that we are not willing to take out
big sums of money for His Lordship to use, but the Libei Armored
Cavalry is the first line of defense guarding against the Biansha
Hanshe Tribe. It’s a fact that they are more important than the
20,000 Imperial Army troops.”
“Half of the reason why Cizhou is willing to sign a treaty of
alliance with both of you is that I was thoroughly heart-broken and
disillusioned by the Wei clan’s military provision case. It’s also
because His Lordship is the second young master of the Xiao clan
that dispelled many of my misgivings. I did this favor not just for
both of you, but also for the Hereditary Prince. Although the Vice
Commander has promised that we can still continue to use the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path, I still have to leave myself a way
out. After all, Juexi is Dazhou’s granary. To the various clans, that is
a place of strategic importance. The Vice Commander covets it,
and the Empress Dowager, even more so.”
“Everything I have just said to the Vice Commander is heartfelt
words from the bottom of my heart.” Zhou Gui finally paused. He
slowly bowed to Shen Zechuan and continued, “No one has it easy
trying to make a living in turbulent times. I’m the Prefectural Prefect
of Cizhou, and to me, Cizhou’s safety is of utmost importance and
priority. His Lordship and the Vice Commander have helped
Cizhou out of a spot this time, and I will not hesitate to go through
fire and water for both of you. If Cizhou still has a bumper harvest
this year, then we can still add on to this 16,000 dan of grains next
year. But Cizhou really can’t supply the Imperial Army in the same
way we are supplying to the Libei Armored Cavalry. I’ll be frank
with you. If Biansha were to invade us in autumn, or if Libei is hard-
pressed for grains next year in spring, then Cizhou will allocate the
grains to Libei Armored Cavalry first before we allocate it to the
Imperial Army.”
The candle flames in the study were not very bright. Zhou Gui
lived frugally, eating and dressing simply. Other than the time he
had to entertain Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, his entire family
would usually have common dishes for their meals. They even
cooked tree barks during the years they were hit with disasters.
Cizhou currently seemed to be the most prosperous and well-off
place in Zhongbo, but in truth, it was still in shambles compared to
compared to the other lands. His willingness to take out the grains
was a great load of pressure on his shoulders. Zhou Gui’s
suggestion that they request the aid of the Libei Armored Cavalry
the first time Xiao Chiye left the city was not made on the spur of
the moment; it was an idea that was already deeply ingrained in
his mind.
The defeat of Zhongbo’s troops had been said countless times,
both implied and stated, but outsiders would never experience and
share the same pain as those who had been through it. Zhou Gui
even developed posttraumatic symptoms because of the troop
defeat case. If he so much heard a whistle at night, he would toss
and turn all night in a constant state of anxiety. The defeat of the
Chashi River along the boundary was really too tragic. Massacre,
massacre—this word made its way back to Qudu from Duanzhou.
Everyone was reading this word aloud back then. But to Qudu,
bloodbath was merely a smudge of ink on the memorial. To
Zhongbo, however, the destruction of properties, loss of lives, and
ruin of families were all too real.
It was all because of the Libei Armored Cavalry that Cizhou had
a narrow escape. In the eyes of Zhou Gui and everyone in Cizhou,
the Libei Armored Cavalry was far more important than the
Imperial Army. Xiao Jiming led his godly troops down to save
them, and “River of Ice Armored Cavalry” was thus the death
exemption token in the face of the Biansha Cavalry at the two
borders to Dazhou’s north and east. Lei Jingzhe dared to angle for
Cizhou, but he did not have the intent to settle down for long; he
was even ready just to rob Cizhou’s grains and leave to seek credit
right away from Qudu. What he feared was precisely Xiao Jiming’s
deployment of his troops south again.
Xiao Jiming suffered a loss and was wounded in the military
provisions case. But none of them had seen it with their own eyes.
Those who were waiting for him did not dare to believe it, while
those who feared him did not dare to bet on it. If the old-school
senior officials headed by Hai Liangyi feared Xiao Fangxu, then the
one those juniors down the ranks feared more was Xiao Jiming.
Silent reigned in the study. The candlelight flickered.
 Shen Zechuan felt his back and waist aching. There were still
traces of Xiao Chiye’s bites on his collarbone, which had been
covered up by his collar. Strangely enough, even at such a serious
and solemn moment, he remembered Xiao Chiye’s sweat-
drenched face, Xiao Chiye’s strong arms, and Xiao Chiye’s kisses
that wandered around his neck as Xiao Chiye gasped for breath.
He remembered everything about Xiao Chiye. The only thing
he could not think of was a way in which Xiao Chiye was inferior to
Xiao Jiming.
Shen Zechuan was silent for only a few moments, and his mind
wandered for only a fleeting instant. He said, “I understand all that
Your Excellency has said. We will return the exact same amount of
the grains that Ce’an and I have temporarily borrowed after our
arrival here next year.”
The color promptly drained from Zhou Gui’s face. He tried to
explain, “Vice Commander, that’s not what we…”
“The issue I wanted to discuss with Your Excellency is not that
the grains you are allocating to the Imperial Army are too little, but
that it’s too much.” Shen Zechuan motioned for Zhou Gui to sit and
lay it out with clear reasoning, “The fact that Cizhou is willing to
allocate so much grains for the Imperial Army’s use is proof enough
of your sincerity. But as we mentioned at the beginning, the
Imperial Army will only use the grains from Cizhou at this point in
time. The Imperial Army has a supply channel for future military
provisions, so it doesn’t need to draw from Cizhou’s granary.”
Zhou Gui felt foolish and did not dare to interject arbitrarily, so
he looked at Kong Ling and said, “Chengfeng is the one who
supervised the drafting of the book, so there are some matters that
he understands better than I do. Chengfeng, explain to the Vice
Commander.”
Holding on to the back of the chair for support, Kong Ling rose
to his feet. Instead of explaining, he asked, “The Vice Commander
is so certain that the Imperial Army would not lack grains in the
future, and you also said that the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path
can still be used as usual. We really can’t think of any
countermeasure that would allow us to do this. Would the Vice
Commander be so kind as to explain to us? Otherwise, we will still
have to ask the Imperial Army to accept this batch of grains.”
Shen Zechuan gently stirred the tea in the teacup with the lid
and said, “Before this, I still want to ask both of you if Cizhou is
going to live off the land in the future?”
Kong Ling replied, “Cizhou is limited by its geographical
position. If not, then how can we survive?”
“What I see is the exact opposite of Mister.” Shen Zechuan put
down the teacup and said, “It’s true that Cizhou was initially in a
non-ideal position. There’s Libei to the north and Chazhou to the
south. It is obstructed by Dunzhou and Duanzhou to the east and
restricted by Dancheng to the west. It doesn’t dare to move as it
pleases, and it can’t move at will either. But that was when Cizhou
was still subordinated to Qudu. You are now on good terms with
Libei. Dancheng can no longer rely on Qudu’s power and influence
to force Cizhou to carry out orders. Meanwhile, Dunzhou has been
occupied by the bandits, and a purge is imminent. With these, the
three-sided walls enclosing Cizhou have already collapsed. The
remaining Chazhou is not an obstacle, but an opportunity.”4
Zhou Gui wanted to get up again. His robe had already gone all
creased from his kneading of it. He asked cautiously, “You mean…”
“Chazhou lies along the waterway that can lead right to
Hezhou. After the defeat of the troops, the merchants in Hezhou
who had come from all over took advantage of the opportunity to
peddle the grains at exorbitant prices in Zhongbo, earning quick
and huge profits from bandits of all sizes. It would be truly a shame
if this route is only used to make someone else rich.”
“But bandits are also currently in power in Chazhou. What’s
more, Chazhou has relations with the Yan clan of Hezhou. They
won’t let our Cizhou use the route to do business without good
cause.” Kong Ling was growing anxious as he spoke. “Besides,
what can we sell? Compared to Hezhou, Cizhou is a remote
hinterland.”
“Grains.” Shen Zechuan said.
The moment he said that, Zhou Gui jerked to his feet and
exclaimed, “No! Isn’t that the same as those conscienceless thieves
who conspire with the Juexi officials and merchants to resell public
grains for profit?”
“Your Excellency, please calm down.” The expression in Shen
Zechuan’s eyes was too calm; so calm that Zhou Gui could not help
but sit back down. He said, “The reason why there are people in
Juexi and Hezhou reselling grains at exorbitant prices is that there
is a shortage of grains in the various lands of Zhongbo, of which
Chazhou is the worst hit. In Qudu, one tael of silver can buy you two
dan of grains, while the same tael of silver in Juexi can buy you one
dan and five dou5 of grains. But in Chazhou, one tael of silver can
buy you only two dou of grains. The money the bandits in Chazhou
have on hand is all fleeced from the remaining commoners in
Chazhou. Because of this, the law-abiding citizens registered on
the household register cannot survive, and consequently, they are
forced to take risks out of desperation. The number of people who
are reduced to being bandits will only increase with time. Your
Excellency, this is also the fundamental reason why Lei Changming
—that is, Lei Jingzhe, is able to rapidly expand his troops to this
number within six months. So, if Cizhou is willing to sell grains to
Chazhou at a fair price slightly higher than Qudu, it would be
helping Chazhou instead.”
“But,” Kong Ling frowned slightly. “If we sell the grains to
Chazhou, then there will no doubt be a shortage in the granary. If
we only have silver in our hands, then won’t we be in the same
plight as Chazhou is in now? When the time comes, the
conscienceless grain merchants in Juexi and Hezhou go even
further in trying to fleece money from us.”
“Hezhou is far away. Even if Cizhou wants to do business with it,
there’s no hurry to do so in these one or two years. I had some
understanding of Huaizhou when I left Qudu. Huaizhou contributed
half the effort in the preparation of the military provision this time,
and they have an abundance of grains in their granary. Dicheng,
which is on the outskirts of Qudu, lies to the southwest of Huaizhou,
and it leads directly to Juexi’s harbor too. Huaizhou just happens to
lack money if it wants to conduct businesses through Dicheng.
Cizhou can first sell the grains to Chazhou, then buy it back from
Huaizhou at a price lower than Chazhou. The surplus silver can be
used as a subsidy for other areas, while the granary can maintain
its abundance of grains at all times. This can give the Libei
Armored Cavalry, or Cizhou, some leeway at the crucial
moments.”
The Imperial Bodyguards had an assignment to “keep track
and record”, which is to take detailed records of the commodity
prices in the streets and alleys. When Shen Zechuan was in office
as the Northern Judge, he was in charge of the Imperial
Bodyguards’ military craftsmen and could leaf through the Imperial
Bodyguards’ annual records of the various areas. Ge Qingqing
initially wanted to have it copied down, but Shen Zechuan spent
the entire night memorizing it all down. He had been prematurely
on guard against the unknown future and had not been willing to
put all the important stuff down on paper that easily. As it turned
out, he did right. They left Qudu in such haste that they had no
time to bring anything else along. But all the records, files, and old
registries and books he had read before went with him when he
left.
Zhou Gui was lost in thought. He contemplated it over and over
again, then said, “If Huaizhou isn’t willing…”
“It’s feasible! Luoxia Pass lies to the east of Huaizhou. It can
transfer out local specialties from the frontiers of Libei, and it’s a
linear route to have them transported to the harbor.” The more
Kong Ling thought, the more excited he became. He could not
help but walk a few rounds, then he slapped his thighs and said,
“That’s right! We should have done it a long time ago! If Cizhou still
doesn’t know how to adapt to the circumstances, then won’t it still
be trapped in the same cage as before? This is workable!”
Shen Zechuan never answered the question of how he would
keep the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path in use, but Kong Ling was
already too preoccupied to bother about it. In the candlelight, he
seemed to see a new lease of life for Cizhou. From what had
happened with Lei Changming, he had thought Shen Zechuan to
be a man who would stoop to deception and trickery. But now, he
had forgotten all about it. He wanted to grab hold of Shen Zechuan
to say his proper thanks, but then, when he extended his hand, he
remembered Xiao Chiye, and so he hurriedly retracted them and
said, “If we do this, then even if we have an over-surplus of grains
in the next few years, we would not have to fear it growing mold in
the granary.”
“Then, let’s discuss the garrison troops.” Zhou Gui said from
across the table. “And the defenses of the city walls.”
Shen Zechuan drank his hot tea. He had yet to open his mouth
when he saw Ding Tao, who had been outside the study, poked his
head in and waved his hand vigorously at him.
“What’s the matter?” Shen Zechuan rose to his feet and walked
over to the door.
Ding Tao had gone out earlier, and he had been running until
his entire head and face were drenched in sweat. He opened his
mouth and said, “Young Master, Young Master! They’re here!”
Zhou Gui and Kong Ling came closer too. One moment, they
saw a very worked-up Ding Tao. The next moment, he suddenly
closed both eyes and burst out crying. As if sensing something,
Shen Zechuan walked out of the door in a daze. Sure enough, Ding
Tao said as he choked with sobs, “Young Master! The brothers are
back! Qiao Tianya is back too! And that Ji—”
Shen Zechuan was already taking large strides out to the
courtyard. It was already completely dark outside, and he was still
holding the teacup in his hand. As he walked, the tea spilled and
scaled his fingers until they were slightly red, but he did not seem
to notice; he had completely forgotten about it. He pressed on and
walked outside the residence. It was a short journey, but he was
sweating all over.
There were several carriages for the transportation of goods
parked outside the residence, and a few tall figures were standing
all spread out under the lanterns. The shorter one still in his cloak
was turned sideways as he stood while resting beside the carriage.
Shen Zechuan’s chest heaved. The rims of his eyes were
already reddened, but he forcibly held himself back, unwilling to
lay his emotions bare here.
Ji Gang turned around for a look on hearing the movements
and saw Shen Zechuan. He forgot all about the stone steps before
him and nearly tripped. He revealed a headful of disheveled white
hair and opened and closed his lips. Before he had even called out
the name, he was already in tears.
“Chuan…” Ji Gang was just like a child with white hair. Even as
he was miffed with himself for being inarticulate, he was also
anxiously beckoning to him. “You, you…”
Shen Zechuan descended the stairs in two steps and stepped
forth to support Ji Gang by the arm. Ji Gang turned his hands
around to grab hold of Shen Zechuan’s arms instead and sized him
up and down. In this life, he was first an Imperial Bodyguard in
Qudu and then a blacksmith in Duanzhou. Later, a great
catastrophe befell him, and he lost both of his wife and son to the
grim reaper. Even so, he would still push himself to put on a tough
act before others. But now, on seeing Shen Zechuan, he could not
control the tears from gushing from his eyes.
“Chuan-er…” Ji Gang wiped his tears with his rough fingers
and looked at Shen Zechuan over and over again. All the
thousands of words he had to say became a single line of “as long
as you’re fine.”
He was travel-worn, and he had thinned down quite a bit. Qi
Huilian was dead, and he had been feeling apologetic about it. At
the same time, he feared Shen Zechuan would have a rough time
after leaving Qudu, and so he had traveled at top speed the entire
journey, unable to eat and sleep well. All those suffering piled up
over his already hunched back. He had long ceased to be the Ji
Gang who was renowned in the world. But this emaciated body of
his was still willing to shelter and shield Shen Zechuan from the
elements. For this son, he could travel thousands upon thousands
of li, and he could fight the great heroes of the world. He really had
nothing else to ask for; he only wanted to see Shen Zechuan alive
and well.
“Why have you become so thin?!” Ji Gang could barely control
himself from saying.
“Shifu.” Shen Zechuan’s voice trembled. “Why has shifu lost so
much weight?”
“I’m too old to bear any torment.” Ji Gang hastily wiped his
tears and said happily, “I’m all good now that I’ve seen you!”
 Qiao Tianya brushed the shattered teacup aside and kneeled
on one knee. With the intent to ease the poignant moment, he said
with a smile, “Although it was a few extra months worth of journey,
this mission was smoothly accomplished. Master, how about a
reward of a meal and wine? Shifu, let’s take a seat before we talk!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The courtyard that was not big to begin with was all filled with
people. Kong Ling told the kitchen to cook up some hot dishes and
set up a table in the courtyard, whereupon he used “On
Horseback”6 to treat the newly arrived Imperial Bodyguards and
Libei guards to a dinner.
Qiao Tianya chased after Ding Tao’s plump sparrow with a pair
of chopsticks and said, “We’ve all gone thin from the running, but
you fed it until it’s all fat. Are you planning to make it into a dish for
us to enjoy with wine?”
Ding Tao was initially happy. But on hearing him, he scooped
up the sparrow and said sharply, “No!”
Gu Jin was starving. Even in the intervals when he was busy
shoving rice into his mouth, he did not forget to extend his
chopsticks and hit Qiao Tianya’s chopsticks back. He said in a
muffled voice, “You need a spanking or something? Why do you
have to insist on bullying a kid?”
“Your share of the food during the journey was never
deducted.” Chen Yang said as he sat and drank the wine. “So why
are you still this hungry?
“Brother Gu gave out all his food to the children begging along
the way.” It was then Fei Sheng socialized with them. He knew that
everyone would be fellow comrades in the future, so he chose his
words and picked the nice things to say, “Brother Gu is quite the
chivalrous one to dig out a good amount of copper coins to buy
steamed buns for them.”
“Help others in an emergency, but not if they are in constant
poverty,” Chen Yang said earnestly with good intentions. “You
really have to change that habit of yours where you go all soft-
hearted when you see others weep. There’s a shortage of food
everywhere now. I’m not telling you to refrain from doing kind
deeds, but you really need to know your limits.”
 “You spent all your money?” Ding Lai sprawled over the side of
the table and said, “Jin-ge, didn’t you say the last time that you
would hand it over to me? I’ll save it all up for you to marry a wife.
I’ve long said to leave it with me. I remember it very clearly.” As he
spoke, he fished out his little book. “It’s still written here that you
drank wine and borrowed three copper coins from me during the
spring festival three years ago. Of course, I don’t care about this bit
of money. I don’t care. Really, ge, I’m just…”
Gu Jin ate to his heart’s content. He stuffed the cotton he
always brought along with him into his right ear, then turned to the
left and said, “Wine from back home? Give me a jar.”
“Only three cups.” Qiao Tianya had already stopped eating
earlier. He said, “You have to go with me to report to my master in a
moment. Look at you drinking yourself drunk. Are you forgetting
how His Lordship punished you the last time? At this time, I’d
advise you to act with prudence.”
He was usually laughing and joking. But he was the Vice
Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard in the past, and he really
gave off an imposing air when he played the part now. His tone
was mild, but his words were not as pleasant to the ears.
Gu Jin frowned in irritation, but he still nodded his head and
said, “It’s just a craving; I haven’t had a drink for months.”
Gradually, Ding Tao stopped chattering. He was the youngest
among these people, and they usually saw and treated him as a
younger brother. None of the elder brothers had ever been stingy
in buying him candy. As such, he was not afraid of anyone and
would dare to get close with everyone. He was born a discerning
person, one who was particularly sensitive to the exchange of
emotions between people. He could sense that the various older
brothers did not seem to be as relaxed as they looked on the
surface, so he held his little sparrow in both hands and behaved
himself while he sat at the side, making neither noise nor fuss.
When they were almost done with their meals, Kong Ling
arranged for some people to clear out the courtyard so that the
guests who had been on the road all this while could rest. As it was
already midnight, Shen Zechuan sent Ding Tao to lead Ji Gang
away for a rest. The few at the head all had matters to report, and
so they stood in successive order on the veranda and prepared to
take turns to enter.
“Come on in all at once and take a seat. We can discuss it
together if there’s something you need to say.” After all of them
had entered, Shen Zechuan sat in the main seat and asked Chen
Yang first, “Did the preparation of the military provisions go
smoothly?”
Chen Yang sat upright and organized his choice of words for a
moment before he said, “No. As Young Master had expected
before I left, the officials of Huaizhou tried every means and way to
stonewall and stall the preparations. The war in Libei was intense at
that time, and Master’s two-days deadline was just around the
corner. I was burning with anxiety. It was a guard of Luoxia Pass, His
Excellency Jiang, who stepped forth to vouch for me that Huaizhou
was finally willing to release the grains. Fortunately, we made it in
time for the deadline, and the Provisions Bridle Path leads right to
Libei, so the military affairs were not held up.” At this point, he fell
silent for a moment before he continued, “I saw the Hereditary
Prince back in Libei. He’s severely injured. When he heard that
Master was caught in a heavy siege back in Qudu, he wanted to
lead the troops over to receive him. Unfortunately, His Lordship the
Prince overruled him.”
Shen Zechuan did not ask for further details. Instead, he turned
to Gu Jin and said, “You came to Cizhou to transfer grains back
then. Zhou Gui isn’t that hard to deal with compared to the
Huaizhou Prefectural Prefect. So why are you still looking troubled
now?”
Gu Jin looked somewhat taken aback to be called. Everyone
present could notice his absent-mindedness. Shen Zechuan looked
at him. Gu Jin replied, “… It’s true that I did not encounter any
difficulties when I came to Cizhou to supervise the preparation of
military provisions. I went along with the troops to deliver it to the
frontline well in advance, and I even saw His Lordship the Prince at
the eastern range of Hongyan Mountains.”
He did not speak quickly, and when he stopped, he hesitated
for a very long time.
 “I heard that Master had left Qudu, so I’ve been waiting for him
to return home. It was when I saw Chen Yang in the army later that I
knew Master had stopped over in Cizhou. And so I rushed over.”
Libei was just to the north of Cizhou. By all reasoning, they
should have been faster than Qiao Tianya.
Shen Zechuan tapped his fingertips lightly on the tabletop. He
skipped over it and said to Qiao Tianya. “How about you? Tell me
the details.”
Qiao Tianya propped up his arm on the chair handle and
answered very quickly, “I hurried on my way to search for shifu and
teacher on Master’s order. I traced the trail in the inner chamber of
the Xue’s residence and discovered that Xue Xiuzhuo had moved
shifu over to the Donglong’s broker house, but there was no trace
of Mister. We were a step late… and we could not get out of the city
gate, so we could only go into hiding in Qudu.” As he spoke, he
looked at Fei Sheng. “It just happened that he was also leading his
men to hide from the noble clans’ searches. We tried every means
possible to get out of the city, but Han Cheng had the city so tightly
guarded that not even a drop of water could get through. We really
had nowhere to go, so we hid at His Lordship’s Plum Blossom
Residence. As luck would have it, it was in the Plum Blossom
Residence that I found the layout blueprint of Qudu’s public ditches
that His Lordship had tricked out of the Pan clan.”
This item was obtained by Xiao Chiye from Pan Lin when he
had hosted a banquet after being promoted to a nobility rank. At
that time, he was prepared to keep it for himself as a contingency
measure. But by some unexpected turn of events, it became the key
for Qiao Tianya and the rest’s escape from Qudu.
“We crawled our way out from the public ditches.” As Fei Sheng
spoke, he reached a hand out to gesture with his fingers. “The
public ditches in the various streets are all newly dug. I don’t know
if this was His Lordship’s intent, but they are all narrow on the
outside and wide inside. There are even candles and field rations
stored in the dry spots. Over fifty of us relied on these field rations
to circle around the Eight Great Training Divisions for more than
ten days before we finally came out of Qudu at a place near Mount
Feng.”
 “After we emerged, we realized that there were strictly enforced
checks on public roads between Qudu and the eight cities. So we
pawned off the gold, silver, and jade pendants on us and
disguised ourselves as traveling merchants. We made a detour
from the south of Chuancheng to Chazhou, then hurried from
Chazhou over to Cizhou.” Qiao Tianya said. “When we arrived at
Chazhou half a month earlier, we heard that Han Cheng had
already sent the imperial heir into the palace. But news was sparse
after leaving Chazhou, so we lost track of what happened after. As
for other details, we’ll have to wait for Ge Qingqing’s letter.”
No one disturbed Shen Zechuan as he contemplated it over. He
heard the sound of Ding Tao walking on the veranda and waited
until Ding Tao walked to the door before he said, “Both of you are
tired. So go with Ding Tao and take a rest for tonight.”
Fei Sheng was a discerning man who could take his cues. He
was not in a hurry to lay his loyalty bare tonight either, so he rose in
one smooth move, took his leave of the master together with Qiao
Tianya, and withdrew out of the room.
◈ ◈ ◈
The candle flame flared a little and flickered for a moment.
Gu Jin never lifted his head to utter another sound. He sank in
the darkness, with the shadows from the candle flame cast upon
the side of his face like two of villains scuffling with one another.
Shen Zechuan was surprisingly cool-headed as he said, “Did
something happen to both of you in Libei?”
Chen Yang lifted a hand to partially cover his face and propped
up his elbow on the chair handle. He said, “… I’ve been staying
close to the Hereditary Prince, so nothing really happened to me.
It’s Gu Jin.”
Gu Jin undid his clasps in the unbearable silence, took off his
upper garment, and turned around, thereby exposing his entire
back right before Shen Zechuan. He said, “These matters should
have been reported directly to Master, but Master will only be back
a few days later. As per Master’s instruction back in Qudu, I can
report to Young Master’s first. I arrived at the area where the war
was the most intense. His Lordship and Commander-in-Chief Zuo
are both safe. After the conclusion of the military provisions
investigation, I temporarily took up my original position as the
vanguard of the reconnaissance squad, dealing with the cavalry of
the Hanshe Tribe every day. I can’t remember which day, but we ran
into an ambush when I was leading the squad back from the
eastern mountain ranges.”
That back was already festered. The more severe spots had
already been scraped away. Blood could still be seen seeping
through the bandaged areas.
“I was hit by an arrow, but I managed to escape. I initially
thought it was someone from the Hanshe Tribe, so I led the
remaining 200 men and skirted around the grasslands where the
Hanshe Tribe lurks to make our way back through the Tudalong
Banner’s7 swamps. But who knew, we got ambushed again that
very night at Tudalong Banner.” Gu Jin pulled up his clothes over
him. As he secured the clasps, he said, “Young Master, I was initially
a scout. It’s because of this pair of eyes and ears that I could be
chosen by His Lordship the Prince as a guard. I may not be as good
as I was before in all these years I’ve stayed in Qudu, but after
Master’s admonition, I no longer dared to be negligent, especially
on the battlefield where I tread with a lot more caution. That night,
my marching route order was directly issued. I’ve never discussed
it with anyone. Yet we got ambushed both times. So I started to
suspect that there’s a spy from the Hanshe Tribe in the squad.”
“While escaping the second time, I discovered there was snake
venom on the arrow. This poison had been smeared on Ding Tao’s
steel needles in the past. It’s something that came from the
Hongyan western mountain range. My back was festering pretty
badly, and we were being closely pursued through the swamps.
Then I was also bitten by some poisonous bugs. I couldn’t hold out,
and a fever broke out at dawn.”
At this point, Gu Jin stopped.
He spoke dully, and he paused many times as if repeatedly
confirming to himself in case he said one word wrong. He knew
the implications of his upcoming words.
“Our horses all drowned in the swamp. I couldn’t walk on
anymore. The Libei Armored Cavalry’s Changzhu camp lies about
ten li or so south of Tudalong Banner. Strangely enough, no one
was on patrol that day. I had my trusted junior general head back
first while I remained where I was to wait for reinforcements. But no
one came even after I waited from dusk to dawn the next day. I was
worried that the spy would make use of this chance to enter
Changzhu camp, so I pushed myself to hurry back. I barely escaped
by the skin of my teeth back to the camp, but I was stripped of my
blade and held in custody. I spent the entire night in the prison
shack where the Biansha prisoners-of-war were detained. On the
second day, I was taken to the front tent to be put on trial with the
general of Changzhu camp, Guo Weili, presiding over it.”
Gu Jin omitted the details of the trial. He had no wish to recall it
either. That was, to him, not physical pain, but a mental collapse of
sorts.
He continued in a very, very soft voice. “They said I was in
covert communication with the Hanshe Tribe to wipe out the
vanguard squad even further east in the Tudalong Banner. They
stripped me of my rank in the military and wanted me to confess if I
had done so on someone else’s instructions. I can’t confess to
something I have never done. I questioned Changzhu camp why
they overlooked both of my consecutive requests for
reinforcements, and they claimed that they never received it.
According to military law, I would have to undergo a joint trial by
three generals and have the current commander-in-chief give the
go-ahead in person before I can be executed. But Guo Weili kept
insisting that the Hereditary Prince have yet to recover from his
severe injuries, and they had the authority to act on his behalf. If
not for Chen Yang arriving in time that day, I would not be standing
here before Young Master now.”
Shen Zechuan picked out the candle wick with a silver needle,
and the flame extinguished. He stared at that candle, which
seemed to be shedding tears. In just an instant, countless thoughts
had already flashed through his mind. He did not even need to be
reminded by Chen Yang and Gu Jin to remember, from the letter of
appointment by the Ministry of War, that this Guo Weili was a
person Xiao Jiming had single-handedly promoted.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Xiao Chiye followed the trail left by Lei Jingzhe and pursued
him all the way to the north of the old camping grounds. He
dismounted to grab a handful of soil, then looked ahead and
slightly narrowed his eyes.
Tantai Hu surveyed the mountain range and said, “They are
going to step across Libei’s boundary line if they continue on north;
they won’t dare to head there, so they can only split up and flee.
Master, I suspect he is leading us on a wild goose chase. It’s too
strenuous to keep chasing after them like this.”
“He’s indeed doing just that.” Xiao Chiye loosened his grip.
“And they are fleeing in small groups. Naturally, we can’t catch
them all in one fell swoop with a large net. But if we split up now,
we will fall into the other party’s trap. He’s unwilling to fight me
head-on because he can’t handle the momentum of the Imperial
Army. He’s worried that his own men will lose focus and morale.
They are familiar with this area, so they try every means possible to
lure us into splitting up into small groups so that they can break
through our defenses one by one.”
“We don’t have enough cavalry.” Tantai Hu examined the
terrains. “This brigand is really too crafty!”
“No rush.” Xiao Chiye stood up.
Meng returned from his patrol and landed on Xiao Chiye’s
shoulder. It stood together with Xiao Chiye in the night breeze. The
wind rustled the grass, scattering a few strands of willow leaves
before him.
“Of the five arms, only fire is the most intense.”8 Once again,
Xiao Chiye got on his horse. “I want a fire so blazing that he has
nowhere to hide.”
Tantai Hu followed suit and got on his horse. He said, “But there
are more lands than trees here. If set aflame, I fear the fire will
spread to the grasslands of Libei.
Xiao Chiye laughed out loud on the horse and said to Tantai
Hu, “I’m not asking you to burn this place down. Go to the big
towns and small villages along the way and get them to put up
bulletins announcing that whoever harbors the bandits will be
executed with immediate effect. If they inform the Imperial Army,
they will be rewarded copper coins per bandit reported. I’ll pay as
much as they report. And tell them too, Cizhou is about to issue a
conscription notice. If they go, three meals a day will be provided if
nothing else, and informants who have been rewarded cash from
the Imperial Army will be given priority. Since Lei Jingzhe doesn’t
want to be found by us, I’ll make him expose himself.”
Tantai Hu was hesitant, but still said, “But didn’t we run out of
money…”
“Go report the figures to Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye urged his horse
on, then reined it in and looked back to say, “This Second Young
Master can’t even dig out some copper coins?”
Tantai Hu looked embarrassed.
Xiao Chiye twirled his thumb ring and said with an unfeeling
expression, “Oh.”

T97’s Words:
Three chapters in one.
A word about the grains. Here, 1 dan≈90kg. Qudu has a special
supply granary, so the price of grains generally will not fluctuate
too drastically. Officials have monthly income subsidies. In
comparison, the price of goods in Juexi is high. 16,000 dan can
roughly last the 20,000 Imperial Army troops 2.5 months. But this is
based on the premise that there’s no war and the Imperial Army
has no cavalry and will not be on the move constantly. It’s a rough
calculation I made. Of course, it’s also possible that I was off in my
calculation orz.
Thank you for reading.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO
CEO Lanzhou + All of Zhongbo Mart’s minions
Eggy, Rie, Lam, Lin, Yunyun, Dee, Lianyin
+ Alex for burning brain cells!
Footnotes
1. 酉时 hour of you, i.e., 5-7 pm based on the system of two-
hour subdivisions used in former times
2. 卯时 hour of mao, i.e., 5-7 am based on the system of
two-hour subdivisions used in former times
3. 石 dan, dry measure for grain equal. 1 dan =
approximately 90kg (see author’s note)
4. Map
5. 斗 dou, a dry measure for grain equal to one-tenth of a 石
dan
6. A strong wine from Libei, as mentioned in Chapter 102
7. 旗 banner, administrative subdivision in inner Mongolia
equivalent to county in China
8. 五兵之中，惟火最烈 From Jixiao Xinshu; New Treatise on
Effective Military Discipline 《纪效新书》 by Qi Jiguang (戚继
光). It is a military treatise or manual written in 1560 by Qi
Jiguang, a Ming Dynasty General famous for defending
China from the Japanese pirates’ invasion.
QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 114 : INTENSITY OF FLAMES (REVISED)

Guest Translated by: Tea<3

Edited by: Lianyin

Having gone hungry for a whole day, Lei Jingzhe squatted

beside the pigsty with a bowl in hand. He shoved those hard-
earned corn1 noodles into his mouth and gulped them down. One
of his subordinates was also squatting next to him. He was a little
imp around the same age as Ding Tao, but as strong as a young ox.
He gobbled down his food just as ravenously as Lei Jingzhe did.
A head poked out of the opened kitchen window, and the man
used a stir-fry spatula to bang on the pot rim and yelled, “There’s
some soup broth left. Do you want to drink it? If you do, then get
your ass over here quick!”
“Yes, yes, we want it!” Before Li Xiong had even finished
swallowing the noodles in his mouth, he was already hurriedly
running to the window. He wiped his mouth with the back of his
hand as he brought his bowl next to the pot. His eyes never once
left that clear soup.
“You have quite the appetite there.” The cook scraped the
bottom of the pot. “Tell your older brother to get down to work and
find some honest job to do. Then you wouldn’t have to starve to
this extent!”
“My bro is going to do great things!” Li Xiong saw the soup was
about to drip from the side of the bowl, so he swiped his fingers
around it and put his finger into his mouth to suck it clean.
The cook was a strong man in the prime of his life, too. He
pulled his apron and wiped the sweat on his forehead. Looking at
how strong and good-natured Li Xiong was, he wiped the sweat off
for him too while he was at it and said with disapproval, “Your face
is as dark as the bottom of a pot, and there’s no one at home to
take care of you. Hey, you there. What are you busy with all day? At
least clean this kid up a bit!”
 Lei Jingzhe smiled simply at the cook. He was still chewing the
pickled vegetables. Li Xiong trotted over and poured the soup into
Lei Jingzhe’s bowl as if he was offering up a treasure. He said
solicitously, “Bro, you eat it!”
“Good lad!” Lei Jingzhe did not stand on ceremony as he tilted
his head back and drank it in one gulp. When he finished drinking,
he looked up at the sun above his head; it was so scorching that it
was making him sweat. He squeezed his stinging eyes shut, shifted
his feet, and cursed under his breath, “Fuck his mother!”
“Fuck his mother,” Li Xiong imitated him. He stood up and
shielded Lei Jingzhe from the sunlight.
Lei Jingzhe propped up an arm on his knee and asked, “How is
it outside?”
Li Xiong stretched his neck out and looked around. He
answered in a small voice, “They’re still searching!”
Looking irritable, Lei Jingzhe hung his head down, exposing a
scorpion tattoo on the back of his neck that was currently dripping
with sweat. He had dispersed his people after he had fled from
Cizhou, taking only this silly lad he had raised from childhood with
him as he sneaked his way into a small town along the public road.
He had sat and watched as the Imperial Army was led on a wild
goose chase all over. He was waiting for Xiao Chiye to run out of
patience so that he would disperse his own soldiers and come after
him himself. Who knew Xiao Chiye was not impatient in the
slightest? Instead, he had set this fire along this road, letting it
blaze until all the people were burning with anxiety and panic
everywhere.
“Bro, the reward money of the Imperial Army’s money is so
pathetic.” Li Xiong said with bewilderment. “It’s not enough to even
get the brothers some wine. Why are there still so many people
going?”
“It’s precisely because the reward is small.” Under Lei Jingzhe’s
sweat-sheened brows were a pair of extremely bright eyes. “The
price he’s offering is exactly right.”
If Xiao Chiye set the reward money right at the price of a couple
of taels of silvers, then the commoners would not necessarily be
willing to be his informants. Zhongbo had been hit with many
disasters in recent years. The bandits ruled by force, so the higher
the reward, the more it suggested that it was no easy feat to do
what was asked of them—that it was a task that might jolly well cost
them their lives. But a few copper coins were worthwhile. They only
had to inform the Imperial Army upon discovering traces of the
bandits, and no one would know about it. It was just a few copper
coins, and it was normal to spend it all in an instant. Even if this
group of bandits came back to seek vengeance, they would not be
able to track anyone down.
“Then what should we do?” Li Xiong drenched in sweat from
head to toe. He looked at Lei Jingzhe. “Bro, why don’t we just
fucking go ahead and do it! He only has 20,000 men.”
Lei Jingzhe was feeling restless too. He could not be clearer
about Xiao Chiye’s intentions. Xiao Chiye wanted to force them into
making a move out of restlessness so that they would not be able
to sit still and continue hiding. But he was extremely clear-headed.
He knew that the people he was leading were a motley crew
cobbled together from the two prefectures in the east. None of
them had received formal military training. They would end up
battered and defeated the moment they lost their current
advantage and faced off the well-equipped Imperial Army.
However, it was not an option to keep hiding either. Lei Jingzhe
could hide, but could those rowdy subordinates of his hold it in?
Lei Jingzhe was sweating. He stared at the muck under his feet
and said, “That person is a little underhand. He won’t play a game
with me by the rules of benevolence, justice, morality, virtue, and
the likes. I don’t think he has even set up defenses in the north at
all. He just wants to jostle us over. He knows very well that it’s Libei
in the north, and he’s betting that we won’t dare to go there.”
But damn it!
Feeling stifled with pent-up frustration, Lei Jingzhe spat.
He really did not dare to go!
“We’ll wait for one more night.” Lei Jingzhe suddenly stood up
and said, “Go, tell Liu’er to notify the brothers who are still in the
town tonight that we’ll leave if the situation doesn’t look right. If
worst comes to worst, we’ll just retreat back to Mount Luo first. I
have all the energy to play a war of attrition with Xiao Chiye!”
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was eating a few steamed buns paired with pickled
vegetables. He sat on a wooden stake used for tethering horses
and watched as the soldiers issued paper slips that could be used
to exchange for copper coins to the commoners who came to tip
them off.
“Master.” Tantai Hu walked over and said, “He really is
something to scatter his people everywhere. How is he going to
issue his orders this way? He can’t be going around knocking on
their doors one by one, can he?”
“As the bandit chief, he naturally has his ways.” As Xiao Chiye
spoke, he scratched Meng, who was perched on his shoulder. “The
gyrfalcons raised in Libei are also able to pass on military
intelligence swiftly.”
“We caught quite a number of them.” Tantai Hu said. “What
shall we do with them?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Kill them.”
Tantai Hu turned to look at that other side, then looked back at
Xiao Chiye. He said quietly, “But I heard that some of them are
gentlemen from respectable families. Kill them all?”
Xiao Chiye looked at Tantai Hu and said, “Since they went to
Mount Luo to join the bandits and submit themselves to Lei
Jingzhe’s command, they should have expected such a day to
come. I’m here to eradicate the bandits. There is no reason for me
to show mercy to the enemy forces. Besides, let me ask you.
Humans are all born with a mouth. If every one of them says that
they are from a respectable family, then who do you believe, and
who do you not?”
Tantai Hu said nothing.
Xiao Chiye stood up and watched as Meng flew away. He said,
“I know you’re thinking of the Biansha Cavalry. But Laohu,
benevolence should not be used in the wrong place. You’ve been
in the army for a long time. These are originally words I shouldn’t
have to make a special point of telling you. Are you not able to
figure it out yourself?”
Tantai Hu lowered his head and made to kneel.
 “Remain standing.” Xiao Chiye patted his shoulder. “You are
now a general leading the soldiers, not a squad commander
standing guard at the main city gate of Dengzhou. Don’t get your
position all wrong.”
Xiao Chiye was generous, but he was also quite exacting. The
guards around him all knew when to advance and when to retreat.
He could even make Chen Yang feel worse than if he had been
whipped the last time the latter had sat on the sidelines. However,
guards and generals were two different things. Why did Xiao Chiye
not let Chen Yang lead the troops? There was no doubt that Zhao
Hui, the person by Xiao Jiming’s side, was a valiant general. Xiao
Chiye obviously had other considerations in mind.
Xiao Chiye did not fly into a rage, nor was there a change in his
countenance, but Tantai Hu was already looking quite ashamed.
None of them could get a handle on Xiao Chiye’s true moods and
emotions, but with just a relaxed tone like this from Xiao Chiye,
Tantai Hu had already begun to reflect on his own shortcomings.

Credit to Teafor image! <3

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If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
 SPECIAL THANKS TO
Guest Translator: Tea <3
(Edited by Lianyin)
Footnotes
1. 苞谷面 noodles made out of maize or corn
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 115 : DESTINY

Translated with: Dee<3

Swing after swing of the Imperial Army’s blades pressed in

towards them. The soil under their feet was already soaking wet
from the splashes of blood. A bandit who was still alive was pinned
to the ground. He listened to the never-ending screams until even
his pants were wet with piss. The back of a blade pressed up
against the back of his neck. His nose and mouth were smeared all
over with bloodied water, choking him until tears and mucus
flowed. He cried in terror, “I don’t know. I really don’t know!”
Lei Jingzhe was suspicious by nature, and he was very secretive
about his whereabouts when he was in Mount Luo. Other than his
trusted aides, no one else knew his exact hiding place.
Tantai Hu scraped away the bloody mud on the soles of his
boots and said, “Since you know nothing, then why are you
wasting our time? Drag him away!”
Both of the bandit’s arms were bound behind his back, and the
Imperial Army dragged him by the rope to the execution spot. He
kicked out both legs, looking at those headless corpses lying on
either side of him. The back of the blade that had been pressing
against his nape was already turned over, and the sharp edge of
the blade made him tremble all over. He watched Tantai Hu lift his
blade and suddenly burst out bawling. “Liu’er! Sir! I know where
Liu’er is!”
Tantai Hu asked, “Is this person a trusted aide of Lei Jingzhe?”
“Yes, yes, a trusted aide!” The bandit’s chest heaved as he
stared wide-eyed at that blade and said. “Liu’er is our ‘carrier
pigeon’. He is the one who passes on all the orders issued by Lei
Jingzhe! It was also Liu’er who sent someone to pass me the
message telling me to bring the men to hide out in the west!”
After having been here for half a night, Tantai Hu finally
managed to pry out some information. He lifted the man and
asked, “Where is this Liu’er now?”
“In Bianshui Town.” The bandit answered. “The information I
received a few days back came from Bianshui Town. If you go look
for him now, you will definitely find him!”
Bianshui Town was just a few li away, but on second thoughts,
Tantai Hu felt that it did not bode well. They had searched through
that place many times, and in all probability, they had already
alerted the enemy. He hurriedly released his grip on the man and
strode away to report to Xiao Chiye.
The Imperial Army promptly changed direction and raced to
Bianshui Town. They set up a heavy siege outside the town, then
searched from house to house and detained all the recent arrivals
with questionable origins who were not registered in the
household register. The bandits were identified one by one, but
there were no traces of Liu’er and Lei Jingzhe.
Seeing as dawn was about to break, the bandit feared that Xiao
Chiye would take out his anger on him, so he racked his brain to
offer suggestions. He said, “Liu’er has plenty of followers; they are
all his snoops and spies. Every time he heads out for battles, they
will spread out all around him to facilitate the relying of updates to
Lei Jingzhe. Now that they are not here, it’s most likely because
they have gotten wind of it and fled. You have blocked off access to
the south, and we don’t dare to head north, so we can only retreat
east. If you give chase now, you’ll definitely be able to catch up to
them!”
Although Tantai Hu despised a spineless coward like him who
would sell out his master for his own benefit, he still reported the
information as it was to Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye considered it over
for a moment on his horse before he said to Tantai Hu, “Take half of
your men and chase after them along the eastern side of the
mountain forest. They are now birds that will be startled at the mere
twang of a bow-string. Just intimidate them a little, and they will be
in such panic that they won’t be able to turn around and meet the
attack head-on as usual. You just need to hit them hard. Those
remaining thousand people are all scattered soldiers without
contact with their commander. They won’t be able to hold their
own against you.”
 Tantai Hu acknowledged his orders, only to see Xiao Chiye
gathering the remaining men. So he asked, “Since that’s the case,
wouldn’t it do for Master to wait for me here? Why make another
trip?”
“Look at Lei Jingzhe’s behavior and demeanor, and you should
know that he’s not only suspicious by nature but also terrified of
death. Whatever we can think of, he can think of it too. If heading
east is the only way for them to take, he will not go along with such
a large contingent of troops. That is too big a target; it’s too
obvious.” Xiao Chiye wound up his horsewhip and said, “Since he
dared to use Lei Changming as a live target earlier, he will similarly
dare to use these remaining thousand people as live targets as
well. You may set your mind at ease and head east. I’ll go block
him.”
◈ ◈ ◈
It was scorching hot these two days. The sun was so blazing
that it made the bandits burning with anxiety even more restless
and uneasy. They squatted in groups in the mountain forest.
Seeing as Lei Jingzhe had been slow to show himself, they loudly
questioned Liu’er, who was standing on a rock. “Master Liu is also a
part of the council, so you would be clearer than us when it comes
to news of the second-in-command. What is the situation now? Tell
us!”
Liu’er stuffed tobacco into his pipe but did not manage to find a
flint. He squatted on the rock and looked up at the clear, cloudless
sky. It was too bright to take in everything at a glance. He clicked
his tongue and said, “I’m here to deliver a message, aren’t I? That
is, go home!”
“The Imperial Army has captured a few hundred brothers under
my command, and I still don’t know if they are alive or dead now.
I’m waiting for the second-in-command to come up with an idea to
save them, and he’s telling us to go home just like this? Isn’t this
just tucking our tails between our legs and subjecting ourselves to
bullying?!” A man with a booming voice stood up and said with
discontent. “We were all big names back in Mount Luo, and we
followed him to Cizhou so that we would have no lack of food and
water. In the end, we have all become cowards like tortoises hiding
in their shells. This is really fucking pissing me off!”
“Isn’t this all because we are down on our luck.” Liu’er not only
looked like a shrewd old monkey, the way he handled matters was
also similar. He had a lot to complain about regarding Lei Jingzhe’s
current order, but he would never voice it out, so he said in an
attempt to smooth things over, “Even if you return to Mount Luo
now, you will still be a big name there. Whom among us can take it
lying down? But there will be times when even a horse will stumble.
It’s no big deal if we suffer from the occasional defeat. All you have
to do is report the number of people you have lost to the council
later and get the second-in-command to make it up to you, as well
as allocate some silver to you. Surely he won’t shortchange you.”
“Do I look like I give a damn about that bit of silver?” The man
spat. “I’m heartbroken for those brothers! Do you think people are
that easily replaced nowadays? Didn’t you see the public notice
posted by the Imperial Army? Cizhou wants to rebuild its garrison
troops. There are meals and fields to be had. Why would anyone
give up a decent job in a regular army and join us? They got a
screw loose up there?! Moreover, our numbers are much greater
than the Imperial Army. We should have just fought them the first
time we encountered them at the foot of Cizhou’s city gate! But he
feared this and that. The fuck he’s afraid of?! This is just great. We
haven’t even met them head-on, and we have already inexplicably
lost!”
Sounds of agreement rang out all around at his words.
Creases formed at the corners of Liu’er’s eyes. He said, “The
second-in-command is just being cautious. The Imperial Army is
well-equipped. Look at those armors that are so polished they
shine. We might not necessarily be their match if we really come to
blows.”
“They just look impressive on the surface!” The man wiped the
phlegm he had spit out with the sole of his shoe and said, “What
kind of troops is the Imperial Army? How many battles have they
fought? They can’t fight for nuts! They only fought once with the
Eight Great Training Divisions at the gate of Zhongbo. Can that
even be called a battle? That’s called a pissing contest! Whoever
the fuck stands the longest wins!”
Laughter broke out all around.
The man noisily cleared his throat and tugged at his collar
again to reveal a reddish chest. He said, “As I see it, we are not in a
hurry to leave. Cizhou is such a big gold mine. If we miss it this
time, it’ll be harder to lay our hands on it the next time! The
Imperial Army goes around posting notices everywhere to get the
common folks to tip them off. But at the end of the day, they are still
afraid, no?! If not, then let them bring it on! We are now all
gathered together, and we have at least five or six thousand
people. Just engaging in guerrilla warfare in the mountains alone
will be enough to make the Imperial Army suffer!”
Liu’er did not kick up a stink with him or make a decision. He
rubbed the pipe in his hand and said, “The second-in-command
said to go back, and you still want to fight them. Then go notify
him yourself.”
“He wants to be a cowering tortoise and hide his head under
his crotch. Where am I supposed to go looking for him?” The man
sneered. “He doesn’t even dare to show his face. Why? Afraid
there’s an Imperial Army spy among the brothers? Bah!”
The man that Lei Jingzhe had used as a shield that day when
he fled was none other than this man’s prospective brother-in-law.
His younger sister was just as burly as him, and she had been
previously unable to find a suitable person to marry. It had not been
easy to find a man who treated his younger sister well this time,
and they were even ready to have the wedding at the year of the
year. But who would have expected Lei Jingzhe to use him as a
shield this trip! He hated Lei Jingzhe for being hard-hearted, and
he also resented Lei Jingzhe for subjecting them to this kind of
frustration they could only bottle up.
“I’ll repeat the second-in-command’s words.” Liu’er stood up
and pounded at his waist with his pipe. He said, “We are now the
vanguard squad. We don’t have many people, but we are still
different from those minor bandits we came across on the way. As
long as we can get out of Cizhou’s border within five days and
arrive at Dunzhou’s relay station, we can be considered to be back
in our own territory. By then, we will have nothing to fear even if the
Imperial Army wants to continue pursuing us.” On seeing the fury
on that man’s face after he was done speaking, he continued, “Of
course, the second-in-command is still hurrying on his way here.
Whether we leave or stay is open to discussion.”
They were initially bandits gathered from various mountain
strongholds. Although Lei Changming was usually a headstrong
man, he was very generous to the brothers, showering them with
meat and wine, money, and women. Even if they made a mistake,
they only had to plead for mercy for the matter to be dropped. But
Lei Jingzhe was different. Not only did he rarely show himself, he
was also rather severe in meting out punishments. Eight or nine out
of ten wrongdoers who ended up in his hands would all meet their
ends. He relied on inspiring awe to lead these bandits. Those who
feared him outnumbered those who respected him. Now that
everyone had fallen into dire straits together, it was inevitable for
them to start harboring other intentions. One could take turns to be
the emperor, so why not the chief of the bandits? He who is
capable is qualified!
Seeing how Liu’er was a weathercock who did not want to
offend both sides, the man said, “Fine, the second-in-command
won’t come, and he tells us to flee by ourselves. I’m of the view that
he can be unrighteous, but we can’t be unrighteous! The Imperial
Army is still at Bianshui Town, right? Liu’er, don’t you fucking leave
any traces behind! Let’s take this place as our camping ground and
carry out harassment in small groups. We are used to climbing
mountains. As long as the Imperial Army gathers manpower and
turns around to fight us, we will run back. Forget it if they don’t
enter the mountain, but if they dare to pursue their way in, then we
will take all of them down and not let anyone return alive! As long
as he’s human, he will not be able to hold out if we keep up with
this war of attrition against him for a few days. When the time
comes, we’ll charge our way down in one burst of energy and beat
the shit out of him! The City of Cizhou will still fall into our hands as
long as the Imperial Army is afraid, no? So how about it? Do we do
it or not?!”
 The remaining people were all fired up by his words. They had
been living like vermin detested by all these few days. Not only
were they killed by the Imperial Army, they were also subjected to
bullying by unarmed commoners. They could neither eat nor sleep
well. Where had they ever had to endure this kind of hardship back
in Mount Luo? So they promptly chimed in and shouted,
“Do it! We’ll follow Big Bro Ding’s lead!”
Pleased, Ding Niu laughed out loud. He nodded in satisfaction
and said, “We all have brothers who have been captured by the
Imperial Army. This revenge must be taken! If Xiao Chiye dares to
kill one of our men, we’ll kill ten of his to give vent to this wrath of
ours! Who knows, when the time comes for us to take him captive
and occupy the city of Cizhou, maybe even Xiao Jiming will try to
cozy up to us!”
The bandits were in high spirits, and for a moment, everyone
was talking all at once about the good life they would have after
occupying the City of Cizhou. Ding Niu was on cloud nine after
being praised, and he increasingly felt confident that this plan
would work. He was already thinking about bringing his younger
sister over and finding her a husband, one who had to be better
than the one who died! But then he had a better idea—this Xiao
Chiye works fine too! He was not only impressive-looking, he was
also taller than him, had a great physique, and came from a good
family background.
At this point, Ding Niu was already thinking about children and
grandchildren. But then he saw the disciple on sentry duty at the
foot of the mountain scrambling his way over. The latter’s face was
pale with fright as he announced, “The Imperial Army is here!”
Liu’er slipped his way into the blades of grasses, wanting to
flee. Ding Niu grabbed this wily old fart, lifted him, and demanded
with a glare, “You tipped the Imperial Army off?!”
Liu’er hunched over, his long arms dangling, his white
eyebrows almost trailing to the ground. He hurriedly shook his
head and said, “Not me. How can it be me? I wouldn’t have come if
it were me!”
Ding Niu put Liu’er back on the ground. He steeled himself and
said at the top of his voice, “Great! Since they have come calling at
our door themselves, then we shall go and meet them!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Lei Jingzhe spurred his horse on and galloped on the road. He
had already skirted around the mountain forest at the east and was
on his return trip back. More than half of the Imperial Army troops
would be held up with Ding Niu, Liu’er, and the rest of the group as
his cover, while the remaining had to stay behind to guard the
southern side of Cizhou as well as the villages and towns along the
way. He was the fish that had slipped through the net.
Lei Jingzhe had only brought along the silly lad, Li Xiong. He
did not want the rest of them. It was not because he trusted Li
Xiong that he was willing to take him along, but because this lad
was silly enough, and Lei Jingzhe had single-handedly brought
him up all by himself. Li Xiong was the most obedient lad, and Lei
Jingzhe could tell what he was thinking at a mere glance.
Lei Jingzhe rode a horse, while Li Xiong ran on foot. He ran
with great vigor and had no trouble keeping up as he followed
behind Lei Jingzhe’s horse. They had already been running all
night, and Li Xiong was still naively waiting to meet up with the rest
of them.
“Take a drink of water.” Lei Jingzhe tossed the water bag to Li
Xiong as he reined in his horse. “We won’t be resting en route
today.”
Li Xiong opened the lid and gulped down more than half of it
in one breath.
On seeing this, Lei Jingzhe cursed. “You stupid brat! If you drink
it all up now, then what are you going to drink at night? You’re
going to keep whining about wanting to pee later with this much
water in your stomach!”
Li Xiong wiped his mouth with a smile and patted his stomach.
He said, “I won’t, bro. It’ll be gone after a run!”
Lei Jingzhe hung the water bag back on the horse’s back. He
asked, “Are you hungry?”
Li Xiong shook his head and said, “I stuffed myself so much last
night that I’m still full! We’ll be able to eat meat once we’re back in
Mount Luo.”
 Thus, Lei Jingzhe did not linger further and continued hurrying
on his way with Li Xiong in tow. They had helpers in Dunzhou, and
the Dunzhou relay station could pass on his message to deploy the
bandit soldiers who were still guarding Mount Luo. Lei Jingzhe was
in such a hurry because he still had some misgivings. He wanted to
arrive before news of Ding Niu, Liu’er, and the others’ capture
made its way back. Otherwise, should the news arrive first, half of
the trust and reputation he had built up throughout the year in
Mount Luo would fall into shambles. By then, it would not be as
easy as it was now to deploy the men.
The road checks along the way gradually grew lax until it was
not as strict as it had been within ten li or so around Bianshui Town.
The number of the Imperial Army troops grew fewer and fewer. By
the time Lei Jingzhe passed by the vegetable fields manned by
troops, he could no longer see any signs of the Imperial Army. At
night, they rested by the side of a stream. Li Xiong speared a few
fishes and roasted them for Lei Jingzhe to consume. Without
seasonings or herbs, these fishes were fishy and bitter to the taste.
But Li Xiong ate them with relish and fell on his back to sleep after
eating his fill.
Lei Jingzhe did not dare to leave the campfire behind, so he
covered it with soil. Gradually finding it harder to hang on as he
had not had any sleep for a day and a night, he leaned against a
tree and fell asleep. Lei Jingzhe slept for an unspecified amount of
time before he was startled awake. He propped himself up on the
ground, stilled his breathing, and listened to signs of activity within
the forest with rapt attention.
The wind was a little strong tonight. Tree branches swayed
from the force of it, rustling the leaves in intermittent bursts. Li
Xiong was still sleeping, his snores thunderous. Lei Jingzhe
listened for a long time. Although he could not see anything amiss,
he was already starting to feel suspicious. He kicked Li Xiong
awake and gestured with his hands for Li Xiong to get the horse.
As Li Xiong untied the reins, he suddenly had the urge to
relieve himself. He never stopped for a break in the morning, and
he had fallen right asleep at night. Unable to hold it in, he
whispered to Lei Jingzhe, “Bro, I want to pee.”
 Lei Jingzhe clicked his tongue and made a gesture as if he was
going to thrash him, then motioned for him to hurry. So Li Xiong
went behind the tree and loosened his waist sash. The sound of
water splashing rang out. Having seen no signs of movement so
far, Lei Jingzhe relaxed a little. He pulled the horse, and when the
horse snorted, he suddenly realized something off. Why was there
not even a chirp from the birds or insects?
Li Xiong was not done relieving himself when he heard Lei
Jingzhe hissed. “Leave!”
Li Xiong exclaimed in acknowledgment, then tied his waist
sash in a hurry and broke into a run after him. Lei Jingzhe lashed
out hard with his horsewhip and charged at random among the
shadows of the trees. The tree forks swaying in the wind loomed
like demons brandishing their claws and baring their fangs as they
came surrounding him from all sides.
Lei Jingzhe fled until he was sweating. He did not know why he
was sweating. His back had gone all cold from the wind. He did
not even care to look back at Li Xiong; he only wanted to leave this
forest as fast as possible. The horse under him was already
exhausted from the running. No matter how he whipped it, it did
not run as fast as it did in the daytime.
The sounds of footsteps came trampling noisily towards him. It
was as if Lei Jingzhe was being chased by some gargantuan
behemoth. He crashed headlong through the net of trees and
charged out of the forest, but following right after, he forcibly
reined in the horse and gasped for breath as he looked fixedly
ahead.
The hem of Xiao Chiye’s clothes fluttered backward in the wind.
The gyrfalcon was perched on his shoulder, its head tilted to the
side. Darkness seemed to spread out from behind him. It weighed
down heavily on Lei Jingzhe’s limbs, swallowing them and
rendering him immobile; his entire body was frozen stiff on the
back of the horse.
A raspy sound escaped from Lei Jingzhe’s throat. He snapped
back to his senses and thought of turning around, but the Imperial
Army was all around him. Xiao Chiye had deliberately hidden his
men in the forest; as a result, Lei Jingzhe could not guess how
many men he had brought along—this was a counterblow to Lei
Jingzhe’s initial deception, so that Lei Jingzhe would similarly
experience the absurdity of being played.
“Go ahead and run.” Xiao Chiye said in a deep voice.
Lei Jingzhe released the reins and put both hands up. He said,
“You win. I concede defeat.”
Lang Tao Xue Jin threw its head back and neighed. Xiao Chiye
said nothing.
Lei Jingzhe slid off his horse slowly, keeping both hands up to
indicate that he had no thoughts of fighting it out to the death. He
seemed to be very well-aware of the situation. After landing on the
ground, he removed the broadsword at the side of his waist and
looked at Xiao Chiye as he bent over to put it on the ground. Then
he said, “We can still talk.”
His interest piqued, Xiao Chiye said, “Go on.”
Lei Jingzhe calmed his panting. Surrounded by the cold glints
of blades, and with beads of sweat dripping from his temples, he
said, “You’re going back to Libei, so you won’t reside in Cizhou for
long. Killing me now won’t stop the Mount Luo bandits from
making a comeback. Instead, it will plunge Dunzhou and
Duanzhou, which have only just stabilized, back into chaos. Why
not let me go to keep the situation in both prefectures stable and
give Cizhou enough time to rebuild its garrison troops?”
The cawing of a crow rang out from the sky. Meng braced itself.
With a spread of its wings, it took to the air, glided through the
wind, and swooped into the billowing trees. The atmosphere at the
bottom subsequently grew tense. Lei Jingzhe kept looking at Xiao
Chiye all this while, as if to prove that he was confident of success,
that it was not the end of the road for him yet.
Xiao Chiye lifted a hand and laid his palm at the side of his
waist.
Both men stood facing each other. In the very instant Meng
pounced and ripped into the crow, Lei Jingzhe abruptly kicked up
his broadsword and flung off its sheath. He rolled forward. With a
strong burst of strength in his legs, he sprang up high into the air
and cleaved the broadsword down towards Xiao Chiye right in the
face. Blade collided violently against blade, sending sparks
sputtering as they scraped against each other in a mighty show of
power.
The scorching weather that had persisted for several days
dissipated in the wind. Skies that were still clear and boundless in
the morning were now overcast with dark clouds. A few bean-sized
raindrops came pelting down, followed by the sudden arrival of a
rainstorm, as if Heaven could not bear the heat and had sent it to
scour the filthy world.
Li Xiong, who had lost track of Lei Jingzhe, circled around for a
long time before he finally heard the subtle sounds of fighting in
the rain. He brushed aside the branches and leaves with all his
might and trampled upon muddied water as he chased his way
towards the sound. The moment he rolled out, he came right in
front of the Imperial Army wielding their blades. He was unarmed,
but in a moment of desperation when he saw Lei Jingzhe in a
disadvantageous position under the curtain of rain, he bellowed
and turned around to wrap his arms around a bare, withered tree
as thick as the rim of a bowl and swung it up.
“Bro!” Like a strong, charging bull of limitless strength, Li Xiong
sent the Imperial Army on one side scattering all over in total
disarray.
Xiao Chiye did not expect Li Xiong to have such strength. He
swung away from the trajectory of the tree Li Xiong was
brandishing. Lei Jingzhe, who had already been struck with the
blade, saw his opportunity and retreated immediately to Li Xiong’s
side. Li Xiong’s extraordinary strength was innate, and it was even
more terrifying than Xiao Chiye’s. He swung the tree to ward off all
those blades and swords and shouted, “Bro, I’ll carry you on my
back!”
Lei Jingzhe jumped onto Li Xiong’s back. Supporting the tree, Li
Xiong bellowed and charged a path out of the encirclement. He
was not afraid of blades and swords, and he did not fear Xiao
Chiye either. Newborn calves were all of such a temperament; there
was only his big brother Lei Jingzhe in his eyes! Li Xiong did not
even feel the pain when he was slashed in the arms. He kicked over
the wall of people before him and broke into a mad dash in the
torrential rain with Lei Jingzhe on his back.
 Blood dripped off Lei Jingzhe, staining Li Xiong’s back red.
Li Xiong wiped his face and cried, “Bro! Don’t die!”
Lei Jingzhe was not a person who would simply resign to his
fate. He did not have a pleasant time back in the Zhu clan in
Duanzhou. His father failed his mother, so he changed his surname
and called himself Lei Jingzhe from then on. He ran into danger
many times on Mount Luo, and he had always been able to wait for
things to take a turn for the better. But Xiao Chiye was just like the
sudden rain that came out of nowhere this night; he was the edge
of a precipice he had never foreseen. He thought it should not be
the end of him just yet, yet he could only watch as the turns of
events tipped the balance against him.
“Damn it…” Covering his wound, Lei Jingzhe said, “Shut up!”
Li Xiong listened to the sound of horse hooves behind him and
dashed off with his teeth clenched and his face tilted up. This lad
was truly unusual; even ordinary horses could not catch up to him.
But Xiao Chiye’s Lang Tao Xue Jin was extraordinary. In the blink of
an eye, it had already caught up right behind them.
Li Xiong did his best, but as he leaped across the stream, he
suddenly cramped up. He was still growing, and he lost his balance
when he landed on his feet. Consequently, he fell. As he sucked in
a breath from the pain, he dragged Lei Jingzhe up, still intending
to carry him on his back to flee.
“Xiao Chiye!” Knowing that there was no escape for him, Lei
Jingzhe said, “If you are willing to spare me, then it’s possible for
the bandits of Mount Luo to come under your command! I still have
some influence left. I can still be of some use!”
Xiao Chiye flung away the drops of blood on Langli Blade.
Lang Tao Xue Jin stamped its hooves twice before it broke into a
sudden run.
Lei Jingzhe twisted Li Xiong’s face over. There was already a
change in the timbre of his voice amidst his violent gasps. He did
not want to die. His grip tightened on Li Xiong’s hand as he said,
“Xiong-zai,1 kill him, kill him!”
Li Xiong rubbed away the rainwater on his face. With one
limping leg, he spread both arms open and stabilized his lower
body, wanting to throw off Lang Tao Xue Jin. With his sturdy body
trembling, he looked at Xiao Chiye, then let loose a bellow and
charged over. He wrapped his arms around Lang Tao Xue Jin’s
neck, causing Lang Tao Xue Jin to neigh. He did not know too
many martial art moves, but there was a flash of his leg in what was
clearly a wrestling technique of the Biansha Tribes as he flung Lang
Tao Xue Jin over into the muddy water.
Xiao Chiye grabbed Li Xiong, who had a youthful-looking face,
up by the collar. As the latter struggled and pounded on Xiao
Chiye’s arms, he shouted, “Bro, run!”
Hauling Li Xiong along, Xiao Chiye watched as Lei Jingzhe
rolled down the muddy slope. He did not give chase. Li Xiong
made to bite him with his teeth, and Xiao Chiye wrung his back
collar to hurl him right to the ground face-first so that his nose and
mouth were stuffed into the mud puddle, choking him until he was
violently struggling all over.
“Tie him up.”
Li Xiong heard Xiao Chiye say to the Imperial Army, who had
arrived later. And then he was knocked unconscious with the back
of a blade.
The rainstorm stopped after a while. Tantai Hu arrived from
behind on horseback. Xiao Chiye just happened to be wiping the
mud off Lang Tao Xue Jin’s body. When he saw Tantai Hu, he
removed the half-arm fabric sleeve used for wiping with one hand
and beckoned to Tantai Hu.
“Master.” Tantai Hu said. “I’ll lead the men to outflank him from
the southeastern side right away. He won’t be able to run far.”
But Xiao Chiye asked him, “Have all the bandits in the forest
been captured?”
Tantai Hu thought that Xiao Chiye wanted to do a headcount
and was ready to turn back to get his subordinate to bring over the
book. But unexpectedly, Xiao Chiye said as he wiped away the mud
on his fingers, “It’s all good as long as you’ve caught them. There’s
no need to show me. Go get ready. We’re returning to the city.”
Tantai Hu was taken aback. Seeing that Xiao Chiye had already
picked up the saddle to put it on Lang Tao Xue Jin, he walked a few
steps with him and said, “Master, isn’t letting him go just like this
akin to letting the tiger return to the mountains and setting the
stage for future disasters?”
As Xiao Chiye wiped the mud on the saddle, he said, “I’m not
only going to let him go, I’m going to send him off with great
fanfare. Get a few squads of men to follow him. He has been
stabbed; don’t let him die on the way. Send him all the way into
Dunzhou’s territory. There’s no need to bother about the other
matters.”
Tantai Hu only had to use his brain a little to understand his
intent. He grinned and said, “Then I’ll go. Master, I’ll bring dozens
of men. I’ll be sure to escort him back to Dunzhou within three
days.”
Xiao Chiye looked on with cool detachment in the direction
where Lei Jingzhe had fled. A dripping wet Meng landed back on
his shoulder and combed through its bloodstained feathers. Xiao
Chiye used the handkerchief that he had used to wipe the mud
from Lang Tao Xue Jin to clean Meng’s talons. He said, “Lift it
properly. I’ll wipe them clean for you. Otherwise, if you see Lanzhou
upon returning and trample mud all over his shoulders, I’ll have to
wash his robe.”

T97’s Words:
2 chapters in 1. Thank you for reading.

Support the Author!

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Footnotes
1. 崽 a child (sonny, lad) or young animal. 熊崽 (Xiong-zai)
would literally mean bear cub.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 116 : CHEN YANG

If Xiao Chiye said he would return in three days, then he would

return in three days. When he hurried back to the foot of Cizhou’s
city gates in the middle of the night, the city gates had already
been opened, with torches brightly illuminating the city walls. The
Imperial Army held the captives in line and entered. Zhou Gui had
cleared out the prison in the south for the Imperial Army to hold
these bandits in custody. He received Xiao Chiye and said, “Your
Lordship has been working hard! The soldiers are tired after
having eradicated the bandits. I’ve already gotten men to prepare
meals for all. Everyone, this way, please.”
Xiao Chiye dismounted and said, “Thank you, Your Excellency,
for going to the trouble.”
Zhou Gui followed Xiao Chiye in and said with a radiant
expression, “I saw General Tantai’s report that the bandits have
been taken captive in the east. They have been completely
disbanded. And Your Lordship personally went after Lei Jingzhe.
This is truly… truly marvelous!”
Xiao Chiye had already caught sight of Shen Zechuan, and
Shen Zechuan had also seen Xiao Chiye. A few guards were
following behind Shen Zechuan, and Qiao Tianya was carrying a
lantern in hand; they had obviously been waiting for a long time.
Still speaking to Zhou Gui, he said, “I shall have a detailed
discussion regarding Lei Jingzhe with Your Excellency in the study
tomorrow morning.”
Zhou Gui thought Xiao Chiye was tired from being on the go,
so he hurriedly nodded and said, “sure.” Kong Ling was more
perceptive than him. Although he was not used to it, he also knew
that they were getting in the way, so he threw out a random excuse
and led Zhou Gui away.
Chen Yang stepped forward to take the horse. The guards
behind all kneeled on one knee and said, “Congratulations to
Master on your triumphant return!”
Xiao Chiye undid his arm guards and took off the Conqueror
Bow and said, “You may rise. Have you been waiting long?”
 Shen Zechuan took the lantern over from Qiao Tianya and
turned around to walk with Xiao Chiye along the street. He
answered, “Quite a while.”
Xiao Chiye lowered his fingers and took the lantern over from
Shen Zechuan’s hand, while Shen Zechuan took the arm guards
Xiao Chiye had just taken off to look it over.
On seeing this, Xiao Chiye said, “These are old stuff from a few
years back. The metal was cast by Libei, and the leather strings on
top were supplied to the Eight Great Training Divisions right from
Qudu. It came apart from the chafing the last time I drew the
Conqueror Bow here. I’ll think of a way to replace it before I return
to Libei.”
The leather strings used for binding on the arm guards were
indeed worn out. Shen Zechuan hooked it several times and said to
Qiao Tianya. “Take it and put it aside first.”
Noting that both of them were moving in the wrong direction,
Xiao Chiye could not help but cast a sidelong glance where the
Zhou’s residence was. Then he looked at Shen Zechuan and said,
“Have we moved out?”
“Of course, we have to move out.” Shen Zechuan went up the
stairs. “It’s not convenient to keep staying in Zhou Gui’s residence.
He just had a grandson at the beginning of the year, and his entire
family is crammed into two courtyards. It’s too much of an
inconvenience to them. I had someone ask around a few days ago,
and it just so happened that a residence here caught my eye.”
Both of them had already entered the wide alley as he spoke.
The slabstone path led right to the main entrance. Xiao Chiye sized
it up and said, “It’s next to the main street, and it’s close to Zhou
Gui’s residence. It’ll be convenient to discuss matters during
normal hours. You’ve chosen an excellent location.”
“There’s a drawback.” Shen Zechuan said as he led Xiao Chiye
across the threshold. “It’s too big. The smattering of men we have
aren’t even enough to fill up these few courtyards.”
Xiao Chiye saw a horse platform1 made up of stacked bricks set
up before the residence. The wooden carved door pillars were
crude, and its patterns were not as fine and meticulous as the ones
in Qudu and Juexi; rather, it was more the style of Libei and
Biansha. Five courtyards in a compound were really too big for
both of them. When Qi Huilian was still the Grand Mentor of the
Eastern Palace, the residence he had been bestowed upon was
about the same size as this. They would not be able to fill it up even
with the addition of servants. Besides, both of them had no heirs or
concubines. The stone walls looked a little old, but the double-
eaved roof cut an imposing sight. It did not obstruct the light either.
It was just the way Xiao Chiye liked it.
“No issues there.” Xiao Chiye stepped through the door and
held Shen Zechuan by the hand. “Shifu can take one courtyard,
while you and I can share a courtyard. The few of them buddies
can have a courtyard. If more people join us in the future, we can
split them up according to status. There will be a day we get to see
it filled up when we are seventy or eighty years old.”
“The backyard is empty.” Shen Zechuan said. “But we will need
to add men to the rear yard and the side rooms flanking the
principal room. These courtyards are all connected to one another,
so it won’t do for us not to have someone keep watch. It’ll be a bit
more troublesome when they are on shift duty.”
As both of them were at the head discussing what they should
acquire in the future, Ding Tao was at the back recording down the
routes in his book. He whispered, “Although this residence is not as
big as our Prince’s residence in Qudu, it is too circuitous. If I were to
live at the back, it would take me half a month just to remember the
directions.”
“What are you afraid of since we don’t let you take up a mission
alone? And you always have Gu Jin around to lead you.” Qiao
Tianya said. “This residence isn’t cheap, but my master doesn’t
even blink an eye at the price. He sure has deep pockets.”
With a sorrowful expression, Ding Tao wrote a few more words
and said, “You don’t understand. It’s precisely because Gu Jin is
leading that we will get lost. Sigh, Jin-ge is really a strange one. As
a scout in the military, he can remember all those unfamiliar places
clearly when he’s investigating matters outside, but not so when he
returns to our own home. Eight or nine times out of ten, he will turn
into the wrong courtyard. Back at home in Libei, he will often end
up somewhere else. I’m telling you, there’s an older sister in that
residence called Cuilan, a maidservant of the Consort of the
Hereditary Prince. She’s really gentle. Every time Jin-ge makes a
wrong turn, she’s the one who leads him back. She even gives me
candy. In any case… hmphasdfghjkl!”
Gu Jin clamped an arm around Ding Tao and gagged his
mouth shut. He cast a few glances at Qiao Tianya and said, “Hear
no evil.”
“I haven’t heard any part that’s ‘evil’.” Qiao Tianya looked
astonished and applauded softly, “On the other hand though, you
have just shot yourself in the foot.”
“… It’s hard to plant bamboo here. I’ll look for others after a few
days.” Xiao Chiye looked back and said to the few of them. “Who is
on the night watch tonight?”
All this while, Chen Yang seemed to be preoccupied, but on
hearing him, he said, “I’m on guard alone. The few of them are on
shift duty these few days.”
Xiao Chiye knew from this that Chen Yang had something to
report to him, so he nodded and did not ask further. He already
knew that there was an issue when he entered the city and saw
Chen Yang’s expression as the latter received him. The hot water
was ready when he returned to the courtyard. During the interval
Xiao Chiye was taking a bath, Shen Zechuan got someone to warm
up the meal.
The weather was hot, and the doors to the principal room were
wide open with bamboo blinds hung up to keep out mosquitoes.
The window screens were all newly replaced, and there was a
round-bellied copper vat placed on the veranda with two red carps
in the clear water and three or four lotuses floating on it. Several
green plants that had been planted in the courtyard were bathed
under the warm light emanating from the room. They clustered
around Chen Yang, who was sitting in a daze.
Chen Yang was wearing an old robe. Their clothes had all worn
out after they rushed the entire journey here. Shen Zechuan had
asked Zhou Gui’s principal wife to look for a tailor to take their
measurements one by one. After a period of time, they would all
have new sets of clothes to change into.
 Chen Yang and Zhao Hui were of the same age. But Zhao Hui
already had a family and an established career, while he was still a
head of guards who lived together with the other brothers. He
seemed to be the most sophisticated of them, but in truth, he was
also rough around the edges. He was sitting under the eaves at
present, getting quite a number of bites from the mosquitoes. Yet
he felt troubled as he continued to deliberate over how he should
report to Xiao Chiye in a while.
The bamboo blinds opened up partially. Shen Zechuan had
already changed into his regular clothes. He said to Chen Yang,
“You’ve been guarding the city wall entrance at night, and you still
want to sit here and let the mosquitoes feast on you. Come in and
have dinner with Ce’an first.”
Chen Yang rose to his feet in compliance and followed him in.
Xiao Chiye had yet to come out. The meal was very simple; they
rarely had lavish meals. Now that Ji Gang was back, he kept a tight
watch on their food. All the ingredients to be used and
nourishments to be taken were arranged according to the recipes
he and Qi Huilian had decided on back at Zhaozui Temple. The few
of them guards loved to drink, as did Ji Gang back in the past, and
the dishes he made to go with wine were exceptional.
Chen Yang sat on his knees on the mat, and the maidservant
set the dishes on the small table in front of him.
It was quiet inside the room. Chen Yang sat with his head
lowered and listened as she withdrew out of the room. Shen
Zechuan sat at the head. He was not as restrained as Chen Yang
was. The wide, white robe he was wearing shifted along with his
moments and revealed his wrists, consequently diminishing some
of the exquisiteness his appearance had given him. Instead, there
was something relaxingly unpretentious about it.
If both of them were to remain here together for long, perhaps
they would both end up subconsciously affected by the other.
Shen Zechuan at this moment felt to Chen Yang like Xiao Chiye
when he was quiet—they both gave off a vibe that could gradually
put one at ease.
“Contrary to expectations, it won’t do you any good to worry
too much.” Shen Zechuan set down the wooden chopsticks and
said without looking at Chen Yang, “Just report according to the
facts. No embellishment, no rephrasing. Tell him as it is. He will
naturally have his own thinking. It is often said that those deeply
involved in a matter often lack the detachment to see the whole
picture. But in truth, that’s not necessarily so. As the one involved,
he understands it far more than anyone else. He has perhaps even
thought of it way earlier than you did.”
With his head lowered, Chen Yang bowed to him in silence.
“If you underestimate him, then you are underestimating
yourself.” Shen Zechuan said unhurriedly. “He chose all of you out
of millions of people, but didn’t all of you also choose him out of
millions of people too? There will still be rainstorms to brave and
turbulent seas to navigate in the future. If you are going to keep
hesitating and wavering like you are tonight every single time for
every single matter, then, sooner or later, you will not be able to
keep up with his pace. They only recognize the Xiao Chiye of six
years ago. But what you are seeing is a Xiao Chiye that has been
tempered over these six years to the way he is now. Chen Yang and
Zhao Hui are both the sunlight,2 and Xiao Chiye and Xiao Jiming
are both the wolves of Libei. So what are you still afraid of? Don’t
let your time in Qudu befuddle you. All of you have long been on
par with them.”
Chen Yang sat on the mat with his head lowered, and an
indistinct sob escaped his throat as his fingers curled slightly. He
did not say a word for a long time. He thought his own matters
were of no importance, so he did not mention it. Although he did
not suffer a gross injustice like Gu Jin, he could still sense the cold
treatment he had been given back at home. He had been tossing
and turning these few days precisely because he did not know how
to bring it up to Xiao Chiye. He was even secretly relieved when he
left Libei with Gu Jin.
When Chen Yang left Libei, he was in no way inferior to Zhao
Hui. He always tried to win credit in every matter, as he was the
most fearful of being perceived as being inferior to Zhao Hui, so he
kept raising the bar for himself. But when he went back to stay for
half a month, he unexpectedly had the notion to avoid Zhao Hui.
He was afraid.
 At some point, he thought he had already lost.
He was Xiao Chiye’s trusted aide, and also an aspect that others
would use to compare Xiao Chiye and Xiao Jiming, The moment
he started to harbor such a fear, then Gu Jin and Ding Tao who
were the next in line would inevitably be affected too. They would
no longer be able to be placed on par with Xiao Jiming’s guards.
To a Xiao Chiye who was about to fall under the harsh scrutiny of
Libei, this was a heavy blow.
Xiao Chiye was not anyone else. He was not Xiao Fangxu, nor
was he Xiao Jiming. He was his own person. His most arrogant
traits were his fearlessness in forging ahead and determination to
win. For Chen Yang, following him would be just like chasing after
the tempestuous wind. Shen Zechuan was right. If Chen Yang were
to feel fear at this point in time, then he would, sooner or later, be
left behind. Because the one he had chosen at the very start was a
Xiao Chiye who had the guts to remain all alone by himself in
Qudu.
Xiao Chiye’s hair was still wet when he emerged with his
regular clothes draped around him. He could not help but be taken
aback when he saw Chen Yang bent over the ground with his
shoulders trembling. He looked at Shen Zechuan, who spread his
hands out slightly and gave him an innocent look.

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Peach for correction! <3333
Footnotes
1. 马台 a stone stool or platform to make it easier for one to
dismount from horses. Usually placed at the left and right
sides of the main gate of well-to-do families.
2. Chen Yang (晨阳) literally morning sun, and Zhao Hui (朝
晖) literally morning sunshine
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 117 : FAVOR & INTIMIDATION

Translated with: Lin & Dee<3

Xiao Chiye’s loose outer robe was half-opened, revealing the

unclosed collar of his inner garment. When he sat down, he
blocked off much of the light. There was still moisture on his body,
and he felt a little more comfortable after wiping his face with a
clean handkerchief. He then rapped a bent finger thrice on the
floor and said to Chen Yang, “What’s the matter? Sit up and talk.”
Chen Yang promptly rubbed his face clean with his arm and sat
straight up. He said, “We encountered some incidents during this
return trip to Libei. I’m reporting to Master first, as I do not dare to
make a decision arbitrarily.”
Xiao Chiye picked up Shen Zechuan’s chopsticks and listened
as Chen Yang recapped what happened. Shen Zechuan left the
table midway to take a bath. Xiao Chiye finished the rice in his bowl
and sat for a moment without showing any intent to ask for another
helping. He asked, “How is Gu Jin’s injury?”
“We called for a physician after we left Changzhu camp. Gu
Jin’s fever subsided during the journey, but the wound on his back
is festering badly. Ji Gang-shifu took a look at it last night and told
Gu Jin to abstain from certain foods. He also gave him instructions
on several matters and said that he would be able to recover if he
recuperates for about a month.” At this point, Chen Yang paused
for a moment before continuing. “Fortunately, his eyes and ears
were not hurt.”
Gu Jin’s eyesight and hearing far exceeded that of the average
person. It was a one-of-a-kind natural talent among these guards.
This matter would be a lot harder to resolve had he been wounded
in his eyes and ears. If that happened, then even Xiao Chiye would
not be able to swallow this injustice, let alone Chen Yang.
“Tudalong Banner is a domain the Changzhu camp of the
eastern mountain range would patrol daily. It’s originally quite a
distance away from the Hanshe Tribe. To think Gu Jin’s vanguard
squad actually retreated all the way there.” Xiao Chiye had
gathered plenty from Chen Yang’s statements. He said astutely,
“This shows that the Libei Armored Cavalry has been retreating.
The battles Father and shifu are fighting aren’t going smoothly.”
The insects’ cries on summer nights created quite the din as it
drifted through the bamboo curtains, and it was so hot both inside
and outside the room that it made one restless.
Xiao Chiye looked at the candle flame for a moment and said
in a hushed tone, “Eldest brother’s incapability to lead the troops is
a heavy blow to Libei Armored Cavalry. Father promptly came out
of retirement to boost the troops’ plunging morale and soften the
impact of the word ‘defeat’. But he has not been on the battlefield
in person for nearly fifteen years. On the other hand, his opponent,
Amu’er, has never left the front line of the Hanshe Tribe in these
fifteen years. Times have changed. Relying blindly on Father is not
the way to victory. I often say not to have a change of people right
before the battle. Even the best general has to build up a rapport
with his soldiers over time. All of Father’s troops fifteen years ago
have been replaced, and those who can stage a comeback with
him are few and far between. The ones he is leading now are a
new school of military officers and soldiers who are already used to
Eldest Brother’s style of handling matters. Both sides need to
mutually adjust to each other during a critical battle, and this is not
an easy thing to achieve.”
When Xiao Fangxu established the Libei Armored Cavalry, the
word “Armored Cavalry” was the best description of the Libei Army.
At that time, Libei was unable to catch up with the Biansha Cavalry’s
horses, so Xiao Fangxu adopted the measure of making them
‘heavier’—he not only had the soldiers all armored up, but even the
horses of Libei too. Such an army was a terrifying force to behold in
a frontal assault. Like the mighty torrents of the mountains, the
impact of the collision was able to annihilate their foes in a blink of
an eye. There was simply no time for the Biansha Cavalry to draw
their machetes, and even if they did, they could not stab through
those armors. Even the ferocious Hanshe Tribe was not willing to
fight a drawn-out war with the Armored Cavalry. Their light and
swift mobility was their only remaining advantage. And it was on
this basis that Xiao Fangxu kept piling on more weight to armor up
the Libei Armored Cavalry until he eventually forged the Libei
Armored Cavalry into a real “wall of iron”.
When Qi Zhuyin led the Qidong Garrison Troops through the
territory, the sounds of their horses’ hooves boomed like thunder.
But when the Libei Armored Cavalry did the same, the sound they
generated was not just “like thunder”, but real “thunderclaps”. That
weight could make one lose the courage to continue fighting just
from the sound of it alone, so much to the extent that no one could
find the Libei Armored Cavalry’s weakness for as long as five or six
years.
However, Amu’er was also a fearless warrior who, among his
constant engagement with the Libei Armored Cavalry, made use of
their “heaviness” to the fullest. As long as the Hanshe Tribe’s
cavalry was fast enough, they would be able to loot, retreat,
disperse, detour back, and encircle the foe in that order, like a
swarm of blood-sucking flies that, despite being unable to
penetrate through those solid and sturdy armors, would also
emerge unscathed. The way Lei Jingzhe gathered the bandits
together to harass the Imperial Army was precisely an imitation of
the Hanshe Tribe’s way of combating the Libei Armored Cavalry. It
was just that Lei Jingzhe did not have horses that fast, nor soldiers
that strong.
It was at this time that Xiao Jiming took over the Libei Armored
Cavalry. The first decision he faced back then was whether to retain
the weight of the Libei Armored Cavalry. In the eyes of the veteran
generals, he was a lad who was still wet behind the ears, and his
refined and humble personality was one aspect of him that the
veterans who were used to Xiao Fangxu could not stand. He made
a completely different choice from Xiao Fangxu—he reduced the
weight of the Libei Armored Cavalry, making the “wall of iron”
thinner, but equipping it with the mobility to turn around quickly.
And thus, the Libei Armored Cavalry shifted from being a heavy
cavalry into a cavalry that veered towards being a little more
armored up.
 It was with this change that Libei began to possess the
characteristic of “fast”. This was where “River of Ice Armored
Cavalry” originated from, and it was also the fundamental reason
he was able to stride across the borders of two territories in one
night. They were able to keep up with the Hanshe Tribe’s speed.
Coupled with the constant refining of their battle formations, they
became even tougher to deal with. The new school of generals was
all selected by Xiao Jiming. Their working style was mutually
compatible with Xiao Jiming’s, and they were already used to Xiao
Jiming’s receptiveness to their suggestions—Perhaps, they
respected Xiao Fangxu just the same on an emotional level, but
they might not necessarily be able to adapt to Xiao Fangxu.
Respect alone could not win them battles. The light in their eyes
as they looked up to the legendary god of war would be worn
down again and again as they mutually butted heads with one
another. In the end, the glorious Prince of Libei would also fall off
the pedestal on which he had been placed on to become a myth
that had faded into obscurity along with the tides of change. When
that time came, the legend of the Libei Armored Cavalry would
also come to an end. They would become a bunch of disorganized
soldiers plagued by mutual discord and internal strife among
themselves. A concentrated force excessively dependent on a
centralized command was an advantage, but it was also a
shortcoming.
Qi Zhuyin was the commander-in-chief who had intensively
studied the Libei Armored Cavalry the most. She was very well-
aware of the drawbacks in the Libei Armored Cavalry’s reliance on
its commanding officer. That was why she had been trying her best
to avoid leading Qidong down the same route as the Libei
Armored Cavalry after she became the commander-in-chief of the
Qidong Five Commanderies’ military forces. She went all out to
establish the Qidong generals’ barrack, which took in men who
had the potential and the making to lead troops. It was her
confidence in her hold over absolute military power and authority
that she dared to delegate authority to these men. She gave Lu
Guangbai this much authority because Lu Guangbai had the
capability. She understood what kind of generals were suitable to
lead what kind of squads. In Xiao Chiye’s eyes, Qi Zhuyin was the
most qualified person among their generation to be the
commander-in-chief.
People who could fight could be the general of an army, but
they might not necessarily be able to be a commander-in-chief
commanding armies from all quarters. If one were to rank the Four
Great Generals of the world, no doubt Qi Zhuyin would be the
chief. She had long come to discern the Libei Armored Cavalry’s
weakness, and she had reminded Xiao Jiming of it.
Xiao Chiye’s ostracisation was inevitable.
With one hand on his knee, Xiao Chiye poured the melted
candle wax into the small porcelain plate. The tips of his fingers
came into contact with it, but he liked this kind of searing pain. He
watched as the candlelight flickered and said, “Chen Yang, when I
left home at seventeen, I asked my eldest sister-in-law when I
would be able to return home. This question brought tears to her
eyes, and she cried the entire night alone in her room. When my
eldest brother and I got on the horses, she stuffed many cakes
from Libei into my bundle1 and even hid a flask of ‘On Horseback’2
within. She said she didn’t know when I would be able to return
home either, but they would always be waiting for me in Libei. I
entered the capital as a hostage because my eldest brother won a
victory in battle. I hate Shen Wei to the core. At that time, I thought
the defeat of the Zhongbo troops was to be blamed. I never
thought of myself to be more outstanding than my eldest brother,
but I was equally attached to Hongyan Mountains and the
racecourses. I used to lie prone on the ground and listen to the
sounds from the lands of Libei. When I left, I even wanted to take
the soil of Libei along with me.”
“I attempted to survey the horizons for a glimpse of Libei from
the top of the tallest building in Qudu, but even Meng could not
see it when it flew up into the clouds. It was then I understood for
the first time how much of a remote possibility it was to return
home. I’ve learned plenty from shifu, but it was only when I was in
Qudu that I began to understand the truths behind those words. I
am a man burning with ambitions, and Qudu is the teacher that
taught me to restrain all those desires. My encounter with Lanzhou
did not happen by accident. He was the last line of defense when I
was about to hit my limit and lose it. He is also the indulgence and
freedom I lost and regained.”
Xiao Chiye lifted a finger, as if he had drawn a line.
“I am complete. The parts of me that were broken and lacking
are now encased with steel. I would no longer stop when I walked
out of Qudu again. Whether it was twenty years ago or ten years
ago, my father and eldest brother both made the best choice, and
now, it’s my turn. The mountain we surmount might not necessarily
remain our foes forever. I acknowledge how outstanding my father
and eldest brother are. I revere and cherish them, but that is the
part that belongs to ‘family’, not the ‘Libei Armored Cavalry’. We are
wolves that have strayed from the pack. Our return to the pack is
not for us to submit and bow to the commands of others, but to
carve out our own place and positions among them.”
Xiao Chiye bent over slightly, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
“Libei cannot suffer another defeat. This isn’t a matter of the
Xiao clan. I understand that, as do my father and eldest brother.
Who should inherit this iron wall? Anyone. As long as he can
shoulder the responsibility. I’m going back to Libei, not just going
home. Guo Weili is a veteran of Libei; he knows all of your functions
best, and not injuring Gu Jin’s eyes and ears is the most merciful
warning he is giving me. So cheer up, Chen Yang. Our opponents
are all the battle-hardened seniors who have been fighting on the
battlefield for a long time—there is no battle in this world that must
be lost. All those impregnable defenses and impenetrable
encirclements are but facades. I’m going back. I want a Libei
Armored Cavalry that truly belongs to me.”
Chen Yang’s fingertips trembled slightly; Xiao Chiye’s words
had him all fired up. He had been sitting on his knees until his legs
had both gone numb, but that tingling sensation leaped up his
spine as he faced such a Xiao Chiye, his fear all swept away by the
fervor coursing through his blood.
◈ ◈ ◈
By the time Shen Zechuan emerged from his bath, Chen Yang
had already taken his leave and left the room. Xiao Chiye was lying
on the xumi couch3 staring into space. The windows were open,
and there was a porcelain jar on the veranda with a few stalks of
lotuses in it. Their delicate fragrance wafted through the gaps. Xiao
Chiye rested his head on an arm and looked up at the starry night
sky.
The breeze of summer nights was always so gentle, coming
and going without a trace; one could barely feel it if not for the
scent of lotuses permeating the air. Xiao Chiye was not only feeling
hot; he was also weary. However, he had his own pride. He was
unwilling to show his fatigue easily, so he could only stuff these
feelings into these sleepy moments as he stared into nothing and
pretended not to be tired at all. The sky was studded with stars this
night. He was in a bit of a trance.
Shen Zechuan blew out the candle and threw his outer robe on
the back of a chair. He scraped an icy cold finger gently across
Xiao Chiye’s cheek, leaving in its path a temperature that belied
excitement. Xiao Chiye returned to his senses and locked gazes
with him.
Even though he had just showered, Shen Zechuan’s fingers
were still icy cold. That icy cold finger brushed across Xiao Chiye’s
cheek, as if comforting him.
Xiao Chiye tilted his head a little to the side to be a little closer
to Shen Zechuan’s palm.
Xiao Chiye really missed Shen Zechuan. This kind of longing
was fervent and urgent, but it was not strange. Every inch of his
body missed Shen Zechuan; this was a common occurrence.
However, this longing was not just limited to his physical self; it was
also the desire raging in his heart. It was a love far deeper and
much more indescribable. He felt an unprecedented excitement
lying in wait behind all of this fatigue.
Shen Zechuan sensed his rising temperature.
Xiao Chiye had been on horseback for days, but he was unable
to fall asleep right now. Only both of them understood the intrusive
look in his eyes, which hardened along with the movements of
Shen Zechuan’s finger.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. In the near future, there
would be countless of such absences. And now, Xiao Chiye wanted
to possess every single moment they were alone together. He
suspected that vines would sprout out of the longing in his chest
and wound around the armored hooves on which he raced across
the grasslands, holding him back. He wanted to invade Shen
Zechuan, penetrating deep into him again and again, and in the
process, leave his own scent on him. Not only that, he also wanted
to be filled with Shen Zechuan’s scent.
Both of them had to have the same scent.
This was a childish obsession of the wolf pup. It was as if doing
so would prove that they could never be apart. Xiao Chiye pressed
his cheek against Shen Zechuan’s palm, sniffing his scent before
the small furrow in his brows finally relaxed.
Xiao Chiye wanted to tell Shen Zechuan how much he truly
loved him.
Perhaps there were many ways to express love. But now, he
only wanted to use the most intense kind.
The xumi couch was not big enough for both of them. Xiao
Chiye reached out to pull down the bamboo blinds and covered up
that bit of gap in the window, shutting the moon outside. Lanzhou
did not need the moonlight. That naked, lithe softness of his only
needed one person’s gaze on him—Xiao Chiye’s.
Shen Zechuan rode on Xiao Chiye as they kissed in the
darkness. Their hot breaths intertwining inseparably together, its
heat edging all the way down to their necks, chests, and even
abdomens. Shen Zechuan’s neck was flushed all over. Xiao Chiye
felt this to be some kind of silent acclamation; it was also Lanzhou’s
indulgence. As with Shen Zechuan’s tremblings, these were all
urgings Xiao Chiye could not rein in.
Xiao Chiye’s ferocity caused Shen Zechuan to lift his head and
gasp for breath. Shen Zechuan pressed down on Xiao Chiye’s chest
and attempted to make him stop this aggressive invasion. But he
was also looking down at Xiao Chiye with tears in his eyes,
seducing Xiao Chiye with his gaze into continuing with the
fierceness, into keeping up with the meanness.
Do all you want.
This was what the expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was
explicitly telling Xiao Chiye.
 Xiao Chiye was brimming with energy as he held Shen
Zechuan securely on top of him. He was panting. Neither of them
averted their eyes, as if they could not bear to look away from each
other for even a moment.
Shen Zechuan’s hair gradually scattered all over his shoulders
amidst the intense thrusting. He clenched Xiao Chiye’s clothes until
it creased, as if he was a drowning man clutching at straw while
shudders rocked through him.
“Grow a little more meat on you.” Xiao Chiye said in a raspy
voice, “Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan’s damp locks of hair stuck to his face. In the
moments between kissing and panting, he could not find it in
himself to answer. Sighs escaped through his lips as he reached
out with his fingers as if to grab on to something. But Xiao Chiye
held his hands and did not wait for him to come to his senses as he
entered with unhurried tenderness—a slow, gentle ride after the
gallop to his heart’s content before.
That is, if he had not gone in that deep.
Shen Zechuan let Xiao Chiye hold him in position as he took
him all in to the deepest depths. The never-ending onslaught of
thrusts turned his mind into mush. His misty, lidded eyes became
even more of an aphrodisiac, while the corner of his eyes glistened
with pleasure as Xiao Chiye permeated every pore of his being.
“Ce’an,” Shen Zechuan followed his heart and called out his
name, “A-Ye.”
His calls caused Xiao Chiye to break out into a sweat.
Shen Zechuan lowered his head and edged along Xiao Chiye’s
temple with the tip of his nose to disperse those beads of sweat. He
called out wickedly, “Er-lang”.
Xiao Chiye came to an abrupt stop. He grasped Shen Zechuan’s
jaw and corrected the position of his face, then kissed him hard in
between gasps. These calls threw all those that once had order into
disarray; it messed up the anxieties he had concealed away. Xiao
Chiye forgot them all. He did not need any of them; he only
wanted Shen Zechuan.
They could not indulge to their heart’s content on the xumi
couch, and so the bedding on the bed was pulled down onto the
rug. Even the pillow on the rug was drenched after some time.
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were half-closed. He was wet to the bone, his
energy fully expended. Xiao Chiye propped himself up on his arms.
He was still inside him. He lowered his head to press his forehead
against Shen Zechuan’s, all the while lightly gasping for breath.
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye’s sweat-drenched forehead inched
down. He nuzzled against the crook of Shen Zechuan’s neck and
called out in a muted voice, “Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan lifted his hand and placed it on Xiao Chiye’s
hair. They clung this inseparably close together, in perfect harmony
in every sense of the word. Shen Zechuan raised his legs,
indicating for Xiao Chiye to press down into him. Instead of doing
so, Xiao Chiye tightened his arms around him. His embrace was so
tight that Shen Zechuan found it hard to breathe. He stroked the
back of Xiao Chiye’s head with varying strength and tilted his head
to breathe a light puff of air into Xiao Chiye’s ear. Very slowly, he
called out, “Lang-zai.”4
Xiao Chiye bit him.
Shen Zechuan let out a husky laugh. He sensed something
trickling out of him, so he said, “You came.”
Xiao Chiye switched to kissing him. Both of them grind against
each other intimately, squeezing out even more fluid as they
moved. It still seemed as though Xiao Chiye’s sexual desire was
about to rear its head again, causing Shen Zechuan to sigh
repeatedly. Xiao Chiye initially thought of putting the brake on as
he had been going at it rather savagely, but when he looked at the
expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes, he continued to penetrate deep
into him.
Xiao Chiye stroked Shen Zechuan’s cheeks and inserted two
fingers into his mouth, leaving Shen Zechuan’s tongue with
nowhere to hide. Both of them clung close together, panting at the
same pace as they took in each other’s expressions all into their
eyes. The last time was not intense; rather, it was more like a never-
ending session of tender lovemaking.
When Xiao Chiye finally slid out of him, Shen Zechuan was no
longer able to make a single sound. All of his vague grunts and
moans had been devoured clean by Xiao Chiye. As the waves of
heat washed over him, he grasped Xiao Chiye’s jaw. Tears he could
not stop soaked the hair on his temples wet. Xiao Chiye finally
lowered his body to snuggle with him, skin on skin.
In the end, both of them were exhausted, Shen Zechuan could
barely keep his eyes open. He was still grasping Xiao Chiye’s jaw.
Xiao Chiye seemingly let out a laugh and leaned over to kiss him.
They kissed for a moment before falling asleep together like this—
Xiao Chiye on Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye did not dream.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was already considered late when the day broke the next day.
Xiao Chiye had only just returned after leading his troops, so no
one would have castigated him for it, but he woke up pretty early.
Their lovemaking had dispelled emotions that might have been
suppressed otherwise. When he got up, Shen Zechuan made to
wake up too, so Xiao Chiye covered the latter with a quilt and
kissed him back onto the bed.
“Military affairs.” Shen Zechuan struggled tiredly and sleepily in
the darkness, and said with his eyes closed, “I’ll go later, in the
afternoon…”
“We’ll discuss Cizhou’s garrison troops later.” Xiao Chiye said. “I
want to settle the issue with Lei Jingzhe with Zhou Gui first.”
“Two hours.” Shen Zechuan let out a long sigh. “I’ll be there two
hours later.”
Xiao Chiye stroked him and said, “It’s the same if you go
tomorrow. There’s no hurry to do it these few days. Go on, sleep. I’ll
be back for lunch at noon. Call shifu along too.”
Shen Zechuan uttered an acknowledgement, although it was
unknown if he had actually heard Xiao Chiye clearly. Xiao Chiye
changed his robe after taking his bath. He did not get anyone to
go in and clean up, but he had instructed Ding Tao and Gu Jin well
in advance to stand guard in the courtyard. Then he left, taking
Chen Yang and Qiao Tianya with him.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhou Gui was already in the study, having a few rounds of
discussion with his advisors. It was getting increasingly bright out
there, but there was still no sign of Shen Zechuan. When he finally
saw Xiao Chiye, he hurried out to greet him. He dismissed the
others, leaving only Kong Ling in the room to serve tea.
Xiao Chiye did not look to be in an amicable mood today, and
all his so-called frivolity had been fully curbed. He cut such an
intimidating presence that Zhou Gui and Kong Ling did not dare to
take deep breaths. Xiao Chiye had something on his mind, and so
he did not beat around the bush after taking his seat.
“I let Lei Jingzhe go in the east. He should arrive in Dunzhou in
three days.”
Kong Ling had done a headcount of the bandits last night, and
he had gotten suspicious when he did not see Lei Jingzhe. Hearing
these words now, however, had dispelled his misgivings. They
were already on familiar terms with Xiao Chiye, so there was no
need to be as punctilious as before. He gave a light cough and
said, “Your Lordship presumably must have your own plans.”
Zhou Gui still had doubts, so he asked, “Lei Jingzhe is a
scheming man. Is Your Lordship planning to keep him for your own
use by letting him go?”
“This man is too shrewd to submit himself into compliance.”
There was no warmth in Xiao Chiye’s eyes as he said, “Although
we’ve captured the majority of Lei Jingzhe’s men this time, he still
has men remaining in Mount Luo. And it’s not just that. There are
still plenty of Lei Jingzhe around even without this one Lei Jingzhe.
Before Cizhou has its own garrison troops, it’ll prove to be too
difficult to get rid of them once and for all.”
Kong Ling thought of what Shen Zechuan had said a few days
before. He nodded at Xiao Chiye’s words and said, “That’s right.
Just as the Vice Commander said, as long as food is scarce in
Zhongbo, there will still be decent commoners reduced to being
bandits. There is no way to eradicate this issue just by force alone.”
“Lei Jingzhe lost his right-handed men this time, yet he was still
able to escape alone from my hands. Even if he has a glib tongue,
he won’t be able to clear himself of suspicions among the bandits.”
Xiao Chiye said. “I’m also going to give him a hand and make him
the Imperial Army’s ‘spy’ that the bandits of the two prefectures of
Dunzhou and Duanzhou will revolt against. This person is capable.
He will certainly not sit still and wait for death. With that, the
bandits will be thrown into internal turmoil and will be too
preoccupied to set their eyes on Cizhou.”
It was only because he had intentionally released Lei Jingzhe
that Lei Jingzhe would have to suffer. Cizhou was presently
powerless, and this was already the best option out of the better
strategies available to them.
Kong Ling caught a hint of his intent when he heard this. He
asked, “Your Lordship goes to such an extent to think for Cizhou. Is
it because you are preparing to set off for Libei?”
Xiao Chiye turned the teacup around and said. “Time waits for
no man, and Libei is currently often at war. It’s inadvisable for me to
remain in Cizhou for longer. Moreover, Qidong has already
delayed for two months. Once Qi Zhuyin arrives, it’d be hard for
me to leave even if I want to. After I leave Cizhou, Lanzhou will still
continue to assist Cizhou. As I said before when I deployed the
troops, I will not concern myself in all the matters concerning the
garrison troops of Cizhou. But if both of you gentlemen still need
the Imperial Army, just get Lanzhou to send me a notice, and I’ll be
sure to arrive within a day.”
The way he put it was worth pondering over. At least, in Kong
Ling’s ears, it sounded like both a favor and an intimidation.
Xiao Chiye said to let Lanzhou inform him; this indicated that
he would not listen to the words of the whole lot of them from
Cizhou. Lanzhou would have to be the one to decide whether or
not to let him lead his troops back. However, Lanzhou was not
someone who could be easily fooled, so they could not take
advantage of the distance to deceive the Imperial Army into
deploying their troops. In addition to the above, there was another
layer of meaning.
Kong Ling was a little on tenterhooks as he wiped his sweat.
If Cizhou dared lay a hand on Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye was
sure to hasten there within a day.

T97’s Words:
2 Chapters in 1. Short of 700 words orz
Thank you for reading.
 Lianyin’s Note:
This chapter is a combination of the non-censored + revised
version for the best of both worlds ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Footnotes

1.
2. 包袱, a cloth bundle. In the old days, people traveled
around with their clothes and possessions bundled up with a
piece of cloth. The bundle was then worn across the
shoulders and carried around. It also works for carrying food
around.
3. A strong wine from Libei, as mentioned in Chapter 102
4. Xumi couch (须弥榻, ), also known as the Mile couch (弥勒
榻) or short couch (短榻), is basically a shorter couch, a
common piece of furniture during the Ming Dynasty.
5. 狼崽 literally wolf pup
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 118 : PAST AFFAIRS

Kong Ling did not dare to grouse to himself for fear that Xiao
Chiye might sense something amiss. After wiping his sweat, he
took a sip of his tea trying to cover it up, only to make it more
conspicuous. He said as he nodded, “Your Lordship is returning to
Libei to fight battles with the Biansha Tribes, so Cizhou can’t
possibly trouble the Imperial Army any further. Moreover, with the
Vice Commander’s presence here, Lei Jingzhe won’t be able to get
anything out of it even if he stages a comeback.”
Zhou Gui still had not gotten the hint at this point. He merely
said, “The march of an army over a long distance is beset with
difficulties. Cizhou is to the south of Libei, so Libei has nothing to
worry about back here. If we can be of any use to Your Lordship in
the future, Cizhou will surely do its best to help. As for those bandits
who have been taken into custody at the prison, how does Your
Lordship wish to deal with them?”
“Several of those bandits were once one of the few bandit
chiefs from Mount Luo. There’s not much use in killing them, so
why not release them together with Lei Jingzhe?” Xiao Chiye
already had a plan in mind. He said, “I’ve already bribed a few of
the bandits to spread around the news that Lei Jingzhe has been
released by the Imperial Army. Half a month later, they will break
out of the prison and flee with Ding Niu and Liu’er. When the time
comes, Cizhou can just send men to pursue them and drive them
back to Dunzhou’s territory. They have men who died at the hands
of the Imperial Army. Once they conclude that the siege in the east
was a leak from Lei Jingzhe, they will never let him off.”
Zhou Gui and Kong Ling nodded in unison. Thinking as Xiao
Chiye was about to return to Libei soon, Zhou Gui decided that he
had to discuss the military provisions with him. They had conferred
with Shen Zechuan a few days ago regarding the military
provisions’ allowance for the Imperial Army next year, but Shen
Zechuan had promptly turned it down.
“Cizhou had originally planned to give the Imperial Army an
allowance of 16,000 dan1 of grains after spring next year.” Zhou Gui
faced Xiao Chiye and deliberated over his words. “We know it is a
small amount, but it’s a little token of appreciation from Cizhou to
Your Lordship. I have already told the Vice Commander of this. The
Vice Commander understands Cizhou’s difficulties. He wants us to
sell these grains at a suitable price to Chazhou and use the money
as funds for the reconstruction. We have been thinking about it for
these few days, and we still feel bad about it. Your Lordship, there is
a piece of vacant land to the northwest of Cizhou. It’s the former
site of the Beiyuan Hunting Grounds.2 At the very beginning, we
wanted to till the land and cultivate fields there, but the soil isn’t
suitable, and we couldn’t grow any grains except sow some
rapeseeds. Rather than leaving it idle, we might as well gift it to
Your Lordship to create a track for horse riding or to build a new
camp as you wish.”
The emergence of the Beiyuan Hunting Grounds preceded the
Nanlin Hunting Grounds. Owing to the rise of Xiao Fangxu in the
north later, the Li clan canceled the annual ceremony at the
Beiyuan Hunting Grounds and had the venue changed to Nanlin
Hunting Grounds, where they could feel more at ease. This piece of
land was not small; it was even bigger than Xiao Chiye’s military
drill grounds at Mount Feng in Qudu. It was far enough to pose a
threat to Dancheng and close enough to provide support to
Cizhou. And it also stood on Libei’s boundary line. It was an
excellent position from which to advance and retreat, launch an
assault and defend.
Xiao Chiye’s interest was piqued. He dreaded the Qidong
Garrison Troops in the south. Shen Zechuan was remaining behind
in Zhongbo. If he did not have a place to station his troops, he
would have to rush to and forth between both ends. Never mind if
it was just him alone. But if he ran around like this with tens of
thousands of men in tow, then he would not only expose their
tracks but also draw unnecessary troubles to themselves.
But Xiao Chiye had no money. He had scrimped and saved to
build up the military drill grounds at Mount Feng. It was not as
imposing as the Eight Great Training Divisions’ military grounds,
but it consumed real silvers. His noble title was useless now, and
there was no one to pay him a salary. His residences in Qudu had
turned into lifeless objects he could see but not eat. Even taking out
a handful of copper coins would prove to be a problem for him.
The little jade bead earring Shen Zechuan was presently
wearing on his right ear was polished by Xiao Chiye himself. In the
past, Xiao Chiye would not even blink an eye at losing a few ivory
fans. Now that Lanzhou’s little bamboo fan had gotten stained on
one side and he had promised to have it replaced, he was thinking
of making one himself later.
Seeing as Xiao Chiye had still yet to say a word, Zhou Gui
thought that the piece of land was not to his liking, so he said, “The
place is big. Although it is a venue for hunting, it has fallen into
years of disrepair, and the errand-runners have all left. The
perimeter wall seems to me to be still solid. After Your Lordship
takes over, you’ll just need to fortify its defenses a little, and you’ll
be able to use it.”
Kong Ling also added, “Your Lordship helped Cizhou out of its
predicament. Naturally, we will not try to fool Your Lordship on this
matter. We had also mentioned this place to the Vice Commander
yesterday, and the Vice Commander said he would personally
make a trip down to take a look when he finds the time these two
days. Seems like he likes it too.”
It had been a passionate night last night, and Shen Zechuan
did not get the time or chance to bring this matter up. What’s more,
Xiao Chiye had left in a hurry in the morning, and Shen Zechuan
was still not wide awake then.
“The place is good. It’s suitable as a resting place and
temporary lodging for the Imperial Army. Lanzhou and I both like
it.” Without a change in expression, Xiao Chiye said, “There’s no
need for both of you to stand on such ceremony, but thank you.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan got out of bed and put on a plain, white set of
regular clothes. He originally wanted to go out, but the traces from
their lovemaking were too obvious. The marks on his chest, waist,
side of the legs, crook of the neck could be covered up with
clothes. But he was too thin-skinned. As long as they had gone at it
vigorously at night, the lingering redness at the sides of his eyes
would not fully recede the next day.
 Ding Tao was standing on the veranda feeding the red carps.
He was also rattling on and on, telling Gu Jin a story. The fish bait
in his hands kept leaking into the vat, where the two red carps
gobbled it down. By the time Gu Jin realized what was happening,
one of them had already gotten so bloated that it flipped belly up.
Gu Jin made to beat up Ding Tao. Sensing trouble, Ding Tao
hurriedly stuffed the remaining fish bait into his pocket and fled to
the principal room. He yelled, “Young Master! Bad news! Jin-ge fed
the fish to death!”
Shen Zechuan picked up the sweet soup from the tray. He gave
a bowl to Ding Tao and told him to sit under the eaves to drink it.
He then asked Gu Jin, “How are your injuries today?”
Gu Jin saw Shen Zechuan wearing wooden clogs and knew
that the latter would not be heading out today. He bowed in
greeting and said, “Much better. The physician came as scheduled
to change the bandages. Since Young Master is not going out
today, shall we get the kitchen to prepare the meals now?”
Clusters of tree shades decorated the grounds in the courtyard,
while shadows of flowers adorned the panels of the two wide-
opened doors. The weather was fine today. It was not yet noon, but
it was already starting to get hot. Shen Zechuan’s fingers that were
basking in the sunlight looked as though they were clutching a
handful of crystal clear amber. He could not stand the cold, and he
also disliked the heat. He looked to be exhausted today, and his
entire person exuded laziness.
“The weather is hot. Shifu dreads greasy food, and Ce’an gets
cranky easily. Get the chef to choose and make some light dishes.
You’re currently nursing an injury, so do as the physician and shifu
say and get the kitchen to make an individual portion for you.”
Shen Zechuan retreated half a step and returned to the coolness of
the shade under the eaves. “Ding Tao, go to the courtyard and call
shifu over.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Ji Gang did not stay in the separate courtyard Shen Zechuan
had initially given him. Instead, he lived in a courtyard together
with Qiao Tianya and the rest. People tend to fear loneliness when
they grow old, and it was inevitable for him to get all sentimental
now that Qi Huilian was no longer around to squabble with him.
The good thing was that there were those from Libei and those
who originally came from the Imperial Bodyguards among this
batch of guards. All of them held the Ji clan’s boxing style in
esteem, and they hoped to gain pointers and guidance from Ji
Gang. That was why they liked to hang around Ji Gang when they
were not on duty. What’s more, they were all lads who had yet to
get married. Ji Gang found them boisterous and lively, and it made
him happy to be around them too.
Ji Gang went to bed early and woke up early nowadays. He got
up at the first quarter of the hour of mao3 today and watched Qiao
Tianya and the others practice shadowboxing in the courtyard.
After drinking his tea, he came out for a stroll and found that Shen
Zechuan was still asleep. So he took another stroll with his hands at
his back and returned to find that Shen Zechuan was still not up. So
on seeing him now, he could not refrain from asking, “Why did you
get up so late today? Have you fallen ill?”
Taken aback, Shen Zechuan paused for a moment before he
said, “… I overslept.”
Ji Gang noted that he seemed to be under the weather today,
so he said, “Although there are plenty of issues at present, you also
have to take care of your health. I’ll cook a couple of fish dishes for
you tonight.”
As they chatted, Xiao Chiye returned. He saw Ding Tao at the
entrance of the courtyard and knew that Ji Gang had come. He
took off his outer garment and asked Chen Yang as he washed his
hands, “Did shifu come in the morning too?”
Chen Yang answered truthfully, “Young Master bought shifu a
skylark a few days earlier, and shifu would always take a stroll with
the bird every morning when he gets up. Young Master was still
sleeping when he came to the entrance of our courtyard this
morning, so he asked about it several times.”
Xiao Chiye wiped his hands and walked along the walkway to
the front. When he entered, he carried out a disciple bow to Ji
Gang. He had been very respectful to Ji Gang and Zuo Qianqiu
back then at the Plum Blossom Residence, but Ji Gang could not
forget that kick he gave Shen Zechuan six years ago. Now that
Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye were in the same boat rowing
towards a common goal, Ji Gang thought that they had buried the
hatchet in private and were merely friends on good terms with one
another. So, for Shen Zechuan’s sake, he would not give Xiao Chiye
the stink eye.
Ji Gang and Zuo Qianqiu were brothers. According to seniority,
Xiao Chiye’s paying of obeisance to him was etiquette. Ji Gang
nodded and said concisely, “Your Lordship may dispense with such
formalities.”
Xiao Chiye took his seat. Ji Gang was at the head, so Xiao
Chiye and Shen Zechuan were sitting face to face with one another.
During the meal, Ji Gang asked questions relating to the
suppression of the bandits as well as stuff about Zuo Qianqiu. Xiao
Chiye answered him all in full detail. He did not hope to give a
perfect answer; all he strove for was to be genuine in his
responses.
Ji Gang was a person who greatly valued relationships and ties.
In his younger years, he screwed up his assignment because of
drinking and caused his adoptive father, Ji Wufan, to lose the favor
of Emperor Guangcheng. This had been weighing heavily on his
heart. Later on, Duanzhou fell into the enemies’ hands, and he
never touched wine again. He did not have Qi Huilian’s illustrious
reputation for his talents, but he had great prestige among the
Imperial Bodyguards. He was the main reason why the group with
Ge Qingqing at the head was willing to go all out to help Shen
Zechuan when Shen Zechuan was flogged and thrown into the
imperial prison, even extending their assistance to him in the
period after. When Ji Gang was still serving as the Vice
Commander in the Imperial Bodyguards, he rarely abused his
authority to oppress the others. He also abhorred Pan Rugui and
the likes. Again and again, he had helped the innocents to redress
the injustices they had suffered, and because of this, he had
offended quite a number of powerful officials.
When it came to elders like this, Xiao Chiye would not resort to
dubious tricks for his own personal advantage. He had to take out
all of his sincerity. Only then would he be able to make Ji Gang see
him in a new, more favorable light.
 Their meal lasted an hour. Ji Gang thought that they still had
important matters to discuss, and so he did not stay for long and
left early.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was changing his clothes. When his upper body
was bare, he pulled over Shen Zechuan’s hand and placed it on his
back to touch it.
Shen Zechuan was still sitting on the mat with a brush in one
hand as he calculated the expenses for this period of time. As he
touched Xiao Chiye’s sweat, he lifted his eyes and said, “Just how
nervous were you?”
“That was scary.” Xiao Chiye swiftly put on his clothes. “I was
worried my answers were not sincere enough, and it would
alienate shifu from me even more. I’ve been really busy this period
of time. I will have to find a day later to talk it over with shifu.”
“A father loves his child without asking for anything in return.”4
Shen Zechuan set the brush down. “There is no transactional
exchange of benefits and profits when it comes to shifu, only
genuine affection and sincere concern. Second Young Master has a
long way ahead. That kick of yours really set you back a long way.”
Xiao Chiye slumped into the rattan chair. He thought for a
moment and said, “If it had been my old man sitting there today,
we might not even get to finish the meal.”
Still feeling the trepidation, Xiao Chiye touched his own chest
and looked at Shen Zechuan, who was deep in thought over the
accounts. He held the brush, then set it down, and his sleeve slid
down to reveal a portion of fair skin. The expression on his side
profile was calm. There was no one else in the room, and his collar
that had been slightly loosened because of the heat exposed a
snow-white expanse with traces of lovebites on it.
How flimsy.
For a moment, Xiao Chiye was in a daze as he gazed blankly at
Shen Zechuan. He thought of many things, and yet it also seemed
as if he had figured out nothing.
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye inexplicably called out to him.
Shen Zechuan’s mind was not here. He just happened to be
thinking that he should get Ge Qingqing to find a few stewards
from Juexi who could do the accounts and have them sent over
when he suddenly heard Xiao Chiye’s voice. Although his eyes
never left the accounts book, he turned his face slightly and
answered, “Spit it out if you have something to say.”
Xiao Chiye abruptly stood up, turned around a few times, and
suddenly squatted behind Shen Zechuan to embrace him. Shen
Zechuan was still writing. It was all thanks to the power of his
extraordinary focus that he did not mess up his strokes.
Xiao Chiye nuzzled against Shen Zechuan’s cheek from behind
until Shen Zechuan’s face felt hot. Shen Zechuan had no idea what
was up with Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye never said a word as he
touched Shen Zechuan all over and scooped Shen Zechuan into his
arms, clinging on to him like glue.
And just like this, Shen Zechuan sat in Xiao Chiye’s embrace
and continued to do his accounts. When he ran into difficulty, he
got Xiao Chiye to stretch his fingers out, but Xiao Chiye was
unwilling to and did the sums orally as he continued to hug him.
Surprisingly enough, he was pretty swift in his calculation.
“Second Young Master.” Shen Zechuan pushed the abacus
aside. “You have a bit of a knack for this. Calculate these all for me,
will you?”
Xiao Chiye pulled the abacus back and said, “Count long
enough, and I’ll fumble. It’s so complicated that it’s better to hand it
over to the professionals. Do you know who in Qudu is the best in
arithmetic?”
Shen Zechuan replied, “That, I really don’t know.”
“Third Missy Hua, Hua Xiangyi.”
So Shen Zechuan asked, “Then do you know who in Zhongbo is
the most skilled in employing diversionary tactics to lure the
enemies?”
Xiao Chiye ventured a guess. “… Tantai Long?”
“It’s Xiao Ce’an.” Shen Zechuan finally looked at him and said in
all seriousness. “Look at him nuzzling away at me until my heart
goes all pitter-patter and I’m too preoccupied to get down to
serious business.”
“I’m unworthy of the reputation.” Xiao Chiye moved in closer.
“It’s only because I saw how sweaty the little Young Master is and
with clothes in such a state of disarray that I’ve specifically come
over to drop you a reminder or two.”
“Then you are a real gentleman.” Shen Zechuan brushed the tip
of this finger that was moistened with tea water across the back of
Xiao Chiye’s hand and said, “Unlike me and my mind working in
overdrive.”

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SPECIAL THANKS TO: Yunyun
Footnotes
1. 石 dan, dry measure for grain equal. 1 dan =
approximately 90kg (see chapter 113 author’s note)
2. 北原猎场 literally Northern Plains hunting grounds.
3. 卯时 hour of mao, i.e., 5-7am, based on the system of
two-hour subdivisions used in former times. one ke (一刻) is
at approximately the 15 minutes mark.
4. 慈父爱子，非为报也。The original quote speaks of a
mother’s love instead (慈母爱子，非为报也。) by Liu An (刘
安).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 119 : PAST ACQUAINTANCE

Xiao Chiye said, “Let’s hear more about it.”

Shen Zechuan was feeling so warm from Xiao Chiye’s embrace
that he began to sweat. He said, “You’ll lose the fun if you voice it
out when it comes to matters like undressing and what happens
after.”
Xiao Chiye grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan’s fleeing finger. He
laughed for a moment before saying. “You’ll lose the fun if you
voice it out? Then, take a moment to hear me out. I’ll say it for you.”
Shen Zechuan looked toward the account books.
Xiao Chiye squeezed Shen Zechuan the pulp of Shen Zechuan’s
finger and looked at the account book together with him. He said,
“I haven’t even started, so why are you getting all hot?”
Shen Zechuan looked askance at Xiao Chiye and mouthed
soundlessly, because of you.
Xiao Chiye looked at Shen Zechuan for a moment, then
suddenly lowered his head and buried it into the pit of Shen
Zechuan’s neck. All his earlier emotions had melted away at this
look of Shen Zechuan. They became another kind of raging
torrents that surged along Xiao Chiye’s chest to his entire body. But
no matter how tempestuous the waves were inside of him, he did
not dare to use even more strength in his embrace of Shen
Zechuan.
That kick that had never once turned a hair during all the years
in Qudu had, along with the passage of time, cunningly turned into
pangs of pain after Xiao Chiye fell into the clutches of love. The
turbidness that was love and hatred went through a cleansing by
the heavy downpour to become a crystal clear lake. Xiao Chiye
drew in his claws, bowing his head in submission to the word
“love”.
Shen Zechuan released his hand and held hands again with
Xiao Chiye with interlocking fingers. He tilted his head to bump
gently against Xiao Chiye’s unmoving head and said, “Have you
fallen asleep?”
 Xiao Chiye raised his head and said in a hoarse voice, “Oh,
how I love you so.”
Shen Zechuan was slightly stunned.
Xiao Chiye looked at him and enunciated each word as he
repeated, “I love you so much.”
Shen Zechuan remained stunned for a moment before he said,
“I—”
Xiao Chiye could not wait any longer. He turned his head and
kissed Shen Zechuan hard, as if he wanted to give all the love in his
heart that could not be expressed with words alone to Shen
Zechuan. The cool breeze in the courtyard stirred the bamboo
blinds, while shadows of flowers shifted under the eaves along
with the slanting trajectory of the sun at the same time golden
light, having penetrated through the obstacles to make it way
deeper in, cascaded over the ground.
◈ ◈ ◈
Beiyuan Hunting Grounds was not that far away from Cizhou,
and there was also a bridle path connecting both places. Lang Tao
Xue Jin could reach it in half a day, so Xiao Chiye took Chen Yang
and Ding Tao to take a look at the site the next day. Shen Zechuan
finished sorting out the accounts for this period of time in Cizhou
and, together with Zhou Gui and Kong Ling, made some changes
to matters relating to the Cizhou garrison troops.
“Although I had the thought that quite a number of people
would come forward to answer our recruitment call, I never
expected it to be this many!” Zhou Gui was overjoyed. “With this,
we can further expand the plowing range next year.”
“There’s a shortage of grains on the outside which Cizhou can
supply. To many of those in desperate situations, this is timely help
that’s equivalent to sending charcoals in snowy weather. It not only
solves their urgent needs but also prevents them from turning to
banditry.” Kong Ling looked delighted as he said to Shen Zechuan,
“We shall have to trouble the Vice Commander regarding the
military arms.”
“With the way things are going, there will be no more bandits
in Cizhou’s territory when next year comes around.” Zhou Gui did
not sleep the entire night; he had been making a lot of plans. He
said, “If we can also help Dunzhou and Duanzhou out of their
predicaments, then the bandits from Mount Luo will fall apart
without the need for us to attack them.”
“While the recruitment is showing initial success, Your
Excellency cannot simply rely on this alone. Cizhou has been able
to sustain such a large amount of food consumption because
everyone from top to bottom in Cizhou was able to work as one in
the past five years. Duanzhou lies close to Biansha. Even if they
have a change of heart and wish to reclaim the wastelands for
farming, they won’t be able to do it.” Shen Zechuan still has other
considerations. He said, “What’s more, we currently do not have an
emperor on the throne, and ambitious men are easily born out of
troubled times. There’s a Lei Jingzhe in Mount Luo, so Chazhou
might just have their own Lei Jingzhe too. Cizhou has only just
begun to toddle; there’s no rush.”
“What he said.” Kong Ling nodded and said, “The most
pressing task at present is to resolve the issue of household
registration. Many of them fled here from other places, and they
don’t have any documentary proof on them. If they want to reside
in Cizhou permanently, they will need an identity.”
Shen Zechuan paused for a moment and said, “During the
reign of Yongyi, the Eastern Palace pushed forth a census
registry1 to register common folks as citizens. It was to be checked
and verified by the layers of prefectural prefects, district
magistrates, and townships of the various lands. Cizhou is less
populated at present. Since Cizhou is no longer under Dazhou’s
command, you can abolish the original three registers and let
Cizhou develop its own new registers, with vagrants still prohibited
in the city. Once the registry is finalized, Cizhou will be able to
collect taxes based on the registry, and subsequently, the accounts
will become clearer too.”
“Then we can get to work and have it straightened out these
few days.” Zhou Gui paused for a moment, then continued, “I’m
only worried about the Qidong Garrison Troops now.”
“It has been so long.” Kong Ling piped up too. “Why haven’t we
heard any news from Qidong at all?”
 Shen Zechuan had also gotten an inkling of sorts from this
wait.
If Qudu wanted to stop Xiao Chiye from returning to Libei, they
only had to mobilize Qi Zhuyin right away, and she would have
been able to stop Xiao Chiye at the border of Zhongbo a month
ago. But Qudu did not do so. They sent Han Jin, an armchair
strategist who was all talk and no action. This legitimate son born
of the Han clan was taken captive by the Imperial Army outside
Dancheng and was still being held in prison. Going by the division
and distribution of Qidong’s Five Commanderies, Qi Zhuyun could
assemble 100,000 men within half a month. Yet, there was still no
sign of her to date.
It was already late when Shen Zechuan came out of the Zhou’s
residence. He estimated the time; Xiao Chiye should still be on the
way back to the city, so he was not in a hurry to return home. As he
descended the stairs, the path ahead brightened up. Fei Sheng
carried a lantern, illuminating the road ahead for Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan had been busy with other matters these few
days, and so he had yet to have a talk with Fei Sheng. Fei Sheng
tried his best to get close to Chen Yang every day, and he was the
most diligent in serving tea and water to Ji Gang. This man, a
veteran who had tumbled his way out of Qudu, was presently
holding up the lantern for Shen Zechuan, and he did not speak up
to interrupt Shen Zechuan’s thoughts along the way either. From all
appearances, he looked as if he was already content enough to
hold the lantern for Shen Zechuan.
There were some people on the streets. Fei Sheng was carefully
guiding the way when he suddenly heard Shen Zechuan said, “I
heard you recommended yourself for the job when His Lordship
went out this morning.”
Fei Sheng answered with a neutral expression, “I saw that Gu
Jin had yet to recover from his injuries, and so I thought of going
along with His Lordship on his behalf.”
Shen Zechuan looked at the road and said nothing more.
Once back at the residence, Qiao Tianya took over the lantern.
There was still Gu Jin in the courtyard, and it was not Fei Sheng’s
turn to be on shift duty. So he went back on his own initiative.
 “If Master gives him the cold-shoulder,” Qiao Tianya said, “he
might come to harbor resentment.”
As Shen Zechuan entered the long walkway, he looked back to
see that Fei Sheng had already made a turn and passed through
the moon gate2 on the other side. He said, “I have the mind to use
him, but he might not necessarily think highly of me. His rank in the
Imperial Bodyguard is higher than yours. Han Cheng could be said
to be one of the bigwigs he counted on for backing. He was also
Han Cheng’s right-handed man before the former emperor met
with sudden death. There has to be a reason why Han Cheng
wants to kill him. It has been several days since he came to Cizhou,
and yet he has never shown any intent to speak of this reason to
me.”
Shen Zechuan stood still and smiled at Qiao Tianya.
“It wasn’t me but Ce’an he was originally gunning for when he
willingly staked and gambled everything on that one move of his
in Qudu. Ce’an is the second legitimate son of the Prince of Libei.
The Hereditary Prince was severely injured at that time, and the
others all thought the Ce’an was going back to replace Xiao
Fangxu. Fei Sheng was already starting to harbor ill-feelings
towards Han Cheng. Rather than compromise and make
concessions to achieve his aim, he might as well leave Qudu for
Libei to carve out another path for himself. The identity of a life-
saving benefactor is enough for him to secure a stable life in Libei.”
Qiao Tianya had some understanding of Fei Sheng. He said,
“It’s inconvenient for Gu Jin now that he’s wounded. Fei Sheng
recommended himself for the job today because he wants to take
Gu Jin’s place. A pity His Lordship is a hard-hearted man and
would not give him this opportunity.”
But Fei Sheng was prepared. He had been so attentive towards
Ji Gang just so he could leave himself a way out. The self-
recommendation today was a kind of test to sound Xiao Chiye out.
He had already understood Xiao Chiye’s intent, and so he shifted
his gaze back to Shen Zechuan.
“This person has real capabilities.” Shen Zechuan said. “He’s on
par with Gu Jin. It’d be truly a pity to cast him aside and not use
him.”
 They had already arrived at the courtyard while they were
speaking. Gu Jin was about to arrange for the people to serve the
food, but Shen Zechuan told him to wait.
“He should almost be back now.” Shen Zechuan turned back.
“Go wait at the entrance and receive him.”
But this wait lasted for half a night, and Xiao Chiye still had not
returned. Shen Zechuan stayed up until the burning candles were
gone by half before he heard movements at the front.
Xiao Chiye strode into the courtyard but did not enter the room
immediately. He was covered in dust all over. He took off his outer
robe in the courtyard and turned back to look at the person behind
him, although the words that came out of his mouth were,
“Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan looked past Xiao Chiye’s shoulder and saw Chen
Yang and Gu Jin supporting someone in. The courtyard was not
bright enough for Shen Zechuan to make out who this person was.
This person’s robe had been ripped to pieces, and the legs of
his trousers were torn. He was wearing a pair of straw shoes that
had split apart, and his legs were all caked in dirt and mud. He
could not stand firm on his feet and had to rely on Chen Yang and
Gu Jin to hold him up as he spouted nonsense. Disheveled and
unkempt, he was truly a sorry sight to behold.
Shen Zechuan suddenly thought of something under the faint
light. He probed, “Your Excellency Yu?”
That man shivered and struggled for a bit as he peered forward
through the dimness in disbelief. His messy hair exposed a pair of
eyes among them. He froze for a moment when he saw Shen
Zechuan. Then he swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva. His mouth
opened and closed. All of a sudden, he burst out bawling.
“This is draining the life out of me!” Yu Xiaozai cried himself
hoarse. He kept wiping his face as he shouted, “Vice Commander!
The Grand Secretary is no more! I’m going to die too! I’ve been
fleeing and hiding the entire journey here. Life is hard!”
Startled, Shen Zechuan strode a step out and asked in a heavy
voice, “What do you mean, Secretariat Elder Hai is no more?”
Chokes of sobs clogged up Yu Xiaozai’s throat. He wanted to
answer, but all that came out was the sound of his crying. He cried
so hard that he was virtually on the verge of sliding to the ground.
He kept shaking his head. At last, overwhelmed with grief and with
his voice hoarse from exhaustion, he answered in bureaucratic-
speak, “The Grand Secretary… The Grand Secretary risked his life
in futile remonstration…”
“Take him away to calm down for a moment and have a
change of clothes.” Xiao Chiye said with a cool head. “Gu Jin, go
inform the kitchen to make some soup and have it sent over.”
Those wretched cries lingered in the air. Shen Zechuan was still
standing in the same spot. For all his hundreds and thousands of
guesses, he had never foreseen that Hai Liangyi would die. Hai
Liangyi was the stabilizing force of Qudu. He could even hold on
tight to his position in the Grand Secretariat back then, when the
Hua and Pan factions were at the height of their power and
influence. Even if Han Cheng wanted to assist a male offspring
from his own clan to the throne after Li Jianheng’s death, Hai
Liangyi should still be the first and best choice of a minister inside
and outside the imperial court to entrust the child to.
Xiao Chiye held on to Shen Zechuan’s arm to bring him out of
his stupefaction. Xiao Chiye said, “I found him among the groups
of bandits a few li west of the hunting grounds. It hadn’t been easy
for him to get out of Qudu, and he was robbed by the bandits after
leaving Dancheng, so he could only walk barefoot towards Cizhou.
He has a letter on him, which Cen Yu wrote to you. He has news of
Qudu and Qidong as well.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yu Xiaozai still needed someone to help support him when he
entered the room again. He was so famished that he had no
strength and had to carry the bowl in his arms to wolf down the
food before they had their conversation. Tears were still streaming
down his cheeks as he ate. He seemed to be in a rush as he choked
on his food and coughed. It was only when his hunger abated
some that he covered up his face with a clean handkerchief and
wiped away at it for a while.
“It’s truly a stroke of luck that I could live long enough to see the
Vice Commander. His Excellency Cen’s letter is in my bosom. I kept
it close to me throughout for fear that the bandits would search me
and find it.” Yu Xiaozai sat on his heels and said with difficulty,
“Before I begin, I have to inform both of you gentlemen that the
new emperor who is about to ascend to the throne is a woman.”

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Footnotes
1. 黃冊 Huangce or census registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.

2.
3. 洞门 An opening in a wall separating different courtyards
within a residence or palace. It’s also known as a moon gate
(月亮门).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 120 : AFFAIRS IN THE CAPITAL

There was no place for women in the imperial court.

Feudal ethics1 drove them into the lady’s chambers, becoming
fragile objects in the small courtyard of their living quarters, cared
for in every way by their husbands and servants, parents and
children. They were porcelain vases to be appraised for their value
as they waited to be married off; they did not need lofty
aspirations.
The Empress Dowager, Hua Hewei, was from an illustrated clan.
She was a legitimate daughter of direct descent born to the
principal’s wife of the Hua clan. Before she came of age, she had
never seen the world beyond the walls of her quarters, and after
she came of age,2 she was still bound within the confines of her
courtyard. She wrested away the most supreme power and
authority of this world from her husband’s hands, yet she never
strode a step beyond that line; instead, she let down the beaded
curtain and sat cautiously with her back straight behind it.3
Commander-in-chief, Qi Zhuyin, similarly came from a
distinguished background. She was the legitimate daughter of
direct descent born to the principal’s wife of the Qi clan, a military
family of generals. Before she went to war, she was betrothed to
another, but after she went to war, no one dared to marry her. She
never got the conferment she deserved, only the concession
before Yulong Terrace.4 The Ministry of Rites said that she was not
worthy of enjoying the posthumous privilege of being enshrined
and worshiped by the Imperial Ancestral Temple after death. The
name, Qi Zhuyin, had been, to date, branded as the little girl of
Qidong. If only Qi Shiyu’s sons had lived up to expectations, the
position of commander-in-chief of the military forces would never
have come to fall upon her shoulders.
Xue Xiuzhuo initially did not have the thought to support and
assist Ling Ting to the throne. That acute disappointment when he
found out that the imperial heir was a girl made him change his
strategy right at once, but then, he changed his mind when he saw
Ling Ting.
 Because Ling Ting resembled Emperor Guangcheng way too
much.
Any long-time minister who was old enough to have seen
Emperor Guangcheng before could tell Ling Ting’s origins at a
glance—this was an aberration the result of incest within the Li clan.
When the Eastern Palace fell from power during the reign of
Yongyi, the only reason for Emperor Guangcheng to leave the
palace was to pay a visit to Prince Qin – who had taken ill – and his
beautiful, defenseless wife. Emperor Guangcheng did not have any
imperial concubine who was in his favor during the later years of
the reign of Yongyi. After he fell ill, the empress, Hua Hewei, took
control of the former imperial court and harem to prevent him from
begetting another imperial heir. It was under these layers of walls
around him that Emperor Guangcheng set his eyes on his
daughter-in-law.
A pity Princess Consort Qin gave birth to a girl.
Like an old lion who had exhausted every bit of his energy,
Emperor Guangcheng did not even lift an eyelid when he learned
of this news and subsequently lost all the lofty aspirations he once
harbored. No one knew if Prince Qin had caught some wind of it,
but it was not long before he passed away from his illness. Before
his death, he threw Ling Ting out of Qudu. However, it seemed to
be fated that Xiangyun would come across her and bring her back.
When Xue Xiuzhuo had just found Ling Ting, she was uncouth
in behavior and was already in her teens. Pulling her back onto the
seat of the imperial heir would be an impossible task without the
determination to transform her from inside out. At first, it was
tough. She had wasted too much time in Xiangyun Villa. If she
herself were not resolute enough to erase all those superfluous
traces on her completely, then it would have been undoable even if
Xue Xiuzhuo had superhuman powers.
But Ling Ting actually “corrected” herself, one step at a time.
Little by little, she scraped all those vulgar and frivolous things off
herself. At first, there were plenty of words she could not read, so
she studied hard through the nights. Strokes she could not write
well, she would practice them day and night. She seemed to be the
last remaining bit of strength Heaven left for the Li clan’s empire.
She allowed Xue Xiuzhuo to see a faint glimmer of light in that
deteriorating situation.
A few months ago, when the misty rain enveloped the silk-tree
blossoms – when Qi Huilian rejected Xue Xiuzhuo in the loft – Ling
Ting was sitting upright at the table practicing her writing.
She used so much strength in her writing that she almost broke
the paper.
After she was done writing, she turned her head aside to look
at the drizzling rain. She watched it for a long time without
expression. Xue Xiuzhuo later came over to have a meal with her.
She sat in the seat of lower priority and ate her meal with precise
table manners. Xue Xiuzhuo was particular about not speaking
when eating, so they never talked when they had their meals. After
the meal, he would test Ling Ting on her homework. This was the
most important event of the day. Ling Ting had to be precise and
clear in her answers. Xue Xiuzhuo never scolded her, but he was
more exacting on her than anyone else.
“Teacher.” Ling Ting paused for a moment as she lowered her
head. “Am I going to have a change of teacher?”
Xue Xiuzhuo put the books in order and said with indifference,
“This isn’t a matter for you to think about.”
Ling Ting was silent as she propped herself up. She listened as
Xue Xiuzhuo rose to his feet and walked towards the door. She
suddenly turned her head aside to look at Xue Xiuzhuo and asked,
“Because I’m a woman?”
Xue Xiuzhuo stood still and turned back to look at Ling Ting
too. Ling Ting never averted her eyes. She was just as calm as Xue
Xiuzhuo.
“I’m a woman.” Ling Ting said. “If the new teacher isn’t willing
to teach me for this reason, then I’d like to ask to see him.”
Xue Xiuzhuo turned around again and changed his shoes. The
sound of rain outside intensified. He said, “No. You just don’t have
the affinity to be teacher and pupil with him. I’ll still continue to
teach you.”
“Affinity is the most difficult thing to make do with. Wise
teachers are hard to seek. I’m not willing to let a teacher slip by
because of this.” Ling Ting had already stood up. “Teacher.”
 But Xue Xiuzhuo paid her no heed, nor did she answer her. He
lifted the curtain, and the young servant boy waiting on the outside
hurriedly held up the umbrella. Without letting the servant touch
the books, he went down the stairs and left.
Ling Ting stood where she was and watched through the gap
in the same curtain as Xiu Xiuzhuo walked a few steps before he
disappeared in the rain. She knew this was a soundless rejection
from Xiu Xiuzhuo. No matter what other people thought of Xue
Xiuzhuo, he was, in Ling Ting’s eyes, exceedingly calm under that
gentle and refined mask of his. He was even a little conceited; he
would never open himself up to manipulation by others, and it was
rare for him to heed the words of others.
Ling Ting could only let the matter drop. She sat back down,
flipped open the essay on contemporary politics that Xue Xiuzhuo
had left behind, and copied Xue Xiuzhuo’s characters. But she
could never write like him. Because she did not know how to rein
herself in diplomatically. Her strokes were just like steel blades that
would never go around in circles.
◈ ◈ ◈
Several months later, the scorching sun blazed down upon
Yulong Terrace where a densely packed mass of court officials was
kneeling. These were officials from humble backgrounds headed
by Hai Liangyi. After the sixth month, Han Cheng brought back a
boy from his own clan and claimed this child to be a descendant of
the Li clan.
Under Yao Wenyu’s meticulous care, Hai Liangyi’s condition
took a turn for the better. The first thing he did when he attended
court was to reject Han Cheng’s memorial in his capacity as the
Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. He also demanded an
official verification of his child’s identity. But the emperors of the Li
clan were all dead, and it was impossible to determine if this child
was a descendant of the Li clan based on the empress dowager
alone. Both parties reached a deadlock, with no one willing to
make any more concessions.
“I was the Eight Great Training Divisions Vice Commander
during the reign of Yongyi, and I was also the top military officer
under Emperor Guangcheng’s command. I have a private letter
from Emperor Guangcheng entrusting the care of the child to me.
Grand Secretary, is this not enough either?” Han Cheng had
gained power recently and so dared to refute Hai Liangyi on the
imperial court.
Hai Liangyi did not have the same vigor as before after his
illness. His heart would palpitate and his hands would tremble just
by standing for a few moments. He stepped out and said, “Mere
words without a factual basis. If the commander is willing to make
the private letter public and hand it over to the Grand Secretariat
for examination, then you and I would have no further need to
engage in such a war of words on the imperial court.”
Han Cheng sneered inwardly to himself. There was no imperial
heir at present, and it was the throne being left vacant that Hai
Liangyi should be getting anxious about. For him to be so unwilling
to make a concession, he must already have found a candidate. So
he said, “The throne has been left empty for more than a month.
What is the Grand Secretary still waiting for? The Grand Secretariat
has been deliberating over it. Has it still not come up with a
solution?”
Hai Liangyi was sweating all over. He felt a stifling oppression in
his chest, so he took a short breather before continuing, “We sorted
out the clan register and found out that the second son of the
former Prince Yan’s grandson born of a concubine is still in
Huaizhou. He is a descendant of the Li clan with a traceable
lineage. According to the rules, no one else but him is fit to be the
current crown prince candidate.”
“Prince Yan was the Prince of Huaizhou during the reign of
Wanxuan. His descendants of direct lineage died in battle at Luoxia
Pass, and those born of concubines further down are all from the
collateral branch of the clan. How can they be called the bloodline
of the Li clan if we were really to go into it? The second son of
Prince Yan’s grandson born of a concubine is already approaching
seventy years of age, so how can he still head the government?”
Han Cheng smiled. “Furthermore, it’s a long and bumpy journey.
How is he going to stand this kind of physical and mental torment?
Grand Secretary, there is simply no way we can discuss this further
in detail!”
 Both parties stood their ground, with no one backing down.
There were still students from the imperial college kneeling
outside. The empress dowager listened behind the bead curtains
for a moment before saying, “Although this matter is urgent, there
is still room for discussion. Secretariat Elder, the Grand Secretariat
assists in governmental affairs, and there has never been a time
when I do a perfunctory job of matters. If you have objections, you
can come over to Mingli Hall to discuss it face-to-face with me.
Please get the students to disperse.”
She spoke in a soft voice, but Hai Liangyi could hear the
displeasure.
Although Han Cheng went all out to push forth this child, he
had always been submitting his memorials in the capacity as the
former Vice-Commander of the Eight Great Training Divisions; he
never got the officials from the noble clans to second his proposal.
This was to, firstly, allow the Han clan to become the only support
the new emperor could rely on, and secondly, avoid suspicion.
Avoiding suspicion was exceptionally important.
Hua Siqian and Pan Rugui both failed because they did not
know how to avoid suspicion. Forming cliques for one’s selfish
ends was a great taboo in the imperial court. It had not been long
since the empress dowager took control over the imperial court
again. At present, she was just like the emperor. What she could
not stand to see was her ministers flocking together to become a
force powerful enough to coerce her into making policy decisions.
As such, she did not promote officials from humble backgrounds
as a gesture of goodwill, nor did she promote officials from the
noble clans in order to secure her power. She seemed to
understand that Dazhou had already come to a certain point.
Instead of pinning her hopes on a puppet like she had done a few
years before, she might as well count on herself.
Hai Liangyi was sick for two months, during which officials from
humble backgrounds were extremely jittery and on edge. With
Kong Qiu and Cen Yu taking the lead, they carried out plenty of
discussions in private, and they also repeatedly submitted
memorials to ask the empress dowager to let Hai Liangyi return to
the imperial court to administer state affairs. Not only that, the
students from the Imperial College still had the nerve to engage in
idle talks of state affairs. The sixth month had only just arrived, and
there were already rumors that the empress dowager had seized
power and established herself as the ruler.
The empress dowager did not have any overt discussions with
Hai Liangyi, but she increased the frequency of visits paid by the
eunuchs. This was a kind of covert prompt. So Hai Liangyi attended
court as soon as the sixth month came around, when his illness
had just taken a turn for the better. Although he had, in the past
decades, asserted that he never was a part of a faction or clique, he
had already become the direction in which all the scholars of
humble origins in the world looked to. This was a fact he could not
deny even if he wanted to. He had already turned into a powerful
“force” of sorts.
Hai Liangyi fell ill, and everyone in the world panicked. Hai
Liangyi rejected Han Cheng’s memorial, and before the empress
dowager gave her reply, the officials and students had already
kneeled for a day. Without realizing it, he had become the thorn in
the empress dowager’s flesh, far more than the overbearing Han
Cheng.
Hai Liangyi braced himself to hang on and said, “The imperial
college students have the duty to discuss official affairs to begin
with, and the imperial court is a place where the world has their
eyes on. It’s only when there are discussions that there can be
strategies. Your Majesty heads the administration diligently and
attends to affairs personally. Still, officials are appointed to share
the burdens of their superiors at the top and oversee the work of
their subordinates at the bottom. It’s Dazhou’s blessing that they
are concerned about state affairs. What’s more, the matter of the
crown prince is not just a family affair. This subject thinks that it’s
only by letting them remain here that we can have an open
discussion on the issue of the new emperor.”
It was not stuffy and warm in the hall. There were bamboo
blinds hanging everywhere to hold in broken blocks of ice. To Hai
Liangyi, it was even a little cool. He stood with his head lowered
after he was done saying his piece. Behind the beaded curtain, the
empress dowager remained silent for a long time. It was only when
Hai Liangyi’s legs were aching that she finally answered in an
unhurried tone.
“What the Secretariat Elder has said makes sense. In that case, I
shall listen to you. As for the matter of the second son of Prince
Yan’s grandson, I still have yet to see the clan registry, so it’s
inappropriate for me to come to a conclusion. But Han Cheng’s
people are already here. Do you want to let the Court of Judicial
Review assist in the checks, or would you prefer the Ministry of
Justice to do it? I shall do as you say.”

T97’s Words:
If a character’s reason for appearing is not convincing and their
actions are not logical, then it won’t matter if this person is a male
or female; it won’t save the story from collapsing. When I first did
the mind map of the characters, it occurred to me that the female
characters might get discussed. But I didn’t expect discussion
about whether the entire book is enough of a serious drama with
their presence. When Qi Zhuyin appeared, someone mentioned
that she was a self-insert Mary Sue. But actually, in the year before
last, I’ve put up a few Qiang Jin Jiu paragraphs on Weibo, and Qi
Zhuyin and Ling Ting were among the characters who made an
appearance back then. If their appearance makes no sense, would
it definitely make sense if I change them to a “he”?
Thank you for reading.
Lianyin’s Reminder:
As usual, you are free to dislike the novel or the plot or settings
(just stop reading, easy as that) but please refrain from bringing the
author personally into tirades. Thank you.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
SPECIAL THANKS TO : Alex, Yuka for burning brain cells with
author’s words!
Footnotes
1. 天理 “Law/Principles of Heaven” i.e., feudal ethics as
propounded by the Confucianists in the Song Dynasty
2. 及笄 for a girl to reach the age of fifteen in old days
3. i.e., to hold court behind a screen or curtain. A practice in
ancient China, where the Empress or Empress dowager was
allowed to preside over the imperial court without actually
being seen by her subjects since women were prohibited
from politics. This would usually be done by a child
emperor’s mother, who would serve as regent and rule in
place of the emperor. It’s different from actually declaring
herself sovereign and ruling as the ‘emperor’ herself.
4. For a refresher, see chapter 51
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 121 : LIANGYI

Hai Liangyi did not want to be supported by anyone after the

court session was dismissed. Kong Qiu and the rest knew that the
Secretariat Elder was a strong-minded one who did not like to look
weak, and so they only dared to follow behind him and watch as
he hobbled along alone and made his way slowly down.
That official robe of his soaked in the last of the evening rays
like a scar blending into its brilliance. At this time last year, he had
led hundreds of officials in attending court. What an imposing,
spirited sight he had cut back then. But now, there was no trace of
this will and spirit to be found on him.
Hai Liangyi reached the end and stopped. He slowly turned
back to look at the officials on the stairs, then at the last remaining
sunset glow above the upturned eaves of Mingli Hall.
“It’s getting dark.” Hai Liangyi said gently. “Be careful on your
way back.”
For some reason, Kong Qiu felt a tinge of fear at this moment.
He strode a step out with the intent to support Hai Liangyi by the
arms. Choking a little with emotion, he called out, “Teacher!”
Hai Liangyi waved a hand at him and turned around to walk
towards the palace gates.
The descendant of Prince Yan’s grandson born to a concubine
was Hai Liangyi’s last line of battle. He watched as that setting sun
was covered up by the buildings. A sense of powerlessness washed
over him. He knew what it signified for a child of the Han clan to
ascend to the throne. He had fought this battle for thirty years, and
his steady pursuit to sue for peace had never once scored a victory.
He could only try his best to set himself aflame and throw these
old bones of his into the intense fire, hoping that the spatter of
sparks would be able to light up the night sky that had been deadly
still for so long. An endless night had descended upon Dazhou,
and he seemed to be the only remaining torch left. But to date, he
still could not bring himself to admit that Qi Huilian and the rest
who had once shared the same goal in spite of their differing paths
had all failed.
 He watched as those geniuses fall like shooting stars, one after
another, leaving himself as insignificant as ever.
Thirty years ago, Hai Liangyi was not concerned with success or
failure. Thirty years later, Hai Liangyi was all burned out and spent.
Steadily but surely, he walked on his own path and attempted to
hold back Qi Huilian, who was taking extreme, radical measures as
he charged ahead. But he failed to do so. No one knew that the
night when the entire Eastern Palace was wiped out was the most
pained moment in Hai Liangyi’s life.
It was already dark. By the time Hai Liangyi made his way to the
palace gates, he was already panting. He lifted his sleeves to wipe
his sweat and saw Yao Wenyu standing beside the sedan waiting
for him. Yao Wenyu came over to help him up. Hai Liangyi took his
seat, and just as Yao Wenyu was about to lower the curtain, Hai
Liangyi said to him, “Yuanzhuo, there is a load on my mind that has
yet to be resolved. Make a trip to Wucheng tomorrow on my behalf.
Pack your bags tonight.”
◈ ◈ ◈
During the court session a few days later, the empress dowager
exempted Hai Liangyi from standing. But the more she treated him
with such courtesy and respect, the more it meant that her
dissatisfaction with Hai Liangyi was intensifying. This was because
the imperial censors from the Chief Surveillance Bureau had been
working as one these few days to launch a series of scathing
rebukes at Han Cheng. Cries of demand for an official verification
of the child from the Han clan rose to an all-time high, and this
tidal wave surging around Hai Liangyi was forcing the empress
dowager to make a concession.
The empress dowager had a hard time sleeping in the day and
at night, and her hesitation put Han Cheng in a desperate situation.
Gradually, it dawned on Han Cheng that the empress dowager was
trying to take advantage of the conflict to destroy him. As long as
he could not bear the weight of the burden and perish under the
voices of castigation, the empress dowager would be able to
support the Han clan’s child into ascending to the throne
immediately and eliminate the possibility of Han Cheng making a
power grab. When that time comes, she would be able to focus on
confronting those of humble backgrounds. Whether she would be
giving Hai Liangyi the cold shoulder or have the Grand Secretary of
the Grand Secretariat replaced, she would be able to do it with
more ease than she could at present.
Han Cheng was unwilling to let the matter drop and surrender
the power in his hands on a silver platter to others. Even if he had
to put up with it, he had to make Hai Liangyi suffer!
“The situation is unstable at present. Libei in the northeast is
eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey, while Zhongbo to the east is
beginning to show signs of stirring. Is the world going to take the
lead of the Grand Secretary if we don’t have a new emperor
because the Grand Secretariat keeps delaying the matter of the
crown prince?” Han Cheng’s mouth was already blistered from the
verbal battle that had gone on for several days running. He
suddenly flung his sleeves and said, “If you ask me, the Grand
Secretary is rallying his own clique to obstruct the imperial court
from designating a crown prince. His intention is condemnable!”
“That’s a slanderous accusation!” Cen Yu rebuked sternly in his
capacity as the head of the imperial censors. “We have been
discussing the matter of the crown prince appointment for several
days in a row, and yet the commander has been unwilling to verify
the real identity of the imperial heir officially. So who is the one
here trying to hamstring efforts to designate a crown prince? The
imperial court had the support of the public previously. If it weren’t
for the commander’s insistence on surrounding the Marquis of
Dingdu, Xiao Chiye, to capture him, how would Qudu find itself
caught in such a predicament?! If we were to hold someone
accountable for this, you’d be the one to bear the bulk of the
responsibility!”
“Well, then!” Han Cheng sneered and pointed at Cen Yu. “Xiao
Chiye assassinated the late emperor. As the commander-in-chief of
the Imperial Bodyguard and Viceroy of the Eight Great Training
Divisions, I’m perfectly justified in taking this person down! You
said I did wrong, and that means you’re saying that he did right in
assassinating the last emperor! You are on good terms with Xiao
Chiye and Shen Zechuan. Cen Xunyi, the Ministry of Justice didn’t
trace their investigation to you, did they? Kong Boran, both of you
are truly close friends from the same school. I, Han Cheng, am truly
envious!”
Fury washed over Kong Qiu’s face. He said, “What nonsense
are you spouting? We are still investigating whether Xiao Chiye
really did assassinate the late emperor. If we just take your words as
it is without evidence, then we might just as well do away with the
Ministry of Justice. Besides, you were also present during our
private gathering, were you not? You drank quite the amount of
wine too!”
Han Cheng said, “I’m an Imperial Bodyguard. Keeping my ears
to the ground at all times and taking records is my duty. If I don’t
show up when you senior officials have a private gathering, then
how can I know precisely what has been said? I have already told
someone to transcribe everything that has been discussed in detail
that night for Her Majesty. I’m in the clear! Do you people dare to
though?”
Pan Xiangjie, having received help from Xiao Chiye before, was
fearful of being implicated, and so he had been keeping a low
profile on the imperial court lately. Han Cheng was presently in
power, and Pan Xiangjie went along with whatever he said. Seeing
them argue again, his lips opened and closed, and he took several
small steps back, not daring to cut into the conversation. He made
up his mind to be a coward like a turtle hiding in its shell.
Gradually, several parties got carried away with their verbal
assaults on each other. Cen Yu was the most eloquent of all. He
cursed Han Cheng so savagely that even if Han Cheng wanted to
put up with his words, he was boiling with so much rage that the
hand he was pointing at Cen Yu with was trembling hard. But still,
he kept a clear head as he slid down to his knees on the ground
and burst out wailing as though he was going to go for broke.
“Your Majesty!” Han Cheng lay prostrate on the ground and
wept bitterly. “Your Majesty! This subject’s heart is as pure and
bright as the moon! It’s my fault for surrounding Xiao Chiye to
capture him. It’s also my fault that the late emperor was
assassinated. And now it’s even my fault that we have no one to be
the crown prince! As an official, I’m willing to die for my sovereign
and be punished by my sovereign! If there is a crime, then it’s all on
me! Whether I’m to be killed alone or along with my family, I will
accept whatever sentence my master dishes out!”
Kong Qiu found this man truly shameless. He promptly raised
his hands to remove his wusha hat1 and said, “I am ashamed to be
of the same rank as a vile person of this kind! If the real identity of
the imperial heir cannot be officially verified, then I, Kong Boran,
might as well forfeit this official post!”
The empress dowager abruptly rose to her feet and lifted the
beaded curtain to sweep a cold glance over them one at a time
before her eyes came to a stop on Han Cheng. She said, “We are
discussing official matters on the imperial court, so what are you
crying for? Get up!” Then she looked at Kong Qiu. “You are a
member of the Grand Secretariat and could be said to be the
Deputy Grand Secretary. You are someone who presides over the
affairs of the state. You keep using your resignation at every turn as
a pressure tactic. Are you trying to threaten me into giving in, or are
you thinking of fishing for praises—You know it best yourself! Ever
since I stood in to act on behalf of the Son of Heaven, I have to ask
the Grand Secretariat about all the matters in detail, regardless of
its significance, so what is there that can’t be explained clearly that
you have to keep pushing every step of the way?!”
All the ministers kneeled.
“Our forefathers laid down the rule that the harem cannot
interfere in politics. I’ve been overstepping my boundary time and
again that I’m already too ashamed to face my ancestors. Jianheng
passed away so suddenly this time. If not for your repeated pleas,
how would I have been willing to step out into this court once again
to take charge of governmental affairs? We lack an emperor now,
and I’m merely a widow who is without a child…” Hot tears
brimmed in her eyes when she spoke to this point. “When has
Emperor Guangcheng ever let me suffer such grievance when he
was still around?!”
Han Cheng seemed to be so moved by the emperor and
empress’s deep love that he covered his face as he lay prostrate on
the ground and wailed, “This subject never had to put up with such
a treatment either when Emperor Guangcheng was around. I’m
deeply aware that I’m an ignorant and shallow person. I’m merely a
soldier. I dare not compare myself with the various major officials
from the Grand Secretariat, what’s more vie with the Grand
Secretary? It’s all because of my staunch loyalty and deep love for
the Li clan that I dared to return the imperial heir to the imperial
court. Grand Secretary, why go to such an extent?!”
Han Cheng has repeatedly been fanning the flames towards
Hai Liangyi. Kong Qiu was burning with pent-up anger deep down.
It was with difficulty that he said, “Your Majesty… Heaven can attest
to the Grand Secretary’s heart and intentions. Designating a crown
prince is by no means a small issue. We are beset with difficulties all
around at present. Dazhou is already at the most critical moment of
survival. If we cannot proceed with prudence and caution, then I
fear there will be no end of trouble for the future…”
“I understand this as well. That’s why I have called the various
excellencies here for days on end to discuss it in detail.” The
empress dowager regained her composure and said, “The imperial
heirs after Emperor Guangcheng have all passed away, and now,
we can’t even find ourselves a crown prince. The harder the crisis
is, the more we should work together as one. Han Cheng, hand
over Emperor Guangcheng’s private letter for the various
excellencies present to verify it officially!”
Where on earth would Han Cheng have a private letter
entrusting the child to him? The reason he had been holding out
and refusing to hand it over was that he was competing with Hai
Liangyi and the empress dowager to see who was more capable of
stalling. The moment Hai Liangyi relented and the wave of officials
from humble backgrounds dispersed, the empress dowager’s
desire to head the country would be unstoppable. When the time
came, she would have no choice but to let the child from the Han
clan ascend to the throne. By then, he would truly become the
minister the child had been entrusted to. The golden age of the
Han clan was just right before his eyes. He understood that the
empress dowager currently wanted to push him into the corner to
his death, so he cried even louder.
Han Cheng beat his chest and said, “The various excellencies
doubt my loyalty, so you may as well let me die! My dear younger
brother, my dear younger brother of direct descent! He ended up
being held hostage in Cizhou to this date, all just to hunt down that
Xiao Chiye. I had an eye injured for the late emperor, and I took
three slashes of the blade for Emperor Guangcheng. So how can I
be a shallow, narrow-minded person who deceives the entire world
for my own selfish desire?!”
All they had been going back and forth about was “selfish
desire”. Cries and curses flooded the imperial court. No one else
mentioned Prince Yan’s descendant again. Kong Qiu remained
kneeling, but his heart had already gone cold.
Hai Liangyi had not spoken a word today. Supporting himself
on the handles of the chair, he suddenly stood up. Countless gazes
converged together on him. Officials from humble backgrounds
looked on expectantly for the Grand Secretary to turn the table and
regain control of the situation again, while officials from the noble
clans remained silent and waited for a good opportunity. They all
focused their attention on Hai Liangyi, just like they did in the past.
Hai Liangyi started coughing. His emaciated, wizened hand
trembled as he covered the blood with a handkerchief. He
swallowed some saliva and slowly looked around the great hall,
then at all these faces. Finally, he looked at the empress dowager.
“Back then, the Li clan reigned supreme, and it took several
years of conquest before the empire was finally united as one. Over
the past hundred years, generations after generations of Dazhou’s
officials have, without exception, devoted all their themselves to
the court and spared no effort in their duties. Although the city
walls of Qudu during the reign of Yongyi are old, its integrity still
remains, and its spirit still exists. At the start of the reign of Yongyi,
Qi Huilian of Yuzhou successively came in first in all three imperial
examinations,2 and from then, the imperial college flourished.
Although the three preceptors of the Yao clan were born of a noble
clan, they advocated freedom of speech and recruited all kinds of
outstanding talents. Most of the scholars of humble origins still
serving in this imperial court today joined the imperial court during
that period of time.”
Kong Qiu lowered his head. As he recalled the past, he could
not help but choke with sobs softly.
 “But then, the period of resurgence during the reign of Yongyi
was merely a flash in the pan. It had only been ten years, and
Emperor Guangcheng fell ill. Then the noble clans thrived once
again, and prejudices over family status divided the imperial
college. From the reign of Yongyi to Xiande, no other scholars of
humble origins entered the imperial court; this is the imperial court
of the noble clans.”
Pan Xiangjie looked embarrassed and kept his head bowed in
a kowtow without saying a word.
Han Cheng wanted to say something, but Hai Liangyi suddenly
raised his voice. “During the reign of Xiande, the state treasury was
empty. This subject made a request to Hua Siqian to hand over the
accounts. He worked in hand with the various noble clan officials
who were then serving as the ministers of the various ministries to
avoid the issue and dismissed me in a perfunctory manner time
and again! In that same year, Juexi was hit by a disaster, and it was
a scene of desolation and despair everywhere. Once again, this
subject forced Hua Siqian to hand over the accounts, only to have
him skirted around the issue. Not long later, the troops of Zhongbo
suffered a defeat, and the granaries of the six prefectures turned up
emptied overnight after the battle! To this date, Hua Siqian had
never given a clear explanation of this account! Is this his fault, or is
it the fault of everyone here for exacerbating the issue?!”
Alarmed, Pan Xiangjie hurriedly said, “About this matter, the
Court of Judicial Review has already—”
“Ever since this subject, Hai Renshi, has returned to the imperial
court, I have been repeatedly remonstrating and requesting to
officially verify the real identity of the imperial heir from the Han
clan. Han Cheng keeps hesitating, and to date, he is still unwilling
to hand over the private letter entrusting the child to him. Left
without a choice, I took charge and directed the Grand Secretariat
to search through the imperial registry before I eventually
presented a memorial to ask Her Majesty to choose and designate
the descendant of Prince Yan of Huaizhou as the crown prince. It
was a futile attempt.”
The empress dowager was stunned into taking half a step back
by this impassioned tone. The beaded curtain fell noisily over her
body as she looked at Hai Liangyi in shock and uncertainty.
Hai Liangyi was on fire. The fury in his heart had been
suppressed for a full thirty years, and it was now burning so
intensely that his spirit blazed once more into existence and left the
entire hall shocked. He said, “The decline of the state is all my fault
as the Grand Secretary! I have been remonstrating with the ruler all
my life; I already have no more to fear! Since my remonstration is
futile while I’m alive, then I shall remonstrate with Dazhou today
with my death! A crown prince can be appointed, but the child
from the Han clan must never be appointed as the crown prince! A
crown prince can be appointed—”
Before anyone could bat an eyelash, Hai Liangyi’s sleeves rose
with the wind, like falling leaves set on fire right before everyone’s
eyes. An earthshaking thud followed. Blood splattered.
Dead silence descended upon the entire hall. The empress
dowager’s limbs went icy cold, and she almost slid to the ground.
Her eyes traced along that splattered blood with difficulty and
landed upon Hai Liangyi. A moment later, the entire court of
officials rose to their feet with exclamations of shock. Kong Qiu
practically crawled over on his knees and propped Hai Liangyi up.
“Renshi…” The empress dowager’s voice trembled, “Why…
why go to such an extent…”
This one head smash completely severed Han Cheng’s retreat
route. Hai Liangyi used death to attain the wrath of all the scholars
in the world. The lad of the Han clan would never be able to
become emperor. Whoever dared to risk universal condemnation
to seek infamy would be the thorn in the flesh of the world’s literati
in the future. But even Han Cheng himself was stunned on the
ground. Never in his wildest dream could he have imagined that
Hai Liangyi would go to such extremes.
With his face drenched in blood, Hai Liangyi looked up at the
high, unreachable roof.
He had been seeking stability his entire life. Yet, at this last
moment, he took such drastic measures for once. He became the
blazing sun that had burst out of Dazhou, flaming with countless
rays of light in that pitch-black night. The crane on his chest,3 which
had already been stained red, rose and fell with the last remaining
heaves of his chest. He gripped Kong Qiu’s hand tightly.
“Boran…” Hai Liangyi said softly. “… I… have done all I can.”

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Footnotes
1. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
2. 三元 “Triple Yuan”. In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial
examination system was split into three phases: the
provincial exam (乡试); metropolitan exam (会试); and the
palace exam (殿试). The titles for the top scholars in each
exam were known as the Jieyuan (解元), Huiyuan (会元) and
Zhuangyuan (状元). These three are known as the “Triple
Yuan”. i.e., a Triple Yuan Top Scholar is one who came first in
all these examinations.

3.
4. Refers to his rank badge, or mandarin square, a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. Squares depicting
birds were used for civil officials, while animals were used for
military officials. So for a first-grade civil official like Hai
Liangyi, this bird would be a crane.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 122 : THE EMPEROR’S DAUGHTER

When Yu Xiaozai spoke to this point, he bent over and choked

with sobs, unable to continue. The scholars of their generation who
went on to take up official posts either wanted to be the patriotic
and loyal Qi Huilian who would lay down his life for his cause, or
the Hai Liangyi who was the stabilizing force that could hold them
together in times of crisis. But then, this building teetering under
the elements suddenly let loose the thunderous sound of collapse.1
In one night, it shattered the lofty aspirations of several tens of
thousands of people, turning Dazhou into a land where wails
abound everywhere.
Shen Zechuan turned his head aside silently and listened to the
sound of the night watchman on his rounds beyond the courtyard
wall.2
Some time later, Yu Xiaozai stopped sobbing. He covered his
face with a warm handkerchief for a moment before he said, “The
Grand Secretary’s use of his death to remonstrate forced Han
Cheng into a dead end, but he refused to give up. The crowd from
imperial college was so worked up that they blocked Han Cheng’s
sedan on Shenwu Street after the dismissal of the court session and
smashed it to pieces. The Eight Great Training Divisions sealed off
the imperial college and captured a few students who had been
taking the lead and hauled them over to the imperial prison. They
even cut off the students’ supply of food, and so the students went
on a hunger strike.”
Yu Xiaozai could not help but shed tears again.
“I initially thought all the scholars in the world would die out at
this point. But that night, I saw the flickers of flames3 among Mount
Jingyi, which the imperial college was on, and that was when I
knew of the far-reaching significance of the Grand Secretary. The
blaze that spread far and wide had already become a force to
behold. To quell the fury of all the scholars in the world, the
empress dowager once again demanded Han Cheng hand over
the private letter entrusting the child to him. She also drove the
child from the Han clan who was feigning to be the imperial heir
out of the palace. Han Cheng had no choice but to make a
concession. He promised to have the private letter officially verified
three days later.”
“The forged private letter did not have Emperor Guangcheng’s
private seal. So the Grand Secretariat rejected Han Cheng’s crown
prince proposal. On seeing this, the empress dowager consented
to meet with Prince Yan of Huaizhou’s descendant to establish the
candidate for the crown prince. However, Huaizhou is far away
from Qudu. Just as Han Cheng had said earlier, that second son of
Prince Yan’s grandson of non-direct descent was already advanced
in age. He was fatigued from the long journey, and coupled with
the fact that he had been through a roller coaster of emotions, he
gave up the ghost before arriving at Qudu.”
“The issue of selecting and designating a crown prince
completely came to an impasse. Han Cheng, with ulterior motives
in mind, used the Eight Great Training Divisions to coerce the
Grand Secretariat. He submitted another memorial to make a
request for the eight cities to assist in governmental affairs. He
wanted the empress dowager to establish a ‘Chamber for the
Deliberation of State Affairs’, and the candidates listed were all
officials from the noble clans. The empress dowager shelved the
memorial without giving him an answer. Carrying on with the
legacy of the Grand Secretary, His Excellency Boran submitted a
memorial to consent to the original plan for the Chamber, but he
asked for the removal of Han Cheng’s military power on the
grounds that civil officials do not get involved with the military. He
wanted to use this opportunity to take down Han Cheng’s Eight
Great Training Divisions. But Han Cheng refused, so the Grand
Secretariat did not give their approval, and both parties’
negotiation fell through once again.”
The lack of an heir was the breaking point of the no-win
situation in Qudu. Officials of the Grand Secretariat with Kong Qiu
in the lead made a concession in the face of the proposal for the
eight cities to assist in governmental affairs, and this was in line
with Hai Liangyi’s policy to keep the peace. They had no troops.
Qidong was under the control of the empress dowager, and Libei
no longer obeyed Qudu’s deployment orders after what happened
with Xiao Chiye. Kong Qiu could only choose the lesser of two evils
and give way. The bottom line was to strip Han Cheng of his
military power. Even if they could not get their own hands on
military power, they could not hand over all the patrols in Qudu to
the noble clans to take charge of just like before.
“It was at precisely this moment that Xue Xiuzhuo submitted his
memorials.” Yu Xiaozai let out a vague, bitter smile under the
dimness. “With one stone, he stirred up a thousand ripples… This
move of his was really too ingenious.”
Xiao Chiye heard Xue Xiuzhuo’s name and shifted his gaze a
little to look at Shen Zechuan. After a moment of silence, Shen
Zechuan lifted his head slightly to look out of the window with
furrowed brows. After a moment, he said, “You were right before.
This talent is really something else. Rumors of the imperial heir
made their way so easily to where we are, stirring us into action. I
originally suspected that Han Cheng was the one who killed all
those boys after I arrived in Zhongbo. But it now seems that Han
Cheng was merely the same as Xi Hongxuan—they were all
sacrificial chess pieces manipulated by Xue Xiuzhuo. A wrong
move of a chess piece and the whole game is lost. It was careless
of me to underestimate the enemy.”
The impasse in the imperial court continued for less than half a
month when the upsurge of verbal assaults of the imperial college
on Han Cheng shifted to the eight cities’ assistance of
governmental affairs. Countless students with emotions running
high became more and more dissatisfied with Kong Qiu’s
conservative strategy. At the same time they wrote articles and
elegies to mourn Hai Liangyi, they were also mourning Qi Huilian.
The way Kong Qiu was at present was not the Grand Secretary of
their expectations.
The empress dowager made a concession when it came to the
child from the Han clan, and this allowed all the students under the
world to see the might of gathering various powers into one
faction. They were like water droplets from all over who converged
together to form the boundless sea. They believed that their
combined forces could push over that high wall. The opportunity to
get rid of the malady that was the noble clans was right before
their eyes.
Because Kong Qiu affirmed Han Cheng’s proposal for the eight
cities to assist with governmental affairs, the direction of the
imperial college suddenly changed course like the weather in the
fourth month. First, an article with impassioned words was stuck to
the door of the Kong’s residence. Then all the criticisms that had
been used to verbally assault Han Cheng were used on Kong Qiu.
The students became more and more certain that the scholar-
officials of humble origins led by Kong Qiu were too weak, and that
was why Hai Liangyi was left high and dry by himself in the Grand
Secretariat, which led to his eventual decision to choose such a
resolute method to remonstrate. They openly listed out all the court
officials during the reign of Yongyi and checked, one at a time,
whether these officials used to have any relations with officials from
the noble clans. News that Cen Yu had invited Han Cheng to a
private feast spread like wildfire and worked the students up into
an emotional frenzy. They labeled Cen Yu, Kong Qiu, and even the
Minister of War, Chen Zhen, as “hypocrites”.
The sedan Cen Yu used to attend court sessions was smashed.
He stood at the entrance of the palace gate with his head all
covered in blood and pointed to the sky to proclaim that he had no
inappropriate relations with the noble clans. Consequently, he got
splashed with filthy dung all over. Cen Yu could not believe that
these were the students of before. He had been with the Chief
Surveillance Bureau for twenty years, and he had impeached
countless major and minor officials of the imperial court. He even
dared to impeach Emperor Guangcheng. But he never thought
that he would, one day, be cursed as a scum who sought personal
gain without shame.
The Yao clan had always been an exemplar of scholars who
were concerned with politics but remained political outsiders who
kept their distance from those in power. It was an honorable glory
for a clan to produce three preceptors. Even though they had no
one in the imperial court after the reign of Xiande, their influence
far surpassed those from the other clans. They were widely
respected among the noble clans and those of humble origins. Hai
Liangyi, Qi Huilian, Kong Qiu, and other old and new officials of the
imperial court were all once recipients of the Yao clan’s advice and
guidance. The thriving of the imperial college during the period of
resurgence in the reign of Yongyi had everything to do with Old
Master Yao’s extensive recruitment of talents. But now, the doors
and windows of the Yao clan’s ancestral hall they had set up at the
eastern end of Qudu had been smashed broken. If Kong Qiu had
not sent someone to guard it, it would have been set aflame that
night.
This fire even blazed its way to Yao Wenyu. He was Hai Liangyi’s
student, yet he refused to join the imperial court as an official. He
did not appear either the last time when the imperial college went
up in arms to curse Pan Rugui. And now, new grievances piled up
upon old scores. They tore up the essays they had once sung
praises of, and likened Yao Wenyu to a thief—a thief of the noble
clan who stole Hai Liangyi’s government administration
knowledge.
Qudu plunged into complete chaos. The moment the Eight
Great Training tried to dispatch troops to suppress them, the
students would go on a hunger strike in protest. Already, four or
five people had starved to death, and Han Cheng no longer dared
to act rashly. At this time, even Qi Zhuyin, who was busy with
Bianjun Commandery affairs far away in Qidong, was not spared
either. The marriage alliance of Hua and Qi was to take place next
month, and those impassioned articles stating their opinions
spread like snowflakes to Qidong. The commander-in-chief initially
had insomnia, and now, whenever she wanted to sprawl out on her
desk to rest, she would get Qi Wei to read out those articles to her.
The more unpleasant the scoldings, the more soundly she slept.
The fire in Dazhou did indeed start to burn, but not in the way
Hai Liangyi anticipated. The night was whizzing with flaming stray
arrows all over. They drew a clear boundary between “us” and the
enemies. The demands made were exacting, with black and white
clearly distinguished. There was no middle ground for anyone to
stand on, only a bitter fight to the end when one side was left
standing.
 Kong Qiu insisted on not taking sick leave, but attending court
gradually became a dangerous affair. One day, he went out all
exhausted, but he was still in the compound when he saw a
stranger walking out from the courtyard. The stranger held up his
sword and hollered all around, wanting Kong Qiu to atone for his
crimes with his death. He was a bona fide official of the Grand
Secretariat, and he often used to receive some students from the
other lands, so he had never set up defenses at home. But who
knew someone would hold a sword against him now? It was simply
the greatest joke in the world. How ludicrous!
It was at this time that three of Xue Xiuzhuo’s memorials were
presented. The content of his memorials was like a monstrous wave
that instantly extinguished the crackling fire. Following right after, it
turned into raging billows that won over the scholars in the world
in one fell swoop.
In his memorial, he spoke of the innumerable hardships he
underwent before he finally found Emperor Guangcheng’s
daughter, who had been leading a wandering life in poverty
outside the palace. He not only had Prince Qin’s personal seal as
evidence but also relevant witnesses’ testimonies that could prove
the parentage of this girl beyond doubt. What’s more, he asked for
an official verification right there on the court.
Having a woman as a master could be compared to a
disruption in the balance of yin and yang, and a reversal of the sun
and the moon.4 This was something that had never happened
before in hundreds of years. Xue Xiuzhuo’s memorial sent the
entire imperial court into an uproar. Even Kong Qiu refuted it
vehemently and refused to accept it.
Following right after, Xue Xiuzhuo presented a second
memorial.
He revealed in his memorial that this girl had ended up in a
peasant household in Qudu. Because she was an exceptionally
bright child, she was very well-loved by the family. Although the
family was poor, they were willing to let her older brother teach her
to read and write. As a descendant of Emperor Guangcheng, she
was naturally different from the common person. Her family often
saw auspicious signs such as rainbows materializing from dew and
purple clouds over the house, and so they treated her with even
more attentiveness and did not dare to slight or neglect her. This
girl was not only intelligent, but kind too. Her neighbors were in
distress, and there were elderly starving, so she saved her own
food and personally attended to them. Everyone from the villages
near and far was unanimous in their praises of her. There were
witness testimonies of this incident too. As for her bearing, he
would let the various gentlemen ascertain it themselves when this
girl came to court.
This memorial had already spread beyond the palace walls.
Someone posted it in the Imperial College, and it even made its
way to every street and lane in Qudu. The emperor’s daughter was
noble and precious, and the only one who could claim such status
in Dazhou at present was the one who was by the empress
dowager’s side, Third Missy Hua. The comparison and contrast
between the two made the common folks even more sympathetic
towards this emperor’s daughter. Teahouses and wine taverns all
had storytellers who specifically told the legendary tale of this
emperor’s daughter living among the people, making that
extraordinary talent of hers out to be like she was an immortal who
had descended to earth. She came from the common masses. Her
family had been farming for generations, which, in many instances,
was similar to current students from the imperial college. What’s
more, she was a righteous and benevolent one who was kind and
friendly to her neighbors. She was the most aware of the hardships
of the people. For a time, even the students revered her.
And it was at this time Xue Xiuzhuo submitted his third and
most crucial memorial.
He said her elder brother was also a student of humble origins.
He had previously entered Qudu during the reign of Xiande, but
because of prejudices over his family status, he had never made it
to the list of those who passed. After returning home, he died
depressed. The affection between the emperor’s daughter and her
elder brother was so deep that this became a source of pain and
distress in her heart. On the way to Qudu, she had asked him many
times about the condition of Secretariat Elder Hai’s illness. When he
mentioned how hard it had been for Secretariat Elder Hai to take
care of state affairs, the emperor’s daughter actually shed tears on
hearing that and said, “If I were a man, there would be no way I
could have let the Secretariat Elder suffer such hardships.” He was
a son of non-direct descent from a noble clan, and he had been
subjected to harsh treatment on both ends owing to the difference
in status between those born of the direct line of descent and those
who weren’t. Yet, he did not have the same magnanimity as the
emperor’s daughter, and for this, he felt very ashamed.
At last, Xue Xiuzhuo said, since there was no law in the world
that decreed that priority should be accorded to those of direct
descent and those from distinguished clans during the selection of
court officials, then there were also no forefathers in the world who
said that priority should be accorded to males when it came to the
selection for the crown prince—all the more so in view of the fact
that Dazhou already had no other choice left at this stage.
The students were roused. They had finally found a suitable
candidate. The prejudices between parentage and family status
made it tough for them to fulfill their ambitions. They saw
themselves as fellow sufferers commiserating with the emperor’s
daughter over her hard lot in life. Li Jianheng was an emperor who
had grown up in a life of luxury. He did not understand the
hardships of the people at all, and he had been repeatedly
impeached by the Chief Surveillance Bureau for his pursuit of petty
pleasures at the expense of lofty aspirations. But look at how
different this emperor’s daughter bestowed by Heaven was. She
seemed to be the most wonderful woman in this world. She had a
heart compassionate towards all the scholars of humble origins in
the world. She was the Goddess of Mercy who had descended to
the mortal realm to deliver the masses from suffering.
And thus, it was under the buzz of an entire night of discussion
that Xue Xiuzhuo – who had been lying low without showing his
mettle all this while – emerged the victor.

Lianyin’s Note:
Dear all, I’ve been reflecting on my translations lately and I’m
aware that they are very much lacking (and I keep going back and
forth on terms). Tbh, I was intending to do an overhaul once I get
my hands on the traditional chinese physical copies. But since it
will take some time for qjj, I’ll be going back to the earlier qjj
chapters for some minor editing, that is, until the qjj physical copy
(for a final edit) and possibly the LA (for english terms/titles used).
This is the tentative plan, barring any unforeseen
circumstances. Once again, if you have any feedback, suggestion,
correction, etc, feel free to let me know. Thank you for putting up
with me.
P/S: Also, please support the author, that’s all I’m asking. If you
enjoy the novels, purchase them on jjwxc. Links and “how to buy”
guide are in each of the chapters themselves. Thank you.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO : Eggy, Yunyun, Alex, Yuka for
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Footnotes
1. From the idiom 大厦将倾, or “the mansion on the verge
of collapse”. The original idiom refers to a hopeless situation,
like a mansion on the brink of collapse. Here, it suggests that
the situation is a total goner.
2. A night watchman typically patrolled the streets at night
with a wooden clapper or a gong and a mallet and regularly
sounded the instruments at certain intervals to remind the
others of the time and to look out for potential fire hazards.
3. 薪火 flame/torch which also refers to the flame/torch of
learning/knowledge
4. Yin refers to feminine energies, and Yang refers to
masculine energies in the concept of Yin and Yang, while
sun and moon are also used to refer to the emperor and
empress.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 123 : YANQING

By the time Yu Xiaozai spoke to this point, the tea on the small
table had already gone cold. He continued, “I don’t understand.
The students were initially so harsh on the officials of humble
origins, then why would they flock to Xue Xiuzhuo overnight? Don’t
tell me Xue Xiuzhou, who is merely the common son of the Xue
clan, would be able to do his best for those from humble families
more than Minister Kong from Cangjun Commandery, who has
been diligent in administering state affairs? The Grand Secretary
went to the trouble to pave the way for us. But who would have
expected that it’s still the noble clans who gained the upper hand
in the end?”
“Xue Xiuzhuo might not necessarily let the noble clans gain the
upper hand.” Xiao Chiye poured cold tea and said, “He struck this
round when his opponents were unprepared, and so caught both
sides off guard. The empress dowager had been going around in
circles with Han Cheng because she had no one in her hands to
use. Xue Xiuzhuo obviously had not leaked any words of it to the
conservative noble clans headed by the empress dowager.
Furthermore, at the time when the former emperor passed away, he
had Han Cheng trapped as a pawn. In other words, he had already
offended the noble clans, and this is something he knows better
than anyone else.”
With a worried frown, Yu Xiaozai said, “I’ve been thinking about
it on the way here, but I still can’t figure it out. I don’t understand
what his intention is. The foundation of the new emperor is
unstable, and she’s a woman to boot. If he did so for merely a
moment of power, then even if the Xue clan rises in power, he
wouldn’t be able to last long under pressure from the empress
dowager and the others.”
Thoughts flashed through Shen Zechuan’s mind. He
contemplated it for a moment, then said, “We can’t let go of any
clues if we want to probe into a person’s motive. During the reign
of Xiande at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds, Hua Siqian was forced
into rebelling, and it was Secretariat Elder Hai and Xue Xiuzhuo
who masterminded it. At that time, Xue Xiuzhuo held office as the
Chief Supervising Secretary in The Office of Scrutiny for Revenue
and audited their accounts. You said that Secretariat Elder Hai
mentioned this matter before he died in remonstration. Then my
guess is that Xue Xiuzhou was aware of the inside story of the
Zhongbo troops’ defeat. This was probably the reason he could
later go on to join forces and work as one with the Juexi’s Provincial
Administration Commissioner, Jiang Qingshan, to investigate and
take out Hua Siqian. Looking at it this way, this person is not of the
same kind as Wei Huaigu, because he has been striking out the
noble clans right from the start.”
“I once heard Xi Hongxuan talking about him. He said Xue
Xiuzhuo was busy all day with governmental affairs. After I took
office as the Northern Judge of the Imperial Bodyguards, I sorted
out the case records the Imperial Bodyguards and the Court of
Judicial Review joined forces to investigate. I discovered that he
did indeed handle many cases after he was transferred away from
the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue to the Court of Judicial Review.
Secretariat Elder Hai was an upright person who would never stoop
to flattery, and his repeated promotion of Xue Xiuzhuo is not
without merit. Even His Excellency Cen has spoken to me many
times about Xue Xiuzhuo. His political achievement to date could
be said to be outstanding among the up-and-coming talents.”
Enlightened, Yu Xiaozai said, “To tell you the truth, Vice
Commander, this is where I can’t figure it out. All along, Xue
Xiuzhuo has a good reputation. Even the imperial censors from the
Chief Surveillance Bureau hardly have any objections of him. The
Chief Surveillance Bureau’s appraisals of him are excellent. This is
clear as day to everyone, so I really can’t understand the rationale
behind his current actions. Because as we have seen before, he’s
not a man like Pan Rugui who would seize the opportunity to get
rich.”
Xiao Chiye leaned back slightly and put up his arms. He said to
Shen Zechuan, “That’s right. We talked about Xue Xiuzhuo too
when we were in Qudu. Yao Wenyu said before that although he
was not accepted by Secretariat Elder Hai as his pupil, he was very
much in Secretariat Elder Hai’s good books, and this was the
reason Secretariat Elder Hai let him hold the crown during Yao
Wenyu’s coming of age ceremony. In the first few years when he
joined the imperial court, the essays1 he wrote were all on doing
away with the prejudiced views of the noble clans in the hope that
the imperial college, headed by Hua Siqian, could be restored to its
former glory in its heyday during the Grand Preceptor’s time. As
you know, other than Hai Liangyi, the Grand Secretariat – as well as
the Six Ministries under it – was then composed of officials from
noble clans. For a time, priority during the selection of officials in
Qudu was given to those from distinguished clans. Even the
illiterate thirteenth son of the Hua clan could take up an important
post in the Ministry of War and intervened with the Imperial Army’s
affairs. Kong Qiu was still stewing in the Ministry of Justice at that
time, while Liang Cuishan from the Ministry of Revenue was
repeatedly demoted during the same period, with no hope of a
transfer and promotion.”
Shen Zechuan nodded his head slowly and said, “The fact that
he was able to hold the post of the Chief Supervising Secretary in
the Ministry of Revenue at that time is an indication of Hua Siqian’s
intention to send him away. The Chief Supervising Secretary is an
important post that would give him direct access to the emperor.
But at that time, Emperor Xiande was unable to take charge of the
government. Hua Siqian, who was in charge of the Grand
Secretariat, had the final say over whether he would be able to
build up an outstanding track record in this position. It was at this
period that Xue Xiuzhuo’s approach to tackling matters began to
shift. He went from taking radical measures to keeping a low profile
for a time, eventually settling into the way we later come to be well-
acquainted with.”
The more Yu Xiaozai listened, the more alarmed he was. He
said, “But since he is in the same camp as those from humble
origins, why didn’t he get in touch with us? That Han Cheng…”
“He gave the best he could in the incident leading up to Li
Jianheng’s ascension to the throne, but very quickly, he came to
the realization that Li Jianheng was not bold, decisive, and
visionary enough. Back then, Li Jianheng was constantly wavering
in the tug of war between several parties, and the officials of
humble origins led by Secretariat Elder Hai failed to get rid of the
empress dowager.” Shen Zechuan turned his head aside, causing
the little jade on his right ear to be obscured by shadows. He
continued, “The imperial college students repeatedly mentioned
weakness in their attacks of the officials from humble origins. This
is probably the reason Xue Xiuzhuo no longer trusts scholars of
humble births. Secretariat Elder Hai’s conservative policy allowed
Dazhou to survive, but he also gave the noble clans a chance to
catch their breath. The noble clans give to one another, like how
Wei Huaigu fell this time only for Han Cheng to rise. This is not the
result Xue Xiuzhuo wanted—”
Shen Zechuan suddenly stopped and narrowed his eyes.
“No wonder he took Teacher away.”
Qi Huilian was the most important figure of the radicals—those
who were in favor of thorough and complete political change. He
had been actually working hands-on in the Eastern Palace. The
Crown Prince did not live for long, yet he could still accomplish
feats such as the registration of the common folks into the census
register,2 tapping on the Eastern Palace’s subordinates’ diligence in
discharging their official duties and tenacity to forge ahead
regardless of public opinions. If Xue Xiuzhuo wanted to change the
conciliatory approach during the time Hai Liangyi headed the
administration, then he was bound to seek Qi Huilian’s help.
But Qi Huilian declined. So Xue Xiuzhuo handed Qi Huilian over
to Han Cheng.
Shen Zechuan pursed his lips tightly. His side profile was cold
and detached under the candlelight. He said, “He’d stop at
nothing to achieve his aims. This person doesn’t believe anyone
else. He still wants to rely on the new emperor to sustain Dazhou,
and for this, he does not hesitate to offend the old-school noble
clans. He wants to bring in new blood to Qudu and overhaul the
system. We defeated Wei Huaigu and the others in Qudu, and their
falls have now turned into vacancies in which he can install these
new blood. Your Excellency Yu, you’re wrong. It was not how
wonderful the emperor’s daughter was that the memorial he
presented could move the hearts of all the scholars in the world,
but his last sentence.”
 There is no law in the world that decreed that priority should be
accorded to those of lawful birth and those from distinguished
clans during the selection of court officials!
The noble clans’ domination of the upper echelons of the
government once again turned Dazhou into an imperial court
dominated by the eight clans. The Li clan emperor’s assertiveness,
or the lack of it, dictated whether those from humble backgrounds
would be able to kill their way out of the heavy siege laid by the
eight clans. They underwent a low period during the later years of
the reign of Yongyi. This was too long a time. What they
desperately needed was a sovereign who was well-disposed
towards the scholars of humble origins. Gender did not matter. As
long as this person was able to rouse the hearts of the humble
scholars, and shoulder the weight of the humble families’
expectations after the successive passing of Qi Huilian and Hai
Liangyi, then this person would be embraced.
After the empress dowager took charge of the government,
those of humble origins not only had to put up with the intensified
ostracism but also the weakness and incompetence of the Li clan’s
emperors that had taken firm roots in the minds of the masses. The
reason why the students were so harsh on Kong Qiu and Cen Yu
was that they could no longer endure the repeated concessions
made by the present imperial court. Hai Liangyi, who had endured
it for a lifetime, had already died in remonstration, so why must
Kong Qiu still keep on enduring? The reform of the world was at
hand, right now! Doing nothing was tantamount to a neglect of
duty!
But was it really a good time now?
Shen Zechuan thought otherwise.
Why did Hai Liangyi endure it? Because the noble clans had
already become a chronic disease of Dazhou. They ought to have
scraped the bones and healed the wounds long during the reign
of Yongyi. But as it turned out, the troops of Zhongbo suffered a
defeat before Hai Liangyi could make his move. Dazhou was just
like an old man in his twilight years who was kicked in the waist by
another until he coughed out blood. It was hard for the external
wounds to recover, and even harder for the internal wounds to
heal. Right before his death, he questioned the imperial court,
asking if this was everyone’s fault for exacerbating the issue. But
did this “everyone” include himself too?
If he had not pushed Hua Siqian every step of the way.
If he had been able to deal with it with a more conciliatory
attitude back then.
Would Zhongbo be able to avoid the subsequent tragedy of
having its cities massacred?
Hai Liangyi did not know, but this incident directly affected the
way he headed the administration in the later period of Emperor
Xiande’s reign. He partook in the imperial court with an even more
placatory attitude. He did not dare to act rashly again. He had the
reckoning and awareness of one mired in the current political
situation, but these were things that the fledgling students did not
understand.
Perhaps Xue Xiuzhuo did not have the power to guide the
direction in which the students of the world moved. But he was no
doubt a fisherman standing among the stormy waves trying to
figure out the most optimal time to cast his net. This person did not
return empty-handed after rolling and crawling in the official
circles for many years. He even understood the dispute between
the humble scholars and the court officials more than Shen
Zechuan did. Since the flames of war of the old clique had already
been ignited, then the sparks erupting at present had similarly
kindled a fire in those of them who upheld the same ideals.
Xue Xiuzhuo had repeatedly asked to be under Hai’s Liangyi
tutelage in a formal teacher-pupil relationship. But he did not get
his wish. He eventually turned to Hai Liangyi to ask for help. And
still, he failed to get his wish. He seemed to be a rock in the tussle
between both parties, destined to use his own method to charge
his way out amidst the bloodshed. This was a merciless character
who would not even spare himself.
Ruthlessness brimmed in Shen Zechuan’s eyes. He felt as if he
had been thwarted. He was driven out of Qudu, like a stray dog
with its tail between its legs, beaten to the point he was almost
defenseless.
 Xue Xiuzhuo was able to forsake Xi Hongxuan instantly at the
right time, and he emptied the Xi clan’s silver warehouses before
Shen Zechuan made his move. This showed that he had long been
preparing for this day. And what had Shen Zechuan been doing at
that time? He was still naively thinking that he could rely on his
eloquence to drive a wedge between the noble clans, even though
it was clear that Xue Xiuzhuo had long revealed his mettle during
the Imperial Army’s silk case.
Shen Zechuan had already been defeated once. Since he was
still alive, then he had to fight this battle to the end. As someone
who had inherited Qi Huilian’s life work, he could not accept
himself being dogged by defeat again and again. They had
already gone from a battle-free Qudu to the crumbling land of the
frontier that was torn apart by disunity. He had to stand up again
immediately. Otherwise, there would be no place for him in these
turbulent times. There were no weaklings among the up-and-
coming talents who were looking on covetously like a tiger eyeing
its prey. He had to acquire the rights to challenge the other party
before he could sit down and delve further into the topic of beliefs
in a calm manner.
Xiao Chiye looked at Shen Zechuan’s silent side profile and
suddenly asked Yu Xiaozai, “Have you seen the empress?”
Yu Xiaozai happened to be fishing out the letter Cen Yu wrote to
Shen Zechuan from his robe. On hearing this, he gave a start and
said, “Not yet. Before I left Qudu, the Ministry of Rites was already
starting to prepare for the enthronement ceremony. The empress
dowager wanted to summon the emperor’s daughter for a
meeting, but Xue Xiuzhuo declined.”
Xiao Chiye’s hanging fingers swayed gently. He said, “Looks
like he isn’t that confident of success either. Then let’s wait and see
if the empress he has nurtured in four short years is a paper tiger
who would topple over at just a touch. I’d like to see just how long
she would be able to bluff Qudu.”
Shen Zechuan returned to his senses. After composing himself
for a moment, he said, “I just hope she isn’t a second Li
Jianheng.”
 Xia Chiye was tired from leaning. He straightened up his upper
body and asked Yu Xiaozai. “We still don’t know what her name is.
If they are going to register her in the imperial registry, then is it
possible that she’s called Li Jianting?”
A strange expression came over Yu Xiaozai’s face. He extended
his finger to write on the mat, one stroke at a time. “It’s this name all
right. But it’s not the same character as the former emperor. Rather,
it’s Jianting, with different words. Li Jianting.”3
Taken by surprise, Shen Zechuan exchanged glances with Xiao
Chiye.

Will edit later _(: 」∠)_ Also feel free to feedback.

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Footnotes
1. Specifically essays on current affairs presented to the
emperor as advice on government policy
2. 黃冊 Huangce, or registers/book served during the Ming
Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation and recruitment
based on the household’s classification according to their
occupation. It was mainly divided into three categories:
civilian, military, and craftsman.
3. Shen Zechuan initially thought it was written as 李建婷.
The Jian is the same as the Jian in Li Jianheng (李建恒) and
Li Jianyun (李建云 a.k.a. Emperor Xiande). This is a
“generation” name, where each member of the same
generation (i.e., siblings and paternal cousins of the same
generation) share a common syllable. (For example, in the
Xue Clan, this character is “Xiu” for Xiuyi and Xiuzhuo’s
generation.) Ting (婷) is a common female name, which is
also the same Ting in her original name, Ling Ting (灵婷).
However, Yu Xiaozai said it was written as 李剑霆 instead
(which sounds more masculine too).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 124 : THE DIE IS CAST

The first glimmer of dawn appeared in the sky. Yu Xiaozai was a

scholar after all, and it was hard for him to hold up mentally after a
time, so Shen Zechuan got Chen Yang to lead Yu Xiaozai away for a
rest. They could always discuss the remaining matters another day.
Yu Xiaozai did not force the issue and withdrew out of the room
after leaving behind the letter Cen Yu wrote to Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye went to take a bath, while Shen Zechuan read Cen
Yu’s letter under the candlelight. The morning light from the
courtyard seeped into the room. Shen Zechuan read the part about
Bianjun Commandery. He waited for a moment, but Xiao Chiye was
still not back. He set aside the letter, lifted the bamboo curtain, and
walked along the narrow corridor to the inner area. Then he
stepped around the screen for a look. Xiao Chiye was soaking in
the pool, fast asleep.
Xiao Chiye had been feeling a little tired as he thought about
some matters, but who would have known that he would fall asleep
while thinking? A sudden chill on his cheek woke him up.
Shen Zechuan scooped up the water and stroked Xiao Chiye
again. He said, “The water has gone cold. Go back and sleep in the
room.”
Xiao Chiye rose, sending water droplets splashing all over. He
lowered and buried his head into Shen Zechuan’s bosom, rubbing
against him until half of Shen Zechuan’s body was wet. He said in a
muffled voice, “Hug me.”
Shen Zechuan lifted his hand to squeeze Xiao Chiye’s nape. He
said, “Aren’t you making things difficult for me?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Then I’ll hug you instead.”
Shen Zechuan kicked off his shoes and stretched his arms
around Xiao Chiye’s neck that still had water droplets on it. He said
a little lazily, “Come on then.”
Xiao Chiye raised his head to press his forehead against Shen
Zechuan’s forehead. He embraced him and said, “I’ve seen the
Beiyuan Hunting Grounds. It’s still passable. It can be made into a
military camp after a little tidying up, but the towers have to be
constructed anew. All these will cost money.”
The lamps were not lit on this side, and the lightning added a
touch of sensuality to the atmosphere.
Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye pressed against each other up
close. Shen Zechuan said, “The city of Dancheng lies to the west of
the Beiyuan Hunting Grounds. If we are going to come face to face
with the Eight Great Training Divisions in the future, we can’t skimp
on this place.”
“No rush.” Xiao Chiye exerted a little force to pick Shen
Zechuan up and carry him into the room.
Shen Zechuan knew that Xiao Chiye did not intend to use those
silvers of his. The Imperial Army’s expenditure could not always be
pegged to Cizhou. What’s more, Xiao Chiye was about to return to
Libei soon. To lack money was to lack confidence. He was probably
considering this matter himself.
“Cen Yu went to the trouble to get Yu Xiaozai to bring a letter to
you. He must have a favor to ask of you.” Xiao Chiye got onto the
bed. Without even taking off his robe, he leaned back against the
pillow, half-embraced Shen Zechuan, and rested his chin on top of
Shen Zechuan’s head. He asked, “What is it?”
Shen Zechuan had already finished reading the letter. Resting
his head against Xiao Chiye, he folded the letter and answered,
“Cen Yu hopes that you can give everyone another chance and act
as the bridge between Qudu and Libei.”
With his eyes half-closed, Xiao Chiye said, “They are in need of
help now, that’s why they are willing to lower themselves. If the
Grand Secretariat and the empress dowager get along in the
future, then Libei will have to send another person in as a hostage.
If not me, then Xun-er.”
The grandson-heir was already six years of age now, and Xiao
Chiye still had yet to meet him. But this did not prevent him from
doting on his nephew. This matter was non-negotiable.
Xiao Chiye softened his voice. “Cen Yu is aware this is a difficult
matter to achieve, so he hopes I can head south to Qidong and
convince Qi Zhuyin to halt the marriage alliance between Hua and
Qi.”
 “Cen Yu is in Qudu year in year out. He doesn’t know the details
when it comes to Qidong. The commander-in-chief doesn’t have a
say in matters relating to the marriage alliance.” Xiao Chiye said.
“It’s Qi Shiyu who is going to marry Hua Xiangyi, not Qi Zhuyin. Qi
Shiyu is a wily old fox. Seeing as the present situation isn’t boding
well, he does not want Qidong to follow in Libei’s footsteps, and so
he wants to strengthen ties with Qudu through marriage. What can
Cen Yu and the rest give Qi Shiyu? With Hai Liangyi’s death and the
empress’s enthronement, all past promises have become
worthless. They have no bargaining chips that they can use to
convince Qi Shiyu…”
Xiao Chiye’s voice gradually became a murmur as he spoke.
Shen Zechuan counted in silence for a few beats, then turned
over to look at him. Sure enough, he had fallen asleep. Shen
Zechuan opened up the letter once again. His eyes lingered on the
word “Bianjun” for a moment before he closed it.
Xiao Chiye had a good night’s sleep.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuzhuo, however, did not fall asleep.
He had been resting in his study for several days in a row. The
whole affair about the emperor’s daughter could convince the
students, but it could not convince the shrewd and astute imperial
court officials. Kong Qiu felt that the blow Xue Xiuzhuo dealt to the
Grand Secretariat by taking advantage of present circumstances
was not what a gentleman should do. He had already submitted
several memorials in succession to protest against the empress
dowager’s tacit consent. But it was a futile endeavor, and he
received no response.
A conniving, ambitious man of great designs.
Thinking how wrong he had been about Xue Xiuzhuo, Kong
Qiu threw these words at him and refused to discuss any further
with him.
Whether or not the emperor’s daughter ascended to the
throne, the imperial court officials led by Kong Qiu had failed to
reap any benefit this time round. They fought with Han Cheng and
lost their pillar, and they saw Han Cheng make a concession only
for Xue Xiuzhuo to come barging out of nowhere midway. What he
delivered was not the emperor’s son, but the emperor’s daughter.
Everything they had done had been in vain.
Cen Yu did not concede defeat. The criticism of the imperial
censors was far more intense than Xue Xiuzhuo had imagined it to
be. Xue Xiuzhuo thought Dazhou was already at the point where
they would let the emperor’s daughter ascend to the throne. Was
he not implying by this that the state and its rule were coming to an
end, and that was why an incident such as the reversal of gender
norms and the confounding of right and wrong could have
happened?
Back then, Qi Zhuyin had merely been conferred a title as
commander-in-chief, and she had already been repeatedly
censured. And now, the Ministry of Rites poured over book after
book for details regarding the enthronement ceremony of the
emperor’s daughter, and there were too many areas in which they
had simply had nothing to reference at all. The sounds of
castigation in the imperial court never stopped, and memorials
impeaching Xue Xiuzhuo numbered in the dozens.
“Are all of you I see here pansies?”1 Pan Lin had now made a
name for himself in the Ministry of Revenue after all the ordeals he
had been through. As a descendant of Pan Xiangjie from the old-
school noble clan, his reaction on the imperial court was the most
intense. “Dazhou never had a female crown prince in all its
hundred years! Feudal ethics2 is the Way of Heaven. Although the
common descendant of Prince Yan has passed, he still has
descendants. Even if the royal bloodline is hard to find, Her
Majesty can temporarily exercise the rights of the Son of Heaven.
We will search again!”
Xue Xiuzhuo stood alone in the middle of these two groups of
officials who were polar opposites and said in a steady voice, “All
the later descendants of Prince Yan take his surname. Do you mean
to tell me that the Li clan’s empire should also change its surname
to his? It’s indeed entirely justified for the empress dowager to act
on behalf of the Son of Heaven. Since the harem can lead the
administration, then why not a female crown prince?”
“You’re distorting the facts!” Cen Yu turned aside to look at Xue
Xiuzhou. “The empress dowager acts on behalf of the Son of
Heaven; she does not take his place. As long as the crown prince
ascends to the throne, the harem will naturally have the authority
returned to its rightful master! But if the emperor’s daughter has an
imperial heir in the future after ascending to the throne, will she be
able to return the power?!”
Han Cheng’s expression was livid. He understood deep down
that he had been duped by Xue Xiuzhuo too. The empress
dowager and all these old-school noble clans were dissatisfied
because the attitude Xue Xiuzhuo was manifesting was not that of
compliant submission. He held the emperor’s daughter firmly in his
hand, which meant that after the emperor’s daughter ascended to
the throne, he would have the influence to control court
administration and state affairs. To those traditionalists, this was a
kind of betrayal.
Seeing as the empress dowager, who was sitting behind the
beaded curtain, had still yet to speak up, Han Cheng said,
“Moreover, the emperor’s daughter has never been out there in the
world, limited as she is to her chamber. How can she assume the
responsibility of managing state affairs? In my opinion, the
empress dowager should still lead the administration after the
enthronement ceremony.”
On hearing this, Kong Qiu wanted to throw up his hands and
quit. This situation was like one big sticky mess. At present, none of
the parties were satisfied. They were displeased if the emperor’s
daughter were to ascend the throne, and they were unhappy if the
empress dowager were to head the administration, but what else
could they do? Let the eight cities deliberate state affairs, and that
would upset the students!
Kong Qiu wanted so much to beg Heavens to hurry and drop a
prince from the sky! They were blinded and muddleheaded over
ten years ago not to let Emperor Guangcheng beget more sons. If
there was still an imperial heir around, would they be in such a
predicament?
Xue Xiuzhuo lifted his arm to point at the old stone inscription
outside the hall. He said, “The forefathers had explicitly said that
‘the harem shall not interfere with politics’, not ‘the emperor’s
daughter shall not lead the administration’! Since the various
gentlemen here are so critical of me today, then may I be so bold
as to ask what, in the various gentlemen’s opinions, should be
done? Do we oust the emperor’s daughter and install an emperor
of another surname, or do we leave the throne empty and have the
empress dowager lead the court?!”
A loud buzz rose in the imperial court, but no one stepped forth
to give a definitive statement. It was like this too when they
appointed Li Jianheng as the crown prince back then. It was as if
they were being pushed to the precipice of the cliff with each step
they took with no other choice open to them.
If Xue Xiuzhuo had come forward a few days earlier to say that
he still had the emperor’s daughter in his hand, the empress
dowager and the Grand Secretariat would all have a strategy to
deal with it, and they would also have been willing to treat him
cordially. But he just had to pin everyone down by their vulnerable
point in an attempt to hold the initiative to call the shots in his own
hands. He now had the emperor’s daughter in hand, and public
opinion to back him up. Who would dare to lay a hand on him at
this juncture?
Kong Qiu took a step back and gave in. He knew such a
stalemate was non-beneficial to Dazhou and to them. He said,
“There is something the commander said which I find true. The
emperor’s daughter has been limited to her living quarters for
long. Even if she ascends, she still needs to study the classics. In
the interim, the empress dowager will be in charge of the
administration with the assistance of the Grand Secretariat.”
They had to stand firm in this last stand they took. They had to
turn themselves into the threshold that determined if the emperor’s
daughter had the capability to participate in government
independently. Kong Qiu’s intent was clear. It was only when the
Grand Secretariat found the emperor’s daughter capable that she
was capable. Otherwise, she would always remain a student sitting
on the throne. To the empress dowager, this was also a kind of
threat. If the empress dowager dared to support the Han clan as
she did for the Hua, Pan clans during the reign of Yongyi, then they
would immediately put the emperor’s daughter in charge of the
administration and force the empress dowager back into the rear
palace.
The empress dowager sat in silence behind the beaded curtain
for a long time before she said, “I feel uneasy all day to act on
behalf of the emperor. Since there is now a crown prince
candidate, it is indeed inappropriate for me to continue doing so.
After the enthronement ceremony, I shall retreat to the Buddha hall
and will no longer show myself in public.”
Since she was going to beat a retreat for the sake of moving the
situation along, all those present could only kneel in unison and
shout, “Your Majesty is the matriarch of the world. You mustn’t put
your esteemed self down.”
Xue Xiuzhuo kneeled among them, his back drenched in sweat
as he bowed in a kowtow. Surprisingly enough, he did not refute
Kong Qiu.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was brimming with energy after a sleep. He had just
finished his breakfast and was sitting cross-legged under the eaves
feeding Meng. When he heard the news Bianjun had revolted, he
and Meng looked back at Shen Zechuan together.
Yu Xiaozai sat on his heels at the side. On seeing this, he
hurriedly said, “I was shocked when I heard it too. General Lu
comes from a clan of military talents; how could he have revolted?
Minister Kong requested right away for the Ministry of War to check
the state of military affairs in Bianjun. The Imperial Bodyguards put
the supervising eunuch on trial, and it took nearly a month for them
to find out that the initial military provisions allocated to Bianjun
were moldy.”
Xiao Chiye was still stunned. He rose swiftly to his feet, blocking
off the light inside the room, and said, “Moldy? We agreed back
then to reduce Qidong’s military provisions by half. No one said
anything about letting them pass off inferior grains as quality
grains.”
The warring situation in Libei was critical at that time, but
Bianjun also had to fight battles with Biansha. No matter how
anxious Xiao Chiye had been, he would never let anyone stuff Lu
Guangbai with moldy grains. He dispatched Chen Yang and Gu Jin
to supervise the process precisely because he was worried
someone would mess with the military grains, but he had never
expected someone to make a move on Bianjun.
“No wonder the commander-in-chief has yet to come and fight
me.” Xiao Chiye raised his arm to let Meng perch. His expression
was grave. “She lost Lu Guangbai. Qudu would not dare to be hasty
and let her head up north to confront us. They have to let her close
up the gap in Bianjun. But Lu Guangbai…”
This was Lu Guangbai they were talking about!
Xiao Chiye’s heart sank. He said, “The 20,000 soldiers in
Bianjun are all infantrymen. With nowhere to go, Lu Guangbai can
only lead his troops deep into the desert. The desert is the Biansha
Cavalry’s territory. He will lose the advantage of laying ambushes
that he has back in Bianjun. No doubt he will have to change his
usual style of fighting battles. Why didn’t he head for Suotian
Pass?!”
It would have been fine if he went to Suotian Pass or Tianfei
Watchtower. There were still troops of the Feng clan stationed in
Suotian Pass. Both of these places could be said to be Zuo
Qianqiu’s former units. Zuo Qianqiu was now a general in Libei,
and Lu Guangbai’s sister, Lu Yizhi, was Xiao Jiming’s wife. No one
would ill-treat him if he went to either of these places.
But why did he decide to head east?
There were only the Twelve Tribes of Biansha in the desert.

To be edited ;;;;

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Footnotes
1. Original quote “举朝之士皆妇人也” by Hai Rui, (海瑞), a
Chinese scholar-official and politician during the Ming
dynasty.
2. 天理 “Law/Principles of Heaven” i.e., feudal ethics as
propounded by the Confucianists in the Song Dynasty
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 125 : MENG & YU
Editor: Ami<3

There was not much of the sixth month left. Cizhou’s garrison
troops were already beginning to take shape, and it was time for
Xiao Chiye to continue his journey north. Not once had he sent a
personal letter to Libei in the two months he was in Zhongbo;
likewise, Libei did not send him one either.
Both parties seemed to have come to some kind of tacit
understanding.
Meng began to spend more and more time out hunting. Xiao
Chiye knew it was flying north. He stood in the courtyard today,
watching the sun sink in the far distance. It was only when Shen
Zechuan rapped lightly on the door frame behind him that he
returned to his senses.
Xiao Chiye looked back at Shen Zechuan from under the last of
the evening rays.
Shen Zechuan felt as if Xiao Chiye had grown a little taller
again. Those broad shoulders of his bore the weight of the setting
sun; he was far more sturdy than he had been six years ago. Shen
Zechuan watched for a moment until Xiao Chiye turned aside
slightly and said, “Let’s go horse-riding.”
Unlike the last time they went horse-riding in Qudu, Xiao Chiye
was serious this time. He led Shen Zechuan up Lang Tao Xue Jin
and explained it all to Shen Zechuan regardless of significance,
from how to step on the saddle to how to pull on the reins. It was as
if he wanted to leave it all to Shen Zechuan—His horse, his eagle,
his heart.
The two men rode on the horse together and trotted along the
forested path outside the city of Cizhou. This section of the path
was not long. They ran until the last of the sun on the horizon
vanished. Stars adorned the vast stretch of the sky behind them,
sprinkling the ground with a smattering of light. The lands in the
mountain ranges to the north were rich in vegetation and water.
Lang Tao Xue Jin ran up the slope. Xiao Chiye reined in the horse
and sat in the wind as he said to Shen Zechuan, “The Hongyan
Mountains lie at the end.”
Shen Zechuan looked out into the distance. On this cloudy
night, the boundless sky stretched on in the far distance. He could
vaguely catch a glimpse of the tall, rising peaks of the Hongyan
Mountains. It looked like a dragon lying at the end of the earth,
asleep in eternal rest. It drew a meandering demarcation line at the
very edge of Dazhou. One could see its contours from Zhongbo,
but not reach it from where they were. It nourished the vast
expanse of land north of Dazhou; it was a natural-formed wall that
rose from the earth of Libei.
Shen Zechuan heard the howl of the wind—a wind that was
entirely unlike that of Qudu. It blew against him, sending the
sleeves of his robe fluttering like a white bird spreading its wings.
“This is the call of the Hongyan Mountains. It’ll miss me too.
When we get closer to it, we will be able to hear the song of the
wind even more clearly.” Xiao Chiye spurred Lang Tao Xue Jin into
a run. They jolted in the wind, shooting across the billows of wild
grasses like a bird swooping towards Hongyan Mountains.
Meng flapped its wings and chased after them from behind. It
circled in the air and dove, leaving behind a line of bent grass in its
trail as it swept past.
Xiao Chiye suddenly said in Shen Zechuan’s ear, “I want to take
you there to see it.”
The puff of warm breath from Xiao Chiye warmed up the little
jade earring on Shen Zechuan’s ear. Looking ahead, he said, “Xiao
Ce’an…”
Xiao Chiye turned his head. Shen Zechuan said something, but
the wind was too strong, and Xiao Chiye did not hear him clearly.
Refusing to let it drop, he moved in closer and motioned for Shen
Zechuan to repeat it.
Shen Zechuan said, “Keep going, and we’re going to cross the
border!”
“Then so be it.” Xiao Chiye did not stop. “I’m taking you home
to meet my old man and eldest brother—What did you just say?”
Shen Zechuan shouted in the wind, “WHERE . IS . MY . FAN?!”
 Xiao Chiye scooped up Shen Zechuan in his arms and
suddenly reined in the horse, causing Lang Tao Xue Jin to raise his
hooves and neigh. The world turned upside down in Shen
Zechuan’s vision, and a muffled thud rang out right after. Both men
tumbled and rolled in the grass along the slope.
Xiao Chiye wrapped his arms around Shen Zechuan to shield
him. He did not get up when they came to a stop; instead, he
spread his arms and remained lying under Shen Zechuan. He said,
“You lied to me.”
Shen Zechuan pinched his cheek and asked, “Who lied to
you?”
Xiao Chiye stared at Shen Zechuan as he said huffily, “You lied
to me. Liar. Scoundrel. Heartless man…”
Shen Zechuan tugged over a handful of grass and plastered
them all over Xiao Chiye’s face.
Xiao Chiye did not dodge. He stretched out his arms to
embrace Shen Zechuan and forcefully held him to his chest. He
said wickedly, “In this life, even if I die, I have to die with you.”
He hugged Shen Zechuan so tightly that Shen Zechuan’s head
was buried in the pit of Xiao Chiye’s neck. Shen Zechuan made a
few attempts at struggling, but he could not break free, so he said
in a muffled voice, “Xiao’Er, if you suffocate me to death, then
you’d be murdering your own husband.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Then repeat what you said earlier.”
Shen Zechuan gasped hard for breath and finally managed to
peek out from under Xiao Chiye’s palm. With deep feelings, he
said, “Xiao’Er, you’re suffocating—”
Xiao Chiye rubbed away at Shen Zechuan’s head until even the
latter’s cheeks flushed red and his hair was all tousled, looking not
in the least like Vice Commander Shen at all. Xiao Chiye said
resentfully, “Shen Zechuan!”
There were bits of grass in Shen Zechuan’s mouth. “Huh?”
Xiao Chiye cupped Shen Zechuan’s cheeks and lifted the
latter’s head to kiss him. But just as their lips were about to touch,
he stopped and said callously, “Kiss me.”
Shen Zechuan could only remain in this position with his head
slightly raised. He endured it for a moment, then said, “Release
your hands then.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Nope. Think of a way yourself.”
Shen Zechuan could not reach him. Pursing his lips, he
grabbed hold of the front of Xiao Chiye’s robe to yank him over
and gave him a peck on the lips.
Xiao Chiye’s expression remained unchanged.
Shen Zechuan was still trying to reach him, so Xiao Chiye
lowered his head and kissed him so hard that Shen Zechuan bent
backward. Even his bites were merciless. Xiao Chiye’s arms were
still locked around his waist in a hug, and as Shen Zechuan leaned
back, he felt a stab of pain in his neck and sucked in a breath with
eyes narrowed.
In no time, their positions reversed. Shen Zechuan sank into the
grass. He could see the entire boundless starry sky as Xiao Chiye
entered him. Sounds he could barely suppress escaped his lips as
he grabbed a lock of Xiao Chiye’s hair, which wound around his
fingers as they tensed and curled. The stars dazzled before his
eyes, and his consciousness gradually disintegrated in the wind.
He gazed at Xiao Chiye a little dizzily, clearly sensing that the wolf
pup was much fiercer than usual.
“Xiao’Er…” Shen Zechuan dragged out the syllables.
Xiao Chiye bent down, enveloping him and blocking out all the
wind and stars at the same time.
“I love you.”
Xiao Chiye seemed to have fallen in love with such whisperings
lately. The closer he was to home, the more he would act like a
child. He took possession of Shen Zechuan, and he was also taken
by Shen Zechuan.
He was not stingy with declarations of love such as these. Each
time he said it, he would make Shen Zechuan clench hard and
tremble in spite of himself.
Shen Zechuan seemed to be sighing and moaning as he
immersed in the murmurs of words and clung close to Xiao Chiye,
while Xiao Chiye indulged to his heart’s content with wild abandon
at the boundary of Libei. Only the two of them knew of the
debauchery taking place beneath those seemingly intact clothes.
With his back to the Hongyan Mountains, and under that
enchanting soughing of the wind, Xiao Chiye revealed just how
feral and domineering he could be.
Shen Zechuan gradually forgot all about the milky way above
as he kissed Xiao Chiye. He soared high up in the clouds and fell
back into the embrace of the wind, eventually melting into the
crooks of Xiao Chiye’s arms.
◈ ◈ ◈
When Shen Zechuan woke up, the day was just beginning to
break. Thin rays of the morning sun shone through the bamboo
blinds. He stretched a hand out and felt the fading residual heat
beside him. Xiao Chiye had gone out of the city earlier, leaving his
old robe still hanging on the clothes rack. A small incense had
been lit in this room to repel mosquitoes. The mingling of heat still
lingered on Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan spread his arms apart and took up both of their
spaces. He had yet to close his eyes for the second time when he
suddenly propped himself up into a sitting position. He hurriedly
put on his clothes and wooden clogs and pushed the door open.
“Quick.” The redness at the corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes was
visible. In a hoarse voice, he said to Ding Tao, who was under the
eaves, “Send that new pair of arm guards to Ce’an posthaste.”
Ding Tao was feeling a little dispirited because he had been left
behind. He was presently sitting cross-legged at the edge of the
small pond, drawing as a vent for his feelings. When he heard
Shen Zechuan, he did not even put away his brush; instead, he rose
to his feet and attempted to run. A sharp-eyed Qiao Tianya deftly
caught hold of Ding Tao’s back collar and said to Shen Zechuan,
“His Lordship brought it with him.”
The rush of coolness in the morning sobered Shen Zechuan up.
He tapped his wooden clog, nodded his head, and made to return
to the room when Qiao Tianya added, “But he only took one along.
Said to keep the other one for Master.”
Shen Zechuan stood still for a moment without saying a word.
He saw it was going to be complete daylight soon, and so he did
not intend to return to bed. “How many men from the Imperial
Army have been left behind?”
 Qiao Tianya answered, “Two thousand. They are all at the
Beiyuan Hunting Grounds.”
“Prepare the register of names. The Imperial Army must not be
lumped together with the soldiers from Cizhou.” Shen Zechuan
pulled the front of his clothes and said, “Mister Chengfeng wants to
discuss the purchase and sale of grains between Cizhou and
Chazhou in detail. Go tell him that we will discuss it today.”
Qiao Tianya was not in a hurry to leave. He fished out a letter
from the front of his robe and said, “Master, you have a letter from
Ge Qingqing in Juexi.”
“Good timing.” Shen Zechuan said. “Is the fleet of ships in
Yongyi Harbor all good? The Xi clan’s shops have nothing to do
with us, so the surface-level policing will not involve them. But Xue
Xiuzhuo merely emptied their silver warehouse and left these
money-making shops to us. My guess is that he might not have
necessarily done it willingly.”
“There are no signs of activities from Qudu. Even if Xue Xiuzhou
has a foolproof plan, he can’t be in two places at once. There’s no
one to work out a plan for those shops in Juexi for him.” Qiao
Tianya released Ding Tao and said, “However, what Ge Qingqing
means is that Qudu did not go and created trouble for him, but the
Yan clan of Hezhou did.”
The Yan clan of Hezhou owned the waterways of Chazhou.
They were prominent merchants south of Qudu. Lei Changming
was able to establish his brigade of bandits because the Yan clan
was backing Lei Jingzhe. Shen Zechuan had been thinking about
them, so he was not really surprised to hear this.
“I know very little about the Yan clan.” Shen Zechuan said.
“There’s not much news about them in Qudu either.”
Ding Tao jumped in excitement at his words and said, “Young
Master, I know of this! The one supporting Lei Jingzhe is the current
head of the Yan clan, a man by the name of Yan Heru. Rumor has it
that he’s such an extravagant and ostentatious person that he
refuses to go out without a sedan chair worth its weight in gold.
He’s not only dressed in gold; even the abacus he carries along
with him is made of precious gold and jade! He’s VERY, VERY, VERY
rich!”
 In his haste, Ding Tao’s pronunciation of “very” came out
sounding vague, so he lifted his little book and showed it to Shen
Zechuan. There was a scrawl drawn in brush of a figure holding up
an abacus. He was dressed in copper coins all over, giving off a
strong “rich man” vibe.
“Where did you hear of this?” Qiao Tianya asked.
Ding Tao pointed in the direction of the prison and replied,
“Master brought home a silly lad the last time they caught the
bandits. He’s almost as tall as Jin-ge, and he’s incomparably
strong. I used a few sweets to trick this information out of him. This
lad is so simple-minded that he will spill it all if you give him food.”
Shen Zechuan vaguely remembered that Xiao Chiye seemed to
have mentioned it. He said, “Weren’t the remaining bandits sent
back?”
“Yeah.” Ding Tao nodded. “But Master said he’s too silly. He
can’t survive if he returns, so we might as well keep him here with
us.”
Shen Zechuan still wanted to know the details of the Yan clan,
so he said, “Bring him here.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhao Hui fed the eagles at dawn. Wearing an arm guard, he
held up his arm to them one at a time to let them perch on him
while he fed them meat. At other places, there would be a servant
specifically assigned to the eagles to handle matters like these. But
when it came to Xiao Chiye’s generation in Libei, they all liked to
do it themselves and raised their own eagles they had tamed
themselves.
When Zhao Hui fed “Yu”, who had been following Xiao Jiming
all this while, he discovered that its back had been badly scratched,
and there was a bald spot on it.
“What happened?” Zhao Hui held Yu and pushed aside its
feathers for a look. He asked the soldier on the side, “Did it fight
with someone?”
The soldier held the leather bag containing the strips of meat
and took a few steps with Zhao Hui. He said, “I have no idea,
General. It went out hunting a few days back, and when it circled
back from the south, it was already injured. I had the physician look
at it, and he said this wound was caused by the talons of a bird of
prey.”
Yu was a gyrfalcon too, and it was considered large in size
among all the flocks of birds in Libei. Xiao Fangxu was the one who
was taming it originally, but he later gave it to Xiao Jiming. It had
followed Xiao Jiming into battle for the last few years, and it had
never been on the losing end against the saker falcons from the
Hanshe Tribe.
Zhao Hui scrutinized the wound and wondered, “How strange.
Whose eagle is as ferocious as this…”
One of these words sent a sudden jolt through Zhao Hui’s
mind. He abruptly turned his head and looked to the south. The
breeze was still the same. There were no traces of a gyrfalcon in the
skies.
The sky in Libei was still blue.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 126 : LI XIONG
Editor: Ami<3

Li Xiong was just as his name suggested—a baby bear. He

stayed in the prison for a little less than half a month. Every day, he
sat cross-legged with his face to the bars, looking helplessly at the
door as he waited for Lei Jingzhe to come and take him away.
Seeing as he was young, the wardens all loved to tease him. He
was a strong but simple-minded boy who did not get angry even
when he was made fun of. The only thing was that he had a
terrifying appetite; he could eat a meal for three people in one
setting.
The warden opened the door for a shackled Li Xiong, who
asked with pressing urgency, “Has my big bro come to pick me
up?”
The warden clapped Li Xiong on the back and said nothing to
him. Qiao Tianya had arranged for a horse carriage to come and
take Li Xiong away. Fearing that Li Xiong might make a racket and
stir up trouble on the way, the warden made a special point of
securing the fetters around Li Xiong’s ankles. Li Xiong was not used
to riding in the carriage, and all that swaying made him dizzy.
Finally, he arrived at the place, but when he got off the carriage
and saw the mansion entrance, he refused to move his feet.
“I’m not going in.” Li Xiong stood where he was, like a stake
nailed to the ground. No matter how they pushed and shoved him,
he remained absolutely still. “This place is too big. Once I enter, my
big bro won’t be able to find me.”
The weather was oppressively hot, and everyone was sweating
profusely just by standing there. The warden, afraid of offending
them, was overwrought with anxiety, and so he attempted to
hoodwink Li Xiong, “Go in first. We’ll bring you out after you go in.”
Li Xiong found this man to be very much like a weasel with how
his eyes shifted around when he spoke; he looked like a liar, so Li
Xiong shook his head sullenly and refused to budge. The warden
tried his best to persuade him, but to no avail, so he steeled himself
and squeezed in together with the others behind Li Xiong in an
attempt to push him inside.
Li Xiong’s heels scraped across the ground. Annoyed from the
pushing, he jerked his arms and bellowed, “I’m not going in!
Nope!”
The men behind him stepped back in unison from the force.
The warden saw him struggling and was worried those shackles
could not hold up, so he hurriedly ordered, “Hold him down! Don’t
let him make a commotion!”
When Li Xiong saw them pouncing towards him, he
spontaneously spread his legs in a horse stance1 to hold his body
firm and steady. His suntanned face raged with fury. The warden
strained himself to the limit and exerted all his strength, but Li
Xiong did not budge the slightest. It looked like they were going to
be delayed at the entrance.
Ji Gang happened to return from his stroll outdoors with Fei
Sheng following at his side. Even from afar, he saw the crowd at
the entrance along with the horse carriage parked in the middle of
the road. With a hand at his back, he was just about to inquire
when he saw the wardens exclaim out loud just as Li Xiong threw
all of them off him.
“Such strength!” Fei Sheng cheered and watched Ji Gang’s
expression.
Ji Gang was a practitioner of the Ji Clan’s boxing style, and he
valued strength most. Sure enough, his eyes lit up and said,
“Where’s this lad from?”
Fei Sheng hurried over. He did not need to ask; he could more
or less guess from the way the wardens were dressed. He clutched,
then immediately released the Xiuchun blade at the side of his
waist, before lifting the chain on the ground with one foot as he
said, “Out of the way. I’ll truss him up!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan was in the room waiting for Kong Ling and the
rest when he heard the commotion before the courtyard. He lifted
the bamboo blinds. When he saw Ji Gang entering, he could not
help but be taken aback. “Shifu, what’s wrong?”
 Ji Gang handed his birdcage to Qiao Tianya and had him
hang it up on the veranda. He bent over to scoop up a few handfuls
of water from the copper crock to wash his hands. “Picked up a lad
before entering. Take a look, see if he is the one you want?”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, they saw Fei
Sheng drag in a sturdy lad with iron chains as though he were
hauling in a bull. The lad was still throwing a tantrum, and he
yanked Fei Sheng towards himself. Fei Sheng was, at the very least,
the vice commander of the Imperial Bodyguards, and yet his
clothes were already drenched in sweat just from the short
distance of pulling and dragging.
“Oh!” Ding Tao poked his head out from the room and yelled,
“That’s him, Li Xiong!”
Shen Zechuan asked, “What’s happening?”
Fei Sheng wanted to answer, but the chain suddenly went taut,
and his entire body was thrown backward and quickly dragged
over.
Li Xiong pulled at the chain, struggling until cracks appeared
on his wooden shackles.2 He dragged Fei Sheng round and round
the courtyard. Fei Sheng’s back scraped across the beds of flowers,
and mud splattered all over his neck. He had the intention to put
on a display of his prowess, but discovered that he could not still
his body at all.
Qiao Tianya was about to react in that instant, but Ji Gang put
out an arm to block him from moving and bellowed, “Tao-zi!”
Ding Tao uttered an acknowledgment, stuffed his book into his
robe, and nimbly leaped over the railing on the veranda. Fei Sheng
was still being dragged around. Ding Tao chased after them for a
few steps, but knew he could not stop Li Xiong by pulling him, so
he stepped down on the chain and called out, “Li Xiong—”
But he slipped, and his foot got caught in front of the chain.
The moment Li Xiong tugged at the chain, Ding Tao fell over
backward. Quick-witted as he was, he used both arms to protect his
head and shield his cheeks with his elbows as he fell into the soft,
loose soil with a “thud” and tumbled. Flower stems stabbed into his
outer arm, blocked by the dogskin arm guard he had just secured
on himself.
 Fei Sheng hooked a foot around the edge of the stone to bring
himself to a stop and felt the sharp pain from the chain winding
tightly around his arm. Gritting his teeth, he flipped over to his feet
and pulled hard until he was almost leaning backward in a
crouching position. His veins bulged, and he could not help but
cuss, “This darn bearlike strength!”
Ding Tao leaped to his feet3 and ran for a few steps before he
sprang. Using the momentum from a kick on the railing to propel
himself forward, he landed on Li Xiong’s back. He pulled at Li
Xiong’s back collar with one hand, clamped his legs around Li
Xiong’s nape, and raised a fist, but he did not punch him. Instead,
he yelled, “Let go!”
Li Xiong’s shoulders sank from the weight. He was thrown off
balance by the force of impact when Ding Tao pounced on him. He
bent slightly at the knees to stabilize himself, then released the
chain and reached back with one hand to pull Ding Tao off him. He
had only just stretched out his hand halfway when he was
encumbered by the shackles. Flying into a rage, he whipped his
upper body around in an attempt to throw Ding Tao off. Ding Tao
held on like a monkey, but while he did not slip off, the book in his
robe fell out.
Ding Tao’s was the most skilled in qinggong, which was
imparted to him by none other than his old man himself. Their
family worked as guards in Libei, and they always brought a
notebook along with them while on the job to record every single
incident regardless of its significance. This book was far more
important than their own lives. In order to prevent the book from
falling on the battlefield, Ding Tao’s old man mastered the
qinggong skill specifically used for the purpose of fleeing for his
life. A pity that his old man eventually died chasing after his book,
slit in the throat by another.
Ding Tao was anxious upon seeing the book slip, and reached
out an arm to catch it, but Li Xiong grabbed his arm instead and
flung Ding Tao over one shoulder and slammed him to the ground
like a fish he had caught from the stream.
A loud thud rang out. Ding Tao’s entire back slammed onto the
ground, and he yelped soundlessly from the pain. Even so, his feet
swiftly caught hold of the book even as Li Xiong clutched Ding
Tao’s collar and hauled him off the ground. Too preoccupied to
bother about the blows, Ding Tao tossed the book up with his legs
and caught hold of it with one hand. In the next moment, he was
slammed down to the ground again.
This time, Ding Tao could not hold back. He choked and
coughed, feeling the bile in his stomach rise. He lifted his legs and
wound them around Li Xiong’s arm, then turned over and used the
momentum to fling Li Xiong to the ground. Li Xiong’s shackle
broke from the impact. He rolled to his feet and bulged his eyes in
a glare as he charged towards Ding Tao with a raised fist. Halfway
there, his whole arm suddenly felt immensely heavy, as if he had, in
a blink of an eye, struck a steel plate. Even with that astonishing
strength of his, his arm would not budge.
Ji Gang held Li Xiong’s fist in one hand, and rebuked, “Back
off!”
Li Xiong was reluctant, but his legs did not seem to obey him,
as he was beaten back a few steps by this white-haired old man.
Unable to maintain his balance, especially after just getting up, he
fell on his butt.
Ji Gang flicked his sleeves and pulled Ding Tao up from the
ground.
Ding Tao stuffed the book back under his robes and said,
“Grandpa! He hurt me so much!”
Ji Gang patted the soil off Ding Tao’s back and said, “I told you
a long time back that you will sooner or later end up on the short
end of the stick by resorting to trickery and evasive tactics! When
you jumped on him earlier, you should have used the ‘Bullfight’
move on him. Why did you hesitate?”
Ding Tao wiped the sweat on his face, feeling very aggrieved.
“He ate the sweets I gave him, and just yesterday he was still
chummy with me.”
Only then did Qiao Tianya fold his arms as he leaned against
the pillar. He whistled at Fei Sheng and quipped, “Old Fei, not up to
it, huh.”
Fei Sheng simply took off his filthy outer robe and laughed as
he cursed, “Son of a bitch, why don’t you try? This lad’s strength is
out of this world.”
Shen Zechuan was a little surprised. Xiao Chiye was the
strongest person he had ever seen. He could draw the hundred-jin
Conqueror’s Bow relying on just his arm strength alone, with no
need for external aids. It was easy for Xiao Chiye to hoist him over
one shoulder while getting up a horse or heading into a river. But
even Xiao Chiye was not this frightening when he was Li Xiong’s
age.
“Which one of your parents is from Biansha?” Ji Gang pulled
Ding Tao behind him, took a few steps forward, and asked Li
Xiong.
Li Xiong’s buttocks were hurting from the fall. His shackles were
gone, but the fetters on his feet were still there. He was reluctant to
come in in the first place. Fei Sheng’s treatment had sparked his
rage, and this was followed by Ji Gang beating him back. Now
seeing Ding Tao being coaxed by others after making his way back
under the eaves, he pouted, threw his head back, and burst out
wailing. He kicked his legs and cried, “Why are you people bullying
me?!”
Shen Zechuan let his hands droop and said to Ji Gang, “This
one’s still a child.”
Ji Gang observed the back of Li Xiong’s shoulders and said,
“He was fighting in such a haphazard way earlier, relying fully on
brute force… Feels a little like wrestling. Lad, tell me honestly, is
one of your parents from Biansha?”
Li Xiong ignored Ji Gang. Nothing anyone said could register
in his ears at this moment, as he cried particularly hard. He had
been following Lei Jingzhe since young, and now, without him, Li
Xiong was like a little tot abandoned on the streets—at a loss for
what to do, and with nobody to turn to.
His cries gave Shen Zechuan a headache. Shen Zechuan did
not sleep well last night, and long periods of standing made him
feel tired all over. He said to Ding Tao, “Give him some more of
your sweets.”
Ding Tao was feeling even more aggrieved now. He felt around
his sleeve pocket slowly before finally digging out an oil paper.
“……It’s melted.”
 Qiao Tianya picked up a branch of blossoms from the ground
and held it between his teeth. Looking at Li Xiong with a smile, he
stepped over the railing and squatted down before him. He waved
his hands and said, “This big brother shall remove your fetters for
you and get someone to bring you some food. Do you want rice or
noodles?”
Li Xiong hiccuped, his face glistening with snot as he sniffled, “I
want meat.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The bamboo blinds were partially lifted, and it was cool inside
the house.
Li Xiong sat cross-legged by himself before the small table,
grabbing the meat with his hands and feasting on them with great
relish. Ding Tao secretly counted the plates, feeling as if he was
going to be full just from the counting.
“His mother is most likely a woman abducted by the Biansha
Cavalry. It’s chaos along the Chashi River banks, and things like this
were common occurrences during the earlier years. The Duanzhou
garrison troops didn’t want to cross the border to give chase
either.” Ji Gang half turned his body and studied Li Xiong. “But with
a sturdy physique like this, his father is unlikely to be an ordinary
person. I wonder how he fell into the hands of the bandits.”
“If he really has Biansha blood, then it’s not strange that he was
abandoned.” Shen Zechuan recalled Li Xiong’s earlier display of
strength. “Qudu case files have annual records of names of those
reported to be abducted at the frontiers, with the highest numbers
reported in Duanzhou. If those abducted women were to get
pregnant, the Biansha tribes, unwilling as they were to raise the
kids, would throw those women back along the banks of Chashi
River. Though their original families wouldn’t want to take them
back again either.”
Fei Sheng had just changed into clean robes. Seeing Qiao
Tianya’s silence, he said, “It’s fine if he just happened to fall into the
bandits’ hands. What I fear is that the bandits raised him for a
specific purpose.”
“That won’t be the case.” Ji Gang shook his head slightly.
“You’ve never seen the people from Biansha. They are just like us;
not everyone can be born to be that big and tall. Look at Libei
Armored Cavalry. Other than requiring you to have the requisite
household registration to join the army, they also require you to
have the physique, but not all of them are as sturdy as the Prince of
Libei. I do think that this lad’s father isn’t likely to be an ordinary
person; he would have been able to get some official posts in the
Biansha Cavalry just with this strength alone. However, there is no
one like that among the Biansha generals I know near Zhongbo.”
“Lad.” Qiao Tianya said as he drank the chilled soup, “You’ve
had your meat. It’s time for you to talk.”
There was still meat in Li Xiong’s mouth, so he was too
occupied to reply. He swept a glance over the group of people,
finally resting his gaze on Shen Zechuan, and mumbled
something.
Ding Tao leaned over and listened carefully for a moment
before he turned his head to tell Shen Zechuan, “Young Master,
he’s asking you why you are wearing an earring… Young Master’s
wearing it because he wants to, what are you asking this for… Oh,
you saw the same one before… not the same? So is it the same or
not… uh-huh… Of course Young Master’s jade earring wasn’t
bought with money… You’ve seen it before?”
Li Xiong swallowed the meat. Without bothering to wipe his
mouth, he looked at Shen Zechuan and said, “I’ve seen you before,
at ‘Gedale’4 of Chashi River!”

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Footnotes
1.
2. 马步 horse stance, a common posture in Chinese martial
arts and takes its name from the position assumed when
horse-riding.

3.
4. An example for reference
5.
6. Specifically 鲤鱼打挺 carp kip-up, a martial arts move
where one leaps from a supine position into a standing
position.
7. Again, for foreign names in this novel, we decided to go
with pinyin for the time being due to unfamiliarity with the
language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the
actual names in its original language. If we do get official
subtitles someday, we will replace them in the translation
(the same goes for titles). Until then, please bear with us.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 127 : VULTURE
Editor: Ami<3

Ji Gang rose to his feet abruptly. “Nonsense!”

Although Li Xiong had been beaten back by Ji Gang, he was
not afraid of him. He retorted resolutely, “I’m not talking nonsense.
I have seen him before. There’s a portrait of him in Gedale. My big
bro used to live there. I remember it clearly!”
Fei Sheng thought this did not augur well, considering that he
was not Shen Zechuan’s trusted subordinate yet, so there were
some matters he was not at liberty to remain here and listen. Thus
he got up and said, “Seems to me like he’s more or less done with
eating. Master, I’ll inform the kitchen to stop serving up the meat.”
Once Fei Sheng withdrew, Shen Zechuan asked Ji Gang to sit
and said to Li Xiong, “Look carefully. Are you sure it’s my
portrait?”
Li Xiong grasped the handkerchief he used to wipe his mouth
with two fingers and scrutinized Shen Zechuan for a moment. He
answered hesitantly, “It kind of looks like… yet also kind of
doesn’t…”
Shen Zechuan felt a slight stir in his heart. He stirred the spoon
in the soup and lowered his eyes. “The person in the portrait you’ve
seen is a woman, yes?”
It finally dawned on Li Xiong. “Oh, right. That’s a woman;
you’re a man.”
In just a short moment, Shen Zechuan made plenty of
conjectures. He watched the sour plums stirring in the soup and
thought back to what Zhou Gui had once said. He also
remembered his mother, Bai Cha, as well as Lei Jingzhe who had
just returned to the Prefecture of Dunzhou’s territory.
“What place is this ‘Gedale’?” Shen Zechuan asked without
batting an eyelid.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Gedale lies to the east of Chashi River and is a part of the area
within the Biansha’s borders. In the early days, it was a temporary
residence for the Zhongbo bandits to hide from the pursuit of the
Zhongbo garrison troops, but later, they engaged in the illicit trade
of selling women from decent families and was wiped out by the
garrison troops of two prefectures led by my elder brother, Tantai
Long. The remaining people defected to the Biansha Cavalry, and
the one roaming around this place back then was the Biansha’s
Liaoying Tribe.” Tantai Hu raised his head to watch Meng pass
through the layers of clouds. “Lei Jingzhe came from that place.
After leaving the Zhu clan, he had nowhere to go. He thought of
following the Zhongbo bandits to make his fortune, so he went to
Gedale. But for some reason, he failed to build up a brigade of
bandits there and eventually returned to the Prefecture of
Duanzhou, where he met up with Lei Changming and started to
make his mark.”
“After Tantai Long wiped out the Gedale’s bandits, the Liaoying
Tribe headed north. Those bandits who had initially defected to
them followed them north too.” Chen Yang squatted on the ground
and rubbed at a handful of dry soil. “The Liaoying Tribe is now the
reserve cavalry of the Hanshe Tribe. All the saker falcons of the
Biansha people are tamed by the Liaoying Tribe. At first, their status
among the Twelve Tribes of Biansha was pretty low, equivalent to
that of an ‘eagle slave’, but twenty years ago, an ‘esuheri’1
appeared in the Liaoying Tribe.”
Tantai Hu was not from Libei, so he did not know the
implication of this form of address.
Gu Jin explained from the side, “That is, ‘hero’.”
“You know Biansha is made up of numerous tribes, right?” Chen
Yang looked back and smiled at Tantai Hu. “Only tribes where
‘heroes’ have appeared can be called as one of the Twelve Tribes.
Coincidentally, our lord and this ‘hero’ were both born in the same
year. Ever since His Lordship established the Libei Armored Cavalry
at Luoxia Pass, this ‘hero’ conquered the three tribes of Liaoying,
Gouma, and Changjiu in the desert and defeated the old chief of
the Hanshe Tribe in the north with saker falcons. From then on, he
became the one and only ‘Great Hero’ to command the four tribes
since the reign of Yongyi. He also became Libei’s arch-enemy.”
Tantai Hu gave a start. “Don’t tell me it’s…”
 Xiao Chiye had been standing behind them at some point
onwards. He tilted his head to drink up the water in the water bag,
then picked up from where they left off as he secured the opening
of the water bag, “It’s Amu’er.”
They made way for him, and Xiao Chiye stepped onto the clod
of earth to look at the Hongyan Mountains in the far distance.
“Amu’er is currently the person most likely to be the monarch in
Biansha. He has the ambition to subdue the Twelve Tribes.” Xiao
Chiye had a prominent nose that cast some shadows when he
turned his head to the side. He continued, “He formed the
strongest cavalry in Biansha and became the person since the
dawn of history to attack and breach the furthest into the lands of
Dazhou. Laohu, the Biansha Cavalry you see now is actually the
Biansha Cavalry that Amu’er has reformed. He combined the
horses from the Gouma Tribe and the saker falcons from the
Liaoying Tribe together, lowered the height of the Hanshe’s Tribe
but increased their speed, and completed the deployment that
would allow him to battle with Libei in the air.”
“Lowered the height?” Tantai Hu looked at Lang Tao Xue Jin
and said, “Master, are the battle steeds from Libei and Hanshe Tribe
different?”
“Of course they are different.” Xiao Chiye let loose a laugh, but
his smile was faint. “At first, in order to keep up with the Hanshe
Tribe’s speed, my father opened up a new stable at Luoxia Pass and
stopped using the battle steeds from Suotian Pass. The current
battle steeds of the Libei Armored Cavalry are all reared from that
time on. Strong and muscular, they are all wild horses from the foot
of the Hongyan Mountains, and also the same breed of horses the
Hanshe Tribe once used. But Amu’er later came to realize the
drawbacks prematurely. He thought that for the same breed of
horses, the Libei Armored Cavalry’s weight-bearing capacity was
stronger. Once the Libei Armored Cavalry removed their armors,
the Hanshe Tribe’s speed would no longer be an advantage. So he
took down the Hanshe Tribe’s horse ranch on the Hongyan
Mountains and swapped them for the Gouma Tribe’s ponies.”
Lang Tao Xue Jin shook its mane and circled around Xiao
Chiye to eat grass.
 “We have come to grief because of those ponies.” Chen Yang
gestured to indicate the height for Tantai Hu. “The Gouma Tribe’s
horses caught the Libei Armored Cavalry off guard.”
Tantai Hu did not understand. He had been in the Prefecture of
Dengzhou and the Imperial Army successively, but neither of these
was the main forces of the cavalry, so he did not know what was so
formidable about the ponies.
“They are astonishingly fast.” The expression in Xiao Chiye’s
eyes grew a little frosty as he recalled the fleeting glimpse he had
caught many years before. “Those horses are valiant and strong.
Although they are small and short, they have great endurance. The
Gouma Tribe has been fighting battles with the Bianjun
Commandery all this while. Outsiders do not understand; they
think Lu Guangbai doesn’t live up to his name and isn’t worthy of
being ranked as one of the four generals in the world, but put them
in his position, and they will know after a trial run that it isn’t an
ordinary cavalry his infantrymen has been launching night raids on
to wear them down, but the world’s fastest cavalry. Qidong has
been stationed in the south with increased military strength for
many years, yet they have never managed to weaken the Gouma
Tribe, and this is all because they could not catch up with the latter.
This is also the reason why Qudu isn’t willing to let Lu Guangbai
dispatch his troops. When they appeared in the grasslands of Libei,
they nearly crushed the Libei Armored Cavalry, which was just
beginning to take shape. The weight increase by my father turned
the Libei Armored Cavalry into prey at the mercy of the Hanshe
Tribe’s machetes after the Hanshe Tribe’s change of horses. To
solve this problem, my father chose to continue piling on the
weight and turned Libei Armored Cavalry into an iron wall that
could move.”
With the strong wind stirring on the grassland, Xiao Chiye lost
himself in his thoughts.
“Laohu, the reason the Biansha Cavalry was able to fight their
way through Zhongbo six years ago had everything to do with
Amu’er’s change of battle steeds. If they had continued to use the
wild horses at the foot of the Hongyan Mountains without any army
supplies, they would not have the stamina to last that long. These
horses are not only fast but also tough, and they won’t slow down
at all when passing through the desert. Paired with the saker
falcons acting as reconnaissance outposts, they will prove to be a
great catastrophe to the Zhongbo garrison troops.”
In fact, this was an issue that had Xiao Chiye tossing and
turning all night after the defeat of the Zhongbo troops. He had
followed Xiao Jiming into battle when he was in Libei, and his
memory of the Hanshe Tribe’s present structure had been deeply
impressed in his mind. He even pondered to himself more than
once what else he could do – other than increasing the weight – if
he had been his father faced with such strong troops back then. He
looked forward to his eldest brother’s answer, and Xiao Jiming’s
choice to this was to thin down the Libei Armored Cavalry’s armor
and enhance their mobility. However, Xiao Chiye was not satisfied.
He was a greedy wolf. He could not simply give up the Libei
Armored Cavalry’s advantage.
However, this was not a problem that could be solved with
imagination. For this reason, Xiao Chiye opted to head south with
the army before entering Qudu to witness the slaughterhouse that
was Zhongbo with his own eyes. He also saw Lu Guangbai’s
infantry.
“I can’t catch up with them. They are too fast.” Six years ago, Lu
Guangbai squatted on the ground and drew a map for Xiao Chiye.
“But Bianjun Commandery is pretty good. The beacon towers
stretching ten thousand of li can transmit news quickly. At night,
we are the ‘bag’.2 As long as we block off the narrow opening, they
won’t be able to enter and exit freely. When the truncated squad
falls behind, then no matter how fast their speed is, they can only
be headless chickens.”
Zuo Qianqiu once said, “A-Ye, ‘an attack is an opportunity to
defend, and defense is a strategy to attack’.3 The reason the Tianfei
Watchtower is able to stand firm without falling is not because of
how strong I was as a leading general, but because Heaven has
bestowed upon Tianfei Watchtower a strong geographical
advantage. However, Tianfei Watchtower was forced to take a
defensive stance because once our troops head out, we will not be
able to stand up to the Biansha Cavalry’s assaults. I was the general
who cower behind the city gates. In this world, the only army who
can pit themselves against the Twelve Tribes of Biansha when it
comes to going on the offensive is the Libei Armored Cavalry. I told
your father numerous times never to let the Libei Armored Cavalry
become a real shield; that would cause Dazhou to lose its spear
completely. If you become a general one day, remember the set-up
of opportunities and strategies. The battlefield is a place that
undergoes myriad changes in the twinkling of an eye. The moment
you fall into the rhythm and pace of the other side, you will lose all
your advantages. You have to seize your opportunities firmly; you
must learn forbearance. Sometimes, a perfunctory, painless blow is
the prelude to exhaustion. The fist has to strike the vital point.”
But it was too hard.
Xiao Chiye had yet to think of a solution better than what his
father and eldest brother had come up with. He could not even
engage in guerrilla warfare like Lu Guangbai did. But he could not
forget Zuo Qianqiu’s admonition, and he agreed wholeheartedly
that the Libei Armored Cavalry could not be just shields. They had
come this far after having gone through countless refinements not
to bask in past glory. In Xiao Chiye’s eyes, it was all too easy to beat
back the Biansha Cavalry, but way too difficult to repel Amu’er,
Because the Biansha Cavalry was continuously becoming
stronger and stronger under Amu’er’s command. This man had the
final say in four tribes; he had nothing to worry about from the rear.
He was like a vulture born in the desert, eyeing the meat that was
Dazhou, all the while attempting to invade it. When Xiao Fangxu
changed the Libei Armored Cavalry, Amu’er changed the Hanshe
Tribe. When Xiao Jiming changed the Libei Armored Cavalry,
Amu’er changed the Hanshe Tribe right off. He had an uncanny
understanding of the pack of wolves from Libei. Looking at it from
a certain angle, they were confidants. He understood the Libei
Armored Cavalry even better than most of those from Libei
themselves.
Xiao Chiye’s gaze was blocked by the Hongyan Mountains, just
like how he had always been blocked by his father and eldest
brother. He had not gone head-to-head with Amu-er before, yet he
was already seeing the other party as an opponent he had to
defeat.
That was a worldly-wise vulture, well-versed in the ways of the
world. Xiao Chiye was still a wolf who had just embarked on his
journey home.
Meng suddenly swooped down, bringing along a gust of wind
in its trail that brushed across the guards’ faces. It landed on Xiao
Chiye’s shoulders, the bloodstains on its sharp talons leaving
rough streaks of blood behind. It had already exceeded the size
everyone used to imagine it would be; the only ones who were
able to hold it up were Xiao Chiye—and Shen Zechuan, who was
particularly gentle with it.
Xiao Chiye collected his runaway thoughts and indicated to
Chen Yang that there was no need for him to take the leather bag.
He turned his head to look at Meng and said, “It has already
hunted its fill.”
But Meng was acting a little unusual today. It stared at the sky
with a sharp, penetrating gaze, never once shifting its gaze even
when Xiao Chiye bent his fingers to stroke it.
Xiao Chiye followed its gaze and looked over.
It was quiet up there in the skies and down here on earth. The
strong wind springing out of the grass was like a long serpent. At
the same time it bared open its bloody mouth, Meng took to the air
once more and pierced through the wind to clutch hold of the
saker falcon that was attempting to extricate itself from the grass.
As the other bird spread its wings and flailed, Meng abruptly rose.
By the time it brought the saker falcon before Xiao Chiye, this lone
saker falcon had already become a bloody pulp of ripped flesh.
Xiao Chiye abruptly mounted his horse. As he pulled on the
reins, he surveyed his surroundings. His gaze finally landed on the
east. He frowned.
He had just entered Libei’s territory and had not even reached
the Libei relay station yet, so how could the saker falcon of the
Biansha Tribes appear here?
“The sound of drums.” Gu Jin raised his head and turned
around with the wind. “Master, it’s coming from the east!”
 “That’s the Bianbo Camp, which is also the patrol camp. They
have a backup support track that leads right to the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path.” Chen Yang swiftly got on his horse too.
Before he lifted his whip, he suddenly remembered something and
turned his head back in astonishment to say to Xiao Chiye, “The
Shasan Camp lies to the east of the Bianbo Camp.4 That’s where His
Lordship’s frontline military forces are, along with a year-round
reserve of battle steeds to be supplied to the battlefields up north
for emergency use—”
Has the Biansha Cavalry fought their way here?
Then what about Shasan Camp?
What about the Prince of Libei?
Xiao Chiye clenched the reins and spurred his horse into a
gallop.

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Footnotes
1. Again, for foreign names in this novel, we decided to go
with pinyin for the time being due to unfamiliarity with the
language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the
actual names in its original language. If we do get official
subtitles someday, we will replace them in the translation
(the same goes for titles). Until then, please bear with us.

2.
3. Example
4. ‘攻是守之机，守是攻之策’ from “Questions and Replies
between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong” 《唐太宗李卫公问
对》, a dialogue between Emperor Taizong (599-649 AD) of
the Tang Dynasty and Li Jing (571-649 AD), a prominent
Tang general. It discusses matters of military strategy and is
considered to be one of the Seven Military Classics of China.
5. For those referring to the map for reference, it says
Shasan Camp is to the east of the Bianbo Camp in the text
but it’s Shayi Camp that’s to the east of Bianbo on the map.
:V It’s likely the AD mixed it up and Shayi and Shansan were
swapped around. I’ve revised the maps to reflect the correct
position in the novel (that is, until the next time it changes
again lmfao).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 128 : ENEMY ATTACK

The Bianbo Camp was an important supply site at Libei’s

borders. To keep the physical strength of the frontline military
forces up, Xiao Jiming successively set up the Shayi, Sha’er, and
Shasan Camps1 at the southeastern side of Libei to act as protective
barriers to the Bianbo Camp. The Bianbo Camp was always stocked
with reserve military provisions and equipment meant to be
supplied to the frontlines. There were stables here too, with battle
steeds on standby to replace those on the frontlines.
Dawn had yet to break when Wu Ziyu woke up. He squatted at
the tent entrance and had the soldier who was his personal guard
pour water over his head. “The fighting at the frontline is too
intense. We start running right on opening our eyes and lie down
right on closing our eyes. It has already been half a month since I
last bathed.”
The guard handed him a handkerchief, which he used to wipe
his face.
“Eat well these two days. We still have to head north three days
later to replace Guo Weili’s soldiers. The Tudalong Banner has also
been cleared out by the Biansha baldies. This battle has already
made its way right to our doorstep.”
Wu Ziyu was the youngest general in the current ranks of
generals in Libei. He was originally a guard in the Prince’s
residence, and because he had gone drinking and stirred up
trouble, Xiao Jiming dismissed him from his original post and had
him sent to the military camp. He did not really know how to fight
battles, but he was resourceful when it came to transporting military
supplies and allocating provisions. Libei had a shortage of military
grains in the early spring, and he went to swindle a batch of grains
out of the bandits in Zhongbo, thereby resolving the pressing
emergency of the battlefields ahead.
When Chen Yang escorted the grains to Libei, the one he had
met was Wu Ziyu. The latter had been following Xiao Fangxu these
two months, running all over until his legs were about to break.
Finally, it was Bianbo Camp’s turn to take a break; the soldiers
under his command were already all exhausted.
“I originally thought that it’d be a breeze to drive off the Hanshe
Tribe now that His Lordship is here.” The guard took Wu Ziyu’s dirty
handkerchief and washed it in the water basin. “Who would have
known that it would become harder the more we fought? The
boundary line has already been shrinking until it now lies on the
fringes of the Shayi Camp. If this keeps up, Bianbo Camp would
have to shift back.”
A bare-chested Wu Ziyu wiped his nape with a damp
handkerchief. He looked to the east and said, “Once the Bianbo
camp moves back, the Hereditary Prince’s deployment in the
southeast will cease to be effective. This place is the bedrock that
will enable the Shasan Camp to keep on fighting as usual. We can’t
afford to lose it.”
The guard picked up the basin and splashed away the water.
He said, “We can’t afford to play the long game either. Leaving the
soldiers aside, there are still military craftsmen in these camps who
need to eat. If the Second Young Master had not rebelled and
remained in Qudu as the Marquis of Dingdu, then we might just be
able to fight the battle this way. But he has now killed the emperor,
and Juexi is no longer supplying us with military provisions. The
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path’s reserves won’t last for long
either.”
Wu Ziyu covered himself with a towel and looked at the sky
with squinting eyes as the water dripped. He did not respond to
the guard’s gripes.
The guard set aside the basin and said, “General, how about
steamed buns and milk tea for breakfast? The milk is good stuff
that has just been transported over from the back. It can’t be stored
for too long, so we have to drink it as soon as possible. I asked the
mess cook to brew tea made out of plain leaves with clotted
cream.2 You—”
Wu Ziyu raised his index finger as a signal for the guard to shut
up. He listened to the hubbub of splashing water and footsteps all
around and looked at the sky, but he did not hear the whistle of
today’s eagle patrol. He listened for a moment before asking, “Has
last night’s patrol squad returned?”
The guard happened to be rinsing his feet with water. On
hearing him, he looked up at the sky too and answered, “It’s not
time yet. The earliest they’ll return after turning back from Shasan
Camp is, at the very least, the third quarter during the hour of
chen.”3
“Why am I not hearing the whistles from the eagle patrol?”
“Didn’t let them out.” The guard hesitated for a moment. “We
were too tired when we arrived at the camp last night, so we didn’t
report it to you immediately. The eagles we brought back this time
are all wounded, having been brutally clawed by the Biansha
Cavalry’s saker falcons at the battlefield. Even ‘Hou’ died. Those
who raise eagles all treasure their eagles like they would a child.
After we came back here, we dispensed with the eagle patrol today
and had the physician tend to their injuries.”
Eagles were not easy to rear. Patience was required when
domesticating them,4 and those that could act as scouting eagles
were the cream of the crop. Even though they were not gyrfalcons,
they were similarly valuable. Xiao Fangxu was fighting a battle in
the frontline this time, and the battle was not going smoothly for
both the soldiers and the eagles. In Libei, horses and eagles were
good buddies with friendships that ran deep with the armored
cavalry. No matter which was to get injured, the soldiers would not
be happy.
Wu Ziyu pulled off the towel and bent a finger to whistle. An
eagle swooped down from the top of the tent. As Wu Ziyu was not
wearing an upper garment, this eagle did not land on him but
instead hopped onto the drying pole where the clothes were hung
up. Wu Ziyu said, “Release my ‘Chi’. We are fighting a battle now.
Doing away with the eagle patrol is just like losing an eye. Even if
we are in Bianbo camp, we mustn’t be negligent and careless.”
The guard said, “… Chi has already been patrolling the
battlefield for half a month. General…”
“We have no choice.” Wu Ziyu has a gruff voice, yet he was very
gentle when he looked up at Chi and commanded, “Go.”
 Chi spread its wings and soared into the sky. It hovered over
Bianbo Camp for a moment, then charged into the morning
sunlight in the east.
A bare-chested Wu Ziyu entered the tent and warned, “The
batch of battle steeds that have followed us down should be
replaced too. The reserve horses have to be taken to the north in
three days. Guo Weili’s defense at the Tudalong Banner has been
breached by the Hanshe Tribe. A group of brothers was killed, and
quite a number of horses have sunk in the swamp. He has already
sent three military reports to urge us. He’s in urgent need of new
horses.”
The barefooted guard slipped on his shoes and followed
behind him. “I’ve already gotten the men to prepare the horses
early in the morning, but this batch of horses is the last batch.
Autumn isn’t here yet, and our new battle steeds from Dajing aren’t
here.”
“I’ll talk to him about it.” Wu Ziyu put on his clothes.
Guo Weili was single-handedly promoted by Xiao Jiming. This
person could fight, but he was most suited to be used by Xiao
Jiming, because Xiao Jiming was like an iron chain that could pull
Guo Weili back every time Guo Weili let it go to his head, thereby
preventing the main force from suffering heavy losses. Xiao Jiming
was also the one Guo Weili was the most willing to submit to. Now
that the commander-in-chief had changed to Xiao Fangxu, the way
of combat was different. There was no one to pull him back, and so
there were plenty of areas where he ended up on the short end of
the stick.
Wu Ziyu retreated and brought along a batch of equipment that
those at the frontline needed to repair. The Libei Armored Cavalry
used a tremendous amount of equipment and relied heavily on
army supplies and gears, so they had over ten thousand military
craftsmen. These military craftsmen were split up among the
various camps. Once the battle started, they had to repair
equipment for the armored cavalry day and night.
Wu Ziyu’s own armor was also badly worn out. He went to the
military craftsmen’s tent to check on it, and on the way, he asked
the guard several times, but there was no news of Chi’s return.
Sparks spattered out of the stoves when it was nearly noon; it was
so hot inside that it was hard for anyone to breathe.
The weather was too hot, so hot that it made them sleepy. Even
the wind outside the tents was hot. Wu Ziyu was sweating profusely
as he looked at the ground. This steaming hot temperature had
already caused many military craftsmen to suffer from heatstroke.
Wu Ziyu got his men to splash cold water, but this was simply a
futile attempt, much like trying to put out a burning cart of firewood
with a cup of water.
“Get the kitchen to boil green beans. Boil as many as you can.”
Wu Ziyu covered his face with the cool handkerchief and instructed
the guard, “The equipment repair cannot be delayed. His Lordship
and the rest are still donning worn-out armors on their end.”
The guard nodded in acknowledgment. He was feeling so hot
that he was not wearing his armor, and his collar was open. He was
about to turn around when he felt a few drops of water dripping
onto his face. Puzzled, he wondered aloud, “Why is it raining…”
Wu Ziyu’s nape was wet with water too, but this water was sticky.
He raised his head and saw Chi’s figure charging out from the hot
sun before it suddenly plunged. But halfway down, two saker
falcons swooped out midair and simultaneously grasped hold of
Chi before soaring once more. Chi let out a shrill cry as it was torn
into shreds, its feathers scattering in the air.
Wu Ziyu promptly rose to his feet. Someone atop the
watchtower in the distance was already shouting, “ENEMY ATTACK
—!”
The drums sounded, each beat pounding Wu Ziyu hard in the
chest. He immediately gave his commands. “Put on your armors.
This is a sneak attack by the Liaoying Tribe. They are not Hanshe
Tribe’s cavalry—don’t panic!”
Flaps of tents lifted in unison. From wearing their clothes to
putting on their armors, the Libei Armored Cavalry carried out
every step without a hitch. With swift and orderly movements, they
gradually turned from individual men into men of iron and steel
enveloped within the oppressive, heavy armors.
“Squad Six, go guard the stables. Squad Three, go guard the
granary. If the vanguards led by me die in battle, Bianbo Camp is
bound to fall. When you see that the situation is critical, don’t wait
any longer. Release the stables immediately and lead the military
craftsmen along the horse track towards the Northeast Provisions
Bridle Path where Zhao Hui’s Three Great Training Divisions of
Liuyang are.” As Wu Ziyu spoke, he saw that Chi had already fallen
to the ground. That shocking mass of red made him pause a
moment, then he quickly turned his head away and hauled up the
guard. “The horses and the military craftsmen can leave when
Bianbo Camp falls, but the grains can’t be sent away, so when the
need arises, set them on fire and burn them clean. Do not leave
even a single grain of rice to the Liaoying Tribe! Head back home.
There is still the Hereditary Prince back in Dajing to assume
command.”
Conventions dictated that the general should retreat with the
troops and leave the vanguards behind to stall for time when the
situation was bad. But Wu Ziyu knew that the sneak attack this time
was a force to behold. There were only two possibilities in which
the Biansha men could bypass the Shasan Camp before Bianbo
Camp.5 The first was that they took a shortcut and made their way
over in silence. The second was that Xiao Fangxu, Zuo Qianqiu,
and the rest had all perished in battle; the frontline had already
collapsed, and Shasan Camp was completely wiped out even
before they had the time to send back the military reports.
Regardless of which it was, the men who had come along for
the sneak attack this time could not be underestimated. Wu Ziyu
did not dare to hand the responsibility of stalling for time to others;
he had to guard this place himself.
Wu Ziyu passed through the squad as he put on his helmet.
“Which—”
Wu Ziyu had yet to finish his words when a large boulder came
falling from the sky and smashed into the middle of the newly
erected watchtower with a thunderous crash. Even before the
sound of the watchtower’s collapse could be heard, it knocked
down a tent.
“Stone catapults!” The guard shouted at the top of his voice
from behind. “General, they are coming around from the south!”
 “Fucking bandits!” Wu Ziyu spat. “Get on your horses! It’s
inconvenient for them to move around since they’re bringing
along heavy equipment, and they won’t dare to make a show of it
when taking the detour. Without the ponies from the Gouma Tribe,
this group of people can’t get away!”
But following right after, the sounds of neighing rang out from
the horse stables, and the battle steeds scurried all over amidst the
machetes and flames. The other party had the same idea as Wu
Ziyu—slaughter all the horses they could not grab and burn away all
the grains they could not take away with them. That way, the
materials heading north in Libei will be in short supply
immediately. They could think of ways to transfer the grains again,
but without this batch of battle steeds, Guo Weili’s Cangzhu Camp
would lose their combat capability.
“Motherfucker…” Wu Ziyu slowly gripped his blade. “Tell Squad
Six to leave first with the horses!”
The guard flipped onto his horse. The tents near the stables
were all on fire. He led his men and charged over. His saddle
suddenly sank, and the guard felt an ill sense of foreboding.
Following right after, the horse beneath him raised its hooves from
an attack. A Biansha soldier clung to its abdomen like a spider. The
Biansha soldier pulled out a dagger from the side of his leg and
stabbed the horse in its belly.
The dagger made a white mark on the armor but did not pierce
through it right away.
The battle steed landed back on the ground, and the guard
tumbled off his horse and drew his blade to trade blows with the
Biansha soldier. The Libei Armored Cavalry’s armor was too heavy,
and the impact was so strong that the Biansha soldier was forced
back, his feet scraping against the ground. However, the soldiers’
armors were not as hard as the horses’ armors. The guard hacked
off the other party’s head, but he also ended up taking a blow from
the other party’s blade.
This bunch of Biansha soldiers was like locusts that opted to
surround the enemy and fight to their death when faced with a
trapped beast like the Libei Armored Cavalry. The helmet Wu Ziyu
had just worn had been struck off him. He was surrounded by
several people. The fire from the stables had already burned its
way to the horses that had yet to run out, their blood-soaked
neighing jarring on Wu Ziyu’s ears.
He was not a general who could fight. The soldiers under his
command were also from the Libei Armored Cavalry’s backup
transportation squad. They had only just retreated from the
battlefield a few days ago, and their already exhausted bodies
could not withstand such a strong assault. What’s more, he still had
to divert manpower to protect the Libei military craftsmen who
were just as important as the battle steeds.
The guard flipped atop the horse once again and spurred his
horse on to knock over the blazing railings of the horse stables. In a
split second, the battle steeds within galloped out.
Wu Ziyu said, “Let the military craftsmen get on the horses.
Remove the armors and hurry on to the horse track…”
Wu Ziyu was still speaking when he felt a sudden weight on his
back as he was forced down by two men before being flung to the
ground. The back of his helmet-less head struck the ground hard.
The next moment, a rope was put around his neck, and both men
dragged him in unison.
Wu Ziyu tugged at the rope tightening around his neck. It
strangled him so hard that the timber of his voice changed as he
hissed at the back of the guard, “When… coughs, when you reach
the camp… tell Zhao Hui to head north…”
Beads of sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging them until Wu
Ziyu could barely open them. He tumbled amid the smoke and
dust, unable to breathe as he watched the sky turn yellow. That
group of saker falcons that had torn Chi to pieces was hovering up
there.
“Fuck…” Grief overwhelmed Wu Ziyu. His vision blurred as eyes
that stung from the sweat brimmed with tears. He cussed without
letting up. “… Fuck!”
He had already been dragged to the edge of the sea of fire
amidst the chaotic sounds of horses’ hooves. Wu Ziyu knocked
against the rock and caught hold of the railing. The pain from
being burned by fire was excruciating.
 The saker falcons in the sky suddenly dispersed, and a falcon
cry reverberated through the sky in the wind. Meng gripped the
back of a saker falcon in midair, and both parties engaged in a
fierce battle. At the same time, the sound of galloping horses
closed in on them from afar. Choked by the smoke, Wu Ziyu could
not get a clear look; he could only get a vague glimpse of a tall
figure riding steadily on horseback.
Surprised, he shouted, “Your Lordship!”
Wu Ziyu felt a grip on his ankle and heard Chen Yang bellow,
“Drag him out!”
The rope tightened around Wu Ziyu’s throat. He hurriedly cried
out in a hoarse voice, “Drag, my ass! I, I’m still being hanged by the
neck!”
Chen Yang promptly let go and brandished his blade at the
side of Wu Ziyu’s neck, scaring Wu Ziyu so much that his hairs
stood on end. And just like that, he was dragged out with the rope
still around his neck. He rolled as they swatted at him to extinguish
the fire. Gasping for breath, he lifted eyes against the sunlight and
saw the man on horseback dismount. The man raised a finger
between his lips and let loose a long whistle.
Meng flung the saker falcon from side to side as it swooped
down. Its feathers were in a mess from all that tearing at one
another. The saker falcon let out a cry of pain. Meng’s sharp talons
were like blades as they ripped into the saker falcon. Breaking
through the wind, Meng rushed over to Xiao Chiye and kicked out
its talons to toss the saker falcon to the ground.
“I’m not my old man,” Xiao Chiye raised his arm to let Meng
perch and turned his head back to look at Wu Ziyu, “I’m your
Second Young Master.”

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Footnotes
1. Literally Sand I, Sand II, Sand III Camps
2. 奶皮子 öröm/urum in Mongolian cuisine, a rich, highly
calorific cream from animals such as yaks, goats, and cows.
3. 辰时 7-9 am, based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times.
4. 熬鹰 literally torturing falcons, it’s one of the ways to train
them by not allowing it to sleep and torture it to exhaustion
to wear down its wild nature.
5. For those referring to the map for reference, it says
Shasan Camp is to the east of the Bianbo Camp in the text
but it’s Shayi Camp that’s to the east of Bianbo on the map.
:V It’s likely the AD mixed it up and Shayi and Shansan were
swapped around. I’ve revised the maps to reflect the correct
position in the novel (that is, until the next time it changes
again lmfao).
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 129 : GRAVEYARD OF DREAMS

Initially, the guard had already left the camp when he saw the
men from the Imperial Army charging in like wolves and tigers.
This squad was more excited than afraid; to date, they had never
fought a battle to their hearts’ content, having been held in check
back in Qudu and Zhongbo. It had not been easy for them to
encounter the Eight Great Training Divisions lead by Han Jin, but
the other party was like dough that shrunk back at just a squeeze,
and now, they finally got to come face to face with the Biansha
soldiers. With a frenzied spurt of energy and vigor, the Imperial
Army drew their blades and charged.
Not many men from the Biansha Liaoying Tribe had come,
since they were relying on the stone catapults to take the Bianbo
Camp by surprise. It seemed as if victory was within their reach, but
they were caught off-guard by these troops that came killing out of
nowhere.
The Imperial Army resided in Qudu all year round, and the
battles they fought were all street fights. Their blades were not as
long as the Libei Armored Cavalry, yet they were artful in wielding
them. They were an incomplete squad before Xiao Chiye took up
the post of the Imperial Army Viceroy, and their main force had
another name in Qudu, called “the military oilmen”; they were the
best at mucking around and loafing on the job. In other words, this
was a ‘slippery’ squad. They were not an organized wall like the
Libei Armored Cavalry was. As long as they could stab their blades
through the enemy forces, they would even resort to using low-
down means.
And now, the Biansha soldiers had become the target of a
surprise attack. The guard who had turned back cut off their retreat
route. The men at the periphery quickly withdrew with the stone
catapults, while the Biansha soldiers who were still inside the
Bianbo Camp could only fight to the death with the Imperial Army.
By the time Wu Ziyu was able to get up, the fire had abated
some. With his blade in his hand, Chen Yang checked the corpses
and reported to Xiao Chiye, “Master, they are indeed from the
Liaoying Tribe.”
“The stone catapults, being heavy equipment, are inconvenient
to move around. If they want to take it with them when they flee,
they won’t be able to run fast.” Xiao Chiye said to Tantai Hu, “Laohu,
lead the cavalry and give chase.”
On seeing this, Wu Ziyu immediately said, “My horse can still
run. Buddy, take mine.”
Tantai Hu said his thanks and flipped onto the horse. Gu Jin
turned his horse around. “Laohu, follow me. We’ll go after them
together.”
They led the men away. Half of Bianbo Camp had already been
razed by the fire. Xiao Chiye was looking at the horse stables and
granary. Wu Ziyu followed close behind him and called out,
“Second Young Master…”
“Although Bianbo Camp is a patrol camp, it’s also a camp
where reserves are stored. This place is still a distance away from
the boundary line. There’s Shasan Camp to the east acting as a
shield, and there are also sentry posts and checks along the way.”
Xiao Chiye squinted his eyes from the glare of the sun. He looked
at Wu Ziyu again. “Yet they made their way this far back. Where is
your patrol squad?”
Wu Ziyu recognized Xiao Chiye. In his early years, he was
picked along with Zhao Hui and Chen Yang to serve as Xiao
Jiming’s guard in the Prince’s residence, and that was when he saw
Xiao Chiye. But the Xiao Chiye back then and the Xiao Chiye at
present were just like two different people. His excessively tall
stature meant he was always looking down from above, and being
gazed at in such a way made Wu Ziyu feel a lot smaller for no
reason.
Wu Ziyu averted his gaze. “The patrol squad that went out last
night did not return.”
“The patrol squad that went out last night did not return, and
yet you, as the commanding general, sensed nothing odd about it
even when noon came around.” Xiao Chiye looked as if he was just
engaging in idle chatter. He had an intimidating presence that
gave others great pressure, but his attitude was quite mild and
calm. “Shayi Camp is the battlefield, while Bianbo Camp is the
resource supply site for Shasan Camp. Every slight disturbance
here will affect the battle at the frontline. You’re really quite the
laidback one.”
Wu Ziyu could tell what he meant by these words. Xiao Chiye
had never held a post in the Libei army. His only military rank now
was that of an Imperial Army Viceroy in Qudu; what’s more, he was
a viceroy whom Qudu no longer acknowledged, so he was in no
position to reprimand Wu Ziyu. But the more insipid his tone was,
the more it made Wu Ziyu ashamed.
News that the Second Young Master was going to return to
Libei had been circulating in Libei for over two months. Leaving
aside the common soldiers, each of the high-ranking military
officers like them had their own thinking about it. Of the current
military officers in the Libei Armored Cavalry, other than the few
who were seniors from Xiao Fangxu’s era, the rest were all juniors
whom Xiao Jiming himself had promoted.
Xiao Jiming was wounded, and no one knew when he would
be able to return to his position. Would the Second Young Master
take Xiao Jiming’s place upon his return? All sorts of rumors were
running rampant. Whether they were those who were ready to
throw in their lots with Xiao Chiye or those who continued to reject
and ostracize Xiao Chiye, they were all waiting for Xiao Chiye to
return and reveal his true colors. Six years was not a long time, but
it was not a short time either. There were all kinds of strange
rumors about the Second Young Master. Wu Ziyu was also
observing Xiao Chiye.
“We are the troops that retreated from the battlefield at Shayi
Camp only yesterday. Our main task is to plan and coordinate the
transportation of equipment and grains for the battlefield.” Wu Ziyu
paused for a moment. “The original garrison squad from the
Bianbo Camp has already been switched over to Shayi Camp, so
there are no main force troops here for the time being. What’s
more, Bianbo Camp is located behind Shasan Camp. I truly didn’t
expect…”
Wu Ziyu’s voice gradually faded away. The disquieting
atmosphere was getting to him. That niggling, pressing sense of
urgency was even more pronounced than the blazing sun. He
quickly looked at Xiao Chiye. His Adam’s apple throbbed, but he
did not dare to continue speaking.
Meng turned its head a little to look at Wu Ziyu. Its beak, which
looked like an iron hook, had yet to be wiped clean.
Xiao Chiye’s nape lay exposed to the scorching sun. He lifted
the other hand to cover it and raised his head slightly. He was still
looking at the horse stables. “Aren’t you people the Libei Armored
Cavalry?”
Wu Ziyu remained standing still in silence.
Xiao Chiye’s left arm was steady. The combined weight of
Meng and the arm guard was nothing to him, but he did not let
Meng rest for too long. Once Chen Yang was done doing a
headcount of the bodies, Xiao Chiye released Meng into the air
again.
“Master.” Chen Yang lifted his head to look at Meng. “Should
we get a squad to follow?”
“Considering that the Biansha men brought along the stone
catapults to launch a sneak attack, it’ll be tough for them to avoid
the Shasan Camp’s patrol. But they were able to make their way
here, which shows that Shasan Camp has already fallen into the
enemy’s hands.” Xiao Chiye did not smile. “Father allowed the
transportation squad to retreat to Bianbo Camp, likely because he
still doesn’t know that Shasan Camp has already been breached.
Meng is going over to Shayi Camp to deliver news of it. We’ll rest
for a night and head for Shasan Camp tomorrow.”
“Second Young Master has no cavalry or supplies. If you
continue on east, you will come face to face with the Biansha
soldiers. Since they are able to take down Shasan Camp without so
much a noise, then it’s very likely that the people stationed there
are from the Hanshe Tribe who are skilled in the art of storming
enemies.” Wu Ziyu could not refrain from speaking out. “Right now,
it’s safer to wait for the reinforcement from the Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang. I’ll send someone to deliver the message
right away. The Hereditary Prince will definitely dispatch Zhao Hui
over.”
 “If you had sent the message to the Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang yesterday when you arrived at Bianbo Camp,
then there might still be a chance to make it before sunset
tomorrow. Send the message now, and it’ll take a day and a night
to rush at top speed to the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path. Zhao
Hui needs another one day and one night to rush to the Three
Great Training Divisions of Liuyang from Dajing. By the time he
arrives at this place, Bianbo Camp will be of no more.” Xiao Chiye
pointed to the spot where the watchtower collapsed. “Rebuild the
watchtower now. Don’t set it up in areas facing the east; shift it to
the southeast corner. Do a headcount of the grains and battle
steeds, and have the military craftsmen prioritize the repairs of the
camp’s defense walls that the stone catapults have smashed.”
“If Young Master is worried about the Biansha soldiers
returning, then you should move the grains and battle steed to the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.” Wu Ziyu caught up with Xiao
Chiye. “There’s simply no time to rebuild the Bianbo Camp. Shasan
Camp is only tens of li away from this place. The horses of the
Hanshe Tribe can make their way over within a day.”
Xiao Chiye took a few steps up the railing and jumped over it to
the other end. He turned around, motioned Wu Ziyu not to follow
him, and asked in passing, “Honestly speaking?”
Wu Ziyu did not understand what Xiao Chiye meant by this. He
continued at lightning speed, “All we can do now is to abandon
the Bianbo Camp and try our best to reduce the loss of supplies—”
As Xiao Chiye stepped back, he asked, “Well, don’t you have
the slightest notion to step out of this place and give chase?”
By now, the sun has begun to tilt. Wu Ziyu stood on this side of
the ruins, baffled by Xiao Chiye’s gaze. The burns on his back stung
from the scorching sunlight. With a frown on his face, he watched
as Xiao Chiye turned back. He could not help shouting with all his
might, “I can’t win them. Second Young Master, I said it before, I’m
from the transportation squad…”
Xiao Chiye did not reply to him and merely waved his hand at
Wu Ziyu with his back to the latter. The meaning was clear—Wu Ziyu
could shut up now. He stood before the collapsed granary, his
expression cold and detached, and his lips, tightly pursed.
 He stood there for a very long time.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Fangxu sat unreservedly in the tent and raised his head to
drink up the last mouthful of milk tea. The salted milk tea brewed
with plain leaves had already gone cold from being set aside. The
clotted cream felt moist in his mouth, and there was a milky aroma.
His shoulders were bare, and the military medic was applying
medicine.
“Amu’er is a good opponent.” Xiao Fangxu moved his shoulder
after it was bandaged. “I’ve been observing the Hanshe Tribe for
the past ten years or so, but I didn’t expect their attack power to be
so strong. When people grow old, their reactions slow down. I’m
no longer the man I once was.”
“Libei’s advantages are prominent, and its disadvantages are,
likewise, obvious.” Zuo Qianqiu grabbed up a handful of sand and
watched as they trickled down between his fingers. “Amu’er
changed his attack strategy for you. He definitely won’t dare to
make a sudden assault like this in the past when he was facing off
against Jiming. Jiming is skilled in the art of war. The camps he set
up on the boundary line are all interlocked. The armored cavalry
heads out to face the enemy with chains on their back, supplied by
Xiao Jiming himself. Once the situation changes, Jiming can haul
the main force back any time to avoid heavy losses. Now that
Jiming has retreated and you’re back in command, the speed in
which news is passed on is a lot slower. What’s more, your style is
completely different from Jiming. The vanguards don’t dare to go
all out when they charge, and the reserve troops’ initial rhythm is
all messed up. Will Amu’er let this opportunity slip?”
Xiao Fangxu got up to get dressed. Scars covered the bulging
muscles on his back. He said he was old, but this intimidating body
of his was far more sturdy than before. He put on his robe and
started to put on his armor meticulously every step of the way.
“If Dazhou is still in the period of resurgence, then Jiming
would be the best commander-in-chief of the Libei Armored
Cavalry. Ha has performed extraordinarily well, and is the best
candidate to keep Libei at the top of its game.” Xiao Fangxu
strapped on his blade and continued with a stoic expression, “But
Dazhou is already in a state of collapse, and our dogged strategy
to be the ‘wall’ is no longer suitable for the Libei Armored Cavalry.
Amu’er is the ‘Great Hero’ Heaven bestowed upon Biansha. He
roams around the various tribes, wanting to create a new world.
Jiming’s conservative strategy is just giving him enough time to
grow and develop. Qianqiu, you and I both need to face up to one
thing, and that is Biansha is no longer a bunch of incohesive small
tribes that rely on looting and plundering to make a living. They
are like rivers converging together to become the boundless sea
under Amu’er’s leadership. Has it ever occurred to you that by the
time Amu’er unifies the Twelve Tribes, Biansha will become a
behemoth capable of devouring Dazhou? To fight and defeat him,
it can only be now.”
“I’m the ‘spear’ of Libei, and Jiming is its ‘shield’. At the same
time the Libei Armored Cavalry shed off its weight, they are
gradually falling into the trap of complacency. An armored cavalry
that has lost its desire for victory is akin to a wolf that no longer
feasts on meat. Sooner or later, it will be replaced by some other
armies.”
Xiao Fangxu was expressionless when he spoke to this point.
“Jiming’s defeat is not a bad thing for him and for the Libei
Armored Cavalry. I put him in the military camp when he was just a
teenager not because I hope he can maintain the so-called glory
and honor of zero defeats. There are no legends on the battlefield—
even I myself will suffer a defeat. I have to make the current Libei
Armored Cavalry understand earlier that what we want is not
constant victory, but to win; even if we lose, we will climb swiftly
back on our feet. As long as our limbs are not broken, we can still
fight. Both Jiming and I have successively accomplished what we
ought to have done, and now, it’s time for Libei to feel the
‘hunger’.”
Xiao Fangxu paused for a long time, his gaze meaningfully
deep.
“The Libei Armored Cavalry is in urgent need of a new
commander-in-chief. This person must be different from us, even to
the extent of being our polar opposite. He has to tear off the layer
of scholarly elegance that Jiming has implemented. He has to be
avaricious and savage. He has to make the Libei Armored Cavalry
ravenous and let their wolfish nature rear its head once again.”

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 130 : JADE EARRING

At the time Bianbo Camp was attacked, Shen Zechuan was

taking a nap.
Qiao Tianya sat under the eaves fiddling with his zither, while
Ding Tao and Li Xiong surrounded the copper crock playing with
the fishes. It was quiet inside the room. The sunlight spilled over
half of Shen Zechuan’s shoulders. He had just settled the details of
the census register registration with Zhou Gui and the rest last
night, and they had begun to do an inventory count of Cizhou’s
granary reserves this morning. Autumn was just around the corner.
If they wanted to do business with Chazhou, this was the best time.
He busied around until the afternoon, and that was when he took
the opportunity to doze off for a moment while he was sitting at his
desk.
An unspecified amount of time later, he woke up.
Shen Zechuan leaned back against the taishi chair1 and
pinched the center of his eyebrows. After taking a moment to
compose himself, he called for Qiao Tianya.
“The bandits from half a month ago have already returned to
Mount Luo. Have there been any movements from Lei Jingzhe?”
Shen Zechuan took up his brush and continued to write what he
had yet to finish earlier on the paper.
“Even if there are any signs of activity, it will reach us a few days
later.” Qiao Tianya picked a chair to take his seat. “Besides, the
marquis is thorough in his arrangements. When Lei Jingzhe returns
to Mount Luo, he will be the target of criticism. Just trying to resolve
his own internal affairs on Mount Luo alone will take him about a
month or so.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing and continued writing. Finding him
to be somewhat distracted, Qiao Tianya added, “Master only slept
four hours last night, and you still have to go over to the Zhou’s
residence to discuss official matters with them after dinner later.
There’s no harm in taking a rest while you can now.”
Shen Zechuan said, “I’ll sleep after I return. Is Fei Sheng still
idling around? Since he wants to do something, give him
something to do.”
Qiao Tianya rubbed his fingers and said. “I’ve been thinking
about it these few days. You’ve been leaving him out in the cold for
more than a month. If this goes on, I fear he will harbor
resentment.”
“The gears in this person’s brain sure turn fast. He knows Ce’an
isn’t willing to take him in, so he wants to remain in Cizhou. Zhou
Gui and Kong Ling fear his Imperial Bodyguards background and
don’t dare to use him, so he can only follow shifu around, hoping
to get a job from me through shifu.” Shen Zechuan set down the
brush to let the ink dry and continued, “Now that Gu Jin has
returned to Libei, we are indeed short of people to scout for us.”
When Qiao Tianya and the rest arrived in Cizhou, the various
Imperial Bodyguards who had followed them out of Qudu also
arrived one after another. But even if these Imperial Bodyguards
were to gather, there were only about a hundred or so men, half of
which were Fei Sheng’s old subordinates. At first, when Shen
Zechuan set Fei Sheng aside without using him, it was because Fei
Sheng did not have the intention to follow him; that gaze of his
was fixed squarely on Xiao Chiye. A pity Xiao Chiye was unwilling
to take him as a subordinate, so Fei Sheng could only settle for the
next best option and remain by Ji Gang’s side, deferring to him on
every issue. In Cizhou, Fei Sheng was not involved in any of the
matters, yet he would often put himself within Shen Zechuan’s
sight. His intent was simply too obvious.
Fei Sheng had it all read pretty accurately. Even if Shen
Zechuan left him out in the cold for a moment, Shen Zechuan
would eventually have to use him still, because he had observed
Shen Zechuan’s every move, and he knew that Shen Zechuan
lacked manpower.
Qiao Tianya leaned over slightly and asked across the table,
“What does Master want him to investigate?”
“Two things.” Shen Zechuan answered. “The first is to get him to
keep constant track of the price of tea and rice in the various
Zhongbo prefectures and the prefecture of Huaizhou. Cizhou’s
proposed price will be in the middle. If we want to avoid suffering
any losses, we will have to get a good idea of the prices in these
places. The Imperial Bodyguards used to have the same
assignment back in Qudu, so he can assign men to carry out this
task. The second is for him to get to the bottom of Lei Changming
and Lei Jingzhe’s relationship with the Yan Clan of Hezhou.
Especially Lei Changming. I want to know all the details of this
person’s life.”
Qiao Tianya was a little surprised. “Lei Changming was merely
a live target Lei Jingzhe set up for himself on the outside. Why is
Master not investigating Lei Jingzhe but Lei Changming
instead?”
Shen Zechuan paused for a moment before saying, “When I
was taking a nap earlier, I recalled the way Lei Changming looked
before he died. I find him a little odd. The custom of wearing
earrings is the most prevalent among the noble clans in Qudu and
the Eight Great Cities. Li Xiong is an orphan Lei Jingzhe raised. He
rarely socializes with these people and has only met them once, so
it isn’t surprising that he can’t remember it clearly. But Lei
Changming was the bandit chief of Mount Luo. He had dealings
with the prefectural prefects and garrison troops’ commanders of
the two prefectures of Dunzhou and Duanzhou; he even had
dealings with Yan Heru, the youngest young master of the Yan
Clan, a family of wealthy merchants. He should have come across
men wearing earrings countless times, yet he kept focusing on my
jade earring before his death…”
Shen Zechuan furrowed his brows slightly. He could clearly
recall Lei Changming’s expression before his death. If Li Xiong had
not mentioned it, he would not have noticed it either. Lei
Changming’s deranged and delirious gaze was clearly looking at
another person through this jade earring.
This matter was originally inconsequential. Anyone who heard
it should not be taking it to heart. This was because Shen Zechuan’s
jade earring was nothing rare; it was merely something that Xiao
Chiye had polished out of leftover material while he was fleeing.
Compared to the box of earrings he gave to Shen Zechuan back in
Qudu, this one was nothing valuable. Others could tell at a glance
how “treasured” it was only because of its roundness and
smoothness. The noble clans considered it a “blessing” to let their
most precious children wear jade earrings.
But Shen Zechuan felt subtly bothered by it. He intuitively felt
that there was something in there he would want to dig deeper
into. There were still some secrets regarding the uncle and nephew
pair of the Lei clan that Zhou Gui and Kong Ling were not aware of.
Li Xiong sat by the copper crock, fiddling with a red string.2 But
he was clumsy and kept failing in his attempts.
Ding Tao scooped up the fish, and water splashed over Li
Xiong.
All of a sudden, Li Xiong snapped the string broken in anger
and threw it at Ding Tao. He pulled a long face and said, “I’m going
to look for my big bro.”
Ding Tao, with his sleeves still rolled up, said, “Better not;
what’s so good about your big bro? Why don’t you treat Qiao
Yueyue and me as your elder brothers and follow our Young
Master? Our Young Master gives out sweets every month, and he
never withholds our salaries.”
“I don’t want money.” Li Xiong suddenly stood up. “I want my
big bro.”
Ding Tao cast a glance at the main room and saw Qiao Tianya
still discussing matters with Shen Zechuan on the other side of the
partially hanging bamboo blinds, so he pulled down his sleeves
and said, “Why don’t you come with me to grab some meat?”
“I’m not eating!” For some reason, Li Xiong was agitated. He
scratched his cheek and demanded anxiously, “Why aren’t you
people letting me go? I want to leave the city. I want to return to
Mount Luo!”
Ding Tao felt that Li Xiong was truly a brat. He could not reason
with Li Xiong, but if they were to come to blows, he was no match
for Li Xiong either. Seeing that Li Xiong was about to make a scene
again, Ding Tao suddenly hit on an idea. “You miss your big bro so
much. He must be really a formidable one, huh?”
Li Xiong answered, “My big bro is the number one hero in
Mount Luo. Of course, he’s formidable.”
Ding Tao clapped his hands together and said, “So what if he’s
a hero on Mount Luo? Is he as formidable as my master, my young
master? I don’t think of him as a hero!”
Sure enough, Li Xiong was furious. He glared at Ding Tao. “Your
master and young master isn’t formidable at all! He’s so skinny; my
big bro can kill him with just one punch!”
Ding Tao spat inwardly to himself, feeling a little displeased,
but he still tried his best to put on a happy act. “Oh? Then that’s
pretty formidable. Your big bro is Lei Jingzhe, right? His uncle is Lei
Changming. I know all about it.”
Li Xiong was already envious of Ding Tao to begin with, and he
was not willing to lose out to Ding Tao here. To prove that Lei
Jingzhe was stronger than Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan, he
hurriedly said, “Lei Changming is formidable too. He can lift the
little people upside down, but my big bro is even more formidable
than Lei Changming!”
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Ding Tao played along and
asked, “What kind of martial arts move is lifting the little people
upside down?”
Li Xiong had blurted it out offhandedly. Now that Ding Tao was
asking, he racked his brain to recall Lei Changming’s life.
Memories flashed through his mind. “That is, lifting children upside
down. Lei Changming loved to do things like this.” He suddenly
remembered something. “Oh! I remember it now! Earring… round
and white earrings. The children Lei Changming hung upside
down wore them too!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan planned to head out after his meal. As he was
changing his outer clothes, he heard Ding Tao and Li Xiong
running around the courtyard, yelling and screaming. The
maidservant retreated with a bow to the door and was about to
instruct them not to make a din when Shen Zechuan looked back
and said, “It’s fine. Let them play.”
Qiao Tianya originally wanted to put his zither on the small
table under the eaves, but on seeing this, he feared the two kids
would recklessly crash into it while they were playing and damage
it, so he sent it back to his own room.
When Shen Zechuan was leaving the courtyard, Ding Tao
followed behind him, looking as if he wanted to say something. But
seeing that it was already late, he swallowed back his words and
said as he stuck to the moon gate. “If it gets dark, I’ll go over with a
lantern and wait for you.”
Shen Zechuan beckoned to Ding Tao. Once the latter walked
over, he said, “After your meal later, head over to Grandpa’s
courtyard. He wants to teach you the Twenty-four Stances of the Ji
Clan. I’ll be back by the first quarter at the hour of hai 3 at the latest.”
Ding Tao nodded and saw Shen Zechuan to the door, feeling a
little loath to part with him. He had heard a bunch of stories in the
afternoon. He did not know if Li Xiong was lying to him or if it was
all real. It was almost dark now, and he was a little afraid too. As
soon as Shen Zechuan left, he hurriedly brought Li Xiong over to
look for Ji Gang. There were still quite the number of guards and
the Imperial Bodyguards staying in that courtyard. With more
people around, he was not afraid anymore.
Shen Zechuan arrived at the Zhou’s residence. The study was
brightly lit, with several advisors sitting within. The summer night
was warm, and the windows on all three sides of the study were
open. They had also lit incense to repel mosquitoes. The room felt
stuffy when it got crowded. Kong Ling feared that Shen Zechuan
would feel uncomfortable, so he had the doors kept wide open.
“These are the grains that have been counted today. Vice
Commander, please look it over.” Zhou Gui presented the book to
Shen Zechuan and said from his seat, “The autumn harvest is just
around the corner. The way we see it, this is the most appropriate
time to discuss business with Chazhou.”
“During autumn in the past, the company of traveling
merchants from Hezhou and Juexi has to pass through Zhongbo to
head for the area where Libei’s and the Huiyan Tribe’s mutual trade
market is to deal in goods. However, the war is intense this year,
and with this business undoable, they will most likely head for
Chazhou to make up for it.” Kong Ling lifted his robe slightly and
sat down. “If we were to fall behind them, then no matter how
cheap we sell the grains when the time comes, Chazhou will not
have the money to buy. So this matter has to be done as soon as
possible.”
 “That’s the thing.” Shen Zechuan looked over the quantity of
grains carefully and said, “This matter is the most important right
now. If all goes smoothly, life in Cizhou will be better next year. No
such trade was made in the past, so the merchants from Juexi and
Hezhou could not have anticipated it, but they should more or less
get wind of it when our men go over to discuss business. This
involves us getting a slice of their pie; they might not necessarily be
willing.”
“That’s the hard thing.” Zhou Gui chimed in. “Leaving aside the
question of whether the negotiations with Chazhou’s prefectural
prefect and the bandits can go smoothly, we have to rack our
brains just to guard against the others. Our Cizhou’s garrison troop
has been established for less than a month. The military drill
ground isn’t ready, and the soldiers are still untrained. If the others
were to have designs on the grains and plot against us, we
wouldn’t be able to win against them.”
Shen Zechuan had been waiting for a few days for Zhou Gui to
say these words. He closed the book and tapped soundlessly on it
with his finger. “Cizhou has no commanding general at present.
You gentlemen and I are not well-versed in the art of training
soldiers. However, the Imperial Army left some soldiers and horses
behind at Beiyuan Hunting Grounds to keep guard. If Your
Excellency is willing, why not let them train the garrison troops
first? We have to come to an agreement with Chazhou first before
we give them the grains. Has the negotiator been decided? I’ll get
Qiao Tianya to lead the Imperial Bodyguards and escort him for
protection.”
Zhou Gui looked at Kong Ling before looking back. “I can’t
leave Cizhou, so I can only send Chengfeng over and assign some
clerks who can do the accounts to tag along. If the Vice
Commander is willing to dispatch some men to protect them,
that’d be really for the best.”
Zhou Gui did not understand, but Kong Ling understood it
perfectly well. He composed himself and said to Shen Zechuan,
“But I’m a greenhorn when it comes to doing business, and I feel
very apprehensive not knowing if there are experts there… so I’d
like to ask the Vice Commander to bestow upon me an ingenious
stratagem I can bring along.”
Shen Zechuan smiled and said, “Mister Chengfeng, you are too
modest. Where on earth would I have an ingenious stratagem? If
it’s permissible, I’ll go with Mister Chengfeng on this trip.”
How would Zhou Gui dare to let Shen Zechuan venture deep
into the tiger’s den where dangers lurked? Xiao Chiye “hasten over
within a day” was still echoing in his ears! He hurriedly said, “The
Vice Commander is—”
Kong Ling was already making his bow and expressing his
gratitude. “I feel reassured with the Vice Commander around.”
This man really knows how it is done.
Shen Zechuan looked at Kong Ling with a gentle expression.
Truly too clever.

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Footnotes

1.
2. 太师椅 Taishi Chair or Grand Preceptor Chair, is a
classical style of a wooden armchair in ancient China.
3.
4. Cat’s cradle, a game which involves making string figures
with the hands.
5. 亥时 9-11 pm, based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 131 : SPIDER WEB

It was already the end of the sixth month, so the departure date
was scheduled for the seventh month. After Shen Zechuan left, the
advisors withdrew from the room, and Zhou Gui asked Kong Ling,
“Why did you insist on letting the Vice Commander go? It’s
complete chaos in Chazhou. If the Vice Commander were to meet
with mishap, there would be no way Cizhou could explain it to the
marquis. I was initially thinking of getting you to go and have
yourselves disguised as merchants during the journey. We are still
on friendly terms enough to negotiate with Luo Mu, the prefectural
prefect of Chazhou.”
Kong Lin poured tea and nodded when he heard him. After
swallowing it, he replied, “We can still disguise as merchants with
the Vice Commander going, and there are Imperial Bodyguards
going along too. It’s much safer than our own plan.”
Zhou Gui pointed at Kong Ling and said, “You’re generally
smart as a rule, but this time you’re a fool. With the Vice
Commander’s… appearance, how can he disguise as a merchant?
Those sharp-eyed ones can tell something off at just a glance.”
Kong Ling looked at Zhou Gui for a moment with tea leaves in
his mouth. He felt that Zhou Gui really did not understand, so he
said, “You’re truly an honest one. Let me ask you, from the
rebuilding of Cizhou’s garrison troops to the planning of our
business in Chazhou, which one of them is not a proposal of the
Vice Commander? Cizhou has been truly benefiting from him, but
there are no free meals in this world.”
Zhou Gui said, “I don’t understand? I do! We currently can’t
afford to recompense them for military expenses; that’s why we are
supplying the Imperial Army with grains and giving them Beiyuan
Hunting Grounds. Doesn’t this more or less repay our debt to
them? Cizhou is also doing its best to repay the Vice Commander
for his kindness to Cizhou.”
Kong Ling swallowed the tea leaves he had chewed on until
bitter. “We can’t repay it now, and all the more we can’t repay it in
the future. The marquis repelled the bandits from Mount Luo,
leaving plenty of time for Cizhou to rebuild itself. We currently can’t
even afford to supply half a year’s worth of grains for the 20,000
Imperial Army soldiers. We did give them the Beiyuan Hunting
Grounds, and I’m telling you, that will be the Imperial Army’s camp-
cum-drill grounds in the future. No matter how we try to draw a line
between them and us on our end, Cizhou already belongs to the
Imperial Army in the eyes of others. Moreover, once the business in
Chazhou gets moving, how are you going to repay the Vice
Commander for this bonus? Also, the Vice Commander said he’s
going to assign Qiao Tianya to protect me, but who is Qiao Tianya?
He’s the former Imperial Bodyguard Vice Commander in Qudu; his
rank is way higher than you if you were to compare. When we enter
the capital in previous years, we not only have to get off our sedans
to pay our obeisances to him when we see him, we also have to
move aside to make way for him. The Vice Commander assigned
him to protect me, but how is a mere commoner like me worthy of
receiving such a favor? And between him and me, who exactly will
be in charge when we reach Chazhou? Yet you still agreed to it so
readily! That’s why I said you are truly an honest one.”
Zhou Gui had never been an official before. He was already
holding office in Zhongbo right from the start. His teacher was also
his superior and benefactor. Zhou Gui served as a Tax Circuit
Intendant under him. He did a good job of it, and he was a man of
knowledge too. His teacher valued talents, and so he betrothed his
daughter to Zhou Gui. As such, Zhou Gui was spared a lot of the
nastiness that took place in the official circles. He was later
promoted to the position of Cizhou’s Prefectural Prefect based on
his qualification and experiences. Before the defeat of the
Zhongbo’s troops, his career had been pretty much smooth-sailing.
He was not like Liang Cuishan and the rest who were trampled
upon by the officials from the noble clans in Qudu. He never had to
endure that kind of hardship, so he truly did not understand much
of that circuitous and convoluted stuff.
Zhou Gui was stupefied on hearing this. He said hesitantly, “I
am worried too. I have to worry about your safety when you head
over with the others to discuss business. The garrison troop is
recently established, and the Imperial Army has left. The only ones
at present who can be of use are the Imperial Bodyguards by the
Vice Commander’s side.”
Kong Ling said, “Initially, when the Vice Commander said he
wanted to remain in Cizhou, it was because we could not trust the
Imperial Army then. Before the marquis left, you and I no longer
harbor the same doubt, but the Vice Commander still stayed
behind. To Cizhou, he is ‘the rain that bedews all things in silence’.1
I fear he has already planned it all before entering Cizhou. It’s too
late for you and me to realize it now.”
After getting along with Xiao Chiye these days, Zhou Gui felt
that Xiao Chiye was hard to speak to, but he was very efficient
when it came to handling matters, and he showed others the
respect due to them. He was someone who laid his cards on the
table. However, Shen Zechuan was different. Shen Zechuan sat in
the seat of honor when he discussed matters with them, yet he
treated all those advisors courteously and even respectfully
addressed Kong Ling as “Mister Chengfeng”. He was open to
discussion when an issue cropped up, thereby giving the others the
impression that he was a humble and unassuming person who
showed respect for the learned. Zhou Gui’s wariness of him had
already vanished over time.
Zhou Gui stood up, his hands still grasping his robe. He was
rendered speechless for a long time. No matter how obtuse he
was, he understood it now. Shen Zechuan had been going all out
to help them all because he saw Cizhou as good as his. He said in a
daze, “If the Vice Commander… is willing to restore Cizhou to its
former glory, then I wouldn’t mind giving this prefectural prefect
position to him.”
Kong Ling looked out into the night. A gray moth, attracted by
the light from the study, pounced towards the side of the eaves,
only to barge into the spider web concealed between the upturned
eaves.
After a moment of silence, Kong Ling said, “Zhou Gui, it’s time
to dispense with the title ‘prefectural prefect’. With Hai Liangyi’s
death, the moderates in Qudu have come under attack by the
students. There is no longer anyone who can maintain the peace in
Dazhou on his own. The empire is falling apart. If Qudu is the
‘deer’,2 then Cizhou is the ‘rabbit’. Without the wolf and fox to
guarantee our safety, Cizhou will be the ‘meat’ in the eyes of the
jackals in Qudu, and you and I are powerless against them.”
Zhou Gui and Kong Ling were fellow students in their youth.
They had many years of friendship between them, and Zhou Gui
had rarely seen him so solemn. Thus, he said, “I know how much
care and thought you have expended on it. All I ask is that the Vice
Commander will live up to our expectations today and won’t let us
down… I’m afraid of such a person.”
Kong Ling remembered the night when he met Lei
Changming. Shen Zechuan had simply changed on a whim,
chatting with a smile while surrounded by sharp blades all around.
He spoke so genuinely, and even the expression in his eyes was
sincere. Not only had Lei Changming believed him, but even Kong
Ling himself had also believed the act. It was precisely after that
incident that Kong Ling began to size up the man, Shen Zechuan.
Kong Ling retracted his gaze and said with a slightly troubled
heart, “I stood out too much tonight and is already considered to
have crossed the line. I fear the Vice Commander will remember
this. I’m your advisor, and I shouldn’t have shown off before the
Vice Commander… I should watch myself in the future.”
◈ ◈ ◈
While both of them were having an in-depth discussion in the
study, Shen Zechuan returned to his residence. Ji Gang was
already resting, so Shen Zechuan did not send someone over to
disturb him and simply returned to his own courtyard. He crossed
the veranda and saw Fei Sheng still on night duty in the courtyard,
keeping guard with his men.
It was only when Shen Zechuan went into his room that Fei
Sheng relaxed a little. Qiao Tianya shared some of his remaining
tobacco with Fei Sheng. When he saw the light in the main room
extinguished after a while, he got the men to put out the lanterns in
the courtyard as well.
“It’s hard for Master to fall asleep without the marquis here.”
Qiao Tianya stood under the tree and said in a hushed tone. “And
his sleep is fitful too. So if you hear any noise in the second half of
the night, don’t let anyone enter and disturb him.”
 The gears in Fei Sheng’s head turned, and he knew what was
up. He shifted the pipe away and puffed out a breath into the night.
“Understood. The Chashi Sinkhole is a nightmare. Thanks.”
Qiao Tianya, however, did not smoke his pipe. He braced an
arm on the tree trunk and listened to the croaks of the frogs in the
pond for a moment. “You’ve been idle for so long. Master finds it a
pity for you to be a guard. There are two missions. I’ll get shifu to
hand you the authority token tomorrow morning.”
Fei Sheng understood very well that Shen Zechuan wanted to
use him, but did not intend to keep him close by. At least, he would
not be able to replace Qiao Tianya. He smoked in silence for a
moment, then knocked the pipe a few times, and answered with a
smile, “Sure, I look forward to it. But give me a hint. What
missions?”
Qiao Tianya looked at Fei Sheng and said, “Keep track and
record.3 Easy-peasy.”
Fei Sheng probed, “And the other one?”
“Investigate both men from the Lei clan, especially Lei
Changming. Report every detail of his life to Master.” Qiao Tianya
smiled. “It’s truly a waste of talent to hand this task to you. Actually,
Ding Tao works fine too, but he’s too young, and I fear he has no
sense of priority when it comes to carrying out the task, so you are
still needed. You’re an expert when it comes to this. How about it?”
Fei Sheng smiled too. He nodded and said, “As long as it’s
Master’s instructions, there’s nothing that can’t be done.”
Qiao Tianya went on. “On my end, there’s another matter that
I’d like your help with.”
Fei Sheng twirled his pipe. “You and I are brothers, so no need
to stand on ceremony. What is it?”
Qiao Tianya retracted his arm and said, “I’d like you to check
the whereabouts of a person for me when you send someone out
to keep track of the prices.”
Fei Sheng took note of it and cast a few glances at Qiao Tianya.
“Who?”
Qiao Tianya answered, “Yao Wenyu.”
◈ ◈ ◈
 It was in the dead of night, and the Imperial Army had yet to
rest.
Wu Ziyu was drinking milk tea with Chen Yang. The military
medic applied medicine for him, and he simply squatted on the
ground and asked Chen Yang, “What exactly does the Second
Young Master intend to do?”
As Chen Yang sorted out the name registers of military
craftsmen in the Bianbo Camp, he said, “It’s Master who has the
final say. Why ask me?”
Wu Ziyu said, “You and I are old acquaintances. Can’t you just
give me a little hint here?”
Chen Yang compiled the name registers and looked at Wu
Ziyu, unruffled. “If you want to have a personal chat, we will drink
and dine here. If you want to discuss military affairs, I’d first have to
address you as the battalion general. What am I supposed to
answer you when you mix personal and official affairs together?”
Wu Ziyu put on his clothes and said, “Well then, I’ll lay it all out
clearly for you. The Second Young Master wants to head over to the
east to fight the invaded Shasan Camp. I don’t think it’s workable. It
can’t be done. The current Libei Armored Cavalry in Bianbo Camp
is my squad. We are not the vanguards; we are the transportation
escort squad between battlefields. We can still play with the
Liaoying Tribe, but if we have to fight the Hanshe Tribe… then I’m
sorry, I’ll retreat with my men right away.”
Chen Yang nodded. “Excuse my inability to escort you farther.”
Wu Ziyu clicked his tongue. With a look of impatience, he
asked, “What do you mean by this?”
Chen Yang set aside the name registers and said, “If you say
these words to my Master, this is how he will answer you too. If you
want to leave, then sure, just go.”
Wu Ziyu said, “When I talk about leaving, it’s not because I’m
afraid of fighting a battle with the Hanshe Tribe, but because I can’t
afford to fight a battle against them at present. Why throw an egg
against a rock and court defeat by fighting against overwhelming
odds? The battle steeds and military craftsmen from the Bianbo
Camp are valuable resources for Libei. What good will it do to
waste more time here with those Bianbo people? Send them on to
the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path as soon as possible, and we
will have reinforcements from the Three Great Training Divisions of
Liuyang. It won’t be too late to turn back again then.”
“Won’t be too late.” Xiao Chiye just so happened to lift the
curtain. He stooped over to enter, then wiped away the water on his
hands. “How did you come to this conclusion? Tell me about it.”
As soon as Xiao Chiye entered, Wu Ziyu felt it growing darker in
the tent. The military medic packed his medicine case, bowed in
farewell to Xiao Chiye, and withdrew from the tent.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Wu Ziyu did not dare to
continue looking at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye tossed the handkerchief to Chen Yang and made
his way over to sit by the stove. There was still milk tea being kept
warm on it. It had been a long time since Xiao Chiye had last drank
it. Gu Jin came over from behind and poured a bowl for Xiao
Chiye.
Silence descended in the tent, and Wu Ziyu felt unaccustomed
and uncomfortable. Even when he erred in Xiao Jiming’s presence,
it was not as oppressive as being in Xiao Chiye’s presence.
Xiao Chiye drank a mouthful and asked Wu Ziyu, “Any more
fresh milk?”
Wu Ziyu shook his head hastily and said, “No, just this one pot,
and this one was specially kept for the Bianbo Camp to satisfy its
cravings.”
“How about plain tea?”
Wu Ziyu answered in the affirmative and said, “How would we
not have something to perk ourselves up? There are plenty of tea
leaves in the granary. If you like it, I’ll get someone to pack some for
you.”
Xiao Chiye propped up his elbow and looked at Wu Ziyu. “Even
if you stand here all night, I’ll still leave before dawn tomorrow
morning. You run at the sight of an attack. Aren’t you people the
Libei Armored Cavalry?”
This was the second time Wu Ziyu heard Xiao Chiye say “you
people the Libei Armored Cavalry”. He was fuming inside. He
endured it for a moment and was just about to say a word when
Xiao Chiye spoke up. “Go pack some. Gu Jin, seal it in the case later
and send someone to deliver it to Cizhou tomorrow morning.
While you are at it, tell Lanzhou that all is well.”
How would Wu Ziyu know who “Lanzhou” was? The way he
heard it from Xiao Chiye’s tone, Xiao Chiye wasn’t taking the war
seriously; instead, he was thinking of gifting tea to someone else.
Unable to bear it, he blurted out, “Second Young Master—”
“When we are talking about military affairs, I’m not the ‘Second
Young Master’; I am the Viceroy of the Imperial Army, Xiao Ce’an. I
asked if you are the Libei Armored Cavalry, and not once did you
answer me in the affirmative. Libei doesn’t have an independent
‘transportation escort squad’ in Libei; it only has the Libei Armored
Cavalry. Your soldiers ride the same battle steeds at the vanguards
and are equipped with the same long sword4 as the vanguards.”
Xiao Chiye stared at Wu Ziyu, drank up the milk tea, and said in a
slightly mocking tone, “Is this all a commanding general of Libei
has to offer?”

Author Words: (Lianyin’s addon in brackets)

Six Prefectures of Zhongbo: Cizhou, Dunzhou, Duanzhou,
Dengzhou, Chazhou, Fanzhou
Eight Cities of Qudu: Quancheng, Dancheng, Chuncheng,
Chuancheng, Dicheng, Jincheng, Wucheng, Cuocheng
Five Commanderies of Qidong: Cangjun, Chijun, Cejun,
Chujun, Bianjun
Huaizhou is located behind Luoxia Pass, northwest of
Quancheng. Hezhou is south of the military grounds on Mount
Feng, the outskirts of which can be connected to the mountain
ranges where Suotian Pass is. (Probably a typo. It’s Tianfei
Watchtower on the map :V) Although these two are called
“prefectures”, they are not under Zhongbo’s jurisdiction. For
reference, please refer to the military grains case in book 1.
Yuzhou is in Juexi, along with Baimazhou, Qinzhou, and the
Thirteen Cities, including two great harbors/ports.
 So far, the tribes from the Twelve Tribes of Biansha that have
made their appearances are: Liaoying (Eagle), Gouma (Horse),
Hanshe (Snake), Changjiu (Vulture)
Referring to chapter 43 of book 1, the Huiyan Tribe that Ce’an
first mentioned has already defected to Dazhou. It’s a small tribe
that’s active around the fringe of the mutual trade market.
The Libei’s Camps that have appeared thus far are: Changzhu,
Bianbo, Shayi (Sand #1), Sha’er (Sand #2), Shasan (Sand #3), Three
Great Training Divisions of Liuyang.
I’ll draw a more detailed map for everyone when I have the
time. (NOTE: you can refer to the audio drama map HERE.)
Thank you for reading.

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Special Thanks to: Peach for the correction!
Footnotes
1. 润物细无声 from Spring Rain (春夜喜雨) Du Fu (杜甫), a
distinguished poet of the Tang Dynasty who is widely
regarded as an undisputed genius of Chinese poetry. In
Tang Poetry, spring rain is seen as gentle and crucial for the
spring sowing season by moistening the soil, which in turn
helps germination and thus, bringing hope and life, and it
does this gently and quietly, almost unnoticed.
2. Deer is also a metaphor for the throne, as in 「秦失其鹿，
天下共逐之」 from Records of the Grand Historian •
Biography of Marquis Huaiyin 《史记·淮阴侯列传》
3. To recap (chapter 85), “keep track and record” was to
have the Imperial Bodyguards record all minor and major
matters in a book, including the prices of grains, rice,
noodles, and tea
4.
5. Specifically a changdao, or a two-handed, single-edged
Chinese sword.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 132 : TROOPS ADVANCE

When Wu Ziyu ran from the battle site to Bianbo Camp, he

passed by Shasan Camp and also went to Changzhu Camp.
However, in the eyes of the commanding generals from these
battle camps, he was not considered a “commanding general”. He
was only good for grain delivery during discussions relating to
military affairs. When the Hanshe Tribe launched a sudden assault
on the Libei’s mutual trade market in the eighth year of Xiande, the
fastest squad to respond to the enemy attack was the
transportation escort squad led by Wu Ziyu. That was the one and
only battle he had ever fought.
“You are the commanding general of Bianbo Camp now that
the main forces of the Bianbo Camp have been dispatched into
battle up north. The Imperial Army currently wants to scout for news
of the Shasan Camp, and I hope to have the assistance of the
Bianbo Camp.” Xiao Chiye set down his bowl and continued, “It’s
obvious that the Liaoying Tribe’s surprise attack this time has been
planned for a long time. Cut off access to the Shasan Camp’s horse
track, and the Bianbo Camp will lose its source of information in
addition to its protective barrier. It’s indeed true that you can ensure
the safety of the supplies by retreating this moment, but the site of
battle – with Shayi Camp as the boundary line – will completely end
up surrounded by the Biansha people on both sides. No matter
how many people there are in Zhao Hui’s Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang, they will still have to split up and assign a
team to bypass Dajing and head for the battle site in the northeast
as long-distance reinforcement. By then, even if there are supplies
left, all the frontline troops will have been wiped out.”
Xiao Jiming chose to use Bianbo Camp as a supply site
because it had horse tracks directly connecting it to Shasan Camp
and Northeast Provisions Bridle Path. It could swiftly provide
supplies, as well as rapidly send in troops for reinforcement. Once
this place was gone, Xiao Fangxu, who was still on the frontlines,
would be cut off from his backup forces. There were no direct
connecting horse tracks leading to the northeast from the
Northeast Provisions Bridle Path. Zhao Hui would have to take a
detour, which would still take four days at the earliest. In these four
days, Xiao Fangxu would have to face the Hanshe Tribe to the east
and the Liaoying Tribe to the south without reinforcements and
supplies. The Biansha men could just deploy the tactics of taking
turns to fight them, and it would have been sufficient to wear down
Xiao Fangxu’s elite forces, who were already exhausted from the
long battle.
Wu Ziyu’s fury had already been extinguished. He stood in
silence for a moment before saying, “The Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang under Zhao Hui’s command is one of the Libei
Armored Cavalry’s elite forces. The Liaoying Tribe that has
launched a sudden assault here won’t be able to stop him. He can
abandon the faraway route in the northeast and head over to the
battle site from this place.”
“The Three Great Training Divisions of Liuyang, as the cream of
the crop in Libei, have exchanged the most blows with the Hanshe
Tribe. Amu’er’s understanding of them won’t be inferior to your and
my understanding of them. You know that Zhou Hui can forcibly
break out of the encirclement and rush to the battlefield from here,
so Amu’er should have also thought of it at the start of the surprise
attack. Today was such a good opportunity for a sudden assault,
and yet he only sent the Liaoying Tribe over. Guess what he’s
thinking?”
Wu Ziyu’s expression gradually turned dark.
Of the thirty-six stratagems,1 there was a stratagem called
“letting the adversaries off in order to snare them”. Wu Ziyu’s squad
encountered a surprise attack today at the Bianbo Camp, and in
the midst of the crisis, his guard rushed on to the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path with the supplies. By the time Zhao Hui
received this batch of crucial supplies, it would have already been
too late. Reinforcement from afar was the most inadvisable and
unwise. So he could only turn his attention back to the seized
Bianbo Camp and make the corresponding adjustments to his
strategy based on the number of soldiers from the Liaoying Tribe
as provided by the guard. Once he came, it was very likely that
Amu’er would have already withdrawn the Liaoying Tribe and
replaced them with the Biansha’s elite cavalry to lie in wait here.
Zhao Hui would then be up against an all-out assault from Amu’er.
Win or lose, Zhou Hui would be held up at the Bianbo Camp,
and Xiao Fangxu, over at the site of battle, would be wholly
stranded without reinforcement. Amu’er simply understood the
Libei Armored Cavalry all too well.
“Zhao Hui can’t come. We can’t win either. The army provisions
on the battle site are rapidly depleting. His Lordship is still going to
have to fight an arduous battle in a few days.” Wu Ziyu walked over
to the shelf, pulled down the map, and spread it out forcefully on
the ground. “Shasan Camp is close to Sha’er Camp. When Amu’er
launches a sudden assault up north when the time comes, it’ll be
His Lordship’s back that he’s attacking.”
Tantai Hu was done washing up and walked in barefooted with
his robe hanging off him. When he saw them gathering around the
map, he squatted at one side to look too.
“What are we to do?” Wu Ziyu lifted his eyes and looked at Xiao
Chiye. “We’ll lose if we advance, and we’ll lose if we retreat. Any
move we make will be within Amu’er expectation.”
Tantai Hu touched the scar – caused by a blade – on his face
and said, “Not really. He doesn’t know about the Imperial Army. We
are the troops he couldn’t have anticipated.” He pointed to Shasan
Camp. “This place is close to Mount Luo in Zhongbo, where bandits
abound. The Liaoying Tribe must have had the help of the bandits
to be able to evade Libei Armored Cavalry’s eagle patrol and bring
along heavy equipment – that is, the stone catapults – around to the
south of Bianbo Camp to launch a sneak attack. I don’t know much
about all these devious schemes, but there’s something the Vice…
Young Master said that makes sense.”
Xiao Chiye raised his eyebrows slightly. “What did Lanzhou
say?”
“Smart people don’t do redundant things.” Tantai Hu’s
expression turned grave. “Why would Amu’er go to all the trouble
of stopping Zhao Hui? If it has been going smoothly for him in his
battle with His Lordship at the battle site, why would he need to
split up his forces and send them here?”
 Xiao Chiye bent over slightly and looked at the map. As he
twirled his thumb ring, he said, “That’s right. Making such plans
shows that Amu’er is having a hard time on the battlefield too. It’s
already the seventh month now. If the war drags on beyond
autumn without any progress, Amu’er will have to face the bitter
coldness of winter. All the Biansha grain reserves this year have
been delivered to the battlefield. The longer the war drags on, the
more unfavorable it will be for Biansha.”
Wu Ziyu remembered something.
It just so happened Xiao Chiye spoke up. “After my eldest
brother was injured, Amu’er changed the battle strategy he has
been using these few years. When I was in Cizhou, I heard that the
Biansha Cavalry had already fought their way to the Tudalong
Banner. In the past, their cavalry always fled after a fight, yet it
wasn’t the case this time. Not only did they not run, they even
advanced in full force. Amu’er has already lost his patience back in
the desert. He’s progressively encroaching upon Libei, trying to
occupy our grasslands and camps. It can be seen just from this
point alone that Bianbo Camp is vital. If we lose this place, Libei will
have to take a big step back. Shasan Camp will soon fall, and our
so-called line of defenses in the east will completely collapse. But if
we can hold on to Bianbo Camp, we will be able to give Father
some breathing space to recharge himself. With him at the site of
battle, Amu’er will not be able to shift this boundary line even the
slightest.”
At this point, Xiao Chiye pointed out Bianbo Camp’s location to
Wu Ziyu.
“You just have to hang in there until the first snowfall of this
year, and you’ll deal a heavy blow to Amu’er. No matter what, we
cannot lose Bianbo Camp. Mark a north-south boundary line here.
We can only pull forward; we must never retreat again.”
Wu Ziyu said, “Since Amu’er wants to trap Zhao Hui’s Three
Great Training Divisions of Liuyang here, how can we stop him with
the 25,000 men we have at present? Shasan Camp is a key
strategic point. If Amu’er had the Hanshe Tribe stationed there to
guard it, then all the more we will have no chance to launch a
counterattack.”
 Xiao Chiye retracted his arm and thought for a moment. “The
Biansha Cavalry is already used to the passive rhythm of the Libei
Armored Cavalry. Amu’er dared to place such a bet because he
was sure that the troops in Bianbo Camp would not dare to head
east and launch a sudden assault arbitrarily. Their surprise attack
troops were caught off-guard. Going by the distance, they will
retreat to Shasan Camp only tomorrow morning. If we set off
before dawn, we will arrive at the border of Shasan Camp just at
the time when they are resting.”
Wu Ziyu shifted the legs on which he was squatting and looked
at the map without a word for a long time. It was only when his legs
went numb that he hardened his heart and decided. “If you have
made up your mind to go, we can let you use the remaining battle
steeds in Bianbo Camp.”
“The Imperial Army isn’t a cavalry, and so has no need for
battle steeds. Besides, the battle steeds of Libei are too heavy, and
they make quite a commotion when they run. They aren’t suitable
for launching a surprise attack.” Xiao Chiye swept his gaze around
to look at Tantai Hu, Chen Yang, and Gu Jin. Finally, he said to Wu
Ziyu, “Let the Imperial Army say hello to Amu’er this time.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Before dawn the next day, the Imperial Army set off.
Although Gu Jin was still injured, he still assumed the position
of a scout. Tantai Hu followed Xiao Chiye, and only Chen Yang was
left behind in the Bianbo Camp. Wu Ziyu did not understand, but
seeing as Chen Yang had no complaints about it, he did not probe
further.
Dew was still visible at this time. The Imperial Army had only
been walking among the grassy fields for a short moment, and
already their armors were wet with dew. They did not follow the
horse track, but the path the Liaoying Tribe took when they
retreated.
“This place isn’t that far away from Zhongbo’s borders. Master,
why isn’t there a relay station arranged here?” Tantai Hu looked
south and said, “Cross this grassland and run for a day and a
night, and you’ll be at Mount Luo.”
 “The defenses of the Libei Armored Cavalry are all set up with
the Biansha Cavalry in mind.” Xiao Chiye looked for a moment with
his blade at his side. “The bandits did not dare to go this way
before. But times are different now.”
“Whoever throws in their lots with the Biansha baldies are
fucking bastards.” Tantai Hu said hatefully as he plucked at the
grass.
The speed at which the Imperial Army advanced was not slow,
and it was already afternoon when they arrived within range of the
Shasan Camp.
Gu Jin lay prone among the grass and remained still for a long
time. Tantai Hu followed suit and waited for a moment, but he
could see nothing of interest ahead, so he asked, “What do you
see?”
Gu Jin reached out his hand to brush aside the grass and said,
“Wu Ziyu is right. There is cavalry from the Hanshe Tribe in Shasan
Camp; the horse dung is fresh. And they have set up patrols
around the camp with far more vigilance than the Bianbo Camp.”
Then Gu Jin turned over and squinted up at the sky.
“No whistles, and no saker falcons. The Liaoying Tribe that
carried out a sneak attack on Bianbo Camp yesterday was indeed
just a front.”
“This isn’t a good place to fight a battle.” Tantai Hu said. “The
camp site has an open view, and it’s all grassy fields. There will be
nowhere for us to hide if we go any closer.”
“This is the Shasan Camp.” Gu Jin felt for the tobacco in his
robe and stuffed it outright into his mouth to chew on. “Not only
will we have no place to hide, but there are also iron spikes2 on the
outskirts of the camp, and defensive barriers3 set up in the front
and at the back. All four corners have a watchtower too.”
“How about going through the ditch?” Tantai Hu looked back
and said softly to Xiao Chiye. “They still have to eat, drink, shit, and
take a piss.”
Xiao Chiye did not answer, and Gu Jin looked a little
embarrassed. He lowered his head and lay low among the grass,
saying in an even softer voice, “There were indeed ditches that
lead out in the past. Didn’t Master use this move to take down the
Biansha soldiers during the battle at the eastern mountain ranges?
The Hereditary Prince felt this to be a loophole and so sealed off
the various camps’ ditches upon returning.”
Tantai Hu wordlessly shut his mouth and lay low too.
The advancing troops’ selection of a site to set up camp was
very important, and the latrine was the most important of all.
Generally, filthy ditches like this could not be close to the army
provisions and the tents for dwelling. It had to be deep, or lead out.
As a commonly used camp, a ditch that led out was naturally the
most convenient for the Shasan Camp. But Xiao Chiye previously
dug his way into the Biansha Camp with just a small number of
cavalry and fought from within the Biansha Tribes until the Biansha
Tribes were utterly routed. This left a deep impression on Xiao
Jiming. In order to play it safe, the ditches of Libei’s military camps
were reconstructed into deep ditches with wastes to be disposed of
on a fixed schedule. Who would have known that such a change
would instead go on to be a problem for Xiao Chiye a few years
later?
How were they to fight now?
Xiao Chiye looked at the sky and said, “No worries… I have a
way.”

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Footnotes
1. 三十六计 a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of
stratagems used in politics and war.
2.
3. 铁蒺藜 Specifically caltrops, a four-spiked iron ball or four
joined spikes laid upon the ground as a device to lame
cavalry horses, etc.

4.
5. 拒马 Specifically chevaux-de-frise. I have no idea what
this term is in English, and it seems weird to have them
suddenly spouting French lmfao. It’s a portable barrier of
spikes, sword blades, etc, used to obstruct the passage of
cavalry.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 133: NINE YEARS

At the third quarter of the hour of you,1 the sun made its
descent in the west.
At this time, Huhelu2 was having his meal. He was the Biansha
commanding general who launched a surprise attack at the
southeastern camp of Libei. He was born in the Changjiu Tribe, and
at almost forty years of age, he was in the prime of his life. After
Amu’er took command of the four tribes, Huhelu not only became
Amu’er’s adopted son, but also a capable general under Amu’er’s
command. Coincidentally, he was also the one who led the squad
Xiao Chiye launched a sudden assault on nine years ago at the
eastern mountain ranges.
Huhelu was an irascible and narrow-minded man, but he was
also quite resourceful and knew when to advance and retreat in a
war. Guo Weili had previously suffered in his hands. Both men had
hurled insults and spat spittle at the other on the battlefield more
than once. The reason Amu’er had transferred Huhelu to the
southeast was because the Tudalong Banner had already been
captured, and also because Huhelu was a fearsome one when it
came to military field operations. He once had Guo Weili
surrounded in the swamp for a day and a night, routing Guo Weili’s
main forces and sending the morale of the Changzhu Camp
plunging.
“The Hero wants me to treat the Libei military craftsmen well,
but these people won’t yield at all. It’s a waste of food to keep
feeding them.” Huhelu stripped the mutton flesh clean from its
bone and said to his vice general in the language of the desert.
“I’m thinking of transporting away all the equipment and food here
and slaughtering off this batch of military craftsmen. The Changjiu
Tribe still has some remaining troops in the east that can
temporarily hold the supplies for the Hero.”
“Before you left, the Hero specifically instructed you not to hurt
the military craftsmen.” The vice-general, Bayin, was a man with a
dark complexion. He was no longer young, but as he was a
follower of Huhelu, he never had the chance to be promoted. He
faced Huhelu and tried to persuade him, “The Hero has high
regards for this batch of military craftsmen. Don’t infuriate him.”
Huhelu threw the dagger in his hands onto the tray and
grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his hands. He got up and looked
out through the gap of the tent flap that had been hung up.
“But they infuriate me.” Huhelu bent over slightly and looked
askance at the bound military craftsmen detained outside in the
open field. “You understand the language of Dazhou too. They
called me a butcher of the eastern mountain ranges, and they even
want to screw my mother.”
Bayin said, “They have been exposed to the sun for four days
without food and water. Even the saker falcons of the Liaoying
Tribe have to consume meat at this point in time in order to survive.
It is said in Dazhou’s Art of War that if you want to make them
submit, you should not only make them feel fear, but also gratitude.
You have already made them afraid, so you can give them water
and food next, untie them, and show them concern with a pleasant
countenance. Then they will be grateful to you and to the Hero
too.”
Huhelu stroked his short stubble and did as advised. But they
overturned the water he sent them, and the curses continued until
the hour of hai.3 Huhelu could not sleep well. He decided to
abandon the Dazhou way and use his own method, so he ordered
his men to skin the military craftsmen who had made noises and
had them hung up on the pole rack before the open space.
“Xiao Fangxu doesn’t have enough to eat at the site of battle.”
Standing in the open space, Huhelu gestured at his belly with his
hands and said in the language of Dazhou, “How can he fight a
war on an empty stomach? You people are so fat. It’s a win-win
situation if I have your meat delivered to him after air-drying
them.”
Huhelu whipped all those people to teach them a lesson.
Military craftsmen who could not fight war were worthless in his
eyes. He even felt that it was a kind of a burden to be retaining
these military craftsmen. Only by killing them as soon as possible
would they be done with the matter once and for all. He hung up
the head of the commanding general of the Shasan Camp on the
watchtower and slaughtered all the captured battle steeds. If not
for his fear of Amu’er, he would not have remained in the Shasan
Camp to await orders. He had already defeated the Shasan Camp;
he wanted to charge forward and be the first among the Twelve
Tribes of Biansha to breach the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.
Silence reigned supreme all around at the third quarter of the
hour of chou.4
The Liaoying Tribe did not succeed in their sneak attack of the
Bianbo Camp yesterday, which sent Huhelu flying into a rage. As
punishment, the squad from the Liaoying Tribe was deprived of
food and sleep; they even had to take the night watch. The soldier
standing on the watchtower was already so exhausted and sleepy
that his eyes glazed over.
The night sky was presently quiet and still, with only a gentle
breeze blowing in the air. The soldier on the watchtower rubbed his
eyes. Under the faint light of the torches, he saw the grass a
distance away from the camp stir in the wind. The walls of the
Shasan Camp were high and strong. Limited by the location of the
watchtower, the soldier could not see the movements at the foot of
the city walls. As the soldier yawned, he heard rustling.
He initially thought that it was the rustle of the grass amidst the
wind, but this sound soon intensified into what sounded like tidal
waves right in his ears.
The soldier’s ears twitched, and he leaned over the railings of
the watchtower to look out beyond the camp. It was too dark. All of
a sudden, a row of arms reached out from the battlement, followed
right after by a row of men flipping up in unison. Both sides looked
at each other, equally stunned.
The soldier from the Liaoying Tribe reacted swiftly. He promptly
let loose a long whistle even while they were trading wide-eyed
stares. The sound resonated through Shasan Camp, and Huhelu,
who had only just fallen asleep, immediately got up and put on his
boots quickly.
Huhelu lifted the tent flap and was about to mount his horse
when Bayin stopped him. “We still don’t know the details of the
enemy forces. I fear we will fall into an ambush if we rush out after
them this rashly.”
 Huhelu hesitated for an instant, but in this instant, a rain of
arrows burst forth from the top of the fortress walls. Enraged, he
shoved Bayin aside and said, “Those from the Bianbo Camp are all
wimps, and there is no elite squad from the Libei Armored Cavalry
stationed here. They just want to launch a sneak attack under cover
of the night and throw my deployment into disorder. Get on your
horse. The battle steeds of Libei can’t outrun us!”
“The Hero’s command isn’t here yet!” Bayin tugged at Huhelu’s
reins and said quickly, “This is too strange! It’s true that Bianbo
Camp has no more troops, but since they dare to take the initiative
to launch an attack, then they must have come prepared! Huhelu,
this is a trap! We should remain here at Shasan Camp. Don’t go
out. They can’t breach this fortress!”
Huhelu spurred his horse on, causing Bayin to stagger a few
steps. He pointed his horsewhip fiercely at Bayin. “You’ve gone silly
from reading their books! To hell with your defense. We are the
heroic fighters who pursue our enemies on the prairies. If we
remain here, we will be defeated!”
There were merely five hundred men in the squad that had
scaled the walls, but they occupied the great bows on the
battlements, thereby preventing the Biansha soldiers who were
responding to the attack from climbing up. The sharp-eyed Huhelu
had already seen the ropes on the battlements and the unfamiliar
soldiers, who were still continuously climbing into the fort one after
another.
“That’s not the Libei Armored Cavalry.” Bayin flipped atop his
horse behind Huhelu and chased after him. “They’re not the Libei
Armored Cavalry!”
But Huhelu did not care who the other party was. He had fought
Guo Weili, one of Libei Armored Cavalry’s elite forces, at the
boundary line of the Tudalong Banner, and then he had moved
southeast and defeated the Shasan Camp. He was a mighty
general blessed by the gods of Gedale. He was on track to become
an invincible legend on the battlefield. He had the power to fight,
even if he were to come face-to-face with Zhao Hui’s main forces.
The heavy, overhanging gate of the camp opened with a loud
rumble. Huhelu led his elite troops out on their horses, but what
met Huhelu was not the gentle night breeze, but flames ignited by
a lit arrow.
The horse track outside the camp had been padded with hay.
The fire burned, but did not blaze. Billows of thick smoke that
followed right after completely blocked off the horse track Huhelu
was advancing on. Huhelu choked, unable to urge on his horse.
The thick smoke threw the battle formation of the Biansha Cavalry
into disarray. There was no way to see the path ahead in the dark
of the night. Worried that there was an ambush ahead, Huhelu
turned his horse and led his cavalry around the track towards the
grassy fields.
Within a few moments of riding, the hooves of their horses
suddenly sank. The horses of the Gouma Tribe were fast. The
cavalry in front stumbled and tumbled, and the cavalry at the back,
unable to rein in their horses in time, crashed into those before
them and went down together with them.
Huhelu rolled into the grass and saw the newly dug pits in the
ground along with the iron spikes. He was familiar with these
spikes—these were all traps the Shasan Camp initially put up around
the camp, but he never expected someone to move them right
under his feet without so much a noise.
“Retreat!” Bayin followed in pursuit behind them. “It’s an
ambush!”
Huhelu climbed to his feet and suddenly heard a loud bellow.
Tantai Hu, who had been lying in ambush among the grass for
many hours, drew his blade and charged. More than a thousand
Imperial Army men crawled out from the billowing grass and
engaged the Biansha Cavalry, who had fallen to the ground, in a
battle.
Tantai Hu had been wanting to fight with the Biansha Cavalry
all his life. He did not recognize Huhelu, but he recognized these
horses. The tragic massacre of the cities after the defeat of
Zhongbo remained fresh and vivid in his mind as blade collided
against blade. Tantai Hu, as his name implied, bellowed and
moved swiftly like a ferocious tiger, his strike so powerful as he
faced up against Huhelu that Huhelu was repeatedly forced back
into a retreat.
 The Biansha Cavalry was too used to fighting against the Libei
Armored Cavalry, and the Imperial Army’s advantages over them
soon became apparent. The Imperial Army completely departed
from the ways of the Libei Armored Cavalry, wielding their blades
with even more deviousness than anyone else among these pitch-
dark clusters of grass. Huhelu’s elite troops, having lost their horses
and faced with even shorter blades than the ones the Libei
Armored Cavalry used, were unable to meet the attacks as they
usually would. Those terrifying heaviness of Libei was gone. On the
ground, the Imperial Army’s blades moved just as fast as the
Biansha Cavalry’s machetes.
But Huhelu soon realized that this squad was pretty much small
in numbers; they could not even encircle around him. Although
Tantai Hu was fearsome in his strikes, he was merely fueled by
righteous ardor. These people had no reinforcements to speak of at
all in these vast plains. Their so-called ambush was merely those
horse traps they had dug.
Rage overcame Huhelu. He slashed down a man and pressed
forward towards Tantai Hu, bellowing, “So it’s just a few rats.”
Tantai Hu was injured. He kicked Huhelu away, wiped away the
blood and sweat, and continued to attack for all he’s worth. The
more Tantai Hu fought, the more Huhelu was convinced that the
other side had no reinforcements; otherwise, the reinforcements
would have long come to help after all this time.
Both sides fought viciously for nearly an hour. Eventually, Tantai
Hu withdrew in disarray. They had no horses and could only beat a
hasty retreat among the grass.
Huhelu’s bloodlust was already at an all-time high by this time,
so how would he be willing to let Tantai Hu go? He immediately
regrouped the battle steeds and led his men in pursuit of the latter.
He brandished his machete, his curses sounding vague in the night
wind. This provocation by the Imperial Army had enraged him so
much that he was determined to kill them and sacrifice them to his
blade.
Holding on to his injured arm, Tantai Hu dashed wildly without
even looking back. He was panting heavily, and he nearly tripped
on several occasions. Huhelu was close on his heels behind him.
Tantai Hu could not run faster than the horses, and it did not take
long for the Biansha Cavalry to catch up right behind him.
A sweat-drenched Tantai Hu covered his nearly sliced buttocks
and shouted at the open fields before him, “Fuck your ancestors!”
Battle drums suddenly sounded on the horizon, the sound of it
so thunderous and deafening that it made all their ears ache.
Sensing something amiss from the change in situation, Huhelu
promptly reined in his horse and surveyed his surroundings with
his cavalry. Dense clusters of men stood up among the grass all
around, wearing grass crowns as they remained concealed under
cover of darkness. For a moment, Huhelu could not get a clear
count of them.
Huhelu’s horse restlessly stomped its hooves. He looked ahead
as the torches were lit in successive order, stretching like a long
dragon from where Tantai Hu had run into the far distance. The
concentrated sound of drumming sent the alarm bells in Huhelu’s
mind ringing as he sensed imminent danger. He immediately
concluded that he had played into the other party’s hands—the
main forces of Libei were here, and their numbers far surpassed the
Biansha Cavalry’s.
“Retreat.” Huhelu commanded sharply as he yanked his horse
into turning around. “Retreat!”
Huhelu’s horse broke into a run. He heard the sound of running
horses flanking him. Lang Tao Xue Jin took the lead and charged
to the head of the crowd. To Huhelu’s surprise, it caught up with
him.
Huhelu turned his head aside and promptly felt terror-stricken.
He almost thought it was Xiao Fangxu, but Xiao Chiye was even
taller than Xiao Fangxu. As they galloped in the dimness of the
night, Huhelu got a clear look of the pair of eyes that was
completely different from Xiao Fangxu’s—a pair of eyes brimming
with greed so insatiable that it shook him to the core.
Huhelu felt a chill on his nape. He suddenly had the impression
that there was no running away under that gaze. Sharp fangs were
pressing in, close at hand. To break free of this oppressive pressure,
he lashed out at his horse hard. Huhelu remembered it now. Nine
years ago, at the eastern mountain ranges, this wolf pup had bitten
off a chunk of his meat. His troops, with exponentially more men,
had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a youth covered in
filth.
The horse galloped wildly in pain, breaking up the incohesive
formation of the cavalry.
Huhelu could already see the Shasan Camp. He wanted to call
out to Bayin for reinforcement, but he had only just opened his
mouth when the sky spun before him as his head rolled off into the
grass.
Xiao Chiye had already charged his way into the Biansha
Cavalry’s formation. Langli Blade flung off droplets of blood as he
slashed. Spatters of the warm, spurting blood stained his cheeks.
At the same time he reined his horse in, he wiped the blood off
with the thumb that had the thumb ring on.
Huhelu’s horse was still galloping when the headless body
jolting on its back slid off and tumbled to the ground before the
camp, a pool of blood spreading beneath it.

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Footnotes
1. 酉时 5-7 pm, based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times.
2. As usual, using pinyin for foreign names in this novel for
the time being due to unfamiliarity with the language
involved and to avoid mistranslations with the actual names
in its original language. (Basically, Lianyin sucks at names). If
we do get official subtitles someday, I will replace them in
the translation (the same goes for titles). Until then, please
bear with me. _(:3」∠)_
3. 酉时 9-11 pm, based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times.
4. 丑时 1-3 am, based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 134 : MENGZHENG

Huhelu was known among the Changjiu Tribe as the person

most likely to become the Hero. Although he was a cruel and
savage man by nature, he was pretty skilled in fighting battles. His
squad comprised the best from the various Biansha Tribes, and
these cavalrymen only had fear and no reverence for Huhelu, but it
was precisely because of this fear that the shock hit them like a ton
of bricks.
In just a few blinks of an eye, Huhelu was cut down, and going
down along with him was the Biansha Cavalry’s morale. Huhelu
had hastily concluded that there were countless Libei
reinforcements behind them, and this consequently snuffed out the
determination of the now general-less Biansha Cavalry to fight on.
They scattered in all directions, with Xiao Chiye as the center.
Countless torches formed into a long line that pressed in
towards them from behind, like a procession of a million valiant
soldiers.
Within the Shasan Camp, Gu Jin was also launching a surprise
attack. Bayin was trapped both on the inside and outside. Seeing
how composed Xiao Chiye was, Bayin was also of the impression
that Xiao Chiye was leading the main forces of Libei. The crux was
that when Bayin cast a glance over, he could see the obscure dark
shadows behind those torches that seemed to stretch all the way
into the horizon.
Bayin did not want to repeat the same mistake. Holding his
horse by the reins, he took a few steps back and gave the
command to abandon camp and flee. The Biansha Cavalry beat a
retreat so hastily that they did not even collect Huhelu’s corpse
before they faded into the night. Xiao Chiye stopped where he
was. Tantai Hu led his men and put on a show, shouting and
baying for blood as he chased after them for a few li. Only when
Bayin dared not look back did he swiftly withdraw and returned to
Shasan Camp.
Even by the time Bayin looked back, he could still see those
torches extending into the distance.
 If Bayin had been willing to look a little more closely, or perhaps
if he had been able to calm down, then he would have realized that
tonight’s sudden assault was riddled with loopholes. Huhelu’s
ability was a cut above the others, but as he had said himself, he
was the commanding general in military field operations. Getting
him to guard the camp and go on the defensive was to put the cart
before the horse. If he had heeded Bayin’s advice and remained in
Shasan Camp instead of heading out, he could have swiftly dealt
with the small batch of Imperial Army Gu Jin had led in, and he
would have then gained the upper hand. The Shasan Camp was an
impenetrable fortress with its gates shut. Xiao Chiye had no
supplies, and that meant he had no military weapons to launch an
assault on the fortress, so there was no way he could forcefully
storm his way in. But Huhelu had gotten complacent with his
repeated victories after the start of spring this year and could not
hold his own against trickery and deception. He thought it was a
sudden raid by the Bianbo Camp when he saw Gu Jin scaling the
walls, and he thought it was the Libei Armored Cavalry’s
reinforcements when he saw all those uncountable torches. When
he eventually saw Xiao Chiye, he had already been thrown into
turmoil, and that was how he was defeated without ever fighting a
battle.
Xiao Chiye lifted Huhelu’s head and scrutinized that face with
the stubbly beard for a moment, but he could not remember who
this man was. He handed the head to Tantai Hu, who refused to
take it, so he passed it over to Gu Jin and said, “Clean up all the
bodies in the camp. Bury our brothers from Libei nearby, and bury
the soldiers from Biansha far away. The weather is hot, so the
corpses can’t be kept around for long. Let’s not start an epidemic.”
Gu Jin took the head and recognized this to be Huhelu. He
never expected Xiao Chiye to hack Huhelu dead at their very first
encounter. Guo Weili had fought with this man for half of his
lifetime, but in the end, the man was gone in just one night.
Xiao Chiye removed Langli Blade and asked, “Why? You
recognize him?”
Gu Jin replied, “This man is called Huhelu. Master, he’s the one
who beat back Guo Weili in the north and occupied the Tudalong
Banner.”
Xiao Chiye had been running for two nights in a row. He still
had other matters to attend to at present, so he merely nodded his
head in acknowledgment before sending Gu Jin away on his task.
He called out to Tantai Hu and tossed the blade over for him to
hold as they both headed inside together.
“This camp sure is big.” Tantai Hu surveyed the surroundings
and marveled, “The construction of these walls can almost rival
those of a decent city. There are even large bows on the
battlements and trap pits at the foot, which would allow battles to
be fought from close quarters and afar.”
“My big brother spent a lot of money on this place.” Xiao Chiye
looked at the walls and said, “Memorize the layout on that wall. If
there’s anything you don’t understand, you can keep it in mind to
ask Chen Yang or Gu Jin later. Tomorrow, I’ll get the military
craftsmen to pass the map of the camp layout to you as well.
Memorize it too until you know it by heart.”
Tantai Hu hurriedly accepted his orders. Any discerning person
could tell from this that Xiao Chiye was planning to entrust Tantai
Hu with heavy responsibilities. From Qudu to the present times,
Xiao Chiye had brought Tantai Hu along with him every battle.
Despite being barely literate, Tantai Hu still made an effort to learn
how to read from Chen Yang, just so he would not let Xiao Chiye
down for Xiao Chiye’s recognition and appreciation of his worth
and abilities.
It was to see the military craftsmen that Xiao Chiye had been in
a hurry to enter. He had laid it all out clearly for Wu Ziyu, but there
was one thing he did not mention—he had no plans to return to the
Shasan Camp after he had reclaimed it. This place had the best of
both offense and defense, and it was also a protective shield for
the Bianbo Camp. It could provide Xiao Fangxu with support from
the north, and access the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path from the
east. It was simply too suitable a location for him.
Whoever wanted to ask him for it would have to come and
negotiate with him in person.
By the time Xiao Chiye managed to lie down, it was almost
dawn. He slept in the tent for several hours. Chen Yang hurried
over from the Bianbo Camp while he was sleeping and did not
disturb him. Xiao Chiye only woke up when it was near dusk. As he
stood outside the tent with his head lowered to wash up, he heard
Meng returning.
Xiao Chiye secured his arm guard and blew a whistle at Meng.
Meng hovered in the air for a while before landing on Xiao Chiye’s
arm. Xiao Chiye took out the prepared strips of meat from the
leather bag and fed them to Meng. As Meng ate, he looked at the
large walnut on Meng’s leg.
“His Lordship is well.” Chen Yang smiled. “He’s letting you know
he’s safe and sound.”
But Xiao Chiye did not smile. He was, in fact, quite unhappy. He
removed the walnut and grasped it in his hand for a moment
before tossing it to Chen Yang. “By specifically releasing Meng
back, Father is conveying his military orders. Open it up and read it
to me. This old man is up to no good.”
Chen Yang opened the walnut and smoothed out the paper.
Xiao Fangxu’s handwriting was bold and wild. He said he had
long known that Amu’er would send men around to the southeast
camp, but he made no mention of why there had been no
measures taken in advance. He also asked if Meng had secretly
attacked Yu, and that Meng was too combative, just like Xiao Chiye.
Finally, he told Xiao Chiye not to act recklessly and to remain
where he was and await his orders…
Xiao Chiye extended a finger and turned the letter over. He
skimmed through a few paragraphs in front and pointed to the few
brief and concise sentences at the back.
Chen Yang coughed and read out in a steady voice, “No one
knows a son better than his father. By the time this letter arrives, it’d
have been too late. I know you will definitely go for Shasan Camp.
In that case, you can handle the escort and transportation on
behalf of Wu Ziyu… as the general in charge of military supplies.”
Dead silence all around.
Tantai Hu could not understand Xiao Fangxu. Even if the Prince
of Libei would not praise Xiao Chiye, he still ought to have
deployed Xiao Chiye over to the site of battle. Letting Xiao Chiye
render meritorious service as soon as possible was the best
commendation and recognition he could give. Under the present
situation in Libei, making Xiao Chiye a logistical general behind-
the-scenes was akin to suppressing back the abilities he had
displayed in Qudu. Was His Lordship insane? Or, would he not
hesitate to hide Xiao Chiye away for another nine years just to
appease those in the Hereditary Prince’s camp?
Xiao Chiye pursed his lips into a tight, thin line and endured it
for a while. Without saying a word, he turned his head to look once
again at the setting sun descending in the west.
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, the company of traveling merchants set out
from Cizhou and made their way down south along the public road
to Chazhou. Kong Ling played the role of the steward, while the
Imperial Bodyguards disguised themselves as the attendants and
servants of a wealthy family. Shen Zechuan, using illness as a
pretext, remained within the horse carriage and rarely showed
himself in public.
Kong Ling brought along the travel permit issued by Cizhou,
which saved them from a lot of trouble on the way. Nowadays,
those who were able to get the proper official documents could not
be underestimated. What’s more, with the large number of guards
they had, the common bandits did not dare to rob them recklessly,
for fear of offending someone powerful.
The beggars they came across on the way multiplied after they
left Cizhou’s territory. Even children as young as eight or nine years
old were forced to swindle as a means of livelihood. They made all
kinds of wild, exaggerated claims – even touching on the
supernatural – all in an attempt to cajole the passing merchants into
spending money for peace of mind and a safe passage.
It was still fine the first few days, but it rained the next few days.
With the weather abruptly turning cold, Shen Zechuan fell ill.
Swindlers and charlatans abounded everywhere they passed by,
with unscrupulous shops lining the streets one after another. Even if
Kong Ling dared to call a physician over to take a look, Qiao Tianya
would not dare to let the other party get close to Shen Zechuan.
The good thing was that his illness was not serious. His fever
persisted for only two days before it slowly receded.
 Shen Zechuan was now spending more and more time bent
over at his desk, so it was inevitable for him to neglect his martial
arts training. After he had sent Qi Huilian off on the Qi Huilian’s
final journey, he would often find his body easily overwhelmed,
and he was prone to falling ill as the seasons changed. In fact,
there had been warning signs of this as early as the epidemic case
back in Qudu, where he had simply fallen ill without warning.
The carriage rolled over the mud and arrived in Chazhou in the
rain.
When Luo Mu, the prefectural prefect of Chazhou, received
Kong Ling’s visitation card,1 he was in his concubine’s room. He
turned it back and forth to look it over repeatedly, as though he
was going to perform some magic tricks and conjure flowers out of
it. Still, he remained seated and refused to move his butt.
His fourteenth concubine was new; they had only just held the
banquet a few days back. As his recent favorite, it was inevitable for
her to be spoiled and pampered. The concubine, who could read a
few words, took the card from Luo Mu’s hands and asked, “Who is
this Kong Ling?”
Luo Mu held her on his lap and answered, “Kong Ling? A poor
scholar. In his early years, he was a subordinate of Tantai Long, the
commander of the Dunzhou’s garrison troops, but after Tantai
Long’s death, he went to work for Zhou Gui.”
The concubine giggled as Luo Mu’s beard nuzzled against her.
As if afraid of being contaminated by the aura of poverty, she
shook the visitation card with her little finger sticking up and asked,
“Then how did he come to know Master?”
Luo Mu replied self-mockingly, “We were fellow students.”
“Oh my, then you’ll have to play the good host to him.” This
concubine was always giving Luo Mu’s principal wife the attitude.
Her elder brother was Cai Yu, one of the bandits in Chazhou whom
Luo Mu relied on for backing. She thus harbored the intention to
make Luo Mu divorce his principal wife. Plotting to use these
outsiders’ visit as a pretext to get the rights to host a banquet
herself, she frivolously swatted at Luo Mu with the card and said,
“I’ll host a banquet for you, and you can invite my elder brother
over too to put them in their place. I heard that a batch of the Libei’s
military grains this year came from Cizhou. These people have
money.”
Luo Mu did not answer. He merely said, “Why waste all that
money? We can just dismiss him with a few steamed buns. He’s
most likely here to borrow money. I’m not going to meet him.”
The concubine would not budge and threw a little hissy fit like a
spoiled child before Luo Mu. The visitation card slid to the ground.
Luo Mu’s eyes followed the visitation card as it fell. He loosely
grasped the concubine’s arm and said, “It’s not too late to do so
when we meet him again in Cizhou. Look, the card has fallen, pick
it up…”
Seeing as persuasion did not work on him, she rose to her feet
and threw a tantrum. Her embroidered shoe stepped upon the
visitation card, and she stomped on it lightly a couple of times. “I
have yet to entertain any guests on Master’s behalf ever since I
married into the family. We are both formally wedded to you, but
why am I lower in rank than her? I’m—”
Before she could finish her words, she saw Luo Mu’s expression
turn frosty. He bellowed, “Move away!”
Concubine Cai had been doted on and spoiled ever since her
marriage to Luo Mu; she had never been shouted at or scolded
before by him. This thus came as a shock to her, and she took a few
stunned steps back.
Luo Mu bent over to pick up the visitation card. There was a
shoe print on it, and he could not wipe it away. He kept away the
visitation card with a glum face, then took the concubine’s hand
and said with a forced smile, “Don’t bother yourself with the affairs
in the front hall. I’ll have a detailed chat with Elder Brother myself. I
won’t be staying today, but I’ll come and see you again later.”
Without even waiting for his concubine to get over her shock,
he lifted the curtain and left.
It was still raining outside. The attendant opened up the
umbrella, and Luo Mu walked under it. “Is he still there? Invite him
to the front hall. I’ll go see him now.”
◈ ◈ ◈
When Luo Mu arrived at the front hall, Kong Ling had already
been waiting for a while. On seeing Luo Mu heading up the steps,
he rose to meet him. Both men smiled the moment they saw each
other. Luo Mu gestured for Kong Ling to take a seat. They
exchanged pleasantries for a moment before getting down to
business.
“It’s also at His Excellency’s direction that I’ve made a trip here
to see you.” Kong Ling drank the tea and said, “Cizhou has
gradually shown improvements these few years. The fields are
recovering well, and there is an abundance of grains. However, the
population in Cizhou has been on a steep decline, and we can’t
consume that many grains. Store the remaining grains for a year,
and they will either turn moldy or end up being gnawed on by
mice.”
Luo Mu listened attentively as Kong Ling spoke and noted how
healthy his complexion looked; he did not have that much white
hair either.
Kong Ling met Luo Mu’s gaze and gave him another smile. “So,
we were thinking. The prefecture of Chazhou is still buying grains
from Hezhou and Juexi these years at a high price. You’re really
getting short-changed. So why not work out a collaboration
between our prefectures? Both prefectures are close to each other,
which greatly facilitates the transportation of goods. We are willing
to offer you a lower price than Juexi for the grains. How about
it?”
Luo Mu realized there were wrinkles around Kong Ling’s eyes
when he smiled. Looking as though he had just awakened from a
dream, he averted his gaze and thought for a moment before
saying, “I more or less get what you mean. It’s a good thing, but it
can’t be done.”
Seeing as Kong Ling still had more to say, he raised a hand to
stop him.
“Chazhou is not Cizhou. It’s indeed bold and resolute of Zhou
Gui to just go ahead and do it, but just how much of this courage is
built upon his father-in-law? In his early years, His Excellency Liu
resolved to eradicate the bandits in Cizhou, and that’s why Cizhou
is free of bandits today. But this is not the case for Chazhou.”
Kong Ling had expected this. He fell silent for a moment, then
said, “Mengzheng, is there not a chance at all?”
 On hearing Kong Ling call him by his courtesy name, Luo Mu
hastily turned his head away.
Kong Ling thought Luo Mu was in a difficult position, so he
said, “Cizhou has now rebuilt its garrison troops. As long as this
deal can be sealed, we are willing to contribute to the important
task of suppressing bandits in Chazhou in the future. Mengzheng,
the world is in turmoil at present, and all kinds of heroes will no
doubt rise from among the people. As long as you live among
them, you cannot avoid the strife. You and I have a friendship that
goes way back from being fellow students under the same teacher.
Why not use this opportunity to free yourself from the control of the
bandits?”
“You and Zhou Gui are in Cizhou, so you aren’t aware of my
difficulties.” Luo Mu turned back and continued, “If the bandits in
Chazhou were that easy to dispose off, then why didn’t you come
to me instead of going to seek refuge with Zhou Gui?”
Kong Ling wanted to explain, but Luo Mu had already risen to
his feet. “The current grains are all purchased at high prices from
Juexi and Hezhou. Various bandit chiefs have a hand in this, and it
is from this profit that they live off on. You now want me to buy
grains from Cizhou instead, which means you’re cutting off their
source of income. There is no negotiating this deal at all. If news of
this were to get out, you and I would be in danger. I think you’d
best go back.”
Luo Mu got his attendant to see the guest out. He strode a few
steps out of the threshold and looked back.
They had not met for many years. Strangely enough, no matter
how old Kong Ling looked now, the way he looked as a student still
remained firmly etched in Luo Mu’s mind. The rain spattering
under the eaves dampened Luo Mu’s shoulders, and he remained
standing in this position for a long time.
Kong Ling had missed plenty in his life, just like this moment,
where he could not see Luo Mu’s gaze clearly against the backdrop
of light. He merely said, “I’m determined to succeed on this trip. If
talks fall through today, I’ll return tomorrow. Mengzheng, I’m
confident that it will work out, as long as you’re willing to discuss it
with us.”
 Luo Mu was dumbstruck for a moment. “Who else did you bring
with you? You used official paperwork from Cizhou when you
entered the city, and you delivered your visitation card to meet me.
You’ve already exposed your whereabouts. I’d advise you not to act
rashly. You should return to Cizhou after a few more days.”
Without waiting for Kong Ling to answer, he lifted his robe and
went down the steps.
◈ ◈ ◈
A little later, Shen Zechuan ate his medicine and listened as
Qiao Tianya reported both men’s conversation word-for-word.
Unable to help it, he turned back and looked at Qiao Tianya.
Qiao Tianya nodded in understanding and said, “They have
been fellow students for many years; their friendship is naturally
unlike others. In Master’s view, how should we negotiate this deal?
Luo Mu is an interesting character. Although it’s a mess in Chazhou,
his position as the prefect of Chazhou remains firm and
unshakeable.”
“We’ll negotiate however we ought to.” Shen Zechuan’s nose
was a little congested, and his speech sounded a little muffled.
“Since he’s still standing, it means he has a mind to remain so.
Everything he has said today is all grandiose words; they aren’t
necessarily from the bottom of his heart. Think of a way to avoid
scrutiny. I want to meet him.”

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SPECIAL THANKS TO : Eggy<3

Footnotes
1. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a visitation card (or name card) written
on paper or wood used by officials, nobles or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 135 : EARRING
Translated with: Jia<3

The rain stopped the next day, but the sky was still overcast.
Concubine Cai, who had been rebuked yesterday, pleaded
illness early in the morning. Luo Mu did not sleep well during the
night either. After his breakfast, his servant came to report that Cai
Yu had sent him an invitation to a gathering.
Luo Mu took the invitation, knowing full well Cai Yu’s purpose
for the invitation today. He wiped his hands. Without even
changing his robe, he straight out said, “Prepare the sedan. I’ll go
over now. Let’s not keep Elder Brother waiting for too long.”
Cai Yu was a known bandit in the Prefecture of Chazhou. Yan
Heru of Hezhou addressed him as pa.1 Cai Yu was usually generous
with his money, and he liked to assist the various bandits
financially, so he was well-reputed among them as a loyal and
righteous man who was always ready to offer help. However, he
did not get along with Lei Changming from Mount Luo. No one
knew the reason why. All they knew was that before Lei
Changming’s death, both men would pay no heed to the other
during the bandits’ gathering-cum-feasts.
When Luo Mu arrived at the Cai’s residence, Cai Yu had already
treated them to a round of drinks and food. Cai Yu’s residence was
even more luxuriously built than Luo Mu’s, with more than a
thousand servants inside. However, he was not a man who was
particular about unnecessary and convoluted formalities; after all,
most of his visitors were bandits and robbers. As such, the feasts he
held were literally wine-and-meat feasts that boasted of all kinds of
roast meats and strong wines.
The moment Cai Yu saw Luo Mu, he leaned back and beckoned
to him with a smile, “Mengzheng, you’re late. As punishment, you
have to drink three cups of wine. Take a seat, quickly.”
Luo Mu had always been servile and docile before Cai Yu, so
he complied and took his seat. Even when he saw the weirdly-
dressed strangers at the table, he did not probe. Cai Yu waited for
Luo Mu to finish his drink before he said, “I heard my younger sister
was bothering you yesterday.”
Looking panicked, Luo Mu started, “Elder Brother—”
“You were right to tell her off!” Cai Yu pressed down on Luo
Mu’s arm and said with a smile, “You are her husband, and the man
is in charge of the front hall. There are indeed many matters that
aren’t up to her to dictate as she wishes. She’s used to being willful
and spoiled at home, and even when she has gotten married, she
has no respect for her elders. In the future, just tell her off where it is
needed. There’s no need to give me face. She’s been so pampered
that she’s getting more and more out of hand.”
Cai Yu knew everything that happened in Luo Mu’s inner
chambers like the back of his hand. He did not apply that much
pressure on the hand that was pressing down on Luo Mu, but it was
precisely because of this that it seemed to take him no effort at all.
If he told Luo Mu to head left, then Luo Mu would not dare to go
right. Luo Mu was an official who passed the rounds of imperial
examinations at the various levels to make his way to Qudu the
proper way, where he then underwent official inspections to be
assigned this post outside the capital. But so what? In Chazhou, Luo
Mu was just a yes-man. As they said, the sky is high, and the
emperor is far—the local cities in remote places were beyond the
reach of the authorities in the central administration. Banditry in
Zhongbo was already a serious issue during the reign of Yongyi.
Before the defeat of Zhongbo’s troops, they did not give two hoots
about the Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei, and after the defeat of the
Zhongbo’s troops, they gave even less of a damn about Qudu.
Fine sweat oozed from Luo Mu’s forehead.
Satisfied on noticing this, Cai Yu retracted his hand and said
with a laugh, “Come to think of it, it’s really unheard of. Half a
month ago, I heard that there was going to be a change of
emperor. That Imperial Bodyguards Commander, Han Cheng, was
so anxious that he ran back to his hometown just to find a child to
be the imperial heir. But who knew, Secretariat Elder Hai did not
agree and banged his head in the hall to his death. Blood and
brain matter splattered all over Han Cheng, scaring Han Cheng so
much that he peed in his pants right there and then.”
 All of them burst out laughing in unison. News that had spread
by word of mouth had long rendered Han Cheng as a boorish,
hunchback scum that bowed to powers that be.
After Cai Yu was done laughing, he let out a long sigh and said,
“But even though we are outlaws dealing in illegal trades, we still
have to speak of loyalty and benevolence. Respect to the
Secretariat Elder for his act! As the saying goes, men who wield
brushes die in remonstrations, while men who wield swords die in
battles. Dazhou has been through three changes of reign.
Emperors have died one after another, and yet upright and
unyielding ministers like this are few and far between.”
Luo Mu listened to him, but did not interrupt, nor did he look
up. He seemed intent on eating, even if he only dared to pick up
the food before him with his chopsticks. Although he looked
dignified in appearance, he gave off the impression of someone
weak and cowering.
Cai Yu did not look at Luo Mu again. He was speaking with
gusto now. “But perhaps the Secretariat Elder himself did not
expect the throne to now go to a woman after the Han clan’s child
failed to sit on it. There has never been such an incident ever since
the founding of Dazhou. Isn’t this a violation of the law of nature2
and the reversal of gender roles?3 This is an omen for the collapse
of the Dazhou empire! I’d rather listen to the words of an ignorant
child than listen to the orders of a woman. What would it look like
for a man of indomitable spirit to pay obeisance to a woman?!
Qidong has a Qi Zhuyin. I think she just happened to be in the right
place at the right time when the Empress Dowager was in power.
Otherwise, how could she have gotten the chance to be the
Commander-in-chief? If Qudu were to have a female emperor
next… gosh, what a mess!”
A chorus of agreement rose all around. One man with a beard
smacked the table and said, “Elder Cai is right. That’s what it is.
What is it with the female emperor? The first few emperors are
indeed awful, but having a man as the head of administration is
the law of nature, as Laozi4 said. I’m not willing to concede either.
Imagine if the entire court of civil and military officials were to kneel
and pay obeisance to her as monarch and subjects, they would be
an entire lair of cowardly good-for-nothings. No wonder we keep
getting attacked by the Twelve Tribes of Biansha all these years.”
“A daughter she is, yes? Getting married and keeping domestic
peace are her duties. No harm done if they dote on her and raise
her into a pampered, delicate lady. But it’s a disaster to let them go
out and fight battles or lead the government.” Having said that, Cai
Yu sighed with emotion. “I heard the students in Qudu are all rather
willing. I think they’ve all gone dumb and silly from studying! They
can’t even tell good from bad.”
Their conversations went from the political affairs in Qudu to
the military affairs in Qidong, then from the military affairs in
Qidong to the war in Libei. Finally, the topic turned to Lei
Changming.
The bearded man said, “Lei Changming was another one who
got a lucky break to have encountered Young Master Yan when the
young master was in distress. He gave him a hand, and that was
how he could rise in the world. But he was a person who couldn’t
last long. He was overbearing as heck, and even wanted to
establish a regular army in Mount Luo. But look what happened?
He encountered the Imperial Army and immediately met his end,
no?”
Cai Yu snorted coldly.
The person next to him said, “Elder Cai and Lei Changming
could be said to be the Twin Heroes of Zhongbo, but how is Lei
Changming deserving of the name? He doesn’t even come close
to our Elder Cai!”
Cai Yu was not moved by this flattery. He spread his arms open
and sank comfortably into the chair. “Do you know why I turn my
nose up at Lei Changming? I find him filthy.” He emphasized the
last word, just as the maidservant came over with his smoking pipe.
He took two puffs and continued, “Lei Changming worked as an
armed escort in his early years. All of you know this. But why did he
stop later? The reason he gave the others was that he had married
his younger sister off to the Zhu clan in Duanzhou. He wanted to
live in comfort, and that was why he didn’t want to carry on doing
such work anymore. But that was not true. Well, he had an
addiction.”
 At some point, Luo Mu had set aside his chopsticks.
As Cai Yu blew out puffs of smoke, he said, “When I first joined
this trade and was about to complete my training, my shifu said
that one must be benevolent and righteous even if one were to be
a bandit or a robber. There are some things you can’t touch and
can’t do. Those are depraved acts that will bring you bad karma.
There have been plenty of traveling merchants with families
coming and going in Chazhou all these years, but I’d never laid my
hands on the widows and orphans when I came across them.
However, it was a different story for Lei Changming. He’d also
escort family members when he was escorting goods in the past.
There was one time he was doing a job in Dengzhou, and the man
who was the head of household died midway through the journey,
leaving behind his hapless widow and orphan who couldn’t even
afford to pay the fees for the escort and transportation service.
When they arrived at Dengzhou, the original in-laws on the
husband’s side only wanted their grandson, but not the daughter-
in-law. The woman was unwilling to part with her child, and so,
forced into the corner, she thought of attempting suicide. Lei
Changming brought both mother and son back home, saying he
was going to provide for them.”
“At that time, I was still a robber in Chazhou, and I thought well
of Lei Changming when I heard of this incident. I felt he was
different from people like me; he was the chivalrous hero that shifu
spoke of. I held him in esteem, and I’d take notice of him when I
was out there working. I wanted to find an opportunity to become
sworn brothers with him. But when I went to Dengzhou later, I
heard that he had quit. It was only when I found the place that I
learned that both the woman and child had died. How did they
die? He brutalized them after drinking, laying his hands on that five
or six-years-old child. The woman resisted, and he beat her to
death. The child, having been tormented beyond recognition,
lived for only a few days before he died too.”
Cai Yu waved away the smoke and frowned as he had the
maidservant take the pipe away.
“He went to Duanzhou, and this indulgence of his never
changed. This man valued his own reputation, and he never dared
to do it openly. Young Master Yan was still very young when Lei
Changming saved him. I could be said to be friends with Old
Master Yan at that time, and the Yan clan had helped me before. So
even though I had yet to see the young master then, I treated him
as my own precious son. On hearing of this incident, I immediately
gave chase for four days and nights in a row before I reached
Mount Luo and got him back. At that time, the young master was
wearing a bright, jade earring. He was fair and lovely, and very
smart too. As soon as he saw me, he called me pa. Such a lovable
child. Seeing as the young master was unharmed, I didn’t bother to
settle scores with Lei Changming.”
Each time Lei Changming met Cai Yu again later, he would self-
consciously feel small. Cai Yu held him in contempt, and he did not
approach Cai Yu either. To each his own.
“The young master is a good child. He was very grateful to Lei
Changming for saving him, so he repeatedly extended a helping
hand to the bandits in Mount Luo.” Cai Yu had initially meant to ask
Luo Mu about Kong Ling today, but he got carried away talking
about these past events. By the time he’d remembered, Luo Mu
had already left.
◈ ◈ ◈
Luo Mu got into the sedan chair, but he had not gone far before
he changed course and headed for the cosmetic shop with the
intent to buy some rouge powders that were all the rage in Qudu to
coax concubine Cai. The largest rouge store in Chazhou was
owned by a merchant from Juexi, and Luo Mu was a regular
customer there. The moment he stepped off the sedan, a steward
came over to welcome and serve him tea in one smooth motion.
Finally, he bent over to inform Luo Mu, “Apologies, Your Excellency
Luo. Unfortunately, we are all out of stock. All the good stuff is
being prepared in the shop at the eastern end and has yet to be
delivered here. What do you say if we deliver them to your
residence tomorrow? Would that be fine?”
Luo Mu nodded and made to leave when he recalled the way
Cai Yu was pressing down on his arm earlier. Changing his mind,
he turned back and asked, “Which shop at the eastern end?”
 The steward called over an assistant to personally lead the way
for Luo Mu.
Upon arriving at the place, Luo Mu noted that while the shop
was not a large one, it was indeed close to the horse tracks and
convenient for unloading goods. He entered and saw only a few
people inside. The assistant led him further into the courtyard in
the back, then served him tea and told him to wait for a moment.
Luo Mu sat for a moment. The curtain lifted, but the one who
came through was Kong Ling.
“Why are you…” Luo Mu asked in astonishment.
However, Kong Ling did not answer. He lifted the curtain and
stepped aside, and a man in white behind him bent slightly at the
waist to enter. The instant Shen Zechuan raised his head, Luo Mu
rose to his feet.
Shen Zechuan came in a sedan chair, and so he did not get
wet. He looked at Luo Mu and gestured for him to sit. Qiao Tianya,
who was following behind them, came in to change the tea and
handed a fresh cup of hot tea to Shen Zechuan.
Seeing that Luo Mu was still standing, Kong Ling said,
“Mengzheng, this is…”
“Your Excellency the Vice Commander.” Luo Mu respectfully
paid his obeisances. “I’ve long heard of the Vice Commander’s
reputation. This pupil Luo Mengzheng is all ears to the advice you
have to offer.”
“I’ve previously heard Mister Chengfeng speak highly of Your
Excellency Luo for your prudence and excellent judgment. As I see
it today, this is indeed the case.” Shen Zechuan smiled slightly. “I’m
no longer the Vice Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards now.
Without an authority token and an official post, I’m merely a
commoner. It is I who should pay my respect to Your Excellency.”
How would Luo Mu dare to accept his bows? The official in the
emperor’s inner ministerial circle, Shen Zechuan—just his position
as the Northern Judge of the Imperial Bodyguards alone was
enough to strike fear in the hearts of the local prefectural prefects.
In the past, the Imperial Bodyguards collaborated with the Ministry
of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, and Chief Surveillance Bureau
to carry out field works at the local areas to audit the accounts and
review the local officials’ accomplishments. Shen Zechuan was also
on good terms with Cen Yu of the Chief Surveillance Bureau and
Kong Qiu of the Ministry of Justice. Luo Mu did not just hear of him.
Originally, the main objective of local officials like him who had
been assigned posts outside the capital was to gain experience.
After building up their political achievements and taking their
credentials into account, they would be able to get a promotion to
Qudu and become an official in the capital. Their inspections’
evaluations and the lives of both them and their family all lay in
Shen Zechuan’s hands.
The key to this was evident in the way Luo Mu called himself
“this pupil”.5
Shen Zechuan was different from the Judge preceding him. His
origin was not “legitimate”. His birth father was the Prince of
Jianxing, Shen Wei, whose Zhongbo’s troops were defeated. Back
then, when he entered the capital, he was escorted by the Imperial
Bodyguards who had picked him up from the Libei Armored
Cavalry. Rumor had it that he was to be executed, but not only did
he survive, but he was even repeatedly promoted by Emperor
Tianchen, who made an exception for him. The post of the
Northern Judge concerned both factions in Qudu, and yet even
Hai Liangyi had been willing to give his assent. What’s more, this
person was young, which only filled the others with even more
trepidation towards him.
It was only then that Luo Mu understood that it was not just a
front when Kong Ling said he was confident of success. He was
genuinely certain of success.
Fortunately, Shen Zechuan was merely just saying and did not
get up to pay his respects. Luo Mu calmed himself down a little. Not
daring to sit, he let his hands drop as he stood before Kong Ling
and said, “Please excuse this pupil for not welcoming Your
Excellency after Your Excellency has personally come all the way to
Chazhou. I’ll immediately send someone…”
“I followed the Marquis of Dingdu out of the capital, and I’m
now already a traitor of Qudu, so there is truly no need for Your
Excellency to stand on ceremony.” Shen Zechuan drank the hot tea,
soothing his throat a little before he continued, “I’ve been in
Zhongbo for quite some time, and I’ve long wanted to meet Your
Excellency Luo. Fortunately, I have Mister Chengfeng to
accompany me today.”
Kong Ling looked at Luo Mu and smiled. “Mengzheng, there’s
no need to be so formal. The Vice Commander is now the pillar of
Cizhou. It’s also to resolve the bandit issue in Chazhou that he
came this time. We are all on the same side.”
Luo Mu looked at him, his gaze not as blatant as yesterday. He
asked cautiously, “How did you know I’d come?”
“Chazhou is only this big. There are plenty of matters that one
can find out with just a little inquiry around. That fourteenth
concubine of yours has backing, and she has a temper to boot. She
loves the rouges from Qudu. You’ve always had a penchant for
pleasing others by catering to their likes, so to coax her, you will
naturally make a personal trip down yourself.” Kong Ling smiled at
Shen Zechuan and shook his head. “The Vice Commander doesn’t
know it, but Mengzheng was very popular with the ladies while he
was still in the academy. He was a flirtatious one too. Even before
he entered the ranks of officials in the imperial court, he was very
knowledgeable about all this stuff.”
Luo Mu relaxed a little when he heard Kong Ling bring up the
academy. “I conducted myself with decorum when I was studying.
How could I have been flirtatious when I was with you all day? On
the contrary, you had countless friends and could fraternize with
just about anyone.”
The atmosphere eased up a little at their banter. Kong Ling led
Luo Mu to take a seat.
Shen Zechuan sat in the seat of honor. When he spoke, it was
not as overbearing and aggressive as Luo Mu expected. “Mister
Chengfeng has probably already told you about the purpose of our
trip here. It wasn’t convenient to have a thorough discussion
yesterday, so it’s inevitable that Your Excellency will have
misgivings. Please speak your mind freely today, we can discuss
any difficulty you may have.”
Shen Zechuan was mild in his speech, and his expression was
natural and at ease. However, there was clearly no room for
“discussion” in his last sentence. Beneath his seemingly placid
attitude was an unshakeable resolve to get what he wanted. Luo
Mu only had to hear this one phrase from Shen Zechuan to
understand Shen Zechuan’s intent.
Discuss any difficulty you may have. What was the purpose of a
discussion? To allow him to take swift action sooner. Shen Zechuan
did not give Luo Mu a chance to refuse at all. The moment he
opened his mouth, he had left Luo Mu with no other choice.
When Luo Mu looked up again, his timidity was gone. He said,
“If the Vice Commander can suppress the bandits in Chazhou, then
I’m willing to take the Vice Commander’s lead. However, Cai Yu
isn’t Lei Changming, and the Vice Commander doesn’t have the
Marquis’s 20,000 strong soldiers either. It will be indeed tough to
rely on the strength of just one man alone.”
Shen Zechuan said, unruffled, “With our meeting today, we can
stand up to a million strong soldiers.”

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Footnotes
1. 阿爷 I’d use pinyin for this except the pinyin is A-ye lmfao.
An address used in Classical Chinese for one’s father in old
times, although it’s also used as grandpa. (Using pa here
since Cai Yu previously mentioned treating him like a son).
2. literally violation of Heavenly principles, or nature’s law
aka feudal ethics as propounded by Song Dynasty
Confucianists
3. literally reversal of Yin and Yang, refers to traditional
gender roles here. The emperor was traditionally male;
women were not supposed to be involved in politics.
4. Laozi (or Lao-tzu), reverent term of address for Li Er (李
耳), Chinese philosopher of the late Spring and Autumn
Period and founder of Taoism.
5. “学生” literally student or pupil, a humble form of self-
address used by a scholar or an official when addressing
one’s teacher, master or a member of older generation
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 136 : SOWING DISCORD
Translated with: Jia<3

Shen Zechuan spoke with such confidence, as Chazhou was not

a place that could be secured through sheer military might alone.
During the reign of Yongyi, the Prefectures of Dunzhou and
Duanzhou in Zhongbo were the richest and most prosperous. Back
then, Shen Wei was in command of the garrison troops of the
respective prefectures. He possessed both money and military
forces, yet he still could not get rid of the bandits in Chazhou.
Before Shen Zechuan made his way to Chazhou, Zhou Gui and the
advisors in Cizhou had prepared a detailed report on Chazhou,
and they all unanimously thought that the matter regarding
Chazhou had to be dealt with strategically.
Cai Yu was indeed no Lei Changming. The biggest difference
between the bandits in Chazhou and the bandits of Mount Luo was
that while the bandits in Chazhou were still merely bandits, those in
Mount Luo had banded together. They not only established their
territory, but also had plans for expansion. It was clear that Lei
Jingzhe, who was hiding behind Lei Changming, was no longer
satisfied with being a bandit. He had the desire to entirely cast off
his old self, while Cai Yu did not. Hence, they had to fight against
those of Mount Luo, and scheme against those in Chazhou.
Luo Mu was perhaps not as devoted as Zhou Gui in serving the
people, but since Shen Zechuan had tacitly assented to Kong Ling’s
visit, that meant they needed Luo Mu. Having served as the
Prefectural Prefect of Chazhou for over ten years, no one
understood the ins and outs of Chazhou better than Luo Mu.
“Your Excellency was assigned to Chazhou during the reign of
Yongyi, during which you have made many celebrated
achievements and previously remonstrated with Shen Wei to
suppress the bandits. However, Shen Wei thought Dunzhou was too
far from Chazhou, and with Fanzhou between the two prefectures,
it would be too inconvenient and a waste of money for the troops
to travel long-distance. As the odds of success were too small,
Shen Wei rejected the request.” Shen Zechuan did not even blink
when he brought up Shen Wei’s name. “I noticed that Your
Excellency’s position on governing affairs started to change from
that moment on.”
Luo Mu waved his hand and said, “What illustrious
achievement is there for me to speak of? The Vice Commander is
speaking too highly of me. I have accomplished nothing after my
arrival in Chazhou. During the reign of Yongyi, Chazhou was
notorious for its bandits. That year, Qudu considered sending
officials over, and Jiang Qingshan and I were among those who
were assigned. When I came down here, I had plans to distinguish
myself and show what I’m made of, but it was too difficult. “
Luo Mu’s expression gradually grew heavier.
“During the first two years, my objective was focused on
reviving the garrison troops. Although Shen Wei did not approve,
he did not stop me. The Ministry of War thought that it was feasible
and increased Chazhou’s military spending according to the
recommendations I made in my memorial, and from this, I had the
Chazhou’s military garrison troops equipped. I was complacent
then, wholeheartedly focused on suppressing the bandits. It was
only when the fighting began for real that I realized it wouldn’t
work at all. The bandits of Chazhou can be traced back way before
the reign of Yongyi. There was already a group of bandits here in
Chazhou long before the establishment of Chazhou’s garrison
troops. Hezhou in its earliest times was not as prosperous as it is
today, and back then, the Yan Clan had not made its fortune yet.
The traders who used this route were mostly wealthy merchants
from the Thirteen Cities of Juexi, and the bandits of Chazhou
kidnapped these traders to make their living. By the time the
Imperial Court took notice, it was already too late; the bandits had
already planted their roots in Chazhou and developed into various
gangs and factions.”
This caused the people of Chazhou to be exceptionally rowdy,
as there were fewer rules and regulations compared to other
places. Census registration1 proved to be the trickiest here, as
pretty much half the people had been bandits before and were not
considered decent citizens, so they could only be registered as
military households. Back then, when the officials of the eastern
palace discussed this matter in this place, they thought of having
these people enlisted in the army so that these people could be
part of a regular army. With military fields and a monthly salary,
they could just about feed their families and maintain a livelihood,
and there would be no need for them to become bandits and
violate the law. At the same time, the officials could regulate the
movement of the people, allowing them to stay in Chazhou to farm
with peace of mind without creating trouble all around, in turn
strengthening the Prefectural Prefect’s law enforcement
capabilities.
However, the officials of the eastern palace had made a huge
mistake. They were all talk and no action, taking strategies that
Zhongbo had used in other prefectures and implementing them
directly in Chazhou without adapting to local circumstances. The
bandits of Chazhou became an official army, but the land was not
this easy to cultivate. They followed the rules for merely a short
while before they started to leech off the army salary while
continuing to be bandits at the same time. They did not even need
to feign diplomacy: they could just loot and plunder under the
guise of catching bandits. They chased after themselves, forever
going round in circles with the imperial court. It was difficult for the
assigned Prefectural Prefect to resist the already well-established
might of the bandits, and it wasn’t long before Luo Mu suffered
losses and was dealt a ruthless lesson by the bandits.
And that was not just all. In the later periods, bandit chiefs like
Cai Yu appeared in Chazhou. They spoke of the chivalry of the
martial fraternity, and were also willing to spend money to finance
and assist their like-minded brothers. Over time, their reputation
spread, and they were much more popular and admired than all
those stereotypical literati. The prefectural prefect was no more
than an empty shell that existed in name only.
By the time Luo Mu spoke to this point, Shen Zechuan could
more or less understand why Shen Wei had not been willing to
deploy troops.
Because Shen Wei did not dare to.
 Shen Wei was conferred the title of the Prince of Jianxing,
which was just that—a nice-sounding title. In essence, there was no
difference between him and a delegated official like Luo Mu; he
was also an outsider. He initially did not approve or oppose Luo
Mu’s proposition because he was adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
If Luo Mu succeeded, then he could follow suit. If Luo Mu failed, he
could then hold him accountable. He was not willing to step to the
fore to offend the bandits in Chazhou, because he knew very well
that compared to Luo Mu, Cai Yu and these people were the real
“local officials” of Chazhou.
“But times are different now.” Shen Zechuan’s throat felt slightly
hoarse, and he coughed a couple of times. “Cai Yu is currently
living off the dividends from the Yan clan, and the money he
makes are tears of blood, which bandits in power like them profit
off the suffering of refugees. There is no lack of basic necessities
like food and clothing in Chazhou, but people dying of starvation is
a common sight outside Chazhou. Over time, the common folks
will come to harbor resentment.”
“To tell the truth.” Luo Mu weighed up his options and said
cautiously, “After the defeat of the Zhongbo Troops, the grain
supply in Chazhou shrank to pathetic portions. Back then, the
Grand Secretariat cleaned out the granaries in the various
prefectures and transferred the grains to Juexi in the name of
disaster relief. By all reasons, it was necessary to sign a receipt of
loan with Zhongbo, but Shen Wei was dead, and Qudu never sent
over a person to take charge. The six prefectures each handled
their affairs in their own ways. It was an uphill task just to make a
living, and they all had no energy to pursue the issue of food
arrears—of course, they could not afford to pursue either. Recent
years saw a rise in law-abiding families breaking the law in
desperation. These were people who were starving and could see
no way out, so they could only sink low and become bandits.
Initially, the bandits in Chazhou led by Cai Yu were willing to
provide financial assistance to the poor, but then, the Yan clan of
Hezhou joined the fray, wanting to make use of Cai Yu’s influence
and power to push out the Xi clan’s businesses in Zhongbo, and it
is for this reason they came to buy and sell grains. They joined
hands and made a big fortune out of it. Cai Yu is now sitting on a
mountain of money, and he grew increasingly fond of hearing
others buttering up to him as he ages. Gradually, he lost the
chivalrous heart he used to have. He tore down the porridge
booths2 and grain stores he had set up outside and settled down
with peace of mind as the local overlord of Chazhou. Voices of
resentments fill the streets of Chazhou. He is no longer the person
he used to be.”
However, when the mighty fall, they still command more
respect than the common man. Cai Yu still had some influence left
in the south of Zhongbo and in the territory of Hezhou. That “pa”
Yan Heru addressed him by also carried a lot of weight. It was hard
for those small gangs Luo Mu had privately funded to make a
mark. He could only remain anxious but helpless about Chazhou’s
existing food shortage predicament.
A brief silence fell over the room. The partially opened windows
offered a glimpse of the orange jasmine still adorned with the dew
of rain. The sky was overcast. A long time had since passed, and
Luo Mu was running out of time to remain here.
Despite the open windows, Shen Zechuan still found it stuffy.
The teacup under the pulps of his fingers had gone cold. He voiced
something contradictory to what was said earlier. “If Cai Yu is still
on his guard, then he should understand that the so-called voices
of resentments filling the streets are merely underhanded tricks by
the other gangs. As his brother-in-law, Your Excellency can give
him a reminder or two in this regard.”
Luo Mu was slightly taken aback. He did not understand what
Shen Zechuan meant.
Shen Zechuan brushed the tea foam aside with the white jade-
like lid of the teacup and said, “With Lei Changming’s death, Cai Yu
is the great bandit whose name has spread far and wide in
Zhongbo. This is the perfect moment when he is in high spirits. It
doesn’t matter if it’s Chazhou or the Yan Clan; he will tolerate no
one else getting a share of the spoils. What’s more, a man in his
twilight years fears ‘not being the man he once was’ the most. If he
were to think that the present wrath of the people was the
underhanded work of the younger generations, he will definitely
not let them off.”
It was then Luo Mu understood. He could not help but think to
himself just how a ruthless move this was.
Shen Zechuan wanted to make Cai Yu regard public wrath as
infighting between the gangs. He wanted him to think that there
was someone inciting the others intentionally. Once Cai Yu thought
this way, he would intensify his efforts to suppress the smaller
bandits in order to tighten his grasp on the money in his hands.
The small bandits were already discontented. If they were to be
beaten down by Cai Yu again, then their thirty percent of
discontent would balloon to seventy percent. As long as both sides
bore a grudge against the other, it would be hard for them to join
forces again. They might even clash and give tit for tat.
“The small gangs Your Excellency has previously funded in
private can be of use here. Once each of them has been badly and
brutally beaten by Cai Yu, you can give them a helping hand and a
generous gift of grains. Get them to band together and become
brothers that bond together in a time of adversity.” Shen Zechuan
finished his tea and motioned for Qiao Tianya to refill it. He looked
at Luo Mu and continued, “When the small come together, they will
naturally become a force to be reckoned with. It’s just like a group
of jackals hunting their prey. What we need to do is not to fight him
head-on, but to add fuel to the fire and fan the flames.”
Hearing this gave Luo Mu the chills. He only had to drop Cai Yu
a few hints, and he would be able to make Cai Yu destroy himself.
The stratagem of sowing discord was not uncommon, but Shen
Zechuan had only been in Chazhou for merely one night, and he
was able to get such a clear handle on Cai Yu and Chazhou. Luo
Mu could not help but recall Shen Zechuan’s original identity—the
Imperial Bodyguards.
“Once we take Cai Yu out of the picture, we will be able to
discuss the trading of grains between both prefectures in detail.”
Shen Zechuan said calmly. “Your Excellency’s experience of having
to endure shame and humiliation will become an edifying
anecdote in Chazhou in the future. The fact that the commoners
can fill their stomachs will be Your Excellency’s most distinguished
political achievement. Even in other prefectures, you’d be a local
official admired by all. Your Excellency Luo, please watch your step.
Goodbye.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Soon after Luo Mu left, it started raining again.
Shen Zechuan rode the carriage back to the courtyard. When
he stepped off the carriage and saw the overcoat over Qiao
Tianya’s arm, he said, “The weather is still warm in the seventh
month. There’s no need to go so far as to wear this… Why did you
even bring this?”
Holding up the umbrella, Qiao Tianya said, “I wasn’t the one
who thought of it. It was shifu who specifically gave the
instruction.”
Shen Zechuan strode through the door. He had gotten Ge
Qingqing, who was far away in Juexi, to purchase this courtyard
under the guise of doing business. It wasn’t big, and was very old.
The front porch was waterlogged, and there were not that many
flowers or greenery planted in the yard.
“Ever since I arrived in Zhongbo, I’ve been neglecting my
martial arts practice, and subsequently, I’ve made shifu worry. After
going back, don’t bring up my illness to him.” As Shen Zechuan
spoke, he looked back partially and smiled at Kong Ling. “It has
also been hard on Mister Chengfeng this entire journey.”
Kong Ling hurriedly deflected the acknowledgement.
“I saw the lush orange jasmines bathed in the dew of rain
planted by the windows earlier when I was sitting inside the house.
They are very soothing on the eyes.” Shen Zechuan said
offhandedly. “Let’s plant some in the residence after heading
back.”
They had only just started up the stairs when they saw Fei
Sheng, who had been waiting within, step out to greet them. Not
daring to be sloppy in his tasks, he faced Shen Zechuan with a
smile and greeted, “Master has returned at long last.”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Looks like you have good news to
report?”
“Master is wise.” Fei Sheng lifted the drapes for Shen Zechuan.
“Before I set off, I received the items the marquis sent someone to
deliver over. I know they are important, so I did not dare to stop on
the journey and hurried all the way back to deliver it to Master.”
This person loved to speak in such an ingratiating way. Qiao
Tianya found it funny and laughed out loud behind them. He
followed them in and teased, “I always find it interesting when Fei
the Eleventh comes. Amusing. And fun.”
Shen Zechuan removed his outer wide-sleeved robe and said,
“Let me see.”
Ignoring Qiao Tianya, Fei Sheng took the items over from his
subordinate and presented it before Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan
touched the leather bag; it was still cold.
“The marquis sent someone to deliver it back to the residence
with the specific instructions to keep it chilled on ice. We don’t have
any ice at home, so we had to borrow from Madam Zhou. A pity it
wasn’t covered on the way back and melted not long after.”
Shen Zechuan was curious deep down, but he did not let it
show before the others. He pinched the leather bag with his
fingertips. It was filled with liquid inside. He opened it, but before
he could see it, he caught a waft of a pungent smell.
On smelling it, Qiao Tianya, who was not that far away from
them, asked, “Isn’t this milk?”
“That can’t be.” Fei Sheng said in puzzlement. “Why would the
marquis send milk all the way from afar? It can’t be kept overnight.”
They looked at Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan did not mind the
smell. The corner of his lips lifted slightly in a smile. Sensing their
eyes on him, he looked askance at them and asked, “What?”
Who would dare to say anything else?
Shen Zechuan closed it and opened up another box. As
expected, there were loose tea leaves within. He stood for a
moment and let loose a soft sigh, thinking that he really
understood Xiao Chiye all too well.
Milk was the same everywhere to the others. But to Xiao Chiye,
milk from Libei was milk from Libei. It could never be replaced by
milk from elsewhere. He saved his own portion, and despite
knowing that it could not be stored for long, he still wanted to have
it delivered to Shen Zechuan.
 What if it was delivered on time and was still drinkable? They
ought to try all the delicious food and beverages together.
That was what Xiao Chiye thought. The others did not
understand, but Shen Zechuan knew it best.

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Footnotes
1. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.

2.
3. 粥棚 a food relief center providing handouts of food to
the needy. Like a soup kitchen in modern times.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 137 : LETTER READING
Translated with: Jia<3

Shen Zechuan was writing a letter in the room, so Qiao Tianya

and Fei Sheng took their leave.
Fei Sheng felt the itch to smoke, but did not dare to do so while
standing under the eaves, worried that he would reek of smoke
should Shen Zechuan call for him later. He stood still for a moment,
but when he saw that Qiao Tianya wasn’t moving along, he knew
what this was all about.
“Something’s the matter, huh?” Fei Sheng took a few steps
outwards, leaning against the banisters along the corridor. “Tell me
first, what kind of relationship do you have with that ‘Unpolished
Jade Yuanzhuo’?”
“We’ve met before, but we’re not close. I have some impression
of him.” Qiao Tianya mentioned casually.
The more Qiao Tianya tried to make light of the matter, the
more suspicious Fei Sheng was. He asked, “Yao Wenyu isn’t a court
official but a commoner who spends most of the year traveling out
there. It’s even difficult for Marquis Helian to meet him. Where did
you encounter him?”
“Fate brought us together.” Qiao Tianya did not answer
seriously. “I didn’t expect it either. Isn’t this why I’m asking you to
help me ask around?”
As Fei Sheng could get nothing out of him, he gave up probing
and reported. “Secretariat Elder Hai, before he met with mishap,
had previously wanted Yao Wenyu to leave Qudu and return to
Jincheng, the hometown of the Yao Clan. There are students of
Grand Preceptor Yao there who could watch over him on behalf of
the Secretariat Elder, but Yao Wenyu didn’t go.”
Qiao Tianya uttered an “oh” and remained standing under the
eaves to watch as the rain continued to fall.
Fei Sheng continued, “Yao Wenyu had probably realized at that
time that Secretariat Elder Hai asked him to leave because he had
already made up his mind to remonstrate to the death. So Yao
Wenyu got on the carriage and circled around once before
returning to wait in the residence for Secretariat Elder Hai to finish
court. Who would’ve known that what he ended up with was news
of Secretariat Elder Hai’s death instead?”
Droplets of rain dampened the toes of Qiao Tianya’s boots as
he watched the gradually intensifying haze in the courtyard. His
gaze fell upon a puddle, and he saw his own reflection.
Fei Sheng paused for a moment. It was only when he observed
that Qiao Tianya’s expression was normal that he continued.
“When Secretariat Elder was buried, tens of thousands of people
came to send him off. Yao Wenyu was his only student, and he
conducted the funeral for Secretariat Elder as a son would for his
own father. It didn’t take a few days for the students from the
Imperial College to start a riot; all of his books were torn entirely. If
not for Kong Qiu hiding him in time, he may very well have ended
up getting ripped to shreds by the students. However, he seems to
have vanished into thin air after the matter of the emperor’s
daughter was revealed. My informers in Qudu couldn’t find a trace
of him either.”
Qiao Tianya shifted his gaze to him and repeated, “Vanished?”
“That’s right, he vanished.” Fei Sheng lifted the arm he had
placed against the banister and drew a circle in the air. “When I
escaped from Qudu with you, I lost contact with my informers for a
period of time, and I only re-established contact with them a short
while back. By then, Yao Wenyu had already vanished. Qudu is the
territory the Imperial Bodyguards are most familiar with. If my men
say he disappeared, it’s more than likely he’s dead.”
Qiao Tianya immediately replied, “Impossible. Kong Qiu still
wants to revive the moderates, and Yao Wenyu is an indispensable
candidate. Whether it’s for official or personal reasons, Kong Qiu
would never let him die.”
Fei Sheng stared at Qiao Tianya, waiting for him to finish before
saying, “My claim that he’s already dead is supported by evidence.
Hear me out first. Initially, he was just missing. Kong Qiu and Cen
Yu were both looking for him too, but to no avail. The last place he
appeared at was Mount Bodhi, where Hai Liangyi was buried.
When my men went to investigate, they found an abandoned
carriage; he had been kidnapped. But if it was purely a kidnapping,
the perpetrators would no doubt approach Kong Qiu to negotiate
or, at the very least, discuss the conditions for release. That is only
how Yao Wenyu could be useful as a ransom. However, Kong Qiu
heard nothing from them at all, and it wasn’t just Kong Qiu; even
the Yao Clan of Jincheng didn’t receive news of him.”
Qiao Tianya furrowed his brows. “If a riot hadn’t broken out in
the Imperial College, Yao Wenyu would be the new star of the
moderates, but the Yao Clan suffered a drastic decline after the
Imperial College’s riot. He can no longer bear the responsibility of
commanding all the students in the world. To Qudu, he’s a useless
pawn. There must be a reason to kill him, but if you ask me, there
was absolutely no need to.”
“Right?” Fei Sheng turned his head around and asked in
puzzlement. “He is without an official position or title, but he is the
eldest lawful son of the Yao Clan. Killing him will only bring
nothing but problems. I don’t understand it either.”
Shen Zechuan called out to them from the room. Qiao Tianya
ended the conversation and lifted the drapes to enter. He never
broached the subject again.
◈ ◈ ◈
Luo Mu, for the sake of prudence, did not bring up the matter to
Cai Yu directly. Instead, he coaxed his concubine until she was
happy and allowed her to follow him in and out of the study. The
private letters, which were partially concealed in the study, were
copied down by concubine Cai’s maidservant before being
surreptitiously delivered into the hands of Cai Yu.
Upon seeing the letters, Cai Yu immediately flew into a rage. He
summoned Luo Mu to his residence and hurled a stream of verbal
abuse towards him.
“I thought you were an honest man; that’s why I was willing to
marry my sister off to you. Was there a single time that I didn’t
contribute generously to help you out whenever your residence
faced a difficulty? I treated you like a dear brother-in-law, yet you
were scheming against me behind my back! Luo Mengzheng, look
at yourself. If it weren’t for my support, you’d have been just a
nobody! Do you really think of yourself as a bigshot?!”
 Cai Yu was an uneducated and crude man used to mixing
around in the lowest stratum of society. He was so vulgar and
coarse when he cursed that Luo Mu fell to his knees before the
table to repent. “Elder Brother treats me well; how could I dare
repay your kindness with enmity? These private letters are
anonymous. I have no idea where they came from either. I’ve been
feeling nervous and afraid, unable to sleep at night and spending
the day in a daze, all just to find an opportunity to bring up this
matter with Elder Brother.”
Cai Yu got even angrier. He tossed the private letters onto the
desk and pointed at Luo Mu. “What opportunity were you looking
for? You and I are just a courtyard apart. Have you been crippled
that you can’t get over here? If I hadn’t found out sooner, you
would’ve already fallen into cahoots with them!”
Cai Yu was so furious that he felt uncomfortable. He stood up to
take a few steps, repeatedly stroking his chest.
“You certainly are a piece of work, Luo Mengzheng! I was just
wondering why there were so many people scolding me all of a
sudden after spring this year. Turns out you were all trying to stab
me behind my back! A shameless group of filthy trash. Back then,
when I was renowned, you were all just babies who have yet to
wean off milk. I always gave all sorts of financial assistance to you,
yet you turn around and bite the hand that helps you! Why? You’ve
gotten greedy after seeing how profitable the grains are? Bah! Do
you think you people are worthy of doing this business? Are you
people even capable of handling it?!”
Luo Mu was seized with terror. He wanted to speak, but Cai Yu
bellowed, “Keep kneeling! I showed you due respect when we’re
outside and thought of ways to support you, yet you don’t cherish it
and stubbornly choose to fraternize with those ingrates. I’m telling
you, if it weren’t for my younger sister’s love for you, you wouldn’t
be going home today!”
Sweat was pouring from Luo Mu like rain. He kept his head
lowered and said nothing.
Cai Yu just sneered when he stood looking at Luo Mu’s sweat-
soaked back. He spent the first half of his life on knife-edge, and he
finally settled down now that he was older. Who didn’t respectfully
address him as “Elder Cai” each time he went out for business? All
the major and minor bandits of Zhongbo had to give him face, and
not even Lei Changming, whom he despised to the core, dared to
behave out of line before him.
It was only after Luo Mu kneeled for an unknown period of time
that Cai Yu’s anger dissipated some. In his eyes, Luo Mu was a
spineless man. If he dared to keep those letters hidden for so long,
it was surely because he had been instigated by the other party.
This meant the other party was genuinely plotting against him and
was just about to take action towards him.
Cai Yu’s heart was still fluttering with trepidation, but then he
thought the better of it and ended up feeling so resentful that he
was gnashing his teeth in anger. He had always thought of himself
as a very generous man. Even though he had taken a large cut of
the profit from the grains, he had still saved a share for those under
them so that they would not starve to death. But these people did
not know how to be grateful.
“Since they’re so heartless, I have no choice but to be
unrighteous.” Cai Yu sat down beside the window where the light
was spilling through and said maliciously. “Those insatiably greedy
bunches are just like snakes trying to devour an elephant. I’ll catch
a few and make an example out of them as a warning to the others
to make them understand that I, Cai Yu, may be old, but I’m not so
old that I’d subject myself to humiliation from others.”
While Cai Yu was publicly making a show of dealing with the
smaller gangs on one end, Shen Zechuan’s cold was gradually
getting better on the other. Fei Sheng was very efficient in his
record-taking. He not only had all the prices of goods in Chazhou
documented in the book, but had also sent someone to Fanzhou to
do the same.
During the first few days, Shen Zechuan did not spread the
news that Cizhou was here to trade in grains; Kong Ling had only
gone around Chazhou to buy non-local products, making it seem
as though they had made the trip especially to purchase these
goods. When someone came to ask about their visit, Kong Ling’s
reply was ambiguous and dismissive. After a few days, the number
of people who came to probe lessened.
 Kong Ling followed Shen Zechuan out to the shops owned by
the Xi Clan. The shops operated by the Xi Clan here mainly dealt
with parallel imports, rouges, and medicinal herbs.
“Starving refugees swarm the land outside the city, while the
city remains peaceful and wealthy. Troubled times or not, the ones
who suffer will always be the common people.” Kong Ling picked
up the medicinal herb, took a sniff, and praised, “This is good
quality stuff.”
“Xi Hongxuan was a man of foresight when it comes to
business.” Shen Zechuan glanced around the shop. “Regular
people generally would not dare to open such a shop here for fear
of getting robbed, or poor business. In these last few years,
Zhongbo can’t even afford to feed itself. Who would have thought
that men with power in the city would be far more extravagant than
the merchants of Juexi? All that’s lacking is exactly this kind of
shop.”
“Money makes the mare go. Anything is possible with money.”
Kong Ling lamented.
When Shen Zechuan spoke to him about Xi Hongxuan, he was
talking about his own money vaults. Kong Ling understood the
weight behind his words; this was recognition for taking his side in
Cizhou. Kong Ling felt his chest tighten, thinking that he had been
far too impulsive that day. As the saying goes, one should hide his
inadequacies by staying quiet. It was not a good thing to display
his own intelligence before a brilliant master.
Kong Ling did not reply and played dumb, and so Shen
Zechuan did not continue the conversation. He took a look at the
accounts for a moment and carefully asked the shopkeepers about
news on Juexi’s end. The shopkeepers presented him with some
trinkets as a tribute of respect, but Shen Zechuan rejected the
jadeware and the likes and merely accepted a fan that had caught
his eye. However, he had already gotten accustomed to the fan
Xiao Chiye had gifted him, and it did not feel quite right to be
holding this new fan in his palm. While he could make do with this
fan, he was still counting on Xiao Chiye to not forget about the
matter when he returned.
◈ ◈ ◈
 The rain finally ceased in Chazhou, but it started to fall in Libei.
While the weather in Zhongbo was still hot, Libei was already
starting to turn cool. With the winds picking up in the seventh
month, it would get colder after the end of the rainy season.
Ever since receiving Xiao Fangxu’s letter, Xiao Chiye had been
in a bad mood. He was still stationed at the Shasan Camp but had
set up a patrol range with the Bianbo Camp, taking both camps
under his watch and keeping his guard up on all sides.
Wu Ziyu was initially going to send the battle steeds up north
after three days, but he had already been delaying it for some
days. He couldn’t leave on his own and had to follow Xiao Chiye.
After receiving the letter, Xiao Chiye was now the commanding
general in charge of military supplies in Libei. Wu Ziyu did not have
a say no matter where he went; he had to listen to the deployment
orders of the respective divisions’ quartermasters.
Xiao Chiye came down from the walls of the camp and headed
back to the tent in the rain. The sky was about to darken, and the
mess cook was banging a pot as a signal for mealtime. The Libei
Armored Cavalry and the Imperial Army were like chalk and
cheese as they each squatted on one side with their backs facing
the other.
On one hand, the Libei Armored Cavalry, having tasted
successive defeats, could not get past the humiliation and were
thus awfully on edge. On the other hand, the ways of the Imperial
Army were rather unorthodox, and everyone was an old hand at
cracking jokes and jesting around. They had few rules to follow
once they stripped off their armors, and they were all a playful
bunch who loved their fun. This was not something the Libei
Armored Cavalry could agree with.
Xiao Chiye received a handkerchief from Chen Yang to wipe
his sweat. The tent was wide open, and the drapes were not
lowered, or it would be too stuffy inside. Before he could sit down,
he saw Gu Jin enter. “Master, Young Master’s letter is here.”
Xiao Chiye took it and raised a hand as a signal for them to
leave. He brewed himself tea and drank it as he unwrapped the
bundle that was neither too big nor too small. There was nothing
much inside, just a neat stack of clothes under a bulging bag. He
paid no attention to the clothing, but opened the bag first.
The bag contained only two items inside: a bunch of pressed,
dried orange jasmine, and a letter. The letter was a little damp after
being soaked for a long time. When Xiao Chiye picked it up, he
could still smell the scent of flowers. He drank up the tea in one
gulp, then opened the letter.
The letter was short. By the time Xiao Chiye finished reading it,
he had already swallowed his tea. He turned his head towards the
entrance of the tent, where Chen Yang and Gu Jin still stood, and
said with composure, “Lower the drapes. I’m cold.”
Gu Jin wanted to ask, didn’t you find it ridiculously stuffy a
moment ago, but Chen Yang had already removed the hooks and
let the drapes down.
The moment the drapes shielded him from view, Xiao Chiye
read the letter over and over again. Finally, he collapsed heavily
onto the bed and held up the letter, reading it word for word.
Days have passed since we parted, I know you yearn for me.
So here’s a little gift to comfort you with.

Touching it is akin to touching me.

Xiao Chiye stared at that line of text and repeated it once
more.
Touching it is akin to touching me.
Xiao Chiye’s throat felt dry. He inexplicably started laughing, his
gaze a little fierce.
Written at the very bottom in light and cursive penmanship
were the words:
It’s hard to sleep by my lonesome self. When will you return?
A good night’s sleep is only possible when you hold me in your
arms.
Xiao Chiye loosened his grip and gazed towards the ceiling.
Half a moment later, he flipped himself over and buried his face
into the pillow. But it was as though Shen Zechuan was lying right
next to him, nibbling his ear and whispering in that lazy, laid-back
way of his, “A good night’s sleep is only possible when you hold me
in your arms...”
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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 138 : STRATEGIST
Translated with: Jia<3

When Shen Zechuan woke up in the morning, the day was just
starting to break. After Shen Zechuan had his breakfast, he
boarded the carriage and headed back to the cosmetics shop with
Kong Ling. It was still business-as-usual in the front hall. Qiao
Tianya and Fei Sheng stood guard in the courtyard, while the
Imperial Bodyguards kept careful surveillance both inside and
outside the shop.
Half an hour later, Luo Mu’s sedan arrived too. He was wearing
his usual attire—a deep red robe with a slanted collar. The
shopkeeper at the front desk was sharp. Seeing as the attendants
following behind Luo Mu were unfamiliar, he raised his voice and
said, “It’ll be scorching hot soon, and it’ll be tough on you all to be
standing outside. Men, lead these brothers into the room for some
tea and a rest.”
Those few attendants exchanged glances. Presuming that Luo
Mu would not be able to escape, they followed the shop assistant
into a room. After entering, they insisted on hanging the curtains
up so that they could keep an eye on the entrance of the front hall.
The shop assistant followed beside Luo Mu and offered a
handkerchief to Luo Mu to wipe his hands. Luo Mu wiped his hands
as per usual and took a look at the goods on the counter. The
shopkeeper greeted him with a courteous smile and said, “The last
time Your Excellency came by, we didn’t have all the goods. This
time we have prepared them well in advance. There are even new
jade pieces and trinkets that have just arrived from the east. They
are all in the back. This way, please!”
Luo Mu appeared to be hesitating as he cast a glance at the
attendants.
The shop assistant continued, “This short distance will not take
too much effort. Some goods are hard to come by, it’s not very
convenient to bring them to the front for you to choose from, and it
doesn’t look good on you when you view them there.”
 Only then did Luo Mu reluctantly nod and follow the
shopkeeper to the courtyard at the back.
Qiao Tianya personally drew the curtains. Luo Mu said his
thanks and bent over to enter. He first paid his obeisances to Shen
Zechuan, then looked at Kong Ling. It was only after seeing that
both their expressions were relaxed that he took his seat.
Shen Zechuan noted that Luo Mu was dressed as a literati today
and presumed that he must have chosen his clothes and shoes
carefully before leaving the house. Although he sat impeccably
upright after entering, he would subconsciously look at Kong Ling
wherever there was a conversation. The moment Kong Ling
opened his mouth, Luo Mu’s eyes would be fixed on him.
“Cai Yu has been going all out to hit out at the smaller gangs
these days, but he knows not to go too far. He understands the
principle of interdependency given that they share a common lot;
if one falls, the other will be in danger too, and he also fears he will
end up isolated by all if he crosses the line. So at the same time he
strikes out at the smaller gangs, he attempts to win over the
remaining younger generation by ‘offering low-priced grains to
help the masses’.” As Shen Zechuan was at the side, Luo Mu was
already trying to hold his gaze in check. “This approach is to sell
the grains cheaply to the gangs who had not been stirring up
trouble.”
Kong Ling asked, “How much is that?”
Luo Mu answered, “One tael for five dou of grains.”
Kong Ling smiled and said, “The price isn’t really that lowered.
His so-called ‘low-priced grains’ merely means he makes just a tiny
bit less profit than the others out there. Cai Yu used to be generous
in helping the needy, and he never used to think much of money
and worldly possessions, but he’s so miserly now that he’s older.”
At this price, the grains could not be called “low-priced grains”;
instead, they ought to be called “expensive grains”. Chazhou’s
current rate for the grains was one tael of silver for two dou of rice,
while the rate in Qudu was one tael of silver for two dan of rice.1 Cai
Yu was making big bucks off the profits. What’s more, it was profit
that forced the common folks into dead ends. To think he merely
changed it to one tael of silver for five dou of rice just to win over
the others. It was clear he was hankering over the money and
could not bear to drop the price too much.
Shen Zechuan brushed aside the floating foam in his tea and
said, “Cai Yu is in a predicament too, with no way to back down.
Everyone inside and outside the city is now complaining about the
high price of the grains. If he were to drop the price drastically to
win those smaller gangs of bandits over to his side, the common
folks would hate him even more, so naturally he wouldn’t dare to
do so.”
“It’s not just Chazhou. Public wrath is running high even in
Fanzhou.” Luo Mu was the most acquainted with Cai Yu’s business.
“At the beginning of this year, Lei Changming broke off contact
with the Yan clan for some unknown reason, and Yan Heru no
longer gave financial aid to the bandits from Mount Luo. That was
why they thought of seizing Cizhou and robbing Cizhou’s granary.
Part of the reason was that they could not afford Cai Yu’s grains.”
“Let Cai Yu sell for a few days first.” Shen Zechuan turned over
his folding fan and tapped it lightly against the table. “It doesn’t
matter if it’s one tael for two dou, or one tael for five dou, the
common folks and the smaller bandits all can’t afford it. Cai Yu
forced himself to show such kindness naturally because he hopes
those under him will acquiesce to him and stop opposing him. But
his attitude isn’t humble enough, and this will only backfire on
him.”
“It’s not just the common folks.” Kong Ling lamented. “Even
governmental officials can’t afford to buy with their monthly salary
issued by the imperial court. On our way here, we saw people
selling themselves everywhere outside Chazhou, even to the extent
of selling off all the children in the family in the hope that they
would have a chance to live.”
“People aren’t worth much nowadays, and even if they sell the
children, it’s all at low prices.” Luo Mu had long heard of this.
“Besides, who in Zhongbo will be willing to spend money to buy
the people given the present situation? Only the brothels in
Fanzhou will be willing to take them in. And even if they sell down
someone from a decent origin into a low-class trade… the money
won’t be enough for them to exchange for one dou of rice.”
 Shen Zechuan was still not familiar with the situation in
Fanzhou, so he asked, “Since Fanzhou has difficulty feeding its
people, then where does it get the money to operate all these
brothels?”
Luo Mu answered, “They are run by bandits too, for the specific
purpose of dealing in the flesh trade with the bandits from Mount
Luo and the Prefecture of Dengzhou. Prices are extremely low, and
even this bit of profit is all swallowed up by the procuresses of the
brothels.”
Perplexed, Kong Ling asked, “But they have to feed all those
people they brought back to do business, right? Do they buy grains
from Cai Yu too?”
Luo Mu shook his head. “Humans are worth less than dogs.
They are fed swill and weeds. If they starve to death, the bandits
can come and buy more again. Anyway, the prices are so cheap
they won’t suffer any losses either way.”
Kong Ling sat in a daze. Anguish gradually came over his face.
“Zhongbo has been reduced to such a state. If the imperial court
had been willing to lend a helping hand, the situation would not
have deteriorated to this point. I said many years back that Hua
Siqian…”
Shen Wei’s name was still wedged in his throat.
Knowing Kong Ling well, Luo Mu feared he would say
something unfavorable and leave a bad taste in Shen Zechuan’s
mouth, thus he hurriedly switched the subject and said, “So what
should be the next step according to Vice Commander’s plans?”
Instead, Shen Zechuan replied, “If Shen Wei had not cowered
and recoiled from battle, Zhongbo would not have been so badly
defeated. I hold Mister Chengfeng in the highest esteem for his
concern for the common people, so there is no need to make a
special point of avoiding certain subjects.”
Shen Zechuan was so sincere that Luo Mu felt embarrassed
instead. Kong Ling felt his heart sink. He had recently been both
following and avoiding Shen Zechuan. He was a clever man; he
was willing to work for Zhou Gui because he was familiar with Zhou
Gui’s character. However, he still felt some unease towards Shen
Zechuan, and one of the biggest reasons was that he thought that
following Shen Zechuan was a dangerous move. Masters that were
difficult to read were the hardest to serve. The more calm things
appeared to be, the more he had to tread with caution.
Kong Ling could side with him, but he was unwilling to assist
Shen Zechuan the way he supported Zhou Gui. Shen Zechuan had
been dropping hints repeatedly this entire trip, but Kong Ling
feigned ignorance and turned a blind eye to it all. And now, he was
filled with even more trepidation when he saw how Shen Zechuan
was not only not angry but even giving him a way out.
Seeing the changes in Kong Ling’s expression, Shen Zechuan
gently turned over his fan and paused for a moment before
speaking. “Suppress the news that Cizhou is here to sell grains for a
few more days. Wait until the bandits prioritize their own interests
and are no longer willing to be pushed around by Cai Yu before
releasing the news. When that happens, keep the reserved grain
wagons from entering the city. We’ll set up the porridge booth right
outside of the city. Tell the refugees that Cizhou is here to sell the
grains at a regular price.”
Luo Mu probed, “What if they have no money?”
Shen Zechuan smiled and looked towards Luo Mu. “Isn’t this all
funds for Chazhou’s future garrison troops and wasteland
reclamation? The common people may be poor, but you’ve
acquired quite the sum of money while sticking to Cai Yu.
Furthermore, once Cai Yu is out of the picture, most of his family
assets will fall into Your Excellency’s hands. Use those taels to do
business with Cizhou in exchange for winning the people’s hearts,
and that would solve Your Excellency’s future problems. Now, I still
need to remind Your Excellency that Cizhou is here to do business,
not to tighten its belts just so it can offer financial aid to others.”
Sweat materialized on Luo Mu’s forehead. He dabbed a little of
it off with a handkerchief, nodding as he said, “But of course, but
of course…”
◈ ◈ ◈
When Shen Zechuan returned to the courtyard this time, he did
not return with Kong Ling.
Qiao Tianya, with a bamboo hat on his head, sat at the head of
the horse carriage with both arms behind his head as a pillow. He
said on the other side of the curtain, “Does Master not want him
anymore?”
Unable to stand the heat, Shen Zechuan closed his eyes in the
stuffy interior to take a rest. He listened to the peddlers hawking
their wares along the street for a moment before he said, “I’ve tried
both carrot and stick, but he’s determined to turn me down.”
With a young stalk of grass between his lips, Qiao Tianya said,
“That’s to be expected. He has been lying low and hiding his
abilities in your presence all because he fears being coerced. After
he graduated from the academy, he did not go along with Zhou
Gui and Luo Mu to join the imperial court as an official. He had
simply wanted to be a commoner. Men like him are natural-born
strategists. His only pride is the ability to choose his own future.”
Shen Zechuan opened his eyes partially. “It’s not like he’s my
only option.”
Shen Zechuan did not want to impose his will on Kong Ling
and force him into it, but he really lacked manpower. At first, he
thought the pair of Kong Ling and Zhou Gui were the best
arrangement. Both men, when put together, could maintain the
stability on one end. At the very least, it would not be a problem for
them to maintain the stability in Cizhou. But now, Shen Zechuan
was lacking a talent who could give counsel. What he lacked was
no longer a pair of eyes or a pair of hands, but a strategist who
could assist him in devising strategic and tactical plans for the
overall game.
Kong Ling had quite the reputation in Zhongbo for his talents.
He was fellow student with both Zhou Gui and Luo Mu. With just his
personal friendships with both men, he would be able to assist
Shen Zechuan with many issues in both the prefectures of Cizhou
and Chazhou, just like how he was able to deliver a visitation card
to pay Luo Mu a visit outright. He also had the social connections
he had built up in the Dunzhou army from his time as Tantai Hu’s
adviser. As long as these people were still alive, they could be of
use in the future. Besides, Shen Zechuan did not think highly of
Kong Ling back then. When Lei Jingzhe plotted to hoodwink them,
Kong Ling had been so easily deceived. But that shout Kong Ling
made before the city of Cizhou made Shen Zechuan take note of
him once again. It was not until Kong Ling had swiftly taken his
side right before they set off for Chazhou that Shen Zechuan fully
set his mind on taking Kong Ling into his employ.
But Kong Ling did not have the intention to swap masters.
Shen Zechuan was too young. His background not only left
much to be desired, but he also studied under Qi Huilian. Qi Huilian
had been through many ups and downs in Qudu, and he also
served as the head of the eastern palace for many years. What kind
of student would such a teacher produce? Qi Huilian was the
emperor’s teacher. Kong Ling simply did not dare to continue
thinking further. The most crucial thing was that he feared Shen
Zechuan; he was unable to trust Shen Zechuan.
In Kong Ling’s eyes, Shen Zechuan was a cold-hearted man
who could readily cast aside personal relationships. If it had been
Zhou Gui today, he would never speak of such words to Luo Mu.
Vexed, Shen Zechuan raised his head to look at the curtain of
the carriage that was swaying because of the jolts and bumps.
Sunlight flickered through the gaps onto his knees and blossomed
over that particular patch of his white robe.
After Qi Huilian’s death, Shen Zechuan wore white. He never
asked Qiao Tianya where Han Cheng placed his teacher’s body
after he left Qudu. His anguished wails that night were known only
to Xiao Chiye. But the names of Xue Xiuzhuo, Han Cheng, and the
Empress Dowager, along with the city walls of Qudu that had been
stained red in that pouring rain, were all seared into Shen
Zechuan’s heart and mind.
He had to stand firm. He needed a strategist.
Shen Zechuan said to himself silently.
A strategist who could stand up to Xue Xiuzhuo as an equal.

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Footnotes
1. 斗 dou, a dry measure for grain equal to one-tenth of a 石
dan.
2. 石 dan, dry measure for grain equal. 1 dan =
approximately 90kg (see author’s note in chapter 113)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 139 : THE PRICE OF GRAIN
Translated with: Jia<3

Knowing that he had humiliated Shen Zechuan with his rebuff,

Kong Ling barely approached him over the next few days. Instead,
he focused his attention on inspecting the goods in the respective
stores, too busy to even pause. On the other hand, Shen Zechuan
behaved as he always did and continued to greet him as Mister
Chengfeng whenever he saw him. This filled Kong Ling with even
more dread, and he deferred to Shen Zechuan in every matter.
Just as they had expected, Cai Yu’s low-priced grain did not
impress the smaller bandits. With Luo Mu in the midst acting as a
go-between and pulling the strings, several parties gradually
started developing feelings of dissatisfaction towards Cai Yu. Cai
Yu had a taste for extravagance in recent years, and each year
when he celebrated his birthday, he would surely receive rare and
priceless gifts. He would also rank his friends and relatives close
and far according to the presents they gifted him, and this
subsequently stirred up a great deal of unhappiness among a great
number of them in private. At the same time, news that Cai Yu was
distributing cheap grains suddenly spread outside the city, and
with the price falling lower and lower, the starving commoners
outside the city grew more and more outraged.
Cai Yu used to consider himself a respected elder of Chazhou,
and yet he was ignoring them all with the city gates shut, leaving
them to fend for themselves. Shen Zechuan was right; it wasn’t that
he did not understand, but that he was in a predicament with no
way to back down.
The grain in Chazhou was presently supplied by Hezhou and
subsidized by the Yan Clan. By taking all these grains, Cai Yu had to
pay back interest to the Yan Clan, and the portion he could not pay
back had to be paid out from his own pockets. Lowering the price
would only disadvantage himself, and as he was unwilling to make
a loss, he could only force himself to push on ahead. He had
already sent multiple letters in succession to Hezhou to enquire
about the situation.
This was what Shen Zechuan had been waiting for.
Cai Yu could never imagine that over one night, the entire city
would be in discussion over the price of grain.
“Where did these people come from?” Cai Yu called for the
maidservant to help him put on his clothes, and asked his trusted
aide, “Why have I heard nothing about Cizhou’s grain wagons
entering our territory!”
His aide replied, “They took the public road and suppressed the
news of their arrival outside of the city; it never managed to reach
us.”
Cai Yu’s expression was somber as he put on his boots and took
a few steps. “I’d found it strange when Kong Ling entered the city.
What would Cizhou be doing here for no rhyme or reason? Turns
out it’s to steal our business! They’ve prepared so thoroughly, all to
challenge me! What did they say?”
His trusted aide picked up the hem of Cai Yu’s robe from
behind. “I’ve sent someone to make inquiries this morning. The
price of the merchants from Cizhou is one tael for seven dou of
rice.”1
On hearing this, Cai Yu promptly sneered. “I thought they were
here to play Bodhisattva and save the people, but they are also just
here to profit from others’ misfortune. Has there been any reply
from Hezhou?”
The aide estimated the time and answered, “At this point in
time, the letter hasn’t been delivered yet.”
Cai Yu stood by the door and contemplated it in silence
alongside the murmuring stream in the courtyard and the clear,
melodious chirps of the birds under the covered walkway. He had
spent a huge sum of money on this compound with the intent to
pass it down to the younger generations as a family residence. He
still had a few sons who were waiting to take over the family
business and properties from their old man, and there were more
than a thousand people in his family whose livelihoods depended
on his sale of grains. He did not dare to lose this business.
 “One tael for seven dou.” Cai Yu muttered. “One tael for seven
dou… Isn’t Cizhou belittling me a tad too much by thinking of
snatching away my business at this price? Since they lowered their
price, then we will go even lower. Go tell the grain stores under us
that I’m going to reduce the price to one tael for eight dou out of
pity for the commoners outside the city.”
The aide hesitated. “But the Young Master has yet to reply. If…”
“Lower it.” Cai Yu’s expression gradually grew grave. “The
Young Master still addresses me as ‘pa’. Even if we can’t make a
profit this time, I can thicken my skin and go to Hezhou to ask for a
favor. With the Young Master at the head of the Yan clan, no one
would dare to do anything to me! Cizhou came bearing down on
us so menacingly this time. There will be trouble in the future if we
don’t make them think twice and bow out.”
Cai Yu’s trusted aide had only just left the house, and Shen
Zechuan knew all about it.
Fei Sheng’s network was everywhere. When he whispered the
information to Shen Zechuan, Shen Zechuan was handing out free
porridge outside the city.
The weather was bright and clear today. Shen Zechuan left the
city at the hour of mao2 and started giving out free porridge to the
poor and needy from the hour of chen3 right up to the hour of
shen.4 The sun was so scorching hot at this moment that the
muddy ground was cracked. Refugees all sought shelter under the
shades of the trees. Shen Zechuan gave a slight nod after hearing
Fei Sheng out and said, “Since he has taken the bait, he won’t be
able to escape. Go to Luo Mu and get him to tell the smaller gangs
of bandits not to get anxious. Cai Yu’s price of one tael for eight
dou can be further reduced.”
Fei Sheng was clearly aware of Shen Zechuan’s intent, but he
just had to play dumb before the latter and asked like a student
eager to learn, “Then, Master, are we going to reduce our prices
too? We can’t let Cai Yu get his way.”
Shen Zechuan tossed the handkerchief to Qiao Tianya and
said, “Of course, but we’ll have to wait for nightfall before we
reduce the price.”
Because he had matters to attend to during the day.
 A white-robed gentleman wearing a white jade pearl with two
or three attendants in tow suddenly appeared outside the city of
Chazhou and stayed at the porridge booth from morning to night
to personally distribute the porridge to the people. The refugees
who received the porridge made a little inquiry and found out that
these grains from Cizhou were initially meant to be sold in
Chazhou, but Cai Yu refused to let them into the city. Since they
pitied the commoners outside the city, they used those grains to
hand it out to them instead.
Shen Zechuan’s attitude was cordial and amiable, and he spoke
humbly and politely. What’s more, he was good-looking. If there
were any households with orphans and widows, or with the old,
weak, ill, and disabled, he would not only give them food but even
send the physician over to take a look at them. He even absorbed
all the consultation fees and cost of the medicinal herbs himself. In
less than two hours, the refugees who had come forth on hearing
of his name had converged into a flock. Whenever the others
asked about Shen Zechuan’s name, Qiao Tianya and Fei Sheng
would answer with “His Excellency Zhou’s aide” and “Mister
Chengfeng’s comrade”.
Even still, Shen Zechuan was young, and he had a
distinguished air about him when he moved and acted.
Speculations started swirling around in no time. None of the
common folks knew who this young master was, and that
subsequently made him appear all the more mysterious and
conspicuous.
◈ ◈ ◈
Cai Yu was restless with anxiety as he kept waiting at home until
the hour of chou,5 all the while not daring to close his eyes. When
he heard someone coming to report, he hurriedly stood up to let
his trusted aide in before asking, “How is it? Is there an update on
Kong Ling’s end?”
The aide had been running to and fro the entire day, and even
if he had taken the sedan mid-journey, he still could not endure this
degree of exhaustion. His back was presently drenched in
perspiration. He wiped his sweat with his sleeves and gasped for
breath as he answered, “It went down! As Old Master predicted,
Cizhou has also lowered the price again!”
Cai Yu worriedly asked, “By how much?”
The aide replied, “One tael for nine dou of rice.”
Cai Yu’s expression was calm; this price was within his
expectations. He paced. “We lowered by one dou, and they
followed suit. It seems that they do not have enough confidence
either.”
The aide followed alongside Cai Yu. “Old Master, then should
we still lower the price? If we lower it any further, it’s going to reach
one dan!”
From two dou to one dan, Cai Yu was already thinking about
the kind of punishment he was going to face when he went to
Hezhou after this disaster. However, he could only continue forcing
the issue right now. He clenched his jaw and said, “Lower it further!
To one tael for one dan!”
◈ ◈ ◈
When Luo Mu heard the news in his residence, he said to Kong
Ling, “If Cai Yu continues to lower the price, it’d be difficult for him
to raise it again in the future. He’s fallen for the ploy hook, line, and
sinker.”
Kong Ling faced the window and confirmed that there was no
one else around before speaking. “It’s all thanks to the Vice
Commander’s foresight.”
Thinking of Shen Zechuan made Luo Mu sigh. “If it had been
me, I would have been deceived too. How could Cai Yu have
known that Cizhou was planning to veer towards Qudu’s price?
This is a lucrative business. Every increase of one dou of grain per
tael is a loss of real money.”
“Riches cannot be brought to the grave; how long can he profit
off misfortunes in Zhongbo? You’re a fool! If Cai Yu had any
foresight, he would’ve shown restraint this year. Cizhou had no
confidence due to a lack of resources six years ago, but we’ve been
recuperating and rebuilding our strength in these six years. The
transportation of the army provisions for Libei’s military from
Cizhou last year was decided on by Secretariat Elder Hai and the
marquis. Think about it, Qudu already knew then that Cizhou had
the ability to bear this responsibility. Once Cizhou is revitalized,
those with ambition from the respective prefectures will also vie
with each other to rise to the top. When the time comes for these
places to re-cultivate their grain fields, the price of grain in
Zhongbo will surely fall. This path to fortune cannot last for long;
the only question is who will be the one to crush it.” Having spoken
to this point, Kong Ling paused for a moment. “Both the time and
place are right. The Vice Commander meant to make a killing in
Zhongbo.”
Upon noting that Kong Ling was in a daze, Luo Mu asked, “I
noticed that the Vice Commander has intentions of using you, yet
you continuously turn a blind eye to it. Chengfeng, could it be that
the Vice Commander can’t be compared to Zhou Gui either?”
Kong Ling gazed at the tree shade outside the window and
replied only half a moment later, “My abilities are mediocre. The
only reason I can support Zhou Gui is that he can only be the
Prefectural Prefect of Cizhou in this lifetime. Keeping the calm in
one corner of the world is easy enough that someone of my caliber
can do it. But stabilizing a vast territory can only require talents who
are pillars of the state. The Vice Commander is no mere fish in a
pond; I dare not be so presumptuous as to claim connections with
such a man.”
Luo Mu was struck dumb.
◈ ◈ ◈
Neither the men inside or outside of Chazhou slept well this
night. Cai Yu drank cup after cup of strong tea, afraid to shut his
eyes lest the other party surreptitiously lower the price again the
moment he lay down. He had never been a man with business
acumen, and he had been only relying on his status as a bandit to
keep up a farce for the Yan Clan. And now, he was a bundle of
nerves, having been driven to a state of anxiety.
The people from Cizhou remained passive for a long time. Only
the porridge booth outside the city was still operating. Cai Yu had
heard that more than a thousand people had converged outside
the city, but he was sure that what he had in his hands were the
bona fide armed forces; the gathering outside the city was merely
a motley crew. Even if they were to converge together, they could
not affect the situation.
Time continued to pass by. When afternoon came around, Cai
Yu decided to take a nap fully-clothed, but he had only just shut his
eyes when he heard a report coming in. He hurriedly sat up and let
a maidservant support him on his way out. The moment he saw the
aide’s expression, his heart sank. “How much did they lower it to?”
The aide anxiously reported, “Old Master, the price drop this
time is crazy! They’ve dropped it to one tael for one dan and three
dou of rice. The people who were adopting a wait-and-see attitude
yesterday are already starting to leave the city one after the other.
They are all making a beeline for the Cizhou’s grain wagon to buy
grains!”
Cai Yu was rendered speechless for a moment. “That low?!”
The aide replied, “It’s already close to the price of grain in
Juexi. If it keeps getting lower, we will have to give up all our profits
after spring this year to repay Hezhou!”
Cai Yu held on to the man and said in disbelief. “Didn’t Cizhou
just send army provisions to Libei? Now that Libei has rebelled,
they’ll be getting all of their provisions from Cizhou in the future. If
Zhou Gui sells off all of the grains, how is he going to account for it
to the Prince of Libei? Furthermore, what are they even earning by
lowering the price this much?!”
The trusted aide followed behind Cai Yu, similarly panicking as
he spoke, “Exactly! If they continue lowering the price, it will be no
different from Juexi. Wouldn’t that be making a loss? What profits
could there even be?”
Cai Yu was getting on in years, and he had not slept all night;
he was presently so unsteady on his feet that he had to let
someone help him to the seat. “They’re determined to steal our
business…” Hatred bubbled up in him.“How dare they! Go gather
my men. Tonight, we’ll overturn their grain wagon, capture Kong
Ling, and kill all those that came along with him! I have ferocious
bandits on my side; why would I be scared of them? Zhou Gui, that
ignorant brat. I’ll see if he has the guts to fight me head-on!”
The aide slapped his knee, thrilled as he spoke, “That’s the way,
Old Master! We should’ve retaliated long ago and not wasted all
that effort playing nice to them! I’ll go right now!”

Author’s Words
Okay, I get it. You all want them to meet, right? Alright, alright.
Coming your way soon.
Thank you for reading.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!

Footnotes
1. 斗 dou, a dry measure for grain equal to one-tenth of a 石
dan.
2. 石 dan, dry measure for grain. In QJJ, 1 dan =
approximately 90kg (see author’s note in chapter 113).
3. So a dou would be about 9 kg.
4. 卯时 5-7 am based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times
5. 辰时 7-9 am
6. 申时 3-5 pm
7. 丑时 1-3am
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 140 : CITY OUTSKIRTS
Translated with: Jia<3

As Cai Yu gathered his men with great fanfare on his end, the
refugees outside the city had already amassed into a horde. It took
merely one night for the news that someone had set up a booth to
give out porridge to spread more than ten li around. Refugees who
were so starved that they were sallow and emaciated came in
droves and crowded around the Cizhou’s porridge booth so
closely that not even a drop of water could trickle through.
Qiao Tianya watched as the people came swarming to them.
There were no longer enough hands at the front to help maintain
the queue of people who came to receive their porridge, so he
signaled to Fei Sheng with his eyes. Fei Sheng backed away in
understanding and led the Imperial Bodyguards to guard the
wagon. He also swapped the guards from Cizhou over to help with
the maintenance of the queue order. These Imperial Bodyguards
were all dressed in black robes with blades on them, and every one
of them looked capable and tough, thus producing a deterrent
effect on the restless people all around.
“Master.” Qiao Tianya raised his arm to hold back some people
and whispered to Shen Zechuan. “It’s getting dark. We’ve already
been here for two days and a night. It’s almost time. You should
retreat to the rear.”
Shen Zechuan had just finished chatting with an elderly among
the refugees. He did not look back upon hearing him, but he put
away the blue handkerchief that he had taken out and said,
“There’s no harm in staying.”
Qiao Tianya surveyed the surroundings and looked at the
people around them jostling against one another. These were all
emaciated refugees. Worried that there would be a conflict in a
while and someone might fish in troubled water to make a grab for
the grains and hurt Shen Zechuan in the process, he said, “Master,
stand behind, or stay close to the wagon.”
 Shen Zechuan looked at the forest bathed in the sunset glow of
red clouds that looked like torn pieces of red cotton. The setting
sun was already midway in its descent; it would not be long before
the sky turned dark. He had already stayed outside the city for two
days and a night, and now, he withdrew his gaze and said,
“There’s no hurry.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The sky gradually darkened, and the various stores along the
streets in the cities all hung up their lanterns. Chazhou had no wine
taverns and tea houses at present, but owing to the proliferation of
human traffickers here, there were plenty of brothels set up at
remote corners. Cai Yu wanted to rally his men, and the ones he
called were all the various heads and chiefs within his own gang.
These people relied on Cai Yu for a living and rarely did any proper
jobs to earn their keep. Instead, they liked to bully the weak and
tyrannize the city. They loved to make their way to the brothels and
laze around in there all year round. When they were called out one
at a time, they were still holding up their pants, looking all bleary-
eyed. Many of them were dead drunk. Cai Yu’s trusted aide did not
dare to offend them and had to coax and flatter them before he
could get these people to step out.
While they were taking a roll call and lining up in formation on
this end, Luo Mu and Kong Ling had also started making their
moves on their side.
Kong Ling bowed to the various chiefs of the small-time gangs
that Luo Mu had helped in secret and said, “As everyone knows,
Cizhou is here this time to sell grains. As long as we can get
through this crisis safely tonight, the price of rice tomorrow can
only be even lower.”
One of them asked, “Talk is cheap. How do you expect us to
believe you with no proof or guarantee?”
So Kong Ling turned aside and gestured to Luo Mu and said,
“My words can’t be trusted, but surely you can believe His
Excellency Luo’s words?”
Luo Mu had repeatedly extended a helping hand to these
gangs, funding them with quite the amount of silver in just this half
month alone. They had been beaten down by Cai Yu so badly lately
that they did not even dare to step out of their alleys in broad
daylight. They were not given a share of that cheap one-tael-for-
five-dou grains. Cai Yu had already driven them into the corner,
and it was all because of Luo Mu’s financial support that they could
survive, so naturally, they were willing to believe Luo Mu’s words.
Luo Mu cleared his throat and said, “At present, all the
granaries in the city are managed by Cai Yu alone. The prices are
indeed exorbitant. Even people like us can’t afford it, let alone the
common folks. Cizhou’s offered price is just right; it’s close to
Qudu’s price. What’s even rarer is Cizhou’s promise never to inflate
the price in the future. I have already signed the documents with
Cizhou. It can’t be fake when it’s all been written down in black and
white.”
The various chiefs put their heads together to discuss it among
themselves.
Kong Ling continued, “I know all you fellows are worried about
the Yan Clan, but it’s better to just get it over with than to prolong
the agony. Instead of allowing the Yan Clan to lean on Cai Yu’s
authority to control the lifeline of Chazhou, why not let my fellow
brothers here decide yourselves? Moreover, the only reason Cai Yu
is willing to lower the price today is because Cizhou’s grain price is
too low. If we can’t get rid of him tonight, then once Cizhou’s grain
wagons leaves, the price of grain in Chazhou will rise back up to
what it was originally.”
If one wanted people to work together as one, one first had to
talk to them about the benefits. Kong Ling knew this very well. The
original price set by Cizhou was one tael for one dan and eight dou
of rice,1 but Shen Zechuan had not mentioned this amount at all
during these past few days of price reductions, and this was
precisely because he was waiting to use this information to inspire
the people at the right moment.
Kong Ling paused for a moment before continuing, “According
to the Vice Commander, as long as everyone is willing to pitch in,
once Cai Yu has been taken down, the price of grain will be lower
than one tael for one dan and three dou, by three dou!”
The moment those words were out, the people began to seethe
with excitement.
 The price of grain in Qudu was just one tael for one dan and
five dou of rice, yet Cizhou was willing to offer one dan and six dou.
The impact had far exceeded that of Cai Yu’s small gesture. What
they were concerned with was not just the grains, but also their
future means of subsistence and survival in Chazhou. Most
importantly, the first batch of grains this autumn were not paid out
of their pockets, but by Luo Mu. After Cai Yu was knocked off his
pedestal, Chazhou could still loot from the granaries of Cai’s
residence. With the combination of these two sources of grain, they
would not have to worry about getting through winter this year!
Sounds of assent beneath rose in harmony, and in no time,
morale was running high.
Kong Ling nodded to Luo Mu, then said to the various chiefs,
“Cai Yu’s men haven’t left the city, so there’s no need for everyone
to fret; we naturally have plans in place.”
At around the hour of zi,2 Cai Yu’s men left the city. These
bandits were all using army supplies from the armory belonging to
the garrison troops of Chazhou, and even though the equipment
was old, it was fully intact. With swords, blades, and shields all in
place, they had, at a glance, the appearance of a proper army.
When the trusted aide had sent someone to check up on the
situation in the morning, there were only a thousand or so people
outside the city, but when he headed out of the city for a look now,
the crowd was too dense for him to see through. Clearly, the
number of people had doubled. The number of men and horses
under Cai Yu in the city amounted to only one thousand five
hundred, and he had brought one thousand this trip, and yet they
felt a little cowed as they crowded around the city entrance.
“Why are there suddenly so many people here?” One of the
chiefs in the back craned his head, “It’s crowded to the ends of the
earth!”
The aide turned around, smiling obsequiously as he said,
“They’re too hungry to even walk. How can they be considered
people? What’s important are the grain wagons. Old Master has
already said, as long as everyone can take it down, the grain from
Cizhou can be split between each of the chiefs here.”
 The chiefs silently observed and saw that they were indeed just
some refugees in rags, and the number of guards from Cizhou was
pathetically small; thus, they said, “With this assurance from the big
boss, we’ll do it! See those guards from Cizhou? We’ll split up
according to the number of wagons. The more you kill, the more
share of the grain you get later!”
The crowd of the people rubbed their palms, eager for a fight.
They did not even need the aide to give a command before they
swarmed forth.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan had only brought the porridge to his mouth
when he heard the battle cries. A bunch of bandits charged out
from the public road and brandished their blades to start slashing.
Fortunately, the Cizhou guards were guarding at the periphery, and
both parties began to combat at close quarters. Fei Sheng
immediately opened his mouth and shouted at the group of
refugees, “Robbery! Cai Yu sent his men over to snatch the grains!”
Fei Sheng shouted at the top of his voice. His shouts were not
loud, but the refugees nearby were already scared out of their wits.
They jostled and bumped into one another and shouted after him,
“Robbery! Cai Yu sent his men over to snatch the grains!”
Upon hearing this, a chief on the other end grew emboldened
and roared with savage laughter. “We’re here to rob grains!
Whoever dares to stand in our ways will be sacrificed to our blades!
Brothers, charge!”
The Cizhou’s guards were too few in numbers to withstand the
momentum of the bandits’ charge, what’s more when all the
refugees were right behind them. As they jostled together, cries of
those being trampled on rang out all over. On seeing this, the
bandits started to harbor the intent to toy with the people, and so
they yanked out the elderly, the weak, women, and children and
terrorized them with their blades. “Not only are we robbing the
grains, but we are also going to kill, kill, kill!”
The bandits dragged along a woman with a child in her arms
by her hair, and the gleaming blade frightened her so much that
she was trembling all over as she wept and pleaded. But the
bandits were used to committing all kinds of atrocious acts, and
when they saw her wailing, they did not feel any pity and instead
burst out laughing in unison. They even reached out their hands
and made to haul over the child in her arms.
Unexpectedly, a hand suddenly reached out from among the
crowd of people to stop that blade.
Qiao Tianya tossed aside the hem of his robe and grinned,
“Killing is one thing, but why humiliate others? It’s so annoying to
hear all these weeping and wailing. Raise your hand and drop the
blade in one swift move; get it done and over with!”
This bandit exerted his strength, but the blade did not budge
the slightest. He bellowed, “Good grief, bro! Let go!”
Seeing his face flushed with anger, Qiao Tianya took a few
steps back, causing the chief to stagger to keep up pace with him.
Shen Zechuan, who was standing back, said, “What’s the point
of making a fool of the others? Qiao Yueyue, let go and give it back
to him.”
Qiao Tianya said, “Sure, no problem. I’m letting go. I’m letting
go right now!”
The words had only just left his mouth when Qiao Tianya really
did let go. That bandit was forcefully dragged forward in a lunge
towards Qiao Tianya. Qiao Tianya stepped aside to dodge him,
then lifted his foot and kicked that bandit in the ass, sending him
flying into the crowd and landing right in front of Shen Zechuan’s
feet.
As that bandit made to get up, his gaze shifted up along the
white robe. Just as it was about to slide up to Shen Zechuan’s chest,
the tip of Yang Shan Xue’s sheath pressed against the center of his
hair, bringing the upward trajectory of his head to a stop.
Shen Zechuan’s expression turned cold, his gaze sharp and
fierce as he spoke with righteousness. “Cizhou is here to provide
aid relief to the common folks of Chazhou. It’s fine if Cai Yu doesn’t
allow me into the city, but do you people have to tear down the
porridge booth too? Then go ahead and tear them down. Don’t
hurt anyone.”
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it had enraptured those
in the surrounding vicinity. Chazhou had suffered greatly at the
hands of Cai Yu and the Yan Clan’s schemes to increase the price of
grain, and the people were presently overwhelmed with sorrow
and indignation. As the woman who was rescued cried, quite a
number of the others also started to cry.
How could the bandit have known that he’d fallen into a trap?
All he could remember was the headcount the chief had
mentioned earlier. Unable to raise his head high due to the
humiliation, he braced himself and spat hatefully, “Chazhou is the
big boss’ domain. If he wants to tear it down or kill its people, can
you people stop him?!”
Shen Zechuan very slightly decreased the amount of strength
he had been using, “These grains—”
In an instant, the bandit grabbed the blade that had fallen
nearby, lifted his arm, and moved to slash Shen Zechuan’s chest.
Qiao Tianya had already moved, but the bandit was far closer, and
that blade went straight for Shen Zechuan. However, it was at this
very moment that the bandit saw the composure in Shen Zechuan’s
eyes, as if he had been waiting just for this.
The sheath of Yang Shan Xue made a ‘thump’ sound as it struck
the side of the bandit’s blade. However, a few drops of fresh blood
followed in the wake of the sound, splattering on Shen Zechuan’s
sleeve.
A man standing alongside Shen Zechuan dropped onto his
butt, paralyzed and terrified. “They’re killing people!”
Qiao Tianya had initially thought the blood belonged to
someone else, but upon closer inspection, it was actually Shen
Zechuan’s left hand that was bleeding.
Cries of alarm rang out all around. Fei Sheng, who was far
away, bellowed with all his might, “Who dares to harm my
master?!”
As soon as he said that, the Imperial Bodyguards all drew their
blades. From the moment Qiao Tianya intercepted the blade, one
of the chiefs standing in the back knew that they had encountered
someone difficult to deal with. He quietly took a few steps back and
commanded, “Do as the big boss says. Hack them all to death!”
The bandit in front of Shen Zechuan was not dead yet, so Qiao
Tianya kicked him from the back, sending the man rolling onto the
ground. But, before Qiao Tianya could draw his blade, several
people rushed forward from behind Shen Zechuan, swarming
towards the bandits as they threw punches and kicks at them. The
crowd was roused to action, their anger having reached its peak.
The refugees stampeded forth in unison, fearlessly colliding with
the bandits without a care for their lives.
“Cai Yu, open up the granaries! You evil bandits must die! Don’t
hurt our benefactor!”

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Footnotes
1. 斗 dou, a dry measure for grain equal to one-tenth of a 石
dan.
2. 石 dan, dry measure for grain. In QJJ, 1 dan =
approximately 90kg (see author’s note in chapter 113).
3. So a dou would be about 9 kg.
4. 子时 11pm-1am based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times
 Qiang Jin Jiu – Chapter 141 : Rain

Translated with: Jia<3

How could the bandits have expected that the commoners

would rally together and fight back? The deafening sound of
trampling feet roared like sudden claps of thunder, while the
cacophony of curses and cries blended together and engulfed the
bandits like a surge of floodwater. The commoners were already all
seeing red as they shouted in the melee, “The evil bandits deserve
to be killed!”
The bandits were not a match for this many people. Stones and
broken bowls went flying and smashing all over, causing the
bandits to scurry for cover. Seeing as the situation did not bode
well, that particular chief intended to flee, but when he looked
back, Cai Yu’s trusted aide was already running away!
“Son of a bitch!” The chief flew into a rage and took to his heels
too.
But he was unlucky, and the sharp-eyed Fei Sheng deftly hauled
him back. This chief was merely a commoner, and there was no
way he could defeat a well-trained Imperial Bodyguard like Fei
Sheng, so he promptly fell into the horde of people who swarmed
around him to beat him up while he covered his face and rolled on
the ground wailing.
The rest of the bandits were thrown into disorientation. Seeing
how the commoners outside the city were all acting like man-
eating evil spirits as they pummeled the chief, they abandoned the
battle and fled back into the city.
◈ ◈ ◈
Cai Yu was waiting for updates in his residence. The dishes left
aside on the table had already gone cold. He suddenly heard a
commotion outside and hurriedly got up, but he had only taken a
couple of steps when he saw his attendant stumbling his way in.
The latter reported in a panic, “Old Master, there are plenty of
people outside. They have surrounded our mansion!”
 Cai Yu’s main forces had already been dispatched out of the
city, and at present, he had no more than five hundred people left
behind in the city. It immediately dawned on him, and he hissed
through clenched teeth, “I’ve been had!”
He had no men by his side at present, and this gave the small-
time gangs an opening to exploit the situation.
Cai Yu immediately said, “Tell the guards guarding the
compound and the remaining men to keep an eye on the various
courtyards’ gates. Bring my cloak over. I’m going to meet them
personally!”
Cai Yu draped his cloak over himself and secured his
broadsword, then briskly made his way outside with his entourage.
The residence’s doors were tightly shut. Cai Yu peered through the
gap in the door and saw torches everywhere outside the residence.
Even though his heart was heavy, he still faked a laugh and said,
“Who do we have here? I’m not hosting a feast today, and there’s
no joyous event going on either. So why raise such a big hooha
coming over to give your congratulations?”
Outside, Luo Mu leisurely replied, “I heard Elder Brother has
been haunted by nightmares lately and has trouble sleeping, so I
made a special trip to invite the various brothers over tonight to
dispel the evil energy in Elder Brother’s residence.”
Cai Yu expressed displeasure on hearing Luo Mu’s voice.
“Mengzheng, I married my younger sister off to you, and I treated
you well too, and yet you return my kindness with enmity. I’m afraid
that’s a violation of moral principles.”
Without batting an eyelid, Luo Mu said, “Cai Yu, you shut the
granaries to sell grain and profit off others’ misfortune, and you
turn a blind eye to the destitute and displaced commoners outside
the city. You are no longer considered a chivalrous bandit who robs
the rich to help the poor. As the prefectural prefect of Chazhou, I
had no choice but to socialize with you for years in order to make
you let down your guard. Now that you’ve lost the heart of the
people, you should surrender without resistance as soon as
possible.”
Cai Yu had never been one for pretenses. He was instantly
beside himself with rage. “What a shameless lad! You were so
sincere and earnest in your words when you asked for my younger
sister’s hand in marriage, and now you’re turning against me. You,
you despicable scum!”
Luo Mu strode a few steps forward, not wanting to engage
further with Cai Yu. “Open the doors quickly and surrender, or we’ll
break the doors down!”
Cai Yu gripped the broadsword at the side of his waist and
hollered, “I’ll see who dares to force their way in! My blade hasn’t
aged one bit. I’ll kill whoever dares to come forth!”
But even if Cai Yu cut an imposing presence, he still would not
be able to withstand a siege on all sides. The guards in the Cai’s
residence were all ordinary people, and they all had the urge to
flee when they saw the sinister glints of the broadswords and
swords outside.
Under the protection of his bodyguards, Cai Yu avoided the
rain of arrows that had been unleashed upon him. “I’ll handsomely
reward anyone who guarded the compound! My position in
Chazhou was personally appointed by the young master; he even
calls me ‘pa’. Luo Mu, if you harm even one strand of my hair
tonight, the young master will definitely make you pay back two-
fold in the future!”
Before Luo Mu could respond, he heard Kong Ling, who was
standing next to him, speak, “And who exactly does this Chazhou
belong to? It’s enough that you’re the Yan Clan’s lackey, yet you
even want the commoners of Chazhou to join you and be his
lapdogs too?! You’ve played accomplice to a villain and helped
him do wrong by the people, causing many innocent commoners
to die! Let’s not even begin to talk about tonight; we’re definitely
taking you down!”
The main gates of the outer courtyard had already been
smashed open the moment Kong Ling’s words left his mouth. Even
as he watched them rush in, Cai Yu refused to resign to his fate and
followed the few remaining men in his residence as they fought
and retreated. In under an hour, they had already been forced back
to the perimeter of the courtyard in the rear.
In the vast expanse of the night, Cai Yu became a prisoner
caught in the trap. He had spent half his life being chivalrous, yet
he had fallen, all for the word “money”. And now, at the sight of his
fortune going up in flames, and of his wives and children weeping,
he could not help but feel a sense of grief akin to that of a hero
reaching the end of his rope. But it was too late for regrets.
Feeling contemptuous about Luo Mu’s behavior, Cai Yu was
determined to fight back until the very end. It was pandemonium
on the streets outside of the Cai Residence, with different gangs all
joining the fray. Cai Yu’s men were decreasing by the minute. Just
as Cai Yu had completely lost heart and was ready to take his own
life, he suddenly heard a cry of “gege” from amidst the chaos.
Luo Mu, lamenting the ill-timed arrival, turned back and
shouted, “Send the young madam back!”
Concubine Cai had always been pampered and coddled, and
yet, she had run all the way in her haste to hurry over, losing not
just her shoes in the process but also falling and injuring her arms.
She couldn’t care less about her sweat-drenched hair as she
pointed at Luo Mu and trembled uncontrollably. For all her
shrewish nature, there were now only insuppressible chokes of
sobs emitting from her throat. “Luo… Luo Mu! You…” she wailed,
“You despicable and vile man!”
Although cognizant of Kong Ling who stood by him, Luo Mu
could not help but take two steps forward.
Concubine Cai’s hair was disheveled as she held her head high
amidst her panic. She spat at Luo Mu, tears streaming down her
face. “I gave my heart to a dog! How could I have been deceived
by a bastard like you?!”
Concubine Cai and Cai Yu were siblings, with a large age gap
between them. Although she was his little sister, Cai Yu nurtured
her like his very own daughter. Brother and sister had both grown
up depending on each other and were thus very close to each
other.
Seeing Cai Yu completely surrounded, Concubine Cai
understood that Cai Yu would not escape death tonight. So she
covered her face and cried out, “It was me who brought harm upon
gege!”
When Kong Ling saw Concubine Cai covering her face, he
realized things were about to go south and hurriedly said, “Quick,
stop her!”
But it was too late. Concubine Cai made use of the action to pull
out a golden hairpin in her hair. In the blink of an eye, blood had
already splattered all over the silks and satins she was adorned in.
Cai Yu was overwhelmed with grief at seeing this. Tears streamed
down his cheeks as he stood among the crowd, his head tilted
back as he shouted in sorrow, “My silly sister, it’s clearly I who have
ruined you!”
With that, he severed the idea of brandishing his broadsword
to slit his own throat. With a loud bellow, he charged into the group
of bandits and hacked away at several people until he eventually
died of exhaustion, but even then, he was still shouting before his
death, “I am Cai Yu of Chazhou. My time has thus come to an
end!”
When the first glimmer of dawn appeared during the hour of
mao1 after a night of chaotic battle, the strife in the city had already
ceased. Nearly half of the Cai’s residence courtyard walls had
collapsed, its prosperous image of yesterday completely
evaporated. Attendants and maidservants swept the gold and
silver ornaments in the residence into their bundles, taking it along
with them as they fled into the night.
Kong Ling stood at concubine Cai’s side and watched as the
pool of blood stained the hem of his robe. Cai Yu’s entire family lost
their lives this night, most of them killed under the bandits’ blades.
Kong Ling waited for Luo Mu to come and collect concubine Cai’s
body for burial, only to hear an attendant say that Luo Mu had
gone over to check out the Cai clan’s granaries.
Kong Ling stood where he was and waited right until late
afternoon. But Luo Mu never came.
◈ ◈ ◈
Once Cai Yu fell, the grain stores in Chazhou all came under
Luo Mu’s charge. He was now not only sitting on Cai Yu’s grains,
but also Cai Yu’s wealth. Cizhou’s grain wagons finally entered the
city, but the money he promised Cizhou earlier never materialized.
The price of grain in the city was still one tael for one dan of rice,
the same price Cai Yu had set while he had been alive.
 Fei Sheng said with a sigh in the courtyard, “While I was still in
the imperial prison in the past, I often heard that son of a bitch Han
Cheng talk about how fieldwork isn’t easy, and how the local
“officials” are all very shrewd. Their notoriety is truly well-
deserved.”
“Their craftiness is much stronger than the officials in the
capital.” Qiao Tianya pillowed his head on his arms and laid down
on a stone bench to bask in the sun. “No wonder he could be the
prefectural prefect in Chazhou for so many years. He sure is
something.”
Beside them, Kong Ling brewed tea in wordless silence.
Shen Zechuan, who had been in the principal room, lifted the
curtain and emerged. The three of them made to get up, but Shen
Zechuan motioned for them not to. “What time is it now?”
Fei Sheng competed to reply, “It’s almost noon.”
Shen Zechuan grasped his folding fan. Seeing as the sun was
blinding, he shook open the fan to cover his eyes. “Chazhou has
scored a victory, but we still have yet to hold the celebration feast,
right? Go send Luo Mu an invitation. Tell him that we’ll be having a
drink here tonight.”
Fei Sheng acknowledged the order and added, “Master, but
what if he doesn’t dare to come?”
Shen Zechuan revealed his eyes that had a hint of a smile in
them. “If he doesn’t, then he’s a gutsy one.”
Fei Sheng could hear his displeasure. He hurriedly retreated out
of the room and went over to deliver the invitation.
Kong Ling had been drinking and gambling these few days,
looking as if he was having so much fun that he forgot all about his
home and duties. But he still stood up when he saw Shen Zechuan
coming down the stairs.
Shen Zechuan said, “I heard it was Mister Chengfeng who paid
for concubine Cai’s burial.”
Kong Ling folded his arms in his sleeves and touched the
remaining fried soybeans in his sleeve pocket. “Oh. Yes, it was
me.”
Shen Zechuan closed his folding fan and looked at Kong Ling
for a moment.
 Kong Ling thought Shen Zechuan was displeased, but he had
no wish to explain further.
He did not expect Shen Zechuan to let the matter drop. Instead,
Shen Zechuan drank half a cup of tea and probed no further.
Kong Ling remembered the wound on Shen Zechuan’s left
palm that night and felt even more tired. He was conscious of the
fact that he had barely done anything this trip, and yet he was even
more exhausted than he had been in Cizhou.
To Fei Sheng’s surprise, Luo Mu not only showed up that night,
but he had also come alone. The cook in this residence was new,
and his culinary skills were just passable. Shen Zechuan did not
nitpick on the food, so even though this was proclaimed a feast,
the dishes were only very slightly more exquisite than usual.
Refugees were still a common sight in Chazhou at present, and as
such, Shen Zechuan ate simply too.
The atmosphere between both parties was harmonious by the
time they had been through three rounds of wine. Fei Sheng noted
that whether it was Shen Zechuan or Luo Mu, they were both
cordial and amiable, neither one displaying any sign of displeasure
over the standstill the last couple of days.
Luo Mu made a toast as he spoke. “We are all good to discuss
matters about the grain now that everything is in place, but I was
just wondering when is the Vice Commander planning to return? It
will be easier for me to get the advisors in my residence to draft up
a charter if I have a date to work with.”
Cai Yu had already been dead for three days. This matter had
been discussed long before they took action. Luo Mu’s refusal now
to proceed as per the initial agreement was because he was
intentionally trying to stall for time and go around in circles with
Shen Zechuan. It was just as he had said to Kong Ling, every
increase of grain by one dou per tael equal to a reduction in profit,
and that was all real money at stake there. And now that all this
money had landed in his hands, it was simply impossible to expect
him to forfeit it the way he used to think.
There was a girl and her blinded old man in the hall singing a
tune. As Shen Zechuan watched the old man play the erhu,2 he
tapped his fingers gently on his fan, as though he had not heard
Luo Mu. It was only after the tune was finished that Shen Zechuan
responded with a smile, “I’m on a tight schedule; it’ll be in the next
two days.”
Luo Mu looked to be in a spot as he spoke. “Two days is too
much of a rush. Can’t the Vice Commander stay for a few more
days? Chazhou has many scenic spots that the Vice Commander
has yet to visit.”
Shen Zechuan’s gaze shifted and landed on Luo Mu’s face. “My
family at home are worried, and I’m anxious to return.”
Shen Zechuan’s answer had been gentle, but Luo Mu
unwarrantedly reined in his frivolity. He straightened up in his seat
and said with a solemn expression, “That’s true. How about this
then? The Vice Commander may return first, and when my side is
done drafting up the charter, I’ll send someone to bring it over.
Chengfeng can stay to supervise and act as a witness.”
Kong Ling was about to speak up when Shen Zechuan tapped
his fan lightly against the edge of the table at the same moment.
He then kept his mouth shut and did not speak.
Holding onto his fan, Shen Zechuan kept his eyes on Luo Mu
even as he spoke to the blind old man. “Play another tune, one
from Chazhou. Doesn’t Chazhou have that song3 ‘To Kill A
Bandit’?”
That blind old man gave a slight nod of his head and shifted a
little to get his granddaughter to switch over to the pipa4 and start
playing.
Shen Zechuan did not respond to Luo Mu’s words, and Luo Mu,
who sat across from him, did not dare to bring up the matter again.
Initially, he could still look at Shen Zechuan in the eyes, but as the
tune gradually took on a murderously sinister overtone, he began
to sweat profusely.
Shen Zechuan opened the lid of the teacup. “This tea was a gift
from Your Excellency. It’s good-quality tea. Is it from Hezhou?”
Luo Mu forced out a laugh. “We found them from our search of
the Cai’s Residence. I’m not knowledgeable about tea, so it’s better
to present this to the Vice Commander as a show of my respect.”
Shen Zechuan smiled and replied, “I don’t like tea.”
 The girl’s fingers slid along the pipa. The clanging of the pipa
was just like slashes of blades slicing through the air to perforate
into his ears and rupture his eardrums, so intense was it that Luo
Mu’s back was soaked with sweat. This one song felt unbearably
endless to him. That entire table full of dishes had already gone
cold, the most striking of which was the Lion’s Head5 in front of
him. By the time Luo Mu left the feast, his legs had already gone
numb.
Shen Zechuan stood under the eaves and said to Fei Sheng,
“Send His Excellency back. It’s a long journey to make.”
Luo Mu forced himself to bow, looking over at Kong Ling
several times before finally being led out the door by Fei Sheng. In
no more than four hours on the very same night, the previously
agreed-upon documents and money were all delivered to Shen
Zechuan’s residence. As he lay awake in the middle of the night,
Luo Mu could only think of one thing, and it was that Shen Zechuan
knew what he had been planning to do.
Luo Mu had been stalling for time because he wanted to send
off Shen Zechuan and wait for the message from the Yan clan
originally meant for Cai Yu. Cai Yu was no more, but he had
stepped forth. He could also do what Cai Yu did for the Yan clan.
The price of grain offered by Cizhou was indeed low, but that was
only from the standpoint of the commoners. There was nothing
beneficial in it for Luo Mu at all. He might not even be able to get
that small profit he used to get from staying by Cai Yu’s side.
He initially thought that Shen Zechuan had not brought that
many men along and so would not dare to lay a hand on him.
Then, by the time Shen Zechuan returned to Cizhou, Luo Mu would
already have been in contact with the Yan clan. When the time
came for Cizhou to consider coming back to collect their debt, he
would have the backing and confidence to reject Cizhou.
However, Shen Zechuan’s meaning tonight was clear. He had
not fallen for Luo Mu’s ploy at all. He was in a rush, and if Luo Mu
couldn’t get matters settled and placed his hopes on the Yan clan
of Hezhou instead, then Shen Zechuan would dare to make his
move and kill Luo Mu right away. That song was as clear of a
response as ever.
 Closing his eyes, Luo Mu thought about Shen Zechuan’s actions
outside the city. A man who even dared to put his own life at stake
would not care about the consequences of killing him at all. Before
they took action against Cai Yu, Shen Zechuan had said that “they
were here to do business”. Now that Luo Mu thought about it, he
realized that those words had also been an early warning from
Shen Zechuan to him.
◈ ◈ ◈
Two days later, Fei Sheng remained stationed in Chazhou,
where he could keep track and take records of the prices as well as
keep an eye on Luo Mu. Cizhou’s grain wagons entered the
granaries, with the shopkeeper from the cosmetics shop keeping
the accounts for them. And so, the grain trade between Cizhou and
Chazhou was decided. The price Shen Zechuan settled on with
Zhou Gui and the rest back in Cizhou was one tael for one dan and
eight dou of rice, but it was now a little higher at one tael for one
dan and six dou of rice. This price, though, was already lower than
Qudu.
By buying the grains from Cizhou, Luo Mu not only had to set
up booths to hand out porridge, but he also had to think of the
most effective way to optimize the money being spent. Chazhou’s
problem of utmost priority was re-registration in the census register.
He now held the food of the small-time bandits in his hands; he
could enlist them in the garrison troops. There were still some
issues when it came to the follow-through, but all of these could be
discussed again when the large batch of grain arrived from Cizhou.
With Fei Sheng here, they could also keep a constant eye on the
movements of the Yan Clan in Hezhou.
Shen Zechuan had successively taken out two of the Yan Clan’s
main forces in Zhongbo, and the Yan clan was not one to forget
about this debt. They initially had nothing to do with each other
before, but now, he had to put his attention on Zhongbo, on Shen
Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan did not stay for long. He got on the horse
carriage that very day and left. Just as they were almost out of
Chazhou’s territory, they suddenly heard someone in a carriage
chasing after them from behind.
 Qiao Tianya lifted a corner of the curtain and whispered to
Shen Zechuan, “It’s Luo Mu.”
Luo Mu was here to see them off, but Qiao Tianya said Shen
Zechuan was not feeling well today, so he let that matter drop. He
was mainly here to see Kong Ling off, anyway. Both of them got off
their carriages and walked for a while along the public road.
Luo Mu took out the pastries wrapped in oil paper from his arms
and said, “You loved to eat these back at the academy. I saw
someone selling them when I stepped out and bought them in
passing. Take it with you to eat during the journey.”
Kong Ling looked at the oil paper. “It was so many years ago,
and you still remember it.”
Luo Mu smiled ruefully. “It’s… something I ought to remember.
Will you come along with the next batch of grain wagons?”
Kong Ling took the oil paper and walked a couple of steps. He
did not answer.
Luo Mu looked at Kong Ling like how he had always done so
many years ago.
Kong Ling squeezed that bundle of pastries and said
inexplicably, “Back then when we left the academy, you asked if I
was going to Qudu, and I didn’t answer. We later went our separate
ways. Have you ever gone back for a look?”
Luo Mu said, “When I left the academy, I headed west with my
family and lived in Qudu for quite some years…”
Kong Ling turned his head back and finally looked Luo Mu in
the eyes. “Mengzheng.”
Luo Mu waited for a moment, but Kong Ling did not continue.
He could not help but laugh. “Later, while I was in Qudu, I heard
that you threw in your lot with Tantai Long and worked under his
command. He’s a good official, and you guys have achieved quite
the result there too… Why didn’t you marry?”
Why didn’t I marry.
Kong Ling silently repeated it to himself and slowly smiled. He
was already old, and yet at present, he was giving off an aura of
gentleness and composure that he had possessed in his youth.
Somehow, there was still will and spirit in this pair of eyes that had
already turned cloudy. He grasped that bundle of pastries tightly
and merely said, “… I should leave now.”
The wind surfed past the blades of grass. Kong Ling turned
around. He did not wait for Luo Mu’s answer.
Luo Mu stood in the wind and watched as Kong Ling’s sleeves
and robes fluttered along with the breeze. His throat tightened. He
could not help but take a step after him; he even reached out with
his hand. The white hair mixed in Kong Ling’s bun disappeared in
the wind, covered by the dancing leaves. In his trance, Luo Mu saw
time as it was many years ago.
Kong Ling missed many a number of things in this life of his,
but that was not because he never tried to fight for them. He once
tossed and turned in bed because of an invitation, but all he got
after pacing to and fro as he waited in the academy was a bout of
seventh month’s rain. He waited in that rain until his eyes were wet.
And from then on, he went away to a distant land far from home.
Mengzheng was a free-spirited man.
This was something Kong Chengfeng came to understand in
that rain. Many years later, he waited again, but all he had to show
for that endeavor in the end was a robe with a bloodstained hem.
No matter which time it was, Luo Mu never came.
From then on, Kong Ling and Luo Mu never saw each other
again.

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Footnotes
1. 卯时 5-7am based on the system of two-hour
subdivisions used in former times
2.
3. 二胡 Erhu, a two-stringed bowed musical instrument.
4. Specifically 词 ci, a form of classical Chinese poetry
dating from the Tang dynasty, in which verses are written to
fit pre-existing tunes, often in lines of varying length.

5.
6. 琵琶 Pipa, a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument,
belonging to the plucked category of instruments.
7. 狮子头 Lion’s Head, or stewed meatball, is a dish from the
Huaiyang cuisine of eastern China; nothing to do with real
lions, these are large pork meatballs that are
steamed/braised and served with vegetables
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 142 : INKLING
Translated with: Jia<3

Who exactly was the young master in white handing out

porridge on the outskirts of the city? Countless commoners inside
and outside the city were all scrambling over themselves to guess.
Some said he was an adviser of Zhou Gui; some said he was a
distant nephew of Kong Ling. Rumors flew all over without a single
concrete explanation. It was only when Shen Zechuan left the city
that his identity as the eighth common son of the Shen clan spread
like wildfire and promptly became the talk of the town in Chazhou.
Compared to the storm of public opinion in the city, Shen
Zechuan’s return journey was calm and quiet; it could even be said
to be silent. They returned along the public roads, in not that much
of a hurry.
Because Shen Zechuan had fallen ill once on his way over.
Kong Ling and Qiao Tianya went to great pains to make prior
arrangements before they embarked on the journey back; they
even bought an overcoat from a peddler from Hezhou, just to cope
with the sudden turn of cool weather during their journey.
Kong Ling, being attentive, told Qiao Tianya, “It’d be better to
get a physician to take a look at the Vice Commander when we
return. He can afford to build up his health while he’s at home.
Otherwise, we’re all going to be on tenterhooks if he has to venture
out again on business the next time.”
Qiao Tianya held the bowl of water in his hands and looked at
the horse carriage parked under the shade of trees. “Where are we
going to find a good physician? With the way my master’s health
is… only a formidable physician would be able to make a
diagnosis. As his guards, there is no matter concerning our master
that is troublesome. I’m just worried that my master will feel
apologetic for inconveniencing us.”
Kong Ling knew nothing of Shen Zechuan’s consumption of
medicine in his early years; he always thought that Shen Zechuan
was just not in good health. But from the way Qiao Tianya put it,
Shen Zechuan used to be in better health back in Qudu than he
was now.
Qiao Tianya drank a sip of water and made no further mention
of this matter.
He had been feeling bored during the journey these two days,
and thus he had repeatedly thought back to that night the bandits
went on a rampage to hurt the others. He felt that even if Shen
Zechuan wanted to deploy the trick of injuring himself in order to
trap the enemy, he should not have been so badly hurt. Once his
body was used to reacting swiftly, it would be even tougher for him
to control himself from warding off the blow right that very instant.
Qiao Tianya had seen Shen Zechuan draw his blade before. To
the others, Yang Shan Xue was too long, but because Shen
Zechuan was swift enough, it was solely just right for him. Qiao
Tianya saw the wound on Shen Zechuan’s palm after the incident
and found this injury to be unusual.
Although Shen Zechuan looked as he always did usually and
never revealed a word of it, Qiao Tianya guessed that it was for the
sake of concealment that Shen Zechuan did not draw his blade
recently. If that was truly the case, then Shen Zechuan might have
sensed that his body was no longer what it once was much earlier
than the people around him. However, it had not even been six
months since the day they left Qudu.
This matter had to be conveyed to shifu and the marquis.
As Qiao Tianya thought about it, he splashed away the
remaining water, kept away the bowl, and rose to instruct the men
around him. “It’s almost time. Let’s hurry on with the journey.”
The sound of movements outside woke Shen Zechuan up. His
neck was sore and aching. Thus he leaned his head to one side to
rest it against the wall of the carriage and slowly exhaled. The
curtains of the carriage were not lowered, and he was too lazy to
move, so he remained in this position and watched the trees along
the way shift backwards slowly as the horses started to run.
“Where are we?” Shen Zechuan’s voice was slightly hoarse.
Qiao Tianya put on his bamboo hat to block out the sunlight
and sat outside the curtains to drive the carriage on. “We can arrive
at Chazhou’s borders tonight. Travel for another two more days,
and we’ll be within Cizhou’s territory.”
This public road had fallen into disrepair in the last few years,
and traveling along it made for a journey so bumpy that it gave
Shen Zechuan a headache. “The next time the grains are sent to
Chazhou, get Luo Mu to fork out money and hire a repair team to
fix it up properly .”
Qiao Tianya pretended to sigh with emotion, “Then what about
when we travel to Libei? The roads there are even more difficult to
travel on.”
“The tracks in Libei are all bridle paths.” Shen Zechuan perked
himself up a little as he spoke. “They were constructed to be wide
and flat to facilitate the passage of the armored cavalry. Be careful
not to let the marquis hear you fabricating stuff up behind his
back.”
Qiao Tianya took down the stalk of grass he had been holding
in his mouth. “It’s fine even if I said it to the marquis’s face. If he
comes back this time, you should first make sure he doesn’t see
that injury of yours.”
Shen Zechuan raised his left hand. Even though the wound had
been bandaged, the wound area was prone to being soaked with
sweat due to the hot weather, and the sensation was akin to being
bitten by ants. “Xiao Ce’an is currently busy; there’s no way he’ll be
back for a month or so. If you don’t mention it, he naturally won’t
find out.”
Qiao Tianya bit back down on the stalk of grass.
Shen Zechuan asked, “Are you going to tell on me?”
Qiao Tianya said as he steered the carriage, “Later. Let’s talk
about it later. I can’t hear you clearly from here.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his arm. “I’ll write him a letter when we
get back, and we’re considered done with this matter.” He thought
about it for a moment after saying so, feeling the nape of his neck
starting to tingle with itch faintly, then as if remembering the
sensation of being bitten by Xiao’Er, he emphasized his words,
repeating once more, “The matter is considered over and done
with.”
 Agreeing on the surface, Qiao Tianya pulled at the reins as he
thought about it.
As expected, telling the marquis is the best way to handle him.
Tried and tested!
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan had left for a little less than half a month this
time. Gradually, the heat of the seventh month subsided. Due to its
proximity to Libei, Cizhou was much colder than Chazhou, with
signs of autumn already beginning to show.
Zhou Gui had been looking forward to their return, and he
started waiting outside the city very early on. Upon seeing the
horse carriage approach, he lifted his robes and walked over with a
beam. “Vice Commander, Chengfeng! It has been hard on you the
entire journey. Please enter the city now. I’ve already prepared a
feast to welcome you back!”
They paused for a bit outside of the city gates to exchange
courtesies before heading in together. Zhou Gui hosted the feast in
his own residence, hardly discussing official affairs at the table. He
knew that Shen Zechuan had fallen ill during the journey, and so
after the meal was over, he personally saw Shen Zechuan out of the
residence. He emphasized that there was no urgency regarding
the affairs on hand, so there would still be time for a discussion
after the Vice Commander had rested for the night.
Even then, Shen Zechuan still had Qiao Tianya remain in the
Zhou residence, so that when Zhou Gui and Kong Ling gathered
the fellow advisors in the study to discuss the trip to Chazhou, Qiao
Tianya could stand by to listen and answer any questions so as to
not slow down the proceedings.
On the other end, Ji Gang, who had also been waiting for a
long time, came over to receive Shen Zechuan when he saw the
latter coming from where he stood at the entrance of the alley a
distance away. The sky had turned to dusk, and with Shen
Zechuan’s sleeves hanging down, Ji Gang did not see his injury. He
gave Shen Zechuan a once-over, and followed up with a question,
“How did you fall sick on the road? I even asked Songyue to
prepare a coat in advance, worried that the weather would change
while you were travelling.”
 Shen Zechuan lifted his right arm and led his shifu through the
door. “It’s just a cold; I’m fine, it’s no big deal. Has shifu taken your
meal yet? I sat down for a meal earlier in the Zhou residence, but I
haven’t eaten my fill yet.”
Ji Gang walked side by side with Shen Zechuan through the
door. He still meant to ask about his illness, but Shen Zechuan’s
“haven’t taken my fill” steered him off course, and he happily said,
“I’ve guessed it. I knew you’d arrive home today, so I made a
special trip out this morning to choose some plump fishes. What do
you want to eat? Shifu will prepare it now for you. They have
already been cleaned up, and the ingredients are all prepared and
ready, so it’ll be ready in no time!”
Ding Tao came up from behind them and poked out his head.
“Young Master, Young Master is back!”
Li Xiong followed suit behind him and shouted “Young Master”
too. Ding Tao’s sparrow leaped onto his shoulder and chirped
away. It was merely a few steps from the entrance to the courtyard,
and yet it was even more lively than it was outside. The flowers and
plants in the courtyard had been tended to with such care that they
were in an even better condition than they had been before he left.
The hall of the principal room was spacious, and the bamboo
blinds had all been lifted; it looked comfortable.
Shen Zechuan ate another meal with Ji Gang and asked about
Ding Tao’s and Li Xiong’s progress in their martial arts. Fortunately,
it was his left hand that was injured, and he rested it on his knee
the entire time during the meal, so Ji Gang did not suspect a thing.
The lively vibe in the room kept up until the hour of zi,1 when Ji
Gang told Shen Zechuan to rest early. As it was Qiao Tianya’s turn
to be on duty tonight, he took up Ding Tao and Li Xiong away.
It was only when the room fell silent that Shen Zechuan
breathed a sigh of relief and took off his outer robe. The
maidservants let down the curtain and lit the incense. All along, no
one was permitted to remain in the room to serve at night, so the
maidservants withdrew from the room to the hallway, leaving only
Shen Zechuan behind.
Shen Zechuan took a bath, changed his clothes, and returned
to the room where he put on the outer robe again. Then he lit a
lamp and began to write a letter. At the first quarter of the hour of
chou,2 Qiao Tianya returned and set the new book Zhou Gui and
the rest had newly drafted up on Shen Zechuan’s desk.
Shen Zechuan sealed the letter and asked, “What’s the latest
news in Libei?”
Qiao Tianya, who had his coat over his arms, said, “Bad news.
It’d be better for Master to hear it tomorrow morning so that you
can get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
Shen Zechuan flipped through the book. “The worst news I can
hear is that those from Biansha have already fought their way to
our threshold. So go ahead and tell me.”
Qiao Tianya turned the chair over and sat astride it. “Not to that
extent. It’s the marquis. The marquis brought the Imperial Army
into Libei territory, but he did not head north back to Dajing to
meet with the Hereditary Prince. Instead, he went to Bianbo Camp
near Zhongbo. The marquis stayed in Bianbo Camp for a night,
then led the troops east the next day to launch an assault on the
Shasan Camp, thereby scoring a military achievement and
distinguishing himself to His Lordship the Prince.”
Shen Zechuan lifted his eyes and thought for a moment. He
smiled. “The Shasan Camp is no small achievement.”
“Right?” Qiao Tianya picked up the conversation. “Such a
significant merit ought to be rewarded.”
On hearing this, Shen Zechuan asked, “What did His Lordship
reward him with?”
Qiao Tianya stretched out a finger. “One camp.”
Shen Zechuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
Qiao Tianya continued, “The Bianbo Camp. His Lordship kept
the marquis there and handed over the Shasan Camp, which the
marquis fought to take back, to Guo Weili instead. Does Master still
remember this person? It’s the same dude who previously framed
Gu Jin for colluding with the enemy. The handover between both
parties was not pleasant. The marquis retreated to the back,
sandwiched between Shasan Camp and the Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang. There was completely no sign of him in the
battles to the north and east.”
 Shen Zechuan released his fingers and closed the book. “The
Bianbo Camp is a main camp the Hereditary Prince used as a
supply site. By remaining there, Ce’an would be managing Libei’s
military supplies and gears.”
However, there was no shortage of generals of military supplies
in the Libei Armored Cavalry, so why did Xiao Fangxu insist on
getting Xiao Chiye to do it? All else aside, it was far harder for Xiao
Chiye to be a general of military supplies than to be a commanding
general of Shasan Camp. If Xiao Chiye were in the Shasan Camp,
then as long as he led the Imperial Army to fight successful battles
with the Biansha men and earned military merits to his name, all
sorts of rumors and gossip against him would naturally evaporate
into thin air. When the time came for him to step into the battlefield
in the north, he would have the confidence and credence to
engage with the other Libei commanding generals. But as the
general of military supplies in Bianbo Camp, he would be lower in
rank than the other commanding generals. He had to heed the
requests assigned to him from the various parties and run all over
Libei to deliver supplies. This was not only a hard job to do, but
would also make him easily susceptible to being bullied and
mistreated. When it came to it, his military achievements would not
be up to par as the commanding generals fighting battles ahead of
him, and yet the hardships he had to put up with would be no less
than the others.
After a moment of silence, Qiao Tianya probed tentatively, “Did
His Lordship pick up the marquis from somewhere and adopt him?
The disparity in his treatment of the marquis and the Hereditary
Prince is really great.”
Shen Zechuan looked at him and said, “Seems to me like you’re
the one who was picked up.”
Qiao Tianya raised his hands in surrender and shut his mouth.
Shen Zechuan passed the sealed letter to Qiao Tianya and said,
“Get someone to deliver it tonight. It’s late now; there’s no need for
you to stand guard outside. Go back to your courtyard and get
some rest.”
Right before Qiao Tianya was about to step out, Shen Zechuan
called out to him.
 When he looked back and saw Shen Zechuan’s expression, he
said in earnest, “I know. I remember it. The part about you getting
injured is over and done with. I won’t mention it to the marquis.”
His quip made Shen Zechuan forget what he was about to say,
so Shen Zechuan waved his hand at him in speechless silence as
an indication for Qiao Yueyue to leave.
Shen Zechuan did not remain sitting for long after Qiao Tianya
left. It was already late at night now. He blew out the lamp and lay
on the bed, listening to the croaking of frogs from the courtyard
pond. He did not know if it had been Ding Tao or Li Xiong who had
caught them and brought those frogs to the pond, but they created
such a din that he could not sleep.
It was only after an unspecified amount of time later that Shen
Zechuan’s consciousness started to dim. There was no one beside
him except for the refreshing sweetness of the incense for
company, but somehow, it turned into the metallic stench of blood
in his dreams. The Chashi Sinkhole, which had not appeared for a
very long time, now lay beneath his feet. Shen Zechuan looked
down at it, but there was nothing inside.
The faint croaking of the frogs hovered in the air. Shen Zechuan
broke into a sweat and subconsciously turned over with his back to
the croaking.
There was no snowstorm over the Chashi Sinkhole tonight. The
sun rode high up in the sky, blazing to the point Shen Zechuan felt
the stinging pain on his skin and sweated profusely. There was
evidently no corpse in this pit, and yet Shen Zechuan felt himself
surrounded all around by people he could not see. They
smothered him, making it hard for him to breathe. He could not
help but pull apart his tightly fastened collar. Drops of sweat
dampened both of his eyes as he gasped for breath. He saw a
person lying in the sinkhole.
It was his own self.
A chill suddenly ran down Shen Zechuan’s spine. He thought of
Qi Huilian. His teacher shouted for him, but his voice was drowned
out by the croaking of the frogs. Shen Zechuan never used to be
afraid of returning to the Chashi Sinkhole again; he had no fear of
this place at all. Yet, at this moment in time, he had the urge to flee.
 Someone approached Shen Zechuan, and Shen Zechuan
opened his eyes almost instantly.
Xiao Chiye had only just partially removed his armor as softly
as he could. How could he have expected Shen Zechuan to wake
up so suddenly? He promptly froze by the bedside, still with his arm
guard in his lifted hand.
Both men looked at each other for a moment
Sensing something amiss, Xiao Chiye tossed the arm guard
onto the desk and pulled up a portion of his sweat-drenched,
narrow sleeves. He squatted at the side of the bed and cupped
Shen Zechuan’s cheeks with his palms. “What are you peeking at?”
Only then did Shen Zechuan seem to snap back to his senses.
Xiao Chiye drew closer to him and looked at Shen Zechuan
with a sharp, penetrating gaze. His eyes were like stars in the pitch-
dark room, so bright and calm that Shen Zechuan’s mind gradually
cleared. Xiao Chiye stroked his slightly damp hair and whispered,
“It was such a bumpy ride here. Get Zhou Gui to fix the road as
soon as possible. He closed off the city; I squatted outside and
yelled for half a day.”
For some inexplicable reason, Shen Zechuan was amused into
smiling as he nestled in Xiao Chiye’s palms. It was then that he
woke up from his nightmare. The scene of his own corpse lying at
the bottom of the pit was still clearly imprinted in his mind, but in
just the twinkling of an eye, he had forgotten it all.
Shen Zechuan let out a partial smile before asking dubiously,
“Then how did you get in?”
Xiao Chiye took a deep breath and answered slowly, “I
somersaulted over. Lang Tao Xue Jin is still tethered out there.”

NOTE:
The next chapter 143 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) is up in advance for readers who have
purchased the web novel or physical copies of QJJ. ↓↓↓ Please read
the whole section below first ↓↓↓
First things first, regular updates will remain the same @ the
current schedule.
 But readers who have bought the novel will get chapters in
advance (no fixed limit; depends on how fast we go and how long
the chapters are really, e.g. we might just post 144 tomorrow or so
in advance).

We want to actively encourage readers to buy the novel to

support the author whenever possible, so please do so if you can!

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Footnotes
1. 子时 11pm to 1am
2. 丑时 1-3 am
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 143 : HIDDEN
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye’s body temperature was running hot. He was bathed

in sweat all over after riding for half a night. He retracted his hand
and continued to disrobe, looking at Shen Zechuan as the latter sat
up and asked, “Have you eaten tonight? I’ll look for something to
fill your stomach. I met the courier horse delivering your letter on
my way back, so I intercepted it, and now the letter you wrote me is
with me.”
Shen Zechuan, who had been making to get off the bed,
paused. He lowered himself and watched Xiao Chiye from that
position with a hint of seduction in his gaze, “Where is it?”
Xiao Chiye raised a finger and tapped at his chest.
Shen Zechuan extended his right hand in an expectant gesture
to ask for it.
Xiao Chiye placed his armor to the side and rose with his
hands on his knees, staring at Shen Zechuan as he did so. “Want it
back? Come get it yourself.”
Shen Zechuan felt a tingle run down his spine from Xiao Chiye’s
gaze. He felt his way to Xiao Chiye’s chest and slid the pads of his
fingers down along his chest. All he could feel was Xiao Chiye’s
sweat-drenched muscles. He whispered in a soft voice, as if he did
not seem to understand, “Give it back.”
On the surface, Shen Zechuan still had the dazed look of one
still not fully awake, yet his fingertips were feeling Xiao Chiye out
with ease and familiarity. His fingers wandered, mindlessly and
almost imperceptibly, not minding in the least to let Xiao Chiye
know that his appearance now was merely an act.
Xiao Chiye relaxed his breathing, afraid that he would lose
himself to his own desires and devour Shen Zechuan clean in just a
twinkling of an eye. He seemed to be unmoved, using only an
ardent gaze to pursue Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan felt all over that sturdy torso, his breaths
intertwining with Xiao Chiye’s as he moved. They pressed close
together in this position, one higher than the other. Shen Zechuan’s
expressive eyes glistened with ripples of desire. Despite this, he still
spoke guilelessly, “Ce’an, I can’t find it.”
Xiao Chiye allowed Shen Zechuan’s fingers to do as they
pleased. He tilted his head slightly, catching a waft of Shen
Zechuan’s scent.
Seizing the moment, Shen Zechuan pressed his cheek to him
and nuzzled against him. The satiety brimming in the corners of his
eyes took hold of Xiao Chiye’s heart, clenching it.
As he perspired, Xiao Chiye laughed out loud—a brief, harsh
sound. He set his palm on the small of Shen Zechuan’s back,
pulling him so close that Shen Zechuan was practically pressed
against him in his embrace. There was no distance between them
as they kissed, neck to neck. But while Shen Zechuan was kissing
him, Xiao Chiye was biting him.
As Shen Zechuan was pinned down onto the bedding, he
swiftly extended his arm and placed his injured left hand onto the
nape of Xiao Chiye’s neck. The bedding sunk down under their
combined weight. Shen Zechuan’s inner garment was in disarray,
and as Xiao Chiye kneeled with his head lowered to look at him, a
fan fell out.
Shen Zechuan picked the fan up. He had only just grasped it in
hand when he saw the letter fall out too.
Xiao Chiye made to pick up the letter, but the sharp-eyed Shen
Zechuan deftly used the folding fan to push the letter aside to the
edge of the bed. Immediately after, he flipped the folding fan over
and propped it against Xiao Chiye’s chin, then lifted his head and
planted a kiss on Xiao Chiye’s lips.
Xiao Chiye did not appear to notice his actions, absorbed as he
was in the kiss to the point he was roused and poised for action.
Both of them had not done it in quite a while, so now that they
had finally just met, Xiao Chiye went along with Shen Zechuan’s
teasing. As though he had reached the end of his patience, Xiao
Chiye fondled Shen Zechuan until Shen Zechuan was flushed red
all over. Waves of passion crashed into Shen Zechuan to the point
that he trembled uncontrollably. Shen Zechuan had learned well,
no longer the picture of inexperience like he had been back in
Qudu.
Shen Zechuan narrowed his eyes, using the last bit of his
reason to remind himself to find a way to toss the letter under the
bed later… Before he could finish putting together his plan, he was
flipped over by Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye held onto Shen Zechuan’s waist, admiring the
contours of his back as they formed an absolutely beautiful curve.
Shen Zechuan’s sweat-soaked inner garment had turned
translucent. From the back, it appeared to offer an unobstructed
view of the scenic scene underneath, yet it also seemed to be
shrouded under a veil of fog—distant and unattainable.
Shen Zechuan looked back, wetting the corners of his lips.
Xiao Chiye went on the offensive to seize his territory—this all
belonged to him. The scorching heat. The damp sweat. The
moans. The expressions in his eyes. The shivers. Even the scent
that Shen Zechuan emitted along with the rocking movements. All
of this belonged to him. They were all his—Xiao Chiye’s.
Whenever Xiao Chiye’s thoughts strayed down this path, a
limitless well of exhilaration would surge up inside him. Shen
Zechuan knew him too well, and every sultry look he gave him was
a knife to the chest. Xiao Chiye exerted himself physically; the more
he cherished this man, the more terrifyingly rough he became.
He wanted to caress him to pieces.
Xiao Chiye nibbled on Shen Zechuan’s right ear, holding the
jade earring between his lips.
Shen Zechuan could not endure such a position; it was buried
so deep that his sweat and tears flowed in never-ending torrents.
But there was nowhere for him to escape to; Shen Zechuan’s
waist and ankles felt as though they had been restrained with a
chain. He felt a little strained, and a little pained, yet this pain sent
tingles of electricity up his entire body, rendering it limp and numb.
It made him forget all of his nightmares. There was only Xiao
Chiye, Xiao Chiye, Xiao Chiye—Shen Zechuan shivered, all
drenched in sweat. Just as he was about to lose control and let
himself go, he murmured, “… Ce’an.”
 Xiao Chiye was clearly not done, yet Shen Zechuan’s soft, lazy
call made him come.
Half of Shen Zechuan’s body had already sprawled over. He
buried his head between his arms and gasped incessantly for
breath. He was still trembling slightly. The bedding under his knees
was already a wet expanse.
It was in this position that Xiao Chiye bent over and covered
Shen Zechuan with his chest. He had yet to withdraw, and as he
pressed down on him, he advanced deeper instead of retreating,
causing Shen Zechuan to let out a muffled moan. Xiao Chiye
offhandedly brushed aside the messy pillows and enveloped him
in this way. “Hug you for a good night’s sleep.”
Shen Zechuan’s earlobes had been bitten red, and the exhaled
breath of hot air made it numb and sore. He lifted his cheek from
his arms, his eyes red and wet as he mouthed to Xiao Chiye: Too
mean.
Xiao Chiye kissed him, and he remained motionless. There was
a soft wet, watery sound, and only then did both of their
ravenousness alleviate some. Shen Zechuan was bearing Xiao
Chiye’s weight, and yet he felt incomparably relaxed, as if Xiao
Chiye’s presence was his impenetrable shield.
Xiao Chiye caressed him. He understood him all too well. He
could tell just how much weight Shen Zechuan had lost just by
holding him in his arms. He nudged away the hair by Shen
Zechuan’s ear with the tip of his nose and said in hushed tones,
“Did things go smoothly in Chazhou? You’ve lost so much weight.”
Shen Zechuan thought for a moment and shook his head.
Xiao Chiye probed, “What happened with Luo Mu? Did he give
you the attitude?”
Shen Zechuan pursed his lips tightly and continued to shake his
head.
Xiao Chiye exhaled warm air and teased him. “Did the bandits
in Chazhou create trouble? I’ll redeploy the Imperial Army over for
you.”
Shen Zechuan half-narrowed his eyes. “From missing you.”
Xiao Chiye had yet to answer him.
 But Shen Zechuan continued, “It’s rather cold to sleep alone on
an empty bed.”
Xiao Chiye embraced him from behind, grasping both of Shen
Zechuan’s arms tightly. He started to say something, but then
caught a glimpse of white out of the corners of his eyes. He pulled
over the left hand Shen Zechuan had been hiding under the
blanket and abruptly turned it over, where he saw the gauze
wrapped around it. His eyes shifted to Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan did not look at him and buried his head into the
beddings.
“Shen Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye pulled Shen Zechuan’s face back
by the chin and enunciated each word, “You. Sure. Know. How. To.
Hide. Huh?!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The next morning, Qiao Tianya headed out of the city early on
and led Lang Tao Xue Jin, who had been left outside the city in the
cold for the entire night, back. When he arrived at the courtyard, he
saw Meng striding around playing by itself under the eaves. He
blew a whistle at Meng and asked in a soft voice, “Where’s your
Master?”
Meng paid no attention to him, not even with a tilt of its head
as it went about its own way. It turned back and continued striding
as though it had an endless stream of concerns weighing on its
mind.
Qiao Tianya saw that the bamboo blinds in the principal room
had been lifted, but there was no one in attendance standing
under the eaves. It was bright and spacious inside the principal
room. Shen Zechuan sat behind the desk with a book in hand
covering his face, revealing only a pair of eyes looking across at
Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye put up one of his long legs and leaned back in his
chair with a hand propped up as he rotated his thumb ring.
Although he did not look back, he had already heard Qiao Tianya’s
footsteps, so he said, “Come in.”
Noting something amiss with the atmosphere, Qiao Tianya
bent over to enter at the same time that he asked with a smile, “The
weather is pretty good today. How about having lunch in the
courtyard?”
Xiao Chiye did not answer.
Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze and motioned for Qiao Tianya
to continue.
Xiao Chiye said, “You, shut up.”
Qiao Tianya, who was standing at the back, sensibly shut his
mouth and revealed a can’t-help-you-there expression. He felt that
he really shouldn’t be standing here.
Xiao Chiye rotated past the crack on his thumb ring and
caressed it with his finger. He still had a matter on his mind. “Go
call Ding Tao over first.”
Ding Tao was standing at the courtyard entrance when he saw
Qiao Tianya coming out of the principal room. The latter stood
under the eaves and beckoned to him, but Ding Tao felt a little
reluctant to go. He placed his hands at his back and rubbed at the
mud left between his fingers, then shuffled over at snail’s pace to
the bottom of the steps. Inexplicably feeling a little afraid, he
craned his neck and said in a small voice, “I’m here.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Get your ass in here now.”
Ding Tao jumped up the steps, then slowed down as he
cautiously made his way in. He saw Qiao Tianya standing by the
side pretending to be a wooden stake, then saw Shen Zechuan
looking down at a book, and he felt sure that he was going to get a
beating today.
Xiao Chiye turned sideways and asked, “Where did the frogs in
the pond come from?”
With his hands behind his back, Ding Tao lowered his head
and answered, “Caught them from outside…”
Xiao Chiye said, “It must have been hard catching them from
beyond the city and bringing them back home, wasn’t it? That’s
quite some distance.”
Ding Tao braced himself and said, “Not, not too bad…”
Xiao Chiye sneered, “Rebelling when no one’s at home, aren’t
you? Before I left, I told someone to clean up the pond, and you
turned around and threw frogs into it.”
 Ding Tao had caught them for fun. He initially planned to put
them in his own courtyard, but their courtyard had no pond, and
Shen Zechuan wasn’t home half a month earlier, so he and Li
Xiong had tossed them into the pond after catching a bunch. But in
just a couple of days, he had forgotten all about them. Who would
have known that the Master would return right then!
Ding Tao stole a glance at Shen Zechuan just as he was done
thinking about it.
Xiao Chiye said, “Who are you looking at?”
Ding Tao instantly withdrew his gaze and lowered his head like
a timid quail to listen to the lecture.
“Go.” Xiao Chiye continued. “Get rid of all of them before the
hour of you1 today. If I hear the frogs croaking again tonight, I’ll get
someone to fish them up, bring them to your room and make you
sleep with them for company.”
How would Ding Tao dare to raise any objections? He nodded
his head vigorously, then leaped up and dashed out of the room
onto the hallway shouting, “Daxiong—” He was only just done
yelling when he belatedly covered his mouth and whispered in a
particularly small voice, “Come catch the frogs!”
Shen Zechuan changed his posture and held the book steady.
Xiao Chiye looked at him, although he spoke to Qiao Tianya,
“What happened during the trip to Chazhou? Your Master’s recount
isn’t clear. You tell me.”
Qiao Tianya scratched his head. He was now starting to envy
Fei Sheng, who was still in Chazhou. He had a good sleep last
night, but he had been neglecting his appearance lately; he did
not even have the time to shave as he stood in the morning light
and spilled it all out in a concise and comprehensive manner.
Qiao Tianya did not even hide Shen Zechuan’s illness. If Xiao
Chiye had not returned, then his lack of mention was because of
Shen Zechuan’s instruction. However, now that Xiao Chiye was
back, Qiao Tianya took the opportunity to give Xiao Chiye a
reminder.
Once Qiao Tianya was done, he did not wait for their
instruction before he added on, “The discussion of the affairs over
in the Zhou’s residence last night isn’t done yet. Since Master is not
heading out today, then I’ll set off now.”
With that, he made his way out from the bamboo blinds,
fleeing even faster than anyone else.
Shen Zechuan did not sleep for long last night, and now he
was feeling sleepy reading the book. His gaze shifted over to Xiao
Chiye’s face. When he saw Xiao Chiye looking at him, he blinked,
as if he had only just noticed it, putting on a pretty convincing act.
Xiao Chiye said nothing.
Shen Zechuan loosened his grip and revealed his face. “A-Ye,
I’m so hungry.”
Xiao Chiye folded up that opened letter and stuffed it back in
the same way it was before.
Shen Zechuan probingly stretched his leg out and stepped on
the tip of Xiao Chiye’s shoe. He set the book aside on the table and
bent over, the tip of his foot nudging along Xiao Chiye’s calf.
Xiao Chiye stared at him and said callously from a small
distance, “You’ve knifed me in the heart so bad it’s been torn to
shreds. It’s too late now. Shen Lanzhou, I’m dead.”

NOTE:
The next chapter 144 is up in advance for readers who have
purchased the web novel or physical copies of QJJ. ↓↓↓ Please read
the whole section below first ↓↓↓
First things first, regular updates will remain the same @ the
current schedule.
But readers who have bought the novel will get chapters in
advance (no fixed schedule/limit; depends on how fast we go and
how long the chapters are really).

We want to actively encourage readers to buy the novel to

support the author whenever possible, so please do so if you can!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 144 : ORANGE JASMINE
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye, having rushed his way back on his horse at top
speed, rested for a night, although he had to get on his horse and
head back after the hour of zi 1 tonight. He ran on a tight schedule,
and he had gone to great efforts to painstakingly save up these
two days of free time. He had been on the move for eight or nine
days in a row in order not to delay the transportation of supplies to
the site of battle. And he had done it all just to see Shen Zechuan.
But who would have thought that he would end up so angry?
Xiao Chiye held up Meng and removed the anklet on Meng’s
leg before putting it back on, causing Meng to flap its wings and
throw a tantrum. Xiao Chiye threw a tantrum too. He was vexed,
feeling angrier the more he thought about it.
Ji Gang returned from his stroll with his birdcage in hand. He
was taken aback to see Xiao Chiye, but after a moment of
hesitation, he entered all the same. Xiao Chiye paid his respects to
the shifu. Due to Xiao Chiye’s height, Ji Gang had to raise his head
to look at him.
“The war in the north is in a critical situation.” Ji Gang handed
over the birdcage and said, “Your shifu must have been having a
tough time fighting battles.”
Xiao Chiye hung up the birdcage and said, “It has been tough
on him. Shifu often thinks of you and mentions you from time to
time.”
Ji Gang placed his hands behind his back and said, “I’ve never
fought a battle, so I can’t be of help there. You rushed back in such
a hurry; is there an important matter you have to attend to?”
Xiao Chiye thought not yet, although the reply from his mouth
was, “The Beiyuan Hunting Grounds have been given to me, and
the Imperial Army intends to remain stationed there. I came back to
ask Lanzhou about the progress. Once it’s almost time, I’ll arrange
for someone to come over.”
 Ji Gang knew that these were all matters they spoke of in detail
and at length, so he nodded and did not probe further.
It was rare for Xiao Chiye to come across Ji Gang, so he seized
the opportunity to say, “Did Lanzhou fall ill on the way to Chazhou?
Shifu, he’s a picky eater. With you to keep an eye on him back at
home, he would still pick a little of each dish to eat a little. Even
when he falls ill, he is willing to take his medicine. But once he’s out
on business, everyone around him listens to him, and without
anyone to keep watch on him, he’d dare to pick and choose his
food.”
Ji Gang was reminded of this as soon as he heard Xiao Chiye,
“Oh, right! I was going to give him a piece of my mind yesterday!”
“He steered you away from the topic.” Xiao Chiye finally
stopped tormenting Meng and lifted his arm to let it go. “He has a
guilty conscience. No doubt he wouldn’t dare to mention it to
you.”
Ji Gang nodded, but then, sensing something odd, he asked,
“Why would he have a guilty conscience? Is Chuan-er hiding
something else from me?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye said with a slight furrow of his brows. “There
is a large gash on his left hand. The return journey was long, and
they didn’t change the dressing meticulously enough on the way
back. When I saw it last night, the wound on his palm was almost
festering from all the sweating.”
The color drained from Ji Gang’s face. He hurriedly followed up
with a question, “Where’s he?”
“Sleeping.” Xiao Chiye paused for a moment before continuing.
“He slept late last night, and he was pretty exhausted too. He was
all worn out when he woke up this morning. Shifu will have to keep
an eye on him in the future, lest he doesn’t take his health seriously.
I’m far away in Libei, and plenty of what I know depends on what
he shares with me in his letters. If he has the intention to keep it
from me, then I would be kept completely in the dark.”
Ji Gang straightened up. “I have to watch him change his
dressing.” Then, he thought the better of it and sighed. “He wasn’t
quite nursed back to health back then when we were staying at the
temple. The physicians we called for were all useless men who
could not come to a diagnosis. His body is weaker than others. The
longer time elapses, the more it has to be taken care of. You know it
too. When he entered the capital, he was first tortured in the
imperial prison followed by a flogging, and then there was your
kick… That was one brutal kick! If not for my old acquaintances in
the Imperial Bodyguards coming to his aid on the sly, Chuan-er
would’ve been long dead. His health was in a terrible state at that
time and to hide it from the others, he took medicine. Now I’m
worrying day and night, precisely because I’m afraid.”
Xiao Chiye kept silent for a moment, then suddenly lifted the
hem of his robe and fell to his knees. He set both palms squarely
on the ground and kowtowed formally to Ji Gang.
Ji Gang was promptly stunned. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Chiye maintained his position and spoke with his head
bowed to the ground. “Six years ago, when I rode my horse across
Zhongbo, the man I hated the most was Shen Wei. I held him in
contempt for abandoning the city and fleeing, and I also feared the
Empress Dowager’s support for her puppet, and so I kicked
Lanzhou in Qudu. Shifu is right. My kick back then had been brutal.
I’d done it with the intent to take his life.”
Ji Gang choked, momentarily tongue-tied. Afraid that Shen
Zechuan could hear him from inside the room, he turned his head
away and let loose a heavy-hearted sigh.
Xiao Chiye paused for a moment, then continued, “It’s all my
fault that Lanzhou is in such ill health today. The physicians in
Zhongbo are incapable; I’ve already gone and invited Venerable
Yideng over. When the war subsides after autumn, my shifu will
come and take his pulse too. Even if Lanzhou is utterly difficult to
care for, I still want to do it. But I’m currently stationed far away in
Libei, and the deliveries of provisions for the military cannot be
delayed; If I cannot see him, I don’t feel at peace. Incidents like
what happened in Chazhou cannot keep happening, but I have
neither family nor close friends in Zhongbo, and can only ask this
of shifu. Shifu, Lanzhou abruptly came face-to-face with adversity in
his youth, and he likes to keep things to himself. Even when he’s in
pain or sorrow, he keeps mum about it. But he treats you as his
father. As long as you’re by his side, he will take your feelings into
consideration and show more regard for his own health. I don’t
have any other request; all I ask is for you to scold him a little more,
so that he will know the errors of his ways and feel pain—the next
time he does something like this, shifu, lash out at me, Xiao Ce’an!”
Ji Gang stood rooted to the spot, stunned and stupefied,
feeling as if there was something not quite right with those words,
yet at that point in time he could not quite put his finger on what
exactly was wrong with it. He looked towards the window, where
he heard a light clink of a teacup from the other end of the
bamboo blinds, just one sound, and then all was quiet again.
◈ ◈ ◈
The frogs in the pond had been entirely removed, and the
courtyard was very peaceful after dinnertime.
Xiao Chiye went to have a shower after his meal. Lang Tao Xue
Jin and Meng had already been fed. Shen Zechuan stood under
the eaves and scooped up a handful of the newly planted orange
jasmine. There was no one else in the courtyard, but there was a
small table with snacks under the eaves, bathed in the evening
glow of the sunset. Shen Zechuan sat down and gazed out into the
distance at the setting sun, lost in his thoughts.
Xiao Chiye walked out, damp from his shower, and crouched
down behind Shen Zechuan as he dried his hair. Shen Zechuan
grasped the orange jasmine and turned his head back. Xiao Chiye
lowered his head and kissed Shen Zechuan. The setting sun was a
hue of reddish-orange, and the world, silent and still; even the
wind was tactful enough to leave this portion of the courtyard to
just the two of them.
Shen Zechuan suddenly turned around and pounced on Xiao
Chiye. Partially leaning back against the door frame, Xiao Chiye
hugged Shen Zechuan tightly and pressed the tip of his nose
against Shen Zechuan’s cheek, saying in a fierce tone, “You’re
pressing against my injury.”
Shen Zechuan threw the pieces of orange jasmine into Xiao
Chiye’s pocket, “Let me touch it.”
Xiao Chiye did not let him. He grabbed hold of both of Shen
Zechuan’s wrists and pulled him towards himself. He was strong
and fit, and so it did not strain him the slightest to bear Shen
Zechuan’s weight. Even the way he sat was carefree and
unrestrained. Both of them cuddled together, from dusk to night.
Actually, Xiao Chiye had been very unhappy for the past half-
month.
The Shasan camp that the Imperial Army had taken back had
been given to Guo Weili, and when Guo Weili came to take over, he
bumped into Gu Jin. Both of them found the other an eyesore, and
friction was also increasing between the soldiers under their
commands. Xiao Chiye swallowed this grievance and took over Wu
Ziyu’s position in the Bianbo camp, but escorting the transportation
of supplies was far more difficult than he had imagined. He was
bossed around by the commanding generals of the respective
military camps at the site of battle, and even after retreating to
Dajing, he still had to submit a full and detailed report to Xiao
Jiming regardless of its significance. After leaving the military
tents, he had to socialize with the merchants from Luoxia Pass and
Huaizhou, often drinking through the night. Then he would have to
ride off to another camp, even before the sky had turned bright.
But he had no intention of telling Shen Zechuan any of these.
Xiao Chiye thought of the folk songs of the Hongyan
Mountains; he did not know how to sing them and could only hum
its melody playfully. Shen Zechuan had his eyes closed as he slept
amidst the delicate scent, his head resting against Xiao Chiye, and
his hands clutching at the front of Xiao Chiye’s robe. Xiao Chiye
held him in his embrace, humming until it was about time before
he picked him up and carried him back into their room.
Shen Zechuan did not loosen his grip, so Xiao Chiye bent over
and blew lightly at his palms, then crouched down and watched
for a short while before saying, “I’m still angry.”
Shen Zechuan partially opened his eyes and poked at Xiao
Chiye’s cheeks, whispering, “Don’t be.”
“All you do is lie to me, you…” Xiao Chiye was momentarily at a
loss for words. “Is er-gongzi this easy to deceive? You sure are
remarkable to be bullying a pure and innocent young master.”
Shen Zechuan rolled over to lie on his stomach and faced Xiao
Chiye, head to head.
Damn, this gaze.
 Xiao Chiye could only swallow his indignation. He pinched
Shen Zechuan’s cheeks and spoke in a raspy voice, “Go on, keep
acting cute with me. It’s futile, Shen Lanzhou. If you give yourself
another stab the next time, I’ll die immediately in Libei. I won’t exist
anymore, do you hear me?”
Shen Zechuan nodded, all well-behaved.
Xiao Chiye leaned closer and bumped his forehead against
Shen Zechuan’s. “I have to go.”
Shen Zechuan did not let go. “When will you be back next?”
Xiao Chiye had no answer for that. He stroked Shen Zechuan’s
cheeks with the pads of his fingers. “Soon. There are still plenty of
matters to attend to, but things should get easier once autumn
arrives.”
It was already the hour of zi. Shen Zechuan released his grip
and gazed at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye had never felt standing up to be this difficult. He
swiftly put on his arm guard and let down the bed curtain. Finally,
he lowered his hand and brushed across the tip of Shen Zechuan’s
nose with a finger. “Sleep well, Lanzhou.”
Lang Tao Xue Jin left the city under cover of the night, with
Meng following Xiao Chiye along as it soared the skies and
headed north.
Chen Yang had already come to meet up with him mid-journey.
Xiao Chiye could only sleep for a couple of hours upon reaching
the Bianbo camp, after which he had to head north to the
battlegrounds immediately. At the very exact moment Xiao Chiye
left Cizhou, a donkey trotted into the territory of Zhongbo.
This donkey was carrying a man bent over its back. It was
impossible to tell if this person was dead or alive. A couple of
hungry meowing sounds rang out from within the opening of his
sleeve. The man opened his eyes with great difficulty, looked at the
pitch-dark road ahead of him, and closed them again.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 145 : BEGGAR
Translated with: Jia<3

Several days later, the garrison troops of Cizhou escorting and

transporting the grain wagons arrived in Chazhou. Fei Sheng
returned to the residence to give Shen Zechuan a full report of the
happenings in Chazhou. At the same time, he handed over his
records of the prices of goods in the two prefectures of Huaizhou
and Fanzhou. Not only that, he had even gotten to the bottom of
Lei Changming’s and Lei Jingzhe’s backgrounds.
Lei Changming was a native of Chazhou who had his
beginnings as an armed escort; this was all open and common
knowledge of his background. Fei Sheng, who had made inquiries
all over Chazhou with the help from the shops in Juexi, learned that
Lei Changming had engaged in the flesh trade during the reign of
Yongyi, as divulged by the elderly people in Chazhou. Back then,
both prefectures of Dunzhou and Duanzhou saw a burgeoning rise
in the numbers of the entertainment quarters across their
territories, leading to the proliferation of famous courtesans like
Shen Zechuan’s mother, Bai Cha. Subsequently, Lei Changming
scoured the lands of Dengzhou, hoodwinking innocent and naïve
women and reselling them to Dunzhou and Duanzhou as
prostitutes. Afterward, Shen Wei ordered for the brothels along the
banks of the Chashi River to close down, thereby causing the
businesses in Duanzhou to fall into drastic decline. Lei Changming
had no connections in Duanzhou and could only look for another
way out.
Lei Changming, who had until then been trying to get by,
wanted to resume his old trade. He hence capitalized on the
reputation of the Zhu Clan and went around making connections
with the officials in Zhongbo. In his process of associating with
these officials, he found out that these people dreaded the time
after spring every year when the Chief Surveillance Bureau would
make field trips to conduct inspections and audits. As the Imperial
Censors had the right to impeach, the appraisals of the officials
involved would undoubtedly be affected. This was an important
affair pertaining to their own promotions and transfers, and as
such, they did not dare to act rashly and visit the brothels for
pleasure.
Lei Changming thus hit upon an idea. He set up a “Mingshu
Hall” in Fanzhou, which was a poetry club-cum-teahouse on the
surface. In actuality, however, he had the decent women he
sourced put up there as secret prostitutes to bribe the various
officials. However, this business did not last long either, ruined at
the hands of Shen Wei.
At this point in the record, Fei Sheng had specifically made a
note at the side.
Shen Wei had spies and informers everywhere in the various
prefectures. Ever since he married Bai Cha, he had been rather
heavy-handed in his attempts to crush the brothel trade in the
various prefectures. Lei Changming’s Mingshu Hall had not been
established for even a year when it was wiped out at lightning
speed by Shen Wei. Abducting and trafficking women of decent
origins was punishable by law. To escape responsibility for the
crimes, Lei Changming instructed his subordinate to take his place,
while he hurried over to the prefecture of Dunzhou where he
offered Shen Wei a large sum of cold, hard silver ingots before he
managed to extricate himself.
After this incident, Lei Changming reverted to his ways of
idling around doing nothing. His wife and son had passed away
early, but he did not take a concubine at that point in time. He had
a penchant for grooming children ever since he abducted and sold
women a long time back. But he was too brutal towards them, and
none of those children ever survived. At the end of the reign of
Yongyi, Lei Changming took on the Yan clan of Hezhou’s job to
provide armed escort as a means of livelihood. Subsequently, he
got into the Yan clan’s good graces. It was from then on he really
started to enjoy a meteoric rise.
There was no mention of a jade bead or earring in this record.
Shen Zechuan closed the book and contemplated it for a moment.
“It’s strange. Children who can wear earrings are either wealthy or
noble. Even if Lei Changming dared to abduct and traffic those of
decent backgrounds in Zhongbo, he would not dare to lay a hand
on the noble clans’ heirs from the Eight Cities of Qudu.”
“Master has guessed it right. I heard about this from my
inquiries too, but I can’t very well include it in the report without
evidence, so I have to report this to you in person.” Fei Sheng stood
beside the table and turned his head back to look at Li Xiong, who
was in the courtyard. “I spoke to that lad too, and I more or less
have an idea. During the reign of Yongyi, Lei Changming saved
the young master of the Yan clan, Yan Heru. That child did indeed
wear an earring. He was a good-looking child too, said to be fair
and exquisite, and he was the apple of the Yan clan’s eye. Lei
Changming took Young Master Yan back. Well, as Master has seen
in person, this man was a beast, and he actually harbored indecent
thoughts towards that Young Master Yan.”
Shen Zechuan snapped his folding fan shut.
Fei Sheng continued, “But he didn’t dare to. It just so happened
at that time that Shao from the Ministry of War was imprisoned, and
the male descendants of the Shao clan were all sentenced to
execution. In order to preserve their bloodline, the old matriarch of
the Shao clan had the last remaining grandson of lawful birth
disguised as a girl. This lawful grandson of the Shao clan was
escorted into exile in Zhongbo, where he happened to fall into the
hands of Lei Changming.”
When Fei Sheng reached this point, Qiao Tianya, who had a
book on his face, suddenly sat up. “The Shao clan? The Shao clan
from the Ministry of War during the reign of Yongyi? The Ministry of
War Vice Minister, Shao Chengbi!”
Fei Sheng clapped his hands. “Right. That’s the one. You know
him?”
Qiao Tianya stood up in a flash, momentarily stupefied for quite
a while before he answered, “Of course I know him… Master, I’ve
told you before that I’m the son of Qiao from the Ministry of War.
Shao Chengbi and my father were bosom friends. Not only that,
Shao Chengbi was an official that the Grand Mentor single-
handedly promoted. It was just that he wasn’t good at socializing,
so he hardly interacted with the Grand Mentor. Later on, he
married the elder sister of the current Minister of War, Chen Zhen. It
was because of this that he had a narrow escape when everyone in
the Eastern Palace was being hunted down, and that was also how
he was spared from being exterminated by the Empress
Dowager.”
Fei Sheng nodded. “That’s what happened. But Shao Chengbi
did not make friendly overtures towards the Hua and Pan factions.
To remove him, Hua Siqian abused the power of his own authority
at the end of the reign of Yongyi and had Ji Lei command the
Imperial Bodyguards to frame him as one of the participants of the
Eastern Palace’s rebellion case, causing all his family possessions
and properties to be confiscated and sealed off.”
Shen Zechuan then understood. Lei Changming did not dare
to lay his hands on Yan Heru, so he used the lawful grandson of the
Shao clan as a substitute instead.
Fei Sheng continued, “The lawful grandson of the Shao clan
was older than Yan Heru, but even so, he was merely nine years old
at that time, and he was a grandchild of lawful birth doted on and
pampered by all in the Shao clan. Before Old Matriarch Shao met
her end, she pleaded with all her old acquaintances before she
could have him swapped over and sent out of Qudu. But who
would have thought that he would be ravaged by Lei Changming
when he arrived in Zhongbo? Lei Changming was extremely brutal.
The first reason was that he always liked to drink wine before doing
the deed, and so his restraint was impaired, and he did not hold
himself back. The second reason was that he wanted to stamp out
the root of future troubles. Drag the child out and bury him once
the child was dead, and this matter would be considered over and
done with. Cai Yu was the one who asked around and found out
about it. My guess is that it’s also because of this matter that Lei
Changming had a falling out with the Yan clan later.”
This was the first assignment Fei Sheng was handling for Shen
Zechuan, so he naturally had to do a beautiful job of it. Fei Sheng
then continued to give his detailed report on Luo Mu of Chazhou.
In the process of listening, Shen Zechuan eyed Qiao Tianya.
Qiao Tianya’s mind was preoccupied.
After Fei Sheng took his leave, he took the opportunity to chat
with Qiao Tianya in between the changing of shifts.
 “There’s no need to ask me.” Fei Sheng rubbed his hands
together, washing the space between his fingers clean. “Any news I
have regarding the lawful grandson of the Shao clan came from
the bandits in Chazhou. You know this too; he’s nowhere as
important as Yan Heru, so who would remember his existence back
then? Eight or nine out of ten of the people who fell into Lei
Changming’s hands ended up dead, and even if they didn’t…” Fei
Sheng sighed, feeling complicated, “There’s no way they can
continue living.”
Qiao Tianya faked a relaxed demeanor and merely said, “Did I
even ask you? I didn’t plan on asking.”
“Fei Sheng looked at him in disdain and used his fingers to
gesture at the distance between them. “You know, in all probability,
the reason you waltzed over here was to ask about the matter. It has
been so many years since this incident. If you really can’t get over
things, pretend he’s still alive.”
“There is no ‘pretend’.” Qiao Tianya took a few steps down the
stairs and raised his arms to pillow them at the back of his head,
squinting his eyes slightly as he faced the sunlight. He spoke with
an air of nonchalance, “If he’s dead, he’s dead. It’s so much more
pleasantly cool to lie six feet under.”
◈ ◈ ◈
In just a few days, it’d be the end of the seventh month, where
wagons of silver returned as wagons of grain left Cizhou. Autumn
was just around the corner, and Zhou Gui was worried that the
grains in Huaizhou would be bought up by the other places. Now
that they had money, Zhou Gui began discussion with his advisors
on the issue; this business with Huaizhou needed to be settled as
soon as possible.
Shen Zechuan headed to the study for the discussion, and after
listening, he only asked one question, “What does Mister
Chengfeng think?”
Kong Ling hesitated for a moment. “As I’ve said to His
Excellency last night, going to Huaizhou right now is too hasty. I do
not approve.”
Zhou Gui, who was sitting in the less honorary seat next to Shen
Zechuan, nodded as he spoke. “Chengfeng did indeed say that
when we were discussing the details last night. However, Vice
Commander, some parts of Juexi were struck by natural disasters
this year, and the Provincial Administration Commissioner, Jiang
Qingshan, has also been transferred away. The areas with grain
shortage will no doubt have to buy it from other prefectures.
Huaizhou is close to Qudu, and the autumn harvest is on the
horizon. I’m worried that Juexi will ink a deal with them before we
do.”
Zhou Gui’s worries were not without reason. The granaries that
Cizhou had emptied out to conduct this trade were meant to be
kept for emergency use, so it wasn’t reassuring to be holding on to
all these silvers in hand with no grains in their reserves.
During the past few days, Shen Zechuan had been planning
out a trip to Huaizhou, but he was hesitant not for just this one
reason, but also because Qudu’s transfer papers for Jiang
Qingshan had still not been issued. Regardless of whether this
person was sent back to Juexi or reassigned somewhere else, he
would inevitably affect the trade of grains in Cizhou. If Jiang
Qingshan was deployed to Huaizhou, then their business deal with
Huaizhou – if negotiated now – was likely to end up voided.
Shen Zechuan was in a quandary. “The concerns of Mister and
Your Excellency are not without reason. I’ve also been pondering
over the issue regarding Huaizhou for the last few days. According
to our earliest proposed plans, it would naturally be better to get it
done as soon as possible. But as things stand now, figuring out
how to avoid Qudu’s scrutiny is a concern too.”
Kong Ling said from the side, “Moreover, we have to borrow
the tracks from Libei for the passage of our money wagons, and
this matter still needs to be discussed with the Hereditary Prince.
But in all probability, the Hereditary Prince will not stop us. We are
borrowing the bridle paths of the Libei Armored Cavalry and
converting these silvers into grains to replenish their supplies. At
present, Libei will naturally be happy to agree. I’m only worried
about one thing, and that is, how do we get past Luoxia Pass? The
Luoxia Pass Garrison Troops still fall directly under the jurisdiction
and control of Qudu, and they lack neither grain nor money. Libei
can still pull some strings with them, but what about Cizhou?”
 Given Shen Zechuan’s relationship with Xiao Chiye, he could
also ask for a favor with Luoxia Pass on account of their friendly ties
when it really boiled down to it. But this was built on the basis that
Xiao Fangxu and Xiao Jiming were willing to acknowledge Shen
Zechuan. Otherwise, relying on Xiao Chiye alone… well, apologies,
the Second Young Master at present doesn’t really have that much
of a prestige yet.
By bringing this matter up, Kong Ling was also tactfully
conveying the fact that they were not that close to Libei. They had
to settle the accounts due if they wanted to borrow the tracks for
their own use, and it would not be that easy either if they wanted to
borrow troops in the future. At first, they all thought that Xiao Chiye
was going back to succeed his father and elder brother and carve
out a distinguished career for himself, but based on the way things
looked now, Xiao Chiye was even lower in rank than the
commanding generals at the site of battle. It was not that generals
in charge of supplies were not important, but there was simply no
comparison when it came to reputation and prestige.
They discussed in the study until dusk, but still failed to reach a
conclusion.
When Shen Zechuan returned to his residence, he saw Ding
Tao and Li Xiong waiting to receive him at the entrance.
Ding Tao did not return to Libei, and he was not included in
any of the duty shifts either, so he spent the whole day practicing
shadow boxing at Ji Gang’s side with Li Xiong. They had nothing
to do in the afternoon after they were done with training in the
morning, and thus both of them ran wild all over the place, playing
to their hearts’ content for the entirety of the seventh month. Ding
Tao was no longer upset now. He had forgotten all about Chen
Yang and Gu Jin. There was also no one to nag at him when he ate
sweets at night. It was only when he got a toothache that Qiao
Tianya would lecture him.
“Young Master, there are quite a number of beggars in the city
today.” Ding Tao followed Shen Zechuan and said, “They are all
starving to the point that they’re sallow and emaciated. They said
they came from the city of Dancheng. His Excellency Yu went out in
the morning to buy an entire bamboo steamer basket worth of
steamed buns, and they even fought with one another over those
buns.”
Shen Zechuan paused in his tracks. Seeing as the sky was still
bright, he said to Qiao Tianya, “Let’s go take a look.”
Cizhou had barely started reorganizing its census registry. If
refugees entered, they would all have to head to the prefectural
yamen to report their names and places of origin. This was to
prevent bandits from sneaking into the city. This matter was
already being taken care of. The reason Shen Zechuan especially
came down to take a look was because Ding Tao had brought up
Dancheng.
When they arrived, Yu Xiaozai was giving out steamed buns. Fei
Sheng and Qiao Tianya stepped forward to help, and Yu Xiaozai
repeatedly thanked them.
“Youjing.” Shen Zechuan spoke gently, “Bring them to the
prefectural yamen, and there will be people giving out steamed
buns and porridge. There is no need for you to bear the expense.”
Yu Xiaozai had come to Cizhou on foot with little money on
him. Now that he lost his official position and was unwilling to work
for Zhou Gui as an aide, he stayed in Shen Zechuan’s residence
and let Shen Zechuan support him. But he was very thrifty and
often provided literary services to the others. It was only during this
period of time he managed to save up a couple of taels, and now
they had all been exchanged for steamed buns.
Yu Xiaozai said, “There are only so many rations the yamen can
distribute daily. Most of those who come late are the old, weak,
sick, and widowed. It’s rather pitiful for them to go hungry. In any
case, money is but mere worldly possession.”
Shen Zechuan was also getting suspicious after seeing such a
great number of refugees. The city of Dancheng was one of the
eight cities of Qudu. They did not encounter a natural disaster this
year, and they even provided supplies to Han Jin’s Eight Great
Training Divisions. The Imperial Army even had a feast there when
they passed by the city, so how could there be so many refugees all
of a sudden?
Qiao Tianya was stuffing steamed buns into the hands of the
refugees one at a time when he suddenly heard a commotion
behind him.
Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze over and saw several ruffians
causing a disturbance as they tried to pull away someone else’s
donkey. Fei Sheng saw Shen Zechuan’s expressionless face and
promptly bundled up the steamed buns and waved his hand to get
the Imperial Bodyguards to go over and pull them apart. He yelled,
“What are you people doing there making such a din?!”
One of the ruffians had seen the Imperial Bodyguards at work
before. As he was dragged away, with both legs trailing on the
ground, he said in a panic, “My good sir, it’s not us who are causing
a commotion! These few people first said they wanted to sell the
donkey, but they wouldn’t give it to me after I paid up. Tell me, is
this not a scam?!”
On hearing that, Fei Sheng turned his head and spoke down at
the men. “Don’t you people ever check who is in charge here
before coming over to swindle and defraud others? Hurry and give
the donkey to him!”
The few disheveled and unkempt men timidly tugged the rope
and stuffed it into Fei Sheng’s hands. The donkey brayed from the
tugs. A hand that had been squeezed back behind them slapped
at the ground haphazardly and muttered ambiguously, “That’s my
donkey…”
Fei Sheng had sharp hearing, but he did not want to
complicate the issue, so he pretended not to have heard it. The
ruffians stomped on the hand so hard that it clenched into a fist
from the pain and pounded on the ground. But an unidentified
person at the back pulled him away until that hand abruptly
vanished from sight.
Fei Sheng handed the donkey over. Feeling a slight weight on
his shoe, he lowered his head for a look. It was a kitten so smeared
with dirt that it was all gray and dusty. Fei Sheng bent over to pick it
up. “Taozi, here’s a little playmate—”
Before Fei Sheng could finish his words, that hand showed up
once again, revealing only the tips of its fingers as it dug into the
ground until it was all bloodied mud between the crevices of its
fingers.
“My… My cat!”
 This person crawled over, his forehead scraping against the
ground. The ruffian behind saw Fei Sheng turning over and
hurriedly dragged the person back by the ankles to hide him.
Fei Sheng realized that this person’s legs were in bad shape
and wondered if they had been broken when this person had
taken a beating.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 146 : YUANZHUO
Translated with: Jia<3

Shen Zechuan suddenly said, “Ding Tao.”

Ding Tao kept his little book away and leaped over the
obstruction to grab the arm of one of them. “What are you people
hiding? Move away for the Young Master to take a look.”
Fei Sheng noted their shifty eyes and hemming and hawing, so
he bellowed, “What? Is this donkey not yours?”
A sharp-eyed Ding Tao yelled, “Young Master, there’s a man
below!”
The surrounding Imperial Bodyguards stepped forth and
encircled them. Most of these people were local ruffians from the
city of Dancheng, and they could not help but cower in fear when
they saw the hostile expressions of the Imperial Bodyguards, what’s
more when these Imperial Bodyguards were also all armed with
blades. So before Fei Sheng could give his order, they all dispersed
in an uproar, revealing the man on the ground.
Yu Xiaozai lifted the hem of his robe and moved in closer for a
look. He bent over and exclaimed in shock, “Why is there so much
blood? Quick, help him up quickly and call for a physician!”
Fei Sheng squatted down to check on the man. “These legs are
a goner. Someone broke them.”
This man refused to look up, instead propping himself up for a
moment to say in a hoarse voice, “… The cat is mine.”
Embarrassed, Fei Sheng picked the cat up and put it before the
man, explaining, “I thought it was a stray cat. Is this donkey yours
too? You’re not from Dancheng, are you?”
The man did not answer. He coughed at the ground. As he
covered his lips, Fei Sheng caught a glimpse of the handkerchief in
his palm. This handkerchief was exquisite. Even though it was dirty,
its quality and material were not commonplace. These fingers were
long and slender, without any calluses on them; it was not the
hand belonging to someone used to manual labor or menial
work.
 In an instant, Fei Sheng changed his attitude and said, “Let me
help you up. You can no longer walk on these legs of yours, and
you are so badly ill. The most important thing at present is to have
a physician take a look as soon as possible.”
The man suddenly clenched his fists, and his coughing
intensified. The handkerchief he used to cover his lips was stained
with blood. He was clearly in a terrible state, yet his etiquette was
impeccable as he lowered his eyes and said, “I wouldn’t dare to
trouble you. Thanks for asking.”
Yu Xiaozai saw the zhaowen bag1 hanging around the man’s
waist and realized that this man was a scholar. He could not help
but feel more deeply concerned as he turned his head back to say
to Shen Zechuan, “Vice Commander, he doesn’t seem to be a
wicked person to me. Why don’t we—”
“Vice Commander?” The man’s tone suddenly changed. “Vice
Commander Shen, Shen Zechuan?”
The surrounding Imperial Bodyguards promptly held on to
their blades. Shen Zechuan raised a hand as a gesture for them to
hold it and asked, “Are we old acquaintances?”
The man felt a tidal surge of emotions. He wanted to say
something, but he ended up coughing out blood. His Adam’s
apple bobbed, and his coughing grew even more intense as his
pale, trembling fingers bent and dug into the ground, gouging out
tracks while he mumbled over and over again, “Shen Zechuan, it’s
you!”
This voice gave Qiao Tianya a sense of déjà vu. He turned
around.
Shen Zechuan slowly crouched down and looked directly at the
man. The man moved away the handkerchief covering his lips and
propped himself up on the ground with his arms. His eyes seemed
to have been set ablaze, filled with the madness of someone who
was staking it all on a cast of the dice. He lifted his head. Just as
everyone thought he would wail and go hysterical, he let out a very
soft laugh. This laugh was like the ripple of spring waters, fleeting
and ephemeral, before it quickly plunged into a bottomless abyss
of raging inferno, where the fire burned everything clean along
with his unbending pride and free spirit, turning an immortal free
from worldly cares into a pile of filthy ashes.
Qiao Tianya recognized him now.
A veil of misty rain descended upon past memories of a pair of
like-minded confidantes playing the zither under the willows
amidst the lush scenery of spring. That upright, one-of-a-kind
young master in green had also ended up with his legs broken by
another. Just like that, the unpolished jade that Hai Liangyi and the
Yao clan had cherished and treasured for half a lifetime had been
so easily besmeared with mud.
Qiao Songyue suddenly felt at a loss. He intuitively felt that he
should not continue staring at Yao Wenyu like this, but he once
again saw himself in him. They both lived in the Moon Palace.2
Qiao Songyue had descended, and a dashing, fan-holding young
master of a prominent clan had turned into a blade-wielding,
down-and-out Qiao Tianya. He thought their chance encounter was
transient, but he never expected that they would be fellow sufferers
commiserating with each other the next time they met again half a
year later.
The word “commiserate” was truly overwhelmingly agonizing.
Qiao Tianya hastily averted his gaze, unwilling to look any
further.

◈ ◈ ◈
It was already late at night, and the lights inside the house were
not very bright. The physician’s apprentice came out with the
prescription in hand. Fei Sheng took it and handed it over to his
subordinate to fill the prescription of medicinal herbs. The few of
them were standing in the corridor. Ding Tao was surprisingly well-
behaved as he held that cat in his arms.
Fei Sheng forced a smile and said to Qiao Tianya, “Who would
have expected it to be him? This…”
What was there for him to say?
Stories of the “Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo” Yao Wenyu had
been widely circulating for many years in Qudu, and in all of them,
he was hailed as a “banished immortal”3—a wayward genius living
among men. Even Fei Sheng, who had never associated with the
literati, had heard much of this name. Who would have thought
that the free and unfettered wanderer of the rumors would end up
in such a state? He was even more downtrodden than Yu Xiaozai
when the latter first came.
Yu Xiaozai had already cried once, and now he was facing the
wall, overwhelmed with grief as he choked with sobs, “… How…
how can they let the Grand Secretary down?!”
Fei Sheng consoled in a dry voice, “The way of the world is
unpredictable. Youjing, please don’t be too upset.”
Qiao Tianya leaned against a pillar in the corridor, hidden
under the shadows. He did not say a word.
They had not stood for long when Kong Ling saw the physician
out and beckoned to them. Qiao Tianya fell a few steps behind and
bowed his head down to ask the physician a few questions. The
physician answered him truthfully, and Qiao Tianya fell silent for a
few moments, then turned aside to let someone send the physician
away.
The bamboo blinds that had been let down in the room kept
out some of the candlelight. The interior had been partitioned off.
Shen Zechuan sat outside the partitioned area and said something
to Zhou Gui in hushed tones. On seeing them enter, he only said,
“Fei Sheng, you will be on night watch. Ding Tao, go back to your
courtyard and sleep. Youjing, there’s no need to worry. The kitchen
is decocting the medicine as we speak.”
Yu Xiaozai turned aside to take his seat. After a moment of
silence, he spoke, “Young Master Yao…”
Kong Ling was a perceptive and empathetic man; he knew it
was inadvisable to discuss it in detail here. Bemoaning Yao
Wenyu’s fate or showing Yao Wenyu pity were, to Yao Wenyu,
tantamount to torture at this point; it was no different from death by
dismemberment. So he rose to his feet and led Yu Xiaozai. “It’s late
tonight. Youjing, Young Master Yao has only just arrived; let him
rest for a night. It’s not too late for us to come visit him again
tomorrow.”
With that, he turned back to bow to Shen Zechuan and said to
Zhou Gui, “We still have to discuss matters in the study later. Your
Excellency, please come with me too.”
 Yu Xiaozai, having received a gentle reminder from Kong Ling,
followed suit and rose to his feet to bid farewell too. Before he left,
he cast a glance at the inner room and saw the shadows of trees
intersecting with the flickering shadows of the candlelight. The
man within was silent. Yu Xiaozai thought of Hai Liangyi once more.
His eyes involuntarily reddened. Holding back a long sigh, he
hurriedly strode across the threshold of the door.
The night was bleak, and the veil of moonlight cast upon the
flowers and plants in the courtyard made them appear sickly and
listless. The few wind chimes hanging under the eaves swayed with
the wind, dancing to the tinkling tune of metal against metal. Yao
Wenyu lay on the couch, his consciousness scattering to the beats
of the wind chimes. In his trance, he had returned to Qudu.
Misty rain pervaded Qudu.
Yao Wenyu donned mourning attire and sent off Hai Liangyi to
Mount Bodhi. This mountain was once the burial site of his paternal
grandfather, and now, it was the burial site for his teacher. He stood
in that drizzle, unable to take in the scenery, unable to recognize
the way that could take him back.
The Yao clan had produced national scholars of great talents.
They were full of vim in the successive reigns of Dazhou, and they
were also the mainstay of the divisive noble clans. But during
Emperor Guangcheng’s reign, Old Master Yao revolutionized the
clan’s traditions and renounced the prejudices between family
status. He reached out to the common descendants of humble
origins who were denied opportunities due to a lack of connections
to the powerful and influential. From then on, the Imperial College
flourished. The Yao clan began exploring a different path, but this
path came to a premature end in the hands of the Empress
Dowager, Hua Hewei, and Hua Siqian. By the time it came to Yao
Wenyu’s father’s generation, the Yao clan was already on the
decline. Although the Yao clan still had some influence and
prestige left, it was no longer on par with what it once was during
the time Old Master Yao had been alive. The most fatal of all was
that the Yao clan was faced with a dearth of descendants in this
generation—they only had one Yao Wenyu. The rest were all
descendants from the collateral branch of the clan, and there was
not even one among them who had come out top in the imperial
examinations in spring.
In recent years, the eight clans had all undergone a change in
heads and members. The Yao clan was no longer able to
command the same level of respect from the others. Most of the
juniors in their clan who still served as officials were in idle
positions with practically no obligations; none were third-grade
ministers in esteemed positions like those from the Wei clan.
Although Yao Wenyu was a student under Hai Liangyi and was
friends with many of the literati, he had no scholarly honor or
official position to his name; he had not married Commandery
Princess Zhaoyue of the Fei clan either. Other than the reputation
he had for his talent, he had nothing at all, and in the end, even his
reputed fame had forsaken him. He was like the falling leaves on
this mountain, reduced to nothing but mud. Worthless.
Qiao Tianya lifted the bamboo blinds and turned sideways to
step aside. Shen Zechuan entered the room and sat on the chair
that the physician had previously sat on to take pulses. As the
candlelight flickered, Shen Zechuan spoke, “You’ve been poisoned
by someone, it’s inadvisable for you to stay out in public. If you
don’t mind, you can stay at my home. My teacher and yours are
considered colleagues, and you are old friends with Ce’an. There’s
no need to stand on ceremony.”
Yao Wenyu’s freshly washed face was a picture of calm as he
continued to listen to the wind chimes beneath the eaves. After half
a moment, he answered. “There’s no need to be so tactful. The
reason I came to Cizhou was to seek refuge and throw in my lot
with the Vice Commander.”
Shen Zechuan rested his folding fan on his knee and said, “I’m
now living under another’s roof making a living and trying to get
by. I only dare to be called brothers with you, not master and
servant.”
“The revival of Cizhou was in no small part due to the efforts of
the Vice Commander.” The heavy trauma inflicted upon this body
one after another was meant to make him die. Yao Wenyu started
coughing again. He was but one scholar. It would prove to be hard
to eradicate his illnesses now that they had taken root in his body.
He was now heavily ill, much weaker and frail compared to half a
year ago. He clutched his handkerchief, covering his mouth for a
moment before continuing. “I heard about the Vice Commander’s
deeds on my journey here, and I’m of the opinion that the Vice
Commander wasn’t trying to obtain the six prefectures of Zhongbo,
but Qudu. Once the trade routes between Cizhou, Chazhou, and
Huaizhou are established, it will be able to provide direct access to
the mutual trade market in Libei to the northeast, and keep the
grain routes of Qidong in check towards the southeast. The military
forces of Dazhou on both ends using the routes will have to pass
through the Vice Commander’s scrutiny. The way they fight and the
timing of their battles in the future will all lie in the hands of the
Vice Commander.”
Shen Zechuan brushed open his folding fan with his fingertips
and set it on the handle of the chair. He did not respond.
“Furthermore, the geographical position of this trade route is
special; if the Vice Commander thereby establishes a trade route
town, Qudu’s east, south, and north sides will all be as good as
secured. The Eight Great Training Divisions have limited military
strength, so it’d prove impossible for Qudu to break through the
Vice Commander’s siege on all three sides if they don’t have
assistance from Qidong in the future.” Yao Wenyu cast a sidelong
glance at Shen Zechuan. “The Vice Commander is a visionary man
with great foresight, strategizing ahead for years down the road.”
Shen Zechuan stared at Yao Wenyu.
If not for the fact that this person was in such dire straits, even
Shen Zechuan himself wanted to kill him, what’s more the others.
Shen Zechuan had multiple explanations regarding the intent for
the trade routes between the prefectures of Cizhou, Chazhou, and
Huaizhou, but it was what Yao Wenyu said that was his real motive—
By causing Qudu to lose its direct military route with Libei, not only
could Chazhou contain Hezhou, it could also obstruct Qidong’s
provision supply routes. Shen Zechuan wanted to encircle Qudu.
“But Qi Zhuyin might not be willing to give the Vice
Commander time.” Yao Wenyu could not hold back his coughs,
covering his lips with a handkerchief again and again. “She is
watching each and every one of your moves from behind in
Qidong; she’ll see through it, eventually. If the Vice Commander is
successful with this move, it’s naturally all’s well that ends well, but if
it falls through, you’ll be caught in an assault by both Qudu and
Qidong. When the time comes, you will be attacked from the front
and rear. Even if Libei was willing to deploy troops to help, they
cannot resist the Biansha Cavalry and fight the garrison troops of
Qidong simultaneously. The lack of military forces is presently the
most fatal chink in the Vice Commander’s armor. That is why the
Vice Commander is linking up Cizhou and Chazhou, re-organizing
the census registers, and taking in refugees—it’s all for the sake of
quickly establishing an army under your command.”
Shen Zechuan snapped his fan shut and said with a smile, “Yao
Yuanzhuo’s reputation is truly well-deserved. But with your level of
intelligence, how did you end up wandering the streets of
Zhongbo? If you want to build a career, the climate in Qudu is
perfect right now. Regardless of whether it’s the Empress Dowager
or the Grand Secretariat, they are all better able to pay the price
you deserve than I can afford, Shen Zechuan.”
Yao Wenyu made to sit up, so Qiao Tianya stepped forward to
help him up and put a pillow behind his back for support. He did
not look at Qiao Tianya; it was as though he did not recognize him.
With his long fingers holding on to the handkerchief, he turned his
head aside and coughed into the handkerchief. The muffled sound
of coughing persisted for quite some time. He stared at the
shadows on the wall and answered in a hoarse voice, “Xue
Yanqing, in his support of the heir apparent to the throne in Qudu,
coerced the Grand Secretariat and Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager and schemed to lead the Imperial College into pushing
for reforms. However, it’s my belief that Dazhou is already beyond
cure; rather than restore Qudu to its former glory, why not
demolish it and rebuild it from scratch? Should Dazhou lose its
deer, all under heaven will chase after it.4 Even a commoner of
humble origins like Lei Changming has had the desire to reign
supreme. When Qudu’s reforms are put into action, people in all
other places will begin to rise in rebellion. Disputes among the
heroes are inevitable. The Li clan’s emperor is already too
powerless to turn the tide around..”
 Yao Wenyu turned back and looked attentively at Shen Zechuan
amidst the dimming light. Complex emotion swam amidst the
reignited fire in his eyes as he enunciated each word. “Anyone in
the world can sit on the throne. The Li clan can. So why not you,
Shen Zechuan?”
Shen Zechuan held up his folding fan and replied coldly, “My
aspiration lies not in this.”
“You can’t fool me.” Yao Wenyu spoke under his breath. “You’re
on this path right now.”
“I can jolly well support someone else to the throne.” Shen
Zechuan smiled. “There is more than one person with the surname
‘Li’ in this world.”
“Six years ago, when the troops of Zhongbo suffered a defeat,
you lost everything. And six years later, when Qudu suffered
another defeat, you lost it all once again. When the next six years
come around…” Yao Wenyu’s lowered eyes were distant and
detached, “… will you still be willing to place your life and destiny
in the hands of another? You are completely unsuited to be a mere
subject of the state. Being subjected to the control of others has
already become a lifelong indignity of yours.”
There was an abrupt shift in the atmosphere within the room.
Shen Zechuan grasped his folding fan with his fingers. Although
he was quiet, he still looked as if he could kill without qualms in the
next moment. It was impossible to read what was in those
expressive eyes of his. The wind chimes outside the window
tinkled, and bleak shadows of rustling trees fell upon the edge of
his robes, on which he trod beneath his feet.
Shen Zechuan abruptly smiled. “If Mister is willing to play for my
team, then all matters in the future regardless of its significance can
be discussed. Qiao Tianya, serve the tea.”
Yao Wenyu accepted the tea and stirred the foam aside, but he
did not drink it immediately. His wrist was of the same color as the
teacup, but it was piteously thin and frail. He gazed at the floating
tea leaves and said, self-deprecatingly, “You can skip the ‘Mister’. I
lost to Xue Xiuzhuo in Qudu, got both of my legs broken, and was
this close to losing my life. Didn’t you ask me why I came here?”
Yao Wenyu was silent for a while.
 “Because I want to finish this game of chess with Xue Xiuzhuo,
win or lose, live or die.”

NOTE:
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Footnotes
1. 招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
2. 广寒宫 Guanghan Palace, or Moon Palace; a mythical
palace in the moon. Legend goes that it is inhabited by the
goddess of the moon, Chang’e, the Jade Rabbit, and the
woodcutter Wu Gang.
3. 谪仙 literally, an immortal who has been banished from
heaven to live on earth; an epithet for exceptional
individuals such as the Tang poet Li Bai (who also wrote the
poem, Qiang Jin jiu). i.e., a wayward genius
4. The original quote is “Qin lost his deer, and all under
heaven chased after it” 「秦失其鹿，天下共逐之」 from
Records of the Grand Historian • Biography of Marquis
Huaiyin 《史记·淮阴侯列传》. Deer is a metaphor for the
throne. It’s an illustration of the rise of numerous rivaling
warlords contesting for supremacy to capture the prize, the
empire lost by the Qin Dynasty. So Yao Wenyu is saying that
if Dazhou lost its legitimacy on the throne/the empire, then
all the heroes in the world are free to make a grab for it.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 147: STEPMOTHER
Translated with: Jia<3

Shen Zechuan had already gotten up before dawn the next

day. The courtyard was a little chilly, so he put on a pure-white
wide-sleeved outer robe and stood at the desk to look over Yao
Wenyu’s prescription.
“His body has been weakened by poison.” Qiao Tianya held
onto the teapot and brewed a cup of tea for Shen Zechuan. “It’s by
no means an easy feat for him to have managed to preserve his
life.”
Shen Zechuan held the teacup with both hands and said,
“Given Xue Xiuzhuo’s style, he definitely went all out with the intent
to kill.” His brows furrowed for a moment. “… Is there no hope for
his legs?”
Qiao Tianya set the teapot down and put the lid on as he
replied, “No.”
Shen Zechuan could not bring himself to continue drinking his
tea, so he returned the teacup with the undrunk tea back onto the
table. “What about his body? Now that he’s staying here, there’s no
need to be stingy with the medicine; give him whatever the
physician prescribes. Additionally, get a couple of meticulously
attentive people to take care of him. We mustn’t be too poor of a
host.”
Qiao Tianya fell silent for a few moments.
And so Shen Zechuan understood that Yao Wenyu’s body was a
goner too. While they were conversing last night, Yao Wenyu had
repeatedly been coughing out blood. He paused for a moment. “Is
he awake? I’ll go pay him a visit.”
When Shen Zechuan arrived, he saw the maidservants all
waiting in attendance under the eaves, silent as cicadas in cold
weather. He put on his usual expression and lifted the bamboo
blinds to enter. The lamps were not lit inside the room, giving off
an unwarranted vibe of cheerlessness. It was quiet and still within.
Shen Zechuan could only catch a vague glimpse of Yao Wenyu’s
lonely back view.
As if sensing him, Yao Wenyu turned his head back partially
and said through the hanging door curtain, “Vice Commander,
please come in.”
It was only then Shen Zechuan lifted the curtain and bowed his
head to enter. Qiao Tianya stood in the outer chamber on his own
initiative, leaning against the wall as he listened to the chirps of the
birds in the covered walkway.
“Autumn is about to fall in Cizhou, and the matter of Huaizhou
has been on the Vice Commander’s mind lately.” Yao Wenyu was
impeccably dressed. Although he was severely ill, he was still
unwilling to present himself before the others all sloppily dressed. It
was just that his legs were not in a good state, making it difficult for
him to move around. Even though he tried his best to hide it, the
bruises on his hands were still conspicuous.
Shen Zechuan did not seem to have seen it. He said, “This
matter is indeed worrying. It’s inappropriate to go too early or too
late. I’ve discussed it over with His Excellency Zhou for days, and
we still have yet to reach a conclusion.”
Yao Wenyu gave a slight nod of his head. “There are two
difficulties when it comes to the matter of Huaizhou. The first is
Jiang Qingshan, and the second is Luoxia Pass’s checkpoint. If
these two difficulties aren’t resolved, then it’ll be hard for the trade
routes between Cizhou, Chazhou, and Huaizhou to come to fruition.
But if you ask me, neither of these two issues is a tough one.”
Shen Zechuan listened with rapt attention.
Yao Wenyu looked at the new window screens made of gauze.
The birds were chirping noisily outside. He coughed a few times.
“When Xue Xiuzhuo held the post of Chief Supervising Secretary at
the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue, he made the acquaintance of
Jiang Qingshan. Both men collaborate for many years working as
one. They not only made up for the deficit in Juexi’s tax money, but
also turned the thirteen cities of Juexi into Dazhou’s granaries. It’s
only when Jiang Qingshan assumes personal command of Juexi
that he can ensure the integrity of Juexi’s governmental affairs, as
well as prevent another major case like the Libei’s military provision
case during the start of spring this year from happening again. In
other words, Jiang Qingshan cannot leave Juexi. Xue Xiuzhuo will
definitely transfer him back to Juexi and allow him to continue
serving as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, so
the Vice Commander’s worry that he would be assigned north to
Huaizhou is unfounded.”
Xue Xiuzhuo, having remained in the position of Chief
Supervising Secretary at the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue for many
years, had made plenty of field trips down to the local areas where
he was hands-on with his duties. He could be said to be very well-
acquainted with the political situations of the various regions. That
was why he could conduct an audit into Hua Siqian’s accounts
together with Hai Liangyi. But likewise, while Yao Wenyu had never
served in the government, he was always wandering out there in
the world all year round, and so he also had an overview of the
political situation in the various areas, having observed them from
the sidelines. Both of their identity and status were totally poles
apart. Yet, they were more intimately aware of the commoners’
circumstances than those like Kong Qiu and Cen Yu, who had
always resided in Qudu.
“As for Luoxia Pass.” Yao Wenyu withdrew his gaze. “Libei has
already broken free of Qudu’s control. Luoxia Pass is the
predecessor of the Libei Armored Cavalry, and the garrison troops
stationed there are all old subordinates of the Prince of Libei, Xiao
Fangxu. They have long been at odds with Qudu despite their
seemingly united appearance. As far as the current situation is
concerned, Zhongbo’s revival will only prove to be advantageous
to Libei. Luoxia Pass will only be too eager to lend a helping hand;
they would never obstruct the way willfully.”
As Yao Wenyu spoke, he started coughing again. Shen
Zechuan spontaneously handed him a cup of tea. Yao Wenyu
thanked him and continued, “The matter with Huaizhou is
practically a done deal. All it takes is for Mister Chengfeng and His
Excellency Yu to make a trip there. My belief is that the most crucial
matter on hand for the Vice Commander is not in the north, but
internally in Zhongbo. The two prefectures of Dunzhou and
Duanzhou to the east can be discussed later, but Fanzhou must be
taken down and secured with great haste.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The discussion went on until noon, when Fei Sheng came to
deliver the medicine. It was only then Shen Zechuan stepped out.
He looked around at the maidservants at the entrance. Finally, he
said to Qiao Tianya, “There has been nothing much going on of
late. Let Fei Sheng and Ding Tao tag along with me. You remain
here and take care of Yuanzhuo.”
Fei Sheng initially thought that this task would fall to him, as
Qiao Tianya was in charge of the guards and was an indispensable
trusted subordinate of Shen Zechuan. He never expected Shen
Zechuan to leave Qiao Tianya for Yao Wenyu this easily. But looking
at it from another angle, this just illustrated how important Yao
Wenyu was. With Qiao Tianya here, no one would dare to treat Yao
Wenyu shabbily.
As for Shen Zechuan himself, there was another layer of
consideration.
Yao Wenyu was a prideful and aloof man. Although his legs
were broken, he was still a distinguished young master of Qudu. He
would not allow himself to present a sorry sight before the others.
He did not call for anyone to serve him this morning because he
was unwilling to let anyone see him in his injured state. It was not
suitable for Fei Sheng to take care of him, because Fei Sheng’s
penchant for flattery and fawning would be self-defeating and
make things awkward for all involved. In contrast, Qiao Tianya’s
circumstances and lot in life were similar to Yao Wenyu’s. There
were many areas that only Qiao Tianya could understand and
relate to best.
Qiao Tianya made a sound of acknowledgment and stayed.
◈ ◈ ◈
As matters regarding Huaizhou still had to be discussed in
detail with Zhou Gui, Shen Zechuan spent the next few days in
Zhou Gui’s study. The advisors in Cizhou all wanted to catch a
glimpse of Yao Wenyu in person, given his long-standing and well-
acclaimed reputation, but Shen Zechuan declined all of their
visiting cards on the grounds that the man himself had still yet to
recover from his illness.
After Xiao Chiye received the letter, he turned back to call for
Wu Ziyu and got him to find a military craftsman to head to Cizhou
to craft a custom four-wheeled vehicle for Yao Wenyu.
Wu Ziyu had been with Xiao Chiye for a month, and his troops
got along best with the Imperial Army, gradually bonding over a
shared hatred for a common enemy. Since the soldiers from the
combat battalions looked down on them, they would not suck up to
said soldiers just to end up snubbed either. Each time the army
provisions were delivered to the camps, someone would check
them, and once the supplies were confirmed to be in good order,
they would head back the same way to Bianbo camp, where they
would then stand guard so as to avoid conflicts with the other
camps.
“What kind of four-wheeled vehicle?” A bare-chested Wu Ziyu
followed behind him. “Is it for our military sieges, transporting
supplies, or…”
Tantai Hu looked back and jokingly punched Wu Ziyu as he
scolded with a laugh, “Are you the one going, or is the military
craftsman the one going? It’s the Master’s orders, so just make it
happen!”
Wu Ziyu answered, “I’ve got to at least get the details clear, so
that I can prepare the materials before heading out.”
The military craftsmen of Libei were extremely skilled, with
excellent workmanship, and the materials they used were all
produced in the Hongyan Mountains; they did not care for items
made in Zhongbo.
“For moving about.” It was only then Xiao Chiye dismounted
the horse. He was filthy all over. They had just come from the
battlegrounds and had been on the road for six days; everyone
was exhausted.
Wu Ziyu turned back to command someone to carry out the
task. Chen Yang and the rest followed Xiao Chiye into the tent. The
tables and chairs that were originally in the tent had been
removed, replaced with a newly constructed military sand table in
the spot that had been vacated.
 “Gu Jin.” Xiao Chiye quickly removed his outer robe and tossed
it to Chen Yang. With both arms propping against the edge of the
military sand table, he said, “Report.”
Gu Jin pulled off his helmet, his face drenched in sweat. He
pointed to the position of the Tudalong Banner. “When we
transported the provisions over this time, I led the cavalry and
made a special trip around the Tudalong Banner. As Master
expected, Huhelu has been redeployed to the southeast battlefront
to make way for someone else; the person stationed there now is
someone called Hasen.1 According to Wu Ziyu’s information, this
Hasen is Amu’er’s son in the Hanshe Tribe. During the beginning of
spring this year, the Biansha Cavalry ambushed the Shasan camp,
and Hasen, as Amu’er’s vanguard, engaged in a round of battle
with Zhao Hui. The Three Great Training Divisions of Liuyang
suffered a casualty of eight hundred men at that time.”
Chen Yang pulled over the chair,2 and Xiao Chiye sat down. He
said, “That’s a heavy casualty.”
“That’s right.” Gu Jin brushed aside a couple strands of damp
hair and continued. “This man is cunning and ruthless, but not
reckless. When the Hereditary Prince was badly injured and
encircled on all sides by Amu’er, Zhao Hui rushed over to provide
reinforcement, only to end up getting entrapped by Hasen in the
grassfields. The entire squad was thrown into complete disarray.”
“This person is educated.” Wu Ziyu, having just returned,
slipped on a coat as he spoke up from the back. “To use our
language, Hasen is essentially Amu’er’s lawful son. While Amu’er
has over ten sons, he can only remember a few of them, and of
those few, Hasen’s mother is the most respectable and
distinguished; she’s the flower of the Hanshe Tribe. Amu’er’s ability
to establish control over the Hanshe Tribe is in large part due to her.
The status of the son depends on the status of his mother, and
Hasen was the son who was, by virtue of his mother’s status, raised
at Amu’er’s side and personally taught by Amu’er himself. In the
future, he will inherit Amu’er’s title of ‘Great Hero’. Allegedly, and I
mean allegedly, he’s well-versed in the art of war; even Huhelu is
afraid of him.”
 “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Tantai Hu stroked the scar on
his face., “If I’d known of his prowess sooner, I would’ve stayed in
Tudalong Banner and not returned.”
“Then you’d just be serving your head up on a platter.” Wu Ziyu
stood still by the military sand table. “His fighting style… is actually
a little similar to the Viceroy.”
“Then he’s ill-suited to be stationed for garrison duty.” Xiao
Chiye set his thumb ring straight. “And he likes to provoke others,
right?”
The various generals did not respond, instead musing over
how the Second Young Master was pretty self-aware.
Gu Jin gave a light cough before he continued, “Hasen wasn’t
the Biansha commanding general fighting against us Libei before
this year. He was mainly stationed in the southeast of Dazhou in the
previous years, and he was the commanding general who fought
the most intensely against Qidong. Coincidentally, Hasen was also
the one who heavily injured Qi Shiyu and almost took his head off
back then.”
So it was him!
Tantai Hu gasped. “Then I’ve heard of this man too. The person
who fought with him back then was Commander-in-Chief Qi!
When Qi Shiyu was entrapped at the eastern side of the Biansha
linked camps and couldn’t break out of the encirclement, his sons
from the Qi clan did not dare to act impulsively and deploy troops
for a rescue mission. Commander-in-Chief Qi went to the Chijun,
Bianjun, and Cejun Commanderies one after another to ask for
reinforcements. However, Cejun vehemently refused to do so, and
it was the Lu clan of Bianjun who stepped forward to solicit
assistance from Suotian Pass. It was only then that the Commander-
in-Chief could gather military forces from the three parties to
venture forth into the enemy’s territory and carry out the rescue
mission.”
This battle was Qi Zhuyin’s rise to fame. She took advantage of
the wind direction and burned down ten li 3 worth of the Biansha
linked camps’ army provisions, and for this reason, she came to be
known as the “Wind Guiding the Scorching Plains”, Qi Zhuyin. But
this battle was not an easy one. In truth, the legend that followed
had omitted a part of the story—Qi Zhuyin had been chased by
Hasen for thousands of li after she had rescued Qi Shiyu; the
Qidong garrison troops had returned treading over roads paved in
blood.
Xiao Chiye’s eyes brightened slightly. “Got it. In that case, I
know him too.”
This was Lu Guangbai’s archenemy.
“Zhao Hui had already led the Three Great Training Divisions of
Liuyang up north to the Tudalong Banner three days ago to take
over Guo Weili’s post and fight against Hasen.” Xiao Chiye turned
his thumb ring around. “This means that we no longer have any
reinforcements backing us at this moment. The two major camps
Libei left in the southeast are Guo Weili and us. Even at the slowest
speed possible, news that we have fought back Huhelu should
have already reached Amu’er ears by now. This is a good
opportunity. If he hasn’t changed his original plan, then the
Biansha Cavalry will still launch a sudden assault on the Shasan
Camp once more before the middle of the eighth month, at the
very latest. So get it together and kick Guo Weili’s ass as hard as
you can to keep him awake.”
“Uh.” Wu Ziyu popped out and said, “Guo Weili won’t fall
asleep. He’ll get all excited, and that’s where the problem lies.
Viceroy, this person is prone to getting ahead of himself, and he’s
easily provoked into action. If he gets tricked away from camp and
ends up slaughtered, then what are we a bunch of soldiers in
charge of the transportation of military supplies going to do?”
The remaining three men turned their heads in unison and
spoke in a chorus, “We fight.”
Wu Ziyu wiped the spittle off his face and said, “We don’t have
the authority to, going by the current military order. Also, I’m not
trying to put a damper on everyone’s spirits, but it was partially by
sheer luck that we could win the battle at the Shasan Camp. Huhelu
is another Guo Weili. He first took the Viceroy’s bait before being
defeated by the element of surprise. But now that the Biansha men
know the exact extent of our military strength, Amu’er will not
repeat the same mistake twice. Their next assault will be a full-on
attack like the kind on the battlefields. It will be a real siege war
they will be fighting, and we no longer have the advantage.”
“That is why,” Xiao Chiye was brief and to the point. “At the
same time that you kick Guo Weili, tighten the collar around his
neck and keep the leash on him. Even if he dies, he has to be
strangled to death.”
No one was willing to deal with Guo Weili. They nearly came to
blows during the handover of the Shasan Camp. Chen Yang and
Tantai Hu still remembered the incident with Gu Jin. Guo Weili did
not give a damn about Xiao Chiye at all. In fact, maintaining a
status quo like this was very dangerous. It would be an uphill task to
accomplish anything if the generals were not of one mind. Even if
Xiao Chiye had superhuman powers, it would be meaningless in
the face of a mighty force with thousands of soldiers and horses.
What’s more, the enemy forces were not fools; the old vulture in
personal command was smart as hell.
Xiao Chiye tilted his head up a little and stared at the top of the
tent as he said to himself,
So damn annoying.
Chen Yang, who had been quiet all this while, flipped open the
book and said with a solemn expression, “And now I’ll convey a
piece of message from Cizhou sent by the Young Master. Young
Master said—”
Xiao Chiye abruptly shifted his gaze over. “I’ll read it myself.”
“The marriage alliance between Hua and Qi will take place in
three days…” Chen Yang paused for a moment, then continued to
read Shen Lanzhou’s original words without emotion, “It’s a joyous
event for the Commander-in-Chief Qi to have gained a
stepmother.4 What shall we send as a gift?”
Xiao Chiye’s smile was perfunctory. “Send her our
congratulations.”

Footnotes
1. Again, for foreign names in this novel, we decided to go
with pinyin for the time being due to unfamiliarity with the
language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the
actual names in its original language. If we do get official
subtitles someday, we will replace them in the translation
(the same goes for titles). Until then, please bear with us.

2.
3. specifically 交椅, an ancient folding chair
4. 里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li = approx. 500m
5. 小娘 xiaoniang is a term for one’s father’s concubine. In
Qi Zhuyin’s case, it’d be closer to a stepmother, since Hua
Xiangyi is marrying into the family as the second wife and
not a concubine.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 148 : VICTORY & DEFEAT
Translated with: Jia<3

At the third quarter of the hour of yin, Qiao Tianya lifted the
curtain open.
Yao Wenyu was talking in his sleep. The pain in his legs had
made him sweat even in his sleep. The bedding was not that
thickly padded, and as it was not yet the rainy season in Cizhou,
the windows were open, with the bamboo blinds swaying in the
wind. Yao Wenyu lay in the embrace of the wind, as if pillowing
upon the rain of spring.
Several months ago, the storm of the Imperial College struck
the imperial court officials of humble origins right in the face. Kong
Qiu and Cen Yu were the first to bear the brunt of it. Even Yao
Wenyu was not spared either. After the storm blew over, Yao Wenyu
received shelter and protection from Kong Qiu and hardly
appeared publicly in Qudu; instead, he accompanied Hai Liangyi
on Mount Bodhi every day, until the day his horse carriage was
ambushed.
That day, Yao Wenyu met Xue Xiuzhuo.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuzhuo and Yao Wenyu were fellow students. Long before
Hai Liangyi, they had both studied alongside one another in Mister
Changzong’s school. Hai Liangyi had been partial to Yao Wenyu
initially because of Old Master Yao. At that time, Xue Xiuzhuo had
already sent three visiting cards to Hai Liangyi in the hope of being
accepted as the latter’s student, but all his attempts were rebuffed
by Hai Liangyi.
Yao Wenyu often heard Xi Hongxuan talk about Xue Xiuzhuo,
because Xue Xiuzhuo lived in straitened circumstances during his
early years in the Xue’s Residence. After the death of his father, the
respective cliques within the Xue clan fought tooth and nail with
one another over their inheritance of fields and mansions, stirring
up such a ruckus that everyone in Qudu came to know about it, and
it was for this that the noble clans held them in contempt. The
lawful son, Xue Xiuyi, was a pretentious man feigning to be a man
of letters; he knew nothing about antiques, yet he was constantly
hoodwinked into spending tremendous amounts of silver for them
all day long. In just a few years, the Xue clan’s wealth had been
squandered away clean. The collateral branches of the Xue clan
gradually drifted away from the main branch, hardly bothering to
continue sponging off them. Xue Xiuyi spent all day fooling
around. He wanted to join the Hanlin Academy, so he had a great
number of gifts sent to Hua Siqian, who was then concurrently
holding the posts of Hanlin Chancellor and Grand Secretariat’s
Grand Secretary; it was all a desperate attempt at sucking up that
only resulted in him getting snubbed. Even Marquis Helian and the
Fei clan viewed him with disdain.
Everyone had thought that it was the end of the Xue clan, yet it
was at this moment that Xue Xiuzhuo made his breakthrough. His
initiation into the Hanlin Academy was legitimate, done through
proper channels by passing the examinations. Hai Liangyi was the
one who critically reviewed the works back then, and Xue Xiuzhuo’s
essays on contemporary politics were outstanding. It was not by
chance that his name appeared on the list of those who passed.
Yao Wenyu had read all of Xue Xiuzhuo’s essays on contemporary
politics. The Xue Xiuzhuo who had been freshly minted into the
Hanlin Academy was brimming with drive and energy. One could
even see Qi Huilian’s shadow in him. He repeatedly submitted
memorials to the emperor to speak on the re-surveyance of fields in
the local areas, which was what Qi Huilian had left unfinished back
then. Take the eight cities of Qudu as an example: the noble clans
gobbled up the commoners’ farms and fields without reporting it
to the authorities, thereby canceling out the land tax of ten
thousand hectares of fields. This was something that could not be
discerned from audits when the Ministry of Revenue was under the
control of Wei Huaigu and the rest.
However, Xue Xiuzhuo did not meet someone like the crown
prince of the eastern palace who could protect him. His memorials
offended not only Hua Siqian, but also the various imperial court
officials from the noble clans of that time. He even offended Pan
Rugui. All these people were later inextricably tied to the case of the
Zhongbo troops’ defeat. They had long formed an alliance
between themselves during the end of the reign of Yongyi. Even
the seemingly marginalized Maquis Helian and the Fei clan had
made moves to encroach on the commoners’ fields in Dancheng.
Xue Xiuzhuo was like a baby rabbit caught in a siege, stirring up a
storm on the imperial court. The denunciation came hard and fast.
Hua Siqian used Xue Xiuzhuo as an excuse to strike against Hai
Liangyi – who had promoted Xue Xiuzhuo – as well as the officials
from humble backgrounds that Hai Liangyi represented.
Those days were difficult. Even Yao Wenyu, who was out there
roaming the country, could hear snippets of rumors. Officials who
were demoted back then included Kong Qiu, and minor, low-grade
officials like Liang Cuishan also inadvertently got caught up in the
crossfire. Hai Liangyi managed to dodge Hua Siqian’s blows and
withdrew from his position as the last of the Deputy Grand
Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, thereafter minimizing his
participation in the imperial court discussions. Those from humble
origins once again entered a stage of hibernation. Xue Xiuzhuo’s
future was limited, and he was publicly censured by Hua Siqian. He
had only just joined the imperial court, and his seat in the Hanlin
Academy had not even been fully secured before he was demoted
to the position of a mere writer for the revision of state history.
However, it was not fear behind Hai Liangyi’s retreat and
concession back then. Rather, it was the beginning of the humble
officials’ preparations to fight back. Hai Liangyi had long been
concerned about the predicament of the state treasury. Instead of
raising difficult questions from within Qudu, they began to
investigate from the local areas’ account books. The person Hai
Liangyi chose at that time was Xue Xiuzhuo, and it was all at the
behest of Hai Liangyi that Xue Xiuzhuo would go on to be the Chief
Supervising Secretary at the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue. Xue
Xiuzhuo did not let Hai Liangyi down either. After going through
that round of denouncements, he had become a lot more prudent
and seasoned.
Xue Xiuzhuo remained as the Chief Supervising Secretary at the
Office of Scrutiny for Revenue for an entire eight years. He ought to
have been promoted a long time ago, according to his appraisals
during this period. However, Hai Liangyi held him back and had
him placed at the bottom to temper and hone himself. Yao Wenyu
felt that this man was truly born to be an official, because he
understood Hai Liangyi’s intent all too well. Not only was there not
a word of complaint from him, he even did a pretty good job. He
knew the local political situation in Juexi and the Eight Great Cities
of Qudu by heart. The fact that Juexi was able to restore its
granaries to abundance had the most to do with Jiang Qingshan,
but similarly, Xue Xiuzhuo’s contribution could not be dismissed
either.
Jiang Qingshan did not hold Yao Wenyu in high esteem, or
even read Yao Wenyu’s essays, because they were the practical
doers rather than the idealistic talkers. To officials like them, Yao
Wenyu was not as important as Xue Xiuzhuo was, even if Yao
Wenyu was truly a genius.
Xiao Chiye once said that Xue Xiuzhuo was more like Hai
Liangyi’s student than Yao Wenyu. This was because Xue Xiuzhuo
fulfilled the wishes of Hai Liangyi and the officials of humble
backgrounds. His shocking memorial at the Nanlin Hunting
Grounds forced Hua Siqian into rebelling, saving years of
painstaking work and effort by the officials of humble origins from
going to waste. Emperor Xiande passed away from illness, the
Empress Dowager was forced into a retreat, and the Hua and Pan
factions subsequently fell apart. They welcomed a new, young and
healthy emperor.
But alas, it was not meant to be. Li Jianheng was not cut out to
be an emperor.
Yao Wenyu bore no ill feelings towards Xue Xiuzhuo before Hai
Liangyi’s death. In Yao Wenyu’s eyes, he was a person in a delicate
position. He seemed to have abandoned the noble clans, and yet
he could still garner the full support of Xi Hongxuan and the others.
It was like he was standing on a certain line, where the forces on
both sides were all pawns, including himself.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was raining when Yao Wenyu met Xue Xiuzhuo on Mount
Bodhi. They went to a thatched pavilion and settled down to play a
game of chess. There was not a single conversation between them
during the game, not even an exchange of glances. The game
lasted for several hours, eventually ending in a draw.
Xue Xiuzhuo opened up his umbrella before departure. He
looked back and asked Yao Wenyu, “Are you going for the imperial
examinations in spring next year?”
Yao Wenyu kept away the chess pieces one at a time and said,
“Since there’s you, Xue Yanqing, on the imperial court, what need is
there for me, Yao Yuanzhuo?”
Both of them – one standing and one sitting – listened as the
rain and wind outside the pavilion intensified. The wind sent Yao
Wenyu’s sleeved robe fluttering. He held the chess box with one
hand, looking like an immortal sitting at leisure as he dropped the
jade pieces into their box; it was as if he would ride the wind and
depart the very next instant. As Yao Wenyu spoke, a speck of mud
splattered onto his green clothes along with the wind and rain,
wetting that fluttering sleeved robe, consequently reducing him to
a mere mortal.
Xue Xiuzhuo looked at that speck of mud and said, “When
Teacher was seriously ill, Kong Qiu once paid him a visit. You gave
him counsel in the main hall, but the one being plotted against was
Han Cheng.” He shifted his gaze away from the mud to Yao
Wenyu’s face, as if looking at him in the eyes anew. “It was at that
moment I realized: that’s all there is to Yao Wenyu.”
The chess piece between Yao Wenyu’s fingers slid into the
chess box. He said, “You’re right. That’s all there is to Yao Wenyu.”
“A year ago, Teacher thought that opportunity had come
knocking. With Emperor Tianchen’s trust, those from humble
origins could show what they were made of, but that was all wishful
thinking on his part in the end.” Xue Xiuzhuo said calmly. “The fight
between both factions has been going on for several years, yet the
issues that have been resolved are few and far between. Twenty
years ago, Qi Huilian proposed surveying the local farm fields to
inhibit the noble clans from seizing it for themselves, as well as to
restore the regular intake of the local taxes. To date, this has still yet
to be implemented. What has Teacher’s Dazhou held up by the
moderates even amounted to?”
 Yao Wenyu said, “In the third year of Xiande, Juexi was hit with
a natural disaster. The state treasury was severely lacking in money,
and Hua Siqian was unwilling to provide aid relief to the thirteen
cities of Juexi, which left tens of thousands of commoners destitute
and homeless. Jiang Qingshan alone opened up the granaries and
risked his head to take on a huge debt. If not for the full assistance
of the moderates led by Teacher in Qudu to audit the accounts to
coerce Hua Siqian, the grains in Zhongbo would have all fallen into
the pockets of the noble clans. Saving one person is not
considered an achievement, and neither is saving ten of thousands
of people. In your opinion then, what has to be saved for it to be
considered an accomplishment?”
“If it was the moderates who saved tens of thousands of people
in Juexi, then similarly, it’s those same moderates who created the
tragedy of Zhongbo. In this world, a physician saves one man, but
it’s the imperial court official who saves the masses.” Xue Xiuzhuo
clenched his fists and turned around. “How many years has it
been? Yet Teacher still treated the conflict between the two factions
as if it was his own duty. Look at Kong Qiu, and look at the current
students of the Imperial College. Are the noble clans the only ones
who are drawing a line between those of different family statuses?
It had been so easy to incite and stir up the storm in the imperial
college, and yet Kong Qiu still has not realized that those of
humble origins under his leadership hold the same prejudices
against the officials from the noble clans. The moderates’ gradual
monopoly of the imperial college has long run counter to your
grandfather’s original intention to revive the Imperial College.”
“You devised a plan to murder Emperor Tianchen and
intensified the conflict between factions to put the Grand
Secretariat in a perilous situation. You instigated Han Cheng to
encircle Xiao Chiye to kill him and forced Libei into rebelling,
allowing the Empress Dowager to consolidate Qidong’s military
power. You urged the Empress Dowager to exercise the power of
the Son of Heaven, then aided the emperor’s daughter up the
throne. You plan every single step meticulously, taking everyone
into account in your plan.” Yao Wenyu rose to his feet slowly, and
the black and white chess pieces tumbled to the ground as he
moved. “You forced Teacher to his death.”
The sound of rain intensified, melding together with the
shattering sound of the chess pieces, so jarring it could cut one into
a bloody pulp of flesh.
The heavy rain pelted against half of Xue Xiuzhuo’s arm,
wetting it. He looked face to face with Yao Wenyu without the
slightest flicker of wavering in his eyes. They were fellow students
from the same school and of the same teacher. They were
educated by the same tutor, guided by the same mentor. They
addressed the same topics in the imperial examinations. Yet, they
had both become polar opposites.
“One day, I will die.” Xue Xiuzhuo said in a raspy voice.
“Regardless of whether I will be forsaken and deserted by all, or
bring ruin and infamy upon myself, I will walk along this path to the
very end.”
“You stop at nothing to kill others and yourself.” Yao Wenyu
released his grip on the chess piece. “You won’t be able to save all
of the so-called masses in the world.”
“The restoration of Dazhou is nigh, this very moment.” Xue
Xiuzhuo pressed in a step closer. “The old-school noble clans have
been purged; the leaders of those from humble backgrounds have
all suffered a setback; and the calamity that is the eunuch clique no
longer exists. With the Grand Secretariat, Empress Dowager, and
Heir Apparent to the throne held in check, the rising talents in the
imperial court will surge forth in great numbers. Dazhou is about to
have fresh blood coursing through its veins. Yao Wenyu, I die
without fear, and I will not begrudge it even if I were to go down in
history in infamy and end up condemned by posterity. I’ve long
merged into one with the fire ignited by Teacher. I do it for myself.”
Having said that, Xue Xiuzhuo opened up his umbrella once
again and turned around to step into the rain.
“You win for a time.”
Yao Wenyu remained where he was standing and raised his
voice.
“You win one game. But this isn’t a victory at all. Variables are
endless with the world in chaos; you can’t take everyone into
account. Xue Xiuzhuo—!”
The rain fell in torrents, venting it all in the world. The green
bamboo at Hai Liangyi’s burial mound broke off in response, and
muddy water flowed down the slope, like a face covering itself as it
wailed bitterly.
“It’s a draw today. The victor has yet to be determined.” Xue
Xiuzhuo stopped in his tracks. He did not look back. “But since
there’s Xue Yanqing in the world, what need is there to keep a Yao
Yuanzhuo around? You and I do not share the same path. After
tonight, there is no need for us to see each other again.”
“This game isn’t finished yet.” Yao Wenyu said. “There is no
such thing as a draw by my hand.”
Xue Xiuzhuo seemed to have smiled. He looked back for the
last time and gazed fixedly at Yao Wenyu for a long time. A curtain
of rain separated them. They seemed to have been separated by a
deep chasm from birth, like the shadows cast of Heaven and Earth
—they would never ever become fellow travelers. The words “Xue
Yanqing” had always been obscured by Yao Yuanzhuo. From the
legitimacy of their lineage to Hai Liangyi’s choice, Xue Xiuzhuo had
never once won. Yet, at this very moment, he was the picture of
condescending pity.
You’ve lost.
The horse carriage raced along the mountain road, surrounded
by the barking of dogs everywhere. The pursuers spurred their
horses on in hot pursuit of the carriage. Yao Wenyu’s coachman
was dead. Unable to control the direction of the horse carriage,
Yao Wenyu could only let the carriage flee hastily and haphazardly
through the mountains. Stray arrows came whizzing from behind
and stabbed into the carriage. Several of them nailed to the
ground beside the horse. Startled, the horse completely broke free
from its reins.
Someone had already leaped onto the back of the carriage. He
aggressively pierced through the carriage’s wall with a broadsword
and ripped open the curtain to stab inside. There was no one else
on Mount Bodhi; Yao Wenyu’s death sentence was already set in
stone. Xue Xiuzhuo had never thought of letting him walk out of
there alive from the moment he went up the mountain.
 The horse carriage overturned and fell into a ditch, damaging
its walls in the process, and Yao Wenyu felt like his internal organs
had gone tumbling with it. The horse fell so hard it was in pain. Yao
Wenyu released the reins, and it got back up with difficulty. The
growls of the dogs at the back were too vicious, and the horse
continued to flee with one leg limping. Yao Wenyu did not have a
saddle, and among the jolts and bumps, he was nearly swiped off
the horse by the branches. However, this horse had only galloped
for a mere moment where an arrow shot it in another leg.
The pursuit of the killers had already reached the foot of Mount
Bodhi. The person taking the lead was worried that they would
miss the perfect timing and delay matters should Yao Wenyu’s
escape attempt continue. Hence, he used a rope to restrain Yao
Wenyu’s ankles and dragged him along the mountain path
towards their own horse carriage. The rain had subsided some
while this had been happening, and the sky had still yet to darken.
They had to do a clean job without leaving any traces, so they first
used the scabbards of their blades to break both of Yao Wenyu’s
legs, then dragged him over to stuff him into their horse carriage.
It was at this moment that there suddenly came the sound of
galloping horses’ hooves from the mountain road. Realizing that
this did not bode well, the leader of the pursuing troops yanked the
carriage curtains down and shouted with urgency, “Put your blades
away!”
The party that had arrived was an ostentatious display of
extravagance; the escorts on both sides of the horse carriage were
all men from the Eight Great Training Divisions who filled up the
already very narrow bridle path. The leader of the pursuing troops
signaled for the carriage driver to pull aside the horse carriage,
and all of them stood subserviently in a row to make way for the
other party.
Yao Wenyu’s mouth was gagged. His entire body spasmed as it
throbbed with excruciating pain, but his mind was still clear. As he
dripped with sweat, he knocked his forehead against the wooden
plank of the carriage.
When the leader of the pursuing troops heard sounds coming
from the carriage, he signaled his subordinates with his eyes. One
of them promptly whipped the horse several times and bellowed at
it to cover up the sounds made by Yao Wenyu.
But the company did not leave. The curtains from the carriage
crammed in the middle lifted to reveal the Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue dressed in the fashion of a married woman.1 She
furrowed her brows slightly and said, “Don’t make a racket; there’s
a young child in the carriage.”
Yao Wenyu recognized the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue’s
voice. A vague sound escaped from his throat, and he slammed his
forehead hard until it was bloody red.
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue suddenly spoke up. “Is there
someone in the carriage? Tell your master to see me.”
Having recognized her, the leader paid his obeisance to her
and gave an excuse, “It’s my master’s mistress. She’s making a
huge racket and threatening suicide, so it isn’t advisable to let her
out lest she offend the Commandery Princess. Commandery
Princess, please go on ahead.”
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue arched her willow-like brows.
“This is where the Secretariat Elder was laid to rest. What nonsense
are you spouting?! Men, lift the curtains of the carriage!”
The leader immediately whipped out his authority token, which
bore the copper seal of the garrison troops. He said, “We’re on
official business with official warrants in hand, acting under the
orders of the Ministry of Justice. Commandery Princess, how can
you, a person without official authority, meddle in affairs of the
court as you please? Even if the Marquis Helian is here in person
today, he wouldn’t be allowed to lift the curtain by force!”
Ever since marrying into the Pan clan, the Commandery
Princess Zhaoyue had been living in Dancheng. After Hai Liangyi’s
death, she followed her husband to the capital. She had originally
arranged to visit the Yao clan today, but who knew that the married
couple would arrive only to learn that Yao Wenyu had yet to return
from his trip into the mountains. She was familiar with Yao Wenyu’s
character—he would definitely not miss an appointment without
reason, and so she had her carriage driven over to take a look. She
was already of the firm belief that this group of people before her
was up to no good.
 The leader of the group figured that there was nothing the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue could do. No one from the Fei clan
of today was an influential minister serving in the imperial court, so
the Marquis Helian would not go around offending people rashly.
With this thought in mind, he sneered, “If the Commandery
Princess isn’t moving, then we’ll be taking our leave first.”
However, before he could move, he saw the guards from the
Eight Great Training Divisions hold down the hilts of their blades in
unison.
An exquisite, slender finger from within the carriage gently
lifted the curtain to partially reveal a temple with a flower on it. The
narrow-sleeved palace-wear of a court lady trailed down to the
floor of the carriage, exposing the tips of satin shoes of exquisite
quality, while eastern pearls2 hung down at the edge of her collar.
Her voice was soft and gentle. “If the Commandery Princess
doesn’t have the right, how about me?”
The leader of the group was still frozen in place when he heard
a guard bellow, “Third Missy Hua is onboard. Get on your knees
now!!”
In Qudu, besides the apple of the Empress Dowager’s eye, who
else would still dare to take on the address of Third Missy Hua?
Cold sweat dripped profusely from the man as he immediately
kneeled and kowtowed. “I deserve a thousand deaths for
obstructing the Third Missy!”

Author’s Notes:
This chapter was initially meant to be written from the POV of
Qudu. I won’t be looking at the comments for the time being; I
decided to just go along with my original rhythm. There’s no need
to worry; the plot is all within the scope of my control, all the plot
holes that ought to be filled won’t be forgotten, and those
characters who have so far appeared as a silhouette will also take
the stage in turn. There are some areas where I cannot leap out of
the story to provide an explanation; that would be the failure of the
narrative and my failure as an author. Whatever should be present
in the story will be there. I won’t be repeating it again.
 Thank you for reading.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Footnotes
1. A married woman was typically dressed differently from
a single maiden. For example, married women in ancient
China wore their hair in an updo instead of letting it down.
2. 东珠 literally eastern pearl; the rulers of the Qing Dynasty
regarded the eastern pearls as treasures and used them to
inlay their crown and clothing with it to represent authority
and honor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 149 : HUA THE THIRD
Translated with: Jia<3

It was dark in Qudu. Lanterns had been raised on both sides of

the streets. Hua Xiangyi’s horse carriage returned to the city and
made a beeline for the Pan’s residence. Giving instructions to those
in attendance at the sides, she simply said she wanted to have a
girl-to-girl late-night chat with Zhaoyue, and so sent someone to
the palace to convey the message that she would be back later.
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue’s path to marriage had been
fraught with difficulties. Marquis Helian initially had his heart set on
Yao Wenyu, and later Xiao Chiye when the Empress Dowager had
taken matters into her own hands. But in the end, neither of them
worked out. Marquis Helian found it rather humiliating. He felt that
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue was no longer young. What’s
more, she was the lawful daughter of the Fei clan born of the
principal wife. It was inadvisable to drag the matter any further, and
it just so happened that Han Cheng came calling on them at that
time, so he had the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue betrothed to a
lad from the Han clan. But this marriage did not come to fruition,
because the Marquis Junior, Fei Shi, was a loafer, and he was very
well aware that the lad from the Han clan was one too; in fact, that
lad was even worse than that Han Jin. Fei Shi held him in
contempt, finding him unworthy and undeserving of his elder
sister, so he brought some men over to create a big ruckus, forcibly
ripping this marriage plan to shreds.
Marquis Helian could not control his son. Left without a choice,
he pondered over several options, oscillating between them before
deciding on Pan Yi, the second son of a concubine from the Pan
clan. He was Pan Lin’s younger brother. Both clans knew each other
inside out, and they were both similarly part of the Eight Great
Clans. Fei Shi carefully observed this potential elder brother-in-law
for a period, and only then did Commandery Princess Zhaoyue
finally marry.
 Pan Yi was a scholarly and refined man who originally held the
post of Director of the Bureau of Waterways and Irrigation under
the Ministry of Works. Later, Pan Xiangjie safely made it through the
public ditches case, and Pan Lin took over Wei Huaigu’s post in the
Ministry of Revenue. Subsequently, Pan Yi was promoted too. He
was transferred back to the Pan clan’s hometown of Dancheng to
serve as the Commandant of Dancheng. This person was fond of
reading, and he had a deep respect for Yao Wenyu’s talents and
learning. That was why he had accompanied his wife when the
latter went to pay Yao Wenyu a visit.
Pan Yi was originally waiting at home when Pan Lin just so
happened to get off court session. Both brothers were talking in the
front hall when they heard someone come calling from behind.
Pan Lin was now in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. As plenty
had happened in Qudu after spring, the appointment document
from the imperial court had yet to be issued, so he still carried the
title of Vice Minister. He was taken aback after hearing the servant’s
report and questioned, “The Third Missy wants to see me?”
Hua Xiangyi had yet to be married, and she was the apple of
the Empress Dowager’s eye. The guards accompanying her in and
out of the palace could not be underestimated. It was tough for
males who were outsiders to get a glimpse of her appearance.
Even if Pan Xiangjie wanted to see her, he had to be summoned.
Pan Lin did not know what was going on, and he did not dare to
dally either, so he hastily got up with Pan Yi and hurried over.
The moment Pan Yi entered the courtyard, he saw his wife
standing under the eaves weeping. There was also a physician
inside the room. Pan Lin was shocked, thinking that Hua Xiangyi
had been injured, so he hurried over to ask, “Younger sister-in-law,
what’s happened?”
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue cried so hard both of her eyes
were red. She clutched her handkerchief, but before she could say
a word, she was racking with sobs once again. She covered her
face and turned away, and Pan Yi rushed over to protect her, asking
as he pulled her along, “My dear, what’s going on?!”
Hua Xiangyi said from within the room, “The Vice Minister and
the Commandant are both elder brothers1 of mine, so there’s no
need to observe the formalities so scrupulously. Please come in to
talk.”
Pan Lin felt relieved when he heard Hua Xiangyi’s gentle voice,
which did not sound like she was injured. He exchanged glances
with Pan Yi and hesitated for a moment, then went ahead to lift the
curtain and enter. There was a screen set up in the room, and Hua
Xiangyi was sitting in the seat of honor. Both men kneeled and
greeted in unison, “These humble subjects pay their respects to the
Third Missy.”
Hua Xiangyi said, “Brothers, please rise.”
Through the beaded curtain at his side, Pan Lin saw a physician
inside, so he asked, “Who is injured?”
After a moment of silence, Hua Xiangyi answered, “Truth be
told, the man lying inside is none other than the Grand Secretary’s
beloved pupil, Yao Wenyu.”
Pan Yi promptly exclaimed in delight, “It’s Yuanzhuo!” But his
expression changed abruptly the moment the words left his mouth.
Anxious, he asked, “Oh, no! Did he get hurt on Mount Bodhi? I
heard the bridle path on Mouth Bodhi has been in a state of
disrepair for many years and is accident-prone on rainy days.”
Commandery Princess stood at the side and wiped her tears.
“How is Elder Cousin Brother injured because of the bridle path?
He was hijacked and robbed!” Sorrow overwhelmed her at this
point. “Those legs… What is he going to do in the future?”
Many thoughts flashed through Pan Lin’s mind in an instant. He
was presently at the critical juncture of a promotion. Once the
appointment document to promote him to Minister of Revenue had
been issued, he would only have to wait a few years for the
inspections’ appraisals to catch up and cancel out the
impeachments he had received during the public ditches case, and
his future would be a bright one paved with unlimited possibilities.
Yao Wenyu’s identity was special, and there was a political
undercurrent surging through the imperial court at present. Pan Lin
initially had no wish to be a part of it, lest he was deemed to be a
member or supporter of one of the factions. However, he respected
Hai Liangyi.
 Pan Lin paused for only a moment before he said, “Mount
Bodhi is on the outskirts of the city, and there are patrol squads
inside and outside of Qudu. Yuanzhuo’s meeting with a mishap is
by no means a trivial matter. Third Missy, please tell me the details
first.”
He did not evade the issue nor begged off the matter, so Hua
Xiangyi knew she had been right to find him. Pan Lin had a bad
temper, and the only friend he had to have fun with together was
Fei Shi. The one he could not deign to deal with the most was Xue
Xiuyi. Back then, after the public ditches case, Xiao Chiye had
hosted a banquet after being conferred a noble title, and Pan Lin
had gone at his invitation. Humiliated in every way possible by Xue
Xiuyi during the feast, Pan Lin had made a vow that even if he were
“to starve to death in the future, he would never sit at the same
table as the Xue clan”. From then on, he did not interact or socialize
any further with the Xue clan. Xue Xiuzhuo was now at the height of
power in Qudu because of his support to the Heir Apparent to the
throne, and even so, Pan Lin had never paid him a visit. Xiao Chiye
helped the Pan clan out of their predicament back then, saving Pan
Xiangjie from being put to death by Wei Huaigu during the public
ditches case, and the Qudu public ditches blueprint that Pan Lin
had repaid him with later went on to become the key that helped
Qiao Tianya and the rest escape from Qudu.
Later, Xiao Chiye was trapped in an encirclement by Han
Cheng, who meant to kill him. He bore the charge of plotting to
murder Emperor Tianchen, and despite that, Pan Lin did not hurry
over himself to draw a clear line between them. His father, Pan
Xiangjie, was a fence-sitter who swayed wherever the wind blew,
but he, Pan Lin, could stand up to being called “upright”.
Hua Xiangyi gave him an account of their encounter with Yao
Wenyu in a hushed tone. Eventually, she said, “Would the Vice
Minister be willing to hear a few words from me?”
Pan Lin answered, “This humble subject is all ears.”
Hua Xiangyi looked slightly out of the corner of her eye at that
beaded curtain. A moment later, she said, “The storm brewing in
Qudu is currently unstoppable. The trouble Yuanzhuo came face to
face with today is by no means a coincidence. The Vice Minister
knows better than me about the affairs of the imperial court. The
Grand Secretary’s remonstration by death will be a matter of regret
for Dazhou through the ages. Yuanzhuo is not only the Grand
Secretary’s beloved pupil but also the Yao clan’s beloved son. His
reputation is now in tatters because of the imperial college
incident, but his talents and learning still remain, and his moral
integrity still exists. His resolution and ambition will be all the
stronger after going through this tribulation, and there is no reason
he can’t make a comeback in the future and lead the literati of the
world to recreate the glory of the Imperial College.”
Pan Lin said nothing.
After a long silence, Hua Xiangyi continued, “Yuanzhuo must
leave Qudu as soon as possible after tonight. I’m about to marry far
away to Qidong, and it’d be inconvenient for me to come and go
freely. Although I have an imperial palace rank, I can’t openly send
him out of the capital with great fanfare.”
At this point, Hua Xiangyi rose to her feet and slowly kneeled to
bow to Pan Lin across the screen.
Pan Lin’s face turned pale. He strode a step forward and said,
“This won’t do! Third Missy, please rise quickly!”
Hua Xiangyi kowtowed and said, “Yuanzhuo is blessed to have
been successively taught by wise teachers in this life. I’ve read all of
his essays. The Heir Apparent to the throne has just been
established, and the Hanlin Academy is now an empty shell. The
tripartite balance of power with Auntie at the lead cannot last for
long, and Kong Qiu can barely fend for himself. I may be a girl, but
I know that outstanding men of talents are hard to find.” She
paused for a moment, then solemnly continued, “Chengzhi,
please.”
She addressed Pan Lin by his courtesy name, saying it from the
bottom of her heart.
Pan Lin could not help but look ashamed to see the extent that
Hua Xiangyi was willing to go to save Yao Wenyu. He hurriedly
said, “Third Missy, please get up! I value Yuanzhuo’s talents. This is
what we ought to do, to begin with. Tomorrow morning, Yuanzhuo
will follow my younger sister-in-law out of Qudu and rest up in
Dancheng first. After he recovers from his injuries, he can decide
what to do on his own.” Hai Liangyi came to his mind at this point.
He continued, “Although the Grand Secretary and some of us do
not see eye to eye in politics, I still hold him in esteem. How gallant
is it for a civil minister to remonstrate with his death! I ought to lend
a helping hand, even if for the Grand Secretary.”
Hua Xiangyi continued, “The other party must already know
about Yuanzhuo’s escape from death today. To be on the safe side,
I’d like to ask the Vice Minister to think of a way to pull the wool
over their eyes.”
Pan Lin answered, “I already have an idea in mind.”
“It’s already getting late now; I can’t stay any longer.” Hua
Xiangyi stood up and let the maidservant support her as she went
over to the side of the beaded curtains. She looked at Yao Wenyu
inside, his face white as a sheet. In the end, she said nothing and
took her leave.
Two hours after Hua Xiangyi’s departure, a corpse wrapped in a
straw mat was sent out through the backdoors of the Pan’s
Residence. Those in the outer courtyard inquiring about it did not
know the details. All they heard was that it was a beggar the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue brought back from outside who
had died of sickness in the middle of the night. The pursuing
troops who had been crouching in wait for many hours followed all
the way to the burial grounds to examine the corpse. The leader
found out that the body fit Yao Wenyu’s physique to a tee; even the
wounds from his broken legs were identical. The only thing was
that the face of the corpse was disfigured; however, the bite marks
on his lips were similar.
Not daring to dally, the man withdrew with his men back to the
residence to make his report.
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, Commandery Princess Zhaoyue and Pan Yi
departed for Dancheng. She had just given birth to a child, and
there were so many nannies and maidservants accompanying her
that just the carriage alone numbered in the dozens. Pan Lin went
to attend morning court. As he stood at the foot of the stairs to
wait, he saw Kong Qiu and Cen Yu standing in front. Worried that
there were people in the imperial court watching, he did not go
forward.
Nowadays, the Heir Apparent to the throne rose at the hour of
yin and attended classes at the hour of mao. The participants in the
classics colloquium put together by the Grand Secretariat were all
carefully hand-picked scholars and academicians from the Hanlin
Academy, and the morning classes could not be finished before
midday. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was still the one
holding court behind the screen.2 Li Jianting merely switched from
attending classes in the Xue’s residence to attending classes in the
palace. As long as the Grand Secretariat did not pass the vote, she
would have to continue to be a student. The Ministry of Rites had
long been making preparations for the enthronement, but the
grand ceremony now seemed light-years away with Kong Qiu and
the rest suppressing it.
Xue Xiuzhuo was still teaching Li Jianting. Li Jianting did not
have the authority to participate in government and political affairs,
although she had the right to attend court and listen in. She slept
very little every day. After morning classes, she would take a short
nap, then it would be the Grand Secretariat council led by Kong
Qiu and Xue Xiuzhuo in the afternoon. All matters of the Six
Ministries, regardless of significance, had to be reported by the
Grand Secretariat. Li Jianting rarely spoke up as they stood and
deliberated over those matters, but her attitude was respectful and
prudent. Whether it was morning classes or the councils, she would
always arrive before the ministers and stand deferentially under the
eaves of Mingli Hall to await them.
Kong Qiu and Cen Yu initially disliked Li Jianting, but even they
had to concede that Li Jianting’s attitude was sincere enough. Her
desire to learn was far more evident than Li Jianheng’s.
Pan Lin prepared to board the carriage after he left the court.
Just as he was about to lower the curtains, he saw Xue Xiuzhuo
walking out of the palace gates with another person. Both men’s
eyes met for an instant. Pan Lin nodded calmly and managed with
some effort to bow partially to him. Only then did he let down the
curtain of the carriage.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Qiao Tianya shut the window, making a slight noise.
Yao Wenyu woke up. It was as if he had just stepped out from
the shaking carriage; the stifling heat was everywhere. He turned
his eyes and saw Qiao Tianya.
Qiao Tianya said, “It’s now the third quarter of the hour of yin;
you can sleep for a little longer.”
Yao Wenyu said expressionlessly, “Having awoken from a
dream, I’m none too keen to return to it.”
Qiao Tianya poured tea and took a sip, then raised his cup at
Yao Wenyu. “Want a drink?”
After a moment of silence, Yao Wenyu said, “Tea is tasteless.
Change it to wine.”
“You have yet to recover from your injuries. It’s inadvisable for
you to drink wine.” As Qiao Tianya spoke, he took down the wine at
the side of his waist, shook it a few times, and twisted it open to
drink it himself. “I’ll drink it for you. You can watch.”
After Qiao Tianya was done drinking, Yao Wenyu said,
“Excellent wine.”
The bangs on Qiao Tianya’s forehead slipped down and
covered his eyes. His stubble, which had grown out recently, had
yet to be shaved clean. On hearing Yao Wenyu, he stroked it a
couple of times and said, “Wine that costs a few strings of copper
coins can’t really be considered excellent. If you get better, I’m
willing to spend tens of taels of silver to let you taste real, excellent
wine.”
The corner of Yao Wenyu’s lips shifted slightly.
Qiao Tianya leaned against the table and looked at him. “The
military craftsman from Libei will arrive in a few days. I can go out
with you to appreciate the autumn scenery of Cizhou.”
Yao Wenyu’s smile faded. He looked out of the window; there
was the tinkling sound of the wind chimes under the eaves again.
He was quiet for a very long time before he said, “May I trouble you
to ask the Vice Commander to prepare a generous gift on my
behalf for the grand wedding between Hua and Qi tomorrow.
Third Missy Hua saved my life. Please thank her on my behalf too.
Don’t tell her anything else. Just say I’m fine.”
Qiao Tianya answered in the affirmative.
 Yao Wenyu’s gaze relaxed. He said, “Let’s play the zither.”
When Shen Zechuan got up, he heard the faint sound of the
seven-stringed zither3 from the courtyard.
Fei Sheng teased, “This Qiao Tianya is truly a deep one with
hidden talents.”
Shen Zechuan tilted his head and said, “The Qiao clan fell into
decline, and all the delicate sensibilities he possessed as a young
master vanished along with it. The most difficult time was during
his exile, when he had to fight for food with stray dogs and take
care of his elder sister-in-law at the same time. All that he has left
today is that seven-stringed zither of his. He cleans and caresses it
every day, and he cherishes it very much, so much that he never
plays it for others—this is his pride.”
Fei Sheng had seen that seven-stringed zither before. Not even
Ding Tao dared to touch it. He did not understand this bit of pride,
but he did not speak up to vilify it. He had worked together with
Qiao Tianya for many years. Although he had been wanting to take
Qiao Tianya’s place all this while from Qudu to Cizhou, he was still
nevertheless willing to acknowledge Qiao Tianya’s capabilities.

Author’s Words:
So what’s up with that poison?
You’ll find out in a couple of chapters.
Thank you for reading.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!

Footnotes
1. Specifically 兄长 xiongzhang, a respectful form of
address for an elder brother or a male friend
2. 垂帘听政 literally to hold court behind a screen or curtain.
A practice in ancient China, where the Empress or Empress
dowager was allowed to preside over the imperial court
without actually being seen by her subjects since women
were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by
a child emperor’s mother, who would serve as regent and
rule in place of the emperor

3.
4. Specifically 古琴 Guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese
musical instrument of the zither family.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 150 : TREACHEROUS MINISTER
Translated with: Jia<3

Due to the recent death of Emperor Tianchen, it was customary

for the marriage between Hua and Qi to be postponed. However,
Xiao Chiye rebelled his way out of Qudu, and Qudu had favors to
ask of Qidong, so the Empress Dowager and Grand Secretariat
mulled over the matter numerous times before eventually deciding
to marry Hua Xiangyi off in the seventh month.
The Empress Dowager went all out this time, and the dowry she
prepared for Hua Xiangyi spanned more than ten li. Arrangements
made by the Ministry of Rites were all done in accordance with the
wedding protocols for a princess. The ceremonial guards of honor
sending her off were personally led by Han Cheng himself, and
there were countless wet nurses and maidservants following along
in her retinue.
Hua Xiangyi boarded the horse carriage. Just as it was about to
depart, the Empress Dowager took two steps after it and almost
called out to her. But she had to be mindful of her image and
uphold her dignity after all, so she could only hold on to Matron
Liuxiang’s arm and muttered softly as the eastern pearls by her ears
swayed. “My little darling…”
The ceremonial guards of honor left Qudu and headed for
Qidong along Chuancheng’s public roads, during which they
would pass by Chazhou. Han Cheng was initially worried that the
bandits from Chazhou would rob them, so he specially brought
along men from the Eight Great Training Divisions, but the journey
was unexpectedly uneventful; Luo Mu even sent over his
congratulatory gifts when they passed by. They continued to travel
south, where Qi Zhuyin was already waiting for them within
Qidong’s borders.
“Speaking of this Qi Zhuyin,” Han Cheng’s horse stuck close to
the carriage as he spoke to Hua Xiangyi with the carriage curtain
between them. “Third Missy hasn’t met her before, right?”
A soft sound of affirmation rose from within.
 Han Cheng loved flaunting his seniority. On hearing her, he
perked up and said, “Let this old subject share some domestic
trivialities with the Third Missy. Although Qi Zhuyin is a girl, she is
not easy to get along with. The Third Missy typically resides in the
inner palace, so you must have not known how ferocious she looks
every year she enters the capital. The Ministry of Revenue was in a
tight spot during the reign of Xiande, and yet she dared to
command her soldiers to obstruct His Excellency Wei’s sedan for
the military salaries for the Qidong troops. But the Ministry of
Revenue genuinely could not afford to pay up, and left without a
choice, she associated herself with the ruffians who were also loan
sharks in Qudu and hung out with them in the streets.
Hua Xiangyi had only seen Qi Zhuyin through a screen before.
In that Feast of A Hundred Officials where all the civil ministers and
military generals were men, Qi Zhuyin was a special case. She did
not stand out much during her early years in Qidong. Before Qi
Shiyu handed over his commander seal, everyone was speculating
about which of her brothers would take over. After the expedition
to rescue Qi Shiyu, Qi Zhuyin was first denied entry to the capital.
The imperial court dragged the matters on for several months on
the grounds that her ‘military achievements were still pending
investigation’. Then, there was the Yulong Terrace fiasco when the
day of her conferment drew closer. Even with the backing of the
Empress Dowager, Qi Zhuyin merely took over Qi Shiyu’s
commander seal and did not inherit Qi Shiyu’s title. In other words,
every battle that Qi Zhuyin fought today only built up prestige for
Qidong and not for herself. If she did not get married in this life,
she would continue to be considered a ‘daughter of Qi’ even after
retiring from the front lines, with no title to her name. Conversely,
her brothers would be set for life as long as they beget sons
soonest possible.
Han Cheng was still talking, but Hua Xiangyi seemed to have
fallen asleep inside the carriage. Han Cheng gradually felt bored
and stopped talking in awkward embarrassment.
The ceremonial guards of honor traveled until the hour of you
when a streak of red suddenly emerged on the horizon. Horses’
hoofs thundered in unison amidst the billowing waves of heat,
revealing the light cavalry that stretched far into the distance, all
dressed in red robes. The military flag of Qidong fluttered in the
wind, like a dragon soaring straight for them, while a storm of
yellow sand surged forth and slapped Han Cheng’s entire face full
of dust.
Qi Wei took the lead and dismounted his horse, brandishing
the flag as he bellowed, “WEL—COME—!”
The light cavalry behind him got off their horses and
simultaneously went down on one knee, their armors clanging
resoundingly as they raised their arms and shouted in chorus, “We
extend our respectful welcome to Madam!”
These two thunderous roars left the palace maids from Qudu so
shaken that their hearts went pounding; even Han Cheng almost
clutched at his chest. Beating away the dust, he knitted his brows
and asked, “Where’s the Commander…”
The sound of horse hooves circled over towards them, then
that red figure was already right before the horse carriage. Before
Han Cheng could stop her, Qi Zhuyin lifted the curtain with the
sheath of her blade and tilted her head to peer inside.
Hua Xiangyi had yet to have her head covered with a veil, and
there was a golden jade phoenix coronet perched on her head as
she looked at Qi Zhuyin in shock, her chest pounding hard. She did
not have a clue what Qi Zhuyin was trying to do.
“Yo.” Qi Zhuyin greeted her. “Stepmother.”1
Shocked, Han Cheng hurriedly stepped forward to close the
carriage curtain. He could not help but rebuke, “We have yet to
arrive in Cangjun Commandery, so how can the Commander-in-
chief simply lift the Third Missy’s curtain?!”
“Just taking a look.” Rebuffed, Qi Zhuyin retracted her hand and
said, “How many times have you taken a break during the journey?
According to the estimated time, you should have arrived
yesterday.”
Han Cheng followed after Qi Zhuyin’s horse and answered, “It’s
a long journey, and it’s hard to guarantee that nothing will happen
if we are in too much of a hurry. I thought the Commander-in-Chief
would be waiting to receive us at the southern side of Chazhou, but
in the end, we didn’t see you even after all that waiting.”
 “I’m only just hurried back from Bianjun, so I don’t have much
time to spare.” As Qi Zhuyin spoke, she looked back and asked Han
Cheng, “Why are you getting off your horse?”
Han Cheng looked around the place. “It’s already the hour of
you now; it should be here…”
Qi Zhuyin pointed to the east with her horse whip and said,
“Continue on your way for a little further, and you’ll be able to reach
Cejun Commandery at the hour of hai. There’s a bridle path in
Cejun, and the road to Cangjun Commandery will be a tad
smoother. Get on your horse.”
Han Cheng had been on the go for an entire day, and he was
exhausted at this point. He still wanted to say something, but Qi
Zhuyin had already spurred her horse on and left. Qi Wei mounted
his horse from his end and led his light cavalry to surround the
ceremonial procession, then said to Han Cheng politely,
“Commander, let’s go.”
Even if Han Cheng was a bigwig in Qudu, he had no authority
over the affairs of the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue. The
Imperial Bodyguards could throw their weight around in Qudu and
other places, but to Qi Zhuyin, they were of no threat. She was the
Commander-in-Chief of Qidong’s Five Commanderies’ troops.
Qidong was her territory. Han Cheng had no say here, what’s more
when the Empress Dowager herself even had to rely on the
Qidong Garrison Troops now.
Han Cheng bore a grudge deep down, but he could not let it
show on his expression yet. All he could do was smile at Qi Wei
and get on his horse to continue with the journey.
Hua Xiangyi returned to her senses, her heart still palpitating
from the fleeting glimpse of the stunning sight earlier. The curtain
of the carriage swayed, and she tilted her head slightly to look
through the gap, where she saw the back view of Qi Zhuyin as she
rode her horse ahead.
Qi Zhuyin was tall and slender. She must have made a special
effort to dress up today. She had to ride a horse, so she did not
have her hair up in a high bun as was common in Qudu, but she
still looked very chic. There were no hair accessories like hairpins,
double-edged fine-toothed comb, or exquisite pearls in her hair,
making her appear all the more neat and tidy.
She was a pretty one.
Hua Xiangyi still wanted to continue sizing her up, but then she
saw her look back abruptly.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye said to send his congratulations, but he still had
someone prepare a gift. Xiao Jiming also had to prepare a gift on
his end. Their relationship with Qidong was not all that bad. Even if
it was a little delicate at the moment, the friendship was still there,
especially with Qi Zhuyin.
The wedding between Hua and Qi was a declaration of the
temporary victory of the Empress Dowager in the tussle for power
in Qudu. The Grand Secretariat could only first stabilize the Heir
Apparent to the throne before they had the latitude to continue
with the contention for dominance. It was at this moment Xue
Xiuzhuo made a wise decision. He submitted a memorial to
negotiate with the Grand Secretariat and had Jiang Qingshan
released back to Juexi, thereby securing the granaries in Qudu.
Yao Wenyu sat in the wheelchair and let Qiao Tianya push him
outdoors. The weather in Cizhou had been rather bad lately.
Autumn rain was on its way, and the scenery in the outskirts of the
city was even more bleak and desolate. Yao Wenyu had been out of
the sun for many days, and right this moment, he seemed to have
become a jade laid bare out there for all to see.
“It’s just as you expected.” Shen Zechuan looked at the vast
expanse of autumn leaves and the solemnly quiet lands as he
stood at Yao Wenyu’s side. “He really transferred Jiang Qingshan
back to Juexi.”
“I originally thought Jiang Qingshan ought to have gone to
Huaizhou even if it was to suppress Cizhou.” In a rare moment
today, Zhou Gui was wearing a body-fitting outfit,2 having also
ridden his way here on horseback. He wiped his sweat and said,
“Luoxia Pass is close to the city of Quancheng, and Quancheng is
the native hometown of the Xue clan. It’s only to be expected for
him to be worried. I didn’t think he would really be willing to send
Jiang Qingshan back to Juexi.”
 Holding the cat in his sleeve, Yao Wenyu said, “It’s because of
the geographical location of Luoxia Pass and the city of
Quancheng. It’s inevitable that both of you would have such
concerns. Going by the present situation, putting Jiang Qingshan
in Huaizhou would be the most advantageous to Xue Xiuzhuo and
the Xue clan.”
The soles of Shen Zechuan’s boots trod across the fallen leaves.
He stood still and lost himself in his thoughts.
If Jiang Qingshan was transferred to the prefecture of
Huaizhou, he would, firstly, be able to challenge Cizhou and
obstruct the trade route between Cizhou, Chazhou, and Huaizhou
from taking shape; secondly, he would be able to ensure that
Quancheng would be safe and sound, as well as join forces with
Quancheng to put pressure on Luoxia Pass, and subsequently,
Libei. These were all matters that Shen Zechuan could think of
himself, and naturally, so could Xue Xiuzhuo. Yet, he still forsook
the safety of Quancheng and chose Juexi, just like Yao Wenyu
predicted.
“Xue Xiuzhuo had Jiang Qingshan released back.” Shen
Zechuan’s expression was grave. “And this is what makes him
tough to deal with.”
This maneuver not only meant that Xue Xiuzhuo would restrict
Libei’s and Zhongbo’s development through the grains, but also
that he did not give a damn about the personal gains and losses of
the Xue clan. In other words, he harbored no selfish desires, which
made him completely different from Hua Siqian, Wei Huaigu, and
the others. What he sought was not benefits for one party.
“Jiang Qingshan takes a hard approach on policies, and his
local governance is effective. There are rumors in Qudu that he will
not tolerate a thorn in his side, but in truth, it’s quite the opposite.”
Yao Wenyu flexed his fingers and stroked the cat. “Juexi has
thirteen cities, with two prefectures and two harbors; it’s now a
veritable granary of Dazhou. The Xi clan’s business is by far its
largest in Juexi, and even the waterways of the Hua clan in
Dicheng have to go through it. If the Vice Commander has been to
Juexi before, you’d understand that Juexi’s prosperity did not
happen by coincidence. Jiang Qingshan is an extraordinarily
broad-minded man who uses people regardless of their family
status and social standing. He would never make excuses to
decline in the face of major matters, but he also knows not to go
too far when dealing with minor issues. He never lets go of all that
he ought to have a firm grip on, and he never regrets all that he
should relax his hold on. With such a Provincial Administration
Commissioner, it’s not surprising for Juexi to swiftly get back on its
feet after the natural disaster in the reign of Xiande. Jiang
Qingshan is such a person. He cited Xue Xiuzhuo as his bosom
friend in life, precisely because they shared the same political views
and ambitions.”
On hearing this, Zhou Gui nodded. “I’ve long heard of the
political achievements of these two people. When the Grand
Secretary promoted Xue Xiuzhuo to the Court of Judicial Review
back then, no one in the imperial court opposed.”
“The Vice Commander has also read Xue Xiuzhuo’s essays on
contemporary politics before.” Yao Wenyu said. “Does the Vice
Commander still remember the Grand Mentor’s wish?”
Shen Zechuan knew it by heart, because he inherited Qi
Huilian’s knowledge and understood best what Qi Huilian wanted
to do back then. After a moment of silence, he said, “To unify the
management of Dazhou’s household registries; to survey all the
fertile farmlands in the world; to consolidate the miscellaneous
local taxes; and to restore the cash flow of the state treasury.”
Yao Wenyu looked at the mountains in the distance and said,
“These are what Xue Xiuzhuo wants to accomplish. He and Teacher
are both striving for the same thing if you look at it on this point
alone. Teacher has the support of Kong Qiu, Cen Yu, and the
various officials of humble backgrounds, while Xue Xiuzhuo has the
support of the industrious and practical action-takers with Jiang
Qingshan at the lead. He’s not alone.”
But could the current Dazhou really do it?
It took Qi Huilian many years to implement the registration of
households into the census registry3 in the local areas. Why was the
Eastern Palace framed for rebellion? Because the next on the list
was the surveyance of farmlands. The misappropriation of the
commoners’ fields in the Eight Cities of Qudu was rather severe.
Once the policy was implemented, the noble clans not only had to
return the commoners’ fields and receive their sentence according
to the law, they also had to bear the land and field taxes
themselves. Killing the Crown Prince would prevent the policy from
being implemented. Hai Liangyi taught Li Jianheng the way he did
to treat the problem at its source. He hoped Li Jianheng would be
able to maintain a tight hold over the Grand Secretariat and wield
his authority to make changes and overhaul the system from top-
down. For this, he was willing to charge valiantly forth in Li
Jianheng’s place.
But Li Jianheng could not do it.
Xue Xiuzhuo realized this way earlier than Hai Liangyi did. He
instantly abandoned Li Jianheng, no longer holding out any hope
for this emperor, or even the Li clan. He needed a new emperor,
one who could sit quietly on the throne. It had to be the case that
this emperor would never interfere with the Grand Secretariat, nor
sway left and right in the struggle between those from the noble
clans and those of humble backgrounds. Even more so, he would
not be partial towards the frontier with heavy military presence for
the sake of so-called brotherhood. And so he found Li Jianting.
But a plan like this took too long. Qudu was changing every
single moment. Shen Zechuan himself was a variable. In Qudu, he
was at best an abandoned pawn on Xue Xiuzhuo’s chessboard,
one who could be off-handedly discarded after dealing with Xi
Hongxuan and Wei Huaigu, wiped out in that heavy downpour just
like Xiao Chiye. Xue Xiuzhuo had no selfish desires, and this was
what was so terrifying about him. Xue Xiuyi had repeatedly
ridiculed, mocked, and even humiliated Xue Xiuzhuo, but Xue
Xiuzhuo did not kill off this lawful eldest brother of his, because, in
his eyes, Xue Xiuyi was not important at all. Dead or alive, he made
no difference, just like the dust at his feet.
He wanted to kill Qi Huilian, because Qi Huilian was the tutor of
the emperor of Dazhou. He wanted to kill Yao Wenyu, because Yao
Wenyu was a phenomenal talent. He gave these two men the
chance to choose before, but in the end, both of them turned him
down. Releasing a strategist, who could not be used for his own
purpose, back into the wild was akin to gifting the world’s famous
sword to another. And it was only by killing them that he would be
able to eliminate the roots of troubles down the road.
◈ ◈ ◈
A solitary wild goose flew across the horizon. Frost and fog
gradually materialized, and a hue of colors washed over the cold-
blighted forest. It was getting more and more chilly by the day.
Qiao Tianya casually covered Yao Wenyu with a thick coat; they
were still in the forest.
Shen Zechuan tapped his folding fan against his palm, his gaze
following Hongyan Mountains southward as he said, “When Xue
Xiuzhuo was teaching the Heir Apparent to the throne, he likely did
not think that Dazhou would have collapsed to such an extent in
just a mere few years. There is no one in this world who can take
every single thing into account and come up with a foolproof
strategy. The military provisions incident that forced Lu Guangbai
into rebelling is a variable. Qidong missed the opportunity to hunt
down Ce’an because they lost Lu Guangbai, and Qudu went from
besieging Xiao Chiye to releasing a tiger back to its mountain.”4
The events that befell men were always unexpected, be it Lu
Guangbai, Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye, Yao Wenyu, or even any of
the other nameless faces out there. Heaven gave every person a
different challenge, and in climbing back to their feet and
surviving, those who had initially been trapped in their
circumstances had all fought and broken free of their shackles.
Turbulent times meant that the order of the world no longer
existed; anyone could fight for a slice of the pie if they so wished. If
there were those who clung on to the fragments already broken,
then there would also be those who brandished their weapons to
break through the impasse.
This was the era of treacherous ministers and traitors.
It was in the midst of the thick fog when the raindrops fell. Fei
Sheng opened up an umbrella and held it over Shen Zechuan.
They reined in their horses and made their way back. Autumn had
finally come to Cizhou. The wind sent the sleeves of Shen
Zechuan’s robes billowing, nearly blowing away his blue
handkerchief. At the same time Shen Zechuan grasped onto the
handkerchief, the falling leaves dancing all over the sky passed by
him. Yellow, withered leaves spiraled up in the wind, where the rain
pelted at them, sending them falling at Xiao Chiye’s feet.
Gu Jin returned on horseback, waving a small flag as he
shouted, “The bridle path ahead has collapsed. Master, we are
trapped here!”
Xiao Chiye mounted his horse. Wu Ziyu spurred his horse on
forward from behind and braved the rain to say, “Zhao Hui’s troops
haven’t arrived, and the Tudalong Banner lies ten li away from
here. Hasen’s cavalry is nearby!”
“The grain wagons are too heavy.” Tantai Hu wiped off the
rainwater. “Unless we abandon the provisions and take a detour,
we are bound to come across Hasen’s cavalry tonight.”
“There are insufficient supplies at the battlegrounds; if this
batch of provisions falls into Hasen’s hands, His Lordship is going
to get hit hard.” Chen Yang tugged at the reins, his face red from
the cold. “We can stay here, but Master has to go.”
Based on the military orders a few days ago, Xiao Chiye, on
making a detour from Dajing to the north, had to go past the bridle
path of the original Changzhu camp to first provide supplies for
Zhao Hui, then head towards the battlegrounds to replenish Xiao
Fangxu’s stock. When they arrived at this spot, they should
theoretically be received by Zhao Hui’s Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang, but Zhao Hui had not appeared. Meng was
also unable to fly too far to carry out reconnaissance due to the
rainstorm today. It was as though Xiao Chiye had been
blindfolded.
The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was unbelievably calm as
he gave free rein to the raindrops trickling across his cheeks and
commanded in a grave tone over the noise, “Turn around. We’re
heading for the Tudalong Banner.”

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Footnotes
1. 小娘 xiaoniang is a term for one’s father’s concubine. In
Qi Zhuyin’s case, it’d be closer to a stepmother, since Hua
Xiangyi is marrying into the family as the second wife and
not a concubine.

2.
3. 劲装 Jinzhuang is a more body-fitting outfit (compared to
the usual loose, flowing robes) with the sleeves secured to
make movements easier and less restrictive. It’s usually worn
by martial arts practitioners to facilitate combat.
4. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
5. 放虎归山 i.e., set free a deadly enemy, thereby setting the
stage for future disaster.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 151 : ROUND-UP
Translated with: Jia<3

The Tudalong Banner was located in the eastern mountain

ranges of the Hongyan Mountains; it was to the northwest of the
Shayi Camp, and leading directly east of was the Biansha Twelve
Tribes. Before this year, it was not a place of contention for both
sides, but with Libei’s repeatedly retreating battlefront, this place
became a strategic point above the battleground. Huhelu’s squad
broke through the checkpoints and watchtowers ahead, so
Changzhu Camp could only confront them on the west side of the
Tudalong Banner. Both sides often engage in slanging matches
across the marshland of the Tudalong Banner.
Xiao Chiye took a detour from the Bianbo Camp, which just so
happened to put him to the south of Changzhu Camp. But the
collapse blocked off the bridle path leading right to Changzhu
Camp, and the Tudalong Banner lay just to the right. Hasen’s squad
often wandered around this area. If Xiao Chiye refused to abandon
the grains to extricate himself, then he could only come face to
face with Hasen with the supplies in tow. However, the grain
wagons were too heavy. Wu Ziyu’s Armored Cavalry could not run
on mud, and the Imperial Army did not have enough light cavalry
to interfere. Under such circumstances, it was simply too
dangerous to turn around and head for the Tudalong Banner.
Wu Ziyu wanted to refute, but Chen Yang and the rest had
already turned their horses around. That was a kind of trust that
could not be described with words alone. They unconditionally
obeyed Xiao Chiye. Even if it was a critical moment of life and
death right this moment, they could immediately carry it out, as
long as it was Xiao Chiye’s commands. Wu Ziyu, who stood among
them, involuntarily shuddered.
It was now a quarter past the hour of shen, and the sky was
overcast, having been affected by the rainstorm. Gu Jin was well-
acquainted with this area, and the convoy squad entered Tudalong
Banner. The grain wagons rolled heavily across the mudholes; just
a little oversight, and they would sink in them. Everyone stilled their
breathing and focused with rapt attention, not daring to be sloppy
in the slightest.
Xiao Chiye wanted to conceal the grain wagons here.
No matter how brave the cavalry of Biansha was, they would
not enter the Tudalong Banner rashly. The marshland was similarly
a difficult place for them to navigate. Besides, rainy days affected
not just Xiao Chiye, but Hasen as well. Meng’s inability to do
reconnaissance meant that the saker falcons were not able to
either. Both sides could not get a clear look at the other party’s
movements through the rainstorm; they could only rely on their
knowledge of the battlefield to make their moves against each
other. But this kind of delicate balance could only be maintained in
the rainstorm. Once the rain stopped, Xiao Chiye’s current squad
would not be able to withstand Hasen’s assault.
“Wu Ziyu, stay to guard over the grain wagons.” Xiao Chiye said
rapidly. “Let the Armored Cavalry hang up the chains to surround
the grain wagons.”
The paths around the Tudalong Banner were all muddy, and
the Armored Cavalry were too heavy on rainy days. It was easy for
the horses’ hooves to get bogged down in the mud, so staying
behind to watch over the grain wagons was the most appropriate
decision to make. The chains were something Xiao Fangxu had
them equipped with. Hooked them on the armors, and they could
turn the Armored Cavalry into the grain wagons’ “armor”. That way,
even if Hasen could break through Xiao Chiye’s guerrilla attack and
enter the inner area of the Tudalong Banner, he would still be
unable to break up the iron wall of the Armored Cavalry right at
once.
Xiao Chiye remained in place and said to the Imperial Army,
“Hasen is leading the Hanshe Tribe. Their speed is fast, and their
strikes are powerful; we can’t catch up to them or stop them. But
the east side where they are located is overgrown with bushes,
which makes it easy for us to hide. The saker falcon can’t go ahead
with their patrols on rainy days; this is an opportunity.”
It was clear who was the stronger and weaker one between the
enemy and them. Xiao Chiye could not let Hasen’s squad remain
intact; he would have no chance of winning if that was the case. He
had the Imperial Army split up into small groups to feel their way
out of the Tudalong Banner’s marshland, set up ropes to trip the
enemies’ horses, then similarly break up and divert the
unsuspecting Biansha Cavalry all over the Tudalong Banner. As
long as the Biansha Cavalry fell off their horses, they would lose
their advantage.
“Gu Jin should bypass Hasen’s squad and rush over to the
battlefield at top speed.” Xiao Chiye turned around and looked at
Gu Jin. “Zhao Hui didn’t come, and that means the Three Great
Training Divisions of Liuyang are unable to move at this moment.
The war situation further north is likely to be more dire than we
thought. We can only now ask the battleground for
reinforcements.”
Gi Jin had been injured before in the Tudalong Banner. He
knew the roads of the Tudalong Banner by heart. He promptly
voiced an acknowledgment and led a row of lightly-equipped
scouts on ahead.
“Laohu, head northeast. I’ll go to the east. Chen Yang, assume
personal command here.” As Xiao Chiye spoke, he strode forward.
“No matter what, we have to ensure the army provisions can be
successfully delivered to the site of battle.”
Having followed Xiao Chiye bustle all over the place, Chen
Yang knew best about the status of the various granaries’ reserves
in Libei. If Xiao Chiye were defeated, then Chen Yang would have
to release a falcon once the rain stopped to inform the Northeast
Provisions Bridle Path to reallocate army provisions up north
without further delay. As the convoy squad, their lives and deaths
were nowhere near as important as the army provisions for the
battlegrounds.
This place was close to Hongyan mountains; the rain would not
be stopping any time soon. The Imperial Army who was lying low
in the mudholes had to endure the bone-chilling cold. Their inner
garment clung to their skin, having already been drenched
through. All their limbs had to be soaked in the mud, and it took
less than an hour for all their fingers and toes to be frozen.
 The autumnal rains of Libei were like blades; August had barely
begun, yet the temperature had already dropped so low it
appeared snow might fall any moment.
The convoy squad had yet to change into outer coats to keep
out the cold. Long before heading out, Xiao Chiye had already
asked that they switch the water they carried on hand with “On
Horseback”.1 Strong wine could dispel the cold, and thus it was a
pivotal item to have in this frontier of capricious wind and snow.
Xiao Chiye crouched in a mudhole and chugged down the
wine, one mouthful at a time.
For the most part, the battle between Libei and Biansha would
not drag past the eighth or ninth month, as a further delay meant
the coming of snow, where the grasslands of both parties would be
ravaged by raging snowstorms. During the long and harsh winter,
groups of Libei’s military craftsmen would spend this time tirelessly
re-forging and repairing equipment for the Armored Cavalry. On
the other end, Biansha would herd their flocks of sheep closer to
the south. Everyone would spontaneously enter a period of truce
without fail. It was only during the third year of the reign of Xiande
that something unforeseen had happened. Then, the Hanshe Tribe
headed south and breached the banks of Chashi River to relieve
considerable pressure on the provisions for the Twelve Tribes of
Biansha.
For some reason, in the past couple of days, Xiao Chiye had a
premonition that there would be no truce this winter. Amu’er’s
combat style was too aggressive. If what Amu’er had done in early
spring was to enter his enemy’s territory to plunder food, then right
now, Amu’er seemed more like he was full-on suppressing Libei
with no intention of retreat. By transferring Hasen over here from
Qidong, Amu’er was deploying and letting loose his most powerful
troops on the battlefields of Libei, which were completely unlike the
small-scaled battles and skirmishes they had engaged in during
the last few years.
All of a sudden, the sound of horse hooves rose through the
rain. Xiao Chiye hung back his flask and held up two fingers to
signal for the Imperial Army behind him to get down. He crouched
down, his face almost touching the mudhole, and used only his
eyes to search the bushes in the rain. A troop of cavalrymen
appeared amidst the pouring rain, the hooves of their horses
splashing muddy water all over as they galloped. Xiao Chiye
silently observed them, and Langli Blade gradually slid out of its
sheath as the distance between them shortened.
The sound of horse hooves intensified, while the sound of the
Biansha Cavalry’s whistle dispersed in the rain. Xiao Chiye had
already felt a slight tremor with the palm he had pressed against
the ground.
He did not move, and neither did the Imperial Army behind
him.
The Biansha Cavalry was just right before them; just a couple
steps more, and they would be trampling over the Imperial Army.
But then, the horse in the lead suddenly neighed, its front hooves
caught by the rope. The horse’s front knees protruded forward, and
it fell straight down. A wave of mud instantly splashed over Xiao
Chiye’s face. He moved. At the same time the cavalryman fell down
along with the horse, Langli Blade had already broken free of its
sheath. Xiao Chiye cleaved down at the man. Fresh blood that
spewed from the neck of the man gushed into the mudhole. The
cavalrymen behind the man were caught off guard, and
consequently, their formation was thrown into disarray.
Xiao Chiye did not give the other party the chance to regroup.
The Imperial Army followed him closely as he killed his way into
the Biansha Cavalry. A blend of mud and blood trickled onto Xiao
Chiye’s nape. The pungency of “On Horseback” flooded through
his stomach, causing him to burn up all over.
This was like a head-on blow that swiftly sent the Biansha
Cavalry gathering their wits about them. Both parties were small
squads, fighting at close quarters and killing one another as the
rainwater poured over them. But it was a quick battle. By the time
the Biansha Cavalry pulled themselves together, the Imperial Army
had soundlessly vanished into the torrential rain again.
The Biansha Cavalry’s squads set up around the Tudalong
Banner all received varying degrees of assaults from the Imperial
Army. As soon as they tried to follow up with an attack, these
batches of ruffian soldiers would shrink back in retreat. The Biansha
Cavalry was forced to come to a halt beyond the marshland of the
Tudalong Banner. Whenever they wanted to turn back and rejoin
the others, the Imperial Army would sneak up on them and attack.
After a few times, the Biansha Cavalry was beyond fed up. They
could not use their speed to full advantage, and their charges were
all over the place. They were just like headless flies being harassed
by the Imperial Army, who shoved and kicked them. Pent-up rage
simmered in them as they fought with ire and resentment.
Xiao Chiye was hidden under the torrential rain all this time.
The Biansha Cavalry could not make out the exact hiding place of
the Imperial Army at all. Without the heavy armors and horses of
the Libei Armored Cavalry, the Imperial Army could disappear from
the Biansha Cavalry’s field of vision as long as they lie low on the
ground, coming and going elusively like a shadow.
Very quickly, Xiao Chiye’s wine was drunk down to the last
drop. At the hour of xu, the sky grew completely dark. The Biansha
Cavalry was still trapped by the Imperial Army at the fringe of the
Tudalong Banner, unable to advance or retreat. Chances of victory
kept improving; it seemed as if Xiao Chiye had grasped the rhythm
of the battle. He would not let it go to his head. It did not matter if
the Biansha Cavalry showed weakness or resorted to intimidation,
the rhythm remained firmly in his control. But time lapsed, and
Xiao Chiye still had yet to catch sight of Hasen.
The chill was even more intense in the night, and it was
incomparably pitch-dark all around. Xiao Chiye’s boots were
choked full of mud. Rainy days were wet and slippery. In order to
prevent his blade from slipping off his hand, Xiao Chiye had it
bound to the area between his thumb and index finger with a strip
of cloth. At this point, the cloth was soaked through and utterly
waterlogged. He squatted in place and tore away the old one to
replace it with a new one.
Man’s physical strength was limited. This kind of back-and-forth
battle required both sides to be on high alert at all times. Nerves
had to be stretched taut; they could not afford to make even the
slightest oversight or negligence. But Xiao Chiye had to catch his
breath too. He closed his eyes slightly and shook his head twice so
that he would not go numb from the repetitive actions.
 By tomorrow latest at the hour of chen, the reinforcements from
the battlegrounds would have hurried their way over. Tonight was
of crucial importance. But Heaven still favored Xiao Chiye. Even if
the rain were to abate some, there would be no starlight and
moonlight tonight. The night was still as the Imperial Army’s
disguise.
Xiao Chiye huffed out warm air and flexed his five fingers
before tightening his grip on Langli Blade. But just as he rose to his
feet again, the sound of disorderly footsteps rang out from the
shrubbery. The person who brushed aside the leaves to reveal
himself turned out to be Gu Jin.
Xiao Chiye promptly had an ill sense of foreboding.
Sure enough, he saw Gu Jin looking grim as he hastily kneeled
on one knee and whispered, “Master, the roads to the site of battle
are all blocked! Hasen’s elite forces are right at the southeast, and
they have cut off my access!”
Xiao Chiye’s heart suddenly sank. It hit him almost instantly.
He had walked into a trap.
Every skilled commanding general knows the principle of
imposing his will on the enemy but not allowing the enemy’s will to
be imposed on him.2 The reason Xiao Chiye had been scoring one
victory after another from Qudu was that he was always taking the
initiative. This allowed him to control the pulse and rhythm of the
battlefield without fear of the enemy’s numbers. But he had
forgotten that Hasen was the same kind of commanding general
as he was.
This rain was no coincidence.
It was a meticulously planned round-up.
From the time Xiao Chiye’s squad headed north, Hasen had
already laid down an encirclement trap to hunt and kill this wolf
pup. At the same time Xiao Chiye was watching the Biansha
Cavalry, he was also being observed by Hasen. Xiao Chiye thought
he was taking the initiative, but he was, in fact, paralyzing himself.
Right from the moment he decided to turn around and head for
the Tudalong Banner, he had already fallen into the role of the
passive player.
The sound of horses’ hooves rose once more.
 NOTICE:
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Footnotes
1. 马上行 Wine from Libei. Background story in chapter 102
2. 致人而不致于人 From Sun Tzu’s Art of War
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 152 : HASEN
Translated with: Jia<3
Warning: Horse Abuse :V

Raindrops rolled down the curved blade, dripping along its

sharp edge.
The horse under Hasen was snorting hot puffs of air. Hasen had
already been waiting for a long time in the rain. It was three-
quarters past the hour of hai. The world had completely descended
into darkness.
Hasen had a head full of red hair. He was not like the men of
Dazhou, who typically tied their hair up in a bun; instead, he had it
trimmed short, with a small pigtail tied at the back of his head.
After Huhelu’s death, Bayin was transferred over to Hasen’s
side. He tugged at the reins as he followed behind Hasen and
wrapped up his treasured military books before putting them back
under his robe on his bosom. Cautiously, he asked, “How are you
certain he will not escape?”
Hasen scratched at his rain-drenched hair, letting it pile up in a
mess as he replied, “He was very bold when fighting Huhelu. To put
it in the words of those from Dazhou, he is adept in the art of
deception. I heard that he’s the youngest son of the Prince of Libei,
a wolf pup; as long as there’s a chance to counterattack, he’ll
definitely not choose to flee.”
Bayin said, “He’s indeed very bold, and also very cautious.”
“Compared to his elder brother, Xiao Chiye is an impulsive
man.” Hasen, having said to this point, was a little bashful. “Even
though I’m no genius, I know the pride of a genius. No matter how
he warns himself, he will still lose a little of his prudence after
defeating our powerful Huhelu at the Shasan camp. His desire to
win is too strong. Bayin, even I can feel it. Like my father, he won’t
allow himself to cower and retreat. This is his strength, but also his
weakness.”
Bayin quietly petted the horse. “Will we win?”
 “We will definitely win.” When he said this, his eyes were bright
and his words powerful, “He can’t beat me.”
Hasen and Xiao Chiye had similar combat styles, with the way
they fought their battles both wild and unrestrained. Both Qi Zhuyin
and Lu Guangbai had been put through the wringer at his hands
one after another, but he and Xiao Chiye were polar opposites in
terms of their personalities. He was introverted and even a little
bashful; the beautiful maidens of the Biansha Twelve Tribes all had
their eyes on him, yet just their gazes alone would make him go
red in the face. He was Amu’er’s favorite son, and this was not only
due to the formidability of his mother’s clan, but also because of his
character.
Xiao Fangxu enjoyed nurturing little wolves in the wild. He even
liked training his sons with hard knocks until they went howling in
pain; but Amu’er was the exact opposite. Before Hasen had come
of age, Amu’er never allowed Hasen to leave his side. Every battle
that Hasen fought during his earlier years was all taught by Amu’er
himself in person.
“You are also a genius.” Bayin responded as an afterthought.
Hasen laughed out loud as he wiped his scimitar and shook his
head. “Bayin, I’m not. I’m an ordinary man. I merely found my own
path from battling against geniuses. To be honest, before heading
north, I was worried about meeting Xiao Jiming here, because Xiao
Jiming and Qi Zhuyin belong to the same category of
commanders. They’re better at defense than offense. Do you
understand? Not in the typical sense of defense, but one that
leaves you with nowhere to make your moves and unable to find
any vulnerability to attack; they are thorny to deal with. But Xiao
Chiye isn’t the same. He’s very…” Hasen struggled to think of a
description. In the end, he laughed, “I can’t put my finger on it, but
he obviously has plenty of shortcomings, and he isn’t even trying
to hide them.”
“Then he’s arrogant.” Bayin herded the horse over to Hasen’s
side. He raised his hand and lightly tapped Hasen’s shoulder. “You
are our new Great Hero, the eagle of the desert, and the future
husband of Duo’erlan. It doesn’t matter how humble you are;
Hasen, in our eyes, you are a genius bestowed upon the Hanshe
Tribe by the gods. You are not inferior to anyone else.”
“Thank you.” Hasen said, “My good friend, you should’ve come
to my side earlier.”
The both of them traded looks and exchanged smiles. All of a
sudden, they heard a few urgent whistles resounding through the
night. Hasen raised his head to the sky, and a raindrop landed
between his brows; it was no longer pouring like it had during the
day. He patted the horse, looking westward of the Tudalong
Banner. “It’s time for us to haul in the net.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Hasen’s elite forces did not enter the battleground at all; the
troops he had set before Xiao Chiye were all regular troops that
were originally stationed east of the Tudalong Banner. Moreover,
the troops he deployed to the eastern mountain range had a firm
grip on Zhao Hui, preventing Zhao Hui from turning around and
providing reinforcements. The path towards the battlefront was
also obstructed; he had turned the Tudalong Banner into a sack-
like trap to ensnare Xiao Chiye with.
Xiao Chiye had no way out. Hasen had long prepared for him
an elite force that was all recharged and raring to go in the east.
Even if Xiao Chiye opted to escape, Hasen would also chase him
down closely on horseback, so that Xiao Chiye, with the exposed
vulnerability on his back, would once again become the target of
the hunt.
The sound of horse hooves rang out once again, this time
accompanied by torches that pressed in from the east. The
exhausted Imperial Army could only retreat. Although the rain had
stopped, the chill had intensified. Even Tantai Hu had no choice but
to huff warm air in his frozen hands.
Xiao Chiye walked in the mud, with the huffing and panting of
the soldiers behind him. They had to retreat back to the marshland
of the Tudalong Banner as soon as possible. But Hasen did not
miss this opportunity. His elite forces had eaten their fill during the
day, and now, they were lashing hard at their horses to spur them
on, giving the Imperial Army no time to retreat at all. The Imperial
Army that had been split into small groups hid themselves among
the shrubbery and grassy fields, but Hasen’s troops were
meticulous in their scouting and left them with nowhere to conceal
themselves.
Gu Jin, who had good hearing, very quickly discerned that the
horses’ hooves were coming this way.
Xiao Chiye raised an arm to wipe his cheek and looked back at
the pitch-black night. Flames abruptly lit up the horizon. Hasen’s
cavalry was like the falcon encroaching upon the sky not far away,
its two wings spread out as it charged forth in what seemed like a
glide.
“Master.” Gu Jin led his own horse out. “You should leave first!”
“Mount your horse and head north.” Xiao Chiye remained
where he was. “Pass on military information along the way and tell
them to withdraw back to the marshland. Tell Tantai Hu not to
persist in fighting and to retreat immediately.”
The Biansha Cavalry was getting closer. Xiao Chiye could even
hear the sounds of horses snorting hot air. Gu Jin remained in
place and hesitated for a moment. Xiao Chiye said with calm and
composure, “I have several hundred men here. It’s not a problem to
fight and retreat at the same time. I will make plans again once we
retreat inside the marshland.”
Gu Jin knew that Xiao Chiye would not change his command at
his time, so he mounted his horse, whipped it into action, and
charged into the night.
◈ ◈ ◈
Hasen had already seen the figures. The cavalry whistled, as
though they were encircling the wild beasts in the desert. They did
not rely on military flags to convey messages. The whistle rapidly
relayed from the center army to both flanks. Following right after,
the cavalry on both flanks turned their horses around to assemble
in the center, turning the falcon with its wings spread into a straight
arrow whose target was Xiao Chiye!
In war, speed was everything.
Hasen knew the consequences of hesitation. When it came to
Xiao Chiye, he had to fight a quick battle. Otherwise, if Xiao Chiye
were to retreat to the marshland and get the opportunity to catch
his breath, it could very well lead to the next surprise attack on
them.
“That’s him!” Bayin followed closely behind and pointed at
Xiao Chiye as he hollered in Biansha language. “Xiao Chiye!”
Hasen pulled off his scimitar and bent low at the same time. He
did not need Bayin to remind him; he had already recognized Xiao
Chiye. Xiao Chiye’s height and appearance were far too
conspicuous. His expression as he pursed his lips and looked back
was simply identical to Xiao Fangxu.
Xiao Chiye wrung the dripping wet strip of cloth and swiftly
wrapped it tightly around the space between his thumb and index
finger. He watched as the cavalry pressed in towards them, his
attention all but sucked away but Hasen’s red hair. He counted the
distance quietly. Just as Hasen’s horse was about to trip on the
rope, Hasen suddenly turned sideways and lowered his arm to
slice the rope that had been hidden among the grass with one
blow.
The cavalry at the back dashed their way in without a hitch.
The galloping cavalrymen brandished their scimitars, but Xiao
Chiye did not move. In the blink of an eye, the hooves of the
Biansha’s horses sank into the camouflage horse pits, sending a
number of men tumbling off their horses once more. The people in
front fell to the ground, but Hasen, who was at the back, seemed to
have anticipated it. That one step he had taken a beat slower
earlier had been meant to test the grounds.
Xiao Chiye raised his finger, and the Imperial Army jumped
over the shrubs and broke into a dash.
Hasen’s horse was snorting hot air as Hasen blew the whistle
again. These hastily dug pits for trapping horses were not deep
enough, and they were able to simply leap over to give chase right
behind Xiao Chiye.
Hasen’s target was clear, and that was Xiao Chiye. As long as
he could kill Xiao Chiye, the scattered Imperial Army would be just
a bunch of men without a leader. The grain wagons within the
marshland of the Tudalong Banner would then naturally fall into
their hands.
 Xiao Chiye stepped through the mud. A horse had already
caught up next to him. The Biansha Cavalryman on the horse
barked at Xiao Chiye in Biansha language. Xiao Chiye leaped
forward and crouched down on stable feet to dodge the scimitar
coming towards him. Following right after, he sliced apart the
Biansha Cavalryman’s saddle. Threatened by the blade, the
startled horse was thrown into disorientation. Xiao Chiye caught
hold of the cavalryman’s arm that had been wielding the blade, but
instead of hacking it off, he yanked hard on it to flip himself up the
horse. Unable to withstand the force of gravity, the cavalryman
tumbled off the horse, sending up a spray of mud.
The horse of the Gouma Tribe, having had a change of masters,
wretchedly flung its head from side to side and refused to run
anymore. Behind him, Hasen was pressing in close towards him.
Xiao Chiye clamped down hard on the belly of the horse and
yanked the reins, forcing the horse to crash its way through at an
angle.
Hasen had been too hurried in his pursuit of Xiao Chiye. Muddy
water went splashing as both horses collided. Langli Blade went
slicing through the air towards Hasen’s chest with such ferocity that
Hasen did not dare to be negligent and parried the blow with all
his strength.
So heavy!
Hasen’s arms sank, and the scimitar almost slipped out of his
hand under Xiao Chiye’s force. He immediately understood just
how extraordinary Xiao Chiye’s arm strength was, so he avoided
the glint as Xiao Chiye hacked down on him, no longer meeting
Xiao Chiye head-on with force.
The cavalrymen who were successively catching up behind
them clung close to their horses’ backs. The horse beneath Xiao
Chiye stirred restlessly as they reached out with their scimitars to
sever his horse’s front knees. The horse whinnied in pain, and its
entire front body fell over into the mudhole.
Xiao Chiye rolled off his horse. He was already surrounded.
The Biansha Cavalrymen formed a circle around Xiao Chiye,
and the fleeing Imperial Army swore and cursed out loud, “Bloody
hell, the Viceroy fell off!”
 The Imperial Army who had yet to spring into the Tudalong
Banner promptly turned back, drew their blades, and lunged into
the group of cavalrymen. They followed suit, doing what was done
earlier; as long as they could not hang onto the Biansha Cavalry
and leap onto their horses, they would hack off the horses’ legs
and send the Biansha Cavalry tumbling off their horses. They kept
what Xiao Chiye had said firmly in mind—the Biansha Cavalry was
not skilled at standing on the ground and fighting at close
quarters.
But that was directed at the troops that had been crossing
swords with the Libei Armored Cavalry in the north.
Hasen had fought battles with Dazhou’s best infantry in the
south. The one who had clashed with him was Lu Guangbai, and
Xiao Chiye’s experience with cavalrymen, to sum it up, had all
come from Lu Guangbai. Hasen’s elite forces were not the least bit
afraid of landing on the ground at all. On the contrary, they were
rather composed and unhurried when they faced up against the
Imperial Army after dismounting. They did not even need any
buffer time at all; they could fight the instant they got up after
rolling to the ground.
Fuck!
The Imperial Army, who had never suffered a defeat before,
cursed in unison.
These fuckers are even stronger than us!

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 153 : DEFEAT
Translated with: Jia<3

The Imperial Army was very much like Xiao Chiye, but they
were more sly than him. This was a group of soldiers that gave the
Libei Armored Cavalry complicated feelings. After the reign of
Yongyi, their reputation waned, and they were reduced to being
mere ornamental decorations in Qudu; even their original patrol
duty had been snatched away by the Eight Great Training
Divisions. In the decades that followed, all they did were odd jobs,
and they even appear to be more than happy to simply muddle
and idle their way through life. But then, they met Xiao Chiye, and
it was as if they had been wiped clean of grime to finally shine in all
their full glory in Qudu.
The Imperial Army was unlike the Libei Armored Cavalry and
the Qidong Garrison Troops. They were able to overlook all the
noise and focus all of their attention solely on Xiao Chiye. They
could not hear a single one of the criticisms against Xiao Chiye. As
long as Xiao Chiye waved his hand and signaled them, they would
be willing to go through the most severe of trials and tribulations
alongside him. This was a brew of loyalty blended with the code of
brotherhood.
A prime example: right this moment. The enemy clearly
outnumbered them, yet the Imperial Army felt no fear. They
chopped off the horses’ legs belonging to the Biansha Cavalry’s
vanguard so that a break opened up in Hansen’s encirclement.
However, the number of follow-up cavalry multiplied exponentially,
and these men were all highly adaptable to boot. Without even
needing Hasen to give his command, they had already figured out
the Imperial Army’s intentions.
The Imperial Army still wanted to hack off more legs, but the
Biansha Cavalry dismounted from their horses before charging
into the battlefield. They had no armors, and the furs they donned
were light and cold-resistant, so it was with extreme agility that
they moved. Unlike Huhelu’s squad, each of them had a spare
scimitar at the side of their horses, and pike daggers tightly
secured on the outside of their thighs. In the event that their
scimitars were damaged, they could still use the reserve scimitars,
or swap over to the pike daggers to fight at close quarters.
They were taciturn, well-trained men.
Xiao Chiye was gasping for breath as he savagely swept his
eyes over this elite force.
Hasen did not say a word. He did not need to engage in any
form of communication with Xiao Chiye. He did not want to use
Xiao Chiye to threaten Xiao Fangxu either, and he knew very well
that leaving Xiao Chiye alive would mean no end to troubles in the
future. Now was the moment to kill off Xiao Chiye.
Hasen locked eyes with Xiao Chiye. He gripped his scimitar
with one hand and released the reins with the other hand, letting it
fall gently into the mudhole. They were like certain beasts facing off
against each other in confrontation, their abhorrence for the other
mixed in with the stench of blood. Hasen kept moving, wading
through the muddy water while observing Xiao Chiye.
Sporadic raindrops left in the night sky dripped onto the back
of Xiao Chiye’s hand as he gripped Langli Blade and followed
Hasen with his eyes.
This was a strange kind of silence. Tumultuous sound of killing
clearly abounded all around them, and yet Xiao Chiye found it
quiet, so quiet that his hair was standing on end. He had to
restrain, restrain, and restrain himself before he could suppress that
murderous intent to kill bubbling up in his body.
Hasen was no longer moving. He seemed to have noticed Xiao
Chiye’s testiness. They both vied for the right to call the shots on
this battlefield and attempted to influence its atmosphere. This
made it clear that there was no way they could co-exist; what they
wanted was absolute control over their own rhythm.
A water drop slid along the back of Xiao Chiye’s slightly
bulging hand. At the very instant it dripped off, Hasen burst into
action. His red hair was like a flaming torch in the dark night,
charging right before Xiao Chiye’s eyes the very instant the mud
splashed aside.
 In the blink of an eye, Hasen’s scimitar pressed in towards Xiao
Chiye’s throat. Xiao Chiye took a sudden step back, and the mud
splashed out in a fan-like arc along with the movements of his legs
and feet. He swung up Langli Blade in a half-circle, and both of
them collided in mid-air. The impact forced Hasen’s feet to slide
back some, but he regained his footing and bounced back into
action the next moment, even cleverly learning to dodge.
Langli Blade was a heavyweight executioner’s blade,1 and Xiao
Chiye’s arm strength was what it relied on. Every move Hasen
made during the fight was executed with the intention to hack off
Xiao Chiye’s arm. Each time Xiao Chiye wielded his blade, he
would strike at empty air. Even if he caught up with Hasen, Hasen
would immediately turn his scimitar sideways and brush past it so
that he would not have to shoulder Xiao Chiye’s terrifying strength.
Assaulters were also sneaking up behind Xiao Chiye out of
nowhere. He used and pushed his sight and hearing to full
capacity, but his physical strength was like water already splashed;
in less than an hour, Xiao Chiye felt his own movements slowing
down a little. Hasen lunged once again, and at the same time, a
strong gust of wind suddenly came assaulting him from behind.
Xiao Chiye abruptly strode half a step to sidestep and dodge the
scimitar behind his back, then backhandedly grasped the arm of
the man behind him. Following right after, he spun around to kick
Hasen over and break the arm of the man who sneaked up on him
from behind. The scimitar on the other side cleaved down on Xiao
Chiye’s arm. A loud “THUD” rang out as the blow was blocked by
the arm guard Shen Zechuan had gifted him.
A slurry of mud erupted like exploding artillery shells as the
Biansha Cavalry simultaneously bore their scimitars down on Langli
Blade. Xiao Chiye promptly lifted a fist with his left hand and
punched one of them over. The pressure on Langli Blade promptly
subsided some, and he lowered his body and made to lift the
blade. With his scimitar cracked from the impact from Langli’s
Blade, Hasen abandoned it, pulled out the pike daggers from both
sides of his legs, and sprang when he saw his chance—all of a
sudden, one of the Imperial Army pounced and grabbed Hasen
around his waist; he even used a wrestling technique, but failed to
trip Hasen.
Hasen flipped over the pike dagger, slid it along that man’s
armor, and viciously stabbed it into the side of his neck. Blood spurt
like a fountain of spring water. Hasen had yet to pull out the pike
dagger, instead turning his head aside first to dodge Xiao Chiye’s
blade.
Men were dying on both sides. The Imperial Army did not
expect Hasen’s elite force to be this formidable, and likewise, this
elite force did not expect the Imperial Army to be able to hang in
there for so long.
The Biansha Cavalry at the periphery took out iron chains
attached with small copper balls. These kinds of chains were
similar in appearance to the chains used by the Libei Armored
Cavalry, but much lighter. They pressed in, shrinking the
encirclement area, and when Xiao Chiye’s Langli Blade was pinned
down once again, they flung countless chains towards Xiao Chiye.
The copper balls caught on to Xiao Chiye’s arms and legs. With
Xiao Chiye now entangled in the iron chains, they dragged him
over to the ground in one abrupt move.
Hasen’s pike dagger shot right towards Xiao Chiye’s face. Xiao
Chiye practically used up all of his strength to drag his arms over to
block the blow, causing the Biansha Cavalry of the other end who
was pulling at the chains to stumble in unison.
Once again, the pike dagger slammed into the arm guard with
a thud, but this piece of top-quality iron could not withstand this
kind of repeated blows raining upon it one after another. Xiao
Chiye felt the dogskin string snap; the arm guard was already
dented.
Xiao Chiye attempted to break free of the chains, but there
were simply too many for his arms to bear. He tilted his head to spit
out the muddy sand in his mouth, watching as the scimitars of the
cavalry went straight for his own throat. At this moment, Xiao Chiye
saw the billowy black sky. The winds of Hongyan Mountains blew
against his drenched hair, and he thought of Shen Zechuan in
between ragged gasps.
 Hasen’s victory was initially already within grasp, but who
would have expected Xiao Chiye to shoulder the combined force
of all the tugging and pulling from those holding him down and
raise both legs to kick over a blade-wielding cavalryman. The iron
chains securing him suddenly went swinging. It was impossible to
tell if it was sweat or muddy water trickling along his temples, but
blue veins visibly protruded as Xiao Chiye executed a kip-up2 and
flipped himself up to his feet.
However, one person alone could not salvage the situation,
much like one log could not prop up a collapsing building. During
the time Xiao Chiye executed his move, the cavalry had yanked the
chains taut; he had gotten on his feet for only a mere moment
before he was once again dragged back to the ground.
Even if he was blessed with wings, escape was impossible
tonight!
In the nick of time, the ground suddenly started to quake.
Water droplets among the shrubbery and branches leaped about
as the battle call of a war horn reverberated through the boundless
night.
Hasen looked out towards the south; as expected, he saw a
person single-handedly charging over in a mad dash, and
following close in his wake was a black tide that similarly
steamrolled everything in its path under the crushing darkness of
the night. The closer they got, the more aggressively the mudhole
shook from that muffled thunder-like roar of horses’ hooves—a
testament to the heavy weight of steel armors.
Hasen immediately whistled. The cavalry flipped onto their
horses in an orderly fashion and swiftly withdrew northward.
Before he turned the horse around, Hasen regretfully glanced
towards Xiao Chiye. He raised two fingers, tapped his temple, and
leaned towards Xiao Chiye to bid him a polite farewell. Then he
took his leave and sped away, leaving a scene of devastation
behind in his wake.
The black-armored cavalry charged over to Xiao Chiye’s side,
circling around him once.
Xiao Fangxu removed his helmet and looked askance at Xiao
Chiye. In a grave voice, he commanded those behind him, “Untie
your Second Young Master. What an unsightly sight.”
The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was scathingly cold and
grave—it was the shame of having his first taste of defeat.
◈ ◈ ◈
There were commanding generals of the five camps in the
Shasan camp, all of whom reported to Xiao Fangxu. Based on
ranking, Xiao Chiye’s position was at the very bottom. However, he
had been thoroughly defeated this time, and he cut such a sorry
figure as he squatted outside of the tent and rinsed half his body
with cold water that the commanding generals who came and
went would all cast him a glance.
Xiao Chiye did not seem to feel the blade-inflicted wounds on
his shoulders, chest, and back as the cold water scoured his body
pale. Zuo Qianqiu lifted up the flap after the meeting in the tent
had been dismissed, and as he looked at the sight of Xiao Chiye
squatting at the side with his back to him, his reproach had all but
turned into a twinge of bemusement. He called out, “Come in and
drink a bowl of warm milk. Don’t you fall sick on such a cold day.”
Xiao Chiye mumbled an answer and rose to put away the water
bucket before walking into the tent.
There was a fire going in the tent. Xiao Chiye’s armor had been
so badly damaged that it could no longer be used. Xiao Fangxu
was currently examining the dented top-quality iron of the arm
guard. Zuo Qianqiu instructed the military medic to dress Xiao
Chiye’s wounds, so Xiao Chiye sat bare-chested on the little stool
and remained still.
After some time, Chen Yang, Gu Jin, Tantai Hu, and Wu Ziyu
entered.
“Give your commanding general a report of the casualty
count.” Xiao Fangxu tossed the arm guard back onto the table, sat
down, and said to Chen Yang.
Chen Yang quietly answered, “The Imperial Army lost three
hundred men…”
“Louder,” Xiao Fangxu looked at Chen Yang. “Why are you
hanging your head looking all so dejected?”
Chen Yang raised his voice. “The Imperial Army lost three
hundred men. Thirty-six men sustained severe injuries, and eight
got away with light injuries.”
The Imperial Army was Xiao Chiye’s roots. He had to be
responsible for all its casualties, fatal or otherwise. This army no
longer held any possibility of further expansion, for it was unique
and distinctive. The moment the entire force was decimated, even
Xiao Chiye himself would not be able to rebuild it in Libei. This
meant that as long as the Imperial Army suffered a defeat in a
battle, it would face exponential losses. While three hundred
people were nothing to the Qidong Garrison Troops or the Libei
Armored Cavalry, it was considered heavy casualty to the Imperial
Army.
Silence descended upon the tent. Tantai Hu snuck a couple of
glances at Chen Yang and Gu Jin before finally plucking up his
courage and speaking up, “Hasen caught us off guard, Master was
also…”
“Now report the casualties of the Three Great Training Divisions
of Liuyang to your commanding general.” Xiao Fangxu ordered.
Chen Yang paused for a moment, “The Liuyang Southern Route
Army lost eight hundred and ninety-two men, forty-five sustained
heavy injuries, and two hundred and thirty-seven suffered light
injuries.”
“Zhao Hui was initially fighting on the northern route; this
Southern Route Army was established at the last minute to rescue
your Imperial Army. A total of two thousand men, while digging the
collapsed bridle path, encountered a surprise attack by the cavalry
that Hasen left stationed at the northern route. Practically half the
men died.” Xiao Fangxu continued, “If you had just stayed where
you were, you would’ve met with them in just under four hours, but
you impulsively turned around and headed for the Tudalong
Banner. How are you going to account for this loss to Zhao Hui?”
Xiao Chiye said nothing.
Xiao Fangxu continued, “You should remember that you’re the
commanding general in charge of the escort and transportation of
military supplies, not the commanding general for combat. To think
you’d forcibly assault Hasen’s squad with a few hundred men…
Did a donkey kick you in the head, Xiao Chiye?”
 Zuo Qianqiu originally should not have spoken, but Xiao Chiye
had just retreated from the battlefield, and as his shifu, it was
inevitable for his heart to ache for him. Thus he said, “Hasen has
been planning for it for a long time this time, and it just so
happened that they’d chance upon a rainstorm. The situation was
urgent then. A-Ye—”
“You never treated the Libei Armored Cavalry as your own duty
at all. In your eyes, there’s only the Imperial Army.” With his hand
on his knees, Xiao Fangxu suddenly turned stern. “The battle at
Bianbo camp went to your head, letting you get carried away by
your success. You regarded everyone as Huhelu. Your defeat today
to Hasen is a lesson. What exactly do you have that’d possess you
to fight with him head-on? Lift your head up!”
Wu Ziyu could no longer bear it and fell to his knees on the
ground with a “thud”. Once he kneeled, Tantai Hu cluelessly
followed suit and kneeled. Then, “thud, thud”, Chen Yang and Gu
Jin kneeled too.
Xiao Fangxu swiftly looked towards them.
Wu Ziyu said in an extremely feeble voice, “Your Lordship… It’s,
it’s not what you think… My legs have gone all wobbly.”

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Footnotes

1.
2. 鬼头刀 literally ghost-headed blade. It’s a kind of blade
used for beheading people sentenced to death in old times.
3.
4. Specifically 鲤鱼打挺 carp kip-up, a martial arts move
where one leaps from a supine position into a standing
position.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 154 : MAN
Translated with: Jia<3

After getting a scolding, Xiao Chiye still had to receive his

punishment publicly in the military tent. He had been demoted,
and now he could not even be considered a commanding general.
So what if he was a talented genius? He still had to eat the humble
pie after suffering a defeat. Never brag on the war zone about the
battles once fought and the enemies once vanquished—all of these
counted for nothing. Xiao Chiye killed Huhelu at the Shasan Camp,
and this indeed was the subject of intense discussion in the army,
but Xiao Fangxu did not reward him and instead made him a
general in charge of military supplies. Others might not understand
this move, but the old-school generals knew best that this meant
Xiao Fangxu had the intent to entrust Xiao Chiye with heavy
responsibilities.
Xiao Fangxu did not reward him because he wanted to shut up
the mouths of those criticizing Xiao Chiye; he wanted to prove that
he was far harsher and more exacting on his son than he was to
others. Guo Weili rarely scored any wins in all his battles against
Huhelu at the Tudalong Banner, but Xiao Fangxu promoted him
and deployed him to the Shasan Camp to continue in his capacity
as the commanding general. With such a stark contrast, the smart
ones would all know to shut up, as this meant that Xiao Chiye’s
promotions in the future were all based on genuine and solid
military achievements, and it would also leave Xiao Chiye room for
defeat.
It was not that they could not afford to lose a battle on the
battlefield. Xiao Jiming could, and so could Guo Weili and Zhao
Hui, because they were all generals Libei was familiar with. Their
defeats were pardonable and forgivable under the circumstances,
and these were all what Xiao Chiye lacked. Once Xiao Chiye really
came to stand in the forefront of the frontline, he could only win.
He had to prove to the dispirited Libei Armored Cavalry that he was
the best choice of candidate for Libei.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye walked out of the military tent and put on his
clothes. His waist and lower back were wrapped with gauze, and
his right arm had sustained the worst injuries. For now, he would
not be able to use the Conqueror Bow, and he even had to exercise
caution while wielding Langli Blade.
Xiao Chiye huffed out a few breaths of hot air and whistled for
Lang Tao Xue Jin. Lang Tao Xue Jin had just been washed and had
yet to be saddled. Xiao Chiye flipped atop it, patted it on the neck,
and leaned over to whisper a few words to it. Lang Tao Xue Jin
then turned on its hooves and obediently galloped away into the
night.
“He’s still the same.” Zuo Qianqiu stood by the entrance of the
tent and lamented, “Every time he’s feeling down, he likes to go
riding.”
“He’s holding in his anger.” Xiao Fangxu lifted up the boiling
tea. “It can be seen that his six years in Qudu weren’t for naught; if
tonight’s events had happened in the past, he would’ve even
dared to fling aside the tent flap and run off when I scolded him for
the second time. No one can beat those old foxes of Qudu when it
comes to tempering a person.”
“The blame for this battle really can’t be entirely pinned on
him.” Zuo Qianqiu looked back. “Hasen set up such a trap in the
Tudalong Banner; even if it had been either of us, we might not
necessarily be able to escape unscathed either.”
“The possibility of ‘if’ is nil in war. It’s his battle, and the
outcome, win or loss, ought to be his to bear.” Xiao Fangxu paused
for a moment. “There’s no doubt this battle is lost. That he dared to
turn back to the marshlands of the Tudalong Banner to outflank
and fight makes me really happy deep down.”
“Right?” Zuo Qianqiu laughed as he pointed at Xiao Fangxu.
“It’s just like you to say one thing but mean another.”
Xiao Fangxu held the teacup. “But I can’t praise him.”
Zuo Qianqiu replied, “You never held back your praise for
Jiming.”
“Those brothers are different.” Xiao Fangxu turned his face
sideways to face him. “Jiming takes after his mother. After having a
little brother, he often hears others speak of how A-Ye resembles
his father, as if he’s snatching A-Ye’s place by being born a couple
of years earlier. As such, I must praise Jiming often. A-Ye takes after
me. What’s more, he’s the baby of the family. He has Jiming as an
older brother shielding him, and that makes him a wild one who
dares to play with whatever his heart desires. He almost broke his
neck when he fell while taming his horse when he wasn’t even
fourteen, and the moment the injury healed, he insisted on
carrying on with taming the horse even if he had to sneak out to do
it. That battle he fought when he was fourteen was so beautifully
executed that there wasn’t a person who didn’t praise him when he
returned to Dajing. At that time, he didn’t allow anyone to give him
what he wanted; he had to obtain it on his own, even if he had to
go without food and drink. A personality like his doesn’t lack
praises, but scoldings.”
“Being a father is a skill; I can’t be compared to you.” Zuo
Qianqiu’s wife had died prematurely. After the battle of Tianfei
Watchtower, he had wandered all over Dazhou and did not
remarry, so he naturally had no children. He sat down and said,
“But there has been no lack of talents from Biansha in recent years.
Amu’er has a great son too. Hasen is neither arrogant nor rash, and
he is decisive and straightforward in all the moves he makes.”
“Amu’er has a good eye.” Xiao Fangxu took a sip of the hot tea.
“The rarest thing about Hasen is that he doesn’t stick to one
combat style, yet his character is rather steady.”
“If Jiming were to be deployed back here,” Zuo Qianqiu said,
“he could more or less restrain him.”
“That’s right.” Xiao Fangxu shifted his feet slightly. “Zhao Hui’s
combat style bears the closest resemblance to Jiming’s after
having learned from the latter while serving under him. But when
Hasen previously fought against Qidong, the one he faced up
against was Qi Zhuyin, who is of the same kind as Jiming—he’s
already accustomed to that kind of rhythm. Look at Zhao Hui.
Although he was able to contain Hasen’s onslaughts of attacks, he
was also, at the same time, firmly nailed down in place by Hasen in
the northern route.”
 Zuo Qianqiu started to laugh. “But when Hasen faced A-Ye, it
was one formidable adversary against another. Even if their military
strength were equally matched, I still think that the probability of
both sides suffering losses is much higher.”
“You’re thinking too highly of him by saying both sides will
suffer losses. He is currently no match for Hasen at all. Hasen has
been on the battleground for even longer than Jiming, and
experience is something that’s far more fearsome than talent. The
discrepancy between him and A-Ye is not insignificant.” Xiao
Fangxu stood up, flipping and turning a dagger between his
fingers as he stared at the straw target across him. “The wolf pup
can’t win.”
Zuo Qianqiu clasped his hands behind his back and said
leisurely, “The general in charge of military supplies is a good post.
Once he has a thorough grasp of its workings, he will know all of
Libei’s major and minor military routes, the strengths and
weaknesses of the various camps, and even the personalities of the
commanding generals like the back of his hand.”
Xiao Fangxu threw the dagger hard and hit the bullseye. He
turned his head and smiled smugly at Zuo Qianqiu. “I’m going to
give Amu’er a gift and let him witness my prowess.”
◈ ◈ ◈
It was almost dawn when Xiao Chiye returned. He dismounted,
and Chen Yang came forward to hand him a handkerchief. He
wiped the sweat on his neck and saw Xiao Fangxu standing a short
distance away, motioning for him to go over. He was not at all
willing and thought of pretending not to have seen him.
So Xiao Fangxu hung one arm over the back of Xiao Chiye’s
neck, forcing Xiao Chiye to bend down, then used his other hand
to vigorously tousle the top of Xiao Chiye’s hair until it was all a
mess.
“Where’s my falcon?” With some difficulty, Xiao Chiye finally
broke away and rubbed his neck. “Don’t feed it raw meat.”
“It’s your falcon, so why are you asking me?” Xiao Fangxu took
a few steps forward. Seeing him still unhappy, he turned around
and made to kick him.
Xiao Chiye hurriedly leaped away and said, “I’m just asking!”
 Xiao Fangxu ignored him and petted Lang Tao Xue Jin. “We
had a new batch of horses from last year back at home. There’s one
that has just the opposite color as this one. White tinted with black.
A real beauty.”
“Oh.” Xiao Chiye could tell his intent. “You want to give it to
me?”
Xiao Fangxu looked askance at him. “You? Your elder sister-in-
law is keeping it for your wife.”
Xiao Chiye cast a glance at Hongyan Mountains behind him
and said nothing.
“That arm guard is pretty good.” Xiao Fangxu stepped on the
wooden railing and hoisted himself up to sit on it. Seeing Xiao
Chiye looking back, he followed suit and turned sideways to shoot
a glance at Xiao Chiye’s expression. “Where did you craft it? It’s not
Qidong’s style.”
“Of course it’s good.” Xiao Chiye turned his head back and said
secretively, as if he had something to hide, “That’s my protective
amulet.”
Xiao Fangxu uttered a perfunctory acknowledgment, then
followed up right after with a question, “Where is she from? You
couldn’t have taken her to Bianbo Camp, could you? It’s all stinky
men there. How old is she?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Stinky man?”
Xiao Fangxu did not get it.
Xiao Chiye took several steps back.
Xiao Fangxu narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you brought
back a girl from the Hua clan?”
Xiao Chiye continued to retreat. On seeing his father’s lost and
puzzled expression, he inexplicably laughed out loud, and while he
was at it, he removed Langli Blade and tossed it to the side.
“Xiao Chiye.” Xiao Fangxu sensed something amiss. “You’d
better tell me honestly.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly said in a loud voice, “Stinky man!”
“Huh?” Xiao Fangxu suspected he had misheard it and even
cocked his ear to one side.
“I found myself a man!” Sunlight shone on Xiao Chiye’s face,
dispelling the dark clouds of yesterday. This brat was truly a little
rascal as he shouted provocatively, “The best-looking man in the
whole of Dazhou is my wife!”
Having said that, he did not even wait for Xiao Fangxu’s
reaction before he turned around and took to his heels.
Xiao Fangxu fell silent for a very long time. Chen Yang softly
swallowed his saliva and saw Xiao Fangxu jump up abruptly. As
Xiao Fangxu landed on the ground, he almost tripped over himself.
Chen Yang hurriedly called out, “Your Lord—”
“Xiao Chiye!” Xiao Fangxu let out an earth-shaking roar. He
pushed himself off the ground with his hands to chase after him,
but he could not catch up. In a fit of anger, he picked up a piece of
horse dung and flung it at Xiao Chiye, cussing, “Get your ass back
here and make yourself clear!”

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 155 : NEGOTIATIONS
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye received not only a scolding, but also a beating. But
he had been thinking about this matter for a long time, and did not
want to hide it from his family. He stood inside the military tent to
accept his punishment of demotion. Before the commanding
generals withdrew from the tent, they sneaked a glance at Xiao
Fangxu, only to find His Lordship even angrier.
Zuo Qianqiu looked at the arm guard over and over again, then
gave Xiao Fangxu a slight thumbs-up. “I really can’t tell from this.”
Xiao Fangxu stood at the other end with his back to them and
said, “Would I not know what arm guard he uses? At most, it’s
processed dogskin. He would simply presume on his thick skin and
not put in any effort into this at all.”
Zuo Qianqiu was put in a spot too as he looked at Xiao Chiye
and said hesitantly, “… Why didn’t you mention it to us when you
were in Qudu? Tell shifu about him now, so that we can… mentally
prepare ourselves a little.”
“Prepare, my ass.” Xiao Fangxu looked back. “He already had it
all figured out and was just waiting for me to take the bait!”
“You’ll have to meet him sooner or later.” Xiao Chiye took the
scolding with his hands behind his back. “What ought to be done
has to be done. I still want to take him home this year to see
Mother.”
“You sure have it all arranged, huh.” Xiao Fangxu’s words were
loaded with sarcasm. “I might as well call you Father.”1
Xiao Chiye did not dare to continue this thread of
conversation.
“Where’s he from?” Zuo Qianqiu set down the arm guard.
“Qudu?”
Xiao Chiye answered honestly, “Zhongbo.”
So Zuo Qianqiu said to Xiao Fangxu. “That’s still not too bad; it’s
close by.” He followed up with a question, “How old?”
Xiao Chiye answered, “Twenty-one. Pretty young.”
 Zuo Qianqiu inexplicably found this prerequisite to be familiar,
but he could not quite put his finger on it for the moment and
merely continued, “The arm guard is quite well-done. Is he in this
trade?”
Xiao Chiye replied, “… No.”
Xiao Fangxu sneered, “Do you dare to repeat what you said
outside earlier to your shifu?”
Xiao Chiye gave a slight cough.
Xiao Fangxu said, “I demoted you, and you stabbed me in the
heart!”
Xiao Chiye found these words of his familiar. Not falling for it,
he said, “I didn’t. I wouldn’t dare to.”
Zuo Qianqiu was still wondering about what kind of person this
man was, so he asked, “Then, what’s his name? Is he from a clan
we are familiar with?”
“Yes.” Xiao Chiye paused for a moment, then answered, “Shen
Zechuan.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Several days later, Kong Ling and Yu Xiaozai arrived at Luoxia
Pass. Cizhou wanted to discuss long-term cooperation with Luoxia
Pass, and both parties had more or less reached an agreement
through their written correspondences. This time, they wanted
direct passage through it so that they could arrive at Huaizhou
before the end of the eighth month.
The eighth month had only just started when the original
commander of Fanzhou’s garrison troops revolted with the intent
to proclaim himself king. He even deployed troops to seize
Dengzhou first, wanting to use this opportunity to threaten Cizhou.
In addition, he also sent a document to demand Cizhou transfer
the grains they sold to Chazhou to them, calling it a “loan of grain”.
Shen Zechuan, of course, ignored him and got Zhou Gui to
draft up an official denunciation-cum-declaration of war and
dispatched it to Chazhou with the intent to join forces and
eradicate the bandits. With the exception of his own self, he
slapped the label of “bandits” on all the armed groups in Zhongbo.
This “King Yi” of Fanzhou naturally did not accept this, and both
parties hurled verbal abuse at each other from afar. The advisors
under their command traded letters to “send greetings to the other
party’s ancestors”. At the same time, they also spared no effort to
make the other party out as rebels, while describing themselves as
being compelled to revolt for the sake of the people.
Shen Zechuan did not remain idle either. Time was precious at
present. In between the exchange of abuses on both sides, he had
the Cizhou’s prefectural yamen start repairing the bridle paths and
relay stations leading to the various prefectures. This was no small
project and could only be completed at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Cizhou’s garrison troops continued to push ahead with
their training; Cizhou was now expanding at full steam.
“Apart from what is needed for Huaizhou, the profits from the
sales of grain this time are enough for the repairs of the bridle
paths. But the grains distributed by the yamen will no doubt be
reduced as well. I don’t have the heart to turn away the increasing
number of refugees as winter comes around.” Zhou Gui presented
a book to Shen Zechuan. “And with the weather getting colder, we
are seeing a gradual uptick in refugees from Dancheng.”
“Speaking of the refugees from Dancheng.” Holding the book
in hand, Shen Zechuan turned to look at Yao Wenyu, “Yuanzhuo
comes from Dancheng and knows more about the current situation
there better than we do. Why is the number of refugees increasing
so much all of a sudden?”
On hearing him, Yao Wenyu, who had a coat draped over him,
answered with a serious countenance, “After the previous
emperor’s death, Han Cheng wanted to convince the Empress
Dowager to create more official positions for the descendants of
the noble clans and use the state treasury to support these
descendants on behalf of the noble clans. The list comprised over
ten thousand people, but the Empress Dowager didn’t consent. To
preserve their strength, the noble clans with Han Cheng at the
head became even more aggressive in seizing the commoners’
crop fields. They fraudulently under-reported the acreage2 of fields
to the higher-ups, thereby hiding away vast expanses of fertile
farmland and leaving the common people without land to grow
crops; these commoners even had to pay poll tax per head in their
families. As a result, the number of people who fled increased.”
 “According to the law, once their household registration is
confirmed, those who leave illegally without relevant
documentation from the local authorities will be drafted into the
army, or worse, immediately executed.” Shen Zechuan thought
through it for a moment. “The most suitable way to escape arrest
from the local authorities is to come to Zhongbo. But Cizhou’s
capacity is limited after all, and relying solely on the yamen to
distribute grain is not a viable solution in the long run. We cannot
afford to feed this many people.”
And it wasn’t just that. A portion of the refugees who had come
to Cizhou had gotten hooked on getting free meals. They made
excuses to decline registering themselves in the census registry,
instead assuming the status of ‘refugee’ so that they could freeload
and idle their lives away at the entrance of the yamen.
“I made a special point of asking the census officials; many of
the people in this group are the young and strong who loiter
around the streets and stir up trouble. Public order was good
before the seventh month, but after the eighth month, theft
became a common occurrence. When the yamen constables arrest
and send them to prison, they become unreasonable and make a
scene.” Speaking to this point, Zhou Gui fretted with worries. “After
they found out that they could still fill their tummies in jail, they
became even more brazen. Alas!”
Shen Zechuan had already come to a decision on this matter.
He said, “They dared to be this dauntless only because Cizhou is
accommodating and magnanimous towards the refugees and has
not set the relevant penalties in place; it is still treating them as
local citizens of decent origins to deal with. But the times are
different now. Today, I’d like to ask you gentlemen to draft a
document to strictly forbid refugees from putting off registering
themselves in the census registry. By the middle of the eighth
month at the very latest, anyone who has not registered
themselves at the yamen will be all driven out without exception.
Not only that, Cizhou shall put up notices everywhere the day after
and assign the relevant clerks down to explain. Make sure to clarify
what is at stake if they break the law clearly to the illiterate
commoners in the city. Starting from the day after tomorrow, any
violators and offenders shall be dealt with severely. No mercy will
be shown.”
Shen Zechuan’s methods had always been pretty mild ever
since he had arrived in Cizhou, and he always looked to be an
amicable and easygoing person to outsiders. He never flaunted his
talents openly, even when it came to Chazhou’s matters, but this
time, with a change from his former style, he could be said to be
swift and decisive.
Zhou Gui said hesitantly, “But will we lose the hearts and
support of the people if we put up severe punishments in place?
After all, it was only a few months ago that Cizhou started taking in
the refugees with open arms.”
“These are two separate matters.” Yao Wenyu timed his words
perfectly. “Cizhou accommodates the refugees out of compassion,
but if it were to lose its trust with the people because of this, then
it’d be putting the cart before the horse. As the saying goes, to deal
with external foes, we have to first resolve internal conflicts. Cizhou
must first eradicate its internal threats as soon as possible;
otherwise, it will prove to be a burden in the future.”
“Fanzhou already has a ‘King Yi’ now.” Shen Zechuan set down
the book. “This King Yi wants to establish a small Zhongbo imperial
court at the southeastern side of Cizhou, and he has assembled the
military forces from the two prefectures of Fanzhou and Dengzhou
and poised them for combat against Cizhou in an attempt to get us
to be his granary. The situation will be even more chaotic after
spring next year. We cannot yield and make any more concessions
because of the words ‘benevolence and righteousness’.”
“Besides, this is also a good thing.” Yao Wenyu said to Zhou
Gui. “Repairing the bridle paths and relay stations need manpower,
and the refugees just so happen to fill in the vacancies in Cizhou.
With the yamen distributing grains to them based on the quantity
of work, they have somewhere to use their strengths, and they also
get to fill their tummies, so naturally, they won’t go around stirring
up trouble.”
Zhou Gui nodded as well on hearing this. “Once the household
registration is settled, the yamen will have an exact number of
people in Cizhou. If we start with the surveyance of fields at the end
of the eighth month, we will be able to finish the divisions of fields
before the start of spring next year. As long as we don’t encounter
a natural disaster next year, Cizhou’s granary will be able to
maintain its abundance.”
“This is the first year.” Shen Zechuan was in a pretty good
mood. “Chazhou will also be put on the agenda next year. Other
than that, we should also prepare to open up a new bridle path on
the Luoxia Pass and Huaizhou’s route to the northwest.”
Taken aback, Zhou Gui asked, “Are we not borrowing the bridle
path from Libei?
“That’s right, but in the long run, we still have to remunerate
Luoxia Pass accordingly.” Shen Zechuan said, “Luoxia Pass is right
above Quancheng; they are allies we need to befriend. Once it
begins thriving along the trade route, the present routes will be
insufficient for us. Not to mention that Beiyuan Hunting Grounds is
going to become the Imperial Army’s camp; it’s essential to open
up new bridle paths.”
“Then there’s also the issue of army provisions for the various
areas in early spring next year.” The weather was bad, and Yao
Wenyu’s legs were hurting, but he looked no different from how he
usually was. “Firstly, Qidong is the biggest threat to the south of
Zhongbo. They had not managed to deploy troops to Zhongbo in
time as they were affected by the late emperor’s assassination and
Lu Guangbai’s desertion. But now that the marriage alliance
between the Hua and Qi is already a done deal, chances are high
that they might send troops up north to crush us if army provisions
in early spring next year are sufficient. Secondly, now that Libei has
broken free of Qudu’s control, the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path
has been stripped of the rights to directly access the Juexi’s
granaries. Libei shares a common lot with us, and Libei is the one
to shoulder the responsibility of fighting back the Biansha Cavalry
in the north, so the issue of army provisions has to be resolved
before spring falls.”
The advisors were all discussing affairs in a partitioned-off area
in the study, separated by a screen in the middle. As they were
indoors all year round, many of them smoked pipes, and as time
passed, smoke began to permeate the study, making it stuffy.
 Shen Zechuan called out to Qiao Tianya, “Help Yuanzhuo out to
take a breath of fresh air.”
Yao Wenyu bent over slightly in a bow to Shen Zechuan from
the wheelchair he was seated in and let Qiao Tianya push him out.
Shen Zechuan instructed Zhou Gui to open the windows and have
the advisors in the partitioned area take a break too. The air in the
room was too heavy and smoky, so Shen Zechuan headed out as
well to take a breather in the chilly wind.
It was the rainy season in Cizhou of late. Sunny days were few
and far between, and the weather was extremely cold. Worried that
Shen Zechuan would fall ill again, Ji Gang was particularly cautious
and watched him every day as he put on extra clothes and had Fei
Sheng follow him around whenever he headed out.
The moment Fei Sheng saw Shen Zechuan step out, he walked
over to hand him the cloak. Shen Zechuan draped it over himself
and walked along the covered walkway for a moment. The flowers
of the Chinese scholar trees in this courtyard had long withered,
and the leaves on the branches had all fallen off, leaving bare trees
set against the backdrop of gloomy skies. It was quite the picture of
bleakness and desolation.
Thinking of a way to amuse him, Fei Sheng said, “Master,
there’s also a copper crock in this Zhou’s residence that’s exactly a
carbon copy of the one in our residence. There are a few brocade
carps in it that got swatted around by that gluttonous cat of Mister.”
Shen Zechuan looked over and said, “The one in our residence
is a housewarming gift from Madam Zhou.”
Shen Zechuan was a little chilly standing there, but he felt a lot
more clear-headed. Noting that it was about time, he headed back
under the eaves of the study. Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu had not
yet returned, so he waited for a while longer. At that moment, Zhou
Gui came over in a rush, gesturing for Shen Zechuan to head in.
By then, it was almost the hour of you, and after three more
quarters3 of discussion, it was time for dismissal. The advisors still
had to work through the night to draft the new documents, and
Shen Zechuan had to head to the study to review the details and
discuss the finer aspects with everyone when he woke up the next
morning at the hour of mao. It was a race against time to get the
notice up before midday the day after tomorrow.
“Once winter comes around, the mutual market of Libei will also
start bustling with activities.” Shen Zechuan stood by the door as he
conversed with Zhou Gui. “Negotiate with the Yan clan if you can; if
not, forget it. When the time comes, we can take a detour to Juexi
from Huaizhou. Although it’s a long distance, we can think of a way
to traverse the waterways owned by the Hua family of Dicheng. The
army provisions also—”
Ding Tao entered from the courtyard entrance and leaped over
the railings in a couple of steps. Shen Zechuan broke off their
conversation and signaled for Ding Tao to speak first.
Ding Tao’s cheeks were slightly flushed as he excitedly
exclaimed, “Young Master, the Hereditary Prince’s Consort is here!”

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Footnotes
1. Marriage arrangements in the past were typically
arranged by the parents. Children typically don’t have a say.
2. 亩, mu, or Chinese acre, measure of land equal to 0.0667
hectares
3. 三刻 One quarter is about 15 minutes, so approximately
45 minutes.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 156 : ELDEST SISTER-IN-LAW
Translated with: Jia<3

The Hereditary Prince’s Consort, Lu Yizhi, and Xiao Jiming were

childhood sweethearts who went on to live in conjugal harmony
after their marriage. She was a renowned figure in Libei for her
virtues. When the Prince’s Consort of Libei passed away from
illness, Xiao Chiye was still an ignorant brat. As the saying goes, a
virtuous elder sister-in-law is comparable to a mother, and that was
precisely what Lu Yizhi was in Xiao Chiye’s eyes. She was not only
Lu Guangbai’s younger sister, but also Qi Zhuyin’s bosom friend.
The horse carriage stopped outside the city of Cizhou,
accompanied by the Libei Armored Cavalry on both sides of the
public road. Lu Yizhi sat within and listened to the incoming sound
of footsteps beyond the curtain. Someone called out “Vice
Commander”.
Vice Commander.
Lu Yizhi gently clasped her hands and thought in delight.
That’s him!
Zhou Gui stood outside the horse carriage and paid his
obeisances from afar. “Greetings to Your Ladyship. It has been a
long, tiring journey for Your Ladyship, so please head into the city
quickly.”
Lu Yizhi had never seen Zhou Gui, and naturally, she had never
heard Zhou Gui’s voice either. Since it was “Vice Commander” she
heard earlier, she took Zhou Gui to be Shen Zechuan. The horse
carriage drove towards the city gate, and as the wheels rolled over
the gravel, she quietly lifted a corner of the window curtain and
saw Zhou Gui’s back.
Zhou Gui was standing with his back to her, so Lu Yizhi could
not see him in the face and thought that this Shen Zechuan was
rather different from the way Xiao Chiye described him in the letter.
She soundlessly put down the curtain, but lifted it again after a
moment for another look.
 This time, Zhou Gui’s face was revealed. He was much older
than Xiao Jiming, of average stature, and had a thin and lean face
with a handsome beard to match. Lu Yizhi was so startled that she
was struck dumb. Fortunately, she still had her wits about her and
could still remember that Shen Zechuan was a good two years
younger than Xiao Chiye.
Right at this time, she saw Zhou Gui bow over slightly to make
way for a white figure. This white figure was tall and slender.
Although he was standing sideways, she could vaguely catch a
glimpse of his appearance. Lu Yizhi sized him up carefully, thinking
that A-Ye truly wasn’t bragging; he was indeed a looker.
Presumably, he took after his mother more.
How would Shen Zechuan know that Lu Yizhi was sizing him
up? He spoke to Zhou Gui in a hushed tone. “I’d like to ask the
various advisors to draft up the new document today. Other
matters can be temporarily postponed for discussion another day.”
Even if Zhou Gui was an obtuse one, he also knew who Lu Yizhi
was here to see. He followed Shen Zechuan closely and said, “I’ll
immediately assign some men from the yamen over.”
Shen Zechuan was momentarily taken aback. “Whatever for?”
Zhou Gui’s palms were sweating as he answered, “To protect
you!”
Shen Zechuan was speechless. He looked at the accompanying
retinue of about five hundred men from the Libei Armored Cavalry.
If they were really here to capture him, Zhou Gui would not have
been able to stop them, even if he wanted to. Xiao Chiye had not
sent any letters after the eighth month, so he could only act based
on his conjectures. He promptly reassured Zhou Gui in a casual
tone, “Perhaps the Hereditary Prince’s Consort is merely passing
through. Cizhou leads directly to Chazhou, and it’s a lot more
convenient to head into Qidong from there. There is no need for
Your Excellency to be overly worried. We are not enemies with
Libei.”
Who would have guessed that such a spontaneous remark
from Shen Zechuan would really hit the nail on the head?
It was precisely to go to Qidong that Lu Yizhi headed south this
time.
 Due to Lu Guangbai’s desertion, Lu Pingyan had been
implicated, and the imperial court had ordered him to be taken
into custody for a trial. However, Qi Zhuyin simply outright detained
Yingxi, the Army-inspecting eunuch of the Bianjun Commandery,
and demanded an explanation from the Ministry of War on the
grounds of Yingxi’s repeated interference in military affairs of
Bianjun and involvement in the issue of Bianjun’s army provisions.
At the same time, she took Lu Pingyan into her own camp to look
after him. Qi Zhuyin had sent a letter to Libei back in the sixth
month, asking Xiao Jiming to fetch Lu Pingyan away as soon as
possible.
This was a major case, and the crux lay in whether or not Lu
Guangbai would throw in his lot with the Twelve Tribes of Biansha.
Dazhou currently could not receive any news regarding the Bianjun
Commandery Garrison Troops, and by just looking at Lu
Guangbai’s act of penetrating deep into the desert, there was a
high possibility of him defecting to the Twelve Tribes of Biansha.
The court ministers’ request to put Lu Pingyan on trial was meant to
hold him hostage in Qudu, so that they would have the leverage to
negotiate with Lu Guangbai in the future. The document relayed by
the Ministry of War met with obstruction in Qidong, with Qi Zhuyin
turning a blind eye to it. At this juncture, the Imperial Bodyguards
ought to have been the ones with the responsibility of carrying out
the arrest on orders of the imperial edict.
But the capture did not happen.
When the Zhongbo troops were defeated six years ago, it was
on imperial edict orders that the Imperial Bodyguards led by Ji Lei
detained Shen Zechuan for questioning. It required not only an
arrest warrant, but also the official writ of arrest decreed by the
Ministry of Justice at the behest of the emperor, as well as the
emperor’s orders in ink. After Li Jianheng’s death, the Empress
Dowager took over the mandate of heaven in his place. There was
originally a plan for the Empress Dowager and Grand Secretariat to
jointly issue the paperwork in place of approval personally penned
by the emperor himself. However, Qi Zhuyin did not accept this;
she only acknowledged imperial orders personally issued by the
emperor himself, and as long as the Imperial Bodyguards who
went down to Qidong did not come bearing the imperial edict
drafted from the hand of the emperor, she would not release Lu
Pingyan.
Han Cheng, in personally leading the ceremonial guards of
honor for the marriage between the Hua and Qi clans, was also
meant to negotiate with Qi Zhuyin. The remuneration offered by
the Empress Dowager was rather generous, but no agreement was
reached. As Qudu was now reliant on Qi Zhuyin’s military forces,
they did not dare force Qi Zhuyin to hand the man over. Xiao
Jiming had previously sent people over to inquire about the
situation on the pretext of sending congratulatory gifts, to which Qi
Zhuyin had verbally given him an unequivocal answer. Lu Yizhi’s
current trip was thus for the precise purpose of fetching Lu Pingyan
to Libei.
And to help her father-in-law back at home find out the kind of
person Shen Zechuan was while she was passing through.
Shen Zechuan naturally could not allow Lu Yizhi to stay over at
a relay station, which was rather unfitting of her status, so he made
a special point of deploying people to tidy up the courtyard and
invite Lu Yizhi to stay for the night in Xiao Chiye’s name. Lu Yizhi
noted that the upturned eaves of the residence were all in a style
that Xiao Chiye was partial to, and the insides and outsides were
both organized and well taken care of. She could not help recalling
the letter Xiao Chiye wrote to her before her departure, of which
three pages were devoted to showering Shen Zechuan with praise.
Lu Yizhi got off the horse carriage, and Ding Tao joyfully came
over to greet her. Lu Yizhi was happy to see him and pulled him
along as she gave him a once-over. “Tao-zi has also grown a head
taller now. Why didn’t you return home with the Second Young
Master?”
Ding Tao replied, “Master commanded me to stay put and stay
by Young Master’s side.”
Lu Yizhi called for the maidservant to bring candies for Ding
Tao. She sat on the chair, put her hands together under her sleeves,
and asked gently, “Does the Second Young Master often stay
here?”
 Ding Tao hemmed and hawed, having been cautioned by Qiao
Tianya before, yet he also did not dare lie to the Hereditary Prince’s
Consort.
And so Lu Yizhi spoke in an even softer voice, “When you were
home last time, you’d often come over to ease my boredom. The
grandson-heir has always known of his Tao-zi gege; he’s constantly
longing for you to come home and play with him.” As she spoke,
she turned slightly to the side, looking a little sad. “It has been six
years since we last saw our little Tao-zi, and he has grown so distant
from me.”
Ding Tao hurriedly replied, “No, not at all! Your Ladyship treats
me well. Even before I left for Qudu, you instructed Jin-ge to look
after me. I remember it all.”
Lu Yizhi then turned back around and said, “You’re young. As
the older brothers, it’s their responsibility to take good care of you.
When I heard about how A-Ye was constantly bullied in Qudu, I
couldn’t eat and kept tossing and turning all night long. I worried
for a long time…”
On hearing this, Ding Tao immediately responded, “Master
wasn’t injured when he left Qudu. The Eight Great Training
Divisions couldn’t catch up to us, and that Han Jin who came after
us is still locked up in jail. Your Ladyship need not worry, Master is a
very formidable man now.”
“Since A-Ye is this impressive,” Lu Yizhi worriedly spoke, “Why
did your journey take so long?”
“The Young Master was injured,” Ding Tao recounted. “Master
was trapped in the capital by Han Cheng, and Young Master
helped a great deal. But that Han Cheng was truly an abominable
one—he even used Young Master’s teacher to threaten him. Young
Master didn’t manage to save his teacher, and after leaving Qudu,
he fell heavily ill. All the physicians along the way weren’t any help,
so we didn’t dare to hurry.”
Lu Yizhi did not know who Shen Zechuan’s teacher was, but she
was alarmed to hear this, and her expressions betrayed some of
her genuine concern as she asked, “What happened after? Has he
recovered?”
 Ding Tao was unsure of how to explain this. “He looks to have
recovered, but Master and Grandpa both say he hasn’t. The last
time Young Master was in Chazhou for business, he fell sick en
route, and Master flew into a terrible rage when he came
back.”
Lu Yizhi knew it. As expected, Xiao Chiye did indeed come by
often. “I’ve never seen A-Ye angry.”
“But Master was in a rush and only stayed a night before he
had to leave.” Ding Tao thought about it for a moment before
adding on in a small voice, “He got in by somersaulting over the
walls.”
Understanding dawned on Lu Yizhi, and she said, “Then, are
you happy staying here? If you want to go back with me, I’ll bring
you along.”
Ding Tao hesitated; he wanted to return to Libei, but he could
not simply just let go of Cizhou either. He had made plans with Li
Xiong to go fishing at the outskirts of the city in winter, and had
also promised Ji Gang that he would learn a set of moves before
the new year. Most importantly, Shen Zechuan never deducted his
allowance, and he had never scolded him even when he kept the
frogs in Shen Zechuan’s courtyard.
Lu Yizhi looked pensive on observing this. She patted Ding Tao
on the head and did not put him further in a spot. If Ding Tao was
this hesitant, it meant that Shen Zechuan treated him very well, and
this was proof that Shen Zechuan was not a difficult person to get
along with; at the very least, he had exceptional patience with this
half-grown youth.
Lu Yizhi mused to herself.
Here was a good-looking, domestic, patient, and loyal man
who valued ties. Not only could he take care of domestic affairs, but
he could also attend to official duties. He could keep A-Ye in check,
and yet he was not overly domineering. His health wasn’t the best,
likely an old ailment from his earlier years in Qudu. And despite the
many setbacks he had suffered in his life, he remained amiable
and easygoing.
Such a wonderful child!
 Lu Yizhi clapped her hands together and said in excitement,
“Quick, prepare the brush and ink. I’ll write a letter. Send it back to
Dajing overnight, and have the Hereditary Prince deliver it to His
Lordship on the battleground once he’s done reading it.”
◈ ◈ ◈
As a man who was not in Lu Yizhi’s immediate family given her
status, Shen Zechuan could not pay his respects to her face-to-face,
so he erected a screen in the courtyard to separate them. They had
already learned that Lu Yizhi was transiting through and thus
prepared a small feast to welcome this guest from afar, with Zhou
Gui’s wife as company during the meal.
Madam Zhou was an astute one. She repeatedly praised Shen
Zechuan to the skies during her private conversations with Lu Yizhi
and picked a few incidents to recount to Lu Yizhi. Lu Yizhi’s initial
impression of the Shen clan had all been based on Shen Wei. It was
Xiao Chiye who sent her a letter overnight to gush on and on about
Shen Zechuan’s good points for a whole three pages. Eventually,
he implicitly said that he had been beaten up by his old man at the
battleground and even demoted. He also concealed the incident
where he had been in danger at the Tudalong Banner and merely
said that he was injured, which made Lu Yizhi’s heart ache so much
that she did not want to reproach him further regarding this
matter.
Lu Yizhi was only staying over for one night. She still had to
head south to Chazhou tomorrow. When the feast ended, she
specifically summoned Shen Zechuan into the hall. The more she
looked, the more good-looking she found him to be, and the more
satisfied she was. Remembering Xiao Chiye’s mention of Shen
Zechuan’s past, as well as what she’d heard from Ding Tao, she
could not help but feel tender affection for Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan thought the way the Hereditary Prince’s Consort
looked at him was just like how one would look at a rabbit; she was
as gentle as she could possibly be, as though being just a tad
fiercer would send him into shock.
“Vice Commander Shen,” Lu Yizhi said in a soft, gentle voice.
“I’ve imposed on you and caused you trouble, so I hope you can
accept this gift as a gesture of my thanks and appreciation.”
 Without even waiting for Shen Zechuan to answer, she gestured
for the maidservant to present it to him. Contrary to his
expectation, it was nothing rare, just satin in a box. As it was
nothing valuable, Shen Zechuan did not turn it down after some
polite civilities. But as he accepted it, he found the box heavy.
When Shen Zechuan returned to the courtyard, he opened it to
take a look. There were gold and jade bracelets cushioned at the
bottom, all intricately inlaid and exquisitely crafted family
heirlooms of quality workmanship.
Fei Sheng sneaked a peek from behind him and marveled if
this weren’t a set of family heirlooms meant to be passed down to a
daughter-in-law! But he dared not vocalize his thoughts and
silently shifted his gaze away, leaving Shen Zechuan to stand alone
in place all puzzled.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 157 : ZHONGXIONG
Translated with: Jia<3

When Lu Yizhi left Cizhou the following day, Shen Zechuan had
Fei Sheng join her entourage with the Imperial Bodyguards and
instructed him to escort her into the territory of Qidong. Official
business that had yet to be finalized yesterday still had to be
discussed further, and so everyone settled back into their
respective seats in the study with the windows open.
“This is the new document from last night for the Vice
Commander’s perusal, if you may.” Zhou Gui presented the papers
on the table, “We initially separated the registered citizens from the
undocumented refugees and increased the severity of
punishments, but during the discussion with Yuanzhuo this
morning, he proposed we continue keeping both groups together
and not govern them separately.”
“Post the notice up, and the issue of household registrations will
be easily resolved.” Yao Wenyu let out a couple of coughs. “It’ll be
unsuitable if we take the extra move of segregating them; it’ll
create unhappiness among the commoners who are newly
registered, as well as make it difficult for the yamen to differentiate
between the old and new when they carry out their duties.”
After reading through it, Shen Zechuan nodded. “It’ll be a
disaster waiting to happen too if anyone tries to fish in troubled
waters when the time comes. Since this matter is settled, the only
issue left for us to handle before the end of the year is that of the
surveyance of fields. The current land records of the fields in
Cizhou were all measured during the reign of Yongyi; they’re too
outdated.”
“Cizhou has been reclaiming wastelands for three years in a
row, and in truth, the acreage of land has seen a significant
increase. We ought to have re-surveyed the land last year, but
manpower was lacking then, and Lei Changming was driving us
into such a corner; that’s why it has been delayed until now.” Zhou
Gui calculated the time. “This task has to be completed before the
end of the year, or errors will inevitably arise once the snow
thickens.”
Cizhou now had plenty of yamen runners and constables, but
capable government clerks and other lesser functionaries1 were
few and far between. The advisors were mostly in charge of
deliberating over official matters and were not responsible for the
transcription of official documents, let alone sending them down to
survey the lands. The yamen had a manpower shortage, and so
did Shen Zechuan.
“After the registration and classification of households, screen
them on the spot. As long as they are literate, record them down
on file first for future use, regardless of whether they are locals from
Cizhou or non-natives from Dancheng.” When Shen Zechuan
spoke to this point, he looked around the advisors. “If someone has
committed a crime in the past, we won’t be able to find out if he
doesn’t declare it to us, so we have to be prudent during the
screening and vetting process. Some may well see it as a business
too, and it’s inevitable that there will be people who attempt to
curry favor with those in authority for personal gain. However, I trust
that the various gentlemen here are all men of integrity who can
distinguish between the crafty and the virtuous and do the right
thing when it comes down to it.”
Given how frankly he had said it, who would still not
understand? The seated advisors who were initially smoking their
pipes all rose to their feet noisily. A few of them looked
embarrassed, no longer daring to jest around again.
◈ ◈ ◈
The advisors were all Zhou Gui’s honored guests with free
access to the governmental office. Most of them were addressed as
“mister”, with their daily needs provided by Zhou Gui. There were
only two ways that they could earn some spare cash. The first was
to provide literary services, and the second was to attend the
banquets of the local squires and elders, where they would be able
to obtain monetary rewards from the household’s masters. But now
that they were in charge of recording the registrations and
screening the lesser functionaries, there was no doubt some
among the current flood of refugees into Cizhou would be thinking
of pulling strings and sneaking them bribes on the sly.
Gao Zhongxiong was one of the unlucky ones.
After Han Jin was taken as prisoner, Gao Zhongxiong did not
dare to return to Qudu for fear that Han Cheng would pursue the
matter, so he relied on his connection to his maternal uncle in
Dancheng and remained in Dancheng as Pan Yi’s advisor. At first,
Pan Yi had the intent to entrust him with heavy responsibility, but
many of the plans and strategies he put forth were impractical
theories that only looked good on paper, and so Pan Yi gradually
gave him the cold shoulder. Bullied and humiliated by the servants
in the Pan’s residence, he had no choice but to return to his uncle’s
house. But when it rains, it pours, and his uncle fell to his death one
night while in a drunken stupor. Gao Zhongxiong was a scholar
who was too physically weak to carry out practical work, and his
auntie, disdaining him for being useless, found an excuse to send
him back to Yuzhou.
Gao Zhongxiong felt ashamed to return home to face his elders
and fellow townsfolk, so he thought of selling calligraphy and
paintings to rent a few acres of low-yield land and do an imitation
of a carefree immortal leading a simple and virtuous life far from
the struggle for power and wealth. But who knew? He had not even
worked in the field a couple of times after saving enough money to
buy it when the field was forcibly seized by the local despot from
the Fei clan. Gao Zhongxiong went to the yamen to lodge a
complaint, and on that very same night, he was stopped by some
men in the alley and beaten up. Even his house was robbed.
Without a penny to his name, he was driven to the streets and
reduced to beggary. He wanted to return to Yuzhou, but he had no
traveling expenses. Left without an alternative, he fled Dancheng
with the other refugees and came to Cizhou, hoping to try his
luck.
“Old Man Xu,” Gao Zhongxiong stood reservedly outside the
door and hurriedly called out when he saw the man coming out.
“Any news about the matter from the yamen?”
To think he used to be an outstanding personage back in Qudu,
but now, he had to humble himself when speaking to others. He
wanted to ingratiate himself with the other man, but he was
unwilling to overdo it due to his pride. However, standing fixed in
place made him look rather out of place.
The yamen runner with the surname Xu brandished his yamen
paddle2 and shooed Gao Zhongxiong to a side. It was only when
he turned back and could no longer see the interior of the yamen
that he reproached Gao Zhongxiong in a hushed tone, “What are
you doing here?”
Gao Zhongxiong felt so humiliated from the admonishment
that he could not lift his head. He clenched his sleeves and forced
a smile when he managed to raise his head again. “I passed by the
wine store ahead earlier, and I brought some over for you to
quench your thirst. Here, have some.” He presented the wine with
both hands, continuing only when he saw the other man’s
expression softened some. “I’ve been in Cizhou for a few days.
About that matter I spoke to you about the last time—”
“That matter? That matter?” Yamen runner Xu drank the wine
and denied it after wiping his mouth. “What matter?”
“About getting a job in the yamen.” Gao Zhongxiong did not lift
his hand to wipe away the spittle on his face. “Please do me a favor
and pass a message to the various advisors. Just say that I was
formerly a student from Qudu who has received the Chief
Surveillance Bureau, Cen…”
“Oh, that matter. That can be easily arranged!” Yamen runner
Xu moved in closer. “Prepare three taels of silvers, and I’ll buy a few
packs of tobacco for the various gentlemen. You’ll be able to get
past this hurdle then!”
Gao Zhongxiong was stunned for a moment, his expression a
mixture of joy and sorrow. “I’ve already given it all to you. I have no
more money.”
Yamen runner Xu instantly turned hostile. The old man said,
“How can you do anything without money? You think the
gentlemen live on vegetables? They’ll only acknowledge cold hard
cash! If I hadn’t taken pity on you and was willing to help you out,
how could these silvers have been enough? No way it would have
been enough!”
 Gao Zhongxiong hastily tugged on yamen runner Xu’s arm.
“I’ve already given you a total of seven taels of silver in all. You must
have some news…”
“You want to get in through the use of connections, but you
can’t bear to part with your money.” Yamen runner Xu threw the
wine gourd into Gao Zhongxiong’s arms and stretched his neck
out to spat at him, his words contemptuous, “You know, even when
you pee or shit, you still have to undo your belt!”
All of Gao Zhongxiong’s money had been cheated out of him
by yamen runner Xu, and since he had been hanging out with the
group of refugees all day, he was as filthy as a beggar. As he
looked at yamen runner Xu’s mug now, he recalled the humiliation
he experienced in Dancheng. In a fit of anger, he charged towards
yamen runner Xu without a care, threw him one tight slap, and
yelled, “Since you didn’t do what I asked, give me back my
money!”
Yamen runner Xu could not have imagined that Gao
Zhongxiong would dare to hit him. He pointed at the tip of Gao
Zhongxiong’s nose. “You, you! A despicable cheapskate like you
dares to hit me?!”
As they exchanged blows, yamen runner Xu swung his yamen
paddle at Gao Zhongxiong’s waist, kicked him over to the ground,
and whacked away at him viciously. Gao Zhongxiong, a mere
scholar who had been starving for days, felt a stab of intense pain
on his waist as one of the blows landed on an undetermined bone
in his body. He rolled on the floor, covering his head as he
attempted to dodge the blows, crying so hard he was out of
breath. Even so, he still shouted, “Are you human? You cheated me
out of my money. Are you still human?!”
With more people crowding over, yamen runner Xu did not
dare stir up a big commotion, lest the yamen came to investigate.
He tossed aside his yamen paddle and straddled on top of Gao
Zhongxiong, then gripped his face by the jaw and shoved a towel
used for wiping sweat into his mouth to gag him. Gao Zhongxiong
was howling as he struggled, so yamen runner Xu slapped him
ruthlessly multiple times until Gao Zhongxiong’s ears were ringing
and his vision blurred; even the corners of his mouth were
bleeding.
“I’m on official business here!” Yamen runner Xu shouted to the
crowd around him, “This son of a bitch is a thief from Dancheng. I
caught him the last time. To think he still dares come and seek
revenge today!”
A sound escaped from Gao Zhongxiong’s throat as yamen
runner Xu dragged him by the collar towards the yamen’s entrance.
The side of his cheek scraped against the ground, bloodied by the
gravel. He reached his hand out towards those before him in a plea
for help.
Yamen runner Xu kicked Gao Zhongxiong a few more times on
the chest and abdomen. As yamen runners, they were the most
adept at running around detaining and summoning people for
questioning—teaching a frail scholar like Gao Zhongxiong a lesson
was simply a piece of cake. As long as he dragged Gao
Zhongxiong in today and kept the latter gagged while he
processed the latter with a thievery charge, he could throw him in
jail. By then, all he had to do was to give the wardens he was on
familiar terms with a heads-up, and Gao Zhongxiong would have it
coming for him. Whether or not he could survive past the eighth
month would all depend on yamen runner Xu’s mood!
At the same time the commotion was ongoing, Zhou Gui was
returning with Shen Zechuan from the fields on the outskirts of the
city. The horse carriage had been obstructed midway along the
path, and he thought it was yet another instance of the refugees
causing trouble.
Shen Zechuan did not say a word. Zhou Gui hurriedly stepped
off his own carriage and hoisted up the hem of his robe as he
pushed through the crowd and asked, “What’s going on? Who is
kicking up a ruckus by the entrance of the yamen?!”
Yamen runner Xu immediately replied, “To answer Your
Excellency, I’ve caught a thief! He not only refuses to submit, but
even hits others!”
For the past few days, Zhou Gui had been perturbed over the
lack of public order in the city. He furrowed his brow at hearing this.
“Even so, that’s no way to handle the situation. What do you mean
by beating up others in the streets? That’s not right!” He took a
glance at Gao Zhongxiong. He initially intended to chastise him
and educate him on the proprieties and morals. However, he
remembered that Shen Zechuan’s horse carriage was still
obstructed at the back. They could not afford a delay, so he said,
“Hurry and bring him in. Give him a proper trial once he has been
cleaned up.”
Upon hearing this, Gao Zhongxiong started struggling with all
his might and attempted to spit out the towel in his mouth.
Yao Wenyu was currently discussing the reviews of the clerks
and other lesser functionaries over these few days with Shen
Zechuan. The carriage had remained stuck for a long time with no
signs of movement. Qiao Tianya returned and lifted a corner of the
curtain to report to Shen Zechuan. “Master, they’re still making a
ruckus. Let’s take a detour.”
Shen Zechuan pushed the curtains higher with his folding fan
and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“They’re saying it’s a thief; the yamen runner arrested him on
the streets.” Qiao Tianya shifted his body slightly to give way. “I
didn’t see any calluses on his hands; he seems to be a scholar.”
Yao Wenyu, who rarely enjoyed being in noisy places now,
looked over together with them. The area ahead was swarming
with a crowd of people; he could see nothing at all.
“Let’s take a detour.” Shen Zechuan released the drapes and let
it fall. “Head straight to the Zhou’s residence. There are still people
waiting in the study. We have to discuss the matter of the mutual
market before the hour of you.”
Qiao Tianya ordered the carriage driver to turn the horses
around. As they were turning, they suddenly heard a heartbreaking
wail from ahead. “You people are forcing me to my death! What
kind of yamen is this?! Oh heavens, do you have to reduce me, Gao
Zhongxiong, to such straits?!”
Yao Wenyu abruptly lifted the drapes and said to Qiao Tianya,
“Hold on, that person is Gao Zhongxiong, whose essays Cen Yu
have given pointers to before.” He then looked towards Shen
Zechuan. “He’s the student who led three thousand students from
the Imperial College to denounce Pan Rugui that rainy night. Vice
Commander, this person is of use to us!”

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Footnotes
1. 胥吏 Throughout history, one of the most general generic
designations for a class of minor staff who performed the
more menial tasks in all governmental units and had no
ranked civil service status, though at times they could be
promoted into official status for meritorious service.

2.
3. 水火棍 a red and black rod or paddle used by yamen
underlings in the past.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 158 : BROKEN JADE
Translated with: Jia<3

Lesser functionaries like clerks1 should not be confused with

governmental officials. They were at the bottom of the hierarchy
with no rank and were technically not considered officials. But they
could write and count, and they were far more proficient in local
law than the local officials, so they could dispose of all
incriminating evidence and leave no traces for anyone to use
against them whenever they oppressed, hoodwinked, and even
extorted the local commoners. Furthermore, mutual cover-ups were
prevalent, given the geographical limitations in place.
When Luo Mu initially arrived at Chazhou, there were plenty of
matters he did not manage to work on, and one of the reasons was
that he was impeded by the functionaries of Chazhou. The local
administration not only affected the official’s political track record;
sometimes, they could also become obstacles to the
implementation of local policies.
The imperial court had assigned a Provincial Surveillance
Commissioner to Zhongbo after the defeat of its troops, but
Dunzhou had already lost the ability to control and hold the other
five prefectures in check. Consequently, the corruption of local
administrations in Zhongbo degenerated over the years to the
point it was grim.
◈ ◈ ◈
Gao Zhongxiong had already been taken to a physician, and
Zhou Gui was pacing the study. The advisors all sat in the
partitioned area and waited silently with rapt attention for Shen
Zechuan to speak. This matter concerned the screening of the
functionaries, and it was also a question as to whether the yamen
would be replacing its current yamen runners.
Zhou Gui spoke in a grave tone. “We were just discussing this
matter yesterday, and things have gone awry today. That Old Man
Xu is a yamen runner, and he has already obtained bribes over a
dozen silver taels just for the screening of the functionaries alone.
There are so many staff and subordinates from top to bottom in the
yamen. If others are also conducting deals on this, then how many
of the functionaries we employ as a result of this screening process
will be truly of use?”
Yao Wenyu drank the tea and said nothing as he put the lid
back on.
Anyone who was discerning could tell at a glance that this
affair undoubtedly implicated Zhou Gui’s advisors. Old Man Xu was
just a yamen runner, yet he dared to take advantage of the
opportunity presented to make a quick buck. This would not have
been doable for him at all, not unless someone was in
communication with him from behind the scenes.
Yao Wenyu was Shen Zechuan’s advisor. If he were to speak up
and ask for them to deal with the matter severely, he would be
suspected of trying to supplant Zhou Gui’s advisors. In all the recent
discussions, he had remained secure in the seat by Shen Zechuan’s
side as his council, but he was a newcomer, and he could not
compare in terms of seniority. The reputation of “Unpolished Jade
Yuanzhuo” had reached far and wide. Others treated him as an
immortal when he had been beyond their reach, but now that he
had fallen, they treated him as a live target. Criticism among peers
was a minor affair, but if this led to friction between Shen Zechuan
and Zhou Gui, it would be to the detriment of Cizhou.
“As the saying goes, every injustice has its perpetrator, and
every debt, its debtor.” Shen Zechuan weighed his folding fan in
his chair, his expression unreadable as he sat on the chair.
“Whoever did it, just deal with said person in accordance with the
standard procedure. The screening process is no small matter, and
there is plenty at stake. We cannot end up hurting the various
diligent and hardworking gentlemen because of paranoia.”
The advisors in the partitioned area did not dare make a
sound, although a few inwardly let out sighs of relief. Shen
Zechuan was in Cizhou; he still had to count on Zhou Gui’s power
and influence, so it was only to be expected for him to handle the
matter with care. It was still salvageable if the administration was
corrupt, but it was obviously not a good time now. If they cracked
down too hard and ended up implicating over half of Cizhou’s
yamen by following the trail, then how were they going to get any
work done when all the functionaries and subordinates’ positions
have been emptied out?
Conversely, Zhou Gui was reluctant now. “Vice Commander, it is
precisely because it’s no small matter that it has to be investigated!
We cannot let people ruin the ethos of the yamen. If others were to
imitate this behavior in the future, then it’s still the commoners who
will suffer.”
“Of course, it has to be investigated. What I meant is for us to
go by the book.” Shen Zechuan called for someone to steep the
tea, then continued, “Old Man Xu has already been taken into
custody. If Your Excellency doesn’t feel reassured, then, by all
means, send someone you can trust to sit in and transcribe it down.
With the Imperial Bodyguards conducting the trial, there will be
results by tonight. Baseless accusations cannot be trusted, but
conclusive evidence cannot be disregarded either. Whoever wants
to violate the regulations of the yamen then will have to bear the
responsibility for their actions. Wasn’t the newly transcribed penal
laws just posted? This incident came at the right time; Your
Excellency can set up court and hold the trial before the citizens of
Cizhou. The more turbid the waters, the more they have to be sifted
clear. But once the case concludes, we must never take inaccurate
rumors for truth and jump to conclusions; the yamen does not do
anything that will implicate the innocent.”
Zhou Gui said, “This matter must be taken as a warning.”
Shen Zechuan replied, “But of course; those who are lightly
punished shall be dismissed from their position, and those who are
severely punished shall be exiled to barren lands. If public
sentiment runs high, an on-the-spot execution in the court can also
serve to bring immense satisfaction to all.”
A crash rang out from the partitioned area, and the stunned
gasps of the advisors suddenly rose.
Zhou Gui hurriedly asked, “What’s the matter?”
A few people responded, “Your Excellency, someone fainted!”
They initially assumed that Shen Zechuan meant to punish only
Old Man Xu and show mercy to the rest of them, but who would
have thought that Shen Zechuan wanted to make an example out
of them. The Imperial Bodyguards were the ones presiding over
the interrogation, so how could an old chap from the countryside
like Old Man Xu withstand it? Not implicating the innocent meant
not pursuing the matter for the others, but not a single one of the
parties involved in Old Man Xu’s case this time was going to get
away with it. The more those sitting in the partitioned area listened,
the more seized with terror they became, so much that when Shen
Zechuan uttered the four words’ on-the-spot execution’, one of
them promptly passed out cold.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was a state of pandemonium in the study. On the other side,
Gao Zhongxiong was grimacing in pain under the hands of the
physician. After the physician left, he changed into a clean set of
clothes with the help of the maidservants. He was one to keep
himself in good health back in Qudu, so even if he was starving
right now, he dared not gobble down his meal.
After he was done eating, the maidservants led Gao
Zhongxiong to the courtyard. On the way there, he did not dare to
look around. He knew Shen Zechuan was now residing in Cizhou,
and he felt rather apprehensive. For someone who had given Han
Jin counsel on the pursuit and capture of Xiao Chiye, coming to
Cizhou could be said to be a risky, last-ditch move.
Gao Zhongxiong entered the courtyard and saw that the
jasmine orange beyond the wooden railing of the covered
walkway had all withered. No one had swept away the blanket of
white petals on the ground; presumably, it was on the specific
instruction of the master of the house to allow its natural fragrance
to remain lingering in the air. Meanwhile, the green moss and
gravelstone left along the edge of the pond bridge made it appear
as though it was paved with a new, visually pleasing mattress.
Gao Zhongxiong ascended the stairs as he peeked at it, and in
a moment of inattention, he nearly slipped. After he awkwardly
braced himself up, he hurriedly bowed to the maidservants in front
who were snickering behind covered mouths, sweating profusely
as he repeated the bows.
Wind chimes dangled beneath the eaves. Ding Tao waited for
Gao Zhongxiong to come over before he lifted the curtains for him
and led him inside. Gao Zhongxiong did not know Ding Tao’s
identity and so did not dare to offend him. Instead, he lifted the
hem of his own robe, intending to stride in, only to realize that
there was no threshold in this room.
The interior of the hall was bright and spacious, with no
valuable ornaments. When Gao Zhongxiong was in Qudu, he often
heard that Shen Zechuan kept company with Xi Hongxuan and the
rest and was fond of extravagance, carrying small ivory fans on
him all the time. Thus, he guessed that the owner of this residence
was perhaps Zhou Gui.
Gao Zhongxiong sat upright, all prim and proper, his butt
barely touching the edge of the chair as he focused and paid close
attention to the signs of movement in the courtyard. A short
moment later, he suddenly heard the sound of wheels from the
courtyard. Ding Tao, who had been under the eaves, stepped out
to greet, “Young Master.”
The curtain was lifted up, and Gao Zhongxiong promptly rose
to his feet. However, the first one to enter was not Shen Zechuan or
Zhou Gui, but a tall, unconventional bodyguard. This bodyguard
did not look at Gao Zhongxiong. Instead, he leaned over to take
over the wheelchair and pushed in a young master dressed in
green with an overcoat draped over him.
Gao Zhongxiong was about to go by the propriety and kneel,
but then, when he got a clear look at who was in the wheelchair, he
could not help but gape with wide-opened eyes. Then he took a
step back and exclaimed in shock, “Yao… Yuanzhuo!”
This exclamation put a frown onto the face of Shen Zechuan,
who entered after the two. He removed his overcoat and made a
beeline for the seat of honor.
Qiao Tianya pushed Yao Wenyu to the front, and the
maidservants came forth to serve the tea. Yao Wenyu held the
teacup in his hands and said with a neutral expression, “It has been
a long time. I didn’t expect Shenwei to come to Cizhou too.”
For some reason, Gao Zhongxiong broke out in a cold sweat.
He dabbed at his sweat and uttered a sound of acknowledgment.
Not daring to continue looking Yao Wenyu in the eyes, he hastily
paid his respects to Shen Zechuan. “Your, Your Excellency…”
 Shen Zechuan found this man’s expression odd. After he took
his seat, he said, “There’s no need to be so formal. Take a seat.”
How would Gao Zhongxiong dare to?
“Since Shenwei knows who the Vice Commander is, then there
is no need for me to waste my breath.” Yao Wenyu initially wanted
to introduce Gao Zhongxiong to Shen Zechuan, but on seeing how
deathly pale Gao Zhongxiong was, he paused and changed his
tone to soothe him. “Shenwei, don’t be afraid. I’m a living man.”
Gao Zhongxiong still did not dare to look up and merely
repeated “yes.”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Yuanzhuo, what makes you say that?”
Yao Wenyu was succinct in his answer, “I had a chance
encounter with Shenwei in Dancheng once. The poison and my
injuries acted up simultaneously at that time and gave him a
scare.”
But Gao Zhongxiong looked nervous. It was clearly not as
simple as a chance encounter. After Yao Wenyu had his legs
broken and left the capital, he went to Dancheng, where he
received the care of Pan Yi and the Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue. He was apparently poisoned in Dancheng, although he
had never told anyone the story behind it.
Gao Zhongxiong, however, knew about it.
“I left Dancheng in such a hurry. Are the Commandant and
Commandery Princess well?” Yao Wenyu asked.
At Yao Wenyu’s tone, Gao Zhongxiong gradually relaxed
enough for him to answer smoothly, but he was still turned to the
side and did not dare to look at Yao Wenyu. “Yes, they are both
fine…”
Shen Zechuan could sense something from this exchange.
The maidservants had all retreated, while Ding Tao was striking
the wind chimes for fun under the eaves. They clinked and clanked
noisily, as if a gale was wreaking havoc. Qiao Tianya lifted the
curtain to chase Ding Tao away, and it finally quietened down on
the other side of the beaded curtain.
Yao Wenyu seemed neither happy nor unhappy to hear this
piece of news. He set aside his teacup and broke the silence to say
to Shen Zechuan, “When I arrived in Dancheng, the Commandery
Princess was looking after me, but she is, after all, a married
woman, and there were many areas that was inconvenient for her
to intervene with. The Commandant thus sought out Pan Yuan, who
was still living at home at that time. This Pan Yuan is the
Commandant’s younger brother of common birth.”
Pan Yuan was an idler who loafed around all day. He was fond
of gambling, but he was not a direct descendant of lawful birth
from the Pan clan, so he could only rely on Pan Yi and his wife to
repay the huge debt he owned. Pan Yi had him take care of Yao
Wenyu, hoping that he could be inspired to “emulate the virtuous”
and better himself. Furthermore, Pan Yuan had been very
dedicated to taking care of their father in the past and could be
considered a filial son.
At first, Pan Yuan could be said to be attentive. With
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue’s exhortations, he did not dare to
be shoddy in his treatment of Yao Wenyu. He did not have to do
anything personally, either. All he had to do was watch the
physicians and attendants to ensure that they were timely with the
meals and medicine and that they were not loafing off on the job.
But after time, Pan Yuan got tired and fed up with it and started to
find excuses to venture outdoors to gamble.
“Pan Lin used a prisoner’s body as a decoy, but this move did
not dispel Xue Xiuzhou’s suspicions. The Commandery Princess left
in a hurry back then, and it was inevitable for there to be spies in
her entourage.” Yao Wenyu continued. “The gambling den later
came hounding Pan Yuan for payment, and Pan Yuan went into
hiding all over. He did not dare to tell his family, so he often poured
out his woes to me. But I was penniless, and I was in no position to
help even if I wanted to.”
Gao Zhongxiong nodded. “Pan Yuan sought me out at that
time to borrow money too. He said he had been forced into a
corner. Despite selling off the fields belonging to his branch of the
family, he still could not pay off his debt. I advised him to tell the
Commandant as soon as possible before it was too late, but he
simply refused to.”
Yao Wenyu did not speak again when Gao Zhongxiong spoke
to this point.
 Gao Zhongxiong continued, “In less than half a month, Pan
Yuan suddenly came to me for a drink. He said his gambling debt
had been fully paid off, as he had met a benefactor who had
extended him help. I was worried he had been deceived by the
gambling den, so I sounded him out during the feast about this
benefactor. He only said this person was a Longyou merchant2
from Qudu who had asked him to run an errand for him.”
Another half a month passed. Yao Wenyu’s injuries not only did
not heal, but had instead even deteriorated further. Commandery
Princess Zhaoyue asked all the physicians at home, but Yao
Wenyu’s condition showed no improvement. At that time, Pan Lin
suffered a setback in Qudu, and even Pan Yi was impeached along
with him. The issue at hand turned out to be about the Pan clan’s
fields in Dancheng. Pan Xiangjie did not dare to speak up for his
sons, fearful that the matter would snowball into disproportionate
proportions. But even the Pan clan’s repeated concessions did not
manage to stop this storm from blowing their way, and the imperial
censors got so heated that they vehemently demanded Pan Lin to
be suspended pending trial.
There was indeed an issue with the Pan clan, but that was a
debt borne out of Pan Xiangjie’s greed. The reason Pan Lin bore
the brunt of it was rather obvious—it was because he harbored Yao
Wenyu. But he acted in a fit of pique at this injustice, adamant on
fighting Xue Xiuzhuo till the end.
It did not take long for Pan Xiangjie to learn of the inside story.
Fearing that the Pan clan would be implicated, he wrote a letter
overnight to Pan Yi, who was in Dancheng, and demanded him to
send Yao Wenyu back to Qudu as soon as possible. Pan Yi refused,
and so Pan Xiangjie blew his top and subsequently became
bedridden in illness, putting Pan Yi in a dilemma. At the same time,
the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue noticed the oddness of Yao
Wenyu’s condition and grew suspicious, so she bypassed the front
hall and got her personal maid to call over a physician from
outside the residence to take a look.
Yao Wenyu had no wish to get into the details. After a moment
of silence, he merely said, “The Commandery Princess was worried
that Qudu would use the matter of inspecting the fields as a pretext
to come over and capture me. She initially wanted to send me to
the manor that came as part of her dowry to recuperate, but there
were problems with the medicine, and she could no longer trust
the people in the Pan’s residence. So she prepared traveling
expenses and entrusted someone with the task of sending me
secretly to Jincheng, where my late teacher’s long-time friends still
reside.”
But misfortune never comes singly. The people in his entourage
saw that Yao Wenyu was not only seriously ill but also had both his
legs broken, so after they left the city, they forgot all that the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue had entrusted to them and ran
away with the traveling expenses and horse carriage under cover
of the night.
That night, Yao Wenyu was thrown into the wilderness. All that
remained other than the donkey was the cat. He used to sleep in
the wild with mother earth as his pillow when he was wandering
the mountains and plains, but the experience of it this time was
completely poles apart. For the first time in his twenty-four years of
life, he realized that he was nothing. He was a nobody once his
reputation was stripped from him. Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo—it
was at that moment Yao Wenyu loathed these words to the core.
They were like humiliation branded deep into his bone marrow.
In the wilderness, Yao Wenyu broke down and cried
inconsolably.
For his teacher, and for himself.
He refused to see anyone when he was in Dancheng, merely
lying all day long on that bed shrouded in dimness. His legs were
the ones that hurt, but his self-esteem was the one that had
shattered. He had to face up to the fact that he was no longer able
to take care of himself. All that carefree spirit of his had turned into
a thing of the past. Such were his dreams for each sleep he took,
and it remained the same when he woke.
He was broken through and through.
He still wanted to live.
 Support the Author!
If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Footnotes
1. 胥吏 Throughout history, one of the most general generic
designations for a class of personnel who performed the
more menial tasks in all governmental units and had no
ranked civil service status, though at times they could be
promoted into official status for meritorious service.
2. 龙游商人 Longyou merchants, from the Longyou Group
(龙游商帮), were famous merchants during the Ming and
Qing dynasties for its operations in jewelry, book publishing,
and paper-making industries.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 159 : NAMELESS
Translated with: Jia<3

There was something amiss with Yao Wenyu’s medicine; the

physicians from the Pan’s residence could not figure out what was
wrong, but this no doubt had something to do with Pan Yuan,
considering that he had been the one taking care of Yao Wenyu.
The Commandery Princess Zhaoyue later checked on the Longyou
merchant who had paid off Pan Yuan’s debt, but the other party
had long disappeared without a trace. Not long after Yao Wenyu
left, Pan Yuan fell off his horse and died, and thus, the trail leading
to the identity of the person who instigated him to poison Yao
Wenyu hit a dead end. However, Pan Lin had the blame pinned on
Xue Xiuzhuo, and both parties’ relationship in Qudu continued to
deteriorate.
Gao Zhongxiong sensed the atmosphere in the room growing
tense. When he remembered he was also on friendly terms with
Pan Yuan, he felt as though he was sitting on pins and needles,
worried that Yao Wenyu would blame him for it by association. The
silence was too much for him to bear, and he could not help
breaking it. “Although I am acquainted with Pan Yuan, we do not
share the same ideals. All the typical exchange of formalities over
wine we had are merely a matter of necessity.” He was not adept at
flattery and stumbled over his words, “On the contrary, I am in
admiration of Yuanzhuo’s talent… we once had an encounter over
a poetry meet during the reign of Xiande, and Yuanzhuo’s talent
and bearing were so out of this world that it was truly an ethereal
sight to behold…”
Yao Wenyu waited for Gao Zhongxiong to finish before he
calmly said, “The past is but a dream: it’s all now water under the
bridge. It’s fate that we can meet again in Cizhou alive. Now that
I’ve found a good master, may I ask what plans you have for the
future?”
Gao Zhongxiong stole a glance at Shen Zechuan. “What plans
could I even have now that I’ve been reduced to such a state?” He
revealed a bitter smile as he spoke. “I’ve made a laughingstock of
myself with my behavior today. I’ve persevered in my studies for so
many years, but in the end, it has all come to nothing.”
Shen Zechuan clasped his folding fan under his sleeves. The
room felt chilly to him; it was time to get someone to prepare the
hand warmer. He pulled his wandering mind back in an instant, his
jade earring turning to the side slightly as he spoke politely to Gao
Zhongxiong, “The political climate is currently unstable, and the
various heroes are fighting over themselves to make a play for the
top. Since Mister Shenwei has come to Cizhou, why don’t you
reside temporarily in my residence and take your time to decide?”
Gao Zhongxiong could not help feeling greatly touched when
he heard Shen Zechuan calling him “Mister Shenwei”. He had been
through a lot of hardships on this life journey of his, and the
masters he had successively encountered and served had not been
good masters. And so he stood up and bowed deeply to Shen
Zechuan, his words even more awkward and inarticulate. Shen
Zechuan comforted him a little, and it was an hour later before Gao
Zhongxiong withdrew.
Yao Wenyu looked at the bamboo blinds falling back into place.
He waited until Gao Zhongxiong had walked out of the walkway
before he asked, “Does the Vice Commander find this man to be of
no use?”
Even if Shen Zechuan truly thought so, he could not say it
outright. Thus, he answered, “He must have his forte for you to
recommend him to this extent.”
“That’s right.” Yao Wenyu said. “Gao Zhongxiong’s courtesy
name is Shenwei, and he has always been known as the ‘eloquent
brush’ when he was in the Imperial College. Back then, when Xi
Hongxuan was setting the storm in motion in Qudu by inciting the
Imperial College, he chose Gao Zhongxiong precisely because of
the latter’s penmanship. Gao Zhongxiong was a student who
entered the capital in the fourth year of Xiande, which coincided
with the defeat of Zhongbo’s troops. It was a scene of devastation
everywhere in the Six Prefectures then, and the ‘Lamentation of
Chashi’ he wrote under the influence of wine caused the students
to fall over themselves to transcribe private copies for distribution.
When it made its way into Cen Yu’s hands, it even made Cen Yu
shed tears by the candlelight, deeply moved as he was.”
Shen Zechuan drank the tea and said, “So that’s how it is.”
The Imperial College’s disturbance that Xi Hongxuan had
facilitated was, in fact, instigated by Shen Zechuan. Gao
Zhongxiong led the students to demand answers for Shen
Zechuan’s release from the temple and ended up being forcibly
quelled by Pan Rugui and Ji Lei. This led to a turnabout of the then-
students’ direction, turning the entire farce into a dispute between
them and the Pan faction. Ji Lei and the others were caught off-
guard before they could act, and subsequently, they lost the
initiative to land a decisive blow on Shen Zechuan to take him
down.
Shen Zechuan himself knew best what had played a key role in
that fiasco, including the Imperial College uproar that Xue Xiuzhuo
had later stirred up again. They had both gotten a firm grasp on
the inclination of the public sentiments before herding them into
moving in the direction they wanted. To do this, compelling
rhetoric and articles that had the power to move men were the
most indispensable. Yao Wenyu’s meaning was clear—Gao
Zhongxiong’s writing had such power. He could stir up a storm,
and it was precisely such literary prowess that Shen Zechuan was in
need of right now.
“The Chazhou trip has made the Vice Commander a well-
known name, but because of the taint that is Shen Wei, it’s still far
from enough if you want to lead and command the various heroes
in an open and aboveboard manner.” Yao Wenyu paused for a
moment. “Even if the full story of the defeat from start to end is
made public in the future, it’d still prove to be hard for Shen Wei to
be absolved of blame.”
An ill reputation lends no weight to one’s words. This was a
problem that Shen Zechuan could not circumvent.
King Yi of Fanzhou was currently drafting up documents to
attack and vilify Cizhou, and he had made reference to the defeat
multiple times. Shen Wei’s withdrawal from battle without so much
a fight was a fact, and there was no way to refute that even if Zhou
Gui wanted to. Firstly, Shen Zechuan was indeed Shen Wei’s eighth
son of common birth; he was Shen Wei’s son by blood, and the so-
called “unfavored” treatment he had received held no water in
quelling the anger of the public. That was a blood relation, one
unlike Fei Sheng with a remote common birth connection, where a
glib tongue was all that was needed to convince the people.
Secondly, the defeat of the troops was a tragedy caused by Hua
Siqian and the rest’s attempts to fill up the void in the state treasury,
but the evidence had all been destroyed. Shen Wei committed
suicide by self-immolation, Hua Siqian died in prison, and Wei
Huaigu succumbed to poison. Not a single trace was left of their
collusion with the Biansha Cavalry to sell out Dazhou’s military
defense maps.
This was the dark cloud that was constantly hanging over Shen
Zechuan’s head. It was also his greatest pitfall. He had risen to
power in Cizhou, but why was he faced with such a scarcity of
talents? Because the talents of the world refused to come to him.
They’d rather follow heroes like King Yi who had risen in rebellion
among the common people than throw in their lots with Shen
Zechuan.
“The Vice Commander executed an advisor of Cizhou today,
and it’s only by holding the trial publicly that the Vice
Commander’s name did not fall into further disrepute. But with the
rise of Cizhou and the allegiance of Chazhou, the Vice Commander
must first drop the title of ‘Vice Commander’ if the Vice
Commander wishes to advance a step further.” Noting Shen
Zechuan’s neutral expression as he fiddled with his folding fan, Yao
Wenyu knew then that Shen Zechuan had already considered this,
so he continued, “Cizhou has long freed itself from Qudu’s control.
Using the former title makes it all too easy to confound the status of
master and subordinates. It’s no longer apt to keep the address,
‘Vice Commander’.”
By the time Yao Wenyu had spoken to this point, both men had
reached a tacit understanding.
Shen Zechuan could be addressed as “Vice Commander”, or
even “Judge”—those were his titles in the Imperial Bodyguards,
although they were rendered void when he left Qudu. He was now
in Cizhou, and Cizhou’s prefectural prefect was Zhou Gui. If he had
no new form of address, it would imply that he was still the guest
and Zhou Gui was the host and the master. The offending advisors
could still remain securely seated in place in the partitioned area
despite what had happened at the yamen because they still treated
Zhou Gui as the master of Cizhou. They did not see themselves as
subordinate to Shen Zechuan. There was still a line between both
parties.
Only Kong Ling had long since recognized the problem. He
brought this to Zhou Gui’s attention before he set off for Chazhou
the last time, and he had reminded Zhou Gui again when he set off
for Huaizhou this time. But Zhou Gui truly was not well-acquainted
with the ins and outs of the matter, and that was why he had been
slow to react.
Shen Zechuan could not proclaim himself king, at least, not
now. King Yi of Fanzhou established himself so early that he was
literally the prey standing right in front of Qidong. Qi Zhuyin
already had the time to catch a breather and get back in the game.
Once she filled in the gap at Bianjun Commandery, she would have
spare resources to deploy troops to Zhongbo, and the first one she
was going to fight would be these random kings that had risen
from among the common people.
“There are benefits to being nameless nobodies.” Shen
Zechuan leaned back slightly. “At least if Qi Zhuyin dispatches
troops without any justifiable cause, she would not be able to
bypass the other five prefectures to come after Cizhou.”
Cizhou did not have bandits or self-proclaimed kings. Xiao
Chiye, who commanded the Imperial Army, was the one the Eight
Great Training Divisions were pursuing. Shen Zechuan was at most
a “fugitive”, and Cizhou was at most “harboring a fugitive”. Zhou
Gui had not openly and blatantly hung up the rebel flag, and he
was still the “prefect” in the territory. His turning of a deaf ear to
Qudu’s orders could be put down to the long distance between
Cizhou and Qudu, and just based on this alone, Qi Zhuyin could
not attack Cizhou—not unless she used the suppression of bandits
as a pretext to route her troops to the western side of Cizhou, then
enter Cizhou with the excuse that she was just transiting through.
However, the deployment of troops like this meant that the military
expenditure required would increase exponentially, and Qudu
might not necessarily be able to spare the money. The best option
was still for the Eight Great Training Divisions to deploy their
troops. They had support for provisions from Dancheng and were
located close enough, and they could also use the reason of
tracking down Shen Zechuan to take him in for questioning to
launch a war with Cizhou. But Han Jin was too impatient. Not only
were his troops broken up by Xiao Chiye, he was also beaten silly
by Xiao Chiye. This consequently led the Eight Great Training
Divisions into cowering back.
But such a situation could not last for long.
Because the Eight Great Training Divisions were bound to stage
a comeback. Once the three parties in Qudu entered a period of
stability, the Ministry of War would re-elect a new chief commander.
It was to guard against this situation that Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan purchased the Beiyuan Hunting Grounds from Zhou Gui
for use as the Imperial Army’s camp. This way, a 20,000-strong
Imperial Army would be the shield at the west of Cizhou, used for
the specific purpose of resisting the Eight Great Training Divisions.
But at the same time, the Imperial Army only had to return to
Cizhou’s territory, and Qi Zhuyin would be able to head north and
launch a direct assault on Cizhou on the grounds of eliminating the
rebel forces.
Therefore, Shen Zechuan was in no hurry to get rid of King Yi of
Fanzhou. He wanted King Yi to be the mountain that straddled
between him and Qidong. However, he could not allow King Yi to
expand unchecked either.
“I once made a proposal for the Vice Commander to take down
Fanzhou swiftly, but it’s no longer a good time now.” The tea in Yao
Wenyu’s palm had cooled. He continued, “If the Vice Commander
wants to keep King Yi going, then you have to first hack off the
hand he is reaching out to the north with.”
“A few months ago,” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were clear. “Lei
Jingzhe was sent back to Mount Luo by Ce’an, where he became
the target of public censure and could no longer command the
bandits, resulting in chaos on Mount Luo as the various internal
factions turned against one another. Now that King Yi wants to
form an alliance with Mount Luo, Lei Jingzhe, who wholeheartedly
wants to stage a comeback, will not miss this opportunity.”
Something stirred in Yao Wenyu’s eyes. He said, “Vice
Commander means to…”
Shen Zechuan suddenly opened his folding fan and partially
covered his face. With a smile in his eyes, he slowly said, “I’m
going to give him a helping hand.”
The wind had picked up outside the window; it looked like it
was about to rain again.
◈ ◈ ◈
Han Jin gouged away at the walls until his ten fingers were
scraped bare. He had been in the Cizhou prison for close to three
months, and he had gotten so emaciated he was barely
recognizable. What’s more, he still had to put up with verbal abuse
and insults from the others. At first, he could not stand it, and he
would even cry himself a river, but as time passed, he gradually
grew numb.
“Mealtime.” Carrying a tub in hand, the warden knocked on the
cell doors one at a time with a wooden spoon and hollered, “It’s
mealtime!”
They were adept at this and could swiftly dish out the broth and
rice, filling the bowl to the brim without missing a drop. On hearing
his voice, Han Jin hurried over to the cell door and reached out for
the bowl. Unexpectedly, the warden passing by behind kicked the
bowl over, sending the mixture of rice and broth spilling all over
the ground.
Han Jin was so hungry he was having gastric pains. He kneeled
and pinched up the rice on the ground with his fingers and
desperately shoved them into his mouth. There were grains of
sand and gravel among the rice, which made his teeth ache as he
chomped down on them. He pressed his head against the cell
door and reached into his mouth with his dirty hand to dig out the
stones.
As he was doing so, he suddenly saw a pair of legs stopping at
the other end of the cell door.
Han Jin carefully lifted his eyes and looked out evasively.
 Gao Zhongxiong, who had initially meant to come and take a
look at his former master, never expected Han Jin to be reduced to
such a state.
Han Jin was Han Cheng’s younger brother, and he could be
said to have been a free-spirited young master in Qudu. He
succeeded Xi Gu’an as the viceroy of the Eight Great Training
Divisions, and he had also been there in person during the public
ditches case and gone into the waters. At that time, he had great
respect for Xiao Chiye.
Gao Zhongxiong felt a lump in his throat. There were several
times he wanted to open his mouth and speak, but words failed
him.
Han Jin looked blankly at Gao Zhongxiong, then abruptly
pounced over to grab the bars and ask in a tearful voice, “Is my
elder brother here? Tell me, has my elder brother come?”

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 160 : RUMOR
Translated with: Jia<3

Shocked by Han Jin, Gao Zhongxiong took a couple of steps

back and bumped into the bars behind him.
Han Jin could not even stand the mosquito bites when he
marched to war, much less endure the dirty conditions in prison; it
was very much against his will to end up in such a plight. When he
saw Gao Zhongxiong’s expression, he could not help but burst out
wailing, “You treacherous man! It’s all your fault I’m in this state!”
Gao Zhongxiong dared not respond and stuck close to the bars
as he headed for the entrance.
Feeling his hatred rise, Han Jin launched into a torrent of
abuses. “You threw in your lot with traitor Shen. How shameless!
You disloyal, turncoat slave who panders to a traitor!1 Gao
Zhongxiong, you’re just a wretched soul with nobody to turn to!
Don’t go, come back, you…”
Gao Zhongxiong cut a sorry figure as he pushed the prison
door open and shook off that relentless, haunting voice behind
him. Outside, the chilly wind blew his entire back cold. The literati
cherished their reputation. Who didn’t want to go down in history
as an honorable scholar untainted by political ills?2 The words
‘disloyal, turncoat slave’ dealt such a hard blow to Gao Zhongxiong
that he almost could not get back up on his feet. He had tens of
thousands of grievances pent up in his chest with nowhere to vent,
and they eventually amassed into a wave of nausea so
overwhelming that he grabbed at the wall and threw up.
Gao Zhongxiong threw up everything he had consumed that
day, puking until he had a case of acid reflux. He leaned against
the wall, gradually sliding into a sitting position on the ground. As
he gazed towards the vast sky, he thought of his elders back in
Yuzhou. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, but the tears
would not stop streaming down his cheeks, so he wiped them with
his sleeve instead. Eventually, he hugged his arms, rolled over to
curl up in a corner, and cried while trying to suppress it.
 Who would be willing to give up his dignity and bow to power
for a pittance?
Not Gao Zhongxiong. But without this pittance, he would die. In
order to seek a way out for himself, he even cast aside his
sensibilities. If someone were to tell him five years ago that he
would bow obsequiously to a yamen runner for the sake of being a
lesser functionary in the future, he would rather die. But he had not
only done that now; he was even willing to learn to flatter others for
petty gains.
An unspecified amount of time later, Gao Zhongxiong got up,
tidied himself, and edged along the wall as he made his way
outside. As he passed by the yamen, he had the sense that the
whisperings around him were directed at him, but he did not seem
to feel a thing. Like what Yao Wenyu had said, the past was but a
dream. He had woken up too.
“This humble one is Gao Zhongxiong, and my humble courtesy
name is Shenwei.” Gao Zhongxiong strode into the yamen and
bowed as he said to the others. “It is on the personal
recommendation of the Vice Commander that this humble one has
come to offer my writing skills for the yamen’s use. In the future, this
humble one shall be responsible for drafting up all the official
proclamations and public notices the yamen needs.”
◈ ◈ ◈
In the twinkling of an eye, it was already the end of the eighth
month. Kong Ling and Yu Xiaozai had returned from their trip to
Huaizhou. The discussion in Huaizhou had gone smoothly. The
only odd thing was that when they passed by Luoxia Pass on the
way back, they found the attitude of the Luoxia Pass’s Commandant
loaded with subtleties; it was far more agreeable than it had been
when they passed through on their way to Huaizhou.
“That Commandant from Luoxia Pass…” Yu Xiaozai said, “was
trying to dig for information on our Vice Commander. He made
several inquiries on the Vice Commander’s marriage.”
“He couldn’t be trying to play matchmaker for the Vice
Commander, could he?” Zhou Gui thought of Xiao Chiye and
hurriedly asked, “Then, how did you answer?”
 “I initially wanted to answer that the Vice Commander already
has a spouse.” Yu Xiaozai had darkened a lot on this trip. “But
Chengfeng advised me not to, so I just replied that he was still
unmarried.”
Both of them did not understand, but Kong Ling was a
discerning and insightful man. He had heard that the Hereditary
Prince’s Consort of Libei had come to Cizhou, so he paid special
attention to Luoxia Pass’s attitude on their return trip. He knew very
well the reason for the change in their attitude. No doubt Libei had
reached out to them in advance, wanting to understand Shen
Zechuan through them—he just did not know if it was the Prince or
the Hereditary Prince.
Kong Ling picked up the tea and said, “The Vice Commander
isn’t married to begin with. It’s better to say it as it is when it comes
to this matter, lest it provides others with grounds for gossip and
leads to misunderstandings.”
Zhou Gui was just about to speak to Kong Ling about the
screening of the functionaries from the last time when Qiao Tianya
lifted the curtains. They rose to greet in unison, “Vice
Commander.”
It was raining outside, and Shen Zechuan had walked all the
way over from his residence. Even if he had an umbrella, it was
inevitable for him to get wet. On the contrary, Yao Wenyu was all
securely bundled up as he was pushed in. The only thing was that
he was too thin, and even when he sat in the wheelchair, he did not
feel like a living being. Gao Zhongxiong came in last after them. He
was dressed very simply, with a pile of books in his arms and half of
his shoulder wet.
“Gentlemen, please take a seat.” Shen Zechuan settled into his
seat and wiped away the water droplets on his hand with his
handkerchief. “It has been hard on Mister Chengfeng and Youjing
on this long trip. There’s no need to be in a hurry to return to duty
these few days. Take a break.”
Kong Ling and Yu Xiaozai said their thanks in succession.
“Shenwei, do sit too. There’s no need to be formal.” Shen
Zechuan lifted a palm to motion to Gao Zhongxiong. At the same
time, he said to Kong Ling, “This is Shenwei, a new subordinate of
mine who specializes in writing. He is presently gaining experience
in the yamen, and there are still plenty of many matters on which
he will need Mister Chengfeng’s guidance on.”
Kong Ling politely and humbly played down the accolade and
sized up Gao Zhongxiong. Gao Zhongxiong had secured his hair
up in a simple bun today. As he had to move around in the yamen
for the whole day now, efficiency had taken precedence over
everything else, and so he no longer looked so much like a
scholar.
Gao Zhongxiong set down the books and bowed to Kong Ling
in a greeting. “I’ve long heard much of Mister Chengfeng’s
reputation. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Kong Ling rose to his feet and returned the greeting.
Shen Zechuan waited until they each took their respective seats
before saying, “With things going smoothly in Huaizhou and
Chazhou, everyone can have a good year this year. The
functionaries to survey the fields have already been sent down. To
ensure the accuracy of the acreage, there will be two more checks
carried out after. By the time this is done, it will be the end of the
year, but the good thing is that we can finish the surveyance in time
for this year. Now that the recording of registrations is done, the
moving of Cizhou’s autumn harvest into the granaries is completed
too. As soon as the snow falls, we should discuss the allocation of
lands.”
Yao Wenyu spoke up just then, “In the past, the land taxes and
levies in Qudu were all paid in kind. After the grain was collected
and put into storage at the granaries, it was manually audited and
converted by people. The labor costs of the transport office also
had to be apportioned among them, so it might not necessarily be
accurate. We are now in Cizhou, and we can dispense with the
escort and transportation of grains. But to increase the expenses
for the upkeep of the granary, the most appropriate way to collect
silver would be to combine the miscellaneous taxes.”
“The trading of grains is not a long-term endeavor either.”
Kong Ling said, “Once Chazhou is done with the reorganization
this year, they can start tilling their lands at the beginning of spring
next year. If they can get through it, it will be a bumper harvest for
them, and they will no longer need to do business with us.”
“Wouldn’t the other four prefectures need it?” Yu Xiaozai was
not as familiar with the situation in Zhongbo as the rest of them.
“Seems to me that King Yi won’t be in the running for long. The two
prefectures of Fanzhou and Dengzhou are so poor that the people
are turning against each other, yet he’s still bestowing awards and
conferring titles on a motley crew of ministers for his court. If we
aren’t doing business with Chazhou, we can do it with them.”
The others laughed.
Shen Zechuan said, “Youjing is truly from the Chief Surveillance
Bureau.”
Seeing as Yu Xiaozai did not comprehend, Kong Ling said,
“When you see others conducting themselves with such behavior,
you think about impeachment, forgetting that they’re impoverished
to the extent that they’d turn against one another. So how would
they have the money to buy grains from us?”
“Human trafficking is rampant in Fanzhou, and traffickers are
running amuck all around. If we have them purchase the grains,
they might even use children to barter. These people are
incorrigible!” It filled Zhou Gui with contempt just to bring up this
subject.
“This is something that has to be combated, but the source is
still at Mount Luo. As for King Yi, he can’t die no matter what.” Yao
Wenyu relaxed a little and revealed a smile. “He is currently our
barrier in the south. Without him, we will come face to face with Qi
Zhuyin.”
“Speaking of Qi Zhuyin.” Yu Xiaozai rolled up his sleeves
slightly. “This reminds me of Qi Shiyu. I heard some news. During
the wedding ceremony when Third Missy Hua married over, the
Old Commander saw what an unparalleled beauty his new wife
was, and in a moment of happiness, he collapsed.”
Zhou Gui was stunned. “Collapsed?”
Yu Xiaozai continued, “He had a stroke!”
Whether Qi Shiyu had a genuine stroke or a bogus one, this
incident made it clear that he would not be sharing a room with
Hua Xiangyi. The Empress Dowager got the in-laws relationship
she wanted with Qidong, but she had no way to take it any further.
If Hua Xiangyi did not beget an heir, Qi Zhuyin would retain her
position as the commander-in-chief. With her stepmother in her
hands, she had every reason to suppress and hold her other
brothers in check.
“Man proposes, God disposes.” Zhou Gui lamented. “It’s
fortunate that Qi Zhuyin is not a man.”
They laughed and chatted about something else. Kong Ling
and Yu Xiaozai had only just returned today, so Shen Zechuan
could not really let them sit and chat the entire night. At around the
hour of chou, he dismissed them.
Zhou Gui personally saw Kong Ling back to his courtyard and
gave him a brief and concise account of the screening incident on
their way over. Finally, he said. “We executed an advisor who took
bribes and kept the peace in the yamen until now. But rumors keep
popping up recently, saying that the Vice Commander came to
Cizhou to coerce me. Can you believe this? Alas, I can’t eat or sleep
well these few days, worried that these words will make their way to
the Vice Commander’s ears and cause misunderstandings
between us.”
Kong Ling held the umbrella and said, “I reminded you a long
time ago that the address of ‘prefectural prefect’ should be done
away with. If this matter had played out before someone who is
oversuspicious and distrustful by nature, you and I would have long
lost the trust of the Vice Commander.”
“But I,” Zhou Gui said anxiously, “don’t know what to change it
to!”
“It doesn’t matter what you change it to. What’s important is the
attitude.” Kong Ling tilted the umbrella to allow Zhou Gui to raise
up the lantern. “Cizhou has already established itself. Naturally, it
can no longer leave this matter ambiguous. You may not intend it
that way, but you won’t be able to hold up against repeated rumors,
so distinguish between master and subordinate clearly as soon as
possible and make it clear to the others as well that Cizhou has
already changed masters.”
During their discussion, both men had already gone up the
steps. The attendants followed behind them. Before Kong Ling
stepped onto the walkway, he looked back and motioned for them
to slow down and not to follow too close.
“It’s not appropriate to call him the Provincial Administration
Commissioner, and it’s not appropriate to call him the Viceroy
either. Think of one for me.” Zhou Gui said after him. “And I can get
it settled tomorrow morning.”
“Those are all titles designated by Qudu; of course, they aren’t
appropriate.” Kong Ling could not think of one at such short notice
either. He stood for a moment, then said with a headache, “Shen
Wei was the Prince of Jianxing, but he has been stripped of his
noble rank and title. We mustn’t allow this relationship to be
associated with the Vice Commander anymore.”
Both men stood side by side in the chilly night, with the wind
rustling past their clothes. It was so freezing that both men shivered
simultaneously. Kong Ling was tired and cold, and so he chased
Zhou Gui off. “Go back and think of one yourself.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Two days later, Zhou Gui submitted a document with the
request to change “Vice Commander” to “Prefectural Lord”.3 He
initially meant to address him as “Lord Shen”, but the word Shen
was associated with Shen Wei, so it was revised to the “prefectural”
in “prefectural prefect”. The word ‘prefectural’ was flexible; it could
progress in tiers according to their future expansion in the region,
making it convenient to make changes again. This was the first
time Cizhou explicitly recognized Shen Zechuan as the one who
reigned supreme in Cizhou. Meanwhile, Zhou Gui demoted himself
back into his original position and became a subordinate of Shen
Zechuan.
Once this matter was made public, King Yi of Fanzhou was the
first one to get anxious. He repeatedly issued several notices
angrily denouncing Zhou Gui for defecting to the traitor. But Cizhou
now had Gao Zhongxiong, an eloquent writer of quick wit and
great speed who could twist the narrative in their favor. At the same
time he condemned King Yi for his heartlessness in disregarding
the lives and deaths of the commoners in Fanzhou by carrying out
wasteful large scale construction of extravagant buildings for his
enjoyment, he also composed a ballad for distribution to the four
prefectures east of Zhongbo, singing the story of how Shen
Zechuan had traveled thousands of li to deliver grains but had
instead gotten injured, so much that it moved all the listeners to
tears. The more that rumor spread, the more exaggerated it
became. By the time it reached Xiao Fangxu’s ears, it had already
become “seriously wounded” and “almost broke an arm”.
Xiao Fangxu got a fright and went to grab up a diligent Xiao
Chiye in the middle of the night to ask, “He broke an arm?”
Xiao Chiye, who had been continuously running errands for
half a month, had only just fallen asleep when his old man yanked
him up. He was still half-asleep, so Xiao Fangxu shook him and
asked his question again.
Annoyed by the shaking, Xiao Chiye asked in a hoarse voice,
“Who, who broke an arm?”
Xiao Fangxu said, “Shen Zechuan!”

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Footnotes
1. 三姓家奴 literally, a slave with three surnames. The term
originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 《三国
演义》 and refers specifically to Lu Bu. It’s used mockingly to
refer to capricious, disloyal and unrighteous people who
serve traitors (以身侍贼)
2. 清流 renowned and unsullied scholars who were
concerned with politics but held themselves aloof from those
in power, i.e., political outsiders (e.g., members of the
Donglin Clique in the late Ming Dynasty)
3. 府君 literally magistrate of a prefecture, also used to refer
to 太守 or 知府 so this term can also be translated as
Prefectural Magistrate, Prefectural Governor, or Prefectural
Prefect.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 161 : SUNSET GLOW
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye felt as though he had been doused with a bucket of

icy water that not only sober him up but also caused his hairs to
stand on end. He sat up and stared at Xiao Fangxu for a moment,
yet his mind was blank. It was as if he had been punched so hard
by someone that even the insides of his chest cavity were a rotten
mess. He abruptly pushed Xiao Fangxu aside and got off the couch
to put on his boots. But he knocked against the corner of the table
and almost couldn’t get up. Where in the hell were those damn
boots?
Chen Yang and Gu Jin were initially standing outside the tent
to keep watch for the night when they heard the sound of the flap
being lifted and saw Xiao Chiye stumbling out like a wandering
soul with one foot stepping down on the back of a boot and the
other stepping on the ground. He did not even have his outer
robes on as he went over to undo Lang Tao Xue Jin’s reins.
Gu Jin was the quickest to react. He strode a step out to tug at
the reins and called out in an urgent voice, “Master!”
Chen Yang followed closely behind, intending to head inside
to look for his robes and boots.
Xiao Fangxu bent over to step outside and asked in
puzzlement, “You didn’t know? Didn’t this happen a long time ago?
When he went to Chazhou.”
Chen Yang observed Xiao Fangxu’s expression, and realization
suddenly dawned on him. He slapped his forehead and turned
around to shout, “Chazhou! Master, it’s Chazhou! Young Master is
fine!”
These shouts were so strikingly loud that they shocked Xiao
Chiye’s startled soul back into his body. He turned around and
made a beeline for Xiao Fangxu, so agitated that his eyes had
gone red. When he came to Xiao Fangxu, he spun around on the
spot once before he finally wiped at his face and said, “Good grief,
father dearest!”
 ◈ ◈ ◈
The scabs on Shen Zechuan’s palm had fallen off, leaving only
a scar behind.
As soon as the eighth month passed, the rain in Cizhou ceased.
The frost intensified, and the weather grew even colder. Yao
Wenyu, having caught a cold in recent days, remained indoors
with the hand warmer in hand and rarely ventured outdoors. Shen
Zechuan still had Fei Sheng following him around. Contrary to
expectations, Li Xiong hardly mentioned Lei Jingzhe again.
“Is Han Jin still in prison?” Shen Zechuan drank his medicine
and asked Fei Sheng as he stood by the window.
Fei Sheng answered, “He’s still there. Master is benevolent not
to kill him, yet he keeps raising a hue and cry the whole day
without so much a sign of repentance.”
Shen Zechuan gripped the porcelain bowl in his hand and
looked at the pattern for a while before he said, “He’s Han Cheng’s
younger brother.”
Fei Sheng lowered his eyes for no reason and shivered.
Han Cheng executed Qi Huilian right there on the streets.
Based on what Fei Sheng had figured out regarding Shen
Zechuan’s temper, the reason Shen Zechuan had kept Han Jin alive
without killing him was not to coerce Qudu at all, but to retain him
for a bigger purpose. Fei Sheng did not dare to guess. He had no
wish to guess either. As a guard, he was Shen Zechuan’s dagger.
Shen Zechuan’s wish was his command.
Shen Zechuan raised his eyes and looked out of the window at
the cold rays of sunlight on the ground, which left trails of tear
stains through the frost. He let out an inexplicable smile and said,
“Release him.”
Fei Sheng acknowledged the order.
Shen Zechuan added, “Get him a bath and a change of clothes,
then give him a meal and a soft couch. There is no need for him to
do anything. Just let him play to his heart’s content.”
Fei Sheng did not dare to object and merely uttered his
acknowledgment again before taking his leave. The moment he
left, Qiao Tianya lifted the curtain and entered.
 “Letter from Libei.” Qiao Tianya set the letter on Shen Zechuan’s
table. “It was sent posthaste. Must be something Master needs to
be informed of.”
“Is Yuanzhuo doing better?” Shen Zechuan asked as he opened
the letter.
Before Qiao Tianya could answer, he saw Shen Zechuan’s
stunned expression as he reread the letter several times.
“It’s about the frontier trade market in winter.” Shen Zechuan
paused for a moment. “I’m going to the battlegrounds in person to
have a face-to-face discussion with the Prince of Libei.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The weather in Libei was capricious. The remaining clear, sunny
weather of autumn was few and far between, but once it made its
appearance, it would get so hot that it made one want to strip.
Xiao Chiye returned to the battleground again at the end of the
eighth month and did not leave again for the time being. After that
defeat, he had never taken a break. Whether it was to head north
to transport military supplies, or going west to contact Dajing, he
was the one who led his men to make the trips. It was as if his
rough edges had been completely tempered down by Xiao Fangxu
to the point that he was starting to willingly serve as a young
general in charge of military supplies.
When Chen Yang went to fetch water, he saw Xiao Chiye
standing on the withered and yellow grassland training a horse.
The keyword was training, but in truth, Xiao Chiye was a lot more
gentle. That horse, snow-white all over with a patch of black on its
chest, was the horse Lu Yizhi wanted to keep for Xiao Chiye’s wife.
When Xiao Chiye had been running errands for the last month, he
brought it out with him, wanting to tame it himself.
Xiao Fangxu rode his horse over from the other end, and Meng
came swooping down in the wind and brushed past Xiao Fangxu
with a “swoosh”. Then it took off again along the grass and soared
into the air, where it spun around once before flying away.
Xiao Fangxu dismounted and threw the reins to the deputy
general behind him. He took off his helmet, spat out the dust in his
mouth, and narrowed his eyes to look at Xiao Chiye. After a while,
he removed his heavy armor and took off the saddle on the back of
his horse. He then flipped atop it once more and beckoned to Xiao
Chiye from a distance away.
Zuo Qianqiu leaned over the railing, his white hair fluttering in
the wind as he watched father and son side by side. Wu Ziyu ran a
few steps closer and stepped up the railing to straddle over it.
Behind him, the Libei Armored Cavalry and Imperial Army came up
and crowded around them on this side of the railing so closely that
they were all packed like sardines.
It was so squeezed that Tantai Hu could not free his hands, so
he craned his neck and yelled, “What’s this about?!”
Wu Ziyu held up a steamed bun and shouted at the top of his
hoarse voice over the din, “If the Second Young Master wins today,
the convoy squad will be the champions this month! They will even
have to give us two more scoops for our meals!”
On seeing this, Zuo Qianqiu said with a laugh, “It will take a few
years more before A-Ye will defeat his old man.”
“The Second Young Master will not let us down!” Tantai Hu
shouted defiantly as he wiped the sweat that had trickled down
onto his cheek. It was so scorching hot that his face was tanned
and flushed.
Zuo Qianqiu asked, “What if His Lordship wins?”
Chen Yang was just about to say something when he heard
Tantai Hu say in a booming voice, “Then we will run along the
grassland and bark as we run—”
Wu Ziyu and Gu Jin, who were behind him, promptly leaped up
to shut his mouth up.
Zuo Qianqiu did not let the opportunity slip. “Fine! A-Ye, you
heard that? If you lose to your father today, your whole squad will
have to go woof woof!”
Xiao Chiye lifted his finger and whistled, and Lang Tao Xue Jin
circled over to his side. He mounted the horse and asked Xiao
Fangxu, “Where to?”
Xiao Fangxu seemed hesitant as he parroted, “Where to…”
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he had already
spurred his horse on ahead.
The Imperial Army booed in unison. Tantai Hu struggled to free
his mouth and exclaimed, “How can His Lordship cheat?!”
 Lang Tao Xue Jin shot forward like a black arrow leaving the
bowstring, and the wind started rustling in an instant. The sun in
the clear skies on the horizon was blinding, and the back views of
father and son as they rode their horse were almost identical.
Meng suddenly broke through the clouds and went all out to chase
after them, sticking closely right behind Xiao Chiye as it looked
down upon that pair of arrows, one in front and one at the back.
Blades of grass went flying all over as horses’ hooves trampled
over them, while the wind stirred up the endless expanse of
luxuriant grass, sending them swaying in one direction. They rode
amidst it, like a duo of big and small stars shooting into the waves
of the ocean, leaving a long trail in their wake among the
grasslands.
Xiao Chiye gazed at Xiao Fangxu’s back as he listened to the
soughing of the wind.
Xiao Fangxu was not old yet. How could he be old? He looked
so robust and strong, no different than he had been twenty years
ago. As long as he raised both arms, he could lift both sons,
laughing on the grasslands as he tossed them in turn until they
cried.
Xiao Chiye gradually caught up to him. Lang Tao Xue Jin was
far more sturdy and younger than that horse beneath Xiao Fangxu.
It charged forth, full of vigor, its eyes staring fixedly ahead as if
nothing could stop it.
Gradually, both men came to ride neck to neck with one
another, both riding until they were drenched in sweat. The sun
blazed overhead, searing their backs. This was perhaps the last
sunny sky with a scorching sun in Libei this year.
There was a stone monument at the finishing point, with the
names of the Libei Armored Cavalry who had died in battle the
past year engraved on it, along with the falcons that had fallen with
them and the battle steeds that had carried them. At the very last
moment when father and son were about to reach, Meng beat
them to it and darted over. It circled once before landing on the
stone monument, thereby winning first place.
“The falcon is mine.” Xiao Chiye slowed down and said, “So I
win.”
 “The land is mine.” Xiao Fangxu came to a stop and turned
around to face Xiao Chiye while pointing at his feet. “I was here 800
years earlier than you.”
Xiao Chiye apathetically ignored this statement.
They dismounted. The sun was already on its downward
descent in the west. Xiao Fangxu headed up the stone steps and
stood before the stone monument, then reached out to wipe away
the dust on it. The wind was strong here. It sent his hair fluttering
and tousled up the hair on his temples, revealing some streaks of
white. He said, “Herein lie my brothers.”
Xiao Chiye came up behind him and stood beside Xiao
Fangxu.
“Ten years ago, I brought your eldest brother here.” Xiao
Fangxu pointed at a certain spot. “There was a lad here by the
rather unique name of Suining. He was the same age as your
brother.”
Old names on this stone monument would be scrapped off
every year and filled in with new ones. This signified that
generation after generation of the Libei Armored Cavalry all
existed here, and it also signified that generation after generation
of the Libei Armored Cavalry had vanished here. It was here the
stone monument, with its back to the Hongyan Mountains, lay in
eternal rest. They were the wind of the Hongyan Mountains, and at
the same time, the stars of the Hongyan Mountains.
“I want to be here.” Xiao Chiye pointed in the center. “The place
is big, the location is good, and you can look far out into the
distance.”
“That’s my spot.” Xiao Fangxu said pettily. “I want all the spots
here.”
“What about my mother?” Xiao Chiye turned his head aside to
scrutinize Xiao Fangxu. “You left her alone in Dajing.”
Xiao Fangxu didn’t respond. He gazed past the stone
monument to look at the Hongyan Mountains. Then, as if dazzled
by the setting sun, he turned around and looked in the direction of
Dajing. He could barely open his eyes from the wind. “We can look
at each other from afar, eyes to eyes—forever.”
Xiao Chiye followed his gaze and looked over.
 “It is here we are born, and it is here we will die worthy deaths.
People from Libei lie on the mountains and rivers with their faces to
the blazing sun. Men or women, the bones on which the sun shines
are all unyielding heroes.” Xiao Fangxu opened up his palm, and
the wind burst past his palm so softly it felt like the long hair of his
wife. This was the only indulgence he had allowed himself in the
past decades. “One day, I will return to her embrace.”
Xiao Chiye looked at the waves of billowing grass at the other
end; it was like a never-ending torrent. The so-called sorrow of
parting and joy of reunions of every single person out there was
merely a fleeting moment in the timelessness of the universe. In
just the blink of an eye, it would disintegrate, and from then on, all
would be silent, every vestige of it gone.
An encounter was truly a very precious thing.
Xiao Fangxu turned around and threw Xiao Chiye a punch,
then lifted his arms to give Xiao Chiye a tight hug. But very quickly,
he let go and said, “You still need a good several years before you
can surpass me!”
“Who knows?” Xiao Chiye patted his own chest to hint at his
height.
Xiao Fangxu took a few steps and made as if to pick something
off the ground. Having horse dung flung at him had left a shadow
over Xiao Chiye’s heart, and so he promptly turned around and
ran. The moment he ran, Xiao Fangxu burst out laughing.
The wind was still blowing as the father and son made their
way back, bathed in the evening glow of the setting sun.
Dusk was not yet over. As Xiao Chiye was drenched in sweat all
over, he stripped off his upper garments and stood in the river to
bathe. The surface of the water shimmered. As he poured water
using the wooden bucket, dancing ripples of golden light covered
the muscles on his entire back.
Xiao Chiye bent over and rinsed his arm guard in the water.
The quality iron had been smashed to the point it was no longer
usable, but he still did not have it changed. When he took it out of
the water, he ripped away the badly worn dogskin rope on it and
turned around to say, “Hand me the—”
 A travel-worn Shen Zechuan stood on the slope by the
riverside, the sunset glow spilling over the hems of his robe with
bits of grass on it.
Xiao Chiye missed him so much.
And here he stood before Xiao Chiye at the very moment the
last rays of the setting sun faded away.

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Credits: Many thanks to Tea for proofreading!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 162 : FRONTIER TRADE MARKET
Translated with: Jia<3

The dark blue dome of heaven lay out in a spread behind Shen
Zechuan. He lifted his arms to remove his overcoat, exposing the
earring on his right ear as he moved. His sleeves slid down to
reveal the secured, snow-white sleeves of his inner garment
underneath. He was just like a white bird stopping for a rest in this
still and silent world, commanding all of Xiao Chiye’s attention in
just a matter of an instant.
Xiao Chiye did not blink. As he watched Shen Zechuan
descend the slope in a few steps, he subconsciously opened his
arms. The impact when Shen Zechuan rushed into him sent him
half a step back, but at the same time, he took all of this white bird
into his bosom, embracing him in a tight hug.
The swift, running waters of the river crashed into both of their
legs, sending up sprays of water.
“You scared me,” Recovering from his astonishment, Xiao Chiye
abruptly lifted Shen Zechuan high and laughed as he looked up,
“falling out of the sky the way you did!”
Shen Zechuan was a little short on breath as he said, “I’m here
for an inspection.”
Xiao Chiye lifted his palm to touch Shen Zechuan’s cheek, then
covered the back of Shen Zechuan’s head with it and held him
down for a kiss. Dusk closed in on them on all sides, their lips a
scenic scene under the dimness. Shen Zechuan’s palms slid up to
cup both of Xiao Chiye’s cheeks as he responded to him
passionately.
The shimmer of water on the river surface disappeared, and the
subsequent, pervading darkness of the night blurred the boundary
between heaven and earth. They clung close together ever so
intimately, unbosoming themselves of their fervent longing. Xiao
Chiye kissed him so hard that Shen Zechuan could not help but
suck in a breath when they parted and licked the spot that was
nearly torn by his bites.
 “Go ahead and inspect.” Xiao Chiye laughed. “Come on. I’ve
already stripped for you to inspect all you want.”
Shen Zechuan put up his arms over Xiao Chiye’s shoulders and
tapped on Xiao Chiye’s sturdy back with his dangling folding fan. “I
disappeared without a trace the moment I got off the horse
carriage. His Lordship has yet to meet me yet. I’ll inspect you
tonight.”
“Ohhh.” Xiao Chiye dragged out the word and said with
displeasure as he continued to hug him in this posture, “So you’re
here to see my father.”
Shen Zechuan swung the folding fan between his fingers and
said, “That’s something I have to do in passing while I’m at it. My
heart is all here.”
Xiao Chiye waded through the river and carried Shen Zechuan
towards the riverbank. “I don’t believe you.”
Shen Zechuan felt that Xiao Chiye looked too dashing like this.
When he landed on the ground, he leaned over to scrutinize him,
so Xiao Chiye raised his arm and pressed against Shen Zechuan’s
forehead to put a little more distance between them.
“You should have seized the chance while you had it.” Xiao
Chiye picked up his clothes and said, “That’s all I’m showing you.”
Shen Zechuan teased him, “I’m leaving then?”
Xiao Chiye put on his robe and tilted his head up slightly to say,
“Go ahead.”
Shen Zechuan nodded in understanding and took a few steps
backward. Seeing no movement from Xiao Chiye, he turned
around for real. But who knew? Even before he had the chance to
stride a step forward the moment he turned around, Xiao Chiye
lifted him back and covered his head to kiss him until his waist
went numb.
This wide robe that cloaked him was filled with Xiao Chiye’s
scent all over, the coolness and refreshingness of which engulfed
Shen Zechuan whole. In that meager film of darkness, he revealed
his avaricious nature, breathing hotly to seduce Xiao Chiye before
he finally said into Xiao Chiye’s ear, “Your. Father. Is. Coming.”
The group of well-intentioned guards who had been squatting
behind the slope started to cough violently in unison.
 Xiao Chiye pulled back from the brink right in the nick of time
and tore off the robe in a fit of pique.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Fangxu had long known that Shen Zechuan was here, but
he did not communicate this to Xiao Chiye. At present, there were
plenty of people in the military tent. The commanding generals
from Changzhu camp, Sha’er camp, and the Three Great Training
Divisions of Liuyang were all present and were in the midst of
discussing the news from Dajing.
“If the Biansha troops don’t withdraw, this battle will no doubt
last until winter.” The commanding general of the Sha’er camp was
called Jiang Sheng, who had been wounded some days back; his
shoulders were still bandaged with gauze. He said, “If we are still
going to keep up with the fight like this in winter, then the few
battalions in the frontline will need to consider deploying more
military craftsmen. Otherwise, we won’t be able to make it in time if
we simply rely on the convoy squad to make the deliveries back
and forth when the wear and tear of the equipment gets too
severe.”
“Deploying more military craftsmen is an option.” Zuo Qianqiu
warmed himself by the fire and said, “but the need for military
provisions will increase as well. If we transfer all the people from
Dajing to the frontline, there will be no one back at home to
cultivate the fields at the beginning of spring next year.”
Now that Libei had lost the granaries in Juexi, its military
provisions in the future were cut by half. They all had to rely on the
military fields in Libei to survive. This was a matter that pertained to
their success or failure on the battlefields.
“As the Hereditary Prince suggested,” Zhao Hui said, “Building a
new supply camp behind Sha’er camp will allow us to mutually
guard and assist the Bianbo camp to the south, as well as meet the
needs of the battlefields even faster than before. In times of
emergency during the war, the territory can scrimp and save to
supply the frontline.”
“Winter is right around the corner, and the coats have yet to be
distributed.” Jiang Sheng knew everyone was in a difficult position,
so it would not do for him to go too far with his words. He frowned
worriedly in silence for a moment. “The Hereditary Prince’s Consort
is leading the old and weak, women and children to hasten
production for the winter coats back in Dajing, and even the cotton
used to make them was given to us by Luoxia Pass. We are in for a
tough time this year. If we can’t survive this winter, we can forget
about discussing anything for next year.”
“You are a veteran general.” Xiao Fangxu drank hot milk and
said, “So why lose heart? The men on the frontline aren’t totally
wiped out yet. If it’s rough-going for us, it’ll be even tougher on the
Twelve Tribes of Biansha. Amu’er has still yet to make it as their
Great Lord. There are only six tribes under him that can be truly
said to have pledged allegiance to him. The remaining ones
merely want to have a share of the spoils and take risks with him.
But when it really comes down to the last critical juncture, they
might not necessarily be willing to stake it all with him.”
“Biansha is gaining so much momentum this year.” Zhao Hui
said. “They must have come prepared.”
“No doubt they have been planning for it for a long time.” Zuo
Qianqiu turned both of his palms over and pondered it over for a
moment before continuing, “In the third year of Xiande, he
colluded with others from within and from without to break
through the Zhongbo’s defenses line. It went all too smoothly that
time, giving him a taste of sweet victory. That’s why it comes as a
surprise now that he’s concentrating his attacks on a tough nut like
Libei. But from this, we can tell that he is indeed now harboring the
intent to invade Dazhou, and he wants to first smash down this
side of the wall that is Libei in order not to repeat the same
mistake.”
“Someone out there is supplying grains to Amu’er.” Xiao
Fangxu’s eyes were sharp and cutting. “Jiming was out of
commission after the military provisions case, and Amu’er instantly
transferred Hasen north. I don’t believe it if you tell me he did not
know about it in advance. So we should thank our lucky stars that
Qudu did not have Libei’s military defense map considering that
Amu’er’s inside contact is still hiding in Dazhou. A-Ye rebelled at
the start of spring this year. Was it a bad thing? No, he did good. If
Libei was still under Qudu’s control, this battle would no longer be
just a matter of worrying over provisions. As the saying goes, it is
easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to ward off an arrow in
the dark.1 It’s too dangerous.”
“No more eunuchs coming over to inspect the military and
breathe down our necks.” Jiang Sheng finally smiled a little and
said as he shook his head, “This battle is really a comfortable one
to fight.”
“There are ways to resolve the issue of provisions next year.”
Xiao Fangxu set down his bowl. “And it’s for this specific purpose
I’ve found someone who can offer us a way.”
Zuo Qianqiu laughed and rose to his feet. “Alright then. I’ll
invite this little buddy in.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Wu Ziyu wanted to take a look at Shen Zechuan, but it was
inappropriate for him to be too brazen. He followed behind Tantai
Hu and asked, “… This’s the one?”
Tantai Hu looked back and whispered, “Just address him as
‘Young Master’ later.”
Wu Ziyu saw Shen Zechuan listening to Fei Sheng. He could not
tell if Shen Zechuan was happy or not from his side profile, but his
entire person was like a brilliantly colored painting just by sitting
there alone. His skin was fair, yet his facial features were so
ravishing it was enthralling, so much that one dared not shift their
eyes away, even though looking at him for too long would
inexplicably give one the chills. But this chill was not obvious; it
merely ran up one’s spine, so cold it gave no indications of its
advance. By the time realization dawned, the person would have
already subconsciously sensed danger and felt the urge to dodge
his cutting brilliance.
Ding Tao shot his mouth off and popped out his head to
whisper, “See that jade earring? Our Master polished it personally.
Young Master wears it every day.”
That jade earring adorned his right ear, and it was still
debatable whether Shen Zechuan embellished it or it embellished
Shen Zechuan. It was like a needless warning that concealed Xiao
Chiye’s undisguised possessiveness behind that smoothness,
making it clear to all that no one else, other than Xiao Chiye, could
touch Shen Zechuan.
Wu Ziyu had only just burrowed his way among them and had
still yet to decide what demeanor he should adopt to greet and
welcome Shen Zechuan. But seeing as everyone around him
looked as they usually did, he did the same as well, his prying gaze
warded off by that jade earring.
By the time Shen Zechuan was able to meet Xiao Fangxu, it was
already nearly the hour of zi. Chen Yang lifted the flap for him to let
him enter.
Xiao Fangxu was initially sitting with his leg propped up, but on
seeing the white figure entering, he suddenly sat straight up. But
then, he felt he was really being too unnatural, so he attempted to
cover it up by propping his hand on his knee to appear more
imposing, only to look all the more conspicuous as he looked at
Shen Zechuan without so much a smile.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting in the tent for so long.” Zuo
Qianqiu guided Shen Zechuan. “It’s been a tough journey here,
hasn’t it? Come have a meal with us first. We’ll talk as we eat.”
With that, he turned his head and signaled to Xiao Fangxu with
his eyes.
Xiao Fangxu scrutinized Shen Zechuan. He still remembered
this face, but his aura was completely poles apart from the person
he had seen one year ago. He thought, well then.
He’s truly too damn stunning.
“Sit.” Xiao Fangxu said coolly.
Gu Jin served the tea, and Chen Yang brought out the dishes.
The meal was simple, consisting of a large bowl of lamb stew, tea
blended with fresh milk, piping hot flatbread, and commonly seen
cabbages and green vegetables at the frontlines.
Shen Zechuan stared at the spread before him; they clearly
overestimated him.
Zuo Qianqiu gestured for Shen Zechuan to dig in. He tore apart
the flatbread and said, “There isn’t much good stuff here. We
wanted to welcome you with a meal, but there isn’t much here, so
this will have to do. If we can get a truce during the new year, we
will surely not put you through such aggrievement when we are
back in Dajing.”
Shen Zechuan found the word “aggrievement” strange. He was
here to discuss the frontier trade market and the use of paths with
Xiao Fangxu. Xiao Fangxu was willing to meet him, so no matter
how he looked at it, the word “aggrievement” should not be part of
the picture at all.
“It’s been half a year since we parted. When we met in Qudu
the last time, you were not this thin.” Zuo Qianqiu said, “Is your
shifu well?”
Without putting down his chopsticks, Shen Zechuan nodded in
reply. “Shifu has been in good health lately and leads a carefree
life in Cizhou. He often misses you. Before I came, he specially
instructed me to deliver a letter on his behalf.” He then looked back
and shouted, “Fei Sheng.”
Fei Sheng handed the letter over to Chen Yang. As Zuo Qianqiu
and Shen Zechuan exchanged pleasantries for a few moments,
Xiao Fangxu sliced the lamb meat with a dagger and said, “Are you
here to discuss the trade market with me?”
“That’s right.” Shen Zechuan replied, “And the matter of the
bridle paths as well.”
“Access to Libei’s bridle paths will not be given for free,” Xiao
Fangxu placed the sliced lamb meat onto his plate, “It’s all good as
long as you can afford to pay. However, the mutual trade market is
not for external loan.”
“If Your Lordship doesn’t permit external loan of the trade
market, it will be left vacant this year.” Shen Zechuan sampled the
flatbread before continuing, “The war this year is intense, and the
grasslands of the Huiyan Tribe have been commandeered for use
by the Hanshe Tribe; they’re now waiting to trade their remaining
cattle and sheep for grain at the trade market to get through
winter. If the trade market doesn’t open up, then thousands of
people will starve to death in the heavy snow.”
“Libei’s willingness to vacate land for the Huiyan Tribe to get
through winter is already a magnanimous show of benevolence.
They are well aware that we are in a difficult predicament this year.”
Xiao Fangxu wiped the dagger clean and looked towards Shen
Zechuan. “Do you know what it means to let you have the trade
market? It means that your people can shuttle in and out of Libei
this winter. It’s currently wartime. What if bandits of Mount Luo who
have defected to the Biansha people infiltrate their way in? Dare
you bear the consequences then?”
“I dare not,” Shen Zechuan locked eyes with Xiao Fangxu.
“That’s why I will eliminate all possibilities of this ‘what if’.”
Xiao Fangxu tossed the dagger into the tray at the side, “I don’t
believe that.”
“Then how about I hand the authority to inspect over to Your
Lordship?” Shen Zechuan grasped his handkerchief and slowly let
out a smile. “Cizhou will provide the grains. As for how to send it
over, Libei will have the final say.”
“What do you want in exchange?” Xiao Fangxu asked in a quiet
voice. “This transaction is not at all a good deal for you.”
“I want a road in exchange.” Shen Zechuan stretched out his
index finger and drew a line in the air. “A commercial trade road
that can run through the entire northeastern territories of Dazhou,
one that will give Libei and Cizhou the opportunity to establish a
long-term relationship with one another.”
Xiao Fangxu did not respond. The flap of the tent on the other
side lifted, and Xiao Chiye entered.

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Footnotes
1. 明枪易躲，暗箭难防 it is easier to avoid open attacks but
harder to guard against hidden ones.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 163 : BOAT ON RIVER
Translated with: Jia<3

Shen Zechuan’s gaze roamed over Xiao Chiye’s body, like an

imperceptible tease. It lasted merely a split second, so fast that Xiao
Chiye could only catch that last modicum of it.
“What benefits will Libei get out of it if I let you use the frontier
trade market?” Xiao Fangxu wiped his hands clean. “Libei isn’t
dependent on the trade road for survival.”
“In the past, the noble clans adopted the strategy of
befriending distant states while attacking one nearby1 in order to
hold Libei in check. This rendered the southern side of Libei
powerless and left Libei isolated and cut off from assistance. I’m
now willing to be the link connecting Zhongbo and Libei again, as
well as serve as a buffer zone between Libei and Qidong.” Shen
Zechuan said, “Libei has to fight a protracted war with Biansha, and
it’ll be too dangerous if it can’t be allies with Zhongbo.”
Xiao Chiye sat down next to Xiao Fangxu. After Chen Yang
presented him with a new pair of chopsticks, he picked up a piece
of lamb meat from the plate to eat.
Xiao Fangxu glanced at Xiao Chiye out of the corner of his eye,
then looked at Shen Zechuan and said, “You are not the Prince of
Jianxing, Shen Wei. Your words still don’t carry enough weight to
represent the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. I know you wrestled away
Zhou Gui’s Cizhou using ‘transiting through’ as an excuse, and you
also subdued Luo Mu’s Chazhou into submission under the pretext
of ‘delivering grains’. But King Yi of the two prefectures of Fanzhou
and Dengzhou and the bandits of Mount Luo of the two prefectures
of Dunzhou and Duanzhou aren’t under your control.”
Shen Zechuan already had a scheme in mind. “King Yi is a
commoner forced into rebellion by the bandits. The two
prefectures of Fanzhou and Dengzhou have less than 30,000
troops. He can’t beat the Biansha Cavalry to the east, and he
doesn’t dare to face up against Qi Zhuyin directly to the south. He
can only establish a small imperial court in Fanzhou and attempt to
join forces with the bandits from Mount Luo. This person is just like
a paper tiger, not significant enough to fear. The bandits of Mount
Luo are presently mired in internal strife and torn apart by disunity;
they are no longer a threat to Zhongbo. Besides, neither of them
will negotiate with Libei. Only Cizhou comes with a sincere heart.
Given that the trade route between Huaizhou, Cizhou, and Chazhou
has already taken shape, Cizhou is able to bypass Qudu to conduct
monetary transactions with Juexi. If Libei so needs, Cizhou can
supply the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path.”
Filthy rich!
Xiao Fangxu and Zuo Qianqiu thought at the same time.
To supply the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path was to supply
Libei with military provisions. Shen Zechuan’s greatest assets in
Juexi lay in the Xi clan’s stores. He had long decided to continue
using the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path when he left Qudu. The
military provisions case brought the scalping of grains in Juexi to
light, but it also allowed Shen Zechuan to lock on to a loophole. Xi
Hongxuan was held back by the Hua clan of Dicheng to the north
when he had to go through the Hezhou waterways while dealing in
grains in the past. But now that Shen Zechuan had Huaizhou, he
would be able to purchase grains from Juexi.
“But at the same time,” Shen Zechuan changed the subject. “I
hope the newly established garrison troops of the six prefectures
can receive guidance from the Libei Armored Cavalry and buy
battle steeds from Hongyan Mountains in the future.”
This time, not only Xiao Fangxu turned his gaze to him; even
Xiao Chiye did so.
“You want to establish a cavalry too?” Xiao Fangxu’s interest
was piqued. “In Zhongbo, along Chashi River?”
Shen Zechuan drank the hot milk to warm himself a little.
“Duanzhou needs a cavalry.”
Zhongbo had no grasslands, so the garrisons of the six
prefectures of Zhongbo were mainly infantries. However,
Zhongbo’s terrains did not enjoy the same natural geographical
advantage as Qidong, which had the two checkpoints of Tianfei
Watchtower and Suotian Pass for protection. The terrain along
Chashi River was a vast, open expanse, and the line of defense
Duanzhou set up there could not withstand the repeated assaults of
the Biansha Cavalry. Zhongbo had long needed to rebuild the
Chashi military defense.
“My elder brother’s name was Ji Mu. He was a Squad
Commander in the Duanzhou garrison troops when the troops of
Zhongbo suffered a defeat.” Shen Zechuan paused for a moment.
“He was familiar with the area along the Chashi River. Like Libei, it’s
a wide expanse of flatlands. The defense camps established at that
time did not have the beacon towers of the Bianjun Commandery
that stretched for tens of thousands of li, nor did they have the
falcons reconnaissance of Libei. When they were breached one
after another by the Biansha Cavalry, there was no time at all for
them to pass on military intelligence.”
This was one of the reasons for the fall of Duanzhou. The public
roads’ relay horses could not outrun the Biansha Cavalry, and they
were all slaughtered en route to their destinations. With military
information delayed in transit, the various cities in the rear could
not receive any updates. What greeted them when the cities’ gates
were broken down were the Biansha Cavalry’s scimitars right in
their faces, and this was followed right after by the massacre of the
cities.
Ji Mu had died with a grievance.
All the 40,000 garrison soldiers in the Chashi sinkhole died
unjust deaths; they had the determination to die protecting their
homes and country, but they never got the opportunity. Heavy
snow blanketed the Chashi sinkhole, and from then on, the men of
Zhongbo became the stray dogs of Dazhou.
“Duanzhou needs a light cavalry.” Shen Zechuan said firmly.
“After the defeat of the troops, the area along Chashi River fell into
the hands of the Biansha people, and whatever few were left of the
Duanzhou’s defense camps all fell into disuse. To rebuild them,
Duanzhou needs an army of light cavalry.”
Xiao Fangxu stroked his chin. “There are plenty of options if you
only want a route to pass on military information efficiently. Re-
establish a dense cluster of relay stations along Chashi River and
repair the bridle paths as soon as possible, and you can be as swift
as you want. But if you want an army of light cavalry that can rival
the Biansha Cavalry, then Libei can’t help you.”
Zuo Qianqiu nodded and said to Shen Zechuan, “The Biansha
Cavalry’s strength lies not only in their speed, but also in how far
more adept they are on horseback than any of Dazhou’s soldiers;
this is something that not even the Libei Armored Cavalry can
compare to.”
“Furthermore, a Duanzhou that relinquishes its defenses is akin
to an infant in swaddling clothes.” Through his peripheral vision,
Xiao Fangxu watched Xiao Chiye stealthily push that plate of meat
with his fingers towards Shen Zechuan. He shifted his foot and
stomped on his son’s foot under the table.
Xiao Chiye sucked in a breath and said, “I think it’s… feasible!”
“The hell you know.” Xiao Fangxu reproved.
Xiao Chiye turned his thumb ring around twice. “I actually do
know something.”
He looked towards Shen Zechuan again and felt a very subtle
itch when their gazes met; Xiao Chiye knew exactly what Shen
Zechuan was thinking.
“Why must this light cavalry compare to the Biansha Cavalry?
Even if we remove the heavy armors of the Libei Armored Cavalry,
we will not achieve the same results as the Biansha Cavalry.” Xiao
Chiye felt a little lazy after eating his fill. “Lanzhou still has the
Imperial Bodyguards in his command, and using them for
information-gathering, data-tracking, and record-taking is too
much of a waste. But, as long as you pair the Imperial Bodyguards
with the best horses, they’ll have a chance to break through
Biansha’s defenses along Chashi River.”
“How many men are there in the Imperial Bodyguards?” Xiao
Fangxu scoffed. “Their addition to the battlefield is comparable to a
strand of hair on an ox.”
“The Imperial Bodyguard can always be expanded according
to their selection criteria if there aren’t enough men. Not only does
Lanzhou have the fastest intelligence-gatherers in Dazhou, he also
possesses assassins who are the most adept in the art of
camouflage.” Xiao Chiye said, “Is having few men a shortcoming?
Not always. As a light cavalry of assassins, being small in number is
their advantage. Rather than calling them a strand of ox hair, why
not call them a piece of steel needle.2 Use this needle in the right
place, and even a vulture will fall.”
Shen Zechuan was inspired by Xiao Jiming’s mode of warfare.
If he were to establish camps along the Chashi River that could
supply the frontline, then he still lacked a military force that could
act as a heavy hammer like the Libei Armored Cavalry. But there
was no way the Libei Armored Cavalry could be replicated, so Shen
Zechuan swapped the hammer for a steel needle.
Think about it, a sufficiently fortified defense wall that could be
built spanning from Dunzhou to Duanzhou. If Shen Zechuan had
the infantry shifted behind this wall and transformed into bowmen
equipped with additional defensive weapons, then had a troop of
light cavalry with eccentric whereabouts placed along the Chashi
River, he would possess a bird’s eye panoramic view of everything
within and beyond the wall. This cavalry – or perhaps it would be
more appropriate to call them the assassination squad evolved
from the Imperial Bodyguards – would be able to go under
disguise; they would remain Shen Zechuan’s eyes and ears on the
ground.
Silent. And omnipresent.
As long as Shen Zechuan so desired, he would be able to hear
everything.
Zuo Qianqiu inwardly sucked in a breath of cold air. Having
been stationed in Tianfei Watchtower for so many years, he
understood best the stealthiness of assassins such as this. This
assumption was enough to give one the chills.
Silence descended upon the tent. Everyone was waiting for
Xiao Fangxu to speak. Xiao Fangxu thought for a long time before
he said to Shen Zechuan, “You may trade grains for horses, but if
you were to succeed in establishing this light cavalry, don’t ever let
them take a single step into Libei.” He pushed the plate away,
propped up his arm on the table, and said to Shen Zechuan with a
smile, “Or I’ll kill them, and kill you.”
An imposing aura that was all too substantive came bearing
down on him, crushing him. Before Xiao Chiye could get to open
his mouth, Shen Zechuan pressed down on his arm. He stood his
own against the weight of the alpha wolf’s gaze on him and, in that
long, endless moment, slowly replied, “Deal.”
Xiao Fangxu bent his finger and flicked it at the rim of the bowl,
retracting his imposing aura just as freely as he had released it.
◈ ◈ ◈
When everyone had dispersed, Xiao Fangxu sat by the fire and
rotated the dagger to heat it.
“It’s still not too late,” Zuo Qianqiu sat down, “for regrets.”
Light from the flame cast upon the side of Xiao Fangxu’s face.
He said, “This lad is too dangerous.”
“You do know who his teacher is, don’t you?” Zuo Qianqiu
soothed him. “What’s more, he’s Ji Gang’s disciple. He’s really not
bad at heart.”
“Don’t try to fob me off with that. Even brothers born of the
same parents differ from each other. Qi Huilian is not one to keep
to his own devices either.” Xiao Fangxu caressed the blade with his
thumb. “Cracks abound everywhere in the world. Men like this can’t
fight battles, yet they can come out on top to stand upon a
mountain of corpses amidst a sea of blood.”
After a long period of silence, Zuo Qianqiu asked, “Then why
are you still willing to agree to it?”
Xiao Fangxu looked at that sliding glint of the blade as light
from the flame bathed it in red. He examined his own reflection on
the blade under the small crackling of the bonfire. Eventually, he
said, “My son has himself made into a lock.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan undid the clasps on his coat as he faced the
candle flame, looking a little weary.
He had not had this kind of feeling for a very long, long time—
the sense of setback from being exposed for his bluff.
Shen Zechuan had never told anyone about Duanzhou’s light
cavalry, not even Qi Huilian and Xiao Chiye. Many of what he did in
the past had their roots in impure motives. As long as he got his
hands on it, he would fully exploit it. He called all of those
“hypocrisies”, and they were even more atrocious before Xiao
Chiye had come into the picture. That was why he could not—dared
not tell anyone.
 Shen Zechuan loosened his collar, as if he would be able to
breathe by doing so.
The sounds of footsteps rang out outside the military tent. Xiao
Chiye spoke to the guards, and Shen Zechuan stopped what he
was doing when he heard his voice. Just then, Xiao Chiye lifted the
flap and entered.
“A-Ye.” Shen Zechuan did not turn around and merely inclined
his head slightly to the side as he called out to him.
Xiao Chiye pressed his chest against him from behind.
Shen Zechuan melted under Xiao Chiye’s breathing, and the
feeling earlier eased up some. As they nuzzled each other
intimately, the temperature gradually rose, so hot was it that they
were both sweating. Shen Zechuan breathed out hot air. It was as if
Xiao Chiye’s kiss had scalded him. He put on an expression similar
to pain, but the corners of his eyes brimmed with pleasure as he
indulged and lost himself within.
He was fond of Xiao Chiye’s kisses.
Xiao Chiye took hold of both of Shen Zechuan’s hands and
brought them behind the latter as though he was binding him up.
He extinguished the candle, and amid the remaining wisps of
white smoke, edged along the nape of that neck where he buried
his own despondency.
“Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye savored the word in his mouth.
All of a sudden, the table was swept clean. Shen Zechuan
wanted to reach for the edge of the table, but his hands were
bound and grasped so tightly by Xiao Chiye. Shen Zechuan tilted
his head up until he could see the side of Xiao Chiye’s face.
Kiss me.
Shen Zechuan mouthed silently.
But Xiao Chiye did not. He remained where he was a small
distance apart and did not move again.

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Footnotes
1. 远交近攻 “Befriend a distant state; attack one nearby”
from the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计)
2. Strand of hair on an ox = a drop in the ocean; we are
sticking to the literal translation to keep the imagery between
one thin, soft hair and one stronk steel needle.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 164 : SUNRISE
Translated with: Jia<3

There was clearly only a little distance between them. Xiao

Chiye watched Shen Zechuan attentively, his gaze sliding from his
brow to his lips as he said in a hoarse voice, “Oh, how I love you
so.”
Shen Zechuan felt a shiver rise through him—that was a tremble
of defeat. He was like the captured night in the dim light, a
pervading darkness that would still entwine Xiao Chiye. The grip
on him was too tight, so much so that all that lay in his eyes was
fully bared to Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye inched closer in a confrontation that was almost a
kiss. He murmured, maliciously and wickedly, “I love you so much.”
Shen Zechuan felt like he was about to be driven astray by Xiao
Chiye’s words; this line ended him over and over again. He could
not keep up an ounce of pretense, and what remained of “Shen
Zechuan” lay fully exposed before Xiao Chiye. This was a side of
him that Shen Zechuan himself could not bring himself to face. All
that had to do with hypocrisy, deceit, and hostility was swept up
into the tidal waves of desire.
Shen Zechuan was panting.
The word ‘love’ signified holding nothing back.
Xiao Chiye made Shen Zechuan’s eyes wet. That feeling of
being filled surged through Shen Zechuan’s body while he was
pressed against the edge of the table, causing him to cry out softly
as he clung on to Xiao Chiye’s warmth without reservations.
Xiao Chiye restrained both of Shen Zechuan’s wrists. Leading
up from the curve of his waist was a crescent moon. He seized on
the opportunity his height afforded him to press against this
lustrous smoothness, thrusting in and out with overwhelming force.
It was as though he wanted to nail the words “I love you so much”
into Shen Zechuan’s body, and then brand it deep into his bones
and blood.
 The jade earring was polished until it gleamed with a watery
shine.
There were still the sounds of the patrol squad on their rounds
outside the military tent, of someone chatting a short distance
away, and of the soughing of the wind as it roamed. But all of that
belonged to another universe; none of them belonged to Shen
Zechuan. He could only hear the table being bumped out of place,
the climax of their union, and Xiao Chiye’s heartbeat.
Every single thrust spelled “I love you so much.”
This was too much to bear for Shen Zechuan; he was about to
come undone, be it his voice or another part of him. He trembled,
unable to stand firm on his feet, and as his cries unraveled, he
extended a finger on his restrained hands to hook it on the hem of
Xiao Chiye’s clothes.
This one hook melted Xiao Chiye’s heart into a puddle of mush.
Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan on his nape, as though he was
holding him in his mouth. He was clearly so fierce, and yet he was
also this tender. Shen Zechuan leaned back against Xiao Chiye,
intimately joined in unison from the cavity of their chests to every
single part of them.
A beautiful line extended from the small of his back,
accentuating it.
Xiao Chiye undid the restraints, but Shen Zechuan gave up
reaching for the edge of the table. Nothing in this world could be
relied on, nothing except Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye murmured
something into Shen Zechuan’s ear; it was as if he was egging him
on, and at the same time, showering him with praises.
Shen Zechuan was the jade.
Xiao Chiye kissed him.
Water droplets fell from the corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes; he
closed his eyes, damp with tears, and with all the self-restraint he
could muster, he called out in a soft, trembling voice, “A-Ye.”
Xiao Chiye buried his face in the side of Shen Zechuan’s neck;
he was intoxicated, taunted all day by this evil man who called his
name as he pleased, his every word an invitation. He dawdled, as if
he had woken up from a nap, and naturally responded, “Hm?”
 “Ce’an,” Shen Zechuan turned his head to face Xiao Chiye, their
breaths intertwining. In a show of near innocence, he called out,
like a toddler learning to speak, “oh, how I, love, you, so.”
Xiao Chiye lost his hold on Shen Zechuan’s waist. His mouth
was parched as he pulled out with difficulty. He quickly picked his
Lanzhou off the ground and took a few steps to the edge of the
couch, where he turned him over.
Xiao Chiye pulled up Shen Zechuan’s hands and kissed him
deeply. They had to do it face-to-face so that they could take in all
the worst and the best of each other’s expressions into their eyes.
Xiao Chiye pushed aside Shen Zechuan’s damp hair. Even their
imperfections were congruent with one another. All that was
abominable, eccentric, and even ruthless of them could leave no
chasm between them.
They entangled intimately in secret, indulging to their hearts’
content.
Sweating in never-ending torrents amidst the howling winds
on the battlefield.
◈ ◈ ◈
At the third quarter of the hour of mao, Xiao Chiye carried Shen
Zechuan on his back and made his way to the frost-covered
grasslands.
“It’s taking so long.” Shen Zechuan gathered the fur collar
around him and buried himself into Xiao Chiye’s back. He said in a
muffled voice, “Start running.”
“Exhausting me to death?” Xiao Chiye jolted him once.
Shen Zechuan grasped the little braid concealed under Xiao
Chiye’s collar with his fingers and said, “I’m already exhausted to
death.”
The day was still early, and the eastern mountain ranges
blocked some of the views in their field of visions. Both men were
covered under the same cloak under the strong wind. Before the
day broke, they had already walked out of Shayi camp. There was a
small watchtower to the north that had already fallen into disuse,
and it was here that Xiao Chiye was heading to.
Both men huddled under the cloak together and sat atop the
old watchtower, facing the east as they waited for sunrise.
 “I thought you came to propose marriage.” Xiao Chiye moved
Shen Zechuan’s inclined head onto his own shoulder. “I’m getting
old from all this waiting.”
Shen Zechuan was sensitive to the cold, and the wind was
strong. He stretched out half a finger to lift up the overcoat and
burrowed his way inside, wanting so much to bury all of himself
into Xiao Chiye’s bosom to seek refuge from the wind.
“I’ll come again when you’re eighty.” Shen Zechuan said. “By
then, your father won’t be able to hack me.”
Xiao Chiye planted his chin on top of Shen Zechuan’s head
with the overcoat between them. “At the very least, you’re the
prefectural lord, so you still ought to possess the audacity to elope.”
He thought about it, then continued, “The old man does admire
you so.”
Was the reason Shen Zechuan wanted a light cavalry of
assassins truly to place them along the Chashi River? A squad like
that required inhuman self-restraint, because they were simply too
good to utilize. How long of a preparation time would Shen
Zechuan need to put together such a squad? If he went to all the
efforts and succeeded, the problem would bring them back to
square one—could this squad continue to be placed along the
Chashi River? Did Shen Zechuan truly only want to deploy them
along the Chashi River? This was a blade that would kill without
restraint. It had a darkness that mirrored another side of Shen
Zechuan.
If he did not have Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye pulled the cloak down a little to reveal Shen
Zechuan and said, “Here it comes.”
With his eyes peeking out, Shen Zechuan looked towards the
east. Xiao Chiye lifted him directly by the chin.
Thick clouds rolled on the horizon, while the wind ran rampant
amidst the dim world. Shortly afterward, golden rays of light broke
through the gaps, like countless arrows of light piercing through
the layers of clouds. The sun, which seemed to bear the load of
immense weight, launched out from the waves of clouds,
pulverizing the floating clouds into foam as it rose magnificently in
all its majesty. The vast expanse of grasslands was instantaneously
illuminated, igniting the thin frost such that they sparkled as they
paved the earth. Withered grass roared to life, its billowy surge in
the wind clear and distinct to the ears.
“Xiao Ce’an.” Shen Zechuan inexplicably called out.
Xiao Chiye poked him in the cheek.
Shen Zechuan grabbed hold of his finger, revealing the
redness between his wrists. He seemed to be considering
something.
Golden waves of brilliant rays rippled out of the sky, and in no
time, blue spread out like ink on a piece of rice paper1 to paint the
entire canvas of sky over their head. The vast white snow-capped
peaks of Hongyan Mountains stood against the summit of the
clouds, where falcons cried out as they hovered. A golden hue
washed over Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye in the wind.
The deluge of wind was so swift that Shen Zechuan had the
illusion he was about to be blown away.
But Xiao Chiye was like a steady rock shielding him from the
back as he gradually moved to grasp his hands in return.
“You can do as your heart desires.” Xiao Chiye whispered into
his ear. “With me here, you will never fall.”

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Credits: Many thanks to Tea for proofreading!
Footnotes
1. 宣纸 Xuan paper, or rice paper, is a kind of paper
originating in ancient China used for writing and painting. It
is renowned for being soft and fine-textured, suitable for
conveying the artistic expression of both Chinese calligraphy
and painting. Anyway, useless piece of trivia here don’t mind
me lol.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 165 : SHUANG YI
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye gave the horse that Lu Yizhi left behind to Shen
Zechuan and accompanied Shen Zechuan horse-riding on the
grasslands of the war zone while he still had time to spare. This
horse was snow-white all over, with only a small patch of black on
its chest. It was both pretty and intelligent, and even more lively
than Lang Tao Xue Jin.
There was no war going on today. Xiao Fangxu sat on top of
the railing in his armor and watched as Shen Zechuan made
rounds on his horse. He said to Zuo Qianqiu, “This habit…”
“This habit?” Zuo Qianqiu squinted his eyes against the
sunlight to look at the prescription in his hand. “Complete your
sentence, man.”
“Is like A-Ye’s mother.” Xiao Fangxu stretched out a finger and
traced Shen Zechuan’s trajectory twice. “Can’t ride straight.”
“He stays in Qudu all year round and isn’t adept at
horsemanship. Just let A-Ye take him out riding more often in the
future.” Zuo Qianqiu raised his head. “Have you found Yideng?”
“The Venerable Master is an elusive one. His comings and
goings are unpredictable. He’s not easy to track down.” Xiao
Fangxu was still holding his helmet in his hand as he brushed the
dust off it. “Why?”
Zuo Qianqiu said gravely, “We have to get Yideng to take a
look at this child’s illness. I saw him in Qudu last year. Although he
appeared weak and frail outwardly, there was no major, internal
damage. But looking at him now, he’s already showing clear signs
of deterioration.”
Xiao Fangxu sized Shen Zechuan up. “That serious?”
“You have to pay the price two-fold for consuming the medicine
this long.” Zuo Qianqiu said, “He successively suffered misfortunes
thrice in Qudu, and what happened with Qi Huilian was a heavy
blow to him. The good thing is that A-Ye and Ji Gang are both
paying attention.”
 “Can he be treated?” Xiao Fangxu withdrew his gaze and
looked at Zuo Qianqiu.
With a slight frown on his face, Zuo Qianqiu folded up the
prescription and returned it to his bosom. “… I think it’s tough. Let’s
get him nursed back to health first.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan’s table had an extra bowl of fresh milk during
mealtime in the afternoon. He did not understand the distribution
of supplies on the battleground, so he merely thought that it was
on Xiao Chiye’s instruction. But later, when Xiao Chiye entered, he
brought with him another bowl of fresh milk for Shen Zechuan to
drink his fill.
Xiao Chiye said nothing as he ate his meal, believing the milk
to be from Zuo Qianqiu. Just as he was about to go thank his shifu,
he bumped into Chen Yang, who had come to collect the bowl.
“Is it shifu’s?” Xiao Chiye nimbly put on his outer robe. “I’ll send
it back to him.”
Chen Yang set the bowl in the tray and said in a hushed tone,
“It’s our Lordship’s.”
Xiao Chiye’s movements slowed.
“His Lordship instructed Wu Ziyu in the morning to give his own
portion to the Young Master. He even got the Bianbo Camp to send
milk-producing cows and sheep to Cizhou.” Chen Yang picked up
the tray. “Then he made a special point of telling us not to make it
public or tell Master about it.”
This old man.
Xiao Chiye nodded, “Give mine to my father tomorrow
morning to make up for it.” After a moment’s hesitation, he called
out to Chen Yang just before the latter was about to leave the tent,
“… Forget it. I understand.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan could not stay for long in the war zone. The
weather in the Hongyan Mountains underwent an abrupt turn, and
he had to return after staying for two days. Heavy fog descended
on them on the day of departure, and the humid wind in the
eastern mountain range blew so hard it sent the military banners
flapping.
 Xiao Chiye secured the cloak for Shen Zechuan and put the fur
collar on him. Seeing as Xiao Chiye was still wearing a single piece
of garment, Shen Zechuan asked in a quiet tone, “It’s about to be
winter here soon. Is there still no word on the winter coats for the
military?”
“Eldest sister-in-law is thinking of a way.” Xiao Chiye shielded
Shen Zechuan from the wind and propped himself against the
carriage door. “After the new year this year, come to Dajing with Ji
Gang-shifu.”
Shen Zechuan cast a glance behind Xiao Chiye and moved in
to whisper, “Can I?”
Xiao Chiye answered in a whisper too, “Hurry up and come
marry me to make things clear to my father. Otherwise, we’ll keep
looking like we are having a clandestine love affair.”
How would Shen Zechuan know that Xiao Chiye had already
laid out his cards on the table to Libei? He actually nodded on
hearing him and said, “Eldest sister-in-law even gave me a set of
bracelets the last time. I’ll send a gift in return during the new
year.”
Xiao Chiye found Lanzhou adorable. He laughed and stroked
Shen Zechuan’s cheek again. “The Armored Cavalry will follow
along on your way back. Write me a letter when you reach Cizhou.
I’ll return to Bianbo Camp in another three or four days. It’s closer.”
“I’ll write you a stack.” Shen Zechuan slowed down his speech,
as if that would slow down time.
“The fan isn’t made yet. I was so busy I forgot all about it.” Xiao
Chiye touched the jade earring lightly with his fingertip. “I’ll craft a
new one for you after the new year.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Then, I’m leaving.”
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to enter, but before he could
move closer, Shen Zechuan cupped his cheeks and kissed him.
This kiss was brief, a touch lasting just a fleeting moment. Xiao
Chiye rose to leave the carriage, then put the curtain down and
took a few steps back.
Fei Sheng stood at the side, wanting to say a few words to
ingratiate himself with him, but before he could say a word, Xiao
Chiye pressed him over.
 “Wherever Lanzhou is,” The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was
cold and detached. “You better be there.”1
Fei Sheng felt as if it was an iron vise gripping him by the nape,
suffocating him until he could scarcely breathe. He nodded hastily,
and Xiao Chiye let him go.
The horse carriage began to roll. Xiao Chiye stood where he
was and watched as the carriage left. Shen Zechuan tugged the
curtain open. Half of the Hongyan Mountains behind Xiao Chiye
were partially concealed among the clouds and mist while the
wind howled. At this very moment, Xiao Chiye’s figure oddly
overlapped with the Hongyan Mountains.
Shen Zechuan gazed at him.
Several falcons suddenly circled out of the wind, and the head
of the cast of falcons, Meng, let loose a cry that reverberated
through the camp. Military tents of all sizes instantly lifted their
entrance flaps, while a long whistle sounded from the top of the
watchtower.
When Xiao Fangxu stepped out of his tent, his battle steed was
already in position. He held his blade and flipped atop the horse,
where he said in a deep voice, “Squad Three to guard the camp.
Vanguards to move first! Convoy squad, turn around immediately
and retreat down to Sha’er camp to protect the military craftsmen!”
As Xiao Chiye stepped back, he put on his helmet and turned
to mount Lang Tao Xue Jin, which had just trotted over. The wind
was so strong Shen Zechuan could not open his eyes. He clung on
to the carriage door, watching as Xiao Chiye receded further and
further away amidst the strong wind.
The clouds dispersed, scattering into millions of snowflakes
that danced in the skies of Libei.
The first snow of the battlefield had come.
◈ ◈ ◈
At the third quarter of the hour of yin, Li Jianting opened her
eyes right on time. She sat up, and the palace maid in attendance
stepped up to pull up the heavy drapes. Fengquan, dressed in the
official robes of eunuchs, nimbly and diligently helped Li Jianting
to put on her shoes.
 Mu Ru assassinated Li Jianheng, and Fengquan found a
scapegoat. All this while, he had been hiding in the Xue’s
residence, and after Li Jianheng’s burial, he became Li Jianting’s
personal eunuch. Now that Li Jianting was living in the palace,
Fengquan returned with her. At first, Xue Xiuzhou did not plan to
use him again, but Li Jianting insisted, so Fengquan changed his
name and continued to stay at Li Jianting’s side.
Li Jianting did not sleep well. She did not seem to have
adapted to this massive bedchamber as yet. All the palace maids
serving the heir apparent to the throne knew that Li Jianting only
allowed Fengquan to remain serving in the hall at night. As they
waited outside, they would occasionally hear the sound of her
being trapped in the throes of a nightmare.
The people in the bedchamber moved lightly and softly as they
soundlessly helped Li Jianting dress. When she was all properly
presented, Fengquan stepped forth with a bow and lifted his sleeve
to carefully affix the flower embellishment2 on her forehead. The
heir apparent to the throne did not suit fair colors; she was best
decked out in scarlet red.
By the hour of mao, Li Jianting was already waiting under the
eaves for the various officials participating in the classics
colloquium to come over for lectures. It was windy today, and
Fengquan covered her with a cloak before standing at the side to
shield her from the wind. He was so freezing cold that his lips
turned purple.
Li Jianting looked at Fengquan and said, “It’s already autumn.
Didn’t the Caps and Kerchiefs Service issue new coats?”
Fengquan was not permitted to look at Li Jianting directly, so
he turned slightly to her and answered, “To reply Your Highness,
they did.”
Li Jianting raised a finger to touch her own cloak, but it
promptly dawned on her that every single move of hers as she
stood here was being watched. It was indeed inappropriate for her
to undress for an eunuch, and it would easily give others grounds
for gossip. She looked towards the upturned eaves shrouded in
gloom a short distance away and paused for a moment, but in the
end, she did not say a word more.
 She did not know if there had been a delay on the way here
today, but the officials were late to arrive. Li Jianting stood until her
legs went numb. She looked at Fengquan again, and this time, she
saw Fengquan’s ear in the dimness.
Fengquan thought Li Jianting was cold, so he said, “This slave
shall send someone over to take a look…”
“You have an ear piercing.” Li Jianting gazed fixedly at
Fengquan’s ear.
Fengquan looked abruptly at Li Jianting and subconsciously
thought of blocking his ear. But very quickly, he lowered his eyes
and nodded quietly as he cautiously slowed his breathing. He
found this tiny hole in his ear a nightmare, one that made him gag
indistinctly and amplified his panic under Li Jianting’s silence.
After a long interval, Li Jianting saw an eunuch leading the
officials over towards the eaves. She nodded her head respectfully
and waited for them. As she lowered her head, she said softly,
“Looks really nice.”
At the same time the officials lifted the curtain, Fengquan threw
a swift glance at Li Jianting. But Li Jianting did not look at him. It
was as if she had not spoken at all as she bent over and followed
the gentlemen in.
The fists that Fengquan had hidden under his sleeves broke out
in sweat. He retreated to the side of the door, and after a long
period of time, he stealthily looked askance through the gaps in
the door curtain where he saw the hem of Li Jianting’s skirt, feeling
bewildered and uncertain of her words earlier.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan’s return journey was not considered quick; the
roads were difficult to maneuver on a rainy and snowy day, and Fei
Sheng dared not be careless for fear that Shen Zechuan would fall
ill on the way. As such, he attended to everything personally. Even
with the Libei Armored Cavalry’s accompaniment, the inner sides
of the horse carriage continued to be guarded by the Imperial
Bodyguards. The daily brewing of medicine was also supervised by
Fei Sheng himself.
The horse carriage came to a stop after passing the Bianbo
camp. The bridle paths had been damaged by mudslides, and
repairs would delay the journey by a day. Consequently, the troops
opted to spend the night in the open.
Shen Zechuan stepped off the horse carriage and brought Ding
Tao along to walk the horse further ahead.
“Has Young Master given this horse a name yet?” Walking
backwards, Ding Tao pillowed his arms at the back of his head and
asked.
”Feng Ta Shuang Yi.” Leading the horse along, Shen Zechuan
stroked its mane.
Ding Tao clenched his fist in understanding, “What a great
name; it goes perfectly together with Master’s Lang Tao Xue Jin!”3
Shen Zechuan looked towards the south, and Ding Tao turned
to do the same. He said, “Riding in that direction for eight or nine
days will bring you to Dunzhou.”
“So close.” Shen Zechuan had not expected that. “I don’t see
any of Libei’s relay stations in the vicinity.”
“They used to exist, but were deserted afterwards,” Ding Tao
said. “Now everyone has headed northeast to fight with the
Biansha people.”
Shen Zechuan let out a breath of hot air, turned his gaze away,
and continued strolling for a while more with Ding Tao.
At night, Fei Sheng led his men on overnight duty. He sat
alongside the Libei Armored Cavalry and warmed himself by the
campfire. He shrank his neck back and said, “Libei is seriously cold;
it isn’t even winter yet and there is already snow on the battlefields.
It’s indeed not easy on my fellow brothers. Here, have some meat!”
The accompanying Libei Armored Cavalry was a brigade
commander of the mobile corps. He did not stand on ceremony
with Fei Sheng and sat around the fire with the rest of them as he
gorged on meat. “The snow in Libei always comes early. In
previous years, we would be going home around this time, leaving
only a few battalions to guard the frontier.”
“I don’t think this war will stop.” Fei Sheng accepted the
proffered On Horseback and took a few mouthfuls. The resulting
burn made him cheer with appreciative satisfaction. “If it wasn’t for
all of you holding the fort here, all the prefectures down south
would have to suffer.”
 “It can’t be helped.” The brigade commander ate until he was
all ruddy in the face. “We are the Libei Armored Cavalry.”
Fei Sheng got emotional in an instant. “Everyone says that the
Libei Armored Cavalry is the bastion of iron of the north; all of you
are true warriors of iron. I was already in great awe back in Qudu.
That old Han dog loved to get all jealous when he saw that Libei
was in the emperor’s favor and kept spouting bullshit. I couldn’t
take it lying down and contradicted him multiple times. Now that
I’ve actually arrived in Libei, it turns out that I was right; all my
fellow brothers here are men worthy of befriending! In the future, If
anyone were to come to Cizhou for work, don’t prepare a thing.
Once you get off your horse, go to the yamen and give them my
name, and I’ll make the arrangements for everyone here!”
Thrilled, the brigade commander patted Fei Sheng and
commended, “A worthy friend indeed!”
Everyone had a merry time chatting and feasting on quite the
amount of meat. The fire was not extinguished at night to prevent
wolves from being lured in by the aroma. The Libei Armored
Cavalry had a night patrol squad which made a few rounds in the
vicinity. When they returned, they leaned over and said a few
words in the brigade commander’s ear.
The brigade commander wiped his mouth and curbed his
expression. “Put on your armors!”
Fei Sheng immediately stood up after him. The Imperial
Bodyguards in the back were instantly wide awake too.
Shen Zechuan had yet to sleep. He sat in the horse carriage,
reading the latest letters from Cizhou under the candlelight. On
hearing footsteps, he asked without raising his head, “Someone’s
nearby?”
Holding onto his blade, Fei Sheng stood by the carriage and
spoke quickly, “Libei’s night patrol squad discovered traces of
horse carriage tracks in the south. Master, this place is close to
Bianbo Camp. When the Bianbo camp was attacked during the
sixth month, it was also from the south that the stone catapult had
come around.”
Although Fei Sheng was a chatterbox, his observation skills
were impeccable, and his intelligence-gathering was first-rate.
While he did not possess Ding Tao’s photographic memory, he
could retain everything he had ever transcribed in his mind; he
would not miss out on any traces.
“Let the Armored Cavalry lead the way.” Shen Zechuan donned
his cloak and disembarked the horse carriage. “Send someone to
follow after them first. Don’t alert the enemy.”
Fei Sheng responded with a sound of affirmation.
Shen Zechuan observed the canopy of heaven, then looked
towards the south. “The southern side is adjacent to Dunzhou. If we
really run into the Biansha Cavalry’s transportation escort squad,
then it is very likely that they took a detour around Dunzhou.”
Fei Sheng dredged the mud by his feet and got up. “It just
snowed a few days back. The bridle path here has fallen into
disrepair, making the path hard to travel. The military supplies they
carry are extremely heavy, so they must have arranged for quite the
number of people to follow along as guarded escorts.”
“Send someone to follow them first.” Shen Zechuan thought for
a moment. “The carriage shall follow after. We can make it in time
to Dunzhou for a look.”
The Prince of Jianxing’s residence was in Dunzhou—it was Shen
Wei’s former home grounds. Fei Sheng did not dare to make wild
guesses. He turned around to instruct the men, then extinguished
the campfire to wipe out all traces of them before keeping up pace
with the others under the cover of the night.

Credits: Many thanks to Yu, Alex, and Yuffie for being our
sounding board and Tea for proofreading!
Footnotes
1. aka. “he lives, you live.”
2.
3. 花钿 known as huadian, these are flower embellishments
affixed or painted onto the forehead for cosmetic purposes.
Flowers are common patterns, although there may be
others.
4. 风踏霜衣 Feng Ta Shuang Yi, i.e., wind treading upon a
plumage of frost (literal garment of frost)
5. 浪淘雪襟 Lang Tao Xue Jin, i.e., waves washing over a
bosom of snow (literal clothing front/lapel of snow)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 166 : LIU’ER
Translated with: Jia<3

Early in the morning, Shen Zechuan stared fixedly at those

messy footprints and asked Fei Sheng, “Does it belong to a grain
wagon?”
The tracks left by the wheels were very distinct, a clear sign that
it had been carrying a heavy load.
“Heavier than a grain wagon.” Fei Sheng dropped to one knee
and scrutinized it for a moment. “It looks like it was carrying some
kind of heavy weaponry. Master, they went to the trouble of taking
a detour to Libei. Could they be thinking of launching another
raid?”
“The Shasan Camp is now well-equipped and well-trained. With
Guo Weili stationed there and its location so close to Bianbo Camp,
it would be difficult to get anything good out of a raid without a
large number of troops to back them up.” Shen Zechuan faced the
south. “Furthermore, they are coming from Dunzhou; it’s possible
that they’re thinking of transporting supplies to the border along
the Chashi River.”
But what was there in Dunzhou?
Dunzhou’s granaries had long been squandered clean by the
bandits. Furthermore, there were no garrison troops in Dunzhou, so
why bother taking an unnecessary detour?
Shen Zechuan thought carefully for a moment, running through
everything he remembered about Dunzhou. He recalled that the
Biansha Cavalry had used a stone catapult when they raided
Bianbo Camp during the sixth month. Taking a few steps along the
wheel tracks, he suddenly spoke, “Military supplies, provisions—
armaments.” He turned back. “After the defeat of the Zhongbo
troops, the Ministry of War didn’t reclaim the armories of the Six
Prefectures, intending to leave it for the re-established garrison
troops. However, Qudu was later negligent in their inspection
rounds, and all of these armories were not mentioned again.
 Not bothering with the mud on his knee, Fei Sheng stood up.
“Among them are plenty of heavy weaponry meant for sieges. If
they fall in the hands of Biansha, then Duanzhou will be in
imminent danger.”
“Continue to follow them.” Shen Zechuan said.
◈ ◈ ◈
The wheels got stuck in the mud, and the horses could not pull
them out.
Liu’er, who was wrapped up in a coat and wearing a biangu
hat,1 wanted to huddle up into a bundle, but he did not manage to
do so. That Biansha man disguised as a traveling merchant yanked
him by the ankle and dragged him off the wagon, then lashed at
him with the horsewhip to wake him up as he cursed, “Get up. Go
push the wagon!”
Liu’er “ow-ed” a few times and hurriedly crawled to his feet
before limping over to push the wagon. He was advanced in age,
and his hands were shaky. Someone stomped on his feet and
nearly made him kneel from the pain. There were many bandits
escorting this wagon. All of their blades had been seized by the
Biansha men, and they were now toiling as manual labor under the
cracks of horsewhips.
The bandits of Mount Luo returned home crestfallen following
their defeat in Cizhou, and news that Lei Jingzhe was a spy for the
Imperial Army spread like wildfire. Subsequently, Mount Luo split
up into over ten small mountain strongholds that fought tooth and
nail with one another. Liu’er, Ding Niu, and the others each formed
their own band of bandits, wanting to recreate Lei Changming’s
glory and become the chief of Mount Luo. But who knew that they
would be disbanded in Duanzhou by bandits who had the help of
the Biansha Cavalry? Not only did they lose their main forces, but
they were also recaptured as the Biansha Cavalry’s prisoners.
Ding Niu refused to transport grains for the Biansha Cavalry
and was killed at the end of the seventh month. Liu’er, cherishing
his life, did not dare to resist any further and was now transporting
the grain wagons for the Biansha people.
Liu’er hunched over like a monkey, his long, drooping
eyebrows quivering along with his movements. He blended in
among the crowd, not daring to slack off right under the Biansha
men’s eyes. But even so, he did not escape a lashing. Liu’er
grimaced in pain and tried his best to make himself smaller so that
others would block the blows for him.
The road was hard to navigate, and ragged panting filled the
chilly night. These bandits who were used to riding roughshod
over others could not hold up against the lashings of the Biansha
people, and there were quite a number of people who were
whipped until their skin was flayed open and their flesh was torn.
The horse wagon came to a stop only during the hour of yin.
Several rows of cavalry roved around the surroundings, hollering at
the bandits to assemble and stand properly.
Liu’er’s coat had been shredded to ribbons by the whips, with
wads of cotton spilling out. He held his arms around himself and
waded in the muddy marsh with a build-up of a thin layer of ice on
it. His robe was already in rags now, and both legs of his trouser
fluttered to reveal a pair of legs that looked like hemp stalks. The
old man was so freezing cold that he shivered.
The Biansha men wanted to eat, so the bandits could only
stand at their sides to shield them from the wind.
Liu’er folded his arms up his sleeves. He was so hungry he was
seeing stars. He licked his lips and quietly squatted down to take a
rest.
“When will these shitty days come to an end?” A former
subordinate before him muttered as he took off the cloth bag
stuffed on his back and secured it on his waist. “Goddamnit, they
are going to whip me to death this trip! These motherfuckers really
don’t hold back, whipping people like we are some livestock!”
Liu’er shifted his feet. He was so hungry he could taste bile in
his mouth, and yet he was still thinking of taking a smoke. He
fumbled in his sleeves for a long time before fishing out some
tobacco, whereupon he brought it to his nose and sniffed hard.
“They aren’t educated; that’s why they treated people as livestock,
no? Those tattoos on their bodies are all of beasts and birds of
prey. Heck, they even drink blood raw.”
The former subordinate spat. “If I had known I’d end up this
way, I’d have switched camps and joined the Imperial Army back in
Cizhou. Damn it. At least it wouldn’t have given the Biansha people
an advantage.”
“Bullocks.” Liu’er stuffed the tobacco back and sneakily peeked
at the Biansha men through other people’s legs. “We are all
bandits. What good ends can we come to by defecting over to the
Imperial Army? We would still be traitors. These military weapons
are being sent over to fight Libei and Zhongbo. Who knows?
Maybe even the emperor in Qudu will be taken prisoner when the
time comes. We might still even have to kneel to a Biansha
emperor.”
Liu’er had not even finished his words when his former
subordinate suddenly pulled him up. With his legs trembling, Liu’er
stuck close to the group and stood straight, not even daring to
glance around arbitrarily.
The Biansha man was called Jida. His head was cleanly shaven,
and the muscular arms he exposed had a poisonous scorpion
tattooed on it. He passed by them while wiping his mouth, the
expression in his eyes causing Liu’er’s legs to tremble even harder,
so much that he was about to pee his pants.
But Jida did not give them any trouble tonight and merely led
his man to the front where the supply wagon carrying the mounted
crossbow2 was parked. The Biansha people were very interested in
giant siege weapons such as the mounted crossbows.
The bandits remained where they were and rested. All their
field rations were soaked and smelled musty. With his yellow
tobacco-stained teeth, Liu’er ate the rations. The few of them
huddled together to keep warm. Fortunately, it did not rain tonight,
or the amount of people who froze to death would be more than
just a few. They sat on the ground, not daring to fall asleep.
But Liu’er was old. It gradually became harder for him to hang
in there, and he eventually dozed off against the wheel.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Such a small number of troops following along?” Fei Sheng
squatted down once again and examined the footprints. “Most of
them are bandits pushing the wagon along. There aren’t that many
Biansha Cavalry.”
 The brigade commander put on his helmet and sat on his
horse like a statue cast in iron. As he pulled the reins on his horse,
he spoke in a deep, muffled voice, “They are in disguise because
they don’t want to alert others. I’m afraid they still have planted
agents in Mount Luo. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to penetrate
this far with these few people. Prefectural Lord, if you want to get to
the bottom of who is on the inside collaborating with them, then
we have to intercept them before they enter Mount Luo’s territory
and interrogate them.”
There were not that many men from the Libei Armored Cavalry
following along, but they were all elites on the battlefields who had
fought the Hanshe Tribe with Xiao Fangxu. With the Imperial
Bodyguards’ assistance in battle on such a dark night where the
frost was heavy, intercepting this small batch of people would not
be a problem.
Shen Zechuan took a look at the darkness of the night and
ordered, “Ding Tao, stay where you are. Fei Sheng, go with the
Libei Armored Cavalry.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Liu’er woke up from the freezing cold and rubbed both of his
feet, feeling as if he was going to freeze to death. He raised his
head and saw the Biansha Cavalry standing a distance ahead,
crowding around the mounted crossbow. This crossbow was not
something that could be drawn on one man’s strength alone.
Usually, it would be used to bring up the rear and hold the battle
array or to defend cities. It was an absolute heavy-duty weapon in
combat and common in the Libei camps. The Biansha Cavalry had
suffered and taken quite the beating in its hands.
Liu’er did not call out to anyone. He propped his hands on the
ground and used the wagon as a cover to make his way quietly to
the back. He crawled under the bottom of the wagon, sticking close
to the ground to hide from view. When he crawled to the end, he
practically kicked out with his shoes and lunged forward, cutting a
sorry figure as he broke into a run.
Jida was wiping an arrow when he caught a flash in his
peripheral vision. He bellowed in the Biansha language,
“Someone’s fleeing!”
 The Biansha Cavalry instantly mounted their horses and
brandished their whips as they bellowed and chased after him.
How in the world would Liu’er expect Jida to be so sharp-
eyed?! To think he could still catch sight of him from such a
distance away and in such a dark night too. He thought of stopping
and giving them the excuse that he was merely taking a piss, but
when he looked back and saw all those scimitars drawn out of their
scabbards, he knew he would die if he did not escape tonight!
Liu’er anxiously tightened his waist sash and kicked off his
shoes in the mud. He fell, then climbed to his feet. All he could see
before him was the way Ding Niu looked when he died.
They were able to rise to prominence on Mount Luo all because
of the Biansha Cavalry, and now, it was also all because of the
Biansha Cavalry that they had become prisoners on Mount Luo!
Liu’er muttered unintelligibly as he prayed for help and
pleaded with all the deities and buddhas he knew of. Sores that
had formed on this old man’s soles made him scrunch up his face
in pain. He was so fearful of death to the extent he even wanted to
kneel now and beg for mercy.
But the bellows and cursings of the Biansha Cavalry made it
clear that it would not be a simple matter of capturing Liu’er back.
They had no lack of people; what they lacked were chickens they
could slaughter in public. Liu’er shivered and fell into a mudhole.
The Biansha Cavalry surrounded him, and Liu’er promptly burst
out crying. He raised both hands and felt himself peeing his pants
in the icy cold, muddy water. The foul, turbid stench of urine
soaked through the legs of his trousers. Liu’er could not
understand the Biansha language and could only kowtow to the
cavalry in terror.
“I’m at fault.” Liu’er wailed hysterically. “Don’t kill me!”
The Biansha Cavalry coughed a couple of times and spat thick
phlegm on Liu’er’s face. They smashed their scabbards down onto
Liu’er’s back, making him sprawl in the mudhole and drink filthy
water. Both of Liu’er’s long, drooping brows were lifted by the
scimitars, and he drank that water in fear, crying and laughing as
snot and tears soiled his face.
 Jida stood where he was and watched as the cavalry amused
themselves with Liu’er. He propped up a leg and kicked away the
fabric cover of the mounted crossbow, then shouted for the men to
drag Liu’er further away so that he could use Liu’er to test the
crossbow.
Liu’er was scared out of his wits on hearing the sound of the
mounted crossbow being shifted. He kneeled on the ground as
they dragged him away, slapping himself with both hands while
cursing.
Why the heck did he run?!
Liu’er slapped himself until his cheeks were red and swollen.
They hoisted him up and hung him a distance away. Liu’er bent
over at the waist and took in huge gasps of air as he watched the
cavalry load the mounted crossbow with an arrow. That arrow was
as thick as a child’s arm, and its arrowhead was unusual, with a
rounded end cast out of iron. When they rained down from the sky,
the impact could send one’s brain matter splattering all over. The
wheel and axle started turning with a “click”. As long as Jida pulled
the trigger, Liu’er would be able to see that arrow springing up high
in the sky before hurtling down on himself.
Liu’er voicelessly moved his mouth. In an unexpected burst of
courage, he bared his yellow-stained teeth and burst out cursing,
“Fuck your ancestors! Fuck all of your ancestors!”
Tears streamed down Liu’er’s face as he choked with sobs so
hard he looked as if he could breathe his last any time.
He used to be a bandit in the past too, but he was not alone. He
had a son and daughters back at home, and his wonderful wife
was his childhood sweetheart who had followed him out of the
village. It was only when husband and wife were past their prime
that they bore three children. Of them, two were daughters who
had been matchmade in the third year of Xiande and would have
been able to get married once winter that year passed. His son
wanted to join the garrison troops, and Liu’er spent a long time
buttering up to Lei Changming before he managed to send his son
into the Duanzhou Garrison Troops.
But in the end, the entire Duanzhou Garrison Troops perished in
the Chashi Sinkhole that year, the year the Biansha Cavalry came to
massacre the city.

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Credit to Tea for proofreading!
Footnotes
1. 边鼓帽 biangu hat, a round hat with a brim with origins
from the Yuan dynasty, commonly used by street youths,
commoners, and servants. It was most popular in the reign
of Emperor Jiajing of Ming Dynasty and commonly seen in
the Qing dynasty.

2.
3. Example of a mounted crossbow 床子弩. There are
different kinds, like the triple-bowed mounted crossbows,
etc.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 167 : GUEST
Translated with: Jia<3

Warning: Violence, Brutality

The sky was dark, and devoid of stars. Liu’er huffed white puffs
of air in between gasps; he could no longer tell if he was dead or
alive. He hung there, light as a feather, like a piece of cotton
wadding in the wind.
Jida could not operate the mounted crossbow. He shoved
aside the subordinates by his side to check on it and continued to
inquire about it in the Biansha language. As they were unfamiliar
with such heavy weaponry, the subordinates called for a few
bandits to take a look. Jida unscrewed his canteen to have a drink
of water as he stood bare-chested in the chilly night and waited.
Fearing that he would be implicated and face the same
outcome as Liu’er, the former subordinate lay prone on the ground,
not daring to move an inch. He stared at the trampled mud on the
ground and saw the subtle tremors coursing through it. Thinking
that it was caused by his own rapid breathing, he used both hands
to cover his mouth and nose, but those tremors did not stop;
instead, they became even more pronounced.
Jida was the first to sense something amiss. He stopped
drinking and listened intently for a moment. Suddenly, he threw his
canteen onto the ground and shouted, “The Armored Cavalry is
here—!”
But it was too late. The Libei Armored Cavalry that had been
creeping forth for half the night in the darkness was like a fierce
tiger pouncing with force so great that the wagon by Jida’s side
overturned with a loud crash. The startled horses neighed as they
were dragged to the ground by the wagon that weighed up to a
hundred jin. That mounted crossbow sent mud splashing, and the
wagons beside the former subordinate also shifted along with it.
Several of the supply wagons haphazardly collided against one
another without warning, and at that moment, chaos erupted as
men and horses were thrown off their feet.
 Jida retreated swiftly and kept calm as he shouted, “Mount your
horses!”
The Libei Armored Cavalry’s battle steeds wore a full body of
armor, and the sound of their hooves as they drew nearer sounded
like muffled thunder to the ear. The heavily armed armored cavalry
held no fear of the scimitars. They were like a dark, swarthy wall
that directly cut across and broke the formation of the Biansha’s
transportation squad. The battle steeds, donned in armors of iron
gilded with long and thick spikes at the chest, were unstoppable
when they charged straight-on. Unable to run fast enough, the
Biansha Cavalry was thrown to the ground and successively
trampled to a bloody pulp before they could get back up.
The helmeted brigade commander gestured with his hand to
Fei Sheng at the side. Fei Sheng, lightly armored1 on his horse,
circled over into position and lowered his long sword2 together
with the brigade commander, and in one coordinated move,
charged towards Jida to flank him in a pincer attack. Jida mounted
his horse, as if he had not sensed Fei Sheng approaching. He
leaned over, and the pony under his crotch broke into a run like the
fearsome wind. Jida stared fixedly at the brigade commander as
their horses crossed paths in the blink of an eye. The brigade
commander abruptly swung his long sword, intending to hack off
Jida’s head, but his swing had missed the mark, for Jida seemed to
have disappeared into thin air.
In the next instant, a blunt weapon slammed hard into the back
of the brigade commander’s head. The force of the impact
instantaneously made him bleed from the mouth and nose and
deafened him. That nearly sealed and airtight iron armor could
stand up to blows from all sharp weapons, but had a fatal weakness
—it could not withstand the impact of blunt weapons.
The brigade commander tumbled off the back of the horse and
fell headlong to the ground. His ears were ringing like crazy, and
he even felt sharp, stabbing pain. He tried to crawl to his feet, but
his entire body was trembling too violently. Blood trickled out
through the gap in his helmet. He could not hear his own voice
clearly, but he continued to move his lips, “Take, take off the hel—”
 The iron hammer smashed down onto the back of the brigade
commander’s head once again. Blow after blow rained down on
him, crushing that helmet until it was all deformed. Blood plasma
spilled all over the ground. The brigade commander went silent.
Jida squatted on the brigade commander’s back and wiped off
the blood on his scorpion tattoo, then stuck his fingers into his
mouth. Contained in those sturdy muscles of his was a shocking
amount of explosive strength. He lifted the iron hammer and
locked his gaze on Fei Sheng.
Fei Sheng felt his hairs stand on end, while the horse under him
tossed its head in fear. Fei Sheng swallowed with difficulty; he had
served as an Imperial Bodyguard for so many years, and to think
he would be daunted back into a retreat by the expression in the
other party’s eyes.
This was no ordinary Biansha Cavalryman; this was not even
one of the Biansha’s elite forces.
They were unlike Hasen’s elite troops who carried scimitars and
pike daggers; instead, they were equipped with scimitars and iron
hammers with protruding spikes. This was a Biansha force that had
never made an appearance before on the Libei battlefields.
Too terrifying.
A strangled gasp escaped from Fei Sheng’s throat. If such an
iron hammer were to be delivered to the battlegrounds, then the
Libei Cavalry would become livestock at their mercy. All the
advantages they derived from their armors would be rendered
useless.
“Retreat.” Fei Sheng yanked the reins and suddenly bellowed,
“Retreat!”
They had to shake them off!
Fei Sheng turned the horse around and broke into a desperate
run. But things did not go as planned. This peculiar, treacherous
troop tailed him like shadows; it was clear that Jida had locked on
to him as a target as he relentlessly followed hot on his trail. Both
parties engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase in the darkness of the
night. Fei Sheng had finally gotten his taste of the Biansha Cavalry
that rumors were made of. The horse beneath him was a fine steed
too, but it could not throw them off and widen the distance
between them at all; Jida remained close on his heels.
Jida’s iron hammer came swinging at the back of Fei Sheng’s
head, and Fei Sheng, on sensing it, dodged by the skin of his
teeth. The horse was running too fast, and all those jolts and
bumps nearly caused Fei Sheng to slip off. He was far from being
as adept at horsemanship as the Biansha Cavalry. At this moment,
both parties were hundreds of paces away from the convoy squad.
Fei Sheng came to the realization that he would not be able to
shake off the other party. Likewise, the other man did not give Fei
Sheng another chance to retreat either—Jida had already caught
up with him.
Fei Sheng was not one of the Libei Armored Cavalry. The iron
hammer was not that much of a threat to him; thus, Jida swapped
back to his scimitar. That crescent moon-like blade caught on to Fei
Sheng’s Xiuchun Blade.3 The squads behind, having already
converged together, began to fight at close quarters. Both men
were still galloping on their horses as they barged headlong into
the sparse forest.
Withered branches lashed hard against his face. Fei Sheng
could not draw back his ensnared blade at all. Jida revealed a cruel
smile as he said to Fei Sheng in the Dazhou language with perfect
enunciation, “You are welcome to be our guest.”
Fei Sheng wanted to retort back, but he was too preoccupied to
speak. At the same time Jida leaned forward, he yanked his
scimitar back, and Fei Sheng’s Xiuchun Blade promptly slipped
from his hand and went flying. Following right after, his horse was
rammed from the side, which knocked Fei Sheng off it. In the
instant he rolled to the ground, he reached for the short blade from
the side of his waist and brought it up before his face to parry the
blow.
Jida’s scimitar slipped from his hand along with the Xiuchun
blade. He relaxed his entire right arm and swung the hammer up
into Fei Sheng’s face. The blade Fei Sheng used to ward off the
blow caved in from the impact, and his forearm went numb. He
reacted swiftly and rolled away, then cast away the ruined blade.
Unarmed, he maintained a certain distance away from Jida.
 Stooping over at his waist, Fei Sheng continued his retreat. He
adjusted his breathing, then made a “shoo” sound at Jida as if to
drive him away.
Enraged now, Jida gripped his hammer tightly, but at the very
moment he swung it up, he felt a sudden weight on his back. Ding
Tao strangled Jida’s burly neck with an arm from behind and
strained to call out, “Daxiong—”
Before Ding Tao could finish his words, Jida grabbed him by
the arm and yanked, intending to fling Ding Tao over the side of
his shoulder to the ground, but a figure sprinted out from the side
and lunged headlong at him, slamming his head into the side of
Jida’s waist.
The impact from Li Xiong caused Jida to stagger, and Ding Tao
seized the opportunity to break free. Li Xiong had been hiding in
the horse carriage these days, having the time of his life eating. He
stretched out both arms at once to wrap them around Jida’s waist,
then assumed the horse stance4 with the intent to lift Jida like he
would a tree trunk.
Jida swung the hammer and slammed it into Li Xiong’s back. Li
Xiong cried out in pain and shouted, “Taozi, that hurts!”
Ding Tao rubbed his numbed arm and said quickly, “Hit him
with the Ji clan’s fist!”
Thus, Li Xiong loosened his grip and bellowed as he threw out
a fist at Jida’s chest. Surprisingly enough, the force knocked Jida
back two steps. Happy, Li Xiong followed up with several
consecutive punches, every blow of his striking flesh. He
remembered all that Ji Gang had taught clearly. With the air of one
unrivaled, he looked back and said, “He can’t fight—”
Li Xiong had yet to finish his words when Jida backhandedly
smashed him with the hammer and knocked him over to the
ground. Even if this lad was a sturdy one, he could not withstand
the blow. Fortunately, he reacted extremely swiftly and bent his
arms to shield his head. But even so, the force of the blow knocked
a tooth out. With blood in his mouth, he spat the tooth to the
ground and felt the first spark of anger.
“Blockhead! Get up!” Ding Tao yelled anxiously.
 Unable to get to his feet in time, Li Xiong could only roll out of
the way for all he was worth. That hammer scraped past his cheek
and slammed into the ground. Mud splashed Li Xiong full in the
head. He repeatedly spat out the muddy water in his mouth. Ding
Tao hit upon an idea in a display of quick thinking and stirred the
mud with his brush. Treading on Li Xiong’s shoulder, he said, “Go!”
With a sudden flick of the brush, muddy water splashed into
Jida’s eyes. Jida hastily wiped it away. Taking advantage of the
opportunity Ding Tao accorded him, Li Xiong propped both hands
against the ground and slid over in an attempt to slip through
under Jida’s crotch. But he was too sturdy, and he had only just slid
halfway when he got stuck. This lad had a one-track mind. He just
had to go this way, and as he lifted himself with brute force, he
knocked Jida over instead of sliding his way out.
Ding Tao wanted to praise Li Xiong. Unexpectedly, Jida wiped
away the muddy water and hauled Ding Tao by the ankle that Ding
Tao had yet to retract. Ding Tao had come to grief many times in
the past with this move, so he had long since learned to play it
smart. The instant he felt the grip on his ankle, he promptly lifted
both arms to protect the back of his head and closed his eyes as he
plummeted to the ground. Immediately right after the fall, he
shouted, “It doesn’t hurt! I’m fine!”
Li Xiong climbed to his feet from the mud and tried to lunge
over to hold Jida’s neck in a chokehold, but he had only just
pounced when Jida, who was already on guard, bent his elbow
and slammed it into the bridge of Li Xiong’s nose. Li Xiong
instantly felt a stinging ache on the bridge of his nose. Jida
followed up with another blow and sent Li Xiong flipping over into
the mud, using so much force that blood spurted out of Li Xiong’s
mouth and nose.
Jida moved his shoulders and arms about, the “creak” of which
indicated that the fight earlier was just a joke in which he had been
merely fooling around. His arms were far more thick and burly than
Li Xiong’s. As Li Xiong lay in the mud covering his nose and mouth,
he caught a vague glimpse of the poisonous scorpion on Jida’s
arm.
 Ding Tao was lifted upside down, and the brush and notebook
in his bosom slipped out along with the poisonous needles and
secret weapons on him when Jida swung him up with all his might.
Ding Tao reached out with both hands to grab them, failing which
he yelled, “My candies!”
But before he could bat an eyelash, Ding Tao saw his oilpaper-
wrapped candies fall into a hand. Wind swept past their ears, and
in this very instant, Jida saw a flutter of white sleeves descend onto
the muddy surface, like a piece of drifting snow that arrived with
the wind and then took off into the air again. The cold glint of Yang
Shan Xue was like the crystal clear ripples of autumn waters as it
suddenly shot right towards Jida’s chest.
Jida could not retreat, so he cast Ding Tao aside in an attempt
to free a hand to grab hold of Yang Shan Xue’s tip.
However, Yang Shan Xue was too fast. It took just an instant for
the blade to make its way before his chest. Jida failed to grab hold
of it, and Yang Shan Xue flicked up in tandem with the white sleeve
to slash towards Jida’s throat. This time, Jida swung his shoulder
over to dodge it, using his shoulder to take the blow in the flesh
instead.
An expert!
Jida’s alarm bells went off.
But then, it instantly dawned on Jida. Even though Shen
Zechuan was as swift as a thunderbolt, that one blow of his earlier
had also exposed the frailty of his constitution. Jida let loose a
sardonic smile and struck out towards the side of Shen Zechuan’s
neck with a lightning move of his hand. As the white robe withdrew
and seamlessly dodged out of the way like clouds and mist, he
closed in and balled his fists to counter Shen Zechuan’s attacks,
then grabbed hold of Yang Shan Xue with a turn of his hand.
With Yang Shan Xue held down, Shen Zechuan’s arm also
ended up being grabbed by Jida.
Jida knew the other man was not an easy one to capture. With
the latter’s leg movements coincidentally restricted, Jida seized this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and turned around so that his back
was pressed up against Shen Zechuan, then lowered his shoulder
to fling Shen Zechuan over to the ground.
 Shen Zechuan almost coughed out blood from the force of it.
He did not manage to break free when he got up, and sharp cracks
rang out as he traded two blows with Jida with his hands. Jida,
however, warded off his blows with sheer brute force.
Jida was not that meticulous in his study of martial arts, and he
did not want to waste too much effort on Shen Zechuan over this.
As he parried the blows, he sensed Shen Zechuan abandoning the
use of Yang Shan Xue, so when Shen Zechuan rose with a lift of his
waist, he swung his hammer over.
This strike sent the hammer smashing into the tree trunk, and
as he had expended too much force, Jida could not pull it out.
Shen Zechuan was relatively shorter, and as his pitch-black eyes
locked onto Jida, Jida heard the crack of something snapping.
While he could not figure out what this sound was at the moment,
he could acutely sense the danger he was in. Almost immediately,
he abandoned his hammer. But before Jida could make a move,
Shen Zechuan had already struck out at him. He was much faster
than before this time, as though he had been planning for this
moment since the start, waiting and luring Jida in until the latter
was accustomed to the rhythm of his movements. Jida even went
as far as to suspect that Shen Zechuan was not injured at all, that
his frailness from before was all an act.
But Jida did not have the chance anymore. Fresh blood
spewed from his neck, spraying all over Shen Zechuan’s face. His
throat bobbed; he could not believe he would be defeated in this
place. He shifted his gaze sluggishly and saw a pair of deep,
unfathomable eyes.
Shen Zechuan seemed to finally remember to say his greetings.
With his expressive eyes half-closed, he said amicably to Jida, “You
are welcome to be our guest.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Jida fell over on his back
to the ground.
With half a brush sticking out of his neck.
Ding Tao was still badly shaken when Shen Zechuan let his
fingers drop to toss the candies into his arms. Ding Tao caught it in
a daze and saw the oilpaper red with blood—blood that had
already seeped all the way in.
 Support the Author!
If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Credit to Tea for proofreading!
Footnotes
1. Heavy Cavalry: heavily armed and armored men on
equally armored horses. Their primary role was to engage in
direct combat with enemy forces, e.g., the Libei Armored
Cavalry.
2. Light Cavalry: lightly armed and lightly armored men on
horses. Their missions were primarily reconnaissance,
skirmishing, and communications. Though it refers to Fei
Sheng here, since he’s not all decked out in heavy armor like
the Libei Armored Cavalry in comparison.

3.
4. Specifically a changdao, or a two-handed, single-edged
Chinese sword.

5.
6. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.

7.
8. 马步 horse stance, a common posture in Chinese martial
arts and takes its name from the position assumed when
horse-riding.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 168 : SCORPION
Translated with: Jia<3

All at once, Fei Sheng calmed down. He promptly propped

himself up and came over to pick up Yang Shan Xue for Shen
Zechuan. But when he bent over, he noticed something odd about
Shen Zechuan’s right arm. As his gaze glided up from the opening
of Shen Zechuan’s sleeve, he realized Shen Zechuan’s entire right
arm was trembling.
Thick, sticky blood coated the tips of Shen Zechuan’s fingers.
Jida had almost broken off his fingers when they traded blows
earlier, and this kind of trembling was not something he could
control now that the combat had suddenly come to a halt. But he
could not reveal the slightest hint of pain, given that the armored
cavalry had just suffered heavy casualties. Jida had hammered the
brigade commander until the latter’s brain matter had splattered
right before everyone’s eyes. Shen Zechuan had to stabilize their
morale so that it would not continue to plummet.
“M, Master…” Fei Sheng called out in apprehension.
“They are already assembling the bandits in the back to
reorganize the convoy squad.” Shen Zechuan always brought
along the blue handkerchief on him, but he could not bear to use it
to wipe the blood; this was something he had taken from Xiao
Chiye. He continued, “Tell the Libei Armored Cavalry to take off
their helmets. Don’t panic. With the mounted crossbow bringing up
the rear, the foes will be merely sitting ducks.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Both of Liu’er hands were shivering. He had already been
released and lowered. The blowing wind was so cold it gave him a
chill between the legs. The former subordinate took advantage of
the chaos to drag him along, pushing and shoving as he urged,
“Run! Run!”
Liu’er looked stiffly at the convoy squad that had been thrown
into confusion and asked feebly, “Who, who came?”
 “The Libei Armored Cavalry!” The former subordinate tore off
the cloth bag on his waist and threw it away along with the chains
he had been fitted with. “Let them fight. Let’s go!” But the former
subordinate failed to move Liu’er, so he pinched him and cried out
in anxiety, “Old Man Liu, what are you doing?!”
Liu’er’s feet scraped across the ground as he stooped over and
refused to leave. With a savage expression, he said, “We’ll leave.
But we also have to give these bastards a stab before leaving!” He
pushed the former subordinate away and staggered forward. “Son
of a bitch aimed at me with the crossbow. Those bastards.” He fell
onto the ground, then got up again and muttered, “I want to smash
them to death. Smash them all to death!”
The men in Shen Zechuan’s retinue who had arrived after Shen
Zechuan summoned the bandits together to work as one and pull
up the overturned wagon. The mounted crossbow was stained with
mud, and Liu’er hastily wiped it clean with his sleeve. He squeezed
among the crowd, exerting force in regular bursts along with the
shouts as they hoisted the long arrows up and pulled.
A hundred paces away, Fei Sheng scrambled out and blew a
quick whistle at the Imperial Bodyguards still engaged in battle
with the Biansha Cavalry. The Imperial Bodyguards promptly pulled
back and retreated as they held up against the remaining Libei
Armored Cavalry. The Biansha Cavalry who still remained in the
clearing waited but never got Jida’s commands, and by the time
they realized it, it was already too late.
The very moment the “click” of the trigger sounded, Liu’er felt
intense pain in both arms. He watched those long arrows shoot
into the sky before plunging, their impact slamming the Biansha
Cavalrymen who had nowhere to hide onto the ground along with
their horses. It was almost instant death for the men.
Liu’er raised both arms and burst out laughing madly. He stood
on tiptoe, finding this moment to be the most gratifying time in his
life. Very quickly, the arrows were depleted, and the Biansha
Calvary who had been dealt severe blows were too powerless to
resist. Their small numbers prevented them from getting into
formation, and it just took a couple of rounds from the mounted
crossbow for them to break up and scatter.
 The former subordinate pulled Liu’er by the collar and shouted
over the din, “Old Man Liu, we should run now!”
Although they were captives, they had escorted the
transportation of military supplies for the Biansha people. What’s
more, they even led them towards Zhongbo. The Libei Armored
Cavalry and the Biansha Cavalry were sworn enemies with a blood
feud between them. So if they were to fall into the Libei Armored
Cavalry’s hands, they would still have to die!
Liu’er hurriedly leaped off the wagon and limped along. “Go,
go, go! Move!”
As if in tacit agreement, the bandits wanted to take to their
heels and flee the moment they saw the cavalry retreating. But the
squad behind them was long prepared for this and drew their
blades to surround them, blocking off their paths so that they had
no choice but to return to their original spot. Thrown into disarray,
the bandits crowded together within the ring of horses’ hooves.
They wanted to break through the encirclement, but they had no
blades. Gradually, they all squatted down amid the shouts at them
and held their heads, not daring to make a ruckus again.
Fei Sheng and a few of them sent Shen Zechuan back to the
horse carriage. The moment the curtain fell, they heard the dull,
muffled sound of coughing. Gripping his candies, Ding Tao’s eyes
reddened. He was at a loss as he tugged on Fei Sheng’s sleeve and
said in a teary tone, “My, my Young Master…”
Fei Sheng covered Ding Tao’s mouth with his palm and
gestured around him to have the Imperial Bodyguards surround
the horse carriage, thus setting the carriage apart from the
armored cavalry and bandits.
Shen Zechuan bent over the seat. On his open palm was blood
that he had just coughed out. The index and middle fingers on his
right hand were racked with hot searing pain, as if they were being
ripped apart. He had not bent over to pick Yang Shan Xue up
earlier because he could not lift it. He lowered his head, pressing
against his forehead, and forcibly swallowed down the blood that
still wanted to gush up his throat.
A long time passed.
 Shen Zechuan’s voice sounded particularly low and deep
across the curtain. “Do a headcount of the bandits and get them to
continue pushing the wagon. Send someone to rush posthaste to
Bianbo Camp and convey the news about this squad to Ce’an.
Then send someone to hurry to Cizhou and inform Yuanzhuo to
reassure Zhou Gui before my return. As long as King Yi has not
dispatched his troops, Cizhou must not make the first move, no
matter what King Yi says.”
“Then, the Biansha captives…” Fei Sheng moved close to the
curtain and asked carefully, “Are we to keep them?”
“Remove their blades and hammers.” Shen Zechuan clenched
his palm and shifted his gaze under the darkness. “Execute them
on the spot.”
The sky cleared up the next day.
Li Xiong crouched beside Jida’s corpse, looking as if there was
something he could not figure out. He kept fiddling with Jida’s arm
and looking at that poisonous scorpion over and over again.
Fei Sheng came over to boot Li Xiong and said, “Master had
the others clear away the bodies. Why aren’t you allowing them
to?”
Li Xiong was still angry. He pulled Jida’s arm up and pointed to
the scorpion. “Why does he have the scorpion too? He can’t have a
scorpion.”
Fei Sheng initially wanted to make fun of this silly lad, but the
gears started turning in his mind, and he crouched down as well to
ask Li Xiong, “Why can’t he have a scorpion? Have you seen this
before?”
Li Xiong pointed to the back of his neck and answered, “My big
bro has one lying here.”
Fei Sheng felt a chill run down his spine. With his heart in his
mouth and sweat trickling down, he said, “When did Lei Jingzhe
have it tattooed? Why has there never been a word of it on Mount
Luo?”
Li Xiong tried his best to think as he pulled at his hair. “I don’t
remember either. He had it a long time back—he already had it
when he raised me! Gedale has a lot of scorpions. My big bro took
me there at that time and even wanted to have it tattooed on me.”
 Gedale!
Fei Sheng stood up at once and turned around to hurry
towards the horse carriage.
Shen Zechuan was still resting. He drained the medical
decoction from the morning like it was water. Ding Tao, who was
keeping guard outside the carriage, heard Shen Zechuan cough
several times. The medicinal smell wafted out from within, but no
one dared to lift the curtains.
Fei Sheng did not dare to either, but this was a matter of great
importance, so he placed a hand on the carriage for support and
called out in a soft voice, “Master, master.”
Shen Zechuan was sleeping lightly; in fact, he had been semi-
conscious the entire time. He leaned on his side against the pillow.
The delayed onset of pain of the injuries on his back was taking
hold now, and he was in so much pain that he could not lie flat. He
removed the jade earring and wiped it for a long time before it was
clean. Only then did he open his eyes and make a sound of
acknowledgement.
Fei Sheng, even more cautious now, reported what he had
heard earlier.
There was only silence from the interior of the carriage for a
long time before Fei Sheng heard the rustling sound of sliding
sleeves. After another moment, the curtain was lifted by a folding
fan. With the fan in his left hand, and earring on his right ear, the
expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was much more piercing than
ever.
◈ ◈ ◈
The situation last night had been so critical that no one had
paid any attention. With Li Xiong now standing beside Jida, the
one thing that they had overlooked had become all the more
apparent. Physique-wise, Jida was essentially what Li Xiong would
grow up to become as an adult. They were both powerfully built, far
more than the average man; their shoulders and arms were broad,
their muscles rippling with astonishing explosive power.
Shen Zechuan lowered his folding fan and moved Jida’s arm
over. “Is it exactly the same?”
 Li Xiong squatted and nodded sullenly. “Big bro’s scorpion is a
little smaller.”
Shen Zechuan said to Fei Sheng, “Strip these corpses of their
clothes.”
Not long after, the Biansha Cavalry who perished last night lay
stark naked across the ground. Fei Sheng examined them one at a
time and found that all of them had scorpion tattoos. It was just that
the scorpions were all freely positioned and hidden at locations
that were hard to discover, such as the nape, pit of the stomach,
side of the waist, and even behind the ear, but they were all on the
upper body.
Shen Zechuan asked the Libei Armored Cavalry, “Are there
scorpions like this on the battlefields?”
The remaining squad commander of the armored cavalry
looked carefully at the tattoos and solemnly shook his head. “Never
seen them before… The Twelve Tribes of Biansha indeed have the
habit of tattooing their bodies, but those are either tribal totems or
symbols of meritorious service. There are no scorpions in the
Twelve Tribes.”
Shen Zechuan had an ill sense of foreboding.
This was a squad that could deal a heavy blow and inflict heavy
casualties on the Libei Armored Cavalry. Once they became a
prevalent force in the war, the standoff on the battlegrounds would
take a sudden turn for the worse. It would catch the generals of
Libei off-guard and put them at a disadvantage. If they were really
establishing a squad based on standards that Li Xiong
exemplified, then it would not matter even if they were to lose their
battle steeds. As long as they could breach Libei, all of Dazhou
would be in imminent danger, let alone Zhongbo.
“Scorpions are everywhere in Gedale. Big bro called them
brothers; they are our friends!” As Li Xiong spoke, he looked at
Shen Zechuan. “They have many small scorpions too. They are very
young and never come out to play.”
“Fei Sheng.” Shen Zechuan said immediately. “Copy down this
scorpion and bring it to Libei together. Not just Libei, but also
Cizhou and Chazhou. Tell Zhou Gui and Luo Mu to start checking
the commoners in the territories immediately.” He paused for a
moment, then emphasized his words. “Especially the garrison
troops.”
Lei Jingzhe was a native of Dazhou. In the years that Zhongbo
was out of control, anyone could freely get in and out of Zhongbo
as he did. They could let in the Scorpions, and even send the
Scorpions deeper into Dazhou.
What Shen Zechuan had thought of at this moment was not just
the war, but also of the decaying of government administration
since the reign of Yongyi. From the Zhongbo troops’ defeat to Xiao
Jiming’s poisoning, and Feng Yisheng’s death in battle to Lu
Guangbai’s desertion. They used to focus their attention on Qudu
and the noble clans, but it had all become rather odd starting from
the military grain case onward.
Xue Xiuzhuo wanted to resurge Dazhou. Forcing Lu Guangbai
into desertion would not do him any good. Why would Qudu make
light of Qidong military provisions when they knew full well that
there was ill will between them and Libei at the same time? Shen
Zechuan’s memories swiftly went backward in time. Watching
scene after scene of the past flash away felt like he was once again
standing in the summer heat of Qudu.
Who exactly had delivered the relay report to Wei Huaigu’s
desk and subsequently forced him to his death?
Shen Zechuan suddenly broke out coughing. He clutched the
blue handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose. But this cough
was so violent that it not only startled Ding Tao; even Fei Sheng’s
face turned pale.
“Master!” Fei Sheng made to support Shen Zechuan by the arm.
“Escort the military supplies back to Cizhou.” Shen Zechuan
said behind the handkerchief. “There’s no need for the armored
cavalry to follow any further. Leaving a few men behind will suffice.
We’ll head for Dunzhou today in disguise.”
Gedale had Bai Cha’s portrait, while Dunzhou had Shen Wei’s
Prince of Jianxing’s Manor. These were the two key locations where
it all began, along with the two blood kin with inextricable ties to
Shen Zechuan.
“I want Lei Jingzhe as well.” Shen Zechuan’s expression was
cold and detached as he enunciated each word. “Alive.”
 Author’s Notes:
I know all of you have no doubt forgotten about the scorpion
tattoo. Please refer to chapter 114.

Support the Author!

If you like this story, consider supporting the author!
Credit: Thank you Tea for proofreading!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 169 : DUNZHOU
Translated with: Jia<3

The military supply wagons were placed under the guard of the
Libei Armored Cavalry and manually transported back to Cizhou by
the bandits. Shen Zechuan only brought a dozen or so Imperial
Bodyguards and some goods with him as he disguised himself as
a traveling merchant heading north. They did not head down to
Dunzhou directly, but took a detour to the public route leading from
Fanzhou to Dunzhou and entered through the west gate.
Liu’er, with his biangu hat, followed behind Fei Sheng with his
butt sticking out. As long as his eyes started roving, the Imperial
Bodyguards would sandwich him in the middle so that he felt
suffocated and could not move. He used to be Lei Jingzhe’s
messenger, so he was well-informed and the most familiar with the
ongoings in Dunzhou. They would save a lot of trouble by getting
him to lead the way. But this old man was a very crafty one. At first,
in order to escape, he had smeared his face until it was all dark and
swarthy, causing Fei Sheng to nearly miss him when he blended in
with the group of bandits.
Shen Zechuan’s medicine never stopped coming, and after
being on the road for five days, his cough gradually subsided.
However, he was still unable to apply too much pressure on the two
fingers on his right hand. Given that he could not even pen letters
these days, the messages to Libei and Cizhou were all written by
Ding Tao on his behalf.
“When we enter the city, we have to first go to a pawnshop to
register the goods.” Liu’er tugged on the side of his biangu hat to
hide his face, then folded his arms under his sleeves and craned
his neck to say, “It’s very chaotic now in Dunzhou. Only merchants
who are registered and listed at the pawnshop can enter the city
and stay at the inns. All the parties are playing it cautious. This is an
unspoken rule. Anyone who doesn’t know the rules is most
certainly fishy.”
 Shen Zechuan rested his folding fan on his knee. He remained
concealed from view in the carriage, revealing only a vague
silhouette. “Who owns this pawnshop?”
“The Yan clan of Hezhou.” Liu’er lowered his voice and moved
closer to the side of the carriage curtain. “When Lei Changming
still had the Yan Clan to fund him, this place was a terrible mess.
While it was said that Lei Changming was the one in charge, he
was, after all, not the Provincial Administration Commissioner.
Bandits like us don’t have that many staff and runners either, so we
turned a blind eye when it came to what’s happening down there.
But there were too many merchants coming and going. Who
knows if they are spies? So Young Master Yan suggested Lei
Changming set up a pawnshop here and hang up the words,
‘Tongming’. Brothers who conduct business deals with the Mount
Luo bandits naturally know how to answer upon entering the shop.
The Yan Clan later fell out with us, but Lei Changming kept this
pawnshop as a show of respect for Young Master Yan.”
The corner of Shen Zechuan’s lips shifted ever so slightly. “And
with that, the Yan Clan has the comings and goings in Dunzhou
firmly in their grasp, with records of every business transaction Lei
Changming has ever made. This Young Master Yan must no doubt
be better acquainted with these years’ accounts than Lei
Changming himself, right?”
“He’s a child prodigy, yes?” Liu’er smacked his lips. “Not one
business deal Yan Heru conducted himself has ever been
unprofitable. This person may be young, but he’s a mercenary man
who loves money very, very much! There is no business he doesn’t
dare to dip his fingers into.”
“Lei Changming saved his life. There must be a reason that
caused them to fall out with one another.” Shen Zechuan recalled
the incident regarding the lawful grandson of the Shao clan and
asked in passing.
Throughout the journey here, Liu’er had been going all out to
ingratiate himself with Shen Zechuan for fear that Shen Zechuan
would kill him off once he outlived his usefulness. He immediately
weighed up the stakes and sold Lei Changming out. “Lei
Changming had an addiction… and it grew progressively worse in
recent years. The commoners in the two prefectures of Dunzhou
and Duanzhou were very much afraid and did not dare to keep
their children at home around for fear that we would carry them off
and give them to Lei Changming. At first, Lei Changming kept the
Yan clan in the dark and did not dare to bring it up. But later, he
asked the brothels in Fanzhou for some young ones, and the
children the procuress came over to deliver were recorded in the
pawnshop as rice flour. This was uncovered by the Yan Clan’s
audits, and Young Master Yan flew into a terrible rage. Lei
Changming promised Yan Heru that he would turn over a new leaf,
but how could he change something like this? With Cai Yu fanning
the flames on his end, it didn’t take long for them to fall out for real.
Yan Heru cut off the monthly funds to Mount Luo, and grains
stopped heading our way.”
Having said to this point, Liu’er faced the carriage curtain.
“It was because of this that we were starving so badly on Mount
Luo. Lei Jingzhe had Lei Changming demand grains from Cizhou.
Zhou Gui had no troops and power then, and he gave in time and
time again. It just so happened that the emperor in Qudu passed
away. When the marquis rebelled, the uncle and nephew pair
plotted to use Han Jin to exchange for noble titles. In any case, no
one’s keeping Zhongbo under control. If it really worked out and
they get conferred with the title of a prince or something, then we
would transform into a regular local army!”
Shen Zechuan tapped with his fingertips and said, “Lei Jingzhe
is truly a good child.”
Lei Jingzhe was the brains behind Lei Changming. How could
he have let Lei Changming take a tumble over such a simple matter
like Fanzhou’s delivery of children? It was because the Yan clan cut
off Lei Changming’s monthly funds that Lei Changming would turn
his main forces on Cizhou. He marched his troops to Cizhou in such
an ostentatious display and ended up being targeted and killed by
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan—he was indeed a target set up to be
a scapegoat.
In all probability, Lei Jingzhe had long wanted to usurp and
take over his position. They might have gone to Han Cheng in an
attempt to exchange for noble titles, but Han Cheng might not
necessarily be willing to acquiesce to both men’s presumptuous
demands. Throw in Lei Changming’s insatiable greed into the mix,
and it remained to be seen whether they could even reach an
agreement. So, Lei Jingzhe took Lei Changming, his kin maternal
uncle, out of the equation and let him die conveniently in the strife
without ever tying himself directly to it.
This suggested two possibilities. The first was that Han Cheng
was not a Scorpion, and the Scorpions were far less capable than
Shen Zechuan feared. The second was that they were all pawns
and did not need to mutually know each other; they just had to
stay in their place and do what they ought to do to complete the
mission.
Shen Zechuan had his own theory regarding both of these
conjectures. He lost himself in his thoughts and did not speak
again.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was already the hour of hai when the horse carriage entered
the city, and as its name suggested, Tongming Pawnshop was
indeed brightly lit. Fei Sheng brought Liu’er along to register
themselves and saw horse carriages of all styles and colors outside
the pawnshop. There were the Longyou merchants that had come
around from Juexi as well as human traffickers from Fanzhou. A
hubbub of abacus beads being flicked and all sorts of shouts filled
the place, where every imaginable ware was on sale. It was already
such a late hour, and yet the place was still bustling with activity.
As the hub, Tongming Pawnshop sat in the center with large
lanterns hung up on both sides of it. Wine taverns and stores
operated all night, with the hustle and bustle keeping up until
dawn. There were plenty of beggars, but they were all being
bossed around. Prostitutes of all ages drew close to the coming
and going wealthy men and pulled them to the inns so that they
had a place to sleep for free for a night, relying on this to earn
some money for food. Amidst the surge of crowd, Fei Sheng
noticed a few Biansha faces.
This place did not seem to have been once defeated in war.
The stench of wine and meat gone sour permeated the air along
with the fragrance of perfumes and spices from Juexi and the
Chashi River; they jostled against one another for prominence,
subsequently turning into a fusion of smells that made one’s knees
weak. This street was like a milky way reflected from the vault of
heavens that converged the remaining bright lights in Zhongbo
together, making the surroundings look pitch-dark in comparison.
There were so many people around that Fei Sheng did not dare
to be too conceited and careless. Armed with the tips Liu’er had
given, he headed inside the pawnshop and looked around for
someone to submit his registration. The goods were miscellaneous
grains from Huaizhou. The store clerk busily and methodically
checked them one at a time according to the sequence of the
hanging tags. He moved quickly, and the younger assistant
following behind him was even quicker in noting it all down.
When the shop clerk came before the horse carriage, he did
not presumptuously reach out to lift the curtains, but bowed at it in
all earnestness. “You sirs come from the west and are all-powerful
connoisseurs of the trade, and since you have made your way to
our Dunzhou, we dare not be poor hosts, so we will just lay it all out
here first. You must be fatigued from the journey, so treat it as some
entertainment tidbits to relieve your boredom.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer.
This shop clerk had seen his fair share of traveling merchants,
and he had prior dealings with both magnates and bandits before,
so he knew that some of these customers had terrible tempers. He
remained firmly on his feet with a neutral expression and said,
“Once you have entered the city, it’s all entirely up to you whoever
you decide to have business dealings with; no one can interfere,
for it’s nobody else’s business. As fleeting as our encounters are, we
are all fellow travelers whose paths have crossed. Our coming here
for the same purpose makes us acquaintances who should
mutually get along and help each other. Dunzhou is remote and
out of the way, so let’s all look out for one another. If you require
mediation for any issues, feel free to send someone to the shop to
let us know. No matter where these people are from, the assistants
will always be standing ready to assist without delay as long as you
so command. However, there is one rule that must be made clear
to you. Any goods that are meant for purchase and sales have to
be recorded down on file in the shop, and every good on record in
the shop has to be a genuine product. By having yourself
registered for business in our shop, you can be considered as
having received the nod from the Yan clan. In Dunzhou, we share
prestige and wealth together.” After the shop clerk was done
speaking, he bowed once more to the horse carriage, then turned
aside and lifted his arm to guide them. “A courtyard has been
especially prepared in the back for you. Please choose the
attendants as you please. We have all kinds of fresh, seasonal fruits
available for your enjoyment. As long as you stay in Dunzhou, you
can ask for anything you would like to eat or enjoy. Our Yan Clan
will take care of it all for you!”
Fei Sheng was secretly rendered speechless. The Xi Clan was
wealthy, but they were nowhere as generous as this. This Yan Heru
was truly incredible. Rumor had it that he loved money as much as
he treasured his life, but he also spent money like water. He was an
ostentatious man who loved gold. He invested all of his capital into
Dunzhou and won over the hearts of all the traveling merchants. It
was no wonder that the Xi Clan’s chain of shops could not make
their foray into the market in the east at all!
The shop clerk did not waste any more time on superfluous talk
and shouted, “The Sixteenth Courtyard of Tianji welcomes its
distinguished guests!”
The horse carriage started moving with a rumble, guided into
the courtyard by a specially deployed errand-runner.
With his face to the carriage window, Shen Zechuan heard the
melody that drifted from the upper floors of the wine tavern in the
darkness. The dazzling display of lanterns in a kaleidoscope of
colors through the carriage drapes looked like multi-colored waves
of shimmering water so gorgeous that one was left mesmerized
and captivated.
◈ ◈ ◈
The moment Liu’er entered the courtyard, he clicked his tongue
in wonder. He took his shoes off before stepping on the porch and
held them in his bosom as he followed behind Fei Sheng and cast
glances all around. He thought out loud, “Hot damn… just how
much silver would you need to spend on all these…”
 Fei Sheng took a look at the hallway. “Not unless you have a
million to splurge.”
Liu’er had never before seen this much money, and neither had
Fei Sheng. It had to be known that during the reign of Xiande, the
military budget allocated to Libei and Qidong totaled to merely
two million, tops. The imperial court officials had to reduce their
salaries and scrimp and save to provide for the Libei Armored
Cavalry and Qidong Garrison Troops. The imperial court was so
ridiculously poor it was driving all of them insane, and yet here Yan
Heru was, splurging hundreds of thousands of taels at a mere wave
of his hand, all just for the sake of entertaining his guests.
The journey had truly been difficult. Fei Sheng did not dare to
make Shen Zechuan endure it for any longer and attended to him
as he drank the medicine. He then called for a subordinate to
prepare water and make the bed. He did not dare to urge Shen
Zechuan to take a rest, and so he quietly instructed Ding Tao to do
so.
Fei Sheng did not call for any of the attendants from the Yan
Clan to serve in the yard. The courtyard was guarded by rank after
rank of Imperial Bodyguards, with Fei Sheng staying in the
innermost layer to stand guard under the eaves of Shen Zechuan’s
room. Not only were the Imperial Bodyguards on guard duty on
the ground, but they were also stationed on the ridge of the
upturned eaves. Ding Tao, having slept his fill in the carriage
during the daytime, was now sitting up there writing and drawing
with Li Xiong. The words that Xiao Chiye had said before they had
set off would pop up from time to time in Fei Sheng’s mind, so
much so that Fei Sheng’s heart would leap into his mouth if Shen
Zechuan so much as let out a cough in the night.
Shen Zechuan was not familiar with Dunzhou, yet for some
reason, the nightmares hit him hard that night. Chashi Sinkhole
had disappeared, and the Prince of Jianxing’s Manor had replaced
it in its place.
The deaf and mute aunty sat under those dark and gloomy
eaves, while Shen Zechuan stood in the dimly lit room, feeling
thirsty. As the table was so very tall, he stood on tiptoe to reach for
the teacup, but ended up brushing it onto the ground. Broken
fragments of porcelain that had shattered by his foot went flying all
over, cutting his finger.
Shen Zechuan started to sob.
He felt inexplicably upset, as if he had broken something
precious.
But no matter how much Shen Zechuan sobbed, the aunty
merely continued to focus on her embroidery with her back to him.
She extended her arm and pressed it down, which subsequently
elongated her shadow all the way to Shen Zechuan’s foot and
turned it into a grotesque, long-limbed creature. She repeated this
one action over and over again, her surroundings shrouded in
dead silence.
Shen Zechuan’s finger was burning with searing pain. He
clutched his robes in his anxiety and bandaged the wounded
finger. Blood very quickly bloomed through his robe, like a
camellia that had broken apart upon falling onto the snowfield—red
and vivid.

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 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 170 : CREATURE
Translated with: Jia<3

The two fingers on Shen Zechuan’s right hands trembled

violently, the blazing pain jolting him awake in a split second. He
wearily raised his right arm and spread his palm open, only to
realize that he could not move his two fingers freely. The window
paper glowed indistinctly with light—to think he had slept until this
hour.
Shen Zechuan set down his arm and let the sweat trickle down
along his temples. After a moment, he rolled over and got up, his
two fingers slightly curled as he put on his clothes.
On hearing the sound of movements, Fei Sheng turned back
and beckoned to the subordinate bearing the medicine to come
over and attend to Shen Zechuan. The door opened, and Fei
Sheng lifted the hem of his robe and strode in. Shen Zechuan was
standing and washing up by the copper basin.
“Master.” Fei Sheng went around to the side and said softly,
“We called for a physician early in the morning. He’s waiting out
there. Shall we summon him in to take a look?”
Shen Zechuan placed the handkerchief back into the basin
and, in a rare moment in which he did not refute him, said, “Call
him in.”
Delighted, Fei Sheng immediately shouted for the physician. In
the interim, he said to Shen Zechuan, “We released the men last
night. With Liu’er’s connections with his old acquaintances, the
news came in pretty fast. Master, Lei Jingzhe is right here in the
city!”
Shen Zechuan stood by the door and looked back pensively at
Fei Sheng.
The fact that Lei Jingzhe reacted so quickly illustrated that they
had committed the transportation route of the military supply firmly
to mind, with even the possibility of a delay taken into account.
Thus, Lei Jingzhe immediately headed down to Dunzhou when the
squad did not arrive these couple of days. It was likely that he
wanted to get to the bottom of who had robbed the Scorpions.
“The military supply wagons to Cizhou have the Libei Armored
Cavalry keeping watch over them along the way. The news can’t
have spread that fast. They should have entered Cizhou by now.
Whether or not Lei Jingzhe can get to the bottom of the matter, the
stuff and men are ours now.” Fei Sheng stepped aside and watched
as Shen Zechuan drank his medicine. “But it’s too tough to catch
Lei Jingzhe alive in the city. Master. There are still four hundred
Scorpions watching over the bandits they took captive, and these
men could also be considered as Lei Jingzhe’s soldiers. Our
numbers are far too low.”
The medicine was so bitter it put a slight frown on Shen
Zechuan’s face. “To date, Lei Jingzhe still has yet to put Mount Luo
and Duanzhou in order. This indicates that he doesn’t have enough
soldiers under his command to deploy. He likely smuggled the
armaments to ingratiate himself with Biansha. So, the four hundred
Scorpions in the city of Dunzhou might not necessarily be willing to
listen to his orders. Besides, we came to Dunzhou to make money
on amicable terms, not to seize what’s others by force. We can take
our time.” He handed the empty bowl to Fei Sheng. “Cizhou has
nothing of importance to attend to lately. I have all the time in the
world to have my fun with him.”
When Fei Sheng took the bowl, he saw Shen Zechuan’s hand
dangling from the opening of his sleeve. The color drained from
his face, and he lifted the hem of his robe and kneeled. “That
hand’s broken, isn’t it, Master?! We were in such a rush during our
journey… I’m really blind. To think I never—”
“Time was of the essence then, and it’s not like we could find a
decent physician midway into our journey.” Seeing how panicked
Fei Sheng was, Shen Zechuan said, “It’s just two fingers that are
broken, not severed. Let the physician set them with steel needles
and have them bandaged later. They’ll be fine after half a year of
healing.”
Shen Zechuan downplayed his injuries and responded in such
a nonchalant manner, but listening to him filled Fei Sheng with fear
and trepidation. In an act of either genuine sentiment or feigned
sincerity, Fei Sheng’s eyes reddened as he braced himself against
the ground with his hands and said in a trembling voice, “When
the master is wounded, his subject deserves death for letting it
happen. It doesn’t stand to reason for a guard to be right by his
master’s side and still let his master get injured.” As he spoke, he
raised a hand and slapped himself several times on the cheeks.
“It’s all because we are so useless that Master even has to come
personally to our rescue! Master, I beseech Master to bestow our
deserved punishments on us!”
Fei Sheng was now leading the Imperial Bodyguards, and by
kneeling here to slap himself without the slightest trace of
hesitation, he was also effectively slapping the faces of those men
outside. He was lowering himself to let everyone in here and out
there understand that this incident was a wake-up call. Such an
oversight could not be made ever again; Shen Zechuan must never
get hurt. From the moment they arrived in Zhongbo after being
forsaken by Han Cheng and were rejected by Xiao Chiye, Shen
Zechuan was the only candidate left to be their master.
Qiao Tianya had a knack for managing his subordinates too. In
fact, he was even more well-liked by the subordinates than Fei
Sheng was, but he was much too uninhibited. At times, he seemed
to treat Shen Zechuan more like a friend than a master. Fei Sheng
had already garnered much from Shen Zechuan’s act of deploying
Qiao Tianya over to Yao Wenyu’s side.
Could Yao Wenyu’s body heal soon? If not, then Qiao Tianya
would stay by Yao Wenyu’s side for as long as several years. The
vacated position beside Shen Zechuan was given to Fei Sheng,
which in Fei Sheng’s view was a hint that he had to accomplish
what Qiao Tianya would not do while in the same position. He had
to make it clear to the current Imperial Bodyguards that it was out
of respect for Ji Gang that Shen Zechuan did not pursue their
dereliction of duty. But they must never, ever repeat the same
mistake again.
As long as Shen Zechuan had not given the nod, Fei Sheng
would never take action. Likewise, as long as Shen Zechuan gave
the command – good or bad – Fei Sheng would execute it and see
it through to the very end. He was far more aware of his own place
than Qiao Tianya was—he was Shen Zechuan’s guard, not Shen
Zechuan’s friend. As such, he would not privately report Shen
Zechuan’s injury to Xiao Chiye.
The Imperial Bodyguards followed suit and kneeled too, their
faces burning with pain as they listened to the sounds of Fei
Sheng’s slaps. Fei Sheng smacked himself until his cheeks turned
red, and even so, he was still lifting his hand for another slap when
a folding fan suddenly intercepted his hand.
“There can be no progress without pain. As long as you don’t
repeat the same mistake, it’s alright.” Shen Zechuan shifted the fan
in his left hand away. “All the people in the courtyard are good
men. Punishments will come to those who have done wrong. I
naturally have my own arrangements for when we return to Cizhou.
You may rise now.”
The fact that Shen Zechuan did not let Fei Sheng continue to
slap himself meant that he had no intention to humiliate them. He
gave scholars their due respects, but he did not treat the Imperial
Bodyguards shabbily either. Their monthly salaries were issued in a
timely manner and converted to ready silver based on Qudu’s
standard, and the Imperial Bodyguards’ residences were all
spacious, well-lit rooms. What’s more, there was Ji Gang to give
them martial arts pointers at all times. At first, they all thought Shen
Zechuan to be a capricious man who was a tough one to serve, but
over time, they realized that Shen Zechuan was pretty much set in
his preferences. He duly meted out rewards and punishments as
needed, and his commands were all decisive and straightforward;
there had never been an incident in which he took out his anger on
his subordinates.
Fei Sheng wiped his tears and kowtowed a few more times to
Shen Zechuan before rising to his feet and taking his position at the
side. Ding Tao stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him
and felt a great wave of guilt wash over him. The physician outside
happened to arrive just then, so Fei Sheng lifted the curtains and
invited the physician in.
Both of Shen Zechuan’s fingers had indeed been broken, but
they were fortunately not severed. As he expected, the physician
had them set and secured with steel needles. With half a year of
recuperation, they should be more or less healed.
“My lord should not wield a blade or draw a bow these days.”
The physician was an old man. As the fee they paid him was
generous, he made a special point of giving further instructions
when he got up. “You’ve been putting off having this injury treated
for quite a few days. Fortunately, you didn’t delay it past today.
Otherwise, it couldn’t be set back into place even with the steel
needles. My lord seems to me to be in poor health, and it’s now
coincidentally the eighth month where sudden fluctuations in
weather temperature are a common occurrence. Pay more
attention to your meals and attire. Don’t fall ill again.”
The physician lifted his sleeves to pack his medical case when
he remembered something else.
“Is my lord always having trouble sleeping?” He said. “Business
has to be conducted, but it’s taxing on the mind and body. No
human will be able to take it if they keep getting haunted by
nightmares over a long period of time. I’ll get you a brocade pouch
later and fill it with some incense to help you sleep. You can put it
under your pillow at night and see if it works.”
Fei Sheng bent over to help the physician carry his medical
case and saw him out.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan sat on the chair and sized up his right hand in
the momentary silence that followed. Two of his fingers were
bound together so securely that it proved inconvenient for him to
stretch them. He could forget about grasping his blade now. It was
really by a stroke of good fortune that they were not severed.
But why would he dream of the Prince of Jianxing’s residence?
Last night’s dream played out on what seemed to be a
yellowish worn-out rag, where only the back of the aunty was
visible because Shen Zechuan no longer remembered how she
looked. He cried so sadly for that cup of water—but had it been
really for that cup of water?
Shen Zechuan rested his elbow on the chair handle and leaned
back slowly. His gaze shifted along the half-lowered bamboo
blinds to the eaves shrouded under the shadow of a tree. He
slowed the dream in his mind in an attempt to lay every scene out
for deeper scrutiny.
The deaf and mute aunty sat under the eaves.
The courtyard was tiny, and the direction in which the house
was facing was terrible; once dusk fell, the interior would get dim
rather quickly. Shen Zechuan was still short, so short that he did not
have to bend over to look into the inner chamber. He wanted so
much to drink that cup of water; his entire throat seemed to be on
fire. But he could not reach it. Thus, he stood on tiptoe.
Shen Zechuan tilted his head up slightly.
He stood on tiptoe—this was not the first time this had
happened. He knew it was possible that the teacup might fall onto
the ground. So at the same time he stood on tiptoe, he looked
inside. The inner chamber was too dark. The windows were all
unopened, and that half-lowered beaded curtain was bereft of life.
It remained still and unmoving, a tint of white in the darkness.
Shen Zechuan frowned and continued to pry further as if in a
trance.
Why did he have to look in?
The young Shen Zechuan stood on tiptoe and leaned over the
edge of the table to look at that mass of darkness. He blinked
several times and did not withdraw his gaze, but he could not help
but reach his fingers out to touch the rim of the teacup. Someone
stirred in the darkness, and at the moment his attention was
diverted, Shen Zechuan accidentally brushed the teacup aside and
dropped it. The sound of the teacup shattering was so crystal clear
it was as if it had been smashed right beside his ear. It startled the
person in the inner chamber into turning around. The strange
shadow of the aunty who kept lifting her arm soundlessly grabbed
Shen Zechuan by the foot, and it was at this very moment Shen
Zechuan saw a terror-stricken face.
Shen Zechuan suddenly sucked in a breath as he snapped back
to his senses and found that he had subconsciously clenched his
right hand into a fist. Intense pain throbbed in those two fingers.
The weather was hot today, but Shen Zechuan’s back was all
drenched in a cold sweat.
He had seen Shen Wei.
 Shen Wei’s face that was all contorted with terror was so jarring
on the eyes that it jolted Shen Zechuan to his feet. He irritably
relaxed his right hand and faced the shadow of the tree under the
eaves, but he could not recall exactly what Shen Wei had been
doing.
Why was Shen Wei so panic-stricken?
The inner chamber was too dark; Shen Zechuan could not see a
thing at all. Even Shen Wei’s face seemed to be lodged in a thick
black mass of shadows. He kept thinking back to it, but still made
no progress. His memory seemed to have been stuck in time,
frozen upon the frame of Shen Wei’s face.
Damn.
Shen Zechuan knew how to restrain his irascibility firmly under
an icy demeanor, but not this time. The abhorrence his expression
exposed was a clear indicator that he was already standing on the
brink of the precipice. He was just like a trapped beast as he shut
his eyes in the sunlight, the sweat oozing from his temples.
Blood oozed out from his cut finger, staining his robe. Once
again, pale white juxtaposed with vivid red. The beaded curtain
was clearly dead, but it swung violently as it came back to life again
in the scenes that flashed by. The strange shadow grabbed hold of
Shen Zechuan, whose finger was still bleeding. Meanwhile, the
aunty kept up with her never-ending embroidery as her arms
stretched longer and longer until the expanding shadow mutated
into a scorpion swinging its tail.
“Thud!”
Shen Zechuan abruptly shifted his gaze over.
Ding Tao’s legs gave way, and he fell onto his butt on the
ground, looking as though he was looking at a stranger. All the
hair on his body was standing on end. His candy tumbled out and
rolled on the ground, where it bumped into Shen Zechuan’s
snapped fan.
Shen Zechuan leaned over to pick up the candy off the ground
and handed it to Ding Tao, but Ding Tao did not reach out for it.
Instead, he shifted back a little in fear and trepidation to flee from
Shen Zechuan’s shadow.
 Shen Zechuan’s throat bobbed. It was as if he was a demonic
creature stripped of its skin to be thoroughly exposed under the
stinging sunlight. The pale sides of his neck revealed his
vulnerability, and as the wind huffed at his sleeves, he let loose a
laugh into the long, endless stillness and gently tossed the candy
away.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 171 : TATTOO
Translated with: Jia<3

Ding Tao was petrified. In that instant when their eyes met, he
thought that he would die like Jida had. He could still remember
the expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes when the latter killed Jida,
and the same expression had been in those eyes as they locked on
him just a moment ago. He wanted nothing more than to run, and
when Shen Zechuan handed him the candy, he lost the courage to
raise his arm.
It was silent under the eaves. Shen Zechuan had already
retreated back into the room. The harsh sunlight blazed upon Ding
Tao’s frame. He had yet to recover his wits. That kind of feeling was
indescribable, but one thing was for sure—this was not the young
master he was familiar with.
Ding Tao lifted both arms and wiped haphazardly at his eyes.
He wanted to pick up the candy, but it had long melted from the
heat of the sun. The delicate sweetness of osmanthus attracted a
colony of ants. Ding Tao remained kneeling in place. He did not
know why, but the tears had begun to pitter-patter down from his
eyes.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan’s interrupted memories could no longer be
strung together into a coherent whole. It had been too dark in the
dream; he simply could not remember any more details. He stood
behind the bamboo blinds and heard Ding Tao sobbing beneath
the eaves.
Shen Zechuan told himself:
He must not dwell too deeply on this dream.
He had to sieve the truth from falsehood as soon as possible
and decipher if the contents of this dream were real scenes he had
genuinely seen before or if they had been a figment of his
imagination. For six years, he had been subjected to the
compulsion of nightmares; he knew best that such dreams were
sometimes a mixed bag of reality and fiction. It was just like how he
used to dream of the Chashi Sinkhole in the past, although the
sight that greeted him in the sinkhole would change according to
his state of mind.
After Shen Zechuan had gotten injured during his trip to
Chazhou, he dreamed of himself lying in the sinkhole. That was the
prelude to his mistrust of his own body and his realization that he
had begun to fear death. Frequent nightmares could mess with
memories, and in truth, Shen Zechuan could no longer be certain
of the words that Ji Mu had said to him before his death.
How dangerous.
Shen Zechuan thought self-deprecatingly to himself.
It was just one Shen Wei.
◈ ◈ ◈
Liu’er’s network of connections came in very handy. They hid all
over the city in every street and alley, and as long as they were paid
enough, they could become “eyes” of varying sizes. By capitalizing
on these informants, Fei Sheng could snoop into every nook and
cranny of Dunzhou without even stepping foot outside. However,
Lei Jingzhe’s movements were intriguing, to say the least.
“Lei Jingzhe has been brazenly carrying out his search for three
consecutive days. He’s checked through all the goods entering and
exiting.” Fei Sheng said in a hushed tone behind Shen Zechuan.
“Master, could it be that he already knows that we’re in the city?”
Shen Zechuan was wearing a zheyang hat1 that was common in
Qudu. “If that’s the case, he should be checking the wagons and
carriages of the merchants coming and going rather than the
goods themselves.”
This batch of military supplies was very important to Lei
Jingzhe; otherwise, he would not have promptly rushed over to
Dunzhou to check on it personally. Based on Shen Zechuan’s
guess, Lei Jingzhe wanted to exchange this batch of supplies for
something else of equivalent value from the Twelve Tribes of
Biansha. Yet, he did not search to the west immediately when he
arrived in Dunzhou; instead, he wandered around the city of
Dunzhou.
Shen Zechuan lifted his arms to lean over the edge of the
railing and surveyed the restaurant from top to bottom through the
sheer fabric. He took his time organizing his thoughts, then said,
“Checking the goods shows that Lei Jingzhe thinks those supply
wagons will still return to Dunzhou.”
How strange.
Shen Zechuan tapped his fingertips on the railing.
How could Lei Jingzhe be so sure that the supply wagons
would return to Dunzhou? The numbers of powers in Zhongbo who
could devour this batch of provisions were few and far between.
Cizhou was one of the primary suspects. Shen Zechuan was even
prepared to challenge Lei Jingzhe openly, but as it turned out, Lei
Jingzhe had not suspected him at all.
“Master, even if Lei Jingzhe thought someone else robbed the
supplies, who would resend them back to Dunzhou?” Fei Sheng
could make neither head nor tail of it. “There are still Scorpions
stationed here. Transporting the supplies back would be walking
right into the trap.”
“You’re right.” Shen Zechuan, who had been having difficulty
sleeping these days, wearily massaged the center of his brows.
“Who in the world would rob the goods and send them back
later…”
This made no sense at all.
“The informants we have successively planted in Dunzhou
turned out to be of no use precisely because it’s too chaotic over
here.” Fei Sheng plucked up his courage and said, “Could it be a
bandit who is unwilling to defect to the Biansha people scheming
against Lei Jingzhe?”
Shen Zechuan thought about it carefully and gave a slight
shake of his head. “After the split of the Mount Luo bandits, there
has never been a leader who could win over the masses. Ding Niu
and Liu’er were taken captive because they never thought of
joining forces to oppose Lei Jingzhe. It’s possible for them to be
small-time bandits based on their current size, but they would
never have the courage to lay their hands on such a big batch of
supplies. “
Military armament was not like other things. They could not be
taken apart and hidden like grains. Given that this batch of supply
wagons required hundreds of bandits to push it, it was easy to
imagine just how heavy it was. Those small-time bandits could not
have swallowed it at all. Shen Zechuan’s ability to transfer them
hinged on the fact that he did not kill off that batch of bandits,
along with the fact there was also the Libei Armored Cavalry
tagging along to hold the bandits in check. Otherwise, he would
not have easily gotten his hands on this batch of stuff.
This matter was so bizarre it was a little ludicrous.
Fei Sheng did not dare to laugh. He thought about it for a
moment. If only Mister Chengfeng or Yuanzhuo were here, he
would not have needed to speak up. But there was no one beside
Shen Zechuan at present, and Fei Sheng would look like a
blockhead if he just stood there without moving, so he thought
hard about it for a moment and said, “Could it be—”
A sudden stir of commotion downstairs cut off Fei Sheng’s
words. Shen Zechuan lifted the veil of his hat and squinted his eyes
at the main hall. Being on the fifth floor, they had a full view of the
situation in the main hall.
This restaurant belonged to the Yan clan. Shen Zechuan was
here because Lei Jingzhe would be here tonight to entertain a
certain someone. The identity of said person was unknown for the
time being. His informants were not good enough to pull off that
level of information, but Shen Zechuan more or less had a guess
who it was.
“The scorpions.” Fei Sheng lowered his voice. “Lei Jingzhe
brought the scorpions.”
Shen Zechuan looked down at Lei Jingzhe. The latter had just
recovered from his injuries, and his hair had been cropped short.
One could hardly distinguish him from the Biansha Scorpions
crowding around him. Due to the distance, Shen Zechuan was
unable to get a clear look at the tattoo on Lei Jingzhe’s nape.
Lei Jingzhe apparently had matters to attend to. He stepped
across the hall and hurried up the stairs.
“If he’s here for the feast,” Fei Sheng slowly furrowed his brow,
“then that’s quite the number of people he has brought along with
him, isn’t it?”
There were plenty of merchants in this building, but no one
dared to stand in Lei Jingzhe’s way. He had indeed brought a lot of
men with him; there were at least thirty of them. A few of them
followed him up the stairs while the rest took their seats in the main
hall. The Imperial Bodyguards in their various disguises kept their
composure and watched Lei Jingzhe as they drank, made merry,
and even brushed past him.
Shen Zechuan picked his teacup up and watched Lei Jingzhe
head up the fifth floor to the area across from him. He sipped his
tea and said, “When you get back, give Liu’er some monetary
reward for his accuracy in pinpointing the location.”
Fei Sheng acknowledged the order.
The party on the opposite end lowered the bamboo blinds to
keep out prying eyes. The few men Lei Jingzhe brought along
stood guard outside. Fei Sheng, who had great eyesight, carefully
searched for the scorpion tattoos on these men’s bodies with the
help of the lit lanterns.
A little less than an hour later, the lanterns in the building were
all raised. The party on the other side called for their food to be
served, and waiters weaved in and out of the area. Fei Sheng
attempted to shift his position, but the screen at the other end had
been so cleverly erected that he could not find the chance to
snoop.
Lei Jingzhe’s feast stretched on for a very long time from the
hour of you to the hour of hai, and they still had yet to call it a day.
Shen Zechuan had already finished an entire pot of tea and was
leaning sleepily against his chair. Another two hours passed, and
the vibrancy in the atmosphere in the building turned up a notch
instead of evaporating.
“It’s the Yan Clan’s show now.” Fei Sheng reminded Shen
Zechuan in a whisper. “Master, this is a signal for the various
merchants to have fun among themselves.”
Shen Zechuan breathed an acknowledgement and tiredly
opened his eyes to look downstairs for a while from his seemingly
drab seat. “A free market it is. The Yan clan profits from playing the
mediator between the various parties here. What they collect is
privilege money. Tell them in a while to sell the grains we brought
over as well.”
 “Human traffickers.” Fei Sheng looked attentively at the people
below. “That’s the procuress from Fanzhou.”
The procuress of Fanzhou was a rotund, heavily made-up
woman ostentatiously decked out in loud, showy apparel. When
she came here in the past, it was for the specific purpose of
bringing children for Lei Changming; she had never carried out
any transactions with the other merchants. But her business in
Dunzhou was impeded when the Yan clan fell out with Lei
Changming, so she reluctantly switched to selling women, whom
she took in from the various prefectures in Zhongbo. In those few
years where the starvation among the people was at its worst, a
dou of grains could be exchanged for an entire family of young
and old.
“Master.” Fei Sheng half-bent over and began to introduce in
detail. “This procuress’s name is Cuiqing. We dug into her
background in passing while we were monitoring the prices of
commodities in Fanzhou. She and Lei Changming have a shared
past. She was initially a native of Duanzhou, and before the defeat
of the Zhongbo’s troops, she worked as a procuress too. Later, she
went to Fanzhou and continued to ply her old trade there. Lei
Changming was the one who forked out the deposit. That was why
she was willing to take the risk and deliver the children to Lei
Changming.”
Grasping her handkerchief in hand, Cuiqing twisted her body
to squeeze through the group of merchants. No one dared to take
advantage of her in this place. On the contrary, however, she would
think of ways to get her hands on whoever she occasionally took a
fancy to. As an old-timer in the three prefectures of Dunzhou,
Duanzhou, and Fanzhou who had dabbled for a long time in the
trade, she had some involvement with Lei Changming and Cai Yu,
although she had yet to board a big ship like the Yan clan.
Cuiqing was so obese that she squeezed a few men out of the
way when she sat down. She crossed her legs and reclined against
the side of the table. The fair-faced man following behind her
kneeled to light her pipe for her. She tilted her head to suck in a
few mouthfuls, then blew out puffs of smoke.
 “My eldest nephew hasn’t come down yet?” Cuiqing cast a few
glances up. “They are taking such a long time. He should’ve been
done by now even if he was messing under the sheets, let alone
having a meal.”
The merchant sitting by her side said, “What good stuff has the
madam brought along this time? Take them out while you can and
show them to us. We’d be keen too if there’s one suitable!”
“Bah.” Cuiqing examined the gold and jade bracelets on her
right hand. “Are you even worthy of the good stuff? The ones we
brought along this time are not salacious goods worth a mere few
dozens of silvers. Those are all young virgins in the prime of their
youth! In Qudu, you can forget about taking them away without at
least a few hundred taels.”
“How is a virgin worth this sum? Whores are all temptresses, so
it’s only natural for them to be more expensive the more seasoned
they are!”
“You guys are only worthy of fooling around in those lousy
brothels.” Cuiqing stroked the fair-faced man’s cheeks with her
manicured finger that had been painted with nail polish and
cackled. “Back in the old days when Duanzhou was still the money-
spinner of Dazhou, all the girls in my stable were unrivaled
beauties. Which of the cheap sluts from other brothels has even
been able to beat my girls in all the years the establishment has
been ranking them?”
Cuiqing generally did not bring up the past given how
pathetically she had fled during the defeat of the Zhongbo’s
troops, but the atmosphere was great tonight, with flattery freely
thrown around left and right. She smoked her pipe, looking very
pleased with herself as the others clustered around her.
“Not to boast of my high standards, but if it had been in the
past, the goods I brought along today would only be worthy
enough to serve tea in my establishment.” The rouge on Cuiqing’s
lips was bright red, and her thick make-up concealed much of her
wrinkles. From the contours of her face, it was visibly apparent that
this one had also been a great beauty several decades back.
“Come on, give us names!”
 With a contemptuous smile, Cuiqing said, “The top three in the
ranks were all girls from my establishment, and each one of them
married well. Today, prostitutes and performers are inseparable
from one another,2 but back then, they were as different as the
waters of the Jing and Wei Rivers.3 All of you have to spend gold
just to catch a glimpse of those who sell their arts, and they can
simply refuse to see you when they were in business. They were
even more precious than the young missies from rich, prominent
families. My eldest nephew’s mother was also a girl of mine, the
famous Xiaoyinlei4 of the Chashi riverside who married into the Zhu
clan in Duanzhou.”
As Cuiqing spoke, she pinched the man’s face and blew smoke
into his face.
“These were all small potatoes. The one I doted on the most
was the number one in the establishment. Ever heard of ‘pure as
white jade, as if made of porcelain’? Back then, just putting up her
name alone would have the whole city of Duanzhou turning up in
full force. Even the emperor himself who was faraway in Qudu
wanted a glimpse of her ravishing appearance!”
The surrounding merchants clapped their hands and said in
delight. “That’s Bai Cha!”
Under the spiraling wisps of smoke, an entranced Cuiqing put
up her hand, looking as if she was still reveling in her past as she
snorted and murmured, “Bai Cha huh… do you people really think
‘pure as white jade’ is a fabrication? She was what it truly meant to
be like jade and porcelain. If all of you were to see her, I’m sure all
of you would no doubt kneel down to be her footrest if she so
much as furrowed her brows. No one could bear to let her get
sullied by the dust on the ground…”
The hall reeked of smoke so thick that several courtesans who
were sitting with them coughed. But girls like them who earn a
living by prostituting themselves did not dare to cover their noses
and mouths for fear that the patrons beside them thought that they
were being disdained, so every one of them held it in until their
powered cheeks flushed red as they remained squeezed in the
middle, all drenched in sweat. Cuiqing got someone to set up the
cards with the intention to play a couple of games that were all the
rage in Qudu. The handsome man she brought along remained
kneeling by the side to massage her legs.
Not a few moments later, one of the courtesans simply could
not stand it anymore and knitted her brows as she covered her
mouth with a handkerchief and let out a light cough. The smell
seemed off to her, so she took a couple more sniffs, then jerked to
her feet with a cry of surprise and exclaimed, “Fire!”
The merchants and courtesans in the hall instantly panicked.
Everyone watched as billows of smoke rose. Those few attendants
who had been serving them had long died. Cries of alarm echoed
from all directions as everyone swept up the silvers in a fluster and
tucked the money into their bosoms without even knowing if the
money was even rightfully theirs. The cards had fallen and
scattered all over the ground. Cuiqing, being too obese, tottered
on her feet from being jostled against. Even the hairpiece by her
temple had fallen out.
“Open the door!” Those who had made it to the door first
pounded on it, shouting, “Why is the door locked?!”
Tables and chairs tipped over. Some people even attempted to
climb out of the windows, but the windows were sealed too.
Lei Jingzhe abruptly popped his head out and looked down.
When Cuiqing saw him, she quickly waved a handkerchief at
him and shouted, “My dear nephew! Hurry up and think of a way to
open the door. The back hall is on fire!”
Fei Sheng’s hand was already on the hilt of his blade. All it took
was for Shen Zechuan to give the command, and the Imperial
Bodyguards would immediately swarm the building. But Shen
Zechuan continued to drink his tea without saying a word.
Fei Sheng could not help but call out, “Master—”
As Fei Sheng spoke, a hand suddenly grabbed onto the railing
in front of Lei Jingzhe, and from there, a man heaved himself up
and leaped over. Lei Jingzhe’s countenance instantly changed. He
moved backward to dodge the other party’s incoming scimitar and
ended up knocking the screen over with a loud crash, exposing the
table and chairs in the middle. To their surprise, there was only Lei
Jingzhe himself.
 Fei Sheng blurted out in shock, “He didn’t invite anyone at all;
this was a bait meant to lure a snake out of its hole!”5
Shen Zechuan felt for his folding fan, but belatedly
remembered that he had broken it. He drained the tea and
watched the men that Lei Jingzhe had left downstairs rush up the
stairs. Oddly enough, other than the area Lei Jingzhe was in, the
rest of the place was very quiet.
Fei Sheng, with his sharp eyes, suddenly stuck his head out and
stared fixedly at the fight across them. He watched them carefully
without missing a single of their moves and exclaimed in
bewilderment, “Master, this man is also a ‘scorpion’!”
The man who came to assassinate Lei Jingzhe had, in the thick
of the action, inadvertently exposed the side of his neck, where a
tattoo of an impressive scorpion identical to Jida’s was inked!

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Footnotes
1. 遮阳帽 zheyang hat; a ‘sunshade’ hat typically worn by
the literati or scholar-official.
2. 买艺 performer-courtesans who sell “arts” like music,
dancing, and literary skills in painting and poems, etc as
opposed to those who simply sold their bodies. Sometimes
they did both, but there were also those who didn’t sell their
bodies and only entertained patrons with their crafts.
3.
4. 泾渭分明 as different as the waters of the Jing River
(clear) and the Wei River (muddy), i.e., distinctly poles apart
from one another
5. Literally, Little Silver Bud
6. i.e. To lure someone into the open or into taking action
openly.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 172 : HERU
Translated with: Jia<3

Internal strife!
Fei Sheng subconsciously thought. They were already fighting
tooth and nail on the other side. Lei Jingzhe’s old injuries had yet
to heal, and he was presently having difficulty parrying the other
man’s savage attacks. All he could do was to keep dodging. In the
midst of blows being traded by the two opposing teams of
scorpions in the cramped private room, Shen Zechuan saw
scimitars and piked daggers.
Fei Sheng was itching to take action. He wanted to make up for
the humiliation suffered earlier today and reclaim the dignity of the
Imperial Bodyguards who had been making mistakes after
mistakes. Heaven did not fail him; it arranged such a dog-eat-dog
scene to give him a helping hand. He drew out his Xiuchun blade
and said, “Master, let’s take this opportunity to take down Lei
Jingzhe and put him on trial!”
“What’s the hurry?” Shen Zechuan said at his own pace.
“They’re giving us a monkey show.”
Fei Sheng originally did not understand, but he saw how
nervous Lei Jingzhe looked, and the latter did not seem like the
person who planned this. Both sides were equal in numbers, and
the sound of things shattering during their fight persisted as
glazed lamps and jade vases were smashed to pieces. He
observed carefully and noticed that Lei Jingzhe was already
showing signs of intention to retreat.
It was pandemonium downstairs, but after the thick smoke
dispersed, all was still and quiet again. The lanterns were raised as
usual, with huge, glazed palace lanterns of various dazzling
patterns hanging in the center of the main hall. The dead
maidservants and attendants were all disposed of, and even the
bloodstains on the ground were wiped clean. With a lift of the
curtain at the back, a new batch of maidservants came pouring in
bearing trays in their hands. They picked up those overturned
tables and chairs and pulled the various merchants back into
position with smiles and chatters.
A bronze gong1 suddenly sounded, and the attendant they had
initially seen in the pawnshop stepped onto the stage in his new
robe. He struck the gong he was carrying in his hand a few more
times and announced in a loud, clear voice, “Mount Luo’s Chief of
Bandits, Lei Jingzhe, versus, Dunzhou’s Little Scorpion, Hairigu.
Tonight, when martial arts expert meets martial arts expert, who will
live and who will die? Gentlemen, place your bets!”
Fei Sheng did not expect such a turn in the course of events.
Even though he was used to seeing all kinds of unpredictable and
tumultuous situations in Qudu, he still blurted out in shock, “They
are betting on lives?”
The bamboo blinds in the fifth-floor rooms were promptly lifted
to reveal the wealthy merchants relaxing in their seats, drinking
their tea, waving their fans, and smoking their pipes. Lei Jingzhe
wanted to leap out of the window to make his escape, only to
realize that the window in particular had been nailed shut.
“I’ve long heard that the young master of the Yan clan doesn’t
do anything that doesn’t profit him.” Shen Zechuan said, “To think
he could do such roaring business too when it comes to such a
trade.”
The screen in the private room was cleared aside, and the swift
sounds of abacus beads being flicked rang out like the pelting of
rain. The other man grinned. “Men flock together and part ways for
the sake of their own interests;2 even blood brothers still have to
settle their accounts clearly. One ought to make the most of things
at their disposal!” Having said that, he stopped what he was doing
and hold on to the windows to poke his head over and give Fei
Sheng the once-over. He winked at Shen Zechuan and said with a
smile, “It’s not easy to find an Imperial Bodyguard. This gentleman
seems to me to be dignified in appearance and of the right stature.
I can take him to Madam Cuiqing later as an apology. My lordship,
sell him to me, will you?”
On hearing him point out Shen Zechuan’s identity with just one
sentence, Fei Sheng could not help but tighten his grip on his
blade and stand before Shen Zechuan to shield him. This man was
three or four years older than Ding Tao. He had a childish air about
him, and he was fair-skinned and exquisite-looking, with eyes that
seemed to be soaked in honey. He looked particularly likable.
Lei Jingzhe, who was on the opposite end, saw him and flew
into a rage. Holding himself back with great difficulty, he said,
“Why did the Young Master deceive me? You’d rather offend
Gedale for the sake of a couple of scorpions?!”
“Gedale is far away on the eastern side of the Chashi River.” Yan
Heru retracted his head and said, “Your maternal uncle owes me
580,000 taels of silver, while you owe me 340,000 taels of silver.
Isn’t it only right and proper for you to pay off your debts?”
Lei Jingzhe snapped the chair’s leg broken and did his utmost
to dodge the sudden glint from the blade. He suffered a setback in
Xiao Chiye’s hands the last time and had to rely on Li Xiong to
escape by the skin of his teeth, and now he found himself encircled
once again, except this time he had played right into the hands of
his own people!
Yan Heru leaned over the railings and swung his legs as he
watched Lei Jingzhe fight for his life. He shouted towards those
downstairs, “A battle between formidable foes of equal strength is
a rare sight to behold, so put up your names to register yourselves
and take your hands off after placing your bets. Double your profit
if you win, and if you make a loss—heh, treat it as post-meal
entertainment! As long as you’re in Dunzhou, I, Yan Heru, will not
let anyone walk out of here a broke man without even a pair of
pants to cover his ass.”
Lei Jingzhe was trapped in a deadly battle for his life. He had
only brought along thirty men because he had been a fool to
believe Yan Heru’s lies! Now that Lei Jingzhe had the support of the
Biansha Cavalry along with four hundred Scorpions stationed in
Dunzhou, Yan Heru would have to show him due respect as long as
he still intended to run his business in the east. But for all his
machinations, Lei Jingzhe had never expected Shen Zechuan to be
the person who had seized the military supplies.
The iron cage in the hall was already up by now. Both Lei
Jingzhe and the Scorpions in the other camp had suffered heavy
casualties, with more than half of their men wounded and dead.
Lei Jingzhe spoke to the man that had come to assassinate him in
Biansha tongue, “Hairigu, we are all brothers from Gedale, so why
fight each other to the death here? Join forces with me to get out
of this predicament tonight, and I will not pursue what happened to
that batch of military supplies!”
But the other man did not respond and swept his seaweed-like
hair back before pulling out his piked dagger to pounce on Lei
Jingzhe.
Yan Heru spoke as he poured the wine, “Is your lordship not
curious how I knew you’d come?”
“Liu’er’s informants all come with their own prices.” Shen
Zechuan peeled an orange and brought it to his mouth. “As long as
the money is enough, any news can change hands and be resold.”
Yan Heru laughed again. “It sounds like I’m not smart enough
when you put it this way, but I actually got an inkling right away.
Huaizhou’s miscellaneous grains other than rice and wheat to the
east have all gone into Cizhou’s granaries. There’s no one else
capable of taking them out in such large quantities other than you,
Shen Zechuan.”
“What a coincidence then,” Shen Zechuan said, “to be meeting
you here.”
“Don’t be so modest,” Yan Heru spoke. “Your lordship is here to
lie in wait for the opportunity to present itself, aren’t you? I truly find
it strange. How did you know that the person Lei Jingzhe invited
tonight was me?”
Shen Zechuan finished up the orange before continuing. “Lei
Jingzhe’s trip to Dunzhou this time to search through the goods
surely offended all the merchants, yet the Yan Clan didn’t step forth
to obstruct him. This suggests that both parties have been keeping
each other in the loop. In that case, he would have to invite you
over for a drink, wouldn’t he? He can also seize the opportunity to
mend his relationship with the Yan Clan; what’s not to like about
that? For that purpose, he even went as far as to select a restaurant
owned by the Yan Clan as a show of sincerity to you.”
Delighted, Yan Heru commended, “You’re so smart!”
Yan Heru placed his interests first and foremost in everything
he did, yet he appeared to be especially innocent and naïve as he
held that heavy golden abacus in his bosom, looking all like a child
god of wealth. If it weren’t for him being adorned with gold and
jade from head to toe, Fei Sheng would never have been able to
guess that he was the current head of the Yan Clan had he been
walking down a street.
On the other side, Lei Jingzhe was already fatigued from the
fight when he saw yet another wave of men rushing up from below.
They were vastly outnumbered and trapped in this private room.
Lei Jingzhe was unwilling to yield, and the Scorpions in the back
smashed the window panels with their elbows.
The night breeze immediately drifted in from the outside. Lei
Jingzhe did not make the first move. He merely watched as the
scorpion who had created the opening stuck his head out, only to
meet with calamity right in the face. In the blink of an eye, his head
had been decapitated.
Yan Heru grunted. “This is my restaurant. You leave when I tell
you to leave, and you stay when I tell you to stay!”
It was teeming with people both inside and out!
The circle of men surrounding Lei Jingzhe shrunk as they
closed in on him. All the merchants at the foot of the building were
men who acted depending on the individual in question. So when
they saw that Lei Jingzhe was no longer in the position to turn the
tables, they hurried to follow in Yan Heru’s footsteps and place their
bets against Lei Jingzhe. All of them were waiting for him to die.
The atmosphere started to heat up with restlessness. Cuiqing
clutched at her handkerchief, not bashful in the slightest as she
removed all the bracelets on her arms and bet it all on Hairigu. She
had long forgotten about her eldest nephew, Lei Jingzhe.
Shen Zechuan abruptly asked. “Did you scheme to kill Lei
Jingzhe because you knew I was in Dunzhou?”
A bored stiff Yan Heru answered, “That’s right. I have to go
where the wind blows. The trade route between Huaizhou, Cizhou,
and Chazhou is kind of interesting. There’s even the Libei Armored
Cavalry for added security, and you can get a ride up to the frontier
trade market if you head up. Imagine if we join forces; the three
territories in the northeast of Dazhou will be as good as ours, yes? I
can keep a chokehold on Qidong’s military provisions for you, and
you can take me along for the ride. Each with our own needs.” As
he spoke, he switched his posture. “The way I see it, you are
gunning for Qudu. You have a bright future full of limitless
possibilities ahead of you.”
“So I see.” Shen Zechuan rose to his feet and motioned for Fei
Sheng to get his cloak.
“Aye.” Yan Heru rocked his chair as he looked at the shadows
and wondered in puzzlement. “The show isn’t over yet, and the
man has yet to be slaughtered, so why are you leaving already?
Don’t you want Lei Jingzhe’s head?”
Shen Zechuan secured his cloak and looked back. “There’s no
one to mind those four hundred scorpions, is there?”
Yan Heru answered, “Your lordship is here. Get your Cizhou
Garrison Troops to annihilate them.”
“Then I’ll have to apologize.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile. “I
brought only a dozen or so people with me.”
The words had only just left Shen Zechuan’s mouth when the
doors to the main hall suddenly crashed open. Yan Heru craned his
neck for a look. Scorpions filled the area outside, and they had
even taken out the last remaining head cart3 in the armory.
Lei Jingzhe leaped onto the railing and let loose a short whistle
to signal the scorpions to attack. The men outside the building
were all martial pugilists Yan Heru bought over with money, but
pitting them against the scorpions who were specifically trained to
fight battles with the Libei Armored Cavalry was no different from
throwing an egg against a rock. In no time, their broadswords and
daggers were all flung away by the hammers.
A crash rang out from the private room as a chair overturned.
Yan Heru bunched up his robe and climbed to his feet with the
golden abacus in his arms, intending to flee. The moment he
opened the door, he bumped into Fei Sheng. Fei Sheng lifted him
up by the back of his collar, and as both of his legs left the ground,
Yan Heru cried out, “What the hell?! We’re on the same side!”
Yan Heru’s guards tried to seize him back, but the Imperial
Bodyguards had already risen with their blades drawn.
Shen Zechuan said, “Let’s leave together. We can get to know
each other on the way.”
 Unable to break free, Yan Heru could only let Fei Sheng carry
him downstairs like a quail, although he did not forget to yell,
“Hairigu, we’re leaving! Come on!”
Chaos descended upon the hall once again. The Biansha
scorpions did not give a damn about anything else and simply
swung their hammers to smash anyone they came across. Cuiqing
watched as blood and brain matter spurted out of the head before
her and splattered her all over. Rattled, she held onto the table for
support and recalled the savagery of the Biansha Cavalry as they
massacred the city several years ago. She could not help but shriek
as she scrambled backward in an attempt to dodge. “Eldest
nephew, save me!”
There was complete mayhem at the foot of the building, and
the exit was completely blocked off. With Yan Heru in tow, Fei
Sheng stopped on the third floor and kicked the window of the
private room open before stuffing Yan Heru out.
Yan Heru shut his eyes and yelled in the wind, “Stop—! I’m your
master—!”
The martial pugilists who were still standing guard outside the
building hurriedly kept away their blades. The wind whistled past.
Yan Heru opened his eyes with some difficulty and said resentfully,
“What the heck did you come here for when you didn’t bring your
troops?!”
Fei Sheng said to Shen Zechuan, “Master, there is a shop down
from this place, and our carriage lies across the street from it.”
The moment Yan Heru heard it, he clung on to the window and
shook his head hard. “I’m not going this way! I don’t know martial
arts—”
Shen Zechuan could not be bothered to waste his breath on
him, and so with a lift of his leg, he kicked Yan Heru down.
Wind filled Yan Heru’s wide-open mouth as he plummeted
down with his arms and legs flailing and watched himself plunging
right towards the ground. The fabric tarp at the top of the shop
suddenly sank from the weight, but it did not rip apart. With one
hand lifting Yan Heru, Fei Sheng climbed the ledges of the building
with an arm and swung in the air for an instant before leaping off
with Yan Heru and landing on his feet.
 The Imperial Bodyguards were all lithe and dexterous men, and
this move did not take them much effort to execute. The moment
Fei Sheng landed, he tossed Yan Heru to his subordinate, took two
swift steps back, and shouted, “Master!”
Shen Zechuan landed deftly on the eaves and stepped on Fei
Sheng’s shoulder with help from the fabric tarp before landing on
the ground as well. All hell broke loose as the sound of slaughter in
the building rose through the roof. Fei Sheng did not dare to
confront the scorpions head-on, so the moment Shen Zechuan was
sent into the carriage, he waved his hand in a signal to retreat.
The Imperial Bodyguards moved swiftly and drove into the
busy streets in the blink of an eye.
Lei Jingzhe pushed the windows open, but there was already
no trace of Yan Heru to be seen. He pounded his fist against the
window in a fury and turned around to continue speaking in
Biansha tongue, “Don’t let these traitors go.”
◈ ◈ ◈
It was silent all around when the horse carriage came to a stop.
Yan Heru clung close to the wall of the carriage, covering his
chest with his hands as he pleaded. “If nothing else, we can talk it
over, and the prices are all negotiable. My lordship, don’t get
mad!”
Shen Zechuan took off his zheyang hat and tossed it aside,
then said to Fei Sheng, who stood outside. “Lift the curtain.”
Fei Sheng lifted the carriage’s curtains, and a turbid smell
immediately drifted out of the carriage. Fei Sheng thought there
was something wrong with this scent, and Yan Heru followed up
with a shy, embarrassed smile, “Whenever I get anxious, I’ll feel like
farting.”
The Imperial Bodyguards outside immediately started
coughing.
Shen Zechuan let loose a laugh, and Yan Heru promptly felt a
chill run down his spine. He pedaled his legs to squeeze against
the wall of the carriage, and heard Shen Zechuan say in a gentle
tone, “Strip him.”
“My mother was right!” Yan Heru was now anxious. “Good-
looking men are all beasts! Don’t, don’t do this! I don’t swing that
way!”
Fei Sheng held down the back of Yan Heru’s head and stripped
him in no time, although he fortunately left his pair of pants
untouched. The nights in the eighth month of Dunzhou were chilly,
and Yan Heru, being such a delicate and fair-skinned lad, was so
freezing cold that his teeth chattered and caused him to stutter.
Fei Sheng said, “Master, there’s no scorpion on him.”
Shen Zechuan slowly folded his arms and went straight to the
point as he looked at Yan Heru. “What’s your relationship to the
scorpions?”
Yan Heru rubbed his arm and blinked his pair of doe eyes hard.
“Why are you asking me this? Your lordship, that’s not right. You
should be asking what your relationship to the scorpions is.”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were unfathomably deep as he asked,
“What’s my relationship to the scorpions?”
After a few moments of silence in the carriage, Yan Heru
answered innocently, “I have no idea.”
Shen Zechuan continued, “Fei Sheng.”
Fei Sheng reached out to drag Yan Heru out. On seeing this,
Yan Heru started to struggle to get up. “I really don’t know! Hairigu,
Hairigu! You tell him!”
A man tumbled out from behind the horse carriage and fell to
the ground panting. It was the man who first attempted to
assassinate Lei Jingzhe earlier. With his prominent nose and deep-
set eyes, he had the distinct appearance of a Biansha native, but he
had black hair and black eyes, and the contours of his face were
much softer than Huhelu’s and Hasen’s. As he turned over, he
revealed the scorpion tattoo at the side of his neck.
Hairigu was wounded. At the same time he covered his wound,
he looked at Shen Zechuan behind the flashes of swords and
answered in a low, deep voice, “Son of Gedale.”

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Footnotes

1.
2. 锣 The Chinese gong is a musical percussion instrument
that takes the form of a flat, circular metal disc that is hit with
a mallet. Also used to call for attention.
3. From 天下熙熙,皆为利来；天下攘攘,皆为利往。i.e.. people
do things for their own interests

4.
5. 头车 literally head cart according to sources; a complex
siege weapon used for mining which can also be used as a
protective cover during a siege.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 173 : BLACK & WHITE
Translated with: Jia<3

This was the second time Shen Zechuan heard of “Gedale”.

Gedale was located to the east of Chashi River, and it fell under
the jurisdiction of Biansha’s territory. It was initially the temporary
site of residence for the Zhongbo bandits. Shen Zechuan was pretty
sure he had never been there before. His understanding of Gedale
was limited to the Bai Cha portrait that Li Xiong had once
mentioned. Going by the way Hairigu meant it, Shen Zechuan
could also call himself a “son of Zhongbo”.
“We are all sons of Gedale.” Hairigu stood up, his eyes alert as
his gaze wandered among the Imperial Bodyguards. He lifted a
hand gently and said, “We have a reason to sit down for a chat.”
“My brother died on the battlefield.” Shen Zechuan was
unmoved. “Before you make yourself clear, we are enemies.”
“Your enemy is the Biansha Cavalry.” Hairigu tightened the
bandage around his wound. “I’m the enemy of your enemy. We
can be friends.”
“Sure, friend.” Shen Zechuan said. “What do you want to talk to
me about?”
Hairigu pursed his pale lips and paused for a moment before
saying, “We can join forces to kill Lei Jingzhe.”
Moonlight streaked across the shadow of the carriage. Shen
Zechuan’s expression was cold and detached. He could not even
be bothered to answer, but his meaning was clear. If Hairigu
continued to beat about the bush without explaining himself
clearly, then he would not deign to give him any response.
“I know that the emperor of Dazhou is dead and that it’s the
emperor’s mother who is managing governmental affairs now. You
were driven out of Qudu, and then you fled back to Zhongbo. You
want to exact revenge, and you hope you can stage a comeback.”
Hairigu looked at Shen Zechuan with a complicated expression.
“You are swallowing up Zhongbo right now.”
 With his elbows propped on his knees, Shen Zechuan stuck his
face out from the shadows and looked down from above at
Hairigu. “Your information is too detailed.”
Hairigu kept his hands raised as though he was pacifying some
kind of beast and said, “This is information I have to dig out if I am
to survive in Zhongbo. Please do not take offense. You have already
erected your own city walls in the west, and now you want to head
east and take back Dunzhou, Duanzhou, and even the Chashi
Sinkhole. But Lei Jingzhe is standing in your way, and it will be very
troublesome for you if you can’t kill him. Brother, I want to kill him
too, so we can join forces.”
Shen Zechuan raised a finger and pointed to the side of his
neck. “You both have the same tattoo.”
“Because we are all sons of Gedale.” Hairigu repeated this
phrase. “Lei Jingzhe is a white scorpion. They are all men from
Dazhou who have defected to Amu’er.” As Hairigu spoke, he
spread his upper garment open to reveal the scorpion tattoo on the
side of his neck. “I’m a black scorpion.”
Fei Sheng observed it carefully and said, “There’s no difference
at all between your tattoos.”
“We don’t tell each other apart by our tattoos.” Hairigu
explained. “The tattoos are just markers the Biansha people used to
distinguish those from Gedale with the others.”
“Gedale lies within Biansha’s borders, and it falls under the
control of the Liaoying Tribe in its early days.” Shen Zechuan said.
“So what’s the difference between you people and the Biansha
people?”
“If you understand the Liaoying Tribe in its former times, then it
will occur to you why we are being differentiated from the others.”
Hairigu put on his clothes. “Before the Liaoying Tribe had Amu’er,
they were eagle slaves from the various major tribes. The Gedale
that was under their control was even more lowly. The bandits of
Zhongbo did business in Gedale by selling women, and these
women were very popular with the various major tribes—the noble
Hanshe Tribe, in particular, was very fond of women from Dazhou.”
 “But they were besieged.” Fei Sheng tossed a water canteen to
Hairigu. “These bandits ran rampant along the Chashi River, and
the women from decent families in Duanzhou suffered greatly. The
Zhu clan, unable to deal with the disturbance, reported it to Shen
Wei and requested for Dunzhou to deploy troops for assistance.
The commander of the Dunzhou Garrison Troops, Tantai Long,
promptly sent his troops to fight their way to Gedale and crush
these bandits.”
“But the respite was temporary.” Hairigu took the canteen.
“Those bandits had the protection of the Liaoying Tribe. They threw
in their lots with the Liaoying Tribe and became the Liaoying Tribe’s
slaves, but they were never respected. They became the lowest
class of people among the Twelve Tribes of Biansha and continued
to round up women for the people of Biansha. These women were
sent to the various tribes, where they became exchangeable
commodities.”
Tantai Long failed to eradicate the bandits completely, and it
did not take long for them to return to Gedale, where they
established their base.
“The children born to the women from Dazhou were called
‘wumengyun’.” Hairigu tugged at his black hair. “That is, ‘bastard’ in
Dazhou tongue. These bastards could not exist in the various major
tribes; they would carve out a portion of the purebred cattle and
sheep when they grew up. So, the various tribes drown them in the
Chashi River, or throw them back to Gedale.”
Fei Sheng, having been born of the Fei clan, was unable to
comprehend the rationale behind this move. “These children all
carry the blood of the various tribes. Even if their mothers are not
honorable enough, there’s no need to go to the extent of drowning
them, is there?”
“Do you know Hasen? That’s the son Amu’er truly
acknowledged. The Twelve Tribes are different from Dazhou. In the
desert, women take charge of child-bearing in the tribe and even
the distribution of cattle and sheep. They are an indispensable aid
to tribal survival and are capable of standing on an equal footing
with men. It takes an honorable mother to decide the future
direction of a child. Amu’er has so many sons, and there are plenty
of smart ones among them, but the moment they were born, they
all lost the qualification to fight for power with Hasen, and this is
precisely because Hasen’s mother is the most honored and
respectable woman in the Hanshe Tribe. Her role in Amu’er’s
formation of the elite forces in the north is indispensable.” Hairigu
took a few sips of water. “Bastards are unworthy of taking on the
surnames of the tribes, and so we were branded with a tattoo
along with the bandits.”
Shen Zechuan made some inferences from the timeline and
said, “Since you are distinguished between black and white, then
you must each have your own uses.”
“You have to understand one thing first. The so-called
scorpions is a form of address that came about after Amu’er’s rise
to prominence. Before Amu’er’s time, Gedale was a place where
the bastards lived together. It was only after the rise of Amu’er that
Gedale was really put to use. White scorpions, with their
appearance resembling those of Dazhou, could infiltrate deep into
Dazhou.” Hairigu screwed the canteen shut and made a crawling
motion with two fingers. “They can penetrate deep within, and they
have played their roles to unimaginable effect in the last ten years
or so. Meanwhile, the black scorpions are left behind in Gedale,
where Amu’er gives us the best teachers to train us to be strong
enough to stand up to the Libei Armored Cavalry.”
“Mutual assistance between black and white—you were helping
each other.” Realization dawned on Shen Zechuan. “There are no
iron mines in the desert. To equip yourselves with that kind of
hammer, you’d have to steal it from Dazhou.”
“That’s right.” Hairigu tossed the canteen back. “The white
scorpions secured equipment and grains for us from within
Dazhou. Other than those, there were military maps too.”
The military map of the six prefectures of Zhongbo!
“Whose information did Amu’er act on six years ago when he
attacked Zhongbo?”
Hairigu spread his hands apart and said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t
involved. But I can tell you that Amu’er has countless inextricable
links to Qudu. The defeat of the Zhongbo troops was merely a trial
run to test the waters, and it proved to be remarkably effective—
Libei was held in check, and the repercussions are still being felt a
few years later with the subsequent disintegration of Dazhou.”
Fei Sheng inwardly drew in a breath and looked at Shen
Zechuan in shock.
“Why do you call me a son of Gedale?” The jade earring on
Shen Zechuan’s right ear glinted.
Hairigu inclined his head and said, “Because Bai Cha split—”
Hairigu had yet to finish his words when an arrow fired in secret
pierced through the wind with a “swoosh” and stabbed into the
carriage. Yan Heru, who had been too afraid to make a sound and
who had been hanging in mid-air playing dead, promptly yelled,
“They are here!”
Fei Sheng immediately yanked the curtains down and
commanded, “Get on the horses!”
The carriage charged into the darkness of the night under the
escort of the Imperial Bodyguards, while Yan Heru was thrown back
into the carriage. The downtown streets of Dunzhou were wide and
spacious. The Yan clan had expanded it to facilitate the smooth
passage of the various merchants’ carriages. At present, the streets
were bustling with activity, with carriages coming and going in
never-ending streams.
Yan Heru tripped all over the place as he put on his robe and
said in a hurry, “Head for the Prince of Jianxing’s manor! I tore
down the former site of the Prince of Jianxing’s manor and
reconstructed a private residence in its place. There are a hundred
or so compound guards in there!”
Fei Sheng promptly turned the horses around.
◈ ◈ ◈
The glazed tiles of the Prince of Jianxing’s manor had long
been torn down. After Shen Wei’s self-immolation, all that was left
of this place was its dilapidated ruins. Yan Heru loved the place, so
he had reconstructed it into a private residence modeled in the
style of those in Qudu. A tall building with double-eaved roofs had
been built within this residence, and if one were to stand on top of
it, they would get a panoramic view of Dunzhou.
Fei Sheng carefully surveyed the manor before he entered. He
found Yan Heru rather strange. The latter had actually built a wall of
bricks on the outer layer and knocked down a hole in the wall to
install bows and arrows, with the mechanism connected to the
parapet. Looking at just how thick the wall was, it could even stand
up to an assault from a stone catapult.
“As businessmen, we fear being targeted in the dark and
stabbed in the back. There are plenty of unscrupulous people who
would do these kind of asshole deeds. I cherish my life. It surely
stands to reason for me to have a safe haven in Dunzhou, and I
won’t feel at ease if I don’t construct an impregnable fortress.” Yan
Heru invited Shen Zechuan upstairs. “This place is known as ‘Fuxian
Peak’. Aye, it’s a tall one. Your lordship, please come with me
upstairs to have some drinks and enjoy ourselves. We’ll see how
that silly fool Lei Jingzhe gets all distraught with anxiety and
frustration outside.”
Fei Sheng could not hold back from asking, “Aren’t you scared
he’ll fight his way in to hack your head off?”
Yan Heru turned his head back from atop the stairs and looked
at Fei Sheng with a brilliant smile. “What do I have to fear? A real
man isn’t afraid of a big scar. At most, my head will roll, but I’d still
be a hero again in eighteen years!”1
Yan Heru might have been exceedingly flippant with his words,
but he was genuinely unafraid. He was pertinent to the businesses
of the merchants from the two prefectures of Zhongbo. So many
people depended on him for their livelihoods. Despite having
suffered such a massive humiliation tonight, Lei Jingzhe would not
dare to kill him for real, for Yan Heru still had Hezhou as his shield.
In reality, Lei Jingzhe’s relentless pursuit was directed at Hairigu.
This little brat was an extremely crafty one.
Shen Zechuan guessed that the reason Lei Jingzhe and Hairigu
were embroiled in such a fierce fight with each other in Dunzhou
was likely because Yan Heru had been adding fuel to the flame. His
past support of Lei Changming failed to reap any results, and it was
only due to Lei Changming’s respect for him that he could retain
the store in Dunzhou. If it had been anyone else, this piece of
business would have been long gone. For this reason, he was
apprehensive about the monopoly on power Lei Jingzhe’s party
possessed. As such, he secretly funded Hairigu’s batch of scorpions
to let them mutually hold each other in check until they both
eventually had to rely on the Yan clan.
The maidservants entered in a single file and lit up the lights in
successive order. Thick and heavy draperies were lifted, while
pearl-white sheer fabrics were let down to take its place. There was
even a small covered veranda hanging with climbing figs and
devils’ ivy, surrounded by a murmuring stream the width of an arm.
An open-air pavilion was erected in the middle of it, adorned with
a refined rock garden that sat at an angle. The entire sky of stars
seemed to be within reach if one were to just gaze out into the
distance from here, along with an unobstructed view of the lantern
displays in Dunzhou.
“This building was built for the purpose of ascending high
enough to appreciate the view. If you stand here and look far out
into the east, you’ll be able to marvel at the Chashi River, which
mirrors a jade belt2 in Heaven and on Earth. This is a magnificent
view you cannot find anywhere else.” Yan Heru leaned against the
railings and said to Shen Zechuan, “It’s impossible to leave
Dunzhou for the time being. Your lordship can go ahead and stay
here, and we can discuss business.”
Shen Zechuan’s cloak fluttered in the wind as he held onto the
railing and looked down. He could see Lei Jingzhe’s forces coming
through the streets. “You sure are a dauntless one.”
Yan Heru flicked the beads on the golden abacus. “Money is
king. Lei Jingzhe himself has to call me granddaddy. I have
nothing to fear. On the other hand, your lordship will be in danger
if the Cizhou Garrison Troops are really not coming.”
“I come and go silently.” Shen Zechuan said. “It’s easy for me to
leave if I want to.”
“Bai Cha is the reason you came to Dunzhou this time.” Yan
Heru said to Shen Zechuan with a smile. “Hairigu knows everything.
You almost got a glimpse of the whole story, so you must be
burning with anxiety now, right? Bai Cha’s exact relationship to the
scorpions is something Hairigu knows best. Your lordship, I’m
sincere in discussing business with you. As long as you agree,
Hairigu will be at your disposal. If we join forces to get rid of Lei
Jingzhe, occupy the territories in the north and east, and develop
the trade route, the silver will come flowing in like water, no? What
happened in Chazhou will be written off immediately; I will not
blame you for Cai Yu’s death.”
Shen Zechuan bent over to lean against the railing too and
laughed.
Yan Heru’s smile gradually vanished, and he asked unhappily,
“What are you laughing at?”
“Lei Jingzhe came here today for Hairigu. If you don’t hand
Hairigu over, Lei Jingzhe will settle the score with you. You are now
thinking of using a forfeited pawn to trick me into doing business
with you. Such a good deal doesn’t exist in this world.” Shen
Zechuan looked out at the far end of Dunzhou in the direction of
Duanzhou. “The trade route between Huaizhou, Cizhou, and
Chazhou belongs to me. If you want a share of the pie, you have to
first convince me.”
Yan Heru fell silent for a moment as he faced the wide expanse
of the night, then laughed again. “Is your lordship still trying to
deceive me at such a juncture? Without your troops now, you are
merely a trapped beast. I won’t hand over Hairigu, but I can hand
you over.”
“You plotted to butcher Lei Jingzhe tonight. Going by Lei
Jingzhe’s character, this feud is as good as already inked in blood.
Even if he can tolerate you for a moment for the sake of money, he
will never let you off in the future. Moreover, you’ve already shown
your card that is Hairigu tonight.” Shen Zechuan tilted his chin up
slightly to bathe in the breeze. “Even if Lei Jingzhe is willing to bury
the hatchet with you, the same can’t be said of the Twelve Tribes of
Biansha backing him.”
Hairigu was not one man. He had also brought along a bunch
of scorpions who were similarly living a vagabond life in Zhongbo.
These people hid themselves all over the place, and most of them
had defected from Gedale. Yan Heru had provided them with
financial assistance in order to keep Lei Jingzhe in check, and there
was no doubt that the Twelve Tribes of Biansha would be settling
this score as well.
“At least I won’t die tonight.” Yan Heru said softly.
 “Then let us just perish together.” Shen Zechuan tapped his icy
fingers on the railings. “Hand me over to Lei Jingzhe tonight. Once
I die, I can wait for you down there in the underworld.”
“After tonight, I have plenty of ways to leave Dunzhou.” Yan
Heru snorted childishly in a loud voice.
“Then let me tell you this.” Shen Zechuan looked at him out of
the corner of his pitch-black eyes. “If I die, Dunzhou and Duanzhou
will die with me. No one will remember Zhongbo’s lost territories.
Qudu is too preoccupied with its own affairs, and Libei and Qidong
can’t be in two places at once. This place is a wide-opened
strategic gateway of Dazhou that can provide the Biansha Cavalry
with direct access in. They did not launch an assault in the past six
years because the granaries in Zhongbo had yet to be fattened up.
The time is now ripe, and Dazhou is already torn asunder by
disunity. Sooner or later, this place will become the territory of the
Biansha people.”
“Xiao Fangxu will not sit and do nothing. This place has a
bearing on Libei’s battlegrounds in the southeast.” Yan Heru said
quickly. “Qi Zhuyin has a well-trained and powerful army too. You’re
just trying to scare me! Shen Zechuan, without you, Zhongbo will
have just a few more random self-proclaimed kings. The overall
situation won’t change at all!”
“In that case,” Shen Zechuan raised his eyebrows slightly. “What
makes you go to such lengths to discuss with me?”
Oh shit. Yan Heru bemoaned to himself. To think he had been
led by Shen Zechuan’s words!
As they spoke, they heard a thunderous noise beneath them.
Yan Heru shifted his gaze over to look and could not help but
freeze, “Why are there so many people…”
“Ever since stepping foot into Dunzhou, I’ve been puzzled by a
question. There is clearly a bridle path leading right to Duanzhou,
so why did Lei Jingzhe still forgo what is close at hand and seek
what is far afield instead? Then, there is his proficient way of
searching the goods in the city. My guess is that this isn’t the first
time he has been robbed. The people hiding here are the thorns in
his side.” Shen Zechuan smiled slightly. “Even I could guess that
you are the one funding Hairigu, so do you really think Lei Jingzhe
won’t be able to make the same guess? He came prepared this
time. That invitation was indeed to lure a snake out of its hole, but
the one who took the bait was you.”
The lanterns on the streets were knocked over as the sounds of
horses’ hooves flooded in from outside, while the cavalry with no
end in sight resembled dark clouds that completely devoured the
river of lights from view. The troops Lei Jingzhe had brought over
had been hiding outside the city, all for the purpose of getting rid
of the mortal malady that was Hairigu once and for all. Fei Sheng
saw the saker falcons in the night sky. He briskly walked around the
railing and realized that those dark clouds were presently
steamrolling across the entire city of Dunzhou.
“He doesn’t dare to kill me.” Yan Heru involuntarily exposed his
panic as he hugged his golden abacus to his bosom and took
several steps back. “Hezhou…”
The head cart3 Lei Jingzhe brought along crashed heavily into
the front gates. Unable to withstand such a violent impact, the iron
sheet-covered latch on the other end of the door let loose a shrill
shriek in protest. Horses snorted and grunted urgently, while
circling saker falcons stirred up the overcast clouds. The starry sky
earlier had dimmed, leaving only the wind to continue howling in
never-ending torrents.
There was no use for scheming in the face of a strong army.
These iron hooves had no qualms trampling over the heart of
Zhongbo once before. What’s not to say they couldn’t do it again
this time?

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Footnotes
1. 十八年后还是(又是一)条好汉 i.e., reincarnate again as a
hero after death.
2. 玉带 literally jade belt, or belts made of jade worn by
high-level government officials in the course of duty. It’s also
a term in Fengshui where the road surrounds the building,
much like how the jade belt embraces the waist of the
wealthy in graceful semicircular arcs.

3.
4. 头车 literally head cart according to sources; a complex
siege weapon used for mining which can also be used as a
protective cover during a siege.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 174 : MAD DOG
Translated with: Jia<3

With Lei Jingzhe having opened up the Dunzhou armory, no

matter how solid Yan Heru built this mansion to be, it could not
stand up to a single blow in the face of military weapons built
specifically for sieges. Those arrows simply could not penetrate
through the shield of the head cart,1 and the door latch broke from
the impact of the crash. Before the crossbow arrows could be
reloaded, the Biansha Cavalry entered.
Fei Sheng stepped forward in a move to support Shen Zechuan
and said in an urgent voice, “Master, let’s evacuate from the back
and find a way to leave the city under cover of the night!”
“Lei Jingzhe wants to round up Hairigu and his people in one
fell swoop.” Shen Zechuan stood against the wind. “He
meticulously prepared for this, as evident in his use of a massive
force to besiege the city; he won’t leave any openings. It’s already
too late to be thinking of leaving the city now.”
Fei Sheng watched as the compound was surrounded. He knew
escape was impossible tonight. But as he had made it clear before,
he had to risk his life to ensure that Shen Zechuan remained safe
and sound, so he clenched his blade and stood motionless at the
side like a nail fixed in place beside Shen Zechuan. The Imperial
Bodyguards behind him all looked as if they were about to come
face to face with a formidable foe. For a moment, the atmosphere
was particularly somber.
The crescent moon at present looked like a thread concealed
away among the dark clouds. Heavy fog hung overhead in the sky,
bearing down on them. There was already no stopping the
destructive force in motion. Shen Zechuan was still leaning against
the railing, letting his gaze roam to take in the lights in Dunzhou—
this was the first time he got a clear look at Dunzhou.
Fei Sheng stood in silence. Together with the Imperial
Bodyguards, he watched Shen Zechuan attentively amid the
deafening sound of the melee below. Strangely enough, they were
no longer nervous, even at such a critical juncture of life and death.
Fei Sheng had only wanted to follow under Xiao Chiye’s
command in the past because Xiao Chiye had the unprecedented
spirit of a groundbreaking pioneer. On the day they rebelled and
fled from Qudu, Fei Sheng had done so willingly and
wholeheartedly. But Xiao Chiye refused to accept him, so he could
only step back to work under Shen Zechuan instead.
Shen Zechuan wasn’t likable.
His appearance made him a controversial figure who was the
subject of condemnation in Qudu. Shen Wei was a threshold. Many
people would rather stand on the outside to scrutinize him, as if the
verdict of his life and death all lay in those sprays of spittle. When
he left Zhao Zui Temple, everyone treated him as a noble clan
blade that had replaced Shen Wei, an imperial dog under the
empress dowager’s command. However, the subsequent
happenings deviated far from everyone’s expectations. In that
struggle for power, he quietly and steadily rose his way to the top.
By the time everyone realized it, he was already standing in the
heart of the political storm. He did not seem to possess that
imposing air of vim and vigor, and yet his thin and frail back was
the protective barrier in all the times he stood in front. Even if the
storm raged and left a trail of destruction in its wake, it would be a
rainless picture of calm and silence behind him for as long as he
remained standing.
Fei Sheng closed his eyes to clear his mind of distracting
thoughts. His heart felt calm and at ease at present—this was a kind
of tranquility that had no need for words of encouragement. He
had abandoned Ji Lei and forsaken Han Cheng; whoever he
followed had always been based on the opportunity availed to him
at that time. All along, he had never been able to understand the
trust Chen Yang and Gu Jin had in Xiao Chiye, but at this very
moment, as he stood in the wind and opened his eyes once again,
he possessed that trust.
Everyone in this world wants to be Xiao Chiye.
But there can be no other Shen Lanzhou!
 Horses’ hooves broke through the doors beneath them, while
dark clouds rolled overhead. Fei Sheng, who had been plotting to
seek personal gains by currying favors all his life, grabbed his
blade with one hand and kicked over the wooden chair beside him
to send it crashing into the Biansha Cavalry at the stairway. He
ripped his outer robe open and secured the blade in his palm, then
lifted the wine on the table and said to the various Imperial
Bodyguards, “Even if Heaven and Earth were to collapse today, we
must ensure Master remains safe and unharmed. Here we are,
chatting and drinking with a smile even as we are encircled by
powerful troops—this is a sight and honor we have never had while
serving the emperor.”
Fei Sheng raised his head back and gulped down the wine,
letting it trickle down and soak through the front of his clothes. He
smashed the bowl, then wiped his mouth and burst into wild
laughter.
“This battle is going to make legends out of us men. Brothers,
time to make a name for ourselves—!”
Xiuchun blades2 all left their sheaths in unison, and booming
laughter reverberated through the clouds. Blood splattered all over
the stairway as more than a dozen Imperial Bodyguards climbed
over the railings and brandished their blades to cut down the
Biansha Cavalry who were swarming towards them with sweeping
force. Heads rolled all over the narrow and cramped stairs. With
every rise of his hand and fall of his blade, Fei Sheng decisively
and efficiently hacked away at his opponents’ necks without the
slightest hesitation.
Lei Jingzhe did not dare to set the building on fire. He wanted
to catch Yan Heru alive, so he could only force his way up the stairs
in an attack. The Imperial Bodyguards were all at the top of their
game tonight. Those scorpions, who were unshakeable when they
turned out in full force, were unable to swing their hammers freely
after stepping onto the stairway, and this subsequently greatly
reduced the strain on the Imperial Bodyguards. Unable to ascend
the stairs, Lei Jingzhe sought out another way. Fuxian Peak towered
over the double-eaved roofs like a crane standing head and
shoulders among a flock of chickens, and so they used the cloud
ladder.3
Yan Heru watched as the Biansha Cavalry swarmed up towards
them en masse. Fuxian Peak seemed to be a relic pillar standing
alone between Heaven and Earth. He retreated to Shen Zechuan’s
side, shivering from the wind. “Since you dared to enter the tiger’s
den,4 then you must have prepared for it.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer. Yan Heru was about to say
something further when a hand suddenly grasped the railing
beside him, and a Biansha Cavalryman climbed his way up.
Without even thinking, Yan Heru raised his golden abacus and
slammed it down on the Biansha Cavalryman, knocking the latter
out. But there were still several men following close behind the
other man, and they made a sudden grab to hold up Yan Heru’s
abacus in place before flipping their way up.
Yan Heru lived by the maxim that “as valuable as the abacus
may be, life is worth even more”, so he promptly let go of his hand,
abandoning the abacus. He took several steps back, but tripped
over the small table and toppled over to the ground. That
cavalryman was a tall, strapping man, and he looked just like a
mountain when he stood before Yan Heru. On seeing him lift his
blade, Yan Heru hastened to yell, “Your lordship, save me! My dear
gege! The price is always negotiable!”
A saker falcon swooped past, and before the cavalryman could
lift his blade, a figure suddenly leaped up from behind. Hairigu
came pouncing from the air, taking out the cavalryman in one
slash. After he landed, he rolled on the ground and grabbed hold
of Yan Heru.
Yan Heru lifted his head, intending to gripe at Shen Zechuan for
being such an unrighteous one. But before he could open his
mouth, he saw a black shadow spring over the railing to land
heavily on top of it. Hairigu pressed Yan Heru’s head down and
bent over backward to dodge the iron hammer sweeping towards
them.
The man’s bare upper body was just as muscularly sculpted as
Jida, whom they had encountered a few days prior. The iron
hammer swooshed past in mid-air, causing a break in the flow of
the wind. When he stood up, Yan Heru had to raise his head to look
at him. The scorpion tattoo took up his entire back. He rolled his
shoulders as a warm-up, then proceeded to jump down the railing.
Hairigu pushed Yan Heru aside and fished out a piked dagger
from the back of his waist. The two of them did not even bother
with greetings as they immediately traded a flurry of blows with
one another.
There was nowhere for Yan Heru to hide in this chaos. He was
used to a life of lavish luxury, and the martial arts he used to learn
were merely all show but no substance. In any case, he had already
forgotten all of it. Afraid of being pecked with the saker falcons
hovering overhead, Yan Heru crouched low and scrambled with
both hands on the ground through any openings he could find
amid the mayhem. He managed with great difficulty to make his
way to the side, only to see a person squatting on the railing.
Yan Heru lifted his gaze, and his eyes promptly curved into
crescents as he revealed a smile and called out warmly, “Eldest
nephew!”
Lei Jingzhe sneered and reached his arm out to grab him.
Disregarding his dignity and image, Yan Heru rolled on the
ground to one side like a slippery loach. He reached for the railing
with the intention to climb up when he felt a grip on his collar.
Thinking it to be Lei Jingzhe, he hurriedly turned his head to plead,
“Lei-gege—”
But it turned out to be Shen Zechuan!
Shen Zechuan exerted force with his left hand and yanked Yan
Heru off the railing before tossing him in front of him. Before Yan
Heru had his chance to roll, Shen Zechuan pressed his foot against
the back of his waist to make him kneel. Yan Heru was stuck
between a rock and a hard place, with a wolf before him and a
tiger behind him. He wanted to cry as he kneeled in the middle,
but no tears came, so he put his palms together and said as though
he was paying religious homage, “I was merely jesting around with
my dear geges. Put the loss this time on my account. Let’s not
brandish our weapons anymore! Say, the three of us should join
forces and cooperate, then we’d be invincible in the world,
agree?!”
 Lei Jingzhe motioned for Yan Heru to shut up. He leaped off the
railing and stared at Shen Zechuan as he moved over with
unhurried steps. After a while, he said, “How have you been since
we parted, Vice Commander?” Without even waiting for Shen
Zechuan to answer, he continued after coming to a stop. “Guess I
should call you Prefectural Lord now.”
Everyone was locked in battle near and far, and the sounds of
tables and chairs being smashed resounded clearly in their ears.
Thick gloomy clouds hung over their heads as both of them stood
in the strong wind facing each other in a confrontation with Yan
Heru between them. The raging wind in the distance surged and
receded amid the backdrop of tens of thousands of lights in
Dunzhou.
Lei Jingzhe raised his hand to slap his nape and said in a
mocking tone, “I sure have excellent luck tonight. To think I could
catch such a big fish from this sewer. What? There’s no Xiao Chiye
to escort and protect you this time?”
Shen Zechuan raised a finger to remove the cloak on his
shoulder and inclined his head to say with a smile, “My husband is
up to his neck in military affairs. It’s inappropriate for him to go on a
long journey these days. We can discuss it ourselves if there are
any matters of concern.”
Lei Jingzhe’s eyes gradually darkened to conceal a sly glint
within. “Did you come to Dunzhou—oh, wrong. Did you return to
Dunzhou to hold a memorial service for Shen Wei?”
“I’m here on Young Master Yan’s invitation,” Shen Zechuan said
without batting an eyelid, “to discuss a plan to kill you.”
Yan Heru’s face blanched. He wanted to explain and defend
himself when he met Lei Jingzhe’s gaze, but on feeling the chill on
his nape, he did not dare to speak up. Shen Zechuan is truly a
ruthless one! He thought to himself. With just one word, the latter
had severed his route of retreat. Whether or not he survived this
night, Lei Jingzhe would no longer believe him!
“No wonder I could sense that the person who saved Yan Heru
back in the restaurant was no ordinary talent.” The expression in Lei
Jingzhe’s gaze was malevolent. “I initially meant to be
magnanimous and not lower myself to the level of a child. But I
never expected him to be so malicious to invite you over to work
out a scheme to kill me.”
“He’s a child at heart.” Shen Zechuan shifted his foot away from
Yan Heru. “He doesn’t know when to stop pushing it and inevitably
ends up angering you. It’s rather embarrassing.”
“You have been colluding in secret for a long time.” As
expected, Lei Jingzhe fell for the trap and contemplated it. “No
wonder I couldn’t find the supply wagons this time.”
“But you one-upped him tonight.” Shen Zechuan said as if he
conceded defeat. His eyes followed Lei Jingzhe. “I can switch
allegiances, seeing how it’s a matter of life and death now.”
Lei Jingzhe feared Shen Zechuan. He knew Shen Zechuan was
the most proficient in this kind of offensive and defensive warfare.
The moment he fell for Shen Zechuan’s words, he would be
irrevocably doomed. So Lei Jingzhe lowered his arms and sneered,
“Xiao Chiye ruined my base on Mount Luo. This is a score that can’t
be forgotten.”
“If you kill Yan Heru tonight, you will completely sever all your
contacts and dealings with Hezhou. But occupying both the
prefectures of Dunzhou and Duanzhou means that you have to
sustain the grains and military expenses alone in the future.” Shen
Zechuan attempted to coax him. “Cizhou’s granaries are currently
in abundance of grains. I can give you a helping hand.”
Lei Jingzhe threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Suddenly, he spoke, “Since you have been colluding with Yan Heru
for a long time, then you must have seen Hairigu. My guess is that
you came to Cizhou this time to take in these traitors by capitalizing
on Bai Cha’s name and reputation, right?!”
“Looks like the game is as good as lost for me tonight. I can’t
hide it from you.” Shen Zechuan sighed with a pang of regret.
“That’s right. I came here this time for precisely this matter. Lei
Jingzhe, we are all sons of Gedale. When it really comes down to it,
we are all fellow brothers too. So why draw our swords on each
other?”
“As long as you can hack off Xiao Chiye’s head, we can be
brothers.” Lei Jingzhe still bore a grudge against Xiao Chiye. He
said in a frosty tone, “You are deceiving me with such words only
because you saw how heavily besieged the city is now and you
know you can’t escape death.”
“Are you really going to kill me?”
“Setting an enemy free is like letting a tiger return to its
mountain—it will set the stage for future calamities.” Lei Jingzhe
said, “You took two months to devour Cizhou and Chazhou and
take Zhou Gui and Luo Mu under your command. I was initially
worried you would become the dominant power in Zhongbo in the
future the longer you live, and by then, it would be hard to remove
you. I didn’t expect you to deliver yourself to my doorstep. No
matter how you try to convince me with your glib tongue and
honeyed words, my killing you is a foregone conclusion!”
The wind flooded into Shen Zechuan’s sleeves, sending it
billowing and revealing his wrist bone. The bandage on his right
hand was visible as he gripped the blue handkerchief between his
fingers. He covered his mouth and coughed as though he could
not bear the cold on this tower. After the coughing stopped, he
said, “Can’t you give me a way out on account of the name Bai
Cha?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, it clicked in Lei Jingzhe’s
mind, and he promptly bellowed, “You deceived me. You don’t
know the specifics of the scorpions at all!”
With that, his fist went sailing through the wind right towards
Shen Zechuan’s face. Shen Zechuan had long been on his guard,
and he slid aside to dodge the punch. On missing his target, Lei
Jingzhe did not retract his fist but made use of the momentum to
grab Shen Zechuan by the arm. White robe fluttered gently in the
wind as Shen Zechuan moved away with elegant grace, causing
Lei Jingzhe to turn up empty-handed once again. Lei Jingzhe
squatted next and swept his leg out in a circle, and Shen Zechuan
sprang back against that wave of strong wind to land on the
railing.
The sound of killing beneath them boiled over like a seething
cauldron. Lei Jingzhe was determined to send Shen Zechuan to his
death tonight. On seeing Shen Zechuan standing perilously on the
edge, he grabbed his hammer and sent it swinging into the wind
with the intent to force Shen Zechuan off the tower. Shen Zechuan
balanced himself steadily on the railing. The strong wind roared
behind him, sending his sleeves billowing like a swan goose5 by
the railing. His right hand remained still; he was already in a
disadvantaged position.
Deciding that a psychological offensive was the best tactic, Lei
Jingzhe said in between movements, “Well, then! Shen Zechuan,
don’t you want to know Bai Cha’s relationship to the scorpions? I
will tell you tonight!”
He soared into the air and somersaulted onto the railing, where
he followed close in Shen Zechuan’s footsteps and attempted to
force Shen Zechuan into the corner.
“Bai Cha was a whore in a brothel in Duanzhou who worked
specifically for the Liaoying Tribe. She was a dog Amu’er planted
beside Shen Wei. She was a needle Biansha hid in Zhongbo!”
Shen Zechuan seemed to lose his balance as he teetered at the
edge for a bit. His sleeves suddenly danced backward. Fei Sheng,
who was deep among the horde of people, could not help but
panic when he saw this sight in his peripheral vision. “Master!”
However, in the next moment, Shen Zechuan braced himself
against the wind and swung back to stabilize himself.
On seeing this, Lei Jingzhe struck out at him suddenly, forcing
Shen Zechuan to retreat in order to evade the blow again. He
continued speaking, “Don’t you think you’re really a wretched one?
Being Shen Wei’s son caused you so much physical and mental
suffering! I shall pull you out of this abyss of misery. Shen Zechuan,
you’re a bastard child of Biansha. Bai Cha was a promiscuous
woman of loose morals—”
Lei Jingzhe felt the impact at the side of his neck, and this blow
nearly made him bite off his tongue. He hurriedly took a few steps
back and held himself steady at this high altitude, then turned his
head to the side and spat out the blood from the blow Shen
Zechuan had dealt him with.
Shen Zechuan had his left hand lifted in a martial arts stance,
his eyes freezing over with frostiness. His complexion looked
particularly pale under this faint veil of moonlight, as if he was a
piece of cold, bloodless jade. Slowly, he warned, “Watch your
tongue.”
 Lei Jingzhe threw his hammer aside and gradually put some
distance between them. He said in a low voice, “Every word I say is
the truth.” He continued with a pitying gaze, “You’re really the
world’s most pitiful child. Do you know how Bai Cha died? Shen
Wei found out her real identity, then strangled her to death with his
very own hands. You were born of abhorrence. Why did Shen Wei
raise you? Did you think you were regaining lost grounds when you
crawled your way out of the Chashi Sinkhole and returned to
Zhongbo after experiencing all that hatred and sorrows?” He let
out a dreary laugh and said cruelly, “You made it all out to be so
incredibly touching, but you didn’t expect it, did you? No one will
accept you for how you are. If Libei were to find out who Bai Cha is,
Xiao Chiye’s blade would turn on you.”
A jolt suddenly vibrated through the railing. At the same instant
Shen Zechuan sprang, Lei Jingzhe crossed his arms before him to
block the blow. The kick nearly made him lean over backward. With
both of them locked in fierce combat, Yan Heru did not dare to
remain close by and scrambled his way to the other end. Lei
Jingzhe nearly could not hold his own against the blows, and as he
retreated to evade the blows, he scraped against the wooden
frame for vines, knocking it over along with the glazed lamps
nearby. Flames pounced onto the woolen carpet, setting it ablaze
in the blink of an eye.
Lei Jingzhe was sure that Shen Zechuan had already lost his
measure of control. As both of them duke it out on the railing, the
flames behind them intensified.
Fei Sheng was all bathed in blood from the killing. He flipped
out of the stairway and shouted, “Master, it’s on fire. It’s inadvisable
to remain here for long!”
Lei Jingzhe felt a gush of wind at his back, and he spared
whatever remaining strength he had to dodge the Imperial
Bodyguards. “Dunzhou is my territory tonight. You have no way out
of here alive even if you fight to the death!”
In the midst of his proclamation, Lei Jingzhe saw white sleeves
rushing right towards him with a move so sudden it caught him off-
guard and caused him to stumble. Shen Zechuan grabbed Lei
Jingzhe by his collar, and in this heart-stopping moment, Lei
Jingzhe got a clear look at Shen Zechuan’s face. Even before Fei
Sheng could lend a hand, the sound of fabric tearing rang out, and
in a flash, a feather-like white figure plunged down together with
Lei Jingzhe!
Fei Sheng was seized with terror as he made a sudden grab for
him with a lightning move of his hand, but his hand merely
brushed past the corner of Lei Jingzhe’s clothes. Panic-stricken, he
cried out in a trembling voice, “Master!”
The instant Lei Jingzhe plummeted down, he came to the
conclusion that Shen Zechuan was gambling on his life with him!
During the drop, he swiftly stretched out his right hand. His back
slammed into the upturned eaves on Fuxian Peak. At the same time
the corner broke off from the impact, he grabbed hold of the eaves
and hung on, his feet swinging in the empty air. The blazing flames
looked as though they were engulfing the world, and in spite of
himself, Lei Jingzhe broke out in a sweat. Lei Jingzhe did not dare
to be negligent. His right hand was burning with pain as he
attempted to climb up the damaged eaves onto the protruding
tiles.
But Shen Zechuan had already climbed up from the other end.
He stepped down on Lei Jingzhe’s raised hand, and several tiles
tumbled off all at once and smashed into smithereens below.
Shaken, Lei Jingzhe spat out the blood in his mouth in the
wind. “Fuck!”
Shen Zechuan looked down at Lei Jingzhe, his badly torn
sleeves revealing his right hand while towering flames blazed
behind him. He removed the bandage and threw away the steel
needle that had been secured with it, then clenched his five pale
fingers into a fist to test his strength.
Lei Jingzhe’s fingers were hurting from being stepped on. He
had pulled the muscles on his arm earlier, and right now, he was
hanging on for dear life with all his might, his feet stepping in
empty air as he forced himself to cling on to the damaged eaves.
He saw that steel needle fall before his very eyes.
“Even if you kill me, you won’t survive this.” Lei Jingzhe looked
up and squeezed out a laugh. “You’re too pitiful. You’ve been
molded into a monster! After tonight, Zhongbo will be your
nightmare. You will toss and turn night after night, and you will be
on tenterhooks day after day. The land under your feet…”
Shen Zechuan squatted down. The light of the flames made a
clean sweep of his gloominess and pallor, replacing it with an
exotic allure and a bloodthirsty ruthlessness. He let out a quiet
laugh. “How very naïve of you.”
Lei Jingzhe’s throat bobbed. He did not understand why—a
strained gasp escaped as Shen Zechuan’s right hand clutched his
throat tightly. Never had he imagined that the seemingly frail and
sickly Shen Zechuan would have such great strength!
Shen Zechuan tightened his grip, using Lei Jingzhe’s
momentum in climbing up to haul him up some. As he watched Lei
Jingzhe’s face flush red, he said in a soft voice, “You are really a
hilarious one, Lei Jingzhe. Why would you think that Bai Cha is
enough to sway me?”
Unable to catch his breath, Lei Jingzhe’s eyes darted all over as
fear engulfed him whole.
Shen Zechuan scrutinized him and said kindly, “I came to
Dunzhou for the specific purpose of capturing you.”
Lei Jingzhe’s breathing hitched in his throat.
“You did me a great favor.” Shen Zechuan turned his eyes to
look at Dunzhou. “I want to annex both the prefectures of Dunzhou
and Duanzhou, but I didn’t dare to make a move because of Qi
Zhuyin. All I could do was to make use of King Yi of Fanzhou as a
cover. You could have lived a little longer. If you hadn’t brought the
Biansha people over this time, I might have had to wait a year or
two, or even longer, to find an opportunity, but you brought the
Biansha Cavalry.”
The sparks crackled and spluttered.
“Now I have enough reason to deploy troops to Dunzhou.”
Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze back to Lei Jingzhe’s face. “Thanks
to you for chatting with me for this long so that I could buy time for
the Cizhou Garrison Troops.”
Lei Jingzhe could not believe it. How could Shen Zechuan have
plotted his moves to such an extent and anticipated every step Lei
Jingzhe himself would take?! He raised his head, the world before
him was already a blur. With some difficulty, he gasped, “You, you
s-scorpion…”
“Regardless of who my parents are,” Shen Zechuan turned his
head to the side and whispered into his ear, “I am Shen Zechuan.
Whether your word is the truth or a lie is of no significance to me at
all. I am my own nightmare.”
The land under his feet?
Zhongbo could not tie down Shen Zechuan at all. He was not as
attached to his native land as Xiao Chiye was. On the day he fell
into the Chashi Sinkhole, he became a man without a hometown.
Ever since then, he severed all attachment he held towards the
land. He could never gallop in the grasslands; his wings were born
out of the darkness of the night. If Xiao Chiye was Hongyan
Mountains, then Shen Zechuan was the frigid wind coursing
through the territories of Zhongbo.
Shen Wei, Bai Cha.
He did not care for them at all.
The two fingers on his right hand made a noise of protest, but
Shen Zechuan could no longer feel the pain. He gripped Lei
Jingzhe’s throat just like how he had choked Ji Lei a year ago. This
made it clear to all that he was no longer trapped under the control
of others. Perhaps Lei Jingzhe was right. All these years of suffering
and hatred had molded him into a monster. When Qi Huilian died
as well in that heavy downpour, Shen Zechuan completely forsook
all of those obsolete conventions. He would no longer be anyone’s
prisoner.
He loved Xiao Chiye, and he still had Ji Gang. He could not
imagine a day when Xiao Chiye and Ji Gang would become a
thing of the past, transformed into pain he had no remedy for. He
had enough of enduring it in silence; he was fed up of being
chained. He wanted to tear apart not just this world, but also all the
shackles imposed on him in the past!
Lei Jingzhe could hardly hang on anymore. He was finally able
to raise his hands to grab Shen Zechuan’s arm, and it was at this
moment he remembered the rumors in Qudu.
“Mad, mad…” Lei Jingzhe squeezed the words out.
 The angry flames that stretched like a fiery dragon roared
among the double-eaved roofs and pavilion, and the building let
loose a series of dangerous-sounding noises amidst the burning.
Broken wood went smashing with a thunderous crash, and the tiles
under their feet followed suit and slid off. Fuxian Peak, which Yan
Heru had spent big bucks to construct, was in the process of
collapsing. The damaged eaves cracked apart again, as if it could
not bear the weight of two people.
It was here Shen Zechuan stood, yet he remembered the abyss
in his dream. He had always stood at the brink of the abyss without
taking that one step forward, because he did not know what kind
of change that one step would usher in. But then, he heard the
sound of horses’ hooves.
That was the wind that came from Libei.
Shen Zechuan released his hand. At that very instant the eaves
collapsed, Shen Zechuan strode a step out. His white robe went
fluttering in the wind as he plunged down like a bird with its wings
folded. The wind swept past his ears. He felt as if he had
experienced a dream.
Still, stagnant waters lay at the bottom of the abyss, and it was
here Shen Zechuan fell and stirred up waves of ripples. But the
breathing in his ear was so, so intense. A vibrant life force
brimming with vitality dispelled the darkness as strong arms held
Shen Zechuan tight. In that split second, the lifeless waters seemed
to have brushed off its extraneous dust to metamorphose into Xiao
Chiye’s chest.
Xiao Chiye had caught hold of him.

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Footnotes
1.
2. 头车 literally head cart according to sources; a complex
siege weapon used for mining which can also be used as a
protective cover during a siege.

3.
4. 绣春刀 Xiuchun Blade is the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.

5.
6. (攀)云梯 a hinged folding ladder known as the “cloud
ladder” used for sieges
7. i.e. a dangerous place
8. Swan Goose is also the same 鸿雁 in Hongyan Mountains
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 175 : KITTEN
Translated with: Jia<3

Fuxian Peak was in the midst of collapsing, and Xiao Chiye’s

soul was about to take leave of his body at the exact moment he
looked up. He grabbed onto the eaves with an arm and stepped on
somebody’s head to clamber up the double-eaved roof, then ran
for what his life was worth. He caught Shen Zechuan in his arms as
he leaped, and the impact careened him off-course. He
immediately covered Shen Zechuan with his arms as his back
struck heavily against the ridge of the roof, causing the tiles to
topple off.
Chen Yang reined in his horse and brandished his whip to
point towards the eaves as he shouted urgently, “Laohu, catch
them!”
Xiao Chiye panted heavily as his sore arms braced his body.
Sweat trickled along his neck. As the falling objects went crashing,
he haphazardly brushed aside the hair on Shen Zechuan’s cheek
with his trembling fingers and confirmed that Shen Zechuan was
still gasping for breath. He let loose a vague curse and held Shen
Zechuan so tightly with such force that Shen Zechuan coughed
intermittently amid the smoke and dust.
Tantai Hu had already chased all the way to the front of the
building. He released Lang Tao Xue Jin’s reins and shouted,
“Master!”
Xiao Chiye stepped on the tiles and leaped down. Gu Jin
wanted to give him a helping hand, but Xiao Chiye raised his arm
to block the former, unwilling to hand Shen Zechuan over to
anyone else. As he mounted his horse, Xiao Chiye took the cloak
from Chen Yang and covered Shen Zechuan with it.
The contours of Xiao Chiye’s side profile were cold and hard.
He patted Tantai Hu on the back with his freed hand, making Tantai
Hu stick out his chest, then said in a cold voice, “This place was
your elder brother’s battlefield.”
Tantai Hu wiped away the blood on his cheek in silence.
 With eyes grave and solemn, Xiao Chiye said. “Tantai Hu, time
to go home.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Once again, the Prince of Jianxing’s manor was burned and
razed to the ground. Flames accompanied the sound of killing as
the fire blazed until dawn. The dark red blood on the downtown
streets of Dunzhou had converged into a trickling stream.
Meanwhile, the commoners all hid themselves at home, not daring
to even sneak a peek. At the third quarter of the hour of chen, the
Cizhou Garrison Troops and Imperial Army started to clean up the
battlefield. They dragged the corpses to an open, flat area to be
disposed of at a later time.
Tantai Hu was presently having his meal. He had just returned
from the battlefield, and without even washing his face, he
squatted with the guards on the veranda to gobble down his food.
Chen Yang called for the chef in the Yan clan’s pleasure house to
prepare meals for the soldiers of the garrison troops and Imperial
Army, who were all famished after having marched through the
night and fighting until the break of day.
“Street fights are still the most thrilling.” Tantai Hu wiped his
mouth. “Field operations are thrilling too, but not nearly as
thrilling.”
“Master has the foresight…” Gu Jin bit down on a steamed bun
before continuing, “not to get the Imperial Army to put on armor.
Otherwise, we would have suffered from those hammers last
night.”
The curtains of the main hall remained down all the time they
rested up here. Chen Yang was a little worried. Clutching at the
register of names, he questioned Ding Tao, “Why did you let Young
Master go up that tower? You didn’t even go with him.”
Ding Tao hung his head down, not daring to say a word. Fei
Sheng and several others who had been injured had hastily
bandaged their wounds, and their upper garments were
uncovered as they all kneeled in the courtyard and waited to be
reprimanded. However, the Imperial Bodyguards put up a beautiful
defense last night. They had not allowed Lei Jingzhe to force his
way up from the stairs. Two of their own had died. As Fei Sheng
had shouted, they had made a name for themselves with this one
battle! No one could belittle them in the future. They had real
capabilities to speak of, and they could hold their heads high even
when they stood before the guards from Libei, for they were no less
inferior.
Kong Ling stood in the hall and let his sleeves fall as he waited
deferentially at the side. He knew Xiao Chiye was feeding Shen
Zechuan medicine when he heard the clinks of the porcelain bowl
in the inner chamber. After a while, the maidservant came out with
the bowl and curtsied to Kong Ling before leaving the room.
Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain and stepped out. He wiped his
hands with a handkerchief and said to Kong Ling, “It’s nothing
serious… he hurt his hand. Last time, it was his left hand, and now
it’s his right hand. In any case, he’s taking turns to injure them.
Sooner or later, he’s going to be the death of me.”
Kong Ling remained calm and unruffled as he lowered his
head and listened; he knew the words were not meant for him. The
inner chamber was not soundproof, and the way Xiao Chiye
mentioned it so casually made the man lying within turn over
soundlessly.
Xiao Chiye set the handkerchief to one side, then made way
and gestured for Kong Ling to enter. Once Kong Ling lifted the
curtains and went in, he strode out of the door to stand under the
eaves and whistled to the guards.
“Let Gu Jin dispose of the corpses. Settle it by tonight at the
latest. Get whatever cleansing agents needed like vinegar and
water from the Yan clan.” Xiao Chiye cast a glance at the weather.
“While it’s not that hot in autumn, I noticed last night that the public
ditches in Dunzhou are all clogged as well. It’s all too easy for an
epidemic to start if they aren’t unclogged. Keep an eye on it.”
Dunzhou had no yamen to manage its affairs, and its network
of public ditches was all in a mess. There were plenty of people
who built their houses over the ditches, and the cloggage was far
worse than it had been in Qudu. It was the reason for the blood
pooling into puddles this morning instead of flowing freely like a
river.1 Autumn was not as hot as summer, but it was too dry. The fire
had raged for so long last night partially because the houses in the
residential district were all clustered together, eaves to eaves.
As he stood at the doorway and gave his instructions, Shen
Zechuan was also discussing affairs with Kong Ling in the inner
chamber.
Kong Ling sat on the small chair by the side of the bed and
said, “Once we received your lordship’s letter in Cizhou, we
immediately began to check the garrison troops. Yuanzhuo wanted
the garrison troops to leave the city right at once and head east to
wait for the Imperial Army at the southern border of the Bianbo
Camp. He said if the Imperial Army came, they could head south as
one. If not, they should remain there and wait.” He smiled when he
spoke to this point. “I initially objected to it, because your lordship
instructed us in the letter not to act arbitrarily without orders. It’s a
good thing Yuanzhuo insisted.”
Shen Zechuan leaned partially against the pillow and read the
letter Kong Ling brought along. “Yuanzhuo understood the
message behind that letter.”
Shen Zechuan, unable to write a letter then, had to orally
dictate many points for inclusion in the letter. At that time, there
were still captured bandits around the horse carriage, and many
among them were former subordinates of Liu’er. What’s more,
Liu’er was Lei Jingzhe’s messenger. Shen Zechuan could not trust
all these people, so when he issued his command to Cizhou, he
said “do not act arbitrarily without orders”. But then, he followed up
right after with the order to head for Dunzhou. He was playing with
words here, and Yao Wenyu got the hint right at once.
“Your lordship is circumspect and farsighted. A few days back
when we were discussing Dunzhou, we still thought we would only
be able to come after spring next year. Who would have expected
your lordship to have already worked out the appropriate
strategy?” Kong Ling said.
“It was a coincidence this time.” Shen Zechuan was clear-
headed. “When I seized those supply wagons, I only knew that
there were four hundred scorpions still in Dunzhou. I gave Cizhou a
hint to deploy troops initially because I wanted to use this reason to
let the Garrison Troops probe into just how deep the waters in
Dunzhou run. It would have been enough to capture Lei Jingzhe
alive. But who knew, he even brought along more than ten
thousand cavalrymen and delivered them right into my hands.”
During their discussion back in Cizhou, they had agreed to first
keep King Yi’s small imperial court in Fanzhou under control before
attempting to obtain Dunzhou. This was because King Yi could
obstruct Qi Zhuyin of Qidong on Shen Zechuan’s behalf. Shen
Zechuan now had the two Prefectures of Cizhou and Chazhou in his
hands, and he relied on the trade route to rise to power. In
Zhongbo, he could only be considered the master of a small plot of
land. The various prefectures of Dunzhou, Duanzhou, Fanzhou, and
Dengzhou to the east all had their own masters. If Shen Zechuan
wanted to remove them from the equation, he needed a logical
reason. Otherwise, Qi Zhuyin would have a reason to launch an
assault on him the moment he deployed his troops.
In all probability, Lei Jingzhe did not expect himself to come for
the sole reason of eliminating Hairigu, only to end up being the
perfect reason for Shen Zechuan to attack Dunzhou. But this also
illustrated one thing from the side, and that was, Lei Jingzhe had
been around Duanzhou for so long that he had already forgotten
that Zhongbo was still land that was part of Dazhou. It was brazen
and dauntless of him to lead ten thousand cavalrymen deep into
Dunzhou. He thought nothing of King Yi of Fanzhou and Dengzhou
at all, and even less of Shen Zechuan of Cizhou.
Kong Ling initially still had other matters to report, but then he
heard the wind starting to rise outside the window. In no time at all,
it started to drizzle. He hurriedly stood up and closed the windows
for Shen Zechuan. “This has truly been a dangerous trip for your
lordship. Some words ought to have been conveyed to you by
Yuanzhuo himself, but it is inconvenient for him to travel long-
distance, so I shall be so bold as to do it on his behalf.”
Shen Zechuan seemed to know what Kong Ling was going to
say. He set the letter on the blanket and looked at Kong Ling.
Kong Ling took two steps and said, “As the saying goes, a wise
man does not put himself in harm’s way;2 for your lordship to
repeatedly place yourself in dangerous situations is simply not
appropriate. The development of Cizhou’s foundation is still in its
fledgling stage, and the system for the registration of Chazhou’s
citizens has yet to be perfected. Libei’s mutual trade market has not
started either. Your lordship is the head of the household. In doing
this, you are hanging in the balance the loyalty of all those who
stand behind you.”
Kong Ling’s meaning could not be any clearer. Now that Shen
Zechuan was the ‘Prefectural Lord’, he had in his hands the
lifeblood of the two prefectures of Cizhou and Chazhou, along with
the tiger that was Libei crouching behind him. As the saying goes,
embarking on a great undertaking is only the tip of the iceberg.
There would be many affairs in the future where he would be the
one holding the sole decision-making power. Nothing untoward
must happen to him.
Shen Zechuan’s countenance was pleasant as he bowed
slightly towards Kong Ling. “Mister is right to lecture me. I will
sincerely reflect on it and not take any unnecessary risks again.”
After Kong Ling had taken his leave, Shen Zechuan folded up
the letter and put it away on the small table at the head of the bed.
His right hand had been bandaged again. His two fingers had
been bent out of shape from the pressure he inflicted on them, and
when the physician set his fingers right earlier, he had sweated
profusely. Even now, he was still in pain.
Rain poured outside, as though it were cleansing the streets on
behalf of Dunzhou. There were many matters that Shen Zechuan
had yet to attend to, but he was presently leaning back against the
pillow. He had no wish to see anyone except for Xiao Chiye, but
Xiao Chiye did not come in even after he waited for a little over an
hour. Eventually, he ended up drifting to sleep.
The next time Shen Zechuan woke up, he was woken by the
heat. He had already been shifted further into the bed. The sky was
murky and bleak, accompanied by the urgent howls of wind and
rain. He cocked his head to see Xiao Chiye sitting by the outer
edge of the bed, reading a letter by the faint candlelight.
The instant Shen Zechuan saw Xiao Chiye, he started to ache all
over. He was too lazy to move, having just woken up, so he clung
dazedly to the pillow for a while. His foot under the blanket slid
over to make light contact with Xiao Chiye’s calf.
 Xiao Chiye ignored him.
Shen Zechuan propped himself up to look over at the letter,
then explained in a hoarse voice, “It’s from Yuanzhuo… I have to
reply back to him later to get Gao Zhongxiong to write up a notice
immediately. We have to make it clear to Qidong that Cizhou
deployed its troops this time to fight the Biansha Cavalry.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him out of the corner of his eyes, then
folded the letter and tossed it to the side. He said nothing.
Shen Zechuan took his chance to lie on Xiao Chiye’s arm and
buried his head. “Ce’an.”
“I’ll return to Cizhou with you in a few days.” Xiao Chiye lowered
his eyes to stare at Shen Zechuan. “Let’s see. You broke your
fingers, and you jumped off a building. Ji Gang-shifu is going to
have to lash me until the horsewhip breaks.”
Shen Zechuan said in a muted voice, “Don’t.”
Xiao Chiye fell silent for a moment.
Shen Zechuan nuzzled his face against Xiao Chiye’s arm and
called out softly, “A-Ye.”
Xiao Chiye felt that Shen Zechuan really deserved a spanking.
He was determined not to fall for it this time, so he raised his other
hand to grab the back of Shen Zechuan’s collar and lifted him over
to the side. “Who’s A-Ye? No such person.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Er—”
Xiao Chiye simply covered Shen Zechuan with the blanket, then
blew out the candle flame. Without even embracing him, he turned
his back and lay down, still fully clothed. He still remembered that
feeling when he broke into a dash. He had really gone all out then,
as if his life depended on it. He would not care to look even if there
had been a mountain of swords and a sea of flames before him. He
was about to die from all those stabs Shen Zechuan was dishing
out to his heart.
Shen Zechuan peeled off the blanket and bumped against Xiao
Chiye’s back all the way up to his shoulder. He stuck to Xiao Chiye’s
temple and said, “I can’t sleep if you aren’t hugging me.”
Xiao Chiye lay flat and grabbed Shen Zechuan around his waist
to drag him onto his body. Shen Zechuan looked at him, and he
looked at Shen Zechuan. However, he would not release his grip
and instead secured Shen Zechuan in this position so that Shen
Zechuan could not move.
“Go ahead and sleep.” Xiao Chiye said.
“This position is rather cramped.” Shen Zechuan motioned to
his chest with his eyes. “It’s still pounding.”
“Isn’t that nice?” Xiao Chiye said with a shadow of a smile.
“Mine has been pounding all this time.”
Shen Zechuan raised his palm over Xiao Chiye’s chest and
rubbed it.
Xiao Chiye lifted him up high and said, “No touching. I’m
angry.”3
Shen Zechuan was like a downtrodden cat that had fallen into
the water4 as Xiao Chiye held him in his hands while he
brandished his paws to scratch at Xiao Chiye’s chest. So light, yet
so ticklish. So devilish, yet so pampered. The scratches made even
Xiao Chiye’s teeth itch. Look at those expressive, lazy eyes; he was
clearly an emboldened one, brazenly acting as if nothing that
happened was of his own doing.
Xiao Chiye was miffed, but those scratches wore his bad
temper down into nothingness. The way Shen Zechuan looked and
acted now could not be found anywhere else, for it was the
outcome of being much too indulged and spoiled in Xiao Chiye’s
arms. Xiao Chiye knew this very well, but he did not intend to let
Shen Zechuan get away with it unpunished.
“This a scrub you’re giving me?” Xiao Chiye said mercilessly.
“It’s been two days since I last bathed.”

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Footnotes
1. 血流成洼 based on 血流成河, literally blood flowing like a
river (i.e., bloodbath)
2. A saying from Mencius. 君子不立危墙之下 literally, a
gentleman would not stand under a shaky wall.

3.
4. 落水 literally fallen into water, although also used
figuratively of someone gone astray, or down on their luck
(as in 落水狗)
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 176 : BREAKING WAVES
Translated with: Jia<3

Xiao Chiye headed south from Bianbo camp to join up with the
Cizhou garrison troops at the borders of Libei. But instead of
continuing south, he chose the same route Shen Zechuan had
taken and took a detour to the west of Dunzhou. The troops could
only advance at night in order to not alarm King Yi of Fanzhou, but
fortunately, he made it just in time.
Shen Zechuan leaned over to sniff Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye would not let him get his wish and lifted him high.
In retaliation, Shen Zechuan clutched him by the front of his
clothes. Xiao Chiye stayed conscious of Shen Zechuan’s bandaged
right hand, worried that he would worsen the injury if he so much
as exerted force on it, so he had no choice but to lower Shen
Zechuan and let the latter sniff all he wanted.
“It has been two days since I last bathed too.” Shen Zechuan
pressed his knee up against Xiao Chiye and sank into the bedding
to snuggle up to him. “Let’s bathe together.”
Rain pitter-pattered on the eaves, sounding as if it was being
scoured by countless amounts of tiny brushes. Xiao Chiye opened
up his chest to Shen Zechuan, and Shen Zechuan lay on top of it.
That loosened collar of his gave him a laid-back air. Every inch of
his skin was seeking out Xiao Chiye. He was this relaxed, as if the
sensuality oozing off him was unintentional, and all these
expressions of his, innocent.
Shen Zechuan had the ability to turn his exhalations of breath
into murmurs. In Xiao Chiye’s eyes, Shen Zechuan was a natural
beauty. The expression in those eyes tantalized Xiao Chiye’s heart
the same way his warm fingertips grazed against the surface of the
lake in Xiao Chiye’s soul, stirring up ripple after ripple. Shen
Zechuan had moments where he would plead; every time he could
not bear it anymore, he would tearfully call out all of Xiao Chiye’s
forms of address, yet he could even make the way he pleaded
sound so intoxicating.
 They had always been in sync with one another in bed, each
with the ability to mutually read even the slightest moan and groan
that passed between them. Such unparalleled ecstasy was derived
from the way they fit so perfectly together. If Xiao Chiye wanted to
hold his own against a lover like this, he had to be a wall, one that
could stand firm against the incoming waves.
“Sure,” Xiao Chiye’s expression suddenly shifted as he said in a
frivolous tone. “I’ll bathe with you.”
Shen Zechuan found the expression in those eyes ominous.
◈ ◈ ◈
As Dunzhou was located far to the east, the days grew cold
easily. The bathhouses set up within Tianji Courtyard were unlike
the ones in Qudu with windows; instead, they were all sturdily built
enclosed rooms. Inside, the bathing facilities were not only
complete and comprehensive, but also varied and fanciful. Hot,
humid water vapor would come assailing them in the faces the
moment the door was opened and the bamboo blinds rolled up.
Even before Shen Zechuan had been completely stripped of his
clothes, he was already soaking in the water. Under the pretense of
keeping his wound from contact with water, both his wrists had
been bound with a waist sash and conveniently hung up on a small
rack near the pool by Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye had even selected a
little golden bell from the wicker basket for Shen Zechuan, which
he had suspended in the air. As long as Shen Zechuan moved, the
bell would ring, crisp and clear.
Shen Zechuan’s clothes were soaked through. He could not
withstand the heat in the bathhouse, but at that moment, he was
too preoccupied to care about anything else. The tips of his ears
had gone bright red, the stark contrast of which made the jade
earring seem particularly fair and delicate in comparison. Xiao
Chiye squatted before him and hoisted up Shen Zechuan’s legs.
“Since you can’t seem to remember a word I say,” A bare-
chested Xiao Chiye wiped the small blade clean with a
handkerchief. “I’ll have to teach you a lesson and drill it into you.”
Shen Zechuan’s toes curled slightly as he called out with his
eyes shut. “Xiao Ce’an!”
 “Hm,” Xiao Chiye’s attention was on his hands. “Who are you
calling?”
The chill of the blade against Shen Zechuan jolted Shen
Zechuan into opening his eyes. Shame burned in his eyes. “I hate
you to death!”
Xiao Chiye spared him a glance. “I hate you to death too.”
Feeling the friction of the small blade as it scraped against him,
Shen Zechuan could only tremble slightly. The water was hot, while
the blade was cool, and the sensation of the blade traversing every
inch of him was especially distinct and clear. He could not bear it,
and he could not bring himself to look down. All he could dare to
do was stare at Xiao Chiye.
This gaze was truly too pitiful. It was the first time Xiao Chiye
had ever seen it, and he simply had the urge to capture the
moment by grabbing a brush and painting it down without delay.
He was initially still miffed, but then he suddenly started to laugh.
Xiao Chiye had never done something like this before. This was his
first time, so he went at it very carefully and shaved all the areas
that ought to be shaved completely clean.
Shen Zechuan’s back was still pressing against the wall of the
pool, and these vastly different sensations drained him of his entire
life’s composure. He was genuinely in Xiao Chiye’s hands now, and
he did not dare to move even an inch. But their surroundings were
so brightly illuminated that he gasped lightly for breath in the
damp mist. Condensation coated the jade earring with every rise
and fall of his chest. Shen Zechuan seemed to have become Xiao
Chiye’s jade, one that was toyed with until no ounce of privacy and
secrecy remained.
Xiao Chiye asked, “Are you still going to stab me in the heart
next time?”
Shen Zechuan did not answer.
Xiao Chiye took another look after he was done shaving and
discovered that Shen Zechuan’s eyes were red through and
through. He could not tell if he had teared up from the steam or
frustration. Xiao Chiye’s heart did not soften at all. He raised his
hand to pinch Shen Zechuan’s cheek and proclaim ruthlessly, “For
each time you get injured, I’ll shave you once.”
 Shen Zechuan felt cool and chilly down there. His eyes were
brimming with tears, and the redness at the tip of his ears had
already spread to his chest. Before he was done taking a breather,
Xiao Chiye pinned him against the wall of the pool and kissed him
until the bell went swinging wildly.
◈ ◈ ◈
The rain was still falling the next day. Shen Zechuan had a rare
good night’s sleep.
When Xiao Chiye put on his clothes, Chen Yang was already
waiting under the eaves. He slipped on the wooden clogs in the
room and went out of the inner chamber. Instead of having Chen
Yang discuss work in this room, Xiao Chiye headed out onto the
walkway and made his way to another room.
Chen Yang followed behind him and raised the bamboo blinds
to disperse some of the stuffiness inside. He turned to Xiao Chiye
and presented the register of names. “The cavalrymen taken
prisoner this time numbered two thousand and three hundred
men. They are now being held in the Dunzhou prison under the
watch of the Cizhou’s Garrison Troops.”
Xiao Chiye flipped through the book without sitting down and
asked with his back to the light, “Where’s Lei Jingzhe?”
“Dead.” Chen Yang paused for a moment. “He was already
killed when we dug him out from the ruins. Based on his injuries,
he died of strangulation.”
Xiao Chiye set down the book. He recalled the injury on Shen
Zechuan’s right hand. After standing for a while, he said, “Don’t
wait until we return to Cizhou. It’d be too late. Write a letter now
and have it sent to Qidong posthaste. Use my personal seal…” At
this point, he paused again and turned around, “Or rather, affix
Lanzhou’s seal.”
This matter concerned the situation in Zhongbo, and personal
relationships must not be brought into the mix during the
discussions with Qi Zhuyin. Qi Zhuyin was already doing her part as
a friend by taking care of Lu Pingyan on Lu Guangbai’s behalf. Xiao
Chiye’s personal seal represented Libei, and if they kept on asking
favors of her, they would not be able to repay this debt. Moreover,
Shen Zechuan was the one in charge of Cizhou now. As a
commanding general of Libei, affixing his own seal would diminish
Shen Zechuan’s authority and prestige. Shen Zechuan still had to
deal with Qi Zhuyin in the future, and it would be inconvenient for
both parties to act if they had to show him consideration and take
him into account.
“Lei Jingzhe is the main perpetrator behind the turmoil and
unrest in the two prefectures of Dunzhou and Duanzhou. This time,
he even led the Biansha Cavalry into Dunzhou. Libei and Cizhou
joined forces to attack the enemy. We fought the Biansha people,
for the sake of the Zhongbo’s commoners.” Chen Yang said
smoothly. “We are not in the wrong, even if news of this incident
were to spread to Qudu.”
“We are not in the wrong only because Qudu has no soldiers.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Otherwise, there would be tens of thousands of
accusations and charges slapped on Lanzhou. But just as a
cornered dog would jump over a wall, a desperate man would be
driven to drastic measures. Dunzhou is already in our possession.
Lanzhou now has three prefectures under his control. Even if Xue
Xiuzhuo and the Empress Dowager have been too busy with their
own affairs, they are going to start thinking of ways to bring
Lanzhou under control. The best way is to set Qi Zhuyin loose to
take down Fanzhou first so that Cizhou loses their barrier in the
southeast.”
But this matter was not of utmost urgency. The Bianjun
Commandery was presently unmanned, and Qi Zhuyin had
already moved from Cangjun Commandery to Bianjun
Commandery to hold the fort and patch up the gap in defenses on
Lu Guangbai’s behalf. The Biansha people transferred Hasen from
the southeast to the north, yet this did not give Qidong an unfair
advantage over them. Amu’er was still deploying his elite troops
and generals here.
That Xiao Chiye was able to make it to Cizhou this time was also
due to Xiao Fangxu.
Duanzhou was left without soldiers after the defeat of the
Zhongbo’s troops, and consequently, this place became a
vulnerable weakness of Dazhou. But Amu’er did not invade a
second time. Instead, he concentrated his troops in the north and
southeast. It was as if he was specifically bypassing Zhongbo to
chip away at the two tough nuts that were Libei and Qidong. Xiao
Fangxu thought that Amu’er was using diversionary tactics, and the
emergence of the scorpions squad made Xiao Fangxu all the more
certain that Amu’er had not given up on Zhongbo at all. For this
reason, he had to take Shen Zechuan’s proposal to rebuild
Zhongbo’s line of defense seriously.
Xiao Chiye made a few inquiries about Dunzhou’s military
affairs. They had only just discussed the armory when they saw Gu
Jin enter.
“Master.” Gu Jin cast a glance at the courtyard and said, “Fei
Sheng and the others are still kneeling on the veranda.”
Xiao Chiye turned his head aside to look at the overlapping
shadows through the window lattice. He did not answer.
So Gu Jin did not dare to bring it up again and retreated to the
side.
There were still bandits in Dunzhou whom they had yet to deal
with. The 15,000 men Xiao Chiye brought with him were enough to
keep them in check with their military presence. Liu’er could barely
even walk properly when he saw Xiao Chiye. Seeing that even Lei
Jingzhe was dead, he did not dare to start hatching all those plans
of his again. But he was, after all, not a decent man, and Xiao Chiye
had no intent to let him remain around him; thus, he sent Liu’er
away to Kong Ling for him to make the necessary arrangements.
Xiao Chiye did not lay a hand on the Dunzhou armory, as they still
had plans to use this place after conquering it.
Xiao Chiye busied himself around until noon before he
remembered that Shen Zechuan was still sleeping. He returned to
the room for a look and saw that Shen Zechuan had already gotten
out of bed and was presently standing under the eaves listening to
Kong Ling discuss affairs.
When Shen Zechuan saw Xiao Chiye, he silently averted his
gaze.
Xiao Chiye played it cool, knowing that he had gone too far in
bullying Shen Zechuan yesterday, and Shen Zechuan had still yet to
get over it. As he had gotten up too early this morning, he lifted the
curtains to enter the inner chamber, where he took the chance
while he had free time to take a nap.
When Xiao Chiye woke up, Shen Zechuan was sitting at the
desk looking at Cizhou’s case files.
Xiao Chiye wiped his face with a handkerchief and asked,
“Have you taken your meal?”
Shen Zechuan answered in a muted voice, “No.”
Xiao Chiye wanted to laugh, finding Lanzhou to be quite the
pitiful one. No doubt he was unaccustomed to being smooth and
bare down there, although the way he sat all prim and proper was
unexpectedly a little seductive. Xiao Chiye sat down on the
opposite side and propped up his leg before saying in a leisurely
and carefree manner, “Then, let’s call for them to serve up the food.
We’ll eat a little.”
Shen Zechuan set his brush down. He was about to say
something when someone entered the outer chamber.
Chen Yang did not head into the inner chamber. “Master,
Laohu is here.”
Only then, Xiao Chiye remembered that he had asked Chen
Yang to summon Tantai Hu over before he took his nap. There was
something he had to say in Shen Zechuan’s presence. He
straightened up a little and said, “Let Laohu in—”
Shen Zechuan suddenly mouthed to him: no entry.
Xiao Chiye gave him a questioning look, but Shen Zechuan
ignored him. Outside, Tantai Hu had already strode across the
threshold and was waiting for Xiao Chiye to summon him into the
inner chamber. Xiao Chiye did not understand what Shen Zechuan
meant by it, so he could only say, “I called you over for a matter. I
didn’t mention it before in Libei, but the time is right now. Let me
ask you, will you defend Dunzhou?”
Tantai Hu has been following Xiao Chiye around all this time, so
he was taken aback to hear him ask. After blanking out for a
moment, he asked, “Is Master remaining in Dunzhou too?”
Twisting his thumb ring, Xiao Chiye said, “You had no choice
when you followed me in Qudu, and you were forced by
circumstance when we later went to Libei. Times are different now.
You can assume sole responsibility—”
 Xiao Chiye saw Shen Zechuan making his way over from under
the other side of the table. Realizing that it did not bode well, he
attempted to press down on Shen Zechuan’s head, but Shen
Zechuan bit down on him. He felt the stab of pain, but did not make
a sound.
Outside, Tantai Hu had clued in on the key point and was
getting all antsy, so he asked, “Does Master not want me to return
to Libei anymore?”
The tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose edged along the curves of Xiao
Chiye’s contours. Xiao Chiye wanted to draw his legs back, but
Shen Zechuan was wedged in the middle, and Xiao Chiye could
not flip over the table and scoop the latter up. They had not done
anything last night. Xiao Chiye, keeping Shen Zechuan’s injury in
mind, had simply fallen asleep after shaving Shen Zechuan clean.
And now the hot puffs of air the latter was breathing into him were
making him hard.
“You are a native of Zhongbo. The trusted aides under your
command are also natives of Zhongbo. We spoke about it before—”
Xiao Chiye composed himself and continued after a moment’s
pause, “back in Qudu.”
His tongue was slippery.
Xiao Chiye tilted his head back slightly and carefully swallowed
back that little sigh to keep it from escaping. He was inside Shen
Zechuan’s mouth when he heard Tantai Hu fall to his knees with a
“thud”.
The corners of Shen Zechuan’s upturned eyes misted over with
water from having taken Xiao Chiye deep into his mouth. He raised
his eyes to look at Xiao Chiye in this position; the viciousness in
them all but turned into glistening waves of ripples that intensified
Xiao Chiye’s desire to bite him. Palms Xiao Chiye had nowhere to
rest edged up along Shen Zechuan’s chin before finally coming to
a stop at the back of Shen Zechuan’s head.
“Don’t cry.” Xiao Chiye said in a raspy voice. “Continue.”
Tantai Hu choked back the tears that had just spilled over and
said as he kneeled outside, “Mas… I followed the Viceroy for five or
six years, and it was all due to the Viceroy’s promotion that I could
lead the troops. After we left Qudu, it was the Viceroy who trained
and nurtured me throughout. When you told me to keep the camp
defense layout in mind back then when we fought the Shasan
Camp in Libei, I thought you wanted me to remain in Libei and
guard the camps on your behalf. So why are you leaving me in
Dunzhou now?!”
Too hot.
Xiao Chiye could not help but loosen his collar. The waves of
pleasure crashed over him and sent tingling sensations up the
small of his back. All he could think of was to make Shen Zechuan
cry until Shen Zechuan could no longer stir up a storm.

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 CHAPTER 177: TORRENTIAL RAIN
Tantai Hu was still pouring his heart out. “I have no objections if
the Viceroy wants me to defend Dunzhou. I just can’t bear to part
with my brothers from Libei, and even more so, the Viceroy.
Dunzhou is the place my eldest brother was originally stationed.
I’m really…”
Xiao Chiye’s fingers sunk into Shen Zechuan’s hair. He patiently
caressed Shen Zechuan’s earlobe with his thumb, rubbing it until
that jade earring took on a faint hue of scarlet. The window was
open, and occasionally, the muffled sound of thunder would
rumble. Xiao Chiye paid it no heed.
Given that the inner and outer chambers were merely
separated by a bamboo blind, Tantai Hu’s voice was extremely
clear. Shen Zechuan was hopelessly flushed in the face, and his
words, inarticulate. He looked so tender that he seemed succulent
and ripe for the taking. He had hit upon the idea on the spur of the
moment. How was he to know it would be so hard to pull off? Not
only was his mouth stuffed to the brim, he was also choked to the
point his eyes were watering.
When all was said and done, Tantai Hu was a bona fide man,
and he felt rather embarrassed and ashamed to kneel here and
cry. He composed himself and reverted to addressing Xiao Chiye
by his original form of address. “Dunzhou doesn’t have a garrison
troop at present. Since Master is willing to leave this place in my
hands, I will have to prove myself worthy of this kindness.”
Magnificent waves of pleasure assaulted Xiao Chiye closely one
after another as he grasped Shen Zechuan’s right hand while
simultaneously pressing Shen Zechuan’s head down with his hand
in Shen Zechuan’s hair. It was cramped and narrow under the table.
Shen Zechuan was unable to endure the heat, and it did not take
long for him to be sweating profusely.
“I’ll leave you five thousand soldiers.” Xiao Chiye’s Adam’s
apple bobbed. “All the future accounts will go through Cizhou.
You’ll be under Lanzhou’s management. If there are any matters of
concern, let Lanzhou know as soon as possible.”
 Tantai Hu knew Shen Zechuan was in the inner chamber too. He
thought for a moment and said in all seriousness, “Dunzhou has to
recruit new soldiers and rebuild the city walls. I have to first discuss
the exact figure for this portion of the expenditure with the
Prefectural Lord.”
Tantai Hu mentioned some other matters too, all of which were
government affairs that required further in-depth discussions. If it
had been some other time, Shen Zechuan would have summoned
Kong Ling in to draft up a document with Tantai Hu. But he was in
no position to be distracted at this moment, and even if he had an
opinion, they would all vanish at the press of Xiao Chiye’s hand.
The waves in those eyes built up until they eventually consolidated
into water droplets that fell off like beads tumbling off a broken
string.
This was too stimulating a scene.
Xiao Chiye tightened his grip. The sound of the rain was loud at
times, and soft at others. Shen Zechuan could not hold in his saliva.
In this harried moment, he did not even know when Tantai Hu had
taken his leave. Xiao Chiye lifted a leg and kicked the table away.
Muffled thunder suddenly crashed through the sky. The rain
poured even harder, pelting at the windows noisily as broken
beads of water splashed all over. Xiao Chiye did not go anywhere
else. He remained here, leaning against the chair to teach Shen
Zechuan a lesson. Both of Shen Zechuan’s hands were bound
behind his back as he straddled Xiao Chiye with his face to him,
murmuring under the din of the rain.
Too smooth.
In just a couple of times, Shen Zechuan could not take it all in
anymore. He shuddered amidst the jolts of pleasure, cutting a
pitiful sight as he dirtied Xiao Chiye’s clothes from grinding against
him. Xiao Chiye did not play tricks this time. He bound those two
wrists of Shen Zechuan’s in place, letting him plead for mercy all he
wanted with those “A-Ye” and “Ce’an” of his. He simply settled the
account with Shen Zechuan, along with the interest.
The rain was still falling.
◈ ◈ ◈
 When the rain came to a stop, Xiao Chiye fell onto the bedding
and scooped Shen Zechuan over. He was still grasping the latter’s
right wrist as he secured him where he was. Shen Zechuan drifted
off and woke up again, his head resting on Xiao Chiye’s chest as he
mumbled something incoherent.
Xiao Chiye listened for a long time but could not get what he
was saying. He was so tired and sleepy he could barely open his
eyes. He gave him a vague reply, and both men grunted
incongruously for a moment, with neither making sense of the
other, before gradually sinking into a deep sleep.
He slept until noon the next day, and while he was still half
asleep, he heard Shen Zechuan calling for him. He opened his eyes
and dazedly said, “Hm, hm?”
Shen Zechuan, too sleepy to raise his head, grasped Xiao
Chiye’s little braid tightly.
Xiao Chiye slept for a while longer, but with military affairs still
on his mind, it did not take him long to wake up. He had been
going at it too hard last night, and now he rolled over to pin Shen
Zechuan down. “Get up. Time to drink the medicine.”
Shen Zechuan covered Xiao Chiye’s forehead with his left hand
and pretended not to hear.
Xiao Chiye sighed and buried his head into Shen Zechuan’s
chest to nuzzle against him until Shen Zechuan sank into the
bedding. He said in a muffled voice, “Shen Lanzhou, help me out of
bed.”
The pressure on Shen Zechuan made it hard for him to breathe,
and it did not work when he clutched and tugged Xiao Chiye’s little
braid either, so he could only open his eyes and say feebly, “My
waist is sore, and my knees are hurting. I can’t get up.”
Xiao Chiye reached his hand under Shen Zechuan and helped
him up with his hand supporting the latter’s back, then hoisted him
over himself before getting out of bed. Shen Zechuan was still in a
daze when he was set down into the water. He leaned against Xiao
Chiye, truly not wanting to even move his finger. Xiao Chiye did
not want to move either, so both of them remained in this position
as they soaked in the water.
 Chen Yang had already been waiting the entire morning. He
heard the door open, and saw Xiao Chiye dressed in a clean,
loose-fitting robe with wooden clogs on his feet. He let the
maidservants in first. After a moment, he saw Shen Zechuan, also
dressed in a loose-fitting robe, step forth in his wooden clogs.
Both of them looked like they had not slept enough.
“Where’s Laohu?” Xiao Chiye said. “Call him over again later. I
forgot to instruct him on a number of issues yesterday.”
“Summon Fei Sheng first.” Shen Zechuan looked at the
veranda. “Why is he still kneeling?”
Chen Yang acknowledged the orders and took his leave to get
them.
◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng was kneeling at the foot of the veranda when he saw
Kong Ling coming in with a straw raincloak draped over him. He
bowed his head and greeted, “Mister Chengfeng.”
Kong Ling removed his bamboo hat and took off the straw
raincloak, which he hung up at the side. “Why are you still
kneeling?”
Fei Sheng answered, “Master has not instructed otherwise.”
Fei Sheng had been kneeling here for two days. Even while
Xiao Chiye was giving him the cold shoulder, he did not harbor
Xiao Chiye the slightest bit of resentment. Kong Ling’s mind
cleared in understanding, and he comforted, “The Marquis and the
Prefectural Lord spend more time apart than together, so it’s
inevitable for the Marquis to fly into a rage when the Prefectural
Lord is injured. Military affairs these few days are rather taxing. His
anger should have more or less worn off by now.”
Fei Sheng hurriedly said, “As guards, we ought to be punished
for letting our master get injured. I have not seen Master for two
days already, and I’m worried about his injuries.”
Kong Ling nodded. “Your loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed by the
Marquis. Wait for a while longer, and it should be your turn to be
summoned.”
Fei Sheng knew that Kong Ling must have discerned
something by saying this, so he said, “I, Fei the Tenth, am an
unrefined man of little education. Please enlighten me.”
 Kong Ling smiled and looked up to see Chen Yang walking
towards them. He merely said, “Don’t panic. Good times will follow
after the rough time you had kneeling these two days.”
Fei Sheng was worried that Xiao Chiye was going to wait until
the dust had settled before settling scores with him, but then Kong
Ling’s words did not seem to indicate that this would be the case.
Kneeling these two days had all but dissipated the joy he had felt
earlier. He could not be sure how Xiao Chiye was going to punish
him given what he had seen of Xiao Chiye’s expression. Hearing
himself being summoned, he hurriedly got to his feet and followed
after Chen Yang.
Shen Zechuan was sitting on the chair drinking his medicine,
and Xiao Chiye was keeping a close watch on him to ensure that
he drank up every last drop of it. This medicine was so bitter it
made Shen Zechuan frown, but he did not dare to spit it out with
Xiao Chiye’s gaze on him, so he forced himself to swallow it.
He would not even drink strong tea because he hated the
bitterness. Without Ji Gang by his side, he would pick and choose
his medicines. Unless he was seriously injured, like he had been in
the horse carriage this time, he would never give in.
Xiao Chiye looked at the military affairs and pushed the small
plate of honeyed candies towards Shen Zechuan in passing.
Fei Sheng entered, paid his obeisances, and kneeled in the
hall.
It would not do for Shen Zechuan to stuff himself with candy in
front of his subordinates, so he retracted his fingertips from the rim
of the plate and put up with the bitterness. “Have the brothers’
injuries been attended to?”
Fei Sheng answered truthfully. “Yes, they are all superficial
injuries; not at all serious.”
Shen Zechuan said with a solemn countenance, “They should
recuperate if they are injured. Exempt them from shift duties these
few days and leave the night watch to Chen Yang and the rest.
Those two brothers have to be buried with full honors. If they have
family in Cizhou, take out forty taels of silver from my account and
see to the arrangements for them on my behalf.”
 Fei Sheng was delighted at hearing this, but he did not dare to
let it show on his face. He hurriedly said, “I’ll surely carry out
Master’s instruction down to the letter.”
Not anyone could carry out jobs on Shen Zechuan’s behalf.
Tasks like this all used to be done by Qiao Tianya. To be able to
draw money from Shen Zechuan’s personal account meant that
Shen Zechuan could trust him, and this trust was far more valuable
than monetary rewards. Fei Sheng was beside himself with joy, but
upon seeing an expressionless Xiao Chiye sitting at the side, he
restrained himself and took his leave with his head lowered.
The Imperial Bodyguards had put up a wonderful defense this
time, and they did not turn tail and flee from the battlefield in the
face of danger. Shen Zechuan was sure to reward them. Xiao Chiye
had Fei Sheng kneel because he wanted to knock it into Fei
Sheng’s head that as guards, they were at fault for every injury their
master sustained, and that they should not forget who they were
just because Shen Zechuan did not hold them accountable time
and time again. At the same time, there was also another layer of
meaning behind his action. If Xiao Chiye were to first punish Fei
Sheng, then Shen Zechuan’s reward later would appear all the
more considerate, and Fei Sheng would then have to remember
Shen Zechuan’s kindness.
Shen Zechuan turned his head, wanting to say a word to Xiao
Chiye during this interval. Xiao Chiye raised his hand and stuffed
the candy into his mouth. Kong Ling entered.
Xiao Chiye said with his usual expression, “We have now taken
down Dunzhou, but how to go about defending it is a problem.
Cizhou has no commanding general at present, so I’m leaving
Tantai Hu here, along with 5,000 men from the Imperial Army and
Cizhou’s Garrison Troop. We have to step up recruitment this winter.
Fortifications of the city are also of pressing urgency.”
Chen Yang handed the register to Kong Ling.
There were some words that were Shen Zechuan’s place to say,
but he still had the candy in his mouth, so Xiao Chiye continued,
“Dunzhou’s yamen needs to be rebuilt. The household registers
have to be clean. Chengfeng, think about it and see if there is
anyone from Cizhou’s yamen screening process this year that you
can assign over to give Tantai Hu a helping hand.”
The screening of the lesser functionaries of Cizhou’s yamen was
conducted by Zhou Gui’s advisors. Two men were executed over
Gao Zhongxiong’s incident the last time, and by handing this task
to Kong Ling, Shen Zechuan was giving the advisors of Cizhou
another chance.
Kong Ling rose to his feet and answered, “There are several
decent ones. Once I get back, I’ll draft up a list and present it to
your lordship for perusal. When the time comes, I’d also like to ask
for Yuanzhuo to give advice and counsel from the side.”
By doing this, Kong Ling took the opportunity Shen Zechuan
offered him, and in passing, gave Yao Wenyu a boost while
lowering his own position. Although Chen Yang had seen advisors
before while following Xiao Chiye around in the military tents, all of
them did not possess the same kind of magnanimous bearing
Kong Ling had. Surprised, he cast a glance at Kong Ling.
“For certain arrangements, just discuss it in detail with Tantai
Hu.” Xiao Chiye said. “You are originally the advisor of his eldest
brother, Tantai Long, so just speak your mind. He respects you deep
down and will not dare to give you the attitude.”
They discussed some more about the governmental affairs in
Dunzhou, all of which were plans that had to be drafted and
worked out. There were still a bunch of merchants outside the
courtyard waiting to see Shen Zechuan. Yan Heru and Hairigu had
been placed under lock and key too, as there were still questions
about the scorpions that had yet to be cleared up. On the other
hand, Xiao Chiye had to maintain correspondences with Wu Ziyu,
who had remained behind in Libei. Snow had already started to fall
in Libei, and the various bridle paths were either obstructed or
damaged. The convoy squad was handed the task of repairing the
paths, but they only had so much money and manpower. The
priority of paths to be repaired and the process of repairs were all
questions that had to go through Xiao Chiye first before a decision
could be made.
This tiny bit of respite seemed to be all the free time both of
them could get. Shen Zechuan did not want to wake up in the
morning precisely because there was too much to do. Once the
merchants entered, they started to make such a din with everyone
trying to get a word in that Xiao Chiye regretted it a little. They had
been going at it to their heart’s content the night before, and as a
result, Shen Zechuan had to hang in there and drag his
lackadaisical self to handle the day’s affairs.
With that thought in mind, Xiao Chiye turned his head around
to look at Shen Zechuan. But who would have known that Shen
Zechuan would be leaning against his chair listening to the
merchants make a ruckus with a deadpan expression, all the while
holding a brush in his hand to draw a tortoise on the paper?
So Xiao Chiye laughed.
And saw Shen Zechuan write his name, Xiao Ce’an, on it.1

Credits: thank you Tea for proofreading! <3

 CHAPTER 178: MERCHANTS

Worried about their respective businesses, the merchants were

all anxious to meet with Shen Zechuan.
The hall was saturated with a cacophony of noises, with a blend
of all sorts of accents engaged in conversations where everyone
was talking without actually communicating and comprehending
the other, much like a chicken trying to talk to a duck. Many people
could not even speak bureaucratic jargon fluently without the Yan
clan acting as the mediator. Yan Heru set up this “small mutual
market” in Dunzhou, and they had prior dealings in trades like tea,
salt, copper, and steel with the bandits as well as the various tribes
of Biansha. Now that Yan Heru was in custody, they were afraid that
Shen Zechuan would pursue the matter. Hence, they made plans to
call on Shen Zechuan together, hoping to make enough of a
commotion that the law would not be enforced given the large
number of violators.2
Chen Yang notified the maidservants to prepare tea. Not only
was the hall packed with seated people, the area at the foot of the
veranda was also fully crammed with standing merchants who had
come after getting wind of the news. These people, having arrived
from all over the world, crowded boisterously together, making
such a ruckus that the courtyard resembled a bustling downtown
area.
It was here Shen Zechuan sat, answering, “that makes
sense” regardless of what he heard. The din in the hall persisted
until it was almost night, and still, they did not make any progress.
Shen Zechuan had seemingly replied to every question, but he did
not really answer any of them. He left them hanging until they were
all starving and choked up with pent-up frustrations.
Xiao Chiye headed over next door to finish up his discussion of
military affairs with Tantai Hu. He stepped out to see the dark sky
and the lamps lit in the hall. The merchants outside were sitting
and reclining in various poses on the mats on the ground, while
Shen Zechuan was still inside playing the time game with the
merchants.
 Fei Sheng lifted the curtains and stepped out. He moved over
to Xiao Chiye and said in a soft voice, “Master asks if you are done
with discussion of military affairs. If so, we can serve up the meal.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Have these people already been
dismissed?”
Fei Sheng answered, “Master says not to dismiss them. Let
them remain here. He even invited them to stay here for the night.”
So Xiao Chiye nodded and said, “Then, let’s have dinner in the
courtyard next door.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The merchants had all made up their minds to get a definitive
answer from Shen Zechuan. At the very least, they had to see Yan
Heru. Their goods were all stored at a side courtyard belonging to
the Yan clan. What was to become of these goods now that the
Biansha Cavalry and the bandits had retreated? Yan Heru had
given them his guarantee, so the question of whether they ought to
stay or leave all had to be re-discussed.
But Shen Zechuan was too good at passing the buck and did
not give them anything precise. Fearing the soldiers whose
presence was everywhere in Dunzhou, the merchants did not dare
to have a falling out with Shen Zechuan. All they could do was
suppress their anger and continue to sit here with the sole intention
of dragging it on and wearing Shen Zechuan down.
Shen Zechuan reckoned it was about time once he was done
reading all the important affairs of Dunzhou. On seeing Fei Sheng
return, he rose and said to the merchants with a smile, “Gentlemen,
you have been sitting here all day. We can discuss the matters
again later. I’ve gotten my men to prepare a banquet. Let’s talk
about it in detail during the feast later.”
Without giving any explanation, he bent under the curtains Fei
Sheng had lifted and left.
The merchants sitting inside waited for a long time, but Shen
Zechuan did not return, and the maidservants did not enter to
serve the dishes either. They lifted the curtains and stepped out for
a look to find only familiar faces left in the courtyard. Not even a
guard was in sight.
 The man who had smoked a few pipes grew anxious and
slapped his thigh. “He couldn’t have run away, could he?”
Instantly alarmed, the merchants crowded together like a flock
of sparrows and charged over to the entrance of the courtyard,
where they discovered the doors were completely sealed.
Someone said in horror, “Don’t tell me they are planning to
silence us? That won’t do! Your Lordship, Your Lordship! We are all
decent businessmen with documents endorsed by the local
authorities!”
Upon hearing the pounding on the door, Fei Sheng, who was
outside, hoisted his blade over his shoulder and said, “What
nonsense are you all spouting? His Lordship is inviting all of you
gentlemen to have a rest in the courtyard. Weren’t you people
unwilling to leave? Then just sleep here!”
The merchants hollered, “We want to see His Lordship!”
Fei Sheng sneered and said, “Haven’t you already seen him
today? My master stayed inside with all of you gentlemen for half
the day.” As he spoke, he sent someone to move over a chair for
him. He sat down facing the door. “We have checked all of your
goods, and the copper and steel among them are all strictly
prohibited by the government. It’s not going to be that easy to
retrieve them.”
“It’s a state of extreme unrest everywhere now!” The man who
had been smoking earlier stood on tiptoe to lean over the crack of
the door and quibbled, “It’s all too easy to get our hands on a few
batches of goods, but we only did the trade this one time. We are
all honest people!”
Fei Sheng did not beat around the bush with them. He raised a
hand to take the book and said as he flipped the pages, “Know
what I’m holding in my hands now? It’s the book of registrations
from the Yan clan’s pawnshop, with detailed records of the goods
every one of you imports to Dunzhou every month. It is all down in
black and white, so it can’t be fake, can it?”
The merchants within whispered to one another, wiping their
sweat and flicking their sleeves as they crowded together again.
They made such a din that Fei Sheng could not make out what
exactly they were saying. Eventually, that man craned his neck and
shouted through the door, “Tea has long since ceased to be
prohibited. Hey, I’m a tea trader! Open the door. Don’t implicate
the innocent!”
“Zhongbo has been in such a state of decline these two years.
Who are you selling tea to in Dunzhou? The Yan clan themselves is
the largest tea merchant in the south.” As Fei Sheng spoke, he lifted
his Xiuchun blade and rapped hard on the door panel with the
sheath. “Stop making a ruckus! Hurry up and spit out the truth!”
“What truth do you want us to spit out?” The man stubbornly
refused to admit it. “The goods are all recorded clearly in the book.
Just match the goods with the records in the book, and it will all be
clear.”
Fei Sheng swung the book in his hand and said, “None of you
will be able to escape if we send this to Qudu and hand it over to
the yamen. Let me tell you this; my master is a benevolent man.
He’s giving you the opportunity to make amends. All you need to
do is to list down truthfully on paper who you consulted with in
Dunzhou and who you converted the silver for, and I’ll immediately
open the doors and let all of you out. All past accounts will be
written off too.”
Other than tea out of the quartet of tea, salt, copper and steel,
the last three were all materials controlled by the imperial court.
The Xi clan could set up a copper mine in Juexi because they had
special permission, as decreed by the imperial edict. They had to
audit the accounts with the Ministry of Revenues and the Ministry of
Works on a monthly basis, as well as assign supervisors for the
specific purpose of supervision. But this errand was a lucrative one
with plenty of potential to harvest ill-gotten gains, and the
supervisors – all of whom were picked by the Ministry of Revenue –
were often in cahoots with the Xi Clan. They colluded to falsify
accounts for submission to the imperial court, which in turn helped
the Xi Clan to conceal the copper and steel. All the flow and
movement of copper and steel outside the Xi clan could be seen as
collusion between the local officials and merchants. These coppers
and steels were just like the military provisions that were stolen
from within Dazhou in exchange for huge profits.
 Yan Heru’s operation of the pawnshops and pleasure houses in
Dunzhou was not just meant to provide the various merchants from
all over with a place to trade, but also to dispose of stolen goods
on behalf of the local officials. It was here he had the goods
converted into silver. Liu’er had not given a complete account
when he led Shen Zechuan’s squad into Dunzhou; that was, the
need for a specific secret signal to enter Dunzhou was not just for
the purpose of “playing by the rules”.
Once Fei Sheng was done speaking, an uproar broke out on
the other side of the door. All kinds of accents could be heard
among the din as the merchants crowded and jostled noisily at the
door. Fei Sheng closed the book, lifted the recently brewed tea in
his hand, and blew at it as he savored it.
◈ ◈ ◈
Before dinnertime, Chen Yang had given the kitchen instruction
to prepare fish, and as a result, Shen Zechuan ate an extra half a
bowl of rice. The remaining half of the fish ended up in Xiao
Chiye’s tummy. As long as the Second Young Master did not have
to pick out the fish bones himself, he was more than happy to
consume fish to his heart’s content.
After their meal, both men stood under the eaves and listened
as the merchants in the courtyard next door cursed and swore.
Xiao Chiye rinsed his mouth and said as he wiped it. “Isn’t there
still a scorpion? Let’s call him over now. I have a question for him.”
Chen Yang left to summon him.
Xiao Chiye turned towards Shen Zechuan and asked, “You
haven’t been calling for Ding Tao to stay by your side these days.
Why is that?”
Shen Zechuan replied while looking at Xiao Chiye, “Lei Jingzhe
is in Dunzhou. If there is no one keeping watch on Li Xiong, he
might run out to look for Lei Jingzhe. Ding Tao is his playmate, so
it’s only fitting for the two children to keep each other company.”
Xiao Chiye raised the teacup in his hand to take a sip. He
appeared to have believed Shen Zechuan.
When Shen Zechuan tilted his head, he exposed part of his
neck, which was decorated with faint traces of Xiao Chiye. Set
against those marks, the jade earring appeared even whiter in
contrast. Shen Zechuan did not continue the conversation on Ding
Tao; instead, he said, “The arm guard was previously damaged. I’ll
get another one made when we return to Cizhou this time.”
Thinking about the arm guard reminded Xiao Chiye of Hasen.
He looked into the night and said, “It’s still usable after some
repairs.”
Xiao Chiye had never mentioned Hasen to Shen Zechuan. That
defeat had silenced him quickly, concealing away all those lofty
sentiments and ambitions of his. Transporting supplies was truly
exhausting, but everyone was exhausted in Libei. Even Lu Yizhi was
patching up old coats all day to provide warm winter clothes for
the battlegrounds. Xiao Fangxu had kept the blade that was Xiao
Chiye back in its sheath, holding him back from putting all of his
brilliance and talents on full display, but Xiao Chiye was glad to
endure this hardship; he was willing to bide his time and wait for
the right opportunity.
“I’ll get two made for you,” Shen Zechuan said seriously, “and
engrave my name on them too.”
Xiao Chiye raised his arm and pinched Shen Zechuan’s chin.
After a moment’s pause, he said, “Let’s not engrave any names on
the arm guard.”
Blades and swords did not discriminate between friend or foe
on the battlefield; injuries and deaths in war were inevitable. Xiao
Chiye was unwilling to let Shen Zechuan risk his life out there with
him, not even with his name. He wanted a good omen—he wanted
Shen Zechuan to live to a ripe old age.
◈ ◈ ◈
Hairigu was locked up together with Yan Heru. Both of them
had already been starving for two days. He was still wounded, and
his lips were parched when he was dragged to the veranda under
the eaves. He braced himself, barely hanging in there.
Xiao Chiye squatted down and shrouded Hairigu under his
shadow. Gu Jin immediately pressed Hairigu’s head down and
brushed aside his hair to reveal the scorpion tattoo on the side of
his neck.
“Scorpion of Gedale.” Xiao Chiye asked gravely, “What are you
doing in Zhongbo?”
 Hairigu’s arms were tightly bound. He scuffed the ground,
refusing to answer. Gu Jin gripped him by the throat and yanked
his head up in Xiao Chiye’s direction, then said coldly. “Answer the
question.”
Hairigu breathed heavily as he cast a swift glance at Shen
Zechuan, who was standing by the door. But this one look
infuriated Xiao Chiye, and Hairigu’s head was almost
instantaneously slammed down onto the ground. Sounds of him
struggling rang out as he was pressed against the icy cold wooden
floorboards.
“I’m not the enemy!” Hairigu could not break free. He felt as if
he was being crushed by an iron arm. He did his utmost to look up,
but all he could see was Xiao Chiye’s boots. “Help me, Shen—”
Xiao Chiye was expressionless.
Gradually, Hairigu ran out of breath. His cheek scraped against
the floor, and while he was on the verge of death, he shouted,
“There is still a lot more I have to say!” He gasped hard for air.
“Don’t you all want to know about Bai Cha?!”
Xiao Chiye responded. “Before you learn to ‘answer’, we don’t
want to know a thing.”
Hairigu felt the strength of the pressure being exerted on his
nape. He strained to push his head back against that force. Sweat
trickled down his temples as he choked out, “I, Zhongbo, cough,
cough! To flee for my life!”
The two fingers on Shen Zechuan’s right hand started to throb
with faint pulses of pain. He strode a step closer and stopped next
to Hairigu. “Three days ago, you told me that you called me a son
of Gedale because Bai Cha split you people up.”
Hairigu swallowed his saliva with difficulty and gasped heavily.
“That’s correct. It’s because Bai Cha split us up… that’s why you
exist!”
Shen Zechuan frowned slightly.
Xiao Chiye let go abruptly, and Hairigu took in huge gulps of
air. Gu Jin lifted him up; he was all covered in grime as he took a
moment to take a breather before blurting out, “In the Biansha
tongue, Gedale means ‘light’. This was the name Bai Cha gave it.
Your mother’s story is a long one, so if you don’t mind, give me a
drink of water first. I swear to you that every word I say is the truth.”

Credits: Tea for proofreading! <3

 CHAPTER 179 : WOMAN
What Lei Jingzhe had said about Bai Cha being a promiscuous
whore in Gedale was, in fact, a lie, because Bai Cha had never set
foot in Gedale. She was in full bloom for a very brief period of time,
with half of her life spent in Duanzhou.
Thirty years ago, when the King of Wolves, Xiao Fangxu, was
still herding horses at Luoxia Pass with a stalk of grass in his mouth,
and when Amu’er was still an eagle slave along the banks of the
Chashi River, Bai Cha had already been sold to Duanzhou. The
thought that they could later go on to be capable of making waves
and stirring up a storm several years later had never crossed the
boys’ minds, but the girl was already well aware of the kind of path
she was about to embark on.
Cuiqing was Bai Cha’s madam. She was in the prime of her life
then, with twin peaks voluptuous and as fair as snow when she bent
over. Even just by leaning against the door, she could command all
the attention of the men passing by. A woman with a sharp,
discerning eye for discovering gems, she picked Bai Cha out from
a bunch of girls and raised her.
Back then, there was no Libei, and the north was dominated by
the Hanshe Tribe. Two sides of Duanzhou were surrounded by
enemies, and it was very close to the various Biansha Tribes, which
lay east of Chashi River. It was here the bandits found a way to
make money. They snatched women from decent families and
conspired with the yamen to forge household registrations, then
sold a portion of them to the pleasure houses in Duanzhou. The
rest were taken to the other side of the Chashi River, where they
were sold to the various tribes of Biansha.
It was tough-going for Cuiqing’s business, and being crowded
out by the competitors in the same trade irked her. She used half of
her life savings to feed and train these girls. She invited a teacher
to teach them the four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and
painting in the hope that she could hold her head high when they
were ready to serve patrons. Of the girls, she was the most exacting
of Bai Cha, and true to her expectations, Bai Cha did not let her
down a few years later when she went on to become number one
in the establishment.
 “Do you know what kind of people had the highest number of
deaths on the banks of the Chashi River at that time?” Hairigu
waited for a moment, but no one responded to him, so he
answered his own question. “It’s the women.”
When the bandits were at their most rampant, their numbers
could hit nearly ten thousand. They wandered on both ends of the
Chashi River, exchanging women for money. Even if the abducted
women managed to escape by sheer luck, there was no way they
could ever return home again.
“Later, the various tribes threw us to Gedale.” Hairigu said, “At
the same time, they also cast away a few women who were… no
longer needed. Sometimes, these women would walk back on foot,
but it was tough for them to be accepted back by their parents.”
These women had lost the proof of their household
registrations, which made it difficult for them to return to Dazhou.
Even if they managed to, their parents and siblings would refuse to
open the door and welcome them back. They were better off dead
than alive. If they were by any chance pregnant, then they were
guilty of the most heinous crimes. Not only would they be beaten
up upon returning to their hometowns, but they would also even be
burned to death.
Hairigu pursed his parched lips and said, “My mother was a girl
from Dengzhou. She was sold by the bandits to the Qingshu Tribe,
and from then on, she became a captive of the Qingshu Tribe’s
leader. He not only forced himself on her, but even gave her to his
younger brother before his death. This buddy, in turn, gave her to
another man during a banquet. She was passed on from tribe to
tribe in Biansha… eventually, she fled with me. We went through
untold hardships to make it to Duanzhou. Happily enough, her
registration was still intact, and the yamen still had her missing
person case open. She was leered at… and verbally abused, but we
eventually returned to Dengzhou, where her younger brother took
us in.”
The cussing of the merchants next door diminished. It was
already late at night now.
Sitting under the eaves, Hairigu drank up that bowl of water
and continued, “My mother was very happy, and she did much to
supplement the family income. We stayed there for half a month.
Then, one night, she was once again loaded into a carriage and
sold to Duanzhou.”
Hairigu’s mother was wounded. It was a wound unseen, a
wound called “woman”. She received training in the pleasure
quarters in Duanzhou. There was no longer another way out for
her. Being alive proved to be torture. Hairigu could swear on his life
that his mother was a harmless and kind woman.
“She met Bai Cha in Duanzhou.” Hairigu wanted to look at Shen
Zechuan, but having learned his lesson, he looked at Xiao Chiye
instead. “You would never have guessed that Bai Cha was the
guardian spirit of the banks of the Chashi River. Cuiqing’s
continuous expansion of the establishment buildings was, in fact,
Bai Cha’s idea. Having gained the power to supplant Cuiqing, she
set up a sufficiently strong network in Duanzhou to take in these
women and children.”
Bai Cha did not fight alone. She merely took the lead in lifting
that veil of curtain. They hid among the debauched scenes of
carnal pleasure, contending with the unending night. This war was
a soundless one fought in the quiet, one in which Bai Cha realized
that acceptance was but a drop in the bucket.
“It was not easy to get registered in Duanzhou, and there was
no garrison stationed outside the city. The sanctuary Bai Cha
provided could not surmount all those obstacles either. She was a
bird trapped in a vessel. Heaven would not help, but some people
ought to pay the price.” Hairigu lifted his eyes and said slowly, “And
so Bai Cha set her sights on the bandits. She wanted the bandits to
be the first in line to be punished.”
“The Zhu clan was deeply involved with the bandits back then.
Their backing was actually the reason the bandits were so lawless
in Duanzhou. Lei Jingzhe’s mother was called Xiaoyinlei, who
married into the Zhu clan of Duanzhou. She once tactfully
persuaded her husband Zhu to send troops to suppress the
bandits, but to no avail. That year, Shen Wei left Qudu, and the
Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhongbo evacuated.
Shen Wei was conferred as the Prince of Jianxing, and Bai Cha
decided to marry him.”
 For many years after Shen Wei met Bai Cha, he could not be
sure if that encounter had been intentional or coincidental. But
Shen Wei’s heart was already enraptured. He even splurged on
thousands of gold before eventually winning the heart of the
beauty and taking her home in his embrace.
“After Bai Cha married Shen Wei, Xiaoyinlei gave birth to Lei
Jingzhe. During Lei Jingzhe’s full month celebration feast, Bai Cha
went to have a talk with Xiaoyinlei, who subsequently put in
another suggestion to her husband Zhu. This time, she told him
that Shen Wei would soon start a thorough investigation in
Zhongbo, and if her husband still wanted to remain an official, he
had to cut off ties with the bandits immediately and make the first
move against them. Not long afterward, Zhu submitted a
document to Dunzhou and gave Shen Wei an account of every
crime the bandits had committed in Dunzhou. He shoved all the
blame onto the bandits and followed up with a request for Shen
Wei to send troops over to wipe the bandits out.”
Shen Wei agreed. He needed to prove his usefulness to Qudu.
So Tantai Long deployed his troops and joined forces with the
Duanzhou garrison troops to fight their way across the Chashi River
to destroy the bandits’ trading grounds with the various tribes of
Biansha.
“But as I have mentioned earlier, the bandits had fallen in with
the Liaoying tribe, and their remaining men temporarily retreated
to the desert. The spies the bandits left behind in the Duanzhou
yamen wanted to find out the reason behind Zhu’s betrayal, and
after several attempts probing into it, they noticed Xiaoyinlei.
Subsequently, she fell out of favor, and a mere few years later, she
passed away from illness in the Zhu clan’s backyard. With that, Lei
Jingzhe fell out of favor too.” At this point, Hairigu pointed at his
neck. “That’s why I say that Lei Jingzhe is our brother. The first time
he came to Gedale to look for us was to seek help. He probably
knew what Xiaoyinlei had done, yet he still wished to become a
bandit. He told me he hoped we could join forces to get back at
Zhongbo. He wanted to establish a new military force here and
proclaim ourselves kings in Dunzhou and Duanzhou. After I
rejected him, I assumed he gave up on the thought, but instead, he
threw in his lot with Amu’er.”
Shen Zechuan repeated the same question, “Why did you say
Bai Cha split up Gedale?”
“After Amu’er rose to prominence, he sought to maximize his
resources to the fullest. He asked us to join him as the iron hammer
that would oppose the Libei Armored Cavalry. Because of this, Bai
Cha changed her mind. She wanted to reclaim all of Gedale back
into Dazhou. At her behest, we resisted the Hanshe tribe’s attempts
to conscript us. We would no longer be their slaves. A group of us
retreated to this side of the Chashi River to stand with Mother.
Amu’er refused to give up, but back then, Gedale had already been
torn in two.” Hairigu pointed at himself. “The Zhongbo faction led
by me, and the Biansha faction led by Jida. Jida believed that there
was no way to obtain land by relying solely on the strength of
women, and we needed a place that could serve as a permanent
residence. On the other hand, I did not think that the people of
Biansha would be open to reason. We still had to serve as slaves by
following Amu’er, and they would never give us bastards any cattle
or sheep. In the end, we went our separate ways.”
But Bai Cha died.
Shen Zechuan recalled that particular dream, where Shen Wei’s
terrified face lay hidden behind the swinging bead curtains. He
clenched his right hand again. This was the hand that killed Jida
and Lei Jingzhe. He swiftly weaved a web in his mind, connecting
the dots he had yet to completely figure out.
“Once Bai Cha was killed, Gedale was as good as Amu’er’s.”
Shen Zechuan looked back upon all that had happened in
Qudu in the beginning.
“And this, was the real prelude to the defeat of the Zhongbo
troops.”

Special thanks to Alex for sparing brain cells and Tea for
proofreading! <3
 CHAPTER 180 SHEN WEI
It all dated back to the time during the reign of Emperor
Guangcheng.
Shen Zechuan was of the opinion that the resurgence of Yongyi
brought about by Emperor Guangcheng had been Dazhou’s last
hope. Although it had been short-lived, it had brought on an
emerging wave of countless talents. The reign of Yongyi was an era
of the rise of wise and virtuous men. It was a period that signaled
the revival of Dazhou.
At that time, Qudu was ruled by a strong, decisive emperor who
was at the peak of health. His civil officials included Qi Huilian and
Hai Liangyi, and his military generals counted Qi Shiyu and Xiao
Fangxu among the lot. These virtuous men of superior capabilities
had all followed a sovereign. All of them possessed the same
dream, and the resurgence during the reign of Yongyi was a ray of
light, a glory, these people jointly created.
Amu’er, who was once an eagle slave, stood on the banks of
the Chashi River and gazed across the turbulent river, where the
Dazhou he saw was an impregnable behemoth. The Twelve Tribes
of Biansha were helpless when faced against such a Dazhou. Their
strongest Hanshe Tribe was repeatedly beaten back by Xiao
Fangxu in the north. Once winter came around, cattle and sheep
that had frozen to death were a common sight everywhere.
At first, Amu’er led the Liaoying Tribe to leave the banks of the
Chashi River just to find a land where they could survive. His
brothers all starved to death in the snowstorm. As the Liaoying
Tribe was small and weak, Amu’er had no choice but to lead his
tribe to live a vagrant life in the desert. In the process of roaming,
he saw the mutually destructive infighting among the Twelve Tribes
of Biansha. The Huiyan Tribe, a small and weak tribe just like the
Liaoying Tribe, could not survive being trampled upon by the
strong tribes, and so they left the desert and defected to Xiao
Fangxu. But Amu’er had enough of shackles and fetters. He did not
believe that the saker falcons the Heaven bestowed upon them
were born to be slaves. He did not want the mercy of the strong at
all. He only wanted to stand on his feet.
 Amu’er rose to power in the desert. He was still an eagle slave
when he defeated Sude of the Hanshe Tribe and married Sude’s
younger sister, Surina. The next time Amu’er faced up against
Dazhou again, his opponent was Xiao Fangxu. Amu’er came to the
realization that the Twelve Tribes of Biansha had to be united like
Dazhou. He had to become the ruler of the desert and grow to be
as powerful as Emperor Guangcheng, so he started to swallow up
the other tribes.
But the Libei Armored Cavalry had military supplies and gears,
and the construction of their iron wall proved to be an impregnable
defense that prevented Amu’er from penetrating deeper into the
territory. In all those times he crossed swords with Xiao Fangxu, he
discovered that Emperor Guangcheng was already old, and
Dazhou was no longer as vibrant and flourishing as it had been a
few years ago. It dawned on him that there was more than this one
way to defeat Dazhou. Gedale proved to be an opportunity when
he set his eyes back on the banks of the Chashi River, and Amu’er
decided to use the scorpions of Gedale to dismantle Dazhou’s
defenses.
Bai Cha was the immovable force that stood in Amu’er’s way in
Gedale.
But exactly what kind of method did Amu’er employ to kill Bai
Cha?
“Why do you people still want to live in Gedale?” Xiao Chiye
propped up his arm. “Given that Bai Cha had set up a safe haven in
Duanzhou.”
“Because of the implementation of the census registers.”3 Shen
Zechuan thought of Qi Huilian. “This was a brick wall.”
“That’s right. The majority of the women didn’t have a
household registration. During the times when Zhu colluded with
the bandits, they reported many deaths in the name lists they sent
to Qudu in order to cancel these women’s records. Even if a small
number of the women’s families were still around, they would end
up being sold away by their brothers at home, just like my mother.”
Hairigu felt a little downcast. “The courtesans led by Bai Cha were
limited in their power, and to resolve the issue of the household
registration, the majority of them married the lesser functionaries of
the Duanzhou yamen. Bai Cha partitioned an area in the pleasure
quarter as our residence and raised the children there. But as the
number of people increased, it became extremely tough to hide
ourselves. The hardest part was children like me, whose
appearances were so conspicuous that it was of no use even if we
were to get the household registration papers. Unable to see the
light in Duanzhou, we lived off the women’s savings in the
backyard of the courtesans’ quarters. Later, the bandits were
suppressed, and Gedale gained a period of peace. It was at that
time we returned to Gedale. When Amu’er was rallying the
scorpions together, he promised to give us land, as well as cattle
and sheep. Jida believed him. I couldn’t stand up to the pursuit of
the Biansha Cavalry, so I could only return here once more. After
Bai Cha’s death, the courtesans continued to help us, but their
strength was no longer what it had once been. I led my people to
live on the outskirts of Duanzhou. A few years later, Amu’er
launched a surprise attack at the Chashi River’s line of defense, and
Zhongbo no longer came under the jurisdiction of the yamen. That
was the time I entered Zhongbo, where I lived until now.”
Hairigu’s mouth was parched from all that talking. Chen Yang
poured him another bowl of water. Hairigu said his thanks in a
small voice and held up the bowl with both hands to drink it all up.
“The timing is just right.” Xiao Chiye looked at Shen Zechuan.
“Amu’er got his hands on the scorpions after Bai Cha’s death and
had them divided into black and white. The white scorpions
passed him information from within Dazhou, and the military
defense map was just one of them. During the reign of Xiande,
Juexi was hit with a calamity, and Hai Liangyi traced the account
books and called for Hua Siqian to account for it. To make up for
the state treasury’s deficit, Hua Siqian asked the officials from the
noble clans who were in collusion with him for money.”
“He didn’t get it.” Shen Zechuan said with certainty. “Hua Siqian
resold the Hua clan’s fields and houses to Xi Hongxuan during the
third year of the reign of Xiande precisely because he did not get
the money he wanted from the noble clan officials. But the deficit
was too huge a sum, and the Hua clan had no way of making up
for it.”
 “Then the Zhongbo troops’ defeat happened.” Xiao Chiye
frowned.
The route taken by the Biansha Cavalry in carrying out their
surprise assault was deeply ingrained in Xiao Chiye’s memory.
They once analyzed it back at the Plum Blossom Residence. The
destination of the Biansha Cavalry back then had been Juexi. If
there were white scorpions hiding among the noble clans, Amu’er
should have known that Juexi was already out of food at that
time.
Xiao Chiye silently drew a couple of strokes on the ground.
After a moment’s pause, he said, “Juexi isn’t easy to defend. It was
a risk for Amu’er’s cavalry to invade deep into Dazhou. The
strength of the Biansha Cavalry of that time was their use of
resources obtained from the battles to sustain themselves in the
war;4 they were incapable of defending the cities. If their goal was
still Juexi, then this route is a straight path to their own demise.
They would end up facing a three-way siege in Juexi.”
“What if the officials from the noble clans who were involved in
the military defeat case wanted Amu’er dead?” Shen Zechuan
covered up the military sketch Xiao Chiye drew and said out of the
blue, “There was no one to hold them in check, and Amu’er
couldn’t control them. They wanted to treat Amu’er like a dog the
same way they did Shen Wei. They could have lured Amu’er
deeper into the territory then taken him out with the combined
power of three armies. This would have completely turned the case
of military defeat into a case of Shen Wei’s collusion with the
enemy.”
“That would mean that the noble clans were not aware of the
existence of the white scorpions.” Enlightened, Xiao Chiye tossed
away the branch, “They thought they could manipulate Amu’er.”
Both parties had their own ulterior motives, and each had their
own goals in this game. Perhaps Amu’er had pretended to be a
fool from Biansha; he did not reveal the card up his sleeve, and the
noble clans did not even have a clue that there were white
scorpions among them. Amu’er seized the opportunity and took
advantage of the situation to ambush Zhongbo. It was as he had
originally planned. What he desired was not one instance of
victory, but to completely bring about Dazhou’s collapse from
within.
He succeeded.
The Zhongbo troops’ defeat was a crucial node that signified
the absolute end of the resurgence during the Yongyi reign. Due to
the Zhongbo troops’ defeat, Dazhou underwent a radical change
internally, starting from the fourth year of the reign of Xiande. Hai
Liangyi thus embarked on the path of openly opposing the noble
clans. Together with Xue Xiuzhuo and the others, he launched an
investigation into Hua Siqian for as long as six years. Libei was
forced to send in Xiao Chiye as a hostage, thereby sowing the seed
for the insurgency that would later go on to occur. The Empress
Dowager also cleared out the imperial court during the reign of
Emperor Guangcheng. With everyone deeply enmired in internal
strife, the Zhongbo troops’ defeat became the pebble Amu’er used
to test the path ahead. Perhaps he had not expected Dazhou’s
collapse to come about this soon, but this pebble hit right on target
—it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“We thought Shen Wei killed Bai Cha.” Hairigu piped up again
in the solemn atmosphere. “He was possibly influenced by the
remaining bandits, who poisoned his mind until he saw Bai Cha as
a spy from Biansha.”
Shen Zechuan lowered his gaze to stare at his right hand in
contemplation.
“If that’s the case,” Xiao Chiye said, “Shen Wei didn’t collude
with the enemy. Then, all his actions during the reign of Xiande
make no sense.”
There was no scouring Shen Wei’s guilt clean, because he
cowered back from battle and fled, then collaborated with his
lawful son, Shen Zhouji, to hold a banquet to strangle Tantai Long,
who advocated war, to death. He did not only retreat, but also
asked the military officers and generals to do so along with him.
The six prefectures had been handed over on a silver platter, and
this was what Xiao Chiye despised most about Shen Wei.
Why did Xiao Chiye try every means possible to take the
remaining soldiers from the Zhongbo garrison troops under his
command when he later took over the Imperial Army? Precisely
because it was too humiliating. These soldiers suffered the infamy
of cowering away from battles. Forty thousand people died in the
Chashi Sinkhole, yet they had no chance to fight back. It was with
the thought of setting the Zhongbo soldiers led by Tantai Hu back
into Zhongbo one day that Xiao Chiye took to heart what Tantai Hu
had said that day—“the humiliation of our nation has yet to be
redressed, and the feuds of our families have yet to be avenged”.
He who is owned the debt shall collect it himself.
“Think about it the other way around.” Shen Wei’s face
repeatedly appeared in Shen Zechuan’s mind. He muttered, “It will
make sense once it’s reversed.”
Hairigu did not understand what he meant.
The voices from the merchants next door had already
quietened down. In the momentary silence under the cold,
forbidding moonlight in the courtyard, Xiao Chiye raised his hands
to drape the cloak over Shen Zechuan’s shoulders.
“Since the noble clans did not know of the existence of the
white scorpions, then they could only rely on their own abilities to
contact Amu’er.” Shen Zechuan gathered his cloak around him.
“And there are only three places where they could reach Amu’er—
Libei, the Bianjun Commandery, and Duanzhou. I once
interrogated Ji Lei back in Qudu, and he said that Shen Wei was
sent to Zhongbo because the noble clans wanted him to intercept
and sever the connections between Libei and Qidong. Perhaps he
wasn’t just sent there to play watchdog, but also to get in touch
with the various tribes of Biansha on behalf of the noble clans.”
Hairigu’s blood ran cold as he said, “Then wouldn’t that mean
he married Bai Cha as a test?”
Shen Zechuan swiftly organized his line of thought and said in
a clear, methodical manner, “Zhu gave the bandits free access in
and out of Duanzhou as they pleased. Even the women of
Dengzhou suffered greatly because of it, so it wouldn’t stand to
reason for there to be fewer victims in Dunzhou. Dunzhou and
Duanzhou are so close to each other. It was impossible for Tantai
Long to be in the dark about the bandits’ selling of the women.
Ever since I heard Hairigu mention Zhu’s forging of the household
registrations, I’ve been harboring a guess. Zhu was merely a minor
prefect at the frontier; how could he have the ability to alter the
census registers far away in Qudu? Zhu had backers, and these
people were not men Tantai Long could lay his hands on. Shen Wei
came to Zhongbo to conspire with Zhu, and he went to Duanzhou
to investigate the network Bai Cha had concealed.”
This was also the part that had baffled Shen Zechuan earlier. If
Bai Cha had been able to pull the wool over Shen Wei’s eyes, then
it was implausible how the bandits in Dunzhou had been able to
find out and trace it to her so easily. She married Shen Wei to put
an end to the banditry, and Shen Wei’s deployment of troops to
eradicate the bandits had been to test Bai Cha.
Before his death, Ji Lei had mentioned one thing.
Shen Wei acted on the Empress Dowager’s orders and
colluded with Ji Lei to fabricate the Eastern Palace rebellion case.
They killed the crown prince at Zhao Zui Temple. Not long
afterward, Shen Wei noticed the presence of spies all around his
residence, and there were always people moving around on the
roof. He could not sleep at night because of this, thinking that
Empress Dowager wanted to get rid of him after he had outlived
his usefulness. So he bribed Pan Rugui with a huge sum of money
and was subsequently sent to Zhongbo.
“Shen Wei was afraid of death. He was already suspecting that
the noble clans had treated him as a useless pawn to be discarded.
For this reason, he went to Zhongbo to seek a way out for himself in
addition to helping the noble clans get in touch with the various
tribes of Biansha. He wavered between the noble clans and
Biansha, until Amu’er appeared. ”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were dark.
“Shen Wei was the scorpion.”

Credits: thank you Tea for proofreading! <3

 CHAPTER 181: CE’AN
Shen Wei and Bai Cha were husband and wife for quite several
years. They were strange bedfellows who shared the same bed but
nursed different dreams and worked for different ends. At the
same time, they were guessing who the other person really was. In
those years, Shen Wei cautioned himself not to feel compassion.
They had a son, and Bai Cha decided on “Zechuan” from among
the exquisite gems of names. They did as customs dictated and
held a banquet, where not the slightest trace of killing intent could
be found in their eyes when they looked at each other. It was as if
they were really in love.
Shen Wei was a child of common birth born to a concubine. He
endured plenty in the past, but he eventually walked out of it to
become the noble clans’ blade. He thought he was sharp enough,
and to prove his loyalty, he even dared to kill the crown prince. But
he soon discovered the futility of it, for he was destined to be cast
aside once again. The noble clans’ officials who were in power
scorned him. He was just a nobody struggling on the other end of
the natural chasm between them.
Shen Wei sometimes sat in the courtyard and watched Bai Cha
play with their son under the eaves, and he would mistakenly think
of themselves as a perfect match made in heaven living in conjugal
bliss. There was a brief period when Shen Wei lost himself in the
thought, because the expression in Bai Cha’s eyes was too sincere.
So sincere, he thought he was the man Bai Cha admired and
adored the most when she fixed that gaze upon him.
But these were all shadows of the past, fleeting and ephemeral.
Shen Wei would always acknowledge the fact that he was a
scum. Shen Wei did not want to be a dog for the rest of his life, and
Bai Cha was one of the chains. When Shen Wei was once again
faced with the choices presented to him as he stood before the fork
in the road in front of him, he hesitated for only a moment before
ending her.
He was a blade.
Who eventually stabbed himself bloody.
 Shen Zechuan resembled Bai Cha so much that Shen Wei only
wanted to kill him. They were not father and son; they were a
testimony of an insignificant relationship. The incriminating handle
against Shen Wei was in Shen Zechuan’s eyes, and this made Shen
Zechuan’s gaze on him too much for Shen Wei to bear. But Shen
Wei did not kill off Shen Zechuan, even though the thought of
throwing Shen Zechuan to the pack of wolves had crossed his
mind countless times.
Shen Zechuan was the son of Shen Wei and Bai Cha. He had
two strains of cold, detached blood coursing through his veins. For
this, Shen Wei drank to his heart’s content. He kept this son, then
tossed this son out. He taught Shen Zechuan nothing. This was his
revenge.
Revenge against Bai Cha, and against Shen Wei himself.
“But…” Chen Yang broke the silence and asked carefully, “If
Shen Wei became a scorpion before the military defeat, then why
would he set himself on fire? He had already accomplished his
mission when the Biansha Cavalry set foot in Dunzhou. His only
chance of survival was to continue to follow Amu’er east.”
Shen Zechuan could not figure out why. This was also why he
did not believe Ji Lei at first. He did not have the slightest bit of a
clue as he did not understand Shen Wei. He could only say, “I can’t
figure it out. If the Prince of Jianxing’s manor was still standing, we
could perhaps find some clues from it.”
“How many people do you have?” Xiao Chiye asked Hairigu.
“I can’t tell…” On seeing the expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes,
Hairigu deflated and said, “Eight hundred. Only eight hundred.
There were initially over a thousand those few years, but it isn’t easy
to spend life in hiding all over. Many of them left one after
another.”
“You hijacked Lei Jingzhe’s military supplies and gears before.”
Shen Zechuan said, “But you sent them back.”
With the attention of the guards on him, Hairigu slowly raised
his hands and said innocently, “I have no land. I live in a small alley
in Dunzhou. These military gears are too heavy for me to hide
them. We only have eight hundred people.”
 But this wasn’t what the eight hundred of you thought when
you hijacked the military supplies, Gu Jin thought.
“My mother said before,” Hairigu said in all seriousness, “that
things must always be returned to their rightful owner. These
military gears didn’t belong to me to begin with.”
Showing no mercy, Xiao Chiye casually exposed Hairigu.
“Might as well say that things you have no idea how to use must be
returned to their rightful owner.”
Hairigu put on an “that’s exactly it” expression.
“What did Yan Heru give you to make you go all out for him like
this?” As soon as Shen Zechuan tilted his head, Xiao Chiye knew he
was going to start negotiations.
Hairigu said in all sincerity, “He’s good-looking.”
Shen Zechuan found that this Biansha scorpion was actually
pretty good at putting on a mask. He appeared to be rather gullible
and easily deceived, but in truth, he was a sly one.
Shen Zechuan asked, “What do you want by throwing in your
lot with me?”
“Some promises.” Hairigu said. “Having been on the receiving
end of Bai Cha’s kindness, I’m willing to trust you. For this
reason…”
“I’ll give you one more chance.” Shen Zechuan held up his
index finger and spoke in what could be said to be a gentle
manner.
After a moment of silence, Hairigu honestly answered, “I want
land, a piece of land that people like me can call ours.”
“What are you going to give me in exchange?” Shen Zechuan
drawled. “I’m not lacking these eight hundred people of yours.”
“We are all people your mother left behind.” Hairigu said, “You
can regard us as elite soldiers.”
“Bai Cha is Bai Cha.” Shen Zechuan said, “I’ve never shown you
and your people any kindness.”
“Feelings can always be fostered.” Having said that, Hairigu
raised his hands again and said solemnly to Xiao Chiye. “I’m
talking about feelings of gratitude. You’re Bai Cha’s son. For this
reason alone, I’m willing to put myself at your disposal.”
 “If I were Yan Heru,” Shen Zechuan said with biting sarcasm, “I’d
believe it.”
Hairigu contended with Lei Jingzhe in Dunzhou using the
financial assistance Yan Heru rendered him. The reason he could
remain alive was because he was smart enough, and smart people
rarely brought old ties into the equation; they had their priorities all
clearly worked out. If Dunzhou had not fallen into Shen Zechuan’s
hands this time, Hairigu would never have remembered Bai Cha—
the person he had wanted to save on Fuxian Peak was Yan Heru.
Xiao Chiye said with heartfelt sincerity, “My wife is so
intelligent.”
Hairigu could only switch tactics. “You killed Lei Jingzhe and
foiled Amu’er’s deployment in Zhongbo. He will not give up on
Zhongbo easily. Soon, the cavalry will converge outside the city of
Duanzhou. You have to quickly build up the city walls here. But
Dunzhou has no garrison troops, so you can only deploy a portion
from the Cizhou garrison troops here. However, Cizhou is also
under threat from Qudu. Therefore, you lack people—you lack
troops.”
“I do lack troops, but I have no lack of money.” Shen Zechuan
said, “My men will be stationed in Dunzhou. They will establish a
new order here and swiftly reorganize the garrison troops.”
“Can regular troops resist the elite forces of Biansha?” Hairigu
asked, “Perhaps your… husband has a better understanding.”
A dark light suddenly flashed in Xiao Chiye’s eyes, but he very
naturally continued the conversation, “Hasen is leading the elite
forces of Biansha on the battlefield in the north, and the forces in
the south have to take on Qi Zhuyin. Amu’er doesn’t have any
remaining elite forces to deploy to Zhongbo.”
“That is merely a diversionary tactic.” Hairigu responded with
certainty. “It’s not an easy fight on the southern front. Tianfei
Watchtower and Suotian Pass have Qidong securely surrounded.
Qi Zhuyin can deploy 120,000 troops from the Bianjun
Commandery to fight the Biansha Cavalry. As long as Qi Zhuyin
herself doesn’t set foot out of Bianjun, there is no way the cavalry
will be able to break through her defenses. Amu’er’s stretching of
the battle line this far is simply a ploy to confuse the Libei Cavalry.
His goal is Zhongbo.”
That was right; this was Xiao Chiye’s guess too.
Amu’er established a unit of scorpions, yet he hid them here
without immediately putting them to use on the northern
battlefield; this was his scheme to catch his foes off guard. Lei
Jingzhe’s infiltration into Dunzhou was a ploy to occupy the area
without any noise, as well as to allow the Biansha Cavalry to swiftly
ambush the Libei camps down south.
Hasen would be swapped over.
Xiao Chiye guessed.
Hasen’s departure from the battlegrounds in Libei would imply
that the scorpion unit had taken over his position. The Libei Cavalry
must think of a way to resist the iron hammers before this
happened. Simultaneously, Shen Zechuan had to establish
Zhongbo’s defenses before then, or they would all fall prey to the
onslaught of attacks by Biansha.
“Before I leave Dunzhou, I want to meet your eight hundred
men.” Shen Zechuan ended the night’s discussion. “Then we’ll
discuss the other matters.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan rested his head against Xiao Chiye’s chest
amidst the cool night breeze. The medicine on his right hand had
been changed. Xiao Chiye had bandaged it very carefully, and
before they retired to bed, he had taken Shen Zechuan’s wrist into
his grasp.
Neither of them spoke; it was as though they had both fallen
asleep.
Xiao Chiye stroked the back of Shen Zechuan’s head, staring at
the ceiling as he mulled over matters.
Shen Zechuan opened his eyes. “The profits Yan Heru earned
from grains in Zhongbo are money made off the misery of others.
We can get him to make reparations with the warm winter clothes
that Libei is lacking this time.”
“Are you planning to squeeze him dry?” Xiao Chiye released
his hand to cup Shen Zechuan’s cheeks. He whispered, “Lanzhou.”
 “The merchant’s goods this batch can be transported over to
the mutual market in the winter to be traded with the Huiyan tribe.”
Shen Zechuan gazed at Xiao Chiye, who was close within his reach.
“Once winter comes, the trade route will be fully opened up.”
“Then it looks like I’ll have to wait until next year to get married
to you.” Xiao Chiye laughed.
“That’s too long,” Shen Zechuan replied softly. “I’ll ask the
Prince of Libei for your hand in marriage during the spring festival5
this year.”
They silently shared a kiss. Shen Zechuan sank into the crook of
Xiao Chiye’s arms, and Xiao Chiye turned over and lowered his
head to press against him. Enveloped by that gaze of his, Shen
Zechuan reached out with his fingers to caress Xiao Chiye’s cheek.
With the case of the Zhongbo troops’ defeat unraveled, the
primary issue Shen Zechuan faced was not only the threat of the
cavalry from the east, but also how he should naturally progress to
stand on his own feet under the stain of Shen Wei’s name. As long
as it was Shen Zechuan’s banner they were flying under, the
Zhongbo troops’ defeat would remain a shackle.
“During my time in Duanzhou, I thought that if there ever came
a day when I grew up, I would change my family name and take on
shifu’s family name to become a Ji. Then I’d be a squad
commander in Duanzhou, just like my big brother.” Shen Zechuan
glided his fingers along gently; he was like the imprisoned
moonlight as he lay here in Xiao Chiye’s arms. “But then, while at
Zhao Zui Temple, I came to the realization that I would still be Shen
Wei’s son even if I were to change my family name.”
With a face that bore a striking resemblance to Bai Cha, all
traces of Shen Wei seemed to have been erased by his mother. But
those traces lay concealed deep within him, manifesting into a
different kind of insanity. If Shen Zechuan had not met Qi Huilian
after crawling out of Chashi Sinkhole, perhaps he would be even
more deranged. What his teacher had imparted to him was not
only the Confucian classics; he had also bestowed upon him
“Lanzhou”. Lanzhou had stepped out of Shen Wei’s shadow—this
was a part of him that genuinely belonged to Shen Zechuan alone.
This part allowed him to retain his sanity, preventing him from
being destroyed and incinerated in all his battles with the
nightmares of the Chashi Sinkhole. It was precisely because of this
that Xiao Chiye could succeed in keeping Shen Zechuan under lock
and become Shen Zechuan’s sheath.
“All I wanted to do as a child was to fly.” Xiao Chiye flicked a
finger at Shen Zechuan’s forehead. “I wondered why Xiao Fangxu
was my old man. He kept lifting us and tossing us into the air all
day long, and he was so tall and so strong to boot.”
Shen Zechuan started to laugh.
“They all say that I resemble my old man.” Xiao Chiye looked at
Shen Zechuan, “When I was sent to Qudu, I thought it was a
punishment, because I had once been complacent over it. There in
Qudu, I wanted to strip off the part of me that belonged to Libei. I
didn’t tell anyone this, but I hated the courtesy name ‘Ce’an’ then,
for it linked with ‘Chiye’ to fetter my talons and fangs. I drank the
best of wines with Li Jianheng, yet I couldn’t sleep at night. Even
with my eyes open, thoughts of the Hongyan Mountains would still
haunt me.”
That was a sort of restless torture. Xiao Chiye did not even
know who he should hate during that period of time. He knew that
his father and brother were not at fault—he could only hate himself.
When Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye, he saw the latter as an
untouchable reflection far beyond his reach. Yet when Xiao Chiye
looked at Shen Zechuan, he felt him to be an obtainable mirage of
the moon in the water that lay right at his fingertips. Only Shen
Zechuan understood his pain. Those eyes of his alleviated the
frustration that taunted him day in and day out. He had already
been wanting to possess Shen Zechuan back then.
“You may be Shen Wei’s son,” Xiao Chiye whispered, “but
you’re mine.”

Credits: thank you Tea for proofreading! <3

 CHAPTER 182: QUAIL
The merchants were locked up in the courtyard for two days. It
was one thing to go without food and water, but it was the lack of
latrines and chamber pots that proved to be the most intolerable.
They could not hold it in any longer and thought of climbing over
the wall to get out. As it turned out, Fei Sheng was prepared for this
and had his men stand guard at the top of the wall to douse them
in the face with several buckets of cold water, subsequently causing
an uproar to break out in the courtyard.
“The fuck is this?! What’s wrong with you?! You nearly made me
piss my pants!”
Fei Sheng had been sitting until his buttocks were aching. He
stood up and took several steps before saying, “Piss, huh. You
people are the one reeking of it, anyway. Not my problem.”
The merchants all held up their pants, their legs shaking from
the urgency of their needs. The man who took the lead earlier
clung to the crack in the door and put aside his pride to plead, “My
good sir, all men surely have to answer the call of nature! Aren’t
you extorting a confession by doing this?!”
Fei Sheng exclaimed in astonishment and moved closer to the
side of the door, “What nonsense are you spouting? I didn’t even
touch a single finger of yours!”
This man pressed his legs together and bent over at the waist.
“Yes, yes, yes. But you still have to let us use the latrine somehow!”
Fei Sheng said with a hypocritical smile, “I’ve already made it
clear to you people. You want to come out, sure, but first write down
the names of the officials who supplied you with the goods.”
The merchants were not natives of Zhongbo, and they still had
to return to their hometowns after conducting the business, so how
would they be willing to offend the local officials? When they
refused to write, Fei Sheng continued to keep the door sealed. Out
of options, they could only put up with the shame and pull down
their pants to relieve themselves. It was still fine at the start, but it
became unbearable later as the foul stench of urine permeated the
courtyard. It was so overwhelming that they all covered their noses,
and after two days, they finally caved in and confessed it all.
 Proud of his success, Fei Sheng handed the name list to Shen
Zechuan, who wanted this list to investigate if there were any white
scorpions among these local officials. With the transportation of
such a large batch of goods east, they would have inevitably left a
trail behind.
◈ ◈ ◈
Yan Heru, having been starved into obedience, was now sitting
cross-legged looking all well-behaved as he stood trial. He waited,
but seeing as Shen Zechuan was still maintaining his silence, he
asked, “Your lordship, aren’t you going to interrogate me?”
Shen Zechuan set the list before Yan Heru and said, “All the
names in here are your acquaintances, right?”
“I’m a businessman, and businessmen like me have nothing
whatsoever to do with the yamen.” Yan Heru tilted his head and
finished looking through the name list. “They are just some
drinking buddies.”
“Hezhou is the most convenient for you to do business if you so
wish, but you set up a small mutual trade market in Dunzhou and
brought the merchants from all over the world here together.”
Having slept well last night, Shen Zechuan was feeling so refreshed
this morning that he did not even lose patience beating around the
bush with Yan Heru. “That’s quite something you’re up to.”
Yan Heru blinked his eyes and said, “Even if I am up to
something, they are all small tricks employed in the business world.
Your lordship is truly the one who is circumspect and farsighted.
Let’s not even bring up Huaizhou, Cizhou, and Chazhou, because it
makes me green-eyed with envy just to mention them. Now that
Dunzhou is under your control, I shall make my livelihood under
you. I’m willing and happy to be your younger brother.”
“Why don’t you make it clear first before talking about
becoming sworn brothers?” Shen Zechuan said. “These local
officials embezzled official goods and handed them to the
merchants to be transported here, where they then sold the goods
to the various Biansha Tribes through you and used this as an
opportunity to have the goods converted into money. You’re truly a
righteous one to be leading a bunch of people into making their
fortune off state wealth.”
 “You are so smart.” Yan Heru actually started to account for his
actions with his hands behind his back. “That’s right; that’s exactly
the case. It’s through the tea trade that my Yan clan made its
fortune. We had to spend mountains of silvers on bribing the local
officials in order to find a means of subsistence under the Xi clan,
but we could never have enough to fill this bottomless pit. These
rats in charge of the local copper and iron mines had lucrative jobs
where they could line their pockets to the brim. They only had to
hold out their hands, and they would be able to fish up tens of
thousands of silver. Anyone else would be tempted by this, so I
decided I might as well join them in this endeavor.”
Yan Heru showed no sign of fear as he spoke to this point. All
the business he had successively engaged in was all capital crimes
punishable by execution if he had been reported to the authorities,
but he had still gone ahead with them, and he had even become
rather seasoned at it.
“But I’m not the one who is providing Amu’er with copper and
iron,” Yan Heru bared his canine tooth and smiled at Shen
Zechuan. “Your Lordship’s interrogation of me today is because
you’ve found out that these are all but small batches of goods that
are completely incapable of meeting the requirements for the
scorpions’ equipment, right?”
Shen Zechuan did not respond.
“All the transactions that pass through my hands are recorded
in black and white. Your Lordship, having conducted your
investigation to this date, should have already known that I’m
telling the truth.” Tired from sitting cross-legged, Yan Heru shifted a
couple of times. “I’ll have you know that the person who went to
Zhongbo at the very start to deal in grain was Xi Hongxuan.”
After Xi Hongxuan’s death, all the Xi clan’s shops fell into Shen
Zechuan’s hands. The reason why he ordered Ge Qingqing to stay
still in Juexi was to keep a tight watch on Xi Dan. He understood
the Xi clan’s current accounts like the back of his hand, and he was
aware that Xi Hongxuan was the one dealing in grains in Zhongbo
after the fourth year of Xiande, although it was directly resold to the
Yan clan by the fifth year of Xiande. But despite turning over the Xi
clan’s accounts, Shen Zechuan could not find any traces of copper
and iron trading between Xi Hongxuan and the various tribes of
Biansha.
“Whether it was before or after the troops’ defeat, Zhongbo is
the only place where you can transport goods to Amu‘er.” Yan Heru
said, “Even though Zhongbo lost the ability to defend itself after
the fourth year of Xiande, Amu’er never made another move to
invade again. By now, it should have already dawned on Your
Lordship why this was the case, right?”
To transport goods.
After the fourth year of Xiande, not a single one of the
provincial administration commissioners deployed to Zhongbo
from Qudu lasted for long. Replacements were a frequent
occurrence. Initially, Shen Zechuan had thought that it was due to
the severity of the banditry, but upon arrival in Zhongbo, he quickly
learned that this was not the case. At the very least, Lei Jingzhe had
not been that influential at the beginning of the fourth year of
Xiande. Afterward, he thought about how thorough Hai Liangyi
had been in transferring Jiang Qingshan over to Qudu after he
became the Grand Secretary. He had Jiang Qingshan reside
temporarily in Qudu while waiting for the confirmation of his
appointment then, and he had done it all so that he could send
Jiang Qingshan down to Zhongbo to change and turn the situation
there around.
“I truly want to fraternize with Your Lordship.” Yan Heru said,
“Come on, let’s do this together.”
“Hezhou was still transporting grains to Qudu last year.” Shen
Zechuan was in no hurry to answer. He looked at Yan Heru. “You
have money and grain. Why aren’t you throwing in your lot with
Xue Xiuzhuo? He is working in collaboration with an equally
powerful ally in Juexi—Jiang Qingshan. No reason for him to let you
do as you please.”
Yan Heru curbed his smile and said, “I want to too, but this man
only wants my head.”
Shen Zechuan asked, “Xue Xiuzhuo is checking your
accounts?”
“Not just mine, he’s also looking into the Xi clan’s accounts.”
Yan Heru said. “This man is a fearsome one. He can’t tolerate
corruption, and he particularly doesn’t care about sentimental ties
at all.”
Yan Heru was loath to deal with people like Xue Xiuzhou for a
very simple reason—he was afraid of Xue Xiuzhuo. Back in the reign
of Xiande when Xue Xiuzhuo was still serving as the Chief
Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, Yan Heru had
attempted to bribe Xue Xiuzhuo. However, it proved futile. Not only
did it not work, Xue Xiuzhou also almost traced it back to Yan
Heru’s shops at that time.
The way in which Yan Heru formed his alliances was very
simple, and that was, everyone transgressed together, giving the
others a hold over himself at the same time he had a hold over the
others.
Shen Zechuan did not continue Yan Heru’s thread of
conversation.
On seeing this, Yan Heru hurriedly craned his neck and said,
“Do we have a deal? Let us draft up the rules and regulations,
alright? Our respective shares in the mutual trade market’s business
in Huaizhou, Cizhou, Chazhou, and Libei in the future, along with
the finer details of the business operations are all open to
negotiations. I can also deliver grains to Libei.”
“The business aspect is easy to work out. As long as you can
make up for the remaining winter clothes for the Libei Armored
Cavalry before the tenth month,” Shen Zechuan set the lid over the
teacup. “Hezhou has to assume the responsibility of supplying the
granaries in Chazhou and Dunzhou at the start of spring next year.”
“Can you establish yourself as king by the beginning of spring
next year? You can’t. In that case, my grains in Hezhou are still
subject to requisition by Qudu, and I’ll have to transport them to
Qidong as military provisions.” The internal abacus in Yan Heru’s
mind was clicking away at high speed as he made his calculations.
“Qi Zhuyin is the commander-in-chief of the Qidong Five
Commanderies, and she’s just over the banks of Hezhou. I don’t
have the troops to obstruct her. When the time comes and she
doesn’t receive the provisions as scheduled, she will come after me
first and foremost. Never mind if it’s just me, but if it implicates Your
Lordship, then Cizhou will be beset with a crisis. ”
 Shen Zechuan was well-aware that Yan Heru had his own
schemes in mind, and so he asked, “So, your point is?”
Yan Heru’s eyes lit up. “How about this? When spring comes
next year, the supply to the granaries of Chazhou and Dunzhou will
be jointly borne by Hezhou and Cizhou. I’ll take the lion’s share.
Isn’t that honorable enough of me? As for the portion of provisions
owed to Qidong, I’ll personally head to Baimazhou via the water
routes on the west side to purchase them. I have old acquaintances
there. But the consumption of money to bribe my way through the
checkpoints is too high. I have to figure out a way to make up for it
over the winter. How about Your Lordship waive the tariffs for the
merchants who have registered at the Yan clan’s pawnshop and let
them trade what they’ve amassed on hand at the mutual market in
Libei? The Huiyan tribe has tea, which I can make a killing with if I
buy and resell it at Yongyi Harbor.”
Having drunk his fill of tea, Shen Zechuan rose to his feet and
made to leave without so much another word.
“Aye.” Yan Heru followed suit and said, “This won’t do either?
Your Lordship, you’re really a little stingy! Even if you want to shear
my wool, you still have to let me fill up my tummy first.”
Shen Zechuan strode out of the door. It just so happened that
Xiao Chiye was entering from the moon gate.6
Yan Heru simply fell to the ground and shamelessly created a
scene. He hollered, “Don’t go, Shen-gege! You’re my dear kin
brother! We can always discuss it over again, man!”
Shen Zechuan turned his head back to look askance at him. “It’s
all thanks to you the bandits are running rampant in Chazhou,
Dunzhou, Fanzhou, and Dengzhou. Ever since the fifth year of
Xiande, the Yan Clan has earned quite the fortune in Zhongbo. I’m
already giving you due respect by not closing down the Yan clan’s
shops for good. If anyone in the two prefectures of Chazhou and
Dunzhou die of starvation at the start of spring next year, I’ll have
your head for it.”
Feeling timid and apprehensive, Yan Heru cowered and shrunk
his neck back like a little quail. As he lay on the ground, he saw
Xiao Chiye’s boots through the curtain Fei Sheng had lifted. He
suddenly had a brainwave and shouted, “I still have a treasure!”
 Xiao Chiye rapped his umbrella on the step and said, “What
treasure? Show this eye-opener to your Second Young Master too.”
Yan Heru promptly put on a smiling face and said ingratiatingly,
“What Second Young Master? It’s Second Master! The Second
Master liked pearls and jades back in Qudu, right? I just so
happened to newly acquire some good stuff at the start of autumn.
As the saying goes, a precious sword ought to be gifted to a hero;7
in the same vein, precious gems are befitting of the Second Master.
I’ve long wanted to pay a tribute of respect to the Second Master!”
Xiao Chiye had been wanting to make Shen Zechuan a few
more earrings, so his interest was piqued on hearing him. He had
Fei Sheng continue holding up the curtain as he asked, “What
kinds of goods?”
Yan Heru knew that the relationship between Xiao Chiye and
Shen Zechuan was an intimate one. Shen Zechuan had said “my
husband” on Fuxian Peak. He could not convince Shen Zechuan,
but he could coax Xiao Chiye and make him happy, so he said,
“When I get out, I’ll get my men to deliver them to your residence
for your amusement.”
Xiao Chiye was in quite the good mood. “A sensible one, you
are.”
Yan Heru nodded his head as though he were pounding garlic.
“The Second Master came with the Prefectural Lord on official
business and has been staying on my property for quite a few days,
and I still have yet to play the good host and entertain you. That
makes me feel so ashamed.”
Xiao Chiye stood on the stairs, and Yan Heru secretly smacked
his lips as he marveled just how tall this Xiao the Second was.
Those shoulders were so broad one could simply roll around on
them.
“What did you call the Prefectural Lord earlier?” Xiao Chiye
inquired.
Yan Heru answered, “Shen-gege.”
“Toss him out,” Xiao Chiye’s tone abruptly went cold. “Let him
clear his mind in the pond. To think he even forgot who his parents
and siblings are.”
Fei Sheng leaned over to pick up Yan Heru and headed out.
 How was Yan Heru to know that Xiao Chiye was displeased
again? He kicked his legs and said in a panic, “I remember, I
remember! Second Master, don’t toss me away!” The wind was
extremely cold out there. Yan Heru continued, “There’s something I
still have yet to tell the Second Master. You—”
Fei Sheng had already dunked him into the water.
◈ ◈ ◈
Five days later, Shen Zechuan departed for Cizhou, while Tantai
Hu remained in Dunzhou. His letter was delivered right at this time
to the Bianjun Commandery, where it was sent into the
campground.
Qi Zhuyin stepped out of the tent. Upon seeing Qi Wei
dismount from his horse, she asked, “Where did that letter come
from?”
Qi Wei presented the letter and answered, “From Zhongbo. It’s
affixed with his private seal.”
“Looks like Shen Zechuan is doing rather well for himself in
Zhongbo.” Qi Zhuyin opened up the letter. “To think he could still
remain alive long enough to send a letter my way.”
Although Qi Wei had not looked at the letter without
permission, he knew what its contents entailed. As Qi Zhuyin was
reading it, he said, “It has not even been half a year since the
establishment of the Cizhou garrison troops, and yet they were
able to defeat the Biansha Cavalry in Dunzhou. Their ability can’t be
underestimated.”
“We have Xiao the Second to thank for this.” Qi Zhuyin handed
the letter back to Qi Wei and looked at the overcast sky. “The
longer that the Prince of Libei keeps him in check and holds him
back, the more zealous he will be when he steps onto the frontlines
in the future.”
Qi Wei said, “After the new year, Qudu will be urging you to
head up north to suppress King Yi of Fanzhou.”
Qi Zhuyin did not respond. She whistled towards the soldiers at
the back and grabbed her overcoat. As she put it on, she changed
the subject. “Is my father well?”
Qi Wei followed Qi Zhuyin and answered. “As per your
instructions, five men have been tasked to take turns to attend to
him. His concubines8 in the residence are not allowed to go near.
They’re not happy about this and have been making a racket over
at the madam’s residence day in and day out.”
Qi Zhuyin had initially been about to get on her horse, but
stopped on hearing what he said. “Hua the Third didn’t give them
a lashing?”
Qi Wei scratched his head. “She was raised as a princess and
isn’t like the rest of us. She’s all soft-spoken when she talks to those
concubines. She’s truly a gentle one.”
“Then she’s got a good temper.” Just thinking about those
women in the courtyard at the rear gave Qi Zhuyin a headache.
She continued, “The old man’s got a stroke and they’re treating it
like he’s about to breathe his last. They kept clamoring all day long
about splitting the family properties, even harping over that golden
chamber pot of his.”
Qi Wei said, “They’re scared of you.”
Qi Zhuyin was irate. “Did I not feed them?”
Qi Wei replied awkwardly, “Well, you’ve been watching their
accounts and deducting their rouge allowance.”
Qi Zhuyin had nothing to say to that. This was a rotten debt. For
the past few years, Qi Zhuyin had drained her personal funds
empty in order to make up for the shortfall in the military salaries
and provisions of the Qidong’s garrison troops. The remaining four
camps could rely on their garrison troops to cultivate the lands9 to
mitigate this burden, and the granaries were in abundance in all
the years there was no war. But the Bianjun Commandery could not
do the same. Lu Guangbai had emptied out his family assets for the
troops in Bianjun, as had Qi Zhuyin with her dowry. When the
military provisions for the Bianjun Commandery were discovered
to be rotten half a year ago, Qi Zhuyin had borrowed money from
merchants to make up for the difference. She had initially saved
enough to pay off the debt, but then, the wedding between Hua
and Qi took place soon after, and to marry Hua Xiangyi into the
family, the Qi clan’s finances had been utterly exhausted.
The amount of money these concubines spent every month
was alarming. Just the amount spent on rouges and powders
amounted to a couple tens of thousands of taels. By making the
decision to deduct this amount, Qi Zhuyin might as well have
stirred the hornet’s nest. She had riled her father’s concubines into
a sobbing mess in the rear courtyard then, all baying to complain
to Qi Shiyu.
Qi Wei knew of Qi Zhuyin’s troubles, and spoke up. “What if we
discussed it with the madam? Her dowry…”
Qi Zhuyin cast a swift glance over, and Qi Wei, aware that he
had spoken out of turn, immediately sank to his knees.
Without looking at Qi Wei again, Qi Zhuyin got onto the horse.
“Deploy Hongying back, say it’s on my order. If anyone dares to get
rough with Hua the Third, tell Hongying not to stand on ceremony
with them and just have them tied up and sent over directly to me.
She did not marry far away to Qidong to help me make up for the
deficit or to become the punching bag of my father’s concubines.
She has Qi Shiyu’s name plastered all over her, and she is the
rightful madam of Qidong that I traversed eight hundred li to
welcome. Bullying her is akin to bullying my old man, and bullying
my old man equates to bullying me. So on that note, don’t you
dare have any designs on the little maiden, you hear me?”
 CHAPTER 183: INSEPARABLE (FISH & WATER)
Ji Gang was feeling lonely at home with Shen Zechuan faraway
on his trip and Ding Tao and Li Xiong both absent. All he could do
every day was to brew some tea and take a stroll with his bird. His
culinary skills were exemplary, so he took care of Yao Wenyu for
Shen Zechuan. He was nothing if not meticulous, and in half a
month, the color began to return to Yao Wenyu’s complexion.
When the weather was fine, Qiao Tianya would accompany Yao
Wenyu out to bask in the sunlight. He had collected quite the
number of old books, which Yao Wenyu read in the courtyard.
As Yao Wenyu’s mobility was limited, Qiao Tianya helped him
wash up before bed every night. But there was one occasion where
Qiao Tianya noticed the reddened tips of Yao Wenyu’s ears while
wiping him down and came to the realization that the latter had
never looked him in the eyes in the bathhouse. It was only during
such a time that Qiao Tianya could find back that Unpolished Jade
Yuanzhuo from the fourth month in spring.
They did not actually converse much.
Besides voicing his thoughts during the discussions, Yao
Wenyu spent his usual time sitting in idleness. He kept vigil by the
chessboard, contemplating his moves every day. It was not
uncommon for him to hold on to a book for an entire day, with the
page he was on in the morning still the same page when he closed
the book at night. Sleep did not come easy for him. Both his legs
were not wholly numb; instead, they hurt every single moment. It
was only when Qiao Tianya was playing the zither that he would
feel a tad better.
Sleeping to the murmurings of the zither felt to Yao Wenyu as
though he were sitting in the drizzle with his eyes closed.
Qiao Tianya cut back a lot on his drinking nowadays, and he
had shaved his stubble clean. He was spending even more time
lying outstretched in his chair with his arms behind his head,
staring out of the window in a daze. From his occasional
observations of him, Yao Wenyu found that the way Qiao Tianya
was set against the snowy mountains and dense fog beyond the
window made him appear so very tranquil. It was as if all the
tempestuous vicissitudes of the martial fraternity had been
banished from his memory, turning him from a vagabond
wanderer into the pine beneath the moon.
Yao Wenyu had never addressed him by the name of Qiao
Tianya; “Qiao Tianya” was someone who needed a refuge where
he could brush the wanderlust off himself. He laughed and cursed
in his state of intoxication, executing his swordplay as he pleased
and to his heart’s content, and when he sobered up, he was a
solitary shadow from which an aura of frost emanated. They
seemed to be like two broken pieces of jade that had encountered
each other to mutually make up for what the other lacked, and, in
doing so, pieced back together those bygone days of free-
spiritedness.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Fanzhou has been a lot quieter lately.” Gao Zhongxiong sat by
the fire and warmed his hands. “King Yi should have already
gotten the news about Dunzhou. He must be terribly on edge
now.”
“The army has to pass by the north of Fanzhou on their return
journey. It’s only natural for King Yi to be afraid given how close the
army is.” Zhou Gui said as he sipped his hot tea.
“I can’t understand.” Gao Zhongxiong said. “Fanzhou is
surrounded by enemies on all sides. King Yi’s haste to rebel and
establish himself under his own banner seems more like he’s in a
rush to court death.”
“King Yi claimed himself to be the ‘Great Progeny’ of Fanzhou.
He not only renovated the original yamen of Fanzhou but also
brazenly scoured for beauties in Fanzhou in the name of choosing
his consorts.” Zhou Gui lamented. “Rather than say he wants to join
in the fight for the imperial throne, you might as well say he just
wanted to make merry while he can.”
When King Yi first established himself, he had not expected
Shen Zechuan to move that quickly. Huaizhou, Cizhou, and
Chazhou severed all possibilities of him expanding his territory
northwest. He was not as tough as Shen Zechuan, and he did not
have that many talents under his command as Shen Zechuan did.
He initially rose in rebellion because he could no longer put up with
the bandits. The people he had led were all his neighbors. At
present, the military commander he had appointed in Fanzhou was
a butcher, and his civil officials were all elderly gentlemen. All they
petitioned about during the daily court sessions were stuff like who
snatched whose donkey and who committed adultery with whose
husband.
“Going by what the prefectural lord said,” Gao Zhongxiong
piped up. “King Yi cannot fall for the time being. We have to keep
him alive until next year. King Yi knows he is too powerless to resist;
that’s why he attempted to seek Lei Jingzhe’s help. But now that Lei
Jingzhe is already dead, he is left high and dry. He ought to be
scared to death now.”
“King Yi is not an iron shield after all.” Zhou Gui said. “We have
to think of another way to deal with Qi Zhuyin. Yuanzhuo, what are
your views on this?”
Yao Wenyu snapped back to his senses. With the hot tea still in
hand, he said, “My guess is that Qi Zhuyin’s delay in deploying
troops to crush the rebels in Zhongbo is not merely because of Lu
Guangbai’s desertion.”
Zhou Gui blurted out a sound of surprise and asked, “Do you
mean to say that there’s another reason for it?”
“During the wedding between Hua and Qi, the Hereditary
Prince’s Consort personally made a trip to Qidong to deliver gifts
for the purpose of taking her father back. Qi Zhuyin’s willingness to
risk the wrath of Qudu to protect Lu Pingyan was not just for
personal reasons, but also to show Libei her stance.” Warmth
returned to Yao Wenyu’s fingers. “If Qi Zhuyin obeys Qudu’s
command and heads north to quell the rebels in Zhongbo, then
she will have to face two battlefronts alone going by the current
territories. Should Qudu forcibly order her to attack Libei once she
recovers Zhongbo, then the battleground in the north will be
precipitated into crisis. The moment the Armored Cavalry of Libei
falls apart, she will become the last line of defense in the east. All
her troops on hand will have to be deployed into battle, and her
geographical advantage in Qidong will vanish. When the time
comes, all she can do is to grit her teeth and push on.”
 Realization struck Gao Zhongxiong then, and he said, “If it
comes to that, then even if Qi Zhuyin is able to defeat Amu’er in the
end, she would not have the strength and resources left to act as a
counterweight to Qudu.”
Yao Wenyu nodded. “The Qidong Garrison Troops is what Qi
Zhuyin is counting on. Without these troops, Qudu will be able to
replace her easily.”
For a long time, Zhou Gui could not snap out of his shock. In the
end, he could only say, “The commander-in-chief is indeed far-
sighted. Yuanzhuo, how did you come to that conjecture? Before
the eighth month when the prefectural lord was still here, we all
thought that Qi Zhuyin would come.”
“It was only after the wedding between Hua and Qi that I made
that inference.” Yao Wenyu said. “Before the wedding, the
commander-in-chief did not immediately head north under the
pretext that there was no one to guard the Bianjun Commandery,
which in turn allowed the marquis to return to Libei. The empress
dowager’s sending of Han Cheng to escort the bride to the
groom’s residence was, in part, also meant to press Qi Zhuyin into
action. But after the wedding, the commander-in-chief remained
stationed in Bianjun without making so much as a move.”
The empress dowager wanted to convince Qi Zhuyin to deploy
her troops, but she did not have enough bargaining chips in her
hands. Her last trump card was Hua Xiangyi, and she had already
shown her hand, but as things played out, Qi Shiyu had a stroke,
and this card of hers was as good as forfeited. Everyone under the
empress dowager’s command was going to be secretly gnashing
their teeth in resentment over the fact that Qi Zhuyin was not a
man.
They were still chatting around the fire when Qiao Tianya
suddenly lifted the curtain and announced, “The prefectural lord is
back.”
Zhou Gui and Gao Zhongxiong promptly rose to their feet. Gao
Zhongxiong wanted to push the wheelchair for Yao Wenyu, but he
was a step too slow. Qiao Tianya beat him to it and took over the
wheelchair with natural ease to push Yao Wenyu out through the
curtain that had been lifted for them.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng took extreme care on the road, but the ninth month
was just right around the corner, and Shen Zechuan could not
avoid the ambush of the cold even when he was huddled up
against Xiao Chiye. He fell ill again, this time with a fever so high it
seemed to burn away whatever bit of composure he had possessed
back in Dunzhou.
The recruitment for the Dunzhou garrison troops was of utmost
importance, and the advisors had all been waiting in the study for
a day. Even while lying in bed, Shen Zechuan was still mulling over
the matter.
“Hand the accounts from Dunzhou over to Yuanzhuo,” With his
cheeks slightly flushed and palm over his eyes, Shen Zechuan said
in the dim light. “Have Chengfeng assist. Come up with an
estimate of the military expenses for Dunzhou tonight and send it
over to Tantai Hu in two days at the latest.”
Blocking him, Xiao Chiye combed his fingers through Shen
Zechuan’s slightly damp hair to brush it aside. He said in a hushed
tone, “I’ve got it all in mind.”
Shen Zechuan did not wish for Xiao Chiye to leave, but the
matter on hand was pressing, and the Biansha Cavalry would
remain a menace to them with the situation in Duanzhou still
unclear. It was imperative that there would be no delays to the
establishment of Dunzhou’s defenses. He glanced at Xiao Chiye
with half-lidded eyes and said. “Tell Qiao Tianya about the arm
guard; he’ll know what to do.”
Xiao Chiye hummed an acknowledgment in reply and watched
as Shen Zechuan closed his eyes. He waited a moment for the
latter’s breathing to become steady before getting up to change
his clothes and leave. When he walked down the stairs, he said to
Fei Sheng, “Wake the Prefectural Lord up when the medicine is
ready. Make sure he finishes it.”
Even after returning to their residence, Shen Zechuan’s
medicine was still decocted under Fei Sheng’s watchful eyes. Fei
Sheng strode a few steps with Xiao Chiye and nodded his head in
acknowledgement.
 “If the Prefectural Lord is awake when shifu comes, invite him
in. If not, then ask him to head back first.” Chen Yang came over to
drape the cloak over Xiao Chiye. While Xiao Chiye was putting it
on, he said, “If shifu asks about what happened in Dunzhou, omit
the part about Fuxian peak. I’ll tell shifu about it myself afterward.”
Xiao Chiye stood still and looked at the sky.
“I’ll be back before the hour of hai.” He was still speaking even
as he was striding out. “Remember to prepare candies when the
medicine is ready. It’s also fine to swap it for honeyed water…”
He had already walked off even before the words had fully left
his mouth.
Xiao Chiye arrived at the study, and everyone stood to pay their
obeisances, but he had already taken his seat, skipping all the
formalities. As Yao Wenyu looked over the account books of the
Yan clan and Dunzhou, Kong Ling updated him with a detailed
account of the situation.
Not a single one of the advisors dared to smoke their pipes
today as they sat, all prim and proper. The marquis’ oppressive
aura overwhelmed them, keeping them from lifting their heads,
and their reports were all concise and comprehensive. They did
not even dare to overdo the flattery.
The situation in Dunzhou was complicated; the key issue lay in
its distance from Cizhou, along with the fact that Fanzhou was
between them. As a result, many matters had to be discussed in
detail. Zhou Gui initially assumed that Xiao Chiye would not be as
familiar with the topography of Zhongbo as Shen Zechuan was and
had someone present a map. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chiye had
Zhongbo’s map clearly imprinted in his mind from all those times
he had been making the rounds transporting military supplies in
Libei, and he did not make a single mistake during the
conversation that anyone could find fault with.
They lit lamps in the study to discuss official business, while
Shen Zechuan alternated between consciousness and sleep within
the room.
Shen Zechuan woke up when he heard Fei Sheng bringing in
the medicine. He drank the medicine without even popping a
candy this time and fell back asleep. Fei Sheng closed the door
and had the people serving in the courtyard change their shoes.
The maidservants, having also taken off their pendants and
hairpins, made no sound as they walked.
Perhaps it was because of the quiet; Shen Zechuan surprisingly
slept for a long time. When he woke up again, he heard movement
outside the door and thought Xiao Chiye had returned. But Xiao
Chiye never came in, and Shen Zechuan fell asleep again. In the
middle of night, he was woken up by the scalding heat, only to find
Xiao Chiye sleeping soundly on him. Unable to move, Shen
Zechuan remained pinned under him until he was all drenched in
sweat. It was only near daybreak when he felt a little more
rejuvenated.
Shen Zechuan feebly put his hand on Xiao Chiye’s back, only to
come into contact with a section of gauze. All traces of sleep
promptly deserted him. Wide awake now, he wanted to get up to
take a look, but Xiao Chiye pressed him back into place.
“Hm?” Xiao Chiye buried his face and said in a heavy voice,
“Getting water?”
Shen Zechuan felt along the bandage for a while, his alarm
intensifying the more he touched.
Xiao Chiye caught Shen Zechuan’s hand to stop him from
groping blindly, “Watch where you are pressing. It hurts.”
Both men looked at each other for a moment, and Xiao Chiye
suddenly clasped his arms around Shen Zechuan, preventing the
latter from moving.
Shen Zechuan stared at Xiao Chiye and drawled, “Didn’t I say
not to ask for a lashing?”
His illness had rendered him all thin and sallow, and his voice
was hoarse. He looked as if his eyes were going to redden the next
instant as he looked at Xiao Chiye in this way.
After the incident in Chazhou the last time, Xiao Chiye had told
Ji Gang to whip him once for each time Shen Zechuan got hurt.
Shen Zechuan had coaxed him back in Dunzhou, and he had
gotten severely “punished” for it. He thought Xiao Chiye would let it
drop. But who would have known that Xiao Chiye would act so
quickly upon returning? In the short amount of time that Shen
Zechuan had taken a nap, Xiao Chiye had already received his
whipping.
Xiao Chiye bumped his forehead against Shen Zechuan’s and
stuck close to him. Sensing that his fever had receded, he lazily
uttered a “hm”. He remained in this way with his shoulder and arm
bare, his back bandaged with several layers of gauze. Xiao Chiye
had injured his right arm when he faced up against Hasen at the
Tudalong Banner, and the wounds had left scars behind, and now,
new scars criss-crossed with the old, making them tingle with
numbness and pain.
The lashings pained Shen Zechuan. Just touching that gauze
alone hurt him so much that his fingers curled. Xiao Chiye
remained close to him, making him breathless for air. He hated
Xiao Chiye to death. But as he lay here, he only wanted to repeat
over and over again,
He regretted it now.
◈ ◈ ◈
Ding Tao sat in low spirits under the eaves playing cat’s cradle10
with Li Xiong. Seeing as Ji Gang had been standing under the
eaves for an hour, he tugged at the corner of Ji Gang’s clothes and
asked, “Grandpa, why don’t you sit?”
Ji Gang’s mind was still wandering. He asked Ding Tao, “Did I
hit too hard?”
Ding Tao comforted him. “Master was the one who made the
request and forced you into it. You could do nothing about it
either.”
Ji Gang felt ill at ease as he sat down. After a while, he stood up
and said, “I’d best go get some ointment.”
Fei Sheng was originally waiting on the veranda. On seeing Ji
Gang’s approach, he hurried over to greet him.
Ji Gang gazed at the principal room, looking as though he
wanted to say something only to swallow his words back down. He
handed the ointment to Fei Sheng, and after thinking for a
moment, asked, “Was the Marquis also staying together with
Lanzhou when they were on official business in Dunzhou?”
Remembering Xiao Chiye’s instructions, Fei Sheng maintained
his composure and said, “Yes. The Marquis and Master are living
examples of what the stories described as confidants. They are like
fish and water—inseparable from one another.”
Seeing how frank and unperturbed Fei Sheng was, Ji Gang felt
that it was he who had read too much into it. As they said, bosom
friends were hard to find. What’s more, Lanzhou and Xiao’er had
gone through life and death together. For them to be far closer
than the norm was only to be… he could not go on thinking any
further. Somehow, he still felt that something was not quite right.
But Ji Gang was reluctant to veer his thoughts into another
direction, unwilling as he was to make conjectures about Shen
Zechuan on these. They had gone to propose marriage for Ji Mu
when Ji Mu was still around, and back then, Shen Zechuan had
said that he also wanted to marry a wife in the future.
Consequently, Hua Pingting went scouting for quite a number of
maidens. They were all poor, humble families in the neighborhood
who stayed close by. Shen Zechuan only had to like one of them,
and they would have gone to call on the family for a visit.
“Shifu?” Fei Sheng called out tentatively.
Ji Gang placed his hands behind his back and said, ‘Continue
to keep watch. I’ll come again later.”
Ji Gang wanted to have a talk with Xiao Chiye again, but Xiao
Chiye was too busy. The latter seemed to be in a never-ending rush
as he went back and forth between the residence and Zhou’s
residence. The dust in Dunzhou had only just settled when the
letter from Libei came. Once Shen Zechuan recovered from his
illness, Xiao Chiye would have to depart for Bianbo Camp.
“The winter coats will arrive in Libei in the ninth month. You can
just dispatch someone to assist at the Bianbo Camp.” Shen
Zechuan secured the arm guard for Xiao Chiye and asked, “Is it
snowing heavily in Libei?”
“Intermittently, I guess.” Xiao Chiye answered. “It’s often sleet at
present. The maintenance of the bridle paths is of utmost
importance. We have to ensure that the paths run smoothly
unobstructed by the time heavy snow descends in the eleventh
month.”
“Tell His Lordship that we have already secured the military
provisions for the beginning of spring next year.” Shen Zechuan’s
hand slid from the arm guard to Xiao Chiye’s palm. He looked up
at the latter and said, “The construction of the bridle path from
Dunzhou to Bianbo Camp will also start next year.”
They wanted to connect Zhongbo and Libei together so that
Bianbo Camp had direct access to Cizhou and Dunzhou. The
information coming from Dunzhou had to be fast and up to date.
Xiao Chiye might not be able to return these two months. He
had to keep an eye on Libei’s territory at all times. In addition, he
also had to be precise in his calculations of the reserves of supplies
on the battleground, lest heavy snow unexpectedly collapsed the
paths and cut off access, and the lack of supplies ended up causing
those on the battlefield to be caught up in an arduous battle.
“If Ding Tao gets too mischievous, send him back to Dajing.
Eldest sister-in-law can deal with him.”
As Xiao Chiye spoke, he lowered his head and led Shen
Zechuan with both hands to step on both of his own feet. Then he
clasped him by the back of his head and stood with him to
exchange a kiss.
The fabric of their clothes chafed against one another. Shen
Zechuan propped himself against Xiao Chiye’s arms and melted
away into his scent.
Xiao Chiye liked the way Shen Zechuan tilted his head up like
this. This was him seeking him out, and all that pervaded the air
when they touched was desire borne out of love. He bore all of
Shen Zechuan’s weight; he was capable of picking up Shen
Zechuan with ease. It was only a kiss to begin with, but he did not
let go as they entwined together intimately amidst the
interweaving of their breaths.
“I’ve already asked Eldest Sister-in-law to make preparations.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Chen Yang will be sent over before the new year
to take you and shifu to Dajing.”
Shen Zechuan’s breathing had grown ragged from the kiss. “I’ll
prepare a gift…”
Silly Lanzhou.
Xiao Chiye cupped Shen Zechuan and kissed him with even
more intensity.
 Xiao Chiye came in a hurry and left in a hurry too. On this
overcast day shrouded in fog in Cizhou, he braved the rain and
headed north even as he bore those wounds he had received from
the lashings. All was calm and peaceful for the time being in the
three prefectures of Zhongbo. Xiao Chiye planted Tantai Hu in
Dunzhou, leaving the latter as a bulwark for Shen Zechuan.
Cizhou entered a brief period of respite, and Shen Zechuan
seemed to have reined in his brilliance and gone into a state of
dormancy. But very quickly, Xue Xiuzhuo, who was faraway in
Qudu, came to learn just how formidable this round of hibernation
was.
During the Hanyi Festival11 in the tenth month, Chazhou hosted
a banquet with funding from the Yan clan and invited all the talents
in the world over regardless of whether the person was a
distinguished man from the countryside or a reclusive statesman in
a bustling city. As long as they were academically accomplished,
they would all receive the invitation to participate in the intellectual
discourse12 between the literati.
If it had been a nobody, he naturally would not have stirred up
a storm. But this time, it took less than three days for the ox carts
and boats to set out in full force as all the virtuous and wise talents
flocked to their destination.
For the one who had sent the invitation was a man named Yao
Wenyu.
 CHAPTER 184: DISCOURSE
Chazhou was hit by an unbroken spell of wet weather in the
tenth month, and the sound of rain drumming rhythmically against
the banana leaves outside the windows was audible even with the
curtains down. Luo Mu was not in his official garb but his common
robe13 as he sat in the seat to the right of the guest of honor. He
surveyed his surroundings and discovered that the interior of this
teahouse was already filled to the brim with people. Guests hailed
from all corners of the land, and a sizable number of them were
wearing sandals and rain cloaks made of straw.
The incense by the window burned out just after midday. Luo
Mu heard movements and straightened up to look at the door,
where he saw that oil-paper umbrella swaying slightly aside to
reveal that figure in darkish blue14 scholar attire15 beneath. The
latter’s large, meandering sleeves rested on his knees, with a cat
lounging between them. Delicate wrist bones peeked out under
those sleeves, accentuating those fingers of his and making them
appear all the more long, slender, and strong.
Yao Wenyu bent over in his wheelchair and said with sincerity,
“My apologies for having kept the various elders waiting.”
The little wheels rolled over the wooden floorboards as Qiao
Tianya pushed Yao Wenyu in. Murmurs of whispers promptly rose
in the room. Those who had not removed their woven hats earlier
took them off now one after another. Countless gazes fell upon Yao
Wenyu, watching him attentively.
Yao Wenyu came to a stop before the round window.
“We have all gathered here today to attend the discourse our
young friend Yuanzhuo here has invited us to.” Elder Mei of
Qinzhou, who was smoking his pipe, tapped it and looked at Yao
Wenyu. “It has been a year since we last met, and my young
friend’s poise has far surpassed that of before.”
Tea had already been served, and that particular incense was lit
up yet again.
A so-called discourse was simply an oral conversation. Host
and guests sat facing each other, and they would absolutely not
touch upon political affairs or civil issues, only on profound and
esoteric subjects. This was why Luo Mu was not wearing his official
attire today. They had to go back and forth with one another as
they engaged in verbal discussions while seated in the venue, and
this required the participants to be not only erudite and insightful
but also poetically eloquent.
Yao Wenyu, having traversed all over the world in his search for
knowledge, was adept at the art of it, which was why his one
invitation could garner hundreds of responses, allowing him to
organize a dialogue in Chazhou. He was an articulate
conversationalist in the past, and his ideas were original and
distinctive. As he did not enter civil service despite being born in a
noble clan, he was far more popular than Hai Liangyi among the
recluses who were averse to politics.
Elder Mei had already been waiting for an hour, so he cut to the
chase after the exchange of customary greetings. “I see that my
young friend has changed.”
Yao Wenyu answered, “This body is not my own; this change
does not reflect my own.”
Elder Mei ceased smoking his pipe. “I can see it with my own
eyes. If you have not changed, why aren’t you standing up?”
Yao Wenyu put down the horsetail whisk he had just been
holding on to. “Was I standing a year ago when I conversed with
you in Qinzhou?”
“Of course you were,” Elder Mei said.
Yao Wenyu thus replied. “Then, I’m still standing right now.”
Luo Mu had once participated in such a discourse when he had
been pursuing his studies in Dengzhou, but that had been merely
an informal discussion among fellow students of the academy.
Kong Ling was also talented at sophistry, but for some reason, he
had not shown up today. The conversation continued, as did the
drizzle outside. Everyone in attendance was listening with bated
breath and rapt attention.
With his back leaning against the door, Qiao Tianya watched
the raindrops splash on the sides of the eaves and cast a hazy veil
over the mountains in the distance. Yao Wenyu’s voice was crystal
clear, and his calm and collected answers seemed to fall like chess
pieces he let drop in the courtyard, one at a time, pitter-pattering in
this rain.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianting sat in her seat and asked Xue Xiuzhuo, “Since a
discourse can convene the wise and virtuous together, why isn’t the
imperial college organizing one?”
Xue Xiuzhuo closed the book and answered her with a
question, “What kind of people can participate in it?”
“All the learned men in the world,” Li Jianting replied.
“That’s not right.” Xue Xiuzhuo looked Li Jianting in the eyes.
“It’s those who have nothing to worry about in the world.”
Xue Xiuzhuo participated in such discourses before, although
not that many times. To court officials like him, Jiang Qingshan,
and the others, these so-called intellectual and philosophical
conversations were mere rhetoric, since the participants discussed
neither state affairs nor civil and agricultural matters. These
discussions were all the rage in the thirteen cities of Juexi, followed
by the eight cities of Qudu. Pan Lin and the other young masters of
the noble clans held Yao Wenyu in such high esteem because Yao
Wenyu rarely touched on political affairs, which was kind of
unconventional. But such unconventionality had to be built on the
premise that he did not have to worry about the basic necessities
like food and clothes. Such conversations went extinct in Zhongbo
after the reign of Xiande. Was it because of the lack of learned
scholars in Zhongbo? No, the real reason was that there was no
longer a person who wasn’t starving in Zhongbo.
Li Jianting pondered it over for a moment. “In that case, what
use is there for Yao Wenyu to invite all of these people without a
care in the world?”
After a moment’s silence, Xue Xiuzhuo turned his gaze to look
at the swaying banana leaves in front of the window. The rain
poured with urgency, as though this was the same day he had
played chess with Yao Wenyu.
◈ ◈ ◈
The sky had already darkened outside the teahouse, but the
dialogue had yet to end. Elder Mei, being advanced in age, was
tired from all the sitting. He was debating with Yao Wenyu over the
nature of “the changed and the unchanged”, and he had already
drunk several cups of tea to moisten his throat.
 Elder Mei cleared his throat. “The change I’m talking about is
the physical changes before our eyes, and it’s not just that. You
have changed, and so have the times and the world. You’re no
longer the same ‘you’ as you have been earlier, even more so the
‘you’ from one year ago.”
All eyes fell upon Yao Wenyu, waiting for his answer. But Yao
Wenyu slowly lowered his sleeves and bowed to Elder Mei from his
wheelchair. “You are absolutely right.”
His words sparked an uproar the moment they left his mouth.
This debate was clearly not over. They came all the way here from
afar just to hear them duke it out until a clear victor emerged. Who
would have expected Yao Wenyu to simply concede defeat of his
own accord?
“Gone is the glory of the Yongyi reign. Dazhou is already on the
wane. With the invasion by our foreign enemies in the northeast
and the collusion of officials and merchants in the southwest, just
how many places are there left for us in this world to converse
freely about the mysteries of the universe?”
A commotion broke out in the room at these words. An
enraged Elder Mei tossed his pipe aside and covered his nose and
mouth with his sleeve. “Foul! Foul! FOUL! What an unbearable
stench! How intolerably vulgar! Why has Yao Wenyu become Hai
Renshi?!”
The tea tables clattered noisily as several people rose to their
feet. Luo Mu hurriedly got up too and attempted to dissuade the
others, but then he heard Yao Wenyu, who was before the window,
laughed. The more he laughed, the louder his laughter was. “Look
at how severe the misappropriations of the commoners’ fields in
the eight cities are. The vision of the starved dead dotting the
streets everywhere is no longer just empty talk—I’ve changed, and
so has the world. You are right smacked in the middle of it. How
long can you remain unchanged for?”
Elder Mei originally wanted to leave, but on hearing Yao
Wenyu, he could not refrain from rebutting, “Without what keeps
them alive, all living creatures will perish.16 To change or not to
change is the natural order of the world. You strayed from the
Way17 and fell into the trappings of this secular world. Are you
trying to emulate Qi Huilian and Hai Liangyi by being a virtuous
gentleman?!”18
Yao Wenyu said, “The one who forced this change on me today
is none other than you and this very society.”
Elder Mei could barely catch his breath as he held onto the
table and said, “Letting nature take its course is the natural order of
things!19 What has Qi Huilian changed? And what has Hai Liangyi
changed? You are following in their footsteps. Yuanzhuo, oh,
Yuanzhuo! This is but a futile attempt!”
Yao Wenyu schooled his expression and said, “Since you speak
of the natural order of things, then this empire shall change as it
ought to, and this world will descend into anarchy as it must. You
may very well continue to stand by and do nothing if you so wish. I
have already abandoned my Way; I’m going to step into this
turbulent world.”
Elder Mei stomped his feet in anxiety and yelled like a child,
“No, come back! Get back here!”
Xue Xiuzhuo subscribed to the philosophy that “one must live or
die with his principles”.20 This was the creed Grand Mentor Qi
believed in, as did Secretariat Elder Hai. Yao Wenyu was the only
one among them who didn’t. But Yao Wenyu’s move today was a
clear break from his past belief in letting nature run its course. This
was a declaration to all that he had forsaken his original self to
become a man of the secular world.
Pelts of raindrops fell right before Qiao Tianya’s eyes into the
water puddles, where they burst into tiny sprays of water and
stirred up ripples. A small fish with fine scalesleaped out of a ripple,
and Kong Ling, who was near the pond, caught it and tossed it
back.
Fei Sheng was holding up the umbrella while Kong Ling and
Shen Zechuan, both wearing bamboo hats, fished by the pond.
Kong Ling cast out the hook again and said, “After today, men
with lofty aspirations ought to be flocking to Cizhou.”
Shen Zechuan said as he held onto the fishing rod, “If men with
lofty aspirations were this easy to obtain, how would I have kept
missing Mister each time?”
 Kong Ling laughed. He avoided answering and merely
lamented, “This move of Yuanzhuo is both a ‘change of path’ and
an ‘undertaking of path’. He did it to tell the world that Secretariat
Elder Hai’s legacy still lives on in Cizhou. He’s no longer the same
man he was before.”
“Shenwei’s brush and ink are already in place.” Shen Zechuan
said. “Whether Yuanzhuo can redeem his reputation in the hearts of
the scholars in the world depends on this lyrical expression of his.”
Yao Wenyu was attacked by the students during the initial
imperial college crisis because of his birth origins, but now, he had
taken on a different path from that of Elder Mei and the others.
With the help of Gao Zhongxiong’s highly effective and emotive
penmanship, those two legs of his could become a definitive
statement of will and ambition. In addition, the questions that were
to follow would no doubt include the reason he came to Cizhou. If
he was guilty of a crime, then why didn’t the imperial court send
anyone to arrest him? By thinking down the line of this question,
one would be able to see a Zhongbo that had already been
fractured.
“Due to the passing of Emperor Tianchen, the imperial
examinations held in spring were done away with. Following right
after, Secretariat Elder Hai remonstrated with his death, and the
imperial college students attacked the officials of humble origins
from all sides. Many people handed in their resignations during
this period, and Qudu still has to maintain the stability of the three
parties this winter.” Shen Zechuan swung his fishing rod. “Xue
Xiuzhuo already has half a foot in the Grand Secretariat by virtue of
the heir apparent to the throne. For this reason, the empress
dowager must suppress the practical doers faction led by him; she
can’t let him become a minister with genuine regent powers in his
hands. In that case, when will he be able to fulfill his promise to the
imperial college? He and Yuanzhuo are both old acquaintances
and fellow students under the same teacher; so there must be
more than meets the eye now that Yuanzhuo has switched to my
camp. Moreover, the transgressions of the Li clan are already a fact
long known to all, and copycats are popping up one after another
seeing that King Yi of Fanzhou has yet to be taken down. Even if
Xue Xiuzhuo wants to retaliate and fight back now, his hands are
tied. No matter how you look at it, all he can do this winter is to get
beaten.”
“The mess created by the noble clans is way too great.” Kong
Ling shook his head as he grasped his fishing rod. “The empress
dowager refuses to release her grip on power, and everyone in the
Grand Secretariat has lost heart. Meanwhile, Xue Xiuzhuo is still in
the fledgling stage of his authority. As long as the three parties
remain locked in a stalemate, the eight cities’ misappropriation of
commoners’ fields will remain unresolved. The longer this drags
on, the more advantageous it will be for the prefectural lord.”
Just as they had discussed here, Gao Zhongxiong’s essays
went into circulation a few days later. The tailwind Hai Liangyi left
behind had not fizzled out at all. As long as their message was
sincere, it could evoke a collective, emotional sigh. The contents of
Yao Wenyu’s discourse in Chazhou had long ceased to be
important; what was crucial was that even the ignorant students
who could not tell one grain from another had to face up to the fact
now.
And that was, in just six months, Qudu had completely lost the
ability to maintain stability in its empire. The man Yao Wenyu had
aligned himself with was called Shen Zechuan, a felonious subject
who rebelled and fled Qudu half a year ago with Xiao Chiye.
However, they had not only escaped execution, but were even on
the up and coming now.
The empress dowager could not command the Qidong
Garrison Troops into moving, so Han Cheng came out of obscurity
once more to ask the Eight Great Training Divisions to dispatch
troops to exterminate Shen Zechuan, who was far away in Cizhou.
But the Ministry of War declined on the grounds that Qudu had no
generals. The conference was a very unpleasant one, and with the
end of the year closing in on them, the relationship between the
three sides grew increasingly tense.
Once the snow started falling, the number of refugees who
sought asylum in Cizhou and Chazhou ballooned. At the same time
that Tantai Hu was recruiting soldiers for the garrison troops in
Dunzhou, the Imperial Bodyguards were also enlisting new
members. Shen Zechuan planned to put Hairigu together with the
Imperial Bodyguards. By the time Shen Zechuan realized it, the
twelfth month had come, and just as he was getting his new year
gifts ready, a bout of unprecedented heavy snow came calling at
Libei.
 CHAPTER 185: HONGYAN
Heaven and earth were a vast expanse of white where the frigid
wind swept past and sent the salt-like snow rustling. Owing to the
severe collapse of the bridle paths, it was practically impossible for
the grain wagons to enter the war zone. Xiao Chiye left Lang Tao
Xue Jin at Bianbo camp and led his men to dig the snow for two
days.
Wu Ziyu tightened his collar in the chilly wind and covered up
his mouth and nose. He rubbed his frozen hands together, his
voice muffled as he spoke. “Damn it, I just took a nap, and the path
gets all blocked up again with snow. When will this end?”
Chen Yang never touched wine when he was on duty, but even
he could not stand it any longer and kept chugging down On
Horseback until his stomach burned. “The closer we get to the
northeast, the colder it becomes. Fortunately, the prefectural lord
sent the winter coats over before the tenth month; otherwise, who
knows how many brothers would have succumbed to the cold?”
“It’s such a cold day,” Gu Jin squatted on the ground and shook
his head, “and the armor weighs a ton. The battle steeds won’t be
able to stand it.”
The battle steeds of Libei were not as tolerant of the cold as
Biansha’s ponies. It was an uphill task preparing fodder for the
stables each time winter came around. The horses had it harder
than the humans.
“Keep digging.” Xiao Chiye said, “We have to make it to the
battlegrounds by tonight.”
It was simply impossible to see the white puff of air Xiao Chiye
exhaled. The wind was so strong that it sent his cloak flapping
noisily. There was no end in sight ahead, and the blocked bridle
path north of the Shasan Camp was a dead end, so he could only
lead his convoy squad to take a long detour from the Three Great
Training Divisions of Liuyang. The supplies in Sha’er Camp had run
out, and they could only rely on Shayi Camp to replenish stocks. As
these two camps jointly undertook the operational combat
missions on the battlefields, their equipment was expended rather
swiftly. They had gathered together a batch of military craftsmen
after the eleventh month, and with more than 50,000 men in total,
a staggeringly large amount of materials was needed. Xiao Chiye
had to keep up with the uninterrupted flow of supply to both fronts.
But the one in the most challenging position was Zhao Hui, who
was to the west of the Tudalong Banner. The heavy snow had
persisted for several days, and a path that had caved in once
before was no longer usable. The path Xiao Chiye had repaired
with wooden planks could not withstand the load of such heavy
snowfall. Coupled with the heavy weight of the grain wagons, Xiao
Chiye did not dare pass through without careful consideration. He
could only let Zhao Hui wait for a few more days as he set off from
the battlegrounds with the grain wagons in tow and detoured
around the Tudalong Banner.
Gu Jin blew hard on his palms and stood up to yell, “Keep
digging!”
The convoy squad had not had a day’s rest in the past three
months, but none of the soldiers groused, because Xiao Chiye did
not have a break either. They were practically running in circles all
over Libei’s territory. Even with his eyes closed now, Xiao Chiye
could point out which path was the quickest shortcut to take. Xiao
Chiye had astonishing stamina and energy; even as he was
transporting supplies, he did not delay recovering the use of his
right arm. Just a few days in Bianbo Camp before setting off, he
was still drawing the Conqueror’s Bow, and that ear-piercing twang
of the bowstring had left the Libei Armored Cavalry dumbstruck.
Xiao Chiye arrived at the site of the battle at the hour of chou,
which was also when Xiao Fangxu had just withdrawn from the
battlefield. Father and son both cut sorry figures before the dimly
illuminated tent.
Xiao Fangxu took off his helmet. It was such a cold day, and yet
he had run until he was all drenched in sweat. He took a hot
handkerchief to wipe his face, then nodded in a signal to Xiao
Chiye before bending over to enter the military tent. Both of the
great commanding generals, Zuo Qianqiu and Jiang Sheng, were
present in the tent, along with the deputy generals and brigade
commanders from the two camps. All of them looked utterly
exhausted.
 “This is really damn bizarre.” Xiao Fangxu tossed the
handkerchief on the table. “Their ponies’ asses are almost trailing
on the ground. How can they still run so fast in the heavy snow?”
“No matter what, we cannot retreat again.” Zuo Qianqiu stood
before the map and pointed to the southeastern corner of the
Tudalong Banner. “If we retreat any further, this place will fall into
the enemy’s hands too. When that happens, Zhao Hui’s remaining
route for supplies will be cut off. In just one winter, Hasen can drag
out the battle and wear him down to his death at the Tudalong
Banner.”
Spring came late in Libei. This bout of snow would last until the
third month next year at the very least. Even if Zhao Hui had
stockpiled food in Changzhu Camp, the entire army could not
afford to deplete their equipment supplies. There were no batches
of military craftsmen over at the Changzhu Camp.
“According to the military reports,” Jiang Sheng kicked off his
boots and poured out the melted snow within. “Hasen has been
giving Zhao Hui’s troops the slip lately. He saw that the supplies
can’t be restocked for the time being and so wants to wear Zhao
Hui down first.”
Xiao Chiye sat in the corner and ate his flatbread with milk tea.
Despite wolfing down his food, he did not miss any of the words
they had spoken about at length.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Fangxu said while staring at the
map, “This is a warning sign of an impending surprise attack by
Hasen.”
Xiao Chiye thought so too.
Hasen was wearing Zhao Hui down to exhaust him. The Libei
Armored Cavalry consumed too much equipment, and their battle
steads were no match for the ponies at all during winter. The
amount of assistance Shayi Camp could render Zhao Hui now that
the bridle paths had collapsed was too minimal, and the Changzhu
camp still had no reinforcements to back them. When Guo Weili
had been stationed here, the Three Great Training Divisions of
Liuyang led by Zhao Hui served as his reinforcements. But now that
Zhao Hui had stepped to the fore, all he had to back him up was
the remaining troops who were guarding the Northeast Provisions
Bridle Path. Moreover, those troops had no direct access to him
due to the heavy snow.
“The supplies have already made it here,” Xiao Fangxu looked
back at Xiao Chiye. “Hasen’s ambush will surely take place these
two days.”
If they continued waiting it out, Xiao Chiye would have to move
up north, and Hasen would have missed his opportunity.
“Early tomorrow morning, I will lead Squad Three to lie in wait
over here.” Xiao Fangxu shifted his fingers. “Qianqiu will guard the
camp, and Old Jiang will head over from around the back. We’ll
form a net here. At the very least, we have to knock Hasen off his
momentum. This lad is not only good at field operations but also in
going on the offensive and defensive; we can’t let him find a place
that can provide him with cover. All we can do is to box him in on
the snowfield.”
The Armored Cavalry was a wall in motion. If they flanked him
from both sides, Hasen would have no choice but to collide into a
wall. Restricting the pace of the Biansha Cavalry’s advancement
was equivalent to chopping off their legs. Even after they fell to the
ground, the Libei Armored Cavalry would still remain a wall that
would prove tough for the Biansha’s scimitars and piked daggers
to break out of.
Xiao Chiye did not leave after the meeting ended.
Zuo Qianqiu came over and patted Xiao Chiye on his right arm.
“Have your wounds healed?”
Xiao Chiye lifted up his arm and moved it around. “No problem
there with holding a blade or pulling a bow.”
“We have to thank Lanzhou during the spring festival.” Zuo
Qianqiu said with a laugh. “The winter coats this time are all real
cotton. For the last few years, the clothes that were delivered by
Qudu were all padded with paper scraps. Your Eldest Sister-in-law
wrote to say that she would personally cook a meal to thank
Lanzhou when he comes.”
Xiao Chiye glanced at Xiao Fangxu, then replied humbly. “This
is what he ought to do; it’s nothing deserving of thanks from Eldest
Sister-in-law. A couple of days ago, he even sent a letter to
announce that the new year gifts had been prepared; all that’s left
is for the new year to come around.”
Xiao Fangxu sprinkled fine salt into his own bowl, as though he
had not heard their conversation.
So Zuo Qianqiu said, “Your father praised him for quite a
number of days. During the spring festival, let’s—”
Xiao Fangxu said with certainty. “Nope, I’ve never praised him
before.”
“Right.” Zuo Qianqiu threw Xiao Chiye a meaningful glance, “I
was the one showering him with praise!”
“Why aren’t you retiring to your tent for the night?” Xiao Fangxu
asked Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye watched him drink up his milk tea before
responding. “Will you be donning heavy armor when you head out
to lay an ambush tomorrow?”
“How am I supposed to intercept Hasen without wearing it?”
Xiao Fangxu set his bowl aside. “He’s even better at warfare than
Amu’er.”
“Then take off your helmet,” Xiao Chiye said, “There could be
scorpions hidden among Hasen’s troops.”
“Without our helmets, how can we be considered an iron wall?
If we want to obstruct them in the snowfields, this is our only
option.” Xiao Fangxu warmed up his fingers together and
contemplated for a while. “According to your report, there are very
few scorpions, and it would be too much of a strain for them to
fend against the present Libei Armored Cavalry. Even if there are
scorpions among Hasen’s troops, there could only be a scattering
of them.”
“The Armored Cavalry is too heavy.” Xiao Chiye looked at Xiao
Fangxu. “It’s imperative for the Armored Cavalry to make changes
after the beginning of spring next year. If we want to force the
Biansha Cavalry back to the east, we have to be prepared for all
possibilities.”
“You want to strip off layers of the Armored Cavalry’s armor to
lighten its weight,” Xiao Fangxu finally turned his head, “Yet you
still can’t match their speed.”
 Xiao Chiye did not utter a word as he locked eyes with Xiao
Fangxu.
“The troops you trained in Qudu were all infantrymen, and your
experience with battling on horseback comes from Lu Guangbai.
But Libei doesn’t have the natural geographical advantage that the
Bianjun Commandery has. If we want to possess a wall, we can
only rely on heavy armor.” Xiao Fangxu tossed a few pieces of coal
into the brazier. “Your eldest brother shed the weight of the Libei
Armored Cavalry, but we’re still unable to break through that line in
the east.”
Xiao Fangxu looked at the brazier.
“Amu’er’s transformations are simply too fast. He has gotten a
clear handle on the Libei Armored Cavalry in the past few decades.
There is no way simple additions and subtractions can stand up to
such a Biansha Cavalry. The Armored Cavalry must make changes
like never before.”
This was the predicament of the Libei Armored Cavalry. Amu’er
succeeded in his training of the scorpion unit, and looking at the
result of their last confrontation, the hammers of this squad were
the Libei Armored Cavalry’s nemesis. But would simply removing
the helmet be enough of a countermeasure? This would mean that
cracks had already begun to show in the Libei Armored Cavalry’s
heavy armor, and this put Xiao Fangxu at a loss what to do. Still, he
had no choice but to continue taking the risk, because this was the
only advantage the Libei Armored Cavalry had left. If they
discarded this advantage, they would not be able to hold their own
even against the ordinary Biansha Cavalry.
Amu’er was truly a genius, and Hasen was pretty remarkable
too. Biansha was now exhibiting certain signs of rejuvenation. It
even occurred to Xiao Fangxu that Amu’er would be able to
completely merge the Twelve Tribes by winter next year at the
latest. When the time comes, the entire frontline on the eastern
side of Dazhou would become a war zone.
This was the key reason Qi Zhuyin refused to head up north
and fall foul of Libei. She had also seen this monstrous beast from
where she stood in Qidong. This was why she could not intimidate
Libei because of the strife in Qudu, for they would inevitably stand
on the same battlefield in the future; the enemy had already gotten
powerful to the point that it was terrifying.
What should they do?
Xiao Chiye pillowed his head upon his arms as he lay in bed
and contemplated this question over and over in the dark of
night.
They possessed the best military craftsmen in the world, and
they had a staggering number of them, yet they had no recourse
against Amu’er. This was almost about to be a kind of humiliation.
There was no way Amu’er was invulnerable.
The Biansha Cavalry had their weaknesses too, except that
these weaknesses were obscured by their unbelievable speed. They
had to remove these from the equation and find a new
breakthrough. But it was at this moment that Xiao Chiye was hit
with the realization of his own unfamiliarity. He had crossed swords
with the Biansha Cavalry far too few times, and all his
countermeasures against the Biansha Cavalry were merely
armchair strategies. He could not continue to conceive tactics by
seeing his foes through a hazy mist.
Xiao Chiye could not fall asleep. He turned over and got up to
put on his coat. He stepped out of his tent, where he saw Xiao
Fangxu conversing with the soldiers in the camp. When Xiao
Fangxu noticed his presence, he patted the space next to him and
handed him a bowl of milk tea after he sat down.
“It’s taboo not to sleep when you have to leave for war
tomorrow morning.” Xiao Chiye sipped the warm milk tea.
“When I was the same age as you, I was still bursting with
energy even after staying up for three days.” Xiao Fangxu’s coat
was old and worn, and its edges were extremely frayed. It had
been mended over and over by Lu Yizhi, but even so, he refused to
switch to a new one, because this had been sewn by his wife.
Xiao Chiye gulped down the tea, frowning as he replied. “That
was donkey’s years ago.”
As the fire crackled, father and son sat shoulder to shoulder for
a long while.
Xiao Fangxu asked, “Realized how exhausting this is yet?”
Xiao Chiye did not respond.
 Xiao Fangxu thus looked at his youngest son. After a moment,
he spoke up, “You used to want to fly, so you fought to the death to
succeed with Meng, and you’re still doing the same now that you
want to win.”
Xiao Chiye heaved a sigh. “And whose bad habit is this?”
Xiao Fangxu let loose a laugh. “Not mine. Your mother’s.”
Xiao Chiye rubbed his fingers along the rim of the bowl and
paused for a moment. “You lost to Amu’er at twenty-three; I lost to
Hasen at twenty-three.”
“It took me seven years to collect my dues for this debt.”
Firelight that enveloped Xiao Fangxu’s facial features accentuated
them, making him appear all the more handsome, and more
dignified and awe-inspiring than Xiao Chiye. “You understand how
that feels. When I lost to him, I couldn’t find my way forward. I even
thought for a while that I didn’t have the talent to be commander-
in-chief. I’ve seen many outstanding commanding generals at
Luoxia Pass, many of whom are real geniuses. I suppose you’ve no
idea about this, but,” The corner of Xiao Fangxu’s mouth curled up
in a smile. “Qi Shiyu was the one in the limelight at that time. He
turned Qidong into a force to behold. The chief commander of the
five commanderies was truly too strong. I looked at him and at
them, and I thought I had no talent. There was no way I could stand
on the same battlefields as them.”
The firelight flickered, and a warring scene of glinting spears
and armored horses manifested in the shadows. The military
banner flapped so hard it looked as if it was going to be torn apart,
but it was very peaceful here, as if this was the most stable, tranquil
corner of this world.
Xiao Fangxu spread out his right hand and said with downcast
eyes, “I lost my first battle steed in that battle. However, the Biansha
Cavalry left me too little time—they made me extract myself out of
that slump swiftly. I could no longer wait for the others, nor feel
sorry for myself. When I stood at the very front, I realized that I did
not want to lose at all. I only wanted to win.”
Win.
Such a wild ambition sustained Xiao Fangxu and kept him
going. It brought him countless motivation and ultimate glory. In
those seven years, he never dared to stop for a moment. Every
single day, he was looking out in the distance at Hongyan
Mountains. He had seen through himself. That had been a swift
and resolute transformation. He overcame all difficulties, even at
the expense of offending his former commanding general to build
a stable at Luoxia Pass. This alone took him three whole years. By
the time he truly accomplished it, he was already twenty-eight
years old.
Xiao Fangxu scrutinized the lines in his palm and said, “You
returned to Libei and focused your attention on both the ‘Armored
Cavalry’ and ‘Imperial Army’, but you never thought to look at the
commanding generals. Guo Weili hurt Gu Jin, and a feud was thus
formed between both of you, but Guo Weili’s meritorious services
are legitimate. He is your elder brother’s vanguard at Changzhu
Camp, and his defense of the Tudalong Banner is impregnable.
Jiang Sheng is a veteran. He has hardly been in the limelight, but
the Sha’er Camp, which he is at, is the pivot that holds the lines
between boundaries together. He is the foundation that supports us
all, whether up north or down south. A-Ye, what you possess is not
just that bit of soldiers, but also the experience that countless
soldiers and officers have amassed. You went to Zhongbo back
then and met Lu Guangbai, but now that you’re back in Libei, you
aren’t willing to learn anything new. Men who are the most familiar
with the battlefields of Libei are already standing before you.
You’ve wasted too much time.”
Xiao Chiye tightened his grip on the teacup.
“You want this position.” Xiao Fangxu slowly clenched his fist. It
was as if he was asking both Xiao Chiye and himself at the same
time. “But are you truly qualified enough?”
Before Xiao Chiye returned to Libei, he had already been
rejected by its commanding generals. It was hard for him to
describe that feeling; he had indeed felt hurt. He no longer got into
any disputes with these people afterward, but it was also from then
on that they went their separate ways. Xiao Chiye had been back
for so long, and the Imperial Army was still the Imperial Army.
When he stood within the military tent, he was just so glaringly
different from the rest of the commanding generals. He did not
need these people to apply ointment for him when he got injured.
They gave off the appearance of unity, but they were divided at
heart; they could not become one.
The tea on the fire started boiling and bubbling over. Xiao
Chiye felt that he was like the wolf straying at the edge of the pack.
He seemed to have returned, but in truth, he was still standing in
the same spot. He watched these people fight with all their might,
but there was no place for him among them.
“You don’t need seven years to defeat Hasen.” Xiao Fangxu
gazed at Xiao Chiye and said, “But you must learn to be tolerant.”
Xiao Fangxu left the camp at the hour of chen. The snow fell
even more heavily today, which made it easier to get blinded
without the helmet acting as a shield. Before he put on his helmet,
he whistled at Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye came to stand beside the
horse, and he tousled Xiao Chiye’s hair.
“It’s too dangerous to advance your troops on snowy nights.
Wait for the hour of mao tomorrow before you set off for the north.”
As Xiao Fangxu spoke, he put on his helmet. His voice sounded
muffled inside of it. “We’ll discuss the detailed route when I return.”
“The hour of chou at the latest.” Xiao Chiye said. “The snow is
too heavy. Any later, and you’ll lose your way.”
“That will depend on the situation.” Xiao Fangxu pulled the
reins. “I’m leaving.”
Xiao Chiye watched as Xiao Fangxu led his troops out of the
camp. Those armored hooves heading north resembled a
wandering dragon that was swallowed up by the snow and fog in
the blink of an eye. He stood for a while longer, then turned and
went into the tent to catch up on his sleep.
Xiao Chiye fell into a deep sleep this time around and awoke to
the sound of horse hooves. He was not in good spirits, and it took
him a few moments of coming around to realize that it was already
dark. He sat up and put his clothes on. When he stepped out, he
saw soldiers all over the camp. Chen Yang and Gu Jin, who were
meant to be on duty at the entrance, were both missing.
Xiao Chiye turned around and grabbed hold of someone to
ask. “What’s going on?”
 “Sha’er camp met with an ambush!” The junior soldier put on
his armor swiftly and bowed in a hurry to Xiao Chiye. “We are
going to mobilize troops south now to provide reinforcements!”
Xiao Chiye quickly made his way to the front of the military tent.
When he lifted the flap, he was met with the sight of a fully dressed
Zuo Qianqiu. The latter was just about to step out. Xiao Chiye
asked, “Jiang Sheng hasn’t returned yet?”
Zuo Qianqiu took large strides forward with a grave expression.
“No, it’s likely he was stalled. This was a plan to lure us away from
the base. Unfortunately, Hasen’s presence at Tudalong Banner was
but a farce; his real objective is to ambush Sha’er camp.”
The bridle paths connecting Sha’er camp and Shasan camp
had been blocked off. Jiang Sheng had made a detour to lay in
ambush together with Xiao Fangxu, resulting in a sharp decrease in
the number of troops left to defend the camp. Shayi camp was all
they could count on to make up for this shortage.
“A-Ye,” Zuo Qianqiu said before mounting his horse. “You have
to hold down the fort here; there are still provisions in the camp.”
Xiao Chiye said, “I don’t have the authority to mobilize troops.”
“You can’t lead the convoy squad north.” Zuo Qianqiu steered
the horse around. “Stay here and wait for your father to come
back!”
His horse had already galloped off at the last drop of his
words.
Xiao Chiye took a couple of steps back to make way for the
cavalry behind him. He scanned the vicinity and spotted Chen
Yang amidst the chaos before him.
“Gu Jin has gone up north to inform his lordship of the
situation,” Chen Yang hurried over to Xiao Chiye’s side. “The snow
is too heavy; even Meng can’t fly in this weather. Gu Jin is the only
one who is able to find his way through the snow at night.”
Xiao Chiye asked. “What time did he leave?”
“An hour ago,” Chen Yang estimated the time. “He will only be
back by the hour of mao.”
Xiao Chiye froze for a second, then continued to ask, “The hour
of chou has already passed?”
 “It’s currently three quarters past the hour of chou,” Chen Yang
glanced worriedly at Xiao Chiye, “… any traces of their tracks have
all been covered up by the snow. Squad Three is probably still in
the snowfields, but Jiang Sheng is there too. Master, his lordship’s
military strength far exceeds that of Hasen; he’ll definitely be able
to make it back by the hour of mao.”
Anxiety began to eat away at Xiao Chiye; this was an emotion
that proved tough to vent. He did not have the authority to mobilize
troops, and the manpower left in Shayi camp was not sufficient to
sustain a trip up north. All he could do was wait.
This was a plan to lure them away from their base, but what did
Hasen intend to achieve by launching a sneak attack on Sha’er
camp?
Xiao Chiye stared at the map and lifted his finger to trace along
the line that Xiao Fangxu had drawn. That sense of unease started
to pervade his entire being, gnawing at him. He seemed to be still
standing in Tudalong Banner that rainy night, standing in
confrontation with Hasen across the curtain of rain.
Sha’er camp’s food supplies were still in Shayi camp. As Xiao
Chiye had only arrived last night, Jiang Sheng did not manage to
transfer the provisions in time. Sha’er camp’s route down to the
south had been obstructed by the heavy snow, so raiding Sha’er
camp would neither garner them any food supplies, nor pose a
threat to the Shasan camp.
So why?
Xiao Chiye asked himself in the face of these intricate and
complicated routes.
The hour of yin passed too slowly. Xiao Chiye kept asking for
the time in the military tent. He paced back and forth in the same
place and rubbed away those haphazardly drawn lines. He
gradually stopped tracing Xiao Fangxu’s path and put himself in
Hasen’s position.
Hasen was an accomplished hunter who was familiar with the
bridle paths of Libei—this was already evident back then at the
Tudalong Banner. He wore Zhao Hui down, and the blizzard
became his cover, allowing him to move in and out of the
snowfields with ease.
 Xiao Chiye stopped in his tracks and repeated those words
earlier. A chill ran down his spine, so cutting was it that his fingers
stiffened.
Exceptional hunters would not reveal their targets easily. They
were patient, and any weaknesses they exposed were all pretenses
to lure in the enemies. Hasen could move freely on the snowfields,
which meant that he must know the routes in the north like the
back of his hand. He knew which section of the road was suitable
for an ambush. For the six months Hasen had been on the
battlefield in the north, he had spent every day dealing with the
Libei Armored Cavalry. He was practicing all this time; he already
had a clear handle on Xiao Fangxu’s rhythm.
This was a trap. Hasen trapped Xiao Fangxu the same way he
had trapped Xiao Chiye. He never thought to launch a sneak attack
on Changzhu Camp in the snowstorm, and he had no interest in
the Sha’er camp. He went around in such a big circle, and this was
all for the sake of a target called Xiao Fangxu.
Xiao Chiye abruptly pulled the tent flap open and bumped into
Chen Yang’s head-on.
Chen Yang staggered back and blurted out in a hurry before he
got the chance to pay his obeisances, “Gu Jin is back!”
Xiao Chiye looked out. Not only was Gu Jin back, but even
Jiang Sheng had also returned. Xiao Chiye approached them
briskly and pushed aside the Armored Cavalry, who was standing
in his way. He kept searching, but no, Xiao Fangxu was not among
them.
Jiang Sheng, who was badly injured, was carried back on a
stretcher. The color drained from Xiao Chiye’s face when he saw
that smashed helmet, and he hissed, “Fuck!”
“It’s the scorpions.” Gu Jin wiped his face vigorously with the
corner of his clothes and said in a hoarse voice, “Master, they hid
behind the armors. They had our tokens on them. They disguised
themselves as the Libei Armored Cavalry at the old relay station in
Tudalong Banner, and they deceived every one of us!”
“Where is my father?” Xiao Chiye grabbed the front of Gu Jin’s
clothes and enunciated each word of his question.
 “… Ambushed.” Half of Jian Sheng’s face was covered in blood.
The ringing in his ears was pretty bad. With fingers bent, he
gripped the edge of the stretcher and mumbled somewhat
incoherently, “It happened right under our nose. They are too
fast…”
Gu Jin bit down so hard on his lips they blanched. It was with
difficulty that he said under Xiao Chiye’s gaze, “I didn’t find him,
Master…”
Xiao Chiye shoved Gu Jin aside. He whistled before he
remembered that he had not brought Lang Tao Xue Jin over. He
strode a few steps over to the stable and led a horse out before
mounting it.
Wu Ziyu tried to stop Xiao Chiye’s horse. “Viceroy, you don’t
have authority to mobilize troops. You’ll be dismissed and
investigated for arbitrarily heading up north without permission!
We have to first send a message to Sha’er Camp and report—”
Without looking at Wu Ziyu, Xiao Chiye cracked the horsewhip
and shot forth like a sharp arrow.
“Damn it!” Wu Ziyu flung down his helmet where he stood and
shouted to his left and right, “Quick, report it to Sha’er camp!”
Xiao Chiye galloped among the boundless expanse of heavy
snow. The wind tore at his sleeves as he charged along the
hoofprints towards the northwest. The cold was penetrating, and
very quickly, his freezing hands that were gripping the reins turned
purplish red. The horse could not keep up with galloping at such
speed, so he could only trudge through the heavy snow on foot.
With his keen sense of smell, he tracked his way deep into the
snowstorm through the devastated battlefield, where he found
Xiao Fangxu in the dark.
Xiao Chiye covered his eyes with his frozen fingers and wiped
away at them hastily, but a sound he could not contain escaped
from his throat. The wind of the Hongyan Mountains tousled Xiao
Chiye’s hair. It was here he stood helplessly, until he eventually
burst into gut-wrenching sobs.
“Give it back…” Xiao Chiye slid to his knees, torn asunder with
grief and anguish as he choked with sobs at the deserted
battlefield, “Give him back to me!”
Hasen had taken away his father’s head.
 CHAPTER 186: BLIZZARD
The boundary between heaven and earth was blurred as a
blizzard assaulted the battlegrounds and completely engulfed the
eastern mountain range of the Hongyan Mountains. No matter
where the eyes roamed, it was a boundless expanse of white snow.
Hasen had initially left, but the snowstorm tonight was too
strong. Worried about losing his bearings in the snowfields, he
could only head back to the abandoned relay station. The
scorpions that Hasen was leading this time all possessed faces that
bore a striking resemblance to the Dazhou natives. They had
already taken off the layer of armor they had worn as their disguise
and were currently sitting around together drinking tea.
“Zhou…” One of the scorpions wiped at the token and
struggled to discern the text on it under the glow of the fire. “This
one’s surnamed Zhou, huh.”
“Mine’s surnamed Fu,” Another person raised a token. “It’s a
man from Dajing.”
“Wolves all hail from Dajing.” A bearded man with a scar
looked around at these younger generations jesting around before
his gaze finally landed on Hasen, who had been silent throughout.
“You slew the King of Wolves tonight. Hasen, from now on, you
reign supreme on the battlefields in the north.”
The northern battlegrounds had always belonged to the King
of Wolves. Having occupied the highest peak of Hongyan
Mountains with his valiance and prowess, Xiao Fangxu had, for the
last twenty years, struck fear in the hearts of the Twelve Tribes of
Biansha at the mere mention of his name. Everyone present was
acutely familiar with the legends surrounding him. Tonight, they
had returned victorious, and the person they had slain was no
ordinary mortal, but the god of Libei.
Hasen, who was drinking his tea, smiled shyly at Wulihan after
hearing what the latter had said.
Hasen had always possessed an understated intelligence, but
after tonight, no one would dare to belittle him. Wulihan could
already predict just how fast Biansha would raze through Libei in
the next few years. They understood the present Libei all too well.
Xiao Jiming had yet to recover from his serious injuries, and Xiao
Chiye was still a fledgling wet behind his ears. In addition, there
was a severe dearth of commanding generals, and Libei was
facing an insurmountable winter. Hasen had been waiting for this
moment for a very long time.
“But you don’t look very happy,” Wulihan said.
“Not quite what I expected.” Hasen held up the bowl with both
hands and remembered his war trophy. “I grew up listening to
legends of him. He’s invincible, coming from my father’s mouth.”
“The Hero will be proud of you.” Wulihan thought for a
moment. “What you have hacked off tonight is also the head of the
Libei Armored Cavalry.”21
Hasen drank his tea and did not answer.
But Wulihan was right. It was also the Libei Armored Cavalry’s
head that Hasen had severed this night. All along, this iron wall
standing in the north had seemed to be so indestructible. But when
Hasen was truly standing here, he found a fatal vulnerability in the
chink of the Libei Armored Cavalry’s armor.
This troop was far too centralized. Although their faith was born
of the land they stood on, they were overly reliant on their
commander-in-chief. The amount of time since their establishment
had been too short, and as a result every single soldier had their
eyes locked on Xiao Fangxu. It was as though as long as Xiao
Fangxu was there, the Libei Armored Cavalry would be invincible
and triumphant in every battle.
Amu’er understood this principle, as did Hasen. The reign of
Tianchen was the turning point in which the Libei Armored Cavalry
was no longer in the position to hold the initiative. Xiao Jiming’s
retreat symbolized the beginning of its collapse, and Xiao Fangxu’s
comeback made Hasen certain that this was where the crux of the
Libei Armored Cavalry lay. Hasen’s transfer to the battlefield in the
north was meant for him to familiarize himself with Xiao Fangxu. He
had been following Amu’er on his battles all over the land ever
since he was eight years old, and the name he had heard the most
in the commander tent had been Xiao Fangxu. At a time when Xiao
Fangxu still knew nothing of him, he already knew of Xiao Fangxu’s
military habits.
 Hasen did not want to win just one battle. He wanted all fronts
of Libei to topple. As to who would be grief-stricken over this, it was
not something he should consider, just like how Libei had never
been considerate of Biansha’s sufferings. Hasen wanted to crush
his opponent with all he got. He wanted to pierce through his
opponent’s heart, so that his opponent could never recover from
the setback. The time for Biansha to turn the tables was now. They
contended and tussled, sharpening their respective fangs in that
accumulating debt of blood. To both parties, excessive compassion
was tantamount to suicide.
The scorpions scattered when the fire was about to go out and
looked for a corner in which to rest. With Wulihan taking the night
watch, Hasen leaned against the old cabinet and closed his eyes.
The frigid wind outside howled against the eaves, sending the
wind chimes hanging at the entrance of the relay station clinking
and clanking violently. All that was left in the world was black and
white as the night and snow tore into each other. Snowflakes that
resembled tattered wads of cotton piled up to form snow dunes,
and footprints left in the snow were soon swallowed up.
The scorpion standing outside the relay station taking a piss
had yet to untie his pants when he was clutched by the throat. An
imperceptible “crack” followed right after, and the scorpion’s body
was slowly lowered to the ground.
Wulihan, who had an acute sense of hearing, almost
immediately lifted his hand to reach for his iron hammer. He stared
menacingly at the door panel and whispered, “Here comes the
wolf.”
The scorpion closest to the door shifted silently to lean over the
crack between the door with the intent to peek, but in the very
moment he bent over, a long blade suddenly plunged through the
gap and pierced through his head.
No one inside the house spoke. Hasen watched calmly as that
blade retracted, painting the door with a splash of crimson. The
smell of blood began to pervade the air. Right after the door was
shoved open, a gush of wind extinguished the fire and plunged
the house into darkness. A figure that bore a striking resemblance
to Xiao Fangxu stood in the doorway, nearly causing Wulihan to
break out in cold sweat.
In that long, endless silence, the scorpions within the house
burst into action. They had lost nearly half of their own men when
they encircled Xiao Fangxu to kill him, and the remaining
scorpions were already beyond exhausted. The fear of being
stabbed through and through by the King of Wolf reasserted itself
again. The scorpions prayed the wolf pup did not have the same
arm strength as his father, but when they came into contact with
him, they were all nailed to the floor.
That bit of light peeking in from the entrance was blocked out
too. Thick, viscous blood splattered onto their faces. Wulihan did
not wipe it off. He swung his hammer towards Xiao Chiye right in
the face—the same way he smashed it towards Xiao Fangxu.
But Xiao Chiye stopped Wulihan’s forearm in tracks. Closely
encircled on all sides with little space left, he did not turn around
the blade he had just pulled out from the corpse but smashed the
demonhead on the hilt22 into Wulihan’s face. Wulihan staggered,
wanting to draw back, but Xiao Chiye did not release his grip, and
the scorpion behind him hung on to his blade, so he immediately
let go of Langli Blade and punched Wulihan over with his bare fist.
Wulihan’s muscular body crashed into the pile of burning
firewood, knocking it over. His face was drenched in blood, and he
could feel that the bridge of his nose was broken. He shook his
head. The impact of that heavy blow made him temporarily deaf in
both ears, and for a time, he could not even see before him clearly.
He spat out the tooth that had been punched off and said
somewhat unintelligibly, “Kill him!”
Hasen sensed a pair of eyes locked on him. From the moment
the door opened, this was a line of sight that would not permit him
to ignore. Hasen knew what Xiao Chiye had come for, but he would
not return it to Xiao Chiye, for that was the medal he was
determined to hold on to.
Hasen gripped his piked dagger, but Xiao Chiye did not give
Hasen the opportunity. He lifted a scorpion and held him up before
the dagger, making use of that sturdy human body to slam Hasen
against the cabinet. Xiao Chiye’s fist missed its target, and the
cabinet door promptly burst apart. The cabinet behind Hasen
collapsed with a loud crash, which gave Hasen some leeway to
catch his breath. The sudden assault of his piked dagger was swift
and fierce, but this time, Xiao Chiye did not dodge it. Instead, he
grasped it and wrenched it towards himself.
Hasen had experienced for himself Xiao Chiye’s strength back
at the Tudalong Banner. He was unable to seize his dagger back,
and at the exact moment he let go, he crouched over at the waist
to dodge Xiao Chiye’s blow.
Xiao Chiye did not throw away the dagger. He was now pinned
down by Wulihan, who had pounced on him from the side. That
hillock-like body slammed Xiao Chiye against the wall, and
Wulihan returned him a heavy punch. The fist smashed into him
like a slab of brick, causing him to bleed from his mouth. At the
same time he took the punch, Xiao Chiye grabbed hold of
Wulihan’s collar, deflected his head to the side to dodge the blow,
and followed up with a head slam to the injured bridge of
Wulihan’s nose.
Wulihan hastily covered his nose and mouth, and Xiao Chiye
turned the dagger around with his fingers. Grasping that sharp,
protruding tip, he jammed the dagger between the gap of his
fingers and slammed a fist into Wulihan’s face, which failed to
move out of the way in time.
Wulihan let loose a howl of fury. The dagger was embedded in
his entire right eye, and the pain made his entire body convulse
with tremors. Blood poured profusely as he bent over and cursed in
the Biansha tongue.
Xiao Chiye did not let Wulihan off. He yanked Wulihan by the
hair and took a few quick steps to slam Wulihan’s head hard
against the wall. The chilling sounds of the impact persisted a few
more times until the wall was awash in blood. The scorpion behind
Xiao Chiye pounced and hung on to Xiao Chiye’s back as he
prepared to flip him over, but Xiao Chiye did not move. He
backhandedly felt for the scimitar on the scorpion’s waist and
released his grip on Wulihan.
Wulihan cried out in pain and stumbled back. He had only
taken two steps when he felt a cool sensation on his neck. Before
he could even react, his blood spurt out like a fountain, and his
head went tumbling.
Xiao Chiye lifted his hand to wipe at the metallic stench of
blood, revealing in the darkness a pair of extremely bright eyes—
eyes that brimmed over with frenzied insanity and hatred. This
gave him the appearance of a ravenous wolf, one whose sense of
reason had all been devoured whole by this bout of heavy snow.
He stared at Hasen and said, one word at a time, “Give my father
back to me.”
Hasen brushed back the red hair that was hanging over his
eyes and looked at Xiao Chiye as he said in a cold, detached voice,
“Then, when will your father give my brother back to me?”
Xiao Chiye had already sprung closer. He had no wish to hear
Hasen speak at all. As both men wrestled with one another, they
crashed through the window and rolled into the snowstorm.
Hasen struck back with all his might and knocked Xiao Chiye
down into the snow, then nimbly straightened up and stepped
back as he gasped for breath. In a cold voice, he said, “Your father’s
armored hooves trampled his head into a pulp. Right in the midst
of a blizzard. He left his corpse out there in the wilderness.”
Xiao Chiye propped himself up into a standing position and
spat out the froth of blood in his mouth.
Hasen twirled out a new piked dagger between his fingers. He
slid those fingers along the cold gleam of the blade and said
expressionlessly, “I’m merely returning the favor tit for tat.”
Both men collided together again once more. The snow blew
so hard amidst the roaring wind that it stung the eyes, and the
gasps of their breath sounded so very guttural. Even heaven and
earth were howling. Xiao Chiye locked Hasen’s throat in a viselike
grip and lifted Hasen to smash Hasen’s back against the damaged
wall of the relay station. The force of the impact jolted the flakes of
snow off the wall. Hasen grabbed Xiao Chiye’s right arm and
twisted it with all his might, nearly breaking it.
Xiao Chiye’s right hand went numb, and his old injury caused
him to lose his grip, allowing Hasen to break free once again. The
next instant, the remaining scorpions wrapped their arms around
both of Xiao Chiye’s legs, causing his entire person to tumble into
the snow. Hasen grabbed the opportunity and thrust the piked
dagger towards Xiao Chiye’s nape from the back. Xiao Chiye
braced his elbow against the ground and took the stab to the back
of his left shoulder, avoiding his vital spots.
Hasen tried to pull out the picked dagger, but Xiao Chiye
backhandedly covered the back of Hasen’s head with his hand and
slammed Hasen’s head down towards the ground with terrifying
force, where he then held it firmly in place in the snow. Blood
swiftly stained his shoulder. The dagger that had yet to be pulled
out rose and fell along with each of his gasps for breath.
Hasen pressed both palms against the snowy ground, and a
hoarse sound escaped from his throat, but he could not lift his
head. There was no way he could make Xiao Chiye’s palm budge
at all.
Xiao Chiye yanked Hasen’s red hair hard, his eyes red as he
bellowed in a raspy voice, “GIVE. HIM. BACK. TO. ME!”
 CHAPTER 187: APPROACH
Hasen was panting heavily. His cheek stung from being
scraped by the ice on the snowfield, and the nape of his neck had
turned red from exertion. The howl of the wind behind Xiao Chiye’s
back intensified, and the sudden swing of an iron hammer
knocked him over. Seizing his opportunity, Hasen climbed to his
feet and spat out the ice in his mouth.
The scorpions had suffered heavy losses this time. Of the
remaining ten or so men who had crossed paths with Xiao Chiye,
there were only a few still alive now. A scorpion on night patrol in
the far distance blew the horn. Hasen backed off, knowing from the
wind that the pack of wolves was currently charging this way.
Hasen flipped onto his horse, albeit unwillingly. His hand fell to
the hilt of his scimitar, but before he could do anything, the
gyrfalcon in the sky swooped down, its cry erupting in his ears.
Following right after, a long arrow burst through the snowstorm
under the billowy darkness of the night and hurtled straight for his
head.
Xiao Chiye braced himself against the ground. His back was
soaked through, but he could not tell if it was blood or sweat. With
sticky fingers, he grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it into his
mouth, swallowing down the blood between his teeth. At the same
time he climbed to his feet, he lunged for Hasen.
Hasen was almost dragged down by this force. He struck back
with his elbow, but Xiao Chiye lifted his palm to grab hold of it.
Then, Hasen’s world turned topsy-turvy as Xiao Chiye flung him
over. Before Hasen could return a strike, a punch from Xiao Chiye
made him choke out bile. Hasen hissed as he felt the ache in his
mouth. He kicked Xiao Chiye hard in the chest and immediately
rose swiftly with aid from his elbows.
But Xiao Chiye was too tough of a nut to deal with! There was
no way he could escape without taking Xiao Chiye out.
Hasen understood this feeling. He broke into a run with the
horse and braced himself with his arms to flip onto it before Xiao
Chiye made his next attack. He blew his whistle, then ripped off the
sack hanging at the side of the horse and held it up high at Xiao
Chiye. Hasen’s fingers clenched tightly at that sack—never had he
felt unable to take it lying down so intensely. But the very next
moment, he flung the sack out. His voice cut through the wind as
he said with detest at the same time he turned his horse around,
“After tonight, my name will overshadow the Libei Armored
Cavalry. I’ll make you people pay back double for what you owed
me since the battles on the eastern mountain ranges.” His red hair
flared ostentatiously, like the manifestation of his hatred. “Take your
father and scram!”
Xiao Chiye instantly understood what that sack was. The bitter
wind raged. He staggered over the snow and dashed over with all
he had. As he fell and rolled over, he caught hold of the sack
firmly.
Hasen instantly cracked his horsewhip and galloped away into
the vast expanse of heavy snow.
Xiao Chiye lay on the ground, hugging that sack as he stared at
the dome of heaven. He clenched his teeth even as his chest
heaved heavily, unwilling as he was to shed another tear. But he
could not control the sobs.
He could not.
He could not look at Xiao Fangxu in his arms.
The Armored Cavalry swarmed over, and Zuo Qianqiu took the
lead in tumbling down his horse. Countless helmets were removed
in the ensuing silence.
Heavy snow buried Xiao Chiye. He heard the wails of the
Hongyan Mountains. He no longer had the strength to stand up,
for his limbs were already numb. He stared fixedly at the sky,
feeling as though he had died.
The Libei Armored Cavalry suffered their first fatal blow in
twenty years, having been stabbed through and through. Hasen
was right. After tonight, the Libei Armored Cavalry would live in his
shadow. He had used tens of scorpions to sever the dignity of the
Libei Armored Cavalry.
This was too endless a night.
The iron wall of Libei collapsed with a crash, leaving countless
men exposed on the outside. Armor was no longer their
advantage. There were like wandering souls who had been
expelled here, unable to find refuge.
Xiao Jiming waited to receive his father in Dajing. The entire
city was silent when the horse carriage rolled in. Suppressed
sounds of crying rose and fell.
Xiao Jiming did not cry. He was neatly dressed and properly
crowned as he walked down the stairs, one step at a time, to stand
before the carriage. A never-ending silence followed. His body,
wrecked with severe injuries, seemed to have shrunk some. In that
heavy snow, his face was pale.
A veil of gloom was cast over the firmament. The news spread
throughout Dazhou a few days later. Qudu removed the banners of
the Eight Great Training Divisions. But as Xiao Chiye still had the
charge of regicide hanging over his head, Qudu did not issue a
eulogy to Libei, instead, they merely took down the colored
lanterns on the streets and hung up white flowers.
Qi Zhuyin, sans armor and hairpin, led a unit of guards
hurriedly through the snow towards Libei.
Xiao Fangxu was a legend. A junior soldier of the Luoxia Pass
who conquered the eastern mountain ranges of the Hongyan
Mountains, he was the last person out of the Four Generals of that
generation to make a name for himself. Yet, he was the one and
only person out of the four to be conferred with the title of a prince.
At the present time, Lu Pingyan was in ill health, Qi Shiyu was
retired, and Feng Yisheng and Xiao Fangxu had both successively
perished in the war. The four generals from the early days of the
Yongyi reign had all fallen into obscurity. Thirty years had gone by
in a rush, and those high-spirited youths with boundless
enthusiasm had all returned to the lands they belonged.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye was a picture of calm after Xiao Fangxu’s burial. His
howls and cries seemed to have been buried in that bout of heavy
snow, vanished without a trace after he seized his father back. He
ate and changed his dressing as usual, but at night, Shen Zechuan
could not hear Xiao Chiye’s breathing.
He seemed to have fallen into a certain kind of deep slumber,
languishing as he greeted each new day.
 “I’ll now give you an account of the ambush that snowy night.”
Jiang Sheng stood bandaged in the hall and said to the
commanding generals. “On day eight of the twelfth month, while
His Lordship was in the Shayi Camp, he decided to lay an ambush.
He then personally led Squad Three of Shayi Camp up north. I was
to go around from the back to provide support. The aim was to
intercept Hasen in the east of the Tudalong Banner. The snowstorm
was especially heavy that day. We waited until the hour of you
before we encountered Hasen’s elite forces. Both troops engaged
in a battle, and we launched a head-on assault to Hasen’s elite
force, injuring nearly half of them in the process.”
“While taking inventory of the remnants of the Biansha soldiers,
we found that Hasen was not among them. At that time, it was
already the hour of hai. We drew up a plan in the snowfield to
branch out and search westward. As such, His Lordship and I split
up into two. Then I came across the Biansha Cavalry to the east of
the Tudalong Banner and was depleted of my remaining troops. By
then, I had already sensed something amiss. Instead of continuing
on westward, I took the decision into my own hands and turned
back to join up with His Lordship.”
“His Lordship’s military strength had been similarly worn down,
as the Biansha Cavalry kept engaging in guerrilla tactics in small
groups. We stopped heading further in and decided to head back
to the camp. Midway through, we arrived at the abandoned relay
station of Changzhu Camp, where we met the scorpions disguised
as the Libei Armored Cavalry.”
“Every one of them had the token of the Armored Cavalry at
the side of their waists. They not only spoke the Dazhou language,
but also with the Libei accent. They were able to answer readily and
fluently. These people claimed to be subordinates of Zhao Hui’s
Three Great Training Divisions of Liuyang, and having sustained
severe losses from Hasen’s harassment and lost their way in the
snowstorm, they were forced to stop over at the relay station.”
“How many of them?” With hands on his knees, Zhao Hui asked
with a solemn expression.
“Sixty.” Jiang Sheng set the book in his hands on the table and
looked towards Xiao Chiye, who was sitting at the very end. After a
few moments of silence, he spoke up. “We compiled a register of
names based on the tokens Second Young Master brought back.
You can cross-reference it.”
Zhao Hui quickly read through the register. “These are all
brothers who have died in battle.”
Guo Weili, whose voice had gone hoarse from crying too many
times these few days, said, “Fuck his ancestors. They even took
away the armor and tokens! We have to inform all the major camps
as soon as possible to clean up the battlefields personally from now
on.”
“It’s futile.”
Guo Weili immediately retorted. “How can it be fu…” His voice
trailed to a stop when he saw Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye had brought back Xiao Fangxu, which made it
impossible for Guo Weili to shoot his mouth off as he previously
did. His expression underwent several changes, but still, he could
not hold it back, “… We have to deal with it, eventually. We can’t
give them any more opportunities.”
“If Biansha can even equip themselves with iron hammers now,
they are naturally able to counterfeit tokens as well.” Zuo Qianqiu
understood what Xiao Chiye meant. “The hardest part lies in how
we can differentiate the scorpions from the rest.”
With his cloak draped around him, Xiao Jiming contemplated it
for a moment. “Recall back the tokens. We’ll no longer use them.
Continue with what you were saying.”
Jiang Sheng continued. “Deceived by the scorpions, we lay
down our blades, and that was when it all happened.” At this point,
he exposed half of his face. “That sort of iron hammer was custom
made to go up against the Armored Cavalry. A sudden smash to
the helmet will cause blurred vision, ringing ears, and blackout if
you are lucky, or you’ll die on the spot bleeding from the nose and
mouth. My troops couldn’t react in time at all, and I was knocked
unconscious to the ground. I don’t know what happened after.”
This time, no one made a sound. They had learned about the
scorpions via the private letter sent from Zhongbo, but no one
could have imagined the severity of the threat that the scorpions
posed.
 Gu Jin bowed in greetings all around and took over from Jiang
Sheng. “After an examination of the battlefield, my conjecture is as
follows: Hasen failed to besiege his lordship, so he changed his
tactics to outflank his lordship from both sides on the snowfield
with his elusive elite troops and had his lordship trapped in the
heavy snow. This consequently led to the total annihilation of
Squad Three.”
“Damn you. I don’t believe it. His Lordship is invincible in the
fields.” Guo Weili stood up and irritably paced up and down.
Eventually, he said with reddened eyes, “What is Hasen?! He was
still sucking on milk when His Lordship was already the implicit
king of the northern battlegrounds. We’ve been fighting in the field
with Biansha for almost twenty years; there’s no way the Armored
Cavalry led by His Lordship can lose!”
Guo Weili was promoted by Xiao Jiming himself, but he had
enlisted in the army alongside Xiao Fangxu. He could not accept
this. The tactics he used to fight against Huhelu in the field when he
was stationed in Changzhu camp had been learned from Xiao
Jiming, and while Xiao Fangxu had never taught him before, Guo
Weili’s style of combat was obviously picked up on the sly through
his observations of Xiao Fangxu.
The sound of discussion in the hall increased, and the noise
gradually grew to a crescendo.
They were presently like a node on the brink of collapse. Every
person’s nerves were stretched taut with tension as they struggled
to preserve the current stability of the Libei Armored Cavalry, but
the sense that they were inching towards a complete breakdown
still pervaded the atmosphere.
The Prince of Libei was dead.
This phrase was like a nightmare weighing down on everyone’s
mind, crushing them. They were helpless against Hasen. It was as if
it was only at this moment that they came to the harsh realization
that the Libei Armored Cavalry had already fallen a long way
behind Amu’er.
Xiao Chiye found it noisy, but he did not utter another word
other than that “futile” comment of his. It was here he sat, with a
splitting headache. The injuries on his shoulder and arm
simultaneously assaulted his consciousness on both sides. He
heard Hasen, Hasen—this name being shouted everywhere.
This word was a shadow haunting him relentlessly.
At night, Shen Zechuan could not sleep well. He had to wake up
every now and then to make sure Xiao Chiye was still there, but
when he awoke this night, Xiao Chiye was not inside. Shen
Zechuan got up and hurried over to the doorway, where he found
Xiao Chiye standing in the courtyard, dressed only in a single layer
of garment.
It was snowing again.
Xiao Chiye’s shoulders were blanketed with a thin layer of
snow. On hearing movements, he looked back and smiled faintly
at Shen Zechuan with an expression meant to reassure.
Shen Zechuan gazed at him.
Xiao Chiye’s eyes gradually reddened under that gaze of his.
Shen Zechuan watched Xiao Chiye’s tears slide down slowly. He
understood everything; to this day, Xiao Chiye was still lost in his
memory of that blizzard. The wolf pup that had run alone for
dozens of li had not returned at all.
Shen Zechuan pushed open the door without even putting his
shoes on.
Xiao Chiye had already begun to choke with sobs. It was as if
he finally found release from all that he had suppressed within him
as he watched Shen Zechuan approach. Tears streamed down his
cheeks as he called out, “Lanzhou…”
Shen Zechuan embraced Xiao Chiye hard and stood on tiptoe
to cover the back of Xiao Chiye’s head, as if he was a barrier, taking
the physically and emotionally battered Xiao Chiye completely into
the protective shelter of his arms.

NOTICE:
New updated Character Chart from the QJJ Simplified CN
Physical Copy! Check out the Character Glossary!
1.
2. 王八 refers to a tortise or pimp, but can also refer to
bastard or son of a bitch (as in 王八蛋)
3. 法不责众 i.e., when the law cannot be enforced because
everyone is an offender.
4. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
5. 以战养战 using the manpower, food provisions,
weaponry/armory, money, one obtained from an invaded
and occupied city to fund the next battle.
6. 过年 celebration of the lunar new year.
7.
8. 洞门 An opening in a wall separating different courtyards
within a residence or palace. It’s also known as a moon gate
(月亮门).
9. A play on 宝剑赠英雄，红粉赠(送)佳人 give a precious
sword to a hero, gift rouge powder to the fairer sex; i.e., give
gift according to the recipient
10. 姨娘 yiniang, which means maternal aunt, is also a term
of address for the concubines of one’s father.
11. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties and farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains.

12.
13. Cat’s cradle, a game which involves making string figures
with the hands.
14. 寒衣节 Hanyi Festival, or literally winter clothing festival,
which is also called the ancestor worship festival, falls on the
first day of the tenth lunar month, where winter clothes made
of paper or cloth are burned in memory of the deceased
ancestors. It also marks the arrival of the severe cold winter.
15. 清谈 Qingtan is a Chinese philosophical movement and
social practice among political and intellectual elites where
the literati engaged in highly sophisticated intellectual and
philosophical discussions on lofty and non-mundane
matters.

16.
17. 道袍 Daopao; not to be confused with a Daoist priest
robe. This was a common robe typically worn by men in the
Ming Dynasty.
18.

19.
20. 襕衫 Lanshan, a Chinese traditional hanfu made
especially for scholars
21. 万物不(无)以生将恐灭 from Daodejing (道德经) by Laozi
(Lao-tzu, 老子) , also known as the founder of philosophical
Daoism.
22. 道 “the Way”, or the path, is a conceptual term used by the
school of thoughts, although it has different connotations for
Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Daoism embraces
nature. The Way, or Dao, according to Laozi and Daoists, is
the natural order of the universe, and Daoism emphasizes
doing what is natural and “going with the flow” in
accordance with the Way, with the aim of becoming one, or
in harmony, with nature.
23. The concept of “gentleman” or “man of honor” (junzi, 君
子) in Confucianism (a different philosophical stance from
Daoism), is a virtuous man who is noble in character and an
exemplar for his conducts, morals, principles, etc.
24. 无为而治，道法自然 Specifically, “govern not by
interfering in all that goes against nature, for the Way
models itself on what is natural.” i.e., man should observe the
law of nature and go with the flow. From Daodejing (道德经)
by Laozi (老子).
25. Full line 天下有道，以道殉身；天下无道，以身殉道。(未闻
以道殉乎人者也。) Specifically, “when the Way prevails in the
empire, it goes where one’s person goes; when the Way is
eclipsed, one’s person goes where the Way has gone. (I have
not heard of one’s Way being dependent on their
manifestation in other men).” i.e., One must live or die with
his principles, acting for himself, not with regard to other
men. The Way here refers to one’s principles. Contrary to
Laozi, Mencius (or Mengzi, 孟子) subscribed to the Confucius
school of thoughts, which regards the Way, or dao, as the
way human beings ought to behave with principles and
propriety in society and government. (To put it simply :V)
26. 斩首 the word here used is decapitated or beheaded,
although it also implied the slaying of the Xiao Fangxu in this
context, leaving the Libei Armored Cavalry headless, or
without a leader.
27.
28. 鬼头 kind of carving on the hilt of the blade. See
examples here or here
 CHAPTER 188: OFFENSE & DEFENSE
Libei was still deep in grief when Biansha attacked again.
After this battle, Hasen had become the indisputable and
irreplaceable “esuheri”- or Hero – of the Hanshe tribe. His
reputation was almost comparable to that of Amu’er’s, but he did
not have time to turn around and listen to compliments. He had to
seize the opportunity to strike Libei where it hurt and shift the
battleground to the west of the Tudalong Banner, so that he could
have the Biansha Cavalry take over the fertile pastures along the
eastern mountain range of the Hongyan Mountains before the start
of spring.
Shayi and Sha’er camps suffered their most brutal attack of the
year. With Jiang Sheng severely injured and unable to partake,
Xiao Jiming deployed Zhao Hui and Guo Weili to hold the fort, but
the appearance of the scorpions caused both of them to suffer
heavy casualties one after the other.
The Libei Armored Cavalry was trapped in a predicament.
Stripped of their heavy armor, they would have to face a swift and
furious onslaught of slaughter from the elite forces of Biansha, and
the inability of the battle steeds of Libei to catch up to the Biansha
Cavalry at the same time also meant that they would be unable to
escape the moment they were caught in a trap. But put back on
their heavy armor, and that elite unit of scorpions would pursue
them relentlessly.
Guo Weili lost the three battles he fought, each time surviving
by the skin of his teeth.
In the month that followed, all the frontlines of Libei came
under attack. It was as though Hasen wielded a scimitar in his left
hand and an iron hammer in his right, with every strike he dished
out capable of landing a blow right at Libei’s most vital point. And
that was not just the most terrifying part about him; Hasen was also
very clear about who his opponent was every time they crossed
swords on the battleground. He was extraordinarily familiar with
the battlefield and had committed all the commanding generals of
Libei to memory, and so he could proactively adapt and deal with
anyone that came his way.
 Amu’er had taught all of his “changes” to Hasen without
reservation, and Hasen executed them with great skill and fun on
the northern battlegrounds.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zhao Hui practically rolled off the back of his horse. The deputy
general took off his helmet for him. Refusing to let anyone support
him, Zhao Hui propped himself up on the ground and threw up
everything in his stomach. Both of his hands were still trembling
even now. He rolled over and lay on his back in the snow, panting
hard.
“Shayi Camp’s commanding general, Zhao Hui, submits his
military report.” He said from this position. “We came across the
scorpions in the north. Their numbers far exceeded five thousand.
Squad Seven, which acts as the left flank, was completely wiped
out. The center was forced to retreat. We lost, again.”
This was swiftly recorded down by the personnel-in-charge.
Urgent correspondences had to be immediately sent out of the
camp with great haste and delivered to Dajing before tomorrow
night. Xiao Jiming was unable to get on his horse and wield his
blade, so all the military affairs could only be dealt with remotely
like this. To guard against surprise attacks, he gave the
commanding generals of the various battlegrounds the authority
and power to self-mobilize troops in the face of danger. But this
also meant that commanding generals like Guo Weili would have
lost the chain holding them in check. Should they fall for a trap,
they would probably never come back ever again.
Guo Weili came out from the tent and bent over with his hand
extended. Zhao Hui waved his hand to indicate his inability to get
up now. That sense of nausea caused by being smashed senseless
would not recede, and lying in the snow felt a little more
comfortable.
“Wu Ziyu is now guarding the Shasan Camp, and the Second
Young Master has yet to recover from his injuries, so who is
handling the task of transporting military supplies now?” Guo Weili
fished out tobacco from his bosom and popped it right into his
mouth to chew. He squatted beside Zhao Hui and asked.
 “Chen Yang.” Zhao Hui spread out his arms and answered
feebly. He seemed to know what Guo Weili was concerned about;
thus, he continued, “Chen Yang has been by the Second Young
Master’s side since six years ago taking care of the logistics, from
the Imperial Army on a larger scale, to the residence’s backyard on
a smaller scale. There’s nothing that can escape his calculations
and planning. Chen Yang is currently in Bianbo Camp making a
survey of the entire territory so that he can anticipate all the major
and minor supplies in advance. As long as the bridle paths stay
unobstructed, he will be able to ensure that the various camps will
have no lack of supplies.”
Looking at the fragments of snowflakes in the sky, Guo Weili
said, “We are short of battle steeds.”
They had already been starting to lack battle steeds at the
beginning of autumn. The depletion of the horses back then was
not this serious, and the stables in Dajing could still cope with the
demand. But now, the armor-wearing battle steeds could no longer
withstand the heavy hammers, and their injuries were often far
more severe than the soldiers. Then there was the bitter cold
weather and environment; their horses could not endure the cold
as well as the ponies.
The sky gradually darkened. Zhao Hui regained some of his
energy and sat up. He reached out to wipe away a handful of
blood, then said to Guo Weili, “That one smash from the hammer
made my nose bleed. I couldn’t wipe it away in time and
swallowed it all back down.”
“Gross.” Guo Weili, with his headful of messy hair, did not want
to stand up either, having squatted until his legs went numb. He
paused for a moment, then said in a low and hoarse voice, “In the
past, I considered Huhelu as one of Biansha’s elites. But now that
I’ve encountered Hasen, I realize Huhelu is a good-for-nothing.”
Zhao Hui brushed off the fragments of snow on his knees and
said, “Hasen is bold in his deployment of people, and he has
infinite tricks up his sleeves. He knows us inside out.” He let loose a
sigh. “And this is where the difficulty lies.”
But they all tacitly knew that what was most formidable about
Hasen had not even been put on display yet. Hasen had fought
offensive and defensive battles with the Bianjun Commandery – the
hardest of all to attack – in the south for several years. Compared to
field battles, he was even better at attacking cities. Now that Libei
had completely switched from offensive to defensive, the
battleground camps had become rudimentary cities. It would not
be long before they got a personal taste of Hasen’s barrage of
attacks coming down on them like the torrential rain.
Guo Weili hated Hasen with every fiber of his being, but even
he had to concede that Hasen was absolutely a genius born for the
battlefields. To date, Guo Weili had never met a general who could
hold and control the initiative so firmly in hand like this. He was just
as unpredictable as a gale; he did not give Libei another chance to
fight back at all.
“Whoever takes the initiative controls the rhythm.” Guo Weili
spat out the chewed tobacco. “We have to disrupt his pace even if
we lose. Otherwise, we won’t have to wait until the beginning of
spring. In less than half a month, the battle zones will fall into their
hands.”
The light from the flame in the distance flickered. Both men
looked at it from afar in silence before suddenly scrambling to their
feet.
“Fuck!” Braving the wind, Guo Weili pointed at the watchtower
and bellowed, “Are you fucking blind? Who’s in the southeast?!”
The Armored Cavalry on the watchtower raised a palm to
shield himself from the wind and heard the sound of horses’
hooves downwind. But a bridle path connecting to Sha’er Camp lay
in the southeast, and he could not immediately determine in this
short of a time who exactly was coming.
“The cavalry.” Zhao Hui took several steps back to pick up his
helmet from the ground, then shouted with all his might, “It’s the
Biansha Cavalry!”
“Sha’er Camp has fallen.” Guo Weili hissed through gritted
teeth. “Hasen, that son of a bitch!”
In the chaos that ensued, they watched as that flame came
charging right towards them. The night patrol squad did not
sound the alarm, so it was highly possible that the southeast had
already been cut off. Other than the sound of hooves, there were
clearly other sounds mixed in too.
“The stone catapults…” The helmet in Zhao Hui’s palm slipped
to the ground. He said in a daze, “We’re done for.”
“Dogshit!” Guo Weili hauled Zhao Hui up and shouted all
around him as he strode briskly, “Extinguish the flames in the
watchtower!”
Guo Weili suddenly shoved Zhao Hui and followed up with a
punch that made Zhao Hui’s nose bleed again.
“What are you, a dog?!” Zhao Hui covered his nose and spat
out the froth of blood.
“We are wolves.” Guo Weili turned back and stared viciously
towards the southeast. “The hardest iron wall to fight in this world
is not the Bianjun Commandery, but the Libei Armored Cavalry.” He
pounded his own chest with a clenched fist and hollered all around
him, “The battleground in the north belongs to Xiao Fangxu, and
the Libei Armored Cavalry rule this expanse of battlefield! Whoever
the fuck is a dog can jolly well eat shit! I will never retreat! We are
wolves!” His eyes were both red as he shouted in a hoarse voice,
“Bite these motherfuckers to death!”
Zhao Hui wiped his nosebleed and kicked Guo Weili from
behind.
Guo Weili, with stubble on his face, locked eyes with Zhao Hui
and asked, “Isn’t Hasen the most adept at attacking cities?”
Zhao Hui picked up his helmet again and sniffled. “He won’t be
adept at it soon.”
There was a “click” as the mechanism trigger kicked into action,
and the baffles swiftly sealed off the crenels in all four sides of the
camp walls, instantly turning Shayi Camp into an impregnable fort
shaped like an iron drum. The Biansha Cavalry stopped a short
distance away. Through the darkness of the night, Hasen saw the
heavy crossbow mechanisms protruding from those city walls.
A few years before, Xiao Jiming had transformed Shayi, Sha’er,
and Shasan Camps into heavy-duty ramparts. Just like how Xiao
Chiye had felt when he faced the Shasan Camp, Hasen very quickly
came to the understanding that this was the real impenetrable
defense, one which did not leave a single opportunity for their foes
to take advantage of.
The watchtower torches were extinguished, making it totally
impossible for one standing outside to get a glimpse into what was
happening within the walls or even try to figure out the layout
within.
There were also two mounted crossbows forged by Qidong
hidden away in Shayi camp. Xiao Jiming had gone to painstaking
lengths back then to keep them from the prying eyes of Qudu. The
Libei Armored Cavalry pushed out the mounted crossbows, and
while the heavy arrows were in the process of being loaded,
Biansha’s stone catapults had already kicked into action. Boulders
as heavy as a hundred jin came hurtling through the air, smashing
into the walls of the camp.
The crenels22 in the walls of Shayi Camp were reserved as
stations for archers; in order to seal these up during special
circumstances, a more mobile parapet had been selected. But
parapets were made from wood and could not withstand the force
of bombardment.
Hasen clearly had his eyes on this weakness.
“Release the arrows, release the arrows!” Guo Weili took large
strides, slapping the backs of the cavalry as he passed by them.
A storm of short arrows shot forth. Zhao Hui saw through an
opening23 of the battlement that the cavalry had long retreated,
and the infantry had replaced them in front. They erected a dense
array of iron shields in the face of the hail of arrows. The arrows
rained down on the surface of the shields, but could not inflict any
damage on anyone at all.
“That’s the iron shield of the Qidong Garrison Troops.” Zhao Hui
said. “He swallowed up the advantages of the battlefields in the
north and south whole.”
“Is he a jackal or what?” Guo Weili said at the top of his voice as
he supported himself against the wall and listened to the
intensifying sound of smashing rocks. “That’s no longer a cavalry!”
He was right.
Having expanded their infantry with iron shields, they were no
longer purely a cavalry. The commanding generals were not wrong
in predicting that Biansha had, in the past six years, acquired
resources they could not even begin to imagine. This was the
source of the changes Hasen was able to make.
The loading of the mounted crossbows was time-consuming.
Dozens of men simultaneously exerted their strength, but for some
reason, this crossbow simply would not move just before it was
fired.
“Is it spoiled?” Guo Weili lifted the man away, stomped on the
crossbow, and pounded on it irritably a few times. “Bloody hell,
Qidong’s contraption—”
Before Guo Weili could finish his words, that crossbow trigger
“clicked” into action, and the heavy arrows shot forth. Guo Weili’s
outfit got caught on to an arrow, and in that instant it went flying, it
dragged Guo Weili over, causing him to fall flat on his face.
The jarring sound of those iron-headed heavy arrows slicing
through the wind followed close on the arrows’ trail as they hurtled
through the air. The iron shields of Biansha were erected once
again, but it was a futile attempt as the force of impact caved the
shields in. And as the soldiers were standing too close together,
the resulting shock wave caused the two rows of people in the rear
to topple over to the ground in unison.
Zhao Hui wanted to report the good news, but before he could
open his mouth, the baffle beside his head exploded. Reacting
quickly, he crouched down with his hands covering his head and
was nearly stabbed in the eye by a flying wooden splinter.
The baffle was destroyed!
“Damn it.” Zhao Hui muttered to himself with his head and face
covered in dust. “I’ll have to tell the Hereditary Prince to get them
changed to iron ones.”
The whistle outside sounded all of a sudden, and the saker
falcons swooped down through the thick clouds.
Guo Weili followed suit and blew the whistle. The falcon cage
beside the stable drew open with a swoosh. Each of the falcons
that had been preserving their strength these few days was
brimming with energy. Meng flapped its wings as the ropes on its
claws rattled.
 The soldiers taking care of the falcons untied the ropes. Meng,
who would not listen to the whistled command of others at all,
soared into the sky, circling among the dancing snow to break
through the layers of clouds. The next instant, it began to dive. Iron
claws clutched at a saker falcon’s flesh and feathers, tearing it into
pieces in the air.
At this critical juncture, Guo Weili heard the sound of the back
gates opening. He immediately turned his head back, but he did
not get to shout out, for a column of light cavalry was entering
swiftly. The cloak of the person in the lead flapped in the wind as
she got off her horse before Guo Weili.
“Yo.” Qi Zhuyin greeted Guo Weili in her usual tone. “Busy
fighting?”
Zhao Hui turned over to jump down and trade looks with Guo
Weili in between breaths. Not knowing Qi Zhuyin’s intent for
coming, he said, “Commander-in-chief…”
“Don’t call me that.” Qi Zhuyin took off her cloak and drew out
the executioner blade24 at the side of her waist. She stabbed it into
the ground by her feet with a “thud” and said with a laugh, “I shall
have to inconvenience you guys to hook up with me tonight.”
Guo Weili promptly covered his chest and stared at Qi Zhuyin
as she surveyed the surroundings.
“Let’s see,” She said calmly, “who is tougher—your Libei
Armored Cavalry, or our Qidong Garrison Troops.”

Note: a few parts in this chapter (mainly description of the

fortifications of the wall) have been cross-referenced against the
simplified Chinese physical copy. I’ll do a final check/edit again
based on the uncensored, traditional Chinese physical copy once
it’s released. Meanwhile, thank you for bearing with us!
 CHAPTER 189: SNOWTROOPER
Zhao Hui originally thought Qi Zhuyin had brought along
reinforcements from Qidong, but he only saw a few dozen
personal guards behind Qi Zhuyin and could not help but ask in
bafflement, “Commander-in-chief, this…”
“I’m not here to fight the battle for you,” Qi Zhuyin started
wrapping a strip of cloth around her right hand so that the hilt of
her blade would not easily slip off when it was soaked with blood,
“but to use you people to fight. From now on, you and this buddy of
yours will be demoted in place. I’ll take over the post of Shayi Camp
Commanding General for the time being.”
Not only was Zhao Hui stunned the moment this statement was
made, but even Guo Weili also froze for a moment before rebutting,
“That won’t do!”
Qidong and Libei had always maintained friendly relations,
and they had joined forces during the fourth year of Xiande to
intercept the advance of the Biansha Cavalry and recover the Six
Prefectures of Zhongbo, but even so, they were as different as chalk
and cheese. Never before had they overstepped their authority in
each other’s jurisdiction. They could address Qi Zhuyin as
commander-in-chief, but that did not mean they would be willing
to heed Qi Zhuyin’s deployment orders.
On hearing that, Qi Wei took out an authority token from the
cloth bag at the side of his waist and tossed it to Guo Weili. Guo
Weili caught it and turned it over for a look—it was Xiao Jiming’s
authority token.
The smashing rocks had already destroyed all the baffles
facing the southeast. Single-branch cannons25 took over their place
on the crenels. Although these were called “cannons”, they were
actually catapults, with a leather nest for loading rocks set up on a
long pole to be launched by manual manpower. They were less
powerful compared to the catapults Hasen had brought. The
infantry Hasen had positioned in front hoisted up their iron shields.
In order to move forward at the risk of being smashed by the
falling rocks, they had no choice but to slow down.
 On seeing that Qi Zhuyin had already pulled out her
executioner blade, Zhao Hui quickly followed after her and said,
“Shayi Camp only has 8,000 men left, while the range estimate of
Hasen’s force puts it at 10,000 cavalrymen. Is the commander-in-
chief going to lead us to put up a defense until reinforcements
arrive? With the fall of Sha’er Camp, however, we will have to wait
until the day after tomorrow at the latest before there will be
reinforcements. During this period…”
“What are you worried about? The walls of this camp are as
thick as four zhang.26 Even if all the baffles were to go down, they
would not be able to breach and take down the camp. You have
sufficient kerosene, and even two…” Qi Zhuyin saw the mounted
crossbow and said with delight, “… mounted crossbows forged by
our Qidong.”
“We don’t have enough heavy arrows.” Seeing as Qi Zhuyin
meant to get on her horse and head out of the city, Zhao Hui
hurriedly piped up, “We can’t get back arrows we have already
shot, and the reserves in the camp will not last until tomorrow.
Commander-in-chief, what are you lifting Zhujiu for?! Head up the
city wall and give us the instructions. We can fight.”
Qi Zhuyin’s blade was called Zhujiu. With Zhao Hui blocking her
way, she said, “Hasen’s 10,000-man army has to shoulder the load
of military weapons they never had before. To maintain the speed
of their advance, it would be necessary for him to cut down on the
rations they take along with them. So, he can’t fight a protracted
war right now. As long as you can keep your patience in the city,
you can wait until he retreats.”
Qi Zhuyin took a few steps back as she spoke and raised her
voice, “But miss the opportunity tonight, and you will no longer find
another opportunity like this again. Hasen regards you people as a
stepping stone to temper his new recruits by trampling over the
military prestige of the Libei’s iron wall. Stop being silly, gentlemen.
The so-called iron wall is merely a fig leaf. You can’t call yourselves
the Armored Cavalry if you stick your butts up like this to take a
beating.”
Guo Weili clenched the token tightly, and Zhao Hui felt the
foreboding tension in the atmosphere.
 Qi Zhuyin raised her hand to point at the southeastern camp
gate and turned to stare at Guo Weili with eyes brimming over with
unbridled madness. “Don’t you want to go out there and have
some fun with me?”
◈ ◈ ◈
The opponent Hasen faced up against in the southern
battlefield was Lu Guangbai. The Bianjun Commandery Garrison
Troops were just like a stubborn rock stuck at that opening which
would not budge the slightest no matter how the Biansha Cavalry
rained a torrent of attacks on them. But Hasen understood the
name “Qi Zhuyin” better, for he had long traded blows with Qi
Zhuyin during that “Wind Guiding the Scorching Plains” surprise
attack battle.
Hasen was of the mind that Qi Zhuyin was two people.
Qi Zhuyin’s styles when she assumed personal command in the
commander’s tent and when she straddled her horse with her
blade in hand were completely different. She could switch with
ease between “commander-in-chief” and “commanding general”.
She differed from the calm and steady Lu Guangbai; she could act
according to changing circumstances as well as bring down her
opponents with the external factors at her disposal. Otherwise, she
would not have achieved the feat of burning down the thirteen
camps of Biansha.
She was the “adaptable” type.
The city gate was tightly shut, and as the amount of rocks being
thrown reduced, the iron shields of Biansha pressed in to within
500 paces. Not only could their iron shields protect the human
body, but also the battering ram. This kind of wagon was equipped
with huge woods, and once they reached the front, the soldiers
could join forces to ram down the camp gate; it was a powerful
weapon for attacking cities.
Hasen’s cavalry was ready and raring to go. They were split into
the scorpions unit with the iron hammers and the elite squad with
the scimitars. When the need arises, the scorpions could even
switch over to scimitars. Hasen was very patient. He would not give
Shayi Camp any more time to delay. He wanted to ram the camp
gate open, then slaughter the remaining soldiers Libei had left
here with these cavalries of his.
The iron shields worked well, and the Biansha infantry
gradually quickened their pace with their shields hoisted, keeping
the battering ram intact under their shelter. When they reached the
camp gate, dozens of them exerted themselves in unison to slam
the huge wood against the gate, sending dust raining down on
them.
Hasen raised his hand, all ready to charge.
The camp gate made a muffled noise as cracks appeared on
the area which bore the force of impact from the battering ram. In
order to allow the soldiers in the center to better exert their
strength, the infantrymen of both sides shifted down their iron
shields. They shouted out as they stepped back, then rammed into
the gate again in unison. The camp gate finally burst open with a
“BANG”, looking visibly on the verge of collapse.
Zhao Hui stepped on the ruined battlement and poked his
head out against the wind to look down. He shouted, “Release!”
Earthen jars suddenly came crashing down from the top of the
wall. Amidst the sounds of shattering, kerosene poured down
along the walls, spilling all over the Biansha infantry from head to
toe. Flames lit up with a “whoosh” and leaped onto the Biansha
Cavalrymen’s bodies like a nest of venomous snakes. Their iron
shields could not ward off fire, and in no time, blood-curdling
screams rose all around, and the smell of burning flesh permeated
the air.
The camp gate suddenly moved as it was hoisted up with a
dull, heavy rumble to reveal the battle steeds waiting behind, along
with the Libei Armored Cavalry clad in their armors. Qi Zhuyin,
heading into battle lightly armored, had Zhujiu in hand as she
charged forth like a meteor in tandem with the hot puffs of air of
her battle steed.
The next moment, the thunderous hooves of the Armored
Cavalry reverberated through the snow. They followed Qi Zhuyin
and stepped over the iron shields before the gates. It was as if they
had risen from the ashes as they stormed in an assault towards the
Biansha Cavalry, who had stopped behind the infantry.
 The scimitar-wielding elites promptly retreated, while the
scorpions sat firmly on their battle steeds and moved their
shoulders at the sound of Hasen’s whistle to meet them face on
with the iron hammers. They had used these hammers to teach the
Libei Armored Cavalry their harshest lesson yet, and they could still
smash the helmets of the Armored Cavalry into pulps tonight.
Zhao Hui stood at the top of the wall overlooking the battlefield
with his chest heaving rapidly. Even his breathing had grown
ragged.
A scorpion lifted his hammer and swung it at the head of the
Armored Cavalry in the wind—but then, the tip of a blade thrust
right in from the side, intercepting it. With both hands on the hilt,
Qi Zhuyin made use of the forward momentum of her battle steed
to lift away the hammer with her blade and knock the scorpion
straight off his horse.
At the same time this scorpion tumbled off the back of his
horse, the heavily armored Armored Cavalry reined in their horses
and retreated in unison. They were both deft and methodical in
their withdrawal. Hasen heard the sound of horses’ hooves behind
those heavy armors before he saw the gaps between the scattering
cavalry filled up with a blade-brandishing light cavalry—no, not light
cavalry; they were the Libei Armored Cavalry, sans heavy armors.
Guo Weili had never been this light before. He concentrated all
his pent-up frustrations these days into both hands and let loose a
bellow along that deserted path until he was hoarse. His long
sword27 cleaved down on the scorpion head-on. Blood spattered.
Meanwhile, he had already charged to the very front. The familiar
heat returned to his palms once again. Guo Weili was so overcome
with emotion that his hands were trembling.
“Damn…” Guo Weili gasped heavily. He was almost on the
verge of tears as he shouted with all his might, “Commander-in-
chief—this is exhilarating!”
Even Zhao Hui was about to shed tears at this shout.
Qi Zhuyin burst into hearty laughter. At the same time her battle
steed raised its hooves, she lifted Zhujiu high and stabbed it into
the scorpion’s body as the battle steed landed back on the
ground.
 Was the Libei Armored Cavalry no longer the Libei Armored
Cavalry when they took off their armors? Perhaps so. But that was
the Xiao clan’s Libei Armored Cavalry, not Qi Zhuyin’s Libei
Armored Cavalry. The Libei Armored Cavalry kept retreating again
and again in defeat on the snowy plains in the north, and one of
the reasons was that they could not catch up with the ponies. But
now, Hasen’s cavalry would have to run into the blades of the Libei
Armored Cavalry themselves if they wanted to attack Libei’s fort.
Guo Weili pierced through the scorpion; he was no longer
afraid of the iron hammers. Having removed his heavy armor, the
scorpions’ swinging of their hammers here appeared particularly
sluggish. What’s more, the scorpions also had a weakness, and
that was, they had not donned armors in order to maintain their
speed. As long as they lost their advantage of the iron hammers,
their blood would still splatter over the battlefield in the face of the
long swords.
Qi Zhuyin let out a breath of warm air as she stared down
Hasen. Even at such a far distance away from him across the blood-
spattered battlefield, the glare she had locked on Hasen was
particularly malevolent.
As the scorpions were valuable assets, it was imperative for
Hasen to react. He wanted the scorpions to retreat, but as long as
he gave the command, Qi Zhuyin would follow suit and have Guo
Weili stand down and change into heavy armor. Although she
appeared to be passive and reactive, she was, in fact, the active
and proactive player who had the upper hand firmly within her
grasp this one night. There was no need for her to give chase; she
only needed to stand on a certain boundary line on this battlefield
and wait. If Hasen wanted to continue, he would have to hand up
their heads on silver platters. Before Qi Zhuyin, all that was
invincible about them amounted to nothing.
Bring it on.
This was how provocative the expression in Qi Zhuyin’s eyes
was; she even threw a taunting smile in his direction, and while she
was at it, casually shook off the beads of blood on the surface of
her blade.
“Retreat.” Hasen promptly decided not to persist in fighting.
 But Hasen had brought military weapons with him, and these
were all things that he had gone to painstaking lengths to acquire
and transport out of Zhongbo. It would be a loss for him to leave
these here when he retreated. Should he delegate part of his
troops to transport the weapons, a portion of the cavalry would be
forced to slow down, encumbered by the supplies.
Qi Zhuyin leveled her blade and patted her horse onward,
leading Guo Weili to give chase amidst the flying snow. She knew
that Hasen’s elite troops would surely be the first to withdraw; this
gesture was more like coaxing a child as she led the Libei Armored
Cavalry who had been ousted all day by the Biansha Cavalry to
give chase close behind the Biansha Cavalry’s asses to oust them.
From time to time, they would even intimidate the other party.
Guo Weili finally got his chance to vent his frustration. With his
adrenaline pumping, he wanted to continue giving chase, but Qi
Zhuyin yanked him back by the back of his collar.
“Go home.” Qi Zhuyin looked at that snowfield and curbed her
smile. “Leave the camp, and you will fall again into the same
predicament as before. Hasen is not someone who will run away
with his tail between his legs. Don’t give him the opportunity to
rally his forces.”
Guo Weili, having been won over, naturally heeded Qi Zhuyin’s
advice. At the same time he turned his horse around, he said
excitedly, “Commander-in-chief, let’s fight like this too on the
snowfields in the future. Hasen doesn’t count for shit!”
“Hasen has no need to attack cities during battles on the fields,
so he won’t charge forward but encircle you people instead.” Qi
Zhuyin pondered it over. “… But from the way it played out tonight,
it seems that the changes he has made need to be refined too.”
Hasen was upping the amount of leverage the Biansha Cavalry
had, but he was too greedy, as evident from the iron shields this
night. This batch of infantry did not give the Biansha Cavalry an
advantage. On the contrary, they could be considered a liability.
They could not outrun the battle steeds on the snowfields at all. The
moment they fell behind, all that awaited them was death. They
could only be used to attack cities.
 Guo Weili still had something to say, but then Qi Wei suddenly
blew the whistle and spurred his horse over from the scouts to Qi
Zhuyin’s side. “Commander-in-chief, there are still soldiers
approaching!”
The snow intensified in the wind, brushing past against fur
collars as the infantry trudged unevenly across the snowdrift. Their
hair had gone all white from the snow, courtesy of the wind, and
they had been walking with their heads lowered for an unknown
amount of time. They seemed exhausted, yet they were highly
cohesive and could quickly prostrate themselves as soon as they
heard the sound of horses’ hooves. They were infantrymen most
skilled in the art of ambush in this world. Before traversing the
desert, they had been called the Bianjun Garrison Troops.
Qi Zhuyin dismounted and stood facing the man at the head of
the group through the heavy snow. She was so familiar with this
army that she could recognize who he was just from Qi Wei’s
detailed report.
The man with stubble took down the strip of cloth covering his
face and stood there gasping for breath. He had left for so long it
felt like a different lifetime. He smiled a little and said wearily, “…
Commander-in-chief, I am the reinforcement.”
It was the deserter, Lu Guangbai.28

NOTICE:
New updated Character Chart from the QJJ Simplified CN Physical
Copy! Check out the Character Glossary!

1. 法不责众 i.e., when the law cannot be enforced

 CHAPTER 190: NIGHT TALK
The Bianjun Commandery Garrison Troops stopped to rest at
Shayi Camp. They gathered around the bonfire, stripped off the
cloth they had used as protection from the snowstorm, and started
to wolf down their food. While Qi Zhuyin was removing Zhujiu, she
noticed their spears were not the same as before. She took her seat
before passing the hot tea over to Lu Guangbai.
For a long time, Lu Guangbai held his silence while holding on
to the hot tea. “His Lordship…”
Sipping the tea, Qi Zhuyin hummed in affirmation.
Lu Guangbai asked, “How are Jiming and Ce’an doing?”
“Not too good.” Qi Zhuyin deftly sliced the roast meat with a
dagger and popped it into her mouth. “Jiming can no longer ride
on horseback ever since he fell from his horse. All he can do now is
to sit still in Dajing and oversee battle operations on the ground,
which is a tremendous disadvantage when facing up against
Hasen. Ce’an received a heavy blow when he gave chase to
recover His Lordship, and his injuries are rather serious. The
battlefront in the north is now desperately short of a commander-
in-chief. Libei is on the brink of an imminent crisis.”
“I want to head back to Dajing with the Commander-in-chief,”
Lu Guangbai looked at Qi Zhuyin. “I discovered the Biansha
Cavalry’s weakness while traversing the desert. There are several
things that can only be discussed in the Commander-in-chief’s and
Jiming’s presences.”
“Who knows if you are a spy?” Qi Zhuyin wiped her fingers.
“This is Libei, not Qidong.”
“I’ll hand over the troops to Zhao Hui and have them remain in
Shayi camp as part of the garrison troops.” Lu Guangbai gently
placed his own spear by his feet. “I can offload myself of my troops
and armor and let the Commander-in-chief escort me back to
Dajing.”
Qi Zhuyin jabbed the dagger back in place. As she stared at
that blazing flame, she said, “I’ll be heading back tomorrow. You
can come along.”
When the day broke the following day, Qi Zhuyin brought
along Lu Guangbai on her journey back. By the time they had
made it back to Dajing, it was in the dead of night two days later.
Without alerting anyone else, Xiao Jiming stood in front of the
steps to receive them.
Light snow was falling when Lu Guangbai dismounted his
horse. He regarded Xiao Jiming with a gaze that was both familiar
yet foreign. Qi Zhuyin tossed the reins over to Qi Wei and patted
him on the shoulder when she walked up the stairs as a signal for
him to follow. They stood ahead of him, silently urging him on.
River of Ice Armored Cavalry, Xiao Jiming. Wind Guiding the
Scorching Plains, Qi Zhuyin. Fire Beacon Amidst Blowing Sand, Lu
Guangbai.
They chased one another in those years of their youth, all too
shy to bring up their ambitions. It was as though no matter how
much time passed, they would always remain shrouded under the
radiance of their fathers. But the churning waves toppled over
those walls that had previously kept them sheltered from the
elements, and now, they finally reunited again amidst the heavy
snow.
Lu Guangbai met their gazes and took a step towards his
journey home.
◈ ◈ ◈
Lu Guangbai first paid his respects to Xiao Fangxu, then
followed them into the courtyard. The heated, sectioned-off room
was located in a remote area that was connected to a ground
heating system25 within, which ramped up the temperature until it
was hot inside. Qi Zhuyin shed off her coat when she entered and
crossed her legs to sit down. The opened side door faced a small
pond, and the scattered rocks in between were all blanketed with a
layer of fresh snow. A few branches of green plum edged along the
snow-white paper of the door at an oblique angle across the night
sky—the only embellishment in this secluded quietness.
After a moment of silence, Lu Guangbai spoke up, “Half a year
ago, I left the Bianjun Commandery and headed east to the desert.
I wanted to wipe out the Qingshu Tribe and take over their pastures
so that the Bianjun Commandery and I could mutually watch out
for each other. But I failed, and so, I was forced to continue going
deeper into the desert. In the fifth month, I reached the eastern
side of Gedale, where I saw Amu’er’s granaries.”
“As expected, Amu’er’s supply lines are really in Zhongbo.” With
chopsticks in hand, Qi Zhuyin absent-mindedly took a few bites.
“Having the granaries placed in the middle is the most suitable if
the intent is to supply the northern and southern battlefields.”
“Amu’er’s fields are there too.” Lu Guangbai held the teacup
with his fingers and looked at both of them. “He reclaimed the
wastelands there, and had the Liaoying Tribe farm the land the way
we do at the same time that they send out the falcons to hunt. The
Qingshu Tribe down south is merely a ploy to mislead Qidong.
Amu’er has partitioned the land east of Gedale into an undisturbed
region. He carried out a new experiment there, imitating our
garrison reclamation system.26 He is presently working on
establishing a new city.”
Xiao Jiming and Qi Zhuyin were both taken aback.
“We must unify the lines of battle in the north and the south.” Lu
Guangbai said slowly. “We even have to tell Qudu to cease the
infighting. Amu’er has already grown into a behemoth. He wants to
become the great ruler on both sides of the Chashi River.”
“There are three objectives for my trip up north this time.” Qi
Zhuyin set down her chopsticks and paused for a moment before
continuing. “The first is to see what exactly the scorpions are all
about, the second is to evaluate whether the Libei Armored Cavalry
can still be salvaged, and the third is to persuade Jiming to call a
truce and make peace with Qudu.”
“That’s impossible,” Xiao Jiming retorted in a mild tone. “Libei
has its own supply line now. Considering that we have formed an
alliance with Zhongbo to the south, making peace with Qudu
would mean handing over the advantages we have in hand now.”
“If Libei refuses to give up being antagonistic to Qudu, then
Qudu will not render any assistance to Libei,” Qi Zhuyin said. “As
you know, the empress dowager is a stubborn old mule.”
“I will never…” Xiao Jiming stared at Qi Zhuyin and said,
decisively and resolutely, “ever hand my younger brother over to
them again, as well as my wife and my son. No one can ever take
them away from me again. Libei does not need Qudu’s help. The
empress dowager should first get the Eight Great Training
Divisions to ensure her own safety.”
Xiao Jiming was rarely this blunt. His overly scholarly and
refined appearance often made people forget that he was the one
who established the Libei camps. Half a year before, he was also
the commander-in-chief of the northern battlefields.
Lu Guangbai was worried that they might get into an argument,
so he said in an attempt to appease, “We can…”
“It’s pointless to discuss it again,” Qi Zhuyin raised herself up a
little to look at Xiao Jiming, “I know Xiao Jiming will not agree.”
Lu Guangbai sighed and called out in resignation,
“Commander-in-chief.”
“I just want to remind you that, before the unification of the
battle lines happens, we are no longer in the same camp. If both
armies form an alliance, then whose commands do we all heed?”
Qi Zhuyin waved her fingertip between herself and Xiao Jiming.
“Libei still has to be wary of the regards Qudu sent. If, and I mean
if,” Qi Zhuyin said cruelly, “the Libei Armored Cavalry were to lose
their commander-in-chief again, then who is going to assume
responsibility for the battlegrounds in the north?”
Qi Zhuyin had long warned Libei of how dangerous it was to
pin the faith of the entire army on one person. Libei was a rigid iron
wall with impenetrable defense that padlocked its commanding
generals to its camps. Zhao Hui had to bring along his Three Great
Training Divisions of Liuyang when he headed up north, and Guo
Weili had to take along his Changzhu Camp when he headed
down south. The swapping of battle lines was both time-
consuming and labor-intensive. If the commanding general died in
battle, then the probability of launching a counterattack was akin to
zero.
As a matter of fact, all the military camps had this problem in
the earliest days when Dazhou set up defenses at the frontier. Due
to geographical constraints and varying recruitment stipulations at
the various areas, the specifics of the military camps all turned out
differently. The commanding general was the heart of the soldiers,
and the soldiers were the limbs of the commanding general. If
both parties wanted to have a flawless tacit understanding with
one another, then they needed years or even decades of learning
to get along with one another. For this reason, it was a major taboo
to change generals just before the battle.
Qidong was the first to realize this problem. They were not like
Libei, who had to face the open grasslands and the complicated
swamps. They had the Tianfei Watchtower and Suotian Pass on
both sides to shield them. As long as they could keep up with the
defenses of their one and only opening that was Bianjun, they
would be able to rest easy. Thus, during the reign of Yongyi, Qi
Shiyu set the recruitment standard for the entire territory of
Qidong. Their soldiers did not need a specific commanding
general; everyone was familiar with the same battlefield. When Qi
Zhuyin took office, she set up the Generals’ Barrack in the Cangjun
Commandery. More than ten of the commanding generals under
her command went whenever they were deployed, which made it
fairly easy to swap across battle lines. Even if anyone was
unfortunate enough to become a casualty, it would not affect the
overall war situation.
But with gain comes loss. Qidong did not have generals with
such distinctive personalities as those from Libei. Their
monotonous selection criteria already determined that generals
with such individual styles would remain a rarity in the years to
come.
Xiao Jiming said, “There is still Zhongbo between the northern
and southern battlefields. It’s not possible for us to merge as one,
and there’s no need for anyone to decide whose command to
heed. Qudu is now intercepted by Huaizhou, Cizhou, and Chazhou
to the northeast. Before they can send their regards to Libei, they
would have to first talk to Shen Zechuan. As for being the
commander-in-chief, Zhuyin, I have long since lost my qualification
to be Libei’s commander-in-chief.”
Xiao Jiming held up the teapot with his long, slender fingers as
he brewed tea with deft movements. There were no signs of self-
pity or self-reproach to be found in his expression under that thick
steam.
“When Hasen took away my father’s head, he told A-Ye that he
was returning the favor tit for tat.” Xiao Jiming’s hand paused. His
expression was indifferent as he looked at Qi Zhuyin, “I know you
think that the way we control the Libei Armored Cavalry is too
centralized, but at this point in time, I have to stick to the old path.
We will still use the most direct method to fight back, and that is, an
eye for an eye. Our faith does not lie in my father. If that’s what
Hasen really thinks, then he’s grossly mistaken, for our faith lies
beneath our feet. Hasen defeated my father, but he can never
defeat Libei. Thirty years ago, my father gained the strength from
the land beneath his feet to march forward courageously, and it
was with this strength that Libei has come this far today. We will
never concede defeat at this point. The new alpha wolf is young,
strong, and competitive with the desire to win. He can stand at the
very front and take my father’s place. When we start to fight back,
he can swiftly rally together the hearts and minds of those who
have lost morale. I am not that man, but I have taken over the
heavy responsibility of tempering him. I want him to shine in all his
glory and brilliance when he emerges from his sheath.”
Qi Zhuyin went on to say, “But as far as I know, he has not truly
engaged with the various major camps. Your chief commander of
Libei isn’t the obedient puppy of Qidong. He hasn’t won over Libei
at all.”
“But he is familiar with the whole Libei territory,” Xiao Jiming
said, “He has run through all these roads in these six months; he
knows the swiftest paths to delivery supplies, the most direct routes
to mobilize reinforcements and the consumption status of the
various camps at the sites of battles. These are all gifts my father
gave him. Zhuyin, all he lacks is a little time.”
“And here’s where… I come in.” Lu Guangbai timely picked up
the thread of conversation. “How to go about unifying the battle
lines is for you both to deal with, but how to deal with Hasen ahead
and buy time for Libei is the other matter I want to talk about.”
“You modified the spears of the Bianjun Garrison Troops.” Qi
Zhuyin remembered those spears.
“That’s right. After my defeat to the Qingshu Tribe, I
encountered the other tribes one after another.” With hands on his
knees, Lu Guangbai paused for a moment before continuing with a
heavy expression, “I lost all the battles.”
 “Oh,” Qi Zhuyin racked her brain to console him, “That sure isn’t
easy.”
“What’s more, I was fighting on a hungry stomach. I could only
scurry between them for the sake of our daily meals. We kept
trading blows, and it was from these exchanges of blows that I
discovered the cavalry’s weakness.” As Lu Guangbai spoke, he
turned back and brought the spear on his back to his knees. He
undid the strip of cloth to reveal the body of the spear within.
“You increased the length of the spearhead.” Xiao Jiming
measured with his finger. “… but isn’t this a tad too long.”
“You even added barbs.” Qi Zhuyin examined it. “How did you
secure them on?”
Lu Guangbai smacked their hands away and fondly caressed
the spear like a prized possession. “I’m an infantryman. Back at the
Bianjun Commandery, when we fought battles with the Biansha
Cavalry, we relied on the terrains for our ambushes. But in the
desert, there are only sand dunes. With all the previous advantages
we possessed gone, I was forced to go head to head with the
cavalry. At first, I wanted to create some distance between us and
the cavalry to give us time to make our escape, and so I lengthened
the spear. But as it turned out, the spears were too long, which
made it hard to hold our direction when brandishing it, and being
unable to turn around in time to meet the cavalry’s onslaught of
attack would mean being cut down to the ground.”
Lu Guangbai realized during this process that the cavalry were
circling them, since they had no way to attack from the front as
they had to avoid the spearheads.
“So I changed the pole of the spear back, but increased the
length of the spearhead.” Lu Guangbai looked at both of them and
smiled, “As long as the battle formation is fixed so that the
spearheads face outwards on all four sides, it is a mobile ‘battering
ram’. If they charge over at high speed, they will be stabbed off
their horses by my soldiers. The excessively long head of the spear
also made it impossible for them to wrest it away from the other
end. Once they get hit, it’d be hard for them to survive.”
Xiao Jiming and Qi Zhuyin fell deep in thought.
 Lu Guangbai continued, “But the cavalry was quick to react.
They no longer launched linear assaults but encircled me to hem
me in. This feels to me like fishing, so I proceeded to secure the
picked daggers I had grabbed from them to the side of the
spearheads with hemp rope. Even if we didn’t get to stab them
when both sides engaged, we could still make use of the barb to
drag the cavalry off their horses. However, hemp ropes wear out
easily, and that is why I will have to borrow money from you guys to
add barbs to this batch of spears.”
“I don’t have money.” Bringing up this matter was all it took to
get Qi Zhuyin mad. “I’m a commander-in-chief, but I own a
buttload of debts. I even threw the rouge expenses of my father’s
concubines in to pay them off. I will lose my shit with whoever talks
to me about money now.”
Lu Guangbai looked at Xiao Jiming.
Xiao Jiming said, “Our Libei… Shen Zechuan is presently at
home too. How about you discuss it with him?”
Lu Guangbai wrapped up the spear. He made as if to speak, but
then hesitated. Eventually, he only asked, “Why is he here? Didn’t
he used to tread on a path different from us in the past?”
“The world is in a state of chaos,” Qi Zhuyin said. “Shen
Zechuan is now the Tiger27 of Zhongbo who has a close and
mutually dependent relationship with Libei up north and who
steers the Yan clan of Hezhou’s ship down south. He has erected a
wall around himself northeast of Qudu. Basically, he can be
summed up in one word.”
Lu Guangbai said, “Which is?”
Xiao Jiming answered demurely, “Rich.”
“Zhongbo lies between the north and the south, and the issues
we have to discuss now all come back to Shen Zechuan—we can’t
skirt them around him.” Qi Zhuyin said, “Besides, the so-called
unification of the north and south also requires effort on Zhongbo’s
end. Now is a good time to cut off that supply line of Amu’er.”
“He will bring his advisor,” Xiao Jiming sipped his tea, “during
the in-depth discussion tonight.”
“I only have one question.” Qi Zhuyin held up her teacup with
both hands. “What exactly did you Libei used to convince him
with?”
This question stumped Xiao Jiming. After a moment of silence,
the Hereditary Prince replied, “… Looks, I guess.”
Silence momentarily descended upon them.
“Back to the topic. This spear can go up against the cavalry, but
it’s not suitable for the Libei Armored Cavalry.” Qi Zhuyin steered
the subject back to the matter at hand. “During my time in Shayi
camp this time, I discovered the scorpions were not as strong as I
had expected. The iron hammers are only effective against your
Libei Armored Cavalry. Put them on the battlefields in the south,
and they become a liability. They don’t pose a threat to our Qidong
Garrison Troops, so, in my opinion, Amu’er will not remove these
scorpions from the northern battlefield. But if they remain here, the
Armored Cavalry can only cower back into the campgrounds and
fight defensive battles. They won’t be able to continue fighting
battles in the fields.”
“Before we find a way to deal with the iron hammers,” Xiao
Jiming said, “defensive battles can buy us time.”
“Hasen is aware of what you’re planning to do.” Qi Zhuyin
recalled the details of the defensive battle at Shayi Camp. “He
added iron shields to the cavalry, and equipped them with military
weapons meant for sieges from Dazhou. Perhaps he is still
adapting to them, but he will soon find his own direction from
actual battle experiences. In half a year at most, Hasen will be able
to make use of them proficiently. By then, not even defensive
battles will be enough to protect Libei.”
“Which is why we need the aid of the Qidong Garrison Troops.”
Xiao Jiming knocked on the teapot. “I’m guessing that Amu’er’s
crop fields on the eastern side of Gedale have not reached the
point where it is enough to supply the four tribes. He remains
dependent on the grains from Dazhou. Shen Zechuan will
completely choke off Amu’er’s supply lines in Zhongbo. The
Qidong Garrison Troops only need to head out of the Bianjun
Commandery and go on the offensive against the Qingshu Tribe.
Increasing the pressure on Amu’er in the south will suffice.”
Qi Zhuyin’s head started to hurt. She had to obtain approval
from the Ministry of War in Qudu to deploy troops eastward. This
was not the same situation as not handing over Lu Pingyan; if
Qudu broke off their supply of military provisions as a result of this,
she would have to deal with the aftermath on her own. But she did
not mention this and merely nodded as an indication that she had
heard what he said.
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, Xiao Chiye received Meng in the courtyard.
After remaining at the site of the battle for multiple days, Meng
was covered all over with snow, and its claws were filthy beyond
recognition. Xiao Chiye let it perch on him and cleaned up its
feathers and talons. Gu Jin entered the courtyard and softly
reported a few words. Xiao Chiye looked back and saw Lu
Guangbai standing in the light snow.
Lu Guangbai had just kowtowed to Lu Pingyan. Instead of
entering the building after coming in, he sat beneath the eaves
and watched as Xiao Chiye approached. He could not help but
sigh with emotion, “You brat… Did you grow taller again this past
six months?”
“At this age,” Xiao Chiye released Meng and sat by Lu
Guangbai’s side to undo his arm guard. “I won’t be growing any
taller.”
Lu Guangbai, who was drenched in snow, looked at him. “You
will become stronger still.”
Xiao Chiye stroked the arm guard and said nothing.
“Ce’an, let me tell you a few things, okay?” Lu Guangbai
addressed Xiao Chiye by his courtesy name. He no longer called
him A-Ye, which implied that Xiao Chiye was not a wolf pup
anymore; he could sit as equals at the same table with Lu
Guangbai, not just as his little brother.
Lu Guangbai looked towards the courtyard. “You know of your
brother’s past, but definitely not the Commander-in-chief’s. During
the earliest years, when we were in Qidong, the Qi clan didn’t have
an heir of lawful birth. Qi Shiyu decided to find a capable person
among his sons of common birth, but to no avail. It was at that time
the Commander-in-chief said she wanted to be a general. Qi Shiyu
took it as a joke, as did I. I thought there was no way a woman
could become a general; it was good enough that she could hold
an embroidery needle. But she was so insistent that Qi Shiyu put
her under the Cangjun Commandery Garrison Troops, right under
his nose.”
Qi Zhuyin threw herself into it with great enthusiasm, but she
quickly realized that it was pointless. She did not fit in; there was no
one here who was willing to accept her, much less be willing to
listen to her orders. They were polite with her, but that was only on
account of Qi Shiyu.
“She then insisted on being transferred to the Bianjun
Commandery.” Lu Guangbai continued, “Qi Shiyu entrusted her to
my father, but she was a very disobedient one. At that time, my
brothers were still at home, and I had no wish to become a general
at all. After she came, I assumed I would finally no longer come in
last, but who would’ve known that she was so tough she left us all
trailing behind her in the dust.”
Qi Zhuyin treated herself with the patience she used on
embroidery. She got used to hearing the ridicule and even knew
what they said about her behind her back, but she never seemed to
get angry and continued to remain in the Bianjun Commandery.
Lu Guangbai brushed off the snowflakes on his knees. “Qi Shiyu
seemed to let her be, and so she was left in the Bianjun
Commandery. Many people wanted to take advantage of her when
we were in the desert. Those people yanked her by her ankles and
told her to scram back home, but all she would say was ‘no’. She
crawled out of the yellow sands with her hands and feet, and even
her teeth, falling until she was badly bruised and battered all over.
She really looked like she was about to eat up those people then.”
But when Qi Zhuyin stood on the sand dunes, she burst into
tears. She was on the verge of a breakdown as she shouted, “you
pieces of shit!”. She grabbed Lu Guangbai by the collar and
questioned him over and over again in anguish, “Which part of me
isn’t good enough?!”
The trepidation from the past still lingered as Lu Guangbai
continued. “I almost died of fright then.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “What happened after that? Did Qi Shiyu
take her back?”
 “And then she wiped her snot and tears clean and dragged her
blade back to the camp.” Having said to this point, Lu Guangbai
laughed together with Xiao Chiye, but he followed up closely with a
sigh. “Afterwards, she made a small meritorious service. According
to the rules, she should have been promoted to squad
commander. My father agreed, but no one was willing to go under
her command. She sat there from dawn to dusk. Finally, she asked
one of the soldiers why he was unwilling to follow her. The latter
answered it was ‘because you can’t even lift the executioner
blade.’”
The Bianjun Commandery Garrison Troops did not use
executioner blades. Such blades were heavy and bulky, and there
weren’t many people who could truly carry it onto the battlefields.
However, Qi Zhuyin seemed to believe it. From then on, she
abandoned the slim blade28 she had previously been using and
switched over to the executioner blade.
“It was too ludicrous. Back then, I thought she was stupid. It was
as if she could never understand that the reason why everyone
rejected her was not that she was not capable enough, but because
she was a woman.”
The words this world had uttered the most number of times to
Qi Zhuyin were “a pity you’re a girl”, but she herself had never
possessed such a sentiment. She thought that there was nothing
bad about being Qi Shiyu’s daughter, the same way she thought
that there was nothing surprising about how some people enjoyed
embroidery and others, being on the battlefield.
Lu Guangbai looked at Xiao Chiye again and said, “Qi Shiyu
eventually took her back. She didn’t give up when she returned to
the Cangjun Commandery and tagged along with Qi Shiyu’s
commanding generals to learn the ropes. Her spectacular talent
had already been put on display a long time back, but there was no
one willing to appreciate it until that battle that year, when her
brothers had all abandoned Qi Shiyu, and there was no one in the
Cangjun Commandery willing to step forth and face up to the
enemy head-on.”
“That night, Qi Zhuyin rode over to countless homes on
horseback, only to have too many doors slammed shut in her face.
Against all odds, she left the Cangjun Commandery and
attempted to persuade the various major garrison troops until her
voice went hoarse, and she did so regardless of whether anyone
heard her. Finally, she took her father home just as you did. That
was the beginning of her rise to prominence. It propelled her
forward into the limelight from then on. Qudu was unwilling to
confer upon her a noble rank or title, and many people assumed
she would be intimidated because of this. But, Ce’an, I never again
saw her cry in anguish the way she once did in the desert. She
matured quickly after going through all these trials and tribulations.
Qi Zhuyin could assume the position of Commander-in-chief of the
Qidong Five Commanderies’ military forces not because she was
forced to, but because she can. That is where she should be
standing.”
She was born to be on the battlefield.
“The same goes for you too,” Lu Guangbai said.
 CHAPTER 191: LUNAR NEW YEAR’S EVE
At the hour of xu in the evening, the north and the south
gathered.
Xiao Chiye lifted the curtain, and Shen Zechuan led Xiao Xun
by the hand as he bent over to enter. The discussion in the hall
came to a temporary halt. Xiao Xun took off his fur collar and
oversleeves himself, then handed them over to Gu Jin before
making a beeline to his father’s side, where he sat on his heels.
In this interval, Qi Zhuyin turned aside to whisper to Lu Yizhi,
“You couldn’t have given your son away to him, could you?”
Before Lu Yizhi, who was holding the teacup with both hands,
could answer, she saw her son turning his head to look at Qi Zhuyin
as if he had sensed what she had said. She whispered back, “Oh,
no. Xun-er heard you.”
Xiao Xun bowed in greetings to Qi Zhuyin, who drank her tea
sheepishly.
Xiao Xun resembled Xiao Jiming, but he was not as refined and
easygoing as his father. He did not like to smile, and when he kept
his little face straight, he appeared particularly solemn.
Lu Yizhi ruefully said, “Who exactly does he take after?”
On the other side, Shen Zechuan had already taken his seat,
with Xiao Chiye and Yao Wenyu to his left and right respectively. To
the left of Xiao Chiye were those from the Libei camp, and to the
right of Yao Wenyu were those from the Qidong camp. Those of
them who were from Zhongbo had the fewest number of people,
but they were also the ones with a sense of presence that proved
most difficult to overlook.
“Zhongbo still has three more prefectures it has yet to reclaim,”
Qi Zhuyin said to Shen Zechuan, “We hope that the Prefectural Lord
will be able to complete the reunification of Zhongbo before winter
next year.”
“If the commander-in-chief is willing to go easy on Fanzhou
and Dengzhou,” Shen Zechuan said, “I’d naturally be happy to
oblige.”
“That’s hard to say.” Qi Zhuyin smiled. “I can’t do anything
about it if Qudu forcibly commands me to crush King Yi.”
 Yao Wenyu knew what Qi Zhuyin meant. It wasn’t that she could
not do anything about it; she wanted to use King Yi in exchange
for next year’s military provisions from Shen Zechuan, so that she
could make sufficient preparations for going on the offensive
against the Qingshu Tribe.
“The fact that the Commander-in-chief is now sitting in Libei,”
Yao Wenyu said placidly, “means that abandoning the punitive
expedition against King Yi is merely a matter of words.”
The battle lines in the north and south were going to be
integrated into one, and Qi Zhuyin had successively turned a blind
eye to Qudu’s deployment orders one after another. If she was truly
afraid, she would not have come to Libei at all. But Qi Zhuyin simply
had to take a stab at fleecing Shen Zechuan—she was already poor
to this extent.
“I came to Libei without anyone noticing. This is not the same
as going against the ruler’s commands. Your Cizhou is such a
beehive of activity this year. If I delay taking down King Yi any
further, your military drill ground is going to be set up right at the
entrance of the City of Dancheng,” Qi Zhuyin said. “The address
‘Prefectural Lord’ is worth ruminating over too. The way I see it, it’s
no different from the words, ‘King Yi’.”
“That’s a gross misunderstanding there.” Shen Zechuan smiled.
“From Chazhou to Dunzhou, our Cizhou has been going by the
book and playing by the rules. How remarkable a title is the
‘Prefectural Lord’? Nowhere in the current stipulated rules and laws
is it said to be inappropriate. I’m merely a guest of Cizhou’s
prefectural prefect.”
This was taking advantage of the loophole of not establishing
his own banner to rise in revolt. In truth, Cizhou had long broken
itself away from Qudu’s jurisdiction. It was just that Qudu had not
dared to issue the official notice all this while. One of the reasons
was that they feared Cizhou would really ally itself with Libei in a
moment of desperation and fight their way to the City of
Dancheng. The second was that they were afraid the other areas
would follow suit. Yet, owing to their internal strife, they did not
show any intent on delivering an offer of amnesty to Shen Zechuan
if he pledged loyalty to them. As a result, Qi Zhuyin could only
count on King Yi to threaten Shen Zechuan.
If this threat had been made a month ago, Shen Zechuan
would have had to think of a way to deal with it. But now, he was
the key of all present here to decide if the establishment of the
northern-southern battle line could come to pass. Money and
grains became his greatest playing cards. He wanted to exchange
what he had in hand for maximum benefits. Just like how Qi Zhuyin
wanted to fleece him, he similarly wanted to fleece Qi Zhuyin too.
“Han Jin is in your hands,” Qi Zhuyin said. “Cizhou is guilty of a
crime just based on this alone.”
“Han Jin.” Shen Zechuan enunciated these two words with no
traces of fear in his eyes. “Who knows whether or not he’s in my
hands?”
This was why Qi Zhuyin was usually loath to go to Qudu. It was
too exhausting dealing with these kinds of seasoned schemers like
Shen Zechuan. They would talk in circles without making any
progress and pass the buck around until everyone was at the end
of their ropes. This simply reminded her of the feeling when she
had to demand money from the Ministry of Revenue before.
“Even if I let off Fanzhou and Dengzhou and let you eat them
up, what about Duanzhou?” Qi Zhuyin then changed direction.
“You have less than 40,000 soldiers on hand, of which 20,000 are
new recruits. Don’t you think you are being a little too hasty in
trying to recapture Duanzhou back from the Biansha people?”
By this, she meant for Shen Zechuan to plead with Qidong to
dispatch troops and help them.
But Xiao Chiye piped up, “I’ll head over to Duanzhou by the
second month at the very latest.”
“Although Zhongbo doesn’t need Qidong’s assistance for the
time being, the ability of the Qidong Garrison Troops to deal a
blow to the Qingshu Tribe concerns the situation on the battlefields
in the north,” Yao Wenyu continued. “So Cizhou is willing to help
share the Commander-in-chief’s burden. Before coming over to
Libei, the Prefectural Lord has considered the issue of the military
provisions on the Commander-in-chief’s behalf. As long as Qudu
really dares to cut off the Commander-in-chief’s supply of military
provisions, then half of Qidong’s military provisions next year can
be borne by Hezhou.”
Yao Wenyu was merely embellishing his words. When Shen
Zechuan was fleecing Yan Heru the Sheep in Dunzhou, Yan Heru
said that he would also shoulder the burden of Qidong’s military
provisions. Shen Zechuan took out a part of it and ordered Yan
Heru to think of a way himself to supply Qi Zhuyin. So what they
said at this moment could also be considered the truth. The only
thing was that they slightly omitted some key details and erased
Yan Heru from the picture.
Acting in accordance with Shen Zechuan’s aim of seizing every
opportunity available to maximize their own benefits, Yao Wenyu
continued after a moment’s pause, “The Commander-in-chief is
right. Zhongbo only has 36,000 men now that can be considered
‘soldiers’, which is negligible compared to both parties present. But
Duanzhou is the gate of Zhongbo facing the east. If it’s not shut
tight, then there’s no way we can cut off Biansha’s supply line, let
alone the possibility that Biansha will use the chance to erode
Zhongbo from within and sever the connection between the
battlegrounds in the north and south to catch Libei in an
encirclement trap.”
Qi Zhuyin inwardly thought, so—
Sure enough, Yao Wenyu continued, “So, we hope to establish a
bridle path with direct access to Libei and Qidong next year and
obtain some pointers regarding regimentation of military camps.”
Regimentation of military camps was a reserved and subtle way
of putting it. Qi Zhuyin felt that what he actually meant to say was
that Shen Zechuan would like to obtain the help of the Qidong’s
commanding generals in training a garrison troop capable of
heading into battle on behalf of Zhongbo next year. Libei was all
cavalry, and the Garrison Troops of Zhongbo was infantry; he could
only ask Qidong for help with this matter.
This revealed much ambition on his part, or at the very least,
that was what everyone present could intuitively sense. It made
clear that Shen Zechuan did not want to rely on the Libei Armored
Cavalry nor simply borrow soldiers from Qidong; he sought to
restore Zhongbo’s line of defense and establish his own armed
forces.
Money truly makes the mare go.
Everyone in attendance unanimously sighed with emotion. The
conversion of military provisions into silver, coupled with the
expenses for the bridle path, equipment, rebuilding of the city, and
so on would add up to as much as several million taels for the year.
In the past, Qudu would come up with all kinds of excuses to fob
them off because they had no money, yet here Shen Zechuan was,
getting down to action right off the bat.
“Also, about the cavalry the Prefectural Lord and His Lordship
discussed in detail previously,” Yao Wenyu questioned, “will Libei
still be able to supply the battle steeds at the beginning of spring
next year?”
There was currently a severe deficit of battle steeds on the
battleground. If Libei was unable to bear the burden of supplying
the battle steeds when the pastures sprang back to life at the start
of spring, then he could postpone it as per Shen Zechuan’s wish.
Xiao Jiming replied without pause, “Yes, but Zhongbo has to let
us use Mount Luo as a riding stable.”
This was what Xiao Jiming was planning. The only general in
Xiao Chiye’s hands was Tantai Hu, and stationing him in Dunzhou
was equivalent to giving him to Shen Zechuan. When Xiao Chiye
headed for Duanzhou in the second month next year, It would be
inconvenient for him to switch battle steeds relying on the present
Bianbo’s bridle path. But if Libei were to establish a new riding
stable on Mount Luo, it would not only ease the strain on the
Bianbo Camp in transporting supplies but also allow Libei to build
up a minor line of defense in Zhongbo. Even if Duanzhou were to
fall, or if Shen Zechuan were to turn against Xiao Chiye, Libei would
not immediately fall into the position of a defenseless, passive
player.
“Is Duanzhou planning to establish a cavalry?” Lu Guangbai
asked.
Shen Zechuan did not have that much of an opinion about this
cavalry yet, so he merely answered, “Giving the light cavalry a try. I
can only make a decision after obtaining the battle steeds next
year. Is General Lu planning to remain on the battlegrounds?”
Lu Guangbai nodded. “Right now, Libei needs time. My troops
can hold off the scimitars of Hasen’s elite force on the battlefields
for the Libei Armored Cavalry. I’m also rather intrigued by the
scorpions.”
“In that case, I have a request too,” Qi Zhuyin said. “Since Lu
Guangbai will be staying on the battlefield, then as an exchange,
Xiao Chiye will have to head down to the southern battlegrounds
during the sixth month next year and hold down the fort at the
Bianjun Commandery on my behalf.”
Xiao Chiye was stunned.
Qi Zhuyin tapped the desk and said nothing more. But Xiao
Jiming and Lu Guangbai both understood the significance of her
words—Qi Zhuyin was giving Xiao Chiye a chance.
◈ ◈ ◈
On the banks of Chashi River, Heaven blessed the Liaoying
tribe with a man called Amu’er. Then it bestowed upon Amu’er a
son with extraordinary talents. They led the Biansha Cavalry to
prominence along the river banks, relying on their strategies and
scimitars to break down Dazhou. Perhaps, in Amu’er’s eyes right
this moment, the stage was all set to usher in an era of Biansha’s
reign. He saw the great curtains opening up before him. Biansha
would bid farewell to the pain and suffering of trudging barefoot
across the snowstorm. After going through so many tumultuous
ordeals, they were finally about to leave this barren land to
establish their own dynasty on that fertile soil.
The territories of Dazhou in the east and west had thoroughly
split apart this winter. Shen Zechuan’s barrier barred access to the
eastern and northern borders. He used half a year to complete this
wall and bridge together the northern and southern battlefronts in
the tattered mess that was Zhongbo. Even if he had yet to explicitly
direct his weapon at Qudu, the way the scale had tilted had already
exposed an inkling of his ambitions.
This year, Libei did not light any lanterns or set off firecrackers,
but it was not utterly lacking. Here, Shen Zechuan got to enjoy a
new year’s eve dinner. While staying up that night,29 he fell asleep.
Xiao Chiye placed a new fan and a few copper coins by his pillow.
When Shen Zechuan woke up, still half asleep, Xiao Chiye stroked
his head, lulling him back to sleep again.
In the night, Xiao Chiye stripped off his shirt. His entire back
was occupied by a wolf extending from his left shoulder all the way
to his waist. All of the rage, howls, and anguish that tore him apart
were engraved here in ink. This wolf was not a picture of
perfection; the placement of its left eye was reserved for the injury
at the back of his left shoulder. It looked as though it had been
gouged out, making it appear unusually ferocious.
Xiao Chiye remembered the humiliation in that heavy snow.
Hasen was right.
Everyone ought to return the favor, tit for tat.

End of Book
 CHAPTER 192: WHAT THE SNOW BECKONS
As soon as the new year was over, Zhongbo was hit by a
blizzard. The sudden snow came so hard and fast that there were
incidents of houses collapsing in the various prefectures.
Fortunately, the repair of the bridle paths had been expedited
before the new year, so communications from Chazhou and
Dunzhou to Cizhou were not cut off. Luo Mu and Tantai Hu made
timely reports of the casualties and dealt with the situation before
dawn, keeping the damage caused by the disaster under
manageable control.
The advisors in the study stayed up all night. Likewise, Shen
Zechuan did not get any rest either.
“The previous year’s heavy snow was a disaster in our Cizhou,
so before the snow fell, the yamen has repeatedly confirmed the
inventory of the granary reserves.” Zhou Gui flipped through the
book on the table. “Meanwhile, the reinforcement of residential
dwellings is indeed a problem. We cannot wait to come up with a
solution only when the houses collapse every year.”
“But,” Kong Ling sat opposite him, “where will this extra
expense come from? There isn’t any money left to spare due to the
war this year.”
Shen Zechuan had been pinching the center of his brows until
it was now a little red. His head was spinning as he sat in the main
seat. The clicking sounds of abacus beads being flicked in the
partitioned area had never stopped once; the people in there were
all assistants who had been specially transferred over from the
shops in Hezhou and Juexi to assist with the accounts. Charcoal
braziers had been set up inside the study as it had been chilly the
past few days, but after several hours with that many people
crammed in the room, the study grew unbearably stuffy.
“The war is of crucial importance,” Shen Zechuan said, “so let’s
not cut down on the military expenses for the various prefectures.
Have it allocated from the taxes and duties paid by the merchants
last year.”
“The period before spring is a hurdle we have to overcome. As
long as we can survive these three months, things will naturally
take a turn for the better once the snow melts.” Yao Wenyu made a
slight attempt at reassurance. “The tea the merchants obtained
from the mutual market has also been selling well at Yongyi Harbor,
so we can increase the commercial tax by an appropriate amount
this year.”
“If we are going to keep the copper mines in Juexi going, we
have to deal with the Provincial Administration Commission of
Juexi.” Shen Zechuan turned his folding fan and pushed aside the
cooled tea beside his hand. “Whether things can still keep running
smoothly after spring this year will depend on how Qudu decides
to play their hand.”
Jiang Qingshan personally assumed command of Juexi, so he
was most well-acquainted with the business dealings coming and
going in the territory. If Qudu ordered him to choke off this tea
trade route running through the northwest, it would be indeed a
blow to Cizhou.
“On the bright side,” Kong Ling rubbed his knees, “the timely
snow augurs a good harvest.”
“That’s indeed the case for our three prefectures, but the
commoners of Fanzhou and Dengzhou will suffer.” Shen Zechuan
had been thinking of Fanzhou these days. “King Yi seized the
granaries of the two prefectures for himself before the turn of the
year, and many people have starved to death even before the snow
fell. I’ve been having sleepless nights turning and tossing over this
matter.”
“We are going to pit our troops against Duanzhou in the
second month,” Zhou Gui said. “So it’d be best to settle the issue
with Fanzhou and Dengzhou now.”
Cizhou Garrison Troops had only 20,000 soldiers. Including
Dunzhou, they had 30,000. They had to face up against the Biansha
Cavalry from Duanzhou in the second month, as well as split their
energy and attention to dealing with King Yi. As such, there would
be a void in Cizhou’s defenses. If the Eight Great Training Divisions
came feeling their way over from Dancheng during that period of
time, they would be really overwhelmed.
“It’s also an opportune moment now to take down Fanzhou.”
Yao Wenyu brushed aside the tea foam. “King Yi is so insatiably
greedy that the commoners in Fanzhou have long been voicing
their discontent. He can’t last for long. Why don’t we make the first
move and issue an official denunciation-cum-proclamation of
war?”
“It’s different from the ‘bandit suppression’ situation a year ago
now that Cizhou has reached an agreement with the northern and
southern battlefields. Assuming we make the first move to issue an
official proclamation and King Yi refuses to surrender and insists
on fighting, it will give Qudu a reason to deploy their troops.” Kong
Ling, who had always placed priority on “stability”, was not in favor
of the idea.
“Mister Chengfeng has a point, but the Prefectural Lord has
already been appointed before the new year, so there is no benefit
to keeping an outward show of peace with Qudu.” Yao Wenyu did
not take a drink of his tea. He looked at Shen Zechuan. “In my
opinion, Qudu will not dare to dispatch their troops now even if
they have a reason to.”
Kong Ling was still of the opinion that it was inappropriate. “If
the crime of rebelling against the state is substantiated at this
moment, the business in Juexi this year is bound to be affected. All
things aside, if Jiang Qingshan were to make use of this
opportunity to seal the Xi clan’s copper mine, wouldn’t our losses
far outweigh the gain? Your Lordship, in my humble opinion, the
better tactic would be to send troops to Fanzhou on the quiet.”
“His Lordship’s occupation of Zhongbo is already a foregone
conclusion. Even without this proclamation, Jiang Qingshan will
still think of a way to seal the Xi clan’s copper mines.” Yao Wenyu
said.
Both men differed in their views and held fast to their own
arguments.
Shen Zechuan tapped his folding fan against his fingertips and
said a moment later, “Shenwei, draft up the proclamation.”
They discussed the entire night in the study. Seeing as the
arrangements had been more or less made, Fei Sheng called for
the attendants to serve breakfast. Everyone helped themselves to
the meals and hurried back for a rest, considering that they were
going to continue with the in-depth discussion of the plans for the
deployment of troops at night.
 When Kong Ling rose to his feet and saw Yao Wenyu about to
head out, he turned aside to lift the curtain for him. Yao Wenyu
bowed to him, and Qiao Tianya entered to push him away. After
everyone had left, Zhou Gui trotted along the corridor, panting for
breath as he caught up with Kong Ling.
“Oh, my!” Zhou Gui rubbed his chest with one hand and
reached out with the other as he shouted, “Chengfeng,
Chengfeng!”
Kong Ling stopped in his tracks to wait for him. “You should
have called out to me earlier if you have something to say. This
walkway is extremely slippery. If you were to fall in a moment of
carelessness, it would take you a long time to heal!”30
Catching his breath, Zhou Gui lamented with a wave of his
hand, “I could still run several li along the fields the year before
last, but I really can’t do it anymore this year. It’s truly the case that
time flies, and old age now beckons.”
“Look at the rush you are in.” Kong Ling tightened his fur collar
around him to keep out the bitterly cold wind. “Are you here about
what happened earlier?”
“It has been a long time since I last enjoyed the snow with you.”
Zhou Gui tried to cover it up only to make his intent all the more
conspicuous. “My wife has been keeping a close watch on me
these days, and I have been looking after my grandson the whole
day in the residence. Today’s just perfect.”
Kong Ling sighed and said ruefully, “You’d do better not to
learn to be so furtive like the others.” He drew back his hands and
took shelter from the wind before continuing, “there’s no need to
persuade me. I will not change my opinion.”
Zhou Gui could only say, “Still, don’t harbor a grudge against
Yuanzhuo because of this.”
“Do you take me for a kid?” Kong Ling walked side by side with
him. “The fact that Yuanzhuo can speak frankly without reservations
shows that he has a clear conscience. A difference in political views
is only inevitable; it’s mindlessly playing along that’s taboo. I
understand that, and so does Yuanzhuo, and that’s the Prefectural
Lord’s stance on the whole matter given that he didn’t seek us out
for a private discussion.”
 Zhou Gui had been castigating himself because of Gao
Zhongxiong’s incident. He no longer took decision-making into his
own hands and always had to ask Shen Zechuan before taking
action. During the recent discussions of official business, he also
told the advisors on his payroll not to be complacent, fearing that
they would clash with Yao Wenyu again.
Zhou Gui saw a branch of the withered willows in the courtyard
snapped, and the wind sent it falling into the snow and over to the
corner of the wall. Having caught his breath, he said dejectedly,
“I’m just afraid it will cause us to be even more estranged from one
another…”
“Water which is too clean has no fish.”31 Kong Ling raised his
hand to brush away the snow on his white temples. He schooled
his expression and said with all seriousness, “Which yamen in the
world is truly without blemish? You’ve been the prefectural prefect
for so many years in Cizhou, and you know that it’s equally
complicated both in the upper and lower echelons. There is no end
to vices such as corruption and bribery, and they can never be fully
eradicated. You have done a good job managing it the previous
years, and the Prefectural Lord understands that too. From start to
end, he has never blamed you or taken it out on you. Killing those
two advisors was merely a reminder to you, not a warning. Your
cautiousness of late will only serve to remind him of this matter.”
Tough was the governance of one’s subordinates, as was
deference to one’s superiors.
Zhou Gui took a few steps and said despondently, “… My
father-in-law was reluctant to recommend me for an official post in
the capital also because he assessed that I was not cut out for it. I
have no sense of propriety when it comes to certain matters, and I
have to rely on fumbling my way through trial and error in order to
determine whether to tighten my control or relax my approach.
This is too difficult for me.”
“Since you have not done anything against your conscience,
why do you have to be so terrified?” Kong Ling shook his head
slightly. “Don’t make a conscious effort to give way to Yuanzhuo
anymore. He is intelligent and quick-witted, so how can this little
thinking of yours escape his eyes? You’ll only end up creating a
genuine rift over time.”
◈ ◈ ◈
It was gusty when Shen Zechuan was on the way back to his
residence. Fei Sheng held his arm out to hold up an umbrella to
shield Shen Zechuan from the wind, but the wind was so strong
that it sent Shen Zechuan’s coat flapping all over.
With his back to the wind, Fei Sheng said, “Master, let’s switch
to a sedan.”
Shen Zechuan could barely open his eyes from the intense
wind, and he was so freezing cold that the tips of his ears had
gone red. “It’s just a few steps; why would we need a sedan for
that?”
But it’s cold!
Fei Sheng was worried that Shen Zechuan would catch another
cold with just these few steps. He had been exceedingly careful
these past few days both outside and inside the residence. Even
the hallways in the courtyard had thick, heavy drapes hung up, the
bottom of which the attendants would weigh down whenever they
entered and exited to keep the cold out. For prudence’s sake, the
ground heating system inside was also kept running at all times.
After much difficulty, they made it through the main entrance.
Ding Tao, who had been waiting in the side room flanking the
principal room, immediately jumped out. Along with Li Xiong, he
stood in front of Shen Zechuan like a block of wall.
As they shuffled along slowly, Shen Zechuan said with a
headache, “You may stop shielding me from the wind. Let’s leave
quickly. All we’re getting standing here is a draught of wind. It
won’t be long before one of us collapses.”
Ding Tao had grown taller again during this period of time.
“Master’s instruction was to shield you so that no wind can pass
through, or he’s gonna whip me.” He patted Li Xiong and shouted
against the wind, “Daxiong, move faster!”
By the time Shen Zechuan finally reached the veranda, his
cloak had already been soaked through with snow. It felt
uncomfortable to have it covering his neck, all dripping wet, so he
raised his hands to undo it. Fei Sheng took it in a fluster and called
for the maidservant to dry it. He was also about to drape a new
cloak over Shen Zechuan, but the latter simply went on ahead
without even looking back.
Fei Sheng had been in such a state of elation after having
gotten the assignment of recruiting new members back in
Dunzhou that he even found Qiao Tianya pleasing to the eyes
when he saw the latter upon his return. During the period of time
Shen Zechuan was in Libei, he remained at home with Ji Gang,
mulling over the Ji Clan’s Boxing Style while listening to the latter.
Now that Shen Zechuan had returned, he was like a mother hen
going all out to take meticulous care of Shen Zechuan in every way
possible.
The Marquis has to run around the battlefields now, see!
Fei Sheng thought as he followed behind Shen Zechuan.
So long the Prefectural Lord did not fall sick, the Marquis would
be happy and would not send dirty looks his way later. Everyone
was going to be a family in the future. He could not always remain
a thorn in Xiao Chiye’s flesh.
Shen Zechuan entered the main hall and huffed into his hands
as he took his seat. Fei Sheng asked, “Master, are you going to
drink the medicinal decoction simmering over the stove now?”
Shen Zechuan did not want to drink it. He had not been ill the
past few days, and he was concerned that he might get a
nosebleed from the over-nourishment should he continue taking
all these tonics and medicines. Moreover, there was no one at
home other than Ding Tao who had candies. So he pretended not
to hear and continued to flip through the documents on his table.
Noting that Shen Zechuan’s expression remained unchanged,
Fei Sheng waited by the side. After a moment, he spoke up again
like clockwork. “Master, the medicine—”
Shen Zechuan patiently raised his head and looked at him.
Fei Sheng pretended not to comprehend the expression in
Shen Zechuan’s eyes. There was not only Xiao Chiye but also Ji
Gang backing him on this issue, and they were both people that
Shen Zechuan could not afford to offend.
Shen Zechuan could only relent in resignation. “Go bring it
over.”
 Fei Sheng swiftly left to get the medicine, but a moment later, it
was Qiao Tianya who lifted the drapes to enter.
“Yan Heru is here.” Qiao Tianya did not put the drapes back
down and turned around to look again. “This jabbering brat ran
over to Yuanzhuo to make a ruckus. I’ve brought him over.”
Shen Zechuan dipped the brush in ink and said, “he’s here to
deliver the silvers. Treat him with a little more courtesy.”
Before they could finish their conversation, a person came in
from under the drapes. Yan Heru was all decked out from head to
toe in a brand new, vivid red and golden-threaded brocade robe
with embroideries of, unsurprisingly enough, golden ingots. There
was a string around his neck, with a brand new abacus hanging off
of it. It was so tightly strapped on that a red mark had formed on
his nape, but even so, he could not bear to take it off.
The eyes on this lad’s fair face curved into crescents as he
jovially exclaimed, “Here I’ve come to extend my new year
greetings to Your Lordship! Happy Spring Festival! I wanted to
come and pay my respects to Your Lordship a while ago, but alas, it
turns out you were in Libei! See, the moment you came back, I
rushed right over. I’ve not only prepared precious gems and jades
for the Marquis but also picked out for Your Lordship a number of
pretty—”
Fei Sheng, who was carrying the bowl of medicine behind,
locked eyes with Qiao Tianya. With a raise of his arm, Qiao Tianya
held Yan Heru down.
Libei was in mourning, and Cizhou had not gaily decorated its
streets for the festivities this year either. Shen Zechuan and Xiao
Chiye themselves were both dressed in plain, mourning clothes,
and Shen Zechuan had even removed his jade earring during this
period of time. Who would have known that Yan Heru would be so
insufferable the moment he opened his mouth? He was simply
asking for a beating.
Shen Zechuan wrote “REJECTED” on the paper and did not
even spare Yan Heru a single glance.

Credit: Thanks to MaruChan for pointing out the typo! <3

 CHAPTER 193: MISGIVINGS
Yan Heru corrected himself at the last minute and finished up
his words, “—pretty ruyi scepters!”32
“How polite of you to have prepared a gift.” It was then Shen
Zechuan set down his brush. “Show Young Master Yan to a seat.”
Qiao Tianya released his grip, and Fei Sheng pushed Yan Heru
in while saying, “Quick, quick, quick. Serve tea to Young Master
Yan!”
Yan Heru suffered an enormous loss this time. He had carefully
selected many a number of people from Cuiqing, all of them
exceedingly good-looking young boys and girls. He originally
meant to get on Yao Wenyu’s good side by letting Yao Wenyu take
his pick first so that it would be a lot smoother when he dealt with
Shen Zechuan later, but he did not even get to see Yao Wenyu at
all. On entering this courtyard, he thought of giving them to Shen
Zechuan. After all, which man did not love beauties? It was not like
Xiao the Second was some ravishing beauty that could put flowers
to shame.
Yan Heru stroked the back of his head and marked Qiao Tianya
down in his book of grudges, then held up the hems of his robe to
take his seat. He still wore an amiable expression, but his smile was
restrained as he said with some melancholy, “The Prince of Libei
was a hero of all times. Who doesn’t know of his exemplary military
achievements? I was simply worried that the Prefectural Lord and
Marquis would be overwhelmed with grief. If your health were to
suffer, you would be doing a disservice to the late prince who was
ever the compassionate man. See, that’s why I rushed over playing
the jerk, all just to amuse a smile out of the Prefectural Lord! My
deepest condolences, Your Lordship.”
Yan Heru spoke in officialese with a hint of Hezhou accent. He
could not change his habit of adding words like “see”, “yes?” or
“no?”, and the likes, which made him sound like a spoiled child
using them. However, it was indeed quite impressive to be seeing
him say words of comfort in such a well-mannered way now.
Shen Zechuan thanked him for this kindness. After all, the
expenses in the entire territory this year were massive, and Yan
Heru was inextricably involved in every single account. While Yan
Heru was speaking, Shen Zechuan took the medicine from Fei
Sheng and drank a few mouthfuls. With a gentle expression, he
said, “When I was in Libei, I heard you supplied Bianbo Camp with
tens of thousands of taels for the repairs of the bridle paths.”
“Those were just chump changes,” Yan Heru said. “Nothing of
significance that the Prefectural Lord should keep in mind. Besides,
the battle lines are now unified, yes? Libei and Qidong are both
fighting against the Biansha baldies. I’m but a mere merchant who
can’t be of help in any other way. This is just a small gesture of my
goodwill.”
Fei Sheng scoffed to himself in secret, marveling at how this lad
was not much worse than himself when pretending to be a decent
human being. Look at how he was going on about the unification
of battle lines now, yet he did not show the slightest twinge of guilt
earlier in Dunzhou when he led the merchants to do business with
Biansha.
Shen Zechuan finished his medicine and spoke after a
moment’s pause, “What’s the nature of your business in coming to
see me today?”
“That’s exactly it, to see Your Lordship.” Once again, Yan Heru
flashed a smile. “Your Lordship is now like my own kin elder
brother. I’ll miss you like crazy if I don’t see you for one day.” Acting
without thinking, he straightened up in his seat and said, “Why
don’t you take me as your younger brother? I’ll kowtow twice to
you.”
Yan Heru was indeed shameless. He addressed Cai Yu as “pa”,
Lei Changming as “big bro”, and even Lei Jingzhe as “eldest
nephew” the last time he came across him. Now that the tides had
turned in Shen Zechuan’s favor, putting him in control of the entire
situation, he wanted to pass himself off as Shen Zechuan’s younger
brother. Was it a big deal to remain in a lowly, subservient position?
It was nothing compared to money — this lad saw it more clearly
than anyone else.
“Sure,” Seeing Yan Heru getting all delighted, Shen Zechuan
continued, “Kowtow twice to Shen Wei first, and we can be
considered to hail from the same clan.”
 Yan Heru almost spat out loud in disdain. He was not a fool.
Being associated with Shen Wei in any way would ruin his
reputation, and he would be cursed by all in both the east and
west. He beat a retreat and said with waning interest, “Then forget
it. We have rules at home, so kowtowing to Shen Wei is definitely a
no-no.” He said to Shen Zechuan, “Your Lordship. Your Lordship~”
“Hm?” Shen Zechuan said.
Yan Heru perked up and said, “Well… I have something else to
discuss with you. Hasn’t Qidong already come to an agreement
with our Cizhou? There will definitely be no problem with the
commander-in-chief’s military provisions this year. I’ll make up for
it. All of it.”
In no hurry to respond, Shen Zechuan drank the tea to rinse his
mouth.
Sure enough, Yan Heru continued, “Qudu is afraid of you now.
You have powerful military forces all around you. If you were really
to come to blows with Qudu, how would the Eight Great Training
Divisions be able to hold their own against you? But lowering their
heads like this isn’t the way forward either, so I’m thinking, Qudu
will cut off our business to Juexi from this year onwards. At least,
they won’t leave the Xi clan’s copper mines and fleet of ships in
your hands.”
The fleet of ships at Yongyi Harbor concerned the business of
Libei’s mutual trade market. Unrefined tea was worth nothing in
Juexi, and it was only through export with this fleet of ships that
profits could be made. Yan Heru did not feel bad about the seizure
of the Xi clan’s properties. In any case, those were not his shops.
The Yan clan could no longer trade in grains in Zhongbo now, and
Yan Heru had to find a substitute to fill in this void. He was eyeing
the harbor.
“What do you have in mind?” Shen Zechuan set down the lid of
the teacup. “Give it to me straight.”
“I think we should,” Yan Heru plopped down on the table,
“forgo Yongyi Harbor.”
While tapping on the tea lid, Shen Zechuan raised his eyes to
look at Yan Heru and saw the ambition in the latter’s eyes. Shen
Zechuan did not reply immediately. He remained in his seat
patiently, and in no time, he figured out Yan Heru’s plan.
Yan Heru blinked. “We can… build a new one.”
The Yan clan of Hezhou occupied the waterways in the south of
Dazhou. This was the key reason its businesses could spread all
over from east to west. But after their goods arrived at Juexi, they
had to be handed over to the Xi clan’s fleet of ships at Yongyi
Harbor for trading. That was why the largest share of profits from
this route did not go into Yan Heru’s pocket, but Xi Hongxuan’s—
which was now also Shen Zechuan’s pockets. Yan Heru had been
feigning civility with Shen Zechuan all this while in all kinds of
brazen attempts to cooperate with Shen Zechuan because he saw
the trade route in the whole territory shrinking. He had to keep up
with Shen Zechuan’s speed. To Yan Heru, Juexi’s intent to seize and
seal off the copper mines and Yongyi Harbor this year was an
opportunity to capitalize on the timeliness of it all and get a step
ahead.
A few years ago, it was tough going for Yan Heru to venture up
north. Libei would not collaborate with him, so he simply
established a small trade market in Dunzhou and made use of the
pawnshop to launder money for officials around the world. It was
the same now; he was still just as gutsy. Giving up Yongyi Harbor
meant that the Xi clan could no longer hold back the Yan clan in
the west. Yan Heru wanted to hold sway over the internal and
external waterways and put himself on equal footing with Shen
Zechuan in this turbulent time.
Shen Zechuan stroked the edge of the tea lid with his
fingertips. “How are you going to get around Jiang Qingshan?”
“You are holding a handle against Juexi in your hands.” Yan
Heru grinned, revealing his canine tooth. “In the past few years, the
merchants have gone to Dunzhou to launder money on behalf of
the local officials, and there are plenty of officials from Juexi in that
name list. If the account books in the pawnshop were to fall into
Jiang Qingshan’s hands, they would have hell to pay even if they
don’t die. I’ve dropped countless amounts of bribe money in Juexi
in order to gain access to the market there, and now it’s time for
them to repay the debt.”
 There were hundreds of officials and lesser functionaries in just
one region alone. Even if the prefectural prefect himself was
upright and impartial, there was no way he could ensure that all his
subordinates under him were uncorrupt. The administration of a
prefecture and a city were extremely complex, and there were only
so many Investigating Censors Circuit in the various areas. There
were simply too many unseen blind spots from top to bottom
falling through the cracks, and all of these were openings Yan Heru
exploited. Yan Heru was able to do business on such a large scale
next to the Xi clan in Juexi because these people were his subjects
who had rendered meritorious service by protecting him, and now
the same people were all stepping stones who would pave the way
ahead for him.
Shen Zechuan was going to have to re-evaluate Yan Heru anew
now.
Yan Heru had always appeared quite the shameless one from
the time he was in Dunzhou. Even when he had been given the
cold shoulder, he could continue on with a broad smile, making
others forget he was the helmsman of the Yan clan of Hezhou who
had profited off others’ misfortune in Zhongbo just a few years ago.
He had also been quite decisive when he abandoned Lei Jingzhe,
and was even willing to encircle and kill Lei Jingzhe in Dunzhou to
win Shen Zechuan over.
No matter how sweetly Yan Heru addressed said person, he
would not waver in the slightest when it came to taking their lives.
He was truly a money-grubber. Just like how he would never go out
without a golden carriage, he would not even show his face if the
person sitting across from him did not have enough bargaining
chips of interest.
“Liuzhou, which lies along the coast, is a land with auspicious
fengshui.33 Its location is remote, and it lies quite a distance away
from Yongyi Harbor. What’s more, it’s a crescent-shaped bay, so the
fleet of ships will not lie exposed on the outside. As long as we seal
the mouth of Liuzhou’s Prefectural Prefect, You Tan, we’ll be able to
continue doing business.” Yan Heru rapped that golden abacus of
his. “Make good use of that list of names, and the merchants
headed towards Juexi will no longer need to pay tax and duties to
Jiang Qingshan. You will have the final say over the tariffs and
inland commercial tax… In the future, when you come to reign
supreme and take all thirteen cities of Juexi under your command,
these corrupt officials will be the first gift I present to you. Kill them
when the time comes and wash the land all over in blood, and
we’ll see who still dares take bribes on your watch!”
Exploit all resources to the fullest, and get rid of them once they
outlive their usefulness!
Yan Heru had not even come of age34 this year, yet he was
already well-acquainted with the words’ ruthless and merciless’. He
flicked away noisily on his little abacus with that harmless, innocent
face of his, calculating with it not just money, but also lives.
Shen Zechuan had no reason to reject Yan Heru; he indeed
needed a new harbor to avoid Jiang Qingshan. He was not even
willing to concede over the copper mines. The various expenses
were increasing this year because of the war. By the time he took
back the remaining three prefectures, the costs would no doubt
skyrocket again.
“You are a far-sighted one,” Shen Zechuan sighed with
emotion. “I cannot compare to you when it comes to doing
business.”
After Yan Heru took his leave, Qiao Tianya set his hand on the
chair’s handle and looked on as the door hanging screen rose and
fell. “This lad should be killed.”
“He is resourceful and extremely good at getting on a person’s
good side,” Shen Zechuan glanced at that gently swaying hanging
screen too. “In time, he will become trouble.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yan Heru walked out of the residence and stepped on
someone’s back to get onto the horse carriage. As the carriage
began to sway, he took off the golden abacus around his neck and
tossed it onto a satin cushion. Rubbing the back of his neck, he
asked, “have you found Hairigu?”
Yan Miao lifted the curtain of the carriage and entered to kneel
at the side, “Everyone in the Shen residence keeps their mouth
tight, and the Imperial Bodyguards are everywhere; I can’t find him
at all.”
 Yan Heru was a little displeased. He ticked off the beads on his
abacus and threw a tantrum. “What Imperial Bodyguards? They’re
just a bunch of beggars who hung up their hats to become lackeys
in Cizhou after leaving Qudu! Because of the Liuzhou harbor matter
today, I’ve caused Shen Zechuan to have misgivings about me.
Who knows? He’s probably plotting my death right now.”
Yan Miao happened to be the messenger for the pawnshop in
Dunzhou; in fact, he was also the shopkeeper who handled the
incoming and outgoing accounts for the pawnshop in Dunzhou.
He might have been the son of a servant35 serving in the Yan clan,
but the fact that Yan Heru had him stationed in Dunzhou a few
years ago was evidence of Yan Heru’s trust in him.
Yan Miao lifted his head slightly to speak up by the dim light.
“From what I can see of Shen Zechuan’s actions in Cizhou, he
doesn’t seem to be as vindictive as the rumors have it. The war is of
utmost urgency now, and both the northern and southern
battlefronts are borrowing on his strength. Little Young Master, you
mustn’t lose your head and ruin your relationship with him.”
“He had me take responsibility for providing for the two
prefectures’ granaries at the start of spring.” Yan Heru slid the
abacus bead back and forth. “That’s essentially serving me with a
warning, no? Do you think he isn’t one to seek revenge over a
small matter? I think it’s just the opposite.”
“Kong Chengfeng rejected him thrice, yet he didn’t fly into a
rage and continued to treat Kong Ling with respect.” Yan Miao said,
“We’ve supplied the grains for the two prefectures, along with the
military provisions for Qidong this year. We will also be providing
the funds and labor for the construction of the new harbor in the
west. He ought to have taken notice of Little Young Master’s
sincerity.”
Yan Heru suddenly swept away the abacus on his knees. He
endured it for a moment before opening his mouth. Eventually, he
said, “A-Miao, you don’t understand. Shen Zechuan treats Kong
Ling well because Kong Ling is still willing to do his best for Cizhou
despite being unwilling to work under Shen Zechuan in an official
capacity. Kong Ling was the one who negotiated the business in
Huaizhou before autumn, and it was also Kong Ling who played
the peacemaker when there was animosity between Shen Zechuan
and Zhou Gui’s advisors before the new year. How else do you
think a blockhead like Zhou Gui can still get to be an official in
Cizhou? Shen Zechuan is making the best of his resources; he
knows to put these two men together as a team. Not only will they
not turn against him, but they will also put up an unassailable
defense of Cizhou on his behalf. As for me, if he genuinely and
sincerely wants to have a long-lasting partnership with me, how
could he tolerate the lapdogs by his side barking at me time and
time again?”
Yan Heru was about to say something else when Yan Miao
suddenly straightened up and warned in a low voice. “Little Young
Master!”
Yan Heru promptly paused. After a momentary silence, he
heard the sounds of horse hooves outside of his carriage. He
picked up the abacus and crawled over on his knees to the side of
the carriage drapes. In a soft whisper, he asked, “Who’s that?”
Yan Miao answered, “The Libei Armored Cavalry.”
Yan Heru felt a sudden pang of fear. He clutched his abacus
tightly, wanting to take a peek while the carriage swayed, but then,
the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Lang Tao Xue Jin slowed down and stopped by the side of the
horse carriage. Against the entire sky of snow bearing down on
him from above, Xiao Chiye cracked his whip in the air, and Chen
Yang and the Libei Armored Cavalry behind him followed suit and
came to a stop too.
Yan Heru patted his cheeks with both hands and pulled the
carriage curtains open. “It really is the Second Master! I’ve been
thinking of you on the way.”
Xiao Chiye turned his head slightly to sweep a glance at Yan
Miao, who was kneeling inside, before looking at Yan Heru, “You’ve
been to see the Prefectural Lord?”
Yan Heru gulped. He had heard that Xiao Chiye had run in the
snow for half a night in order to retrieve the Prince of Libei, and that
he had not only escaped freezing to death but even broke the
necks of more than a dozen men. Yan Heru did not know if it was
because of the rumors, but he felt Xiao the Second’s sense of
presence swell suddenly. That imposing and intimidating aura
assailing him was so overwhelming that he involuntarily broke out
into a sweat all over.
“I did, yes.” Yan Heru looked as though he was feeling very
warm as he wiped the sweat on his forehead. “I brought some
gems and jade for you. If you find them acceptable when you see
them on your return, let me know. There are plenty of them in
Hezhou.”
Xiao Chiye had just come over from Bianbo Camp, and he had
no wish to engage in idle chatter with Yan Heru, so he merely
nodded on hearing him and left with his men. The Libei Armored
Cavalry passed by them like the wind, and it was only then that Yan
Heru dared to rub his arms and shudder a few times.
As if remembering something, Yan Miao said to Yan Heru, “this
Second Master has been looking for the Venerable Yideng.”
“Is that so?” Yan Heru tilted his head to look at the fine spray of
snow kicked up by the Libei Armored Cavalry. His gaze gradually
sharpened, and he said with a smile, “… But having Shen Zechuan
sick is far more reassuring to me than letting him recover.”
 CHAPTER 194: SOUND SLEEP
Qiao Tianya had still yet to leave the room. Shen Zechuan said,
“When you return later, let Yuanzhuo know about Liuzhou’s harbor.
We’ll discuss it in detail later. The weather has been cold recently.
Keep the ground heating running. Don’t let him fall ill again.”
Qiao Tianya, who was more at ease before Shen Zechuan than
Fei Sheng was, answered, “I’m keeping my eyes on it.”
Shen Zechuan thought for a moment. “There are quite a
number of people this year sending in their visitation cards32 with
requests for a meeting in the hope of seeking a prospective career
here. Ward them off these few days until Yuanzhuo recovers from
his illness. You did well today. Yan Heru has ulterior motives. Don’t
let him in next time too.”
Qiao Tianya fished out a folded paper from his sleeve and
pushed it before Shen Zechuan. “I’m here about this matter,
actually. There are quite a number of scholars with a literary
reputation among those who sent in their visitation cards.
Yuanzhuo has taken a close look at them and prepared two lists of
names for you.”
“Two?” With warm fingertips, Shen Zechuan brushed the paper
open for a look.
“This is a list of those you can retain but cannot use.” Qiao
Tianya pointed to the left. “While this is a list of those you can retain
and use.”
Shen Zechuan looked over the list of those that could be
retained but not used; they were all scholars who were rather well-
reputed. Of these people, few were usable, because what Zhongbo
was in urgent need of at present were practical doers who would
actually get things done. But these people came all the way from
afar to throw in their lots with Shen Zechuan. For reputation’s sake,
Shen Zechuan could not slight them either. He had to keep them in
his residence as literary retainers. On the contrary, those of use in
the other list were basically all unknown nobodies.
“We need a group of people after early spring,” Shen Zechuan
said. “When the time comes, include the talents picked out from
Zhou Gui’s end and draw up a name list for the various prefectures
to make arrangements to settle them in.”
 Shen Zechuan intended to reclaim the remaining three
prefectures before spring. That way, he would be able to make it in
time for the spring plowing. Otherwise, he would have to stress
over the provisions again at the end of the year.
Qiao Tianya acknowledged his order. On hearing the sound of
footsteps under the eaves, he rose to his feet and announced with
a smile, “The Second Master is back.”
After Xiao Fangxu’s demise, Xiao Jiming became the Prince of
Libei, and calling Xiao Chiye “Second Young Master” was no
longer appropriate, so they simply changed their address of him to
“Second Master”. 33
Xiao Chiye stood still under the eaves as Chen Yang and Gu Jin
each stood to his left and right and helped him take off his coat.
The maidservant waiting in attendance at the side presented a hot
handkerchief to him, which he took to wipe his hands. Ding Tao
hurriedly lifted the hanging screen for Xiao Chiye to enter.
Ever the tactful ones, Qiao Tianya and Fei Sheng promptly
made to retreat, but Xiao Chiye asked, “Where’s Hairigu?”
Fei Sheng cast a sideways glance at Shen Zechuan and
answered only when he saw Shen Zechuan give his tacit consent.
“To reply Second Master, he’s at our Beiyuan military drill grounds.”
Taking his cue, he bowed to take the handkerchief from Xiao
Chiye’s hands. At the same time, he said, “Master has made
arrangements for the Imperial Bodyguards to do a daily headcount
to prevent them from running all over the place.”
“Gu Jin,” Xiao Chiye looked back and said, “Make a trip to the
Beiyuan military drill grounds later and look for Hairigu.”
Shen Zechuan was sitting right behind, so naturally, Fei Sheng
would not speak out of turn and ask why. He bowed again to Xiao
Chiye and withdrew with Qiao Tianya. As guards, they could not
very well stand under the eaves and converse with each other with
their master still inside, so the few of them simultaneously headed
to the foot of the veranda at the side to discuss matters.
It was warm inside the room. As Xiao Chiye removed his blade
and undressed, Shen Zechuan gazed at him from where he was
seated. Xiao Chiye, having ridden his horse non-stop from the
battlefield to Bianbo Camp, and from Bianbo Camp to Zhongbo,
found it all worth it to see the expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes.
He leaned over, his body completely blocking off the chair from
view. “Losing weight now, are we?”
Shen Zechuan was still holding the brush. He caressed the
smooth shaft of the brush with the pulp of his fingers and
whispered back softly as if he could not understand his words,
“Kissing, where?”
Xiao Chiye lifted a hand to pinch Shen Zechuan’s chin to
prevent him from shying away, then moved his head close and
pressed him up in the chair for a kiss. When Shen Zechuan tilted his
head up like this, he would reveal his bobbing Adam’s apple as he
absorbed all of Xiao Chiye’s iciness and dissolved it into
nothingness. Not wanting the brush anymore, he slid his hands up
along Xiao Chiye’s arms. At the same time, Xiao Chiye picked him
up and wrapped them around Xiao Chiye’s neck.
There was no consolation in a lover’s kiss—that was a sentiment
that could also be bestowed upon by others. Only the insatiable
desire laid bare during moments in which they sought each other
out was the real deal. This was a lick like no other between lovers.
Xiao Chiye needed such a dependency that was both secretive and
extreme. That was where he belonged; it was also his territory.
Shen Zechuan was burning up from the kiss. Xiao Chiye set him
on the table and braced himself against the table with his arms to
gaze at him with all the seriousness he could muster. It did not take
long for the flush from the tips of Shen Zechuan’s ears to spread
rapidly to the corners of his eyes. He seemed as if he could not
hold up against Xiao Chiye any longer; he could not even
withstand such an invasive gaze. That was, to him, a different kind
of… devastating seduction.
Both of them were evidently intimately familiar with one
another. Even with their eyes closed, they could find each other’s
most sensitive spots. But at present, Shen Zechuan could still feel
his heartstrings stirring from Xiao Chiye’s tantalizing gaze. The
quickening of his breath brought on tiny beads of sweat that
trickled across his smooth, satiny back.
Xiao Chiye looked so very dangerous, as if he would ravage
Shen Zechuan like a tempest once he was freed of the shackles
holding him back. He needed Shen Zechuan way too much, but he
was remarkably restrained. Desire surged like magma under thin
ice. Through Xiao Chiye’s eyes, Shen Zechuan sensed a love so
doting and gripping it would physically hurt.
This was the change elicited by the suppression of desire.
Very slowly, Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan and reached his
arm out to toss his outer robe into the chair. “I’m going to the
bathhouse.”
Shen Zechuan brushed off Xiao Chiye’s fine sweat with his
fingertip, then pulled away and blinked to motion for him to go on
ahead.
◈ ◈ ◈
By the time Xiao Chiye came out again, he had already
changed into a clean set of attire. He was wiping his hair in the
inner chamber when he saw a small box on the table. He opened it
—it contained jades Yan Heru had sent over.
Outside, Chen Yang was talking to Shen Zechuan. “I have to
return to Bianbo Camp three days later, but Master will be staying.”
Shen Zechuan seemed to be looking at the documents and was
slow to answer. “The second month is right around the corner. Is
the location to build the stables on Mount Luo already decided?”
Xiao Chiye picked up a piece of red jade and caressed it.
Chen Yang answered, “Yes. Once we reclaim Duanzhou, we can
begin construction.”
Shen Zechuan said, “The new spears General Lu wants will be
more or less ready at the end of the second month. When the time
comes, transport it via the new bridle path to avoid taking another
detour.”
The rest were all about trivial and tedious duties. As Xiao Chiye
listened, he thought of the defensive battle a few days back.
Xiao Chiye was now leading the Imperial Army to guard Sha’er
Camp in Jiang Sheng’s place. Guo Weili and Zhao Hui were both
transferred back to their original camps, while Zuo Qianqiu and Lu
Guangbai were jointly in charge of guarding Shayi Camp. Xiao
Jiming’s intent with this arrangement was obvious—the Libei
Armored Cavalry had given up on advancing and was now relying
on the two men who were best at defenses to face Hasen’s attacks.
Libei had completely switched from going on the offensive to
being on the defensive.
Not only that, but Xiao Jiming had also made an adjustment to
the battlegrounds. In the past, a change of general was equivalent
to a change of battle line in which the Armored Cavalry in the same
camp had to be swapped out as well. It was different now. Other
than Zuo Qianqiu, who would remain in place, the other three
commanding generals of the three camps would all be irregularly
rotated. This gave Guo Weili a headache. Soldiers he was used to
leading would no longer follow him, and there was even Zuo
Qianqiu to keep an eye on him when he fought defensive battles. It
was like his chain had shortened to the point it was strangling him
by the throat; it made him uncomfortable all over. Xiao Chiye had
to break away from the Imperial Army and learn to adapt and get
along with the Armored Cavalry of the remaining two camps. This
was even more so for Lu Guangbai. He had to familiarize himself
with the cavalry and reverse the way he thought as an infantry on
the ground… Everyone seemed to have been tied up by the limbs
as they crashed into one another, unaccustomed as they were to
fighting battles in this way.
But the effect was evident.
Since the rotations were not in order, Hasen could not be sure
who exactly his opponent was each time he launched an attack.
Without Xiao Fangxu, the morale of the Libei Armored Cavalry was
indeed low, but even so, the Biansha Cavalry did not get their wish.
Hasen not only faced Zuo Qianqiu, who used to guard Tianfei
Watchtower, but also had to guard against the Bianjun
Commandery Garrison Troops, who could conceal themselves in
the snow.
Hasen had no idea what happened to Libei behind that wall,
except that victory did not come as he expected, and both parties
had instead fallen into some kind of unsettling stalemate. It was
here Hasen finally got a taste of how formidable Xiao Jiming truly
was. The new Prince of Libei was totally poles apart from Xiao
Fangxu. He seemed to have cowered back and holed himself up,
but in reality, he had delimited a battle line in the east, making it
impossible for Hasen to press forward even the slightest.
 Xiao Chiye put aside his distracting thoughts and closed the
box.
Chen Yang had already taken his leave, and Shen Zechuan was
still writing something. The rustle of ink and brush blended into the
sound of the snow. Xiao Chiye did not go out to disturb him. He
knew Shen Zechuan was in a rush to take down King Yi before the
second month. What’s more, Shen Zechuan still had to go to the
study later to further discuss the deployment of troops. Xiao Chiye
set down the handkerchief at the side and fell back onto the
bedding.
He did not know if it was intentional or not.
But Shen Zechuan did not let the maidservants clean up the
bed when he got up last night, and Xiao Chiye could still seem to
catch a whiff of Shen Zechuan’s scent as he rested his head on it. It
relaxed him enough to dispel the heavy, depressing mood that
had tagged along with him from the battlefields.
Xiao Chiye closed his eyes and fell asleep before his hair had
even dried.
At the hour of you, Fei Sheng came to call Shen Zechuan, who
extracted himself from his work and said, “open the windows. It’s
rather stuffy.” As he rose to his feet, he remembered something
else and added, “Never mind, wait for me at the door.”
Fei Sheng retreated out of the room with his head lowered.
Shen Zechuan’s nape was aching from having bent over the
desk for too long. He lifted the hanging screen of the inner
chamber and heard Xiao Chiye’s steady breathing when he
entered.
Xiao Chiye lay on his side, with half of his face burrowed in the
bedding. He was in such a deep sleep that it was apparent he had
been exhausted for a long time. The injury on the back of his
shoulder had yet to fully heal, and he seemed to feel nothing even
though he was pressing down on it in his sleep. Shen Zechuan
leaned over and gently pulled away the back of Xiao Chiye’s collar
for a look. Afraid that Xiao Chiye might aggravate the injury by
pressing his weight down on it like this, Shen Zechuan pushed him
over so that he laid on his stomach.
 Xiao Chiye, smothered as he was in the bedding, was still not
fully awake, and it was in this way he remained sprawled on the
bedding and murmured, “military intelligence report…”
Shen Zechuan leaned in closer to Xiao Chiye’s ear. “No military
intelligence. Go back to sleep.”
Without opening his eyes, Xiao Chiye turned his face to the
side to breathe. Shen Zechuan lowered his fingers to wipe his
sweat for him very carefully, with exceedingly gentle movements.
Xiao Chiye grabbed that hand of his and grasped it in his palm,
refusing to let it go.
Shen Zechuan murmured admonishingly, “I’ll be back real
soon, hm?”
Whenever he used to speak in this tone back in Qudu, chances
were that he was miffed at Xiao Chiye. But now, the way he said it
was so light and so gentle, like the caress of a soft feather. Not
even hundreds of Yan Heru could hold a candle to him.
But Xiao Chiye did not let go.
Fei Sheng waited for quite a while at the door. Seeing as it was
getting dark, he feared that Shen Zechuan would catch a cold
should the snowstorm intensify at night if they delayed any further,
so he hurried in and said softly across the hanging screen at the
door, “Master, it’s almost time.”
After a moment’s pause, Shen Zechuan replied, “Go stop
Yuanzhuo from heading over to the Zhou residence and tell him to
come straight here instead. Then send someone to summon Zhou
Gui and Chengfeng over.”
Fei Sheng could tell from his words that he meant to discuss
official business at home tonight. He asked, “Then, shall I invite the
various gentlemen to the side hall?”
Sitting at the edge of the bed without lighting up any lamps,
Shen Zechuan said, “Let’s hold the discussion just outside of here.
We’ll just keep our voices down.”
Fei Sheng nodded and took his leave, aware that the operative
phrase here was “keep our voices down”. Hence, before the
gentlemen made their way over, he called for his subordinates to
quietly set up a screen in the hall, moving the venue of the
discussion off to the side corner.
 Zhou Gui and Kong Ling did not see Shen Zechuan when they
came in. As they looked at each other, Fei Sheng hurriedly guided
them behind the screen. Keeping his voice low, he said, “Master is
in the inner chamber.”
Kong Ling lowered his voice, “The Second Master too?”
Fei Sheng nodded slightly. As if still not reassured, he added,
“He’s sleeping.”
They were in the middle of brewing tea when Qiao Tianya
pushed Yao Wenyu in. Fei Sheng had laid out a rug inside earlier so
that the wheelchair would not make any noise when it entered. As
Kong Ling watched, he could not help but let loose a laugh,
thinking Fei Sheng to be truly a genius.
Yao Wenyu did not inquire about Shen Zechuan’s whereabouts
after settling in. Handling the teacup with care, he said, “Shenwei’s
proclamation was published today. There should be activity from
Fanzhou later on; I will have to trouble Your Excellency to keep a
close eye on the matter.”
The three of them did not have loud voices, so they were all
rather at ease gathered here. Zhou Gui nodded his head in answer.
“Fanzhou has now been surrounded. King Yi and Mount Luo have
not come to an agreement, and the troops under the former are
too weak to resist. My guess is that he will not put up a fight to the
death, but he will definitely make use of the opportunity to bargain
with us.”
“It would be best not to have to deploy troops.” As someone
who had suffered the ravages of war, Kong Ling would rather
resort to reason. “King Yi made a series of boasts to the citizens of
Fanzhou during his rise to prominence, yet he has achieved not a
single one of them to this day. He should also be aware of just how
powerless he is to resist.”
“The only concern is that the men under King Yi will not
concede even if King Yi himself is willing to.” Yao Wenyu thought
about it and said, “Fanzhou and Dengzhou, where King Yi is sitting,
both have a major banditry problem, one that is even worse than it
is in Chazhou. Then, there’s also interference from the brothels
where Cuiqing and the likes are selling women from decent
families; these people all know that surrendering is akin to a death
sentence.”
Shen Zechuan raised his hands to cover Xiao Chiye’s ears as he
listened to their discussion in the darkness.
Yao Wenyu was right; whether for official or private reasons,
there was no way that Shen Zechuan would let off these bandits
and brothels. These people were the root cause of the decay in
Fanzhou and Dengzhou, and keeping them alive would mean
retaining a scourge of calamity that would hinder the two
prefectures’ progress, so Shen Zechuan would never go soft on
them when he started killing them.
“What if we pretend to pardon them when our troops are at
their gates?” Zhou Gui said, “Then make the arrests after the city
gates are open?”
Kong Ling shook his head and said as he served the tea. “Have
you ever considered that if they make use of the opportunity to
incite the common folks of both prefectures, it will equate to
tarnishing the Prefectural Lord’s reputation?”
Shen Zechuan was presently treading with caution everything
he did. It was imperative they took Shen Zechuan’s reputation into
consideration while striving to take over the world. In order to
overwrite Shen Wei’s notoriety, every move they made from
Chazhou onward had been conspicuously one of benevolence and
magnanimity. That was why they had to have a justifiable reason
for his deployment of troops into battle; there must be no
involvement of any kind with the bandits. Otherwise, even if they
occupied Zhongbo in the future, Shen Zechuan would not be able
to establish a virtuous reputation for himself.
Shen Zechuan was listening to their conversation when there
came the sound of footsteps beneath the eaves. Fei Sheng had
gone to the kitchen to call for someone to brew the concoction, so
how was Gao Zhongxiong supposed to know what was happening
inside? He patted the snow off him and called out as he entered.
“My greetings to Your Lordship, that proclamation—”
The three people who were off to the side turned their heads
towards him in unison and shushed him.
 Gao Zhongxiong was so freezing cold his cheeks had gone
red. He immediately stopped talking and shrunk his neck back. He
was still feeling trepidation when he saw Zhou Gui beckon to him,
but seeing as none of the gentlemen said a word, he gingerly
tiptoed over to them and bowed down to say in a very soft voice,
“I’m here to submit my report to His Lordship.”
Unsure how to go about explaining it, Kong Ling could only
say, “Later. Why don’t you take a seat first and have some tea?”
 CHAPTER 195: MASTIFFS
Gao Zhongxiong did not dare to ask any further and sat at the
side, all prim and proper. The freezing cold had gotten to him quite
badly on his way here. It was gradually getting better now, with
some sensation restored in those ears that had been frozen numb.
Seeing as Gao Zhongxiong’s robe was still old, Zhou Gui said,
“It’s bitter cold in Cizhou. You’re way too flimsy dressed.”
Gao Zhongxiong looked a little embarrassed as he clenched
the hem of his clothes and answered in a small, mosquito-like
voice, “Yes… yes.”
Kong Ling could see that something was up. “As someone in a
yamen with limited funds,34 you’re in a far worse position than the
others with lucrative posts. Money that passes through your hands
are all bits and pieces of silver. What’s more, you have only just
arrived in Cizhou, and it isn’t easy for you to settle down in a whole
new place. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to bring it
up.”
The show of concern put Gao Zhongxiong at ease. His eyes
misted over, and he hurriedly stood up. “You have all shown me
utmost solicitude, and His Lordship, too, has treated me with such
tremendous kindness…”
Zhou Gui immediately waved his hand. “Take a seat. There’s no
one else here tonight; there’s no need to be so formal.”
Gao Zhongxiong had no wife, children, or relatives in Cizhou.
No one dared to let him pick up the tab during the usual yamen’s
social functions either. By all logic, his monthly salary should have
been sufficient. However, he dared not tell a soul that his money
had all gone to finance Han Jin.
Last autumn, Shen Zechuan released Han Jin from prison and
put him up at the side courtyard. Han Jin had a hard time in prison,
and with adequate food practically guaranteed on his release, he
ate and drank to his heart’s content for quite an extended period of
time. There were people in the courtyard taking care of his needs,
and when he was back in the pink of health, a young male servant
even came over to play with him. The lad took him along to throw
dice and hold cricket fights, keeping him so entertained he
abandoned himself to pleasure. In less than two months, he forgot
all about returning to Qudu. Then he got addicted to gambling.
Unable to remain in the courtyard, he started venturing outdoors
with the lad, having the whale of his time drinking and having fun
without a care in the world.
But there was only so much monthly budget Shen Zechuan
allocated to Han Jin. Since he could not stop himself from
gambling, he had to think of a way on his own. And so, he set his
sights on Gao Zhongxiong again. He ran to Gao Zhongxiong’s
house almost every day, shouting “disloyal, turncoat slave” 35 as
loud and clear as he possibly could and stood in Gao
Zhongxiong’s path, demanding money.
Gao Zhongxiong could do nothing about him, and he was
embarrassingly low on funds, so how would he still have the
money to buy winter clothes?
Inside the inner chamber, Shen Zechuan’s fingertips had
already gone numb from being grasped by Xiao Chye, although
he was as perspicacious as ever as he listened to their
conversation.
The wind had picked up again at night, sending the cotton-like
snow dancing all over the sky and the wind chimes under the
eaves tinkling ceaselessly. Fearing that the din would disrupt the
discussion within, Gu Jin, who had just returned from Beiyuan
military drill grounds, called for someone to take them down. As he
swept away the snow from his hair, he saw Fei Sheng walk over to
him from the walkway.
“Looking for the Second Master?” With medicine in hand, Fei
Sheng motioned to the room with his chin. “He’s resting. Master
doesn’t allow us to call for him. The journey has been hard on all of
you.”
“It’s snowing so hard that just spurring on the horse alone is
enough to be the death of me.” Gu Jin had just gotten off his horse,
and his ears had gone so numb from the biting cold wind that he
could feel nothing in them. “Second Master hasn’t had a decent
night’s sleep for half a month running.”
Fei Sheng sighed.
Gu Jin made way for him. “Go on ahead. Don’t hold the
Prefectural Lord up from taking his medicine.”
 Before Fei Sheng entered the room, he said in a hushed tone, “I
think everyone will be busy for quite a while, and there’s no need
for anyone to guard this place too. When Chen Yang and Qiao
Tianya come over later, go to the duty room with them for a break.
I’ll get someone to serve snacks and hot tea. Just make do with
these first to fill your tummies.”
It was hard to say when Xiao Chiye would wake up, and when
he did, he would no doubt want to discuss official business. They
had been on the go for several days running, and they would not
be able to withstand standing like a pole here under the eaves with
the wind blowing. This was indeed very thoughtful of Fei Sheng.
The duty room was just a stone’s throw away from the courtyard,
and they would be able to come over right away without any delay
if they were called.
Accepting his kindness, Gu Jin cupped his fists to say his
thanks and held up the hanging screen for him.
Shen Zechuan did not let them light up the lamps, so Fei Sheng
naturally did not carry one. He entered with the tray in his hands
and ladled out the medicine into a porcelain bowl. They were still
speaking softly in the outer room at a volume Shen Zechuan could
hear. Shen Zechuan took the spoon with the hand he could move
and drank it slowly.
Fei Sheng tried his best not to make a sound, but Xiao Chiye
still woke up.
With brows furrowed, Xiao Chiye took a moment to orient
himself before he sat up in one swift move. His black shadow
abruptly enveloped Shen Zechuan, giving Fei Sheng a fright. Xiao
Chiye was still drowsy from his sleep. After a moment of silence, he
looked at Shen Zechuan and asked in a hoarse voice, “What time is
it now?”
Shen Zechuan set his spoon down and looked at Fei Sheng.
“Second Master, it should be the hour of hai now,” Fei Sheng
answered.
To Xiao Chiye’s surprise, he had slept for almost six hours, and
he was still holding onto Shen Zechuan’s hand. As he lowered his
head, he rubbed his nape with his other hand and asked, “Is Gu Jin
back?”
 Fei Sheng took Shen Zechuan’s medicine bowl and answered,
“Just did. They are all currently in the duty room. If Second Master
wants to call for them, I’ll get someone to summon them.”
“Do it.” Xiao Chiye said right at once. “Tell them to go over to
the side hall. I’ll be there in a while.”
On hearing the sound of talking in the inner chamber, those
outside stopped conversing. Fei Sheng stepped out with the empty
bowl, signaled to the various gentlemen with his eyes, and made
his way out under the hanging screen to get someone to summon
Chen Yang and the rest over.
Shen Zechuan moved his numbed fingers that had reddened
from Xiao Chiye’s grip. At the same time Xiao Chiye put on his
outer robe, he asked, “Have you been sitting here all this while?”
All Shen Zechuan could feel in his mouth was the bitterness of
the medicine. He was still thinking over the matters in Fanzhou, so
he half-heartedly replied, “been sitting until my waist ached.”
Xiao Chiye poured himself a cup of cooled tea and held it in his
mouth as he dressed himself quickly. When he saw Shen Zechuan
stand up, he stood in Shen Zechuan’s path, refusing to let him
leave. As Shen Zechuan looked at him questioningly with raised
eyebrows, Xiao Chiye pinched the latter’s chin and fed him the tea,
mouth to mouth, taking away that lingering bitterness.
Shen Zechuan was not tall enough to reach up to Xiao Chiye to
begin with, and Xiao Chiye did not lower his head when he held
Shen Zechuan’s chin, so Shen Zechuan could only stand on tiptoe.
Xiao Chiye led Shen Zechuan into his arms, and Shen Zechuan
gripped Xiao Chiye’s sleeves as Xiao Chiye created such havoc in
his mouth that Shen Zechuan felt weak all over. Unable to hold in
the tea and sensing that it was about to spill, Shen Zechuan had no
choice but to swallow it down hastily, only to choke on it and burst
out into fits of coughing.
Those in the outer room had already drunk their fill of tea.
Listening to the coughs, Zhou Gui was worried that Shen Zechuan
had caught another cold. He was about to voice his concern after a
moment when Kong Ling interrupted him.
“The ground heating system is making this room too warm. I’ll
push Yuanzhuo to the door to get some air.”
 Yao Wenyu wrapped his overcoat around himself and said,
“Then I shall have to trouble Mister Chengfeng.”
They whisked Zhou Gui outside and stood under the eaves for
less than an incense time36 when they saw Xiao Chiye lift the
hanging screen and step out. The group bowed in obeisances and
greeted, “Second Master.”
Xiao Chiye’s chin was red from being bumped against. Seeing
as Chen Yang and the rest had arrived, he returned the greeting
and said, “I’ve been busy on the road these few days and
inadvertently ended up holding all of you back from your
discussions. I’m truly sorry.”
“Second Master has been working day and night tirelessly on
the battlegrounds. It’s time you take a rest.”
They bowed once more to Xiao Chiye. Without further ado,
Xiao Chiye stepped away and led his men over to the side hall.
Zhou Gui felt cold standing in the same place. He swept a
glance around the rest and asked in bafflement, “Shall we go in?”
Yao Wenyu sighed softly at Zhou Gui, but he could not help but
smile as he lifted his hand in a gesture and replied, “Let’s go in.
Your Excellency, you first.”
◈ ◈ ◈
While Cizhou was having discussions through the night,
Fanzhou had already received the proclamation.
This was not the first time King Yi had received a denunciation-
cum-declaration of war from Cizhou, but the few times it happened
last year had all been all talk and no action. Shen Zechuan did not
have the intention to mobilize his troops to fight him, so he took
the proclamation this time as an empty threat too and did not think
much of it.
Fanzhou’s yamen had been expanded and renovated anew;
King Yi housed all the gold, silver, and treasures he plundered
from the two prefectures here and called it the state treasury. He
claimed to be saving them to purchase grains and lands after
spring, but in reality, he had appropriated them for himself and was
using it to fund his debauchery.
With the snow as heavy as it was this year, the number of
common folks from the two prefectures who either starved or froze
to death was beyond measure. A few days ago, the residential
dwellings in multiple locations had also collapsed and crushed
even more people to death. The lower ranks reported this to King
Yi, but he had turned a deaf ear to them all and continued to
indulge in the company of women.37
A bunch of those who had stood by King Yi’s side from the very
beginning of his revolt had been slaughtered in the fight for crop
fields, and the majority of people who still remained were bandits
from the two prefectures. When King Yi was establishing his
position, he had once promised the scholars of both prefectures
that he would change the current situation of the prefectures and
restore the livelihoods of its people. But he wielded his blade the
moment he took control over the yamen and slain the scholars who
remonstrated against him.
Many of the commoners of the two prefectures, finding
themselves in a perilous situation, attempted to flee under cover of
the snow, but they were executed on the spot by the soldiers under
King Yi’s command. Even if someone was brought back alive, they
would be branded with a mark on the chest and set aside in
Fanzhou’s prison as “animals” for King Yi’s winter hunts.
It was after the third night watch at midnight, and King Yi, with
his potbelly, lay on satin cushions drinking himself drunk under the
music of reed pipes. He lifted his golden cup high and said, “Fill it
up!”
Two scantily clad women on both sides of him poured the wine
for him. King Yi held his arm up and muttered, “Keep pouring!
Keep pouring!”
The red pomegranate-like wine spilled over the rim of the cup,
and the woman twisted aside to cover her face seemingly bashfully
as King Yi roared with unbridled laughter. King Yi had long lost his
sense of propriety and was now exposing himself with a public
display of his degenerate, gluttonous self. Due to his obesity, he
had difficulty moving, and he even had to open his arms as wide
as he could to hug the women by his sides.
Cuiqing was sitting in the seat to the bottom left of King Yi. She
had a new face with dashing looks holding her pipe for her. As she
smoked, her eyes darted down below his waist. “I escaped death
by the skin of my teeth and fled back from Dunzhou. What will Your
Highness reward me with? I think this one will do. He is going to be
incredible after a period of training from me.”
This man was a handsome one with an unpowdered face,
broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. Kneeling before Cuiqing, he
raised his head to look up at her upon hearing her. The expression
in his eyes was sultry and frank, and it was so titillating that it sent
an electrifying tingle through Cuiqing’s body and made her heart
itch.
King Yi, being too obese, needed the woman serving him to
help him turn his head. He cast a glance at that man and sneered.
“You have got a good eye. Do you know who this is?”
Cuiqing lifted a foot to step on the man’s chest, feeling the
solidness underneath. “I’ve never seen such a character… Honey
dear, would you like to leave with me?”
King Yi roared with laughter and hissed maliciously, “His
surname is Huo. He’s Huo Lingyun, the eldest, lawful son of Huo
Qing, the Garrison Troops Commander of Dengzhou who was
bitten to death by dogs. Back then, when I wanted to take over
Dengzhou as its master, Huo Qing would rather die than yield and
killed my second younger brother during the battle. After his
capture, I had him tortured for seven days and seven nights before
dumping him at the hunting grounds to let the dogs tear him to
pieces!”
Cuiqing uttered an “oh, my” in surprise and moved in to
scrutinize Huo Lingyun. With a cackle, she said, “Then Your
Highness is truly a magnanimous one to have kept him by your
side and raised him to be so well-built.”
“I initially wanted to kill him,” King Yi said contemptuously. “He
looks the part of a gentleman, but he’s as timid as a mouse. When
he saw his old man being eaten by the dogs, he immediately
kneeled down to hug my thighs and begged me to spare his life.
For that, he was even willing to slave like an ox or a horse for me,
so I kept him by my side as a dog.”
Cuiqing started feeling up Huo Lingyun, and Huo Lingyun
showed her an ingratiating smile. She tenderly gave him a push
and said, “Good dog, show me exactly how obedient you are.”
 King Yi tossed aside his golden cup and said, “There is nothing
he can’t do, and he holds up pretty well. I sent him over to Chief
Fang for seven or eight days to have fun with, and he was still alive
when he returned.”
The expression on Cuiqing’s face frosted over, “Old Fang the
Ninth is already so advanced in age, and yet he’s still so
despicable! He can’t even control his bowels anymore, yet he still
wants to vie with me over a man! Baby, look at me. I’m much better
looking than Old Fang. It must have been hard on you serving an
old macaque like him.”
Huo Lingyun’s chest heaved. He was in a partial state of
undress, with his clothes secured around his waist. He was all
docile and obedient as Cuiqing came pressing in towards him. The
interior of this hall was already a lewd scene, made even more
obscene by the whiny moan Cuiqing let loose at being fondled by
Huo Lingyun. She fell back onto the cushion and motioned for him
to continue.
King Yi, having over-indulged in carnal pleasures, was
presently only bothered with drinking his wine. He loved wine as
he did his life, and he drank himself bloated in this rowdy ruckus as
he rested upon the tender, fragrant bodies of the women serving
him while they massaged his shoulders and kneaded his legs. His
snores boomed like thunder.
The snow outside the hall fell for half the night, and the people
inside were all dead asleep by the time it was almost dawn.
King Yi, his arms spread out, exhaled stale air that reeked of
wine. Huo Lingyun wiped down his body and cleaned up the
sweat. He looked at King Yi a short distance away from him amidst
the undulating snores, then soundlessly stepped over the others to
make his way over to squat down next to King Yi’s pillow.
King Yi did not like to bring his guards along when he was
making merry. He feared death, so the guards, armed with their
blades, all had to stand outside the doors. Huo Lingyun had served
as a plaything under King Yi’s command for an entire six months,
suffering all kinds of humiliation imaginable before he managed to
get such an opportunity.
 He looked at King Yi as if he was looking at those dogs that
had bitten his father to death.
Three soft knocks sounded, right outside the door.
And that was when Huo Lingyun knew that the matter had
been done. He did not stand up, however; instead, he patted King
Yi’s cheek at the same time he picked up the cushion.
King Yi’s snores were cut short in his throat. He reached out a
hand to brush away that empty golden cup, and as the cup
clattered noisily to the floor, he opened his eyes. On seeing Huo
Lingyun, he broke out in a cold sweat and reproved in a stern
voice, “Get away—”
Huo Lingyun had already burst into action. He ruthlessly held
down the cushion over King Yi’s head. King Yi struggled violently,
and the flailing of his thick limbs startled the others in the hall
awake. Huo Lingyun held down that pasty flesh with pudgy rolls of
fat; under the cushion, King Yi was still gasping for breath.
Cuiqing woke up, but she did not realize what was happening
around her.
The terrified King Yi shouted in a muffled voice in between
heavy breathing, “Men, men, save me—!”
Huo Lingyun started laughing even as King Yi was struggling.
He suddenly released his grip, abandoning his attempt to smother
the latter. King Yi tried to scramble up in a panic from under his
hands, but he was too fat, and he sank into the cushion, shouting
himself hoarse, “Men! Come quick!”
Huo Lingyun touched something from the bunched clothes
around his waist. He followed after King Yi.
King Yi crawled on the ground naked like a maggot, gradually
coming to a realization amidst his shouts. It was as if the guards
outside the door were dead—they were indeed dead.
King Yi started to cry. He moved his obese body with stacks
and rolls of fat and prostrated himself at Huo Lingyun’s feet. “Ling,
Lingyun!” He reached out to pull over a woman and shoved her
towards Huo Lingyun. “Don’t kill me, and I’ll give you Fanzhou. I’ll
give you everything t-that’s mine! I’ll even give you the title of King
Yi too!”
 With his chest heaving, Huo Lingyun bent his head down and
yanked King Yi by the hair to drag him towards himself. King Yi did
not understand how the situation could have changed so abruptly.
Everyone from top to bottom in Fanzhou was still at his command
before he had fallen asleep. He kicked out his legs and squealed
loudly like a pig being slaughtered.
It finally hit Cuiqing what was happening. She fumbled for her
clothing in a fluster. Seeing Huo Lingyun dragging King Yi towards
herself, she hurriedly shook her head. “It has nothing to do with
me! Nothing to do—”
A blast rang out at this instant, and the thunderous sound of
something blowing up on impact roared in Cuiqing’s ears and
made her ears buzz. She cried out involuntarily, her eyes wide
opened as she froze in place, stupefied, and with a face splattered
full of red and white filth.
The area between Huo Lingyun’s thumb and the index finger
was hurting intensely from the recoil of the bronze gun.38 The
burning sensation thrilled him. King Yi’s head was just like a
watermelon being trampled into pulp.
Deadly silence descended upon the hall, and then Cuiqing
suddenly shrieked out loud and crawled on all fours like a
madwoman. Clutching her clothes, she ran barefoot across the hall
and lunged at the doors. The doors opened, but Cuiqing stepped
back and fell on her buttocks, her eyes on the doorway where there
were firearms everywhere.
“You abducted women for him.” Huo Lingyun stood in the
gloomy darkness and sent the splattered gore from King Yi into his
mouth. He promptly spat it out. As he stared at Cuiqing, he said in
an icy voice, “You even reared mastiffs you held in captive for
him.”
Cuiqing shook her head and covered her body as she scooted
across the floor. She heard the sound of barking and saw those
mastiffs boring their way out between the gaps of the humans’
legs.
Huo Lingyun stepped on King Yi’s corpse and said as though
he was sizing up meat on the chopping board, “All of you ought to
get a taste of it.”
 Cuiqing’s eyes widened. She wanted to run, but she had gone
weak in the knees. She could only watch helplessly as those
mastiffs broke free of their chains and pounced on her at the same
time she screamed uncontrollably.
Under the sound of the mastiffs tearing and devouring, Huo
Lingyun draped his wide-sleeved robe over his shoulders. He
picked up the proclamation that King Yi had flung away and
promptly proceeded to crumple it.

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Footnotes

1.
2. Cat’s cradle, a game which involves making string figures
with the hands.
3. 寒衣节 Hanyi Festival, or literally winter clothing festival,
which is also called the ancestor worship festival, falls on the
first day of the tenth lunar month, where winter clothes made
of paper or cloth are burned in memory of the deceased
ancestors. It also marks the arrival of the severe cold winter.
4. 清谈 Qingtan is a Chinese philosophical movement and
social practice among political and intellectual elites where
the literati engaged in highly sophisticated intellectual and
philosophical discussions on lofty and non-mundane
matters.

5.
6. 道袍 Daopao; not to be confused with a Daoist priest
robe. This was a common robe typically worn by men in the
Ming Dynasty.
7.

8.
9. 襕衫 Lanshan, a Chinese traditional hanfu made
especially for scholars
10. 万物不(无)以生将恐灭 from Daodejing (道德经) by Laozi
(Lao-tzu, 老子) , also known as the founder of philosophical
Daoism.
11. 道 “the Way”, or the path, is a conceptual term used by
the school of thoughts, although it has different
connotations for Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.
Daoism embraces nature. The Way, or Dao, according to
Laozi and Daoists, is the natural order of the universe, and
Daoism emphasizes doing what is natural and “going with
the flow” in accordance with the Way, with the aim of
becoming one, or in harmony, with nature.
12. The concept of “gentleman” or “man of honor” (junzi, 君
子) in Confucianism (a different philosophical stance from
Daoism), is a virtuous man who is noble in character and an
exemplar for his conducts, morals, principles, etc.
13. 无为而治，道法自然 Specifically, “govern not by
interfering in all that goes against nature, for the Way
models itself on what is natural.” i.e., man should observe the
law of nature and go with the flow. From Daodejing (道德经)
by Laozi (老子).
14. Full line 天下有道，以道殉身；天下无道，以身殉道。(未闻
以道殉乎人者也。) Specifically, “when the Way prevails in the
empire, it goes where one’s person goes; when the Way is
eclipsed, one’s person goes where the Way has gone. (I have
not heard of one’s Way being dependent on their
manifestation in other men).” i.e., One must live or die with
his principles, acting for himself, not with regard to other
men. The Way here refers to one’s principles. Contrary to
Laozi, Mencius (or Mengzi, 孟子) subscribed to the Confucius
school of thoughts, which regards the Way, or dao, as the
way human beings ought to behave with principles and
propriety in society and government. (To put it simply :V)
15. 斩首 the word here used is decapitated or beheaded,
although it also implied the slaying of the Xiao Fangxu in this
context, leaving the Libei Armored Cavalry headless, or
without a leader.
16.
17. 鬼头 kind of carving on the hilt of the blade. See
examples here or here

18.
19. 垛口 duokou, or crenels, empty space between two
merlons

20.
21. Specifically 悬眼 Xuanyan, a loophole opened at the base
of a parapet in-between two crenels.
22.
23. 鬼头刀 literally ghost-headed blade. It’s a kind of blade
used for beheading people sentenced to death in old times.

24.
25. 单梢炮 Single-component catapults, or one-branch
trebuchet
26. 丈 zhang; a measure of length, 1 zhang = ten Chinese
feet (3.3m)
27. Specifically a changdao, or a two-handed, single-edged
Chinese sword.
28.
29. Snowtrooper Lu Guangbai.

Thanks Jia for suggesting.

30. 地龙 dilong, an ancient method of warming with an
indoor ground heating system, built by concreting circular
flue underground where heat would flow from a fire pit
outside through the channels to the entire room and raise
the temperature indoors.
31. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties as well as farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains
32. Tiger, also refers to an extraordinary man or hero. Tiger is
a symbol of ferocity, agility, and courage.
33. 细刀, literally slim blade, although it may also refer to the
miaodao (苗刀, image below)

34. 守夜 shouye, or 守岁 shousui, the tradition of staying

awake until midnight on the eve of Chinese New year. It is
said that if the children stayed up late, their parents would
live a longer life in return.
35. 伤筋动骨一百天 literally, takes a hundred days for the
bones to knit and for the tendons to heal.
36. 水(至)清则无鱼 literally, water which is too clean has
no(/few) fish, i.e., one should not demand absolute purity,
you cannot expect everyone to be squeaky clean.

37.
38. 如意 ruyi, an ancient auspicious symbol that served as a
ceremonial scepter or a symbol of power, often given as gifts
because of the good wishes they implied.
39. Fengshui, or the art of geomancy, is the traditional
Chinese practice of selecting auspicious sites for buildings
and tombs, believed to have a vital influence on the fortune
of a family.
40. 及冠 a man’s 20th birthday, i.e., coming of age at 20 for a
male.
41. 家生子 Children of domestic servants or slaves. These
children were also born in the household and also served as
servants and slaves in the same household.
42. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a visitation card (or name card) written
on paper or wood used by officials, nobles or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
43. In this context, the “young master” would be Xiao Xun,
since his father is now the “master” of the household, so it
makes sense to call Xiao Chiye the second master (after Xiao
Jiming) as calling Xiao Chiye young master would make it
seem like he’s Xiao Jiming’s son instead.
44. 清水衙门 government office with low receipts or
expenditures and hence little or no chance of corruption.
45. 三姓家奴 literally, a slave with three surnames. The term
originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 《三国
演义》 and refers specifically to Lu Bu. It’s used mockingly to
refer to capricious, disloyal and unrighteous people who
serve traitors.
46. 一炷香 the time an incense stick takes to burn. Some
sources suggest one stick takes 30 minutes or one hour, but it
really depends on a variety of factors (the environment,
wind, length of the stick, etc).
47. 温柔乡 land of warmth and tenderness, or a place where
a man can find solace in feminine charms, such as a brothel,
etc.
48.

49.
50. 铜火铳 Huochong, or blunderbuss (according to baidu),
or sometimes known as a hand cannon, is a tube-like
projection firearm used as a gun. The Huochong gun was an
important invention as the Ming Dynasty was creating
weapons to defend themselves from attackers.
 CHAPTER 196: OLD MAN
After breakfast the next day, Xiao Chiye put on his heavy armor
with the intent to head over to the Beiyuan hunting grounds. Shen
Zechuan slept little these few days, and it was only until last night
that he got a good night’s sleep, so much that he was still a tad
lethargic when he stood under the eaves to see Xiao Chiye off.
The snow had ceased today, and the sun shone so brightly the
courtyard was practically glittering. Xiao Chiye let Meng perch on
him and turned back to talk to Shen Zechuan, only to see Shen
Zechuan standing sleepily in front of the door with an unhappy
expression.
“When will you be back?” Shen Zechuan asked.
Xiao Chiye undid the chain on Meng’s talons, and Meng
promptly made to pounce on Shen Zechuan. Xiao Chiye held it
down and answered, “I’ll try my best to return earlier. If anything’s
the matter, send someone to call for me.”
Being bathed in the sunlight also made Shen Zechuan sparkle.
Avoiding the rays, he squinted his expressive eyes and called out,
“A—Ye.”
Xiao Chiye made to kiss this little baddie, startling Shen
Zechuan. Capitalizing on his height advantage, Xiao Chiye raised
his arm against the door frame and, when Shen Zechuan stepped
back, led him back with a hand. The hanging screen covered the
back of his head, although Xiao Chiye did not bother with moving
it out of the way.
Shen Zechuan took a kiss to the mouth.
Chen Yang, busy mulling over the escort tasks they were about
to return to Bianbo Camp to make arrangements for, was not
paying attention to the movement on the other end. Gu Jin saw the
hanging screen swing, and then both men were gone. He took off
his gloves and said, “The Prefectural Lord and Master…”
Unable to find the right words, Gu Jin could only look at Chen
Yang and hinted at the latter with his eyes.
Chen Yang knew Gu Jin had been alarmed by Shen Zechuan’s
discussions in the hall last night, so he closed the book and looked
over too. After watching for a moment, he said, “Master has had it
rough fighting battles on the battlefields after what happened with
the former Prince of Libei. He may seem fine now, but I fear his
heart is still healing like the wound on his back… it’s a good thing
for them to stick together to each other like glue.”
After that specific night, many people wanted to baby Xiao
Chiye. They kept away from the heavy snow as much as they could
and watched Xiao Chiye cautiously, as if Xiao Chiye had already
lost his strength and was now no more than a fragile vase. Shen
Zechuan was just the opposite. He said not a single word of
consolation to Xiao Chiye, but the expression in his eyes spoke
volumes of his dependence on Xiao Chiye. It was as if he would
resent the weather for being cold and fault the medicine for being
bitter if he so much as stepped away from Xiao Chiye by even half
a step. In fact, Shen Zechuan was revealing another layer of
meaning behind his extreme reliance on Xiao Chiye, and that was,
Xiao Chiye was strong.
Xiao Chiye did not need to be treated as porcelain. He was
iron. He was steel.
He was also Shen Zechuan’s Hongyan Mountains.
And this was how Xiao Chiye responded to him too.
◈ ◈ ◈
Before the discussion of official affairs, Shen Zechuan had Fei
Sheng summon Gao Zhongxiong, who stood before the study
waiting for Shen Zechuan. When Shen Zechuan arrived, he had
him dispense with the formalities. “I had someone take your
measurements last night. The winter clothes will be delivered to
your residence in a few days. It’s cold at present. Do you still have
charcoal fire in your house?”
Gao Zhongxiong was formerly an adviser to Han Jin. When he
first came to Cizhou, he knew Shen Zechuan would not employ
him, and that was why he had taken such an ill-advised step. It was
only because he came highly recommended by Yao Wenyu that he
could get a job in the yamen. But Shen Zechuan rarely spoke to
him, and this, in turn, made Gao Zhongxiong somewhat terrified to
be speaking to him now.
Whenever Gao Zhongxiong was nervous, he would sweat and
stutter—an unfortunate conditioned effect of being ridiculed too
much when he was in Dancheng. He wiped away the beads of
sweat, his chin lowered so low it was about to jab into his chest as
he muttered, “It’s as Your Lordship admonished. Your Lord,
Lordship…”
The advisors in the room were all already in place. Kong Ling
was presently standing under the eaves waiting for Shen Zechuan
to enter. Gao Zhongxiong knew he was clumsy with words, and so
he was even more worked up with anxiety as he sweated buckets
and tried to finish his sentence.
Shen Zechuan remembered how bold and spirited Gao
Zhongxiong had been when he kneeled in the heavy rain a year
ago to denounce the eunuch faction, so he listened in all
seriousness for him to finish saying his piece before he added,
“You are not married at present. If the monthly salary from the
yamen is insufficient, just let the local government know.”
Gao Zhongxiong initially thought Shen Zechuan detested him
and that it was only on Yao Wenyu’s account that Shen Zechuan did
not voice it out. He did not expect Shen Zechuan to be so amicable
today. For a moment, his emotions got the better of him, and he
choked out a sob, “It’s all thanks to the grace and kindness of the
Prefectural Lord that I could have a job in the yamen. Moreover, the
salary is issued on time every month. How c-can I take more?”
With even more gentleness, Shen Zechuan said, “You are also a
man of letters in my employ; it will be ill-advised for you to keep on
belittling yourself anymore.”
A multitude of emotions welled up in Gao Zhongxiong’s heart
as he wiped his tears. Shen Zechuan was willing to use him and
even respected him. As the saying went, a gentleman would die for
the one who understood and appreciated him on his own merits.
He was truly willing to serve under Shen Zechuan. He was about to
voice some words of gratitude, but Shen Zechuan raised his hand
to stop him and gestured for him to keep up pace as they headed
for the study.
◈ ◈ ◈
Cizhou initially planned to borrow a general for their
mobilization of troops to Fanzhou this time, but seeing as King Yi
had long-standing public resentment stacked against him and that
Fanzhou was internally empty, Shen Zechuan did not borrow one
from the Libei Armored Cavalry. Instead, he appointed the
commander of the Cizhou Garrison Troops, Yin Chang.
This Yin Chang was a high-ranking military officer of the Cizhou
Garrison Troops before the defeat of the Zhongbo troops. After its
commander died in battle, Zhou Gui promoted him to the post.
Before Shen Zechuan came to Cizhou, Yin Chang was a one-man
army commander.
This man was about the same age as Ji Gang. He was an avid
drinker with a full beard, and he hated taking a bath the most in
life. For this reason, he appeared particularly unkempt. He could be
considered to be kindred spirits with Qiao Tianya. Before Qiao
Tianya quit drinking, they often drank together.
Looking hesitant, Kong Ling said, “Yin Chang is advanced in
age, and he has not stepped into the battlefield for several years.
I’m afraid he is not up to the task if he’s sent into battle.”
Surprisingly enough, Zhou Gui did not agree this time. “A
veteran general has the advantages of a veteran general. If the
Prefectural Lord is willing to assign him to deploy troops, he will
definitely do his best.”
“Other than Yin Chang,” Shen Zechuan unexpectedly piped up,
“Fei Sheng will also tag along during the deployment of troops to
Fanzhou this time.”
Yao Wenyu’s wide sleeves bulged from the crouching cat
underneath. He covered it with his hand and said, “Now that the
bridle paths are accessible, the military provisions can be supplied
by both Cizhou and Chazhou. It takes only one day to reach
Fanzhou.”
“That’s right.” Shen Zechuan set his fan on his lap. He looked at
the others. “Time is of the essence now. It’s imperative we obtain
Fanzhou and Dengzhou. We will have to fight a quick battle for this
one.”
A chorus of acknowledgement in the affirmative rose, and with
that, everyone began to discuss in hushed tones about the
arrangements to be made for filling in the vacancies in Fanzhou
and Dengzhou’s yamen when the time came.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Yin Chang deployed his troops as he was commanded to,
while Fei Sheng went along for the ride with forty Imperial
Bodyguards as part of the entourage.
Fei Sheng had only met Yin Chang just before setting off. This
commander’s hair was even whiter than Ji Gang’s. He was not at all
tall, and he had a drunkard’s nose that was a bright shade of red.
Fei Sheng paid his obeisances to Yin Chang before the horse,
although the latter seemed to have yet to sober up from his
inebriation as he mumbled, “Rise.”
Fei Sheng had specially taken a leaf out of Qiao Tianya’s book
and brought along some fine wine to show his respect to Yin
Chang. Yin Chang opened it up for a sniff and shouted out
“awesome” in a voice so booming that Fei Sheng nearly lost his
grip on the reins from the force of it.
Seeing as Yin Chang was about to drink the wine now, Fei
Sheng hurriedly raised his hands to stop him. With an apologetic
smile, he said, “Elder Yin, please hold on. This wine is strong, and
it’d be hard to travel if you’re drunk. Let’s wait for us to return in
triumph, and I shall play host and drink with you into oblivion!”
Yin Chang twitched his nose. While Fei Sheng was talking, he
had already taken several consecutive gulps of the wine as though
he was starving. The wine relaxed him all over, making his nose
even redder. He breathed out several puffs of hot air and patted Fei
Sheng heavily on the shoulder. Loudly, he said, “Lad, there’s no
need for you to worry. I’ve traversed Zhongbo for over ten years,
and I can find my way around even with my eyes closed! This wine
sobers me up the more I drink it; a great perk-me-up for the
journey!”
Fei Sheng estimated Yin Chang’s age. He was pretty tempted to
leave right now had this battle not been to take down Fanzhou—
Which part of this senile old man looks like he can fight a battle?!
Although this was what he was thinking deep down, he still said
with a smile, “Sure thing, I’m at your command this trip.” He led the
horse over to Yin Chang and asked, “Shall I help you up the
horse?”
Yin Chang tied the wine bag28 to his waist, patted it, and
grinned mischievously at Fei Sheng. “Heh heh, just you watch. I’ll
get on myself—”
“Whoa.” Seeing Yin Chang’s foot slip off the saddle, the sharp-
eyed Fei Sheng deftly supported the old man and hastened to say,
“Steady there, man!”
Fei Sheng, in holding Yin Chang, realized that this old man
boasted a pair of thick, sturdy legs that weighed a ton. He helped
Yin Chang onto his horse, finding this old man to be quite the
character; who knows, maybe he was truly capable. But not long
after, Yin Chang felt sleepy on his horse and almost slid off the
back of the horse numerous times. It was all thanks to Fei Sheng for
having someone keep an eye on him that he did not tumble off.
Cizhou was not that far away from Fanzhou. It was just a two-
day journey or so, yet Fei Sheng was on tenterhooks the entire way,
fearing that the commanding general would first fall to his death
before they had even made it to Fanzhou. Their journey was
daunting but uneventful, and they finally arrived at their
destination. After setting up camp, Fei Sheng waited for Yin Chang
to make military plans for the siege. But never in his wildest
imagination would he expect this old man to lie down and fall
asleep the moment he entered the tent. In no time, his snores
reverberated throughout the tent like claps of thunder, and no
amount of noise they made in their attempts to wake him up could
stir him.
Fei Sheng stood outside of the tent and looked all around him.
All the soldiers from the Cizhou Garrison Troops were new recruits;
Yin Chang had not even arranged for a night patrol squad, and as
such, they were all stumbling about like fools without so much a
dignified air to them.
The hell they gonna fight this damn battle?
Fei Sheng spat, sorely tempted to write a letter to Shen Zechuan
right there and then. In the end, the Imperial Bodyguards could
only stand in for them and conduct the night patrol themselves. Fei
Sheng guarded the camp until the day broke. Both of his eyes were
bloodshot as he watched Yin Chang step out of his tent with
renewed vigor. He forced a smile on his stiff, frozen face.
“Elder Yin, you sure had a good sleep, huh?” Fei Sheng rubbed
his hands and feet together. “So, when do you think we should lay
siege to the city?”
Yin Chang sat down and poured wine from the wine bag,
although he only drank two small cups. “No rush. No rush.”
But the command Fei Sheng had received was to fight a quick
battle, so he said, “There has been no wind or snow for the past
few days. If we miss the opportunity, the battle will be much harder
to fight.”
Yin Chang sipped the wine and looked in Fanzhou’s direction.
His beard shook as he smacked his lips to savor the wine.
“Whatcha’ in such a rush for? I don’t think it’s time yet.”
Fei Sheng guessed that this old man was afraid to fight battles.
The man called Yin Chang did not exist in the Imperial
Bodyguard’s records, and when Fei Sheng had been gathering
intelligence and taking records, he had flipped through Cizhou’s
archives; Yin Chang did not have any meritorious achievements
prior to the case of the troops’ defeat. The reason he could be
promoted to the position of commander was because the
commanders of the Cizhou garrison troops were all dead. That,
and the fact that he had the fortune to meet a nice fella like Zhou
Gui who promoted him on the basis of his seniority.
Yin Chang had no sense of presence even after he was
promoted to commander. He was drinking when Zhou Gui and
Kong Ling reclaimed the wastelands, and he was still drinking
when the bandits of Mount Luo led by Lei Jingzhe harassed Cizhou
time and time again. Even when the Cizhou garrison troops had
been re-established, he still seemed like an ornament merely there
for show; he had never played a role in any capacity at all.
Shen Zechuan’s decision to deploy Yin Chang to war this time
was because Cizhou did indeed lack generals, along with the fact
that Fanzhou was easy to take down—there was nothing of difficulty
for him to contend with. The Cizhou garrison troops needed an
opportunity to stand on their own feet, and this was a good
chance, for it did not require too powerful a commanding general
to lead. All he needed to do was to go with the flow and capture
Fanzhou when the right opportunity arose, and that would have
sufficed.
 As Fei Sheng thought things over, he saw Yin Chang sit down
opposite him, kick off his boots, and start to scratch a foot. Fei
Sheng wanted to speak up, but was too overwhelmed by the
stench of the old man’s feet to say a word. He hurriedly stood up
and cupped his fists towards Yin Chang before running off to the
side for some fresh air.
Yin Chang wiggled his toes and picked the crevices clean. He
had gone without bathing for almost two months now, and even
he himself could no longer stand his own stench as he held his
foot and muttered to himself.
◈ ◈ ◈
Hairigu was presently staying at the Beiyuan military drill
grounds; Shen Zechuan had left all the Scorpions here. Initially, the
Scorpions did not get along with the Cizhou garrison troops and
were constantly subjected to verbal attacks. It was only after the
Imperial Bodyguards mediated that both sides did not come to
blows.
Hairigu had only just finished cleaning himself up from
showering bare-back despite it being such a cold day today. On his
way back from the well, he saw the gates of the camp open.
Dark and dreary suits of heavy armor swept in, stomping over
the mud concealed beneath the thin snow and sending them
splattering and splashing all over Hairigu when they passed by
him. He cursed under his breath and wiped his face, only to see
that the horse at the head had already turned around and was
presently staring at him.
Hairigu recognized Lang Tao Xue Jin. He raised the wooden
basin in his hand, toeing the line as he greeted, “hello, Second
Master.”
Xiao Chiye was so heavily armored up that not even his eyes
were revealed. He cut an overwhelmingly intimidating figure with
his tall, strapping stature on horseback. Lang Tao Xue Jin kept
closing in towards Hairigu, leaving the latter with no choice but to
raise his head to look at Xiao Chiye.
“The Prefectural Lord said to keep me.” Hairigu was still wearing
his cloth shoes like slippers, with heels treading down on the
backs. He scanned the surrounding Libei Armored Cavalry, who
was eyeing him menacingly, and looked at Xiao Chiye again. “… I
think he’s right.”
“I’ll give you the horses today,” Xiao Chiye’s voice was low and
deep. “Bring your soldiers to the military drill grounds.”
Hairigu understood what Xiao Chiye meant to do. In the past
few days, he had been training here with the Libei Armored
Cavalry. He put down the wooden basin and wore his shoes
properly. “I can also bring along my iron hammers… if you would
try out our new military formation.”
Lang Tao Xue Jin snorted hot puffs of air. The heavily armored
horse inched closer once more, forcing Hairigu to retreat
backward.
“New military formation?” Xiao Chiye asked.
Hairigu took a step back and immediately explained himself. “I
learned it from an old man.” He raised a finger to point at his nose.
“An old man with a red nose.”
 CHAPTER 197: (UN)EXPECTED
Fei Sheng could not figure out what Yin Chang was up to. The
Cizhou garrison troops had arrived in Fanzhou for two days, yet no
action had been taken. The few times Yin Chang went out had all
been to take aimless strolls after his meals. Fei Sheng was burning
with anxiety, but he was only part of the entourage and could not
even be considered an army-inspecting censor.
Fei Sheng wanted to write to Shen Zechuan, but he was worried
that Yin Chang might turn out to be really capable. If it so
happened that the garrison troops were to return in triumph, then,
before Shen Zechuan, he would become the real villain who made
false accusations on the sly for his own selfish purposes. Even if he
had been initially justified in doing so, he would still become the
unreasonable one.
On this day, Fei Sheng lay down to rest. He slept until
approximately the hour of xu when he was suddenly awakened by
his subordinate.
“Bad news,” the Imperial Bodyguard said. “That old crook is
gone!”
Fei Sheng swiftly sat up and picked up his boots. As he hopped
and stomped his feet into them, he asked in disbelief, “Gone? He
ran?”
Fei Sheng swiped the tent flap open and stepped out for a look.
The entire campground was still illuminated, but there were only a
thousand or so men left. His heart started pounding hard. It’s over,
he thought. If they lost the battle of Fanzhou, then his future was as
good as finished too. But then, he thought, that can’t be right!
No matter how he looked at it, they would not lose the battle of
Fanzhou. Win this battle and take down Fanzhou, and they would
be rewarded. Yin Chang could even cement his position as the
commander with this one battle; there was no reason for him to
flee. Besides, half of Zhongbo was already surrounded by Shen
Zechuan. Even if Yin Chang ran, he had nowhere to go. Not unless
he switched camps and threw in his lot with King Yi.
Fei Sheng looked up suddenly in Fanzhou’s direction. “That old
crook better not switch allegiance right before the battle…”
 The Imperial Bodyguards on night patrol returned bearing their
whips in hands and sounded the whistle before dismounting.
“There are traces of troops on the move three li to the southeast!”
Fei Sheng took a few steps forward and asked, “The garrison
troops or the Fanzhou traitors?”
“They are heading our way.” The Imperial Bodyguards hung up
their whips and righted their blades. “In all probability, it’s a night
attack.”
Fei Sheng’s heart sank. From Qudu to Zhongbo, he had never
once served as a general, and he was no expert in mobilizing
troops to war. He turned around to survey the campground. “So the
commander fled. What about the next-in-command, the Platoon
Commander? Call him out to fight!”
The Imperial Bodyguard following behind him answered, “He
fled too!”
Fei Sheng was really regretting it now. If he had known that Yin
Chang would be so unreliable, he would have dragged Gu Jin
over. At the very least, Gu Jin would be able to stand in for the
missing commander. He calmed himself down and asked his
subordinate, “How many men do we have left?”
“One thousand.” The Imperial Bodyguard pressed against the
hilt of his blade. “The old man even rounded it up to a round
number.”
Fei Sheng hissed through gritted teeth, “well, I thank his entire
family for that!”
Left without a choice, Fei Sheng could only brace himself and
step into the role. He shouted for the soldiers to extinguish all the
torches and prepare to evacuate. At the very least, they could not
remain in the campgrounds as live targets for the enemy forces.
Besides, they could still circumvent the enemies once they got to
the snowfield. But they had only put out half the fire when he heard
the sound of the enemies’ running footsteps in the wind.
“Withdraw now.” Fei Sheng knew just from the sound alone that
he could not win this fight. “Retreat!”
The remaining soldiers buckled up and dragged their blades
along to follow behind the Imperial Bodyguards. They ran with all
their might, cutting a particularly sorry sight as they threw
everything away while taking flight. Fei Sheng had a horse, but he
dared not leave these 1,000 men behind and flee back to Cizhou
by himself. The battle had not even been fought, and they had
already lost the soldiers. Fei Sheng could already imagine Shen
Zechuan’s wrath.
Fei Sheng had not even run a few li when he heard the sound
of troops surrounding them right ahead in the dark night. They
had pitched camp here for several days running, and the Fanzhou
soldiers, having long gotten a clear grasp on the routes, had
surrounded the front and rear of the campground in preparation of
rounding them all up with one fell swoop tonight.
Fei Sheng was caught in a dilemma, with no room to advance
or retreat. This situation differed completely from the situation a
few months ago in Dunzhou. He was exposed in this wilderness
with nothing to provide him with cover. Perhaps the 1,000 soldiers
he had on hand might be able to ward off small groups of surprise
attacks, but they were undoubtedly too powerless to resist an
onslaught of attack from a force that far exceeded their own
numbers.
The Fanzhou soldiers gathered together as they approached.
These people were even more of a motley crew than the Cizhou
garrison troops were; they had no armors or even standardized
weapons. The circle of soldiers shrank as they closed in on them
like an ant colony swarming towards them. Fei Sheng’s horse and
the garrison troops pressed up against each other. Enemy troops
that were more than double their numbers were everywhere
around them. The wave of enemy forces pushed against the wall of
men, crowding the garrison troops so much that it was hard for
them to even bend over.
The only way to get a slim chance of survival in such a situation
was to do or die.
Gasping for his breath, Fei Sheng hesitated for merely a
fraction of a second. He killed his horse with a slash, and as hot
blood splattered, he raised his blade and shouted, “I am a trapped
beast, just like all of you. If we cannot fight to the death and break
out of this encirclement, then this can only be our burial grounds!”
 The soldiers were already terrified when they were surrounded,
and when they saw Fei Sheng riding on his horse, they were afraid
he would abandon the troops and flee. That consequently made
them even more unmotivated to fight. All they wanted to do was to
kneel and beg for mercy. But now that Fei Sheng had slashed his
horse dead and expressed his determination to advance and
retreat with them, their morale was instantly boosted. Fei Sheng
knew very well the effect of taking the lead in battle, and in the
middle of his speech, he had already charged up to cut down the
enemy’s troops head-on as he led his men towards the northwest
in a desperate fight to break through the encirclement.
Right at this moment, a bellow suddenly burst out from the
southeast, and a file of soldiers charged into the ranks of Fanzhou
soldiers like a sharp blade stabbing into their bodies, tearing them
apart with terror and sending sprays of blood splattering all over. In
no time, eight columns of troops had already penetrated their way
in.
Yin Chang’s face was so flushed from drinking that it was hard
to tell if he was drunk or freezing cold. He blew his nose, so happy
that he leaped in joy and boomed in a loud and clear voice to Fei
Sheng across hundreds of men. “Oh, you’re still alive!”
Fei Sheng kicked out at the enemy’s chest without pulling his
blade out. All the words he wanted to say condensed into one:
“Fuck!”
He had been used as bait by Yin Chang!
Given that a total of 8,000 men from the Cizhou Garrison
Troops were mobilized, there was originally no need to design
such a tactic to take down Fanzhou. But Yin Chang sensed
something amiss after their arrival in Fanzhou. He had long heard
that King Yi did not permit the commoners in Fanzhou to flee out of
the territory, and he had installed troops at the borders to stop
these people. But they did not encounter any obstructions when
they crossed into the border; in fact, they had not even come
across a single Fanzhou soldier.
King Yi had already received the declaration of war. If he had
the intent to surrender, he should have opened the gates a long
time back to welcome them. But not only did he not open the
gates, he even recalled the troops at the border. He was clearly
concentrating his forces in preparation for a fight to the death with
the Cizhou garrison troops.
Yin Chang guessed that Fanzhou would ally with the Dengzhou
soldiers in order to emerge victorious. It was only when they had
the numbers to crush the Cizhou garrison troops they would dare
to meet Cizhou’s attack in such a way. The old man was a crafty
one. Knowing that he had not brought along enough men, he
threw Fei Sheng out as bait for the Fanzhou soldiers to bite. He
waited for the Fanzhou soldiers to assemble together in a group,
then used the “dagger” formation29 to launch a surprise attack from
the back to break them up before destroying them one by one.
As Fei Sheng wiped away the blood, he saw those dagger
squads30 cutting through the enemy forces like hot knives cutting
through butter, so much that the Fanzhou soldiers were unable to
converge together again.
The blades of Yin Chang’s squads were facing outward on all
sides; it was a battle formation clearly drawn on the same one Lu
Guangbai used to fight the Biansha Cavalry, although Yin Chang
made some changes by lining these squads up in very narrow
columns, turning them from Lu Guangbai’s square-shaped
“battering ram”31 into a long-shaped “dagger”.
Such dagger squads were ruthless and swift when launching a
surprise attack from the back. The moment they pierced into the
enemy camp, they would be able to tear the other party apart from
within. The Fanzhou soldiers, who did not even have armors, had
no time at all to cover their asses. In the blink of an eye, they were
all cut down into bloody pulps of flesh.
This old man really is something!
Fei Sheng’s confidence soared upon seeing victory within their
grasp. But before he could open his mouth, he took a hit from Yin
Chang’s sweeping leg.32 Yin Chang might have been advanced in
age, but his martial art moves with his lower limbs were the real
deal, and it caused Fei Sheng to fall headfirst. Fei Sheng had only
just landed on the ground when a blade above his head sliced
through the air with a “swoosh”.
 The Fanzhou soldiers were now beating a retreat. Dragging his
blade along, Yin Chang chased after them and hollered, “Where
are you running off to, lads!”
Since Fanzhou had amassed together its troops, then those
who had turned up tonight were the main force in the territory. As
long as they could defeat these people, there would be no more
possibility of King Yi resisting. The morale of the Fanzhou troops
was already crushed, while the morale of the Cizhou garrison
troops was at an all-time high. This was the moment to fight and
win a quick battle. Yin Chang would never let them return to the
city.
Fei Sheng climbed to his feet and gave chase. But who could
have guessed that this old man would have such amazing
footwork? He was astonishingly fast as he ran and barged his way
through in the night. Fei Sheng could only just about barely keep
up. They chased for a few li when Fei Sheng realized that the
direction was wrong. He was about to call out to Yin Chang when
he suddenly heard the sound of horses’ hooves.
“Reinforcements!” Fei Sheng’s legs straightened as he came to
a halt and tried to drag Yin Chang back. “Elder Yin, it’s the
reinforcements from Fanzhou!”
Fei Sheng was just the same as Gu Jin—he had a keen sense of
hearing. As he had few opportunities to tag along with the army,
he did not have Gu Jin’s ability to identify the type of soldiers from
the sound alone. However, he had extraordinary observational
skills, and he could tell that the sound of these horses’ hooves was
slightly heavy; they did not seem to be ordinary cavalry.
The night was starless, with continuous stretches of snow dunes
in the wilderness. Fragments of snow slid along the mounds,
rustling in the wind as the wind blew them to the feet of the Cizhou
garrison troops. Yin Chang, ever the obstinate one charging at the
fore, could already see the small number of cavalry. With his sense
of smell wrecked from inhaling the fumes of one too many wines,
he failed to catch a whiff of the smell in the air even with the wind
blowing in his direction.
Fine, delicate bits of snow pounced on Fei Sheng’s face. In that
instant the snow melted, he caught the smell of gunpowder in the
air. His hair promptly stood on end. He braked to a sudden stop,
swung his arms apart, and said sharply to the Imperial Bodyguards
beside him, “Firearms—!”
Before Fei Sheng’s voice even fully left his mouth, flames burst
out of the darkness like that of a meteor shower. Without even
thinking, Fei Sheng sprang into the air like a tiger and pounced
onto Yin Chang’s back from behind, taking the old man along with
him as he tumbled into the snow. That resounding “BANG”
slammed into his ears like a blunt instrument smashing onto his
skull, the sound so explosive that Fei Sheng nearly lost his sense of
hearing.
What a miscalculation!
Fei Sheng’s back, which had been hit by shrapnel, was burning
with searing pain. He propped himself up with an arm and shook
his head hard. As he could not hear his own voice clearly, he could
only shout with all his might at Yin Chang, “This stuff burns! Retreat,
NOW!”
Fei Sheng had seen firearms in the armory of the Eight Great
Training Divisions before. This instrument could only be equipped
by the Chunquan Battalion of the Eight Great Training Divisions; it
was restricted by the imperial court, with the blueprint to forge it left
under the charge of the Ministry of War. Xiao Chiye and Shen
Zechuan both had designs on firearms before, but neither of them
had managed to get their hands on the blueprint.
No wonder this cavalry stood unmoving earlier—they were
loading the firearms. Who knew how long the enemy had been
observing them for the night? They were not here for the Cizhou
garrison troops, but Yin Chang. As the saying goes, strike at the
most vulnerable spot, much like hitting a snake seven inches below
its head, and Yin Chang was the Achilles heel of the Cizhou
garrison troops.
Yin Chang had been blindsided by this bullet. The old man
struggled in the snow, covering his ears as he shouted in alarm at
Fei Sheng, “Why the hell is there thunder?!”
Where in the world would Fei Sheng have the time to explain
things to an old country bumpkin who had never seen the world?
He got to his feet and dragged Yin Chang along as he ran back.
Yin Chang shifted his palm away and cranked his head to take a
look. Another explosion resounded from the cavalry behind them,
and the barrage of fired projectiles scraped past Yin Chang’s
buttocks, hurting Yin Chang so much that he yelled at the top of his
lungs.
Fei Sheng thought Yin Chang had been hit. In a moment of
anxiety, he said, “Don’t you die now!”
No matter what happened tonight, Fei Sheng had to keep this
old man alive. He knew very well that Shen Zechuan was currently
lacking generals, and Yin Chang would no doubt go on to be of
great use in the future. The point was that if Yin Chang were to die
here, then Fei Sheng, a stranger to warfare, would return in
disgrace, and when that time came, it remained to be seen
whether or not he could still retain his original post, let alone have
a future to speak of. Shen Zechuan still had Qiao Tianya at his
disposal; Fei Sheng was not his only option.
Therefore, Yin Chang must not die!
Frightened, Yin Chang took to his heels with his hands
covering his head. He did not even need Fei Sheng to pull him
along as he left Fei Sheng trailing behind in his wake after a few
steps, repeatedly muttering to himself, “Strike anyone but me. This
old man has never done anything unconscionable. Strike anyone
but…”
Bullshit!
Following close on Yin Chang’s heels, Fei Sheng felt pissed.
With a sudden burst of strength, he cursed Yin Chang as he chased
him, “You old crook, you are too black-hearted! Weren’t you the
one who threw me in the camp as bait?”
Yin Chang turned his neck around to refute, “warfare is all
about deception, deception!” 33
They dashed frantically through the wilderness without letting
up. Fortunately, the enemy did not have the intent to pursue them,
and they withdrew after chasing the Cizhou garrison troops away
for half a li. After running for half a night and fighting with the
Fanzhou troops for the other half, the Cizhou garrison troops were
now utterly drained and exhausted. It was such a cold day, and yet
they were all drenched in sweat and panting like an ox while
propping themselves up.
As Fei Sheng wiped his sweat and caught his breath, realization
hit him. He turned around. Looking at the first glimmer of dawn on
the horizon, he spat hard and said, “We’ve been tricked.”
◈ ◈ ◈
By the time the military reports made their way back to Cizhou,
it was already the dead of night. Shen Zechuan had on in a loose-
fitting robe as he finished looking over Fei Sheng’s report in the
hall. The entire hall was utterly silent; no one dared to take a peep
at the expression on the Prefectural Lord’s face.
Everyone had believed Fanzhou to be in the bag and had not
expected to meet with a tough fight. The Cizhou garrison troops
had prepared for half a year, and Shen Zechuan had previously
invited Libei and the Imperial Army to train them, yet their first
battle was so hopelessly botched. Anyone else would be infuriated.
It was so quiet in the study that one could hear a pin drop. Yao
Wenyu covered his mouth and coughed for a long time. As he
clenched his fist, he said, “Your Lordship, please be appeased for
the time being. Firearms have always been prohibited by the court,
so their appearance in Fanzhou is truly unexpected. Even though
King Yi is in possession of such powerful weapons, his defeat is
already cast in stone—he won’t be able to change the outcome .”
Yu Xiaozai, who had just returned from Dunzhou, had not even
warmed his chair yet. Afraid that Shen Zechuan would severely
punish the garrison troops because of this, he braved the solemn
atmosphere and spoke up. “Chill, Your Lordship…”
Oh no, he forgot to switch to bureaucratic speak!
Yu Xiaozai slapped his knees in chagrin, and the advisors
around him promptly bowed their heads even lower.
With this interruption from Yu Xiaozai, Shen Zechuan’s fury
cooled. He covered the letter, and his expression warmed up
again. Only then did the rest of them dare to breathe.
“Yuanzhuo is right,” Kong Ling continued in a soft voice. “Even
with firearms in his possession, King Yi can’t stir up any waves.
Fanzhou is in short supply of grains. Even if he shuts the gates and
stays inside, there is no way he can make it out alive.”
 As Yao Wenyu lowered his sleeves, he said, “But it’s rather
strange… if King Yi already had firearms in hand, how could he
have been forced into a corner to such an extent? Just by reselling
them to the Mount Luo bandits, he would have been able to earn
enough to cover the military salaries for recruiting new soldiers.
Moreover, the confrontation this time doesn’t seem like King Yi’s
usual style.”
Zhou Gui recalled the words Yao Wenyu said a few days ago,
and the color promptly drained from his face. “Could it be that
King Yi has already been killed by the bandits in Fanzhou as
Yuanzhuo had anticipated? This battle feels rather odd to me when
I look at it too.”
Zhou Gui knew Yin Chang well. His promotion of Yin Chang
was not what Fei Sheng thought it was. Rather, it was because he
felt that Yin Chang had the capability to fight wars. If King Yi also
had such an ability, then Fanzhou should have launched an attack
on Cizhou a long time ago.
Kong Ling was also getting suspicious too. “As Fei Sheng said
in his letter, it indeed doesn’t look like what King Yi would do.”
Silence gradually returned to the study as everyone waited for
Shen Zechuan to speak. Shen Zechuan raised his eyes to look at the
group with an icy expression in his eyes and said, “Reply and tell
Yin Chang that either the garrison troops will return in triumph
seven days later, or he will come and see me with his own head in
hand.”
Shen Zechuan gave the garrison troops abundant provisions
and even equipped them with superior gear. If the garrison troops
could not even take down Fanzhou, then there was no need at all
to further consider his grand, ambitious plans to reign supreme.
A mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.
After this spring, Zhongbo could only have one master.
Regardless of whether King Yi was real or fake, Shen Zechuan was
set on taking Fanzhou.

Author’s Note:
The bronze firearm is more like a shotgun or scattergun. It has an
advantage only in the face of the enemy. It won’t work from a
distance away. For detail, please refer to chapter 37.
Thank you for reading.
 CHAPTER 198: YIN CHANG
Fei Sheng no longer dared to belittle Yin Chang. The power of
last night’s ‘dagger’ had been shockingly terrifying; Fei Sheng had
never even heard of that sort of formation before. If not for the
sudden appearance of the firearms, they would have already been
in the city of Fanzhou this morning.
Having been startled out of his drunken stupor by the firearms,
Yin Chang held the bowl in his hands and craned his neck to ask,
“what the heck are those things?”
Fei Sheng was staking their victory entirely on the old man this
time. Seeing Yin Chang’s empty bowl, he hurriedly filled it up
again. “Firearms. Have you never heard of them before?”
Yin Chang shook his head like a rattle drum.34 He had spent
half of his life in Cizhou, and the highest-ranking official he had
ever met was Zhou Gui. He could not even list out all the Eight
Great Training Divisions, let alone know of the Chunquan Battalion.
He was truly an old country bumpkin, a barely literate man who had
never read a single book on warfare and relied entirely on feeling
his way through battles.
“What’s that? It exploded with a ‘bang’, like a strike of
lightning.” Yin Chang crushed up the dry rations. “We’ll get struck
before even making it up to the front. How are we supposed to
fight this war?”
“It can only play its users for fools.” Fei Sheng drew himself
closer to Yin Chang. Both of them were equally filthy and covered
in blood from head to toe. With his fingers, Fei Sheng made a
circle the size of a gun muzzle and showed it to Yin Chang. “The
reason why the cavalry didn’t move yesterday was because they
were loading their firearms. It takes effort to get it to fire from this
opening, and it only works if they’re in close proximity. They
blindsided us this time. Damn it. Now that I think about it, it’s
possible that those are all the firearms they have, and they used it
just for the specific purpose of scaring us.”
Yin Chang finally kind of understood it. “Oh! Aren’t those
firecrackers then?!”
 “You’re absolutely correct! Think of them as firecrackers; it can’t
hit you if you run far enough.” Fearing that Yin Chang would be
cowed by the firearms and would not dare to launch further
attacks, Fei Sheng went to great pains to explain to him. “Think
about it. If this stuff was really that good to use, why did Chunquan
Battalion only use it to perform for the emperor? It doesn’t work as
well in battles.”
Fei Sheng did not lie. Why did the Chunquan Battalion set the
firearms on the back burner? Precisely because it was hard to use.
Loading them took time. Use them in street fights, and the firearms
would probably still be in the midst of warming up even when the
enemies’ blades had already slit their throats. But pull away from
the enemy, and the lethality of the firearms would plummet.
Furthermore, the recoil would also make it difficult to aim
accurately.
“It even burns asses.” Yin Chang was still nursing a grudge over
that fired round last night. He thought for a moment while staring
at the campfire. “Are these things expensive?”
“Very.” Fei Sheng soaked the dry rations in the bowl and
gobbled it down whole. “Even the Imperial Bodyguards don’t have
the blueprint. They are manufactured by the Ministry of Works
under the supervision of the Ministry of War. The quantity is limited
every time, and they even come with numbers engraved on them.”
Yin Chang promptly bared his stained, yellow teeth at Fei
Sheng in a grin. “Then fuck it. I only fear that those firecrackers are
cheap. Fanzhou is so brokeass poor now, so how would they bear
to use expensive stuff as they please? It’s great if its reach is limited.
I don’t for the life of me believe they can cower like tortoises in
there for their entire lives.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Door panels swung and slammed under the intense howl of
the north wind. The streets of Fanzhou were strewn with corpses all
over. King Yi’s tattered banner fluttered in the wind as beggars
fought over it to keep themselves warm. The entrance of the
yamen’s wind shelter was crammed with hundreds of people, most
of which were the elderly, weak, women, and children. All the
young and healthy men in their families had either been abducted
away by the bandits or hoodwinked by King Yi into joining his
army. These people, so famished they were all skin and bones,
were all here to beg for food.
This winter wind was so penetratingly freezing that people were
dying of the cold every night.
“Brother Huo wishes to open the granaries and distribute the
grains to the people.” Yang Qiu, a bandit of Fanzhou sitting on the
taishi chair35 with his leg propped, said with a merry smile. “It’s a
good thing. We are all for it. But the Cizhou garrison troops are
right at our city gates now, and the soldiers in the frontline can’t go
hungry. As long as the soldiers don’t starve, you can distribute the
grains to whoever you want.”
Both sides of the hall were packed with people standing or
sitting; they were all bandits from Fanzhou and Dengzhou. Yin
Chang was right in his guess. To guard against the Cizhou garrison
troops, King Yi had assembled together the troops from both
prefectures in the hope of bargaining with Shen Zechuan at the
critical moment. But who knew? He invited a wolf into his own
house and brought disaster upon himself instead. In the end, he
was killed by Huo Lingyun and these people the latter was
colluding with.
Sitting on King Yi’s seat, Huo Lingyun said, “The city has run out
of food, so I will have to borrow grains from my various brothers
here.”
“Shen Zechuan has sealed off the routes to the west, and the
traveling merchants no longer dare to come this way anymore.
After the tenth month, all I’ve been eating are fucking stale grains.”
Yang Qiu felt resentful just to bring up the matter. “I was even
thinking of borrowing grains from all of you. Old Fang the Tenth,
you were working hand in glove with King Yi, and must have had
your fair share of licking his balls, so don’t dare you sit here with us
and pretend to be poor.”
Old Fang the Tenth, who had a penchant for men, felt so self-
conscious on hearing this that his face blanched with anger. He
clenched his walnuts and sneered. “What a bunch of bull. Drop that
hoodlum act of yours. My grains have long been used to make up
for the military grains, feeding ingrates like you.”
 “The fuck we fighting a battle for when we have no grains.”
Yang Qiu said with ill intentions. “Might as well run while we can.”
“Run?” Old Fang the Tenth spat. “The entire territory to the
northwest has been choked off by Shen Zechuan. Either you go
over to Tianfei Watchtower and surrender to Commander-in-chief
Qi, or you go over to the Chashi River and work in cahoots with the
Biansha people. Isn’t Shen Zechuan going to attack Duanzhou in
the second month? Say we mess up the game for him and leave an
opening in Zhongbo, would he still dare to throw his weight
around here?”
These people were bandits. At first, they heard Shen Zechuan
and Xiao Chiye had killed Lei Changming in Cizhou, and then they
got wind that Shen Zechuan had killed Cai Yu in Chazhou, followed
by Lei Jingzhe in Dunzhou. All the big-name bandit leaders in
Zhongbo had met their fucking ends in Shen Zechuan’s hands.
Even if they thought with their feet, they knew Shen Zechuan would
never let them off.
Yang Qiu initially thought Huo Lingyun was not qualified
enough to hold down the situation. He had come here to fish in
troubled waters; his plan was to haul King Yi’s money vault away
before the city was breached, but when he arrived, he found Old
Fang and all these other people having designs on the money
vault too. Everyone was presently sitting here mutually scheming
against one another, each of them only too anxious for the others
to hurry up and die.
Although Huo Lingyun was sitting at the head, he was willing to
play second fiddle. Without showing any expression, he said, “On
the contrary, there’s no need to be overly anxious. Shen Zechuan
sent an old man this time, one without prestige and capability.
What’s more, he’s timid. He won’t get anywhere.”
It was true that Yin Chang had no reputation to speak of, but
Yin Chang had disposed of nearly half of their soldiers with just
one appearance. Huo Lingyun himself was the one who went out to
fight last night’s battle, the details of which he kept mum about. All
Yang Qiu and Old Fang the Tenth knew was that they had suffered
severe casualties.
 Yang Qiu thought of Huo Lingyun as just a pretty face who was
all looks and no substance, practically good for nada. Even so, he
still had a smile on his face as he said, “That’s right. Brother Huo
comes from a distinguished family. The hell does an old country
bumpkin like him think he is? I’m only worried about food, nothing
else. If we keep up with this rate of consumption, we won’t last until
spring even if we repel the Cizhou garrison troops.”
“Then what do you have in mind?” Old Fang the Tenth said
sarcastically, “Let’s hear your brilliant ideas.”
Yang Qiu rolled his eyes at him and looked at Huo Lingyun.
“Yan Heru still has shops in Dunzhou. Let’s trade King Yi’s family
assets for grains with him. He doesn’t acknowledge anything
except money, so he will definitely do us this favor. As long as we
can survive this winter, the throne of King Yi will be as good as
Brother Huo’s. It won’t be too late for us to recruit soldiers and buy
horses then.”
Old Fang the Tenth listened to Yang Qiu’s nonsensical boasts
but did not speak up to warn Huo Lingyun. Huo Lingyun was
exactly his type, but he had seen King Yi’s mutilated corpse back at
the yamen, which the dogs had gnawed until it was all
unrecognizable. He could not help but have the sense that he was
not beyond sharing the same fate too.
Having remained close to King Yi these past six months, Huo
Lingyun was not aware of the situation outside. Looking as if he
believed Yang Qiu’s words, he said, “but with the garrison troops
besieging the city now, how are we going to conduct this business
with Yan Heru’s shop?”
“My people are most familiar with the areas in Dunzhou. I can
use Liu’er’s eyes too.” Yang Qiu had some monkey business going
on with Cuiqing, and he had tagged along for a few rides when
Cuiqing went to Dunzhou for business in the past. “If Brother Huo is
willing to trust me, I’ll make a trip for you.”
Old Fang the Tenth instantly turned hostile. “So you have it all
plotted out, huh!”
They snapped at each other and incriminated one another,
neither willing to give in. King Yi’s money was future life insurance
for them, and no one was willing to share it with the others. As
such, they remained locked in a stalemate here, making the
atmosphere rather tense and heavy.
Yang Qiu had no way to refute Old Fang the Tenth’s words. He
grew more and more restless with anxiety as he sat here, worried
that Huo Lingyun could not hold up against the Cizhou’s garrison
troops, so he steeled himself, deciding to kill them all and grab the
money tonight.
◈ ◈ ◈
A Fanzhou soldier stationed on the city wall was relieving
himself at a corner when he suddenly heard several whistles
coming from below. He fastened his pants. Not daring to stick his
head out directly, he glanced down from the middle of the
battlement. A bonfire was blazing in the wilderness, and the Cizhou
garrison troops had taken up formation in front of the city walls
with their shields held up, yet they had not sounded the war
horn.
Yin Chang stood at the very front and took a few gulps of wine
before shouting, “Is King Yi here? Call him up the city wall. Let’s
have a little chat!”
The taste of being pierced by the dagger squads’ sharp blades
the night before was still vivid in the Fanzhou troops’ minds. Yin
Chang looked exactly like an old maniac when he chased after
them, and the impact of that encounter still lingered. The Platoon
Commander of Fanzhou, a bandit under Yang Qiu, had been
specially assigned here by Huo Lingyun. He leaned over the
battlement and spat at Yin Chang. “Chat, my ass. Don’t even think
about tricking us out of the city.”
Not to be outdone, Yin Chang cursed back. “All of you in
Fanzhou are fucking wimps. Cowering cowards like you are not
even fit to kiss my ass! Bah, little brats! Do you even have the balls
to fight battles? Get your ass down here and carry our Prefectural
Lord’s shoes.”
Yin Chang, having hung out in the streets in his youth,
spontaneously blurted out all the obscenities that came to his mind.
With wine to add to his fun, he could stand here and curse for three
days and three nights without ever repeating himself. His words
were crude and vulgar as he swore with great relish and led the
garrison troops to jeer with him, having such a merry time it was as
though he was celebrating the spring festival.
The Platoon Commander, having served under Yang Qiu, had
become accustomed to throwing his weight around in Dengzhou.
Even King Yi himself treated him with courtesy when he came to
Fanzhou. Seething with resentment now, especially after getting
chased all around by Yin Chang and even stabbed in the buttocks
last night, he propped himself against the battlement and let loose
a torrent of verbal abuse.
The moment the Platoon Commander retorted, Yin Chang
waved his hand to instigate the Cizhou garrison troops behind him
to holler back with a litany of curses. The Platoon Commander was
unable to beat them in might, and his voice was drowned out.
Furious, he pounded the wall hard and commanded those at his
sides. “Shoot him!”
The Fanzhou troops swiftly put up their bows, and the Cizhou
garrison troops below them promptly took to their heels. They
cursed as they ran while the arrows rained down noisily on the
shields they were equipped with. Once they were out of the
Fanzhou troops’ range, they stood at the perimeter and started to
boo in unison at the top of the city walls.
Yin Chang leaped beyond the shooting range and raised both
hands to signal for them to sound the war horn at the back. The old
man’s ruddy face was glowing as he yelled, “Fanzhou—”
The Cizhou garrison troops responded in chorus, “—is all as
chicken as they come!”
Yin Chang shouted again, “And King Yi—”
The Cizhou garrison troops continued, “—is a fucking cur!”
The Fanzhou arrows could not reach them. Soldiers of all ranks
leaned over the battlements, trying to get a swear word in as they
cussed back. A pity its effect was minimal. Yin Chang even
composed a ditty for the Cizhou garrison troops, which they
hollered at an earsplitting volume from where they stood.
Half of the Platoon Commander’s body was already sticking out
as he cussed until his face turned livid with rage. He bellowed
across the air, “I dare you to repeat that, you old buffoon! I’ll slice
off your rotten tongues!”
 “Bring it on.” Yin Chang seemed to be drunk as he stepped on
the snow and turned around in circles. As he clapped his hands, he
said, “If you don’t come, I’ll take you as my daughter. Daughter,
heh!” He pinched his fingers and twisted around to look back at
the Platoon Commander at the top of the city wall, imitating the
latter as he said in a shrill voice, “I’ll slice off your rotten tongues
and tear off your faces!”
Yin Chang was already advanced in years, and he had so
many wrinkles on his face he could even make a flower pattern
with them. Yet his imitation of a woman was absolutely spot on,
having gotten that feminine charm more or less down pat as he
stomped his foot and sent pieces of ice beneath it skipping all over.
The Platoon Commander’s face blanched.
The composition of the Fanzhou troops was a rather
complicated one; the men could not be considered soldiers at all.
Sworn enemies and adversaries were even thrown into a squad
together, so who knows? Perhaps they were all now laughing
behind the Platoon Commander’s back on seeing him humiliated.
The Platoon Commander had never before experienced such
humiliation. He shoved aside the soldier next to him and ordered,
“prepare the horse!”
The soldier hurriedly chased after him and said, “Huo—”
“Fuck that Huo,” the Platoon Commander abruptly yanked up a
soldier and barked at him. “I’m Chief Yang’s foreman. Huo Lingyun
was still a wee kid wetting his pants when I was back there in
Dengzhou killing the garrison troops in. Is he even fit to command
me? Bring out the guns!”
The sight of Yin Chang scampering away like a frightened rat
from the firearms last night was still fresh in the Platoon
Commander’s mind. They had lost half their men in the tussle with
Yin Chang then, when Yin Chang had split them up with his
formation. But with the city of Fanzhou right behind them tonight,
they had even more confidence than they did last night. At most,
they would retreat back if they had to. What was there to be afraid
of?! Either way, they had horses. If Yin Chang still dared to pursue
them after they withdrew into the city with their bows at the ready,
he would be courting death.
 Yin Chang tugged up his trousers. The old man reached back
for the hilt of his blade. He dropped the merriment, his cloudy eyes
as quiet as this expanse of the night sky as he adjusted his
breathing, a strategy he had thought of on his own. As long as he
calmed his breathing before a battle, he would be able to stand
firm on his feet.
There were incredibly gifted generals in this world; they were
young and were not only ambitious but also dazzlingly brilliant. But
there was also another kind of general who never had the
opportunity to make a name for themselves. They always had their
backs to the firmament of heaven, their eyes solely on the small
piece of land beneath their feet.
Yin Chang was long past his prime.
The instant the city gates opened, Yin Chang once again felt a
rush of fighting spirit coursing through his body. That was the
desire that had been burning within him to this very day. He could
not see the onslaught of old age assailing him; he was still as
young as he had once been. The fervor that blazed anew in him let
him draw his blade without the slightest decrease in his speed at
all.
Win one battle!
Even if he was no famous general.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Lianyin

Footnotes
1. 斩首 the word here used is decapitated or beheaded,
although it also implied the slaying of the Xiao Fangxu in this
context, leaving the Libei Armored Cavalry headless, or
without a leader.
2.
3. 鬼头 kind of carving on the hilt of the blade. See
examples here or here

4.
5. 垛口 duokou, or crenels, empty space between two
merlons

6.
7. Specifically 悬眼 Xuanyan, a loophole opened at the base
of a parapet in-between two crenels.
8.
9. 鬼头刀 literally ghost-headed blade. It’s a kind of blade
used for beheading people sentenced to death in old times.

10.
11. 单梢炮 Single-component catapults, or one-branch
trebuchet
12. 丈 zhang; a measure of length, 1 zhang = ten Chinese
feet (3.3m)
13. Specifically a changdao, or a two-handed, single-edged
Chinese sword.
14.
15. Snowtrooper Lu Guangbai.

Thanks Jia for suggesting.

16. 地龙 dilong, an ancient method of warming with an
indoor ground heating system, built by concreting circular
flue underground where heat would flow from a fire pit
outside through the channels to the entire room and raise
the temperature indoors.
17. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties as well as farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains
18. Tiger, also refers to an extraordinary man or hero. Tiger is
a symbol of ferocity, agility, and courage.
19. 细刀, literally slim blade, although it may also refer to the
miaodao (苗刀, image below)

20. 守夜 shouye, or 守岁 shousui, the tradition of staying

awake until midnight on the eve of Chinese New year. It is
said that if the children stayed up late, their parents would
live a longer life in return.
21. 伤筋动骨一百天 literally, takes a hundred days for the
bones to knit and for the tendons to heal.
22. 水(至)清则无鱼 literally, water which is too clean has
no(/few) fish, i.e., one should not demand absolute purity,
you cannot expect everyone to be squeaky clean.

23.
24. 如意 ruyi, an ancient auspicious symbol that served as a
ceremonial scepter or a symbol of power, often given as gifts
because of the good wishes they implied.
25. Fengshui, or the art of geomancy, is the traditional
Chinese practice of selecting auspicious sites for buildings
and tombs, believed to have a vital influence on the fortune
of a family.
26. 及冠 a man’s 20th birthday, i.e., coming of age at 20 for a
male.
27. 家生子 Children of domestic servants or slaves. These
children were also born in the household and also served as
servants and slaves in the same household.
28. 名帖 (also 拜帖), a visitation card (or name card) written
on paper or wood used by officials, nobles or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on. It’s like a name card
in the modern world.
29. In this context, the “young master” would be Xiao Xun,
since his father is now the “master” of the household, so it
makes sense to call Xiao Chiye the second master (after Xiao
Jiming) as calling Xiao Chiye young master would make it
seem like he’s Xiao Jiming’s son instead.
30. 清水衙门 government office with low receipts or
expenditures and hence little or no chance of corruption.
31. 三姓家奴 literally, a slave with three surnames. The term
originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 《三国
演义》 and refers specifically to Lu Bu. It’s used mockingly to
refer to capricious, disloyal and unrighteous people who
serve traitors.
32. 一炷香 the time an incense stick takes to burn. Some
sources suggest one stick takes 30 minutes or one hour, but it
really depends on a variety of factors (the environment,
wind, length of the stick, etc).
33. 温柔乡 land of warmth and tenderness, or a place where
a man can find solace in feminine charms, such as a brothel,
etc.

34.

35.
36. 铜火铳 Huochong, or blunderbuss (according to baidu), or
sometimes known as a hand cannon, is a tube-like projection
firearm used as a gun. The Huochong gun was an important
invention as the Ming Dynasty was creating weapons to
defend themselves from attackers.

37.
38. 酒囊 wine bag or pouch, a portable water bag typically
made out of animals’ hide.
39. 尖刀阵型, dagger, point, or spearhead formation that
concentrates manpower and firepower to pierce enemy lines
and create an opening for its attacking forces.
40. 尖刀队 dagger, point, or spearhead squad, a squad in the
forefront of a battle that first invades enemy territory or
pierces the enemy lines in a battle.
41. It was called 撞车 (battering ram) in chapter 190,
although in 197 this was written as 战车 (war chariot or tank).
Will double check and confirm again with the uncensored
traditional chinese physical copy when it is released.
42. 扫堂腿 a leg sweep, a martial art move where one
typically sweeps out a leg in a circle.
43. 兵者，诡道也, all warfare is based on deception, from Sun
Tzu’s The Art of War.

44.
45. 拨浪鼓 Bolang Gu , also a Chinese rattle drum or a pellet
drum, is a typical child toy in China. It’s shaken or rotated
from left and right quickly to produce a drumming or rattling
sound.

46.
47. 太师椅 Taishi Chair or Grand Preceptor Chair, is a
classical style of a wooden armchair in ancient China.
 CHAPTER 199 : TRIUMPHANT RETURN

As Yang Qiu left the yamen and stood under the eaves, he saw
the commoners who were seeking refuge in the wind shelter.
Finding it just his luck to come across them, he spat and ground it
with his foot. “Are you people dead?” He said to the men in
attendance. “Huo Lingyun may be ignorant, but all of you too? The
poor are like venereal diseases. It’ll be too late to cry by the time
they infect the yamen!”
The men behind him responded with fear and trepidation and
hurried over to berate and drive the commoners away.
Yang Qiu got on the carriage and closed his eyes to rest,
fuming as he recalled the conversation in the yamen. Midway
through his journey, his subordinate suddenly piped up through
the curtain, “Chief, there’s a message!”
Yang Qiu opened his eyes. “Tell me.”
“Old Fang the Tenth has not returned to his residence at all,”
the subordinate said. “He resorted to trickery to shake off the
informer following him, then swapped out the carriage and made a
beeline for the money vault!”
Yang Qiu promptly pulled the carriage curtain open and glared
for a moment. Fearing that he had already lost the opportunity to
get a jump on the others, he said, “Quick, gather our men!”
In less than an hour, the subordinate reported back that the
Cizhou Garrison Troops had attacked the city. The Platoon
Commander had charged out with firearms in hand, but he had
not even reached the Garrison Troops when the Imperial
Bodyguards, who had been lying in wait for a long time, broke his
head with one clean, efficient twist. As the turn of events had been
so unexpected and sudden, the city gates were not shut in time,
and now the banners at the top of the city wall had all been set on
fire.
Yang Qiu’s face turned deathly pale when he heard about the
death of the Platoon Commander. Holding on to the carriage door,
he looked towards the city walls, where he saw that there was
indeed a raging fire against a backdrop of purplish clouds.
The 4,000 men that Yang Qiu had brought along had filled in
for half of the spots at the top of the city walls. At first, in order to
have a hold over Huo Lingyun, he had arranged to place the
fiercely strong men under his command there too. Who could have
known that they would be so easily killed by the Garrison Troops?
Yang Qiu flew into a sudden rage. “Is he out of his mind?! The
heck he’s defending the city for? It’s not even my fucking city! Bring
along your broadswords and head right over to the money vault. If
you come across that Old Fang cur, hack him to pieces! Once
you’re done loading the money and valuables into the chests,
leave immediately!”
A flurry of footsteps resonated throughout the city as the
bandits’ boots trampled over the slurry of snow, sending the slush
splattering over the legs of their pants and smearing it with streaks
across the hems of their robes. Sounds of whistles fused into one.
No one could tell who was who when the several gangs bumped
into one another. Without so much a word, all of them first drew
their blades to cut the others down to the ground. Puddles and
puddles of blood coagulated in the snow. The bandits, in
hankering after the money vaults, were all frantic with anxiety.
When Yang Qiu barged into the money vault, he saw stacks
upon stacks of treasure chests. He pried open the nearest chest,
which was filled to the brim with dazzling gold. All at once, Yang
Qiu was frozen in place, unable to move his feet an inch. He
gathered them up into his bosom several times and wept with joy.
“King Yi really is rich!”
 Shen Zechuan had locked off the northwest of Zhongbo, and
Yang Qiu was feeling quite suffocated from being boxed in. But
now that he had gold, he would be able to bribe his way out of
Shen Zechuan’s encirclement, even if that meant he had to drop a
ton of money to do so.
“Move them, quick.” Yang Qiu stared fixedly at the gold in his
arms. “Move them all onto the carriages!”
Yang Qiu’s horse carriages were parked in the money vault’s
courtyard, but there were too many chests, and they were all
exceedingly heavy. They had only moved half of the chests when
Yang Qiu’s fleets could no longer take more. However, he was
unwilling to leave the rest of the chests behind, so he had his
subordinates go and snatch more carriages.
Having just arrived, Old Fang the Tenth got all anxious the
moment he got off his horse carriage. Waving his handkerchief, he
yelled, “Block him! Don’t let him leave!”
The door to the money vault was narrow. A great number of
bandits, greedy as they were for money, had hidden the gold on
them when they were inside moving the chests, only to be slashed
to death by Yang Qiu when he found them out. He had already lost
his mind and could not tolerate anyone fighting with him over the
money. Just as they were moving the chests, Old Fang the Tenth’s
fleet of horse carriages entered from the back and mixed in along
with the other party’s carriages, forming a jumbled mess that
completely blocked off access to the courtyard door.
Leading his men, Old Fang the Tenth leaped his way across the
carriages into the courtyard and hacked away at Yang Qiu’s men
whenever they encountered one. Yang Qiu’s subordinates were all
crowding in the spaces between the carriages, and with their
hands full with the chests, they did not even have the chance to
fight back. A slash of the blade, and they all toppled over to the
ground, dead.
Old Fang the Tenth cursed, “Sneaky son of a bitch! Return the
money!”
Wiping away the blood on his face, Yang Qiu kicked the money
vault door open and charged in with blade in hand to hack away at
the men. They slaughtered one another in this cramp and narrow
space. Blood colored the chests a deep shade of red. The carriages
at the back were still jostling against one another, knocking over
the chests that had yet to be secured in place. Rocks tumbled all
over the ground.
“Rocks,” someone shouted. “Why the fuck are these rocks?!”
Yang Qiu and Old Fang the Tenth stopped at the same time
and saw the rocks rolling on the grounds. Yang Qiu panicked. Not
bothering with killing anymore, he turned and lunged at a horse
carriage and smashed a chest open, only to see that it was all rocks
inside too. Only a few chests on these dozen or so carriages
contained gold; the rest were all rocks. Under the sound of chests
being opened, Yang Qiu’s legs went weak. He supported himself
against the carriage, his eyes so bloodshot they were about to drip
with blood.
Old Fang the tenth looked all around in a fluster. “We’ve been
had!”
A carriage at the entrance of the courtyard suddenly moved as
someone stomped it through the door. Following right after, the
courtyard door banged shut. Liquid poured down from the top of
the walls all around. A bandit who was close by took a sniff, and
the color promptly drained from his face as he exclaimed in a
panic, “kerosene!”
“Smash down the door.” Old Fang the Tenth clung on to the
horse carriages and jostled his way to the entrance of the
courtyard, where he yelled, “Quick, smash down the door!”
Huo Lingyun stepped on the snow at the top of the wall. The
night was so freezing cold his hands had turned blue.
Yang Qiu heard the sound of flint being struck and bellowed,
“Huo Lingyun, you son of a bitch—!”
Huo Lingyun clutched a bunch of yellowish papers—these were
all notices that King Yi posted outside the yamen. He set those
nonsensical lies on fire and, under the glow of the licking flames,
said with repulsion to Yang Qiu, “Go to hell.”
Trails of fire suddenly blazed forth and swept through the
courtyard of the money vault like tempestuous waves. There were
not only rocks in the chests but also flammable weeds. The waves
of flames engulfed everyone, and Yang Qiu and Old Fang the
Tenth struggled in the blaze. They rolled on the ground, cursing
Huo Lingyun venomously amidst blood-curdling screams.
Huo Lingyun watched the raging fire. Like belated firecrackers,
the sound of splitting and crackling flesh exhilarated him. He
roared with laughter under the stench of charred flesh, his eyes
equally bloodshot from having stayed up all night.
BURN!
Burn these scums to death.
Power and influence were a bunch of crock. All he ever desired
was for these people to pay with their lives! From King Yi to
Cuiqing, and from Yang Qiu to Old Fang the Tenth.
Not a single one of them shall get away scot-free!
Left with no means of escape, the bandits pounded on the wall
with their arms and wailed in the raging fire. Kerosene got on them
as they rolled about, and the inferno tore away their hair and
burned them to an unrecognizable crisp. The flames made their
way out of the compound, blazing all the way along the eaves of
the houses and setting the whole of Fanzhou ablaze.
“Who’s setting the city on fire?” Yin Chang, who was carrying
the Platoon Commander’s head in hand, was in such a state of
anxiety that he stomped his foot. “The Prefectural Lord still has to
pay out of pocket for the damages after it’s done burning!”
Fei Sheng wiped away the bloodstains and looked in the
direction where the flames lit up the sky. “Internal strife, huh…”
The city gates had been beached, and no one came to their
aid. Distracted and fatigued from shooting all those arrows, the
Fanzhou soldiers defending the city did not even put up a decent
attempt at resistance the moment they saw the Platoon
Commander dead.
Fei Sheng returned to his senses and signaled with his eyes to
the Imperial Bodyguards behind him to search the whole city and
seize all the firearms.
In the gap of time when Yin Chang was not cussing at others,
he had a craving for wine, and he insisted on drinking two cups
after the battle was fought and won. He scratched his cheeks with
his empty hand and handed the still warm head to Fei Sheng as
though he was giving him a gift. “Take him. Keep him well.”
 Fei Sheng dodged out of the way to avoid the blood. “Why the
hell are you always carrying him around?!”
Looking as though he treasured the thing, Yin Chang said with
a cheeky laugh, “Heh heh, hand it over to the Prefectural Lord on
returning as evidence for meritorious service rendered.”
Fei Sheng felt a chill run down his spine the moment he
thought of that scene. Shen Zechuan wore all white when he sat in
the front hall. Push this bloody thing over, and he would have to
die if a drop of the blood so much as splattered onto Shen
Zechuan’s folding fan. He hurriedly took the head and, while Yin
Chang was preoccupied drinking his wine, shoved it to a junior
soldier and sent him out to bury it.
◈ ◈ ◈
Sure enough, the Cizhou garrison troops returned in triumph.
Zhou Gui set up a welcome reception by the city gates to receive
them; as encouragement for these new soldiers, he had the kitchen
prepare a spread of roasted meat and grilled fish to let them eat
their fill. While the soldiers stopped at the gates, the commanding
general had to enter to meet the Prefectural Lord.
Yin Chang did not even dare to take a sip of his wine today. He
followed Fei Sheng into the residence. The door to the study was
open, and Kong Ling and the rest were all waiting by the steps.
Upon seeing them enter, Kong Ling immediately came forward to
welcome them.
“Elder Yin,” Kong Ling smiled at Yin Chang. “A warrior’s
treasured blade truly never ages. Looks like you still have it in you!”
Yin Chang was on familiar terms with him. He craned his head
to look in and asked softly, “the Prefectural Lord is inside?”
“Waiting for you.” Kong Ling guided them up the steps. Aware
that Yin Chang always went weak at the knees whenever he met
officials, Kong Ling made a special effort to say to him, “The
Prefectural Lord was the one who personally assigned you to this
battle, so there’s no need for me to tell you what that sentiment
means. Just answer the questions His Lordship asks of you later
accordingly. Don’t worry and just relax.”
Fei Sheng answered from the side. “I’ll back Elder Yin, I won’t
let him blunder before His Lordship.”
 It would have been fine if they hadn’t mentioned it; the
moment they did, Yin Chang’s legs turned into jelly. He placed his
hands on the steps for support in a panic, scrambled to his feet
with an “oh, my”, and asked after Kong Ling, “What’s His Lordship
gonna ask? What if I can’t answer?!”
Kong Ling turned back and was just about to answer when Yin
Chang’s body odor – the result of not bathing for two months – hit
him full-on and made him so dizzy he could not continue the
conversation. Earlier, he had been standing somewhere windy to
receive them and so did not notice the smell, but now that they
were already standing right before the hanging screen, it was too
late to withdraw.
Kong Ling threw Fei Sheng a look.
Why didn’t you remind Elder Yin to take a bath?!
Fei Sheng felt suffocated with aggravation building up in his
chest. He wanted to respond, I told him to but he wouldn’t do it so
what was I supposed to do. This crafty old man even had a ton of
excuses at his disposal. What was that about winter being too cold
and it was more practical to be dirty since they had to march the
troops to war and the accumulation of dirt could keep them warm
and prevent their feet from freezing in their sleep and all that
hogwash.
The hanging screen had already been lifted, so Kong Ling
could only enter. Out of habit, Yin Chang lifted his leg to stride
across the threshold, only to realize that this doorway had no
threshold. With Yao Wenyu in a wheelchair, Shen Zechuan had
long gotten someone to tear down the thresholds inside and
outside the residence. Yin Chang gently set his foot down and
shuffled in.
Shen Zechuan had seen Yin Chang before, but it had been
from a distance away. Previously, when the garrison troops had yet
to be rebuilt, the Imperial Army was the one who fought against the
bandits from Mount Luo. Later, during the period when the
garrison troops were recruiting, Shen Zechuan made several
consecutive trips outdoors, so both men could more or less
recognize the other.
 Shen Zechuan was wearing a wide-sleeved robe over his
regular wear today in a shade so white he looked ethereally pure
and untainted. He sat in the master’s seat and watched as Yin
Chang entered.
Kong Ling said, “Your Lordship, this is—”
Kong Ling had not even finished his words when Yin Chang
fell to his knees on the ground. A series of “thud, thud, thud” rang
out as the old man kowtowed repeatedly in Shen Zechuan’s
direction. This has all gone to the dogs, Fei Sheng thought as he
kneeled to kowtow too. Once he was done, he hurried to help Yin
Chang up. But how would the advisors behind them know what
was going on? They had only just entered when they saw those in
front of them kneeling, and thinking that the Prefectural Lord was
in a rage, they followed suit and kneeled too.
The atmosphere in the hall turned weird. The Prefectural Lord –
suspected of being enraged – grasped his folding fan, the words
he was about to say all but cut off by their kowtows. He floundered,
for it wouldn’t do for him to remain seated, and it wouldn’t do for
him to stand up either.
Yao Wenyu was quick to react. He bent over from his wheelchair
and spoke gently to Yin Chang before him, “Elder Yin headed into
battle and narrowly escaped death, so it is not unusual for you to
feel worked up upon seeing His Lordship. But your return in
triumph today is a joyful occasion, so let us not be so somber.”
From the side, Yao Wenyu’s words appeared to be praising
Shen Zechuan’s judicious selection of a general, which inspired
such gratitude in the old general that he was moved to the point of
tears. At the same time, he was also telling the advisors at the back
that this pair of master and servant was on good terms with each
other and that all was well between them.
It was then Shen Zechuan figured out what to say. “It has been
hard advancing the army. Fei Sheng, help Elder Yin up. Gentlemen,
please get up as well and sit as you would.”
Fei Sheng helped Yin Chang up, but how would Yin Chang
dare to look at Shen Zechuan? He exercised the caution he applied
in battle and did not even dare to breathe too hard.
 Kong Ling was between laughter and tears. What had initially
been a pretty relaxed atmosphere was destroyed by this one kneel
of Yin Chang, and now everyone was finding it ill-advised to be all
smiles.
Fortunately, Shen Zechuan had sway over the atmosphere in
the hall. He lowered his voice and was much gentler than usual. He
was in no rush as he asked Yin Chang about the food and clothing
while on the move and the weather on their journey back. After a
series of questions and answers, Yin Chang’s answers flowed a lot
more smoothly.
It was then Shen Zechuan cut to the chase.
Fei Sheng had initially planned on covering it up, but Yin
Chang’s body odor was just too strong. It was not that big of a deal
for the old man to skip bathing for two months, but having just
returned from the battlefield, they were reeking all over from head
to toe with the stench of blood, a stench which was presently being
amplified by the heat within the hall.
Sitting downwards of Kong Ling, Yu Xiaozai was listening to the
exchange when he suddenly caught a whiff of a certain odor.
Distracted, he attempted to decipher the scent, thinking that it was
similar to a mix of rancid rice and stinky feet, and yet it also
resembled salted fish soaking in swill. It was a smell like he had
never smelled before, a one-of-a-kind odor like nothing else.
What’s more, this odor – sharp and intense – was a force to behold.
In no time, it pervaded the entire hall and lingered at such intensity
that Fei Sheng, who had an acute sense of smell, near about
fainted.
Shen Zechuan’s expression remained unchanged throughout.
Anyone else could cover their noses with their sleeves, but not
Shen Zechuan. Yin Chang had fought the battle for him, so if he
were to reveal any hint of disdain here, he would be hurting the old
man’s feelings. Moreover, in consideration of the earlier defeat, the
rewards accorded to Yin Chang were not all that generous, at least
on the surface. If Shen Zechuan were to cover his nose, that would
give those beneath him the guts to belittle Yin Chang.
Unaware of what it was like around him due to his odor, Yin
Chang gesticulated wildly as he told Shen Zechuan about the
firearms in Fanzhou, his excitement increasing as he rambled on.
Xiao Chiye, who had been staying over at the Beiyuan military
drill grounds for the past few days, was late to arrive. He had
hurried over for the specific purpose of meeting this old man when
he heard of the latter’s return. Having made his way under the
eaves, he did away with the briefing.
Gu Jin was helping Xiao Chiye remove his coat when he took a
sudden sniff and revealed a horrified expression. Seeing the
change in Gu Jin’s expression, Xiao Chiye asked in puzzlement,
“what’s wrong?”
Before Gu Jin could respond, he heard a “CRASH” from the
hall, followed by Yu Xiaozai’s panicked voice. “Why’d he faint?!”
Fei Sheng, having heard of Xiao Chiye’s arrival, was worried
that Xiao Chiye would also catch a whiff of the odor when he
entered. After all, the person sitting here was Shen Zechuan; he
could not afford to shoulder the responsibility should something
happen to Shen Zechuan due to the stench. Yin Chang had fought
a winning battle, so everyone would not blame the old man for
sure. That meant that they could only settle the score with him, Old
Fei the Tenth. It couldn’t be helped. Who asked him to be the
Attendant Officer?! Everyone around them was close to getting
overwhelmed by the stench. This was truly too gross an injustice for
Fei Sheng. And so, he simply went the whole hog and made the
first move to collapse and play dead before Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan immediately lifted his folding fan and put on the
impressive air of a commander commanding his magnificent army.
With calm and composure, he said, “Hurry, help him to the side hall
and call for the physician to take a look at him. Elder Yin must be
tired after the journey. Chengfeng, send someone to prepare warm
water for Elder Yin. Once Elder Yin has bathed and rested, we can
start the banquet.”
The moment Yin Chang heard the mention of a bath, he just
about jumped in alarm. “Your Lordship, I don’t—”
Xiao Chiye called out from outside, “Qiao Tianya.”
“Got it.” Qiao Tianya bent to enter and simply hoisted Yin
Chang over his shoulder. As the old man struggled, he laughed,
“Elder Yin, happy new year. Time for a bath now!”
 The gentlemen in the hall were so relieved that they did not
even need Shen Zechuan to say the word before they hurriedly
stood up to open the windows. The rush of cool breeze across their
faces felt so refreshing that everyone sucked in a deep breath all at
the same time.

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 CHAPTER 200 : BANQUET

No one could have expected it to take Yin Chang nearly four

hours to take a bath. All the gentlemen in the study waited until
they were famished. Yu Xiaozai glanced at the snacks on the table,
his stomach growling incessantly.
“Youjing.” Shen Zechuan extracted himself from Cizhou’s affairs
and said, “Dunzhou will serve as the supply camp when we
mobilize troops to Duanzhou in the second month. Tantai Hu
doesn’t have a clue about the workings of the yamen, so you will
still have to go over and keep an eye on things. I’ll give you the
authority to undertake inspection tours. If anything crops up, you
can report directly to my desk without the need to go through the
relay stations.”
Yu Xiaozai was a Chief Surveillance Bureau Censor who could
be considered a student of Cen Yu. In his early years, he had
served as a Touring Censor1 and often carried out fieldwork in local
areas. As such, he was very familiar with the ins and outs of the
yamen. They were now establishing Dunzhou anew, and the key
functionaries assigned over were newcomers selected by Cizhou;
using them did not feel all that reassuring. Shen Zechuan did not
retain Yu Xiaozai in Dunzhou as the Investigating Circuit; instead,
he gave him the authority to conduct inspection tours and report
directly back to him. Although Yu Xiaozai still did not have a
definite official post, he carried a lot of weight. This was equivalent
to the current Surveillance Commissioner in Zhongbo, who held
sway over the various prefectures and circuits’ local administration
assessments.
Yu Xiaozai hurriedly retracted his gaze from the snacks and
rose to bow to Shen Zechuan.
“It hasn’t been long since Dunzhou was newly established,”
Xiao Chiye said to Yu Xiaozai as he sat beside Shen Zechuan. “As
someone in a military post, Tantai Hu should not be interfering with
the affairs of the yamen, but manpower is lacking in the various
prefectures, so we are doing away with the taboos for now. He’s a
tad obtuse in this area, so he will need you to advise him as much
as you can when it comes to the major issues.”
Tantai Hu was a trusted subordinate of Xiao Chiye. Delegating
him to a lower position in Dunzhou was because they needed him
to fill in the vacant post of general in Zhongbo. Getting him to
guard Dunzhou could actually be considered as doing him an
injustice, but with this layer of connection, no one in the Dunzhou
yamen dared to defy Tantai Hu. By saying what he had, Xiao Chiye
was actually backing Yu Xiaozai. Now that Yu Xiaozai had an
appointment from Shen Zechuan to conduct inspections tours and
make direct reports in addition to Xiao Chiye’s words, he no longer
had anyone to fear when he made his rounds in Dunzhou. It would
also help his cause when he headed down to the other prefectures
in the future.
Yu Xiaozai was practically radiating with delight, but it would
not do for him to be standing here and wear his heart too much on
his sleeve, so he held his joy in check and bowed again to both of
them. “This humble subject will definitely do my best to live up to
the Prefectural Lord and the Second Master’s kindness.”
Yu Xiaozai’s answer was loud and clear, but so was the
response from his tummy too. Their duet was so resounding that
the study was stunned into silence.
“It’s the celebratory banquet for the garrison troops tonight.”
Shen Zechuan saw it was already getting dark. “So I shall not hold
you gentlemen back. Let’s start the feast.”
The feast was set up in the side hall. Initially, Shen Zechuan was
supposed to be in the host seat, but Xiao Chiye was back now, and
Yin Chang had still yet to show up, so he simply sat for a while as a
gesture of appreciation before he took his leave. Most of those
present were the advisors, and they did not dare to drink and let
themselves go in Shen Zechuan’s presence. With the Prefectural
Lord gone for the night, they were a little more at ease.
Qiao Tianya was not around, and with no one keeping an eye
on him, Yao Wenyu, unable to turn down the warm invitations of
the various advisors to drink up, took a few cups too.
Seeing him in a rare moment of relaxation, Qiao Tianya did not
stride across the door but let down the hanging screen at the door
and accompanied him under the eaves instead.
Having found Qiao Tianya, Fei Sheng beckoned to him from
afar and said across the fine snow, “Let’s go. What are you
standing here like a pole for? There’s a table set up in the duty
room too. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
Qiao Tianya did not move. He looked a little unrestrained as he
leaned against the doorpost, “Has everything been arranged on
Master’s end?”
“Of course, they have to be.” Fei Sheng walked over to Qiao
Tianya and looked through the gap in the hanging screen. “The
various gentlemen tend to break up late, so you can still make it on
time when you come around later. Besides, there are guards both
on the inside and outside. Nothing bad will happen.”
Qiao Tianya thought for a moment and lifted the screen. Yao
Wenyu looked over from the other side, as if he knew someone was
here waiting. After a short pause, Qiao Tianya lowered the screen
and said, “I still have a few jars of fine wine in my room. You can
send someone to get them. Consider it a token of my apology to
everyone.”
Fei Sheng stood still at the side for a moment before he merely
said, “Who cares about those few jars of yours? How boring. Master
has already released us from duty today, and yet you still keep
yourself here.” Having drunk a little, he was much more talkative
than he usually was. “Master gave me the assignment to recruit
newcomers a few days back. Do you know about it?”
Qiao Tianya folded his arms and sized Fei Sheng up with his
eyes. “Yeah.”
 Fei Sheng raised a finger to point at himself before pointing at
Qiao Tianya. Holding in a burp, he said, “Let me say a word in all
honesty. We’ll be building a cavalry in Duanzhou in the future.
Master favors you the most, since you’re pretty good at fighting
after all. But look at you now; how did you come to this? You follow
Yao Wenyu around as though you have forgotten where your roots
are. If you go on like this, you will ruin your own future, sooner or
later.”
Snow fell onto the hilt of Qiao Tianya’s blade. He looked at the
courtyard and said absent-mindedly, “This is where my future lies.
You’re worrying too much.”
“The Grand Mentor gave you to Master.” Fei Sheng lowered his
voice, disappointed with him for not living up to expectations. “The
day Master took you in, he also received Yang Shan Xue.”
Qiao Tianya once swore to be Shen Zechuan’s blade. Courage,
insight, temperament, skills—he did not lack them all. Had he been
willing, he could have been the kind of guard in Zhongbo like Zhao
Hui and Chen Yang were. His future would be bright, with
boundless prospects, and restoring his clan to its former glory
would not be just a dream. But ever since he was assigned to Yao
Wenyu’s side, he had lost that desire. The tasks Shen Zechuan had
handed over to Fei Sheng to recruit new soldiers and accompany
Yin Chang’s troops to Fanzhou as the Attendant Officer were all
assignments Qiao Tianya did not want.
Qiao Tianya blew away the snowflakes drifting towards him
and watched as the wind instantaneously swept them away into
the pitch-black night, where they disappeared. He did not brush
away the snow on his blade, nor did he answer Fei Sheng.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye removed his armor and wore just a single piece of
unlined garment as he read Fei Sheng’s report, which included the
details of the deployment of troops to Fanzhou. “To think King Yi
could even get his hands on firearms. His capability is
astounding.”
“One hundred and thirty-five pieces.” Shen Zechuan shed off
his wide-sleeved robe. “They all come from the Chunquan
Battalion, and there are even numbers from the Ministry of War
engraved on them.”
“He’s just a mere mountain bandit without a proper army.” Xiao
Chiye set his arms on the chair handles and watched as Shen
Zechuan undressed. “Who supplied him with such valuable stuff?”
Shen Zechuan’s robe slid across the crooks of his arms and fell
to the woolen rug. His regular wear had pearl clasps, which made
subtle “pop” sounds as he flicked them open. That fair, smooth
nape of his promptly materialized. Shen Zechuan covered it
partially with his fingers, looking as though he was considering
something. He was so unguarded in this slack moment it was as if
he would not resist even if he were to be pinned down onto the
rug, and with his mind preoccupied with other matters, he
appeared all the more seductive.
“It does not benefit Qudu in any way for the firearms to be on
the loose out there. It must have been stolen.”
Shen Zechuan’s Adam’s apple would bob when he was
speaking. Xiao Chiye gazed at it without so much a change in
expression; he was exceedingly familiar with it. Each time Shen
Zechuan dripped with perspiration, he had the habit of tilting his
head up and exposing his neck. This was because Xiao Chiye was
too tall. Even if Shen Zechuan was lying on the bedding, he still
had to meet Xiao Chiye’s kisses in such a way.
Xiao Chiye conjured up many scenes in his mind, but his
expression was so composed and collected that he betrayed
nothing of what he was thinking. His thumb was subconsciously
caressing his thumb ring, rotating it gently. “Did Yin Chang bring
back a captive?” he asked.
“King Yi’s male lover with the surname Huo. Chengfeng said
that he’s the son of Huo Qing, the former commander-in-chief of
Dengzhou.” Having spoken to this point, Shen Zechuan looked at
Xiao Chiye. “We can take a look at him tomorrow morning.”
“This person used firearms to scare Yin Chang into retreating,”
Xiao Chiye said. “Looks like he knows how to use it.”
“Someone must have taught him. Shen Zechuan undid the last
of the pearl clasp, and when he released his hand, his regular wear
slid to the ground.
 The beauty, finally comfortable now, kicked off the wooden
clogs on his feet in passing. With his back to the dim light and
narrow waist revealed, he was like the personification of
gorgeousness who could not be contained by his clothes. Xiao
Chiye tasted secret pleasure. This was just like foreplay between the
two of them not privy to others. His desire for Lanzhou gradually
crept into his chest, filling it up.
“Send a few pieces of firearms to Libei tomorrow morning. The
military craftsmen can draw up a blueprint. Hairigu learned Yin
Chang’s formation on the sly back at the Beiyuan military drill
grounds, and I couldn’t counter his moves. When we mobilize
troops to Duanzhou this time, I want Yin Chang to follow along.”
Xiao Chiye tossed Fei Sheng’s report on the desk.
Shen Zechuan, who was holding up the tea to take a sip,
glanced at Xiao Chiye on hearing him and asked meaningfully,
“are you not taking me along?”
“Sure,” Xiao Chiye said frivolously as he faced Shen Zechuan.
“There’s a ferocious tiger2 back at home who usually keeps a tight
watch on me, so I can only get up to some hanky-panky with you
while the troops are on the march.”
Wickedness twinkled at the corners of Shen Zechuan’s
upturned eyes. “Your wife is so fierce. I’m scared.”
Xiao Chiye imitated Shen Zechuan’s tone the last time, “I’m
fierce too.”
“I’m not afraid of you being fierce.” Shen Zechuan held up and
pressed the folding fan between their lips. Like a fox from outside,
he said, “But you only come over once in a blue moon.”
Xiao Chiye tilted his head slightly. “What can I do? I’m but a
henpecked husband who fears my wife.”
“If it were me…” Shen Zechuan shifted away his folding fan and
leaned close to Xiao Chiye’s lips, where he softly said, “I’ll stay at
home all day longing for you, making love to you under the sheets,
stirring up a storm with you…”
Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan, breaking up those shameless
words of his. He felt his way down, but did not find Shen Zechuan’s
tail. The light in the room dimmed a little, and the hanging drapes
of the bed had long been let down. There was clearly no one else
around, yet they both seemed to be having a clandestine affair.
Both men rubbed up against the other, suppressing their gasps for
breath.
“I want all of you,” Xiao Chiye whispered.
Shen Zechuan was bitten to the point of tears. The side of his
face chafed against the bedding. Under Xiao Chiye’s gaze, he
strained himself to look at Xiao Chiye with wet, glistening eyes and
said in a fit of pique, “You… greedy… cad!”
Xiao Chiye had spent nearly two months on the battlefields,
and when he returned to Cizhou, he stayed over at the Beiyuan
military drill grounds As he pinched Shen Zechuan’s chin now, he
stared at him and whispered with a smile, “You’re absolutely right.”
Shen Zechuan was taken—possessed by Xiao Chiye.
After so long a time, it felt completely different this time. The
change in Xiao Chiye was exhibited on full display right here. He
no longer let Shen Zechuan off. The feeling of being invaded and
possessed from bottom to top gave Shen Zechuan the sensation
that he had completely fallen; he was now Xiao Chiye’s captive.
His heartbeats. His voice. His breaths.
Xiao Chiye wanted all of Shen Zechuan, even as he dominated
him.
Shen Zechuan could not endure it anymore. Sweat and tears
interweaved. He could barely catch his breath now. Xiao Chiye
even had to seize away tears he had yet to shed.
Xiao Chiye once wanted the sky, the grasslands, and also the
Hongyan Mountains. He domesticated eagles and tamed horses,
and he galloped among the vast lands in the dreams. But in the
end, he no longer wanted them all.
He wanted Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan began to cry. He raised his head, his expressive
eyes glistening with waves of emotions. At the peak of his
euphoria, he slurred, “A… Ye…”
Xiao Chiye thought he was afraid.
But Shen Zechuan lifted his chin slightly, his face flushed as he
licked his lips wet. “Oh, how I love you so.”
These words were both his madness and his solace, either of
which could easily vanquish Xiao Chiye. The temptation that
glistened in this pair of eyes was so much like that day in Dunzhou,
when he had leaped from Fuxian Peak into Xiao Chiye’s arms. The
expressions in those eyes were just as equally crazed. Even without
the blistering wind and raging fire, he was bad to the bone.
For this, Xiao Chiye had feigned anger. At the same time, he
was extraordinarily delighted. He had in his bosom, the one and
only Shen Lanzhou in the world.
Xiao Chiye bent down to kiss Shen Zechuan, as though he was
shackling him. He did not want Shen Zechuan to leave him by even
half an inch amidst the jolts, nor did he want Shen Zechuan to
break free of his hold amidst the gasps for breath. Every thrust
went in deeper and harder, never lighter, making the bedding
damp, and making Shen Zechuan tremble.
They went wild with abandon in the dimness, their sweats
merging together into an expanse of dampness. There was
nothing left but each other.
The damp night stirred among the dappled shadows of the
trees, and the bamboo blinds came to a silent rest. There was no
one waiting in attendance on the veranda, so the whispered
confidence in the room remained concealed within the hanging
drapes. Bamboo tubes in the courtyard tilted, discharging cool
water among the snowflakes and scouring over the frozen moss.
Meng folded its wings and rested on the beam in the hallway. It
tilted its head to listen for a moment, then tilted its head back into
place and closed its eyes to sleep. Occasionally, the caws of a
jackdaw rang out, but even that could not disturb the pair of lovers
deep in the throes of their passion.
◈ ◈ ◈
Yao Wenyu pillowed his head on Qiao Tianya’s back. With
some difficulty, he opened his eyes and looked at the overcast sky.
“The stars are right within reach…”3
“Rest up,” Qiao Tianya said. “There are no stars tonight.”
Light snow of the night caressed his face. Yao Wenyu reached
out and grabbed at the empty air. The blend of the smell of wine
on him and the aroma of medicine puffed onto the side of Qiao
Tianya’s ear as he suddenly spoke. “What are you all red for?”
Qiao Tianya did not answer.
 “What are you all hot for?”
Qiao Tianya still did not answer.
Yao Wenyu bowed his head down and buried his face into the
back of Qiao Tianya’s shoulder. He mumbled, “what good is of
talent to me? Getting nowhere with these legs of mine, as unclear
as the path ahead lies…4 With no lofty aspirations to speak of… a
blessed man I am not…”
Qiao Tianya stepped across the thin snow with the soles of his
boots making soft squeaking sounds.
Yao Wenyu clapped his palm together in tandem with the
sound of snow and murmured, “Since time immemorial, dead are
the sages and men of virtues; only the reputation of the drinkers
endures…”5
Qiao Tianya felt his own nape getting wet. He knew that was
not the snow melting, but even so, he said, “The snow’s getting in.
Block it out for me, will you?”

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Footnotes
1. 巡察御史 Touring Censor, a duty assignment for
Investigating Censors twice a year to tour and inspect
governmental operations in the various regions and to
provide data for consideration in the promotion and
demotion of local officials.
2. A 母老虎 (Xiao Chiye used 悍虎 here) back at home
usually refer to a man’s wife who is a tigress or a shrew.
3. 手可摘星辰 a line from a poem “Lodging for a Night at a
Mountain Temple” (夜宿山寺) by Li Bai.
4. Since this whole line seemed to us like it has multiple
layers of meaning, we just going to footnote them here :V
天生我究竟何用: a modification of 天生我才必有用, or
“everyone has his own heaven-endowed talent”, so in this
vein, the line can be read as “what good is of talent to me?”
Although another way of reading this line (albeit more
literally) is “why am I born?”, “what is the meaning of my
existence?”.

行不通，道不明: first part 行不通 can be translated as “can’t

walk” or “getting nowhere”, while the typical translation for
道不明 (as in 说不清，道不明) refer to “can’t explain oneself
clear”, personally tho, 道 could also refer to the philosophical
“Way” Yao Wenyu was talking about in an earlier chapter,
especially in relation to the earlier “getting nowhere” phrase.
(i.e. feeling lost about his “Way” in life).
5. A modification from the line 古来圣贤皆寂寞，唯有饮者留
其名 from the poem, Qiang Jin Jiu (将进酒) by Li Bai.
 CHAPTER 201 : INTENSE DESIRE

Shen Zechuan could not get up; the inside of his thighs were all
covered with teeth marks. He slept with Xiao Chiye on top of him,
pinning him down, until the third quarter of the hour of si. When
Fei Sheng came to call him, Shen Zechuan had still yet to wake.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to kiss him from behind, his kisses so
intense that Shen Zechuan near about gave up the ghost.
“Please spare me…” Shen Zechuan strained himself to struggle
before he eventually sprawled back onto the bedding. He
narrowed his eyes and said to Xiao Chiye in a hoarse voice, “I…
mind’s in a whirl… can’t think at all…”
Shen Zechuan was red everywhere. There were the bite marks,
and then there were the pinch marks. His nape was the most
piteous of all, having borne the brunt of it. Xiao Chiye’s chest
pressed against him, making him so hot that he was sweating.
The most intense of all last night had been sitting in an
embrace—in Xiao Chiye’s arms, with the crooks of his legs held
down in place, and all he could do was to lean against Xiao Chiye’s
chest.
Amidst the jolts and thrusts, Shen Zechuan forgot all about the
part about it being a clandestine affair as he cried out “A-Ye” and
“Ce’an” repeatedly until he came, even wetting the bedding under
him later as he lay prone on the pillow. He could not remember
how many rounds they had gone through, only that his tears had
run out. Towards the end, he was all dazed and dizzy, but Xiao
Chiye was still not done; he continued to thrust into Shen Zechuan,
making him moan softly like he was begging for mercy. The way
his moans trailed off tantalized Xiao Chiye right in the heart,
causing such an insatiable itch that Xiao Chiye was stirred into
biting him yet again.
“Poor thing.” Xiao Chiye clung close to him and whispered, “I’ll
hold you up.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yin Chang got up early today and waited at the foot of the
veranda to seek an audience with the Prefectural Lord. Fei Sheng
saw the old man looking utterly uncomfortable as he glanced left
and right. Fearing that he might make a fool of himself later, he
said, “You’ve already met him yesterday. Why are you still
nervous?”
The icicles on the eaves had been knocked off to reveal just
how distinguished the man in the room was. Yin Chang’s feet were
a little numb. He tugged at his sleeves and said, “I feel
uncomfortable everywhere. They rubbed me so hard with such big
bars of soap when giving me a bath yesterday that my skin’s about
to get all wrinkly!”
On hearing this, Fei Sheng wanted to laugh. Seven or eight
young male servants were sent to attend to Yin Chang yesterday.
They bathed him for a full four hours, and even changed out
several big tubs of hot water. It was only in the middle of the night
when everyone left the banquet that the old man made his escape,
holding up the legs of his pants as he ran while evading the
servants.
“Bathing is good,” Fei Sheng said. “You look spirited. I think you
look just like my elder brother today.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me.” Yin Chang did not have a good
night’s sleep. He murmured to Fei Sheng, “You lad, have a glib
tongue.” Having said that, he looked around furtively again, “Is the
Second Master in the room too?”
“Uh-huh,” Fei Sheng replied. “He rushed back just to meet you.”
“Then can I go to Libei?” Yin Chang hurriedly asked. “I’d like to
meet General Lu.”
 Fei Sheng was in a predicament. He did not know how to reply
to him. Yin Chang’s desire to see Lu Guangbai was only to be
expected. That formation of his was adapted from the Bianjun
Commandery Garrison Troops, but Libei was fighting a war at
present, and the areas along the Chashi River were unstable, so
how could Yin Chang run around as he pleased?
As he was thinking about it, there were movements on the
other side.
“Let’s see His Lordship first,” Fei Sheng said. “We’ll talk about it
again after meeting him.”
◈ ◈ ◈
A window was opened from inside to ventilate the room. The
weather was not considered cold today, but Shen Zechuan was
especially sensitive to the chill, so he layered up with a coat. During
the journey back, Fei Sheng had checked up on Huo Lingyun’s
background and reported it all in its entirety to Shen Zechuan,
regardless of significance. Shen Zechuan did not have the time to
read it before sleeping the night before, so he looked through it
carefully now.
“The firearms seized by Fei Sheng were handed over by Huo
Lingyun himself.” Shen Zechuan turned the folding fan between his
fingers around and rested it on the side of his hand. “This person is
interesting; I do have to meet him.”
All that separated Xiao Chiye from Shen Zechuan was a small
table. With his arm propped up, Xiao Chiye looked a little playful,
but the expression in his eyes was wicked. Just a glance over was
an invasion. His eyes swept back and forth between the words
“male lover”, “bitten to death” and “arson”. He said, “he’s a tough
nut.”
If Huo Lingyun had not thrown a monkey wrench into their
plans with the firearms, Yin Chang would have been able to take
down Fanzhou during his first battle; he would not have given
Shen Zechuan the opportunity to even tell him to bring his own
head on a platter to meet him. Afterward, Yin Chang employed the
use of verbal provocation to launch an attack on the city, thereby
stepping onto the battlefield for real this time. But Huo Lingyun’s
acts of arson diminished the battle in Fanzhou. With merits and
demerits offsetting the other, Yin Chang’s reward was once again
reduced by half.
Perhaps Huo Lingyun genuinely wanted to throw in his lot with
Shen Zechuan, but he did not use the most optimal strategy.
Instead, he fought a battle with firearms with the intent of letting
Shen Zechuan know he was useful and even more valuable than
the current commanding general of Cizhou. People who climbed
their way to the top by trampling over others were all tough nuts to
crack.
Yao Wenyu was the first to enter while they were in the middle
of their conversation. Kong Ling followed behind him, pushing his
wheelchair, and finally, Yu Xiaozai stepped through. The various
gentlemen bowed to Shen Zechuan, who prompted them to take a
seat.
“It’s so cold,” Shen Zechuan said to Yao Wenyu, “You should
have asked Qiao Tianya to come over and drop me a note, and I
would have shifted the meeting venue to your courtyard so that
you wouldn’t have to make the trip.”
Yao Wenyu did not sleep well the night before, and his eyes
were slightly bloodshot. He had even brought his cat along today.
“It’s just a stone’s throw away; there’s no need to go to the extent of
having Your Lordship put everyone to the trouble. I saw Elder Yin
and Fei Sheng both waiting at the foot of the veranda. Will you let
them in for an audience now?”
“Let them in,” Shen Zechuan said. “I’ve kept Elder Yin waiting
for almost an hour.”
Fei Sheng led Yin Chang in to pay their obeisances to Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. No matter how worried he was about Yin
Chang, he did not dare to glance over at this moment, lest the
master noticed.
Xiao Chiye looked at Yin Chang and asked, “Did Elder Yin
sleep well last night?”
This was the first time Yin Chang was meeting Xiao Chiye. He
had not taken a good look yesterday, but now that he had a closer
look… holy moly, he thought to himself, isn’t this Second Master
way too tall? His legs as he sat on the couch were almost as long as
two of him!
 Yin Chang tensed up again. Wringing the hem of his clothes,
he vaguely answered, “not, not too bad…”
“Elder Yin, take a seat too.” Shen Zechuan was aware that Xiao
Chiye was an imposing presence, and he did not come across as
an easy one to get along with; thus, he spoke to Yin Chang gently,
“We will be discussing some military affairs with the various
gentlemen today. With the troops soon to be deployed to
Duanzhou, Fanzhou cannot be left unattended.”
“Based on the report, Huo Lingyun is inextricably tied to this
battle at Fanzhou.” Kong Ling was familiar with Dengzhou. “He
could be considered to have come from a military family. His father
was Huo Qing, the commander-in-chief of Dengzhou who repelled
the bandits in the territory during the sixth year of Xiande. The feud
with Yang Qiu and the rest of Dengzhou’s bandits was probably
formed during that time.”
“I have some impression of Huo Qing.” Yu Xiaozai picked up the
thread of conversation after taking his seat. “During the
suppression of bandits in the sixth year of the reign of Xiande, he
submitted a memorial that could be considered a report of victory
to the Ministry of War. However, in the next few years, the
Prefectural Prefect of Dengzhou impeached him for being a
headstrong and conceited commander who resorted to arms
without due consideration, which in turn caused the bandits in the
territory to seek revenge on the commoners, subsequently
plunging Dengzhou into extreme misery. The Ministry of War
deliberated over and over again before they finally did away with
the notion to promote him.”
Shen Zechuan got Fei Sheng to stand up as he addressed the
gentlemen. “The local governments are a mixed bag. From the
time the two factions of Pan and Hua took over control of state
power, the impeachments that came from the lower levels were a
mess, with the majority of them arising from personal grudges. The
procedures in which the cases were handled during the reign of
Xiande can’t be counted as valid, so this Huo Qing might not
necessarily be a headstrong and conceited person.”
Shen Zechuan was right. Apart from the reason for his dislike
for Emperor Xiande, it was true that both factions were as
irreconcilable as ice and fire when they were in power. At that time,
Qudu depended on side-taking to distinguish between enemy and
ally, and the dividing line in the local governments was even rigid.
So a conclusion on whether Huo Qing’s impeachment was
legitimate could not be made based on just those few memorials.
“Huo Qing is Huo Qing. Huo Lingyun is Huo Lingyun.” Xiao
Chiye had now drawn a clear distinction between father and son.
“You people were the ones who detained him and escorted him
back. What did you think of him during the journey?”
Yin Chang was an honest man with a one-track mind. Fei
Sheng did not let the old man speak, but he could tell from Xiao
Chiye’s words that the Second Master did not like this Huo Lingyun.
He did not like Huo Lingyun either.
Fei Sheng served Shen Zechuan, and he had plenty of
opportunities to render meritorious service in the future when they
established a light cavalry, but Yin Chang might not necessarily
have the chance. The old man’s hair and beard were all white now,
and he only got to battle this one time after waiting several years.
But then, a male consort appeared out of nowhere and took most
of the old man’s credit with that bit of dirty, underhanded tricks of
his.
Fei Sheng was displeased deep down, but his expression was
natural as he said, “For the sake of revenge, this person could
endure great hardships and steel himself to achieve his goals. He
sure is something, and I respect him as a man. But when I arrived at
the Fanzhou’s yamen, I saw the furs of the mastiffs King Yi reared all
glossy. Only when I asked around that I found out Huo Lingyun had
fed King Yi and Cuiqing to the dogs. Since he has a feud with King
Yi, why didn’t he communicate with us earlier?”
By bringing up Huo Lingyun’s feeding of people to the dogs at
this point in time, he was tactfully telling Shen Zechuan in a
roundabout way that it was hard for this person to be of great use.
Contrary to Fei Sheng’s expectations, Shen Zechuan did not go
along with it. Instead, he said after a moment’s pause, “Since
everyone is here now, call him over.”
Huo Lingyun had been in the cell for two days, and the
wardens who delivered his meals to him never spoke to him. Fei
Sheng took special care of him and tampered with his fetters and
shackles so that it was much heavier than the usual ones the others
used. But he hardly moved around and merely remained in the
same spot, as though he had countless never-ending thoughts on
his mind.
Huo Lingyun stepped into the courtyard, and Gu Jin sensed
something amiss from the sound. With Ding Tao and Li Xiong in
tow, he watched from under the eaves as Huo Lingyun walked
past.
“So heavy.” Li Xiong pointed at Huo Lingyun’s feet and said to
Ding Tao, “it’s the set of chains I wore!”
“Seems to me he can move freely.” Ding Tao told on Huo
Lingyun to Gu Jin. “Jin-ge, he’s trained in martial arts!”
He was far from just “trained”.
Gu Jin lifted a finger and motioned to the guards hidden in the
courtyard to be on the alert. He patted Ding Tao and Li Xiong on
their backs and pushed the two children to a side, while he stood
by the hanging screen himself and signaled to Qiao Tianya, who
was on the other end, with his eyes.
Qiao Tianya turned his head aside to stare at Huo Lingyun’s
back. In a deep voice, he said, “He’s a rather formidable one.”
Shen Zechuan did not size Huo Lingyun up. However, Huo
Lingyun did not shy away from sizing up Shen Zechuan first.
The Prefectural Lord was twenty-two years of age this year. He
was a beautiful one, with the upturns of the corners of his eyes just
perfect; any higher, and they would give him a come-hither look.
Even so, they looked like they were swimming in emotions at a
quick glance. Yet, he was extraordinarily cool and detached. His
gaze, when he did look over, was chilling. He was an
unfathomable, bottomless pit that looked all the more dangerous
the longer you laid eyes on him. Huo Lingyun did not know if it was
because Shen Zechuan had been in a top dog position for a long
time, but Shen Zechuan had an overpowering air to him when he
did not speak. Not the kind that came assaulting head-on in the
face, but the kind that gradually grew ice-cold as it crept along your
limbs to your heart.
This was Shen Zechuan.
 Since Shen Zechuan did not open his mouth, the gentlemen
present did not dare to speak. Silence momentarily reigned in the
room, making Huo Lingyun appear undaunted instead.
Xiao Chiye nudged his thumb ring. His posture remained
unchanged, but his imposing aura was like a kick dealt to Huo
Lingyun’s face. He looked askance at Huo Lingyun with an air so
oppressive that the other man almost could not lift his head.
Shen Zechuan was the precious jade Xiao Chiye held between
his fangs. Any sort of prying eyes must die before they ever get
within a few steps of Shen Zechuan. This was an affront to Xiao
Chiye, and he was now offended, even if the other party was
perhaps only looking out of curiosity.
The gentlemen in the room could hear nothing amiss, but they
could sense that the Second Master was not very happy now. Very
subtly, the atmosphere began to grow heavy, so much that it
crushed down on their chests for no rhyme or reason, suffocating
them until they could not take deep breaths.
“Your confession statements leave out the details.” It was only at
this moment Shen Zechuan looked at Huo Lingyun. “You reported
the firearms, but you didn’t explain their origins. It’s most pointless
to say things halfway.”
As someone who had traversed both the overland and water
routes,1 Huo Lingyun could figure out a little something from the
expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes. He retracted his gaze, and the
shackles on his hands clanged. “Naturally, there are many matters
that can only be discussed when I’ve seen the Prefectural Lord,” he
said with a calm expression.
“If what you say makes me unhappy,” Shen Zechuan said with
cool detachment, “there can only be one outcome whether or not
you get to see me.”
“There will be the Scorpions in addition to the Biansha Cavalry
in Duanzhou during Cizhou’s use of military forces in the second
month.” Huo Lingyun looked towards Xiao Chiye without so much
a trace of fear. “Without Xiao Fangxu, can the Libei Armored
Cavalry still make it?”
The break in the thumb ring stopped between the pulps of the
fingers. Xiao Chiye finally moved. Very slowly, he leaned over, and
his shadow enveloped Huo Lingyun from top to bottom, forming a
trail of a phantom wolf with an injured eye across the ground.
Fei Sheng, who was standing at the side, swiftly dropped to
one knee on the ground and lowered his head without uttering a
sound. Beside him, Yin Chang felt the pricks of fear running down
his back. With his heart thumping, the old man almost slid to the
ground as he kneeled after Fei Sheng.
Dead silence descended, inside and outside.
Xiao Chiye was angry.

Xiao Chiye’s reply to Huo Lingyun:

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Footnotes
1. The text specifically wrote 走过旱水两路, or literally, has
traversed through the overland routes and waterways/water
route. This is, however, an euphemism for having sexual
experiences with both men and women. We left the original
for the “imagery”. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
 CHAPTER 202 : CONNECTING THE DOTS

Huo Lingyun had seen wolves before. In the wilderness of

Dengzhou, those wolves that were all skin and bones had their tails
between their legs as they ran on King Yi’s hunting grounds, their
eyes glowing with ravenous hunger. But at this moment, the wolf
he was seeing was one that hailed from Libei; not only did this wolf
possess a strong physique, but it also had an aura so oppressively
intimidating that he gripped his chains tight. Even the muscles on
his back had tensed up with tension.
Huo Lingyun must not gasp for air, because if he opened his
mouth again, Xiao Chiye would throttle him and snap his throat.
Xiao Chiye completely dominated the atmosphere around him as
he remained kneeling in place. It conjured the illusion of being
pinned down by the back of his head.
Xiao Chiye wanted Huo Lingyun on his knees, with his head
down.
Huo Lingyun broke out in a sweat as he simmered in that
unending silence. He did not want to compromise, but by the time
he returned to his senses, he had already averted his gaze and
bowed his head.
Since that bout of heavy snowfall, the Libei Armored Cavalry
had never won again. The battles they were fighting on the
battlegrounds at present all proved to be aggravating. Gone were
the days when the Armored Cavalry reigned over the battlefield.
Huo Lingyun initially planned to crush Xiao Chiye’s spirit and level
the playing field for both parties during the negotiations. Yet he
had run right smack into an iron plate and was now being held
down to the ground by Xiao Chiye instead.
Xiao Chiye’s shadow did not shift. His lowered gaze locked on
to the back of Huo Lingyun’s head as he repeated with cold
detachment, “Can it?”
Huo Lingyun clenched his teeth as he deflated and swallowed
down his indignation.
To think he had gotten afraid!
Xiao Chiye was completely poles apart from Shen Zechuan. He
would not feign civility at certain moments; instead, he would
dominate and dictate. He would hold down the heads of all of
those who provoked him and offer them only one way out. The
Imperial Army in its earlier days knew this very well from
experience.
Shen Zechuan covered the teacup with the lid and tapped his
fingers against it intermittently. He possessed the ability to warm up
the atmosphere after a cold spell, and through this subtle action,
he curiously unraveled the tension in the hall, allowing Fei Sheng,
who was still kneeling, to resume breathing.
Outside the door, Gu Jin exhaled lightly and released his grip
on the hilt of his blade.
It was only until Huo Lingyun’s entire back was drenched in
sweat that the shadow enveloping him pulled back. Xiao Chiye did
not withdraw his gaze; he merely leaned back into his comfort
zone, as though he had lost interest in the Huo Lingyun who had
his head down.
It was at this moment Shen Zechuan opened up the lid and said
in between sips of tea. “You’re very well-acquainted with the
situation in Duanzhou.”
These two men took over from one another seamlessly, yet they
both exuded a dangerous aura. Huo Lingyun’s palms were all
sweaty; he retracted his contempt, all the more certain that he had
been right in his decision to come.
“The Scorpions came looking for King Yi before,” Huo Lingyun
decided to show his sincerity. “During the twelfth month last year,
he instigated King Yi to ambush Chazhou and cut off your contact
with Qidong. To that end, he gifted King Yi with a shipment of
firearms.”
In a flash, both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye thought of the
White Scorpions. These Biansha spies concealed themselves deep
in Dazhou, collaborating with Amu’er from within and without to
pierce through the heart of Dazhou.
The twelfth month of the previous year was the turning point
when the Libei Armored Cavalry switched from offensive to
defensive. Had King Yi been gutsy enough to launch a surprise
attack on Chazhou at the Scorpions’ instigation, Shen Zechuan
would undoubtedly be held in check by this diversion and reduced
his aid to Libei. Additionally, they only had to cut off the route to
Chazhou, and Qi Zhuyin would have to make a detour from the
eastern side of Tianfei Watchtower to head up north, where she
was bound to pass through the territory of Fanzhou. With the
Scorpions lying in ambush en route, the Commander-in-chief’s life
would be in peril.
“They’re keeping a close watch on Commander-in-chief Qi.”
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye, the expression in his eyes
conveying all the words he left unspoken.
Hasen’s encirclement of Xiao Fangxu to kill him was not only to
deal a blow to Libei, but also to capitalize on the opportunity to lure
out Qi Zhuyin. As expected, Amu’er knew Dazhou like the back of
his hand.
“But King Yi didn’t make his move. He was most willing to
remain in Fanzhou like a cowering coward, and then he had his
head blown off by you with a gun.” Xiao Chiye’s words were
scathing. “So, did the Scorpions come looking for you?”
Huo Lingyun stared at both his knees. “No.”
“You’re lying.” Shen Zechuan skimmed the tea foam and raised
his eyes to say with certainty through that willowy spiral of steam,
“You’ve had contact with the Scorpions before.”
When Shen Zechuan was in the Imperial Bodyguards, he
successively served as the Southern and Northern Judge, and the
amount of time he had spent in the imperial prison was not exactly
short. He naturally had his own means of interrogating people, just
like how he had once tricked Ji Lei and Xi Hongxuan through his
conversations with them. He was adept at using environments to
manipulate the atmosphere.
Sometimes, one had to keep their words short without
revealing more than necessary, and the other party would naturally
let his thoughts run wild.
Huo Lingyun had to remain clear-headed. If he so much as
gave a wrong answer again as he kneeled here, he might end up
literally losing his head. He held up against the pressure from both
men and exhaled deeply, as if exhorting himself to remain calm.
He was already at a dead end, and the worst that could happen
was happening now. Thus, when he lifted his head once again, he
regained some of his composure.
“That’s right,” Huo Lingyun said. “I’ve had contact with the
Scorpions long before King Yi. My father fought a winning battle
during the sixth year of Xiande, and he dispatched someone over
to persuade my father to give up Fanzhou. He also promised my
father a noble title, but my father turned him down.”
Shen Zechuan inclined his head slightly, concealing the
lingering redness at the corners of his eyes under the slanting,
backlit shadows. “You said ‘he’.”
Not “they”.
Huo Lingyun recalled the night a few years ago, when the
horse carriage from Qudu brought along a valuable letter of
significance. Huo Qing stood by the candlelight and opened it,
where he touched the heavy promise within.
If the Bianjun Commandery was the most wretched station for
troops in Qidong, then Dengzhou was the poorest prefecture of
Zhongbo. These two places were similarly poor. Dengzhou’s one
and only advantage was that it did not have to face the onslaught
of attacks from the Biansha Cavalry all the time like the Bianjun
Commandery had to. After the Zhongbo’s troops’ defeat, the
rampant banditry put Huo Qing in a terrible fix, and he remained
stranded in this corner, unable to get any assistance from the
imperial court.
That letter was the last chance Huo Qing had to get out of his
predicament, but he did not take it and ended up as dinner in the
dogs’ bellies.
“Yes, ‘he’.” Huo Lingyun enunciated the word through clenched
teeth. “This man is hiding right in Qudu, and he’s by no means an
ordinary person if he can make such a promise. After my father
refused the bribe, he was impeached by that Peng dog.
Consequently, the Ministry of War refused to promote my father.
They believed that cursed Peng’s one-sided lies and stopped
giving Dengzhou the military funds it was due. That was when the
Dengzhou bandits resurfaced. Yang Qiu went to Fanzhou and
joined hands with Cuiqing to set up a brothel trade and got back
into the business of selling women. He also took the opportunity to
make contact with Lei Changming of Mount Luo.”
The dots were all connecting now!
Shen Zechuan remembered his puzzlement when he was
checking the Yan Clan’s accounts in Dunzhou. How did Biansha not
leave any traces behind when they stole away such a large batch of
resources from Dazhou? The reason was that they were not on the
Dunzhou, Mount Luo, and Duanzhou route at all. From start to end,
Lei Changming and Lei Jinzhe had merely been a smokescreen
Amu’er set up in the northeast of Zhongbo.
No wonder Yan Heru was so sure about this—he had indeed
never touched these goods before. However, he must have been in
the know, because the merchants in his hands all had dealings
with Cuiqing. Coupled with what Yu Xiaozai had said about Peng
Fangmiao’s impeachment of Huo Qing during the sixth year of
Xiande, Shen Zechuan was even more certain of his guess.
“The goods were transported from Fanzhou.” Shen Zechuan
held the teacup in his hands. “They sent the goods directly to the
banks of Chashi River without even passing through Dunzhou.”
“He” initially wanted to use a noble title to bribe Huo Qing into
being a White Scorpion and turn the Dengzhou Garrison Troops in
Huo Qing’s hands into delivery escorts for the goods. After Huo
Qing turned him down, “he” sought out the Prefectural Prefect of
Dengzhou, Peng Fangmiao, who accepted the bribe and
subsequently started to impeach Huo Qing vehemently.
“Youjing.” Shen Zechuan suddenly asked Yu Xiaozai. “Which
year was Peng Fangmiao transferred down to Dengzhou? Before
that, whose student was he?”
Yu Xiaozai racked his brain, but all he had to say was, “… I can’t
remember. Zhongbo was negligent in its administration after the
fourth year of Xiande, and the prefectural prefects in Duanzhou,
Dunzhou, Fanzhou, and Dengzhou changed frequently. All I can
remember is the impeachment memorial…”
The officialdom was as vast as the sea, with innumerable key
positions of varying importance just in Qudu alone; the trivial posts
in the local governments were even more complex. Even without
Qudu in the mix, it was impossible for Yu Xiaozai to remember all
the various vice magistrates under the Thirteen Cities of Juexi, not
to mention minute details such as the year the other party was
transferred or the person they had received advice from.
It had to be known that in Qudu, when someone sent in a
visitation card to call on a powerful household in Qudu, all it took
was for the head of the clan to be willing to see said person and
exchange a few words, and said person could proclaim themselves
as the other person’s “student” the moment they stepped out of the
door; they were also sure to address the other as “teacher”
whenever they met. On top of that, the Hua and Pan factions had
countless of lackeys after the reign of Xiande, when both factions
plunged the imperial court into turmoil.
“Ding Tao,” After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye called out.
“Come in.”
Ding Tao anxiously stuck his head out. Frightened by Xiao
Chiye’s expression, he walked in with the same side of his arm and
leg moving in tandem. Everyone in the hall looked towards Ding
Tao. He opened his eyes wide, wanting to look at Shen Zechuan,
but not daring to.
Xiao Chiye was in no hurry. He shifted his arm slightly, then
asked Ding Tao, “Do you still remember the name ‘Peng
Fangmiao’?”
Ding Tao shook his head blankly.
Outside, Qiao Tianya had a sudden brainwave and piped up,
“Tao-zi, this person should be in the Ministry of Personnel’s
reference list after the fourth year of Xiande. Think again. Hua
Siqian, Wei Huaigu, or even Pan Rugui.”
 During the fourth year of Xiande when the Biansha Cavalry
slaughtered the city, the people left in Dengzhou were Tantai Hu
and the others, all of whom were taken into the Imperial Army by
Xiao Chiye. The original Prefectural Prefect of Dengzhou had also
died during that massacre, so Peng Fangmiao could only be a
court official assigned over after the fourth year of Xiande.
Other than his exemplary ability in writing, Ding Tao’s memory
was also rather astounding. His family’s notebook was modeled
after the record-taking of the Imperial Bodyguards, and Ding Tao
had grown familiar with the procedure during the times he tagged
along with his father. Back in Qudu, Qiao Tianya had once visited
the residence of the Prince of Libei at night but was turned away by
Ding Tao and Gu Jin. Ding Tao could tell the origin of the
concealed weapon he had tossed out at just a glance, a feat that
Qiao Tianya still remembered to this day.
Ding Tao fished out his little notebook, staying silent amidst the
rustling of pages being flipped.
At this sight, Yu Xiaozai also began to remember. Without
realizing it, he spoke out, “Our Chief Surveillance…”
Ding Tao’s eyes abruptly lit up. He bookmarked a page. “Chief
Surveillance Bureau! That’s right, the Chief Surveillance Bureau!
Young Master,” Ding Tao looked towards Shen Zechuan as though
he was seeking praise. “The assassination case in Qudu! The
Imperial Bodyguards and Chief Surveillance Bureau wanted to
investigate Master at that time. There was someone surnamed Fu.
That’s him!”
Fu Linye.
Of course Shen Zechuan remembered the assassination case.
He had sensed something amiss with the Quancheng silk while he
was investigating that case. At that time, the person who had
shirked responsibility for searching the Prince of Libei’s residence
and passed it on to him was the Right Censor-in-chief, Fu Linye.
Yu Xiaozai suddenly slapped his thigh and even stood up. He
was so miffed with himself he just had to laugh at the ludicrousness
of it. Chortling himself silly with Ding Tao, he said, “I remembered it
now too. Your Lordship, before the assassination case, everyone
thought that Fu Linye was an official of humble origins! It was
precisely because of Fu Linye that Second Master suffered so much
back then. So that son of a bitch had long been colluding with Wei
Huaigu!”
The tussle between the noble clans and those of humble
origins happened after the fourth year of Xiande. Back then, Hua
Siqian led the Grand Secretariat, and he also had the help of the
Empress Dowager and Pan Rugui. Hai Liangyi thus had no choice
but to rely on the Chief Surveillance Bureau’s evaluations of the
various officials for promotion and delegation to hinder the
minions of the Hua and Pan clans from running amok in the local
regions‘ governments. Fu Linye, who was at that time pretending to
be a gentleman of worth, had considerable influence over Hai
Liangyi and the other officials of humble origins’ consideration of
those on the Ministry of Personnel’s reference list.
“If Fu Linye was the one who assigned Peng Fangmiao to
Dengzhou,” Shen Zechuan paused for a moment, “then Wei Huaigu
and even Xi Hongxuan could be this ‘he’.”

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 CHAPTER 203 : SONGYU

Huo Lingyun obviously did not know who exactly “he” was, or
he would have been able to voice out the name the moment he
opened his mouth. However, regardless of whether it was Wei
Huaigu or Xi Hongxuan, they were all already dead.
“During the sixth year of Xiande, only the Hua and Pan factions
had the capability to make promises of noble titles to Huo Qing.”
Yao Wenyu stroked the back of the cat’s neck with two fingers. “At
that time, Xi Hongxuan had yet to join the imperial court, and Wei
Huaigu was far from having the ability to do so. Why did Your
Lordship put your guess on these two people?”
“Noble title.” Xiao Chiye stressed the two words. “Trace this
promise up the hierarchy, and you don’t even need to guess to be
able to list out the few who could do so. It’s as good as not
covering it up.”
“Based on the speculation of Peng Fangmiao’s official career
afterward, the promise of a noble title is very likely a sort of
disguise. The real bribe used was something else.” Talking about
the Scorpions had made half of Kong Ling’s body break out in a
cold sweat. “Although Qian Jin was the Minister of Revenue before
the eighth year of Xiande, it was still Wei Huaigu who held genuine
control over the Ministry of Revenue starting from the first year of
Xiande.”
Qian Jin was dismissed from office along with Hua Siqian
during the rebellion at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. However, the
key to Dazhou’s money still did not fall into Hai Liangyi’s hands.
Wei Huaigu stepped forward immediately right after and took over
the office of the Minister of Revenue, where he continued to go
around in circles with Hai Liangyi. It was not until Wei Huaigu was
imprisoned during the Libei’s military provisions case that the
noble clans’ embezzlement of state treasury during the reign of
Xiande, which resulted in a deficit that eventually led to the
Zhongbo troops’ defeat, finally surfaced.
This was an intricate, complicated web that involved not only
the officials from Qudu but even the officials of the various Dazhou
local governments. Think about it. If “he” had used the same
method to plant covert pawns and chess pieces in Juexi and
Qidong, then how many of them now were Scorpions?
“It makes one’s blood run cold,” Kong Ling could not refrain
from blurting out. “This is simply…”
Corroding Dazhou from within!
“Panic not.” Shen Zechuan looked around at the various
gentlemen. The calm tone he used flicked away the anxiety that
was beginning to permeate the air. “It’s all too easy to give
themselves away when there are too many threads of clues. Even
the most astute scheme is bound by the limitations of the mortal
body. Manipulating such a game is time-consuming and labor-
intensive, and having too many people involved will only prove to
be counterproductive. After all, too many cooks spoil the broth.”
Juexi and Qidong were both not the same as Zhongbo.
Zhongbo was the result of a lax administration, while Juexi had
Jiang Qingshan who, during his investigation of the deficit with
Xue Xiuzhuo, did everything in his power to thwart the noble clans
and the Scorpions. Meanwhile, Qidong had Qi Zhuyin, the
commander-in-chief who was in charge of all the territories in
Qidong. She had her own core team under her command, as well
as Qi Shiyu to assist her in governmental affairs. She would never
collude with the Scorpions. But Shen Zechuan was certain at this
moment that the person who had tampered with the Bianjun
Commandery’s grains was a White Scorpion hiding in Qudu, and
this Scorpion had not been trying to force Lu Guangbai into
rebelling, but to drive him to his death.
Xiao Chiye, however, once again fixed his eyes on Huo
Lingyun. “Since the Scorpions were the ones who gave the firearms
to King Yi, then who’s the one who taught you to use it?”
Firearms were not broadswords and swords. As a native of
Dengzhou, Huo Lingyun would not have had the chance to come
into contact with them before this, so he would have had to
undergo training if he wished to use them with proficiency. Xiao
Chiye had sniped and touched them before in Qudu, and thus he
knew them like the back of his hand. Leaving aside the question of
whether King Yi himself knew how to use it, if he had known that
Huo Lingyun knew how to use it, he would not have kept Huo
Lingyun by his side without so much as a precaution against the
latter.
Huo Lingyun pursed his lips, his expression solemn in the
silence. After a moment, he answered, “Old Fang the Tenth.”
This was one of the reasons why Old Fang the Tenth had been
willing to join hands with Huo Lingyun to remove King Yi from the
equation. He was a fast learner when it came to using firearms, and
he was able to move around by King Yi’s side. What’s more, he
could pump him for information on the money vault, as well as
keep an eye on King Yi’s movements.
“After Dunzhou was reclaimed, Yang Qiu and Old Fang the
Tenth started feeling uneasy,” Huo Lingyun continued. “By the time
Cizhou reached an agreement with Libei and Qidong, Fanzhou
and Dengzhou were already facing the situation of having armed
forces being sent to quell them. They were afraid that King Yi could
not hold up under threat and ended up opening the gates to
surrender, so they thought of making the first move to do away
with him and empty out the money vault.”
Huo Lingyun used the money vault as bait and burned Yang
Qiu and Old Fang the Tenth to death. This sum of money was now
in his hands, and he was the only one who knew where it was. This
was also what gave him the confidence to dare to negotiate with
Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye.
Huo Lingyun’s gaze alternated between Shen Zechuan and
Xiao Chiye. “I can use firearms, and I can teach the Libei Armored
Cavalry and the Cizhou Garrison Troops.” He looked at Xiao Chiye.
“You want to attack Duanzhou in the second month. You can swap
me over to the vanguard squad. I can lead the remaining garrison
troops of Dengzhou.”
Kneeling at the side for a long time, Fei Sheng’s countenance
promptly changed. It was only after he composed himself for a
moment that he said, “It’s not my place to interrupt before Master,
but this matter concerns the safety of both Duanzhou and Second
Master, so I’m left with no choice but to say a few words. This man
is dodgy, and it’s inappropriate to put him by Second Master and
Master’s sides. Second Master has no lack of generals either.
Besides, there’s also Elder Yin following along this time.”
Fei Sheng was really exercising due diligence now. His
misgivings towards Huo Lingyun were not without reason. Yin
Chang was clearly the one who conquered Fanzhou! If not for this
Huo Lingyun’s underhanded tricks, Yin Chang would not have
gotten a dressing-down. This was just great now. Yin Chang took
down Fanzhou, but Huo Lingyun ended up getting the lion’s share
of the credit, making it look like it was only because of Huo
Lingyun’s act of arson that they managed to take down Fanzhou.
And that was not all. Fei Sheng found Huo Lingyun to be a man
who could endure and dared to be ruthless. When he made his
move, he struck with efficiency and decisiveness. His vindictiveness
was almost on par with Shen Zechuan. Such a man had both
capability and a mind of his own. To let Huo Lingyun remain by
Shen Zechuan’s side was to threaten Fei Sheng, and Fei Sheng had
no desire to give Huo Lingyun the opportunity to stand out and
steal the show.
Fei Sheng was very clear on how things worked, and he also
knew where his own opportunities lay. He dared to speak up to
interrupt now because he could tell for sure that Xiao Chiye did not
like Huo Lingyun.
 Sure enough, Xiao Chiye did not want to answer Huo Lingyun
at all. He needed the firearms, but he did not need Huo Lingyun.
Duanzhou could only be his – Xiao Ce’an’s – playground. He had
stopped over in Cizhou for such a long time, spending every single
day at the Beiyuan military drill grounds and donning heavy armor
to train with Hairigu’s Scorpions, all just to find a breakthrough that
could change the current situation in Libei and turn the tide in its
favor. If he were to change the vanguard to Huo Lingyun, then it
would undoubtedly be a heavy punch to the guts of the Libei
Armored Cavalry, whose morale was already low to begin with.
Shen Zechuan’s waist and back started aching after sitting for a
long time. The swollen teeth marks on the inside of his thighs had
yet to subside. What he had told Xiao Chiye in the morning about
his mind being in a whirl was not a lie. And now, his mind was in a
fog all over, no thanks to the White Scorpions. They still had to start
sending provisions to Dunzhou in the afternoon, and the rations
needed for the battle in Duanzhou had to go first… Then, there
was also the thorny issue of whether Huo Lingyun could be put to
use—or not.
“Since Young Master Huo has his mind set on it…” Yao Wenyu
said to Shen Zechuan. “Your Lordship, the Imperial Bodyguards
have been recruiting new recruits recently, haven’t they?”
That’s right.
Shen Zechuan understood Yao Wenyu’s intent right away.
Put Huo Lingyun in the Imperial Bodyguards, and Huo Lingyun
would not be able to act as he pleased given Fei Sheng’s
misgivings of him, and with Qiao Tianya at the side watching over
them, Fei Sheng could not go too far trampling over Huo Lingyun
either. Not only could they put him at a distance away from Shen
Zechuan by doing this, but they could also put him to use instead
of letting him go to waste. What’s more, leaving both Qiao Tianya
and Huo Lingyun as double restraints to hold Fei Sheng in check
could also serve as a warning to Fei Sheng, who was gradually
becoming more and more “aloof”, reminding him not to let success
go to his head.
“Fei Sheng,” Shen Zechuan said, “Pick from the remaining
Dengzhou Garrison Troops. We’ll take everyone who meets your
recruitment standards, including this Young Master Huo.”
Fei Sheng only had to think about it to understand the intent of
this order. His heart sank, but he had to put on a show of accepting
it gladly. “I shall respectfully follow Master’s arrangements. But
these Dengzhou Garrison Troops are all Huo Lingyun’s old
acquaintances. They may not necessarily be willing to serve in the
Imperial Bodyguards.”
“That will be because you are not rewarding them enough.”
Xiao Chiye raised his left hand and turned the ring on his right
thumb back to its original position. There was no smile in his eyes.
“Once they join the Imperial Bodyguards, they are no longer
natives of Dengzhou. Their names in the previous military register
of Dengzhou can be struck off.”
Xiao Chiye said just enough to make his point.
The Imperial Army the Second Master took in during his early
years was even harder to deal with than the Dengzhou Garrison
Troops, and his way of managing his subordinates had been none
other than to be fair in meting out rewards and punishments. Xiao
Chiye was reminding Fei Sheng that these remaining soldiers of
Dengzhou could break away from their registered place of origin
once they joined the Imperial Bodyguards and even be exempted
from field taxes in Cizhou. As long as he could do a good job
carrying out the task Shen Zechuan had instructed him, what could
he not achieve?
Fei Sheng understood what he meant and hurriedly
acknowledged his orders.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was already late by the time the meeting was over. Qiao
Tianya pushed Yao Wenyu back to their courtyard.
The slab stone paths in the courtyard had all been cleared, with
not even a speck of snow on it. They had gone out of the way to
sprinkle salt too, for fear that the wheelchair might skid while going
up. The newly planted plum blossoms had all withered, the fallen
red dead in the embrace of its branches; encased in ice and snow,
they presented a scene that appeared particularly bleak and
desolate. The road today was damp, so Qiao Tianya walked slowly,
keeping the wheelchair stable and steady as he pushed it along.
 Yao Wenyu’s cat was called “Hunu”.1 If it were not stretching
itself and licking its paws under the eaves, it would be nestling on
Yao Wenyu’s knees, sleeping soundly with its belly exposed. At
present, it was a little bundle of energy as it kneaded its paws on
Yao Wenyu’s sleeves and nuzzled itself hard against Yao Wenyu’s
palm.
Yao Wenyu lowered his fingers to scratch Hunu. The lanterns at
the sides shone upon the sides of his face. He had gotten a little
fleshy lately, and he looked a lot better as compared to the time
when he had first arrived. This was the Yao Yuanzhuo of
distinguished demeanor and ethereal appearance.
Qiao Tianya did not speak. His gaze shifted to Yao Wenyu’s
collar before he averted it to the cuff of Yao Wenyu’s sleeves.
They had not exchanged a single word today.
The wheelchair entered through the door, and the attendant
under the eaves headed in to deliver hot water. Yao Wenyu sat in
the inner chamber and read his books, while Qiao Tianya took off
his blade and stood outside to look at his own seven-stringed
zither.
A long time elapsed, and the servants all withdrew from the
room and closed the door gently. Usually, Qiao Tianya was the one
who personally bathed Yao Wenyu without any help from the
others. Yuanzhuo liked to be clean, and he would not sleep if he
did not bathe. Every time Qiao Tianya wiped his hair, he would sit
quietly.
He seemed to have accepted the sorry figure he was currently
cutting, but only to the extent that no one else other than Qiao
Tianya was permitted to look. This was the limit of what he could
bear.
Qiao Tianya stood for close to an hour before he finally heard
Yao Wenyu call out in a low voice from inside. “… Qiao Songyue.”
Qiao Tianya’s fingers that had been strumming faintly across
the zither strings came to a halt, but he did not respond, as though
he had not heard him.
After a moment of silence, Yao Wenyu continued. “… time for
bed.”
 The wind chimes beneath the eaves stirred, drawing in the
loneliness in the wind as well. Yao Wenyu saw through the hanging
drapes Qiao Tianya’s shadow cast upon it. He seemed to have
stood there for quite a long time. On hearing Yao Wenyu, he
paused for a moment before lifting the drapes to enter.
The candlelight was very dim. The Yao Wenyu of this hour did
not yearn for light, for this was the beginning of his frailty and
helplessness every day. Hunu burrowed into the bedding and
swatted playfully at the corner of the blanket, completely unaware
of the awkwardness in the room.
Yao Wenyu had yet to school the expression in his eyes when
Qiao Tianya bent forward with calm and composure to carry him
up from the wheelchair. Their clothes touched, and Qiao Tianya
placed Yao Wenyu’s arm on the back of his shoulder. At the same
time Yao Wenyu made contact with Qiao Tianya’s back, his fingers
curled slightly.
Yuanzhuo was a very reserved man; that was the effect of his
upbringing as a gentleman of virtue.
Qiao Tianya untied Yao Wenyu’s hair. It was at this moment the
expression in his eyes was focused… so focused that Yao Wenyu
could not bring himself to meet them. All he could do was to lower
his own eyes to avoid Qiao Tianya’s gaze. When he had been
stripped down to his inner garment, Yao Wenyu muttered softly,
“don’t.”
Qiao Tianya paused for a moment without letting go of the belt
he had been pulling at.
Yao Wenyu suddenly clenched his collar with an expression
similar to indignation. He repeated, “don’t!”
“Don’t what?” Qiao Tianya, who had been silent this whole
time, looked at him, his face a picture of calm.
Yao Wenyu’s “don’t touch me” caught in his throat. He stared at
Qiao Tianya with bloodshot eyes, as though Qiao Tianya was some
great scourge. His palms trembled slightly, yet the word that came
out of his mouth was still, “… don’t.”
Yao Wenyu pursed his lips tightly and started to struggle. He
pushed against Qiao Tianya’s chest, rejecting the latter’s touch.
 The rattan chair creaked. Flashes of green and white shook in
the blurred mirror as wide-sleeved robes and black hair struggled
in the crooks of Qiao Tianya’s arms, like spring leaves that were all
too anxious to make their escape with the wind. Qiao Tianya let
him make a scene as he pleased. Just when Yao Wenyu was about
to slide onto the ground, Qiao Tianya suddenly overturned the
rattan chair, grabbed Yao Wenyu’s wrists, and pinned him down
forcefully onto the woolen carpet.
“What do you want?” Qiao Tianya held down Yao Wenyu’s
wrists with one hand and gripped Yao Wenyu’s face with the other
hand to correct its direction. “Do you want me to throw you in like
this, or throw you here?”
Yao Wenyu was forced to tilt his head up. His breaths
quickened as he shut his eyes, biting down on his lip until it went
pale. Qiao Tianya released the hand that was grasping his chin
and pressed them between his lips to prevent him from biting
down on them. He wedged his fingers in, only for Yao Wenyu to
clamp down on them as if he was venting his anger.
“What are you afraid of?” Qiao Tianya let him bite, his
expression slightly cold. “That wasn’t your fault.”
The intoxicated Yuanzhuo of last night was very different. He
briskly forgot the pain of his legs and had a reaction to being
touched in the bathtub. A noble young master was still human;
what he had lost were his legs, not all that made him a man. He
was still so young, and he still had all the same unspoken desires
that he kept secret. But he did not even have the opportunity to
pleasure himself, and yet he was laid bare and exposed in Qiao
Tianya’s eyes every single night—even so, he never accepted such a
powerless self.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Tianya asked in a harsh voice. “Feeling
aggrieved because I’m not a woman? My handjob can’t be that
bad, right?”
“Stop it,” Yao Wenyu’s face betrayed his agony. All he could do
was to yell dispiritedly as he lay here, “Don’t say a word more!”
The rattan chair that had rolled to one side knocked into a
small clothes rack, which tilted over and smashed into Qiao
Tianya’s back. Qiao Tianya did not even blink. Under the flickering
candlelight, Qiao Tianya did not know which part of him was in a
rage either.
“How do you see yourself?” Qiao Tianya asked. “Do you think
of yourself as a banished immortal?2 Is it wrong to have desires?
You—”
“I don’t!” Yao Wenyu’s eyes had gone thoroughly red. His voice
trembled as he struggled to say, “I don’t have that sort of… I don’t
need them!”
He could not sink to such lows and have his very last shred of
dignity destroyed. What would he be left with then? He only had
this bit of dignity left, and it was this bit of dignity that sustained
him so that he could sit before the others in this weak and frail state
and accept all of their pity.
As Yao Wenyu trembled, tears trickled out of his eyes. They did
so against his will, but his tears were beyond his control, just like his
crippled legs. He was ashamed to face this side of himself, just as
he did not dare to face whatever remained of his desires.
Qiao Tianya’s chest heaved. He abruptly flipped Yao Wenyu
over.
With a sense of foreboding, Yao Wenyu’s eyes widened in
panic as Qiao Tianya pulled him into his arms from behind and
undid his inner garment. Yao Wenyu struggled violently, pushing
against Qiao Tianya’s arms as he resisted. “I don’t want to! Qiao
Songyue, release me, let—”
Qiao Tianya groped for Yao Wenyu’s hand, pulled it into his
palm, and led it down to hold Yao Wenyu’s object of shame with
his hand over the latter’s. It was in this way he embraced Yao
Wenyu and heard Yao Wenyu crying when he was neck to neck
with him.
The dim candlelight went out as they clung close to one
another in this space. Yao Wenyu’s face was to the woolen carpet,
his cheeks wet with tears from the unbearable shame and
indignation. A suppressed cry escaped his throat, a cry for the
dignity he lost in Qiao Tianya’s hands, and for the self he had
gotten a clear look of. He panted for breath in between his sobs, his
free hand clutching tightly at Qiao Tianya’s sleeve as the pleasure
of being defiled and broken into pieces in Qiao Tianya’s
masterfully sliding palm washed over him.
“Kill me…” A choke escaped from Yao Wenyu as he rasped,
“Qiao Songyue… I hate you to the core…”
All the while that Qiao Tianya’s palm was gliding up and down
in that darkness, he was pressed up against the side of Yuanzhuo’s
face, listening to Yao Wenyu’s sobs and ramblings, as well as Yao
Wenyu’s pants and rasps.
“You’re not in the wrong.” As Yao Wenyu shuddered, Qiao
Tianya whispered into Yao Wenyu’s ear, his voice raspy as he said
in all seriousness, “Hate me all you want.”

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Footnotes
1. 虎奴, literally tiger slave
2. 谪仙 literally, an immortal who has been banished from
heaven to live on earth; an epithet for exceptional
individuals such as the Tang poet Li Bai (who also wrote the
poem, Qiang Jin Jiu). i.e., a wayward genius
 CHAPTER 204 : EMPRESS DOWAGER

Xiao Chiye deployed troops to Duanzhou in the second month,

and Shen Zechuan had the grain wagons set off first. Tantai Hu,
who was in Dunzhou, was all prepared and ready. To the north,
Xiao Jiming dispatched Wu Ziyu to lead 5,000 Libei Armored
Cavalrymen to standby at the northern side of Mount Luo. Once
there was a change in situation, they would be able to combine
forces with Shasan Camp to jointly attack Duanzhou.
Fine snow danced at the spurring of the breeze on this day. The
outskirts of the city stretched on into the distance, where a
panoramic view of the empty, boundless horizon provided a treat
for the eyes. Xiao Chiye was clad from head to toe in his heavy
armor, which sank into the thin snow. He looked just like a block of
wall standing before Shen Zechuan.
“There are still bandits remaining on Mount Luo.” Shen
Zechuan, wrapped securely in his coat, gazed at him. “You have to
be careful when passing through the territory.”
Meng landed on Xiao Chiye’s shoulder. “I’ll remember it. This
has to be a quick battle. I’ll be back in the third month at the very
latest. If the soldiers you send to Dengzhou aren’t enough, let the
Commander-in-chief know. She can transfer soldiers from Tianfei
Watchtower. No problem there.”
Snow brushed past the hair on Shen Zechuan’s temples and
landed on his collar. Xiao Chiye raised his hand to set his palm
down on the top of Shen Zechuan’s head. A quote inexplicably
came to his mind.
For my wife is still in the springtime of life;
and tender are the words to comfort my beloved you.
Lanzhou was only twenty-two of age this year, and he would be
by his side for decades to come. Xiao Chiye, however, would be
fighting battles on all fronts in the days to come, regardless of life
or death. Overthinking and dwelling too much on it would only
serve to make him timid.
Shen Zechuan was the reason Xiao Chiye became tough. He
was also the reason that Xiao Chiye mellowed. Xiao Chiye wanted
to protect this man until the very end of his life, and as such, he was
willing to give his very best in every single battle. But even the
strong, like Xiao Fangxu, would also come to an unpredictable end.
Xiao Chiye thought plenty after that incident. He loved this man,
but he also worried for this man.
Perhaps other people in this world did not need him, Xiao
Ce’an, that much. But Shen Zechuan did.
“I’ll wait for you here.” Shen Zechuan raised his palm to caress
Xiao Chiye’s cheek. In a soft voice, he said, “Don’t fool around with
others on the way. Not even a glance.”
All of a sudden, Xiao Chiye hugged Shen Zechuan. In this
snow, as he huffed breaths of hot air, he felt as if he owed Lanzhou
too, too much; the latter clearly could not even leave him in his
sleep.
“Ensconce yourself in the throne at the Hall of Distinction,”1
Xiao Chiye nuzzled against Shen Zechuan’s temple and whispered,
“and let not the snowstorm come unto you.”
Without waiting for Shen Zechuan to answer, Xiao Chiye
released him. He put on his helmet, flipped atop Lang Tao Xue Jin,
and turned his horse around to lead the Libei Armored Cavalry into
a gallop east.
Seeing that Shen Zechuan did not move, Fei Sheng held up the
umbrella to shield the Prefectural Lord from the falling snow. Shen
Zechuan stood in the snow, clutching his blue handkerchief until it
was silent all around.
◈ ◈ ◈
 Qudu experienced consecutive days of clear skies, and one
could occasionally catch a glimpse of the birds flying in diagonal
formations between the double-eaved roofs of the imperial palace.
The heir apparent was a fast learner. Although she still did not
possess the authority to make decisions, she was allowed to listen
in on the discussions on state affairs in Mingli Hall. She rarely spoke
up, yet in that pair of eyes of hers, Cen Yu saw her dedication to
government affairs.
Other than reading and practicing calligraphy in the past six
months, Li Jianting had no other hobbies. She rose early each day
and did not even slack off on the days when she fell ill. The Chief
Surveillance Bureau, which used to lecture Li Jianheng in the past,
gradually could not find any shortcomings in Li Jianting they could
admonish her for. In the eyes of these fastidious censors, this heir
apparent was one who was the most like a proper crown prince
since the Crown Prince of the reign of Yongyi. Even Kong Qiu, who
was initially quite critical of her, no longer took to talking about her
lightly.
No one knew how Xue Xiuzhuo had done it, but he had
completely destroyed “Ling Ting”, and now, only Li Jianting existed
in this world.
The Empress Dowager had been plagued by headaches lately.
Initially, incense had been lit in the hall, but she had Matron
Liuxiang snuff it out as the scent made her feel unwell. The amount
of gray hair along her temples had increased; old age was eroding
this person of power who had a hand in the storms and turmoil of
Qudu for as long as thirty years. In the face of Li Jianting’s youthful
appearance, she felt all the more willing in spirit but lacking in
strength.
“Yesterday, Han Cheng presented a memorial to the throne.
He’s still requesting for troops to be deployed to Cizhou.” The
Marquis of Helian sat below and groused to the Empress Dowager.
“Conflicts are now abound between people on our own side. Why
is he still thinking about Zhongbo!”
The Empress Dowager let Matron Liuxiang massage her
shoulders as she leaned back on the couch. She looked over Han
Cheng’s memorial, then said, “Shen Zechuan has taken down
Fanzhou, and now he even intends to use military forces in
Duanzhou. After spring, he will become the tiger of Zhongbo. He
harbors a deep-seated hatred towards Han Cheng for the murder
of his teacher. It is only natural for Han Cheng to be afraid.”
The Marquis of Helian did not want to bother with Han Cheng’s
personal feud at all. What he was currently worried about was of
another nature. After the ninth month last year, the practical doers
faction led by Xue Xiuzhuo collaborated with the Chief Surveillance
Bureau to investigate the crop fields of the eight cities in
preparation for the resurveying of the crop fields. This had always
been the case for the past years, but those had been merely done
for show. The officials going on inspection tours simply went
through the motions and visited the eight cities as a mere formality
to get things over and done with, then submitted a figure that
everyone had agreed on beforehand to the Grand Secretariat to
muddle their way through the process.
But it seemed that Xue Xiuzhuo was serious about it this time.
“I told all of you in the past to tell the rural manors you have in
your names to restrain themselves. But did anyone listen? How
many people froze to death in winter last year? Other than the
three cities of Dicheng, Jincheng, and Quancheng that provide
disaster relief to save the people, everyone else would rather be
cowering cowards.” The Empress Dowager tossed the memorial
onto the small table. The eastern pearls by her ears swayed along
with her voice. “Why did Pan Lin have to antagonize Xue Xiuzhuo?
Now Xue Xiuzhuo is going to work with Cen Yu and the rest to
investigate the accounts. Was this not an opportunity Pan Lin
himself served up to him?!”
The Marquis of Helian married Commandery Princess Zhao Yue
to Pan Lin’s younger brother, so their Fei clan and Pan clan were
now both in the same boat and would sink or swim together. He
had initially thought the marriage would be an insurance against
future troubles given that three members of the Pan clan – Pan
Xiangjie, Pan Lin, and Pan Yi – were all significant officials of the
imperial court, but who would have expected this Pan Lin to be
such a pain in the ass?!
 The Marquis of Helian did not dare to take the blame for Pan
Lin, but he could not let Pan Lin continue with his ways either. Pan
Lin was currently stuck in the opening that was the Minister of
Revenue. The job he did was significant and crucial, yet he did not
receive a promotion in name. Everyone was wrought with anxiety,
fearing that Pan Lin would keep on getting defeated in this tussle
between both sides and ended up handing the Ministry of Revenue
on a silver platter to the officials from humble origins.
“Chengzhi is impatient by nature. I have no idea how he
offended Xue Xiuzhuo.” The Marquis was restlessly burning with so
much anxiety he was like an ant on a hot pan as he pleaded. “But
Pang Xiangjie and Pan Yi are both loyal to Your Majesty. You have
also watched our Zhaoyue grow up into a lady. She and the Third
Missy are—”
“The gall of you!” The Empress Dowager cut him off and even
righted herself to berate him. “How dare you push political disputes
of the court onto my little baby?! Back then, when I wanted
Zhaoyue to marry a lad of the Han clan, you refused and insisted
on coveting that bit of petty advantage the Pan clan could offer
you. Now that things have gone south, you have to shoulder the
responsibility for it yourself!”
The Empress Dowager rarely flew into a rage like this. The
palace maids and eunuchs both inside and outside the hall
hurriedly fell to their knees and bent low over the ground, holding
their breaths. How would the Marquis still dare to sit? He fell to his
knees in a fluster, shuffled forward on his knees, and slapped
himself several times as he pleaded, “Your Majesty, please be
appeased!”
“The Third Missy has already been married away to Qidong,”
the Empress Dowager declared solemnly. “She is the first lady of Qi
Shiyu. With a proper rank now, every word she says and every
action she makes comes under close scrutiny. The encroachment
of the commoner’s fields by the rural manors under you people has
nothing to do with her, so don’t bring this up again. You’re already
at such an advanced age. Do you still need me to teach you to
watch your words?”
 “You, you’re right…” The Marquis of Helian was not a man with
guts to begin with. The only lawful descendants of the Fei clan in
this generation were the younger Marquis Fei Shi and the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue. Fei Shi spent his days fooling
around, and even now, he still did not hold a proper official
position. Because of this, the Marquis of Helian hesitated over the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue’s marriage for a long time over
every little thing. Who would have known that trouble would still
come knocking on his door?
The Empress Dowager rose to her feet. With Matron Liuxiang
supporting her, she made her way over to the Marquis of Helian’s
side. The Marquis was up in years, and for what it was worth, he
was still a noble; it was a disgrace for him to keep kneeling like this.
The Empress Dowager calmed down some and said, “Get up. This
is so unbecoming of someone your stature.”
The Marquis of Helian scrambled to his feet and stood
helplessly by the Empress Dowager’s side, not daring to stand too
close.
The Empress Dowager raised her head back slightly to look
along the palace eaves at the bright and clear sky. After thinking
for a moment, she said, “Fei Shi has also come of age. If his
inclinations do not lie in scholarly studies, then he can join the
military. There are so many vacancies in the Eight Great Training
Divisions; let him learn from them. He doesn’t need to carve out a
distinguished career, as long as he can temper himself and settle
down. Once he has put in the hours and has the record of service
to prove it, he will naturally be promoted to the Ministry of War.”
The Empress Dowager had pointed out the Marquis’ sore spot.
He only had Fei Shi, this one son, and he had kept him sheltered
back at home ever since the latter was young. After Fei Shi entered
society, he was adept at all things related to the drinking of wine
and the soliciting of courtesans, except for learning. What’s more,
he was an obstinate one who was close friends with Pan Lin. To
date, he was not even willing to show Xue Xiuzhuo due respect. He
spent his days wallowing in vice on Donglong street, typically
listening only to what the courtesans had to say.
 The Marquis of Helian’s eyes momentarily grew moist. He lifted
his sleeve to wipe his tears. “Your Majesty is the compassionate
mother of all in the world; your graciousness knows no bounds.
This humble subject originally wanted him to join the Eight Great
Training Divisions as well, but with that temperament of his…
alas!”
The Empress Dowager was fed up with the Marquis of Helian.
She knew what he meant. The Eight Great Training Divisions were
no longer a glamorous, lucrative post that managed Qudu’s
patrols. Given its proximity to Zhongbo, they might even be
deployed to fight wars in the future. The Marquis of Helian was
reluctant to send his son in to give his life for the cause for fear that
Fei Shi might meet with a mishap on the battlefield, so he was
hoping the Empress Dowager could get Fei Shi into the Six
Ministries instead.
But Qudu was now no longer the playground of the noble
clans. Domestic strife and foreign invasion were imminent. Shen
Zechuan was not eliminated from the equation, and in just a short
six months, he had become the overlord of Zhongbo, working in
collusion with Libei. If not for the pressing threat of the Biansha
Cavalry, he would have already fought his way to Qudu by now. Qi
Zhuyin, on her end, had also written a letter to Qudu saying that
she was going to use military force against the Qingshu Tribe in the
fourth month. Meanwhile, Xue Xiuzhuo was pressing in on them
every step of the way. Although he professed it to be a private feud
with Pan Lin, his impeachment memorials were all legitimate. The
eight cities did indeed encroach on the people’s fields, and it
would be a tough battle once investigations started after spring.
The situation was already at such a stage, and the Marquis of
Helian and a few others were still only thinking of themselves and
those small tracts of fields their rural manors have for fear that they
would be confiscated.
The Empress Dowager recalled the times during the reign of
Xiande. From Hua Siqian to Wei Huaigu, which of them was not a
capable minister or general? And now, the Marquis of Helian was a
bungling oaf who was good for nothing, Pan Xiangjie was a fence-
sitter who swayed where the wind blows, and Han Cheng was a
rapacious one with wild ambitions. Dealing with the Grand
Secretariat exhausted the Empress Dowager, both physically and
mentally.
“Xue Xiuzhuo’s investigation of the eight cities’ fields is meant
to pave the way for the Heir Apparent to ascend to the throne.” The
expression in the Empress Dowager’s eyes was deep. “It’s still not
time for the Heir Apparent to step into the limelight. Go back and
make it clear to Pan Xiangjie that he should open up the granaries
in Dancheng and Chuancheng to distribute the grains as aid relief
while the snow has yet to melt. Clean up the accounts in his hands
as well, and return all those unnecessary fields to the people. Xue
Xiuzhuo does not have the power to abuse as yet. If he wants to
investigate, then let him investigate.”
Alarmed, the Marquis of Helian exclaimed, “if those accounts
were to fall into this hands, it’d be hard to exculpate ourselves!”
The Empress Dowager looked at the Marquis of Helian and
said, “Pan Lin has served in the Ministry of Revenue for so long, and
the appraisals of him have been good. He also has capable men
working under him. Xue Xiuzhuo wants to assist the Chief
Surveillance Bureau, but even so, he can’t sidestep the Ministry of
Revenue. The previous year’s field records are all in the Ministry of
Revenue, which also manages the auditing of the account books.
Pan Lin can avoid arousing suspicions; just get him to appoint
someone he can trust over. Get through this, and Xue Xiuzhuo
won’t have any way to force the issue.”
The Marquis of Helian pondered it over for a brief period. “Pan
Lin has a man named Liang Cuishan under him. He was originally
promoted by the Emperor Tianchen during the public ditch
incident, and he has also been guided by Pan Lin before. This
person’s appraisal last year was outstanding, and he also has a
good reputation with the officials of humble origins. His home is in
Qudu, and he doesn’t have much of a history, which makes it most
convenient for us to hold him in our grasp.”
“As long as the Pan clan can survive this,” the Empress
Dowager said, “they will be able to come out of it for the better.”
Since there were problems with the fields in the eight cities,
then just how clean could the Xue clan’s Quancheng be? Xue
Xiuzhuo’s audacity in touching the eight cities’ fields account was
tantamount to laying a hand on a slice of the noble clans’ pie. This
matter concerned the future interests of the noble clans, and no
doubt heads would have to roll if the field taxes were to be
investigated. The Empress Dowager wanted Pan Lin to use Liang
Cuishan to choke off the opening in Dancheng. As long as the
investigation could not move forward and the bookkeeping was
messed up, they could make things difficult for Xue Xiuzhuo on the
imperial court and turn the tables around to investigate his Xue
clan’s Quancheng first.
Under the sunset glow of the setting sun, the Empress Dowager
took off the prayer beads on her wrists and tossed them on the
couch. Incense smoke from the prayer hall behind her rose in
spirals, accentuating the Empress Dowager’s dignified and poised
appearance that almost belied her old age had it not been for her
gray hair.

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Footnotes
1. 明堂 or mingtang, a ceremonial hall in a palace where
the emperor issued governmental instructions, declared
punishments and rewards, and carried out large
ceremonies. Other names used include Hall of
Light/Brightness/ Brilliance.
 CHAPTER 205 : DUANZHOU

It was not until the second month that Qi Zhuyin received a

reply to the memorial she sent to Qudu. She read it over while she
was at the residence in the Cangjun Commandery, then said to Qi
Shiyu, who was lying on the bed, “I said to fight the Qingshu Tribe,
but the Ministry of War dismissed the notion. The Empress
Dowager told me to wait as she’s concerned about the military
expenses, but Zhongbo is already at war now. I’ll miss the golden
opportunity if I wait any longer.”
Qi Shiyu was getting much better these days, although he
stuttered a little while lying on the bed, and he had to clutch a
handkerchief in his hands when he spoke. “H-hurry.”
Qi Zhuyin distorted his meaning and set the letter down.
“That’s right. I’m in a hurry. How could I not? When it all comes
down to it, the defeat of Libei’s troops will not benefit Qidong in
any way.”
Only then did Qi Shiyun complete his earlier words, “What’s the
h-hurry?!”
While leaning back in her chair, Qi Zhuyin heard her father’s
concubine in the courtyard wailing and making a commotion. She
had ridden for half the night on her horse last night before
arriving, and here she was now, sitting and relying on strong tea to
keep her spirits up. Furthermore, she still had to ride back later.
Vexed on hearing the cries, she said to Qi Shiyu, “Can you tell her
to shut up?”
The concubine in the courtyard had given Qi Shiyu a son
before, and now she was the picture of a tear-stained beauty as she
leaned against her maidservant and sobbed out loud in the
direction of the room, “Old Master… Can’t you even let me see the
Old Master? Commander-in-chief, how very heartless of you!”
Qi Wei stood still under the eaves as he watched that particular
concubine cry until her eyes were all red and swollen and she was
almost sliding to the ground. He clicked his tongue lightly and
shuffled his feet around to face the wall. Listening to her was giving
him a headache.
Qi Shiyu could tell which concubine this was. Before he had a
stroke, he was a tender one towards the fairer sex. He clenched the
handkerchief tightly, his chest heaving violently as he shouted with
all the might he could muster, “I-I’m telling you to sh-shut up!” He
then paused to catch his breath for a moment and covered the
corner of his mouth with the handkerchief as he addressed Qi
Zhuyin, “Li-Libei, has no…”
“That was so many years ago.” Qi Zhuyin took over the
conversation for him. “You’re already at such an age, and you still
want to sulk about His Old Lordship? The commanding generals of
Libei’s battle camps are quite the interesting batch. They are no
longer the same as they were a decade or so ago.”
“Then, then Xiao Jiming, and, Xiao Chiye…” It was a strain on
Qi Shiyu to speak, and even he had to frown on hearing himself.
He tried his best to speak more coherently. “Can they beat A-
Amu’er? By deploying troops now to clean up their mess, the
Empress Dowager will view you with suspicion. Once the battle is
over, watch how Qudu takes you to t-task!”
Several decades back, Qi Shiyu was the prince charming of
many Dazhou ladies. He came from a distinguished background,
and he was handsome. Of the Four Great Generals during the
reign of Yongyi, he was the earliest to make his name in Qidong.
Even Feng Yisheng was a high-ranking military officer under his
command. At first, he had hopes of being conferred the title of a
prince, but who would expect Xiao Fangxu to rise to prominence in
Luoxia Pass all of a sudden? The Libei Armored Cavalry elbowed
out the Qidong Garrison Troops’ military glory, trampling over Qi
Shiyu for life.
There was no enmity between them, although they loved to pit
against each other and had even fought before in Qudu. Qi Shiyu
made little of Xiao Fangxu’s humble origins, and Xiao Fangxu once
called Qi Shiyu names for being just a pretty face that was all looks
and no substance. Feng Yisheng was the oldest among them when
he was still around, and it was all because he went to a lot of effort –
with Lu Pingyan following his lead – that Qidong and Libei could
stay brothers for so many years.
Qi Shiyu rose to the challenge to prove his worth, but never
could he have expected himself to be without a son and heir of
lawful birth. At first, he had the idea of having Qi Zhuyin marry Xiao
Jiming, but he felt rather awkward deep down and eventually did
not broach the topic.
“Take me to what task?” Qi Zhuyin removed her blade. “If Libei
is gone, so is Zhongbo, and if Zhongbo is gone, Dancheng will be
a goner too. Who is the Empress Dowager going to take to task?
Herself? For all their shortcomings, Xiao Jiming and Xiao Chiye are
both His Old Lordship’s sons. With that bit of capability Han Cheng
has, does he have the ability to stop the Biansha Cavalry when the
time is nigh? Everyone might just as well let the state perish.”
Qi Shiyu was rendered so speechless by her that he wheezed
for breath.
Qi Zhuyin poured a cup of tea while she was at it and
continued, “You should rest for a while.”
“No!” Qi Shiyu’s obstinate nature took center stage as he
childishly tossed the handkerchief at Qi Zhuyin. “You foolish
woman! Bar, bargain with the Empress Dowager. At least have a
noble title to your name before you g-go to war!”
Qi Zhuyin fell silent for a moment. She knew Qi Shiyu’s heart
was aching for her. She had served as the commander-in-chief of
the military forces of Qidong’s Five Commanderies for quite some
years, but she still had no noble rank. If she were to get injured or
disabled in the future, all Qudu needed was a transfer order on
paper, and they would be able to remove her.
“At the very least, you’d have a reputation in life, and…” Qi
Shiyu’s voice started trembling, “status in death!”
Otherwise, a hundred years on, she, Qi Zhuyin, would just be “a
woman of the Qi clan”. No matter how illustrious her military
achievements had been, she could never leave her rightful name
and title behind.
Qi Zhuyin held the teacup with her fingers and studied the
patterns on it. “A soldier only knows to die on the battlefield for his
country; what need is there to concern himself with the return of his
body home after?1 If I were to really die in battle, etch my name on
a memorial tablet2 at home—it’s all the same.” She raised her head
and smiled at Qi Shiyu. “Our Qidong is under the control of others,
and we have to discuss every single matter with Qudu. As long as
the Empress Dowager is willing to give us military provisions, I can
do away with a title. It is what it is.”
Whether it was because of his old age or not, no one knew, but
Qi Shiyu suddenly started shedding tears. He would not even let Qi
Zhuyin wipe it away for him as he hung his head down and choked
with sobs. “If only you were a boy…”
Qi Zhuyin folded the handkerchief and set it down beside the
bed. When Qi Shiyu was a little better, she continued, “Brothers
who have died before in battles are aplenty, but can each and
every single one of them leave their name behind in history?
General Feng was not conferred a title either, was he? I’m telling
you this so that you know how things stand. We are really going to
war this year. Before the turn of the year, I heard that Chen Zhen
was in ill health. It’s also because of his powerlessness that the
Ministry of War did not agree to my deployment of troops this time.
Once he retires, we will have no one else in Qudu. I’m worried that
it’ll be even harder to ask for military salaries and provisions. We
should save on the various expenses in the residences as much as
we can. Stop getting swayed by all those pillow talks. Those
concubines of yours have the manors they want and the shops they
ask for. Even if I die, they and those sons of yours won’t starve to
death.”
Qi Shiyu said, miffed, “All, all the manors I gave you…”
“Were used to make up for the shortfall.” Qi Zhuyin thought for
a moment before comforting him. “There’s a small plot of land left
though. My mother used to plant flowers and herbs there, and I
couldn’t bear to sell it off. I can still make a living with it in the
future.”
 The concubine outside went silent. It was an overcast
afternoon, with thick clouds covering the sky, and it was even
dimmer inside the room with the drapes let down. Qi Shiyu looked
at his daughter from the couch, her skinny shoulders set against
the weak light from the window, and his late wife’s hairpin in her
hair.
Qi Zhuyin resembled her mother, and she looked charming
when she smiled, especially when her imposing aura did not
dominate her facial features—the Commander-in-chief was not as
full of heroic spirit as the rumors made her out to be.
Qi Zhuyin waited until Qi Shiyu fell asleep before she left. She
changed her shoes under the eaves, then stepped into the snow
with her deerskin boots to ask Qi Wei, “Where is she?”
“Madam invited her away.” Qi Wei answered as he followed
behind her.
Qi Zhuyin had yet to see Hua Xiangyi upon her return, and she
hesitated for a moment. As she passed by Hua Xiangyi’s courtyard,
she heard sweet, delicate voices like the pleasant trillings of orioles
and sparrows from within. From where she was on the other side of
the moon gate, she saw Hua Xiangyi in between that plum blossom
branch.
Hua Xiangyi was bundled up in a fox fur robe today. Going by
the quality of the material, she had most likely brought it along
from Qudu. It was pure, unadulterated white. Fluffy fur lining the
sides of her cheeks accentuated her clear-as-autumn-waters eyes,
bringing out the vividness in them and making them appear even
more distinct. She looked just like someone’s pampered daughter.
The fingertips on the plum blossom branch were fair and dainty,
never having been tarnished with a single speck of dust before in
this life.
Qi Zhuyin inexplicably inclined her head and watched for a
long time.
“The in-house accountant has prepared the account books and
is waiting for you in the office. Our residence’s expenditure last
year…” After saying a bunch, Qi Wei looked up to see that Qi
Zhuyin had not moved, so he followed her gaze over.
 Qi Zhuyin raised Zhujiu and blocked Qi Wei’s view with its
sheath.
On the other end, Hua Xiangyi picked up the plum blossom
branch with her fingers. A petal-like flower embellishment lay
between her brows.3 She laughed as her maidservant whispered in
her ear, then turned sideways where she was hidden from view.
Without turning her head, Qi Zhuyin said to Qi Wei, “Let’s go.”
Qi Wei, having not seen a thing, repeated, “Let’s go?”
Qi Zhuyin lifted her foot and left. Qi Wei, not making head or
tail of what was happening and not daring to ask either, followed
after her. Qi Zhuyin headed straight to the office to reconcile the
account books with the accountant. She did not have the time to sit
and settle down, so she simply stood and flipped through a couple
pages.
“Has there been a change of steward?” Qi Zhuyin suddenly
asked.
The accountant hunched over and answered in a small voice,
“To answer the Commander-in-chief, no.”
“That’s strange.” Qi Zhuyin turned a few more pages. “The
balancing of accounts has always been a mess in the previous
years, with records that couldn’t be more vague than the last. So
why are last year’s accounts so clear?”
These accounts were more than just clear. Even this year’s
advances had been separated out in a separate book, with the
expenses of the various branches of the family all listed out clearly.
Her father’s concubines’ cosmetic spending had also been halved
at Qi Zhuyin’s request, while the manors Qi Shiyu could not explain
were also listed on it. This was simply done more beautifully than
the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts.
“The accounts in our residence were originally diverse and
complicated, and with the various concubines unable to give a
detailed account of their spendings, the various gentlemen were all
at a loss where to start.” The accountant took the teacup and held it
out with both hands to Qi Zhuyin. “The Commander-in-chief
wanted the residence to be more frugal, but we couldn’t get a clear
count of the rural manors in our name, and the monthly tributes
were a mess when combined with the logistical expenses.”
 Qi Zhuyin raised her eyes to look at the accountant.
“This time, it was Madam who did the accounts.” Afraid of
incurring Qi Zhuyin’s displeasure, the accountant hurriedly added,
“Madam manages domestic affairs, so she has to look through all
the accounts of the various concubines. She specifically sent
someone to tell us that these accounts were too messy, and we had
to redo them for the sake of your upcoming military salaries and
provisions expenses. We rushed to redo them a few times, but we
couldn’t stand up to the commotion the various concubines kicked
up. Many of them had manors hidden, and they refused to tell the
truth…”
This was true.
Her father’s concubines were all afraid that Qi Shiyu would kick
the bucket, and so they kept a tight hold on the manors and shops
in their hands. They even kept fishing for more from the residence,
and none of them spoke the truth when it was time to settle the
accounts. Qi Zhuyin did not live at home in the back courtyard, and
her trusted subordinates like Qi Wei were all men that did not
belong to the immediate family, so it was inappropriate for them to
intervene. That was why these accounts had always remained a
mess. She got a headache every time she thought of it.
So it seems that this Hua the Third is a rather capable one.
Qi Zhuyin took the account book and said, “And the
concubines listened to her just like that?”
“At first, they pulled a long face and gave her a hard time.” The
accountant said. “They are all mothers to the young masters, and
they counted on the Old Master’s affections to refuse to hand over
the accounts. They even wanted to head over to the Old Master’s
courtyard to kick up a ruckus. Didn’t the Commander-in-chief put
Miss Hongying at Madam’s disposal? So she had Miss Hongying
send the concubines who cried until they fainted back to her
courtyard and called for a physician to take a look at them. The
physician couldn’t tell what was wrong, so she had them all buried
in the courtyard.”
It did not immediately sink in for Qi Zhuyin. After being
stupefied for a moment, she parroted, “buried in the courtyard?”
 “Buried in the courtyard!” The accountant said. “This was just
great. The concubines cried themselves a river and said they were
going to complain to the Commander-in-chief.”
“Huh,” Qi Zhuyin said, “Complain to me?”
“So she gave them horses and opened up the gates to let them
go.”
These concubines typically had to be waited upon even when
they were getting dressed, so who would know how to ride a
horse? Qi Shiyu did not fancy women of such ilk! It was such a cold
day to boot, and yet Hua Xiangyi would bury anyone who dared to
go wailing at Qi Shiyu’s courtyard like she was planting radishes. In
no time, the concubines passed out from the freezing cold.
The matrons by Hua Xiangyi’s side were all old hands the
Empress Dowager had carefully selected. If the concubines dared
to make a scene, then they would dare to switch tactics to teach
those concubines a hard lesson. The concubines kneeled in the
walkway and waited in attendance, but they could not even get a
glimpse of Hua Xiangyi’s face. When the concubines returned in
tears to their own courtyards, their sons took over.
“Oh, it’s the young masters,” Hua Xiangyi sat behind the screen
and said in a gentle tone. “I heard that you have yet to repay the
debt of several hundred taels of silver you owe someone outside
several days back, and they have already come hounding us at the
residence. How would that do? As the lady of the house, I feel sorry
for you brothers, so I asked the matrons to make the repayment
first. Don’t be afraid. The memorandums of debt with handprints
and signatures are with me for safekeeping in case the creditors
claim not to have received the payment and go looking for the Old
Master later… Young masters, are you leaving already?”
“And that was how it went.” The accountant was done
mimicking Hua Xiangyi for Qi Zhuyin’s benefit. “Madam has the
young masters’ debts in her hands. She only has to report to us,
and the young masters’ shops will all be transferred under her
name as collateral. Who would still dare to make a commotion
now?”
Qi Zhuyin closed the account book and stood for a moment
before opening it again. “That’s quite the temper she has there.”
 This account had indeed been tidied up beautifully. Qi Zhuyin
could not help but wonder if she would still need to fear those wily
old foxes from the Ministry of Revenue if the military accounts out
there could be this well done. But Hua Xiangyi was, after all, the
apple of the Empress Dowager’s eye. So, after thinking about it, she
dropped the idea.
◈ ◈ ◈
The snow gradually abated in the second month, and the
number of sunny days in Cizhou saw an increase. Once Shen
Zechuan had free time, he brought Yao Wenyu to the outskirts of
the city for a stroll.
It was cloudless for miles around today, with the bright, clear
sky in a shade of azure blue. The snow in the forest had already
begun to melt, and thawing stream water tinkled as they ran. There
were already signs of wildlife to be seen. Ding Tao had to let Feng
Ta Shuang Yi out to pasture, so he brought Li Xiong along to play at
the edge of the forest.
“You don’t look too well these few days.” Shen Zechuan wiped
his hands with snow and cast a glance at Yao Wenyu. “Are you not
sleeping well at night?”
Yao Wenyu’s pale side profile was reflected upon the frosty
leaves. He smiled at Shen Zechuan. “It’s cold, and my legs are
hurting, that’s all…” He paused. “It has been half a month since the
Second Master arrived in Dunzhou. Has Your Lordship received any
news yet?”
“Tantai Hu discovered that there were still leftover bandits
wandering on Mount Luo, so Ce’an was delayed for a few days
there. It was reported the night before that the Mount Luo bandits
have already been cleared out, and the Libei Armored Cavalry
have occupied Mount Luo.” Shen Zechuan had changed into a
jade-colored narrow-sleeved robe with a long, velvet outer
garment today that made him look even younger. He was wearing
the dogskin arm guard on his right arm, and as he raised his arm,
he whistled. Meng came spiraling down from the forest and
landed on his right arm.
Meng was too heavy, so Shen Zechuan could only let it perch
for a while. He fed this messenger which had been traveling to and
fro on both ends some white meat before letting it go off to play.
“There’s no need to worry over Mount Luo.” Yao Wenyu
watched as Meng flew away. “The difficulty lies in Duanzhou.”
The entire Duanzhou battle line was directly facing the Chashi
River, and it had been completely infiltrated by the Biansha Cavalry
these few years. No one knew exactly how many Scorpions lurked
within. Xiao Chiye only brought 5,000 Imperial Army soldiers
along. The rest were all from the Libei Armored Cavalry. He was
unwilling to completely give up the Libei Armored Cavalry, so no
doubt he would have to find a way to deal with the Scorpions in the
battle of Duanzhou.
Shen Zechuan’s heart was hanging on tenterhooks over
Duanzhou.
“Now that the connection between the relay stations is running
smoothly again, we will be able to send reinforcements
immediately even if there is a change in the situation.” Seeing Shen
Zechuan’s grave expression, Yao Wenyu said soothingly, “Besides,
Second Master is a man blessed by Heaven.”
“Lu Guangbai said that Amu’er is planting grains on the
opposite bank of the Chashi River.” Shen Zechuan pushed aside the
withered branch bedside his ear. “My concern is that he has long
been wary of Zhongbo, and his placement of the crop fields near
Gedale is meant to situate them in a better position to fight a
protracted war with Duanzhou.”
Libei could not afford any delays now. If they could not take
down Duanzhou, then the Shasan Camp would be in a rather
perilous situation. Furthermore, Zhongbo was unable to completely
shut their gates. Amu’er had set his sights so far and wide that
Shen Zechuan even felt that nothing from south to north could miss
his eyes.
Think back to last year’s battles. Amu’er first used Huhelu to
hold down Guo Weili and give Hasen time to head up north. The
Scorpions’ infiltration of Zhongbo to smuggle supplies back then
was to prepare for the time they stormed and seized Libei’s battle
camps. Now that he had used Hasen to take Xiao Fangxu out and
reduce the pressure on the northern battlefields, he would have
more confidence to face up against Qi Zhuyin. He relied on the
Scorpions to hold Libei in check, then depended on the cavalry to
engage Qi Zhuyin in a deadlock. Zhongbo was the weak and
vulnerable belly. As long as he could free out another leg, he would
be able to stomp down the battle line that had only just been
stabilized.
The battle in Duanzhou would be a tough one.
Yao Wenyu was just about to say a word when Fei Sheng
spurred his horse over. He dismounted to pay his obeisances to
Shen Zechuan. “Master, Yan Heru is here.”
Shen Zechuan knew that Qudu was just done investigating
Hezhou’s transportation of grains by water to the capital, so
presumably, Yan Heru was here to whine about it. Besides, they still
had yet to come to an agreement regarding the new Port of
Liuzhou in Juexi. Thus, he turned around and said, “Let’s head
back.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yan Heru was indeed here to whine and grouse. He arrived too
late, and Zhou Gui and the rest sat with him and briefly discussed
some Liuzhou matters with him. He only got down to business
when Shen Zechuan returned and told him all about the issue with
the shipments of grains by water in Hezhou.
“The official from the Ministry of Revenue who was initially in
charge of the transportation of grain shipments in Hezhou is called
Liang Cuishan. He also led the collection of taxes on salt in Juexi.
Last year, he put the thirteen cities in order with Jiang Qingshan.
The reason our business has been difficult is all thanks to these two
people.” Yan Heru disliked how hard the chair was and shifted in
his seat before he said, all bright and chipper, “Oh man, Your
Lordship, I’m telling you, I really got worried there! This person is
not an easy one to deal with, and he isn’t one to accept bribes
either. But guess what happened? Before I could think of a plan, he
was transferred away. They said it was to investigate the crop fields
of Dancheng with the Court of Judicial Review. The imperial court
has really done me a great favor~”
Shen Zechuan found this name to be a familiar one. He
repeated, “Liang Cuishan?”
 “Liang Cuishan, courtesy name Chongshen.” Yan Heru
sprawled face down on the table and winked at Shen Zechuan. “Do
you know him? You should’ve said so sooner! Then I don’t have to
worry about him anymore.”
Naturally, Shen Zechuan knew him. After all, Shen Zechuan was
the one who had Xiao Chiye recommend Liang Cuishan for office.
He promptly asked, “they had him transferred to Dancheng to
investigate the fields?”
“That’s right. Pan Lin is currently fighting it out with Xue
Xiuzhuo. Xue Xiuzhuo is truly a real man to be stirring up the
hornet’s nest.” Yan Heru said enigmatically. “Your Lordship, guess
how many fields have the eight cities seized over the years? If Xue
Xiuzhuo were to really get to the bottom of the accounts, even the
Empress Dowager would be taken to task for it, let alone the Pan
clan. At present, the noble clans all want him dead.”
The noble clans’ appropriation of the commoners’ fields had
led to an increase in the numbers of displaced refugees. Those
who had flocked to Zhongbo last year were all commoners who
had been forced to leave. Qi Huilian relied on the implementation
of the census registers4 to curb the problem, but it proved to be
ineffective in the eight cities, and now, Xue Xiuzhuo was using Yao
Wenyu’s matter as an opportunity to deal the first blow to the Pan
clan of Dancheng.
Even Yao Wenyu had to concede that Xue Xiuzhuo had guts.
“Liang Cuishan was promoted by Pan Lin.” Shen Zechuan
understood it in a flash. “The noble clans want to rely on Liang
Cuishan’s use of his Ministry of Revenue authority to obstruct Xue
Xiuzhuo from investigating the lands and drag things out until the
beginning of spring.”
“What a fine show of battle between those in power. Let them
kill their fill in the bloodbath.” Yan Heru clapped his hands lightly
and said to Shen Zechuan with a smile. “Best if they fight until
Zhongbo is stable, and Your Lordship will be able to free a hand to
teach them a lesson!”
“Then I fear you’d be disappointed.” With his folding fan, Shen
Zechuan pushed away Yan Heru’s fingers that had made their way
before him. “This Liang Cuishan…”
 A commotion suddenly broke out under the eaves. Shen
Zechuan stopped talking, and the gentlemen in the room all
looked over. Zhou Gui rose slightly and inquired, “What’s all the din
about? A discussion is currently underway in the hall!”
Fei Sheng lifted the hanging screen with a hand. His gaze
moved past the others to land on Shen Zechuan, his face pale as
he called out, “Master…”
Wind escaped from the dark vault of heaven, blowing over the
corner of the hanging screen with such force that the various
gentlemen all raised their sleeves to shield their faces. Shen
Zechuan stood up. The expression in Fei Sheng’s eyes gave him a
sense of foreboding. He even took a few steps forward as he stared
at Fei Sheng under the flickering candlelight.
“Incoming message of utmost urgency,” Fei Sheng said in a
solemn voice, “Second Master—”

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Lianyin

Footnotes
1. 只解沙场为国死，何须马革裹尸还 a line from the poem
《出塞》by Xu Xilin (徐锡麟). The return of the body here
specifically refers to wrapping the corpse in horsehide to be
sent back to the camps or hometown for burial (a typical
practice for the fallen in battles).
2.
3. a spirit or memorial or ancestral tablet, with the name,
birthday, etc., of the dead inscribed and placed in shrines at
home or in temples, etc.

4.
5. 花钿 known as huadian, these are flower embellishments
affixed or painted onto the forehead for cosmetic purposes.
Flowers are common patterns, although there may be
others.
6. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman
 CHAPTER 206 : RIVER OF ICE

Xiao Chiye’s communications with Duanzhou were completely

cut off three days after he left Zhongbo. They vanished in the snow
after Achi’s return in resounding victory. Tantai Hu’s scouts could no
longer find any traces of him. This squad of vanguards seemed to
have disappeared into thin air.
The Biansha Cavalry had set up a perimeter to the west of the
Chashi River, and this squad of vanguards had walked into the
encirclement trap, where they were hemmed in by Achi at the
Chashi River. Tantai Hu had no way of searching the battlefields,
but even as he waited anxiously, he had to deliver the news
truthfully to Dajing and Cizhou.
If something untoward had happened to Xiao Chiye, then Wu
Ziyu would have to immediately notify Guo Weili of the Shasan
Camp. They had to head down south to block off access from the
opening that was Mount Luo. Otherwise, the consequences would
be unimaginable.
Shen Zechuan did not take the horse carriage, but rode on
Feng Ta Shuang Yi instead. When he arrived at Mount Luo, it was
already late at night. Wu Ziyu trotted out to receive him and saw no
expression on the Prefectural Lord’s frozen blue face.
“Your Lordship.” Not daring to engage in idle chatter, Wu Ziyu
cut to the chase and followed Shen Zechuan into the campground.
“The encirclement is located in the southeast of Duanzhou. It’s
mainly to stop Tantai Hu, who is still in the west, from proceeding
further, and to deprive us of the chance to snoop around. For this
reason, Second Master must still be in the southeast.”
Shen Zechuan stood at the entrance of the camp, his shoulders
covered in snow. “Who are the Attendant Officers tagging along?”
“Gu Jin, Yin Chang, and Hairigu,” Wu Ziyu answered. “Second
Master only had Tantai Hu stay put.”
“Master,” Fei Sheng spoke up behind him. “Why not let the
Imperial Bodyguards hurry over to Tantai Hu’s camp? We can serve
as scouts. By tomorrow night…”
Shen Zechuan had already turned around. He got on his horse
once more and said to Wu Ziyu, “Write a letter to Yu Xiaozai and
Kong Ling. Tell them to seal off all the Zhongbo’s bridle paths
heading west right now and have all the merchants traveling to the
mutual trade market take a detour from Cizhou.”
Yan Heru had just gotten off the carriage. His backside had not
even gotten comfortable when he heard Shen Zechuan’s words. He
still wanted to do business with Fanzhou and Dengzhou, especially
now that these two places were suffering from a shortage of grains
and clothing! Thus, he hurriedly ran a few steps after the horse and
lifted his head to say, “Your Lordship, come on, let’s discuss this.
Can the grains from Hezhou to the two prefectures still be allowed
access? If so, why not…”
“Sure.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were thin and icy. He bent down
and patted Yan Heru’s cheek with the horsewhip. “But only grains. If
your company of merchants dares to smuggle anything else other
than grains to the east of Zhongbo before I give my approval, I will
hang your head up at the city gate tower of Hezhou.”
The remaining bandits in the two prefectures of Fanzhou and
Dengzhou had yet to be completely eradicated. So who knows if
Yan Heru would play tricks again? Shen Zechuan was too
preoccupied now to watch Yan Heru, but he had ways to make Yan
Heru behave himself and stay put.
Yan Heru did not dare to move. He meekly swallowed his saliva,
not even daring to blink his eyes. It was only after Shen Zechuan
turned his horse around that Yan Heru realized his legs were
trembling.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
The saker falcon soared through the dancing snow and
wandered around the banks of the Chashi River. The sky at the
hour of you was dark and dreary, and the snow looked more like
crushed grains of rice the closer they got to the ground. It felt
uncomfortable to have them sticking to one’s temples. The Gobi
desert stretched on endlessly into the horizon. Bayin, from where
he sat on horseback with a book under his arm, looked out into the
distance before him.
“There will be a snowstorm tonight.” Bayin muttered in the
Biansha tongue.
The world was presently a picture of frozen landscape. Bayin
could not bear the cold even when he was all bundled up in fur.
Yet, Achi was squatting on the Chashi River washing his face with
water from the hole cut in the ice. He rubbed his fingers clean,
staining the water bloody red.
“I’ll send you across the river tonight.” Achi’s right arm had a
scorpion tattooed on it. His face, which was as dark as Bayin’s,
appeared a little good-natured.
Bayin was the brains by Hasen’s side. He initially worked under
Huhelu, but was now transferred over to Achi’s side to observe the
Duanzhou battle. He was the eyes Hasen put here.
Seven days ago, Xiao Chiye arrived at Duanzhou. Their siege
on the city was unsuccessful. The Biansha Cavalry had already
learned to use the weapons from within the city of Duanzhou itself.
With the advantage they had from their occupation of the city, they
left Xiao Chiye out in the cold outside the city gates to wear him
down. Three days ago, Xiao Chiye launched a surprise attack, and
Achi left the city to give chase. He chased them down near the
Chashi River, where he annihilated the left flank squad of the Libei
Armored Cavalry.
Bayin turned his head back and said to Achi, “Perhaps I should
stay for a few more days.”
“Hasen needs you.” Achi stood up and lifted the Libei head in
his arms as he said to the Scorpions on the bank of the river, “The
Libei Armored Cavalry is already at the end of their tether. This
pack of wolves is helpless against us. Last night is the proof. They
can’t withstand a single blow just like they couldn’t before the new
year.”
Achi threw away the head in his hand.
“The Armored Cavalry is no longer our medal of honor—they
are not worthy.”
The Scorpions, who were mingling among the cavalry,
followed Achi’s lead and boo-ed as they threw away the heads at
the side of their horses. They were collecting the helmets of the
Libei Armored Cavalry, using them as nighttime chamber pots in
the wilderness.
Achi turned to Bayin. “We are elites of the Scorpions. It’s not a
good idea for the Hero to put us in Zhongbo. If I kill Xiao Chiye, you
have to tell Hasen to transfer me back to the northern battlefields.
That is where I should be.”
This unit was the elites Amu’er left in Duanzhou. Achi was the
leader of the Black Scorpions, having taken Hairigu’s place. After
Jida’s death, he became the undisputed despot of Duanzhou. He
wanted to obtain lands, and so he had to think of ways to render
meritorious military service. For this reason, he was already
displeased with Amu’er’s arrangement to leave him in Duanzhou.
“You are all the natural enemy of the wolf pack.” Bayin placated
Achi. “The Hero naturally has his own considerations for his
arrangements.”
“His arrangement is to make me clear out the position for
Hasen.” The expression in Achi’s eyes was gloomy. “Hasen stole the
credit from the Scorpions.”
Bayin did not have the numbers and strength to back him up,
so he could not start a dispute with Achi here. He swallowed his
frustration and watched as Achi got up his horse and stepped onto
the frozen ice surface of the Chashi River with the Scorpions.
The Chashi River would freeze over in winter, and the layer of
ice was strong and solid enough to bear the weight of the Biansha
Cavalry. They liked to pass through the territory during winter in the
past, as this would allow them to cross the Chashi River without
having to take a long detour. The “slender waist” of the Chashi
River was close to Gedale. If they moved fast, they would be able to
arrive in one night.
 The snow started to intensify. Worried that his book would get
wet, Bayin kept it back in his leather bag. He wore a leather hat and
a fur collar that covered his nose and mouth tightly, but even so, it
was still so freezing cold that his exposed ears turned red.
“Spring had better come soon.” Achi’s horse trotted beside
Bayin. “Many people in Gedale have died of starvation this winter.
They gave all the grains they grew to the northern battlefields.”
“This battle is a must for Biansha’s transformation into a lion.1
We have too few fields.” Bayin said in a muffled voice. “There is no
extra land in the desert to grow food. It’s only by attacking our way
west that we can survive. Zhongbo is a good place… you actually
don’t have to hate it that much.”
“If my unit puts down their iron hammers, they will once again
be reduced to being slaves of the various tribes.” The iron hammer
at the side of Achi’s horse was stained with blood all over. He
shook his head. “We will not till the land.”
As the Scorpions’ leader, Achi had once negotiated with
Amu’er. The Scorpions wanted lands and names. It would be best if
they could be merged into the Twelve Tribes and not serve as
slaves. But Amu’er rejected him. He required the Scorpions to
completely crush the Libei Armored Cavalry in this battle, and it
was only when Libei fell would he consider Achi’s suggestion.
Bayin was merely part of Hasen’s retinue and could not
question the Hero, Amu’er, but he understood Amu’er’s intent.
Amu’er was unwilling to give the Scorpions names because he
wanted to hold them captive in his hands. Only then would these
homeless bastards truly put in their best efforts.
The troops walked on the ice for four hours, and the snowstorm
obscured the directions in the night. Achi came next to the route
markers the Biansha Cavalry left behind and did not immediately
stop. He wanted to escort Bayin to the opposite bank as soon as
possible, then head back to annihilate the remaining Libei
Armored Cavalry and clean up the Duanzhou battlefield.
Xiao Chiye was a nobody, but he was a wolf pup through and
through. It was to the regret of Biansha that Hasen did not bring
back Xiao Fangxu’s head. Achi had his eyes locked on Xiao Chiye.
He wanted to use Xiao Chiye’s head to negotiate with Amu’er
again. They attacked Libei relentlessly and without reservations, for
they were already fed up with the stalemate in the northern
battlefields.
Bayin lifted his fur collar and drank a couple mouthfuls of water.
The wind and snow blew so hard that he could not open his eyes.
As he attempted to cover himself, he shouted at Achi. “Let’s stop
for now and rest here. The snow is too heavy!”
The saker falcon was unable to continue flying and had already
landed on its master’s shoulder. The wind blew the snow on the ice
into slopes, which gave off creaking sounds with every step taken.
Achi dismounted to scout the path ahead. He swept off ice that had
formed on the route markers, only to discover footprints before
him.
Given how intense the snow was, there could only be two
reasons why there could still be tracks left behind. The first was that
they were too heavy and had compacted the ice underneath; the
second was that the other party had left not too long ago and was
very likely standing right next to them across the curtain of snow.
“The wolf is here,” Achi estimated the depth of the footprint
with his fingers, then lifted his head to shout, “the armored cavalry
has been here!”
Bayin waded through the thick snow, huffing and puffing as he
kneeled and lay in front of the footprints. “But they were heading
west. That’s the way back to Zhongbo.”
These footprints were all facing the direction that they had
come from.
“Three days ago, you took out the left flank of the Libei
Armored Cavalry.” Bayin looked towards Achi. “But their vanguards
aren’t dead yet. It is very likely that Xiao Chiye led them to escape
their way onto the frozen Chashi river. They’re looking for the way
back.”
“It could also be a cover-up.” Achi prodded at the snow. “They
could have walked backward so that they would be able to hide
ahead of me and set up an ambush.”
Bayin shook his head lightly, frowning as he watched the snow.
“It doesn’t benefit them to head east. That’s where our territory
lies.”
 Achi swiftly swept aside the snow along the footprints and saw
that these footprints were all heading westward. He knew how Xiao
Chiye had taken Huhelu out of the picture. In his heart, this person
was adept at bluffs and ambushes; the more obvious the footprints
were, the more he was certain that Xiao Chiye was right in front of
them.
“We’ll take a detour.” Achi got to his feet. “Even if Xiao Chiye
stays on the ice, he can’t go without water to drink. They will
definitely leave traces behind. We’ll go after them by following
their tracks.”
Bayin thought it was not the opportune time tonight to cross
swords with the Libei Armored Cavalry. He chased after Achi. “If we
can’t stop here to rest, we should still continue to head east. Achi,
Dazhou has a saying, ‘do not pursue a beaten enemy too far’.2
Don’t get led astray by them. Let’s return to Gedale first before
making our plans.”
Achi shoved Bayin aside, exposing the scorpion on his right
arm. His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he said, “the
wolves are right here in this heavy snow. If we let them go, it will
not bode well for us. You have absolutely no idea how to fight a war
at all. By letting Xiao Chiye remain on the Chashi river, our unit
could end up getting ambushed by him tomorrow morning!”
As Bayin watched Achi mount his horse, he reached the end of
his forbearance and could not help but shout out, “I once advised
Huhelu, but he didn’t listen to me. In the end, he didn’t even leave
a corpse behind!”
“Was this how you advised Hasen?” Achi turned his horse
around and spat with contempt, “So that was why he lost the King
of Wolf’s head; it was all to preserve his own life.”
Having said that, Achi cracked his horsewhip and headed
southeast.
“Achi!” Bayin chased a few steps after him, then spat hard and
cursed under his breath. “Bastard, you won’t be able to tell the
directions once you veer away from the route markers!”
Achi galloped among the snow without turning back. If he
could not find his way around, then neither could Xiao Chiye. But
he was more familiar with the Chashi river than Xiao Chiye was.
The wolf was close by.
And Achi was going to catch him.

Footnotes
1. 雄狮 literally lion, also a metaphor for a strong or
powerful tribe/nation/figure, etc.
2. 穷寇莫追 One should not press a defeated enemy so
hard (lest they turn and make a last-ditch counterattack in
desperation.) i.e., Don’t force people into a corner, as they
may fight back desperately like cornered rats.
 CHAPTER 207 : PLAYED FOR THE FOOL

Gu Jin lay prostrate on the ice for an hour. Hail that came with
the snowstorm rained down his armor, making clunking sounds.
He remained motionless. If not for his eagle eyes still blinking, Yin
Chang would have thought that he had frozen to death.
Yin Chang huddled in the snow and took small sips of his wine.
It did not take long for the wine in the wine bag to run out. He
shook the empty bag and drained the last few drops into his
mouth. Flying flakes of snow pelted his cheeks. The old man’s hair
and beard were all white; only his nose remained red.
The wind wailed and howled in the night, making such a
terrible racket that the tips of the Imperial Army’s ears went numb.
The rations in their bellies were almost gone, and even though
limbs would naturally stiffen after such a long time of sprawling,
very few of them moved.
Yin Chang turned his head back to cast a glance at the Imperial
Army and marveled to himself.
The Imperial Army did not even blink when they faced up
against the Scorpions a few days ago. Without Xiao Chiye’s order,
they would never act arbitrarily on their own. Who could still
associate these men with the ruffian soldiers who did manual labor
in Qudu? If the Cizhou Garrison Troops could be rallied to the same
degree as the Imperial Army had been, then Yin Chang would
even dare to fight Gedale, let alone Duanzhou.
A pity these were not his soldiers.
Yin Chang pouted regretfully and put the wine bag back on his
waist.
Snow had accumulated on Gu Jin’s back. He was not wearing a
helmet, and the snow fell onto his nape, where it melted and
trickled down along his neck. It was amid the violent gale that he
detected those slight movements. Fragments of ice swirled and
rustled across the snow. Gu Jin’s hand, which had been pressing
down on the snow, suddenly clenched into a fist. His eyes bore
through the flying sand-like snow before locking onto a certain
spot in the darkness.
“Here they come!”
Yin Chang prostrated his body and lightened his breathing as
the sounds of horses’ hooves approached. The old man’s palms
were sweating as he counted in silence, fearing that he might start
shaking his legs out of overexcitement.
The kickup of snow turned the snowy fog in the sky into thick
clouds; the ponies’ hooves were almost about to trample over their
faces. Yin Chang let loose a bellow. In the twinkling of an eye, he
had already sprung up.
But the other party’s ponies came to a stop!
Yin Chang had not even drawn his blade when a Scorpion’s
hammer came swinging over inches from his face. Yin Chang did
not have the same arm strength Li Xiong possessed, so naturally,
he did not dare block the blow. All he could do was roll into the
snow and cut a sorry figure as he dodged it.
“Motherfucker, that’s some fine arm strength there!” Yin Chang
cursed as he steadied himself.
The Imperial Bodyguards behind him leaped out of the
snowfield. At first, they had wanted to imitate Yin Chang and
spring up in one suave move, but on seeing the old man bested,
they all gave up the idea and opted to draw their blades without all
the fanfare.
Once the Scorpions’ hammers came up against the Imperial
Army, they knew they had fallen for the trap. This was not the Libei
Armored Cavalry at all, but a bunch of imposters in helmets!
“Helmets off!” Gu Jin clambered up the pony that was
speeding past him and held onto the saddle as it brought him up.
With both legs scraping across the snow, he slammed the hilt of his
blade hard into the side of the Scorpion and turned over to forcibly
seize the pony. Once again, he commanded sternly, “Helmets off!”
Helmets clattered noisily into the snow, and the Imperial Army
leaped into the unit of cavalry. They were like mice who did not
care how these Biansha Cavalrymen ran as long as they could
startle the ponies. The snow under the hooves fell away as a hoop
of rope net rose from its hiding place, bringing down a number of
cavalrymen in the process.
Snow and sand came assailing them in the face. Achi’s soldiers
took several mouthfuls of ice and snow in the mouth as they
tumbled.
The Imperial Army’s blades were short. Once they came in
close before the Scorpions, the iron hammers would prove tough
to fight with. Regardless of whether the Scorpions extended or
retracted it, the Imperial Army’s short blades would out-speed
them, giving them no time at all to parry the blows.
Gu Jin rapidly observed the battlefield, but he did not catch any
sight of Achi. His heart promptly sank. But before he could voice a
warning, a branch of cavalrymen came dashing out from his left at
a speed so fast Gu Jin could not even dodge.
The Imperial Army seemed to be bitten down by a vicious beast
that had materialized from across the sky, breaking them up in
front and at the back. This unit of cavalrymen did not use iron
hammers, but they directly knocked Gu Jin straight off the pony
with their swift and sudden advance. At the same time Gu Jin
landed on the ground, it neighed, and a hot burst of fresh blood
sprayed all over Gu Jin’s head.
“Cunning!” Achi rebuked Gu Jin in the Dazhou tongue. He
brandished his own scimitar, flinging the remaining droplets of
blood onto Gu Jin. “But that’s all there is to it.”
The scimitars Achi’s elite scorpions used were larger than those
used by the common Biansha Cavalrymen. When held in hand,
they looked like thick, silver hooks. Get caught in them, and one
would meet their end, whether they were humans or beasts.
Achi had smelled a rat while he was following the trail. There
were simply too many clues left for him along the way; it was like
they were exposing the enemy’s presence and location to him. Very
quickly, Achi’s windblown brain calmed down. He used his
advance guards unit to probe the way ahead, and sure enough, he
had baited the Imperial Army out of hiding!
Gu Jin inclined his head to wipe away the blood on his face
and spat lightly, “Is that so?”
Yin Chang, who was on the other side, gave up resisting.
Surrounded by the cavalry, he spread his arms open, his half-
crouching body looking like he was going to lift something as he
said at the top of his voice, “Time to get up—!”.
The layer of ice under the cavalry’s hooves shook violently.
They thought the Imperial Army had smashed open a hole here
and instantly reined their horses in and retreated in fright.
However, as soon as they retreated, they saw Yin Chang lower
himself in a roll along with the Imperial Army. They sprang their
way out between the hooves, then dragged up their blades and
took to their heels.
We’ve been had!
Achi’s fury blazed, and he cussed in mixture of Dazhou and
Biansha expletives. But he did not immediately give chase; he was
still keeping his wits about him at this point, thinking that there
must be a trap somewhere. It was only when Yin Chang and the
Imperial Army fled further and further away that it finally hit Achi.
They’re really fucking fleeing for real!
“Split up and give chase.” Achi cracked his horsewhip. “Hack off
their heads!”
The cavalry was split into two flanks, with Achi in the center,
presenting a claw shape that overlooked the squad, one that
seemed to clutch the Imperial Army within. The two flanks
advanced first and went around the left and right to come before
the Imperial Army. As long as they could join up with the other,
they would be able to form an encirclement ring. When the time
comes, Achi would lead the center unit to barge their way into the
Imperial Army from behind, and then it would be a slaughterhouse
with the scimitars set loose within.
Seven years ago, Amu’er used this type of battle formation to
ram the Duanzhou Garrison Troops into the Chashi Sinkhole. Achi,
thus inspired, was extremely fond of this formation. It was also with
this formation that he shredded the left flank of the Libei Armored
Cavalry into pieces near Duanzhou a few days ago.
Both flanks, moving hard and fast, had already overtaken the
Imperial Army to circle to the front. They turned their horses, and
their units looped around like a long snake to the center, intending
to block the Imperial Army’s way out and to hem them in.
But a familiar figure was standing in the center.
The battle steeds did not neigh in the darkness of the night,
although cloudy puffs of hot air spouted from their iron muzzles,
and their armors looked particularly ferocious in the pitch-black
surroundings. The Armored Cavalry towering motionlessly on
horsebacks loomed large amid the raging snow and wind, cutting
off the sounds of slaughter with their silence.
The vanguards on both flanks, having crossed swords with the
Armored Cavalry before, were not afraid, so no one shouted the
command to stop. The ponies kicked up snowy haze as they came
attacking from both sides in a pincer attack, while the Scorpions
who served as the vanguards of both flanks simultaneously
swapped over to their scimitars.
They wanted to throw the Armored Cavalry off their horses with
one swing of their hammer at the very moment of impact, relying
on their horses’ hooves and arm strength to smash the Armored
Cavalry’s helmets in like they had done so countless times before.
Xiao Chiye sat on the back of Lang Tao Xue Jin, which was
presently digging into the ground with its hooves. Xiao Chiye was
clad in heavy armor, and with steel obscuring his face, no one
knew the expression he was presently wearing. He was like a
stabilizing force amid the chorus of shouts all over, steadying the
morale of the soldiers before and behind him.
Gu Jin exhaled deeply the very instant he saw Xiao Chiye. He
braked to a stop almost at the same time that Yin Chang did, then
turned around together with the latter amid the waves of snow to
assume a fighting stance while facing Achi’s pursuing soldiers.
The wind stirred up by the Biansha Cavalry swept through the
whole field. Their scimitars and hammers had been driving away
the men of Dazhou. From Libei to Zhongbo, no one could survive
the assault of their hooves.
Xiao Chiye expelled a breath of hot air between his thin lips.
The Scorpions on both flanks swung up their hammers. At the
moment of collision, the smell of gunpowder assailed their noses.
Flashes exploded in the snowstorm, and the Scorpions, who were
caught totally off-guard, were blown off their horses by the
firearms, while their horses collided into one another in panic upon
hearing the thunderous blast.
The muzzles of the guns started smoking. Xiao Chiye had only
brought along thirty firearms. They were of little use when facing
the main forces of Biansha head-on, but it was the key to blowing
away the heads of the two cavalry flanks at this moment. That
oppressive power promptly blindsided the cavalrymen of both
flanks to the extent that the Scorpions at the rear could not even
catch what was happening.
Xiao Chiye made the first move, and the Libei Armored Cavalry
behind him followed suit to bare their brand new fangs. These
heavy armors were like vicious wolves that had been let out of their
cages, so ravenous their eyes glowed with insatiable hunger. As
they split into their respective columns, they leveled out their long
blades in unison.
Although Achi’s center unit was obstructed by the Imperial
Army, he had already seen the Imperial Army’s blades. It was
already too late for the two flanks of the scorpions to pick up their
hammers again. The battle steeds raised their hooves and
trampled over the tumbling bodies, splashing sprays of erupting
blood onto their armors.
The scorpions at the back of these two flanks surged forth to
outflank them. Xiao Chiye followed up by shrinking the Libei
Armored Cavalry into a “war chariot” battle formation that swiftly
and aggressively went ramming into them. Their structure of
strung-up blades on all four sides prevented the hammers from
inching any closer. As the Armored Cavalry started lunging, they
resembled a “battering ram” charging into the battlefield. Xiao
Chiye was at the pointed end of this formation. They were an
unstoppable force when they came together as a cohesive
whole.
Reining in the battle steed beneath him, Achi snarled furiously
from a distance away, “swing your hammers!”
As long as they had hammers, the Libei Armored Cavalry
would be tofu all the same.
The hammer of a Scorpion swung from the side towards the
head of the Armored Cavalry at the fringe of the formation. It was
too late to avoid the attack, but a resonating and heavy “thud” rang
out as Hairigu used an iron hammer to deflect the hammer from
atop the Libei Armored Cavalry horse he was on.
“Traitorous betrayer,” Achi gnashed his teeth in rage. “Hairigu,
you’ve become a slave to Libei!”
With swift, dexterous moves, Hairigu heaved up the hammer to
knock over the other party and landed on the ground at the same
time the other man did. While the other person was still cussing,
Hairigu lifted his hammer and slammed it down with precision
onto the man’s skull without so much as a second glance.
Achi’s center unit was caught in a dilemma moving forward.
The left and right flanks he had sent ahead had respectively gotten
their “heads” hacked off and were now nothing more than
headless chickens. And with military commands hindered and
obstructed by the Imperial Army, he could no longer freely mobilize
the two flanks into returning.
Bayin had only just rushed into the vicinity. He was aware of
Achi’s importance to Duanzhou. The remaining scorpions in
Zhongbo all heeded Achi’s deployment orders, and for this reason,
he could not abandon Achi to escape on his own.
Bayin panted in the snow as he scanned the battlefield and
chased after Achi on horseback. “Achi! Turn the horses around and
head back. The Libei Armored Cavalry won’t be able to catch up to
us!”
As long as they followed the route markers and retreated west,
then by daybreak at the latest, they would be able to make it back
to the southeast of Duanzhou where they had stationed a large
number of troops. By then, the only path that awaited Xiao Chiye
would still be death.
Achi tugged at the reins of his horse hard and cracked his whip
loud and clear. He did not refute Bayin and led the remaining
scorpions out of the entanglement with the Imperial Army.
He was clear about his priorities. If he lost to Xiao Chiye here,
then Amu’er would mete out the harshest punishment on him and
skin him for the rash deployment of troops. His defeat was a small
matter, but if this carelessness escalated into the loss of Duanzhou,
then even if he could live to escape back to Gedale, Amu’er would
not spare his life.
This battle did not count.
Achi whipped his horse hard to spur it on.
This was merely just him being made a fool of!

Special thanks to MaruChan and Anny for proofreading!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022 Lianyin
 CHAPTER 208 : RETURN OF A NIGHTMARE

Achi fled towards their original path in a hurry. Along the way,
the Scorpions let loose their own saker falcons. Lang Tao Xue Jin
pressed forward and did all it could to catch up amid the clanging
sounds of the heavy armors. The collective sound of the Libei
Armored Cavalry’s hooves in hot pursuit was so intense that it
unnerved the Scorpions, who feared the ice beneath their feet
would crack. What’s more when that sound was catching up just
right behind their horses!
Achi clenched his teeth and looked back in the wind in
humiliation. All he could see was that one heavy armor.
Xiao Chiye!
Bayin suddenly pulled in the reins on the head of his horse as
he bumped into Achi from the side and barked sternly, “Retreat,
retreat, retreat! Achi, stop looking at him!”
The snowstorm that resembled flying willow catkins
transformed Heaven and Earth into a sacred, untainted realm. The
Biansha Cavalry charged madly in the wind for a little less than an
hour before they managed to throw off the Libei Armored Cavalry.
Even so, they did not dare to stop. On returning to their original
path, Bayin suddenly piped up, “Pull out the route markers. Don’t
leave them behind for Xiao Chiye!”
 They charged with all they could along their original path,
heeding Bayin’s instructions not to leave behind route markers for
the Libei Armored Cavalry.
“Deploy troops to counterattack tomorrow morning.” Bayin was
covered tightly in his fur collar, and his eyelashes had been dyed
white by the wind. He could barely even open them. “Xiao Chiye
will not be able to escape out of the Chashi River once he loses all
sense of direction.”
Achi was livid. His rage blazed so intensely that his chest felt
uncomfortable. He had been played for a fool by Xiao Chiye even
before they came face to face with one another. No matter what, he
could not take this lying down.
“Listen, Achi.” Bayin chased after the lightning-swift Achi and
pulled down his collar to shout, “Don’t fall for his goading, you
hear me? He did it on purpose.”
“He wiped out both of my flanks!” Unable to contain himself
anymore, Achi screamed back at Bayin. “He’s flaunting his military
might to me. That son of a bitch!”
Three days ago, Achi took down Xiao Chiye’s left flank troops,
and today, Xiao Chiye stood there and blew out Achi’s left and
right flanks. The vanguards of both flanks were all elites. Achi’s
heart was dripping blood. He felt this to be a warning from Xiao
Chiye, and the threat was now rubbing it into his face.
“I’m going to kill him!” Achi lost control and growled. “I will kill
—”
With one fist, Bayin punched Achi off his horse. Having lost its
master, the horse slowed down and stopped ahead. Achi rolled in
the snow, his chest heaving violently.
“The Hero knows all. If you still want to merge the Scorpions
into the Twelve Tribes, then finish Xiao Chiye off tomorrow
morning.” Bayin said in a deep voice. “Losing your mind will
reduce you to being a jackal, and a jackal can’t bite a wolf to death.
You’d best clear your head up!”
Achi lay on the snowfield and grabbed a handful of snow to
wipe his face with. He climbed to his feet and caught up to his
horse without so much as another word.
 The atmosphere surrounding the cavalry was glum and heavy.
With Achi and Bayin no longer speaking, those at the back did not
dare to open their mouths either. They ran in the snowstorm for
another two hours, and their battle steeds were all exhausted to the
point they were panting. Fortunately, the route markers indicated
they had reached the end.
“The saker falcon will notify the reinforcements to hurry this
way.” Achi slowed his horse and stepped onto the bank. “We can
wait here.”
Bayin was feeling uneasy deep down. Due to his introversion,
he took particular notice of his environments. The boundless
expanse of snow obstructed the world from view and prevented
him from getting a clear look at the situation a few steps away, but
he could keenly sense that this was not the southeastern part of
Duanzhou from where they came.
“We went the wrong way.” Bayin muttered and squinted his
eyes to keep out the gale. Amid the fog of snow that was being
blown away, he indistinctly caught a glimpse of what lay ahead.
“This place is…”
A horse at the back that had yet to step ashore suddenly lost its
footing, and its hind hooves slid into a hole in the ice. The Scorpion
on horseback yanked at the reins in the blinding snowstorm,
intending to drive the horse back on ice, but in its panic, it broke its
hind knees against the edge of the ice and neighed as its entire
body overturned into the water!
The unit was promptly thrown into disarray. The horses all
started panicking, and the Scorpions berated them to no avail.
Fearing that they would slide in too, they could only lash out with
their whips hard. Achi heard the sound of heavy armors among the
noise. He initially thought it was a misperception, but not long later,
the pitch-black Armored Cavalry materialized for real in the snow.
No matter how dumb Achi was, he could also realize what was
happening by now. He retreated and shouted, “Get on your horses
and move fast!”
This particular route marker was genuine enough, but Xiao
Chiye had long shifted it away from its original location. The
footprints were indeed a diversionary cover-up; Xiao Chiye’s real
intention had been to herd them towards this place.
Seeing Bayin still in his original spot, Achi bumped into him
hard and cursed, “Get on your horse! Snap out of your fucking
daze!”
Bayin turned his eyes to look at Achi. As if sensing it too, Achi
looked ahead, and the color drained from his face in horror.
The pitch darkness ahead was none other than the Chashi
Sinkhole.
Achi wiped the sweat at his temple and looked out as far as he
could, only to see that both flanks of the Libei Armored Cavalry had
already surrounded them from both sides and were now ahead of
them. He turned his head back and saw Xiao Chiye.
Seven years ago, the Biansha Cavalry buried 40,000 Duanzhou
Garrison Troops alive here. Seven years later, on the same
snowstorm night, Xiao Chiye used the same battle formation to
push them before the Chashi Sinkhole. Achi did not know Xiao
Chiye, but in this instant, he strangely understood Xiao Chiye’s
intent.
Bayin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He squeezed his cowhide-
bound book and muttered Hasen’s words, “… returning the favor,
tit for tat.”
Xiao Chiye was the wolf that was the toughest to deal with.
Bayin knew Xiao Chiye would even bite Hasen to death in order to
retrieve Xiao Fangxu. Once an opponent like this committed his
scars to mind, he would retaliate and tear away at his foes with his
fangs on his own terms.
“Reinforcements will be here in a while.” Achi unexpectedly
calmed down at this juncture. He stared at Xiao Chiye. “Hang in
there until then, and this place will still be our slaughterhouse.”
Achi had never seen Xiao Chiye’s real appearance before
today, but through that helmet, he seemed to sense Xiao Chiye’s
scoffing. Achi did not believe in the Biansha gods; he believed in
his own tattoo. As a Scorpion surviving in difficult circumstances
between the gaps, he would not concede defeat until the very
moment his head took leave of his body.
 However, Xiao Chiye similarly believed in his tattoo. That was
his father, and also his Libei. The scar Hasen left behind burned all
the time. He had suppressed it for far too long, so long he could
even hear Langli Blade howling in its sheath.
The violent gale under the snowy dome rode roughshod over
the snowflakes, tearing them into pieces of willow catkins flying in
the wind. At the moment when the swarm of white blinded his
eyes, Achi saw the Armored Cavalry charge. Their armors were like
dusty blades, charging head-on towards the Biansha cavalry with
the momentum of a tempestuous storm that brushed away all the
dust on them to reveal sharp blades that glinted coldly in all its
glory.
The moment the iron hammer came swinging, Xiao Chiye
parried it with Langli Blade. His horse did not stop as he led the
Armored Cavalry to crash head-on into the Biansha Cavalry amid
the screeching sound of friction as blade scraped against blade.
Meanwhile, the armor-clad Lang Tao Xue Jin, clad in heavy armor,
threw its head back and knocked askew a pony that was blocking
the way.
The Biansha Cavalry was like a canteen that had been crushed
until it burst. They resisted Xiao Chiye’s onslaught of heavy blows
for just a mere few blinks of an eye before they were repeatedly
rammed back in a retreat by the “war chariot” battle formation. The
sinkhole stretched across them a short distance away; if they
retreated again, they would no doubt plunge into it.
Achi lifted the iron hammer that weighed a hundred jin.1 In this
short period as they crossed swords, he had come to recognize
Xiao Chiye as the most vital part of the Libei Armored Cavalry. He
knocked over an Armored Cavalryman before him with a swing of
his hammer and heard the other man’s head slam into the snow
with a “thud”. Hooves stepped over the body, and in a split second,
he was already swinging his hammer right in Xiao Chiye’s face.
But he struck at empty air!
Achi thought Xiao Chiye would follow up his victory with an
attack, but Xiao Chiye did not. He retreated back in front of the
Libei Armored Cavalry, and this “war chariot” instantly underwent a
transformation.
 Bayin crowded at the back with his book in his arms and got a
clear look as the Libei Armored Cavalry transformed.
Was that the Libei Armored Cavalry?
That was a heavy-duty war chariot!
Xiao Chiye was unwilling to give up on Xiao Fangxu’s heavy
armors; he did not want to prove his old man wrong. It was
through Lu Guangbai, Qi Zhuyin, and Yin Chang that he acquired a
whole new Libei Armored Cavalry.
Xiao Chiye cast away the former long blades of the Libei
Armored Cavalry on the basis of them being “heavy” and
equipped the Libei Armored Cavalry under his command with new
blades. These were the real long blades, with a length so long that
there was no way for the iron hammers to get close. He had
observed Lu Guangbai’s infantrymen at the battlegrounds. The
“war chariot” battle formation was able to conceal their weakness
of not being fast enough. Xiao Chiye directly cut off their need to
give chase; he wanted the Biansha Cavalry to come lunging into
them themselves.
That offensive and defensive battle Qi Zhuyin fought in the war
zone was skillful in its swap between light and heavy cavalry. Xiao
Chiye consolidated the Imperial Army and the Libei Armored
Cavalry together. As long as they appeared on the same battlefield,
they would have erratic and unpredictable ways of fighting. Hasen
did not reign supreme when it came to field warfare.
The last was also the most crucial point—Yin Chang’s “dagger”
squad.
Yin Chang modified Lu Guangbai’s “war chariot” battle
formation and split the soldiers into “daggers” to advance
onwards. Hairigu secretly learned this move on the sly, allowing
Xiao Chiye to find a new opportunity back at the Beiyuan Hunting
Grounds to turn things around. Xiao Chiye then incorporated the
“dagger” into his own “war chariot” formation, thereby giving rise
to the current Libei Armored Cavalry of tremendous might and
formidability.
Very quickly, Achi came to understand that the iron hammers
were now useless, as they could not avoid the long blades to get
close to the Libei Armored Cavalry. But when he swapped out the
iron hammers, the Libei Armored Cavalry would attack in columns.
It was just like several bayonets suddenly flicking out of a box to
stab at the Scorpions until they could not even fend for themselves.
Those bright, shiny edges of the blades extended and
retracted at will.
This was equivalent to a heavy-duty war chariot, one that
discarded the wooden structure of the common siege weapons,
was completely forged with iron and steel, and came with
improved mobility. As long as Xiao Chiye was willing to give the
go-ahead, the Libei Armored Cavalry could even dismantle on the
spot and switch over to field squads to lay ambushes.
Even though it was still in its infancy and was even a little raw
around its edge, it was undoubtedly a Libei Armored Cavalry that
completely belonged to Xiao Chiye.
Achi saw defeat looming right before his eyes, but then he
heard a falcon’s cries among the snow. His saker falcon retracted
its wings and circled its way down the heavens, bringing with it the
reinforcement troops he had been waiting a long time for.
“Why are there so many soldiers?” Yin Chang was about to sit
on the ground to pour away the watery blood in his boots when he
saw the cavalry swarming out from the southwest like ants. He
hurriedly clambered to his feet and stomped his feet into his boots.
“We’re done for. This is almost fucking three times our military
strength!”
The Scorpions’ morale was instantly boosted. Sounds of killing
crashed over them like the roaring waves as both parties engaged
in a battle of life and death before the Chashi Sinkhole. Gleaming
blood splattered through the snow. The Libei Armored Cavalry and
Imperial Army went all out. The only chance they had to break out
of the encirclement was now. If they missed the opportunity
tonight, they were as good as dead!
Gu Jin lifted Hairigu by his back collar and kicked him into the
crowd of people. Seeing Yin Chang limping a little, he leveled his
blade to strike away the Biansha Cavalry and shouted to the old
man. “Elder Yin, are you injured?!”
Yin Chang wrinkled his red nose, rotated his ankle a few times
self-consciously, and answered, “My, my foot is itching from all that
soaking.”
Hairigu nimbly dodged the scimitars from where he was in the
crowd. Every now and then, he even had to flash his little golden
token to the Imperial Army, who had gone berserk from the killing.
“We’re on the same side!”
On the other end, Achi, who was far more adept at wielding the
scimitar than the hammer, was already battling it out with Xiao
Chiye. The trampling and stomping in the tussle between both
parties’ troops caused the ground to shake. No one knew whose
horse flipped over first, but following that, the edges of the
sinkhole collapsed entirely, sending everyone tumbling into it in
one jumbled mess.
The Imperial Army ingested several mouthfuls of mud and
popped their heads out from among the dense mass of enemies to
shout to each other. “Fuck! Did Second Master get jostled down
there too?!”
As Lang Tao Xue Jin rolled and sank into the bottom of the pit,
Achi pounced from a rock. Unable to get to his feet in time, Xiao
Chiye lifted his foot to kick Achi in the chest, causing Achi to
stagger back a few steps from the impact. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye
had already straightened up. The hammer came swinging almost
in his face, and as Xiao Chiye dodged the blow, he used his arm
guard to block the attack.
“THUD!”
Feng Ta Shuang Yi knocked over the old and dilapidated
wooden fence as Shen Zechuan galloped across the snowstorm
with his overcoat flapping in the wind. Frosty snow flew between
his facial features, his side profile reflecting a somber, forbidding
harshness.
Fei Sheng, not daring to be complacent and careless on the
battlefield, followed closely behind Shen Zechuan’s horse with the
Imperial Bodyguards.
Tantai Hu, not daring to let Shen Zechuan take the lead either,
led his troops to chase after the Prefectural Lord with such haste
that he was almost standing on his saddle. He shouted at Shen
Zechuan across the gale, “Your Lordship! It’s right in the northeast—
the Chashi Sinkhole!”
 Sprays of flying snow erupted under his horse’s hooves. Shen
Zechuan had gripped the reins until it was soaked. He had not
made a single stop on the journey here, and Feng Ta Shuang Yi
was already exhausted.
Chashi Sinkhole!
All that Shen Zechuan passed by on his way was a white,
boundless expanse of wilderness. But the moment he entered the
vicinity of Chashi Sinkhole, that nightmare came surging to the
surface like a tidal wave, and the familiar stench of blood choked
his nose and throat. Shen Zechuan gasped for air, unable to see
Xiao Chiye in the bloodshed.
Shen Zechuan shouted in a grim voice. “Xiao Ce’an—!”
Fei Sheng surveyed the surroundings and saw Yin Chang, who
in turn saw the Prefectural Lord all dressed in white from afar—a
rather conspicuous sight here. He jumped up and down, waving
his blade as he shouted. “The sinkhole, in the sinkhole, Second
Master is in the sinkhole!”
In that instant, Shen Zechuan’s face turned a shade of ghastly
white. With icy-cold limbs, he rolled off the horse; even his hands
that were holding onto Yang Shan Xue were trembling. Blood
seeped through his white robe, wetting it as he stepped over the
corpses. All he could see was the sinkhole that appeared in his
nightmares millions of times.
Shen Zechuan could not bother with anyone else. He stumbled
along the sinkhole and slid down. Heavy snow filled all over the
sky. He trembled as he shouted, “Xiao Ce’an…”
Nightmare and reality overlapped. Shen Zechuan had seen his
own body strewn among the corpses here before, but he had never
imagined that Xiao Chiye would be among those lying here.
Fei Sheng had never seen the Prefectural Lord in such a state.
He hurried over to help him up, but Shen Zechuan refused. He dug
up the body before Lang Tao Xue Jin among the bloodied
mountain of corpses, raking so hard with his hands that they both
turned slick with blood. The ‘corpse’ suddenly raised a hand, and
grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan’s wrist with speed and accuracy.
“Lanzhou,” Xiao Chiye felt suffocated under the helmet. “Lan…”
 Shen Zechuan had already pushed off Xiao Chiye’s helmet. In
that whirling snow, he got a clear look at Xiao Chiye’s face, and
with no regard for the bloodstains, he hugged Xiao Chiye’s head
tightly in his embrace.
Xiao Chiye backhandedly stroked Shen Zechuan’s back. He
wanted to say something, but in the soughing of the wind, he
heard Shen Zechuan call out over and over in a small voice.
“Xiao Chiye…”
Xiao Chiye’s heart ached with such ferocity that it broke into
pieces.

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Footnotes
1. 斤 jin or catty, 1 jin equal to 0.5 kg
 CHAPTER 209 : EMBRACE

Chashi Sinkhole was Shen Zechuan’s darkest hour.

When he first entered Zhao Zui temple, the insides of the
temple were old and dilapidated, with broken windows that could
not keep out the chilly wind. Ji Gang kept the only spot that was
sheltered from the wind for him to sleep, and he would rest his
head on his arms, not daring to tell his shifu that he could not fall
asleep.
Back then, Shen Zechuan could still remember Ji Mu’s face.
There were shadows of Hua Pingting in his big brother, a
handsome man with delicate features. The number of
matchmakers coming to play go-between while he was still at
home was enough to break their threshold from all those coming
and going.
“I’ve been thinking about my promotion,” Ji Mu was squatting
in the courtyard, picking up dumplings to eat. “Let’s move to the
eastern side once I’m promoted.”
Shen Zechuan imitated him and stuffed himself with dumplings
until his cheeks were bulging. He nodded and slurred his words
with his mouth full, “I’ll watch sister-in-law for you.”
Ji Mu had a childhood playmate, a maiden who originally lived
next door to them and later moved away to the east. This maiden’s
father played up to those in power and was always thinking of
marrying his daughter off to someone in the yamen. In order to
prove himself, Ji Mu enlisted in the military and worked hard all
day attending to official duties, hoping to wed the maiden before
she was married away.
Ji Gang did not earn much. Their family was not well-off. With
two sons to raise, Hua Pingting even saved her own dowry as funds
for her sons’ future weddings. Seeing as Ji Mu was already of age,
she and Ji Gang contemplated engaging a matchmaker.
Winter in Duanzhou was a scene of desolation. The Chashi
River lay to the east. When they were a little younger, they would go
onto the ice in winter to pull sleds. Shen Zechuan was a smart one,
and he always coaxed the little rascals who tagged along to be the
horses while he himself played the old master sitting on the sled as
he directed them to run all over the place.
Ji Mu told Ji Gang at that time, “My younger brother will
definitely go far in the future.”
Hua Pingting treated Shen Zechuan as her own son, and so Ji
Mu treated Shen Zechuan as his own kin younger brother. When
Xiao Chiye and Xiao Jiming were in Libei riding horses and
drawing bows, Ji Mu was still taking Shen Zechuan running around
all over the mountains and plains. Shen Zechuan was very sloppy in
his training of the Ji Clan boxing style before he was fifteen years
old, but Ji Mu always covered for him and would not let Hua
Pingting admonish him.
In the third year of the reign of Xiande, Ji Mu was promoted to
Squad Commander. The entire family was delighted, and Hua
Pingting started making arrangements by counting the family’s
savings over and over again as she and Ji Gang prepared to hire a
matchmaker to propose marriage to the maiden in the east.
At that time, Ji Mu had to be on duty. Shen Zechuan took the
food Hua Pingting packed for him and went to the garrison troops
camp to deliver the meal to his elder brother. That night was the
last time Shen Zechuan saw Hua Pingting. His shiniang stood at the
entrance of the courtyard, where she fastened his lined jacket for
him and put on his fur collar. She covered him up securely and
gave him the instructions to “leave and return early.”
 Ji Mu secretly gave Shen Zechuan wine to drink, and Shen
Zechuan drank it by dipping his chopsticks in it, looking very much
like a green radish wrapped in a lined jacket sitting among a row
of tough and muscular soldiers. When the snow fell, these rugged
men said that the timely snow was an auspicious omen for a good
harvest; Duanzhou was going to have a bumper harvest next year.
Ji Mu rapped his chopsticks on the porcelain bowl and sang
the tune “A Song for Peaceful and Tranquil Times”.1 At that time, he
was only twenty years old and was about to marry and bring home
a pretty wife. Both brothers got along harmoniously with one
another, and their parents at home were free from illnesses and
worries. He was right in the prime of his life.
Every time Shen Zechuan thought back to that night, tears
would stream down his cheeks. He lost the courage to reminisce
and walk down memory lane when he was in Zhao Zui Temple; he
no longer dreamed of those times again. Over the course of seven
years in which he was plagued by nightmares, Ji Mu turned into a
grotesque skeleton. Shen Zechuan forgot what his elder brother
looked like; he could not even remember their last conversation.
Why didn’t he pull Ji Mu up?
Shen Zechuan crawled his way out, then fell back in again. In
the first few years, he would still lie within and cry inconsolably.
And so, “Shen Zechuan” was left behind here. He stood up and saw
the snow burying himself.
Military boots trod upon the snow, making slight noises.
Shen Zechuan apathetically turned his head back and saw a
travel-worn Ji Mu in the snow. Ji Mu was clean this night, without a
trace of injury on him. He held on to the hilt of his blade and
approached Shen Zechuan.
Ji Mu had not changed at all even after seven years. His cheeks
were slightly red from the freezing cold, and he huffed breaths of
hot air as he walked. All that hostility during the struggle in the sea
of blood vanished without a trace. Shen Zechuan looked at him
and remembered the “Song for Peaceful and Tranquil Times” he
sang before his departure.
Shen Zechuan, who was already as tall as Ji Mu, called out
wearily, “Ge.”
 Ji Mu stood still before Shen Zechuan. As the snowstorm
tousled the messy hair on his temples, he asked, “Why aren’t you
going home?”
“The snow is too heavy. I forgot the way,” Shen Zechuan
answered.
Ji Mu laughed as he looked at Shen Zechuan. “Silly lad.
Mother’s looking for you.”
Shen Zechuan looked back and saw Hua Pingting on the other
end. Shiniang was carrying a lantern in the heavy snow, the hem of
her skirt swaying in the wind. As he watched her, the tears started
to gush from his eyes.
He remembered everything. That was why he wanted to forget
it all.
Ji Mu held his blade steady and passed through Shen Zechuan
to walk towards Hua Pingting.
Shen Zechuan suddenly could not contain himself and
shouted, “Ge!”
With a teary voice, Shen Zechuan disconsolately attempted to
grab Ji Mu. But Ji Mu did not turn back. Shen Zechuan chased after
him. Every step he took, the blood under his feet rose an inch. He
hastily started running, but he could not break free of his shackles.
Eventually, he fell into the pool of blood, where he was bogged
down by corpses. He shouted himself hoarse after Ji Mu, “Come
back!”
Ji Mu was already about to vanish in the snow.
Shen Zechuan failed to grasp hold of anything as the blood
swallowed him up in the inundated sinkhole. The terror of
drowning swept over him. He could not breathe. All he could do
was struggle and look on helplessly as that faint light died out.
“Shen Lanzhou—!”
Xiao Chiye scooped up Shen Zechuan. Those sturdy shoulders
of his could stand up against the assault of the storm. He brought
with him the light of the blazing sun, and he used the strong wind
to sweep this dark, gloomy world clean, dispelling the snowstorm.
He was scorching hot, so scalding that there was no room for
anything else around Shen Zechuan.
 Shen Zechuan abruptly returned to his senses. He was soaked
all over through and through. Xiao Chiye cupped his cheeks,
touched the tip of his nose to his in the darkness, and kissed him
soothingly. Still gasping for breath, Shen Zechuan wrapped his
arms around Xiao Chiye’s neck, his eyes turning damp as they
clung to each other in a snuggle.
Xiao Chiye leaned in closer to coax him, “Lanzhou, come back.
Come back to me.”
With his heart still palpitating, Shen Zechuan nodded. He
bumped his forehead against Xiao Chiye’s and gazed at Xiao
Chiye with panicky eyes. Xiao Chiye wiped the corner of his eyes
with his thumbs and caressed his cheeks.
“Everything is alright now.” Xiao Chiye dropped him a kiss each
time he spoke. “Give me a hug.”
The military tent was newly erected. The fire in the charcoal
brazier did not burn strong enough and went out in the middle of
the night. Both of them slept on a simple plank bed, padded with a
thin mattress underneath, and with an overcoat blanketing them.
Fearing that Lanzhou would fall sick, Xiao Chiye grabbed his icy
hands, stuffed them into his clothes, and pressed them against his
own chest.
Shen Zechuan’s breathing calmed as he grasped at Xiao
Chiye’s clothes until they wrinkled. Not once had Xiao Chiye’s arms
ever let go of him, and it was in this position he covered them with
the overcoat and whispered to him underneath.
“Are you cold?” Xiao Chiye asked.
Shen Zechuan buried his face in the crook of Xiao Chiye’s neck
and answered in a quiet voice, “cold.”
Xiao Chiye embraced Shen Zechuan tightly and pressed down
in the center of the top of his head with his chin. With eyes half-
closed, he said, “Stick a little closer, and you won’t be cold
anymore.”
Both of them clung to each other for warmth, like a pair of
mutually dependent cubs relying on each other for survival. Shen
Zechuan reached out to feel his way to Xiao Chiye’s back, his touch
so icy-cold that Xiao Chiye inhaled sharply. Touching that wolf set
Shen Zechuan’s mind at ease. His touch was careful and delicate,
as though he was stroking a wolf’s fur.
The stroking of the prominent muscles on Xiao Chiye’s back
tickled him, but there was nowhere for him to hide, so he could
only tilt his head back slightly and endure the waves of tingling
sensation washing over the small of his back. Eventually, he could
no longer bear it and lifted a hand to grab hold of Shen Zechuan’s
wrist before turning over to pin Lanzhou down beneath him. His
breathing was slightly heavy as he pressed up against him without
moving.
Shen Zechuan sulked in a huff. “Didn’t you want to hug?”
“Is that what you call a hug?” Xiao Chiye leaned in closer to
press down on him, then repeated his question in a whisper. “Is
that what you call a hug?”
Shen Zechuan was of the opinion that this voice was one that
escaped from his throat. He looked at Xiao Chiye, seeming to be
choked with silent indignation.
Xiao Chiye released Shen Zechuan’s wrist and slid his hand
down along the latter’s waist, his touch turning Shen Zechuan’s
face a shade of red. That was ticklish. Initially, he could endure it,
but Xiao Chiye pressed against him with his chest, stirring him up
so much that his expressive eyes gradually glazed over with water
again. In between short, urgent breaths, he tilted his head up and
smiled.
Xiao Chiye loved Lanzhou’s smile to the moon and back—when
those half-shut eyes rippled with tidal surges of emotions, with his
Xiao Ce’an’s silhouette drowning in them.
Shen Zechuan smiled until his neck turned damp and his
clothes clung to his back, soaked with sweat. He felt tired as he
calmed his breathing to welcome Xiao Chiye’s kiss. It was warm
under the overcoat, so stifling that Shen Zechuan forgot all about
the snowstorm.
Xiao Chiye knew Lanzhou did not sleep well, but tonight, he
was here.
And he was burning with the ambition to make sure that he was
all Lanzhou ever dreamed of from now on.
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Footnotes

1. 清平调 Qing Ping Diao, or A Song/Tune for Peaceful

and Tranquil Times by the famous poet, Li Bai.
 CHAPTER 210 : QINGSHU TRIBE

The snowstorm was still raging the next day at the hour of mao,
and the charcoal braziers in the military tents had all gone cold.
Various generals gathered around a map on the table in the tent
and waited for Xiao Chiye to speak.
The battle over at the Chashi Sinkhole was not considered a
tough fight, but it was rather perilous. Xiao Chiye took advantage
of the snowstorm and led Achi away on ice from the southeast to
the Chashi Sinkhole, where the deployment of Biansha troops was
relatively weak. Achi’s reinforcement troops came so quickly
because there was still a relay station in Duanzhou, but as he had
shifted his focus to the southeast and was helpless against Xiao
Chiye’s Libei Armored Cavalry, he gave Tantai Hu, who always had
his eyes on the movements in Duanzhou, the opportunity to
provide diagonal support.
Xiao Chiye had already removed his armor last night. After the
military medic withdrew from the tent, he moved his shoulders and
arms a little and looked around at them. “We are not here this time
to fight a showdown battle with them but to wrest Duanzhou from
them. Now that Achi is dead and a large number of their troops are
still stationed in the northeast, the number of troops in Duanzhou is
less than 10,000. It’s an excellent opportunity.”
Fei Sheng brought the medicine to Shen Zechuan and stole a
few glances at the latter, noting the Prefectural Lord to be in
passable spirits.
“Quite a number of cavalrymen escaped yesterday.” Yin Chang
pressed a finger down to the southeast of Duanzhou. “The troops
here will suspect we are going to attack Duanzhou once they
receive the news. They will definitely move to intercept us first.”
The old man feared no one during military discussions. He
even casually tied his messy beard together. It was just that he did
not dare to drink in Shen Zechuan’s and Xiao Chiye’s presence and
could only rely on strong tea to satisfy his cravings.
Xiao Chiye did not reply immediately; instead, he left the
opportunity to Tantai Hu.
In these two years, Tantai Hu had gradually come to gain some
insights and opinions of his own. He pondered over the Second
Master’s meaning and raised a hand to point at Duanzhou’s
location. “We are now at the Chashi Sinkhole, which is some
distance away from Duanzhou. If the troops in the southeast come
here to intercept us, then the military strength in the city of
Duanzhou will remain unchanged.” He looked at Xiao Chiye with
some apprehension and continued when he saw Xiao Chiye’s
neutral expression. “Get Wu Ziyu, who is stationed in Mount Luo, to
make a detour to the west gate of Duanzhou when that happens,
and we will be able to launch a surprise attack directly.”
Xiao Chiye nodded as an indication that Tantai Hu was right.
With a slightly heavy expression, Gu Jin looked at the Chashi
River and said, “We can lure all the troops to the Chashi Sinkhole by
being bait, but Master, the Chashi River lies right behind us. The
moment Amu’er seizes the opportunity to mobilize troops for a
sneak attack, or if Hasen is deployed over from the south, then we
will end up being attacked from the front and rear. By then, Wu
Ziyu would have already gone around to the west of Duanzhou. We
will be left without reinforcements.”
“By saying that, you’re breaking the hearts of those in the war
zone.” Xiao Chiye watched Shen Zechuan drink his medicine in
between speaking. When he was done, he continued, “Is the
Shasan Camp not reinforcement?”
Gu Jin paused for a moment, then shook his head. “I can’t trust
Guo Weili.”
 Xiao Chiye did not continue the thread of conversation. He
raised his hand and patted Gu Jin lightly on his back. “My eldest
brother has a clear view of the situation from where he is in Dajing.
We must obtain Duanzhou at all costs. There’s still Lu Guangbai and
shifu on the battlegrounds. The Three Great Camps will certainly
do their best to stall Hasen. As for Amu’er…” Xiao Chiye smiled
derisively. “The tribe he can deploy at such urgent notice is the
Qingshu tribe.”
Qi Zhuyin wanted to send troops to attack the Qingshu tribe.
The Empress Dowager and the Ministry of War did not consent, but
did that mean there was absolutely nothing she could do about it?
“Qidong’s military provisions are being supplied by the Yan
clan, and the carriages are already heading for the Cejun
Commandery three days ago.” All Shen Zechuan could taste in his
mouth was bitterness. “Commander-in-chief Qi should have
already eaten her fill by now.”
As long as they could let Qi Zhuyin eat her fill, she would dare
to play games with Qudu. She did not venture into the capital the
last few years to contend with those wily old foxes because she did
not want to go looking for trouble. But now that the scimitars were
almost right before her eyes, all those concerns went flying out of
the windows.
“The speed of the cavalry’s advancement in the snow is not as
fast as it usually is. We still have time here to prepare,” Xiao Chiye
said. “The current campground is rather rudimentary. Have the
Dunzhou Garrison Troops dig horizontal trenches in the vast
expanse of open ground. Take turns to carry out night patrol duty,
and send the falcons out for reconnaissance too. The Imperial
Army and Libei Armored Cavalry have been fighting hard for
several days, so rest up whenever possible. We have to conserve
our strength and stall the enemies long enough for Wu Ziyu.”
With the heavy snow obstructing the roads, it would be too late
to deliver the message on horseback to Mount Luo. The good thing
was that the Libei Armored Cavalry all brought along their own
falcons, which could deliver the message by flying northwest for a
few hours.
 Everyone responded in the affirmative. When they started to
discuss among themselves, Xiao Chiye reached under the clothes
on his chest and groped around for a moment. Shen Zechuan set
down the medicine bowl and grasped the folding fan in his sleeves
when something suddenly sprang onto him between his sleeves.
He fixed his eyes on it—it was a piece of candy wrapped in oil
paper.
Xiao Chiye looked at the map with a straight face, looking as if
he was not the one who had done it.
◈ ◈ ◈
Wu Ziyu slept in Mount Luo until he was awakened by the
deputy general at midnight. He opened the letter the falcon
delivered, read it by the candlelight in the tent, and was instantly
wide awake. Not even daring to sleep anymore, he rose to put on
his armor. “Where’s that Yan Heru?”
He had only just said that when Yan Heru popped his head out
from the side of the hanging screen and answered, “Here!”
Wu Ziyu clutched the letter and said gruffly, “Is everyone dead?
How can you let him enter as he wishes?”
“Aye, come on now, don’t be mad.” Yan Heru made his way in
with his hands around his little golden abacus. “His Lordship told
me to wait here, so I did. What can I do, man? Master Wu, aren’t
you being a tad too cautious?”
“Marching troops to war is different from merchants
transporting goods. If something goes awry, we will literally lose
our heads.” Wu Ziyu had dealt with the Mount Luo bandits before
when he was preparing military provisions for the Libei Armored
Cavalry last year, so he was not flustered to encounter those like
Yan Heru. He put away the letter first before saying, “I’m going to
mobilize troops soon. The Mount Luo bandits have only just been
eradicated, so it doesn’t reassure me to leave you here. Let’s do
this. Go and pack up quickly. You’ll be leaving with me.”
Yan Heru had conducted deals with the Biansha people before.
There would be no one to watch him if they were to leave him in
Mount Luo, and Wu Ziyu found it inappropriate. He had to keep an
eye on him.
 Yan Heru was so frightened that his face turned a shade whiter.
Hugging his abacus to his chest, he followed behind Wu Ziyu and
said, “Blades and swords have no eyes, Master Wu. Why are you
taking me with you? My family’s businesses all depend on me, so I
can’t have anything happen to me. You know about Qidong’s
military provisions? I’m the one delivering them now. I’ll just stay
behind. Or how about you assign someone to send me back to
Cizhou? Dunzhou is fine too!”
“Don’t tell me we aren’t capable of protecting you given how
many soldiers we have.” Wu Ziyu bared his frightfully white teeth at
Yan Heru. “I’ll send you back after the battle. You won’t go wrong
going with the Prefectural Lord. I assure you it will not hold up your
affairs.”
Then, without waiting for Yan Heru’s reply, he yelled for the
guard outside to stuff Yan Heru into the horse carriage and secured
him to take him away with the troops.
Wu Ziyu exhaled deeply at the entrance of the tent. It was dark.
He took out the crumpled letter earlier to read through it again. The
candlelight from the tent fell upon his back. He stared blankly at
the word “surprise attack” for a long time.
Launching a surprise attack on Duanzhou concerned Xiao
Chiye’s safety. This battle had to be fought not only quickly but also
steadily. Two men who were inextricably linked to the war situation
were now both at the Chashi Sinkhole, and Wu Ziyu could not
afford to take responsibility for the loss of either one of them; he
had to shoulder the load of this weight.
But I’m just an escort in the convoy squad.
Deep creases formed between Wu Ziyu’s brows as he frowned.
He gazed out through the long night and recalled the first time he
met Xiao Chiye.
“Aren’t you the Libei Armored Cavalry?”
Under the blazing sun, Xiao Chiye partially looked back with
eyes deep and quiet.
To this day, Wu Ziyu still did not dare to answer Xiao Chiye. He
seemed to have tacitly agreed that all he could do was to escort
the supply wagons, but at the same time, he was loath to accept it.
In his early years, he had been sent to Bianbo Camp as a
punishment by Xiao Jiming for drinking on the job. He watched as
Zhao Hui became the Commanding General of the Three Great
Training Divisions of Liuyang, and now he was watching as Chen
Yang and Gu Jin were successively entrusted with heavy
responsibilities. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye held him back in Bianbo
Camp, never putting him at the forefront.
Wu Ziyu spat and stuffed the letter back into his bosom. He took
two steps in the snow before suddenly leaping up and swinging his
clenched fists around in the air a few times.
Since Xiao Chiye dared to give him the opportunity, then he
would dare to stake his life and all that he held dear to fight a
battle for Second Master!
◈ ◈ ◈
The snow gradually lightened at the hour of you the next day.
Xiao Chiye put on his heavy armor in the military tent. His
armor had taken some damage from the assaults of the iron
hammers the day before. The left and right arms were the most
severely battered, especially the left arm which had repeatedly
taken the brunt of Achi’s iron hammers; it was even somewhat
dented.
“Wu Ziyu has already arrived at the western side of Duanzhou.
Last through this night, and we will be able to make a simultaneous
attack from the front and back with him tomorrow morning.” Xiao
Chiye appeared visibly taller when he was in armor, so much so
that he was almost blocking off all the light before Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan sat on the plank bed. In the eyes of the others,
his presence here had a far deeper purpose. Xiao Jiming’s current
daringness to pull out all the stops and let the Three Great Camps
in the war zone assist Zhongbo in the battle of Duanzhou was not
just because Xiao Chiye was here, but also because Shen Zechuan
was here; this was the sincerity Libei saw.
“Fei Sheng, in leading the Imperial Bodyguards to follow after
Hairigu, can make up for the temporary lack of scouts.” Shen
Zechuan looked on as Xiao Chiye put on his arm guard. “If you
don’t come back tomorrow, then the remaining troops will be put
at the forefront of the battle.”
 The troops that Xiao Chiye left behind were meant to serve as a
protective barrier for Shen Zechuan. If something unexpected were
to happen, these people would escort Shen Zechuan up north.
When the time came, Shasan Camp would naturally come to
receive him.
Xiao Chiye’s hand that had been securing the arm guard
paused slightly. He looked at Shen Zechuan, understanding what
Shen Zechuan meant. Shen Zechuan motioned for Xiao Chiye to
squat down. It was inconvenient for Xiao Chiye to squat in his
armor, so he simply withdrew a leg and kneeled on one knee on a
spot near Lanzhou.
Snow outside the tent fell like light willow catkins. Intermittent
sounds of Fei Sheng lecturing Yin Chang about his drinking drifted
through the air. Meanwhile, the Libei Armored Cavalry in their
heavy armor stepped in the snow and moved in concert with one
another. It was noisy all around. Inside the tent, tea that had been
set above the charcoal brazier with firewood burning in it started to
boil.
The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was penetrating. Of late,
the dazzling brilliance of his talent was becoming harder and
harder to conceal. “Wait for me here.”
“As a matter of fact, I would like to go.” Shen Zechuan’s
overcoat slipped off his shoulders. Imitating Xiao Chiye’s past
action, he pinched Xiao Chiye’s chin and cocked his head slightly.
“But I don’t have that capability. All I can do is to remain here as the
wife who shares hardships with his husband.”
Xiao Chiye, who had been letting Shen Zechuan pinch as he
wished, burst out laughing on hearing him.
Shen Zechuan listened as Gu Jin stopped outside the tent. He
took the helmet over and put it on for Xiao Chiye. In that brief
exchange of glances, he and Xiao Chiye exchanged a kiss across
the steel.
“After tonight,” Xiao Chiye’s icy iron fingers caressed Shen
Zechuan’s cheeks, his voice low and deep as he said, “my Lanzhou
will be the overlord of Zhongbo.”
◈ ◈ ◈
 Xiao Chiye tested his new blade on Achi, but it was far from
enough. He was so ravenous he could devour the north and south
battlefields. Every battle was a trial; he wanted to hone his blade
even faster here.
The Biansha’s massive troops in the southeast numbered
25,000, of which 5,000 were the Scorpions. The remaining
cavalrymen lacked horses, so many of them could only stand in
temporarily as infantrymen. They lost their commanding general,
and they were unable to obtain updates from the opposite bank of
the Chashi River. Obstructing Xiao Chiye was a measure they were
forced to take in order to ensure the safety of Duanzhou.
What Xiao Chiye wanted was for them to be forced into doing
so. Once these 25,000 men moved, the western side of Duanzhou
would be completely vacated, and Wu Ziyu could immediately
begin his attack on the city. The advantage in having Shen
Zechuan seal off Zhongbo would then become apparent—
Duanzhou would not get any form of assistance, and since their
grains had already been supplied to Achi’s 20,000 soldiers, the
8,000 troops remaining behind to keep guard on Duanzhou would
all have to meet the enemy’s attack on empty stomachs.
When the battle in Zhongbo started, it was in the dead of night
over at the Bianjun Commandery.
News of Achi’s defeat had yet to make it to the Qingshu tribe,
whose night patrol squad was presently roaming around the
Bianjun Commandery. The commanding general of the Qingshu
tribe was called Sumeng, who used to be Hasen’s deputy general
and could also partake in the discussion of official affairs when he
was under Amu’er command. But because his tribe was not
powerful enough, he lost the opportunity to follow Hasen up north.
He had also crossed swords with Lu Guangbai here before.
The Bianjun Commandery was devoid of snow tonight. From
afar, Suotian Pass looked like a sleeping beauty lying in slumber
upon the city. There were bits of floating snow in the air, while no
trace of the moon could be seen when one raised their head.
Sumeng felt the Bianjun Commandery to be too silent tonight.
It made him feel ill at ease, so he increased the number of people
on night patrol, keeping all eyes on the eastern front of the Bianjun
Commandery in case of a surprise attack from the garrison troops.
During the latter half of the night, the night patrol squad set up
a bonfire in the wilderness, where they filled their stomachs with
melted snow as they roasted the dried meat jerky they carried with
them.
“The Scorpions in the north have been winning battles.” A
cavalryman of the Qingshu tribe said in the Biansha tongue as he
broke off the dried meat jerky. “They’re about to merge into the
Twelve tribes and become a tribe near the north. By then, will we
still be able to get our hands on provisions?”
Sumeng drank the melted snow, shaking his head as he said,
“The Hero will never allow the Scorpions to become a tribe of their
own. They are the slaves of the Liaoying tribe.”
The mothers of the Scorpions were all natives of Dazhou, and
with the emergence of traitors like Hairigu, it would be difficult to
convince the masses even if they were victorious in battles.
Moreover, the person who all the tribes in the desert answered to
was Hasen.
“If they can give us Gedale,” the cavalryman smiled at Sumeng,
“then we won’t have to worry about starving in the future
anymore.”
Sumeng gulped down the melted snow and did not answer
immediately. He had sounded Amu’er out before, but did not
receive a response. The Qingshu tribe was not a powerful tribe, and
the Liaoying tribe of today was no longer the minor tribe it had
been in the past. In addition, the Huiyan tribe had thrown in their
lot with Libei, leaving their Qingshu tribe behind here to choke on
sand with the Bianjun Garrison Troops. But who would have
expected the Bianjun Commandery Garrison Troops themselves to
take off in the end? After being stationed here day in and day out,
Sumeng could not see a future. He pinned all his hopes on his son,
but as it happened, his son came to a premature end at the
beginning of spring this year.
“There is purpose in waiting.” These were the only words of
comfort Sumeng could offer. “At least we won’t face reprisals from
Libei if we stay here.”
 The cavalrymen burst into laughter.
Halfway through the bonfire, a cavalryman saw several stray
dogs behind him. He brandished a withered branch at them and
shoo-ed at them to drive them away. But these stray dogs were so
starving they were drooling and panting warm air as they circled
the cavalry.
“Chase them away,” Sumeng ordered.
So the cavalryman stood up, grabbed his scimitar, and started
to stomp his feet as well. The stray dogs cowered back for a
moment, and the cavalryman, with his bulging belly, turned back to
suggest to Sumeng. “We can hunt them. Dogskins can—”
Before the cavalryman could finish his words, the stray dogs
pounced. It was as though they had gone mad as they tore at the
cavalryman with their fangs and dragged him with such force that
he fell over to the ground. The dogs latched onto his arm that had
been holding onto the scimitar. The leather could not withstand the
sharp fangs of the stray dogs, and the pain cut so deep that it sent
him screaming.
Sumeng promptly stood up, and the cavalrymen on night
patrol caught up to the cavalryman in distress and kicked out at the
stray dogs as they dragged him back. Sumeng noticed that the
eyes of these dogs were oddly red with rage, so to be on the safe
side, he told the cavalrymen, “Shoot them to death with the bows.
Something’s wrong with these dogs.”
A few faint cries of a Chinese francolin reverberated through
the night. As if sensing danger, the stray dogs turned tail and fled
as the cavalrymen got on their horses and drew their bows. The
dogs ran westward in a panic, and the cavalrymen followed in hot
pursuit.
A stray dog took an arrow to the leg and limped as it continued
to flee onward. The cavalryman behind it drew his scimitar and
leaned down with the intention to end the stray dog with one slash
in between the sprinting of his horse. They galloped wildly,
splashing froths of snow in the air. An explosive “whoosh” rang out,
and a long arrow came hurtling from the west. The cavalryman
instantly fell off his horse. His legs, however, were still hanging
from the saddle, and he ended up getting dragged by the horse
across the demarcation line.
Oh, shit!
Sumeng swore to himself, feeling a sense of foreboding.
Amu’er had long instructed them not to engage Qidong in battle at
this moment. As long as they did not attack, Qi Zhuyin could not
step to the fore. He immediately reined in his horse and shouted,
“Fall back!”
But the torches ahead lit up all of a sudden, illuminating the
surroundings brightly.
“Qi Zhuyin!” From where he was on horseback, Sumeng
decried in the Dazhou tongue, “Women are devious—”
Qi Zhuyin stood in front of the combat-ready garrison troops in
full battle array. As she crushed the snow beneath her foot, she
leisurely said, “Light up the beacon tower. Inform Qudu that the
Qingshu tribe has breached the boundary line and invaded our
territory.”
The Qidong Garrison Troops abruptly lined up their shields,
and the cold steel of their blades glinted and flashed.

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 CHAPTER 211 : HEAVY FROST

Warning: Animal Abuse :V

A boundless expanse of thick clouds swarmed forth and

swallowed up the sunlight. Falcons from Libei soared across the
vast horizon. Meng was the first to swoop down. Under the cries of
the falcons, it spread its wings, dispersing the thin fog as it looked
down upon the stretch of pure white snow. The saker falcons came
from the south like a volley of sharp arrows shooting straight
towards the falcons. Letting out a long, loud cry, Meng spun and
brushed past the military banner beneath. The sound of war drums
instantly reverberated through the sinkhole.
Cavalrymen surged towards them with the momentum of a
tidal wave incoming from the south.
The Armored Cavalry remained still. Once the scimitars of the
Biansha Cavalrymen could be clearly seen, Yin Chang drew his old
blade with a loud clang and roared at the sky, “Unveil the trenches
—!”
The Imperial Army, who had been lying prostrate in the
snowfield, promptly released their grip on the ropes at both ends,
exposing the newly dug trenches. Meanwhile, the Biansha Cavalry,
renowned for their speed, was charging long-distance towards
them when they crossed the trenches. Unable to stop in time, the
horses fell into the trenches, and cracking sounds instantly rang
out as their front knees broke on impact.
 The vanguards of the Biansha Cavalry tumbled into the
trenches, throwing the array at the head into disorder. The Imperial
Army instantly drew their blades and pounced like wolves to
engage this batch of vanguards in the trenches. Without losing
speed, the Biansha Cavalry at the back spurred their horses into
leaping over the trenches to continue with their charge forward.
Even as Yin Chang hacked down the Biansha Cavalry, he still
had to dodge the hooves leaping over his head, or he might just
get his head kicked into a bloody pulp in a moment of inattention.
He bent over and shouted over to the other end, “Laohu, what’s
wrong with you? You dug this way too narrow!”
Tantai Hu’s palms were slick with sweat. He heard Yin Chang’s
shouts as he fixed his eyes on the Biansha Cavalry galloping over,
but he did not dare to divert his attention to answer. Gripping his
own twin blades, he silently recited Tantai Long’s name to himself.
A Biansha cavalryman’s scimitar was already swinging towards
him when the ponies were right about to reach him. Tantai Hu
rolled forward, and Xiao Chiye, who was behind him, stuck out
Langli Blade in a flash, making use of the cavalryman’s momentum
to stab through him. Blood splattered. Leading the garrison troops,
Tantai Hu crouched and slashed his blade across to cut off the
ponies’ legs.
The ponies screamed and threw back their heads as they
toppled over to the ground, like wild geese that had lost their
wings. The cavalrymen fell off the ponies and rolled. Tantai Hu
wiped the blood from his face, lifted both blades, and roared,
“Revenge avenged!”
After getting thwarted again and again, the Biansha Cavalry
decreased the momentum of their charge, no longer willing to
advance rashly. But the distance between them had already
shrunk. They wanted to retreat, but Xiao Chiye was now
advancing.
Xiao Chiye tapped gently on the abdomen of his horse with the
back of his blade, and Lang Tao Xue Jin charged forth. The sound
of the Libei Armored Cavalry’s hooves was as resounding as
muffled thunder as they pushed forth urgently with the snowstorm
moving in tandem. They rammed into the Biansha Cavalry,
breaking the latter’s battle array into tatters. The “war chariot”
formation left the Biansha Cavalry with no time to catch their
breaths. As long as they were slammed over to the ground by the
heavy armors, the iron horseshoes of the Libei Armored Cavalry
would trample over flesh and blood as they steamrolled over the
Biansha cavalrymen’s bodies.
A saker falcon swept past overhead, with the wind trailing in its
path as it attempted to flee east. Meng swooped through the snow
and grabbed hold of the saker falcon with its talons. As it passed
by Libei’s wolf banner, it ripped off one of the saker falcon’s wings
before flinging the saker falcon away.
The Biansha Cavalry retreated like the receding tide, and one
of its young generals galloped on horseback and yelled a series of
swift commands. He withdrew the regular cavalry, then chided the
Scorpions in the Biansha tongue for them to advance. The scimitars
were instantly drawn back as the cavalrymen retreated with their
eyes on the Libei Armored Cavalry.
Xiao Chiye slowly returned to the battle formation, and the
protruding columns on all sides followed suit and merged back
swiftly. The Scorpions took the place of the vanguards. The iron
hammers they swung no longer faced up to one Armored Cavalry,
but a group of Armored Cavalries.
Xiao Chiye led the charge. As he sped forth, he suddenly kept
away Langli Blade. Following his action, the Armored Cavalry
behind him unleashed those new blades of terrifying length. Xiao
Chiye bent over slightly as they stabbed hard into the ranks of the
Scorpions like a flash of cold glint in the night.
Xiao Chiye flipped the longer hilt with both hands and took
away a Scorpion’s head as his horse passed by. To reduce its
weight, the sharp steel of the long blade was thinned down, and it
took just the blink of an eye for throats to be slit. A spray of blood
instantly spattered towards his heavy armor along its iron arm
before spilling onto the ground.
The iron hammers could not keep up with the speed of the long
blades, and they were not long enough to swing and hit the
Armored Cavalrymen themselves either. All they could do was
watch helplessly as the Libei Armored Cavalry killed their way into
their formation and cut down their own ranks into two halves.
Lang Tao Xue Jin broke through the Biansha Cavalry’s
encirclement and snorted as it turned around on its hooves. Xiao
Chiye held his long blade at a slanting angle and shook off the
viscous blood on its blade.
Scorpions on both sides gasped for air as they watched all of
their center unit tumble off their horses. Everywhere Xiao Chiye
passed, streams of flowing blood formed. His long blade
practically sliced off the heads of everyone who stood in his way.
A Scorpion pulled at his reins as he murmured in the Biansha
tongue, “Chidaqi…”
The Libei Armored Cavalry spurred on their horses once more,
and the Scorpions, no longer willing to continue fighting, turned
their horses around at the sound of that muffled thunder. When the
young general of the Biansha Cavalry at the back saw the
Scorpions retreating, he hurriedly brandished his blade to berate
them, but to no avail. Fear had already been sown in the hearts of
the Scorpions. Following the loss of their leader, they had been
reduced to mere sacrifices on this battlefield.
Lang Tao Xue Jin galloped out of the pack, while the Libei
Armored Cavalry followed close behind on its trail.
The Biansha Cavalry on the south side of the sinkhole were too
powerless to resist, as their scimitars were unable to pierce the
heavy armors. Those who lost their ponies scrambled over
themselves to run like mad in the snow, their urgent breaths of
white air resembling a wave of floodwater breaching its dam.
Surfaces of snow quaked as the Libei Armored Cavalry made its
passage through. A Biansha Cavalryman who was falling behind
the rest fell to the ground, and his scimitar went flying from his
hand. Before he could even reach out a hand to draw out his piked
dagger, he was swallowed up whole under the hooves of the
Armored Cavalry.
Xiao Chiye charged out from the fringe of the battle formation
and chased after the Biansha Cavalry like Xiao Fangxu had done
so thirty years ago, showing no mercy under the iron hooves of his
horse. The Libei Armored Cavalry ran on a rampage as they
assaulted and massacred their way forward. Heavy armors gravely
traversed the battlefield, turning into heavy blades in the midst of
emerging from their sheaths in Tantai Hu’s eyes.
As the Scorpion galloped on his horse, he shouted sharply,
“Chidaqi!”
Vicious wolf!
Seven years ago, Xiao Jiming led the troops down south,
earning himself the name “River of Ice Armored Cavalry”, and
tonight, Xiao Chiye chased after the Biansha Cavalry for twenty li,
the echoes reverberating through the lands he stepped on.
“Damn…” Yin Chang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he wiped the
blood off his face and recited silently to himself,
The passage of heavy frost through the lands
leaves not a blade of grass in its wake.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan was boiling tea in his tent. The Prefectural Lord,
inept as he was in the art of tea, simply stuffed the tea leaves into
the teapot, filled it with water, and set it on the fire to boil. His
folding fan was resting on his knee, and there was a stack of piled-
up documents on the desk at his side, yet his eyes were fixed on
that tea as he watched it gradually start to boil and bubble over.
Hairigu squatted at the entrance of the tent and peeked
through the gap. “It’s not drinkable if you boil it like this, or is it?” he
asked Fei Sheng.
Fei Sheng did not have a favorable impression of this Scorpion,
so he looked ahead with his arms folded and listened to the urgent
beats of the war drums. “It’s not like you are going to be drinking it,
so what are you worrying about?”
Shen Zechuan stared blankly for a long time, and by the time
he returned to his senses, the tea had almost evaporated. He lifted
the teapot off, added more water, and continued to boil it. The
sound of boiling water could cover up some of the drumming from
the war drums, which was putting him in a dazed trance. He had
not done any work today either.
Seeing as it was late, Fei Sheng lifted the flap to enter. He said
softly to Shen Zechuan, “Master, how about taking a quick nap? As
soon as there’s news from the battlefront, I’ll call you.”
 Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes and did not answer him.
Fei Sheng understood that the Prefectural Lord was reluctant to
do so, so he dared not persuade him further and retreated to the
entrance of the tent to wait in attendance. The tea in the military
tent boiled for the entire night. When it was almost dawn, Shen
Zechuan heard the war drums stop.
Shen Zechuan rose and pushed aside the flap. Fei Sheng
hurriedly draped a cloak over him and accompanied Shen
Zechuan out of the tent. They made their way outside, where Shen
Zechuan waited again for a moment in the snowy fog bathed in the
first glimmer of dawn. It was extremely frigid in the morning, so
frigid that the tip of one’s nose would turn red from the freezing
cold if one stood for too long out there. The north wind pounced
on their faces like sharp knives. After a little less than an hour, Shen
Zechuan suddenly heard the rising sound of hooves, followed by
rows after rows of emerging silhouettes overlapping one another.
Meng was the first to return to camp.
Fei Sheng heaved a sigh of relief as if he had been relieved of a
heavy load. He immediately congratulated Shen Zechuan, “Master,
it’s a success!”
Meng circled in the air, wanting to land on Shen Zechuan’s
arm. Shen Zechuan was not wearing his arm guard today. Just as
he lifted his arm, a whistle sounded from the other end.
Xiao Chiye broke through the boundless expanse of heavy fog
and spurred his horse on without stopping. The moment he rushed
into the campgrounds, he swept up Shen Zechuan. Lang Tao Xue
Jin slowed and turned its hooves around to gallop away into the
fog again with both men on its back. Meng, which had pounced on
empty air, landed on the military banner and wiped its talons clean
as it watched them run further away into the distance with a
sidelong glance.
Yin Chang, with arms cradling his war trophy, wanted to say
something, but Fei Sheng held him back and did not give him the
chance to open his mouth. The rest of them wore a wide array of
expressions. Tantai Hu spat on his palms and rubbed them
together to warm them up a little. “… Let’s enter the tent first.
Military affairs can be reported a little later. There’s no hurry to do
so right now.”
With that, he repeated it once more, only to make what he had
been trying to cover up all the more conspicuous.
“No hurry to do so now.”
“Whatcha’ mean? No hurry?” Yin Chang craned his neck to
look around him and said in bafflement, “We have to head back to
the city at the hour of mao. His Lordship’s very much in a hurry!”

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 CHAPTER 212 : DREDGE (UP THE PAST)

Lang Tao Xue Jin galloped away from the campgrounds, but
did not go far. It came to a stop on a snowy slope at the northern
end of the Chashi Sinkhole. The humid fog and snow made Shen
Zechuan appear to be situated amidst the vast expanse of misty,
rolling waves on the lake’s surface. All his eyes could see where
they roamed was white.
Xiao Chiye rolled off his horse and removed his helmet. There
was sweat along his temples as he panted slightly, yet his eyes
were full of spirits. “Can you see Duanzhou?”
As Shen Zechuan held onto Lang Tao Xue Jin’s reins, he
handed the blue handkerchief in his sleeve over to Xiao Chiye. He
could only catch a glimpse of the abandoned relay station’s
watchtower in the far distance amidst the visible clouds of his
breath, but he understood Xiao Chiye’s jubilation. “Looking at
Duanzhou now is just like looking into what’s already in my bag.”
Xiao Chiye lifted his chin slightly, and beads of sweat trickled
down. He smiled. Shen Zechuan gazed at him, realizing that he still
retained the unyielding and untamable attitude he possessed
during their time in Qudu; this was the spirit that Shen Zechuan
desired to have in his possession.
Shen Zechuan leaned over, breathing onto Xiao Chiye’s cheeks.
The tip of his nose pressed right up against Xiao Chiye and edged
up along the latter’s temple as he licked the latter’s sweat like he
desired. Those beads of astringent, salty sweat dissolved in Shen
Zechuan’s mouth. As his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, he said,
“This will be your, Xiao Ce’an’s, riding track from now on.”
Xiao Chiye raised a hand over Shen Zechuan’s nape, covering
it, and the iron fingers of the armor he had yet to remove were icy
and hard as they lay over the soft, fair neck, leaving behind a touch
that resembled the cold steel of a blade.
“I don’t want a riding track.” The straight bridge of Xiao Chiye’s
nose nuzzled along the spot on Shen Zechuan that had been
bobbing earlier. He watched fixedly as Shen Zechuan narrowed his
expressive eyes. His words had an edge of danger to it as he said,
“I want Shen Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan breathed out a puff of hot air at Xiao Chiye. Xiao
Chiye thought Shen Zechuan wanted to kiss him. He did not expect
Lanzhou to grab the chance to pull back the blue handkerchief in
his hand. Shen Zechuan then straightened up and wrapped the
overcoat tightly around himself. The Prefectural Lord, who was
sensitive to the cold, revealed only his eyes and the reddened tips
of his ears as he said in a muffled voice, “Shen Lanzhou’s freezing
to death.”
Xiao Chiye, his arms empty, had still yet to realize what just
happened.
Shen Zechuan watched Xiao Chiye’s expression undergo
several changes. Xiao Chiye looked as though he was going to
make a grab for him, so Shen Zechuan immediately shook the reins
to urge Lang Tao Xue Jin into returning back to camp. Xiao Chiye
cradled his helmet in his arms. There was still a lingering warmth
from where he had been licked on his temple. He touched it,
gradually getting riled up as though he were a maiden of a decent
family who had been disrespected by a frivolous philanderer.
“Shen Lanzhou…” Xiao Chiye watched as Shen Zechuan fled.
With a stride of his long legs, he slid down the snowy slope and
yelled, “Heartless cad!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Achi, who had been confident of success, had been defeated
at the Chashi Sinkhole, and the Biansha people, who had been
winning battles in the north for half a year, never expected Achi to
lose to Xiao Chiye. The remaining soldiers in Duanzhou were no
match for Wu Ziyu’s surprise attack. Consequently, the six
prefectures of Zhongbo all fell under Shen Zechuan’s command.
Qudu received news of it only seven days later. At the same time,
the military report of Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops into battle
with the Qingshu tribe also made its way into the palace.
The Empress Dowager sat in Mingli Hall behind the hanging
curtain and flung the memorial onto the seat across the luminous
pearls. The eastern pearls swayed beside her ears as she held back
her rage and barked at the ministers in the hall, “Did the Ministry of
War reject Qidong’s request to deploy its troops or not? Chen
Zhen, you handle military affairs, and you can’t even make yourself
clear?!”
The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, immediately kneeled on the
ground, knowing that the Empress Dowager was venting her
anger. Qi Zhuyin now had a strong and well-trained military, and
Qudu was unwilling to act rashly and offend them, so they could
only take it out on the easy games like him. He listened
expressionlessly until she was done speaking before saying, “In the
first month of the year, Commander-in-chief Qi presented a
memorial to the imperial court, hoping to deploy troops to fight the
Qingshu tribe. We rejected her request on the grounds that we
were lacking in military provisions. The Grand Secretariat kept a
copy of the correspondences for archival records. The Senior
Grand Secretary and the various other ministers are all aware of it.”
The Empress Dowager understood that this was in no way
authorized by the Ministry of War, but she was still fuming. After a
moment’s pause, she continued, “So why did she go ahead with it
this time?”
“Seven days ago, the Bianjun Commandery’s night patrol
encountered a surprise attack by the Qingshu tribe.” Chen Zhen
lifted his head slightly at this point. “Commander-in-chief Qi was
thus forced to mobilize troops.”
“Amu’er is at war with Libei in the north. Why would the
Qingshu tribe provoke Qidong for no rhyme or reason?” Han
Cheng had been at the receiving end of Qi Zhuyin’s frostiness
when he escorted Hua Xiangyi to her new home. Sitting in the hall
now, he suddenly bared a smile and said, “Then again, it’s really
such a coincidence that Commander-in-chief Qi happened to be in
the Bianjun Commandery just when the Qingshu tribe launched
their surprise attack. This battle was such a swift and abrupt one
that the report of victory and request were both presented
together. Even if she was at fault, she had already succeeded.”
Kong Qiu, who had fallen ill after the new year, sat in the hall
with his complexion all ashen as he covered his mouth and
coughed. “We cannot listen to only one side of the story. If the
Qingshu tribe had genuinely crossed the line, then Commander-in-
chief Qi’s mobilization of troops was an act of emergency. For the
past years, the situation at the frontiers has been unstable. When Lu
Guangbai was still stationed at the Bianjun Commandery, the
Qingshu tribe often invaded as well. The details of the matter still
need to be presented by Commander-in-chief Qi. What is of utmost
urgency now is how long this war will continue? We are right about
to enter the plowing season in spring, and the thirteen cities of
Juexi are still waiting for the arrangements to be made. The supply
of military provisions is of major concern.”
Pan Xiangjie timidly folded his arms up his sleeves. Xue
Xiuzhuo wanted to investigate their Pan clan of Dancheng, and this
matter had been stuck at an impasse for a long time. Given that the
fields were still in dispute, he did not dare to butt in now for fear
that the Grand Secretariat would apportion the shortfall of military
provision to them.
The Empress Dowager did not consent to send their troops to
war because Qidong’s deployment of troops at this moment was
akin to supporting Libei, and also because Xue Xiuzhuo had been
too impatient in chasing the accounts. The Eight Great clans were
presently in a situation where one slight move could lead to major
consequences for all of them. Fields were their roots, and the
young masters of the eight cities all depended on these fields to
survive. If an investigation were to be launched, then the noble
clans would suffer debilitating effects just by having to return the
fields to the common folks and make up for the arrears in taxes.
Not to mention that there was also the risk of dismissal and
prosecution as well as imprisonment. Qi Zhuyin’s battle with the
Qingshu tribe meant that the expenses for the Qidong’s Five
Commanderies’ military salaries and provisions would have to go
through the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue. Once the state
treasury ran out of money, all the past events during the reign of
Yongyi were going to get dredged up again. The Empress
Dowager was acting in place of the crown prince, and there was
still the Heir Apparent beside her eyeing the throne, so she dared
not act rashly without careful consideration.
Whether Amu’er was a rapacious aggressor or not, the noble
clans did not know, but they knew it was inadvisable to keep
delaying given the current situation. Zhongbo had already grown
to be a thorn in their sides, and getting themselves stuck in a
stalemate with the Heir Apparent and the Grand Secretariat would
not do the noble clans any good.
“Since it was the Qingshu tribe that invaded, Qi Zhuyin can just
repel them; there is no need to mobilize troops again to penetrate
deeper into the enemy’s territory.” The Empress Dowager’s fury had
subsided. She deliberated it over and said, “I know that it’s bitterly
cold and impoverished at the frontiers. No doubt the battle with the
Biansha people must be fought, but not now. Just as the Grand
Secretary has said, the spring plow season is right around the
corner. We should place the commoners as our priority. Not all of
Juexi’s territories last year had bumper harvests either, and the
granaries in Qudu have still yet to be filled to the brim, so where
would the imperial court have the spare grains to give Qidong to
fight wars? This matter has to be conveyed properly to Qi Zhuyin.
As someone who assists in the government affairs of the Five
Commanderies, she should have long known about this.”
Silence descended upon Mingli Hall for a moment. The
hanging screens at the entrance were all securely tucked in to keep
the wind out. Because of Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops, the
atmosphere in the hall was grave and heavy.
In truth, Kong Qiu and Cen Yu approved of Qi Zhuyin’s wish to
wage a battle against the Qingshu tribe. But they were presently
duking it out with the noble clans. Pan Lin was the one who had the
Ministry of Revenue in his grasp, but he presently had his hands too
full with Xue Xiuzhuo incriminating him to jointly discuss the matter
of Qidong’s military salaries and provisions. Moreover, it was
precisely because the Pan clan was the first to bear the brunt that
Pan Xiangjie did not dare to let his son get too involved with the
Grand Secretariat at this juncture.
Pan Xiangjie was used to playing fence-sitter. It was all thanks
to this ability to sway where the wind blows that he could survive
until now. He did not want to offend Xue Xiuzhuo, and he did not
want to offend the Empress Dowager either. As long as there was
no victor in the tussle for power in Qudu, he was unwilling to let the
Pan clan follow another’s lead easily. In the past, he threw in his lot
with Hua Siqian and Wei Huaigu, but these two men both used him
as a scapegoat. Now wary and guarded, he trusted none of these
three parties.
Cen Yu sighed lightly. He rarely spoke up in Mingli Hall now. Yu
Xiaozai left the capital with the letter he wrote to Shen Zechuan, but
Shen Zechuan never replied, and he understood what Shen
Zechuan meant by that. Everyone had drinks in his house a year
ago, and he still remembered the distinguished figures Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye had cut then. He found it a pity the way
things had turned out.
Cen Yu shifted his gaze to Li Jianting, who was sitting upright at
the side staring at the tea before her, as if she had not heard the
discussion in the hall. After the court session was dismissed, Cen Yu
and Kong Qiu walked along the long path that had been cleared of
snow.
The palace eaves on both sides hung low, turning the paths
oppressively dim. The eunuch in front was holding a lantern. As
Cen Yu walked, his sleeves flapped in the wind. The wind blew his
short, newly grown beard all over, and he lifted a hand to stroke it.
“Why didn’t you say a word today with something this big
happening?” Kong Qiu asked.
Cen Yu lifted his eyes. “Her Majesty’s mind is already made up.
The result will be the same, whether or not I speak up.”
It was already dark by the time both men walked out of the
palace gate. Cen Yu did not get into the horse carriage. Instead, he
carried the lantern himself and stepped on the snow as he walked
on the level path with Kong Qiu.
 “Xunyi, you seem to have a lot on your mind today.” Kong Qiu
scrutinized him. “What are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about today last year,” Cen Yu answered, “when Vice
Commander Shen and Marquis Xiao were both still in Qudu…”
If Emperor Tianchen had not been assassinated, perhaps Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye would still be in Qudu today. Cen Yu had
always been one to cherish talents. He once thought of having
Shen Zechuan join the imperial court as an official, but alas, things
did not go the way he wished—the weight of Shen Zechuan’s crime
was too heavy.
Kong Qiu let out a long sigh and thought of Hai Liangyi again.
“If Emperor Tianchen possessed even a fraction of a crown
prince’s disposition, would you and I be reduced to such a state?
I’ve been feeling more and more out of my depth lately. There are
simply too many situations that are beyond my ability to salvage.
They do not consent to the current war Commander-in-chief Qi is
waging with the Qingshu tribe for fear that the military provisions
would drag the eight cities’ fields into it. But I can tell that the war in
Libei is at a tense and critical juncture. Even the Prince of Libei, Xiao
Fangxu, met his end in battle. The strength and the capabilities of
the Biansha can no longer be underestimated.” Cen Yu could see it
all clearly, but it was pointless. He could not solve the conflict in
Qudu just with his eloquence alone. It was simply a tall order to get
the noble clans to relinquish their existing interests.
Both of them had not gone far when they saw a man standing
under a bamboo umbrella ahead of them, waiting. Cen Yu and
Kong Qiu traded looks and looked at Xue Xiuzhuo.
Xue Xiuzhuo’s official robe was brand new, and he was not
wearing a lined jacket. He stood in that spot all by his lonesome
self, like a floating leaf among the torrential currents even as the
wind sent his sleeves fluttering. He kept away his umbrella and
bowed in greetings to Cen Yu and Kong Qiu.
“Why are you standing here? Is something the matter?” Kong
Qiu asked.
Xue Xiuzhuo straightened up as floating snow sporadically
danced past. “This humble official has been waiting here for both
gentlemen to discuss the issue of Dancheng’s fields and taxes in
detail.”
Cen Yu frowned slightly and said, “Affairs of the imperial court
should be settled on the imperial court itself. There is no reason to
discuss them in private. This case, in particular, should avoid
having aspersions cast on it. If others were to see this, rumors and
slanders would inevitably start making their rounds. You should go
back first. We’ll discuss it in the Grand Secretariat’s office tomorrow
morning after the morning court session.”
“If not for the urgency of the matter, this humble official would
naturally not dare to bother both of you.” Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression
remained unchanged. “At the beginning of the month, Her Majesty
drew up a decree to have a key official from the Ministry of Revenue
tag along to investigate the case, and Pan Lin appointed Liang
Cuishan, who is in charge of salt taxes in Hezhou and Juexi.”
Kong Qiu and Cen Yu both knew who Liang Cuishan was. Xiao
Chiye had vouched for him and recommended him for an official
position during the collapse of the public ditches. He was a Ministry
of Revenue official who had been personally appointed by Emperor
Tianchen to investigate Wei Huaigu in the case of the military
provisions. He was very talented in the administration of financial
affairs and taxes. Last year, he sorted out the old accounts of the
thirteen cities with Jiang Qingshan in Juexi, and for a period of
time, he even managed the transportation of grains by water from
Hezhou to the capital.
Yan Heru told Shen Zechuan that it was tough to do business
via the waterways. The Yan clan’s goods heading for Juexi were all
subjected to rigorous checks, and Liang Cuishan was the reason
for this. This man was smooth and diplomatic in his work, but he
was not a slippery character. In his position, the amount of tax
money passing through his hand every day numbered tens of
thousands of silver. Yan Heru wanted to pull strings and make
backdoor deals with him, but his attempts were all rebuffed.
“Liang Cuishan has already returned to the capital and will
enter the palace tomorrow morning to seek an audience.” Xue
Xiuzhou held his umbrella in his arms. “But he had a narrow escape
this trip and must meet both gentlemen tonight.”
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 CHAPTER 213: TURN OF EVENTS

Liang Cuishan was not wearing his official robe; instead, he

had on a sheepskin-lined jacket over his upper garment with
overlapping collars and a pair of green cloth shoes. He was the
total antithesis of “His Excellency Chongshen” as town rumors
went, with a short beard, squarish face, and a tanned complexion
from being on the go outside all day. His hands also did not seem
to be the kind that held brushes, but hoes. Cen Yu almost took him
for an errand-runner when he stood under the relay station’s
lantern to meet Kong Qiu and Cen Yu.
“Why does Chongshen look like this?” Cen Yu asked in
astonishment.
Liang Cuishan led them upstairs and waited for them to take
their seats before he answered. “It’s a long story. This humble
subordinate is truly indebted to both of Your Excellencies for your
willingness to come—I can die a hundred deaths without regrets
now!” With that, he gave Xue Xiuzhuo a long bow. “Your Excellency
saved me from calamity today. This humble subordinate shall
never forget this kindness for as long as I live!”
Xue Xiuzhuo wiped his hands with the hot handkerchief in the
room and took a seat at the side. He merely said, “It’s a matter of
urgency. You should discuss it in detail with both His Excellencies
first.”
“What is it?” Kong Qiu sized up Liang Cuishan. “Going by the
dates, you should arrive in Qudu only the day after tomorrow.”
“The superiors are rushing me, so this humble subordinate dare
not delay on the road. To tell Your Excellency the truth, it is also to
pull the wool over the eyes of others that I dressed up like this.” As
Liang Cuishan spoke, he fished out an account book from under
the clothes on his bosom and set it down lightly by Cen Yu’s hand.
“Your Excellency supervises the Ministry of Revenue’s audits of
accounts all year round, and you would have seen this kind of
account book before. Please take a look.”
Cen Yu flipped the account book open and looked through it
for a long time before hesitatingly asking, “isn’t this the account
book the City of Chuancheng submitted to the Ministry of Revenue
at the beginning of the year?”
“That’s right. It’s the account book of the Marquis Helian from
the City of Chuancheng. Along with the accounts from the rest of
the seven cities, it was handed over to the Ministry of Revenue at
the beginning of spring to be reviewed. The aim was to straighten
out the details of their taxes and expenditures with the assistance
of the Chief Surveillance Bureau. There was no issue with it at that
time.” Liang Cuishan fished out another account book from his
bosom. “This account book, on the other hand, has been tidied up
by this humble subordinate these few days.”
Cen Yu’s countenance changed the instant he read the
beginning of the book. “How did you sort out this account?” he
asked Liang Cuishan.
With a solemn expression, Liang Cuishan organized his
thoughts and said, “Her Majesty drew up an imperial edict last
month, and Vice Minister Pan wanted this humble subordinate to
assist the Court of Judicial Review in investigating the City of
Dancheng’s accounts. But this humble subordinate was in the City
of Yongcheng in Juexi at that time reviewing the thirteen cities’
sales taxes with His Excellency Jiang.”
Within a few days, Liang Cuishan received a visitation card
from the Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi at the relay station. Liang
Cuishan never received visitors when he was attending to official
duties, but this Tax Circuit Intendant took the opportunity to leave
Liang Cuishan a “small gift”. Liang Cuishan opened it to find gold
inside.
“Juexi is connected to the city of Dicheng and the prefecture of
Hezhou through the waterways, and the Tax Circuit Intendant is in
charge of the administration of all affairs relating to grains and the
transportation of grain by water in between. It’s a lucrative job, but
this humble subordinate was based in the Provincial Administration
Commission of Juexi, which has the Provincial Administration
Commissioner, Jiang Qingshan, overseeing matters, so I dare not
act rashly and inadvertently alert the perpetrator.”
The position of Tax Circuit Intendant shared some similarities
with Liang Cuishan’s position, except that it did not hold as much
authority of office as Liang Cuishan had from concurrently holding
the position in two places. Even so, the Tax Circuit Intendant
wielded considerable influence when it came to a place like Juexi.
Liang Cuishan did not dare to act without due consideration and
end up tipping the perpetrator off, as he suspected at that time that
this person had come to offer bribes at Jiang Qingshan’s behest.
Liang Cuishan was a very cautious man. It had not been easy
for him to finally see better days after all the hard times he had to
go through, so he was extremely careful when navigating the
official circles. He wanted to be a capable minister, but at the same
time, he also wanted to keep himself alive. Juexi was Jiang
Qingshan’s territory. If he had immediately submitted a memorial
to impeach this Tax Circuit Intendant, then his memorial might not
even have made it out of Juexi before being detained. In addition,
Jiang Qingshan’s opening up of the granaries to distribute relief
grains in the fourth year of Xiande and his taking full responsibility
for the matter had sent shock waves through the imperial court and
the common people. He was well-loved and held in high esteem in
all thirteen cities of Juexi. Liang Cuishan had no chance of winning
against him just based on this point alone. Furthermore, anyone
with a discerning eye knew that Jiang Qingshan was Xue Xiuzhuo’s
weapon.
“This humble subordinate spent sleepless nights in the relay
station. Naturally, the gold cannot be accepted, but there was also
the concern of sowing the seed of disaster if it was hastily
returned.” At this point, Liang Cuishan cast a glance at Xue
Xiuzhuo. “Moreover, His Excellency Jiang has an unimpeachable
reputation out there, and this humble subordinate, having worked
with him for quite some time, more or less has some
understanding of his character. For that reason, this humble
subordinate went ahead and summoned that Tax Circuit Intendant
over.”
This was a dangerous and risky move. Liang Cuishan, who did
not dare to make a rash move, had to find other traces from this
breakthrough point. At the very least, he had to figure out if Jiang
Qingshan was the mastermind behind the Tax Circuit Intendant.
“The Tax Circuit Intendant handles the matters pertaining to
taxation of the transportation of grains via the waterway of the
thirteen cities. Getting money is not a difficult matter for him.” Kong
Qiu said. “But the Censor-in-chiefs under the Chief Surveillance
Bureau also have their eyes on the accounts, and the origins of
those ships are all clear. How could he have been able to get away
with the deception?”
“This is where this humble subordinate has doubts,” Liang
Cuishan said. “This humble subordinate pretended not to dare
accept it and asked the Tax Circuit Intendant to take the gold back.
He then told me that those golds were clean and were not items on
record in the Juexi’s accounts.”
“He is in charge of the transportation of grains by water. Since
it’s not an entry in the Juexi’s accounts,” Cen Yu closed the account
book, “then it must be from…”
The City of Dicheng or the Prefecture of Hezhou.
“Yan Heru of Hezhou is a thieving and unscrupulous merchant.
He attempted to bribe me when I went to check on the
transportation of grains by water in Hezhou last year. But this man
is immensely wealthy, and there is no need for him to take the risk
and embezzle money from the imperial court’s internal account
books.” Liang Cuishan was even more careful when he came to the
part about the City of Dicheng. “The Prefectural Prefect of Dicheng
is the son of a concubine from the Fei Clan who married into the
Hua clan.1 He is very much in the Empress Dowager’s good graces,
and his track record of political achievements in the yearly
appraisal these few years have been outstanding too. This humble
subject dare not incriminate him without any evidence and could
only contend with that Tax Circuit Intendant in the hope of
obtaining more details.”
 A bribery meant that there was something to be done in
exchange, especially for someone in Liang Cuishan’s position. He
initially thought that the Tax Circuit Intendant was Jiang Qingshan’s
man, and that he had come to offer a bribe because of the Juexi’s
salt tax they were auditing at that time, but very quickly, he
discovered this to be not the case. Since these golds were not on
record in the Juexi’s accounts, then it meant that there was
someone else behind the Tax Circuit Intendant, and this person
could only be a high-ranking official of a noble clan close to
Dicheng.
Liang Cuishan would never bring up the Hua clan of Dicheng,
because this was the empress dowager’s clan and birth home.
When Hua Siqian fell from power, the only property the imperial
court confiscated from the Hua clan was Hua Siqian’s manor. In less
than a year, the Empress Dowager had staged a comeback and
was presently in charge of the administration of government
affairs. Even if Liang Cuishan was every inch a dauntless and gutsy
one, he would not dare to incriminate the Empress Dowager.
But Liang Cuishan only had to think of this matter from Qudu’s
perspective, and he could understand what these golds were
supposed to buy. Who would be the most flustered during the time
when the Empress Dowager drafted up an edict to have Liang
Cuishan check the fields in Dancheng with the Court of Judicial
Review? The Pan clan of Dancheng.
At this point, Cen Yu had already figured it out. After going
around in one big circle, it turned out to be Marquis Helian who
bribed Liang Cuishan through the Tax Circuit Intendant in order to
preserve the Pan clan. The Marquis Helian’s daughter, the
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue, had married a lad from the Pan
clan, and his common son born of a concubine was betrothed to a
maiden from the Hua clan. He was the only one who matched the
profile, except that this move of his was truly unwise.
Liang Cuishan owed Pan Lin a debt of gratitude for the
kindness the latter had shown him by promoting him. Pan Lin had
initially granted that favor at Xiao Chiye’s behest, but Liang
Cuishan later went on to prove himself to be capable, and that was
why Pan Lin was willing to let him step into the limelight. As long as
Liang Cuishan had a smidgen of selfish interest, he would, for the
sake of this kindness, think twice before acting when it came to the
matter of Dancheng. This was something he could not refuse. But
this was just great now. The Marquis Helian sent someone to bribe
him. Liang Cuishan only had to skip reporting this to the top, and
he could be considered to have repaid Pan Lin’s kindness to him.
Subsequently, he would no longer be encumbered when checking
Dancheng’s accounts in the future.
And that was not all. Liang Cuishan even secretly re-examined
the eight cities’ accounts following along the trail of this bribe and
repeatedly reviewed the accounts of the Marquis Helian’s Fei clan
of Chuancheng. The so-called money that could not be found in
the account books actually came from the invisible checkpoints the
noble clans set up within their own cities when ships or caravans of
traveling merchants passed through the checkpoints. In order to
transit through, the merchants could only pay private taxes to the
noble clans at double the price. Later on, men like Yan Heru joined
the fray. He wanted to get back all the money he had forked out, so
he took the Xi clan’s place and started to resell the copper, iron,
and salt within the territories on behalf of the noble clans and the
local officials of various ranks, thereby bypassing the tariffs. The
small trade market of Dunzhou was thus established.
Cen Yu reopened the account book Liang Cuishan had put into
order and looked at the sum of silver for a dizzying moment. They
had been caught in a tussle with the noble clans all these years in
Qudu, and many a number of capable officials had all successively
met their ends in their quest to get to the bottom of the accounts.
The two account books of Hua Siqian and Pan Rugui that Hai
Liangyi recovered during the reign of Xiande had been merely the
tip of the iceberg!
Even though the resurgence in the reign of Yongyi had been
short-lived, the taxation system it had left behind in the various
regions made up for the largest share of the state treasury’s annual
revenue. Dazhou’s rapid decline in just over a decade was
inextricably linked to bad debts; it had been internally dug clean,
with this lot of money flowing into the pockets of the noble clans.
 Cen Yu could barely remain steady in his seat. Even his hands
that were holding onto the account book were trembling.
Other than the tax money, there were also the crop fields. Cen
Yu did not even have to do the math, and he could already
imagine just how colossal the outflow of money was.
“When Libei resorted to arms during the reign of Xiande, it did
not receive any military salaries and provisions. Xiao Jiming could
only rely on whatever bits of grain farmed by the Libei military
garrison who also did farming duties2 to head down south and
fight the Biansha Cavalry back.” Cen Yu’s breathing quickened as
his trembling hand flipped the pages. “Qidong did not receive any
military salaries and provisions then either. Lu Guangbai
supplemented reinforcements up north using Qi Zhuyin’s dowry,
and for the past few years, Qi Shiyu has spent all the money from
his estate on the garrison troops. Then, there was also the time
during the first year of the reign of Tianchen, when the Qingshu
tribe fought their way to the entrance of the Bianjun Commandery.
Lu Guangbai’s army was so starved they had to eat sand!”
Every time. Every single time.
The reason the commanding generals of the north and south
entered the capital was to ask for money. Qi Zhuyin was even
forced into fraternizing with the ruffians-cum-loansharks in Qudu.
Meanwhile, Lu Guangbai did not even manage to get a single
audience with the emperor during the reign of Xiande. How many
people died when Juexi was suffering from drought? Jiang
Qingshan gritted his teeth and opened up the granaries to
distribute relief grains to the people, and his octogenarian mother
even had to weave cloth to pay off the debt. The six prefectures of
Zhongbo were helpless in the face of the empty coffers, forcing
Zhou Gui, Luo Mu, Huo Qing, and the rest of them to submit to and
grovel before the bandits.
This was the “poor” the Ministry of Revenue bemoaned.
Clenching his teeth in hatred, Cen Yu flung the account book
onto the table. “The private crop fields appropriated by the eight
cities haven’t even been included. This is all blood money…” At this
point, he started to get choked up. “The Secretariat Elder pursued
the matter to such an extent… The country was already heading for
ruin in the reign of Xiande… is it still salvageable? No, it isn’t!”
The room fell silent. Liang Cuishan hung his head in silence. He
was drifting duckweed without roots and connections. If he wanted
to continue delving deeper into this matter, he needed a powerful
backer. He first communicated with Jiang Qingshan, through
which he was granted a meeting with Xue Xiuzhuo. It was only then
he finally managed to see Kong Qiu and Cen Yu. He did not accept
the gold from the Marquis Helian, but it was useless to merely keep
it sealed on hand. Someone had to vouch for him. Otherwise, he
would have to die as long as he did not forge the accounts as
Marquis Helian wished once he arrived in Dancheng. Not even Pan
Lin would be able to protect him.
The handkerchief Xue Xiuzhuo had set at the site had gone
cold. “I should avoid doing anything that might cast suspicions on
me when it comes to this, but this concerns Chongshen’s safety,
and it also involves the investigations of the fields in Dancheng, so
I can only discuss it here with both gentlemen.” As he spoke, he
poured tea for Cen Yu and Kong Qiu. “I heard news today of
Qidong’s use of military forces, and I presume the Ministry of
Revenue is going to shirk responsibility again. With all the bad
debts from the various areas thrown together into one big mess, I
fear that the spring plowing and Qidong’s military provisions will
be delayed.”
Kong Qiu had misgivings about Xue Xiuzhuo. Xue Xiuzhuo’s
move with the Heir Apparent had been too daring and dangerous.
What’s more, he used the storm the Imperial College stirred up to
suppress and edge out the officials of humble origins, which left a
bad taste in Kong Qiu’s mouth now that the practical doers faction
was in full swing. His intuition from all his years of service in the
Ministry of Justice told him in no uncertain terms that Xue Xiuzhuo
would never ever be at his wits’ end, so he said, “surely you did not
call us here just to look at the account books.”
“A matter discussed, a matter concluded.” Xue Xiuzhuo
changed his form of address for Kong Qiu. “The Senior Grand
Secretary did not question Commander-in-chief Qi’s use of military
forces on the Qingshu tribe during the discussion in Mingli Hall. I
presume you approve of it, but the Ministry of Revenue is indeed
hard-pressed to bear the expense for military salaries and
provisions due to the depleted state treasury. That was why you did
not discuss it in detail with Her Majesty.”
“That’s right.” Kong Qiu was even more composed now
compared to the time when Hai Liangyi was still around.
“Commander-in-chief Qi’s use of military force on the Qingshu tribe
at this time may seem to be removing foreign aggression for Libei,
but in fact, it is to sweep Dazhou clean of invaders. Amu’er has wild
ambitions. No egg stays unbroken when the nest is overturned;
likewise, no one can escape unscathed if Dazhou is invaded.
Helping Libei now is helping Dazhou.”
Xue Xiuzhuo retrieved a booklet3 from his sleeve and pushed it
beside Kong Qiu’s hand. “This is a rough estimate of Qidong’s
expenses for military salaries and provisions. Deploying troops
long distance is not as cheap as stationing garrison troops in the
Bianjun Commandery in the past. Just the consumption of grain
wagons is enough to eat up the tax silver of the entire Baimazhou
territory last year.”
Kong Qiu looked at that booklet and said, “a portion of the
silvers was used up last year to provide relief in the disaster-stricken
areas. Furthermore, it’s nearing the beginning of spring now.
Whether the spring plowing in the eight cities can be carried out
without a hitch is a major issue we have to consider too. If the noble
clans aren’t willing to return the commoners’ fields and make up
for the arrears in land taxes, the Grand Secretariat has no way of
giving Commander-in-chief Qi an official written reply with regard
to her request to deploy troops. No matter how clear your estimates
are, it’s pointless.”
“I do have an idea.” Xue Xiuzhuo looked at Kong Qiu. “The Xue
clan can bear Qidong’s expense this time.”
Not only were Kong Qiu and Cen Yu stunned when the words
left his mouth, but even Liang Cuishan was too.
It was common knowledge that the Xue clan of Quancheng
were already showing signs of waning since the last generation.
The lawful son of the principal wife, Xue Xiuyi, was a hypocrite who
pretended to be virtuous and lofty. He kept getting hoaxed by a
group of charlatans from the martial fraternity into chalking up
debts everywhere. To date, their household only had one Xue
Xiuzhuo who was capable enough to stand on the imperial court.
So where on earth would the Xue clan have money?
It suddenly dawned on Liang Cuishan, and he remembered
Shen Zechuan before Xi Hongxuan came to his mind.
Kong Qiu gazed at Xue Xiuzhuo in astonishment and
uncertainty. “It’s such a large sum. We might not be able to repay it
even if I issue a memorandum of debt to you in my capacity as the
Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.”
“There is no need for the Senior Grand Secretary to issue me a
memorandum of debt.” Xue Xiuzhuo poured a cup of tea for Kong
Qiu and said with a severe countenance, “all I ask is for the Senior
Grand Secretary to join forces with me to audit the eight cities’ field
taxes.”
The lanterns outside the relay station started swaying as the
wind swept away the tattered notices on the road. The indistinct
reed pipes music from the Donglong Street of Qudu wafted
through the long road of the relay station until it was obstructed by
the palace walls, where it then disappeared among the double-
eaved roofs. Li Jianting, who was within those palace walls, sat by
the edge of the couch and recalled her past under the tinkling of
the metal wind chimes.
Fengquan was putting down the drapes for Li Jianting when he
suddenly heard the Heir Apparent ask, “do you wear earrings?”
With her black hair cascading over her shoulders, Li Jianting
gazed at the deep and quiet bedchamber and continued as if
answering for both Fengquan and herself.
“I abhor earrings.” Her eyes that so resembled Emperor
Guangcheng turned towards Fengquan, gradually curving into a
smile under the darkness. “Wearing it makes one look like livestock
—the kind that lies at the mercy of others.”
 CHAPTER 214: COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

On this day when the sun was shining high in the clear sky, the
entrance of the Duanzhou city gates was a riot of noise. Damp
snow on the ground went splattering all over under the hooves of
the horses. The wheels of wagons transporting provisions skidded
between the stone slabs, dragging the horses until they skewed
their bodies and neighed, obstructing the path in the process. The
Libei Armored Cavalry behind them was unable to enter, so they
had no choice but to dismount their horses to lend a hand.
“This cursed weather…” Yin Chang urgently needed to answer
the call of nature, and his face was all red from holding it in as he
wrung the belt of his pants. “… keeps changing at the drop of a hat.
It was so freezing cold a few days back that someone died, yet it’s
so blazing hot today it scalds my ass.”
Horses ran along the path, splashing wet snow over the people
until they were dirty all over. Fei Sheng bundled up his robe and
tucked it into his belt. He lifted a hand to pinch his nose and
groused, “why do these Biansha ponies stink so bad?!”
“They roam the Gobi desert, where they poop as they please.”
Just as Tantai Hu was speaking, the Biansha pony before him stuck
up its tail to take a dump. That steaming hot dung plopped into the
damp snow. Tantai Hu scraped his boots, wanting to pull this horse
farther away. Before he could move, a few people on horseback
sped past him from behind, spattering hot dung all over them.
 Fei Sheng’s face was already green from holding his breath. It
was so stinky it made him hop. The moment he saw the fresh dung
assailing towards them, he dove behind Yin Chang, using the old
man as a shield and letting him bear the full brunt of the hit.
“The balls of you to run!” Yin Chang yelled at the Libei Armored
Cavalrymen who had sped past him and wiped his face before
turning back to snap at Fei Sheng, “the balls of you to dodge!”
Wu Ziyu tugged at the reins, meaning to turn around and head
back here when Tantai Hui wasted no time in brandishing his
hands and cursing, “motherfucker, get off your horse!”
Wu Ziyu had just changed into a new pair of boots, and the
filthy, muddy figures they all cut were enough to deter him from
getting off his horse. He slowed his horse and trotted over to them
to ask, “why is it just the few of you? Where are the Second Master
and the Prefectural Lord?”
“They went in first.” Fei Sheng’s breathing was ragged as he
said in a nasal tone, “Why wasn’t this snow cleared earlier? Now
the entire path is obstructed. Look how filthy it is. My master’s white
robe would be ruined if it so much as touched the ground!”
Wu Ziyu had fought a victorious battle and was feeling pleased
as punch with his success. He was just thinking about inviting them
out for drinks one of these days. Despite being cussed at, he was
not at all angry. Smugly, he said, “I’m busy, okay?”
Before he was done laughing, a snowball from the other end
flew over and smacked him right in the face.
Gu Jin’s nose could not bear the stench any longer. His
expression was livid as he broke out in a string of curses after
swinging a ball at Wu Ziyu, “the balls of you to laugh! If this hot
weather persists, the snow in the city will melt. Just you wait for the
sewage in these rotting public ditches to start overflowing. The
entire city inside and out will stink to high heavens then.”
Gu Jin was usually a man of few words who rarely cussed since
he also shouldered the heavy responsibility of raising Ding Tao. He
did not even lose his temper when he was humiliated by Guo Weili
at the Tudalong Banner last year, but the stench was so
overwhelming it almost knocked him out from where he stood a
short distance away.
 Wu Ziyu used to be quite attentive and thorough in his work,
but his victory in the battle this time had gone to his head, leading
him to expose his shortcomings and leave behind loose ends in
trivial matters. If Chen Yang were here, he would no doubt remind
him. But to Gu Jin, scolding him was more straightforward.
The three men still standing at the back were all struck dumb.
Yin Chang held in his pee and stood in a row with Tantai Hu, all just
waiting for Gu Jin to give the command to dismount and get to
work immediately.
Fei Sheng murmured, “oh, how familiar this curse sounds.”
Tantai Hu vaguely hinted, “balls, he said.”
“Bah,” Yin Chang stooped over and denied, “it wasn’t me who
taught him that!”
Wu Ziyu had already obediently rolled off his horse.
◈ ◈ ◈
Duanzhou had never suffered a great fire as Dunzhou had, and
its streets all still looked the same as they did seven years ago.
Stores and restaurants had long since closed. Achi had only kept a
few cooked meat shops around; the Scorpions loved the braised
beef here. The Biansha troops had resided here for a period of
time, and they had slaughtered everyone in the residential areas in
the east and west. However, they retained the night market to the
north.
“It was here Lei Jingzhe carried out his deals with the
Scorpions.” Shen Zechuan stepped on the pile of obsolete junk and
leaped onto the collapsed courtyard wall. He could see the night
market in the north standing here at the top. “Shifu used to love to
come to this place in the past as he could buy stuff that could not
be found on the market.”
“What’s to the south?” Xiao Chiye strode up and looked south.
“… Biansha’s riding stables.”
Shen Zechuan exhaled. “So, this is an empty city.”
Shen Zechuan once worried about the overwhelming numbers
of refugees swarming to Cizhou and Chazhou from Dancheng, but
it now seemed that Zhongbo, with its depopulated population, was
a good place to take in the refugees from the eight cities.
 “It’s time to reorganize the Yellow Registers.”4 Xiao Chiye
watched Meng soared on the horizon. The warmth of the sun was
making him lazy. He was not wearing his armor today, just his arm
guard. “It was primarily administered by the three prefectures last
year. The garrison troops of Chazhou and Dunzhou were lacking in
numbers, so the registrations were all jointly handled by the lesser
functionaries. But now that the six prefectures have fallen under our
command, it’s time to separate the civilian and military registries.”
The civilian registry fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Revenue; it actually could not be integrated and jointly managed
with the military registry. Xiao Chiye held the post of the Imperial
Army’s Viceroy back in Qudu, and the Imperial Army’s office
compound had a place specifically dedicated to the overall
management of the Imperial Army’s military registry. This was one
of the reasons the Imperial Army and the Eight Great Training
Divisions were irreconcilably antipathetic to one another. It was not
that easy a job to be the overlord of Zhongbo. There were already
not enough Cizhou advisors to go around; the six prefectures all
needed yamens for government administration, warden’s offices
for military affairs, as well as the corresponding investigation
censors of the respective circuits.
“All of these won’t pose that much of an issue. Yu Xiaozai has
the authority to go on a tour of inspection in the six prefectures,
which is akin to being an investigation censor. I actually meant to
make him the Surveillance Commissioner of Zhongbo. His
appraisals in Qudu are all excellent. Moreover, his job in Qudu
encompasses fieldwork in various areas, so he’s well-acquainted
with the tricks and maneuvers in the yamen. And while Chengfeng
isn’t willing to serve under me, he’s willing to assist in the
governmental affairs of the remaining five prefectures, which more
or less resolve my most pressing needs.” Shen Zechuan watched
Meng fly back as he continued, “we have no lack of lesser
functionaries. As long as the various prefectural yamens are willing
to open up opportunities, people will naturally come. What we lack
are key officials that can govern and administer government affairs
in the prefectures.”
Not only that, Shen Zechuan lacked generals too.
 At present, the military affairs in Chazhou were temporarily
managed by Luo Mu. It was no big deal if it was just for a short
while, but Shen Zechuan would never let him continue with it for
long. This was because Luo Mu had three powers – legislative,
executive, and judicial – in his hands now. The Imperial
Bodyguards were temporarily standing in as censors, but they did
not have the authority of office to interfere with the government
administration of Chazhou. If Luo Mu harbored ulterior motives,
then it was possible for him to hide it from Shen Zechuan’s eyes as
long as he did it covertly enough. To avoid this kind of incident
from happening again, Shen Zechuan had to confirm the
candidates for the various prefectures as soon as possible.
Meng landed on Xiao Chiye’s arm. “We lack a treasurer too.”
Shen Zechuan thought of Liang Cuishan when Xiao Chiye
brought up this matter. He looked at Xiao Chiye and said, “a pity
about Liang Cuishan.”
“Liang Cuishan has work to do under Pan Lin’s command, so
it’s not really a waste of his talents.” Xiao Chiye soothed Meng’s
feathers. “I heard from the reports a few days back that Xue
Xiuzhuo is going to check the Dancheng’s fields? If this can be
successfully carried out, none of the eight cities will be able to
escape unscathed, and that will be a heavy blow to the noble
clans.”
“No definite news yet,” Shen Zechuan said as he leaped off the
wall. “We will have to wait for them to come over before we can
know the details.”
They walked back along the path. When they arrived before the
house they were lodged at, only Fei Sheng was there waiting.
There were no signs of Gu Jin or the others.
“They all went to clear the snow.” Fei Sheng’s words took an
about-turn in his mouth. He added, “It’s Gu Jin and Wu Ziyu’s turn
to take over this time.”
What he meant was that he was not loafing on the job—he just
happened to be taking a break.
Shen Zechuan knew Fei Sheng’s temperament, and he had no
plans to pursue it further either, so he merely said to Xiao Chiye,
“The public ditches in Duanzhou have to be re-inspected. We don’t
know the state they are in, so we have to make plans for it as soon
as possible.”
Xiao Chiye cast a glance at Fei Sheng but said nothing. Fei
Sheng had done a fairly decent job playing it safe in his handling
of Huo Lingyun’s matter. He had held his temper in check and did
not attack the other man, and even if he could not stand the sight
of Huo Lingyun, he did not go around creating trouble for him. As
a result, Xiao Chiye was now finally willing to remember and
recognize him.
Fei Sheng did not dare to let both of them remain standing at
the entrance, so he led the way inside and had the Prefectural Lord
take his seat first. This place was the residence of the former
Duanzhou’s commander of the Zhu clan, the same Zhu clan in
which Lei Jingzhe was born. It had fallen into disuse here, and Wu
Ziyu had tidied it up to receive both of them from their journey afar
so they could take a rest.
The clearing of snow at the city gates continued until the hour
of xu. These were all men who had led troops to fight wars, so Shen
Zechuan did not call them over for a discussion all night. The
kitchen had long prepared the dishes, and everyone took a few
bites before getting on with their rest. Fei Sheng, who shared a
dwelling with Yin Chang and Tantai Hu, fainted right there and
then as soon as these two men took off their boots.
Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye had only just finished their
meals when Gu Jin, who had been waiting outside, entered.
Seeing something amiss with Gu Jin’s expression, Xiao Chiye
set down the light read in his hand and asked, “what’s the
matter?”
Gu Jin took out the letter from his bosom and presented it to
Xiao Chiye. “There is a letter from Libei to Master.”
Xiao Chiye noted that there were two letters—one was official
business Xiao Jiming wrote, and the other was a private letter Chen
Yang had sent over. He first looked at Xiao Jiming’s letter. His
eldest brother mentioned the horses would be able to arrive at
Mount Luo at the end of the second month, which was also when
Xiao Chiye was slated to return to the battle zone. Xiao Chiye had
long known about this, but there was one mention of interest worth
ruminating over.
When Gu Jin left the room, Shen Zechuan popped his head out
from behind and set his chin down on the top of Xiao Chiye’s
head. He lowered his eyes to read the letter, then said in a calm
tone, “so, a surprise from your eldest brother.”
Xiao Chiye read that part a few times. “He transferred Guo Weili
over to my Sha’er camp, a move that is meant to free up the Shasan
Camp for my shifu. Guo Weili isn’t used to fighting at Hasen’s
rhythm. It’s too aggravating for him to remain in Shasan Camp.”
In all fairness, Guo Weili did indeed possess the talent to lead
troops. The fact that he could defend the Tudalong Banner for so
long was proof enough of his capability. However, this man had a
short fuse and a bad temper, and he was extremely impulsive. He
was not an easy man to get along with, especially when he was
unconvinced or unwilling to concede defeat and would be all
belligerent and combative when he opened his mouth. Last year,
he wounded Gu Jin and even stripped Gu Jin of his military rank.
For that reason, his relationship with Xiao Chiye was rather
delicate, and his soldiers repeatedly clashed with the Imperial
Army in the Shasan Camp after Xiao Chiye took down said camp.
The commanding generals of the Three Great Camps in the
battle zone were on rotation this year. Both Xiao Chiye and Guo
Weili were unaccustomed to each other’s troops. Ever since his
arrival at the Sha’er camp, Guo Weili had hardly touched and
mobilized the Imperial Army. He found the Imperial Army a slippery
bunch who played dirty. They relied on their Qudu origins to throw
their weight around and had no respect for their superiors. Because
of Xiao Fangxu’s incident, he no longer acted acrimoniously or
created a scene even if he could not stand the sight of Xiao Chiye,
but the issue with Gu Jin remained unresolved, like a thorn that
stood between them.
This person was difficult to use.
There was also a deeper meaning to Xiao Jiming’s
arrangement. The other two camps could both communicate and
work with Guo Weili; whether it was Zuo Qianqiu, Lu Guangbai, or
Zhao Hui, none of them would get into a dispute with Guo Weili. Yet
Xiao Jiming just had to transfer him to Xiao Chiye’s Sha’er camp.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye said, “as expected of my
eldest brother.”
This arrangement was truly a blow that hit right at the crux of
the matter where it hurt.
After this battle in Duanzhou, Xiao Chiye’s words would carry a
lot of weight once he returned to the battle zone. He did not get
along with the Libei Armored Cavalry, but both of them could
slowly get used to each other. Much like this occasion, no army
would reject a commanding general that could lead them to
victory. Moreover, not only was Xiao Chiye fair in meting out
rewards and punishments, but he was also a man of his word.
However, if he wanted to put the Libei Armored Cavalry to full use,
he would have to overcome the obstacle that was Guo Weili.
Otherwise, a lack of unity among the generals who were not of one
mind would surely lead to disaster.
Shen Zechuan felt sleepy in the room. With his eyes half-closed,
he murmured softly. “Ce’an, the vastness of the ocean comes from
its acceptance of hundreds of rivers.5 This is an opportunity your
eldest brother is giving you.”
Under the dim light, Xiao Chiye recollected the campfire in the
snowstorm. Xiao Fangxu had clenched his fist right before his eyes,
and amidst the flickering light of the fire, his old man had asked
him:
“You want this position, but are you truly qualified enough?”
 CHAPTER 215: IRON FINGERS

Hasen stood in the vast wilderness and watched the girl leap
off the horse a short distance away. Without even removing his
scimitar, he spread his arms open to catch that beautiful red figure
pouncing towards him in a steady grip.
Duo’erlan gasped softly, her red skirt fluttering as she was spun
around, her laughter, clear and melodious. “May the gods bless my
heroic eagle!”
Hasen hugged his newlywed wife with a slight blush on his
face. He brushed away the snow off Duo’erlan and responded,
“and may the gods bless my Duo’erlan.”
Hasen had only just gotten married at the beginning of the
year, a marriage bestowed upon him by Amu’er. His beloved
Duo’erlan was a girl from the Hulu tribe deep in the desert. She
wore a jujube-red pleated skirt, and was as beautiful as the
morning dew on the shores of Lake Chiti. She was the most intense
filly of the Twelve Tribes. Hasen was head over heels in love with
her.
Duo’erlan scrutinized Hasen. “Bayin broke his promise to me.
You’ve lost weight.”
Hasen laughed in spite of himself. “He can’t always stay by my
side.”
“Then he shouldn’t have promised me.” Duo’erlan landed on
the ground and took Hasen’s hands. “I brought fresh goat’s milk.”
“It’s too far.” As Hasen was led away by Duo’erlan, he gazed at
her. “Let Chagan do all this work next time.”
Hasen rested for a mere two days after his marriage before
returning to the battle zone. It was hard for Duo’erlan to see him,
and she could only depend on the opportunities to deliver supplies
to meet him here. She happily showed Hasen the food she brought
along, and Hasen gobbled up the flatbread she made with her own
hands.
“I want to come here and see you.” Duo’erlan sat on the sack
and watched Hasen eat. “I miss you so much, just like the morning
dew misses the sun. Will you go back when the snow melts?”
Hasen took a sip of the icy cold milk and met Duo’erlan’s eyes.
The color of her pupils was a light shade of green. Each time Hasen
gazed into them, it was like gazing into the clear, shimmering
waters of Lake Chiti. He would think of everything wonderful, which
made it impossible for him to say “no” to Duo’erlan. He lovingly
caressed Duo’erlan’s cheeks and answered, “if the war ends.”
“You avenged Gegenhasi. Father is grateful to you. You’re not
only the Hero of the Hanshe Tribe, but also the Hero of the Hulu
Tribe.” Duo’erlan cupped his face. “The heroic eagle shall fly across
the Hongyan Mountains. I’ll always be waiting for you at Lake
Chiti.”
The “heroic eagle” Duo’erlan spoke of was more like a term of
endearment. In the entire desert, only she and Hasen’s mother
could call him that, for Hasen would be shy. Gegenhasi was
Duo’erlan’s elder brother. He was also Hasen’s brother that Xiao
Fangxu killed.
The wind in the wilderness was too cold. After Hasen finished
his milk, he brought Duo’erlan back to the camp. A fire was burning
in the military tent, and it was here Duo’erlan steeped milk tea for
Hasen. They both liked unrefined tea.
“If the Huiyan Tribe was still around,” Duo’erlan sipped her milk
tea, “we would have a never-ending supply of tea to drink in
winter.”
Hasen had just finished slicing the roast meat for her and was
in the midst of wiping his dagger. With a serious expression, he
answered, “They will come back.”
Duo’erlan would be leaving with the squad escorting the
supplies tomorrow, so Hasen did not stay with the soldiers tonight.
As briefly separated newlyweds who just reunited only to part
again soon, they retired for rest very early. Snow suddenly fell in
the middle of the night. Hasen was sleeping soundly when he
suddenly heard the call outside the tent. He got up carefully, put on
his robe, and stepped out.
Snow lunged full-on at Hasen as soon as the tent flap was lifted.
With his hair loose around his shoulders, he patted his robe as he
asked the soldier before him, “what’s wrong?”.
“Bayin is back!”
Hasen turned his head over and saw the remaining cavalry.
Bayin, who had been galloping on the road for days, rolled off
his horse and landed on the snow-covered ground with legs gone
weak. Refusing support, he first snatched the water canteen at the
side and tilted his head back to gulp the water down. It was only
after the front of his robe was drenched that he appeared to have
caught his breath.
“What happened?” Hasen picked up Bayin’s scimitar, then
looked at Bayin again with a slightly heavy expression as he said
with certainty, “Achi has been defeated.”
Bayin rubbed his frozen cheeks and exhaled deeply. He cut an
extremely sorry figure, with both his legs covered in mud. He
tossed the canteen back into the arms of someone beside him,
looking particularly haggard as he stood before Hasen. “Xiao
Chiye lured us on the frozen river to Chashi Sinkhole. It was there
he killed Achi.”
As he spoke, he reached out to tug hard at the left side of the
horse saddle. Achi’s head tumbled off in response and bumped
into Hasen’s foot facedown.
“Xiao Chiye let me go.” Bayin’s voice trembled as he said with
lips blue with cold. “He had me bring this back.”
Hasen gradually pursed his lips into a grim line—a warning sign
of his looming fury. He looked at Achi’s head, and fire blazed in his
eyes again. There was dead silence all around, with only the gale
continuing on with its rampage. The chill Hasen inhaled swiftly
coursed through his limbs. He turned his gaze away and looked
into the far distance, where the snowflakes danced.
“Duanzhou has been taken over by the pack of wolves; they’re
making peace and colluding with a fox from Zhongbo. Hairigu is
there too. He has become Xiao Chiye’s slave.” Bayin’s Adam’s apple
bobbed as he recollected the terror of being pursued by the Libei
Armored Cavalry that day. He continued in a hoarse voice, “Xiao
Chiye has gotten his hands on a new blade, and the scorpions
have become weeds in the Gobi desert in the face of his Libei
Armored Cavalry. Hasen, the hammers can’t hold him back. That’s
no longer Xiao Fangxu’s armored cavalry.”
“That has long since ceased to be Xiao Fangxu’s armored
cavalry.” Hasen abruptly turned his gaze back and took a step
closer towards Bayin. “The pack of wolves needs a new alpha wolf—
a new King of Wolves. Xiao Jiming will deploy him back to the
north, and I will be here waiting for him and his new blade.”
A sound suddenly rang out behind him. Duo’erlan stood at the
entrance of the tent, watching them worriedly. Hasen curbed his
fury and turned back to look at Duo’erlan, but did not smile.
He should have killed Xiao Chiye.
Hasen thought once again.
Back during that autumnal rain hunt, he should have killed Xiao
Chiye.
◈ ◈ ◈
The courtyard was silent in the middle of the night.
Xiao Chiye had just finished washing up and was rummaging
through the small box by the candlelight, picking pearls and jade.
Shen Zechuan’s folding fan was resting on the edge of the table; its
owner was still soaking in the bath.
“The horses will arrive at Mount Luo in a few days,” Xiao Chiye
picked out the agate he had placed inside yesterday and said to
Shen Zechuan, who was behind the screen. “Are you going with
me for a look?”
Shen Zechuan was exhausted these few days. Even though he
did not fall sick again, he had also never touched Yang Shan Xue
again. Soaking in the water, he said, “Going to Mount Luo is a must.
It’s also more convenient for you to return to Libei from there.”
The days were passing too quickly; Shen Zechuan merely had a
few rounds of discussions and it was already the end of the second
month. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes in contemplation.
The curve of his neck was beautiful, its luster smooth and luminous
bathed under the dim light filtered through the screen.
 “Has the candidate for Secretary of Duanzhou been picked?”
Xiao Chiye turned the orb of agate between his fingers as he
casually asked.
“Yes,” Shen Zechuan said, “a talent.”
Xiao Chiye looked over and offered, “Kong Chengfeng?”
Shen Zechuan raised his dripping wet arm to prop his head
against it. He cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Chiye’s shadow and
responded, “nope, guess again.”
“Yuanzhuo has limited mobility and isn’t suitable.” Xiao Chiye
genuinely could not think of anyone else. “Who else could there
be?”
Shen Zechuan got to his feet and wiped himself dry with a
towel at the side. Xiao Chiye did not look in this direction; Shen
Zechuan brought the washed blue handkerchief to the tip of his
nose and sniffed it lightly. He answered, “Shen Lanzhou, of
course.”
The thickest wall of all of Zhongbo was going to be built in
Duanzhou, and Shen Zechuan did not feel all that assured to hand
the job over to anyone else given the connection between Mount
Luo and Libei. He had to stay here and build up this wall with his
own hands. What’s more, by heading south from Duanzhou, he
could also directly bypass Tianfei Watchtower to arrive at the
Bianjun Commandery. Shen Zechuan found this location to be
excellent; by establishing a reserve depot here that was
comparable to Cizhou, he would be able to provide reinforcements
to both the northern and southern battlefields in the future.
“Do you still remember the ‘steel needle’?”6 Shen Zechuan put
the handkerchief back, his fingertips lingering, reluctant as they
were to part with it. He continued, “Qiao Tianya is the most suitable
candidate to lead this, but he presently has to take care of
Yuanzhuo and is unable to leave Cizhou. But if I were to use Fei
Sheng, this place is so far from the reach of the central
administration that I don’t feel at ease leaving him here without
anyone to keep him in check.”
The ‘steel needle’ referred to the light cavalry, one that would
be deployed to the banks of Chashi River as Shen Zechuan’s eyes
and ears. They would also stay at a Duanzhou that could go on to
become the central hub of both places. Whoever could be the
commander-in-chief of this place would be a key official
concurrently in charge of both military and governmental affairs.
He would also have money coming and going under his hand
when the Yan clan’s business expanded over after spring, and Yan
Heru was no honest man.
Shen Zechuan did not really have much to fault Fei Sheng on,
but he had to assess in his heart just how long Fei Sheng’s loyalty
would endure. He could not gamble it all on the words “share weal
and woe, through thick and thin”. Never mind if it was just for a
year or two. But once Fei Sheng had been stationed here for a long
time, he would have gotten a taste of the benefits that came with
the convergence of the north and south. With this “steel needle” in
his hand and with Yan Heru on the sidelines doing his utmost to
butter him up, how much of today’s master-servant bond through
their shared tribulations of life and death would remain? By then,
Shen Zechuan would no longer be the sole party Fei Sheng could
fall back on. As long Fei Sheng had so much as an ounce of
inclination, he was dangerous.
In this world, authority was not something that could be
bestowed on its own. Qi Huilian had long warned Shen Zechuan
before, the cornerstone of the “art” of governance and rulership
was checks and balances.7 Leading a group of outstanding men
was akin to overlooking a game match. One should never be
biased for private, selfish reasons.
Why did Huo Lingyun have to be placed in the Imperial
Bodyguards? It was precisely to fill out the position left by Qiao
Tianya. He posed a threat to Fei Sheng and could make the latter
knock senses into himself and draw a line in the sand. Similarly,
why did Yao Wenyu offer up this suggestion? It was meant to push
Qiao Tianya back into the game and remind Shen Zechuan, who
was lacking subordinates, that Qiao Tianya was indispensable. If
Fei Sheng wanted to advance a step further, Shen Zechuan had to
deliberate his moves carefully. In other words, as long as Fei Sheng
was promoted up a level, Qiao Tianya would also be discreetly
promoted in the same manner. He was the chain that held Fei
Sheng in check; Shen Zechuan would never allow Fei Sheng to
surpass Qiao Tianya and hold “sole” authority in his hand.
Fei Sheng had said to Qiao Tianya that in Shen Zechuan’s eyes,
the latter was the most suitable candidate to be deployed to
command the light cavalry in Duanzhou. This was because
everyone mutually understood one another; Qiao Tianya was a
sentimental man who placed importance on relationships. This was
both Qiao Tianya’s strength but also his weakness.
Shen Zechuan slipped on his robe and stepped out from
behind the screen.
Xiao Chiye was sitting at the edge of the desk with his long
legs all stretched out. Upon hearing footsteps, he clenched his fist
and hid away that agate gem, then looked at Shen Zechuan and
said, “then I just so happen to have something to tell you.”
Shen Zechuan’s belt was tied rather loosely. When he stepped
over the rug, the soles of his feet felt a little ticklish. With his
collarbone exposed, he sipped on his tea and nodded at Xiao
Chiye to motion for him to continue.
Xiao Chiye then said, “The Biansha ponies that we’ve seized
this time will also be placed at Mount Luo. You want a light cavalry,
so give these ponies a try. They are swifter than the battle steeds of
Libei, and they have great endurance and stamina in the Gobi
desert.”
Shen Zechuan held the teacup with both hands and thought
about it for a moment.
“Libei can’t use these ponies anyway. Our battle steeds are all
specifically born and bred on the Hongyan Mountains for the
armored cavalry; it took several generations to produce the
exceptional horses of today that are able to bear the weight of
heavy armor.” Xiao Chiye spread his legs apart so that Shen
Zechuan could stand before him. He propped an arm up and
watched Shen Zechuan contemplate it over.
“Let Fei Sheng take a look at the Biansha ponies here first,”
Shen Zechuan said, “use the riding stables Achi left here.”
“That’s my riding track.” Xiao Chiye pinched Shen Zechuan’s
chin and pulled it close. “When will you give Shen Lanzhou to
me?”
 Under the force of the grip pinching him, Shen Zechuan
remembered Xiao Chiye’s iron fingers from that day, as well as the
hard, solid sense of touch of those iron fingers caressing his nape.
His breathing hitched slightly; he wanted to avert his gaze, but
Xiao Chiye was holding him in place. It was hot inside the room,
and tiny beads of sweat began to materialize on the temples of the
Prefectural Lord who had just soaked in a bath.
Staring at Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye leaned closer and said,
“you got all excited when I touched you that day, didn’t you, Your
Lordship?”
 CHAPTER 216: DAMP NIGHT

The address of “Your Lordship” for the Prefectural Lord was

usable by all, and for this reason, these two words became even
more clandestine coming from Xiao Chiye. It was like they were
hiding secret codes in their words in plain sight of the crowd,
hinting at a certain kind of unmentionable pleasure and intimacy.
Desire was the rising surge of tidal waves, spreading and flowing
to the parts where they touched, exuding a thin layer of sweat.
During the day, the Prefectural Lord sat high above the rest and
gazed down at the group of outstanding men. His folding fan
obscured the rest of his emotions, giving rise to a cold indifference
in his eyes, a sharpness that could, with a single glance, send
alarm bells ringing in warning of danger. But right now, his mouth
was slightly parted as he bit down on Xiao Chiye’s finger. That soft
tongue, that overflowing saliva, and that expression of a shame he
was silently enduring. They all carried with them a “come-hither”
undertone.
Xiao Chiye desired him.
He not only desired his fair neck, but also his wet, slippery
tongue.
His calloused finger rubbed against Shen Zechuan’s gums, and
given that Shen Zechuan had just drank hot tea, the lining inside
his mouth was sensitive. His eyes were now wet with tears, and he
had gone so incoherent from the storm Xiao Chiye was stirring up
in his mouth that he could not answer Xiao Chiye.
Secreted fluid spilled as the tip of Shen Zechuan’s tongue
probed along the pulp of Xiao Chiye’s fingers.
They faced the wall, with Shen Zechuan leaning forward while
being pinned by Xiao Chiye’s chest on his back. This position made
Shen Zechuan feel as though every thrust went in deep to the hilt.
He braced himself against the wall, resting his forehead against it
as his tears fell in never-ending torrents. And when he lowered his
head, he exposed his nape that Xiao Chiye once again bit. The
robe beneath crumpled into a ball.
Shen Zechuan could not answer Xiao Chiye sitting on their
heels like this. The initiative to call the shots lay in Xiao Chiye’s
hands.
The tip of Xiao Chiye’s nose nuzzled imperceptibly along Shen
Zechuan’s nape, seeming like both a demand and a coercion. His
dangerous gaze lingered on Shen Zechuan’s side profile, where he
saw the seductive temptation hidden in the upturned corners of
Shen Zechuan’s eyes.
Shen Zechuan did not know what trouble the corners of his
eyes were courting. He was so very innocent, so much that even his
grunts on being bitten were exceedingly soft. But Xiao Chiye was
so savage that he turned Shen Zechuan’s entire person into a small
boat adrift amidst the great billowing waves. Turbulent waves
crashed over him, not permitting him to even struggle under the
intricately woven sound of water permeating the room.
Seeing the intermittent drops of Shen Zechuan’s falling tears,
Xiao Chiye turned his head aside to drop a kiss on the corner of his
eye.
Shen Zechuan sobbed in that kiss and accidentally smeared his
robe wet. He turned his gaze towards Xiao Chiye, his voice
trembling, “it’s all, all—hngh, your fault…”
Xiao Chiye bit down on the tip of Shen Zechuan’s ear and
whispered, “oh, so you’re blaming me now, huh.”
This thrust went so unimaginably deep that it left Shen Zechuan
too breathless to even grunt out loud.
 Shen Zechuan was all drenched in sweat after taking Xiao
Chiye in several times, and his robe remained soaked even after a
wring. Xiao Chiye pinned him against the rug and made to kiss
him. Too exhausted to tilt his head up, Shen Zechuan stuck out his
tongue lazily.
Xiao Chiye engulfed it in his mouth and remained in this way,
pressing down against Shen Zechuan.
The rug in this room was unlike the one at home; it was not as
soft. Instead, it resembled a little brush with fine bristles. Xiao Chiye
tore off Shen Zechuan’s robe that had long been soaked through,
and the friction of the entire bare front of Shen Zechuan’s body
against the rug proved too much for him to bear.
“No,” Shen Zechuan strained to plead for mercy in between his
sobs, “Xiao’Er, I can’t.”
Pinning him down, Xiao Chiye took that soft tongue back into
his mouth again so that all Shen Zechuan could do was cry.
How could Shen Zechuan withstand an onslaught like this?
That chafing of his front was making his waist and legs weak, and it
was also so brutal back there. He was entirely consumed by Xiao
Chiye in between his ragged, hectic breathing, so much that he
was incoherent. His face flushed red, and he cut a sorry sight as he
vaguely muttered, “turn, turn over, Ce’an!”
“Hush.” Xiao Chiye stretched out his arms to hold down Shen
Zechuan’s sliding arms. His entire chest pinned him down, making
all of him sink into the fine fur of the rug. “My wife’s about to
return.”
Why’s he still harping on about this?!
With his cheek partially buried, Shen Zechuan cried in a small
voice, “y-you, mn.”
Xiao Chiye pressed the tip of his nose against Shen Zechuan’s
soaked temple, his breaths lingering in his ear. The candlelight in
the room had long gone out. Light reflecting off the snow
penetrated through the window paper, glowing brighter than
usual. This exceedingly pure radiance spoke not of gentleness as it
incited the beast inside the room, allowing Xiao Chiye to see even
more clearly how Shen Zechuan was jade that could not be
concealed. A branch outside the window pressed low by the snow
hung horizontally from the side. Occasionally, birds would come
disturbing, sending the branch swaying and the snow rustling off.
But no matter how hard they tried, they received no attention from
the men in the room. Subsequently, the branch turned bare,
appearing all the more lonesome. Shen Zechuan rubbed against
the rug until it was all soaked, and the rug chafed against Shen
Zechuan until he was very nearly wet.
Xiao Chiye was almost on the cusp of orgasm as he grasped
Shen Zechuan’s hand and bit him. Veiled words, dim light,
dampness, and the intensity of lovemaking… Xiao Chiye always
had a way of making Shen Zechuan cry.
“I—” With tears in his eyes, Shen Zechuan said vindictively, “I’m
going to t-tell your wife! Y-you…”
“Sure.” Xiao Chiye let loose a muffled laugh. “Tell him you get
all excited on seeing me.”
Shen Zechuan could not hold out any longer. Xiao Chiye was
pounding him so hard it was making him tremble. Shen Zechuan
clenched the rug with his fingertips, already nearing his climax.
The arc of his neck seemed to be a concession of defeat, except
that even his posture of surrender was so maddeningly titillating it
drove Xiao Chiye crazy.
Xiao Chiye scored a full victory tonight, as he always did, but he
was never complacent, only content. This was a scene he would
never tire of watching.
The snow on the branch outside the window rustled off again.
Shen Zechuan could indistinctly hear a few cries of a night crow.
The crow flew away, and Shen Zechuan turned into snow. The heat
in the room melted him into water, leaving him too preoccupied to
even breathe. There was so much he remembered in his mind, but
every time it came to this moment, all that was left in there was
Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye, A-Ye. A —
Xiao Chiye grasped Shen Zechuan by the cheeks and kissed
him, and Shen Zechuan ejaculated until he was completely spent.
And forgot all about finishing his words from before.
◈ ◈ ◈
 The next few days were all sunny days. Spring hung in the air in
Zhongbo as the third month approached. The snow had not only
melted in Cizhou but also somewhat in Duanzhou. Gu Jin and Wu
Ziyu cleared out the roads and reported the public ditches that
ought to be repaired at the first opportunity.
As Shen Zechuan could not return to Cizhou for the time being,
Yao Wenyu could only come over to Duanzhou. His mobility was
limited, and health, poor, so the horse carriage moved slowly on
the way over. Kong Ling and Yu Xiaozai waited for him in Dunzhou,
after which all three of them arrived together in Duanzhou.
Fei Sheng received them outside. He sent the gentlemen in
first, then followed Qiao Tianya to do an inventory count of the
supplies that they brought along. When he came to the front, he
saw Huo Lingyun, so he whispered to Qiao Tianya, “why did you
bring him too?”
The weather was neither cold nor hot today, so the roads were
cleared quickly, and there was no mud to be stepped on when they
stepped outdoors. Fei Sheng was initially in a good mood, but all
that was left was impatience when he saw Huo Lingyun. There were
many people unloading the cargos around them, and with that
many eyes around, Fei Sheng had no wish to fall out with Qiao
Tianya over Huo Lingyun. If this made its way to his Master’s ears,
then his loss would far outweigh his gains. Thus, he endured it and
followed behind Qiao Tianya, hoping to seek clarification on the
matter.
“Once he hangs up his authority token, he’s a legitimately
conscripted Imperial Bodyguard.” Qiao Tianya jumped onto the
horse carriage in a few steps. “Should I not have brought him
here?”
Sunlight shone down upon them. Fei Sheng rubbed his slightly
icy cold hands, feeling irritable. His gaze on Huo Lingyun was too
blunt and undisguised. Qiao Tianya looked over too. On the other
side, Huo Lingyun sensed their gaze and turned his head over to
meet their eyes, in particular Fei Sheng’s.
“This man spells danger if placed close at hand.” Fei Sheng
shifted his gaze away without a smile on his face. He had no wish
to pay Huo Lingyun any attention. “Duanzhou is not like Cizhou.
Who’s going to take responsibility for it if something goes wrong?”
“I will.” Qiao Tianya squatted down and fished out his pipe. As
he struck up the fire, he cast a glance at Fei Sheng and said with
well intentions, “Don’t be too smart for your own good and play
mind games with Master.”
Qiao Tianya was already making it very clear with his words.
Fei Sheng was none too pleased on hearing it. “Ever since he
joined us, I’ve never caused any trouble for him. So why get all so
aggressive?”
“What are you angry about?” Qiao Tianya puffed on his pipe
and paid no mind to Fei Sheng’s tone. He understood Fei Sheng.
“I’m simply telling it as it is. By leaving him idle on the sidelines, are
you waiting for Master to use him instead? When the time comes,
he will no longer be under your charge.”
Shen Zechuan retained Huo Lingyun and did not kill him
because he wanted to use him. If Fei Sheng were to keep Huo
Lingyun idle like this now that the latter had been set before him,
then, like Qiao Tianya said, once Shen Zechuan grew impatient,
Huo Lingyun would no longer be under Fei Sheng’s charge. When
that happened, it would be humiliating for Fei Sheng.
Fei Sheng cast another glance at Huo Lingyun and let Qiao
Tianya’s words sink in. But those words were adding fuel to the
flames in his heart, making him even more displeased. He held
back his resentment, having no outlet to vent. He still wanted his
dignity before Qiao Tianya, and he was unwilling to lower and
demean himself too much. He and Qiao Tianya both served in the
Imperial Bodyguards, and he understood all that Qiao Tianya had
said; he just could not stand it anymore.
“Your origins formally trace back to Qudu.” Qiao Tianya
weighed up his pipe in his hand. Feeling that it had to be said, he
continued to persuade him. “He is not trained for this at all. His
bond with Master is not the same, and neither is his bond with the
Imperial Bodyguards. So what the frick are you scared of? You can
one-up him with just this mouth of yours alone.”
“You’re disparaging me with this.” Fei Sheng retracted his gaze
and thought for a moment before speaking the truth. “This person
is both scheming and capable. As long as he remains, it’s only a
matter of time before he comes out on top.”
Shen Zechuan now wanted to remain in Duanzhou to establish
a light cavalry. That was not a job that could be secured with just a
glib mouth. Fei Sheng initially thought he would definitely be the
one in charge on this end, but he never expected Shen Zechuan to
directly transfer Yao Wenyu over, along with Qiao Tianya in tow. Fei
Sheng did not dare to delve too deeply into it. He knew what was
good for him. This was his strong point.
“You are capable too,” Qiao Tianya said. “But keep dwelling on
this matter, and you will only be holding your own self back. Is
there anything that can escape Master’s eyes? What’s meant to be
yours will eventually be yours.”
Fei Sheng did not want to talk about this matter in detail with
Qiao Tianya. They were not birds of the same feather that flock
together, and he did not count on Qiao Tianya to stand with him
against a common adversary either. He frowned as he looked at
the pipe in Qiao Tianya’s hand. Waving away the smoke drifting
before him, he asked, perplexed, “why have you started smoking
again?”
“Nothing to do.” Qiao Tianya put it out, but did not continue
with his words.
He appeared to be somewhat taciturn, unlike before, and after
rising to his feet, he did not engage in further conversation on the
topic and merely watched carefully as the others unloaded the
goods.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan held his folding fan upside down and tapped it
gently on the table. He had just changed to a new earring, an
agate earring that accentuated the fairness of his complexion. It
was so conspicuous that the others dared not keep looking at it.
“I’ve transcribed a copy of Luo Mu’s account book.” Yu Xiaozai
presented the book to Shen Zechuan. “Your Lordship, please look it
over.”
There was a withered tree branch in a vase on the table. Ding
Tao was the one who picked it up and brought it back to put in the
vase. Yu Xiaozai did not know that and originally thought of saying
a few words of praise, but he was afraid of barking up the wrong
tree and finding himself in a predicament he could not get out of.
Shen Zechuan nodded for Yu Xiaozai to sit, so Yu Xiaozai took his
seat again and calmly concentrated without another glance at that
withered branch.
Unaware of this, Shen Zechuan looked over the account and
said, “the spring plowing is just around the corner. Pick someone to
go over and assist Luo Mu in his official duties. He’s only one man
after all, and it’s tough on him to be running around on both
ends.”
What he meant was that they could no longer allow Luo Mu to
have a monopoly on power in Chazhou this year. They had to send
someone over to keep him in check. And Kong Ling was the one
who knew best the kind of man Luo Mu was.
“I do have a candidate in mind,” Kong Ling said from the side.
“I went down to Dengzhou on Your Lordship’s orders this time and
encountered an old acquaintance of the Second Master there.”
“An old acquaintance of Ce’an?” Shen Zechuan closed the
account and thought for a moment, but no one came to mind.
What old acquaintance would Xiao Chiye have in Dengzhou?
He was rarely in Zhongbo.
Seeing as Shen Zechuan did not remember, Kong Ling
reminded him. “Wang Xian. Does Your Lordship still remember this
person? He was originally the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue
in Qudu, who managed the Imperial Army’s expenditure during the
eighth year of the reign of Xiande. He had several encounters with
Second Master.”
It was only then Shen Zechuan remembered.
Come to think of it, this Wang Xian was initially on bad terms
with Xiao Chiye, and he had handled the Quancheng silk matter
too. During the assassination case, he was framed by Xiang Yun for
bribing Xiao Chiye, and as a result, he was demoted and
relegated. Before leaving the capital, Xiao Chiye went to the
Ministry of Revenue to pull a few strings so that Wang Xian did not
completely lose his official position and was merely sent to
Zhongbo to handle affairs.
 Even Xiao Chiye himself had forgotten all about this matter,
much less Shen Zechuan.
Not long after Wang Xian arrived in Dengzhou, the bandits
took them by storm, and he fled the yamen by feigning madness,
only to be stranded in Dengzhou along with the refugees. It was
not until Kong Ling went to inspect the yamen after Yang Qiu’s
death that Wang Xian could come to the fore and make a fresh
start again.
“Going by Second Master’s intent, this person was originally
meant to come over to our Cizhou, but shortly afterward,
something cropped up,” Kong Ling said tactfully, “so the Ministry of
Revenue changed his posting and sent him down to Dengzhou. He
suffered a lot in Dengzhou, and the kindness Your Lordship and
Second Master showed him was still on his mind when he saw
me.”
Shen Zechuan thought about it carefully for a moment. “Since
he’s willing, assign him to Chazhou. His original position was that
of a Ministry of Revenue official, so he won’t be a stranger to
assisting on taxation matters in Chazhou.”
Shen Zechuan could not trust Luo Mu, so this was just perfect.
By putting a Wang Xian who was proficient in taxes in Chazhou, he
would be able to bring Luo Mu’s account books under strict control.
What really mattered most in Chazhou at present was money. As
long as he had the money in his grasp, Luo Mu would not be able
to rebel.
It was still early, so after settling this matter, Shen Zechuan set
aside the miscellaneous affairs of the three prefectures and asked
Yao Wenyu, “how is Yuanzhuo doing these few days?”
Yao Wenyu, whose knees were covered with a woolen blanket,
answered upon hearing him, “thank you for your lordship’s
concern; it’s nothing serious.”
“Although there is a bridle path from Cizhou to Duanzhou, it’s
still a long distance away. I was worried you would catch a cold on
the way, but seeing as you’re fine, I can now put my mind at
ease.”
Yao Wenyu waited for Shen Zechuan to finish with the
pleasantries before he said, “I’ve brought a message from Cizhou
for Your Lordship.” After a moment’s pause, he continued, “there’s a
rumor in Dancheng a few days ago saying that Pan Lin and Pan Yi
have been dismissed from their posts pending prosecution and
have been handed over to the Court of Judicial Review and the
Ministry of Justice to await trial.”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes swiveled to Yao Wenyu. “So soon?”
Three members of the Pan clan of Dancheng – Pan Xiangjie,
Pan Lin, and Pan Yi – were all significant ministers of the imperial
court. What’s more, they were connected to the Fei clan of
Chuancheng via a marriage alliance. They carried a lot of weight
among the remaining noble clans at present. If the Empress
Dowager still wanted to monopolize state power, then she could
not do without the Pan clan’s valuable assistance. For this reason,
Pan Lin’s dismissal was the Empress Dowager’s loss.
“As soon as Liang Cuishan and Xue Xiuzhuo arrived at
Dancheng, they immediately set about auditing the fields’
accounts,” Yao Wenyu said. “They did not ask for Pan Yi to submit
the original accounts, but assigned someone down directly to
measure the lands personally.”
Pan Yi initially thought that with Pan Xiangjie and the Marquis
of Helian as guarantors, and with the assistance of Liang Cuishan
whom Pan Lin had assigned to act as an intermediary, they would
be able to fool their way through the audits of the accounts this
time, or at the very least, hang in there until spring was over, but
who could have expected Liang Cuishan to come here for the
deliberate purpose of checking the accounts?
“In the meantime, there was a memorial impeaching Xue
Xiuzhuo with the demand to check the Quancheng accounts, but
Kong Qiu overruled it.” Kong Ling said.
Shen Zechuan’s folding fan paused on the table. His brows
slowly furrowed into a frown. “It has not even been a year since the
storm the Imperial College stirred up last year. Kong Qiu and Cen
Yu were both successively denounced in writing then, and they
were at daggers drawn with Xue Xiuzhou, so why did they so
quickly…”
“The Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi has also been imprisoned,
with the Chuancheng accounts implicated as well. There is talk that
something is off with the tariffs. He is now impeached by the Chief
Surveillance Bureau. Even the City of Dicheng is feeling the
repercussions.” Yao Wenyu, having been born of a noble clan, was
far more perceptive to the “thread of clue” than others. He
continued, “The Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi, by all reasonings,
has nothing to do with Chuancheng, but the Chief Surveillance
Bureau impeached them together.”
“The Marquis of Helian of Chuancheng is close to the Hua
Clan,” Shen Zechuan said. “But he apparently doesn’t concern
himself with the Chuancheng accounts. Cen Yu’s impeachment of
him now means that he has a handle against the Marquis of Helian
in his hands.”
He caressed the edge of the fan with the pulp of his fingers and
thought it over.
“There’s something fishy about this matter… Where’s Yan Heru?
Call him over.”
There must be a reason Kong Qiu was willing to bury the
hatchet with Xue Xiuzhuo. Shen Zechuan’s eyes were blocked off
outside the city of Qudu, but he had to be cognizant of what Qudu
was doing at all times. If Pan Lin was really taken down because of
this, then it would not only mean that the noble clans had suffered
a setback, but also that the Empress Dowager was now all on her
own in the struggle for power in Qudu.
As soon as Yan Heru’s butt touched the bench, he rambled, “oh
man, these days have been stifling the life out of me! Your
Lordship, if you hadn’t called for me, that Wu Ziyu wouldn’t have let
me go out. Qidong’s military provisions have yet to be fully
delivered. I was so anxious, my temper rose. This Duanzhou is so
rundown… can I have a cushion or not? This seat’s killing my
ass…”
Yan Heru’s voice gradually trailed off under Shen Zechuan’s
gaze. He shifted his body.
“… Bribery, of course,” Yan Heru said in a small voice. “What
other handle would the Marquis of Helian have on this? He’s a
marquis with a sinecure that has practically no obligations. For the
sake of his son’s future, he runs all over and usually likes to gift
others a little something. That Liang Cuishan is going over to
Dancheng, isn’t he? The Marquis of Helian must have had his head
slammed by a door to ask the Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi to
deliver a bag of gold to Liang Cuishan. Isn’t that just playing into
the hands of others? I told you Liang Cuishan is not an easy man to
mess with. He’s cut from the same cloth as Jiang Qingshan. See
what happens now? This one bag of gold from the Marquis of
Helian screwed over an entire bunch of people…”
“Bribery?” Yao Wenyu suddenly piped up and looked at Shen
Zechuan. “Pan Lin’s willingness to assign Liang Cuishan means that
he sees Liang Cuishan as his trusted aide. Why would the Marquis
of Helian make the redundant move of sending him gold?”
“He’s foolish, I guess.” Tapping the teacup lid, Yan Heru recalled
how Fei Sheng had pressed down his head. Still bearing a grudge,
he said, “the Fei clan are fools. They aren’t all that bright. That
Junior Marquis Fei Shi is already of age,8 yet he’s still a loafer. Is
their household even capable of being up to any task?”
“For what it’s worth, the Marquis of Helian is on the Empress
Dowager’s side, and he did not even die when Hua Siqian fell from
power.” The light in Shen Zechuan’s eyes dimmed slightly. “Even if
he wants to have Liang Cuishan in his grasp, he shouldn’t have
sent him gold. He even turned it over to the Tax Circuit Intendant of
Juexi. He is simply delivering himself with a ribbon to Liang
Cuishan. What is he trying to achieve?”
“Who knows…” Yan Heru suddenly hit upon a thought and
straightened up in his seat, then he leaned over the table, showing
Shen Zechuan an astonished expression. “If this was not done by
the Marquis of Helian himself, then he’s really too tragic! This
simply allows Xue Xiuzhuo to deal a direct stab to his clan and drag
the entire Pan clan down into hot water at the same time!”
In a flash, Shen Zechuan connected the dots. The folding fan
smacked down on the tabletop with a “thud”, startling Yan Heru so
much that a shiver ran through his body.
Yao Wenyu suddenly broke out in a coughing fit. He covered
his mouth, clutching the handkerchief. With his back slightly
arched over, he recovered and continued, “What a brilliant
scheme… Xue Yanqing, well-played!”
 Note:
This is a combination of the uncensored version and the revised
(censored) version on JJWXC. We took some liberty in rearranging
the sentences and/or paragraphs in order to bring you the best of
both worlds. (There are whole chunks of paragraphs in the
censored copy but removed in the revised, and newly added
paragraphs in the revised but not in the original.) As usual, the final
version will be based on the uncensored traditional Chinese
physical copy when it is released in 2075. In the meantime, please
bear with us. Thank you! <3
Credits: Special thanks to papapa senpai Alex for consulting on
the *ahem*
 CHAPTER 217: HEWEI

It was sleeting heavily in Qudu today, with a chill that cut deep.
The Marquis of Helian had been kneeling in the hall until his legs
had gone numb and his sleeves were soaked through with his
tears.
“That Xue Yanqing is so shameless and unscrupulous he would
stop at nothing to frame me. How is it possible for the Tax Circuit
Intendant of Juexi’s act of bribery to implicate our Chuancheng?
That’s Jiang Qingshan’s territory, so if one were to dig to the
bottom of it, it’s Jiang Qingshan who is the instigator!” The official
hat that the Marquis of Helian had taken off was resting by his
knees. He cried, “And then there’s that Cen Xunyi who keeps
incriminating me relentlessly. He’s clearly colluding with Xue
Yanqing to set up a trap and dispose of those who stand against
him. They shamelessly engage in shady deals for personal gains,
yet Kong Boran still wants to tolerate and abet them. It’s the
imperial court’s ethos they are ruining!”
“Stop trying to fool me with such words!” The Empress
Dowager was in a towering rage. “If you had behaved yourself,
would Xue Xiuzhuo have been able to track down the issue with the
accounts? The Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi has been engaging in
his fair share of corruption in the City of Chuancheng. If you had
not backed him in this, would he have the capability to do so?!”
It was brightly lit inside the hall. All the palace maids and
eunuchs had retreated outside the doors, leaving only Matron
Liuxiang kneeling in attendance at the side. The Marquis of Helian,
having come to apologize, was flimsily dressed, and now he was
trembling with fear and trepidation under the wrath of the Empress
Dowager.
After the death of Emperor Tianchen, the Empress Dowager
has been covering up for the noble clans’ failings from this position
of hers, and she was already bone-weary having done so all this
time to such an extent. She sighed in disappointment across the
beaded curtain at the Marquis of Helian.
Sensing that it did not bode well on hearing her sigh, the
Marquis of Helian hurriedly shuffled forward on his knees and said,
“Your Majesty, please be appeased. The wise strategy now would
be to sacrifice the pawn to save the rook. No matter what, we have
to first preserve Pan Lin.”
Pan Lin was Pan Xiangjie’s lawful son and a key official of the
Ministry of Revenue. They lost Wei Huaigu last year, and now they
only had Pan Lin who could still get a foothold in the Ministry of
Revenue. If they were to lose Pan Lin at this point, then the noble
clan would be without a money-keeper.
The Empress Dowager said, “Even if we can save Pan Lin’s
neck, we can’t save Pan Yi.”
Pan Yi was the husband of the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue.
Without Pan Yi, Zhaoyue would be widowed. Momentarily grieved,
the Marquis of Helian bent over the ground and choked with sobs.
Wiping his tears, he said, “As a father, how would I cast aside such
a fine son-in-law had I not been forced into such a desperate
situation? I have no other choice. I would rather have her widowed
than have her get implicated in this.”
The Empress Dowager’s face behind the beaded curtain was
haggard. Eventually, she merely said, “Go back and have Zhaoyue
and Pan Yi mutually agree to a divorce.”
Sleet outside the palace drummed against the palace eaves,
blanketing the top of the vermillion walls with white snow, while the
mournful wails of the ancient watchtower bell pushed their way into
the joint hearing hall. Pan Lin was an official of rank, so he did not
have to kneel and pay his obeisances to the various presiding
judges in the hall.
 “After the reign of Yongyi, the City of Dancheng no longer
received rewards of fields, but the land surveyance conducted by
the Ministry of Revenue threw up a wholly different total amount of
land than was reported by the City of Dancheng.” Xue Xiuzhuo sat
upright and looked at Pan Lin. “As the Prefectural Prefect of the City
of Dancheng, Pan Yi concealed the additional fields from the
Ministry of Revenue instead of reporting it. Meanwhile, you have
the important duty of presiding over taxation matters in the
Ministry of Revenue, and you have never voiced any doubts about
the field taxes discrepancies in the audits all these years. Let me
ask you, were you aware that the City of Dancheng was forging
accounts for its field taxes?”
Pan Lin had been locked up for a few days, and his official robe
was wrinkled as he sat across the table and looked at Xue Xiuzhuo
without answering.
Xue Xiuzhuo faced off against Pan Lin in confrontation.
Pan Lin was not an easy man to put on trial. These kinds of top-
rank imperial court officials were all familiar with the investigation
process. The smart ones would maintain their silence when
interrogated and cross-examined by the Court of Judicial Review
and Ministry of Justice. This was because the presiding officials
were all proficient in the art of probing, and it was too easy to trip
up and give them a handle against oneself when contending with
them. Pan Lin was obviously a smart man, as he held his silence in
response to all of Xue Xiuzhuo’s questionings throughout.
If the case were to get stuck at an impasse here without any
headway made, then the remaining seven cities would have
sufficient time to clean up their accounts and get rid of the
evidence of their sordid deeds before Xue Xiuzhuo focused the
investigation on them. Xue Xiuzhuo had lied low in wait for many
years before he managed to get this opportunity. He could not let
Pan Lin get away with it at this point.
“Pan Xiangjie’s original position remains untouched.” Xue
Xiuzhuo laced his fingers. “Her Majesty commended him for being
a minister of significance who assists in the governance of the
state. He is expected to be transferred out of the Ministry of Works
after the imperial examination held in spring. This is a hint that he
will be promoted to the Grand Secretariat. Get yourself locked in a
stalemate with me here, and his appraisal after spring is bound to
get affected.”
Pan Lin leaned over and gave a contemptuous spat. “You
manipulated the Tax Circuit Intendant into carrying out bribes and
made use of the chance to build a bridge to Kong Qiu of the Grand
Secretariat. You want to take down our Pan Clan only because I let
Yao Yuanzhuo go. You’re but one twisted common son born of a
concubine, so what’s with this capable pillar of the state act?”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression remained unchanged as he said,
“Before Pan Xiangjie took up the post of Minister of Works, your Pan
clan was already appropriating the common folks’ fields in the City
of Dancheng. During the reign of Yongyi, Cao Chong, a commoner
of Dancheng, entered the capital to lodge a complaint of injustice,
but he was trampled to death by Hua Shisan’s horse on Shenwu
Street, and his octogenarian father killed himself by banging his
head at the entrance of the Dancheng’s yamen—you are right. I’m
indeed taking down your Pan clan because of Yao Wenyu, but Yao
Wenyu was merely an opportunity you handed me. Even without
Yao Wenyu, the Pan clan still has to pay their dues.”
Pan Lin’s limbs were icy cold. He leaned back in his chair and
avoided Xue Xiuzhuo’s gaze.
“During the reign of Xiande, Secretariat Elder Hai received
orders from the Emperor to audit the City of Dancheng’s field
taxes. The official assigned was a man named Jiang Jun, a fellow
official of mine in my position as the Chief Supervising Secretary of
the Ministry of Revenue. There were already signs of issues with the
Dancheng’s field taxes at that time, but Jiang Jun fell off his horse
and died on his way back to the capital to submit his report, and
the account book he had on him vanished without a trace.” Xue
Xiuzhuo said calmly. “In the second year of the reign of Xiande,
when the Secretariat Elder continued digging into the accounts,
Hua Siqian thought we had evidence in our hands, and so he
ordered the noble clans to make up for the deficit in taxes. You
people were unwilling to cough up the money from your own
private coffers, so you intensified efforts to encroach on even more
land in the eight cities in order to make up for the sum. In that year,
seven households in the City of Dancheng successively consumed
poison to commit suicide. You know why, right?”
Of course, Pan Lin knew why.
That year, Hua Siqian was pushed into such a corner that even
Pan Xiangjie grew anxious too. Thus, at the same time he
appropriated even more of the commoners’ fields, he had the
original fields taxes split up between the commoners in the city.
These common folks had lost their fields that could feed them, and
they were still burdened with hefty amounts of taxes to pay. Unable
to have this gross injustice redressed, they could only seek death.
This was not exclusive to the City of Dancheng. It was a
common scene in the eight cities after the reign of Xiande.
There was no longer anyone else left in the hall by the time Xue
Xiuzhuo spoke to this point. He continued, “later on, Juexi was hit
with a disaster, and Jiang Qingshan… Do you know why Jiang
Qingshan refused to wallow in the mire with Hua Siqian at that
time? Because Jiang Jun was his brother from the same clan.
There’s karmic retribution in this world.”
Pan Lin’s throat tightened, and he forced a laugh. “Then aren’t
you afraid of retribution by framing the innocent now?”
“Innocent? Is the Tax Circuit Intendant of Juexi innocent? He
was able to take up the post of Tax Circuit Intendant because you
people vouched for him. Then the Ministry of Revenue gave him a
favorable appraisal and had him placed in Juexi as a
counterbalance to Jiang Qingshan. Using this position, he had
dealings with the Yan Clan of Hezhou, reselling copper and steel in
the territory on behalf of the two Cities of Chuancheng and
Dicheng. The tariffs he obtained from embezzlement and
corruption are enough to rebuild this office compound.” Xue
Xiuzhuo rose to his feet. His official robe appeared dark in the hall.
He continued, “If the Tax Circuit Intendant had no connections
whatsoever to the Marquis of Helian, how would he have heeded
the hint and hurried over to make a heavy bribe? You people called
this a frame-up, but this is merely a ‘tactic’ all of you habitually used
in the past. I’m just following your example.”
Pan Lin gulped. Anxiety started to burn in him. “You go to great
lengths and efforts in an attempt to support the Heir Apparent
ascend to the throne, but I fear it will all be for naught in the end,
much like trying to draw water with a bamboo basket.”
“My Heir Apparent to the Throne9 is called Li Jianting, not Li
Jianheng.” Xue Xiuzhuo braced himself against the edge of the
table and looked down at Pan Lin. All of a sudden, he asked, “do
you know about the Scorpions?”
The expression in Pan Lin’s eyes was blank. He maintained his
silence to refuse to fall into Xue Xiuzhuo’s trap again.
“Zhongbo’s troops suffered a military defeat in the fourth year
of Xiande, giving Hua Siqian a chance to catch his breath. Whether
it was Shen Wei’s evasion of the battle or the Biansha’s invasion,
Heaven seems to be helping the noble clan escape a calamity,” Xue
Xiuzhuo said. “But you know what? I don’t believe that.”
Pan Lin had no idea what Xue Xiuzhuo was talking about at all,
but he smelled danger. He could remain tight-lipped and evade
the topic on the appropriation of the commoners’ fields, but he
could not just breeze past the subject when it came to colluding
with the foreign foes. This kind of matter would be a catastrophe
leading to their ruin once it reared its ugly head!
“Are you trying to frame me again?” Pan Lin snapped. “You
ingratiate yourself with the Heir Apparent for power and position,
yet you get rid of those who challenge you in the imperial court
and bend the law to suit your own purposes! If you truly have the
state’s interest at heart, then why do you have to force Lu Guangbai
to turn against the state?”
“Who exactly was it that tampered with the Bianjun
Commandery’s military grains?” Xue Xiuzhuo abruptly flung away
the confession statement in his hand. “And who was it who
misappropriated and embezzled nearly half of Qidong’s military
salaries and provisions? You people repeatedly suppressed Qi
Zhuyin and let the military power of a single clan in Libei grow so
unchecked that their 120,000 Armored Cavalry soldiers overran the
northeast. Without Xiao Chiye, who would have been able to tether
Xiao Fangxu and Xiao Jiming and keep a hold on them? Why
don’t you ask yourself how the Secretariat Elder has been
remedying all of your transgressions all these years?! The Empress
Dowager holds sway over the imperial court and the common
people, and yet even now, she is still unwilling to give up the noble
clans to make up for the shortfall in Qidong’s military funds!”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s chest heaved. He turned his head to calm down
some.
“I’m indeed getting rid of all those who stand against me.” Xue
Xiuzhuo looked at Pan Lin once again. “I want to weed out the
dregs of society like you people at its roots, along with that
‘Scorpion’.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yao Wenyu, having suffered a cold from traveling a long
distance, collapsed on the first night he arrived in Duanzhou.
Seeing as Yuanzhuo was quick to fall ill but slow to heal, Shen
Zechuan had the physician remain on standby in the courtyard.
Xiao Chiye was having his meal when he saw that Shen
Zechuan was about to go over, so he said, “Let’s go together. I’ll go
pay him a visit too.”
After their meals, both men draped on their overcoats. Fei
Sheng followed far behind them, while Xiao Chiye held up the
umbrella and walked with Shen Zechuan to Yao Wenyu’s courtyard.
Shen Zechuan saw it was empty under the eaves, so he asked
the maidservant who came over to receive them, “why aren’t all of
you inside waiting on him?”
The maidservant bowed in greetings and answered in a
hushed tone, “the Mister doesn’t want anyone to wait on him at
night.”
Xiao Chiye held Shen Zechuan’s hand and motioned for the
maidservant to take her leave. He shook the umbrella and said,
“Yuanzhuo is a man of pride.”
“I don’t see Qiao Tianya around.” Shen Zechuan looked around
before his eyes stopped on the principal room. “Let’s knock.”
Both men were in the midst of talking when the door opened.
Qiao Tianya was in his regular clothes. He bowed slightly in
greetings to both of them and made way for them. “Yuanzhuo…
Mister has yet to retire to bed. He’s waiting inside the room for Your
Lordship and Second Master.”
Yao Wenyu was already up. His washed face was resting
against the back of the chair. Hunu scratched away at the book on
his knee until it fell to the ground. Xiao Chiye bent over to pick it up
for him and took a look at it in passing. “Oh, an atlas. There is a set
in the study of your Plum Blossom Residence.”
“Second Master had spent such a large sum of money that it’s a
pity to leave that residence in Qudu.” Yao Wenyu’s voice was like
the tinkling of jade. He had already schooled away his fatigue.
Turning around his wheelchair, he motioned for Xiao Chiye to take
a seat.
Shen Zechuan removed his overcoat and observed Yao
Wenyu’s complexion. “You have been on the go for such a long
distance. I shouldn’t have summoned you to the hall today.”
“With the snow melting of late, falling sick is inevitable and just
a matter of time.” There was no one else around, and Yao Wenyu
could be considered to be long-time friends with Xiao Chiye, so he
was naturally much more relaxed than usual. He poured tea for
Shen Zechuan, showing no sign of suffering from a chronic ailment
in his movements. “Your Lordship must be still thinking about Qudu
right now.”
“The spring plowing is just around the corner.” Shen Zechuan
pressed his index finger against the teacup. The agate gem on his
ear swung under the dim light. “If the Dancheng case continues to
be investigated, the remaining seven cities will be affected too.
This matter has a bearing on the granaries in Dazhou.”
“Sacrificing a pawn to save the rook is a habitual practice of the
noble clans. If Xue Xiuzhuo had truly pushed them into a corner,
then their throwing away of a Pan Lin,” Xiao Chiye rearranged the
remaining chess pieces on the small table at the side, “… is not
entirely impossible.”
“Xue Xiuzhuo killed three birds with one stone this time. He
used gold to pull Liang Cuishan over to his camp, push
Dancheng’s field taxes onto the agenda, and set the stage for
future investigation into Chuancheng’s tariffs,” Yao Wenyu said.
“What’s so brilliant here is that such a thing had indeed gone down
between the Tax Circuit Intendant and the Marquis of Helian. The
Empress Dowager would be hard-pressed to voice her woes.
However, this must not be the only reason Kong Qiu was willing to
lend him a helping hand.”
 Seeing Hunu running over to the side of his foot, Shen Zechuan
quietly shifted aside a little and looked at the cat as he said, “… Qi
Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops against the Qingshu Tribe was of
pressing urgency. The Empress Dowager held back the Ministry of
War in her refusal to give permission because she feared another
investigation into the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts. Had Xue
Xiuzhuo been willing to give the Grand Secretariat several millions
of taels of silver at this juncture, Kong Qiu would naturally not turn it
down.”
Hunu set its paws on Shen Zechuan’s boots and stuck its butt up
in the air as it stretched itself. It “meow-meowed” a few times and
nuzzled itself against Shen Zechuan’s calf. Just as it was about to
paw at Shen Zechuan’s robe, Xiao Chiye picked it up by the scruff of
its neck.
Xiao Chiye looked askance at it and said, “oh right, I almost
forgot. Xue Yanqing still has a sum of silver in his hands.”
Hunu turned around in the air. On seeing Xiao Chiye, it shrank
its ears back, put up its front paws, and dared not move again. Xiao
Chiye tossed it back, and it landed deftly on the ground. With its
tail sticking up, it moved over to the side of the wheelchair and
climbed back onto Yao Wenyu’s lap for a petting.
Yao Wenyu stroked Hunu and said, “Commander-in-chief Qi is
much obliged to Xue Xiuzhuo for making up for the shortfall in
military salaries and provisions this time. If the Empress Dowager
keeps up with her wait-and-see attitude, she’s going to lose her
chance to make a preemptive strike.”
“This matter is also an easy one to resolve.” Shen Zechuan
raised his eyes to look at both of them. “The Empress Dowager
only needs to arrange a marriage for Commander-in-chief Qi, and
Qidong’s military powers can be split into two.”
“Marry Commander-in-chief Qi…” Xiao Chiye said, “even so, he
has to have a noble title, and the few old men with noble ranks in
Qudu at present are all not suitable, nor can they hold her in
check.”
“Since the Marquis of Helian is already implicated in the City of
Chuancheng’s saga, might as well kick him out.” Shen Zechuan
took the chess piece in Xiao Chiye’s hand and set it down on the
chessboard. “The Junior Marquis, Fei Shi, still doesn’t have an
official post, does he? Let him marry Commander-in-chief Qi and
go over to Qidong to play the role of a pretty ‘vase’. Military power
that has been divided away to him can then be handed over to the
Empress Dowager’s charge. What’s more, Fei Shi and Pan Lin are
bosom friends. With this layer of relationship, Pan Lin will have a
chance to stage a comeback as long as he doesn’t die.”
The Hua Clan had been marrying off their girls for nearly a
hundred years, and now, it was finally the Empress Dowager’s turn
to “marry” off boys. Just as Xiao Chiye had said, abandoning a
pawn to protect the rook was a tactic the Empress Dowager
habitually used, only that the pawn she was going to cast aside was
not just Pan Yi but also the Marquis of Helian. Xue Xiuzhuo already
had a handle against the City of Chuancheng in his grasp, and
Liang Cuishan had the City of Chuancheng’s accounts in his hand.
Since it was Chuancheng’s accounts, then let Chuancheng bear
responsibility for it.
The Empress Dowager was at the mercy of others in the earlier
half of her life. Being passive was not necessarily a desperate
situation to her. Rather, she was already used to dealing out passive
strikes. There was only one supreme ruler in the world. Since the
Heir Apparent, Li Jianting, could be one, then why not her, Hua
Hewei?
“To date, the Li clan has, through the hands of the Empress
Dowager, lost Emperor Guangcheng, Emperor Xiande, Emperor
Tianchen, and the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace during the
reign of Yongyi.” Xiao Chiye looked at the white piece in his palm.
“If she loses again this time, Dazhou will really change hands to a
different master.”
◈ ◈ ◈
With her cloak draped around her, Li Jianting stood in the sleet
and faced the Empress Dowager from afar through the curtain of
snow.
The Empress Dowager looked at the young Heir Apparent and
saw shadows of Emperor Guangcheng in Li Jianting’s facial
features. That was the husband who had held her in check for half
her life, and also the shackle who had her trapped in the harem.
Now that she stood at the pinnacle of supreme power, she no
longer feared these eyes.
The Empress Dowager smiled benevolently at Li Jianting and
soundlessly thought,
Vile spawn of incest.
 CHAPTER 218: PREPARATIONS (FOR A RAINY DAY)

In the blink of an eye, it was already the end of the second

month. The Dancheng case became a major case known to all in
Qudu. No headway was made even with Pan Lin cooped up for half
a month in the joint hearing hall. Discussions were rife among the
students on the streets. They pinned their hopes on Xue Xiuzhuo,
and the memorials impeaching Pan Xiangjie in the imperial court
increased by the day.
When the snow stopped, a row of merchants from Juexi also
arrived in Qudu.
Xiaowu10 was all wrapped like a dumpling, yet he was
extremely agile as he leaped from the carriage and stood at the
checkpoint to chat merrily with the minor functionary in charge of
tax collection. The drapes of the carriage behind him lifted, and Ge
Qingqing, who had grown a short beard, stepped off.
Ge Qingqing flicked up a copper coin with his thumb and
caught it with a steady hand. He smiled at the minor functionary.
“With these goods of ours coming and going all the time, we’ve
long grown to be on familiar terms. I hope my lord will grace us
with your presence at Donglong Street tonight. I have to thank you
properly for looking out for my younger brother last year.”
The minor functionary with the book of taxes under his arm
knew that this person was a merchant from Juexi. When Xiaowu
had escorted the goods to and fro last year, he had forked out a
considerable sum of money. Now that the minor functionary had
finally met Ge Qingqing, he was all chummy with him despite it
being his first time meeting the latter.
The minor functionary jumped off the wagon with an
exclamation of surprise and cupped his hands at Ge Qingqing as
he said with a merry laugh, “I’m just a lowly clerk doing menial
work. How would I presume myself worthy of being called ‘lord’ by
Master Ge? You are the master—our master!”11
Ge Qingqing, having returned to Qudu again after a year,
noted the many checks being carried out at the entrance of the city
gates in which they were carefully scrutinizing the travel permits
and registers of the coming and going companies of merchants.
Without batting an eyelid, he said to the minor functionary, “It’s
such a chilly day. How long do you have to stand here? The queue
of merchants in the back still seemed rather long to me.”
Standing at the side, the minor functionary accepted the
tobacco Ge Qingqing passed him. He had received a substantial
amount of “ice respect” bribes12 from Ge Qingqing, so he was
naturally more than willing to socialize with him. He promptly
started grousing half in jest. “I have to stand here until the city
gates close! If it wasn’t for the lack of other capabilities, who would
be willing to stand like a pole around here? You may not be aware
of this, but around a hundred or so merchants pass through the
checkpoints in a single day, and a great number of them resort to
various means of skulduggery to evade taxes.”
“They are really scums.” Ge Qingqing took the opportunity to
carry on the conversation. “Isn’t this a deliberate attempt to hinder
all of you from carrying out your duties?”
“Exactly!” The minor functionary paved the way for Ge
Qingqing as he met the latter’s eyes. “I’ve been collecting taxes
here for so long. Of all the people that I’ve met, you, Master Ge, are
the most righteous.”
Ge Qingqing patted the minor functionary on the shoulder and
offered a few words of comfort.
The minor functionary asked, “Did Master Ge make this trip in
person this time because of a big deal?”
 Ge Qingqing was presently smoking a pipe. He never did so
during his time in the Imperial Bodyguards, but these were
indispensable tools for socialization in Juexi. He answered in the
affirmative, then turned his head aside to exhale smoke. “It’s not
easy to do business now. The various regions are strict with their
checks, so we have to go through the city of Dicheng if not the city
of Chuancheng. The taxes for transporting large shipments of
goods through the territories are too exorbitant. I’ve long lost
hopes of making a fortune.” After he finished, he lamented again,
“All of you are in a much better position. You won’t go wrong
working for the imperial court, and you look mighty imposing
doing it too.”
“Master Ge hasn’t been here much.” The minor functionary
sucked on a pipe as he continued, “there are some arrogant sons
of a bitch that don’t even see us as human beings just because they
have money. They throw their weight and boss us around when
they pass through the checkpoint. There have been many incidents
of them trampling all over us.”
The words spoken by the minor functionary were laced with
half-truths and half-lies. Tax collection was a lucrative job; the
people he dealt with day in and day out were all merchants who
hailed from various lands. What’s more, there were few
troublemakers given that it was the honorable capital city of the
Son of Heaven, and the slightly more discerning merchants would
all take the initiative to grease the officials’ palms. That was why the
minor functionaries who could be stationed at this checkpoint
typically had someone in the higher authorities to look out for
them. But it was also true that they could not afford to offend those
like the Xi clan when they occasionally came across them.
“It has been hard on all of you, brothers.” Ge Qingqing waved
his hand at Xiaowu to signal him to bring the goods in. “Then let’s
do this. I’ll host a banquet at Yanyu Tavern on Donglong Street and
wait for you there. Once you and the other brothers are off duty,
head straight over. We shall drink to our heart’s content then.”
The minor functionary answered, “Master Ge is too kind. Then I
shall not stand on ceremony and accept the invitation!”
 Ge Qingqing smiled and followed the company of merchants
into the city. Xiaowu led the horse over and asked, “Qing-ge, why
are you giving them a treat? They’re all rats, and extremely greedy
and corrupt ones at that!”
“Master said to go fishing.” Ge Qingqing tossed the copper
coin between his fingers to Xiaowu. “How are we to hook a fish
without bait?”
The tariffs at the city gate checkpoints were administered by
the Qudu Commercial Tax Office that fell directly under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue. The minor functionaries
were mediocre and unqualified, relying solely on their backers in
the higher authorities to vouch for them. Even if they embezzled
silver here, they had to consider the gravity of it. For instance, the
large shipment of goods that Ge Qingqing had transported last
year was easily several thousands in private taxes. How would the
minor functionaries have the guts to swallow it all? They only dared
to embezzle a small fraction of it, for the majority of the tax still had
to be handed over to the “higher-ups”.
It was on Shen Zechuan’s order that Ge Qingqing returned to
the capital this time to fish for these “higher-ups”.
“Let’s go,” Ge Qingqing patted Xiaowu on the back as he
looked at the fresh snow on the glazed tiles, “and get back our ‘old
residence’ first.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yao Wenyu’s illness did not take a turn for the better, and taking
multiple bowls of medicine did not help any. It was only today
when the Imperial Bodyguards were testing out the new horses
that he had the opportunity to venture outdoors to enjoy the
breeze. Fei Sheng, being meticulous, had already prepared a
screen before Shen Zechuan gave his orders. He had also placed a
charcoal brazier under the shack to keep Yao Wenyu from freezing.
Shen Zechuan saw Xiao Chiye standing at the very front, saying
something to Hairigu about something. Without shifting his gaze
away, he simply tilted his head slightly to say to Yao Wenyu, “It’s
inevitable for Ge Qingqing to be homesick after having been in
Juexi for a long time. As a native of Qudu, he still has kinfolks at
home.”
 The agate on the Prefectural Lord’s bright and clear earlobe
swayed as he moved and brushed against his fur collar, appearing
all the more breathtakingly captivating. Red suited him. All those
white fur robes of his diminished the dazzling gorgeousness of his
facial features, giving him an overly amicable appearance when
necessary. Only red could draw out his sharp, penetrating edge.
This was a process of “honing the blade”. The higher he sat, the
more conspicuous those sharp edges hidden away in the depths
would become.
“All the officials in key positions in the Qudu Commercial Tax
Office are from the noble clans.” Yao Wenyu was unwilling to reveal
even a hint of frailty in the presence of outsiders, so he had a
blanket over him and appeared sufficiently spirited. “Since Your
Lordship intends for Ge Qingqing to start making his move here,
you can make use of Xi Hongxuan’s old acquaintances.”
“That won’t do.” Shen Zechuan watched as Hairigu got on the
horse. The Imperial Bodyguards on the other end got on their
horses too. Fei Sheng was leaning over to speak to Qiao Tianya. He
continued, “Most of Xi Hongxuan’s old acquaintances are involved
with Xue Xiuzhuo. Xi Hongxuan could enter the capital during the
reign of Xiande because Xue Xiuzhuo went to a lot of effort. These
people are a motley crew, so we have to screen and select them
carefully before using them.”
“With Pan Lin dismissed from his post,” Yao Wenyu said, “Liang
Cuishan is now the pawn with the most promising future. I only fear
that Ge Qingqing won’t be able to make it in time for the
Dancheng case if he is to explore a new pathway of clues under his
watch.”
“We can’t intervene in the Dancheng’s case.” Sensing
something moving at his waist, Shen Zechuan lowered his eyes
and saw Hunu reaching its paw out for the tassel on his folding fan.
“It is of no benefit to me regardless of who wins or loses in this
game that is the Dancheng’s case. I had Ge Qingqing return to
Qudu not to have him stir up a storm in the Dancheng’s case, but to
wait for a winner to emerge.”
Yao Wenyu did not notice Hunu; his eyes were on Qiao Tianya
on the riding tracks.
 The recruitment criteria of the Imperial Bodyguards of Zhongbo
were set according to Qiao Tianya. All dressed in a body-fitting
outfit13 today, he bent over and lowered his arm to pick up a
boisterous Ding Tao who was running all over and tossed the latter
to Gu Jin, who was behind him. Then he hooked Li Xiong’s collar
with his horsewhip and tossed Li Xiong to Gu Jin too.
“… The fifth month is when the busy farming season ends,” Yao
Wenyu said. “Libei is still fighting a war. Your Lordship is planning
ahead in preparation for a rainy day.”
The end of the busy farming season meant that farm work such
as plowing and the like would be wrapped up, and the pressure on
the Grand Secretariat would subsequently ease, leaving them with
enough energy to start confronting Zhongbo and Libei. Shen
Zechuan had to ensure that his supply line would not break. He had
to shoulder the military provision supply for three parties this year,
but he had lost the Xi Clan’s copper mine in Juexi, and the
Liuzhou’s port which he was planning for with Yan Heru was only in
its fledgling stage this year. If they were to get further contained by
Qudu, then the battle zone would become even more perilous.
“If Xue Yanqing wins,” Yao Wenyu looked at Shen Zechuan,
“where will Your Lordship look for his weakness?”
“I can’t find one.” Shen Zechuan swung the tassel. “I couldn’t
find Xue Yanqing’s weakness even way back in Qudu. There is
nothing this person can’t forsake. He cut me off from Xi
Hongxuan’s money vaults, and yet he’s still willing to wear old
official robes and head down to the local areas to carry out
fieldwork. He has my admiration.”
Lang Tao Xue Jin sped past the field, and cheers erupted. Xiao
Chiye pulled the reins and smiled at Shen Zechuan from afar.
The frostiness in Shen Zechuan’s eyes disappeared. He turned
the folding fan over.
“He did a clean job with the Quancheng’s silk case too. I can’t
catch him… but no man is an island, himself included.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuyi pressed the handkerchief down to blow his nose. He
prided himself on being a virtuous and lofty man of letters, yet his
actions were rather crude. His official robe was slovenly worn, with
the corners black and wrinkled. Xue Xiuzhuo was now at the height
of his career and the peak of his power, but Xue Xiuyi had only
muddled his way into a sinecure post. Having squandered away
the family fortune in his early years, he now even had to think twice
just to eat a bowl of noodles worth a copper coin.
The fellow official at the side was fed up with Xue Xiuyi, but he
dared not show it openly and merely said, “You’re still sick, so it’s
fine even if you rest at home for two days. Why push yourself so? I’ll
call for a physician to take a look at you later.”
Xue Xiuyi felt as if he had lost face when he heard that. He was
the lawful son of a noble clan, and yet the way his fellow official put
it made it seem like he could not even afford to pay the fees of a
physician, so he crumbled up his handkerchief and said at the top
of his voice, “I have an in-house physician waiting in attendance at
home! When have we ever lacked a physician at home? I’ve just
been so busy with my official duties that I forgot about it. I’ll call for
him to take a look when I get back later.”
His fellow officials all knew he was just pretending to be
leading an extravagant life when he was, in fact, so poor that he
was fighting with his wife over it all day long at home. Furthermore,
all his maidservants and whatnot had already been sold off. So
they simply mumbled a few vague words in a perfunctory attempt
to beg off the conversation and no longer bothered themselves
with him.
It was getting dark at this point in time, and people were
leaving the office compound one after another. Xue Xiuyi sat on the
cold bench facing the stove with the intent to dry his wet boots, but
as it turned out, the candle was blown out. He was used to a life of
luxury when he was young, and there were always the
maidservants – young and old – to accompany him even when he
slept. He feared the dark, so on seeing the candle gone, he hastily
stood up and hurried outside.
Several fellow officials were standing around in the courtyard
smoking their pipes as they made plans to go drinking later. Xue
Xiuyi walked over to the door with great haste and heard them say,
“Isn’t it obvious enough? I’ve long heard that the Xue clan
treated their common-born sons extremely harshly, especially this
Xue the Eldest.” The fellow official said in a hushed tone. “Back
then, during the reign of Yongyi, the Old Master of the Xue clan
was willing to let His Excellency Yanqing study with him precisely
because Xue the Eldest was really not cut out for it. Mister
Changzong even called him a hopeless case beyond teaching!”
Xue Xiuyi’s heart went cold. He was particular about his
reputation, so he promptly shrank back behind the door and put up
with the shame as he listened to them continue the conversation.
“That’s why Xue Yanqing is reluctant to promote him now,”
someone said, “and just had him placed in a yamen position with
practically no obligations. His monthly salary can’t even be
compared to the beggars outside. It would have been fine if the
heirs of their clan had noble title to inherit just like the Fei Clan, but
unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
“The men Xue Yanqing recommended for office all seemed to
me to be unaffiliated scholars14 from the Hanlin Academy. Most of
these people were successful candidates in the imperial
examinations held in the spring in the previous years and have
passed the palace examinations.15 They are all virtuous talents.
How is this Xue the Eldest going to get promoted? He knows nuts
about nothing. I told him to sort out the old court cases, and he can
even somehow transcribe eight words on one piece of paper
wrong.”
They put their heads together and snickered.
Both of Xue Xiuyi’s hands trembled. He gripped his drenched
robe, wanting to charge out and rage at these despicable people
mocking him behind his back. But he was not the same person as
he used to be back then; he had no part of the Xue clan’s honor
and glory, and he relied on this bit of salary to make a living. He
did not dare to shoot his mouth off like he had done so when he
humiliated Pan Lin back then.
Who does Xue Yanqing think he is?
Xue Xiuyi craned his neck and spat.
Contemptible common-born son of a concubine!

Author’s Notes:
For Li Jianting’s background, refer to chapter 120.
For the autumnal rain round-up hunt Hasen spoke of, refer to
chapter 151.
Don’t quarrel. Don’t quarrel. Don’t quarrel.
*sends a cosmic wave of love your way*
 CHAPTER 219: REWARD

Lang Tao Xue Jin was invincible on the riding tracks. It was the
undisputed, uncrowned king of the Hongyan Mountains, and even
when faced up against the Biansha battle ponies, those that could
rival it were few and far between. After having his fun for two laps,
Xiao Chiye called it a day and dismounted to drink up Shen
Zechuan’s remaining tea on the table. Still lingering on the rim of
the cup was the Prefectural Lord’s warmth.
“A day like today is hard to come by.” Xiao Chiye finished the
tea and took a hot handkerchief to wipe his hand. “Let’s put up a
reward and let them have their fun.”
“Ready-made rewards are aplenty.” Shen Zechuan turned his
head and said to the maidservant before him, “Tell them I have a
big reward for them if they win the race.”
Xiao Chiye sat down, his long legs crowding up all the space
until Shen Zechuan barely had the legroom to put his own. He
asked, “What’s the reward?”
Shen Zechuan smiled without answering.
The few of them who were riding their horses on the field
stopped in their tracks. Tantai Hu was entertained to hear that there
was a reward. “This is taking unfair advantage of our Zhongbo.”
The various generals of Libei were all adept in the art of
horsemanship, but the guards of Zhongbo were not. As far as the
prize was concerned, Gu Jin and Wu Ziyu would be expected to
win it; there was no suspense at all to this race.
Fei Sheng, who was sitting on horseback, said to Qiao Tianya,
“Why not you participate?”
Qiao Tianya pulled the reins, greeted Gu Jin at the back, and
answered, “You represent the Prefectural Lord. Aren’t you ashamed
to surrender without a fight? Tao-zi, come on up. Do a run with your
Laoshi-ge.”16
Ding Tao grasped over the reins and said to Fei Sheng, “Don’t
be afraid. Jin-ge has never outrun me back in Libei. I’ll block him
for you later. You just focus on racing Wu Ziyu.”
“I’m not afraid.” Fei Sheng saw Qiao Tianya withdrawing and
hurriedly added, “Then you can’t retreat either. Us brothers have to
work as one.”
Qiao Tianya pointed at the back with his horsewhip. Fei Sheng
took a look—Huo Lingyun was there too. Qiao Tianya said, “The last
track is narrow. Don’t over-engage with Wu Ziyu. Just shut your
eyes to everything else and spur your horse on. There will be no
lack of people behind you to help you block the others.”
By this, he meant to give Fei Sheng a leg up with Huo Lingyun
and hand Fei Sheng the limelight. For a while, Fei Sheng did not
know what to feel. He cupped his fists at Qiao Tianya and said,
“You’re truly a real brother in my time of need!”
Yao Wenyu could not hear their conversation, but on seeing
Qiao Tianya backing away, he understood what they meant to do.
Holding the teacup with his fingers, Xiao Chiye looked at the
track and ruminated it over. “This Qiao Tianya is way too self-
effacing.”
The horse race was a spur-of-the-moment affair, meant for
everyone to just have fun. But it did not mean that the Imperial
Bodyguards could lose too badly and make a disgrace out of
themselves. The Libei Armored Cavalry and the Zhongbo Garrison
Troops were both present too, and yet Qiao Tianya still handed the
opportunity to Fei Sheng.
The Second Master was saying that Qiao Tianya had no drive
and spirit.
 With Hunu in his arms, Yao Wenyu looked at Qiao Tianya and
said nothing.
Shen Zechuan spread his folding fan open a little and closed it
again. He looked as if he had it all figured out as he maintained his
silence and remained calm.
“Xiaosheng!” Yin Chang stepped on the fence and straddled it
as he let loose a heartrending shout at Fei Sheng, “Quick, run!
Faster! Win, and this old man will take you drinking—”
Before Yin Chang could finish his words, Gu Jin’s horse went
racing past like a whirlwind. The old man ate a mouthful of dust
and got all so anxious he very nearly bolted to his feet.
Gu Jin and Wu Ziyu worked hand in glove to obstruct Fei
Sheng’s path ahead. Fei Sheng was half a step too slow and could
not overtake them. Behind him, Ding Tao spurred his horse on and
passed by Fei Sheng to block the backside of Gu Jin’s horse from
the outer flank. He pressed so close that Gu Jin had no choice but
to slow down and give way to Wu Ziyu.
“Jin-ge! Did you hide a tael of silver in your old boots? It’s
soaked through! Before I set off, Liu-shen17 at the entrance of our
residence even asked me when you’d be paying for the wine you
took on credit. That was so embarrassing!” Ding Tao spoke with
increasing gusto as he continued, “So I took the liberty of taking
the money out of your boots and paid off half of it. Half! Can you
imagine? Exactly how much of a tab did you rack up? My accounts
are all a mess now…”
Driven beyond the limit of his forbearance, Gu Jin turned his
head aside and yelled, “Shut up!”
The instant his attention was diverted, Fei Sheng took over the
inner lane. Gu Jin treasured horses and was unwilling to force his
way through. Both of them raced neck to neck with one another for
a while and gained in on Wu Ziyu until Wu Ziyu could feel the chill
on his ass.
The width of the riding tracks differed. Once they cleared this
distance, a slightly wider bend lay ahead. Gu Jin wanted to close in
on Fei Sheng and push him back here, while Fei Sheng wanted to
overtake Gu Jin here. Both of them shut their mouths tight and
galloped in the dust. Seeing as the bend was just right in front, Gu
Jin clamped down hard on his horse’s belly. Ding Tao had long
withdrawn behind him, and Huo Lingyun had taken over his place
now.
As soon as Huo Lingyun approached, Gu Jin realized that this
man’s horsemanship was pretty decent; he was a more
intimidating rider than Fei Sheng was. The bend turned abruptly,
and the head of Gu Jin’s horse veered over. Unexpectedly, Huo
Lingyun, who was catching up from the side, suddenly accelerated.
His pony’s sturdy foreneck turned direction as well, pushing Gu Jin
towards the inner lane.
Gu Jin urgently pulled at his reins, but the horse could not
brake in time. It was cornered so aggressively that it slanted
sideways and was about to bump into Fei Sheng, who was in the
innermost lane. With his spot suddenly narrowing, Fei Sheng
subconsciously tightened his right grip on the reins in an attempt
to avoid a collision. His horse promptly turned its head aside and
scraped against the fence, breaking the wooden rails as it tore
along it. Alarmed, the horse tripped over the rails in its haste and
instantaneously went falling head first.
“Fuck!” Tantai Hu jerked to his feet.
The horse twisted its front knees when it fell over. Fei Sheng
acted quickly amidst the kickup of dust and immediately hugged
his head to protect it as he rolled on the ground, so startled was he
that he broke out all over in a cold sweat.
Gu Jin, having already stopped, dismounted first and pulled Fei
Sheng to his feet.
Fei Sheng kicked out his legs as he stood up. His robe was full
of mud and soil all over. He wiped the sweat off his face and turned
his head aside to spit out a tooth, then assured Qiao Tianya behind
them, “I’m fine!”
Huo Lingyun cracked his horsewhip, vaguely looking as if he
was going to overtake Wu Ziyu on the gradually narrowing track.
Having heard the commotion, Wu Ziyu said as Huo Lingyun
pressed in towards him, “isn’t that rather underhanded, buddy?”
Huo Lingyun half-bent his body down as he shot forth like a
sharp arrow slicing through the wind. The momentum of his
forward charge was too swift and fierce, and he was so bent on
overtaking Wu Ziyu that he totally disregarded the fences on both
sides of the track and simply let his calves scrape against the
railings until they drew blood.
Wu Ziyu’s stirrup scraped against the fence until fragments of
wood broke off. He cursed gruffly, “motherfucking…”
This half of the fence was already teetering on the verge of
collapse after Fei Sheng’s incident. Wu Ziyu heard a “crash” as the
fence broke apart on impact. Not daring to race to the death with
Huo Lingyun, he promptly turned around and led his horse out of
the track.
Wu Ziyu gave a light spat and bent over to hug his horse’s neck,
his voice hoarse as he said comfortingly, “this is so aggravating for
my Cangwei!”
Huo Lingyun was unstoppable as he galloped across this last
stretch of track. His breathing slightly urgent, he tossed all the
noise to the back of his mind as he sped in the wind. All his eyes
could see was the finishing line.
He had to fight for his future!
No one here was his brother, and no one was his old
acquaintance either. He knew what his placement in the Imperial
Bodyguards meant, but it was far from enough. His aspirations lay
in the battlefields. He had to fight a path out for himself in Shen
Zechuan’s presence, and only then would he be entrusted with
heavy responsibilities.
Yin Chang was so antsy that he slapped his thigh. He was
burning with the desire to break into a run and chase after this lad.
He hollered, “No cheating! How can you do that to your own
people…”
Horse hooves suddenly sent mud splattering as they followed
hot on Huo Lingyun’s heels, like a bolt of lightning breaking
through the dust.
“Qiao Tianya!” Tantai Hu excitedly leaned out of the fence and
roared, “QIAO TIANYA!”
Yao Wenyu’s throat was parched. He seemed to hear the sound
of solid ice cracking open as he saw Qiao Tianya’s wildly fluttering
hair in the gale of wind, as well as the proud and bold spirit in his
brows.
 Huo Lingyun frowned slightly when he saw Qiao Tianya closing
in on him out of the corner of his eye.
Qiao Tianya held back the taste of soil on the tip of his tongue
and barked out a short laugh at Huo Lingyun. Both men
simultaneously lowered their bodies as they squeezed onto a
single track between the unsteady fences.
Qiao Tianya rarely seemed to have the impulse to “win”, but in
this boisterous din today, he was once again the lad of the Qiao
clan who galloped his horse all over Qudu ten years ago.
A riotous racket of intense shouts thundered through the riding
track. The rich multi-colored silk ball was hanging just right ahead.
Fences fell over one after another like dominos under the rapid
beats of horse hooves.
Huo Lingyun gritted his teeth. The gale whipped the dust all
over the sky, where they swirled and danced. His chest was almost
bursting with the desire to win. Right at this moment, a horizontal
bar of iron suddenly materialized before him. The force of the
impact of a direct head-on collision would have been sufficient to
knock a person over to the ground.
Huo Lingyun made a split decision and let go of his hand to flip
over. As the horse continued sprinting, he dropped and rolled onto
the ground, avoiding the iron bar. But after he landed, he heard
Qiao Tianya still continuing on his charge ahead. He could not help
but blurted in astonishment, “Qiao—”
The burgundy red battle steed charged over the iron bar with
no one on its back.
Yao Wenyu gripped the handles of his wheelchair. His
breathing came to a standstill.
A brief moment later, Qiao Tianya swiftly flipped back into
position from the side of his horse. A hubbub of voices instantly
broke out on the field.
Xiao Chiye said, “beautiful.”
As the Imperial Bodyguards pounced at him, Qiao Tianya took
down the multi-colored silk ball and burst into hearty laughter. The
bright, sunny day dissolved away all that was downtrodden and
disillusioned of him into glistening sweat as he sat on horseback,
looking the very picture of a valiant, dashing hero.
 Yao Wenyu’s calm and composed face betrayed almost
nothing as he released his grip, only to realize that Qiao Tianya
was looking in this direction.
Qiao Tianya withdrew his gaze and dismounted. He bumped
shoulders with Fei Sheng and blocked Fei Sheng’s line of sight that
was drifting towards Huo Lingyun. Fei Sheng did not say a word.
The race was over, and now they had to go before Shen Zechuan
to receive their reward.
Carrying his folding fan in hand, Shen Zechuan cut a tall,
graceful figure as he said, “Since I‘ve said it’s a big reward, then I
naturally can’t use money and material commodities to fob all of
you off. The commander-in-chief position of the Duanzhou Imperial
Cavalry has been vacated all this time.” He paused for a moment.
“Today, this seat shall be handed over to Qiao Tianya.”
Exactly as expected!
Fei Sheng, who was kneeling, lowered his head, all crestfallen.
There were people all around here. He could not pull a long face at
his master, but his disappointment was real. He could only manage
with some difficulty to raise his spirit and maintain the composed
expression on his face.
“Fei Sheng is transferred to assume the post of the Imperial
Cavalry’s Vice Commander. Same goes for Huo Lingyun. The
Zhongbo Imperial Bodyguards are thereby renamed ‘Imperial
Cavalry’.18 You still have the authority to make urgent reports
directly, and you are not subordinate to the Duanzhou Garrison
Troops.” The tassel of Shen Zechuan’s fan swayed in the wind. He
continued, “You belong directly to me, Shen Lanzhou.”
A private cavalry!
Tantai Hu and Gu Jin exchanged glances in slight
astonishment. Everyone knew about the preparation for the
establishment of the Imperial Cavalry, but they thought that this
light cavalry would be merged into the Duanzhou Garrison Troops
to be placed under the charge of the Duanzhou Prefectural Prefect’s
yamen.
A private cavalry meant that the posts of the Imperial
Bodyguards practically remained unchanged; they were still a
troop directly under Shen Zechuan’s command. They were not
subjected to the supervision and inspection of the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo; in fact, they even had the authority to supervise and
inspect the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. Unlike military forces with
progressive ranks like the garrison troops, they would only serve
and pledge loyalty to Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye propped up the teapot and drank another cup of
hot tea. Seeing as it was already late, he said, “Tend to the horses
first before sending them back to the stables. Take good care of
them.”
Fei Sheng immediately rose to his feet and instructed the
others to clear away the screen and charcoal brazier, while Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye took their leave first. Yao Wenyu bent over
to take Hunu into his arms. When he straightened up again, he saw
Qiao Tianya standing before him.
Blocking Huo Lingyun, Qiao Tianya pointed to Fei Sheng on the
other end, and said, “Once you’re done cleaning up, wait in the
main courtyard for your orders.”
The atmosphere around Huo Lingyun did not bode well. He
gave an indifferent nod of his head and stepped around Qiao
Tianya.
Yao Wenyu was looking at the cat when a colored silk ball
suddenly fell into his arms. He raised his eyes—Qiao Tianya was still
looking at Huo Lingyun. Yao Wenyu grasped that multi-colored
ball; it still had Qiao Tianya’s sweat on it.
 CHAPTER 220: FIGURE

While the Prefectural Lord and Second Master were having

their meal, Kong Ling and the other gentlemen were drinking tea
in the side hall waiting for them. Yu Xiaozai said quietly to Kong
Ling, “I just hope that everyone will get along today and not
dampen His Lordship’s spirits.”
All of them were present at the riding tracks, where they had a
clear look of the fierce battle that had gone down between
formidable foes on horseback. Fei Sheng’s reputation among the
Imperial Bodyguards was not one to be trifled with, and he had
also previously rendered meritorious service serving under Shen
Zechuan. Huo Lingyun could not afford to shoulder the blame for
offending him.
Kong Ling covered his mouth with a handkerchief and set
aside his chopsticks. “Since His Lordship did not say a word about
it, there’s no way anyone can kick up a commotion about this
incident. You should not belittle Qiao Tianya either. He naturally
must have his strengths for His Lordship to value and respect him
to such an extent.”
Kong Ling had the clearest idea of what Shen Zechuan was
thinking, having already figured him out. This horse race might
have been a spur-of-the-moment idea, but the Prefectural Lord’s
awarding of reward was not. Fei Sheng took credit for risking his
life to protect the Prefectural Lord before, and then he had the
tangible result to show for as the attendant officer in the taking
down of Fanzhou. No doubt Shen Zechuan would put Fei Sheng to
use somewhere more suitable, but at the same time, Shen Zechuan
would not let Fei Sheng get a monopoly on power either. He had to
simultaneously mobilize Qiao Tianya and Huo Lingyun so that
these three people would form an iron triangle of a powerful trio
who mutually held each other in check under his command. The
outcome of today’s horse race was exactly as the Prefectural Lord
expected.
Shen Zechuan drew a clear distinction between his personal
relations and official business. From the Imperial Bodyguards to the
Six Prefectures, he was in the process of quietly establishing an
equilibrium of power imbued with checks and balances. Shen
Zechuan was not as forceful and striking as Xiao Chiye was when it
came to the management of his subordinates, but he always
remained securely seated at the peak, holding every single
subordinate firmly in the palm of his hand as he had them achieve
a delicate balance.
Kong Ling could not help but sigh ruefully as he thought to this
point.
Qi Huilian truly was the teacher of the emperor.
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan tapped the chess piece as he played a game
against Xiao Chiye. They had rekindled an interest in it after the
last round in Yuanzhuo’s residence and were presently sitting
around digesting their meals.
“What happened with Qiao Tianya was not in the cards,” Xiao
Chiye said. “Seeing how he made no attempt to vie in Cizhou, I
even suspected that he had already seen through the secular world
and was on the verge of renouncing himself from the pursuit of
fame and fortune.”
“I had the same sentiments.” With his fingertips, Shen Zechuan
turned around the chess piece that was cold to the touch. “But
opportunities abound everywhere in life. There’s always light at the
end of the tunnel.”
Xiao Chiye propped his arms on his knees and gave the
Prefectural Lord his undivided attention.
 Shen Zechuan set the chess piece down. “Qiao Tianya was a
Vice Commander in the Imperial Bodyguards who could even take
the liberty to mobilize the Imperial Bodyguards back then when he
apprehended you at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. This in itself is
evident of Ji Lei’s preferential treatment of him. Even as an official
slapped with a crime, he could eke out a spot for himself in Qudu
and one-up Fei Sheng. To be able to do that, he can’t do without
both craftiness and drive. My guess is that he bowed out in Cizhou
because of Yuanzhuo’s debilitating health, but despite his desire to
retreat, Yuanzhuo pushed him back into the game.”
Shen Zechuan hesitated over Huo Lingyun’s placement when
Fanzhou scored a great victory. At that time, Yao Wenyu proposed
to place Huo Lingyun into the Imperial Bodyguards. As long as
Shen Zechuan agreed, he would have to put Qiao Tianya to use
again, because Huo Lingyun could not hold Fei Sheng in check in
the Imperial Bodyguards.
“Both of them sure are interesting.” At this point, Xiao Chiye
remembered the Venerable Master Yideng of whom there had
been no traces of for a long time. “Yuanzhuo’s chronic ailment is a
tough one to heal…”
Shen Zechuan nodded slightly. “This is the reason Yuanzhuo
pushed Qiao Tianya back into the game.”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Chiye said, “The paths of
talented men never run smooth.”19
The atmosphere was slightly heavy as Shen Zechuan nudged
the chess piece under the candlelight and said, “The medicine
Yuanzhuo is taking can’t cure the illness once and for all at its root.
Physicians come and go, but not a single one of them dares to give
a definitive answer.”
“The poison he was fed with in Dancheng was meant to take
his life.” Xiao Chiye tossed the chess piece between his fingers into
the chess box. “The Venerable Master Yideng became untraceable
after the tenth month last year. I asked shifu back in Dajing, and he
had no idea either. The Venerable Master made it clear when he
left Dajing that he would return after the new year to check on my
eldest brother again. But it’s already almost the third month, and
there’s still no sign of him.”
 Shen Zechuan’s health was a constant worry to Xiao Chiye, and
seeing Yao Wenyu so frail and weak now, he could not help but feel
as if Shen Zechuan would share the same fate. He rose to his feet
and pushed aside the chessboard, disregarding the chess pieces
bouncing all over the table as he stubbornly stroked Shen
Zechuan’s cheek.
“By the fourth month at the very latest,” Xiao Chiye’s gaze spoke
volumes as he said in a deep voice with his palm on Shen
Zechuan’s cheek, “I’ll find the Venerable Master, even if I have to
dig to the very center of the earth.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Lanterns hung high in the office compound, with the slab
stones swept so clean that there was not a single speck of dust on
them. This courtyard was newly selected. Several years ago, it was
a compound for the officials of the Duanzhou yamen to rest their
feet while on duty, and now it had been vacated out for the
Imperial Bodyguards to use as an office compound, with several
rooms excavated to form a main central hall.
Fei Sheng sat inside with one foot on a stool drinking his wine.
Several of his fellow brothers surrounded him and dug into the
wine dishes until the plates were a mess. Every one of them was
glancing outside.
Huo Lingyun was squatting on the steps with his back to them,
eating dry rations with cold water. He was midway through when a
cuju ball20 suddenly came flying over from the side and smashed
into his water canteen, which fell to the ground and wetted the
corner of his robe. He swallowed the ration in his mouth and
turned his head over to look.
The Imperial Bodyguard under the tree grinned at him. “It’s
dark in the courtyard. I didn’t see clearly.”
Huo Lingyun reached out an arm to pick up the ball, then rose
to his feet and wiped his mouth.
The Imperial Bodyguard teased Huo Lingyun. “At the count of
two, throw it back to—”
Before he could finish his words, Huo Lingyun threw the cuju
ball out. That leather ball flew over the wall, and in no time,
disappeared from sight.
 Huo Lingyun rubbed away a handful of snow and answered,
“It’s dark in the courtyard. I didn’t see clearly.”
Fei Sheng picked up the food and ate without turning his head
around. Meanwhile, the Imperial Bodyguards beside him had all
stood up. The one across from him crossed past the branch and
went over to bump into Huo Lingyun, scolding in jest, “Son of a
bitch, throwing it that far. You going to pick it up?”
One of the lanterns in the courtyard suddenly went out, casting
a veil of darkness over this side. Huo Lingyun felt a blow to his
abdomen. He rolled up his sleeve and threw out a fist. The steps
were slippery, and the few of them tripped him, causing his punch
to strike at empty air. The next moment, Huo Lingyun was thrown
down to the ground. He protected his head and took a few more
blows.
Qiao Tianya strode in from the courtyard entrance and kicked
them one after another without even lifting the hem of his robe. His
voice was frosty as he berated them, “Get up, all of you!”
“What’s going on here?” Fei Sheng shifted his butt and turned
his head aside to look down the stairs with a placid expression.
“Why are you creating a scene here?”
Huo Lingyun was still protecting his head. He had been kicked
until he was covered in shoe prints all over. He spat out a mouthful
of blood from the gap between his arms and leaped to his feet.21
Qiao Tianya looked at Fei Sheng, who said, “I didn’t hear a
thing. Xiaohuo, why didn’t you shout for me?”
It was all ice fragments in Huo Lingyun’s mouth. He spat out
several more mouthfuls of them, paying no heed at all to Fei
Sheng.
“A few years ago when we received our authority tokens…”
Qiao Tianya pulled off the authority token on the waist of the
Imperial Bodyguard before him and held it up for everyone in the
courtyard to see. He raised his voice. “I bloody said that we have to
be of one heart and one mind, to be brothers—take off your tokens
now, all of you!”
Not daring to hesitate, the Imperial Bodyguards in the
courtyard raised their hands in unison to remove their authority
tokens.
 The Imperial Bodyguards’ authority token was a symbol of their
identity, one they had to hold on to carefully; even loaning it out
was out of the question. They once wore the tokens when they
basked in those days of glory back in Qudu, and they also wore the
tokens when they followed Shen Zechuan in his rise to power in
Zhongbo. The authority token itself was an embodiment of their
own honor and dignity.
“Go on, throw it.” Qiao Tianya tossed the authority token down
at his feet and kicked it away without so much as a look at it. He
looked around at everyone. “Or are you keeping it to trample all
over it? I said, throw!”
The Imperial Bodyguards tossed their authority tokens on the
ground, none of them daring to meet Qiao Tianya right in the eyes.
They lowered their heads in dejection and stood at the side like
wooden statues.
Fei Sheng’s smile faded. Wiping the corners of his lips, he said,
“Isn’t that too much of you? What is there that you can’t sit and talk
over instead of having to throw everyone’s dignity to the ground to
trample on?”
“Whose dignity are you talking about?” Qiao Tianya asked Fei
Sheng. “Everyone’s? Or yours?”
The flames of the fury that Fei Sheng had been forcibly
suppressing suddenly leaped up high. He pushed back the chair
with a clatter as he stood up and said, “Is my dignity what he’s
trampling on today? He’s clearly trampling on me as an individual!
What? So it serves me right to be a stepping stone for someone
else? You, Qiao Tianya, had it all worked out, didn’t you?!”
Qiao Tianya ordered, “Get out.”
The Imperial Bodyguards in the courtyard immediately
withdrew, leaving only the three of them behind.
Fei Sheng flung the chopsticks in his hand into the wine cup.
His unwillingness to take it lying down blazed along with his fury.
He kicked over the table with a foot and turned around to point at
Huo Lingyun. “Does it feel good to trample on me, hm? You have to
snatch the limelight, make a grab for Master’s rewards, and even
take credit for the venerable old man’s military achievements
before. You really don’t give a shit about anyone, huh?!” Then he
pointed at Qiao Tianya and questioned in an icy tone, “Did you
already have it all planned out with him?”
“Oh yeah.” Qiao Tianya straightened up. “All to plot against
you.”
The candlelight in the hall shone bright, and it was here Fei
Sheng stood, while Huo Lingyun stood outside in the pitch-black
darkness. Meanwhile, Qiao Tianya stood on that boundary line
between black and white, partially blocking off both parties. A dark
crow on a snow-tipped branch of an old tree cawed a few times. Fei
Sheng’s chest heaved. He took a few sudden steps closer.
“I put my life on the line being on the go with Master, and you
screwed me over with this son-of-a-bitch of a newcomer!” Fei
Sheng pointed at himself, so overwhelmed with resentment that
both his eyes went red. “I was the one who opened the gates of
Qudu, defended Wuxian Peak in Dunzhou, and took down Fanzhou
with the venerable old man! So why can’t I assume this position?
On what grounds does it have to be you, Qiao Tianya?! To think I
even consider you as my fucking brother!”
Qiao Tianya pressed in a step closer. “You think of me as your
brother, and yet you say I plotted against you? I told you a long
time ago, don’t keep dwelling on this matter. What’s meant to be
yours will eventually be yours!”
Fei Sheng immediately retorted, “Shouldn’t this position be
mine?!”
The startled night crow on the snow-tipped branch promptly
took off. The remaining lanterns swayed in the courtyard, distorting
the shadows on the ground. In this tense, antagonistic atmosphere,
Fei Sheng shoved Qiao Tianya aside, descended the stairs in a few
steps, and ignored the shouts as he headed right for the exit.
He could not stay here for even a moment more!
Fei Sheng ignored everyone else after stepping out of the
courtyard. Having consumed quite a fair bit of wine, he supported
himself against the wall as he walked. He slipped a few times and
bumped his head, bruising it. All of a sudden, he squatted at the
foot of the wall and wiped his eyes in aggrievement as he lashed
out at whoever, “Fuck…”
 Sobering up a little, Fei Sheng blew his nose. Someone ahead
blew his nose too. Startled, Fei Sheng jerked to his feet and saw a
head popping out in front.
Yin Chang had his hands folded under his sleeves as he
leaned up ahead to wait for him. He smacked his lips a few times
and asked, “The heck you crying for?”
Fei Sheng did not move even after having discerned that it was
the old man. He merely remained motionless in place and said
nothing.
“Come on, let’s go.” Yin Chang urged as he stomped his
freezing feet. “We’ll find a place to drink. It’s rather cold to be
standing around like poles here!”
Fei Sheng did not want to. He could be rather bullheaded when
he was being stubborn, and he was still fuming inside.
Yin Chang rubbed his arms. “It’s just one tooth that got
knocked off, man. Why get into a hissy fit with them over it?”
Fei Sheng tossed away the handkerchief he used to wipe his
hands, his expression as capricious as the weather. Eventually, he
forced out a smile and said, “What’s there for me to get into a fit
with them over?”
Yin Chang craned his neck to look at Fei Sheng’s expression.
The reach of the light from the lanterns ahead did not extend to
this spot. Fei Sheng stood with his head lowered and averted his
head away in refusal to show the old man.
Yin Chang was so cold he could not stand it. Taking small, brisk
steps, he said, “Since that position has already been given to him,
then so be it. The way I see it, you’re formidable too! Gu Jin is a
man of outstanding abilities, and only you in our Zhongbo can
compare to him. Qiao Tianya doesn’t have the capability to. We still
have a future, so why insist on getting in a huff at him here? Mind
that His Lordship doesn’t see it, or he’ll rebuff you for being petty.”
Fei Sheng’s fury blazed with even more vehemence.
Yin Chang took no notice of him and continued, “You oppress
Huo Lingyun to the extent it is so unwarranted and unbefitting of
the occasion. How can you convince and win over the others?
There are still those from the Dengzhou Garrison Troops in the
Imperial Bodyguards! Would they not feel disillusioned? What
does a commander-in-chief do? He oversees an entire army. So
how can this position be given to you if you can’t show a little
tolerance?”
Fei Sheng raised his voice. “Only Qiao Tianya can do it. Only
Qiao Tianya is capable!”
“When it comes to people, Qiao Tianya does indeed have the
capability.” Yin Chang sighed and went around to the other side of
Fei Sheng. The old man was short, so when he stood near Fei
Sheng, he was several heads shorter. “Look at him. He didn’t vie
with you in Cizhou, yet his prestige remains intact. Has he or has he
not advised you not to keep oppressing Huo Lingyun? Alright,
don’t say a word! I know you’re going to say that you didn’t
oppress Huo Lingyun, but have you ever assigned him to any of the
Imperial Bodyguards’ tasks? No, right?”
Fei Sheng said, “I’m his mother? I even have to take care of all
his needs from eating to drinking and pissing to pooping?!”
Yin Chang leaped up to whack him. “You dope, why don’t you
get it? You yourself know best what you did!” With that, he shoved
Fei Sheng. “Move it, now!”
Fei Sheng staggered under the force of the shove.
Yin Chang kicked his ass and cursed, “I’d totally whip you if you
were my son!”
Fei Sheng tugged at his dirty robe. He was so pissed he turned
back and yelled, “I have a fucking father!”
“Keep your eyes on the road! If you want this position that
badly, I’ll go beg His Lordship tomorrow and kowtow to him until
you get it back. See if that shames you!” Yin Chang took a few steps
and added, “I have a fucking son too!”
This was something new to Fei Sheng. In all the time Yin Chang
was in Cizhou, he rarely spoke of his past.
“If my son were still alive, he would be of the same age as you.”
After keeping his mouth shut for a while, Fei Sheng suddenly
asked, “So how did he die?”
Yin Chang’s feet crunched noisily on the snow; he was finally
able to get a clear look of the path with aid from the starlight
overhead. He shrank his neck and answered, “Starvation.”
 Fei Sheng held on to the wall, not daring to talk back to the old
man again.
When Yin Chang was young, he used to hang around the
marketplace. He was a lad of lowly origins, with no trade skills and
education. To earn his bread, he went to great efforts to enlist in the
army. At that time, the registration of households in the census
registers22 that Qi Huilian implemented had just come to Cizhou,
and Yin Chang made it in time to exploit the last loophole to join
the garrison troops where he stayed for thirty years. He lived hand
to mouth, one day at a time, in the garrison troops. Although he
was illiterate, he got himself well-acquainted with the terrains. It
was just as he had boasted to Fei Sheng. As long as it was in
Zhongbo, he would not go the wrong way even with his eyes
closed. Ordinary bandits were no match for him at all.
Yin Chang did not want to bring up his wife and son because
they died of starvation during the reign of Xiande. That was the
prelude to Yin Chang’s problematic drinking. He looked back on
his past and felt himself to be like the mud beneath his feet, one
who had never amounted to much in this life.
“You have a future serving His Lordship, and you have so much
more promise than me.” Yin Chang looked at the road under his
feet. “Xiaosheng, one has to be down-to-earth in their journey
through life; you can’t just look upward. You know it better than I do
that the wiser and mightier the master is, the harder he is to serve.
You can’t fool His Lordship, and you can’t hide what you’re thinking
from him. Do you think His Lordship doesn’t know about this
temperament of yours? Didn’t he still go ahead and put you to use
by his side? That’s because you have talent. You fixed your eyes on
Qiao Tianya and Huo Lingyun, but they both don’t walk the same
path as you. You’re an intelligent lad, albeit a silly one. Don’t bear a
grudge against them over this bit of trivial matter and ruin the
bond you have forged with His Lordship and wreck your future
prospects.”
Fei Sheng felt even more aggrieved at this point. He walked up
ahead and wiped his face.
Fei Sheng’s father was the common son of a concubine from
the Fei Clan. By the time it came to Fei Sheng, he had become so
far removed from the legitimate lineage that he could not even
benefit from a connection to the Marquis of Helian from his very
same clan. What’s more, his father was a gambler. Had he not died
early, Fei Sheng would probably not have been able to hold on to
his position of the Assistant Commander of the Imperial
Bodyguards. Fei Sheng had served under many a number of
people. In order to make connections with the Marquis of Helian
back then, he spent all day bootlicking the Junior Marquis, Fei Shi.
Then he followed Han Cheng, who kept bossing him around like
he was his son.
He was not a gentleman of virtue. He was not anything. He
merely wanted to come out of his ordeals stronger and etch out a
name for himself.
The old man said, “You make little of Huo Lingyun, but I heard
he is also of decent origins. His father was someone who fought
the bandits. It’s not easy to survive and stay alive. Don’t keep giving
him such a hard time.”
Fei Sheng said, “He stole your military credits!”
“Then just give it to him.” Yin Chang walked behind Fei Sheng
and looked up at Fei Sheng’s back while the latter was unaware.
After a long time, he said, “How many years more do I have to live?
It’s pointless for me to hold on to it anyway.”
Fei Sheng was still young, with a tall stature and a strong,
healthy physique.
Without realizing it, Yin Chang stopped. It seemed as if this was
only as far as he could go. Even if he refused to concede defeat to
old age, he could not catch up with the pace of the younger
generation. It was another world ahead of them. For a long time,
he watched as Fei Sheng continued walking forward along this
road.
“Xiaosheng, this old man is a good-for-nothing who can’t even
keep his son alive in his lifetime. But believe me, I can tell that you
will live to a hundred years and retire with merit to your name! So
keep walking.” Yin Chang paused for a moment and suddenly
shouted, “Onward and forward!”
Fei Sheng looked back at Yin Chang, finding the old man’s
gaze foreign. In this life of his, he had never been gazed upon this
attentively by his father, so he did not understand the hope and
expectation that lay behind this gaze. He stopped in his tracks and
said, “Keep walking too, you.”
Yin Chang inexplicably started to laugh. He smoothed up his
messy white hair to reveal his weathered and worn face. “I’m
already old.”
◈ ◈ ◈
In the end, the Imperial Bodyguards did not stir up a
commotion. Even if Fei Sheng was displeased, he knew his place.
The next day, as he handed the medicine to Shen Zechuan, he
heard Shen Zechuan ask, “Did you drink?”
Fei Sheng saw that the Prefectural Lord was still approving the
cases and was not looking up at him. The latter seemed to be just
asking in passing. Feeling unsettled and unable to figure out Shen
Zechuan’s intent, Fei Sheng could only answer truthfully, “… I drank
a little last night.”
Shen Zechuan handed the cases he had finished approving
over to Fei Sheng and said, “Head over to the office compound
yourself to forfeit your salary as penalty.”
It was not Fei Sheng’s turn to be on duty yesterday. Unable to
make any sense of it, he took the cases and gingerly attempted to
explain, “It wasn’t my turn yesterday to…”
“Didn’t I tell you to handle the recruitment?” Shen Zechuan
finally raised his eyes to look at Fei Sheng. “This job is not complete
so long as the register of names has not yet been submitted.”
Fei Sheng was taken aback, and then delight took over.
Grasping the cases, he fell to his knees with a “thud” and said,
“Master is wise. I’ll get it done right away!”
With the Imperial Cavalry’s commander-in-chief position given
to Qiao Tianya, Fei Sheng thought that his previous assignments
would be handed over to Qiao Tianya too. This was an important
assignment that involved the vetting and recruitment of soldiers,
which carried a lot of weight in the newly established light cavalry.
He never expected the task to fall to him still.
Shen Zechuan exercised his neck a little and cast a sidelong
glance at the window. It was sunny days on end in Duanzhou now
that it was nearing the third month, and the snow in the courtyard
had more or less melted. Faint light filtered through the window
paper and shone upon his right ear, creating a gorgeous but tiny
glow swaying on his neck.
Xiao Chiye was standing in the courtyard at this time, having
received new information on Qudu from Gu Jin.
 CHAPTER 221: QUANDARY

Xiao Chiye pulled open the bamboo blinds upon entering the
room, and Fei Sheng took his leave. Bringing with him a trail of
cool breeze from outside, Xiao Chiye placed the opened letter on
Shen Zechuan’s desk. “In the second trial of the Dancheng case,
the Pan clan had an errant servant from their manor take the
blame. They intend to extract Pan Lin out first on grounds of Pan
Yi’s lapse in management.”
Shen Zechuan read the letter. “The Pan clan misappropriated
the commoners’ fields, and it’s now a scene of desolation
everywhere in Dancheng with nine out of ten houses standing
empty. All they need to do is to check Dancheng’s census register,
and they will know that the displaced commoners left destitute and
homeless last year numbered in the thousands. Just handing over
an errant servant alone isn’t enough to plug in the missing pieces.
Pan Lin manages the eight cities’ taxes in the Ministry of Revenue.
It’s impossible for him to be unaware of how much is missing.”
“The men in charge of the matters pertaining to the Pan clan’s
field taxes have already been thrown in prison.” Xiao Chiye
blocked out some of the light. “All these people insisted they were
blinded by their own obsession for money and that they did not do
so at the Pan clan’s behest.”
Shen Zechuan gently rubbed the paper with his fingertips. “Pan
Xiangjie, that wily old fox.”
 Pan Xiangjie had seen firsthand just how formidable Hua Siqian
and Wei Huaigu were, so he had long made preparations in order
to take precautions against such a day. The men he arranged to be
in charge of the Dancheng’s field taxes were all sons of his
servants23 who shared a common interest with the Pan clan.
Protecting Pan Lin at this juncture was akin to protecting the lives of
their whole family, young and old. Naturally, they would be willing
to keep their mouths sealed and take the blame.
Xiao Chiye said, “Since Xue Xiuzhuo dares to strike at this
moment, he must have a handle that could be held against the Pan
clan in his hand.”
“He was even able to bring Kong Qiu and Cen Yu on board, so
it’s not entirely out of the question for him to have Dancheng’s real
accounts in hand.” Shen Zechuan thought for a moment. “But he
didn’t show his hand.”
This case already had the Three Judicial Offices conducting a
joint trial. Pan Lin had also been dismissed from his position
pending prosecution. Xue Xiuzhuo only had to instruct Liang
Cuishan to present the evidence as per procedure, and they would
have emerged victorious. Even if only one Pan Lin was taken down
in the end, it also had a pivotal effect on the current division of
power in Qudu.
“I thought about it, and the only thing that can hold Xue
Xiuzhuo back from making a move is the spring plowing.” Sunlight
filtered out from behind and spilled onto the side of Lanzhou’s
face. Xiao Chiye raised an arm to block it, refusing to let it peek.
“The spring plowing of the Thirteen Cities of Juexi is right around
the corner.”
“But Juexi didn’t suffer from a disaster last year, and the
granaries of the thirteen cities are in abundance.” As if unaware of
Er-lang’s possessiveness of him, Shen Zechuan said, “They didn’t
allocate military provisions to the Five Commanderies of Qidong in
winter and merely replenished Qudu’s granaries, so they should
still have reserves for spring plowing. What is Xue Xiuzhuo afraid
of?”
“There’s naturally no issue going by the original plan.” Xiao
Chiye sat at the table’s edge and looked at Shen Zechuan. “But
what if something went awry in between?”
A hint was all Shen Zechuan needed to make the connection.
He set down the brush. “Looks like the Empress Dowager wants to
use Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops to shift and empty out Juexi’s
granaries.”
The requisition of military provisions was what enabled Qudu to
empty out Juexi’s granaries at this moment. If Xue Xiuzhuo acted
arbitrarily now and insisted on continuing to dig deeper into the
matter, then there was no way the spring plowing in Juexi this year
could be carried out. The meals of tens of thousands of people
were hanging over Xue Xiuzhuo’s head, putting him in a situation
where he had to beat a retreat even if he did not want to.
“What the Empress Dowager is doing here is getting the better
of him by letting him strike first before launching a counterattack.”
Xiao Chiye said. “If Xue Xiuzhuo agrees to the requisition of military
provisions, then the Juexi’s granaries will be left vacant. For the
sake of the spring plowing, Juexi must borrow the grains from the
Eight Cities that still have reserves. In that case, Xue Xiuzhuo can’t
offend the noble clans now. He has to cease pursuing the matter of
the field taxes and make peace with the Empress Dowager, who
represents the noble clans. If Xue Xiuzhuo refuses the requisition of
military provisions, there will be no one to replenish the military
provisions of the Five Commanderies of Qidong, and Qi Zhuyin will
not be able to mobilize troops.”
Juexi not only had to shoulder the load for Qudu’s granaries,
but also Qidong’s military provisions. If they lacked grains during
the spring plowing season, the various prefectural prefects of the
various areas would have to report the exact amount of grain
shortage in the territories to the Provincial Administration
Commission. As the Provincial Administration Commissioner of
Juexi, Jiang Qingshan would have to think of ways to make up for
these shortages. Under normal circumstances, the Ministry of
Revenue would proceed to coordinate based on the harvest
situation in the various local areas last year, and Jiang Qingshan
would issue memorandums of debt to the Provincial Administration
Commissioners of the nearby regions that had bumper harvests
last year to borrow grains. When the time came, everyone would
make their own negotiations as to whether to exchange those
grains with their own territories’ agricultural products or with silver.
However, at this time, only the Eight Cities could loan out grains to
Juexi. To convince the Empress Dowager to loan them grains after
Juexi’s granaries were emptied for the requisition of military
provisions, Xue Xiuzhuo had to drop his investigation into the field
taxes of the Eight Cities, and even Dancheng’s.
“Even if he has the money, he won’t be able to buy grains. The
whole thing about the field taxes has already alerted the
perpetrators. If he missed his opportunity now, it would be even
harder to investigate it in the future. Besides, this case has drawn
the attention of the Imperial College. If Xue Xiuzhuo were to beat a
retreat, the students would denounce him in writing.” Shen
Zechuan slowly leaned on the table. “This trap the Empress
Dowager laid out is brilliant. She merely seized the opportunity to
move around the chess pieces, and she managed to put Xue
Xiuzhuo on the horns of a dilemma.”
The Empress Dowager also drew from Shen Zechuan’s
influence here. The military provisions Shen Zechuan
supplemented Qidong with were all “stolen” grains Yan Heru
consolidated from the Hezhou and Juexi’s granaries. With the
requisition from Qudu, Juexi was no different from having
undergone two rounds of military grain replenishment in just half a
year. Of course its granaries would not be able to bear the burden.
Xiao Chiye covered the top of Shen Zechuan’s head and said,
“And so, Xue Yanqing, ever so meticulous and thorough in his
strategies, found himself trapped in a deadlock.”
“There is still a way out.” Shen Zechuan raised his eyes and said
guilelessly to Xiao Chiye, “If I were in his shoes, I’d simply just take
the Empress Dowager out of the game.”
◈ ◈ ◈
With the snow in Qudu melting fast in the past few days, water
started trickling off the eaves along the streets. Fortunately, the
public ditches had been newly repaired last year, so a repeat of the
cloggage incident did not occur. The location of the Xue residence
was not remote, but it was too close to the abode next to it, and the
foot of the walls of both homes ended up so waterlogged they
collapsed.
Xue Xiuzhuo had been staying over in the Court of Judicial
Review of late. When he returned home to get a change of clothes,
he saw that the courtyard wall had already been rebuilt anew, so he
asked the steward-in-charge serving in residence, “When was it
repaired?”
Xue Xiuzhuo did not bother with the unnecessary formalities in
the management of his household. The steward, already getting
up in the years, was still respectful and deferential as he followed at
Xue Xiuzhuo’s side. He answered truthfully. “The eldest madam
came back a few days ago to visit Jin-ge’er. Seeing that the
courtyard wall had collapsed, she brought up the matter to the
eldest master on her return, and he called for someone to come
over and repair it.”
Upon hearing those words, Xue Xiuzhuo’s eyes darkened
slightly. He pondered it over for a moment, finding his eldest
brother Xue Xiuyi’s actions unusual. Xue Xiuyi did not get along
with Xue Xiuzhuo. He had squandered away his remaining family
fortune after dividing up family property to live apart. Benefiting
from his relationship with Xue Xiuzhuo, he held a sinecure position
in the Ministry of Revenue, where he could barely make ends meet,
so where in the world did he get this disposable money to help
Xue Xiuzhuo repair the courtyard wall?
“Get the accountant to reimburse him accordingly,” Xue
Xiuzhuo said, “and ensure that the eldest madam doesn’t visit Jin-
ge’er again for no reason.”
Jin’ge-er was Xue the Eldest’s lawful son. He was eight years
old this year. Xue Xiuzhuo kept him by his side to raise him, and
even when Xue the Eldest divided up the family property and left to
live apart, Xue Xiuzhuo did not return Jin’ge-er to Xue the Eldest
and his wife. Xue the Eldest came to ask for him back several times,
but as he always failed to see Xue Xiuzhuo, he could only give up.
The steward acknowledged his order with an “understood”.
Xue Xiuzhuo’s bundle24 was light. He never wore silk and satin,
and his most ornate clothing was his official robe, so it was quite
convenient for him to pack them up. He often stayed over in the
office compound, with only a mute lad following by his side to
prepare the ink for him. He had no maidservants and usually ate
plain, simple fares. These were all habits he had retained from
working hands-on at the local levels as Chief Supervising Secretary
of the Ministry of Revenue.
Xue Xiuzhuo had to return to the office compound once he was
done packing. The steward held up the umbrella for him and
gently advised him, “Third Master always stays over at the
compound without anyone to serve you. This weather is given to
such sudden changes that you still need to put on thick clothes.”
When Xue Xiuzhuo reached the entrance, the mute lad stepped
forth to take over the umbrella and spoke to him, making “uh, uh”
sounds. Xue Xiuzhuo nodded to indicate his acknowledgement
and turned back to the steward. “I’ll leave all household affairs in
your hand. My monthly salary will be sent back on time. See if
there’s anything we can acquire for the residence, and you can just
go ahead and buy it.”
Ever since Xue Xiuzhuo was promoted, he never took the sedan
again; instead, he walked to and fro on foot. Now that he was done
giving his instruction, he turned around to walk into the drizzle,
with the mute lad holding up the umbrella. When he arrived at the
office compound, he saw Liang Cuishan, who had already been
waiting for a while.
“Your Excellency Yanqing.” Liang Cuishan descended the steps
to meet and pay his obeisances to Xue Xiuzhuo.
Xue Xiuzhuo dismissed the mute lad and said to Liang Cuishan,
“We’ll talk inside.”
Liang Cuishan slowed down a few steps and followed Xue
Xiuzhuo into the house. It was lit inside, but the charcoal brazier
was empty. Liang Cuishan found the chair cold when he took his
seat. While waiting earlier, he had taken a look at this house. It was
simple and unpretentious, and the only thing of worth here was the
deceased Old Master Yao’s writings hanging on the wall. Other
than that, the table, chairs, and benches were all standard
furniture.
Who would have expected Xue Xiuzhuo to be capable of
shouldering the Qidong’s military salaries?
 “Chongshen, no need to hold back.” Xue Xiuzhuo opened a
window and sat down. He spoke in a mild tone, “You’re here today
regarding the Dancheng field tax case, right?”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s stature was tall, and his demeanor, poised; being
around him made one feel as if they were standing amidst the
spring breeze. He was now a significant official in Qudu, but Liang
Cuishan felt very comfortable in his presence. He not only lacked
the haughtiness of a noble family’s descendant, but also did not
have the reservations of an official of humble origins. What’s more,
he had the tendency to impress upon the others a favorable
impression when he spoke frankly and in measured tones.
“That’s right.” Liang Cuishan took out a securely wrapped
account book in his arms. “This humble subordinate is here
precisely because of the Dancheng’s field taxes case.”
Xue Xiuzhuo waited for his next words.
Liang Cuishan continued, “The Empress Dowager issued a
decree last time for Third Missy Hua to return for a visit.
Commander-in-chief Qi will have to accompany her in her father’s
stead. In my humble opinion, she meant to hurry His Excellency.”
No doubt the Empress Dowager called for Qi Zhuyin to enter
the capital at this time to put pressure on Xue Xiuzhuo. The
requisition of military provisions was still stuck in limbo, and time
waited for no man.
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “The Grand Secretariat has already drawn up
the writ to allow Commander-in-chief Qi to mobilize troops against
the Qingshu tribe, but the Empress Dowager kept putting off the
approval. It is not entirely a bad thing for Commander-in-chief Qi to
enter the capital at this time.”
Liang Cuishan replied, “But the requisition of military provisions
is still up in the air. If this drags on, I fear it will delay Juexi’s spring
plowing.”
The dilemma here was the reason Xue Xiuzhuo had not rested
for days. He and Jiang Qingshan went to great lengths to
straighten out the account books of the thirteen cities of Juexi so as
to prevent Juexi from falling into the displacement problem that
was plaguing the eight cities. The Empress Dowager held his
Achilles heel in her hands; this was not a move he could afford to
make rashly.
Even if Liang Cuishan did not come to see Xue Xiuzhuo today,
Xue Xiuzhuo would still have to go and meet him. He said,
“Chongshen, you are in charge of all affairs pertaining to salt taxes
in Hezhou and Juexi. Why don’t you tell me the details of
Hezhou?”
This implied an intention to borrow grains from Hezhou.
Liang Cuishan looked hesitant. “This humble subordinate shall
be direct. It will prove difficult for Your Excellency to borrow grains
from Hezhou. While it’s true that Hezhou had a bumper harvest this
year, the public grains are being supplied to Qudu, and the
remaining grains will also have to be kept in reserve for the spring
plowing. We can only borrow from the Yan clan. That Yan Heru is a
tough nut to crack, and he’s also overbearing because of his
wealth. He may not necessarily be willing to loan the grains even if
we give him money. My fear is that he will take the opportunity to
demand something else and end up being the fly in the ointment
that ruins the entire game in Hezhou.”
Xue Xiuzhuo contemplated it over.
His struggle right now was over grains and not money, and the
crux was that he could not purchase grain even if he had the
money. Had it been Qidong’s military salaries he was fretting over
at present, he could still raise the tariffs in Hezhou and Juexi and
fleece the merchants for this sum of money. But it just had to be
grains they were lacking.
Hai Liangyi’s plans had been to transfer Jiang Qingshan over to
restore Zhongbo. By doing so, they would be able to round up
some grains this year and put together more from Huaizhou when
the time came. Resolving their predicament over the military
provisions was not hard. However, Zhongbo was now Shen
Zechuan’s territory, and the commercial route between Cizhou,
Huaizhou, and Chazhou had cut off a relatively large portion of
Qudu’s grain supply.
“When Commander-in-chief Qi enters the capital,” Xue Xiuzhuo
said, “I’ll discuss it with her.”
 Author’s Note:
I see a few of you can’t distinguish between Xue Xiuzhuo and Xue
Xiuyi, so I’ll be using Xue the Eldest (pinyin: Xueda) from now on.
Thank you for reading.
 CHAPTER 222: BLUFF OF A MOVE

Horse hooves stirred up the mud and came to a stop at the

entrance of the city gates.
With a cloak hung over her arm, Qi Zhuyin looked at the
towering city walls of Qudu with her back to the overcast sky. Day
had yet to break at this time, and the young general of the Eight
Great Training Divisions stationed at the top of the city wall
instantly drew out his voice in a shout, “OPEN—THE GATE. Our
respectful welcome to Commander-in-chief Qi!”
A few city soldiers shouted in unison as they pulled the gate
open. The mechanism issued a muffled noise, and the mottled city
gate slowly rose. The Eight Great Training Divisions soldiers in the
city stood solemnly on both sides, their faces to Qi Zhuyin at the
entrance as they held down their swords in greeting.
Qi Zhuyin raised an arm, and the Qidong cavalrymen behind
her stepped back in unison, leaving a considerable distance
between them. She shook the reins and led Hua Xiangyi’s horse
carriage onto the public road of Qudu.
The soldiers on both sides stood with solemn respect, their
eyes never once wandering.
Qi Zhuyin was wearing court attire today. Although she was not
conferred a noble rank and title, the Empress Dowager’s personal
appointment of her gave her the right to wear the court attire of a
marquis. The court attire had a scarlet base, with a baize25
representing the transcension of ranks embroidered on the
mandarin square.26 She had also swapped out the liangguan
headgear27 that went with the male attire into a wuzhu ornament28
that swung in the air along with the horse’s movements.
Court officials who were there to welcome them waited right
ahead of the public road, while the Imperial Bodyguards’
Commander-in-chief, Han Cheng, and palace eunuch, Fuman,
stood at the side.
Both sides exchanged pleasantries before they had to lead Qi
Zhuyin into the palace.
The streets had been cleared out, and no one made a ruckus.
Qudu was so silent that all that could be heard was the melodious
chirps of a lone sparrow. Han Cheng mounted his horse and
followed at Qi Zhuyin’s side. With a smile, he said, “Commander-in-
chief Qi has performed a valuable service now that the Bianjun
Commandery has scored a victory. There’s bound to be
tremendous rewards on your entry into the capital this time.”
Although these words were spoken genially, they hit Qi
Zhuyin’s sore point. She had never been conferred a title despite
having rendered meritorious service several times. Now that Libei
had revolted, Qi Zhuyin and the Qidong’s Garrison Troops’
standing rose, and they became the Empress Dowager’s support
on the outside. Qi Zhuyin seized the opportunity to remove the
eunuch serving as Army-inspecting Censor and subsequently
became the thorn in the southeast that could threaten Qudu into
making concessions; she had long incurred the displeasure of the
Empress Dowager. Then, there was the war with Biansha. The
noble rank and title was the Empress Dowager’s chain to hold Qi
Zhuyin in check, so there was no hope of conferment in the
foreseeable future.
Qi Zhuyin did not get along with Han Cheng, and their
previous encounters had all been unpleasant. Feigning cordiality
with Han Cheng now, she said, “I hope it is as you say.”
Both of them socialized on horseback. When they arrived at the
palace gates, Fuman, who had been following them the entire way
from behind, hurriedly rolled off his horse and personally came
over to take over Qi Zhuyin’s reins. The Eastern Depot fell into
decline after the death of Emperor Tianchen, and the twenty-four
yamen no longer had a eunuch of significance like Pan Rugui who
had the world at his command. Thus, Fuman behaved himself and
kept a low profile.
Qi Zhuyin did not have a good opinion of the palace eunuchs.
Shuangxi, whom the imperial court had assigned to them as Army-
Inspecting Censor, was still locked up in a cell in the Cangjun
Commandery. In order not to incur Qi Zhuyin’s ill will, Fuman had
gone to the special effort of dressing up. Only daring to go for
simplicity, he wore a gourd-patterned mandarin square, a coral
duozhen29 on his head with a cover on the outside, and a pair of
black boots on his feet.
Fuman bent at the waist to take the reins from Qi Zhuyin and
was all smiles as he said, “This is our Dazhou’s ‘warhorse’.30 This
humble slave gives his assurance that he will feed it well on behalf
of Commander-in-chief Qi.”
Qi Zhuyin nodded and cast a look back at the horse carriage.
She stood in front and waited for Hua Xiangyi.
Han Cheng tossed his reins to the eunuch at the side and
snorted when he heard Fuman. Pointing at Fuman, he said with a
laugh, “You sneaky old crook, kissing up to Commander-in-chief Qi
seeing how she’s about to be rewarded.”
Understanding Han Cheng’s character, Fuman immediately
said, “Commander Han, you’re making this humble slave
ashamed!” He lowered himself and drew closer to toady up to Han
Cheng. “This humble slave usually depends on Commander Han.
Say, when will you be able to fulfill this humble slave’s wish?”
“You’re the same age as me, and you call me grandpa,” Han
Cheng said. “Even I’d feel so embarrassed if this were to get out.”
Fuck you!
Fuman dissed him inwardly. This motherfucker kept putting on
air all day, saying he’d feel embarrassed, but doesn’t he still treat
others like wrenched bastards when bossing them around? But
heaven has eyes and made him sonless; there’s divine justice after
all. How very gratifying!
Fuman soothed his chest and said with a merry laugh, “When
the Lao-zuzong31 was still around, this humble slave was the ‘son’.
So won’t I need to address you as ‘grandpa’ going by seniority?”
 Han Cheng despised these buffoons who served as eunuchs,
but he was more than happy to boss them around like dogs. After
the reign of Yongyi, the eunuchs were all zuzong. Back then, when
Pan Rugui led the Eastern Depot to oppress the Imperial
Bodyguards, Han Cheng was not yet its commander, and it had
filled him with envy to see Ji Lei acknowledge Pan Rugui as his
‘father’. Now that the tables had turned, he was naturally gratified
to watch Fuman bowing and groveling before him.
Having attended the Eunuch School, Fuman was literate.
During Emperor Tianchen’s time, he joined forces with Xiao Chiye
to work from both within and without and managed to get into the
Directorate of Ceremonial. Later on, when Emperor Tianchen was
assassinated by Mu Ru, he instantly switched sides. Under Han
Cheng’s orders, he summoned Xiao Chiye into the palace with an
imperial edict, and consequently, Han Cheng framed Xiao Chiye
for regicide. With this credit under his belt, Han Cheng was willing
to continue letting him manage the important affairs of the inner
palace. Fengquan had stepped down from the stage now anyway.
Fuman just had to rack up some experience and build up his record
of service, and he could be a “lao-zuzong” too.
Seeing that Hua Xiangyi had yet to get off her carriage, Han
Cheng asked Fuman as if in passing, “How has the Heir Apparent
been lately?”
Han Cheng made a bad move in the imperial prison back then
and failed to kill Li Jianting. As a result, his own attempt to support
a Han clan’s descendant ascend to the throne failed to come to
fruition, and he made an enemy out of Xue Xiuzhuo. Thus, he
specifically arranged for Fuman to keep an eye on every single
move the Heir Apparent made in the palace.
Turning his body sideways as a cover, Fuman answered in a
hushed tone. “It’s all as usual.”
“Xue Yanqing’s recent investigation of the Dancheng’s field
taxes has thrown the imperial court into chaos.” Han Cheng looked
at Fuman. “The Empress Dowager has been grieving over it day
and night, and she’s now in ill health. See if you can drop a hint to
the Heir Apparent to get Xue Yanqing to cool it down a notch.”
 Fuman was momentarily taken aback before he lowered his
head in acknowledgment.
The key point in this sentence was to make Xue Xiuzhuo “cool it
down a notch”. As for how, that was for Fuman to figure out.
Li Jianting was no longer young, yet the Empress Dowager still
showed no intent to return power to the Heir Apparent. She sat in
place of the Son of Heaven, acting on his behalf and banishing Li
Jianting outside the imperial court. Li Jianting’s right to sit in on the
proceedings was all at the suggestion of the officials participating
in the classics colloquium.32 And now Xue Xiuzhuo was pushing
them into such a corner in the outer court. The Empress Dowager
meant to teach Xue Xiuzhuo a lesson.
Fuman’s heart pounded, but he dared not let his expression
betray his emotion and remained bowing until Han Cheng left.
◈ ◈ ◈
Water dripped off the eaves, turning the windowsills damp
again, while the old books on the table started to crease. Yao
Wenyu drew up his wide sleeves and flipped the pages open to
dry.
In the third month, when the ice and snow melted, Duanzhou
suddenly turned warm, and everywhere was damp all around.
Shen Zechuan stood beside the table and casually looked at those
old books of Yao Wenyu.
“Xue Yanqing has to have a detailed discussion with
Commander-in-chief Qi regarding the requisition of the military
provisions.” Yao Wenyu smoothed the creased corners with the
pulps of his fingers. “Only the Bianjun Commandery of Qidong
fought a war last year, and the military provisions at that time were
supplied by Qudu. The remaining four commanderies’ garrison
troops that also worked on the fields33 suffered no loss either. Xue
Yanqing keeps a book of accounts in his mind; he will not fall for
the Empress Dowager’s trap easily.”
“It’s easy to stump him.” Shen Zechuan did not raise his eyes,
looking as if he was pondering over the content in the book. “The
specifics of Qidong’s harvest have yet to be reported. If
Commander-in-chief Qi insists that it’s insufficient for their use, he
won’t be able to force it either.”
 The longer Yao Wenyu stayed by Shen Zechuan’s side, the
easier he found it to distinguish between the Prefectural Lord’s
moods. Like how Shen Zechuan was clearly jesting now. This kind
of shameless denial could not fool Xue Xiuzhuo, who was proficient
in the art of auditing accounts.
Yao Wenyu was in no hurry. Instead, he asked, “In Your
Lordship’s opinion, what bargaining chip should Xue Yanqing use
in his discussion with Commander-in-chief Qi?”
“Naturally, his biggest trump card.” Shen Zechuan said without
hesitation. “He has the Heir Apparent in his hand, so on certain
occasions, he has more of a leg to stand on than the Empress
Dowager. Qudu is a stickler for ethics and virtues. Even if the
Empress Dowager is effective in her administration of the state,
she’s merely a stand-in for the Son of Heaven and is not the real
Son of Heaven.”
The Empress Dowager was dependent on Qidong, but she
married Hua Xiangyi over, then suppressed Qi Zhuyin by refusing
to promote her. At the same time, to ingratiate herself with Qi
Zhuyin, she treated Qi Zhuyin with magnanimity to the extent that
she could. Qi Zhuyin turned a blind eye to Qudu’s deployment
order during Shuangxi’s and Lu Pingyan’s incidents last year, and
the Empress Dowager tolerated it all the same without calling her
to task. This was to maintain the status quo of both parties. She kept
Qidong pinned down under her own control at all times, so that Qi
Zhuyin would remain at her own disposal and, at the same time,
unable to fall out with her since she would be handicapped by her
lack of a noble rank.
But Li Jianting did not have this misgiving. She was Dazhou’s
rightful Heir Apparent, with the Grand Secretariat guiding her on
the inside and her prestige as a student to bolster her on the
outside. She also had the full support of the practical doers faction
helmed by Xue Xiuzhuo. It was perfectly justified for Qi Zhuyin to
pledge loyalty to her. As long as Li Jianting could hold up against
the censors’ impeachments, conferring a title upon Qi Zhuyin was
just a matter of words. And this happened to be something the
Empress Dowager could not do given the awkward position she
was in.
 Shen Zechuan closed the page. “Qidong’s military power
remains unstable for each day Commander-in-chief Qi in-chief isn’t
conferred. Being without a noble rank and title is the root source of
Qi Zhuyin’s inability to become ‘legitimate’. Imagine if she were to
die on the battlefield or resign due to injuries suffered. Her brothers
of common birth in the family would be able to grab the
opportunity to seize Qi Shiyu’s title. The Commander-in-chief of the
Five Commanderies’ armies sounds impressive, but without a
noble rank, she’s merely a temporary guest in that position who
could not inherit everything Qi Shiyu had. The Empress Dowager
fears that Qidong would become a second Libei, so she dare not
bestow a noble rank upon her, and this ‘dare not’ is the Empress
Dowager’s greatest weakness.”
What did Li Jianting lack the most now?
Military power.
The noble clans lost Wei Huaigu, and then they found
themselves at a disadvantage with Hai Liangyi’s remonstration to
his death. The Empress Dowager could still stand on an equal
footing with the Grand Secretariat and Xue Xiuzhuo in this game
because she held Dazhou’s remaining two major military powers
firmly in her grasp. Whether it was Kong Qiu or Xue Xiuzhuo, they
were all civil officials who only had the authority to engage in
military discussions but not deploy troops.
If Xue Xiuzhuo gave Qi Zhuyin the promise to confer the rank
and title of a marquis on her at this moment, then Qi Zhuyin could
give up going around in circles with the Empress Dowager and
switch camp to the Heir Apparent. The Qidong military forces
would then naturally pledge allegiance to Li Jianting, and this
would be akin to hacking off an arm of the Empress Dowager.
“Money makes the mare go.” Yao Wenyu took the book Shen
Zechuan returned to him. “If Xue Yanqing didn’t have the Xi clan’s
money vaults, then he would not be able to convince Commander-
in-chief Qi with just a verbal promise. But now that he is bearing the
expenses for Qidong’s military salaries, Commander-in-chief Qi
would have to deliberate over it carefully.”
The above hypotheses were based on the premise that the
Qidong’s garrison troops who also worked the fields were truly
able to be self-sufficient and did not need to forcibly requisition
grains from the Juexi’s granaries. However, Qidong’s military
provisions this year were, in fact, in Shen Zechuan’s hands. Qi
Zhuyin had to take Zhongbo into account, and she had to weigh it
over carefully. If Shen Zechuan were to be displeased with her
decision to switch sides to the Heir Apparent, then the Yan clan
could sever the supply of Qidong’s military provisions, and Qi
Zhuyin would still need to ask Qudu for grains. Xue Xiuzhuo would
be back to square one, where he would have to face his initial
dilemma all over again.
“Xue Xiuzhuo. Hua Hewei.” Shen Zechuan smiled as he tossed
Yao Wenyu’s spent brush into the brush holder. “Who should I play
with?”
Shen Zechuan’s wrist bone bathed under the sunlight. He held
in his hand an invisible thread, one that could steer the situation in
Qudu without so much as a sound.
Yao Wenyu straightened the brush and said with certainty,
“Your Lordship already has a plan.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Day had yet to break. Palace maids stood waiting in attendance
under the palace eaves, keeping out of the way while silently
carrying lanterns in hands to illuminate the path. Qi Zhuyin entered
the palace for her audience with the empress dowager. She had to
head for Mingli Hall, while Hua Xiangyi had to wait in the Empress
Dowager’s bedchamber, so both of them could only walk together
for a brief distance.
As Hua Xiangyi could not stand the cold, she wore a wotu fur
hat34 on her forehead as well. She had such excellent deportment
that not even the tinkling of her jade ring pendant could be heard
when she walked, and when she stood beside Qi Zhuyin, she was
only a little shorter.
Qi Zhuyin had been spending all day in the Bianjun
Commandery back in Qidong, and to date, she had barely spoken
more than a few words to Hua Xiangyi. Finding it a little stifling, she
was just about to speak when Hua Xiangyi asked,
“Has Commander-in-chief Qi taken a look at the household
accounts?”
 It was then Qi Zhuyin remembered. “I looked through it when I
returned home the last time. Thank you…” She stuck on the word
“mother” for a long time, truly unable to voice it out as she looked
at Hua Xiangyi’s face that was two years younger than her. All she
could do was to hastily skip it over and continue, “… for going to
the trouble.”
Hua Xiangyi covered the hand warmer35 and watched the crow
flit across the dark, gloomy sky. In the blink of an eye, it
disappeared among the palace eaves. This was a sight familiar to
her. She responded, “You’re welcome, Commander-in-chief.”
Qi Zhuyin glanced out of the corner of her eye at the stalk of a
small sunflower embroidered on Hua Xiangyi’s collar. It was like a
kind of delicate charm hiding under a dignified veneer, and it was
completely out of place in the deep, silent inner palace. For that
reason, it appeared particularly exquisite and lovable.
All of a sudden, Hua Xiangyi turned her head and looked at Qi
Zhuyin for just a brief moment before she averted her gaze. Softly,
she said, “The reasons my aunt summoned Commander-in-chief Qi
is, firstly, for the mobilization of troops against the Qingshu Tribe
and, secondly, for the requisition of military provisions. Both of
these matters can be consolidated into one. Commander-in-chief
Qi needs to make a decision.”
Qi Zhuyin could not figure out Hua Xiangyi’s intent in telling her
these right now. Her entry into the capital this time was being used
by the Empress Dowager as a weapon to coerce Xue Xiuzhuo and
the Grand Secretariat. Qi Zhuyin had long heard about the issues
with Dancheng’s field taxes.
But Hua Xiangyi changed the topic and said, “Qudu is a
stormfest all year around. Even if one were to stand at the top of
the building, one still can’t get a clear look at the splendor before
its stairs. What’s more, the weather is so cold. Many a number of
stores on Shenwu Street have closed, and those who drink
themselves drunk at night are those with empty stomachs.”
Slightly stunned, Qi Zhuyin looked at Hua Xiangyi, who had
already stopped in her tracks. The latter turned sideways to the
silent Fuman behind them and said with a smile, “Like neutered
tomcats.”
 Fuman’s mind was in a whirl himself. He vaguely heard the
word “cold weather” and so he wasn’t really registering what was
being said. He saw Hua Xiangyi standing all daintily ahead of him
and felt Third Missy Hua to be a beauty too peerless to be gazed at
up close, so he lifted the lantern and said with an apologetic smile.
“This humble slave was afraid of putting a damper on Your
Ladyship and Commander-in-chief Qi’s mood and so did not dare
to make a din.”
“Since we’re already here,” Hua Xiangyi said to Qi Zhuyin softly,
“Commander-in-chief Qi may go on ahead.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Thin frost hung over the newly planted flowers and plants at
the side of the stairs to Mingli Hall. The front of the hall was wide
and spacious, with the floor so polished they gleamed. The inside
of the waiting hall announced her name, and a eunuch led Qi
Zhuyin up the stairs. She felt the chill under her feet stepping up
those stairs. This was a sensation she could not get used to no
matter how many times she had gone through it.
The curtain in the hall opened to both sides, and Qi Zhuyin
strode in.
The various court officials waiting inside rose to their feet. Qi
Zhuyin looked at no one as she paid her obeisances to the Empress
Dowager. Without letting down the beaded curtains, the Empress
Dowager said with a smile, “I have not seen Zhuyin for only two
months, and already I miss her. It’s bitterly cold over in the Bianjun
Commandery. Rise, and let me have a closer look.”
Qi Zhuyin raised her head. In the periphery of her vision, she
saw the Heir Apparent standing at the side.
The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, stood with his sleeves brought
together and looked at Qi Zhuyin with somewhat worried eyes.
Cen Yu did not look too good. Only Kong Qiu could be considered
to be his usual self. The atmosphere in this hall was odd, just like
those newly planted flowers outside which looked to be joined at
the stems but were, in fact, merely a show on the surface, for its
roots had long been damaged by the freezing cold.
The Empress Dowager was confident of victory and was in no
hurry to cut to the chase. After exchanging pleasantries with Qi
Zhuyin for a while, she said, “You are stationed at the frontier all
year round, rain or shine. I heard you even refuse a maidservant.
Even the most robust of health can’t withstand such torment
without someone to attend to your needs.” Without waiting for Qi
Zhuyin to answer, she said to the Marquis of Helian with a sideways
glance, “Just look at her.”
The Marquis of Helian met the Empress Dowager’s eyes and
lamented, “Seeing Commander-in-chief Qi reminds this humble
subject of that good-for-nothing son of mine, Fei Shi. He may be
born a man, but he has no ambitions to speak of. This truly worries
me.”
“Fei Shi has only just come of age. There has to be someone at
his side to supervise and guide him, or even a good-natured child
will go wayward.” The Empress Dowager looked at Qi Zhuyin
again. “Zhuyin, do you still remember your Fei-didi?”
Qi Zhuyin answered, “Vaguely. He’s Zhaoyue’s younger
brother.”
She seemed to be used to being forthright as she answered
offhandedly. But even the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue had to
address her as jiejie. By doing this, she was pulling apart the gap
in seniority between her and Fei Shi.
But the Empress Dowager said, “Fei Shi is young, and the lack
of people to teach him is worrisome. You are the commander-in-
chief of the Qidong military forces, and he admires you very much.
He keeps talking about Qi-jiejie all day long and is only dying to
run over to Qidong. You are on good terms with Zhaoyue, and both
of your families aren’t strangers to one another. If you have the time
these days, share with him anecdotes from the frontiers to satisfy
that fascination of his.”
Fei Shi was already of age, so what was there that he couldn’t
do and needed her, Qi Zhuyin, to teach him? Furthermore, Fei Shi
was just a junior marquis who still had yet to inherit the Marquis of
Helian’s noble rank and title, and he had no official post either. He
was so way down at the bottom of the rung compared to Qi Zhuyin
that calling her jiejie was simply messing around.
The Empress Dowager’s intent was clear. She intended to
appoint Fei Shi in marriage to Qi Zhuyin in order to hold her down.
For the sake of the military salaries, Qi Zhuyin could not fall out with
the Empress Dowager either. She said, “Given that it’s Your
Majesty’s instruction, I ought not to decline, but I did indeed enter
the capital this time for military affairs. The issues at the frontier are
of utmost urgency. It’s inadvisable to delay any further.”
The Empress Dowager sat back slightly and did not put her
further into a spot. Instead, she rolled with it and said, “Of course.
The military report last month gave an account of the Qingshu
Tribe’s invasion. You won the battle. You deserve a reward.”
Qi Zhuyin had a clear handle on the filthy side of Qudu. By
stuffing Fei Shi to her at this juncture, the Empress Dowager meant
to remind her to behave at the same time she dealt a blow to Xue
Xiuzhuo. The issue of the military provisions was a knotty issue—that
is, if she did not have Shen Zechuan’s supply.
Qi Zhuyin abruptly recalled those words Hua Xiangyi had
spoken earlier.
Qudu is a stormfest.
What was Hua Xiangyi hinting at her?
“I’ve already taken a look at the memorial you submitted to the
Ministry of War. It is not wrong to press home the attack and strike
while the iron is hot, but it’s not the right time now.” Unable to get
Qi Zhuyin to compromise, the Empress Dowager continued, “The
third month happens to coincide with the spring plowing. If
Qidong wishes to go to war, the fields the military garrisons work
on will have to be left idle, and that means the supply of grains is
bound to see a reduction after autumn. The shortfall will have to be
obtained from other granaries, but it’s no longer possible to make
up for it as the common folks of Juexi have to eat too. The imperial
court has its own difficulties. Bellicose militarism is never a wise
policy; the ones to suffer will still be the common people.”
The Empress Dowager did not mention the granaries of the
eight cities, which meant that she was leaving it to Qi Zhuyin to
bring it up on her own. Qi Zhuyin only had to broach the subject,
and the problem could be kicked over into Xue Xiuzhuo’s court.
Everyone would be caught in a deadlock when the time came,
which meant that they still had to heed the Empress Dowager’s
arrangements. If Xue Xiuzhuo did not drop the case and Qi Zhuyin
would not marry, then Qidong would neither be able to deploy its
troops nor receive grains.
The sudden silence in the hall was so deafening one could
hear a pin drop. No one on either side made a sound, while Qi
Zhuyin ruminated over Hua Xiangyi’s words from where she was in
the middle.
“The Ministry of Revenue reported on the harvest status in each
region at the beginning of the year.” Li Jianting, who had never
interjected before in Mingli hall, suddenly spoke up out of the blue.
“If Juexi is unable to bear the burden, we can consolidate with the
granaries of the other prefectures to make up for the shortfall.”
The Empress Dowager rebutted, “The Heir Apparent doesn’t
manage court affairs and so does not know the ins and outs of the
matter. Hezhou already had its turn last year, and they still have to
supply grains to Qudu with Juexi this year. The various regions are
all in a difficult position.”
In their exchange, they serendipitously avoided bringing up the
eight cities. Qi Zhuyin had a sudden flash of insight.
The eight cities surrounded Qudu; were they not Qudu’s
‘splendor before the stairs’? Hua Xiangyi spoke of not getting a
clear look—what was it that one could not get a clear look at? The
detailed data of the eight cities’ harvests! Since the Dancheng field
taxes could be falsified, then how many of the remaining cities’
field taxes were even genuine? The fields were not even
thoroughly surveyed, and there were plenty that could be
concealed within. Hua Xiangyi’s final words mentioned those with
empty stomachs. There were countless refugees from Dancheng
last year, all of whom had fled with their stomachs empty. Pan Yi
clearly knew he would not be able to hide this fact, so why did he
not set up booths immediately to hand out porridge to the poor?
Sweat was already trickling down Qi Zhuyin’s temples in just
those few brief moments, and she inwardly exclaimed, what a
close call!
◈ ◈ ◈
The rattan chair rocked slightly, with folds of meandering
snow-white sleeves lying on the knees in it. Shen Zechuan opened
his folding fan to block out some of the sunlight. Yao Wenyu was
still tidying up some old books on the table. It was all quiet in the
courtyard.
Shen Zechuan looked at the mottled plum blossoms leaves
above his head in tandem with the rocking. The dappled light fell
upon him, and he reached out with his folding fan to catch it and
hold it before his eyes to scrutinize it.
Yao Wenyu flipped to a stack of cases amidst the old books. He
opened it and saw that it was Chazhou’s earliest grain records. He
had seen this previously, but by some curious coincidence this
time, he flipped to the back page, then turned his wheelchair
around to speak to Shen Zechuan, who was by the door. “The
exorbitantly priced grains of Chazhou for the past years have been
grains from Hezhou, but last year, Hezhou even had to bear the
burden for both the military provisions and Qudu’s granaries. As I
see it, the goods being transported and traded in this account
book are all large shipments. Suppose Yan Heru still has to
shoulder the grains for the bandits of Mount Luo, then even if
Hezhou enjoys a bountiful harvest every year…” He slowly
straightened out the account book. “… it should be just about
empty by now.”
“I initially suspected that Yan Heru stole the grains from Juexi
and Hezhou to sell. But when Fanzhou’s account was released, I
realized that the granaries of these two places had no surplus
grains left for him to trade.”
“Liang Cuishan started to take charge of all affairs pertaining to
taxes in Juexi and Hezhou last year. Yan Heru said the last time that
he did not manage to get through to Liang Cuishan.” Holding on
to the door frame for support, Yao Wenyu’s expression shifted
slightly. “Then where did the grains he sold last year come from?”
Shen Zechuan turned his head and locked eyes with Yao
Wenyu for a moment.
“The granaries of the eight cities. The grains Yan Heru resold
last year to the various prefectures in Zhongbo came from the eight
cities.” Yao Wenyu swiftly flipped through the book in his lap. “The
exorbitantly priced grains in Fanzhou and Dengzhou were sold
through Cai Yu’s hands. Your Lordship killed Cai Yu, and Yan Heru
did not tell the truth.”
 The folding fan in Shen Zechuan’s palm suddenly closed. He
was still leaning back, gazing at the sunlight. Enlightened in that
instant, he said, “That means the Empress Dowager did not have
enough in reserves to shoulder Qidong’s military provisions. She
was making empty promises.”
This bluff of a move completely had Xue Xiuzhuo trapped. The
eight cities’ accounts were too corrupted. Even Pan Lin himself
would not necessarily know which were genuine and which were
forged. The Dancheng fields that Xue Xiuzhuo investigated were
indeed off, and the harvest data that Pan Yi had handed over to
the Ministry of Revenue at the earliest was fake too. However, the
grain surplus that the noble clans had submitted was real. They
misappropriated the commoners’ fields, and yet they did not have
grains, because the grains had been rerouted over on the sly to
Yan Heru to resell at a profit.
The eight cities’ granaries had always been empty.
“Hua Hewei…” Shen Zechuan laughed aloud, unable to refrain
from marveling with a sigh, “Outstanding of the Empress
Dowager!”
If Xue Xiuzhuo were forced to drop his investigation into the
Dancheng fields due to the requisition of military provisions and
take a step back to express goodwill to the Empress Dowager, then
by the time he was done doing it, he would realize that the
Empress Dowager had no grains at all, and Qidong could still not
mobilize their troops. When the time comes, Xue Xiuzhuo would
not only lose his current advantage but also bear the risk of a revolt
from the Imperial College. He would even find himself doubted
and being called into question by the practical doers faction.
Hua Hewei was not an official of the imperial court.
She had her own way of playing among this group of shrewd
and astute men.
 CHAPTER 223: TIDE

The gears turned rapidly in Qi Zhuyin’s mind in that instant as

she weighed up the relative importance of both sides. She had to
find the most suitable ally for Qidong in this tussle for power. The
victory and defeat of this game were equally important to Qidong;
it even determined just how long Qi Zhuyin could remain in the
commander-in-chief position in the future.
Qi Zhuyin made up her mind and said, “This humble subject
has yet to have an in-depth discussion with the various excellencies
from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue, so I’m not
familiar with the reserves situation in the various regions’ granaries.
However, the harvest in the four commanderies of Qidong last year
was decent. So if the troops are mobilized, we can manage with
some difficulty to hang on for two months assuming we
consolidate the grains from the other granaries.”
“You are a general; naturally, you understand it more than I do
that it takes a month just to advance the troops if you want to
continue penetrating deeper into the desert.” The Empress
Dowager spoke softly. “It’s already the third month now. If you hold
up the spring plowing of the four commanderies, but still fail to
return after two months, then you will end up delaying the autumn
harvest in the seventh month. Zhuyin, it’s not that I’m unwilling to
mobilize troops, but that I can’t.”
 Qi Zhuyin seemed to be stumped, and once again, silence
descended upon Mingli Hall.
The Empress Dowager rose to her feet slowly and held her
sleeves together36 as she looked at the various ministers in the hall
and advised in all earnestness. “Were the Dazhou’s granaries in full
abundance, I’d have fought this battle even if Zhuyin didn’t ask to.
But the imperial court is hard-pressed for money at present and is
really in no position to fight a war. Besides, food is the number one
necessity of the people. Fight this war, and the commoners of three
regions will have to go hungry. Isn’t that getting our priorities all
wrong? Boran, you saw the Ministry of Revenue’s report at the
beginning of the year, and you understand the situations in the
various areas like the back of your hand.”
With Qi Zhuyin in the hall, how would the court ministers dare
to speak frankly and refute her? The Empress Dowager was so
calm and composed as she forced them to bring up the eight
cities. Kong Qiu stood at the side, clutching his own memorial
without so much as an expression.
After a moment, Kong Qiu said, “Qidong’s mobilization of
troops is no small matter. There should have been a specific
procedure in place. Commander-in-chief Qi has just entered the
capital. Since she has yet to discuss in detail with the Grand
Secretariat, why not wait for us to finish the discussion tonight
before making a decision?”
By this, Kong Qiu was stalling for time without going along with
the Empress Dowager or making a decision for Xue Xiuzhuo. He
had transcribed a copy of the account book Liang Cuishan had
straightened out. It was truly a pity to have it in hand, yet still be
unable to take down Dancheng.
After the court session was dismissed, everyone stepped out of
Mingli Hall in successive order. Fengquan stood in front to drape
the overcoat over Li Jianting, who slowed down a few steps to wait
for Kong Qiu to emerge. Kong Ling raised an arm to guide the way
for Li Jianting. He led the Heir Apparent down the stairs and into
that open and spacious area.
“Your Highness pulled no punches today,” Kong Qiu said. “The
suggestion to consolidate the various areas’ granaries is indeed an
option.”
Li Jianting pursed her lips a little before smiling as she said to
Kong Qiu, “The Senior Grand Secretary spoke to me about it a little
at the start of the year. Naturally, I wouldn’t dare to forget about it. It
just seems to be too tough to gather sufficient military grains at
present.”
The day had already broken. Water puddles on the ground
invertedly reflected the blue dome of heaven, while the upturned
eaves covered up that last dim light of the night.
Li Jianting took a few steps and said, “His Excellency
Chongshen is truly outstanding. I heard his mental arithmetic is
both fast and accurate, and there would never be a mistake with
the accounts that pass through his eyes. Since Dancheng’s field
taxes case is temporarily deferred, why doesn’t the Senior Grand
Secretary ask him to calculate the various areas’ surplus grains? If
the three areas aren’t enough, there are still the eight cities. Let
everyone work as one.”
Kong Qiu said with a bitter smile, “The requisition of military
grains now has to come from Juexi, and the quandary right now is
broaching the subject of borrowing grains from the eight cities…”
Kong Qiu suddenly stopped talking and turned his head aside
to look intently at Li Jianting.
What Li Jianting said was to get the Grand Secretariat to
calculate, not to get the Grand Secretariat to investigate, and yet
there was a whole world of difference in the meaning of this one
word. Whether or not the Empress Dowager agreed to the former,
the Grand Secretariat could get Liang Cuishan to do a count of the
eight cities’ surplus grains. As the Dancheng’s accounts were
problematic, and Pan Lin was still locked up in prison, the Ministry
of Revenue now ought to do a recount of the eight cities’ surplus
grains; this was the duty of the Ministry of Revenue, and they were
not wrong to do so.
The flower embellishment37 between Li Jianting’s brows was
brilliantly red, and yet it did not detract from the Heir Apparent’s
spirited demeanor. She seemed to have just mentioned it in
passing, even looking to be a little at a loss under Kong Qiu’s gaze.
◈ ◈ ◈
 As soon as Qi Zhuyin stepped out of the palace gates, she saw
Xue Xiuzhuo standing a short distance away. She pulled the
overcoat off her shoulders and tossed it to Qi Wei, who had come
over to receive her. Then she pointed ahead to Xue Xiuzhuo as an
indication to talk as they walked.
“I heard from Minister Chen earlier that you were the one who
forked out the military salaries this time,” Qi Zhuyin said. “Thanks a
lot.”
Naturally, Qi Zhuyin’s word of thanks was not so simple. Xue
Xiuzhuo heard the intent behind it and walked for a while with Qi
Zhuyin before saying, “Commander-in-chief Qi is mobilizing troops
to keep Amu’er in check. The war in the north is at a critical stage.
This war ought to be fought.”
Steering clear of the fact that she already had military
provisions, Qi Zhuyin said, “Before I enter the capital, I heard that
the military provisions this time have to be requisitioned from
Juexi. Jiang Qingshan won’t agree to it, will he? You people have
your own difficulties too.”
The mornings in Qudu were no longer that cold, and the
vendors on the streets started bustling around. As both of them
were wearing official robes, no one around them dared to
approach. The common folks all kept their distance. Once the pair
of them walked past, they looked at Qi Zhuyin again and
whispered among themselves.
The Wind Guiding the Scorching Plain, Qi Zhuyin, of the
legends was merely tall and lanky. She did not have a herculean
physique, nor was she majestically imposing, but she had a certain
calm and composure that could stand up to these pryings and
speculations.
“But you are right. This battle ought to be fought.” The wuzhu
ornament Qi Zhuyin was adorned with swung in the wind, and her
slightly messy hair at her temples brushed against the side of her
cheeks. She continued, “Libei may have revolted, but the Libei
Armored Cavalry is still Qudu’s impenetrable fortress in the
northeast. The Prince of Libei died in battle, and the battle zone has
yet to receive reports of success this year. The fight is indeed tough.
You people are far away in Qudu and have limited knowledge of
the Biansha Twelve Tribes. Just a few military reports are not
enough to fully depict the scale of Amu’er’s ambitions. Don’t keep
thinking that they really can’t breach the defenses and invade.”
Qudu was the capital of the Son of Heaven, the culmination of
Dazhou’s hundred years of golden age. Unlike the worn and weary
frontiers, it had never been under attack. Only seven years had
passed since the military defeat of Zhongbo, yet there were no
longer any signs of the panic that had been prevalent at that time
in Qudu. Here, the fear of the Biansha Cavalry had long faded.
“Amu’er has already taken command of the six tribes, and he’s
imitating Dazhou’s military farming system, in which the stationed
garrison troops carried out farming duties, in Gedale. If Qidong
doesn’t deploy troops this year, Qudu will no longer be able to
detach themselves from the matter. I’ll be frank. My soldiers can’t
outrun the Biansha Cavalry. If Libei falls and Luoxia Pass can’t hold
up, then even if the Biansha Cavalry slaughters their way into Qudu,
I won’t be able to hurry over in time.”
The wind intensified. Qi Zhuyin stood still and turned to look at
Xue Xiuzhuo. Towering behind her were the vermillion walls with its
stacked tiers of upturned eaves soaring into the clear sky. There
was not even a cloud overhead. It was in this way Qudu lay bare
and exposed to the first light of the day.
“I must mobilize troops.” There was no joy in Qi Zhuyin’s eyes.
Qidong rarely participated in Qudu’s political affairs. Qi Shiyu
was smart. Whether it was handling Qidong’s relationship with
Libei, or maintaining Qidong’s amity with the noble clans, he could
always find the most appropriate time to pick sides. But not so for
Qi Zhuyin. She did not possess the kind of patience Qi Shiyu had.
She would rather risk being dismissed and prosecuted by Qudu to
attack the Qingshu Tribe, because she knew that the war situation
was far more pressing than the political situation.
The trap in which the Empress Dowager set to coerce Xue
Xiuzhuo into giving in was brilliant, but she also coerced Qi Zhuyin
to get married with Fei Shi, which meant that she would not be
giving Qi Zhuyin any noble rank. In fact, she had even shown signs
of wanting to split up the military power in Qi Zhuyin’s hands.
 Perhaps there were indeed people who were more capable of
fighting wars than Qi Zhuyin was. However, at this time, at this
moment when the battlefields in the north and south were at stake,
Qi Zhuyin would never hand over Qidong’s military power to
anyone else but herself. Since the Empress Dowager already had
the thought of moving her, she would never sit still and resign
herself to her fate.
“As long as the memorial to mobilize troops can be approved
and the deployment order from the Ministry of War can be issued
before I leave,” Qi Zhuyin suddenly smiled, “then the military
provisions that are keeping you at a standstill isn’t hard to deal
with; I won’t forcibly make a requisition for Juexi’s food.”
Xue Xiuzhuo brushed aside the willow branch that came flying
towards him and said, “Deal.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The incense in the hall was a tad strong, and it made Hua
Xiangyi feel sick after smelling it for a long time. Matron Liuxiang
hurriedly had the maids open the windows. She helped Hua
Xiangyi sit on the couch near the window and said ardently, “Third
Missy has left for only half a year, and this humble slave can see
how much thinner you have become. That Qidong lies close to the
desert. It has been hard on the Third Missy.”
Hua Xiangyi clutched her handkerchief and said, “Auntie is the
one who has lost weight.” She turned her eyes to look at the small
prayer hall in the inner chamber.
Matron Liuxiang said, “Her Majesty misses the Third Missy, and
she prays to the Bodhisattva every day to ask for blessings for the
Third Missy. Last time, she caught a cold in the night and wanted to
see the Third Missy. Taking medicine didn’t work either, so she had
this humble slave lit the lamp to read the letters Third Missy sent.”
They were in the midst of conversing when the eunuch outside
gave a shout to announce the arrival of the Empress Dowager. Hua
Xiangyi walked over to greet the Empress Dowager, but the
Empress Dowager dispensed with the formalities and held her
hands as she stood at the doorway to look Hua Xiangyi over
carefully. “Why have you lost weight? Are you not used to the food
in the Qi’s residence? I picked a few chefs from our Dicheng for
you. Take them with you when you leave.” The Empress Dowager
grew so emotional speaking that her eyes indistinctly glistened
with tears. She stroked Hua Xiangyi’s temple. “Is my baby girl all
well?”
Hua Xiangyi held the Empress Dowager’s hands back and
choked slightly with sobs as she answered, “I’ve been missing my
aunt.”
The Empress Dowager led her inside, her heart breaking on
hearing her. She would not let Hua Xiangyi sit at the side when she
took her seat on the couch, instead insisting on having her sit next
to her. “Does that Qi Shiyu treat you well? What about Qi Zhuyin? I
heard those concubines of his are a restless lot who don’t know
their places. If anyone dares to affront you, get the maidservants to
tie them up and send them away. I’ll back you up.”
Hua Xiangyi broke into a smile through her tears.
The Empress Dowager hugged her like a child and said, “I
used to think that I could still send letters when you marry over.
Only now do I know how it feels to be so far apart.”
The Empress Dowager originally wanted to pick the best
husband for Hua Xiangyi, but never in her wildest dreams would
she have expected Hua Xiangyi to be eventually married away to
Qi Shiyu. To the Empress Dowager’s mind, Qi Shiyu had at least
been a hero for a lifetime, and except for his age, he could be
begrudgingly said to be worthy of Hua Xiangyi. But who knew he
would suffer a stroke in the end? The Empress Dowager regretted
making this move and wished with all her heart to give all that was
good to Hua Xiangyi as she faced her now.
Hua Xiangyi leaned against the Empress Dowager and asked
once the latter was done reminiscing, “Is Auntie all well?”
“The principal hall is in such a mess that I can’t eat or sleep
well.” The Empress Dowager paused for a moment before
continuing self-derisively. “I’m old, after all. My mind and spirits are
not as they were before.”
Hua Xiangyi slowly straightened up a little and said in a gentle
voice, “Why do you have to go so far as to work so hard? There’s
the Grand Secretary to assist in state affairs. I heard that the Heir
Apparent is a keen learner too.”
 The Empress Dowager supported Emperor Xiande, so she
could also support the Heir Apparent now. In Hua Xiangyi’s
opinion, Li Jianting was far more reliable than the previous two.
Although she was physically in Qidong, she was very well aware of
all the major happenings in Qudu.
The Empress Dowager gave a long sigh. She recalled the way
Li Jianting looked earlier when she spoke up in Mingli Hall earlier
and felt even more on guard against the Heir Apparent. “You are
looking at it too superficially. How is that Heir Apparent easy to get
along with? She’s merely a cheap, lowly lass from out there whom a
few scoundrels instigated to challenge me.”
After a moment of silence, Hua Xiangyi said, “Having married
over to Qidong, I have some understanding of Biansha and
Zhongbo. Auntie, Shen Zechuan is now in power in Zhongbo, but
he isn’t bad by nature. Reclaiming Duanzhou and drawing up the
fields again are all good things… I asked Zhaoyue last year how
the situation in the City of Dancheng was, and she said Pan Yi
couldn’t say for sure either. Too many people have died of
starvation. The pair of them had the thought to provide aid relief to
the refugees, but with the granaries void of grains, there was
nothing they could do either.”
The Empress Dowager gradually shut her eyes. After listening
for a while, she said, “I know you have a kind heart, but this is the
moment that decides whether we succeed or fail.” The Empress
Dowager opened her eyes once again and looked at Hua Xiangyi.
“You lived in the palace away from Dicheng, and there are things
you don’t know. Our family properties were confiscated during the
reign of Xiande, and I was stranded and trapped in the harem.
During those periods, even the eunuchs of the inner court’s yamen
dared to come before my palace and blackmail me for silver. There
are plenty waiting to humiliate and trample over us had the
Marquis of Helian not bribed them. Look at that Xue clan. The
legitimate son of lawful birth is a good-for-nothing who
squandered away all his family properties and is now being bossed
around. Where are his nobleman’s dignity and respectability? Then
look again at that Xue Yanqing. He’s the most bastard of all
bastards. His desire to audit Dancheng’s field taxes means he
wants to use us as a stepping stone for the Heir Apparent. How
many of those from the eight cities will be able to escape if we were
to be investigated by him for real?”
The Empress Dowager straightened up in her seat too.
“Without the noble clans, what else can I use to vie with them? If
there’s a problem with the field taxes, I will square the accounts
myself in the future. No one else has the prerogative to interfere.
And that Shen Zechuan, acting in cahoots with Xiao Chiye. I can tell
what they are thinking of doing. You think he’s looking at the land
under his feet, but he’s clearly eyeing the throne. Traitors of such ilk
seek fame in everything they do. Shen Wei’s treachery is still
hanging over his head!”
The words Hua Xiangyi said were already tactful. She watched
as the Empress Dowager’s chest heaved and knew that the
Empress Dowager’s mind was already made up. She would never
be willing to co-exist with the Heir Apparent. Hua Xiangyi made as
if to speak, but stopped as she heard the sudden sound of rain
starting up outside; to her surprise, a sun shower had started to
fall.
 CHAPTER 224: ABRUPT CHANGE

The sun shower stopped as abruptly as it came. Liang Cuishan’s

swiftly-moving boots were covered in specks of mud. He lifted the
hem of his robe and strode through the door, where the officials
waiting in the office of the Ministry of Revenue were already all
ready to go. He listened as the sound of the rain outside came to a
sudden stop and took out his handkerchief to wipe away the thin
film of sweat on his face. Succinctly, he announced, “Start the
count.”
The sounds of abacus beads being flicked noisily in the room
started up, as if the sudden rain earlier had begun to fall again
inside the office.
Carrying the Grand Secretariat’s writ in his bosom, Liang
Cuishan sat on the taishi chair38 and reopened those eight cities’
account books that had been stacked up into a pile and buried his
head in them to do his recalculations. His mental arithmetic was
outstanding, and he understood how taxes worked, so he was
pretty fast going through the accounts. But to be on the safe side,
he still had an abacus, brushes, and paper prepared within hand
reach.
The “rain” in the Ministry of Revenue’s office fell throughout the
night. Only errand runners went in and out during this time to brew
strong tea for the various gentlemen to perk themselves up. In the
midst of this din, however, the Empress Dowager did not sleep a
wink.
 Smoke from burning incense inside her palace spiraled
upwards. The Empress Dowager turned the prayer beads in her
hand as she reclined on the couch, while Matron Liuxiang
pounded her legs in a massage. There was no one else inside this
hall. The Empress Dowager, having already removed her eastern
pearls, looked rather haggard as she shut her eyes for a nap.
“Commander Han has already communicated with Fuman.”
Matron Liuxiang reassured her in a soft voice. “There should be
movements on the Heir Apparent’s end by now.”
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes slightly. “The Heir
Apparent butted in while we were discussing affairs in Mingli Hall
today. I can see that Kong Boran has a change of heart towards
her; he really thinks of her as a student now.”
“Isn’t this all instigated by Xue Yanqing?” Matron Liuxiang
massaged with rhythmic finesse. “She was raised outside the
palace. How would she understand political affairs?”
“She doesn’t know when to stop pushing it, and she has no
sense of propriety. Even if she wants to interfere in the affairs of the
state, she has to have the capability to. Qi Zhuyin’s reluctance to
accede to me today must be because she thinks Xue Xiuzhuo still
has a way out. Since they are so anxious to do a count of the eight
cities’ surplus grains,” the Empress Dowager scrutinized her hand
that had the prayer beads wound around it, “then, by all means, go
ahead.”
Under the slightly dimmed lights, the Empress Dowager
appeared calm and unruffled, without so much as a semblance of
panic.
◈ ◈ ◈
The more Liang Cuishan did his calculations, the more alarmed
he was. He maneuvered the abacus several times under the noisy
sound of its beads being flicked, but the result was the same as his
mental calculations. There was no problem with the reserves of the
Dancheng’s granaries that the Ministry of Revenue was rechecking.
According to the calculations of the quantity of these surplus
grains, the granaries in the Eight Cities were now Dazhou’s most
abundant granaries.
How could that be?
 Liang Cuishan pushed away the abacus and stood up, once
again wiping the sweat from his face with his handkerchief.
◈ ◈ ◈
Pan Lin sat back in his chair, his face pale under the candlelight.
He had been locked up here for several days. If nothing else, the
creased corners of his robe only served to show just how wretched
a sight he cut for a young master of a noble clan. He pushed
himself to hang on and looked at Xue Xiuzhuo with tired eyes.
“You knew the detailed situation of the eight cities’ granaries
when you audited their field taxes at the start of the year.” Xue
Xiuzhuo was tired too. He covered his eyes with a damp
handkerchief for a moment to gather himself. “The granaries of the
eight cities have long been vacant, am I right?”
Pan Lin answered with silence.
“Chengzhi.” Xue Xiuzhuo switched over to calling Pan Lin by his
courtesy name. “You let Yao Yuanzhuo go because you are still kind
at heart. You are not of the same ilk as Wei Huaigu, so why work for
them against your conscience? So many people starved to death in
the City of Dancheng last year. If the imperial court is unable to
resurvey the fields and return them to the commoners, many
people will still die of starvation in Dancheng next year.”
Pan Lin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He tilted back his head a little
and stared at the pitch-dark roof.
“Qi Zhuyin made repeated trips into the capital to ask for the
military salaries, and even at this time, the Qidong Garrison Troops
still have no way of dispatching their troops. The Biansha Twelve
Tribes have already fought their way to the Bianjun Commandery.”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s bloodshot eyes from the lack of sleep revealed his
struggle, as if he was being tormented. He continued, “Chengzhi, I
need grains.”
A moth flew out of nowhere and rested on the window. In the
long, endless silence, it took flight once more and lunged into the
night. It wandered in the dark, brushing past a speeding horse
carriage that came to a stop before a residence. Hua Xiangyi
leaped off the carriage just as Hongying lifted the carriage curtain.
“Madam…”
 Hua Xiangyi lifted the hem of her skirt and broke into a run after
striding through the main gate. The pearls that adorned the hairpin
in her hair swung violently as she ran. Gasping for breath, she
passed through the labyrinthine front courtyard and long
walkways, ignoring the startled shouts around her as she ran into
Qi Zhuyin’s courtyard.
Qi Wei was talking to the attendants when he suddenly saw
Hua Xiangyi running over. Startled and thinking that there was an
assassin, he promptly shouted, “Protect the Commander-in-chief!”
In a split second, the guards in the courtyard drew their blades,
their glints mutually standing out in sharp relief with Hua Xiangyi’s
swaying pearls, masking the cold frost of the moon. Pearls strewed
over Qi Zhuyin the moment she opened the door. Hua Xiangyi
hastily held up the hair at her temple, which was already covered in
a thin sheen of sweat amid her slightly urgent breathing.
“The Dancheng’s granaries are empty. No matter how much
surplus grains the Ministry of Revenue comes up with in their
rechecks,” Hua Xiangyi was still clutching her skirt as she looked at
Qi Zhuyin, “… they are all a smokescreen.”
Qi Zhuyin returned the hairpin she had caught to Hua Xiangyi
and looked at Qi Wei.
Qi Wei immediately stepped back, turned around to hurry out
of the courtyard, and sent someone to relay the information to
Liang Cuishan.
At this time, it was nearing the third quarter of the hour of chou.
At the second quarter of the hour of yin, the various imperial court
officials had to be ready to wait outside the palace gates. They
would then enter the palace for the morning court session at the
hour of mao on the dot. Time was of pressing urgency, and no one
dared to tarry.
◈ ◈ ◈
Pan Lin fell completely silent after Xue Xiuzhuo said his piece.
He was a man well-versed in the Confucian classics, and he could
not bring himself to look directly into Xue Xiuzhuo’s eyes. He gazed
at the roof and saw the timeworn traces of years of disrepair on the
beams. The parts that had not been covered by the new paint lay
exposed outside, its exterior dotted with fine insect holes, rotten to
the core.
It was in here Pan Lin sat, yet he felt the wind as he silently
counted those small holes, killing himself with a blunt blade in that
silence. He understood that Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression might be just
a disguise, and yet he also knew that what Xue Xiuzhuo had said
was the truth. In all these days he had been in his cell, his silence
had not been all about avoidance.
“Let me ask you.” Pan Lin was slow to react as he turned his
head around, finally willing to look Xue Xiuzhuo in the eyes. “Why
do you want to kill Yuanzhuo?”
Xue Xiuzhuo leaned back in his chair and similarly looked at
Pan Lin in the eyes too.
“You want to assist the Li clan, and so did the Secretariat Elder
Hai. Both of you supported Emperor Tianchen and replaced Hua
Siqian.” Pan Lin shifted his shackled hand onto the table. “But then,
you killed Emperor Tianchen for the Heir Apparent… Xue Yanqing,
you hide under the waves. I can’t tell if you are a loyal sage or a
treacherous sycophant at all.”
Pan Lin needed an answer. With this question, Xue Xiuzhuo
could clear up the unbecoming part of him that went against the
principles of the virtuous gentlemen. He only needed to give Pan
Lin a justifiable reason, and he would have won a landslide victory
tonight.
But Xue Xiuzhuo said, “I want to kill Yao Yuanzhuo because he
deserved to be killed.”
He no longer looked as prim and proper after having stayed up
all night. In fact, he was even willing to loosen up his tightly
fastened official robe as he sat across the table.
“The noble clans are always thinking that they still dominate
this imperial court. However, they had already long lost control of
this carriage towards the end of the reign of Yongyi. Look at your
father. If the noble clans had been tough and fearsome enough,
would he have needed to be in two minds under the pincer attacks
of both the noble clans and those of humble origins? The
Zhongbo’s military defeat during the reign of Xiande made me
understand one thing.” Xue Xiuzhuo lifted a finger and pointed to
the ground. “At the same time the noble clan is infiltrating Dazhou,
they are also being infiltrated by others. Hua Siqian thought he
could outplay Amu’er in the east, but in truth, he was just a jackal
Amu’er trapped while spying on Dazhou. The most ludicrous thing
was that even right up until his death, Hua Siqian thought he was
the one holding the chain.”
“Secretariat Elder Hai and I watched the Prince of Libei rise to
power. The Libei Armored Cavalry became a valiant army in the
northeast, but they did not place themselves at the Li clan’s
disposal; their surnames were Xiao. No matter how loyal Xiao
Fangxu and Xiao Jiming were, the Libei Armored Cavalry no
longer accepted commanding generals from Qudu. They call
themselves a pack of wolves, and even term themselves an iron
wall. That’s right, they are indeed an impenetrable fortress, but at
the same time they block out the Biansha Cavalry, they also block
Qudu. Had the Empress Dowager not undermined and corrupted
state politics, Emperor Guangcheng would have long gotten the
Libei Armored Cavalry to disperse during the later period of the
reign of Yongyi. It was when they were still called the Luoxia
Cavalry that they were truly subordinated to the Li clan’s army.
Would Xiao Fangxu not understand that? Even so, he was still
unwilling to hand over his military power. He believed in himself.
He might not have been wrong, but he couldn’t control the
gradually solidifying armored cavalry.”
“Many people denounced Qudu for being paranoid, but who
could guarantee that such a large and powerful army would keep
on having a clear-headed commander-in-chief for eternity? Even
Xiao Fangxu himself knew it was impossible. What is needed to be
sitting here is not verbal promises or personal trust, but a real
balance and control of power. Xiao Fangxu had long understood
that he would have to hand over a son to Qudu, and Secretariat
Elder Hai looked for an appropriate opportunity for him to do so in
consideration of Libei’s friendship and dignity. But before he could
act, Hua Siqian, in a bid to make up for the state treasury deficit,
handed the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo over on a silver platter to
Amu’er. As a result, the reason for Xiao Chiye’s entry into the capital
became Qudu and Libei’s sore point.”
 “Do you understand now? There are Scorpions from the desert
in these waters. Amu’er relied on them to stir up the situation and
make Dazhou rot from within. Yet the noble clans feigned
ignorance about it. Secretariat Elder Hai and I went through a lot of
trouble to support Li Jianheng to ascend to the throne in the hope
that Li Jianheng could clean up and sort out the imperial court, but
he turned out to be a good-for-nothing through and through!”
“Yao Yuanzhuo’s reputation has been built up to a terrifying
level, but he would never put it to use for Qudu. If I don’t kill him, he
will inevitably be used by others. All of you kept Yuanzhuo alive for
the sake of the so-called cardinal principles of righteousness. You
can now see for yourself the surge of scholars with a literary
reputation in the world flocking towards Zhongbo, where he is now
giving counsel to Shen Zechuan.”
Xue Xiuzhuo paused for a long time before he continued
expressionlessly, “I’m neither a loyal sage nor a treacherous
sycophant.”
What exactly was he?
He did not know.
He received Mister Changzong’s guidance during the early
years of his education and thought he would be able to become a
gentleman of virtue himself. In the past several years, he held Qi
Huilian in high esteem and even had exchanges with him before.
He thought Qi Huilian could understand his aspirations, but the
latter rejected him. He respected Hai Liangyi and was willing to put
himself at the latter’s beck and call. To this day, he still wanted to
address Hai Liangyi as his teacher. However, Hai Liangyi staunchly
believed that Li Jianheng could become emperor under his
guidance, and Xue Xiuzhuo could wait no longer. He wanted to
install on the throne a sovereign that could create a new world. If
there was no such candidate, he could only press on and go all
out.
He did not need compassion, nor did he need to justify himself.
He was willing to pay an exponential price for all that he had done.
He had only one life, and he gambled it on Dazhou’s twilight years.
Whether or not the dawn that broke after the night was the one
that he sought, he was still willing to risk his life to pursue it with all
his might.
This was Dazhou’s last chance, as well as his own.
Pan Lin raised both his hands to cover his face before the table.
After a long time, he spoke up. “I was already aware that Wei
Huaigu was falsifying accounts when I served as the Vice Minister in
the Ministry of Revenue. I also knew there was something wrong
with the Dancheng field taxes.” He revealed his eyes that were
lined with fine wrinkles. “But my name is Pan Lin, and I can only…”
Pan Lin did not continue. He rubbed his face hard a few times.
Hurried footsteps rang out from outside the cell. Pan Lin and
Xue Xiuzhuo sat in silence, listening as that noise pressed in
towards them.
At the very last moment the door opened.
“Empty.”
Pan Lin said wearily.
“The eight cities are all empty.”
Xue Xiuzhuo sprang to his feet. Before the functionary opened
his mouth, Xue Xiuzhuo made a clean sweep of his fatigue and
fastened back his collar, then gave a slight nod at Pan Lin and said,
“Thanks.”
Shadows moved around outside the cell. Just as Xue Xiuzhuo
was about to leave, Pan Lin suddenly piped up, “You subdued your
selfish desires to such an uncompromising extent that you are
already beyond what the average person can tolerate. As you said
it yourself, what is needed here is checks and balances… and what
do you have that could let the Heir Apparent hold you in check?”
Xue Xiuzhuo looked askance at him and did not answer.
Pan Lin seemed to have understood something. He watched
Xue Xiuzhuo leave. The door to the cell closed with a creak, leaving
only him sitting alone in there. Thin ray of morning light peeked
through the small window at the side, but did not shine on Pan Lin.
Pan Lin had already done his best.
◈ ◈ ◈
Pan Xiangjie rummaged through his chests and cupboards in a
search of the account books. Those old account books that had
accumulated at the bottom of the chests were all sharp weapons
that could bring about his downfall! He had heard the news when
he woke up, and he had to burn all the incriminating evidence
before Xue Xiuzhuo made his way here.
The reign of Yongyi. The reign of Xiande. The reign of
Tianchen!
Pan Xiangjie bundled up all of these accounts neatly. He
kneeled before the chests and untied the rope with his bare hands
before throwing all the account books into the copper basin.
There were too many of them for him to burn it all on his own.
Pan Xiangjie’s panic was giving him acid reflux. He could never
have imagined the breach to be his own son. He had already been
driven to a dead end—he could not leave the matter at that!
“The reign of Yongyi…” Pan Xiangjie traced the entries in the
accounts with his finger and read them out. “The Hua clan… The
Han clan…”
Everyone is in here.
Pan Xiangjie was wild with joy. As long as everyone was in
here, his Pan clan would not perish. The sound of running military
boots suddenly erupted from the courtyard. Pan Xiangjie clutched
the account book tightly and rose to his feet using a chest as a
support. Unsteadily, he made his way to the door.
But the one who came was Han Cheng.
Faking composure, Pan Xiangjie covered the book with his
wide sleeves and said to Han Cheng, “Things have not come to a
head yet, and already the Empress Dowager can’t contain herself?
Abandoning the pawn to protect the rook is absolutely not the
wisest strategy! Xue Xiuzhuo and the noble clans are on
antagonistic terms. Even if you cut off my Pan clan today, the others
will not be able to escape unscathed either.”
Pan Xiangjie had spent a lifetime pretending to be a senile, old
duffer who cowered behind Hua Siqian and Wei Huaigu and fell to
his knees at every turn to beg for mercy in the imperial court, yet
here he stood today, speaking with lucidity and eloquence.
Han Cheng gripped the hilt of his blade. “Your execution now
gives everyone some room to catch their breaths. Who would dare
to disregard your kindness? I guarantee your legitimate line of
descendants will not die. They will still have an opportunity to stage
a comeback one day.”
As Pan Xiangjie watched the glint of the blade pressed in
towards him, he could not help but raise his voice, “Kill me today,
and you’d be merely forcing Xue Xiuzhuo’s hand! Once Dancheng
is gone, how much longer can Chuancheng last?”
“Cut the crap!” Sweat had also broken out on Han Cheng’s
forehead. He waved a hand to give the order. “The Empress
Dowager has long known that you would leave a way out for
yourself. These accounts are in such a mess, and yet you can still
remember them so clearly. Burn this courtyard down!”
Pan Xiangjie held onto the door and saw his family members
wailing. In that bedlam, he hollered out. “I’ve long gotten Chengzhi
to transcribe these accounts. Go ahead and burn them! Even if you
kill me now, these accounts will still fall into Xue Xiuzhuo’s hands!”
“Pan Lin’s treason is already an established fact.” Han Cheng
drew his blade out, “Didn’t he secretly let Yao Wenyu go? Yao
Wenyu is now Shen Zechuan’s strategist! The evidence proving
your Pan clan’s collusion with the rebels is conclusive. So how
credible can his words be? He is the spy Shen Zechuan left in
Qudu!”
Caught in the thick of the pushing and shoving, Pan Xiangjie
fell to the ground. He shouted out, “You cast aside your pawns once
they have served their purpose, and you eliminate them once they
outlived their usefulness.… like cooking the hounds for food once
the hares have been hunted and casting aside the bows once the
birds have been shot down! I was a willing lackey for you people,
yet this is how it ends today! Han Cheng, even if I die today, how
much longer can you live?!”
Being on duty with his Eight Great Training Divisions authority
token with him, Han Cheng could wait no longer. He walked
towards Pan Xiangjie as the fire blazed and raised his blade for the
kill. Unexpectedly, the Qi Wei behind him was even faster. Instead
of going around the walkway, he leaped over the ridge of the roof
and swooped down from above to knock over Han Cheng,
sending the latter tumbling along with him.
 Pan Xiangjie took this opportunity to suddenly raise the account
book and yell towards the courtyard entrance. “Commander-in-
chief Qi, save me!”
In the thick of the scuffle, Han Cheng tossed out the Eight Great
Training Divisions’ authority token and shouted as well, “The capital
troops hold the most authority at the foot where the Son of Heaven
is! Qi Zhuyin’s troops shall go no further than the outskirts of the
city. How dare you obstruct my Eight Great Training Divisions from
carrying out its duties?!”
“I asked Commander-in-chief Qi to arrest the criminal minister. I
possess both the warrant of arrest from the Ministry of Justice and
the deployment order from the Ministry of War. So why wouldn’t I
dare to?” Xue Xiuzhuo flicked aside the hem of his robe and
barked in a stern voice, “Put out the fire and arrest him. Take Han
Cheng in as well!”
Han Cheng said, “I am here on the Empress Dowager’s decree.
You dare to arrest me?!”
The Eight Great Training Divisions soldiers in the courtyard
instantly drew their blades and took a threatening step towards
Xue Xiuzhuo.
Qi Zhuyin pushed the blades aside with the sheath of her blade
and said from the back, “Since the Eight Great Training Divisions
are troops of the capital, they are the Son of Heaven’s army. The
Heir Apparent has asked me to assist in the case, yet you’re
electing to obey the Empress Dowager instead?”
Han Cheng had initially thought Pan Xiangjie was bluffing him.
Who would have expected Qi Zhuyin to really show up?! The
reason he dared to kill Pan Xiangjie before Xue Xiuzhuo showed up
was that he had the Eight Great Training Divisions in his hands and
could use it to strong-arm the Grand Secretariat. But with Qi
Zhuyin’s troops presently parked right outside the city, he would no
doubt be on the losing end if a fight were to break out.
Han Cheng’s arrogance deflated some, and he hissed through
clenched teeth, “Of course, I shall do as the Heir Apparent says.”
The Eight Great Training Divisions returned their blades to their
sheaths and watched Qi Zhuyin’s guards enter to detain Pan
Xiangjie and Han Cheng. That fire did not burn for too long before
it was easily extinguished. Xue Xiuzhuo waved away the smoke and
dust and picked up a few of the account books that had not been
fully burned.
◈ ◈ ◈
The Empress Dowager was taken aback by the unforeseen
developments. On hearing that Xue Xiuzhuo had taken the account
books away, she could not help but collapse onto the couch. A
deep furrow materialized between her eyebrows as she spitefully
lamented, “Pan Xiangjie, that scoundrel!”
In order to save his own life, Pan Xiangjie had dragged
everyone down into hot water!
“Where is the Heir Apparent?” The Empress Dowager regained
her composure. “Well, then. Xue Xiuzhuo certainly is capable. Since
he wishes to fight me to the death, then let him find out for himself
if the ‘Destined Son of Heaven’ in his hands is tough enough.”
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she jerked the prayer beads
off her hand and chucked them into the burning copper basin,
sending up countless splutters of soot.
◈ ◈ ◈
After his capture, Han Cheng shut his eyes and went to sleep
with his face to the wall. He ignored everyone else, sure that Xue
Xiuzhuo would not dare to touch him yet. Pan Xiangjie reverted to
his previous ways, clutching onto his sleeves as he sat sobbing on
the other side of the table.
“Yes, yes… I’ll account for it all…” Pan Xiangjie wiped his tears,
“but let me have a bite first. Yanqing, I’m starving.”
This cunning old fellow meant to stall for time by using the
account books to blackmail the Empress Dowager and wait for her
to rescue him.
Although Liang Cuishan was in charge of taxation, he had also
seen such trials before and was aware that these old fellows were
not easy to interrogate and put on trial. Having stayed up all night,
he took two sips of the strong tea and said after receiving Xue
Xiuzhuo’s implied consent, “It also takes time for a meal to be
prepared. Your Venerable Excellency can take your time to speak.”
Pan Xiangjie glanced at Liang Cuishan, who did not appear to
be angry. “Chongshen, you are on such good terms with Chengzhi,
so you know me.” He stroked his belly and pulled a long face. “I’m
unaccustomed to going hungry at home, so my mind is currently in
a mess.”
“How would I dare to put Your Venerable Excellency to the
trouble?” Liang Cuishan set his tea aside. “All you have to do is
answer me. I audited the surplus grains in Dancheng yesterday
and discovered that the granary was full. Tell me, did you purchase
grains from elsewhere to pass them off as the surplus grains just
before the Ministry of Revenue’s rechecks?”
“Look, I don’t manage the grains.” Pan Xiangjie innocently
spread his hands apart. He seemed to be panicking. “I’m in charge
of the Ministry of Works! For the details regarding these grains,
you’ll have to ask the Tax Circuit Intendant of Dancheng, or Pan Yi.”
“I asked them long ago.” Liang Cuishan flipped open the
account book and showed it to Pan Xiangjie. “They’ve all
confessed. You people sold the grains to Yan Heru. Since
Dancheng sold its stock, the other seven cities must have too,
right?”
“I’m not even sure about the Dancheng accounts, so how
would I know about the other seven cities?” Pan Xiangjie knew that
this information was likely brought up by Liang Cuishan to trick
him. “Since they’ve already confessed to it, Yanqing, go by the
books! Report it to the Grand Secretariat and have the Senior
Grand Secretary take a look too.”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “Given that we have to discuss it during the
morning court session, it was already reported before the hour of
mao.”
For a moment, Pan Xiangjie could not tell whether Xue Xiuzhuo
was telling the truth or not when he heard that it was already
reported.
Liang Cuishan fished out the writ from his sleeve. “Otherwise,
how could we have managed to request your presence here? We
naturally followed the procedures in accordance with the
constitution of the law; the Ministry of Justice has already given
their authorization.”
Pan Xiangjie stared at the document for a long time.
 Xue Xiuzhuo leaned in closer and looked at Pan Xiangjie as he
said, “Your Excellency is in charge of the administration of the
Ministry of Works. I noticed that the dams of Kailing River were
well-repaired when the public ditches case happened during the
reign of Xiande. This shows that Your Excellency is a practical man
who does concrete work and is willing to share the burdens of the
common people. My target this time isn’t Your Excellency.
Chengzhi is fine. It has not come to the point where he needs to be
executed. There’s only a little blip on the Pan clan’s accounts. You’ll
still have some leeway left after we sort this out.”
These words were telling Pan Xiangjie that if he continued to
remain indecisive, then even this bit of leeway would be gone.
Pan Xiangjie let out a few sobs, his beard drooping as he said
to Xue Xiuzhuo, “I really am not sure.”
Xue Xiuzhuo said, “Then it appears that Dancheng is the
‘private city’ of the Pan clan. You deceived the imperial court and
colluded with Pan Lin from the Ministry of Revenue to appropriate
the commoners’ crop fields in Dancheng and falsely report the
field taxes. You also resold public grains and conspired with the
wealthy merchant Yan Heru of Hezhou, leading to the deaths of
countless of citizens. Your Pan clan is solely culpable for all of this.”
Listening to him filled Pan Xiangjie with fear and trepidation.
Realizing that Xue Xiuzhuo was being serious, he hastened to call
out, “Yanqing…”
“The account books and the confession statements have all
been transcribed verbatim and submitted to the Grand Secretariat.”
Xue Xiuzhuo ignored Pan Xiangjie, “Corrupted men like you who
pervert the course of justice deserved to have your family
properties confiscated to make up for what you owe in taxes and
your entire family executed!”
“The account books have not been straightened out yet!” Pan
Xiangjie followed suit and stood up. Both his hands were trembling
as he pleaded. “Yanqing, Yanqing! We can discuss this over. I
haven’t given my statement yet!”
Xue Xiuzhuo turned back.
Pan Xiangjie could only say, “These accounts—”
 The prison door behind Xue Xiuzhuo suddenly opened, and
the clerk, not knowing what had happened, stood up in response.
Xue Xiuzhuo looked back and could not help but break out in a
cold sweat when he saw that it was a eunuch from the palace.
This out-of-breath little eunuch did not dare to look an imperial
court minister in the eyes as he kneeled on the ground and
hurriedly shuffled forth on his knees a few steps before saying in a
fluster, “Your, Your Excellency! The Heir Apparent suddenly fainted
before the court session was to start. The Senior Grand Secretary
has urgently summoned the imperial physician over. At this
moment…”
Just one step shy.
Xue Xiuzhuo’s limbs were icy cold, and the hand in which he
was clenching the book broke out in a cold sweat. Pan Xiangjie
instantly shut his mouth and sat back.
Strikes where it hurts.
The Empress Dowager was truly one tough nut!
Xue Xiuzhuo dropped the account book in his hands and
squeezed the words out through clenched teeth, “Set off for the
palace.”
 CHAPTER 225: ADVERSARY

Warning: Depiction of child abuse/rape

Fengquan kneeled by the side of the couch and personally

sampled the medicine that was about to be fed to Li Jianting.
Li Jianting’s face was pale, and her temples were covered in a
cold sweat as she lay trembling on the couch. She was covered
with a quilt, yet she looked like she was being crushed beneath it.
Faint whimpers and sobs escaped her throat alongside her urgent
gasps for breath.
The imperial physician inside the palace did not dare to be
careless with his diagnosis. He took Li Jianting’s pulse again and
again through the lowered bed-curtains and wiped his sweat from
time to time as he repeated the prescription to the people beside
him.
Kong Qiu had faced this kind of situation twice with Hai Liangyi,
but this was the first time it had happened since he took charge.
His hidden hands under his sleeves were slicked with sweat, and
even when his sweat dripped into his eyes, he did not dare to
blink.
If the Heir Apparent were to pass away.
Kong Qiu did not dare to think of the repercussions. He closed
his eyes with some effort and thought back to that downpour
during the public ditches incident. Just how much of a resolve did
Hai Liangyi have to steel himself with to say those kinds of words.
Teacher.
Kong Qiu could not help but clench his teeth.
If only Teacher was still around.
Kong Qiu was at such a loss for words now that he was even
overwhelmed by the intense sense of powerlessness as he listened
to the Heir Apparent’s breaking-up voice.
The medicinal decoction was poured down Li Jianting’s throat.
Her eyeballs were still swiveling. It was as if she was being bound in
place by her nightmare. Fengquan kneeled for an entire day.
During the interval of time when the palace maids at the sides
retreated, he plucked up the courage to gently brush away Li
Jianting’s damp hair and watched as Li Jianting’s expressions
underwent a myriad of changes.
The casualties of this game extended far beyond to the
innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Whether or not the
Heir Apparent survived, the palace maids and eunuchs serving the
Heir Apparent in her palace were already condemned to death.
Fengquan had to find a way out in this pressing emergency. He
still had unfinished business; Li Jianting must not die.
“Your Highness…” Fengquan quietly called out to Li Jianting in
a whisper. Due to the close proximity, he saw the tiny hole in Li
Jianting’s earlobe. He steeled himself and said, “Your Highness
struggled to get out of the pleasure quarters and is merely just a
step away from the imperial throne. If you lose heart now, you will
fail at the last hurdle just when success is within reach… Your
Highness!”
It was as if Li Jianting could not hear him. Her fingers clutched
at the bedding tightly. She might have been lying in this exquisite
splendor, but her mind was still trapped in the world’s foulest
brothel.
A whimper of a sob lingered in Li Jianting’s throat—that was a
plea for mercy she made when she was being beaten.
Heavens made a fool of her, giving her such an identity, but
had her born a girl. The jingling of earring blended into the din of
tables and chairs toppling over. She fell among them countless
times, dragged by her hair before those repulsive men.
Xiangyun was a good procuress. She knew how to make the
most out of her girls.
◈ ◈ ◈
Ling Ting was a girl adopted by Xiangyun, but she was not
special, for Xiangyun had adopted many a number of children.
Xiangyun would lift their heads by the chin to scrutinize them
carefully, and from then on, the trajectory of their future paths was
decided.
Ling Ting was a pretty one, but she was not likable. As
Xiangyun looked her over, she found these eyes of hers
surprisingly loathsome.
“You look quite pretty, but also much too fierce.” Xiangyun
tapped her pipe. “Might as well blind these eyes. Only then will
them cloudy eyes inspire pity in the various lords.”
Ling Ting was thin and small. Xiangyun fed her food and did
not really blind her eyes, and for that, Ling Ting was very grateful to
Xiangyun. Every day, she watched the men going in and out of
Xiangyun Villa to please the courtesans in the brothel. She had no
designated master. Instead, she spent all day running barefoot in
the corridors serving tea and water for the courtesans, watching
them as they applied rouge powder and perfume.
Girls really smell so nice.
Ling Ting kneeled by the door with her hands on the rug as she
sneakily sniffed at the fragrance inside like a little puppy. She
watched those ample, voluptuous bodies drape themselves with
outfits of silk and satin, and watched as those long and slender
fingers put on bracelets of gold and jade. She also listened as
those courtesans spoke in their sweet, delicate voices, like the
pleasant trills of orioles. They fascinated her, making her yearn for
the world of women.
With a gorgeous, colorful shawl over her shoulders, Xiangyun
stopped beside Ling Ting , looking much like a willow branch
swaying in the wind. She had drunk wine, and there was a thin
sheen of glow on her face as she chuckled dreamily and bent over
to cup Ling Ting ’s face. “Doggie… Here, I’ll put an earring on you.”
 A pearl that was dangling from that golden thread slid down
coldly along the contour of Ling Ting ’s ear and fell onto the rug.
Ling Ting stared at Xiangyun in a daze. Xiangyun, having already
straightened up, laughed as she walked off.
“Madame has an important guest today.” A courtesan inside
tossed a vermillion hairpin into the jewelry box. She looked like she
could not hold her liquor as she continued, “The Second Young
Master of the Prince of Libei.”
A chorus of giggles rang out from the inner room.
Ling Ting did not know who the Prince of Libei was, nor did she
know who the Second Young Master was. She carefully picked up
the pearl earring and quietly grasped it in her hand.
Drinks were to be served in the brothel in the evening. Ling
Ting followed the maidservants in and saw Prince Chu reclining on
the couch. He was so drunk he was babbling nonsense. Several
noble clans’ young masters had been invited along as well, but
Xiangyun ignored them all. She sat demurely beside a person’s
chair, so prim and proper was she that she resembled a fine lady
from a distinguished family.
Xiao Chiye was wearing raven blue-colored regular wear,
although this way of dressing could not put a muzzle to his
frivolousness. He seemed to have drunk wine too, sitting with his
arms put up on the chair as he played dice with the young master
at the side.
Ling Ting stood in attendance by the side to pour wine for the
distinguished guests, doing so for half a night until everyone at the
table was drunk. Li Jianheng kept tugging at Xiangyun to keep
pestering her to drink up, while Xiao Chiye seemed to have played
to his heart’s content, although he had never once touched the
courtesans at the feast.
Reeking of wine, Li Jianheng pointed out Xiao Chiye to
Xiangyun. “This is my… buddy! The son of the Prince… Prince of
Libei… He’s been on the battlefield…” He belched and giggled
cheekily. “Ce’an is the real… deal.”
Xiao Chiye burst out into hearty laughter. He lowered his long
fingers to toss the dice into the wine vessel,39 and said with a
dismissive, laid-back attitude, “The battlefield stinks to high
heavens. How could it be as comfortable as lying in the arms of
beautiful women? This Second Young Master is going to drink
himself into a drunken stupor here.”
Li Jianheng pushed Xiangyun over. Xiao Chiye’s hand slipped,
and he moved to catch the falling golden vessel. Subsequently,
Xiangyun fell into the arms of another. They drank until they puked,
and when they finally retired for a rest, the room was a scene of
total mayhem.
Under the sounds of the snores, Ling Ting remembered the
earring she still held in her palm. She saw a corner of a mirror
exposed in the inner room, so she stood on tiptoe and quietly held
up the earring to her earlobe in the mirror.
The pearl swung among the fine strands of her hair, glowing
resplendently.
So pretty.
Ling Ting was just thinking this when she suddenly heard the
sound of wine being overturned, which startled her so much she
hastily retracted her hand. As she peeped, she realized that the
Second Young Master from Libei was still awake.
Xiao Chiye did not look at anyone. He was clearly right smack
in the middle of all this dazzling opulence, and yet he also seemed
distant from it all. He did not head into a room, nor did he ask for
the courtesans to accompany him. His arm was still hanging over
the chair as he gazed out of the opened window in the direction of
Libei with a piercing expression and sober eyes.
Ling Ting retreated out of the door and wiped the sweat-
stained earring clean. She kept it away, close to her body, and slept
with it hidden under her clothes. Not long later, Xiangyun recalled
the earring she had cast away.
She summoned Ling Ting to her. While doing her makeup in
the mirror, she twisted around and suddenly smiled, “Already
twelve years old now, I see.”
Li Jianting vomited out all the medical decoction in her throat.
The palace maids brought over clean hot water, and Fengquan
rinsed the handkerchief in it to wipe down Li Jianting. The world
before a semi-conscious Li Jianting was a blur. She felt the hot
handkerchief wipe over her temples, the water droplets dripping
down like tears.
The Heir Apparent did not wear earring, but Ling Ting did.
“Livestock…” An agonized voice escaped between Li Jianting’s
teeth.
Livestock!
That pretty golden thread of the earring Ling Ting wore flowed
among her tears. She struggled to break free, but she was dragged
back again and again. She cried and shouted as her head was
pressed down, the banging of which caused her forehead to
bruise.
Let me go.
Ling Ting sobbed, her raised face wet with sweat and tears. She
stared at the closed door, attempting to find a gleam of hope
there.
“Madame…” Ling Ting shouted herself hoarse. “Spare me…”
Only the sound of a slap answered her.
Livestock!
Li Jianting’s trembling fingers clenched the bedding until it
creased. Her chest heaved violently. In those never-ending wails,
she recognized herself for who she was.
She was livestock. From the very moment she was born, she
was reduced to being nothing more than a sacrifice abandoned in
the world’s filthiest place, where she became trapped in this narrow
and cramped room in the end. Through the crack, she realized
everything she had seen in the past was but a mere illusion. Not
one of those girls had escaped such a fate. They were all…
livestock at the mercy of others.
Ling Ting raised her hand and dug into the crack with her
broken nails.
Why was she born a girl?
This body was so nauseating!
Ling Ting raked away at that crack like a madwoman and
howled outside through those streaks of blood, “Madame…” she
said with vehement hatred, “Kill me!”
If she survived this.
If she could live like a human being.
 “I…” Ling Ting pressed against her forehead as she cried and
laughed at the earring on the ground.
She would kill herself, peel away this layer of skin and flesh,
and discard all that had to do with being a girl. She would fight,
tear her foes apart with her fangs, and claim back what was
rightfully hers!
If only she was given a chance.
“Your Highness!”
Fengquan could not help but raise his voice when he saw Li
Jianting vomiting again.
The imperial physician in the outer room had already stood up.
Kong Qiu’s heart went cold, and he staggered a few hasty steps
back. Cen Yu held him in support.
“If…” Kong Qiu could not bring himself to say it.
The hanging screen at the door lifted with a swish. Xue
Xiuzhuo’s breathing was still ragged. He heard the movement in
the inner room and understood what Kong Qiu had left unsaid.
However, he was not a physician who could perform miraculous
recoveries; he was too powerless in this respect.
The atmosphere in the palace was so heavy and somber that
the court officials did not even dare to breathe loudly. The palace
maids went in and out carrying the medicine in their hands.
Fengquan kept feeding Li Jianting medicine one bowl after
another. Li Jianting mumbled to herself. Unable to hear what she
was saying, Fengquan could only kneel and lower his head close
to Li Jianting’s lips.
“Fail…” Li Jianting’s lips quivered. “… last hurdle.”
Sweat water saturated Fengquan’s eyes under the dimness of
the lowered bed-curtain. He covered his lips and said softly, “Your
Highness is the true phoenix40 of this world. As long as you can
hang in there and survive through this, you will definitely be able to
turn misfortunes into blessings!”
Li Jianting’s urgent breathing hitched, as if she could finally
hear what Fengquan was saying. The whimpers and sobs in her
throat gradually subsided. The medicinal decoction was poured
down her throat before she choked and coughed it out through
her mouth and nose. The palace maids were in such a state of
panic that they prostrated themselves on the ground and cried.
Ignoring everyone else, Fengquan kept watch by the bed and fed
the Heir Apparent her medicine again.
◈ ◈ ◈
Liang Cuishan, who was still keeping watch on the prison cell,
was burning with anxiety. He finished up an entire pot of tea and
stood outside to wait for updates. The stars overhead shone bright
and resplendent, although he was too preoccupied to admire the
moonlight in the courtyard, for he had heard the storm of footsteps
coming from outside the courtyard.
“What is this?!” Liang Cuishan could not help but take two steps
when he saw the Eight Great Training Divisions enter.
The man at the head raised his authority token and said, “The
warrant from the Ministry of Justice clearly states to arrest Pan
Xiangjie, yet you people dared to abuse your public position for
private interests. Our Viceroy Han is supervising the case on orders
of the Empress Dowager, so release him now!”
Liang Cuishan knew this to be the critical moment. Release Han
Cheng, and they would not be able to hold on to Pan Xiangjie and
Pan Lin too, so he gritted his teeth, squared his shoulders, and
raised his head. “I am here on the Heir Apparent and the Senior
Grand Secretary’s orders to investigate Han Cheng. Without a writ
from the Heir Apparent and Senior Grand Secretary, I will not
release him!”
The man pressed a few steps closer towards him. “Heir
Apparent? The current ruler of the world is the Empress Dowager!”
Laing Cuishan looked at him in horror. Seeing the Eight Great
Training Divisions bearing down on him menacingly, he stepped
back. “What are you people planning to do…”
“Spies from Zhongbo have infiltrated Qudu. We have sealed
the city gate.” The man hung his authority token back at the side of
his waist. “Naturally, we have to conduct a careful search. Search
the compound!”
Everyone from the Eight Great Training Divisions came armed
with their blades, so this “search” was obviously not as simple as it
literally sounded. Liang Cuishan understood it in an instant. The
Dancheng case was pushing the Empress Dowager into such a
corner that she was driven to take desperate measures the way a
cornered dog would jump over a wall; she could no longer tolerate
and accommodate them.
“I am… an appointed official of the imperial court…” Liang
Cuishan repeatedly retreated in the face of those sharp blades.
The three ministries’ officials who were also in charge of
hearing this case fell back too. They were all civil officials, so how
could they hold their own against such intimidation? Their past
experience at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds during the reign of
Xiande returned to haunt the officials, who already had the
premonition that a storm was brewing.
“Commander-in-chief Qi is still in Qudu, and yet you dare to be
so lawless.” Liang Cuishan, having already retreated to the
entrance of the prison, bluffed. “Guards of Qidong, show
yourselves now!”
The Eight Great Training Divisions men at the entrance
promptly drew their blades and surveyed their surroundings with
part anxiousness and part skepticism. Qi Zhuyin’s guards were all
battle-hardened, and there were also thousands of Qidong
Garrison Troops standing guard outside the city. The Eight Great
Training Divisions merely wanted to seize the opportunity while the
Heir Apparent was critically ill to get a head start and kill off these
court officials under the pretext of them being spies from Zhongbo.
Once day broke, the Qidong Garrison Troops would be too
powerless to save the situation even if they charged into the city.
Liang Cuishan took the chance to retreat into the prison and
secured the chain around the door from inside. He spread his arms
apart and pushed back the officials behind him, and everyone fled
inward in a panic.
The Eight Great Training Divisions’ blades twisted their way into
the chain, pushing so hard against the door that it clattered noisily.
The man said with a malignant smile through the door,
“Doggone official! Do you think you are safe just by locking the
door? Light the fire!”
Pan Xiangjie, who was in the innermost part of the prison,
exclaimed in a panic, “Stop! Don’t set fire! Commander Han is still
in here. You can’t burn us all down!”
 Liang Cuishan raised the oil lamp and continued, “Those two
corrupted officials deserved to be burned to death! However, the
flames will surely attract the attention of the garrison troops outside
the city, and when the garrison troops fight their way in, it will be
you rebels they kill!”
The man outside drew back his blade from the crack with a
gloomy and uncertain expression on his face. The Empress
Dowager did indeed give the order not to alert the Qidong
Garrison Troops outside the city. The Heir Apparent’s life was
hanging by a mere thread. He estimated the time and reckoned
that since there was still no news from the palace after all this time,
the Heir Apparent was likely already dead. Thus, he set his mind at
ease, and his expression brightened up a little.
“Your Excellency Liang.” As he spoke, he raised a hand to
motion for the squad behind to circle around. “You currently serve
in the Ministry of Revenue, where you see shiny money rolling in
and out all day, and yet you are still staying in a rundown
courtyard. Why do this to yourself? You might as well take this
opportunity to cross over to our side where the pastures are
greener and your future is bright.”
Liang Cuishan’s heart pounded. Happy to stall for time, he said
to the other man, “With that bit of salary I have, I’m content to live
in a rundown courtyard.”
“It’s only when you have a great tree backing you that you can
relax in the shade.” This man was Han Cheng’s trusted aide.
Pacing, he said unhurriedly, “It’s a raging storm out there. How
many more days of peace does Qudu still have left? Serve a good
master as soon as you can. Only then can you continue to serve the
imperial court in the future.”
“We don’t walk the same paths. The Son of Heaven is who we
pledge our loyalty to. That is to say, Dazhou—the empire of the Li
clan. If we were to switch to someone else, then wouldn’t that be a
subversion of ethics and virtues?”41 The oil lamp in Liang Cuishan’s
hand was about to burn out. He continued, “I’d advise you to lay
down your blade and repent. It’s not too late to see the errors of
your ways now. When the Heir Apparent ascends to the throne, she
will still remember this meritorious service of yours.”
 The man “tsked” lightly. “In that case, you can see yourself to
hell alongside the Heir Apparent.”
He had only just said that when Liang Cuishan heard the small
metal window on the wall being broken open. The Eight Great
Training Divisions threw a smoking bundle of straw inside. Smoke
instantly filled the interior of the prison, choking the officials until
they covered their mouths with their sleeves and coughed with
tears in their eyes.
Pan Xiangjie was even more certain that the Empress Dowager
wanted to kill him. With shackles on his hands, he held onto the
bars and yelled under the sounds of coughing, “Chongshen,
Chongshen, open, coughs, open the door!”
Han Cheng was startled awake too. He knocked over the teapot
on the table and wetted his sleeves to cover his nose and mouth.
Liang Cuishan was choked to the point he could barely stand
firm on his feet. The officials behind him knocked over the table
and chairs. All of them stumbled into the prison, holding their
breath for just a moment before stepping onto the table and chairs
to hold on to the metal window in an attempt to breathe. The
moment their heads popped into sight, the Eight Great Training
Divisions soldiers waiting outside jabbed their blades in to stab
them.
“You’re a low-level functionary from the public ditches case who
later went on to be promoted,” the man said. “And Shen Zechuan
was the Imperial Bodyguard who came down to work together with
the Ministry of Revenue at that time, so it seems that you’re the
greatest spy Zhongbo planted in Qudu. Vice Minister Pan had you
investigate the case, and you colluded with Xue Yanqing to tamper
with the accounts books on the sly to frame Vice Minister Pan and
throw him into prison. You did so to muddy the waters in Qudu, am
I right?!”
Liang Cuishan had indeed been promoted by Shen Zechuan,
but he had no involvement whatsoever with Zhongbo. Regardless
of his position in Juexi or Hezhou, he had gone by the book. Not
once had he ever corresponded via letter with Shen Zechuan. So
on hearing the other man putting it this way, he promptly rebuffed,
“Slander!”
 This smoke was really going to be the death of them. Pan
Xiangjie had already started to smash the door, pleading as he
coughed, “Chongsh-shen, open the door quick!”
It was not just Pan Xiangjie who could not stand it; even the
officials beside Liang Cuishan could not stand it either. Everyone
was forced into a dead-end, trapped between the devil and the
deep blue sea here. If things did not take a turn for the better soon,
they were going to suffocate to death.
Several wardens pulled at the chains. Unable to stop them in
time, Liang Cuishan watched as the prison door opened wide and
the men around them scrambled over themselves to flee their ways
out. They bumped into him, causing him to stumble, but before he
could shout, he heard the blood-curdling screams of the officials
who had run out as the Eight Great Training Divisions men
beheaded them on the spot.
“Mad…” Liang Cuishan supported himself against the wall and
covered his face. “You people have gone mad!”
As he was saying so, he received a heavy blow on his back as
someone behind him kicked him over to the ground.
Han Cheng spat at Liang Cuishan, covered up his nose and
mouth again, and said in a muffled voice, “It’s you band of rebels
who are being purged tonight!”
The branches that had begun to sprout in the courtyard rustled
as the wind blew up the scattered pages of the account books on
the ground and sent them flying all over. Han Cheng’s black boots
broke the brush he stepped on. He kicked away the corpse at the
side and patted away the dust and ashes on his robe under the
stench of smoke and blood.
Liang Cuishan was hoisted out with blades pressing against his
neck. His wusha hat42 had long fallen off, and his hair was a
disheveled mess. Gasping heavily, he said, “…Even if the Empress
Dowager kills the Heir Apparent, this empire will not belong to
her… You bunch of treacherous court officials, destroying the
hundred year legacy of our Li clan’s empire…”
He was so overwhelmed with grief and sorrow that for a
moment, he could not continue.
 Liang Cuishan initially thought he would meet his maker today
for sure, but the wind unexpectedly and suddenly brought with it a
swift whistle. Then, sunlight broke through the horizon, and the
golden glazed tiles of Qudu’s palace instantaneously started to
glint. Qi Zhuyin spurred her horse on at full speed and with a raise
of its hooves, broke open the gates to the courtyard. As she reined
in the horse, she raised her authority token.
“I’m here on the order of the Heir Apparent,” she stared down
Han Cheng as her horse’s hooves landed on the ground, “to
supervise the capital troops’ search of the city.”
Han Cheng did not believe her. He forced a smile and said,
“The Heir Apparent’s life is in imminent peril. How would she have
been able to give orders to you? I know you are anxious to save
them, but you mustn’t falsify the orders of the Heir Apparent.”
Qi Zhuyin took out the deployment order from her sleeves and
tossed it into Han Cheng’s arms. “The Heir Apparent’s writ. Do you
recognize it?”
Han Cheng looked at the skewed writing in red ink on the
document, which was clearly an order someone approved by
holding onto the Heir Apparent’s hand. He fell silent for a moment,
his mind parsing over the situation in Qudu. The city gate had
already been sealed off, and the Eight Great Training Divisions still
had 20,000 men. Qi Zhuyin had traveled light into the capital, and
there were only 2,000 soldiers from the garrison troops
accompanying her on the journey.
If he made a move right now, they would still have a chance of
emerging victorious.
“Before I set off,” Qi Zhuyin bent over, and her wuzhu ornament
swung smoothly in the air, “I specifically instructed my old father at
home to send someone to pick me up if I didn’t return in half a
month.”
Han Cheng clenched the deployment order between his
fingertips and looked Qi Zhuyin in the eyes. “Commander-in-chief
Qi once said the same thing at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds.”
“My head is not my own.” Qi Zhuyin smiled. “I have to be
careful somehow.”
 “Back then, the Empress Dowager stood her ground over the
dissenting views to fulfill Commander-in-chief Qi’s wish.” Han
Cheng put on a fake smile as he stuffed the deployment order into
his sleeve. “How could she have thought it would end like this…
Oh, well.”
Liang Cuishan fell to the ground. He picked up his wusha hat in
his arms and bowed to Qi Zhuyin. “We have Commander-in-chief
Qi’s foresight to thank for. Otherwise, it’d have been a bloodbath
today!”
Qi Zhuyin said nothing as she watched Han Cheng retreat. It
was only when the Eight Great Training Divisions withdrew as well
that she moved away the hand that had been pressing down on
Zhujiu.
What foresight could she have? She was merely scaring Han
Cheng.
Qi Zhuyin’s heart sank slightly. A 20,000-strong capital troops
were indeed a thorny issue. The Empress Dowager dared to act
this way today only because she was sure that they would hold
back from taking action lest the innocents were caught in the
crossfire; she knew they would not dare to gamble on Li Jianting’s
life.
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianting’s breathing had already stabilized. All the eunuchs
and maidservants in her palace had been rounded up and taken
down to prison. The poisoning of the Heir Apparent was by no
means a trivial matter. For all the safety precautions Xue Xiuzhuo
had in place, he still did not manage to guard against the Empress
Dowager. The inner palace was a place far beyond his reach.
Kong Qiu said outside the palace, “These eunuchs are all
narrowed-minded and short-sighted. They would dare to claim the
life of the Son of Heaven if they had suffered indignities before the
master and had been instigated by others. This incident has to be
rigorously investigated, and the perpetrators, severely punished
once they have confessed it all.”
Kong Qiu used to manage the Ministry of Justice, and he did
not get along with Pan Rugui and the rest of the eunuchs.
Influenced by Hai Liangyi, he abhorred the eunuchs to the core. He
finished up the strong tea in his hand and said to Xue Xiuzhuo,
“Since the thieves have been caught with the loots in the
Dancheng’s case, then once the fields have been re-surveyed, go
by the books and weed out the Six Ministries. See exactly how
many people are implicated in this!”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s spirits lifted. He understood that Kong Qiu meant
to settle the full score with the noble clans, so he nodded his head
in acknowledgment.
Cen Yu, who was at the side, seemed as if he had something to
say. But in the end, he did not voice it out.
◈ ◈ ◈
The curtain had only just fallen on the battle in Qudu when
Shen Zechuan, who was far away in Duanzhou, received the news.
The sun was shining bright high up in the sky today. Ding Tao
and Li Xiong were sitting on the veranda having a match, throwing
fruit pits that had been gnawed clean into water puddles. Fei
Sheng was unable to free his hands as he was holding on to a bowl
of medicine. Qiao Tianya lifted them up directly by the back of their
collars.
Ding Tao covered his head with his arms. “We’ll pick them up
right away!”
“I’ve been sitting here watching for half a day.” Qiao Tianya
flicked his forehead. “Aren’t you already seventeen or eighteen of
age, Tao-er? Why do you look to me like you still have yet to wean
off milk?”
The fruit peel still in Ding Tao’s mouth was so astringent that he
frowned. He responded with the self-righteousness of one who was
not in the wrong, “None of you would send me on assignments, so
I can only sit here and munch on seeds.”
“Munch on seeds.” Li Xiong parroted.
Qiao Tianya gave each of them a kick and ordered them to
hurry and pick up the pits. He stood under the eaves and watched.
A guard at the side came closer to say a word, and he turned back
to see Shen Zechuan drinking his medicine and Yao Wenyu in the
midst of talking, so he nodded his head to the guard to give the
go-ahead.
 Not long later, Yan Heru joyfully entered. His daily attire was
never of the same pattern, but they all had to be embroidered with
ingots and copper coins that shone so brightly he resembled a
peacock striding proudly with its head high when he passed
through the courtyard.
“Greetings, Commander-in-chief Qiao. Congratulations on your
promotion.” Yan Heru wrapped his arms around his golden abacus
before going up the steps. He craned his head to peer inside and
whispered, “How has His Lordship been lately?”
Fei Sheng just happened to step out with the empty bowl in
hand. He looked at Yan Heru with cool detachment and said, “Go
on in and meet him and you’ll know, won’t you? Hurry up. His
Lordship is waiting.”
Yan Heru’s dimples promptly materialized. As he went up the
stairs, he said, “Of course I’ll have to meet him. I’ll miss him so
much if I don’t see him for a day.” He smiled at Fei Sheng, squared
his shoulders, and walked past Fei Sheng’s side at a distance away
before making his way inside with a “whoosh”.
“Your Lordship!” Yan Heru called out warmly. “I’ve been looking
forward—”
The expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes seemed to be a little
frosty as he looked at Yan Heru from where he was before the
window, forcing Yan Heru to swallow back his words. Yan Heru
quietly drew his feet back and asked in fright, “Greetings… Your
Lordship?”
Sitting beside the table, Yao Wenyu drank his tea and did not
look at him even when he heard him.
Shen Zechuan lifted his folding fan slightly and said, “Sit.”
How would Yan Heru dare to sit? He was here today to
apologize and admit the error of his ways. He immediately pulled
up a chair and gestured ardently for Shen Zechuan to take his seat
first.
It was presently midday. An unknown species of a bird perched
among the branches chirped intermittently. It got a little dry when
the temperature rose outside—just the time for sleep. Shen Zechuan
ignored Yan Heru’s ingratiating attempts and stood by the window,
slightly back-lit by the light. The thin breeze brushed his cheeks,
sending the agate earring swaying imperceptibly like the rippling
waves under the glow of spring.
Yan Heru saw nothing beautiful about this scene; all he could
see was the terrifying expression in the Prefectural Lord’s eyes, so
intimidating was it in his silence that Yan Heru could barely stand
steady on his feet.
See, for a man like Shen Zechuan.
Yan Heru tried his best to let his mind wander and groused
inwardly to himself.
Once the fear of him had taken root, one would find this beauty
of his a blade. The more one looked at him, the more afraid one
would be… It was absolutely baffling!
“I heard Qudu is currently investigating the fields in
Dancheng.” The pulps of Shen Zechuan’s fingers rested against his
folding fan. “Have you heard any news of it?”
Yan Heru had come prepared; he knew the Prefectural Lord was
waiting for him to answer for his actions on his own. He
immediately began. “Sure I do. How would I dare not know? Your
Lordship, the granaries in those eight cities are all a bluff. They had
me sell the grains inside to Mount Luo and Fanzhou. The bandits all
love to purchase them.” At this point, he paused meekly, as if
clueless about the matter. “Didn’t Cai Yu tell you about this?”
Of course Cai Yu had not said a thing. Cai Yu did all the manual
work in Chazhou for Yan Heru, so how would he know where the
grain he handled every year came from? Yan Heru did not reveal a
word of this to him and merely fobbed him off by saying that they
were grains from the Hezhou’s granary each time. All Cai Yu
wanted was money, so he would not probe deeper into it at all.
At any rate, you can’t go wrong laying the blame on the dead!
Yan Heru’s eyes curved into a smile.
Even if Shen Zechuan was all-powerful, he could not bring Cai
Yu back from the dead.
“This was also an oversight on my part. I forgot to notify Your
Lordship of this.” Yan Heru put on an act. “Punish me, Your
Lordship. I didn’t think this matter was of importance.”
Now that he put it that way, it did indeed seem to be the case.
In any case, they were doing business in the east and would not be
reselling grains in the future, so the page on past matters ought to
have been turned. But if one delved deeper, that would no longer
make any sense. What Shen Zechuan had been forcing down in
Zhongbo was the price of grains that Yan Heru had raised. Since
the refugees from the eight cities had fled into Zhongbo, Shen
Zechuan had to estimate the surplus stock of the eight cities before
he could compete with them.
Shen Zechuan seemed to be considering something. He turned
his head back to continue to look out of the window. “You shifted
away and emptied out the grains in the eight cities’ granaries. With
the commoners’ fields issue unable to be resolved by this year, the
eight cities and Qudu can only requisition grains from Juexi,
Hezhou, and Huaizhou. So it turns out you’ve been holding their
lifeline in your hands all along.”
To Yan Heru’s ears, it sounded like Shen Zechuan was
complimenting him, but he did not dare to answer rashly because
Shen Zechuan was indeed a cunning one. Who knew if he was
waiting for him to fall into a trap somewhere. Yan Heru responded,
“I’ve turned over a new leaf after throwing in my lot with Your
Lordship. I’m not into that business anymore, and they have long
forgotten about me.”
“You were able to obtain grains from Juexi in the past while
hiding it from Jiang Qingshan. Unlike the situation in the eight
cities, you counted on Xi Hongxuan.” A bug landed on the edge of
the window. Shen Zechuan watched as it dodged here and there
under his folding fan and continued, “It only came to my mind
recently. Xi Hongxuan was reselling public grains too. If both of you
were to happen to run into each other in Juexi, how would he have
been able to tolerate you?”
Xi Hongxuan was the lawful son of a noble clan. What’s more,
he had his money vaults as surety, so it was not unusual for him to
be highly sought after in the official circles. It was too hard for Yan
Heru to butt into the public grains trade in Juexi. He had to have an
unconventional gambit before he would have a fighting chance.
Shen Zechuan knew from reviewing that Dunzhou name list that
the officials Yan Heru bribed were all crooked men who had resold
public grains and copper ores with Xi Hongxuan before. With this
leverage in hand, Yan Heru followed behind Xi Hongxuan,
scavenging whatever he could, but it could not fill his stomach, and
so he dipped his hands in the eight cities’ granaries.
“It was a coincidence.” Yan Heru grinned. “That fat slob Xi the
Second had such a tight hold over Juexi all thanks to his own
money vaults, so I could only seek an alternative way out.”
The Eight Great Clans wanted to level the playing field among
themselves, so naturally, they would not be willing to let Xi
Hongxuan eat up this sum of windfall profits; the Xi clan was
already rich enough from lining their pockets. The Yan clan of
Hezhou was just the opposite. Yan Heru was young, and there was
no one in his clan who served in the imperial court. It was simply a
cinch for the noble clans to hold him under their thumb. But this
lad was so crafty that he made a sizable fortune as an intermediary
and threw the pittance of profit he did not give a hoot about to the
noble clans. That way, the noble clans still thought that they had
profited.
The interior of the hall fell silent after Yan Heru was done
talking. Yan Heru seemed not to have noticed the murderous
undercurrent of killing intent running beneath Shen Zechuan’s
silence as he continued with his hands behind his back. “At the end
of the day, His Lordship is also happy to see it happen, yes? Xue
Xiuzhuo is so vicious to want to re-survey the eight cities’ crop
fields. I don’t even have to do any calculations to know that they
will not be able to make up for the arrears in field taxes. It’ll be a
dog-eat-dog fight once they are pushed into the corner, and when
the time comes, Your Lordship will be able to take down Qudu
effortlessly.”
Shen Zechuan turned slightly sideways to look at Yan Heru
again. Softly, he said, “Oh, so I’m supposed to be thanking you,
huh.”
Yan Heru’s hair stood on end. His dimples faded as he met
Shen Zechuan’s eyes and responded, “… I’m just saying.”
“And that’s the end of it?” Shen Zechuan asked.
Yan Heru almost wanted to laugh out loud, but he did not dare
to. He knew it. Shen Zechuan wanted to seize the opportunity to
fleece a sum of money out of him.
 Damn it.
Yan Heru fumed inwardly to himself.
How much silver had Shen Zechuan successively allocated
away from him after the seventh month last year? Sure, the trade
route was valuable, but Yan Heru had his eyes set even farther. He
knew he could clearly earn more. Leaving aside the grain business
Shen Zechuan had pulled the plug on… the grains to be
transported to Qidong this year were the real money drainer. Then
there was the new port they were building right now in Juexi…
Shen Zechuan was really going all out to rip him off!
But he, too, had a way to push back.
“I heard last year that the Second Master was looking for the
Venerable Master Yideng. Coincidentally, my men picked him up in
Hezhou last month. I rushed over without stopping this time
precisely to inform the Second Master of this.” Yan Heru flicked the
beads on his golden abacus. “Does Your Lordship want him or
not?”
Shen Zechuan raised his head slightly to look at Yan Heru. Very
softly, he started to chuckle.
 CHAPTER 226: MAGNANIMITY

The scorching sun blazed so hot that the Armored Cavalrymen

on the military drill grounds were dripping with sweat all over.
A chill ran down everyone’s spines at the twang of the
Conqueror Bow being drawn. Following right after, three arrows
struck the target one after another, their heavy, dull thuds
reverberating through the military drill grounds. Xiao Chiye
lowered his arm and reloaded an arrow.
“The new blades Master wanted have arrived.” Chen Yang
stood by the side, lifting the quiver for Xiao Chiye. “I have checked
over the goods with Wu Ziyu this morning; they’re all quality blades
forged by the military craftsmen from Dajing.”
Xiao Chiye raised his arm and stared at the target. The arrow
struck the bullseye with a “thud”.
Chen Yang handed over an arrow and waited for Xiao Chiye to
empty out the quiver before passing him a towel. With the sun
hanging over his head, Xiao Chiye wiped his sweat and asked, “Is
he here?”
Chen Yang looked back towards the entrance of the camp.
“Should be by now.”
It was presently midday. Snow that had melted in the Sha’er
Camp flowed into the ditches. It was so hot that waves of heat were
visibly radiating off the ground. A boundless expanse of withered
and yellow grassland stretched on infinitely outside the entrance of
Sha’er camp. Propping himself against the camp wall, Gu Jin saw
billowing waves of flying sand on the horizon.
“Open the camp gate.” A soldier stationed above shouted
below. “General Guo is entering the campgrounds!”
Guo Weili had already led the Armored Cavalry before the
camp while the gate was gradually being hoisted. He pulled the
reins of his horse and removed his helmet, then ran a hand
through his soaked hair as he waited for the bridge to fall over the
ditch before the campground.
The falcons Guo Weili had brought over hovered before the
camp, hesitant to advance ahead, while a commotion broke out in
the falcon cage within the campground. Meng monopolized the
very top of the watchtower, where it stared down the newly arrived
falcons.
A change began to come over the atmosphere in the
campground. The Imperial Army, who were initially squatting by
the foot of the wall to relax in the shade, all rose to their feet to
watch the camp gate open with a myriad of expressions. Gu Jin did
not move as he locked eyes with Guo Weili, neither of them willing
to give way.
It was common knowledge that Guo Weili and Xiao Chiye did
not get along. Guo Weili’s framing of Gu Jin at the Tudalong
Banner was the thorn that stood between them both. In addition,
he had repeatedly clashed with the Imperial Army at the Shasan
Camp. Tension was stretched so taut between both mutually
antagonistic parties that it was at a snapping point. Who could
have expected Xiao Jiming to transfer Guo Weili over to Xiao
Chiye’s command with one deployment order?
Wu Ziyu came out of the tent and stood far away, not wishing to
get caught in the crossfire.
Guo Weili’s present commanding general was Xiao Chiye, and
this meant that whether or not he would still be able to step onto
the battlefield was now entirely at Xiao Chiye’s discretion. Gu Jin
was Xiao Chiye’s guard, so it was impossible to simply turn the
page on the framing incident and let bygones be bygones. No one
knew if Xiao Chiye would make life difficult for Guo Weili or deploy
him out of the main battle squad. No matter the decision, neither
boded well for a Sha’er camp that had only just been rebuilt.
Once the bridge was fully lowered in place, Guo Weili steered
his horse across and led his squad into Sha’er camp. Gu Jin walked
down the steps and stood in the middle of the stairway to watch
them enter.
Xiao Chiye did not turn back. He set the arrow he had retrieved
onto the bowstring again and concentrated his attention on the
target.
Thud!
Guo Weili heard the sound of the target being struck. He held
his helmet in one arm and saw the Conqueror Bow glinting under
the sunlight. After a moment, he turned and dismounted.
Chen Yang led his men over to receive him. Guo Weili handed
over his token, and Chen Yang looked it over before raising his
head to say to him, “The original squad can no longer be used and
has to be disbanded on site. Head over to register in the tent at the
east end. We will assign the members into open vacancies.”
“Hasen came a few days ago,” Guo Weili said. “The wall on the
eastern side of Shasan Camp has completely collapsed. Find an
opportunity to report it to Dajing. We need military craftsmen to
repair that portion.”
“Did Hasen bring along the stone catapults?” Chen Yang
clamped the book under his arm. After Guo Weili nodded, he
turned his head towards the Imperial Army on the other side and
yelled, “Go get Meng Rui and tell him to bring the military
craftsmen over.” Chen Yang then looked at Guo Weili again. “I’ll
arrange for the military craftsmen to head down to Shasan Camp
to repair the wall right away. You go on ahead and report to the
Second Master.”
Guo Weili pressed the tip of his tongue against his canine tooth
that was missing half of it and turned around to face Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye paid him no attention. He seemed focused on the
Conqueror Bow, almost piercing through that particular target with
his shot.
The weather in Libei this year was abnormal. It was only the
middle of the third month, and yet the battle zone was as hot as it
was in the fourth or fifth months in previous years. Guo Weili did
not take off his armor and simply stood there roasting in the
scorching sun until he was perspiring profusely. His inner garment
was so damp he could even wring water out of it. It stuck to his
body, working hand in hand with the heatwaves to make him
irascible.
Guo Weili wiped his face and suddenly shouted at the top of his
voice, “Guo Weili of the Shasan Camp is here to report to Second
Master!”
Xiao Chiye stayed his hand and did not fire the last arrow.
“Hasen launched a sudden assault on Shasan Camp four days
ago. The right flank of the Armored Cavalry was wiped out, and the
eastern side of Shasan Camp suffered heavy damage.” Guo Weili
stepped back. “The above are the military updates General Zuo
wants me to relay.”
Without even wanting Xiao Chiye’s response after saying his
piece, he turned around to leave.
Even if Xiao Chiye were really going to abuse his power and
deliberately make things hard for Guo Weili, Guo Weili would also
resign himself to his fate, blast it all. There was nothing for him to
say. As long as he could—
Before Guo Weili got to finish his thought, an arrow hurtled past
his ear with a “whoosh”, bringing along with it a menacing
sharpness that his ear could clearly sense. The arrow stabbed into a
pillar a few steps away. Had Guo Weili been walking too fast earlier,
this would have been his head.
Bloody hell!
Guo Weili instantly looked back with a livid expression. “If
Second Master wants to kill me, just say it outright!”
Xiao Chiye’s expression was scathingly frosty and grave as he
held the Conqueror Bow in hand. “So you know I want to kill you
too? Guo Weili, last year when Gu Jin escorted the military grains to
the battlegrounds, he encountered an ambush near the Tudalong
Banner. He traversed across the marshland to return to Changzhu
Camp, where you shield the patrol squad under your command
and indiscriminately had him bound to apply torture on him. You
even stripped him of his military rank and framed him for colluding
with the Biansha Cavalry—so tell me, based on all the above, should
I or should I not kill you?”
Gu Jin accepted the arm guard handed to him and descended
the steps.
Guo Weili had framed Gu Jin for Xiao Jiming’s sake. Everyone
was perfectly aware of this. But Xiao Chiye found him a reason that
could be taken out into the open. By this, he meant to deal with
him.
Guo Weili flung away his helmet. “That’s right. I did it. Kill me if
—”
Gu Jin approached him from behind and hauled Guo Weili by
the back of his collar. At the same time Guo Weili looked back, Gu
Jin threw a punch that knocked him to the ground.
This one punch was so violent that Guo Weili felt the remaining
half of his canine tooth begin to shake. He spat out the blood froth
in his mouth and cursed, “Fuck!”
Without waiting for Guo Weili to stand up, Gu Jin kicked him in
the chest. Guo Weili went rolling, his entire face smeared full of
yellow sand. He wiped hard at the sand on his face. Gu Jin yanked
him up and elbowed him over to the ground once again.
Guo Weili felt as if his cheeks were going to split apart from the
blows, but not once did he fight back as he let Gu Jin pummel him
until the metallic taste of blood saturated his mouth.
“This is what you owe me.” Gu Jin waited until Guo Weili was
bent over the ground, gasping heavily for breath before he
removed the arm guard and tossed it at his side with a noisy clang.
Recovering from his slightly ragged breathing, he continued, “And
now you’ve repaid it all.”
Not only was Guo Weili stunned, but even Wu Ziyu, who was
standing a distance away, was struck dumb too.
Guo Weili propped himself up with both arms, spat out all the
blood in his mouth, and staggered to his feet. Chen Yang tossed
his helmet to him. Guo Weili was still feeling flummoxed.
That’s it?
But he almost lashed Gu Jin to his death.
Gu Jin took a few steps back and said, “The personal grudge
between you and me is written off as of today. If you have anything
to say, lay it all out on the table. You’re Second Master’s soldier, and
I’m Second Master’s guard. When we step out of Sha’er Camp
hereafter, you and I are kin brothers who have each other’s back.
The day we part ways will be the day this war ends.”
The scene everyone expected to play out did not materialize.
Libei’s morale was low this year. As Xiao Chiye’s guard, Gu Jin was
unwilling to let Xiao Chiye lose the hearts of Shasan Camp’s
soldiers any further because of this matter. Xiao Chiye gave Gu Jin
the authority to handle it as he deemed fit, and Gu Jin was willing
to use such a method to resolve the issue because he was a real
man who could not and would not play dirty.
Guo Weili initially thought that he would be injured if not dead
today, but who knew Gu Jin would be this magnanimous? Even he
felt small standing before Gu Jin. He rubbed at a bruise on his face,
and despite feeling a little reluctant to concede defeat, he was also
a little impressed.
He who can tolerate his shame and endure humiliations is a
real man of character.
Guo Weili was usually a game drinker who drank to his heart’s
content and a valiant fighter who fought like there was no
tomorrow. He boasted of being a man among men, and so would
not easily speak of the word “concede defeat” to another. Gu Jin
suffered such great humiliation at the Tudalong Banner, and yet he
could use such a method today to defuse the awkwardness
between both parties. He not only saved Guo Weili from
punishment but also won over Shasan Camp’s heart for Xiao Chiye.
Gu Jin was representative of Xiao Chiye; his actions reflected upon
the latter, and whether on a personal or professional level, Guo
Weili truly had to hand it to him for de-escalating the conflict in this
way.
Xiao Chiye raised an arm to let Meng perch. In the wind, he
recalled the words his old man had said before he left. Gu Jin went
to such lengths all to smooth the path ahead for Xiao Chiye. He
was telling everyone in the battlegrounds:
Second Master was not an intolerant man who could not
accommodate others.
◈ ◈ ◈
 When the sky darkened, Guo Weili sat by the campfire and
roasted his field rations. His face was decorated with bruises all
over. Wu Ziyu sat across from him with a rice bowl in hand. Guo
Weili cast a glance at Wu Ziyu but said nothing.
“Meals are provided in the camp.” Wu Ziyu snatched Guo
Weili’s field rations away. “Go over and ask for it. Why are you
squatting here gnawing on field rations instead?”
Guo Weili covertly clenched his now empty hands and said
testily, “Are you that much of a busybody? What the fuck has it got
to do with you?”
“Don’t tell me you’re too embarrassed and awkward to do so?”
Wu Ziyu stuffed two spoonfuls of rice into his mouth. “Gu Jin
already said it’s all water under the bridge now.”
Guo Weili picked up a piece of firewood and poked the
campfire.
The Imperial Army was having a whale of a time on the
opposite side; this group of army ruffians was still the same as
ever.
After a moment of silence, Guo Weili said, “Second Master
attacked and killed the Duanzhou’s Scorpions at the Chashi
Sinkhole?”
“What’s more, he defeated them while outnumbered.” Wu Ziyu
gestured with his fingers.
Guo Weili scoffed, “And the main force comprises the Imperial
Army, right?”
“Bullocks. Just how many Imperial Army soldiers went?” Wu
Ziyu did not share that much camaraderie with Guo Weili, and he
had been rubbed the wrong way many times by Guo Weili before,
so he said, “Be reasonable, will you? Which part of the Second
Master doesn’t cut it? Second Master was the one who took back
Shasan Camp, and the person he cut down that time was Huhelu,
who was your nemesis for half a lifetime. And now, he’s killed off
the head Scorpion of Duanzhou. Second Master is still willing to
use you after what happened with Gu Jin—this is what I call
magnanimity. So cut it out with your ungrateful attitude!”
Guo Weili stabbed at the campfire until sparks spluttered all
over. He lifted the smoking stick of firewood and pointed it at Wu
Ziyu.
Wu Ziyu was not in the least bit afraid of Guo Weili. He used to
be in the convoy squad in the past, so there was nothing he could
do about being overshadowed. What’s more, he had no
opportunity to step onto the battlefield, and all that holding back
had turned him into a good-for-nothing. But it was different now.
He was the one who seized back Duanzhou. Although credits also
went to Xiao Chiye’s diversionary tactic in luring the enemies away
from their base, he did indeed fight the battle to reclaim the city,
regardless of the number of people he used.
“There have not been any victorious battles this year. You
butted heads with Hasen before, and our Armored Cavalry isn’t on
par with the Bianjun Commandery Garrison Troops currently
stationed at the Shayi Camp.” Wu Ziyu set down his chopsticks.
“Can you beat the Scorpions in a fight? No, you can’t. Can Zhao
Hui? He can’t do it either. So why not follow under Second Master’s
command?”
“Am I not doing just that now?” Guo Weili was a bad-tempered
man who spoke in a very blunt tone. “How else do you want me to
follow him? By shadowing him hot on his ass? Bloody hell, how did
the Armored Cavalry dodge the iron hammers?”
“It was epic.” Wu Ziyu gave him a thumbs up. “You can bloody
well go figure it out yourself.”
Guo Weili watched Wu Ziyu walk away. When Wu Ziyu was
almost engulfed in the darkness of the night, Guo Weili suddenly
jolted to his feet and cursed, “My rations!”
Wu Ziyu had long fled.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye looked at the newly delivered blades under the
candlelight. These longer and thinner blades required the Libei
Armored Cavalry to adapt to them. He lined up a formation in
Sha’er Camp, and repeatedly thought about what he had obtained
from the Chashi Sinkhole.
On the other end, Chen Yang and Gu Jin entered the tent, and
Xiao Chiye caught the aroma of milk.
“Master, there’s a letter from the Prefectural Lord delivered
along with the supply wagons.” Chen Yang set the letter from
Duanzhou on the small table at Xiao Chiye’s side. “The Mount Luo
riding stables are beginning to take shape, and the repairs of the
Zhongbo bridle paths are coming along so fast that access will be
available by the end of the fourth month.”
Shen Zechuan was dumping hordes of money on it, so how
could it not be fast?
At this thought, Xiao Chiye remembered Qudu. He kept the
blade away in its sheath and tore open Shen Zechuan’s letter in
between sips of his milk tea.
“The Venerable Master Yideng is in Hezhou…” Xiao Chiye
hesitated for a moment before looking at Gu Jin. “Why is the
Venerable Master Yideng in Hezhou?”
Gu Jin, who had a new robe hung over his arm, thought for a
moment after hearing the question, then shook his head and
answered, “Why would the Venerable Master Yideng go to
Hezhou? Master, the Venerable Master left his home in Hezhou in
his early years to become a monk. All these years, he has only been
willing to roam around our Libei.”
“That’s really strange.” Xiao Chiye inexplicably felt displeased.
“I dug to the center of the earth, and I couldn’t even find him. How
could he have fallen into Yan Heru’s hands?”
Chen Yang collected the empty bowl and said, “That Yan Heru
is a coward who is mortally afraid of death, and Zhongbo was in
such mayhem last year, so he wanted to seek out the Venerable
Master as an insurance to preserve his life…”
Chen Yang’s voice gradually trailed to a stop. Silence reigned
in the tent for a long time.
Xiao Chiye was looking for the Venerable Master Yideng. There
were already rumors of this spreading around since the sixth
month last year. If Yan Heru already had the Venerable Master’s
whereabouts a long time ago, then why did he not say a word
instead of keeping it quiet until now?
“I’ll be at Sha’er Camp these few days.” Xiao Chiye folded the
letter. “Gu Jin, spur your horse down south tonight to Duanzhou to
keep watch over the Prefectural Lord. Come back if the Venerable
Master arrives without a hitch. If not…”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes were an abyss of darkness.
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Yan Heru sneezed several times in a row. Clutching his
handkerchief, he blew his nose and rubbed it until its tip was red.
He sat on the chair with his head craned to watch Yao Wenyu
writing. “This character of Mister Yuanzhuo can be likened to flying
eagles and darting hares. Not only are the strokes strong and
firm…”
Yan Heru launched into a series of flattery and smiled at Yao
Wenyu again when he was done.
“Mister, wanna crack melon seeds? It’s rather boring to be
sitting here. When will His Lordship be done handling the cases? Is
he this busy every day? In that case, he has to take care of his
health. It’d be bad if he were to burn his body out. However, the
Venerable Master Yideng is already on the way. Going by the
schedule, I reckon he will more or less arrive in a few days. When
the time comes, I’ll get the Venerable Master to take a look at your
legs. No doubt he will be able to make you stand up on your feet
again.”
Yao Wenyu’s brushstroke skewed aside, although he showed
no trace of anger on his face and merely looked at the paper
regretfully.
Feeling out Yao Wenyu’s expression, Yan Heru leaned over the
edge of the table and said, “Do you hate Xue Yanqing for
subjecting you to such a misfortune? He’s really wicked, man. Why
not you team up with me to set up a trap for him? We’ll take
advantage of the chaos to off him and hang his exposed corpse up
in Qudu for several days to appease your hatred!”
With a slight frown on his face, Yao Wenyu set down the brush
and said, “Such an act is too depraved.”
Yan Heru revealed a look of understanding and said, “You’re a
scholar, and scholars are all sticklers for this, but not so for
merchants like us. A fool is the one who does not avenge a
vendetta. The more you double down on settling the score and
making him pay for it, the more gratifying it is.”
Yao Wenyu felt his words to be loaded with meaning. At the
same time he rolled up his sleeves, he made to speak.
 But Yan Heru raised an index finger and hushed him with a
quiet “shh”.
The interior of the room fell silent, making the sound of
footsteps in the courtyard particularly clear. Shen Zechuan, who
had been in the principal hall, seemed to have stepped out and
was now standing under the eaves listening to someone who had
come to submit his report.
Qiao Tianya had originally been standing on the side, but upon
hearing the report, his expression changed. He repeated,
“Overturned?”
“Overturned!” The Imperial Bodyguard delivering the message
said as he wiped his sweat. “Your Lordship, the horse carriage was
stuck outside Fanzhou. Luo Mu did not even have the time to send
men to receive the guests in it when the carriage overturned!”
Fei Sheng pressed in a step closer and asked with urgency,
“Where’s the Venerable Master?”
Inside the room, Yan Heru covered his mouth, and with his eyes
darting around, said regretfully to Yao Wenyu, “Heaven be my
witness. This has nothing to do with me at all. I’ve been right here
in front of you and His Lordship.”
His doe eyes were so harmless, but they sparkled with malice
within.
“Heaven help us all now.”
 CHAPTER 227: CHILD PRODIGY

“The horse carriage from Hezhou had already arrived when the
men we sent to receive them reached Chazhou’s borders. They
were being chased by the Hezhou yamen and did not dare to stop
for a break on the way. The carriage overturned on the old bridle
path outside the city of Chazhou and plunged into the stream.” The
Imperial Bodyguard hesitated a little before continuing, “It broke to
smithereens on impact… There were no survivors.”
The guards in the courtyard all fell as silent as the cicadas in
winter. Only the sound of running water could be heard. The
bamboo tube knocked against the rock, and newly replaced water
from the pond washed over the rock’s surface, turning the
remaining mosses black.
Fei Sheng’s heart sank. He instantly looked at Shen Zechuan.
Contrary to expectation, Shen Zechuan’s expression was calm.
After standing under the eaves for a moment, he asked, “Why was
the Hezhou yamen chasing after the horse carriage?”
“They exposed their whereabouts when passing through the
checkpoint and lied that they were relatives of the Yan Clan,” The
Imperial Bodyguard reported. “But who knew that Qudu had issued
an imperial edict in recent days, and the entire Hezhou is on the
hunt for Yan Heru. The moment the yamen heard they were
relatives of the Yan clan, they thought they were absconding to flee
punishment.”
 It was so much of a coincidence that it seemed as if even
Heaven was hampering the Venerable Master from arriving in
Zhongbo.
Fei Sheng did not believe this coincidence, and neither did
Qiao Tianya. The people assigned to receive the carriage were all
elites. If they said the horse carriage overturned, then it really
overturned and was not tampered with—at least, no tampering that
was noticeable at a glance.
Interesting.
Shen Zechuan had already concluded that the Venerable
Master Yideng had likely met with a mishap even before the
Imperial Bodyguard answered. Otherwise, they could jolly well
resolve it themselves instead of reporting it to Shen Zechuan. If Yan
Heru had treated the Venerable Master as his trump card, then he
had shown his card too eagerly this time, so much that Shen
Zechuan found it hard to believe right from the start that he would
really hand over the Venerable Master.
If that was the case, where did Yan Heru get the guts to do so?
Shen Zechuan put up his folding fan to stop Qiao Tianya from
speaking. He glanced at the side hall and said, “It’s already so late
now. Go and get ready.”
With a solemn expression on his face, Qiao Tianya retreated.
◈ ◈ ◈
When Shen Zechuan lifted the hanging screen and entered,
Yao Wenyu had already gone out. Yan Heru was shaking his leg as
he fiddled with his golden abacus. He was not proficient at mental
arithmetic, but pretty adept in doing calculations with the abacus,
flicking away at the abacus beads noisily without even messing up
the numbers in his mind.
“What happened to the Venerable Master Yideng?” Yan Heru
flicked the last bead away. When Shen Zechuan sat down, he
leaned over and said to him across the table, “I heard
commotion.”
There was no one waiting in attendance inside this room, so
Shen Zechuan poured himself a cup of hot tea. Amidst the willowy,
spiraling steam of the scented tea, he succinctly answered, “The
carriage overturned.”
 Yan Heru let loose an exclamation of surprise. “How?! Is the
Venerable Master alright? I’ve been reminding them to be careful,
and I even specially sent my best men at home to tag along.”
Shen Zechuan did not drink the tea. Instead, he pulled over the
empty porcelain saucer on the table and poured the tea in as if he
was rinsing the cup. With a gentle shake of his head, he said, “They
said the carriage plunged into a stream in its frantic escape from
the pursuit of the Hezhou yamen. Everyone in it was killed on the
spot. What a pity. I was waiting for the Venerable Master to extend
my lifespan this year.”
Yan Heru’s expression underwent a slight shift. “The Venerable
Master is gone?”
Shen Zechuan pressed the scalded, empty cup between the
pulps of his fingers and raised his eyes to look at Yan Heru. He
repeated, “The Venerable Master is gone.”
There was originally no ripple of emotion in Yan Heru’s eyes,
but with Shen Zechuan looking at him, uncertainty gradually
washed over his expression. Tentatively, he pointed out, “… I’ve
already handed him over.”
Shen Zechuan loosened his grip, and the empty cup fell onto
the table, where it rolled several times and bumped against the
edge of Yan Heru’s golden abacus. The lights in the room were all
at the back, partially obstructed by the hanging bamboo blinds.
Shen Zechuan did not speak for a long time. He scrutinized Yan
Heru with interest, unable to find the slightest trace of concealment
on this face. Just on this point alone, Yan Heru was better than Xi
Hongxuan.
At this thought, Shen Zechuan smiled. He lowered his folding
fan and propped it up on the tabletop. “This is an unexpected
misfortune; how can I blame you for it?”
Contrarily, Yan Heru could not figure out what the Prefectural
Lord was thinking when Shen Zechuan did not fly into a rage, but
he had come to have some understanding of Shen Zechuan in this
past six months, and he knew this was not the moment to get
anxious and rush the matter. Shen Zechuan was best at
psychological warfare and playing mind games. He only had to
drop his guard a little, and the Prefectural Lord might do an about-
face and turn hostile.
“Your Lordship is magnanimous. As expected of someone
worthy of being an overlord,” Yan Heru said. “I’ve seen so-called
heroes elsewhere, but none of them come close to being as astute
as Your Lordship. What should we do now that the Venerable
Master is of no more? I can see Mister Yuanzhuo’s illness worsening
by the day. We have to get it treated, man.”
“A physician is easy to find, but not a highly-skilled one that can
work miracles.” Shen Zechuan seemed to be curious. “How did you
find the Venerable Master?”
“Hezhou, of course.” Yan Heru’s expression relaxed. “Your
Lordship may not know it, but Hezhou was the Venerable Master’s
home as a layman before he became a monk. Ever since I found
out Second Master was looking for the Venerable Master, I sent
men to keep an eye on his former house. As luck would have it, the
Venerable Master really went back. What a pity I didn’t make it in
time. Had I come a few days earlier, the Venerable Master would
have been in Duanzhou by now.”
“It wasn’t meant to be,” Shen Zechuan said. “That can’t be
helped.”
“But I know of some elder imperial physicians in Juexi. They are
all masters of their trade, and they used to treat Emperor
Guangcheng in the past.” Yan Heru picked up the empty cup. “Their
reputations are on par with the Venerable Master, and they have
also made quite a name in the thirteen cities. Many a number of
high-ranking officials and noblemen are all seeking to receive
medical treatments from them. If Your Lordship wishes to meet
them, I can bring them along next time?”
Unexpectedly, Shen Zechuan picked up the teapot and poured
tea for Yan Heru. “The medical fees cost a fortune, don’t they?”
“It’s not an issue at all if a few ten thousand silvers can make His
Lordship happy.” Seeing as the tea was about to overflow, Yan Heru
raised a hand to stop him. “It makes me happy to spend money as
a sign of respect to Your Lordship.”
A gush of night breeze leaked its way in from somewhere,
sending ripples across the surface of the tea, creasing it.
 Holding this position, Yan Heru lowered his voice. “I heard Xi
the Second set a trap in Qudu with the intent to surround and kill
Your Lordship, but he ended up committing suicide right before
Your Lordship’s eyes. Tsk, tsk. His blood spilled all over the ground.
How very tragic.”
Shen Zechuan did not set down the teapot. With a smile, he
said, “He who is unrighteous is doomed to bring about their own
downfall. I can’t stop him even if I wanted to.”
“But as I see it,” Yan Heru said. “Your Lordship is no man of
honor either…” He drawled and chuckled. “I’m already on familiar
terms with the Imperial Bodyguards in your residence. Your
Lordship, why do you still ask them to surround me?”
The candle flames in the room flickered violently. It was quiet in
the courtyard; the guards had all seemed to have disappeared.
Yan Heru retracted his hand. Unafraid, he said, “See, I have
never learned martial arts, and I don’t even know any fancy strokes
for show. So why make a big hoo-ha if you want to kill me? Draw
Yang Shan Xue out of its sheath and slash me to get it all done and
over with.” At this point, he smacked his thigh and said as though
he had just remembered, “Oh, I forgot. Your Lordship can’t hold a
blade now. No wonder Second Master is using every means
possible to find Yideng, by hook or by crook. How anxiety-inducing
it must have been for him.”
This little scumbag.
Fei Sheng, who was crouching in wait on the rooftop, spat
soundlessly.
“How could I bear to kill you?” Shen Zechuan set down the
teapot. “Qidong is still counting on you to supply their military
provisions after the fourth month, and the expenses for the Liuzhou
port are also all borne by you. Without you, who is going to handle
affairs on my behalf?”
“I didn’t think Your Lordship would bear to kill me either.” Yan
Heru deftly tapped the handle of his chair with his fingers as he
shook his leg. “But it can’t be helped, man. You were ripping me off
so bad a while back, and now you are staking half of your assets on
me. But let me say a word in all honesty, okay? I can’t bear to fall
out with Your Lordship either. Where am I going to find such a
good-looking and intelligent master like Your Lordship in the
future? This whole saga about Yideng really came out of left field to
me. If Your Lordship agrees, I’ll give Mister Yuanzhuo more than ten
thousand silver as an apology. Would that work? Being happy is
what matters most in life. Only then will there be meaning in
living.”
Just as it seemed as if the atmosphere in this room was about
to ease up, Shen Zechuan unexpectedly changed the topic. “The
Venerable Master Yideng died a long time ago, am I right?”
Yan Heru looked abruptly at Shen Zechuan with a smile still on
his face. “That can’t…”
“If he were still alive, how could you have been so willing to
throw him to me this easily?” Shen Zechuan raised a finger to
caress his folding fan and slowly said as he contemplated it over,
“The eight cities’ granaries are nothing. Even if I were to take it
seriously to heart, I wouldn’t kill you. But it’s hard to say when it
comes to the Venerable Master.” Shen Zechuan’s expressive eyes
were as dark as ink as he looked at Yan Heru. “Ce’an put in so much
effort in an attempt to find the Venerable Master. If he were to really
find traces of him only to find out that the Venerable Master had
died in your hands, then even the heavenly emperor himself can’t
save you even if he were to come and intercede on your behalf. So
you have to get rid of this hot potato as soon as possible.”
Yan Heru’s trip here this time was to apologize and admit the
error of his ways. But what mistake did he have to apologize for?
The eight cities’ granaries. Qudu’s investigation led it to the City of
Dancheng, and Xue Yanqing emerged the victor for the time being
in that game. Yan Heru had long known that he would definitely be
wanted by the imperial court. Thus, he had to feign handing over
the Venerable Master Yideng to give the Hezhou yamen an
opportunity to chase after them in hot pursuit, so that the chain of
events would logically lead to the overturning of the horse
carriage.
This was a card Yan Heru had been reluctant to throw out, but
he truly had no other better tactics to deploy. He had indeed found
the Venerable Master in Hezhou and kept him prisoner in his
residence since the beginning of the year. How was he to expect
the Venerable Master to really die?! This leverage that could be
used to threaten Shen Zechuan instantly turned into a scourge that
meant certain death for Yan Heru. Once Xiao Chiye found a trail
leading to the Venerable Master, Yan Heru would not even have the
chance to deal with him. It was only by facing Shen Zechuan would
he be able to use the lure of benefits to get a fighting chance at
survival.
“You’re so smart.” Yan Heru had never been one to be stingy
with praises. He clenched his abacus. “But since Your Lordship is
willing to sit here and talk to me, that means you’re willing to go
easy on me and leave me a way out. I’ve done some calculations
on the accounts earlier. The six prefectures of Zhongbo can’t afford
to supply military provisions to the northern and southern
battlefields for an entire year. What’s more, Your Lordship still wants
to restore the people’s livelihood in the six prefectures… I’m not the
same as Xi Hongxuan. Your Lordship can’t do without me every
step of the way.”
“You are indeed different from Xi Hongxuan, so why compare
yourself to him?” Shen Zechuan found Yan Heru interesting. “You
are excessively extravagant in the way you handle matters, and you
are all decked out in gold and silver. Your robes have to be
embroidered with copper coins and ingots, and your neck has to
have a golden abacus hung around it. You can’t wait to announce
to the entire world that you love money, but do you really love
money?”
Xi Hongxuan was also an ostentatious man given to showing
off, but never to such an extreme extent. Compared to Yan Heru, Xi
Hongxuan was more like a study of a noble clan’s descendant.
Going by the deposits in both households’ money coffers, Xi
Hongxuan could even be considered a dutiful son who was frugal.
But Yan Heru was just the opposite. All his business transactions
required money to be invested first. Rather than say he wanted
money, one might as well say he was obsessed with the process of
earning money.
With a sudden windfall of profits from the Chazhou grains, the
Yan Clan enjoyed a meteoric rise as well. Yan Heru expanded the
small mutual trade market in Dunzhou and joined hands with the
noble clans to resell public assets. He earned so much money he
could not even spend them all in three lifetimes, and he never held
back when it came to spending them. Throwing in with Shen
Zechuan was an excellent opportunity for him to wash his hands off
his former trade. His past deals were all clandestine transactions
done under the table. To wash himself clean, he only had to
behave himself and supply military provisions and salaries to the
northern and southern battlefields, as well as pay his respects to
the Prefectural Lord in person from time to time. Once the war was
over and Shen Zechuan really made it to the top, no one would be
able to lay a hand on him on account of his merit in supplying
military grains alone. When the time came, he would
metamorphose into an official who had rendered meritorious
service.
But Yan Heru was not willing to.
It was precisely because of this restlessness in his bones that he
could have the boldness of vision to come up with ideas like
building a new port.
It wasn’t that this lad was not smart. Like his reputation that
preceded him, he was a child prodigy; he was too intelligent, so
much so that he was an old hand at exploiting the various tricks in
the book. Did he not play the Eight Great Clans for fools too? To
date, they were still following behind his arse and picking up
money after him. It did not matter if you were a minister in power or
a man of ambitions. He was not afraid at all.
Carrying his golden abacus in his arms, Yan Heru curled up in
his chair and laughed nonstop with his dimples showing. After he
was done laughing, he sighed and said, “Your Lordship, why do
you want to be an overlord? Come and do business, man. Then I
won’t be lonely anymore.”
Shen Zechuan sighed too. “I wasn’t born at a good time.”
Yan Heru tilted his head and said innocently, “Same for me too.
If I had been born twenty years earlier, there’d be no room for Xi
Hongxuan now. Fatso is so dumb that he played all the best cards
of the Xi clan to ruins.” He raised his chin a little arrogantly. “I see
they keep changing the emperor around. If the opportunity were to
fall in my hand, I want to swap a few for fun too, man.”
 Seeing that Shen Zechuan was not showing any murderous
intent, Yan Heru took a sip of tea and continued after hydrating his
throat. “Me, I admire Your Lordship so much that it borders on
worship, but somehow we are always a little… different. You know
my mother? She was a fisherwoman from Hezhou who never had
enough to eat at home and still had to raise her good-for-nothing
brothers for her parents. Fed up with getting beaten up and
scolded, my mother jumped into the water in a fit of pique and ran
away. She disguised as a man on a boat for over ten years, going
where it went, before moving on to expand her initial tea business
in Hezhou with her sworn brothers. Everyone had no family, and so
after a discussion, they all decided to simply take on the surname
Yan. How nice, right? With money in hand, you can be doing
whatever your heart desires.” He laughed again. “The other
households took women in as concubines, while my mother went
around picking a husband. She loved all the good-looking men in
Hezhou, and my father was the most handsome one. But my
mother died young, and my father became Master Yan. He did
business too, but he was always cowering and was afraid of
everything. Heck, he did not even dare to raise his head when he
saw the shopkeeper of the Xi clan.”
Yan Heru was literate, and he had also read the books of sages,
but the talk of benevolence, righteousness, morals, and virtues in it
was but mere rhetoric that had nothing to do with him. Didn’t all
those who spoke of benevolence and righteousness die young? In
the days to come later, he became more and more certain of one
thing, and that was, it did not matter how long he lived, as long as
he lived to his heart’s content.
He looked like he was afraid of everyone. Level a blade before
him, and he would shiver, yet the businesses he conducted were all
deals that those who held blades for real in their hands would not
necessarily dare to do.
What kind of money was Zhongbo making? Yan Heru knew it
all too well. He saw refugees strewn all over the lands when his
horse carriage passed through the territory. How pitiful. But what
did all of this have to do with him? He was merely having fun in
these turbulent times. If someone really starved to death, it couldn’t
be pinned on his head; there were many other people standing
before him to take the blame.
Where was his fault in this?
Yan Heru leaned over the edge of the table and repeated the
question to Shen Zechuan. “Where does my blame lie in this? The
military defeat of Zhongbo has nothing to do with me, man. That
was all Shen Wei’s fault. As for reselling grains… Well, if I don’t do
it, others will do it. Rather than let other people waste all these
silvers, I might as well use it to build a mutual trade market. The
money has to be in circulation, see. It’s most meaningless to hide
them away in the coffers, as the Xi clan did in their money vault.”
Shen Zechuan wanted to kill him, so he had the Venerable
Master Yideng hidden away. Was he wrong to do so? It just so
happened that the Venerable Master did not survive through it.
Yan Heru said, “Given the Venerable Master’s lot in life, he will
still die once old age catches up with him even if I don’t take him
in. What’s more, he’d die in the middle of nowhere.”
Yan Heru was too young. He was, in certain aspects, just as
naïve as he looked. It wasn’t that he had no one to teach him, but
that the people who taught him were all not as intelligent as he
was. He called Cai Yu “grandpa”. Cai Yu was a bandit in Chazhou,
but in his early years, he had also been a righteous man who gave
generously to the old and weak, women and children in the
territory. In the end, he still did those unconscionable deals against
his conscience with Yan Heru.
“The people in this world all like to preach about morality and
righteousness, but it’s all just talk.” Yan Heru jumped off the chair,
still hugging his abacus. “Profits come and go. Money is meant to
be spent. Spend it, and you have everything. It’s true that I don’t
give a hoot about this, because I earn much, much more. There’s
no business that I can’t have my fun with.”
The room was a little quiet. Yan Heru found Shen Zechuan too
silent. He deliberated it over and said to Shen Zechuan, “Regarding
what happened to the Venerable Master Yideng… since Your
Lordship wants to settle the score, then it can’t be helped. I made a
bad move, so naturally, I’m willing to make up for it. Just go ahead
and let me know what medicinal herbs the residence needs. I’ll
continue to deliver Qidong’s military provisions this year, so can we
just turn the page on this matter?”
Shen Zechuan looked at him. “You should go back.”
Yan Heru remained fixed in place for a moment. As if wanting
to explain himself and make it clear to Shen Zechuan, he said
again, “The port of Liuzhou is at a critical juncture. Your Lordship, I’ll
come to call on you again the day after tomorrow and show you
the bylaws.”
Shen Zechuan did not utter a word.
The candle flame in the room was dark and gloomy. Yan Heru
unwarrantedly felt a little afraid. This was different from the fear he
had felt in the past—it was cool icy fear that seeped deep into his
bones. He knew the kind of man Shen Zechuan was. Shen Zechuan
would not kill him, because intelligent people would not do so.
What he had was confidence.
Yan Heru took a few steps back. When he reached the door, he
flashed a smile at Shen Zechuan and turned around to lift the
hanging screen before stepping out. A maidservant was waiting
under the eaves with a lantern in hand. Yan Heru looked at that
deathly white lantern, and his hair stood on end.43
The candle flame in the room went out, and it was so quiet in
the courtyard that not a sound could be heard.
Yan Heru did not let the maidservant see him out. He grabbed
over the lantern and walked down the walkway with increasing
speed until he eventually broke into a mad run, as if something was
chasing him. Gasping for breath, he ran desperately for all he was
worth. At this moment, he had to admit that he was still afraid of
death after all!
“I, I have… Qidong’s 800,000 silver…” Yan Heru heard the
sound of feet landing on the ground behind him. He looked back
in a panic and saw nothing, but still, he cried, like a child who had
broken a vase and felt aggrieved at the inconsequential mistake.
He yelled, “SHEN ZECHUAN—!”
Shen Zechuan sat in his chair and poured away Yan Heru’s
unfinished tea, just like the cup he poured for Xi Hongxuan back
then.44
The tea leaves lay on the rug, drying up in no time.
 CHAPTER 228: IN THE FUTURE

Fei Sheng was quite meticulous in dealing with the aftermath.

The guards washed all traces of blood away from the hallway the
fastest they could, and the entire affair was over in merely the time
it took to finish a cup of tea.45 When Fei Sheng lifted the hanging
screen, he saw the Prefectural Lord dozing off with his eyes closed.
He lowered his voice. “Master, it’s been handled.”
Shen Zechuan seemed to be semi-conscious as his half-lidded
eyes stared at the candle flame that was about to burn out, giving
off an unapproachable aura as he sat there. After a long while, he
asked, “Where is Gu Jin?”
Fei Sheng answered, “He should have arrived at Mount Luo by
tonight.”
Looking as if he was now awake, Shen Zechuan breathed out a
nasal acknowledgment and said, “Tell him to go back.”
Fei Sheng half-kneeled by the entrance with his upper body
partially bending over. He paused for a moment, not daring to
overdo his words lest it appeared too woeful, so he said, “He has
Second Master’s letter with him. Master, Mount Luo is not that far
away from Duanzhou. It won’t take much time.”
Shen Zechuan was not in a good mood this night and did not
respond. Fei Sheng promptly shut his mouth and wisely took his
leave. In the time that it took to burn through two sticks of incense,
Qiao Tianya arrived, pushing Yao Wenyu in his wheelchair.
 The bamboo blinds opened and closed. Shen Zechuan said,
“Why hasn’t Yuanzhuo retired for a rest? It’s already so late.”
Yao Wenyu released his grip on the book he was holding and
covered himself properly with the thin blanket. “Without Yan Heru,
the shops in Hezhou are going to be thrown into chaos. Since Your
Lordship is here alone tonight ruminating over countermeasures to
deal with this situation, why not hear out my humble opinion?”
As someone who used to excel at philosophical discourses,46
Yuanzhuo’s voice was like the murmuring of spring waters—suitably
soothing, and extremely pleasant to listen to.
Shen Zechuan inclined his head. “Light the lamps and prepare
the tea.”
A maidservant entered the room to remove the tea-stained rug
and replaced the lamps, finally brightening up the room’s interior a
little. Fei Sheng made a special point of getting the maidservant to
brew stronger tea so as to perk up the Prefectural Lord and his
advisor.
“Kill Yan Heru, and the shops in Hezhou will be thrown into
chaos for a time. Let Yan Heru live, and all the businesses under the
sky will be in turmoil for a lifetime.” Shen Zechuan did not drink the
tea, instead forcing himself to stay focused. “Moreover, Yan Heru
was so certain that I wouldn’t take his life. If I accede to his wishes,
there will be no end of trouble in the future.”
Shen Zechuan had no patience for naughty kids. A long time
back when Yan Heru brought up the Venerable Master Yideng,
Shen Zechuan had already decided his fate. Shen Zechuan could
be made a fool of, but he could not be coerced. The truth was that
Yan Heru did not understand Shen Zechuan or Xiao Chiye at all. He
had not the slightest clue which one of the pair was actually the
sheath of the blade.
In addition to this, Xiao Chiye was so anxious to find the
Venerable Yideng because he had just been through a parting by
death. Shen Zechuan only had to think about how Xiao Chiye
would feel after learning of the news, and he had no intent to let
Yan Heru live for another second longer.
Yao Wenyu waited for the maidservant to leave before speaking
up. “Yan Heru did not bring an entourage along with him this time
and left his trusted aides behind in Hezhou, all to inspire fear and
misgivings in Your Lordship.”
It was as Yan Heru had said. He did not even know any fancy
martial arts strokes for show. He dared to take it a step further and
strut into the inner chamber to threaten Shen Zechuan because he
was confident of success. He left his trusted aides in Hezhou. If he
did not make it back home as scheduled, the Yan clan would choke
off the bottom end of the trade route between Huaizhou, Cizhou,
and Chazhou and refuse access to the merchants of Zhongbo. This
would force Shen Zechuan into having no choice but to go past
Huaizhou, take a detour over to the vicinity of Dicheng, and pass
through the Port of Yongyi to finally make it deep into Juexi. This
route was not only a toll on time and energy; they also had to go to
painstaking efforts to deal with the checkpoints along the way.
Even the slightest slip-up could set them up for failure.
“All the merchants in the world are in it for profit,” Shen
Zechuan said. “Zhongbo is the key transit point for both Libei and
Qidong. What the Yan Clan choked off will not be just my trade
route, but also that of the merchants who have already invested in
it. These people have all now tasted the finer delicacies. Tell them
to return to consuming edible wild herbs and vegetables, and no
matter how it tastes, their unsatiated stomachs will not agree.”
Shen Zechuan was unlike the bandits Yan Heru had
encountered. He had legitimate power in hand in the east, and it
was something that neither Cai Yu, Lei Jingzhe, and the likes could
hold a candle to. He could finalize the tariffs in both regions in the
east, and he held a vice grip on the three strategic points of Luoxia
pass, the mutual trade market, as well as Dengzhou. Even if Yan
Heru wanted to rely solely on business to coerce him, it also
depended on whether or not Shen Zechuan was willing to play
along.
The Zhongbo garrison troops were in severe need of large
amounts of military armament this year, and it was impossible for
Shen Zechuan to produce them himself. The copper mines were all
in the west. Those merchants who had been stealthily scalping
copper meant for governmental use still had last-year stock in
hand, and they were now all burning with anxiety and desperation
to hop onto the ship that was Zhongbo. There was no need for the
Prefectural Lord to go knocking on their doors. As long as His
Lordship said the word, these people would be willing to make the
long journey over to sell their stocks. It had to be known that Liang
Cuishan and Jiang Qingshan were currently conducting strict
checks on the goods passing through. If the copper for
governmental use still being hidden in these merchant’s
warehouses were to be exposed, they would be as good as dead.
The only person in the world who could swallow up this volume of
stocks in one go was Shen Zechuan.
As for the Qidong’s military provisions, Shen Zechuan was not
worried either.
Initially, when Shen Zechuan took over the Xi clan’s shops, he
had gone to quite the effort, counting on Xi Dan and Ge Qingqing.
As the Xi clan was a noble clan that was particular about the
bequest of its inheritance only to those of their surname, he spared
the life of the Eldest Madam Xi. But this was not the case for the Yan
clan, who had established themselves through the tea trade and
consisted of a den of sworn brothers from the martial arts fraternity.
There might have been sentimental ties during Yan Heru’s mother’s
generation, but when it came to Yan Heru’s time, it was the capable
ones who ruled the roost. Without Yan Heru in the picture, the
brothers at sixes and sevens beneath him would all be willing to
negotiate with the Prefectural Lord. Shen Zechuan did not even
need to say a word about the Qidong military provisions, and he
would still have people to provide the supplies for him.
Yan Heru was important, but he was nowhere near as
significant as he thought himself out to be.
“The port in Liuzhou is under the sole charge of Yan Heru,” Yao
Wenyu said, “the details of which we are indeed unclear about.
However, there’s still Xi Dan in Juexi to manage the businesses on
Your Lordship’s behalf. Get him to assign a few men over to take
charge. There’s no need to be too overly concerned. What is of
utmost urgency at present is the substantial amount of silver
required for the construction of the port. I’m afraid it will prove
difficult to proceed if the cost is solely borne by Zhongbo.”
 Shen Zechuan asked in response, “What Yuanzhuo means
is…?”
“Your Lordship has to return to Qudu eventually. By then, all the
merchants in the world will still be Your Lordship’s merchant.” Yao
Wenyu took a moment to catch a breather, continuing only after his
cough subsided. “The business deals that will be conducted upon
the completion of the port will profit everyone. So why not Your
Lordship let the merchants fork out this sum of money to finance
the port—let them have the honor of doing the favor and claim a
stake in it at the same time? Your Lordship only needs to open up
Liuzhou in the future and adjust the tariffs accordingly, and these
people will be the treasury of the new dynasty, as well as the coffer
of Your Lordship.”
And that was not all. Yan Heru’s idea of building a new port in
Liuzhou was a brilliant one. The bay could accommodate a sizable
number of ships, and the revival of Liuzhou and the towns in its
vicinity was right on the horizon; this was a fertile field that was on
the point of being reclaimed and put under the plow. As long as
these merchants were not muddleheaded fools, they would be
unequivocally happy to throw in with Shen Zechuan and get a
share of the pie here.
Yao Wenyu could even imagine that when that day came, the
malady that was the noble clan would have been eradicated, and
the nation would begin its recuperation and rehabilitation. Liuzhou
would become Shen Zechuan’s largest port linking up the
southeast, and even the first major port to connect to the rest of the
world. That would be the day…
Yao Wenyu suddenly covered his mouth and started to cough
violently. In his haste, he knocked over the teacup, and piping hot
tea sloshed and splashed onto his thin blanket, soaking both of his
legs.
Shen Zechuan had already risen to his feet. He caught the
teacup and bent over to call out, “Yuanzhuo…”
Yao Wenyu did not finish his sentence. He had so many words
left unspoken in his chest, but they were all choked off by his
coughs. As he covered his mouth and nose, he raised a hand to
signal that he was fine.
 “Fei Sheng!” Shen Zechuan saw blood seeping through Yao
Wenyu’s sleeve and immediately barked, “Summon the physician!”
Outside, Fei Sheng acknowledged his order and turned around
to shout for someone. The instant Qiao Tianya heard the crash, he
felt an ill sense of foreboding. Without even waiting for Shen
Zechuan to call for him, he lifted the hanging screen and entered.
 CHAPTER 229: PAN LIN

Gu Jin received the letter from Duanzhou when he was at

Mount Luo. At that time, he was just about to get on his horse to
continue on his way. With a complicated expression after reading
the letter, he turned to look at Huo Lingyun, who was on his way to
transfer horses, “Is this the letter His Lordship wrote just before you
set off?”
Pulling his own horse, Huo Lingyun gave a nod of his head and
unscrewed the water canteen to take a swig. “It was written just last
night.”
Gu Jin kept the letter away in his bosom and took out another
one to hand to Huo Lingyun. “This is from Second Master to His
Lordship… What exactly did the Imperial Bodyguard who went to
examine the horse carriage say?”
“That the Hezhou yamen was in such hot pursuit that it forced
the carriage driver into a desperate corner, and as he drove along
the bridle path that had fallen into disrepair, it plunged into the
stream.” Huo Lingyun hung the water canteen back and carefully
kept away Xiao Chiye’s letter in his bosom. “A few men went down
to the stream and checked for four hours. No survivors.”
Gi Jin’s expression gradually darkened. He had come over on
orders to watch over the Venerable Master Yideng on Xiao Chiye’s
behalf, but he did not expect the Venerable Master to be gone just
like that. Gu Jin stood rooted in place, feeling perplexed as he
muttered to himself, “What is the Venerable Master doing in
Hezhou?”
“Isn’t that where his home was as a layman?” Having ridden for
an entire night, Huo Lingyun was now reeking of sweat all over.
“Going by what Yan Heru said, the Venerable Master died of illness.
If he did not expect to live long, he would have returned home to
see his family.”
“The Venerable Master cut ties with the secular world when he
left home to become a monk, and the ones still left in his family are
all collateral relatives, not his kin brothers.” At this point, Gu Jin
thought of Dajing. He continued, “Besides, the Venerable Master
agreed to return to Dajing this year. If he didn’t expect to live long,
he would have fulfilled his promise first.”
Huo Lingyun never had any interactions with the Venerable
Master Yideng before. Seeing the sun rising, he said, “I’ve rested
enough. It’s time for me to hit the road.”
Gu Jin led his horse aside a little to give way. After turning his
horse around, Huo Lingyun said to Gu Jin, “When you reach the
battle zone, remember to tell Second Master that Tantai Hu wants to
try out his new blades too.”
Gu Jin did not answer him, but said, “Tell Laohu to write a letter
to Second Master himself. I’m not returning.” He scuffed the mud
off the soles of his boots, flipped onto his horse, and pointed in the
other direction with his horsewhip. “I’m going to make a trip to
Hezhou.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Physicians crowded under the eaves, silent as cicadas in winter,
not daring to make a racket. Seeing as this was not the place for
discussion, Fei Sheng hurriedly arranged for the physicians to head
over next door.
Kong Ling did not enter to disturb Yuanzhuo’s rest, but followed
behind Fei Sheng and asked, “What did the physicians say?”
Fei Sheng cast a glance at the still bamboo blinds, and lifted an
arm to guide Kong Ling to the side. He whispered, “They are all
afraid. Their prescriptions can’t be compared to the ones our
Imperial Bodyguards prescribed. None of them dare to go too
heavy on the potency and dosage of the medicine.”
 Kong Ling might have been widely read, but he indeed was not
well-versed in the art of medicine. He remained still for a moment
with a slightly stunned expression. “Then…”
Fei Sheng could not say for sure either. Before, everyone had
their hopes pinned on the Venerable Master Yideng, and this one
move of Yan Heru caught all of them off guard. He avoided the
newly sprouted branches and merely said, “His Lordship wrote a
letter to Ge Qingqing last night to get them to search for
physicians in the thirteen cities of Juexi. They will be able to arrive
in Duanzhou after the sixth month.”
But how were they to survive through these three months?
Fei Sheng did not dare to speak irresponsibly. He was on
tenterhooks too, seeing the physicians coming and going last
night. Yao Wenyu typically pushed himself to hang in there. Earlier
in Cizhou, he had drained his energy to placate the scholars who
had come to throw in with Shen Zechuan. At the same time, he also
held discussions with Kong Ling and the rest for nights on end to
settle arrangements for the six prefectures’ yamen. Then he
traveled from Cizhou to Duanzhou. In fact, his illness had never
taken a turn for the better since his arrival in Duanzhou.
Kong Ling stood for a moment before saying gravely, “Wait for
a moment. I’ll update His Lordship. His Lordship has not slept for a
night, and he’s still waiting in the hall for news.”
“Then you have to persuade my master too.” Fei Sheng was
shaken by the sight of Yao Wenyu coughing up blood. He chased a
few steps after Kong Ling. “I heard yesterday that the Venerable
Master is gone. Master seems to be in rather low spirits, on top of
his worries of Advisor Yuanzhuo. Mind that he doesn’t fall sick.
There’s Qiao Tianya and I to keep watch here; nothing serious will
happen.”
Kong Ling hurriedly answered in the affirmative and lifted the
hem of his robe to leave the courtyard. When he arrived at Shen
Zechuan’s courtyard, he saw the Prefectural Lord standing under
the eaves listening to Ding Tao.
On seeing Kong Ling, Shen Zechuan gestured to Ding Tao with
a nod of his head to stop for a moment. Ever since that incident in
Dunzhou, Ding Tao had been very well-behaved. He promptly shut
up and retreated to the side to make way for Kong Ling.
Kong Ling deliberated over his words. “He has just fallen
asleep, and they are now decocting the medicine in his courtyard.
Qiao Tianya is keeping watch at the side, so there’s no need for
Your Lordship to be too worried.”
It was peaceful and quiet in the courtyard. Shen Zechuan came
down the steps and asked, “None of the physicians gave a definite
answer?”
Kong Ling noted Shen Zechuan’s displeased expression and
followed at his side. “These physicians are all from the countryside.
They have never seen a figure like Yuanzhuo, so naturally, they do
not dare to fool us with common prescriptions. They are also very
cautious in their speech, but they are all willing to do their best. No
one dares to be sloppy.”
Being the astute man he was, Shen Zechuan knew on hearing
Kong Ling’s words that no one among this group of physicians
could treat and cure Yuanzhuo. All they dared to do was to nurse
him with rest and nourishment, and try their best to avoid risks.
“Send another urgent letter to Yu Xiaozai.” Shen Zechuan
stopped in his tracks. “Tell him to keep an eye out for the physicians
in the various prefectures when he’s on his inspection rounds. Send
all the ones he can find to Duanzhou. Take the physicians’ fees
from my private coffer. Give whatever is needed.”
Kong Ling stopped too. He saw the guard on the other end
come over to hand over the letter and made no further sound to
disrupt Shen Zechuan from reading his letter.
Shen Zechuan turned over the letter and saw Ge Qingqing’s
personal seal on it. He opened it to read, after which he handed it
to Kong Ling and said, “The war in Qudu is over.”
Kong Ling read it at the side for a moment. “At present,
Commander-in-chief Qi does not lack military provisions. What she
lacks is a noble rank and title. The Empress Dowager clearly
realizes this, yet she still wants to stubbornly persist in coercing her.
She ends up giving Xue Yanqing a helping hand instead.”
“She who rides a tiger finds it difficult to dismount—she has no
other way to back down,” Shen Zechuan said. “Deep down, she
wants to use Qi Zhuyin, but she indeed has no more bargaining
chips to take out. If they were really to come to blows, no one could
beat Han Cheng’s 20,000 capital troops.”
What Shen Zechuan had spoken of at the beginning of
“befriending a distant state while attacking one nearby”47 had long
taken an about-turn. Qudu’s fatigue was evident. To the east where
they faced Zhongbo and Libei, they only had the Eight Great
Training Division to send reinforcements in an emergency, and
with the issue of the commoners’ fields in the City of Dancheng
blown up to such proportions, they had no military defenses to
speak of. Qi Zhuyin herself was the last straw Qudu had to clutch
at.
Kong Ling slightly sucked in a breath when he reached the end
of the letter. “Pan Xiangjie and Pan Lin are dead.”
“The Empress Dowager’s current adversary is Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Shen Zechuan looked at the overcast firmament of heaven, which
looked like it was about to rain. “So how could she escape
unscathed?”
◈ ◈ ◈
Rain was falling in Qudu; this was the beginning of the rainy
season.
The Grand Secretariat wanted to hold Han Cheng accountable.
Han Cheng kept to his narrative that the officials the Eight Great
Training Divisions killed in the prisons were all spies from Zhongbo.
Both sides launched into a war of words on the imperial court, and
it was at this time news of Pan Xiangjie’s death was reported.
It was then Liang Cuishan recalled no one paid Pan Xiangjie
any heed when he cried for help that day while locked up in the
innermost part of the prison. Everyone had been at daggers drawn
with one another at that time, and Pan Xiangjie had suffocated to
death from the smoke in his cell. It was only when the wardens
were cleaning up the cells that his death was discovered.
“Pan Lin was the one who spilled the beans on the granaries.”
Xue Xiuzhuo spoke up in Mingli Hall. “He was also the one who
turned over the Ministry of Revenue’s current detailed accounts.
This man’s crime is not so heinous as to deserve death.”
 Cen Yu found what happened to Pan Lin regrettable; thus, he
nodded. “That’s not to say he should be exonerated. Justice cannot
be tampered with, but can be tempered with mercy. He still has to
be punished, for the law cannot be violated, but discretion can be
exercised in light of the circumstances.”
Kong Qiu pondered it over for a moment and looked over the
confession statement presented by the Ministry of Justice.
“Although Pan Lin confessed, it was only after the imperial court
began pursuing the matter. He was already an accessory to crime
since the day issues started cropping up in the accounts a long
time back. He can be spared the death penalty, but not
punishment.”
In the end, the Grand Secretariat decided to dismiss Pan Lin
from his position, demote his status, and exile him to Huaizhou. But
as the Dancheng case was temporarily still unresolved, Pan Lin had
to remain at the relay station and wait to be summoned.
Unlike the descendants from Pan Xiangjie’s generation, Pan Lin
studied to be an official and saw himself as a scholar. He was a little
arrogant, so he did not get along with Xue the Eldest and the
others. But now, he was reduced from being the young master of a
noble clan to a commoner guilty of a crime, and he had also lost
his father to death. This abrupt change in his family circumstances
compounded his plight in the relay station, where he was given the
cold shoulder treatment and handed only cold leftovers for his
meals.
Xue the Eldest once had a verbal dispute with Pan Lin during
the banquet celebrating Xiao Chiye’s conferment, but in the spirit
of visiting, he made a special point of bringing along delicacies to
see Pan Lin, hoping to bury the hatchet with the latter before they
parted.
The errand-runner at the relay station led Xue the Eldest in.
Seeing the narrow and cramped room, he asked the errand-runner,
“Is this where Pan Chengzhi is staying? He’s the legitimate young
master of the Pan clan and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of
Revenue… How can you people let him live here?”
The errand-runner opened the door with the key and slickly
said, “Wasn’t the properties of the Pan clan seized and confiscated?
He’s a criminal, and this is the arrangement made by the imperial
court, so how would us small potatoes dare to defy?” He pushed
the door open and instructed, “My lord, please don’t stay for too
long. We will be held accountable if the Ministry of Justice were to
get wind of this!”
Xue the Eldest’s skinny and wizened body hunched over as he
craned his neck to look in from the side of the door. He saw Pan Lin
sitting by the window. This room was extremely dark, and it was
leaking rain everywhere; even the floor was soaked through.
Pan Lin’s robe was damp, as were his boots. He was still
wearing the same clothes as he did in prison, and he had some
stubble on his face. He looked much too haggard.
Xue the Eldest strode through the door carrying the food
container48 in hand and called out in a soft voice, “Chengzhi… I’m
here to see you.”
Pan Lin turned his eyes and looked at him for a long while
before he said, “Have a seat.”
Xue the Eldest set the food container on the table and sat near
the chair. He surveyed the surroundings. “At the very least, you
are… I’ll go and talk to them later. Even a change to another room
is fine too.”
Pan Lin’s eyes reddened. He cut a forlorn sight as he sat all
drenched under the rain that was leaking in.
Xue the Eldest fidgeted and shifted a little. Before things got
too awkward, he took the initiative and said, “I’m not here today
to… to mock you. You’re going to Huaizhou, and it’s so far away.
Once we part… we won’t see each other again in the future. I
wanted to see you off…”
Pan Lin remained unmoved.
For some reason, Xue the Eldest was gripped by a feeling of
sadness. He was of legitimate birth, as was Pan Lin. But how could
lawful sons of legitimate birth like them end up in such a state?
With tears in his eyes, he hesitated for a long time before
continuing, “Chengzhi… About what happened during the
Marquis’ banquet last year to celebrate his conferment… I’m sorry. I
heard you let Yuanzhuo go, and I… I’m very impressed. You have
talents, but your family brought this all on you. The Senior Grand
Secretary is willing to exempt you from the death penalty because
he treasures talents. Once you arrive in Huaizhou, you’ll still have
the chance to show your mettle again…”
But even Xue Xiuyi himself did not believe these words of his.
They were all men who depended on their clans for survival. With
this big of a mess the field taxes had created, Pan Lin would be
reviled by all and used as a doormat once he arrived in Huaizhou.
After a moment of silence, Pan Lin spoke up, “Pingjing.”
Xue Xiuyi’s courtesy name was Pingjing. Like Xue Xiuzhuo’s
Yanqing, they were all given by Old Master Xue. He hurriedly
responded with an “ay”.
“Back then, when I assumed the post as the Vice Minister of the
Ministry of Revenue and had the account books in hand, I hesitated
for a long time, but in the end, I did not hand them over to
Secretariat Elder Hai. I played jackal to the tiger and abetted the
villains, bringing untold sufferings onto the common folks of the
eight cities. My death is not to be regretted, and there’s nothing for
me to explain to vindicate myself. The storm in Qudu has been
ongoing for many years, and now that there is Xue Yanqing,” Pan
Lin looked at Xue Xiuyi, as if he was looking at his own self who still
had a chance many years ago, “the glory of the Eight Cities has
come to an end.”
Xue the Eldest heard a deafening crash of thunderbolt that lit
up Qudu for an instant. He thought Pan Lin would give him some
heartfelt advice, but Pan Lin eventually said, “I think you should
go.”
Xue Pingjing pushed the food container over to Pan Lin. “I
brought you some food…” He fell silent too and sat here until the
rain gradually grew heavier and the errand-runner outside came a
few times to hurry him up.
When Xue Pingjing rose to his feet, his robe was wet too. He
bowed in farewell to Pan Lin. Pan Lin stood up, straightened his
clothes, and returned the bow.
Xue Pingjing did not dare to look any further and turned
around to leave. In that corridor, he could not tell which way was
out.
 Pan Lin listened to the receding sound of footsteps and sat
back down at the table. Through it all, he never touched the food
container Xue Pingjing brought. He took up his brush and neatly
wrote the words “Statement of Guilt”.
This letter was not for the imperial court, but for Pan Xiangjie. It
was the bidding of farewell between father and son. Pan Lin wrote
a very long letter, as if he did not know how to face his father. He
wept when he put his brush down, and then he cleaned himself up
and lay down on the tattered mat with his clothes in order.
He never opened his eyes again.
 CHAPTER 230: SPRING

Qiao Tianya leaned back into the rattan chair, biting down on a
red thread between his lips as he deftly braided it with his fingers.
Moonlight – thin during the hour of chou – streaked across the side
of the bridge of his nose, making his lidded eyes appear rather
lonely.
The seven-stringed zither rested on the table, covered with silk.
It had not been touched in days.
Yao Wenyu did not make a sound when he woke up. He turned
his head aside to look at Qiao Tianya.
Qiao Tianya was like the solitary, lonesome moon that had
come to a standstill between the deep valley after a sudden
rainstorm—limpid and faraway. That unbridled wind turned into an
old dream of last night, leaving a ghost of a shadow on him. Yao
Wenyu still kept that colored silk ball of that day, but he had long
come to understand that he could never walk over to his side.
This was the first march of spring, one that came to nothing in
its passing.
Qiao Tianya took off the red thread and finished up the tail end
beautifully. He reached out for Yao Wenyu’s hand and put the
braided red thread on Yao Wenyu’s wrist.
Hidden behind the lowered drapes, Yuanzhuo peeked through
the gap at this person who was well within his reach. Soundlessly,
he started to laugh, but gradually, the side of his pillow grew
damp.
 Qiao Tianya did not lift the hanging drapes open. They relied
on merely their fingers to convey the warmth between them, as
though this was the closest they could ever get to intimacy; any
closer, and it would all vanish.
Throughout it all, Yao Wenyu never spoke a word. It was as if he
had never woken up at all.
◈ ◈ ◈
When Shen Zechuan came the next day, Yao Wenyu was
already up. He bent slightly towards Shen Zechuan in what could
be considered a bow.
“My illness flared suddenly yesterday and held up official
business.” Yao Wenyu lowered his fingers to pick up the cluttered
mess of chess pieces. “So I should finish saying my piece while I’m
still feeling up to it today.”
Shen Zechuan took his seat. “Your illness is only starting to
show improvement. It’s fine for you to rest for half a month first
before discussing it.”
“Idling while sick is still idling; I have nothing to do anyway.”
Yao Wenyu contemplated it for a few moments. “The port of
Liuzhou is, in fact, a matter of priority. Having this place may be
likened to having a place in Juexi to talk.’
What Yao Wenyu was thinking about was different from Kong
Ling and the rest. He was much more far-sighted, and in this
current mutually antagonistic situation, he was more inclined to
take in virtuous talents for Shen Zechuan than to kill off every single
one of Dazhou officials.
“You think you lack generals, but in my view, it’s just the
opposite.” Yao Wenyu put the chess pieces in place. “Valiant
generals are just what the three lands in the east won’t lack most in
the future. Be it Wu Ziyu or Tantai Hu; they are all capable of
assuming sole responsibility and taking complete charge. Your
Lordship has nothing to worry about over the territories in the east
with them stationed at the frontiers once the war subsides. What
Your Lordship lacks are capable ministers and officials. Although
Chengfeng is decent, he isn’t willing to leave Zhongbo, and while
Zhou Gui is loyal, he isn’t up to taking on great responsibilities. On
the other hand, Juexi has gone through several years without
falling into the noble clans’ hands, and that is precisely because
this place has a capable minister—Jiang Qingshan.”
“The real reason Xue Yanqing could stir up a storm in the
imperial court is because of the people from the practical doers’
faction who support him; the Heir Apparent is only an opportunity.
These people are not of high ranks, but they are the key that
decides whether the reforms can be pushed through. They work for
the good of the people in Juexi, wanting to revitalize the Li clan’s
empire and bring about the resurgence during the reign of Yongyi
again. They are scholars with far more boldness of vision than the
officials in the capital, and they are also the last worthy officials of
Dazhou.”
Being enthroned as the supreme ruler was no easy feat. A
change of dynasty and government meant that innumerable
scholars had to sever their dreams of the past. The state of affairs in
the imperial court had already degenerated to such an extent, but
Hai Liangyi and Xue Xiuzhuo had never once harbored the idea of
replacing the Li clan. This was because doing so was comparable
to the crime of patricide. Under the principles of social order
constituting the cardinal relationships between the ruler and his
subjects and the father and his sons,49 the Li clan was and had
been the Son of Heaven for centuries. This not only represented the
need to shout “long live your majesty” as per the code of ethics, but
also symbolized generations of people following a legitimate
lineage of descendants.
If Shen Zechuan set foot into Qudu again, then what the
“Prefectural Lord” would be defeating was the legitimate Son of
Heaven that towered tall and majestic over them all. He had to
obtain the Heaven-bestowed right to kill the sovereign before he
could strip himself of the “treacherous traitor” label. Yet, this was far
from enough. He must employ a suitable way to make the surviving
officials of the Li clan put themselves at his disposal willingly.
Otherwise, even if he won over the empire, he would not be able to
achieve the flourishing era of prosperity that Qi Huilian had once
spoken of.
“Xue Yanqing’s cleaning up of the eight cities’ field taxes was
originally a good thing, but he was too hasty in going about it. A
significant portion of Qudu’s taxes now is all tied up in the eight
cities’ field taxes. Now that he has decisively removed the Pan clan
of Dancheng, he has two routes to take. The first one is to push on
and continue to investigate the remaining seven cities and
resurvey the lands as fast as he can, and the second one is to slow
down and give the remaining seven cities a chance to pay the
overdue taxes. In the former option, the fields have to be returned
to the commoners, but the commoners of the eight cities have long
left their homes to make the long journey to Zhongbo. If he re-
records the households in the census registers, he will hold up the
plowing this year. When that happens, the issue of keeping the
common folk fed in three lands of Dazhou after autumn will fall to
Juexi and Hezhou to resolve. In the latter option, the field tax
deficits will be apportioned between the eight cities, and the eight
cities will naturally continue to split the amount between the
commoners. A cruel regime that oppresses and exploits its people
causes more distress and pangs than tigers with their ferocious
claws and fangs. So it’s really no different from before.”
“By the time Juexi gets tired of the requisitions, the commoners
of the thirteen cities would have barely enough to fill their
stomachs. If Your Lordship uses the port of Liuzhou as an
opportunity to build an east-west waterway and link up to the north-
south bridle path, Hezhou and Zhongbo would be able to alleviate
Juexi’s burden.”
By the time Yao Wenyu spoke to this point, the area under the
eaves was already bathed in sunlight. Holding a chess piece
between his fingers, he took a breather before continuing, “Your
Lordship presumably has a plan in mind long before you killed and
removed Yan Heru from the equation.”
“Hezhou is close to Qidong.” Shen Zechuan set down a chess
piece after Yao Wenyu. “If I can’t get my hands on this land, I won’t
be able to sleep at night.”
All Yan Heru thought about was business, but Shen Zechuan
had far more than business on his mind. Qi Zhuyin joined forces
with Xue Xiuzhuo in the Dancheng case, which meant that the Heir
Apparent would be bestowing a noble title upon her. In that case,
she would be a marquis of Dazhou in the future. The Garrison
Troops of the Five Commanderies of Qidong were right to the
south of Zhongbo. Shen Zechuan must choke off the key supply
route of Qidong to the west, of which Hezhou was a necessary
route they had to pass through.
Shen Zechuan was blunt with his words. If Qi Zhuyin were to go
all out to protect the Li clan, then Dengzhou of Zhongbo would be
Shen Zechuan’s weakest link. He had to seize control of Hezhou,
which was even more important to Qidong. Only then would he be
able to sit at the same table and on equal footing with Qi Zhuyin at
all times.
“Qi Shiyu is already advanced in age, and Qi Zhuyin is a far
more suitable candidate than anyone else to be the Commander-
in-chief.” Shen Zechuan continued. “Lu Guangbai remains in Libei
because he no longer wants to be a general of Dazhou, and Qi
Zhuyin has to mend the gap left in Qidong by the Bianjun
Commandery herself. Qudu wants her to become a soldier who
protects the emperor, but even so, she has to be able to run over.”
Perhaps Qi Zhuyin could really run her way over. That was why
Shen Zechuan choked off the roads too.
“Commander-in-chief Qi has been in a predicament over
money in recent years. Her willingness to mobilize troops against
the Qingshu Tribe was because she was assessing the situation
too.” Yao Wenyu started to cough softly.
Shen Zechuan thus stopped bringing up official affairs and
merely said, “Qiao Tianya now has to govern the Imperial Cavalry,
and he’s at the military drill grounds during the day, so negligence
on his part is inevitable. I’ll write a letter to shifu and ask him to
come over to Duanzhou to take care of you.”
Yao Wenyu did not refuse. He wiped his mouth with his
handkerchief and said, “It’s so far away. I shall have to impose on
shifu to make the trip over.”
Shen Zechuan saw the red thread on Yuanzhuo’s wrist, which
was concealed by his sleeve when he raised his hand. He did not
ask about it and saw Hunu, which had just woken up, brushing
against the door as it made its way over.
“Qudu is your old home,” Shen Zechuan said. “I heard Xi
Hongxuan say before that you always return to the capital in spring
every year. Next year… or perhaps a few years later, you will be able
to take a good look at the springtime scenery.”
Yao Wenyu knew Shen Zechuan was comforting him. He
flashed a slight smile and did not answer him, but said, “Since the
case of Dancheng is coming to a close, where is Pan Lin going to
be exiled to?”
Shen Zechuan lowered his folding fan to block Hunu. “Kong
Qiu meant to exile him to Huaizhou, but he went on a hunger strike
at the Qudu relay station and starved himself to death.”
Yao Wenyu sat in silence for a long time.
Pan Lin achieved success young, and his career as an official
was smooth-sailing. The remarks he made to Xue Xiuyi back then
during the feast to celebrate Xiao Chiye’s conferment turned out to
be prophetic after all, and he ended up dying of starvation.
Encumbered by his lineage, he was now finally free.
Qudu was his former home.
Yao Wenyu shifted his eyes to look at the courtyard.
But there were no longer any sights worth going back for.
 CHAPTER 231: FEIGNS

At the time Pan Lin died, Li Jianting pulled through. The maids
and eunuchs serving in her palace barely had time to weep for joy
when they were taken into prison. The Heir Apparent was
poisoned, so the Condiment Service50 was promptly sealed off,
while all the eunuchs on duty were imprisoned. Fuman, given his
experience during the reign of Emperor Tianchen, took charge of
this case and put them through heavy torture.
“Zuzong!” The junior eunuch could not stand the severe
beating and cried out as he sprawled over the bench. “Please have
mercy!”
Dressed in a python-patterned yisan robe51 and yandun hat52 ,
Fuman stood with his hands on his back while he scrutinized the
calligraphy on the wall.
The eunuchs with the flogging paddles were all leftover
members from the Eastern Depot. Skilled in the art of torture, they
flogged the palace eunuch until he almost fainted.
“Please spare my life…” This junior eunuch choked with sobs.
Fuman turned his head back. “The Heir Apparent was poisoned
while you people were serving her. If you want to live, you have to
give me a clear account of what happened.”
These inner palace eunuchs entered the palace after Emperor
Tianchen. To date, they still did not know what the Heir Apparent
was poisoned with, so there was nothing at all they could account
for.
 Fuman patiently said, “Think about what the Heir Apparent ate
or wore that day. There are so many people in the Condiment
Service, so perhaps a couple with ulterior motives sneaked their
way in. All of you have close contacts with them, so why can’t you
think of any now?”
The eunuch caught the hint in his words, but he dared not be
so presumptuous as to speculate, so he hemmed and hawed
without saying a word still.
Fuman flung his sleeve, as if exasperated with the eunuch for
failing to come through, and had the old eunuch with the paddle
continue with his flogging. The beating was so brutal that blood
saturated the eunuch’s mouth. Digging his fingers into the bench,
he whimpered and sobbed, “Stop, stop it! I’ll tell you!”
Fuman paid no attention to him.
The eunuch gulped down the blood froth. “That Condiment
Service… and that Garden Service53… all had new faces I don’t
recognize…”
Only then did Fuman turn to the side and coax him softly, “You
have contacts with them?”
The eunuch shook his head hard, not daring to answer this
question. He raised his eyes tentatively to get a feel of Fuman’s
expression and sobbed in a small voice, “I don’t recognize them.”
“If you don’t recognize them, how do you know which services
they belong to?” Fuman intentionally guided him. “Someone must
have told you, and that was how you knew.”
The eunuch answered, “The one who, who stands guard at the
door to the palace…”
“Tch,” Fuman bent down. “Can someone who stands guard at
the door get close to the Heir Apparent? Whoever serves the Heir
Apparent is usually the one who knows it best.”
The eunuch did not dare to breathe heavily as he followed
along and answered, “Fengquan is usually the one serving her…”
Fuman clapped his hands lightly at him and said, “There you
go. Easy, isn’t it.”
◈ ◈ ◈
With the case in Fuman’s hands, the chances of identifying the
real culprit were zero. He had planted his men in Li Jianting’s
palace at Han Cheng’s instigation. The poison had nothing to do
with the Condiments Service. The problem lay in the chopsticks Li
Jianting used for her meal that day. Chaos had broken out in the
palace when the Heir Apparent collapsed, and Fuman had long
gotten someone to steal and replace the original chopsticks to
clean up the traces.
Fuman stepped out of the hall, but before he could walk out of
the courtyard, he saw several sedan-bearers standing outside
under the Chinese scholar tree waiting for him. The supervising
officials from the Ministry of Justice had just left, so Fuman was on
guard as he lifted the hem of his robe and strode out with a smiling
face. “Who is this distinguished person looking for me? You just
need to send me a message; there’s no need to go to the extent of
coming over to invite me! Coincidentally, I have a case to attend to
now and can’t get away…”
The curtain opened, and Han Cheng sneered. “It has been a
few days since I last saw you, and you son of a bitch has started to
put on airs in imitation of your ‘grandfather’. What? I’m not worthy
enough to invite you now?!”
This motherfucker again!
Fuman obediently bent at the waist. “This humble slave thought
it was those old fogeys from the Grand Secretariat who keep
sticking to me like glue54 while I’m investigating the case. I was just
feeling vexed over it and never expected it to be you. Look at what
you are saying. When this humble slave sees you, it’s like, what do
you call it? Oh, a baby sparrow seeking refuge in the woods!”55
He played dumb, knowing Han Cheng was a sucker for this.
Sure enough, Han Cheng’s expression brightened a little. Not
dwelling any further on the matter, he threw down the curtain and
commanded, “Follow.”
For the entire journey, Fuman cursed as he walked, keeping it
all pent up in his heart. When he arrived at the place and saw that it
was Han Cheng’s private residence, he knew the latter was certain
to ask him about the Heir Apparent’s case. He stepped through the
door, but before he could start toadying up to Han Cheng, he saw
the gleaming blades inside. He immediately forgot what he was
going to say and fell to his knees with a “thud”.
 “Look at how cowardly you are,” Han Cheng lifted the teapot to
pour tea without telling Fuman to get up, “and you still want to
imitate Pan Rugui? Are you even worthy?!”
“No, definitely not worthy!” Bracing himself against the ground,
Fuman forced an apologetic smile. “This humble slave is just a
lowly slave. How could I be compared to the lao-zuzong? I wouldn’t
dare to harbor such intent.”
Han Cheng set the teapot back. “I told you to poison Li Jianting.
What poison did you give her?”
Fuman’s back was drenched in a cold sweat. He must not
hesitate, so he recited what he had rehearsed to himself countless
of times, “This slave did as Commander Han said and gave her
‘deathchase’.”
“That’s strange.” Han Cheng said mockingly. “This drug can
poison several strong men to death, yet it can’t kill one woman?”
Fuman felt the chill at the back of his neck. Those were real
blades, and they were already pressing in close to him. The
muscles on his face twitched, and he suddenly lifted a hand to slap
himself. With a change in expression, he cried, “You’re hurting my
feelings with those words! How would I dare to plot with outsiders
to harm my own ‘father’? Besides, Xue Yanqing, Kong Qiu, and the
few of them detest eunuchs and order me around like I’m livestock.
This slave really did put in ‘deathchase’. I still have the chopsticks. I
wouldn’t dare to be sloppy.”
Midway through crying, Fuman wiped his tears.
“I’m puzzled too. It’s really mind-boggling. That was
‘deathchase’, but the Heir Apparent unexpectedly got better after
puking a few times. If that’s not absurd, I don’t know what is!”
Han Cheng was livid. Li Jianting’s fate – whether she lived or
died – determined the direction in which the situation would
develop. He even brought out the Eight Great Training Divisions on
the gamble that the Heir Apparent would die, but who would have
expected Li Jianting to be fine. The fact that the Dancheng case
still had yet to reach a conclusion meant that they intended to
continue with the investigation. Without the Pan clan, the next one
to be targeted would be the Marquis of Helian’s Fei clan. Everyone
from the seven cities was at risk.
 “Have you mentioned the poisoning to anyone else?”
Fuman hurriedly answered, “How would this slave dare?!”
“You’d better not!” Han Cheng suddenly flung away the teacup
in his hand. “You’re the one who botched this, so you have to clean
it up now! All those people in her palace can’t be kept alive. Take
this opportunity to kill them all.”
If Li Jianting was poisoned with “deathchase”, she would die for
certain. So either someone had swapped out the poison midway,
or Fuman did not poison her with “deathchase” at all. No matter
what, those people serving her in her bedchamber could not be
kept around any longer. It was very possible some other people
had slipped their way in.
The eunuchs were a crafty lot. These despicable castrated
bunches were best at trimming their sails and going where the
winds blew. Fuman was no one decent either. Now that the noble
clans had taken a hit and suffered damage, there was no
guarantee that Fuman would not get any funny ideas. Keeping him
around any further would be trouble.
Han Cheng was suspicious by nature, and he was now like a
tightly wound bird startled by the mere twang of a bow. He got up
and looked at Fuman as he pressed in a few steps closer towards
the latter, his killing intent already ignited.
Seeing as he was about to be decapitated soon, Fuman
shouted out in desperation. “The Senior Grand Secretary—ordered
me to investigate the case, so there’s still a chance to turn things
around! The commander need not worry. I’ll surely clean it up.
Those supervising officials from the Ministry of Justice are all my
acquaintances. If anything goes awry again, I myself will bring my
own head over to see you!”
Han Cheng could not kill him for real at this point in time,
either. Seeing his ghastly pale face and how he looked so useless,
he said, “Mess this up again, and the Empress Dowager will not
keep you alive even if I want to. You want to be the top eunuch, but
you also need to have the capability to!”
Fuman repeatedly concurred, his heart still in his mouth.
◈ ◈ ◈
 While it was overcast and rainy for days on end in Qudu, it was
still sunny in the battle zone. The commanding generals of the
three camps took turns rotating around the camps. Today, it was
Xiao Chiye’s turn to head over to the Shayi Camp. Lu Guangbai
stepped out of the military tent to receive him, and Xiao Chiye
removed his helmet to greet him.
Lu Guangbai jumped to catch Xiao Chiye’s helmet and in doing
so, saw the dent on it. “Hasen is much better than us at playing with
the catapults.”
Xiao Chiye handed the reins to Chen Yang and remained
standing in place to remove his arm guard. “The watchtower of
Sha’er Camp collapsed after being smashed yesterday. Send a
verbal message to shifu post-haste and have him get the military
craftsmen to rush over to Sha’er Camp.”
“Jiming dispatched a new batch of military craftsmen this way.
If you can’t wait, I’ll send the military craftsmen from the Bianbo
Camp over to fill in.” Lu Guangbai returned the helmet to Chen
Yang. “The wall of Shasan Camp was repaired, only to collapse
again. Qianqiu-shifu can’t spare you any extra manpower on his
end.”
Xiao Chiye had gotten a lot more tanned during this period of
time. He watched Meng hovering over the camp. “The Biansha
Cavalry numbers are increasing.”
After the Duanzhou Scorpions were encircled and annihilated,
Hasen started to intensify his attacks on them. It was most glaringly
obvious in the third month. Xiao Chiye realized Hasen was
frenetically assembling men in the east, and the Biansha Cavalry
numbers were skyrocketing. Last year, they could only launch an
attack with their main forces while relying on their remaining
soldiers to carry out sneak attacks, but now, Hasen was able to split
up his forces to attack both camps at the same time.
“Amu’er put Hasen in the north, but did not head down south
himself,” Lu Guangbai said. “That’s because he wanted to expand
his territory deep into the desert and get the remaining six tribes to
submit and pledge allegiance to him as soon as possible. It’s likely
due to Amu’er’s newly-acquired helping hands that gives Hasen
the cavalry to launch simultaneous attacks now.”
 Xiao Chiye wiped the dust on his cheeks with a pensive
expression.
Lu Guangbai continued, “But Hasen’s fighting of the battles has
been very unstable of late.”
Xiao Chiye was the one who killed Achi. Hasen thought that
Xiao Chiye would lead the new Armored Cavalry out into the world
when he returned to the battle zone, but Xiao Chiye did not do so.
That meant Hasen had no way of coming face to face with the new
Armored Cavalry; it was as if they had swapped places. What was
unknown to him was danger that could not be forestalled. Xiao
Chiye was taking away Hasen’s initiative, one that would allow him
to call the shots.
“The battles Hasen fought in the northern and southern
battlefields are all battles that he was assured of victory.” Xiao
Chiye turned his thumb ring. “Part of his victories stemmed from his
familiarity with the commanding generals.”
That particular battle Qi Zhuyin fought in the battle zone was
proof of this. Xiao Jiming realized this, and that was why he
disrupted the order of the battle zone. It was when Hasen met with
the Libei Armored Cavalry again that he realized what Xiao Jiming
was doing.
Xiao Jiming was the kind of commander-in-chief Hasen
disliked the most, because Xiao Jiming would not get flustered if
he could not keep up with the pace. He always seemed to be able
to maintain his composure. This was both Xiao Jiming’s character
and Xiao Jiming’s style. He understood he could not beat Hasen,
so he never thought of pitting himself against Hasen on the
battlefield to emerge victorious—or not. What he had been doing
these few months was to relax Libei’s rhythm. The Armored Cavalry
was in the process of recovery. Even if they could not win, they
would not be led by the nose by Hasen as they had before.
“Hasen will get anxious too when he’s standing so close to the
goal,” Xiao Chiye said in a deep, quiet voice. “After all, he also just
wants to win.”
Xiao Jiming wanted to leave the opportunity to Xiao Chiye.
Lu Guangbai looked at Xiao Chiye. “Amu’er has invested all his
efforts in him. His win has a decisive bearing on Amu’er’s dignity in
the face of the Twelve Tribes. If he can’t win this battle, he cannot
become the future great ruler of the Twelve Tribes.”
Xiao Chiye did not care why Hasen wanted to win at all; he only
wanted Hasen’s head.
As if understanding this point, Lu Guangbai did not continue,
but said, “The source of Hasen’s anxiety and apprehension comes
from the south too. With Commander-in-chief Qi fighting the
Qingshu Tribe, they have to face pressure from both sides.”
But was Hasen really restless with anxiety over the north-south
battlefield?
Xiao Chiye felt that there was another significance to Hasen’s
onslaughts of attack during this period of time. Perhaps Hasen
wanted to use such a diversionary tactic to hide his target. Rather
than fight wars of attrition with Libei and Qidong again, Zhongbo
was actually the best place to attack.
Hasen was a master at feigns.
Like a wolf creeping in the darkness, Xiao Chiye stared fixedly
at every move Hasen made. His understanding of Hasen had
already far exceeded Hasen’s understanding of him.
 CHAPTER 232: SPRING FRESHET

“If I were Hasen,” Xiao Chiye squatted down and drew a simple
map on the sand, “I’d attack Duanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan severed Amu’er’s supply route in Duanzhou, and
Hasen’s military provision could only be apportioned to the six
tribes in the desert. Amu’er allowed Hasen to marry Duo’erlan at
the beginning of this year precisely because he needed the Hulu
Tribe to supply food to the frontlines. Ever since the sixth month last
year, the Biansha Cavalry never got the opportunity to cross into
Dazhou to loot. This was the source of Hasen’s anxiety.
“In that case, you have to think about it carefully.” Lu Guangbai
squatted down too and picked up a stone to press down on Xiao
Chiye’s “Duanzhou”. “As long as you launch a surprise attack on
Duanzhou, Shen Zechuan will mobilize Tantai Hu, who is on
standby behind him to engage in a fierce battle with you in
Duanzhou. Then Shen Zechuan will issue a deployment order to
the Bianjun Commandery and Shasan Camp, and the
reinforcements from both sides will trap you in Duanzhou, never to
return.”
“I can run.” Xiao Chiye’s index finger circled around the stone.
“I have the fastest cavalry. The goal is not to seize back Duanzhou
but to loot Duanzhou’s granaries. I can even mount a surprise
attack on the newly-built riding stables in Mount Luo on the way
back. The reinforcements on both sides won’t be able to catch up.”
 “You forgot Commander-in-chief Qi,” Lu Guangbai said. “When
you leave the battle zone, Commander-in-chief Qi will move
upstream and take a detour to Gedale to kick your ass.”
“That’s just what I want.” Xiao Chiye moved the stone to the
Bianjun Commandery. “If the Commander-in-chief Qi takes a
detour to Gedale, then I’ll give Qingshu Tribe’s territory to the
Youxiong Tribe and let the Youxiong Tribe cut off Commander-in-
chief Qi’s retreat route to trap her in Gedale before crushing her in
one fell swoop.”
Lu Guangbai blocked the stone with the back of his hand and
said, “Since Commander-in-chief Qi dares to penetrate deep into
the enemy’s territory with an isolated force, she must have
reinforcements. She can transfer the Cangjun Commandery
Garrison Troops to the Bianjun Commandery and get the Cangjun
Commandery Garrison Troops to fight back when the Youxiong
Tribe mobilizes their troops to obstruct their path. Besides, the
Youxiong Tribe has yet to pledge allegiance to Amu’er. They might
not necessarily be willing to do it if you ask them to step out as
shields to block the spears.”
“They definitely will,” Xiao Chiye said. “Youxiong Tribe’s initial
refusal to submit to Amu’er was because they had the Qingshu
Tribe to serve as a wall before them to obstruct the Qidong
Garrison Troops. But the Qingshu Tribe has now been wiped out by
Commander-in-chief Qi, and the Youxiong Tribe can’t hold their
own against Commander-in-chief Qi’s next round of attacks. It’s
only by pledging allegiance that they can get reinforcements from
Amu’er.”
Lu Guangbai hesitated for a moment and put the stone back at
Duanzhou. “Okay, if Commander-in-chief Qi doesn’t move, then I’ll
guard Mount Luo beforehand.”
“I will destroy the bridle path leading from Mount Luo to
Duanzhou during the surprise attack,” Xiao Chiye said. “Without the
path, you will have to run in circles on Mount Luo and watch as my
cavalry leaves.”
Lu Guangbai pushed the stone and said, “You have to cross the
river on your return journey. I will lie in ambush at the banks of the
Chashi River.”
 “Even if you whittle down my military strength at the banks of
the Chashi River,” Xiao Chiye raised his eyes, “my purpose has
already been achieved.”
Lu Guangbai touched the bridge of his nose with the pulp of his
finger and said with a bitter laugh, “…How ruthless.”
The Gobi desert and the wilderness lay along the banks of the
Chashi River, and the ambushes Lu Guangbai excelled in relied on
the use of the terrains. He had no advantage at the Chashi River.
The “war chariot” battle formation could withstand the attacks of
the cavalry, but it could not pursue an advancing cavalry. Lu
Guangbai would not be able to catch up to them.
If Xiao Chiye’s speculation was right, then Hasen would not
only be able to obtain supplies in this round of surprise attacks, but
also set up a new obstruction for Qi Zhuyin in the south, thereby
relieving him of the pressure in the north.
Xiao Chiye stretched out his five fingers and covered the map
with it. “Hasen still has eyes in Qudu. He can see the whole picture.”
Twilight closed in on all sides, and smoke from the kitchen rose
in the campground. Lu Guangbai sat on the ground and held that
piece of stone in his palm as he watched a hue of orange wash
over the camp walls. Under what remained of the sunset glow, he
said to Xiao Chiye, “You can’t leave.”
With Hasen launching an onslaught of violent attacks at the
battle zone, they were all tied down here with no spare time to be
in two places attending to different matters at once.
“That means he’s starting to run out of food.” Xiao Chiye stared
at the map between his fingers. “If he can’t contain us, he will lose a
portion of his elites in Duanzhou.”
Hasen was suppressing the main forces of the three battle zone
camps. Only by wearing down the three camps’ main forces to the
point of exhaustion would he be able to let his elite forces mount a
surprise attack on Duanzhou. By then, Libei would be too
exhausted to respond to the attack, and the threat posed by the
reinforcements would fall. That would be the most optimal
opportunity for him.
Lu Guangbai tossed the stone to Xiao Chiye and said, “This is
an opportunity we can manipulate.”
 This bout of surprise attack was no longer terrifying as long as
they could see through Hasen’s motives. Hasen could make a
feign, but so could the Libei Armored Cavalry. Fighting wars of
attrition was detrimental to both parties, but Xiao Chiye was more
confident of success—he had Shen Zechuan’s supply of military
provisions.
To date, the only person who could really threaten Amu’er in
the war was Shen Zechuan. His supply route was just like a cobweb
that held the three territories in the east secured and unassailable.
“Drag it out till the end of the sixth month.” Xiao Chiye caught
the stone and placed it on the messily drawn map. “I’ll lead the
elites of Sha’er Camp to Bianjun Commandery. You and shifu can
put on a show of fatigue under Hasen’s attacks. The weakening of
his attacks will be the precursor to a sudden assault on Duanzhou,
at which time I’ll be waiting for him in Duanzhou.”
Three months was just right. When Hasen dispatched his
troops to launch a surprise attack, it would be the season when the
granaries were in abundance. He would not miss this timing.
The sky had already darkened by the time both men spoke to
this point. Xiao Chiye stood up and whistled at the sky, and Meng
flapped its wings and circled before landing back on Xiao Chiye’s
shoulder a short while later. Lu Guangbai patted the dust off his
robe and walked side by side with Xiao Chiye towards the military
tent.
Chen Yang, who was waiting at the entrance, lifted the flap of
the tent for them. As Xiao Chiye entered the tent, he whispered,
“Master, the letters from His Lordship and Gu Jin have both
arrived.”
Xiao Chiye took the letters and stood at the entrance to read
them.
Lu Guangbai drank half a bowl of milk tea, and when he heard
no movement from Xiao Chiye after a while, he looked back to see
Xiao Chiye with a gloomy expression.
◈ ◈ ◈
A few days later, Fuman arrived at the courtyard of the Grand
Secretariat office as summoned. Before entering, he changed out
of his damp covering and bundled up his robe to stride in and pay
his obeisances to Kong Qiu.
Kong Qiu sat by the window and merely uttered a sound of
acknowledgment as he gestured for Fuman to get up. Fuman
straightened up in a restrained manner and stood waiting in
attendance at the far end. His eyes swept around the black boots at
the sides, more or less recognizing the court officials present.
“…The spring plowing has just ended. Huaizhou bought a
batch of grains from Baimazhou, and Jiang Qingshan sold it to him
based on the conversion of grain price in Juexi.” Liang Cuishan
finished his report.
A few of Kong Qiu’s hairs had turned white during this period
of time, although they were not obvious to the eyes concealed
under his wusha hat. He said, “Qidong is fighting a war now, so
Qidong naturally has priority for the military funds. The Eight Great
Training Divisions’ military expenses can be reduced as needed.”
Here it comes, Fuman thought. If the Grand Secretariat wanted
to continue investigating the accounts as they wanted, then they
had to first pare down Han Cheng’s power.
“That’s what the Ministry of War intends.” The Minister of War,
Chen Zhen, tapped his smoking pipe twice. “But Han Cheng
refuses. He wants the writ from the Grand Secretariat.”
“What he wants is approval, doesn’t he?” Cen Yu said. “The
Dancheng case has yet to conclude, and to avoid casting
aspersions on herself, the Empress Dowager can’t approve it. Since
the Grand Secretariat has brought it up with him, it means that
everyone is in agreement with it. But look at him, refusing to do it
so brazenly.”
The Empress Dowager could barely fend for herself, so where
would she still have her earlier authority to make approvals? The
Hua clan of Dicheng was on tenterhooks now. What was the Heir
Apparent poisoned with? Everyone present knew it all too well. It
was to preserve the last bit of the Empress Dowager’s dignity that
Kong Qiu tossed the Heir Apparent’s case to Fuman and let the
inner court investigate.
Han Cheng was still holding the post of the Imperial
Bodyguards’ Commander. He meant to take the path Hua Siqian
once took, by relying on the Eight Great Training Divisions to
challenge the Grand Secretariat.
Fuman had been buttering his bread on both sides, waiting for
just this moment. He could no longer remain on the noble clan’s
boat, but he could still jump onto the Grand Secretariat’s ship. He
had shown his face before Hai Liangyi, and he had spent the
longest time in the Grand Secretariat’s office compound. The junior
eunuch’s address of “zuzong” was not casually given, but because
he really carried this weight among them. He kept such a tight grip
on the Heir Apparent’s case because he wanted to extricate himself
clean and to make Fengquan the scapegoat.
Emperor Tiancheng favored Mu Ru, and he incurred the
displeasure of the Grand Secretariat when he made an exception
to promote Fengquan. Even the Chief Surveillance Bureau
censured him. Later, when Emperor Tianchen died in Mu Ru’s
hands, it was only through Xue Xiuzhuo’s grace that Fengquan
could continue to drag out an ignoble existence.
Fuman did not dare to incur the wrath of Xue Xiuzhuo, but he
had come to discern that the Heir Apparent was the future master
of Dazhou. He had to kick out Fengquan before he could get a spot
for himself beside the Heir Apparent. He was counting on the Heir
Apparent for his future decades of wealth and glory to come.
As for Han Cheng and Kong Qiu, Fuman did not make much of
them. Think about Pan Rugui. Pan Rugui could assemble the Pan
Faction and sit on equal footing with Hua Siqian exactly because he
had the trust of Emperor Guangcheng at that time. It was no easy
feat being a eunuch, having to be commanded around like a dog,
but find the right master, and you would be a dog that lorded it
over the masses—a dog that everyone had to deferentially address
as “zuzong” on sight.
Fuman was just thinking about this when he suddenly sensed
Kong Qiu looking at him. He immediately stepped forward to bow,
a complete about-face from his attitude in front of Han Cheng as he
spoke with deference. “This humble slave has traced what the
Grand Secretary has told me to investigate. The seasonal
vegetables consumed by the Heir Apparent that day all came from
our Garden Service.”
 “Isn’t that specially meant for the palace?” Kong Qiu asked,
“Who is the eunuch-in-charge?”
“It’s someone called Yinzhu.” Fuman continued, “This humble
slave has carefully interrogated all the people serving in the Heir
Apparent’s palace. None of them have anything to do with the
Garden Service. The rules in the palace are strict, and they do not
normally cross paths.”
“Something was wrong with the seasonal vegetables of the
Garden Service, and yet it could pass through so many hands to be
served before the Heir Apparent. This would not have been
possible if the perpetrator wasn’t capable.” Kong Qiu was in charge
of the Ministry of Justice, and his train of thought was clear and
organized. “Moreover, it is impossible to have such a clear grasp on
the Heir Apparent’s preferences without at least half a year of
effort.”
Fuman repeatedly made sounds of agreement and said, “This
humble slave did in fact find such a person.”
Kong Qiu locked eyes with Cen Yu. “Who?”
Fuman looked hesitant as he wavered for a moment before
answering. “It’s Fengquan.”
Fengquan had once held the position of the Seal-holding
Director in the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Garden Service
was under the jurisdiction of the Seal-holding Director; it also had
ties to the Directorate for Palace Delicacies. He was not only the
Heir Apparent’s attendant, but also the person the Empress
Dowager wanted to protect back then. As compared to a universal
flatterer like Fuman, who fawned on everyone he came across,
Fengquan could not be erased of suspicion at all.
Kong Qiu furrowed his brows. “Isn’t this person already dead?”
“That’s right,” Fuman answered softly, “but he stayed by the
Heir Apparent side for over half a year. He looked different, so
much that this humble slave did not recognize him when he was
serving in attendance in Mingli Hall.”
Kong Qiu did not respond immediately. All of them had only
just gone silent when they heard the announcement of Xue
Xiuzhuo’s arrival from the entrance. Liang Cuishan was well aware
of the art of preserving his life; the matters of the inner court
concerned the Heir Apparent and were not affairs he could meddle
in, so he took the opportunity to get to his feet and retreated out
just as Xue Xiuzhuo entered.
Xue Xiuzhuo’s wusha hat56 was slightly damp from the rain.
Even when he saw Fuman standing in attendance at the side upon
his entrance into the hall, he did not ask about it and bowed to
Kong Qiu. Kong Qiu did not bring up Fengquan and told Xue
Xiuzhuo to take his seat for discussions.
◈ ◈ ◈
Chashi River thawed, and the warmth of spring in Duanzhou
abruptly disappeared. Drizzle fell for several consecutive days,
pelting the peach blossoms in the courtyard until they had all fallen
to cover the ground in a wet blanket of red. Shen Zechuan had to
discuss affairs with the advisors in the hall, and a sitting typically
took several hours, so Fei Sheng added a charcoal brazier in the
hall to dispel the cold.
“Yan Heru has not shown up for so long, and the businesses in
Hezhou are now in a mess. The merchants are making such a
ruckus for fear that the deals they agreed on at the start of the year
will fall through. They came to Chazhou in the hope of discussing it
over with Your Lordship.” Yu Xiaozai sat to the right of Kong Ling,
near the charcoal brazier. He continued, “There’s also a need to
make contact with the local yamen where the port is. We have to
send someone there as soon as possible.”
Yao Wenyu seemed fine today. He said, “The spring plowing
has just ended, so the yamen in the various lands are all able to
transfer manpower over. Then there’s still Wang Xian, who is
familiar with taxation, in Chazhou. There’s no reason for Your
Lordship to meet them in person.”
“Stick to however the business was conducted in the past.”
Shen Zechuan held the hand warmer57 between his palms. “A
Wang Xian will suffice.”
Wang Xian used to be the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue
who had contended with the various ministries before. Even Xiao
Chiye had hit a brick wall when it came to him. There was no one
more suitable than him to discuss with the merchants.
 “The Yan clan was the one greasing the Prefectural Prefect of
Liuzhou’s wheels. Ask them if they can find Yan Heru or not. If not,”
Shen Zechuan turned over the document and continued, “hurry up
and push out someone capable of taking on the matter.”
Qi Zhuyin had yet to return to Qidong. The Yan clan had to
complete delivery of the remaining military provisions in the fourth
month. No doubt anyone could ever find Yan Heru again. At
present, they were fighting through the roof at home. Shen
Zechuan dropped them a reminder to hand over the grains first
before they split up the properties and break up the family.
The matters today were more or less finished being discussed.
Seeing that Qiao Tianya had still yet to return from the military drill
grounds, he said, “Youjing spoke about the details of the various
prefectures yamen, the situations of which are extremely
complicated and cannot be lumped together in the same breath.
Go back and ready a book for submission. Do it like how Shenwei
does it; keep it brief and concise. Also, shifu is in my courtyard, so
Yuanzhuo shall have his meal together with me today.”
The advisors all stood up one after another and bowed to the
Prefectural Lord before taking their leave.
Ji Gang was under the eaves, watching Ding Tao train. Seeing
the advisors coming out, he sent Ding Tao to instruct the kitchen to
prepare the dishes. Remembering Fei Sheng’s instruction, Ding Tao
left Li Xiong in the courtyard to protect the Prefectural Lord, while
he himself leaped down the steps and dashed off to deliver the
message.
Originally, Qiao Tianya was the one pushing Yao Wenyu in his
wheelchair, but these days, Ji Gang had taken over the job. By the
time Qiao Tianya returned, it was already dark.
Ding Tao and Li Xiong stood guard at each side like a pair of
door deities.58 He folded his arm and said with cool detachment to
Qiao Tianya, “If His Lordship hasn’t summoned you, you can’t enter
—”
Qiao Tianya pressed down Ding Tao’s head and lifted the
hanging screen to cast a glance into the main room.
“He already left!” Ding Tao broke free. “After the meal, His
Lordship asked Grandpa to push him back.”
 “You should have said so earlier.” Qiao Tianya then asked,
“Where’s the Prefectural Lord?”
“It’s time for His Lordship to take a break,” Ding Tao answered.
“He’s in the bath now.”
“You didn’t even get someone to close the windows in the hall.
The wind is strong and cold at night.” Qiao Tianya scared Ding
Tao. “Freeze the Prefectural Lord, and Old Fei the Tenth is going to
nag at you all night when he returns later.”
Ding Tao had indeed forgotten about this, but he said, “I
remembered. I was just about to close them!”
Having said that, he turned and made his way into the hall to
close the windows one at a time. As he withdrew out of the room,
the back of his head bumped into something hard. He reacted
quickly and covered his head, thinking Fei Sheng was back. He
looked back and was just about to speak when he shrank his neck
back and shut up.
Xiao Chiye set down Langli Blade, which was blocking Ding
Tao, and inclined his head slightly to look for Shen Zechuan. His
face was damp, both from the rain and his sweat, and the heavy
armor on him had yet to be removed. His boots were all dirty too.
This was him riding all the way back in a rush after getting off
the battlefield.

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Footnotes
1. 入赘 of a man marrying into the wife’s household,
thereby taking on the wife’s surname and becoming an
member of the wife’s clan.
2. 军屯 military troops stationed in the border regions who
carry out garrison duties as well as farm crops to supply the
border garrisons and themselves with grains.
3.
4. 折子 zhezi, is a booklet in accordion form with a slipcase,
used for keeping accounts, etc.
5. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
6. 海纳百川，有容乃大(; 壁立千仞，无欲则刚。) A couplet
written by Lin Zexu (林则徐).
i.e. the greatness of a man lies in his tolerance of others, just
like the vast sea can accommodate a hundred rivers.
7. Refer to chapter 163 for recap.
8. The Art of Rulership/Governance of the Sovereign: The
technique of checks and balances was one of the most
common political tools used by the emperors in ancient
China to govern their officials.
9. 及冠 or 弱冠, a man’s 20th birthday, i.e., coming of age at
20 for a male.
10. Note: to clarify, the term used here specifically refers to
“Crown Prince” or in Li Jianting’s case, a “crown princess” or
heir apparent/successor to the throne. Using the latter since
it sounds more “neutral” :V
11. For those who forgot, Xiaowu was an Imperial Bodyguard
who appeared in early chapters.
12. The term 爷 (sir, lord, master) is a form of address for an
official or wealthy person in former times. Ge Qingqing
called him lord (or old master; 老爷) as a form of respect for
his official position, while the functionary called him master
(爷) in reference to his wealthy-merchant-pay-huge-tax/bribe
status (i.e., bowing to money).
13. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’
during summer) is one of the objectionable practices of
‘Three Respects’ during the Qing Dynasty, along with ‘Coal
Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’ refers to the
bribe money officials outside the capital used to bribe the
officials in the capital during summertime.

14.
15. 劲装 Jinzhuang is a more body-fitting outfit (compared to
the usual loose, flowing robes) with the sleeves secured to
make movements easier and less restrictive. It’s usually worn
by martial arts practitioners to facilitate combat.
16. 清流 renowned and unsullied scholars who were
concerned with politics but held themselves aloof from those
in power
17. 殿试 palace examination, the final and highest imperial
examination, presided over by the emperor himself.
18. 老十哥 Old (Fei the) Tenth-ge
19. 六婶 sixth auntie
20. 锦衣骑 is based on 锦衣卫, or the Imperial Bodyguards
also more literally known as the Embroidered Uniform
Guards or the Brocade Guards. So in the same vein, 锦衣骑
could also be considered the Embroidered Uniform Cavalry
or Brocade Cavalry.
21. 天妒英才 literally Heaven is jealous of the talented (so it
makes them undergo great sufferings in life and erm, stuff).

22.
23. 蹴鞠 cuju, ancient Chinese ball game with similarities to
soccer.

24.
25. Specifically 鲤鱼打挺 carp kip-up, a martial arts move
where one leaps from a supine position into a standing
position.
26. 黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
27. 家生子 Children of domestic servants or slaves. These
children were also born in the household and also served as
servants and slaves in the same household.

28.
29. 包袱, a cloth bundle. In the old days, people traveled
around with their clothes and possessions bundled up with a
piece of cloth. The bundle was then worn across the
shoulders and carried around.
30. 白泽 baize, an auspicious, white-colored mythical creature
in Chinese mythology.

31.
32. 补子 rank badges or mandarin squares, was a large
embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official to
indicate the rank of the official wearing it. E.g., the use of
squares depicting birds for civil officials and animals for
military officials; there were even “seasonal” squares like the
gourd.

33.
34. 五珠 wuzhu, literally five pearls
35. 铎针 duozhen, an ornament on the official hat of Ming
Dynasty.
36. 汗马 literally sweating horse, refers to distinguished
military service.
37. 老祖宗 literally old ancestor or forefather; sometimes the
top eunuch in the Ming Dynasty are privately addressed as
such. This refers to Pan Rugui in earlier chapters.
38. 经筳 classics colloquium, a gathering of the Emperor with
eminent civil officials of the general administrative agencies
in the capital, of the Hanlin Academy, of the Directorate of
Education, etc., for the reading and discussion of classical
and historical texts.
39. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties and farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains.
40.

41.
42. 汤婆子 tangpozi, a small portable hand warmer that looks
like a little pot.
43.
44. 敛衽 This pose, if a bow or curtsy was made as well, was
actually a form of obeisance made by women as a sign of
respect
45.
46. 花钿 known as huadian, these are flower embellishments
affixed or painted onto the forehead for cosmetic purposes.
Flowers are common patterns, although there may be
others.

47.
48. 太师椅 Taishi Chair or Grand Preceptor Chair, is a classical
style of a wooden armchair in ancient China.
49.
50. Phoenix refers to the empress, just like the dragon refers
to the emperor.
51. 纲常 i.e. the three cardinal ethical relationships of social
order (including the relationship between the ruler and his
subject) and the five constant virtues in Confucianism.
52. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
53. White is also associated with death and mourning, and
white paper lanterns were often used in funerals and to
indicate death in the family.
54. Recap: Chapter 83. In Chinese customs, rice wine or tea is
poured onto the ground (usually in front of an altar or
tombstone) as an offering to the deities or in honor of the
deceased.
55. 一盏茶 literally a cup of tea worth of time, roughly about
15 minutes.
56. 清谈 Qingtan is a Chinese philosophical movement and
social practice among political and intellectual elites where
the literati engaged in highly sophisticated intellectual and
philosophical discussions on lofty and non-mundane
matters.
57. 远交近攻 “Befriend a distant state; attack one nearby”
from the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计). This was first seen
in chapter 50.

58.
59. 纲常 i.e., the three cardinal ethical relationships of social
order (including the relationship between the ruler and his
subject, father and son, husband and wife) and the five
constant virtues in Confucianism.
60. 酒醋面局 One of the twenty-four yamen of the palace
eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. In charge of condiments such
as vinegar, sauces, and so on.
61.
62. 蟒纹曳撒 yisan or also read as yesa
63. 烟墩帽 a hat worn by eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.
64. 司苑局 One of the eight eunuch services under the
Twenty-Four Yamen, in charge of fruits and vegetables.

65.
66. 狗皮膏药 specifically dogskin plaster (the white and black
plaster on his face), a medicinal plaster in Traditional
Chinese Medicine used for treating rheumatism, strain,
contusion, etc which is pasted to the skin.
67. i.e., of someone seeking help and protection from
someone more powerful.
68. 乌纱帽 wusha hat, or black gauze hat, is the headwear of
Ming dynasty officials, comprising a black hat with two wing-
like flaps of thin, oval-shaped boards on each side.
69. 汤婆 a small portable hand warmer that looks like a little
pot. Also known as tangpo.

70.
71. 门神 a door god or divine guardians whose main duties
were to protect a building, threshold, or household against
evil influences or to encourage the entrance of positive ones.
Usually, stickers or papers of these deities are pasted on the
door to signify their protection.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 233 : TO LOVE AND TO FEAR

The rain was still falling when Shen Zechuan returned to his room.
Wearing a wide-sleeved robe, but without his wooden clogs, he
walked on the corridor leading to the bedchamber and heard a
few crashes of muffled thunder. Damp wind pounced on his face
through the newly cut window screen, while the staccato sound of
rain dispelled the stifling sensation Shen Zechuan was feeling from
having sat for too long.
Candlesticks stood by the sides of the corridor, making it
brighter than the bedchamber itself. Shen Zechuan stood there
without moving, as if wanting to get some air. Shadows peeped
through the bamboo blinds to lay exposed on the rug in the
bedchamber, while the orange candlelight gave his silhouette a
glow and rendered the skin slightly to the side of his neck a shade
of vivid red.
The fourth month was the season when crop seedlings
sprouted and grew. If this bout of spring rain persisted, the
Duanzhou fields near the Chashi River might end up inundated by
the spring flood. Shen Zechuan gave Kong Ling instructions
regarding the Duanzhou dams last month, but he forgot to ask
about it today. Reckoning that Fei Sheng should be back by now,
Shen Zechuan lifted the bamboo blinds and searched the
bedchamber for the wooden clogs he had kicked off in preparation
of summoning Fei Sheng over to question him.
Xiao Chiye, having long removed his armor, was lying sleepily
on the bed with his head pillowed on both arms. On hearing
movements, he turned over, and at the same time Lanzhou picked
up his wooden clogs, he pushed the lowered drapes aside and
poked his head out.
Caught off guard, Shen Zechuan got a fright and dropped the
wooden clogs.
With his hands gripping the drapes, Xiao Chiye asked, “Is what
happened to the Venerable Master true?”
Shen Zechuan schooled his expression slightly and nodded.
 Seeing Shen Zechuan’s nod, Xiao Chiye’s heart, which had
been on tenterhooks the entire way, plummeted completely into
the ditch. He fell back onto the bedding and spread out his arms,
looking as if he was about to die soon.
Supporting himself against the edge of the bed, Shen Zechuan
looked at Xiao Chiye and tentatively probed, “Did you run all the
way back for this?”
In order to find Yideng, Xiao Chiye had scoured the entire Libei
and watched on as Xiao Jiming wrote more than a dozen letters to
the Venerable Master. But he did not even get to see him, and the
man was now gone. After a long silence, he asked, “Where’s Yan
Heru?”
Shen Zechuan made a brutal, slitting gesture along his neck.
Xiao Chiye fell silent for a moment with a frosty and grave
expression. He suddenly turned over and buried his face into the
pillow, refusing to show his face to Shen Zechuan. If he had a tail, it
would be drooping on the ground right now.
“We’ll head over to Juexi to look for physicians.” Xiao Chiye
paused for a moment before continuing. “And there’s still the
Imperial Academy of Medicine in Qudu.”
Shen Zechuan did not say a word. His icy cold hand covered
the side of Xiao Chiye’s neck and slid up to stroke his cheek. Xiao
Chiye grabbed hold of this hand and grasped it in his palm. The
rain doused his wrath, extinguishing it, leaving only
disappointment and panic in its wake. He attempted to soothe his
emotions, but this feeling was too complicated.
“Ce’an,” Shen Zechuan called out to him.
Xiao Chiye said, “There are innumerable highly skilled
physicians in the world living in seclusion or retirement. We’ll find
as many as there are available. As long as it’s a physician…”
Shen Zechuan suddenly pulled his hand out. The moment Xiao
Chiye’s palm turned up empty, Xiao Chiye made to sit up, but Shen
Zechuan pressed him back into place by his back.
“A-Ye.” Shen Zechuan propped himself up with his arms and
lowered his head to say with a rare unyielding toughness, “You
heard Qianqiu-shifu’s words before. Even with the Venerable
Master, the illness may not necessarily be eradicated at its roots.
But this body is still not in that terrible of a state.” He slowed and
relaxed his voice. “I’ve been taking my medicines on time, and not
once have I fallen sick this year.”
Xiao Chiye’s sprawled back tensed.
Shen Zechuan bumped his head against the back of Xiao
Chiye’s shoulder and said in a soft voice, “I won’t leave you.”
The rain outside the room pitter-pattered down with finely-
woven beats. Xiao Chiye’s chest cavity was all but a damp, clammy
expanse. Shen Zechuan stuck the side of his face to Xiao Chiye’s
tattoo through the fabric, where a scar lay.
“You’re lying to me.” Xiao Chiye answered in the same soft
voice.
Xiao Chiye once thought that Xiao Fangxu would not leave
him, but separation came in such haste that he did not even get to
bid his old man farewell. There existed a hidden boundary line
between man and man. Stride over that line, and that goes what
one called parting by death. It was a whole other world no one
could ever catch up with.
“You gave this life to the Grand Mentor.” Xiao Chiye’s voice
sounded oppressively heavy in the darkness. “You made a vow to
him to kill his mortal enemies, and you stood alone before the
noble clans without fear. You wanted me to leave back in Qudu,
and you hurt yourself in Chazhou and Dunzhou.”
These were ticking time bombs left behind by those two
incidents. They lay hidden in Xiao Chiye’s heart, ballooning to
unbearable proportions after Xiao Fangxu left. Xiao Chiye only had
to think about it to feel the fear after the fact. The source of his
panic was not just Shen Zechuan’s health, but also Shen Zechuan
himself.
Xiao Chiye continued, “Lanzhou, you only have to harden your
heart, and you’d be able to leave me behind.”
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 234 : NOBODY

Raindrops drummed against the door eaves, like an extension

of Shen Zechuan’s mood. He could openly put on a hundred
displays of indulging in desires before Xiao Chiye, but he found it
hard to extend this frankness verbally to Xiao Chiye. He was the
most eloquent orator in this world, and also the most inarticulate
one.
“I once gave this life to Teacher, because there was no home to
call mine in this world. A-Ye, when I first stood before the halls of
Qudu, what I saw was the door to this life of mine. Stride inside,
and Duanzhou would no longer be my hometown. I knew my elder
brother would vanish among my dreams, and I knew that no one in
this world would ever forgive me.”
Shen Zechuan had never gone into battle to fight against the
enemies, nor had he sat in the imperial court a far distance away.
He was an ordinary man who came face to face with the scimitars,
and it was precisely because he was an ordinary man that the wails
of the six prefectures lingered in his ears every night and the
bloodbath in the sinkhole haunted his mind all the time. He
kneeled in the snowstorm raging at the sinkhole and experienced
a separation by death. Overnight, he became the enemy of the
entire world.
He had done nothing.
 But he was guilty, and his sin went by the name Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan watched the Biansha Cavalry massacre
Duanzhou. Forty thousand men pressed down on his back, pinning
him, and because he survived, he was forever held captive here.
His struggles were insignificant. Those anguished cries of his were
worth nothing before forty thousand corpses.
Shen Zechuan could not live on.
He was, in that game of chess, a nobody. His pain was merely
the puff of dust stirred up by its players’ coughs. The moment he
understood this, he lost what it meant to “live”. Ji Gang told him to
keep living, but the heroes and the sycophants were still mutually
tearing into each other. Keep living, and he would still be reduced
to being a pawn someday. He would be dragging on his miserable
existence merely to wait for death to claim him so that he could
enter the next cycle of reincarnation.
Back at the derelict Zhaozui Temple, Qi Huilian raised his arms
like a madman and shouted out for the crown prince, but in this
world, there was no longer a crown prince. Were the legitimate
bloodlines of the noble clans the only ones who could become the
hands that hold the world in its control? Were the distinguished,
noble-born prides of heaven the only ones worthy of possessing
the power to stir up a storm? If that were the case, then all the
innumerable ordinary folks in the world were the bones of the
dead at the foot of the stairs! They were the subjugated ones
meant to be trampled on, the dehumanized ones who suffered no
pain, and the silenced ones who would not moan in anguish. They
were nobodies!
“What did we do wrong?”
Qi Huilian cried out this phrase with inconsolable grief.
What exactly did we do wrong?!
Shen Zechuan once lifted Xiao Chiye by the collar in a filthy
alley, ripping open his mask of forbearance to question the same
words with his voice breaking.
You and I, what did we do wrong?
If living was a sin, that meant Heaven was holding him down by
his head intending for him to kneel in the dust and continue being
a nobody. But Shen Zechuan met Qi Huilian. He watched as the
Grand Mentor acted all demented, and listened as the lone crow
let loose a plaintive wail. He was forced to the edge of the
precipice. If he could not take out the courage to burn his bridges
and fight to the death, then he would have to venture down this
path Heaven preordained for him and kill himself once more.
“I am Qi Huilian of Yuzhou. I taught the Crown Prince. And I’ll
now teach you everything I have learned in my life—alright?”
What Shen Zechuan saw was a way to live. That was not only a
path where he could kneel and gasp for breath, but also one where
he could stand on his feet. Was victory assured just because one
was born the descendant of a noble clan? The moment in which Qi
Huilian went on his knees was when the paradigm shifted. He had
torn down that wall much earlier than anyone else, even Shen
Zechuan.
Qi Huilian was the teacher of the emperor; he would only teach
someone heading into that position. He reached out to Shen
Zechuan not only because he was forced into a dead end but also
because this was the most insane of the Grand Mentor’s schemes.
“If Teacher imparts the classics to me, I’ll kill your enemy for
you.”
Shen Zechuan’s hatred was scattered all over in Qudu, those
faint, blurry lights of untold numbers. It was Qi Huilian who
converged them together with the words “enmity”.
Unruffled is the orchid that grows on stone steps. Boundless is
the horizon of the boat that crosses the sea of misery.
Qi Huilian molded Shen Lanzhou into being, and he pushed a
sharp Shen Zechuan back into his sheath with the aim of
obliterating all the self-resentments that sustained Shen Zechuan
and kept him hanging onto life. He wanted to set Shen Zechuan’s
path right, so that Shen Zechuan could see himself for who he truly
was.
Xue Xiuzhuo did not make the wrong move; he had simply
been a tad too late. Qi Huilian had long already possessed his own
Heir Apparent.
Rainwater washed over the eaves. Shen Zechuan fell silent after
he had said those words. He buried his face into Xiao Chiye’s back,
just like how Xiao Chiye had buried his face into the pillow.
 Shen Zechuan did not value his life; death was not at all scary.
The hooves of all those vying for supremacy would not skirt around
anyone. The promised lands of the world were all built upon the
sharpest blades. If he died, then that only went to prove that Shen
Zechuan failed in his quest to win the throne.
He did not care.
Would a hand that had been cut hurt?
To Shen Zechuan, that was for him to find out, but he had to be
cut first before he would know the answer.
Qi Huilian did not manage to tether him. He was a blade
without a hilt, one that would spill blood when held. No one else in
the world other than himself could wield it. He strode away from
everything else, all to achieve his aim of “freedom”.
He was free when he killed Ji Lei.
That made Qi Huilian realize for the first time that he had
honed Shen Zechuan, but did not keep him fully sheathed. All Shen
Zechuan learned was to deal a fatal blow without making so much
a sound. At that time, Shen Zechuan had his first taste of carnal
pleasure, when the battered, scarred host experienced the mirth of
this body; that was the joy of being “alive”. He did not even realize
it to be the prelude to the blade’s return to its sheath.
This squall from Libei swept away Shen Zechuan’s nightmares.
Xiao Chiye aggressively invaded Shen Zechuan’s heart,
dominating it. His strong, powerful arms blocked out all the din. In
the deepest recesses of that quagmire, he gate-crashed his way in
to catch a sniff of the fragrance of this gem.
Avaricious wolf.
“Teacher returned this life to me, A-Ye.” Shen Zechuan melted
under this familiar scent and nuzzled his cheek against Xiao
Chiye’s back like a young cub that had come searching by
following the scent. “A-Ye…”
Xiao Chiye raised his hand to hold down Shen Zechuan and
partially looked back to look him in the eye.
Shen Zechuan opened his eyes, but there was no hint of joking
in those orbs. He moved Xiao Chiye’s face closer and said, “I am
yours, even in death. And you are mine too.” He finally revealed the
part of him that was sharp and ruthless. “I will kill whoever wants to
take you away from my side.”
Not even the King of Hell can do so.
At first, Shen Zechuan thought what he cherished was not life
but Xiao Chiye. Gradually, he came to learn that a cut finger would
hurt; however, that finger was not the one in pain, but Xiao Chiye.
Living was tough, but in the process of living, he found even more
reasons to live. He was the continuation of Ji Mu’s life, of Qi
Huilian’s, of Zhongbo’s, and of all the nobodies’ in this volatile,
tempestuous storm—they all existed and lived through him.
“I want to live to a ripe old age with you.” Shen Zechuan
planted a light kiss on Xiao Chiye’s temple. “In a place no one can
reach.”
Xiao Chiye grabbed back Shen Zechuan’s hand and turned
around to take him into his arms. Then, cupping Shen Zechuan’s
cheeks, he closed in for a look.
“Tired from the journey?” Shen Zechuan asked in an
undertone.
“Nope.” Xiao Chiye caressed Shen Zechuan’s cheeks. “I get
through the days by thinking of you.”
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 235 : SCOUNDREL

Xiao Chiye claimed not to be tired, but he still fell asleep under
the murmurs and whispers. He had been rather pressed for time to
rest after being swapped over to Sha’er Camp. It was only because
Mount Luo was close to Duanzhou and the bridle path ran smooth
and unobstructed that he was able to rush back to sleep by
Lanzhou’s side.
The rain intensified following several claps of spring thunder in
the distance in the latter half of the night. As Xiao Chiye had
something weighing on his mind, he woke up at the hour of yin.
Shen Zechuan nuzzled against his temple, his breathing smooth
and even as he slept soundly. Xiao Chiye listened to the sound of
Lanzhou’s breathing for a moment and felt inexplicably unable to
simply resign himself to it.
Half-awake, Shen Zechuan uttered a “hm”. He liked to drag out
his nasal sounds, making it hard to say if he was in pain or feeling
good each time. Xiao Chiye bit him, making him rock a little under
his slightly urgent gasps.
“Don’t bite.” Shen Zechuan’s still half-asleep voice was slightly
hoarse. He did not even open his eyes as he muttered indistinctly,
“It’s all red now.”
It was indeed red.
 Shen Zechuan sobered up a little. Xiao Chiye was pinning
down on him, leaving him with nowhere to hide. It was as if he was
being assaulted by the rain in the face of this force. There was no
distance between them. Sweat spread to their chests, soaking the
bedding until it was all damp.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head and pressed his ear to Lanzhou’s
lips.
Shen Zechuan was on the verge of breaking. He knew what
Xiao Chiye wanted to hear in this clammy atmosphere. He spoke
and breathed of love, his expressive eyes misted over as he
shivered intermittently under the pounding of the waves.
The downside about being in such synchronous tune with one
another was that even a momentary separation would stir up a
storm of passion that made them crave to be sated and to use
sensual pleasure to make up for the gap in which they were apart.
Xiao Chiye desired.
And still desired more.
“Hn—”
Shen Zechuan could not help himself and tilted his soaked
neck back—this was a vulnerability that reared its head when he
took Xiao Chiye in.
Under the clamor of the rain beneath the eaves, a person in a
straw rain cape approached. When a knock sounded from the
door, Shen Zechuan raised a hand and made to clutch the hanging
drapes of the bed, but Xiao Chiye grabbed his wrist in midair,
holding it up as his strong, tanned arms secured Shen Zechuan in
place.
The person outside waited for a moment, then knocked on the
door again.
Shen Zechuan kept his voice down, “Not… not Fei…”
Xiao Chiye did not give a damn about who was at the door. His
desire was raging. He wanted to dominate. Only he could see, bite,
and exert himself so hard that Lanzhou begged for mercy.
Their breaths intermingled.
“Chuan-er? It’s already the second quarter of the hour of mao!
Chengfeng is heading down to the fields for a look. Are you
going? If so, I’ll prepare your overcoat for you. Drink some soup
before you go over.” Ji Gang had woken up early and even trained
for a few rounds, after which he had come over with a bowl of soup
in hand.
Xiao Chiye hissed in chagrin and shoved everything that was
superfluous away to confine Lanzhou.
In too deep.
Shen Zechuan soundlessly mouthed.
A-Ye, too—
He turned his head to the side and buried his gasps in the
bedding, hiding them deep under the roar of the rain.
Xiao Chiye was panting too. Under those heavy gasps for
breath, he let loose a dangerous laugh and admired the flush at
the sides of Lanzhou’s neck, all without so much a pause.
This is going to be the death of me.
Xiao Chiye thought diabolically.
Possessing Shen Zechuan in such a way gave him a climactic
high.
◈ ◈ ◈
Not hearing any movements, Ji Gang turned to ask Fei Sheng,
“What time did the Prefectural Lord retire to bed last night?”
That’s hard for me to say, man, Fei Sheng inwardly thought to
himself. Holding an umbrella over Ji Gang’s birdcage, he
answered, “Quite late… Now that Mister Yu has returned, he has to
report on matters regarding the six prefectures’ yamen to the
Prefectural Lord these few days.”
“Didn’t he take his leave early yesterday?” Ji Gang was worried
that Shen Zechuan would fall ill during this spring rain. “Youjing
has to stay until the rain stops this time. There is no rush to
complete his assignments now.”
“Exactly.” Fei Sheng concurred. “Shifu, you understand it best.”
Fei Sheng only wanted to send shifu out of the courtyard as
soon as possible. Second Master was still inside, and if they were to
cross paths later, wouldn’t the game be over?! He lifted Ji Gang’s
birdcage and said, “Shifu, this bird looks so listless. Could it have
gotten frozen from the cold?!”
“It gets sleepy after a meal. This bird is just the same as Ding
Tao’s sparrow.” Ji Gang grew increasingly worried after not hearing
an answer from Shen Zechuan for so long. “There’s no one inside
to attend to him either.”
“How about I send you to the side hall for a seat? We’ll drink a
few cups of hot tea. Master should be awake in a while.”
Ji Gang lifted the birdcage back. As Fei Sheng took over the
soup, Ji Gang placed a hand behind his back and said, “I can’t sit
still, so I’ll go over to Yuanzhuo for a look. The medicine is still
being decocted. When Chuan-er wakes up later, ask him if he’s
going out. It’s raining so hard. I’ll have to tag along.”
Fei Sheng voiced his acknowledgment of the request and
bowed to send Ji Gang to the walkway. Seeing Ji Gang finally head
out, he rushed back while lifting the hem of his robe and whispered
close to the door, “Second Master, it’s already the third quarter of
the hour of mao. The advisors should arrive later during the hour of
chen. Our Lordship—”
The door swooshed open to both sides to reveal Xiao Chiye
with a loose robe draped over him. His neck was still flushed and
glistening with sweat.
How would Fei Sheng dare to look directly at him? He instantly
stepped back and bowed. “Greetings to Second Master.”
In one smooth move, Xiao Chiye took the hot handkerchief on
standby at the side and said as he wiped the sweat from his neck.
“It’s only the hour of mao and you’re already here, prompting. Your
master usually sleeps late, and he’s a light sleeper. How can he
withstand you tormenting him like this?”
Fei Sheng responded, “Second Master indeed thinks of
everything!”
Xiao Chiye tossed the handkerchief back into the tray. He was
just about to say something when he saw Ji Gang, who had just
left, return the same way. Ji Gang was already standing at the end
of the walkway glaring over at them.
Fei Sheng looked back and inwardly exclaimed, good
heavens!
Ji Gang took long strides over. On seeing Ji Gang’s livid
expression, Fei Sheng wanted to retreat, but Second Master is
watching! So he plucked up his courage and stepped forward
bravely to stop Ji Gang. With an apologetic smile, he said, “Did
shifu leave something behind? Just send someone over. Why
make a special point of walking all the way back? It’s raining so
heavily!”
Unable to get around Fei Sheng, Ji Gang grabbed Fei Sheng by
the front of his clothes and forcibly lifted Fei Sheng, who was a
head taller than him, over to the side.
Xiao Chiye called out, “Shifu…”
“I’m not your shifu!” Ji Gang hollered. Both his hands were
trembling. Seeing Xiao Chiye all so wantonly dressed, he hastily
took half a step back and pointed at him, sputtering, “How, how
dare you. How dare, you!”
He had already sensed something amiss the last time Xiao
Chiye asked to be whipped as punishment, but he did not dare to
think of Shen Zechuan along those lines, so he tried every means
possible to comfort himself. He never expected he would still get
slapped with the truth right in the face.
That was Shen Zechuan!
Ji Gang, his back all drenched from the rain, found it
preposterous and felt incensed at the same time. His ears buzzed,
as if he had really been slapped in the face. Unable to remain
steady on his feet, he stood another step back. Fei Sheng reached
out to support Ji Gang, but Ji Gang flung his hand away and
bellowed, “You know? Were you in the know about it?!”
Fei Sheng forced a smile. “Uh…”
Ji Gang hurled the birdcage down on the ground, and the bird
flapped around in alarm as its cage took a few tumbles and rolled
to the bottom of the steps.1 His hands were shaking badly. He still
had his strength about him, and a strong wind pounced as he
threw out the fist and struck Xiao Chiye with such force that the
taste of blood saturated Xiao Chiye’s mouth. Fei Sheng had already
lunged over to grab hold of Ji Gang’s arm. “Shifu, shifu, please be
appeased!”
The rain pitter-pattered down in torrents. Xiao Chiye pressed
the tip of his tongue against the taste of blood and said, “I’m
willing to take the blows if shifu wants to hit me, and I’m willing to
kneel too if shifu wants me to do so. But if shifu is still thinking of
finding a marriage match for Lanzhou, then it’s a no-go.”
 Ji Gang had been dropping hints this year, not daring to push
Shen Zechuan too much, but he had been on tenterhooks, so he
had scouted out several maidens in Cizhou and mentioned it to
Shen Zechuan in his letters. Shen Zechuan did not agree to any of
them and merely said that he had someone to care for him by his
side. But Ji Gang had never seen this person ever since he arrived
in Duanzhou, and he had been wondering if Shen Zechuan had
been merely coaxing him. How could he have expected there to be
such a person!
“You scoundrel…” Ji Gang broke his arm free and bellowed
agitatedly, “I’m going to beat you scoundrel to death!”

Footnotes
1. Please do not do this at home. No animal abuse :V
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 236 : TWIN JADES

In all the time Ji Gang watched Shen Zechuan grow up, he had
never expected Shen Zechuan to become a noble or minister. All
he hoped for was for Shen Zechuan to be safe and sound, for
things to go smoothly for him, and to have an abundance of
children in the future. Anyone could forget that one kick from Xiao
Chiye in Qudu, but not Ji Gang, for Shen Zechuan was his one and
only remaining son.
It was now Ji Gang recalled those words Xiao Chiye said back
in Cizhou. It seemed as if it was all premeditated. This jerk had long
planned to show his hand to him. How ludicrous that everyone
could see that, and yet there he was, deceiving himself and
believing his own lies. He even defended and made excuses for
this asshole in every way possible!
Brotherhood? My foot!
Ji Gang threw a few punches at him, but unable to assuage his
wrath, he grabbed the horsewhip that had been set at the side and
said, “I invited a wolf into the house1 and believed your lies! You
have had designs on Chuan-er a long time back since Cizhou!” His
fury grew the more he spoke, and he was, at present, totally
oblivious to everything that was good about Xiao Chiye; all he
remembered were the old debts. He lashed out with the whip and
seethed. “I’ll beat you to death!”
“Shifu, shifu!” How would Fei Sheng dare to let Ji Gang
continue striking out at Xiao Chiye? He attempted to persuade,
“Second Master’s willingness to accept a beating from shifu means
he genuinely intends to tell shifu. This matter doesn’t involve
outsiders. Let’s all sit down in our courtyard and have a proper talk.
His Lordship is still waiting for you!”
“Get lost!” Ji Gang bellowed., “All of you are a bunch of
scoundrels too!”
The Imperial Bodyguards in this courtyard had all received
pointers from Ji Gang before, and they could be considered to be
Ji Gang’s disciples. So which of them would dare to stop Ji Gang
on seeing how fierce he was? What’s more, this horsewhip
belonged to Xiao Chiye, and it was much heavier than the one in
Cizhou. One lash alone felt like an explosion of searing hot pain
that seemed to rip one apart.
Ji Gang was really enraged now. It was different from that time
in Cizhou. Xiao Chiye’s wide-sleeved robe could not block the
blows, and every lash drew streaks of blood. Ji Gang whipped with
such ferocity that Xiao Chiye sucked in a few gasps of the chilly air.
Seeing Xiao Chiye stubbornly refuse to admit his fault, he
hatefully spat, “Whether it goes through or not when I find a
marriage match for him is none of your business!”
“No.” Xiao Chiye refused to concede when it came to this. He
was not willing to speak a single word of falsehood. “There are
plenty of decent men in the world. Shen Lanzhou is the one and
only one I will not give away to anyone!”
Ji Gang was so incensed he felt dizzy. Pointing the horsewhip
at him, he said, “You wanted to kill my son, and now you even want
to cut off his bloodline! If you are not going to marry a wife and
bear children, why don’t you cut yourself off first?!”
The cut-sleeves2 in Qudu were no secret. Ji Gang had seen his
fair share of them when he served as the vice commander of the
Imperial Bodyguard. They were inseparable now, deeply attached
to each other like glue, but after several years, they all had to marry
and have children. Furthermore, Xiao Chiye was Xiao Fangxu’s son
of legitimate birth. If Xiao Jiming did not take up the mantle on the
battlefield, then it would fall upon Xiao Chiye to assume
responsibility for it. Once he became the alpha wolf of Libei in the
future, whether or not he took a wife would no longer be his own
personal affair, but that of the entire Libei Armored Cavalry.
 The Xiao clan possessed a 120,000-strong Armored Cavalry.
Should the Xiao and Ji households form a marriage alliance
between them, it would secure and stabilize the friendship between
Zhongbo and Libei. Thus, Ji Gang ought to give the nod in both
public and private interests, but this was provided that Xiao Chiye
was a maiden. Had that been the case, then even if he was an
outwardly brash one who ran hot and cold, Ji Gang would have
been willing to accept him, as long as Shen Zechuan wanted him.
“If shifu is willing to agree to it, I’ll get my eldest sister-in-law to
come over to propose marriage. If not, I can also marry into the
family.” Having been at the receiving end of Xiao Fangxu’s
beatings, Xiao Chiye was not in the least bit afraid of these few
lashes from Ji Gang. Since Ji Gang wanted to settle the score
today, then no matter what he said today, he had to get Ji Gang’s
nod.
Ji Gang was so choked speechless that he tilted over
backward. Fei Sheng hurriedly supported him. Ji Gang felt that
Xiao Chiye was not proposing marriage, but forcing marriage. He
had never seen such a self-righteous villain!
With hands on both knees, Xiao Chiye pressed home his attack.
“Lanzhou accepted my eldest sister-in-law’s bracelets. He has long
been mine, Xiao Ce’an’s! How can shifu find another woman for
him? If he really goes to meet her, then he’d be a heartless cad.
Shifu wants children, and Ding Tao and Li Xiong are both young;
they can relieve your boredom by staying with you. I couldn’t care
less if it pleases shifu to raise them until the age of twenty-seven or
twenty-eight before marrying them off.”
Ji Gang noted how Xiao Chiye was spouting nonsense in all
seriousness. How were Ding Tao and Li Xiong still children? They
were already eighteen or nineteen of age. It was considered late
now to even throw them out of the house to attend to official duties
—this isn’t what it’s about at all!
“Shifu, please give your assent.” Xiao Chiye propped himself
with both hands on the floor and kowtowed. “If shifu doesn’t give
the nod, I’ll call you father.”
Ji Gang could hold such prestige in the Imperial Bodyguards
because he was a reasonable man. For Shen Zechuan, he had put a
lot of thought into this matter. Were Xiao Chiye to sit down to
reason with Ji Gang, there would be no way he could convince the
latter. Shen Zechuan had a bearing on the Libei military grains, so
Ji Gang was bound to worry if Libei’s consent now was because of
the military grains or the situation.
How in the world would Ji Gang expect Xiao Chiye to be so
shameless and thick-skinned to force him into a quandary right
outside the door? It would prove hard for him to walk away if he
did not give the nod today. Ji Gang squeezed the words through
clenched teeth. “Stop trying to dupe me with your sweet words.
Even if your eldest sis-in-law really comes, I won’t meet her.”
“Even so, you have to meet Lanzhou.” Xiao Chiye said without
raising his head. “Father, Lanzhou is clueless about all these
etiquettes. Without you by his side to watch over him, he will be
tricked by my eldest sister-in-law back to Libei to be…” Xiao Chiye
was momentarily stumped for words, but very quickly, he
continued, “… her younger brother-in-law!3 If you wish to fulfill my
wish this way, I’d be happy too.”
Ji Gang flung the horsewhip to the ground, driven beyond the
limits of his forbearance. “Shut up!” He had to refute Xiao Chiye, so
he gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t you ever think of marrying into
the family!”
Xiao Chiye’s robe was slightly opened, and the flush on his
neck had faded. Ji Gang refused to let Xiao Chiye enter, and Xiao
Chiye did not dispute Ji Gang either. The rain poured in urgent
torrents, and it was chilly under the eaves. Ji Gang’s fury did not
diminish, but the overwhelming rush to his head earlier was gone.
With a solemn expression and a serious countenance, Xiao
Chiye said, “All that shifu worries about has crossed my mind too.
My eldest brother and sister-in-law have a harmonious relationship.
They have Xun-er now, and they will still go on to have children in
the future. Libei doesn’t need me to beget another child, and I do
not have the intention to either. Shifu watched Lanzhou grow up
and hopes for him to have a blissful family. I know that, and I wish
the same too. Isn’t my loving him, respecting him, and living to a
ripe old age with him bliss too? Shifu can’t trust me and fears that
Lanzhou will suffer an aggrievement in the future, so you want to
find Lanzhou a woman. It’s indeed not my place to interfere, but
I’ve already given him this life of mine. His wanting of another
person is akin to killing me.”
Xiao Chiye was no ordinary man. He had both the courage and
means. They might now be a pair of twin jades who seemed to get
along swimmingly, but what would happen when the war was
over? If he had a change of heart, he had plenty of ways to end this
relationship. What Ji Gang feared the most was Shen Zechuan
being all alone by his lonesome self after his passing. Everyone
addressed Shen Zechuan with the honorific address of the
Prefectural Lord right now. It was only to Ji Gang that Shen
Zechuan was Chuan-er; there was still much for him to worry
about.
Ji Gang did not dare to make this wager. He could not trust
Xiao Chiye.
For a long time, Xiao Chiye did not get an answer. He heard the
approaching sound of wooden clogs behind him and slightly
turned his head sideways to see a properly attired Shen Zechuan
with his fan in hand sneaking a glance at him.
“No.” Ji Gang seemed to answer Xiao Chiye, although he was
looking at Shen Zechuan, his aged face weathered and worn as he
decisively concluded, “It’s not going to happen.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yao Wenyu was in the midst of lighting incense in the courtyard
next door. He clutched the incense stick between his fingers, its
fumes so intense that Hunu was unwilling to get close to him. Once
the rain these two days came to a stop, mosquitos ought to be
making their presence known. Yao Wenyu could not stand this
scent either. He was just scrutinizing the incense when it was taken
away from him.
Qiao Tianya brought the incense to his nose for a sniff. He
wrinkled his nose and said, “This smell is too strong. Where is it
from? Send it back to the sender for their own use.”
“It’s from the merchants.” Yao Wenyu turned his wheelchair to
face the courtyard. “The Tathagata incense from the City of Liuzhou
sells for an exorbitant amount in Juexi.”
 Qiao Tianya pinched the incense to extinguish it. “Reeks of
stinky tofu.”
“The folks of Liuzhou have a taste for stinky tofu.” Yao Wenyu
lifted a hand to wave away the smell. “Remind Fei Sheng later not
to light up this incense in His Lordship’s room.”
Feeling as if Yao Wenyu was avoiding him, Qiao Tianya
jammed a wheelchair wheel with his foot and said. “You couldn’t
have seen him more than a few times, so how are you on familiar
terms with him now?”
“We all attend to official duties for His Lordship.” Yao Wenyu
paused for a moment and turned his head aside to look at Qiao
Tianya. “There’s no unfamiliarity to speak of.”
Qiao Tianya was originally in good spirits, but his smile
gradually dimmed under the exchange of gazes between him and
Yao Wenyu. Yao Wenyu had never been willing to look Qiao Tianya
in the eyes before. He would dodge him out of shame, as if his
embarrassing predicament at night was always at the forefront of
his mind. But now, he was frank and open, as if he was still that
piece of unpolished jade that had never been tainted by the
slightest hint of desire.
No unfamiliarity to speak of.
Qiao Tianya was no different from Fei Sheng, Kong Ling, and
everyone else whom Yao Wenyu had met. He was no longer that
secret and special one. With a flick of his sleeves, Yao Wenyu could
revert to being a banished immortal.4
“It’s raining heavily today. If you are not in a hurry, take your
meal first before you step out. Chengfeng and Youjing are coming
in the afternoon, and it’s also time to report on the matter of the
Imperial Cavalry. See if you want to discuss it with them before
heading out.” As Yao Wenyu spoke, he looked at the wheel of the
wheelchair before looking at Qiao Tianya again. “You’re blocking
it.”
His smile was thin, as if resigned but at the same time, self-
deprecating.
“Being a cripple who can still skirt around obstacles is not
something I can do. Don’t make fun of me.”
 The wind struck against the wind chimes, and a few drops of
rain splattered on the thin blanket. Qiao Tianya shifted his leg
away. He had always handled himself with ease, and yet he cut a
sorry figure under Yao Wenyu’s gaze.
Yao Wenyu turned his wheelchair and entered the room. The
wheels thumped against the floor, emitting a string of even noise.
He pushed the wheelchair, exposing his wrist amid his movements.
It still had Qiao Tianya’s red thread around it. As he moved, his
wide sleeve bunched up, and the thread, thus covered, vanished
among the cloud of white.
◈ ◈ ◈
Ji Gang was resting his head on an arm with his face to the
wall, looking as if he was asleep.
Shen Zechuan set his folding fan at the edge of the bed and
asked, “Is shifu asleep?”
Ji Gang opened his eyes. “You know shifu is already asleep,
and yet you ask.”
Just like the time he was young, Shen Zechuan pulled the chair
closer and said, “After I left Zhaozui Temple, I’ve never have had an
all-night chat with shifu.”
“You came tonight for a man.” Ji Gang paused, unable to vent
that fury on Shen Zechuan. It dissipated in his chest, replaced by
another kind of self-reproach and sorrow. “What’s so good about
him? Your teacher and I both won’t agree.”
“Teacher praised him before.” Shen Zechuan spoke softly. “A
‘natural-born talent’ is exactly what Teacher said to me.”
“Can a prodigious talent bring domestic peace to his family?” Ji
Gang sat up and looked at Shen Zechuan. “A prodigious talent has
to have the empire in his sights. Are you willing to sit in the same
seat as him in the future?”
Shen Zechuan’s expression was docile as he lowered his eyes
and said, “That’s not for me to say.”
Ji Gang heaved a long sigh under the candlelight. After a long
time, he bitterly said, “When the Grand Mentor asked you how you
are going to exercise self-restraint when you have the Imperial
Bodyguards in your grasp, I ought to have realized that it was not a
question for a student. Who in the world can hold the Imperial
Bodyguards in their control? The Grand Mentor hid it from
everyone and taught you too much. You are such a good learner,
so do you not understand? The twin jades that form a pair today
will be the two tigers that fight for power in the future.”
It was not that Xiao Chiye was mediocre, but that he was too
outstanding, so much that Ji Gang could not set his mind at ease.
“If I were a man of use,” the expression in Ji Gang’s eyes was
complicated as he gazed at Shen Zechuan, “and if your brother
were still alive, then there’s no harm in staking your bets on him,
but I am old and useless. After my passing, you will have to face
everyone in this world alone. It will be just you, so how can I feel
reassured?”

Footnotes
1. 引狼入室 literally invited a wolf into the house, i.e., open
the door to a dangerous foe, bring disaster upon oneself.
2. 断袖 i.e., homosexual
3. Specifically, the husband of her younger brother.
4. 谪仙 literally, an immortal who has been banished from
heaven to live on earth; an epithet for exceptional
individuals such as the Tang poet Li Bai (who also wrote the
poem, Qiang Jin Jiu). i.e., a wayward genius
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 237: HEIR

The rain in the courtyard came to a halt. Moonlight was late to

come, and so it was dim in the room.
Shen Zechuan’s slightly lowered eyes lay concealed in the
darkness. He looked like a moored travel-weary traveler riding out
the long, endless tide of the night. When he looked at Ji Gang
again, it was with a gaze he had never shown before, as if he had
stripped off the skin named Prefectural Lord, leaving behind only a
stretch of moonlight.
“Without shifu and Ce’an, I am still me. Only that it won’t be me
who fears everyone in the world, but everyone who fears me. Shen
Wei’s blood runs in me. I have no need for heirs.”
Ji Gang’s heart ached so much he nearly shed tears. “You are
my son,” he said.
“I’m shifu’s son, but my name is Shen Zechuan. Teacher
imparted the classics to me, yet I’m not an emperor.”
Emperor.
The most supreme being of this world who stood at the very
top and overlooked the world – if not a royal crown or official
headgear bearer – was the emperor. The emperor must not only be
versed in the political art of checks and balances, but also possess
the broad-mindedness to accommodate the common people.
Emperors in the flourishing eras that had the support of their
people were all unparalleled men of benevolence. Shen Zechuan
had in his eyes a storm that was building up. He was the sudden
downpour that swept through the mountains and rivers of the
country, and the sharp blade that shredded heaven and earth to
pieces, but he was not an emperor who ushered in a golden era of
prosperity.
“Libei has a 120,000-strong Armored Cavalry; it’s a cinch for
their horses to set foot into Zhongbo, but Ce’an gave me his
lifeblood. I have his horses, and his elder brother’s grains. He’s
willing to leave the fields of Libei and ride his horse in my
Duanzhou. Shifu, he’s not afraid of my Garrison Troops, and I am
not afraid of his Armored Cavalry. One day, I will hold captive the
‘deer’ the Li clan cast away,1 and Ce’an will hold me captive. The
sun and the moon have coexisted in Heaven and Earth for tens of
thousands of years without going at each other’s throats. This is the
stability the world looks forward to. We are the equilibrium.”
The blazing sun and the luminous moon!
The cessation of the war heralded the beginning of another
battle. No sovereign could tolerate their co-existence in the east. It
was only when Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan were together that
Libei and Zhongbo would be able to get the opportunity to rest and
rebuild.
Shen Zechuan gave his tacit consent when Xiao Jiming built a
riding stable on Mount Luo. This was his concession to Libei, and
also the opportunity he gave to Libei. The bridle paths that
Zhongbo was building would break the boundary between both
lands, and when they merged into one, they would become a
behemoth entrenched in the northeast.
Ji Gang sat cross-legged in silence. “He’s well-trained in the Ji
Clan’s Boxing Fist, and comes and goes freely. What’s there to
fear? Even so, you and he have no heirs. As long as this matter is
left hanging in the air, Libei and Zhongbo can’t last for long.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye put on his armor and waited in the room for Shen
Zechuan to return. The sound of wheels rose from under the eaves.
Fei Sheng lifted the hanging screen for Yao Wenyu and said, “His
Lordship is not yet back.”
The thin blanket on Yao Wenyu’s knees was a little damp.
Propping himself up on his wheelchair, he said, “I’m looking for
Second Master.”
 Fei Sheng felt a little put on the spot. Xiao Chiye announced
from within, “I’m here.”
Yao Wenyu graciously declined Fei Sheng’s offer of help and
turned his wheelchair around to enter himself. Xiao Chiye retracted
his legs, sat up straight at the table, and set the military book aside
next to his hand. “What can I do for you, Yuanzhuo?”
“Rarely do I get the chance to see Second Master. There are
some things that aren’t convenient to bring up in letters, so I can
only discuss them face to face.” Yao Wenyu took out his
handkerchief and wiped the sweat on his hands. “Is Second Master
free?”
Xiao Chiye leaned back. “What matter is there that you have to
bypass Lanzhou to discuss with me?”
Yao Wenyu wiped his hands clean and folded the handkerchief
before putting it back into place in his sleeves. He was in no hurry.
Under the incessant sound of rain, he said, “It concerns Libei.
Naturally, it’s more appropriate for me to discuss it with Second
Master. Now that the Empress Dowager has suffered a setback in
Qudu, Xue Yanqing’s next move will be to remove Han Cheng’s
military power. When the time comes for the Heir Apparent to
ascend to the throne, he will have her confer Qidong a title in order
to secure Commander-in-chief Qi and keep her from interfering
with his plans. Does Second Master still intend to keep the
appointment to head down to the Bianjun Commandery?”
Of course Xiao Chiye had to go. The trip to the Bianjun
Commandery would determine whether or not Hasen’s surprise
attack on Duanzhou would succeed. Besides, he trusted Qi Zhuyin.
Yao Wenyu got his answer from Xiao Chiye’s silence. Changing
the topic, he said, “The Grandson-Heir…” Given that Xiao Jiming
had inherited Xiao Fangxu’s noble title, Xiao Xun ought to be
called the Hereditary Prince now, so he corrected himself and
continued, “Does the Hereditary Prince have a teacher to impart
him elementary knowledge in Dajing?”
Xiao Chiye tapped his index finger neutrally on the table. “You
wish to teach Xun-er.”
Xiao Chiye was quite a perceptive man. He had an inkling of
Yao Wenyu’s intent from the latter’s change of topic. Xue Xiuzhuo’s
heir apparent was about to ascend to the throne, and they were
going to confer a noble title upon Qi Zhuyin too. By the time the
war with Biansha was over, they might part ways with Qi Zhuyin.
Shen Zechuan had his eyes on seizing Qudu, and Yao Wenyu was
already considering the issue of heirs.
“Our wolves from Libei,” Xiao Chiye raised his head slightly and
said in a quiet voice, “will not be emperors.”
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan had no children, so their intent
in having Xiao Xun come to Zhongbo to receive the teachings of
Yao Wenyu and the rest was clear to Xiao Chiye—Xiao Xun was to
be Shen Zechuan’s successor. This matter was too good a deal for
Libei, so much that Xiao Chiye was not inclined to agree.
“Second Master has His Lordship’s interests in mind and so is
unwilling to let the Xiao clan take His Lordship’s place. But even if it
were another child and not the Hereditary Prince, said child would
not go by the surname Shen either,” Yao Wenyu said to Xiao Chiye.
“His Lordship would never let Shen Wei’s name enter the ancestral
temple.”
Shen Zechuan wanted Shen Wei to continue as a wandering
soul in the wilderness of Dunzhou, so giving him a place in the
ancestral temple to receive offerings and incense was totally out of
the question. What he wanted to choke off was the Shen clan’s
bloodline.
Xiao Chiye said, “Xun-er is the Hereditary Prince of Libei. My
eldest brother will never agree to this.”
After a moment of silence, Yao Wenyu changed his tone into a
conversational one between friends. “Do you have another
option?”
The rain of the night pitter-pattered down, and it was not at all
cold in the room. Yao Wenyu, however, did not look too good.
“There are countless heroes in the world. Know why I came all
the way from afar to Zhongbo and threw in my lot with Lanzhou?”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes were dark and deep.
Yao Wenyu was not afraid of Xiao Chiye. As long as he could
finish this game of chess, he did not fear anyone. He continued, “I
watched him flee with you northward, only to stop in Zhongbo. I
thought he wanted to clear Shen Wei’s name, but he did not care
about that at all. He did not treat Zhongbo as his homeland, nor
treat Qudu as his refuge. Advance and retreat all hinge on just one
thought of his. I know he is not the man to be an emperor, but I still
wanted to assist him, because he is a natural-born overlord. Your
father knew Zhongbo was on a rapid rise to power and
prominence. He granted Shen Zechuan’s entry into Libei, because
Xiao Xun is Shen Zechuan’s one and only option.”
Xiao Fangxu was the King of Wolves who established the Great
Territories of Libei—Dajing. He could catch a whiff of Emperor
Guangcheng’s desire standing on Luoxia Pass, and at the most
appropriate timing, he became a conferred prince2 of Dazhou to
hold a massive military force in his hand. He was far more visionary
than his sons. Shen Zechuan had only one future. Without Xiao
Chiye and Xiao Xun, he would never have allowed Shen Zechuan
to return to Zhongbo alive.
“Since Lanzhou dares to head towards that position,” Xiao
Chiye enunciated each word, “it’s his.”
“It’s his,” Yao Wenyu said, “but only if he has Xiao Xun.”
Xiao Chiye did not answer under the pattering sound of the
rain.
◈ ◈ ◈
The Heir Apparent found the night to be cold. She had not
been sleeping well after her bout of illness and was often startled
awake. At present, she was looking at the roof with open eyes,
hanging in there until the hour of mao before she rolled over and
got up without even needing the palace maids to call her.
The palace maids were all newcomers. They kneeled as they
straightened out the hem of Li Jianting’s robes, and when Li
Jianting sat before the mirror, they held the jewelry case in hand to
tidy up her hair. During this period of time, Li Jianting had lost a lot
of weight, and she looked increasingly sharp and stern, with not a
trace of a woman’s delicateness and gentleness.
Li Jianting had not slept well, and she was also just recovering
from a major illness, so she was inevitably tired. In her trance, she
felt a coolness on her ear. Before the palace maid who was leaning
over to put on earrings for the Heir Apparent could react, the Heir
Apparent jerked to her feet noisily with a ghastly pale complexion.
Restraining herself, Li Jianting reprimanded in an undertone, “Take
it away!”
The palace maids in the palace all kneeled down in a fluster,
not knowing what they had done to incur the Heir Apparent’s
displeasure.
Li Jianting pursed her lips into a tight line and, amid the dead
silence, saw her blurred figure in the mirror. She stared at this self
of hers for a long time. “I don’t wear earrings when I’m receiving
lessons from the various gentlemen in the front hall.”
The palace maids kowtowed a few times and answered in timid
voices.
Not requiring their assistance anymore, Li Jianting put on her
overcoat herself. Those precious and valuable materials covered
her on the outside, like her own suit of armor. She felt better, but
still did not speak. When she stepped out of the door, she saw a
familiar figure under the eaves.
Fuman stepped forth to open up the umbrella for Li Jianting.
Fawning on her, he said, “It’s raining so heavily today. This humble
slave has prepared a sedan for Your Highness. Your Highness can
take a nap. This humble slave will call you when we arrive before
the hall. I’ll make sure not to hold up matters.”
Li Jianting did not move. She smiled and asked, “Good
morning, gonggong. You must be busy investigating the case,
aren’t you?”
Fuman did not dare to rush her either. “How would this humble
slave know how to investigate a case? It’s all at the Grand
Secretary’s advice. He specifically sent a few excellencies from the
Ministry of Justice to supervise.”
What he meant was that he was not the sole person passing
judgment on the case, since it all went through Kong Qiu, so it had
nothing much to do with him.
Without blinking her eyes, Li Jianting said, “So Fengquan can’t
be released?”
Fuman switched tactics and started to put on a worried look.
“He’s Lady Mu’s brother, and he has connections with the Garden
Service. The Ministry of Justice is ill-advised to bend the law to
release him. This humble slave made several successive trips to the
office compound and has also mentioned to the Grand Secretary
that he’s a good man.”
Fuman reckoned that Fengquan’s return to serve in the palace
must have been because he had attended to the Heir Apparent for
a long time and had built up a bond between master and servant.
So he did not slander Fengquan before Li Jianting; he knew that Li
Jianting was still partial to Fengquan. At any rate, he had plenty of
time in the future. As long as he maintained this position, Li
Jianting would sooner or later get tired of Fengquan.
Li Jianting said, “I’ve been sick, and have not received any
message either. What exactly is going on?”
Fuman held up the umbrella for Li Jianting while he stood in
the rain. “Just investigat—ay, Your Highness, please watch your feet.
The steps here are slippery. Let this humble slave hold you! The
issue with this case lies in the food. This humble slave and the
Ministry of Justice checked Your Highness’s meals that day, and the
Garden Service prove to be the most problematic of all. The people
there are a mixed bag, with people harboring ulterior motives lying
low among them.”
He downplayed his role in this case and let the Ministry of
Department that had been supervising assume full responsibility.
So if Fengquan were to die, it would be Kong Qiu’s problem. The
Grand Secretary was her teacher who decided whether or not she
could ascend to the throne. Even if Li Jianting was displeased, she
could not get angry with Kong Qiu.
Li Jianting originally did not plan to get into the sedan chair,
but she changed her mind at the last minute and bent over to
enter. In high spirits, Fuman called out to Her Highness to slow
down, then he tucked in the hanging screen of the sedan for Li
Jianting and urged the sedan-bearing eunuchs to hurry towards
Mingli Hall. By the time Li Jianting arrived at Mingli Hall, Cen Yu
had already been waiting a long time. Standing under the eaves,
he saw Li Jianting coming down from the sedan and could not
help but furrow his brows.
The Heir Apparent had never been one for these before. That
was how she could get into the good graces of the ministers. How
was it that the moment the Empress Dowager fell from grace, she
could not even walk even a few steps anymore?
Cen Yu paid his obeisances to Li Jianting, who stood under the
eaves and returned the greetings. Cen Yu did not enter the hall
immediately, but said with solemn deference, “Rain in spring is as
precious as oil. The fertile farmlands of the eight cities are all
affected by this rain. Your Highness has yet to ascend to the throne,
and has no title to your name, so how can you ride a sedan in the
palace?”
As if enlightened, Li Jianting gathered her sleeves in apology
and said, “This student has realized the error of her ways.”
Fuman had been following behind when he heard this. How
could he let the Heir Apparent bear the blame? He was the one
who arranged for the sedan, so he hurriedly said, “Her Highness
has just recovered from a major illness, and her esteemed health is
precious. What’s more, this rain is so heavy…”
Cen Yu’s countenance abruptly changed. He bellowed, “Her
Highness and I are in the midst of conversation as student and
teacher. How dare a eunuch interrupt!”
Bemoaning his blunder, Fuman immediately kneeled and
kowtowed. “This humble slave, this humble slave…”
To think that in his anxiety, he had violated the taboo between
the eunuchs and court ministers!
Cen Yu and Kong Qiu were both people who had been through
the undermining and corruption of state politics by the Pan faction,
so it was with a passion that they hated palace eunuchs meddling
in governmental affairs. Fuman usually moved around in the office
compound, and his merit lay in the fact that he was willing to play
dumb and would never butt in. He had just arrived to serve the Heir
Apparent today, and already, Cen Yu could see how he dared to
arrange for a sedan and butt into their conversation. If he allowed
him to remain for a few more days, wouldn’t that lead to an
absolute collapse of order?!
“Since you dare to break the Heir Apparent’s habit today, then
you will dare to mess with the Heir Apparent’s court administration
in the future!” Cen Yu was flushed with anger. “The audacity of you,
castrated crook!”
 Fuman kowtowed until his forehead was adorned with new
bruises overlapping old bruises.
Li Jianting piped up, “It was my fault, Teacher…”
Cen Yu promptly said, “Your Highness is the Heir Apparent. The
sovereign ought to keep his distance from the crafty sycophants!
Men, strip him of his covering and drag him away!”
Fuman was a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
According to the rules during the reign of Yongyi, Cen Yu must
never bellow and order him around like this. Hearing the guards’
footsteps, both of Fuman’s hands trembled as he shuffled towards
Li Jianting on his knees and pleaded, “This humble slave deserves
death! This humble slave…”
The guards stripped Fuman without so much a word and
dragged him to the open space in front of Mingli Hall. Rain poured
down over them. Fuman kneeled in the middle, his lips turning
blue from the freezing cold.
Cen Yu commanded, “Slap his mouth!”
A guard lifted the hem of his robe and stood before Fuman to
give him a slap with such force that Fuman’s left ear rang. He did
not dare to dodge or yell. Without giving the order to stop, Cen Yu
turned around to lift the hanging screen and motioned for Li
Jianting to enter, leaving Fuman out cold in the open space.
The sound of slapping never stopped.

Footnotes
1. From the quote “Qin lost his deer, and all under heaven
chased after it” 「秦失其鹿，天下共逐之」 from Records of
the Grand Historian • Biography of Marquis Huaiyin 《史记·
淮阴侯列传》. Deer is a metaphor for the throne. It’s an
illustration of the rise of numerous rivaling warlords
contesting for supremacy to capture the prize, the empire
lost by the Qin Dynasty.
2. 异姓王 Specifically princes, or lords, with different
surnames from the imperial family These were conferred
princes who were bestowed the title by the Emperor.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 238 : BURNING (WITH ANXIETY)

No one was called to serve in Mingli Hall at this time. Cen Yu

lowered the hanging screen and led Li Jianting to a seat.
Resuming his usual expression, he said, “I shouldn’t have asked
Your Highness to come over while Your Highness is still ill, but this
is a matter of urgency, and I had no choice but to rush Your
Highness into coming.”
Li Jianting took her seat and said, “Please go ahead and speak
your mind, Teacher.”
Feeling uneasy and apprehensive, Cen Yu listened to the
continuing sound of slaps outside and cautiously lifted the bamboo
blinds by the window. Only when he was certain no one else was
around that he said to Li Jianting, “The case of the Dancheng field
taxes is about to be concluded soon. It implicates many a number
of officials. Liang Cuishan has already started to audit the City of
Chuancheng field taxes, and next up will be the Hua Clan of the
City of Dicheng. Your Highness is alone in the palace, and us
humble subjects are all on edge with anxiety.”
The rear palace of the imperial harem was a forbidden zone,
and court ministers were all not permitted to enter. Li Jianting had
only just gotten poisoned a while back, and the Grand Secretariat
was worried that the Empress Dowager would be driven to take
desperate action and hold the life of the Heir Apparent hostage
against them.
The sides of Li Jianting’s snow-white cheeks were covered with
a velvet collar. She frowned slightly, the flower embellishment
between her brows moving slightly in response to the movement.
“We are now at the critical juncture with the conclusion of the City
of Dancheng field taxes and field surveyance. There mustn’t be any
delay. The various teachers need not slow down the process for my
sake. Just go by the book.”
Cen Yu used to be prejudiced against Li Jianting, but the Heir
Apparent had a dignified bearing and she was a keen learner to
boot. She deferentially addressed them all as “Teachers”, and now
she was even willing to put her life on the line for the commoners’
fields. Emotions welled up in Cen Yu, and he lifted the hem of his
robe to kneel to Li Jianting. As he kowtowed, he said with an
indistinct sob, “Your Highness… this is really… too aggravating an
injustice for Your Highness!”
Li Jianting got out and lightly helped Cen Yu up. “Teacher,
please get up quickly.”
Cen Yu wiped his tears with his sleeves. “Your Highness, please
look out for your safety in the palace. If the Empress Dowager dares
to coerce Your Highness, we will undoubtedly fight with our lives.”
Li Jianting sighed with deep feeling. “I’m not deserving of it.
But Teacher, the Marquis of Helian of Chuancheng is an old family
friend of the Han clan of Wucheng. This is a perilous task to
undertake.”
Seeing Li Jianting being so frank with himself, Cen Yu
remembered Han Cheng and could not help feeling sorrowful. As
court officials, they boasted themselves of being ministers loyal to
the state, and yet they left the Heir Apparent stranded in the
palace, leading each day in imminent danger of death. Tears
streamed down his aged eyes as he said, “Han Cheng has the
Capital Command Troops in his control… We do not dare to act
arbitrarily. It has been hard on Your Highness.”
“Han Cheng’s squandering of public funds is common
knowledge among the imperial court and common folks. What’s
more, he’s narrow-minded and unwilling to tolerate others. Teacher
is the one being put on the spot. The Eight Great Training Divisions,
as the Capital Command Troops, have been sticking to their old
ways in recent years and accomplished nothing ever since the
reign of Xiande when Xi Gu’an was still around.” Li Jianting slowed
down at this point. “The Capital Command Troops and the
Empress Dowager share a common lot. It’s indeed tough if the
various Teachers wish to take disciplinary action against Han
Cheng.”
Cen Yu did not expect the Heir Apparent to see through it so
clearly, thus he said, “Commander-in-chief Qi is still in Qudu now,
and the Qidong Garrison Troops are just beyond the city gate. The
situation is already at a point where there is no time to lose. Us
humble subjects have to remove Han Cheng as soon as possible.”
Li Jianting said, “Commander-in-chief Qi is here to accompany
Eldest Madam Qi home for a visit, so there are only a few thousand
Garrison Troops in the entourage. If they were really to come to
blows, I’m afraid Qidong would be too late to come to the rescue,
and Qudu would be in a dangerous situation.”
The Eight Great Training Divisions had 20,000 soldiers. Not
only were they familiar with the streets of Qudu, they also
controlled the opening and closing of the city gate. What’s more,
Han Cheng had the Imperial Bodyguards to be his informants. He
could keep an eye on Qi Zhuyin’s movements at all times. Half a
month had already passed since the day at the prison when Qi
Zhuyin obscured the facts and deceived Han Cheng. Han Cheng
should have already realized it by now.
Li Jianting stood up and saw Fuman still getting slapped
through the gap in the bamboo blinds. Her expression remained
unchanged, but the gaze in her eyes was cold and indifferent. Her
tone towards Cen Yu, however, was still mild and gentle. “I have a
plan that can remove Han Cheng.”
“Your Highness, please go on,” Cen Yu promptly said.
“The inner court has been just like an ornament after the reign
of Xiande. Han Cheng is complacent and full of himself now that
the Eastern Depot is empty,” Li Jianting said. “To remove Han
Cheng, we need to have the assistance of the palace eunuchs.”1
The color drained from Cen Yu’s face as he said in horror, “The
Pan faction undermined court politics for a mere ten years, and
they ruined court discipline to such an extent. The Secretariat Elder
did his utmost in order to get the inner court to relinquish power.
Your Highness, these castrated eunuchs must never be used!”
 “Wrong, Teacher.” Li Jianting turned around and said to Cen
Yu, “The corruption of state politics by the eunuch clique is, in truth,
the fault of the Son of Heaven. These palace eunuchs are the
domestic slaves of the Son of Heaven. They can be used, but not
entrusted with heavy responsibility.”
Li Jianting was taught by Xue Xiuzhuo, so she was very familiar
with the Pan faction during the reign of Yongyi to the reign of
Xiande. Like Kong Qiu, Cen Yu, and the rest of the Grand
Secretariat ministers, she had misgivings about the palace
eunuchs. But being a minister and being a sovereign were two
separate matters. The forces around authority and power were just
like the surge of undercurrents. They were impossible to eradicate
clean, and only by using them would one be able to hold them in
check.
“The Hanshi Festival2 is right around the corner. As usual, the
palace has to host a banquet for its officials. The time when Han
Cheng removes his blade and enters,” Li Jianting raised her hand
to pull off the golden hairpin in her hair, “is the time to act.”
As the commander of the Imperial Bodyguards-cum-viceroy of
the Eight Great Training Divisions, Han Cheng had the right to
carry his blade with him when he came and went. But during the
reign of Tianchen when Li Jianheng met with an assassination
attempt, an exception was made for Shen Zechuan to become Li
Jianheng’s guard. The authority to carry blades was then split
apart, and the blade-bearing guards during banquets were all
personally appointed by the emperor himself. Now that Dazhou
had no emperor, Han Cheng had to attend the banquet without his
blade.
Cen Yu looked at that golden hairpin. The fingers holding the
golden hairpin were slender and pale from having resided indoors
for a long time. The Heir Apparent had gotten so thin after this
illness that her bones were prominent, and her wrist, which lay
covered under the brocade, exuded toughness.
Cen Yu lifted the hem of his robe and prostrated over the
ground, sobbing. “Han Cheng is well-versed in martial arts. What
are we to do if he gets violent in the face of danger and hurts Your
Highness?!”
 “Commander-in-chief Qi won a battle at the Bianjun
Commandery in spring. The Grand Secretary can grant her a seat
at the feast as a commendation. Han Cheng is the viceroy of the
Capital Command Troops. Let him sit side by side with
Commander-in-chief Qi.” Li Jianting had given this matter careful
deliberations. “Have Fuman and Fengquan lead the palace
eunuchs. As long as Han Cheng strides through the palace gate,
there will be no return for him.”
It was when Cen Yu listened to this point that he truly got a feel
of just how formidable the Heir Apparent was!
The rivalry between Fuman and Fengquan began as early as
Emperor Tianchen’s time. Fuman’s placing of Fengquan in the
forefront of his investigation this time was precisely to eliminate
those who opposed him. He wanted to climb to the top of the inner
court and become the Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of
Ceremonial after Li Jianting’s ascension to the throne. This person
was adept in the art of flattery and had repeatedly changed sides
several times. If they were to put him on his own, then it only took a
change in the situation and for Han Cheng to entice him with
benefits for him to possibly ruin matters. Li Jianting returned
Fengquan to his place beside her because Fengquan would never
work in cahoots with Fuman after his imprisonment this time. Their
mutual misgivings about the other would keep them in mutual
check. In fact, they might even continue to pit against each other in
order to win the Heir Apparent’s trust.
Han Cheng had the military seal of the Capital Command
Troops and the authority token of the Imperial Bodyguards on him.
Once he died, the Eight Great Training Divisions and Imperial
Bodyguards would both be thrown into chaos, and the crisis in
Qudu would be easily averted. But if Han Cheng were to attend the
banquet without his blade, he would leave his trusted Imperial
Bodyguards outside the hall. The time in which they were able to
kill him was rather short. Should they fail, then once he issued the
call for action, the court officials inside the hall would be in
imminent danger.
“This matter has to be carefully planned by Teacher and the
Grand Secretary. Not a word of it must get out.” Saying so, Li
Jianting partially bent over to help Cen Yu up. “Success or failure
hinges on this one move.”
The frigid wind abruptly swept up the bamboo blinds. Cen Yu
met Li Jianting’s eyes and gave a severe nod of his head as he
answered in a deep, quiet voice, “We will not fail Your Highness for
your overwhelming benevolence!”
Meanwhile, Fuman, who was in the rain, had been slapped until
both his ears had temporarily gone deaf. Blood was trickling out of
the corners of his mouth. He was weeping when he saw Cen Yu
stride through the door and watched him with a frosty expression.
Dazed, he pleaded, “This humble slave has realized the errors of
my ways. Your Excellency, Your Excellency…”
Cen Yu dusted off his sleeves and said, “If not for Your
Highness’ benevolence, I would not let you off tonight. Forget it.
You may take your leave.”
The guards withdrew back and returned to stand at attention
under the eaves of Mingli hall.
Fuman shifted forward on his knees and repeatedly kowtowed
at Cen Yu. “It is as Your Excellency lectured. This humble slave dare
not commit such a mistake again.”
Li Jianting lifted the hanging screen and stepped out to see the
wretched sight of Fuman’s face stained with tears and snot. As she
lowered her sleeves, she said, “You may leave. Clean up and put on
a fresh set of robes. Wait in attendance before the courtyard.”
Fuman raised his arm to wipe at the tears on his face. With eyes
on Li Jianting’s shoes, he kowtowed a few more times. “This
humble slave shall do as you command.”
As Fuman got to his feet, he hastily bundled up his soaking wet
robe. Through the pouring rain, he saw no sign of disdain on the
Heir Apparent’s face, only a faint hint of compassion.
◈ ◈ ◈
Kong Qiu dared not make it public as he went about the
preparations; all of their discussions took place in their personal
residences. They did not gather in groups, but instead used
visitation cards to make individual visits. The rain came and went,
and in the blink of an eye, it was the Hanshi festival.
 Fengquan had been recuperating in recent days after having
been tortured in prison. Today, he was helping the Heir Apparent
affix her flower embellishment. He bowed over in front of the
mirror, revealing the marks of torture on his wrist when he lifted his
arm.
Li Jianting did not shut her eyes. She watched Fengquan, as if
scrutinizing him.
Fengquan’s hand trembled slightly under Li Jianting’s gaze
and almost affixed the flower embellishment in the wrong spot. Li
Jianting held Fengquan’s wrist with her fingers and guided the
flower embellishment back to the center of her forehead.
“What did the physician say over the last few days?”
Fengquan listened to the sound of the breeze stirred up by the
palace maids’ movements. Avoiding Li Jianting’s gaze, he
answered. “My gratitude for Your Highness’ concern. The physician
said that there’s no major issue.”
Li Jianting got to her feet, and the palace maid in attendance
behind her helped to put on her outer robe. Li Jianting turned her
head aside to look at herself in the mirror. She always seemed to
be staring at herself in the mirror, as if she was searching for
something.
“Update me on the details concerning the Garden Service after
the banquet.” Li Jianting adjusted the golden hairpiece by her
temples and turned towards the entrance of her palace, no longer
looking at that reflection.
Fengquan understood and intuitively stepped forward to
support Li Jianting.
Li Jianting took a few steps forward and stepped onto the light
on the ground. She lowered her eyes to look at that light. The
polished floor reflected the sky outside, making it seem as if she
was standing amidst the clouds, and it was at this moment that she
was strangely childlike as she stood there for a long time, as
though she was reluctant to part from this scene.
Fuman, who was outside, bowed as he walked up the steps and
waited by the entrance, saying softly, “Your Highness, it’s time.”
Fengquan felt his shoulders sink slightly. The breeze after the
rain swayed the golden hairpin by the Heir Apparent’s temple. The
butterfly spun around in a circle and bumped lightly into her
coiffed, bound-up hair.3
Li Jianting strode out.
◈ ◈ ◈
Han Cheng rode a carriage to the palace gate, where he saw
the Marquis of Helian when he dismounted. The Marquis of Helian
had been waiting a long time. When he saw Han Cheng coming
over, he hurriedly went up to greet him and headed into the palace
with him side by side. “Why have you been turning a blind eye
these days? The Chief Surveillance Bureau is impeaching me now,
saying that I have forcibly occupied the commoners’ fields. Isn’t
this just using a lie to start a fight?!”
Twirling the walnuts in his hand, Han Cheng said, “Tell that to
Cen Yu. Do you think he will be willing to believe that? Now that he
has the accounts Pan Lin gave him in his hands, he has an
estimation of the eight cities’ field taxes.”
“Then we have to think of a way.” The Marquis of Helian
followed close behind Han Cheng and spoke in an undertone,
“They want to confine the Empress Dowager. I can’t even get to see
her now.”
Han Cheng felt that the Empress Dowager herself was a clay
Buddha crossing the river; she could not even save herself, let
alone others. The accounts had already been pursued all the way
to the city of Chuancheng. Looking at Kong Qiu and the others’
stance of fighting to their last breath, they would not stop and let
the matter drop like they had in the past. For this matter, he had
been having sleepless nights. Stroking his growing beard, he said,
“I’m anxious too, but will being anxious help matters?” He cast a
glance at the eunuch leading the way in front and whispered to the
Marquis of Helian, “The Heir Apparent fell ill but turned up fine.
What can we do about that?”
“What kind of loyal and righteous thing is Fuman?” The
Marquis of Helian walked fast, sweating slightly. “Eunuchs like them
don’t recognize the words loyalty and righteousness. And given
the type of poison ‘swift pursuit’ is? I don’t believe a word he says at
all. He must have tampered with it, not daring to offend the Grand
Secretariat. Isn’t he now serving by the Heir Apparent’s side? They
are all a low-down bunch.”
Seeing as they were about to arrive at their destination, Han
Cheng tucked the walnuts under the robe on his bosom at the
same time the eunuch withdrew. He gave a slight nod to the guard
and said to the Marquis of Helian, “Follow me to my residence for a
discussion after the banquet. This is not the place to talk with so
many eyes around here.”
The Marquis of Helian was burning with anxiety, but he had no
choice other than to acquiesce and follow right on Han Cheng’s
heels into the hall.

Footnotes
1. Refer to Author’s Note in chapter 7, the Eastern Depot run
by the eunuchs and the Imperial Bodyguards are rivals that
sort of hold each other in check.
2. 寒食节 Cold Food Festival, or Hanshi Festival; the day
before the Qingming Festival when people eat only cold
food.
3. 云髻 hair rolled up into a bun/coil at the top of the head
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 239 : JIANTING

Particular attention was paid to the seating arrangements

during the Hanshi Festival. When Han Cheng took his seat, he saw
Qi Zhuyin to his left. He held up his sleeves and asked, “When is
Commander-in-chief Qi going to return to Qidong? The rain of
Qingming1 comes and goes so abruptly that it makes traveling on
the bridle path tough.”
The eunuch next to Qi Zhuyin was in the midst of pouring wine.
The wine vessels of the palace were all classy and of top quality,
and they were a pretty sight to behold when filled with amber-
colored wine. Qi Zhuyin rotated the wine cup and answered as she
scrutinized it, “The Bianjun Commandery has been pressing for our
return. I ought to have left a long time ago, but the rain in Qudu
keeps falling. I’m in a spot too.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Han Cheng sneered inwardly to himself. The matter was not
over yet, so how would the Grand Secretariat dare allow Qi Zhuyin
to leave? The lives of those like Kong Qiu and their family all
hinged on the Qidong Garrison Troops, and they were hoping that
they could remove him from the equation while Qi Zhuyin was still
in Qudu.
Han Cheng said to Qi Zhuyin from a distance, “Head out along
the Mount Feng military drills grounds. There’s a bridle path to the
south leading directly to Hezhou. It’s a newly constructed path that
runs along the Kailing River. Discuss it with the Ministry of War later,
Commander-in-chief Qi. It’s much faster to go from here. The war
with the Qingshi Tribe may be over, but there are still the other
tribes. The Qidong Five Commanderies’ Garrison Troops are all
waiting for Commander-in-chief Qi’s deployment order. Even I get
anxious to hear about it.”
Although Han Cheng was a narrow-minded person, he was
well-informed. No doubt he had some true worth to be able to sit at
the same table with Cen Yu and the others. In addition, he had
been to many places for fieldwork, and he was familiar with all the
routes, so in this aspect, Qi Zhuyin would not be able to hide it from
him.
“I’ll wait for an opportunity, I guess.” Qi Zhuyin set the wine cup
down. “It’s all hard to say at this point.”
As they conversed, they saw the junior marquis Fei Shi arrive
too. Fei Shi and Pan Lin were bosom friends. He had taken ill these
days after getting news of Pan Lin’s death and no longer went out
to have fun. It was not easy to catch sight of him even once.
“Marquis junior went over to join the Eight Great Training
Divisions?” Qi Zhuyin asked.
“Pan Chengzhi’s death shook him up, and he suddenly bucked
up and wanted to seek a job.” Han Cheng drank some wine. “There
are no vacancies in the imperial court, and only the Eight Great
Training Divisions can take him in, so I had him transferred to the
Chunquan Battalion.”
The Chunquan Battalion was equipped with firearms. Qi Zhuyin
thought of those firearms from King Yi of Fanzhou and
remembered the Scorpion in Qudu. She heaved a long sigh, finally
willing to look Han Cheng in the eyes. “Commander Han.”
Han Cheng hurriedly leaned forward, making a show of being
all ears.
Qi Zhuyin’s expression was grave as she said, “I’m hungry.”
Han Cheng promptly burst out laughing. “Commander-in-chief
Qi was not in Qudu for the past years and did not know that you
had to first fill your stomach before the banquet.” He lowered his
voice. “It’s all cold food at the Hanshi Festival Banquet.2 There is
more of a spread served during the Mid-Autumn Festival, with fine
wine and crabs. What a beautiful sight it is to be sitting in the
imperial garden admiring the moon and flowers.”
Both of them chatted rather merrily until the eunuch outside the
hall announced the Empress Dowager’s arrival in a resounding,
crystal clear voice. Only then did they rise to their feet and retreat
behind the small tables, where they kneeled and prostrated
themselves to pay their respects in unison with Kong Qiu.
The Empress Dowager was wearing a twelve dragons and
phoenixes crown inlaid with gold and precious gems, as well as
earrings adorned with eastern pearls. All poised and stately
dressed, she showed no hints of the weariness that came with
suffering a setback. She merely said “you may rise” after she took
her seat in a dignified manner and uttered nothing more. The
officials bowed once again, and it was only when they paid their
obeisances that the Heir Apparent, Li Jianting, strode into the hall.
Qi Zhuyin’s capacity for wine was average. The few toasts she
made to Han Cheng while engaged in small talk with the latter
during the feast were all politely declined. Han Cheng did not
bring his blade with him, so he was cautious. He kept his eyes
constantly on the entrance of the hall, where he had set up his
guards.
Kong Qiu led the officials to toast the Empress Dowager and
then the Heir Apparent. The atmosphere of the feast was in full
swing when Fuman commanded the eunuchs to serve the dishes.
The officials from the Hanlin Academy dished out one witty remark
after another, the few jokes they told causing the officials at the
feast to bowl over with laughter. Even the Empress Dowager’s
expression had softened and relaxed some.
Li Jianting rose at the appropriate moment and held up the
wine cup to toast the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked at her affectionately and said,
“My good child does resemble Emperor Guangcheng so. I feel
reassured to leave the empire in your hands in the future.”
Li Jianting was already at this age. What “future” was there to
speak of?
 Li Jianting stood with a bow and drank up all the wine. A faint
flush crept into her cheeks, making her look bashful. Playing the
role of a filial child to the Empress Dowager’s compassionate
mother, she said, “This Imperial Grandchild is dense and has
limited knowledge of political affairs. I do not know when I will see
the light, so I will still need Imperial Grandmother to supervise and
exhort me daily.”
Li Jianting had yet to be involved in government and political
affairs. Before the case of the Dancheng’s field taxes, all she was
listening to in Mingli Hall were reports the Grand Secretariat
submitted as mere formalities. There were indeed many political
issues in which her understanding was scant. But Kong Qiu and the
others taught her out of selfish motives, analyzing and explaining
them to her during lessons, so these words of hers were also
merely polite banalities.
The Empress Dowager drank the wine with Li Jianting.
Before the Heir Apparent ascended to the throne, all
government administration affairs should be decided by the Grand
Secretariat led by Kong Qiu, the minister assisting the ruler in
governance. The authority of the Empress Dowager to act in place
of the Son of Heaven was originally a symbolic right to annotate,
endorse, and make a decision on a memorial. Still, the Empress
Dowager, in relying on the noble clans and the Capital Command
Troops to influence court administration, had long deviated from
the supervisory role Li Jianting spoke of.
Li Jianting bowed and retreated. Once her wine cup was
refilled, she toasted Kong Qiu, and teacher and pupil both mutually
bowed to each other. She did the same in successive order down
the ranks until she finally came before Han Cheng.
Reed pipes music was being played in the hall at this time. The
hanging drapes at the entrance were lowered, shrouding the
palace door under the shadows. Han Cheng returned the bow.
When he finished his wine, he heard Li Jianting say, “Commander
Han is the former emperor’s right-hand man who also serves as the
Viceroy of the Capital Command Troops. I have the highest esteem
for your meticulous work and valuable service.”
 As she spoke, Fuman, who was behind her, refilled the wine
cup again. On seeing that, Han Cheng hurriedly said, “Your
Highness thinks too highly of this old subject; I’m not deserving of
such high praises.”
Li Jianting smiled. Traces of exhaustion from her illness was still
visible in her face, and this one smile unexpectedly turned out to be
rather gentle and mild as she jokingly said, “Teacher is the Grand
Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, and Commander Han is a
veteran old-timer of the Imperial Bodyguards, so how can I favor
one over the other?”
Hearing Li Jianting putting him on par with Kong Qiu and
piling on words that seemed to be playing up to him, Han Cheng
assumed that the Heir Apparent was frightened by what happened
the last time and so wanted to ingratiate herself with both sides to
play peacemaker.
Han Cheng held up the wine cup with both hands and faced Li
Jianting. “This subject is but a mere soldier. How would I dare to
compare myself to the Grand Secretary? Your Highness, here’s a
toast to you.”
Li Jianting looked at Han Cheng as she covered her mouth with
her sleeve and drank up the wine in the cup. Fuman refilled it to the
brim immediately right after. The wine vessel3 she had was
different from a wine cup, with a deep base and a large capacity.
Just two rounds later, Han Cheng had already broken out in a
sweat and had no wish to drink any further.
“Your Highness.” Han Cheng’s capacity for wine was passable,
but when he got a little tipsy and remembered it was all his men
outside this hall, he could not help but let down his guard some as
he said to Li Jianting, “Your Highness is still young. With the
administration of governmental affairs going by the Grand
Secretariat’s rulings, you inevitably neglect to inquire about military
affairs. The Grand Secretariat wants to cut the military expenses of
the Capital Command Troops this year. That won’t do, Your
Highness. Our Capital Command Troops have the important
responsibility of both patrols and defenses. We don’t even have a
decent military drill ground now, and yet our military expense is
still going to be cut. This…”
 On hearing this, Kong Qiu, who was standing behind Li
Jianting at the side, frowned. He butted in to cut off Han Cheng.
“No political talks during the banquets. Why are you grousing
about all these to Her Highness?”
Han Cheng drank his wine and grasped the wine vessel in his
palm. Smiling hypocritically at Kong Qiu, he said, “Boran, you
people drew up the writ wanting me to give in, so I can only voice
my difficulties when I meet Her Highness in person. The Chief
Surveillance Bureau has been pushing the Marquis of Helian hard
these days. He is an honest person, but Cen Xunyi berated him
until he has lost all face. Oh, forget it, Your Highness. Just treat it as
mere chatter.”
Cen Yu stood up from his own small table and paid his
obeisances to both the Empress Dowager and Li Jianting before
saying to Han Cheng, “The Chief Surveillance Bureau is in charge
of impeachments and is commonly known as the ‘imperial censor’.
Every matter it brings forth is a malady of the imperial court. The
City of Chuancheng lies close to the Northeast Provisions Bridle
Path and links up to the waterways of the City of Dicheng. If there
are issues with taxation, then we, as imperial censors, have to bring
it up. A joint trial has yet to be set up for the Chuancheng case, and
the Grand Secretariat has not really gone into the Marquis of
Helian’s crimes in detail. So how can you say I am the one pushing
him into a corner? Seems to me like he’s the one pushing the
common folks of Chuancheng into a corner.”
The music in the hall gradually came to a stop. All the court
officials present fell silent.
Han Cheng felt humiliated. He could not stand to see officials
from humble backgrounds acting all so morally upright. Never
mind when it happened in the past before he made it to the top.
Now that he held Qudu’s life in his hand, Cen Yu still dared to
contradict him in public and make his blood boil. Forcing himself
to hold back, Han Cheng said with a smile, “Xunyi, you and I are
old acquaintances. I understand you. Since Chuancheng has yet to
set up a joint trial, that means the document has yet to be
endorsed. Every matter presented still needs to be verified. You
can’t draw conclusions this arbitrarily.”
 The Marquis of Helian had no troops and power, and even his
accounts had been disclosed to the Ministry of Revenue. He was
now so restless with anxiety that he was like an ant on a hot pan.
Even if he was resentful deep down, he only dared to speak of it in
secret. Seeing as they were about to start a dispute now, he lost his
appetite. Setting down his chopsticks, he stood up to persuade
them tactfully, “Let’s not talk about political affairs during the
banquet. No political talk…”
Han Cheng handed the empty wine vessel to the eunuch and
bowed once more to Li Jianting. “I have marred Your Highness’s
enjoyment.”
Li Jianting also handed her empty wine vessel to Fuman. “Why
take it to heart, Commander Han? However—”
However?
Han Cheng looked up in doubt.
A gust of wind blew in from the palace door, and the hanging
drape fluttered slowly. Li Jianting raised a hand to hold up the hair
at her temple, which seemed to have gotten mussed up. Her
fingertips came into contact with the golden hairpin, and she said
to Han Cheng with words clear and distinct, “A toast I may share
with you; my blade drawn though, yields no mercy.”4
The hanging drapes fell to the ground, and the doors slammed
shut with a thunderous bang. Han Cheng’s eyes widened. He
instantly retreated, and in his panic, knocked over the small table.
The wine vessels and utensils fell and shattered to pieces in a split
second. He called out, “Your Highness—!”
Without getting up, Qi Zhuyin slammed a fist onto the small
table, jolting up the porcelain plates, bowls, and chopsticks. She
grabbed a golden chopstick and thrust it diagonally towards the
side of Han Cheng’s neck. Han Cheng waved his sleeve to block
the blow. A “thud” rang out from the impact of the collision—turned
out he was wearing soft armor and arm guards under his official
robe!
Han Cheng picked up the small table by a leg and smashed it
right towards Li Jianting. He flew into a rage. “Lass of a
whorehouse! How dare you kill me?!”
 Fuman looked at Han Cheng throw his weight around and
heard the resounding clatter of footsteps from outside the hall.
Feeling timid, he took a few steps back with the tray in hand.
Beside him, Kong Qiu had already lunged over to shield Li Jianting
and ended up getting slammed in the forehead by the small table.
He pushed Li Jianting back with all his might, paying no heed to
the trickling blood. In that startling turn of events, he shouted,
“Don’t listen to his nonsense! If we don’t eradicate this traitor, there
will be no peace in the nation! Kill him! Quick!”
A thunderous crash rang out from the door as the guards
outside came slamming into the door when they heard the shouts.
Fengquan led a few junior eunuchs to press down on the door bolt
and hold the door shut. Every single one of the officials in the hall
was terrified. The Marquis of Helian, unable to stand steady on his
feet, repeatedly retreated and muttered, “What is this…”
Li Jianting lost her balance while retreating and fell to the
ground, her heart pounding. Clutching the golden hairpin, she
watched Fengquan rock from the slamming at the door and
barked sharply, “Block the door! Han Cheng arranged for armored
soldiers to surround the palace. His wild ambition is on display for
all to see. If we don’t kill him tonight, every one of you here and I
will die!”
In the panic and confusion, Cen Yu was not paying attention to
where he was stepping and tripped over a wine vessel. Xue
Xiuzhuo caught hold of him. He waved his arms towards the inside
of the hall and said in an urgent tone, “As long as Han Cheng dies,
the rebel forces will be without a leader! Commander-in-chief Qi’s
reinforcements are right behind. Gentlemen, fear not!”
Having said that, he led by example and pounced at the door,
working as one with the eunuchs to push against the door.
Han Cheng traded blows with Qi Zhuyin several times, getting
the better of her with his well-trained martial arts skills. What’s
more, he was wearing armor. He pressed Qi Zhuyin hard, causing
her to flip over and fall to the ground. The wuzhu accessory in her
hair promptly broke and scattered. Not daring to tarry, she swiftly
rolled over to leave her original spot. No sooner said than done,
Han Cheng stomped on the spot where she had just been lying on
earlier.
“Qi Zhuyin!” Han Cheng spat hard. “I’ve been putting up with
you. You really think too highly of yourself. Want to triumph over
me? Get your old man here!”
Qi Zhuyin did not bring Zhujiu with her. She usually stormed the
enemies on the battlefields, so she was at a disadvantage when
encountering those proficient in martial arts like Han Cheng. She
led Han Cheng back a few steps and was already at Hua Xiangyi’s
table. Just as she was about to be forced back towards the Empress
Dowager, she suddenly picked up Hua Xiangyi’s unfinished cup of
wine and tilted her head back to down it all. Then she smashed the
porcelain cup, bent her index and middle fingers to pinch a broken
porcelain piece between them, and wiped her mouth.
“Don’t you know?” Qi Zhuyin told it like it was. “My old man had
a stroke.”
Han Cheng threw a fist right at Qi Zhuyin. She turned to the
side to dodge the blow and raised a hand that did not have a
porcelain fragment to grab Han Cheng’s arm and twisted it back
hard.
Han Cheng did not move a muscle.
Qi Zhuyin, though thwarted, did not let go, but kicked out at
Han Cheng in the flank. Han Cheng knew she usually wielded an
executioner blade, but he never expected her to have such strength
to seize and take down a person when she was just a mere woman.
He could not break free at all and took the kick. His murderous
nature kicked in, and he let loose a bellow. Thuds rang out
repeatedly as he used his elbow to jolt Qi Zhuyin off his hand.
Both of them engaged in a savage fight, stomping the debris
under their feet into smithereens as they advanced and retreated.
Meanwhile, the imperial court officials blocking the door were
all civil officials who relied solely on their courage to engage in a
war of strength with the guards at the other end of the door. That
gap in the door grew bigger and bigger. Fengquan could already
see the ferocious-looking faces of the guards outside. He suddenly
spat a mouthful of saliva at the guards and cursed in a sharp voice,
“Despicable bastards wanting to live it up while serving a son of a
bitch. Keep fucking dreaming! Push any further, and I’ll flay you!”
He was delicate and refined by appearance. After following the
Heir Apparent into the palace, he seemed to have a change of
temperament. He did not dare to be reckless and unruly, and no
matter who he saw, he was usually all meek and submissive. But he
threw all caution to the wind and went all out today, picking up all
the tart and scathing words to swear. The officials, too, cursed as
well, but they were all men of letters, and even if they had to rack
their brains, they had to curse with rhythmic flow, aesthetic sense,
and literary grace. And now, hearing Fengquan rattling off a string
of expletives like a machine gun, their morales were greatly
boosted.
Han Cheng, who was inside, had no wish to engage further. He
twisted Qi Zhuyin’s incoming fist to a stop and made to remove Qi
Zhuyin’s right arm. Going along with the force, Qi Zhuyin
somersaulted and took a blow to the side of her cheek when she
landed. The impact from this strike caused her to turn over and
crash into a small table at the side. As she propped herself up with
her arms, she licked blood that made her tooth ache.
This old dog was truly an expert who wormed his way into Ji
Lei’s command, hiding his weaknesses by not making a move and
then getting the upper hand when faced up against Qi Zhuyin.
How would it have been so easy for him had she been Xiao Chiye
with that kind of fearsome arm strength and who was versed in the
Ji Clan Boxing Fist?!
Han Cheng pressed in, wanting to kick Qi Zhuyin away by the
waist. Qi Zhuyin blocked the blow with both arms and grabbed
hold of his leg. She abruptly lifted it up high, turning him over to
the ground. Kong Qiu charged out holding a wine jar above his
head. Too late to smash it on him, he tossed it aside and latched
on to Han Cheng’s arm in a death grip.
For a moment, Han Cheng could not break free with Kong Qiu
holding down his left arm. He wanted to turn over and get up, but
Xue Xiuzhuo kicked over a small table and kneeled at the side,
holding down two legs of the table to pin down Han Cheng’s right
arm.
 With the pressure on both arms, Han Cheng’s expression
changed. He hissed aloud, “You despicable lot!”
He jerked himself hard, but Qi Zhuyin leaped to her feet and
kicked herself off the ground in a pounce, slicing the broken
porcelain shard between her knuckles towards Han Cheng’s neck.
Han Cheng did all he could to lift his body and took the blow with
the armor before his chest. The shard scraped past his neck,
drawing out a trail of blood. He was just about to open his mouth
when another person lunged at him and wrapped his arms around
half of his body.
Gasping heavily for breath, Fuman said, “Commander-in-chief
Qi, do it!”
On seeing that it was him, Han Cheng said in a frosty voice with
both shock and fury, “A castrated traitor indeed has no
righteousness to speak of. I should have killed you a long time
back!”
At those words, he really looked as if he was about to stand up,
but before he could do so, Qi Zhuyin slammed a fist so hard into
him he was knocked back. The force of the blow caused Han
Cheng’s nose to bleed. He was so full of resentment and hatred
that he raised his voice and hollered, “You people are the real
traitors by supporting Li Jianting to ascend to the throne! She’s
merely a whore—”
A squishy plop followed next, and Han Cheng felt an acute stab
of pain in his left eye. The pain was so excruciating that he howled
with his head tilted back. Amidst the blur of blood, he saw the
golden butterfly hanging from the golden hairpin swinging by his
cheek.
Han Cheng’s voice trembled from the pain. He was already a
spent force, like an arrow at the end of its flight. “You… How dare
you…”
Li Jianting pulled out the golden hairpin with a shaking hand.
Blood splattered over her, sullying her regal robe. When she saw
that Han Cheng was still not dead, she gritted her teeth and closed
her eyes to haphazardly stab Han Cheng in the face and neck.
Han Cheng continued, “Whore… You…”
 His right eye was injured when Meng pecked it during the
downpour in Qudu, and now his left eye was stabbed blind by Li
Jianting. He did not look human now, with his facial features a
bloody pulp and mouth opening and closing.
“To think… I… meet… my maker…”
Fuman was still pinned down under Han Cheng’s back. The
latter’s blood trickled all over his face, scaring him so much that he
shrieked.
With his heart still palpitating, Kong Qiu released his hand and
confirmed that Han Cheng was dead. Only then did he heave a
sigh of relief and fell onto his butt on the ground.
Han Cheng toppled to the ground, his neck skewed to the side,
no longer moving.
Xue Xiuzhuo was gasping for breath too. He stared at Li
Jianting with disbelief in his eyes. Li Jianting’s bloodstained
golden hairpin fell to the ground, making a clear, crisp sound. Both
of her hands were washed in blood. Looking as if the sight of Han
Cheng frightened her, she took half a step back, holding back the
ragged gasps in her throat.
Livestock.
Li Jianting’s fingers were shaking badly as she self-mockingly
wiped her face under the dead silence. It was as if she was wiping
her tears, but all that was left behind were the dark red streaks from
her fingers.
I’m not livestock.
Li Jianting met Xue Xiuzhuo’s gaze and slowly clenched her
fists. Her eyes reddened as she revealed a complicated expression
in this sudden change, looking as if she was both crying and
laughing.
“I’m not…” Li Jianting squeezed out the words through
clenched teeth. She abruptly turned around, facing the doors to the
hall, and raised her right hand, as if clenching the power that was
once beyond her reach as she enunciated, word for word, “Here
stands the Heir Apparent. Who—still wants to be a treacherous
traitor?”
The Empress Dowager held on to the handles of her seat for
support. Although she was still sitting high up there, she seemed to
have returned to the very day she entered the palace. That day, she
stood before the towering palace, looking up at Emperor
Guangcheng in the prime of his life. Emperor Guangcheng also
once stood at the pinnacle of supremacy in the palace with his
right hand raised as he said to her, “Here stands the Son of
Heaven.”
—The Li Clan’s Emperor!

Footnotes
1. 清明 Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, a time
for paying respects to the dead.
2. 寒食节 Hanshi Festival, literally Cold Food Festival; the
day before the Qingming Festival, when people eat only cold
food.
3. Sort of like

4. 金樽同(共)汝饮，白刃不相饶 from 明史•列传 History of

Ming; words from Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, to his
minister Ru Taisu; i.e., I may tolerate you and drink with you
now, but make a wrong step, and I will kill you without mercy.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 240: ALL OF A SUDDEN

The heart-stopping Hanshi Festival drew to a close. Xue

Xiuzhuo took away Han Cheng’s authority token. Having lost their
commander and fearing the majestic, regal presence of legitimate
royalty, the guards did not dare to charge forth again rashly and
retreated under the impact of Li Jianting’s “here stands the Heir
Apparent”.
The Eight Great Training Divisions’ commanding generals
awaiting their orders outside the palace were all keeping watch in
the Han residence, where wine was flowing freely as they mingled.
They had not received any news thus far.
“Viceroy Han isn’t back yet. Could he have been retained by
that Kong Boran?”
A lad of the Han clan reclining on the couch sucked hard on his
pipe and snorted on hearing it. “Kong Boran may not get along
with Viceroy Han, but we have troops in our hands—a 20,000-strong
Capital Command Troops that can surround the palace at the
slightest movement. Who would dare to act recklessly? They are all
scholars too weak even to truss a chicken. Are they really going to
pin their hopes on Qi Zhuyin? There’s no escape for her either.”
Hua the Thirteenth listened to the opera singing on the stage
and hummed along as he bobbed his head and rhythmically
tapped his folding fan on his palm. “Viceroy Han is a great hero.
How are those few people who are all show and no substance in
the palace his match? What are you worrying needlessly for?”
This Hua the Thirteenth was a descendent of common birth
from the Hua clan of Dicheng. He poked his nose into the Imperial
Army affairs a while back and was taught a lesson by Xiao Chiye.
He feared Xiao Chiye the Tyrant, so he fled back home and passed
the days by fooling around and idling his time away in Dicheng. It
was only until Xiao Chiye left Qudu that he dared to step foot in the
capital.
“Besides,” Hua the Thirteenth raised his folding fan upright to
point up and smugly said, “who would dare to lay a finger on
Viceroy Han with my paternal aunt there?”
The Han clan lad exhaled smoke, traded glances with him, and
laughed. They were all bungling oafs who were good-for-nothing,
so there was no disdain to speak of between them.
“Fei Shi will be coming in a few days.” The Han clan lad
motioned the maidservant to stuff the tobacco into his pipe. “The
few of us should organize a feast for him to welcome him. He’s
been feeling depressed over Pan Chengzhi’s death.”
Hua the Thirteenth put away his folding fan and turned aside to
say, “If you ask me, it’s just as well Pan Chengzhi died. If he didn’t
die, what is he going to do exiled to Huaizhou? He’ll have to die in
our hands sooner or later, and that will ruin our friendship with Fei
Shi. It’s tricky.”
Pan Lin handed over the eight cities’ accounts book. This had
to be counted.
Not once had it ever crossed their minds that Han Cheng
would never return from this trip. Ever since the reign of Yongyi, the
Eight Great Training Divisions had been arrogantly lording it over
Qudu. It was only during the reign of Xiande that the Imperial Army
led by Xiao Chiye had ever threatened their Capital Command
Troops’ status, but later, the Imperial Army left, and they became
the Capital Command Troops of Qudu again. They ran brazenly
rampant, no longer playing it cautious.
The few of them drank wine and made merry, the day getting
late as they chatted.
 Hua the Thirteenth was tipsy. He leaned back against the chair
and propped up his legs, then shouted for the opera singer to give
him a leg massage. In his drunken state, he pinched her face and
teased, “Young lady, how old are you? You look unfamiliar.”
The Han clan lad behind hurriedly craned his neck and
bragged, “Know who she is? Xi Hongxuan trained her! She’s a
famous figure in Qudu. You won’t find her anywhere else once you
step out of this door.”
They teased that opera singer, deliberately using obscene
words on her. Outside, the watchman’s clapper struck a few times,
and the maidservants in the residence went under the eaves to
light up the palace lamps.
Qudu was silent. Qi Wei led the garrison troops to kill the
deputy general guarding the city and snuck into Qudu. He kept an
eye on the time, and when it was past the third quarter in the hour
of chou, he raised his hand and signaled for his subordinates to
surround the Han residence.
Hua the Thirteenth was feeling sleepy when he suddenly felt
the urge to pee. He rose to go to the latrine, and when he passed
through the walkway, he saw a faint light in front. He fixed his eyes
on it—Fire!
Hua the Thirteenth was so scared that he lost the urge to pee.
Lifting his pants, he ran backward and chased after the
maidservants to ask, “It’s burning. Why isn’t anyone going to put
out the fire? Hurry! Get the Capital Command Troops waiting in the
other courtyard to fetch water to put out the fire.”
This residence was Han Cheng’s. If he returned tomorrow
morning only to see his house burned down, they would all have to
bear the consequences.
While Hua the Thirteenth was looking around, the lad from the
Han clan and the others came out on hearing the noise and stood
under the eaves to look out into the distance, only to see the fire
intensifying.
“What’s going on?” The lad from the Han clan tensed up as
well. “Why hasn’t the fire been put out yet?!”
The guard guarding the courtyard came to the door and
answered, “This fire is extremely strange, coming in intermittent
waves. Someone must have deliberately set it off. Sixth Master,
please come to the door to take a look. The Capital Command
Troops shall heed your command!”
The lad from the Han clan did not dare to be lazy when it came
to this matter, so he dragged the few people beside him and called
Hua the Thirteenth to come along. They hurried towards the
entrance, but before they could reach the front, they heard
someone ahead yell, “They are killing their way in!”
The color drained from Hua the Thirteenth’s face. “Killing their
way in? Who?!”
The surrounding servants were thrown into confusion.
Someone answered, “Can’t get a clear look. It’s all pitch-dark. They
simply killed every one of the Capital Command Troops on sight
upon reaching the entrance. They are pushing their way in.”
The lad from the Han clan was so startled he dropped his pipe.
He took a few steps forth, dragging his robe along, then shrank
back and yelled, “Quick, pass on the deployment order and
transfer all the Capital Command Troops at the military drill
grounds over as reinforcements!”
But he did not have Han Cheng’s authority token, so there was
no way he could mobilize the Capital Command Troops at the
military drill grounds.
The sound of killing in the front courtyard pressed in towards
them. The Capital Command Troops at the entrance, which had
tagged along, could not stop them. Seeing that the situation did
not bode well, Hua the Thirteenth paid no heed to the others and
ran towards the back with the servants crowding together. The lad
from the Han clan could not even brandish a blade, and on seeing
that, followed suit and took to his heels too.
Qi Wei broke through the door and entered with a fire in hand
to look for the men. He disregarded the chaos in the courtyard and
slashed away when he came across men from the Capital
Command Troops. The Eight Great Training Divisions had long
resided in Qudu, and they had never encountered such a tough
nut other than the last time they had to wield their blades when
they encircled Xiao Chiye. The few commanding generals cowered
back and withdrew, and the soldiers under them followed them
around in circles as the garrison troops hacked them back into a
retreat.
The garrison troops did not let the fire rage for long. The Eight
Great Training Divisions were scattered all over the place, and they
had no channels in which to pass on messages to one another, so
if the fire was too strong, it would no doubt arouse suspicions. By
the time the fire in the Han residence was extinguished, a portion
of the courtyard interior had already collapsed. Qi Wei did not let
Hua the Thirteenth and the others off and rounded up this bunch of
good-for-nothing young masters. Only the lad from the Han clan
escaped by worming his way out of a dog hole.
The next day, when a glimmer of light materialized on the
horizon, the court officials escorted Li Jianting over to Mingli Hall. A
series of imperial edicts were then issued, first to depose the Han
clan’s noble title, then to denounce Han Cheng for his crimes.
There was also the move to confiscate the Han clan’s properties
and execute the entire Han clan on the grounds of “collusion with
the intent to rebel against the state”. The many descendants of
common lineage in the Han clan’s hometown of the City of
Wucheng were a diverse bunch, and on hearing the news, they all
took their valuables and fled helter-skelter.
In just a few short days, the storm in Qudu took a sudden turn.
The public on the streets did not even have time to react when a
new master stepped onto the throne in that imperial palace. The
Empress Dowager took to her bed in illness, and despite her busy
schedule, Li Jianting still had to revere and attend to the Empress
Dowager as her paternal grandmother, the Grand Empress
Dowager. Every day, she would personally sample her medicine
and keep watch by her bedside to attend to her.
Cen Yu submitted a memorial to exalt the Heir Apparent’s
virtuousness and filial piety, and the imperial court and the people
promptly broke out in praise. The Empress Dowager was old and
frail, and the calls for the Heir Apparent’s ascension to the throne
gradually grew louder by the day.
◈ ◈ ◈
“The storm in Qudu has subsided.” Yao Wenyu sprinkled baits
to the brocade carps in the pond. “Commander-in-chief Qi should
have returned to the Bianjun Commandery.”
“Ce’an has already returned to the war zone. By the time
Commander-in-chief Qi returns, it would be time for him to head
over to the Bianjun Commandery too.” Shen Zechuan turned aside
to face the sunlight and scrutinized the jade pendant in his palm.
“Han Cheng died too easily.”
This news had only just arrived.
Yao Wenyu’s fingers still had residual baits remaining between
them. “The Empress Dowager, unable to accept that the noble
clans have brought about their own downfall, is too powerless to
salvage this hopeless situation. After the Heir Apparent ascends to
the throne, she will definitely confer a noble title upon
Commander-in-chief Qi to prepare for rainy days.”
Carrying the jade pendant in hand, Shen Zechuan smiled.
Yao Wenyu continued, “Your Lordship wants Ge Qingqing to
return to Qudu and yet would not permit him to make a move.
Presumably, you intend to keep him for a greater purpose.”
“No hurry about Ge Qingqing. This move will not be effective
until the Heir Apparent ascends to the throne.” Shen Zechuan
looked at Yao Wenyu. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The branches of the tender willow by the side of the pond
swayed as Hunu pounced out after a butterfly and rolled beside
Yao Wenyu’s legs, covered in dust all over. Yao Wenyu lowered his
hand to stroke it. “Your Lordship is far-sighted.”
“Xue Yanqing wanted a ‘sovereign’, and Heaven really gave
one to him.” Shen Zechuan smiled. “But how would a strong,
forceful sovereign subject themselves to the mercy of others?”
“Fear,” Yao Wenyu answered softly.
“That’s right.” Shen Zechuan watched as the brocade carps that
had swarmed over scattered in a flurry and floated on the water
surface as if satiated. “Xue Yanqing is a powerful minister.”
Xue Xiuzhuo played an indispensable role in supporting the
Heir Apparent and auditing the field taxes. He did not covet,
snatch, or seize lands by force, but he was a powerful minister. The
wise emperors of this world did not fear powerful ministers, but
they most certainly feared powerful ministers who had no desires
and made no demands.
 “If Xue Yanqing is willing to make an effort here, then he ought
to give the Heir Apparent a chance to get a handle on him,” Shen
Zechuan said. “Even if he has to fabricate it out of nothing, he has
to give the Heir Apparent a peace of mind.”
The lack of leverage meant that he was not an easy one to
control. In addition, there was no way for checks and balances.
Yao Wenyu pondered over it. “That’s the way Xue Xiuzhuo is. He
won’t leave a handle behind for Heir Apparent to control him
with.”
Shen Zechuan said meaningfully, “Then he’s in danger.”
The line between the loyal and the treacherous was sometimes
blurred, and the decision-making power lay in Li Jianting’s hands.
Shen Zechuan figured out what happened during the Hanshi
Festival from Ge Qingqing’s report, and the facts proved that the
Heir Apparent was not a mere vase that Xue Xiuzhuo shifted over.
She was like a thorn that had taken root on the throne and was
now rapidly growing there with perseverance that far surpassed
others.
“Since Han Cheng is dead, there’s no point in keeping Han Jin.”
Shen Zechuan seemed to have just remembered this person. He
said to Fei Sheng behind him, “Open Han Jin’s door and let him
go. Send him back to Wucheng.”
Fei Sheng thought Shen Zechuan would retain Han Jin. He
never expected Shen Zechuan to cast Han Jin away just like this. He
found it a pity, but did not dare speak out of turn.
“Dazhou is in shambles. It remains to be seen exactly how
many heroes the Son of Heaven can command.” Yao Wenyu turned
his wheelchair. “The Heir Apparent will not get into an internal
conflict with Xue Xiuzhuo at this time. What’s more pressing now is
the Bianjun Commandery. Commander-in-chief Qi is going to
storm and seize the Qingshu Tribe’s territory in the fifth month. The
Youxiong Tribe will no longer dare to stand by and watch it go
down. I fear it will be another intense battle when the time comes.”
“Qidong has ample military provisions. Qi Zhuyin is not afraid,”
Shen Zechuan said. “But Zhongbo will not feed men of no worth.
Hairigu has been resting for nearly half a year. It’s time to let him
out for a walk.”
 Yao Wenyu understood his intention. “Is Your Lordship
meaning to send Hairigu to negotiate with the Youxiong Tribe?”
“I heard Amu’er is the leader of only six tribes. The Youxiong
Tribe has yet to submit and pledge allegiance to him.” Shen
Zechuan was still looking at the water surface. “The Qingshu Tribe’s
lands all belong to Amu’er, and their provisions had all been given
to Hasen in the northern battlefields. It’s also for the sake of food
that the Youxiong Tribe is being forced to go into battle, and we do
not lack food.”
Amu’er split up Dazhou with the Scorpions, and now that Shen
Zechuan had a batch of Scorpions in his hands, it was a waste to
keep them in his hands. He wanted to make Hairigu put himself to
use.
“The Qingshu Tribe, Youxiong Tribe, Gedale, and the Huiyan
Tribe in the north.” Shen Zechuan looked back. “Bridging these
places together is the New Year’s gift I want to send Amu’er.”
What Amu’er stole from Zhongbo, Shen Zechuan could not get
back, but he could use a different way to make Amu’er pay. The line
from the territory of the Qingshu Tribe to the territory of the Huiyan
Tribe just so happened to obstruct the riverbanks of the Chashi
River.
“Duanzhou doesn’t have a wall of defense thick enough.” The
tassel on Shen Zechuan’s fingertips swayed slightly. “And
coincidentally, so does the Youxiong Tribe.”
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 241 : A FINE WOMAN

Now that the rain in Qudu had come to a stop, it was time for Qi
Zhuyin to make her journey back home. She received Hua Xiangyi
at the entrance of the palace. The carriage was right by the side,
but she secured Zhujiu on her and said to Hua Xiangyi, “Let’s go for
a walk.”
Hua Xiangyi noted that Qi Zhuyin’s broken wuzhu hairpin still
had a golden thread dangling in her hair, as though this was how
it should have been. The commander-in-chief did not cut a sorry
figure at all—that was, if one could overlook her bruised face.
Qi Wei raised a hand to gesture for the carriage to follow
behind him. It was only after Qi Zhuyin and Hua Xiangyi had
walked some distance ahead that he followed along.
A warm breeze was presently drifting through the marketplace,
where the crowd bustled amidst air reeking with a blend of sweat
and deep-fried food. Spring flowers in full bloom a distance away
seemed to be coated in a layer of grease, making Qi Zhuyin feel
stifled.
As they passed by the sugar figurine1 stall, Qi Zhuyin asked Hua
Xiangyi, “Want one?”
Next to this stall was a path where people and carriage came
and went, sending clouds of dust flying all over. Hua Xiangyi was
the apple of the Hua clan’s eyes. Before her arrival in Qudu, she
rarely went outdoors, instead staying in her courtyard to live a
sheltered, pampered life. She looked at Qi Zhuyin, who fished out
her remaining copper coins from her sleeve pocket and flicked
them lightly before her. In the ensuing buzz, Qi Zhuyin said with
satisfaction, “I have money.”
This street was not bright enough, but as Qi Zhuyin pulled the
corners of her bruised lips to flash a smile, the lanterns behind her
instantaneously lit up in successive order. She was like a young
maiden of eighteen or nineteen of age who had run away from
home to play, with nothing on her mind except this candy.
Clutching her handkerchief, Hua Xiangyi lifted a finger and
pointed to one of them. “I’d like this one.”
She felt bashful over her words, and that subtle emotion lay
concealed between her eyebrows. This was something she had
never done before, and it was also something she would never
have done before.
Qi Zhuyin tossed the copper coins to the vendor and gave the
sugar figurine to Hua Xiangyi. She did not care if she had no
money. She never had money before, anyway. Money never
remained for long in her hands.
Hua Xiangyi carefully held the sugar figurine with her fingertips
and kept her composure as she scrutinized it by the light. She had
once caught a glimpse of a sugar figurine past her attendants in
the brief flicker of a moment through the gap of her sedan’s screen
when it fluttered. There were candies in the palace, and the
Empress Dowager used to ask Matron Liuxiang to keep them on
hand for her from time to time.
Qi Zhuyin rubbed the bruise on her face with the pulp of her
finger and turned sideways to survey her reflection in the water
crock through several overlapping shadows.
Qi Zhuyin was a descendant of a noble, but Hua Xiangyi always
felt that she did not look the part. She was so sanguine and broad-
minded that she resembled a wandering traveler. Hua Xiangyi had
been in Qidong for half a year, and she had never seen Qi Zhuyin
fly into a rage. It was as if there was nothing worth Qi Zhuyin
getting angry over.
 “Does Commander-in-chief Qi come here often?” Hua Xiangyi
asked.
“All the ones who dare to play loan sharks in Qudu are here.
Whenever I come here, chances are that it’s to borrow money.” As
Qi Zhuyin spoke, she removed the hairpin in her hair and said a
little regretfully, “That wuzhu hairpin was bestowed upon me by the
imperial court. All this while, I never dared to sell it. Had I known
that it would end up getting broken in the palace, I would’ve sold
it.”
Hua Xiangyi said, “The manors at home…”
Qi Zhuyin did not wait for Hua Xiangyi to finish her words. “Just
what I wanted to tell you today. The family manors and shops will
all be handed over to you to take care of in the future. You’ll decide
whether to rent them out or sell them away.”
She turned around in all seriousness to face Hua Xiangyi.
“Let’s speak our mind here.”
Qi Zhuyin did not move the conversation to the teahouse. She
loved the downtown streets and the marketplace. By standing
here, she was making her stance known; she was not afraid to face
up to anyone’s scrutiny.
“I have to thank you for the matter regarding the eight cities’
granaries.” Qi Zhuyin bowed slightly to her, her long hair spreading
behind her. She straightened up again. “Or it’d have been perilous
this time.”
Hua Xiangyi turned to the side, not accepting the bow. “The
credit goes to Chengzhi.”
Qi Zhuyin looked at her. “Pan Lin was not the one who told me,
so I’ll only thank you.”
At Qi Zhuyin’s gaze, Hua Xiangyi gripped at the sugar figurine
until it nearly melted.
“But I shall be blunt too. Did you tell me about the eight cities’
granaries because you wanted me to do something for you?” Qi
Zhuyin was straight and direct to the point, totally forgetting all
about tact.
This Third Missy Hua was a rather strange one too.
Qi Zhuyin spent sleepless nights tossing and turning, but could
not figure out why Hua Xiangyi would reveal the matter about the
granaries to her. Had it not been for her reminder in the palace, the
outcome of this game would still be an unknown.
Hua Xiangyi bent her fair neck to look at the sugar figurine
amid the babel of voices. “Commander-in-chief Qi needs not do
anything for me. Just… fight against the Biansha.”
Qi Zhuyin gazed fixedly at Hua Xiangyi. All of a sudden, she
propped herself on her knees and tilted her head to look at Hua
Xiangyi’s expression.
“Is that all?” She asked in puzzlement.
Qi Zhuyin gave Hua Xiangyi a fright. This posture was just like
the last time Qi Zhuyin lifted her veil, when she had simply charged
before her without giving Hua Xiangyi the chance to compose
herself.
“You helped Yao Wenyu escape in Qudu…” Qi Zhuyin looked as
if she had just woken up from her sleep. She found Hua Xiangyi
pleasant-smelling, with a hint of flower fragrance like she expected.
But when her wandering mind snapped back to reality, she realized
Hua Xiangyi was still holding the sugar figurine, waiting with
composure and rapt attention for her to continue.
“…and told me about the granaries.” Qi Zhuyin covered up the
fact that her mind was wandering earlier. “Was that because you
married my father?”
Hua Xiangyi answered, “Chengzhi was the one who saved
Yuanzhuo.”
Qi Zhuyin shook her head and said with certainty. “It was you.”
Hua Xiangyi pushed the credits to the others on these
occasions, as if she could not admit to it. The boundary line that
hindered her was the Empress Dowager’s love and affection. The
last of the sunset glow of the street was swallowed up, and the
lanterns shone so bright they looked like falling stars. Meanwhile,
the smell of deep-frying dissipated a little, although the
marketplace was still hot and stuffy. Hua Xiangyi looked out of
place here.
“Back during the reign of Xiande, my paternal aunt would set
questions for me from time to time, most frequently during the
spring plowing season every year.” Hua Xiangyi lowered the sugar
figurine as if twiddling with the shadows of the past. “In truth, they
were all accounts of the eight cities. The more I calculated, the
clearer I became. I once advised my aunt during the reign of
Xiande to let Jiang Qingshan go over, but they thought it was
enough for Jiang Qingshan to oversee the thirteen cities. That year,
people dying of starvation became a common sight in Zhongbo. In
the years that followed, the six prefectures took a further beating
from the grains transferred from the eight cities. Too many people
died.” She lifted her head gently. “So much more than when the
Biansha massacred the cities.”
Hua Xiangyi lived deep in the palace. She donned exquisite
silks, feasted on delicacies, slumbered on satin, while those on the
other end of the vermillion walls dressed in rags, sold their
children for food, and slept in the bitter cold. She stood with the
Empress Dowager on the western tower and looked out into the
distance. The illusion of prosperity and glory blinded her eyes, but
very quickly, she realized that these people never had the thought
to stop. Hai Liangyi killed himself in Mingli Hall, and yet the
Empress Dowager never thought to change.
“I want my aunt to stop,” Hua Xiangyi said.
The people were the rivers bearing the weight of boats—this
was the foundation. Yet the Empress Dowager still wanted to count
on the Eight Great Training Divisions to suppress the rumors—that
was defying the laws of nature.
The rise and fall of the empire did not lay on the sovereign at
all. The world needed only an emperor with the heart that knew to
show compassion for all the hardships in this world.
“I’m confined to my chamber, and my abilities are limited.
Compared to Yuanzhuo or Chengzhi, what I can do is insignificant
in the grand scheme of things.” Hua Xiangyi slowly returned a bow
to Qi Zhuyin when she spoke to this point. “Commander-in-chief Qi
traverses Qidong and gallops the battlefield. If you can repel the
Twelve Tribes of Biansha, that’d be a great service to humankind.
And for that reason, I want Commander-in-chief Qi to walk out of
Qudu alive.”
Qi Zhuyin received this bow, looking as if she had just
recognized who Hua Xiangyi was.
 “You are a fine woman.” Qi Zhuyin paused for a moment. “And I
shall repay you with military accomplishments on the battlefield.”

Footnotes

1.
2. 糖人; sugar figure is a traditional Chinese form of folk art
using hot, liquid sugar, or sugar syrup, to create three-
dimensional figures that come in a variety of shapes from
animals to objects. A dragon sugar figure is shown in the
picture above.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 242 : YOUXIONG (TRIBE)

The fifth month was the height of summer, and it was so

scorching hot that the advisors could not stand the heat. All of
them hid under the pavilion in the center of the pond, sipping their
tea, smoking their pipes, and fanning themselves vigorously with
their folding fans. Yu Xiaozai, after drinking his fill of cooled tea,
was now feeling rather uncomfortable. Just as he was thinking of
making his way over to the latrine, he saw Fei Sheng leading
Hairigu over to the courtyard.
“Second Master is going to cross the border within these two
days.” Yu Xiaozai wiped the sweat from his neck with his
handkerchief. “Is Hairigu tagging along too?”
“He’s a Scorpion.” Kong Ling, keeping himself in good health,
did not consume cold food; instead, he sat by the cascading water
to cool off in the shade. “He can negotiate with the Youxiong
Tribe.”
This was at the Prefectural Lord’s behest, so Yu Xiaozai could
not refute. He nodded and sat next to Yao Wenyu. “I heard the
Youxiong Tribe people are all strong and sturdy, and they ride
horses that are big and tall, unlike the other tribes in the desert.”
Gao Zhongxiong had never seen the Youxiong Tribe before
either. He stayed his brush, and as he dipped it in ink, he turned his
head and waited with Yu Xiaozai for Yao Wenyu’s answer.
 Yao Wenyu closed the book on his lap. “The Youxiong Tribe is a
large tribe in the southwest of the desert. Before Amu’er rose to
power, the strongest tribe in the desert was the Hanshe Tribe,
followed by the Youxiong Tribe. The Youxiong Tribe used to be
stationed in the east of Suotian Pass. They have their own horses,
so they don’t use the ponies from the Gouma Tribe. The horses of
the Youxiong Tribe are also called the ‘bear horses’.1 They are even
bigger than the war steeds from Libei.”
Gao Zhongxiong initially thought that it was rumors Yu Xiaozai
was talking about; he never expected it to be true. Alarmed to hear
it, he said, “I heard rumors of the Youxiong Tribe while I was in
imperial college. Back then, the Feng clan was the one to guard
over Suotian Pass. ‘Silver Spear of the Snowy Pass’, Feng Yisheng!
General Feng was the one who fought the Youxiong Tribe back to
the east.”
The four generals of Yongyi were renowned: Silver Spear of
Snowy Pass, Feng Yisheng; Iron Wings of Hongyan, Xiao Fangxu;
Thunderbolt of Cangjun, Qi Shiyu; and, Flying Frost of Bianjun, Lu
Pingyan. They were all men the lads of Dazhou spoke about the
most in their early years. Feng Yisheng, like Xiao Fangxu, came
from a humble background. When he was fourteen years old, he
pointed to the continuous range of snowy peaks of Suotian Pass
and made a vow to become Dazhou’s impregnable bastion of iron.
At forty years of age, he buried his youngest, last remaining son
under the snowy peaks. Eventually, he met his end in battle,
leaving only his thumb ring carved out of bone to his adopted son,
Zuo Qianqiu.
“Yuanzhuo is indeed widely read and knowledgeable. To think
you even know about the Youxiong Tribe. In fact, Qidong’s earliest
battle steeds were bred with the ‘bear horses’.” Kong Ling said.
“When the King of Wolves, Xiao Fangxu, was a junior soldier at
Luoxia Pass, all the horses from Luoxia Pass were transferred from
Qidong, and they were also of this breed of horse.”
“Whoa,” Yu Xiaozai exclaimed. “That fierce, huh!”
“When Amu’er unified the four tribes of Hanshe, Gouma,
Liaoying, and Qingshu, he had the thought of making the
Youxiong Tribe pledge allegiance to him.” Feeling cold, Kong Ling
got up to return to the table. “They fought, and Amu’er ended up
with nothing to show for it.”
This time, the interest of the remaining three men was piqued,
and they sat around Kong Ling.
Gao Zhongxiong said, “That was the four tribes, elites that
would even put the Libei Armored Cavalry at a disadvantage.”
“These were different places. The Youxiang Tribe was still
roaming near Suotian Pass at that time. They occupied the higher
grounds, and it proved to be tedious for the Hanshe Tribe to storm
and assault them. Charge before the Youxiong Tribe, and they
would take a beating.” Kong Ling laughed and enacted it out
vividly. “There were always the Youxiong appearing and
disappearing among the endlessly meandering snowy peaks.
Wielding scimitars in hand and sporting leather armors on their
arms, they launched an attack from top to bottom and gave the
Hanshe Tribe a kick in the chest. The Hanshe Tribe then tumbled
down to the ground and passed out—”
Yu Xiaozai promptly yelled, “Oh, dear me. How terrible!”
Yao Wenyu almost choked and spat out the tea he had not
swallowed. Covering his nose and mouth with the handkerchief in
his palm, he coughed a few times before regaining his composure.
Kong Ling said with a smile, “Indeed. They fought until Amu’er
was at the end of his rope and had no choice but to transfer the
Qingshu Tribe near the Bianjun Commandery.”
Wiping himself, Yao Wenyu said, “The Youxiong Tribe has its
hero too. When General Feng was still alive, the man who faced up
against him in battle was called Suhebashou. He was the ‘Hero’ of
the Youxiong Tribe.”
Gao Zhongxiong moved forward. “This Su… I know him!
Yuanzhuo, I don’t know if you still remember, but when I just
stepped into the capital, it was the legend of General Feng that I
never got tired of listening to in the teahouse near the imperial
college. He and this Suhebashou were just like… the King of Wolf
and Amu’er!”
“He was a hero,” Kong Ling said. “If not for Amu’er, the Hanshe
Tribe’s current standing would have been occupied by the
Youxiong Tribe, led by Suhebashou. He was both Feng Yisheng’s
foe and friend. There was this one tale from the teahouses in
Dengzhou. I don’t know if it’s fabricated, but it is said that when
Feng Yisheng shot through the Hongying banner2 that symbolized
the dignity of Biansha, Suhebashou applauded in response. Both
men looked at each other across thousands upon thousands of
soldiers and horses and roared with laughter. From then on, they
would always mutually send their regards to each other before a
battle.”
Gao Zhongxiong gripped his brush between his fingers and
struck a pose to imitate that storyteller. “General Feng, sans his
armor, stood amid the snow with his hands at his back and his
white robe flapping in the wind, cutting the very picture of a
poised, suave man. Suhebashou, cloaked with a fur hide, cupped
his fists at the General across the curtain of snow and, in a loud,
clear voice, said—”
“Are the grain wagons for the Armored Cavalry ready?”
Gao Zhongxiong paused in mid-pose. Before he could close his
agape mouth, he saw Kong Ling and the others all stand up to bow
in unison to Shen Zechuan behind him.
“They are ready,” Kong Ling said. “Fei Sheng has already
checked them this morning. Qiao Tianya will send them out of the
city later.”
Shen Zechuan tapped the back of Gao Zhongxiong’s shoulder
with his folding fan and said, “I am Suhebashou, Valiant Tiger3 of
the Youxiong Tribe. I’ve brought along kumis4 from my hometown.
The wine is delicious, and I wish to wait for the General to finish it
before we fight.”
Gao Zhongxiong put down his brush in a fluster and turned
around to bow to the Prefectural Lord.
“No need to be nervous,” Shen Zechuan said. “As they say, ‘of
dreams the lads of Dazhou bear of the snowy pass, who knows not
of the Suotian spear?’ Shifu used to love to listen to this tale too.”
Hairigu stood at the entrance of the pavilion and said,
“Suhebashou, the Valiant Tiger of the Youxiong Tribe. I know of him
too.”
Fascinated with the story, Yu Xiaozai probed, “What happened
to both of them after?”
 Kong Ling did not answer. Hairigu picked up a fruit on the table
and took a bite before saying, “Suhebashou killed Feng Yisheng’s
youngest son, and he also killed Feng Yisheng. He was then driven
out of Suotian Pass by Amu’er and spent some time in Gedale
before retreating behind the Qingshu Tribe.”
This was a strange man.
Hairigu remembered Suhebashou, the legendary Valiant Tiger
and hero. He abandoned himself to pleasure and merrymaking in
Gedale. Every time he was drunk, he always wanted to pound on
the drum and dance in honor of the dead. This tall, strapping man
had white in his hair. He was not old, and yet he looked as though
he had already died.
“I had a friend.” Suhebashou drank his wine under the firelight.
“He drank my kumis, and killed my sons. I took my revenge on him,
and he left me.”
He turned the wine sachet upside-down—empty.
“We are the brave eagles5 on both sides of the snowy peaks. If
we have to die, it has to be at each other’s hands.”
“A pity he died.” Hairigu finished his fruit. “He caught a cold in
Gedale and was too ill even to get up. The Hanshe Tribe
surrounded him. He finished all the kumis in the tent by himself.
Eventually, he took his scimitar with him and died in battle on the
Gobi desert. Gegenhasi6 of the Hulu Tribe cut off his head and
offered it up to Amu’er.”
Yu Xiaozai uttered an “oh” and said no more.
The crowd in the pavilion at the heart of the pond all fell silent.
Using Suhebashou’s head, Gegenhasi helped turn the Hulu
Tribe into a friend of Amu’er. At the same time, he also became
Hasen’s friend. Several years later, the hooves of Xiao Fangxu’s
horse stomped on Gegenhasi’s neck, breaking it. And several more
years later… Kong Ling did not voice it out.
“With Hairigu going to the Bianjun Commandery, does Your
Lordship still want Huo Lingyun to tag along?” Yao Wenyu skipped
over the topic and asked.
“Huo Lingyun is not going to the Bianjun Commandery.” Shen
Zechuan turned his head to look out of the cascading water, where
Huo Lingyun stood with his back straightened. He continued, “His
firearms are heading north.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, Xiao Chiye led the Armored Cavalry across the
border. Shen Zechuan stood on the bridle path before the city gate
and watched the yellow sand roll in. Meng circled down and called
out twice above Shen Zechuan’s head; it then soared once more
and charged southward.
Hearing the thunderous sound of the Libei Armored Cavalry,
Fei Sheng stepped forward and moved to block out the sand for
Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan held up his folding fan a little and
stopped Fei Sheng from standing before him.
Lang Tao Xue Jin, in its heavy armor, snorted hot puffs of air
and drove straight over from the other end of the bridle path
where it was leading the Armored Cavalry. A smile gradually
spread on Shen Zechuan’s face, and he raised his right arm as Xiao
Chiye drew closer. His wide sleeve slid down to reveal the arm
guard within.
With eyes in front and without reining in his horse, Xiao Chiye
lowered an arm as he passed by Shen Zechuan. A loud, clear
“thud” rang out as both arm guards bumped together and scraped
past in just a blink of an eye.
The wind fanned up Shen Zechuan’s sleeves and robe. He said,
“To a resounding victory.”
Xiao Chiye laughed as he continued to spur his horse on
towards the blazing sun. In a loud voice, he responded, “A
resounding victory!”
Waves of heat swept across while the windblown sand
pounced over the path.
Both men brushed past each other, neither looking back.

Footnotes
1. Youxiong is a tribe that takes the bear as its totem. The
Biansha Tribes’ names are based on animals. For a list, you
can refer to to the Worldmap guide!
2. Literally rainbow hawk/eagle/falcon
3. Literally ferocious tiger, aka brave warrior
4. 马奶酒 kumis, also written as kumiss or koumiss, is an
alcoholic beverage traditionally made from fermented
mare’s or camel’s milk.
5. Literally brave eagle, aka heroic fighter.
6. For those who can’t remember him, check out the new
searchable character list!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 243 : STRIVE

The Bianjun Commandery, in facing the desert, was subjected

to encroachment by the windstorm. Rarely could one see the blue
dome of heaven standing atop the city walls. The dwellings in the
territory were all low, and all that could be seen if one were to look
into the distance at the open ground was a vast expanse of earthy
yellow. Greenery along the way was few and far between, and only
a few crooked, sickly trees could be seen after a few li on the horse.
Wild grass and weeds spread unevenly among the Gobi, much like
an old master over the age of fifty about to go bald.
Xiao Chiye’s helmet was covered in a layer of dust. He took off
his helmet and, with his back to the setting sun, looked ahead at
the Bianjun Commandery’s city walls drifting among the waves of
sand.
“This place really is poor.” Hairigu leaped off his horse, and the
accessories around his neck clanked. He unscrewed his water
canteen and tilted his head back to pour water over his face. With
eyes closed, he said, “The Scorpions won’t come here at all.”
The Bianjun Commandery had no fields, and the lands
underfoot were too barren and infertile. They were already
exposing signs of cracking apart under the scorching hot sixth
month. Xiao Chiye shifted his military boot away and watched the
insect crawling between the crevices in the loess.
“The grasslands east of Suotian Pass that Amu’er went to great
effort to obtain were hit by an onslaught of yellow sands and
subsequently turned into a wasteland during the first year of the
Xiande reign. Consequently, the Qingshu Tribe abandoned it and
retreated back to the eastern side of the Bianjun Commandery.”
Hairigu brushed back his wet hair. “His Lordship wants me to
discuss with the Youxiong Tribe, but doesn’t give me bait. This
business requires brains. And of that, I have none.”
Hairigu was not honest. He knew how he should negotiate, just
like he negotiated with Yan Heru. This Black Scorpion knew the
rules. Shen Zechuan did not give him a definite bait, which implied
that no matter how good a deal he managed to negotiate, Shen
Zechuan had the final say over his rewards. However, Hairigu
wanted to glean an opportunity to bargain from Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye did not look at Hairigu as he answered, “You better
have one.”
Hairigu rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little
embarrassed. The water he poured over himself soon vanished. His
skin, that lay exposed under the sweltering heat, was a shade of
bronze. Hairigu sealed back the water canteen and redoubled his
effort. “I’ll give the Youxiong Tribe food to tide over the winter. With
ample food, they’d be able to remain in their territory.”
“If that’s all you can do,” Xiao Chiye’s eyes followed the
movements of the shadows and settled upon the city gate of the
Bianjun Commandery, “then anyone can negotiate this deal.”
Having hit a brick wall continuously, Hairigu rubbed his
congested nose and said, “Alright then. I’ll give them new
options.”
The gate of the Bianjun Commandery was in the midst of
opening. Qi Zhuyin stood before the hoisted gate with her arms
folded and her blade hanging on her waist. She had gone on a
night expedition last night to conduct reconnaissance, and she
had only just returned at the end of the day today. She looked
fatigued, having slept for only four hours, and she did not seem
that happy to see Xiao Chiye.
“Yo,” Qi Zhuyin said. “You’re here.”
Xiao Chiye tossed his authority token to Qi Zhuyin, who caught
it and offhandedly handed it over to Qi Wei without even looking
at it. Then she turned around and led Xiao Chiye into the city.
 “When I arrived here in the fourth year of Xiande, Lu Guangbai
said he wanted to plant trees.” Xiao Chiye’s heavy armor was
scalding hot under the last rays of the setting sun. “So why is the
Bianjun Commandery still so barren?”
“That was wishful thinking on his part.” Qi Zhuyin’s neck was
sore from her sleep, so she exercised her head a little. Watching
the lanterns on the streets gradually lighting up, she said, “The
sandstorm was strong during the sixth year of Xiande. He saved up
some money to buy a batch of seedlings from Hezhou and planted
them at the border while it was still spring. But they barely made it
to the end of the month before the cavalry trampled over them.”
“Was Hasen the one stationed in the Qingshu Tribe at that
time?” Xiao Chiye mounted the steps and placed his helmet to the
side. He then sat with Qi Zhuyin and watched the armored cavalry
enter the city.
“It was.” Qi Zhuyin did not sit, instead leaning against the door
with her chin dipped in the evening glow. “The letter you had Zhao
Hui deliver has long arrived. There will be a tough battle to fight in
the sixth month, but only on the premise that Hasen will really turn
around and head south to attack Duanzhou. If he doesn’t come,
the Sha’er Camp will have to bear the consequences of your
deployment of troops this time.”
“Amu’er has united with the Hulu Tribe and is still persuading
the Youxiong Tribe to pledge allegiance to him. Meanwhile, Hasen
has not much food left,” Xiao Chiye said. “He has to go to
Duanzhou to obtain provisions.”
“You brought along a Scorpion,” Qi Zhuyin said. “What is Shen
Zechuan planning to do?”
“When Hasen attacks Duanzhou, his reinforcements have to
stop at Gedale on the opposite bank of the Chashi River. Only the
Youxiong Tribe can intercept me in the southeast.” Xiao Chiye
stretched out his legs. “Lanzhou wants to negotiate with the
Youxiong Tribe.”
“Then he has to present them with enough sincerity.” Qi Zhuyin
stood up straight and raised an arm to point at the snowy peaks far
away in the south. “The bears1 have owned pastures in the south.
Shen Zechuan’s granaries can’t fill their stomachs. They’re greedy
in ways you can’t even imagine.”
Qi Zhuyin—no, starting with Qi Shiyu, Qidong had attempted to
negotiate with the Youxiong Tribe in the hope that they would
defect to Dazhou like the Huiyan Tribe in the north, but it proved to
be too difficult. The Youxiong Tribe was a strong tribe; they were
completely different from the Huiyan Tribe with nothing to their
name. They believed that their scimitars and ‘bear-horses’ could
grab them even better lands, and for that reason, they did not even
give a hoot about Amu’er.
“Lanzhou is willing to cede the Hanshe Tribe’s territory to them,”
Xiao Chiye said. “They have been roaming all over after leaving
Suotian Pass. This is what they want most.”
Qi Zhuyin squatted down and said to Xiao Chiye, “Right, you
guys are really too clever. The Youxiong Tribe does indeed want
territory, but are you the great ruler of the desert? The tricks Shen
Zechuan used on the Dazhou folks in Zhongbo are useless here.
The bears don’t munch on the pies in the sky—empty promises
won’t work on them. I have dealt with them before; they are far
more cunning than the Hanshe Tribe.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Xiong was catching lizards beneath the eaves. He kneeled on
the polished wooden planks, carrying a lizard by its tail as he said
to Ding Tao, “Grill it. It’s tasty.”
Ding Tao was sitting cross-legged, with a brush in hand, writing
and drawing. When he caught some time to take a breather, he
cast a glance at the lizard and said in disdain, “Ew.”
Li Xiong lightly swung the lizard around. “This is a snake of
Gedale.”
Ding Tao had not heard Li Xiong bring up Gedale and Lei
Jingzhe in a long time. He set his notebook aside and looked at the
lizard. “Doesn’t this look just like the lizards of Cizhou?”
Li Xiong sniffed the air, then answered. “It’s not the same. This
one has a smell, the smell of the desert, of yellow sand!”
“It even went as far as fleeing from Gedale.” Ding Tao held his
chin in a pensive pose. “Life in Gedale must have been tough.
Staying here is still the most comfortable.”
 Li Xiong answered, “No, it likes to stay…”
Fei Sheng yelled for Ding Tao from where he stood at the other
end. Ding Tao scrambled to his feet in one move and ran over
without waiting for Li Xiong to finish his sentence. The sweets that
he had bundled in his lap fell all over the ground.
“… in the same old place.” Looking at Ding Tao, Li Xiong
reached out to pick up all the sweets and stuff them all into his
mouth in one go, his words muffled as he said, “I like staying in the
same old place, too.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The current chieftain of the Youxiong Tribe was someone called
Dalantai. He was not a relative of Suhebashou, but his bodyguard.
After Suhebashou died in battle in Gedale, Dalantai fled to the area
behind the Qingshu Tribe with the remainder of the Youxiong
Tribe’s elite troops and remained there for many years.
Dalantai sat before the tent and pulled a potato out from the
campfire. He broke it apart and ate it with the sun-dried horse
meat. His beard was so thick he appeared rather comedic while
chewing. He was not as imposing and majestic as Suhebashou had
been. On the contrary, he was very short and small, so much that
he did not look like a man that hailed from the Youxiong tribe.
“Wise one who traverses the desert, you have ridden your
horse before my tent and brought along the exhortation of the
Heroic Eagle.” Dalantai swallowed the scalding hot potatoes and
watched Bayin beside the campfire. “But the demands of the
Heroic Eagle are too extortionate.”
“Chieftain of the bears beneath the snowy peaks,” Bayin sat
cross-legged and bowed to Dalantai. “I bring with me the most
sincere greetings from the Heroic Eagle. The demands are all
negotiable, for the Heroic Eagle sees you as a friend.”
Hasen was the Heroic Eagle of the Hanshe tribe. He had sent
over the wise Bayin long before Xiao Chiye had set out.
Dalantai gave the other half of the potato to Bayin. “The wolf
pup of Libei is young and strong. I heard that he killed Huhelu and
Achi, and defeated the proud Scorpions of the Heroic Eagle at the
Chashi Sinkhole. I’m already too old to ride a horse anymore. I’m
afraid I can no longer fight with such a young man.”
 Bayin accepted the potato with both hands and hesitated for
only a brief moment before replying. “You are the ‘bear’ of the
‘Valiant Tiger’, Suhebashou, and you lead the Youxiong Tribe to
stand tall in the southeast of the desert. You are a strong man that
even the Hanshe Tribe dare not provoke rashly. The Heroic Eagle
has strong faith in your might. The wolf pup of Libei is way too
young. He is far less terrifying than the King of Wolves.”
“If that is truly the case,” Dalantai wiped his beard, “then why
hasn’t the Heroic Eagle, who had hacked off the head of the King
of Wolves, slaughtered this wolf yet?”
Dalantai was not lying; he was indeed very old. His hair was not
yet white, but both his hands had already lost the ability to hold on
to a blade for long. Even though he did not possess the spirit
Suhebashou had, he could lead the Youxiong Tribe into weathering
blizzards and maintain their dignity as a powerful tribe of the
desert. He was not of the same ilk as Huhelu; he resembled a wise
sage more than Bayin did.
“This is the reason the Heroic Eagle sent me to look for you,”
Bayin said. “Our mighty cavalry has yet to break through the
defenses of the Libei Armored Cavalry not because we are not
powerful enough, but because we are out of provisions. The King of
Wolves is dead. Honorable and wise Dalantai, you have also seen
the future of the desert. We are about to stride into new, uncharted
territory where all the tribes will no longer have to starve. This is the
wish of the Great Hero, as well as the wish of the Heroic Eagle. We
need your help.”
The aroma of the potatoes buried in the campfire wafted out.
Dalantai prodded them with a tree branch, not at all moved by
Bayin’s deference. “Many years ago, Gegenhasi2 of the Hulu Tribe
resorted to underhand means to kill my chief in Gedale and
offered the head of the ‘Valiant Tiger’ to Amu’er. Amu’er did not
reject it.” He picked up a potato again, but did not break it open.
Instead, he wiped away the dirt on it with the rough pulps of his
fingers. “Amu’er is a rapacious vulture. He is not our brother.”
A warrior of the Youxiong Tribe sitting at the other end stood
up, a gesture meant to see a guest out.
 Bayin did not move. He faced Dalantai and said, “Honorable
Dalantai, that was a foolish mistake of ours in the past. We now
have a common enemy…”
“Who was the one to force this enemy awake?” Dalantai’s eyes,
which resembled a line, looked towards Bayin. “Amu’er intends to
conquer every corner where the sun shines upon, and for that
reason, he did not hesitate to use such shameless means to coerce
us into leaving from our homeland. You stupid, low-down lad. To
think you would call Suhebashou’s murder a foolish mistake.”
Bayin said, “I apologize for my words, Dalantai…”
The “bears” blocked the surrounding light off. They stood all
around, watching Bayin with a gaze akin to watching an antelope.
“If Hasen wants our help, he should beg for our forgiveness.”
Dalantai peeled off the potato skin. “If Hasen is willing to kill his
wife and let the bastards of the Hulu Tribe pay the price, we will
agree to send our troops to the Bianjun Commandery on his
behalf.”
“Don’t do this.” Bayin had already been dragged up. He raised
his voice. “Gegenhasi is already dead. Duo’erlan is an innocent
maiden.”
Dalantai looked at Bayin as he devoured the potato all by
himself.

Footnotes
1. Youxiong is a tribe that takes the bear as its totem. The
Biansha Tribes’ names are based on animals. For a list, you
can refer to to the Worldmap guide!
2. For those who can’t remember him, check out the new
searchable character list!
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 244 : SNOWY PEAKS

Chagan kneeled reverently in the tent, his ash-white hair cascading

down to the ground as he pleaded, “Honorable Hero, the Youxiong
Tribe is the most crafty bear in the great desert. We of the Hulu Tribe
are willing to double the supply of grains your esteemed self
needs.”
The Great Hero, Amu’er, stared at the letter in his palms. Hasen
bore some resemblance to him, but he was far more rugged and
stronger than Hasen. Amu’er set down the letter and gently
brushed his thumb with the thumb ring across his slovenly stubble.
He looked like a man who could topple over drunk any side by the
side of the road.
“There’s a saying in Dazhou, ‘act within one’s capabilities.”
Amu’er’s voice was low and deep. “I thank you for your utmost
sincerity, but my friend, your sheep flocks have all been sent to the
war zone. If this goes on, many people from the Hulu Tribe will
starve to death in winter this year.”
Chagan’s kneeling and kowtowing body appeared lowly and
humble as he said, “I’m willing to trade all my cattle and sheep in
exchange for Duo’erlan’s longevity.”
Amu’er raised his head slightly. His thumb ring slid along his
Adam’s apple. He laughed in spite of himself. “Chagan, so you
heard those rumors.”
“My son killed Suhebashou. If Dalantai wants an eye for an eye,
I can offer up my head. The Hulu Tribe is willing to pay the price for
its contemptible act.” Chagan straightened up his back. The yellow
sand of the desert had added a blackish-yellow tint to his aged
face. He continued, “But he cannot take away my daughter.”
Duo’erlan was Chagan’s only daughter. She was the precious
pearl of the Hulu Tribe. The Hulu Tribe did not have strong, sturdy
horses, nor did they have eagles that could soar in the skies, but
they had the protection the Heavenly God of Chiti bestowed upon
them. The Hulu Tribe lived deep in the desert, and it had the most
fertile oasis in the desert, Lake Chiti. In the legends, they were the
children who grew up drinking the milk of the Heavenly God of
Chiti. Duo’erlan was born with eyes like the waters of Lake Chiti,
and the Hulu Tribe regarded her as the dew of the morning. She
was the most carefree girl of all in the entire desert.
“Duo’erlan married Hasen, so she’s no longer the precious
pearl of Lake Chiti, but the precious pearl of the six tribes in the
desert.” Holding on to the handle of his chair, Amu’er stood up, his
broad shoulders shouldering the slanting ray of sunlight leaking in.
“If Hasen can’t even protect his own wife, then he’s unworthy of
being Duo’erlan’s husband and does not deserve to have the
allegiance of the Hulu Tribe. Chagan, my good friend, stand up
and hold your scimitar tight. Watch that lad. If he dares to slight
your daughter, you can kill him.”
Chagan kowtowed, the wrinkles on his forehead pressing
against the ground. “I serve the Great Hero, and I firmly believe that
the Heroic Eagle, Hasen, will not betray Duo’erlan. Because his
father is the most valiant warrior of all in the great desert.”
Amu’er walked slowly. When he reached the flap of the tent, he
was still scratching at his Adam’s apple. He gazed at the yellowing
sky awash in the sunset glow. His old thumb ring rolled over his
Adam’s apple, revealing a scar that had been left there. This was a
mark Xiao Fangxu left him more than a decade ago in the eastern
mountain ranges of Hongyan.
“The Youxiong Tribe has been blinded by the wind of the snowy
pass. Dalantai is still reveling in their past glory.” Amu’er looked
back and said to Chagan. “Without their Valiant Tiger, Suhebashou,
the Youxiong Tribe cannot stop my Hasen at all.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Bayin received a reply from Hasen. He read it over quickly and
drank a bowl of milk tea after he was done. He sat cross-legged
before the territory of the Youxiong Tribe, right in the wilderness,
with a book spread open on his knees, as he requested Dalantai to
meet him again.
A warrior from the Youxiong Tribe waved his hand at him to
drive him away. “Get lost.”
Bayin drew a line before his knees with a finger and said, “I’m
in the territory of the Qingshu Tribe and so have not affronted
you.”
“You’re blocking us from taking a piss,” the warrior said.
“Are you going to take a piss like an animal before the eyes of
the heavenly gods?” Bayin looked at his book. “As long as Dalantai
would see me once again, this piece of Gobi can be given to you
people to use as a cesspit.”
Bayin was a “wise one”. He carried a book with him, and that
meant he was the heavenly god’s eye of wisdom traversing the
great desert. As long as he was not so inclined, no one could pull
down his pants to take a piss before his eyes. Achi and Huhelu did
not respect Bayin, and so they both died. This gave Bayin even
more of an air of mystery.
This was the fifth day Bayin had been keeping watch here.
Dalantai finally agreed to see him again.
Bayin gathered up his book and said to Dalantai,
“Honorable…”
“The Libei Armored Cavalry has already reached the Bianjun
Commandery. There’s not much time left for Hasen.” Dalantai took
off his boots and stepped barefoot on the yellow earth. “Has he
killed his wife?”
Bayin slipped out Hasen’s letter and made to hand it over.
Dalantai raised a hand to stop him and shook his head. “I’m
illiterate. You read it.”
“The Heroic Eagle wishes me to tell you,” Bayin said. “He—”
 Bayin was midway through when he heard the sound of horse
hooves coming from afar. Dalantai stood up and walked ahead,
but before he could open his mouth, he saw a burgundy stallion
charging straight into the Youxiong Tribe’s territory before
eventually stopping in front of Dalantai.
“It was by the lakeside of Lake Chiti that I heard the honorable
Dalantai wants my head.” Carrying her horsewhip in hand,
Duo’erlan looked at Dalantai amid the restless treading of the
horse. “If you want to use the Valiant Tiger, Suhebashou, to coerce
my husband with, you should ask for my consent first.”
“And so you ride your horse into my territory.” Admiring this
Flower of Chiti in the legends, Dalantai asked, “Because you’ve
decided to use your own head to win this victory for your
husband?”
Bayin jolted to his feet and saw that the warriors within the
territory had also stood up. He hurriedly walked over and raised his
arms to protect Duo’erlan’s horse. To Dalantai, he said, “No, this is
not what the Heroic Eagle intends…”
“My elder brother killed your chief.” Duo’erlan raised her hand
and wiped the dust on her face with the back of her hand. She had
been on the go for several days. “Gegenhasi is the best brother in
the world, but he is not worthy of being called a hero. If you want to
avenge Suhebashou, you can take away my head, but this is a feud
between the Youxiong Tribe and the Hulu Tribe, not your feud with
Hasen. You should speak to me.”
Saying so, Duo’erlan tossed the dagger on her waist to the
ground.
“I am willing to use my death to apologize to the Youxiong Tribe
for Gegenhasi’s rash act. Dalantai is a good man. Take up this
dagger and kill me, and our Hulu Tribe would have thus paid off
this debt.”
Dalantai picked up the small dagger. It was exquisite and
pretty, inlaid with cat’s eye gems, with a kind of incisive yet
innocent beauty, just like Duo’erlan.
“You are very courageous. If Gegenhasi was just as courageous
as you, the Youxiong Tribe and the Hulu Tribe could have become
brothers years ago.”
 “There is no ‘if’ in this world. Take my head to offer as a
sacrifice for the Valiant Tiger, then pick up your scimitar and pledge
allegiance to the Heroic Eagle.” Duo’erlan dismounted from her
horse. The hem of her skirt fluttered in the night wind as she
walked a few steps towards Dalantai. “The opportunity for the
Youxiong Tribe is right now.”
Dalantai spread open his palm and held Duo’erlan’s dagger as
if he was holding a flower in full bloom. He looked at Duo’erlan.
Strangely enough, the expression in her eyes made it seem as if he
was looking at his own daughter. The frigid wind of the night sent
the banner of the Youxiong Tribe flapping. With the air of a man
who had been through the vicissitudes of life, he said, “Silly girl,
this debt can never be repaid.”
Bayin took the opportunity to say, “The Heroic Eagle can
promise Dalantai that whether or not the Youxiong Tribe is willing
to send troops to the Bianjun Commandery, he is willing to return
the Youxiong Tribe’s homeland. He will also give the Youxiong Tribe
all the cattle and sheep he owns as an apology on behalf of the
Hulu Tribe. But if Dalantai insists on taking his wife away from him,
then he will fight to the bitter end with the Youxiong Tribe at the risk
of his life.”
Dalantai’s always narrowed eyes widened a little. He had heard
similar words before.
Just two days ago, Hairigu had sat in the tent and said
respectfully to him, “The Prefectural Lord of Zhongbo extends his
arms to Dalantai. We’re willing to seize back the homeland for the
Youxiong Tribe, and until then, Duanzhou is also willing to supply
sufficient grains to the Youxiong Tribe.”
These people all knew that the Youxiong Tribe wanted back
their homeland. They preferred to remain in their old place and
guard the snowy peaks on Suhebashou’s behalf.
Dalantai clasped his hands and said, benevolently and briskly,
“The Youxiong Tribe, in receiving what it is due, is willing to fight for
you.”
It was the same answer he had given Hairigu.
 QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 245: RELAY STATION

It was the second quarter of the hour of zi, when the stars hung
over the vast plains.
Xiao Chiye stood on the sand dune and drank his remaining
On Horseback. The strong wine gushed down his throat, and he
swallowed it slowly, letting the pungent spiciness linger in his
mouth for a long time. Once night fell, the wind would intensify,
and yellow sand buried Lang Tao Xue Jin’s hooves. The moment
the second quarter passed, Xiao Chiye saw Hairigu returning.
Hairigu dismounted from his horse and removed the veil
covering his mouth and nose. Turning his head aside, he spat a few
mouthfuls of sand and said, “Dalantai has agreed to it.”
Xiao Chiye did not speak. Behind him, Chen Yang asked,
“What terms did you offer him?”
“We gave him the grasslands to the east of Suotian Pass. That’s
the homeland of the Youxiong Tribe. Dalantai wants to go home.”
“You gave them a vast expanse of grasslands.” Xiao Chiye
repeated.
Hairigu lifted both hands slightly and said to Xiao Chiye, “His
Lordship wants to give the Youxiong Tribe the Hanshe Tribe’s
territory, which is even more fertile. I think what I’ve negotiated is
even better of a deal.”
“The Hanshe Tribe’s territory is near Libei. Moving the Youxiong
Tribe there makes it easier to control them. This is the outcome
Lanzhou wants, but you pushed them back to the eastern side of
the snowy peaks.” Xiao Chiye sealed the wine pouch tight and
tossed it to Chen Yang beside him. “We have no eyes on the
eastern side of the snowy peaks to keep watch on them.”
Hairigu chased a few steps after Xiao Chiye and said, “The
Youxiong Tribe treasures old ties. No matter how fertile the Hanshe
Tribe’s territory is, it will be hard for it to shake their determination.
Second Master, only the eastern side of the snowy peaks can sway
Dalantai. Besides, the grasslands there are almost gone. They still
have to move north, eventually.”
“You’re playing tricks.” Chen Yang turned sideways to block
Hairigu with his chest, then raised an arm to create some distance
between them, preventing Hairigu from continuing to chase after
Xiao Chiye. “You didn’t talk to Dalantai about the Qingshu Tribe’s
territory.”
As bait, the Qingshu Tribe’s territory was also Zhongbo’s
bargaining chip. Going by Shen Zechuan’s game plan, Hairigu
ought to have first discussed the Qingshu Tribe’s territory with
Dalantai before finally throwing out the Hanshe Tribe’s territory, but
Hairigu did not do so. He knew to seek benefits for himself out of
this. He wanted to swap out the Hanshe Tribe’s territory for the
grasslands on the eastern side of the snowy peaks, so that he could
keep the fertile land for the Black Scorpions led by himself.
Xiao Chiye had already gotten on his horse. Chen Yang was
still blocking Hairigu.
Hairigu could not shove Chen Yang away. He paced restlessly
where he was and spread his arms resignedly at Chen Yang. “You
should go and chat with Dalantai yourself and see if he’ll move
according to your presumptions.”
Chen Yang corrected the position of his blade that Hairigu had
bumped askew and said, “He’s already moving according to your
presumptions. You want the Hanshe Tribe’s territory, and His
Lordship will naturally give it to you, but not by resorting to such
means. You’ve been with His Lordship for so long, and yet you
don’t understand your master at all.”
Looking as if he did not wish to argue with Chen Yang, Hairigu
turned his back to Chen Yang.
Chen Yang took a few steps back and made to chase after Xiao
Chiye’s horse.
 With his face to the plains, Hairigu then said in the Biansha
tongue, “The way you are acting all like a dog is really very
devout.”
Having said that, he looked back and flashed a smile at Chen
Yang as though nothing had happened.
Chen Yang stepped onto the saddle and flashed a smile at
Hairigu too. As he turned his horse around, he similarly answered
in the Biansha tongue, “The envious expression in the eyes of a
bastard is very devout as well.”
Fuck!
The Biansha words Chen Yang spoke in an accent close to the
Hanshe Tribe gave Hairigu a fright. Before he arrived here, no one
in Zhongbo understood his words in the Biansha tongue.
“There’s nothing about me that’s outstanding, except that I’m a
pretty quick learner of the Biansha language. What you learned in
Gedale was in the Liaoying Tribe’s accent, which, in truth, doesn’t
really sound nice,” Chen Yang politely said. “Bark one word more,
and I’ll smash your head in.”
Caught off guard, Hairigu obediently nodded and watched as
Chen Yang rode his horse away and kicked up dust all over his
face.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xiao Chiye returned to the Bianjun Commandery but did not
find Qi Zhuyin in the tent. He circled around and found the
commander-in-chief in another tent. Qi Zhuyin had just woken up,
and upon hearing movements, leaned out to whistle at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye, with Langli Blade in hand, was in a quandary over
whether to advance or retreat.
The rouge on Qi Zhuyin’s lips had been partially applied, and
the pulps of both her little fingers were stained with this bit of red.
However, she was not applying it herself. Instead, she leaned over
and handed the job over to Hua Xiangyi. Hua Xiangyi rose and
carefully applied the rouge evenly on the commander-in-chief’s
lips.
“…This color is really pretty.” Hua Xiangyi’s voice was soft and
pleasing. “It suits Commander-in-chief Qi just right. It’s not
conspicuous at night.” She applied that last bit and turned her head
to ask Xiao Chiye with a smile, “Pretty?”
Xiao Chiye folded his arms and looked for a long time. In a rare
moment of hesitancy, he answered, “…Not bad.”
It wasn’t that Qi Zhuyin had never put on makeup before. When
she was in her regular wear at home, or attending a banquet in her
court attire, she would put on a little makeup. But no matter how
superb Xiao Chiye’s eyesight was, he could not tell the difference
between this rouge and the one that the commander-in-chief
usually applied.
“You don’t understand.” With her slender, delicate fingers, Hua
Xiangyi brushed open the handkerchief on her lap to reveal a small
carved mirror inlaid with pearls that had been wrapped within. She
picked it up and held it up for Qi Zhuyin to take a look.
Qi Zhuyin wiped her hands on the handkerchief. She could
only see her own lips and chin in the mirror. She smiled and said,
“It’s pretty.”
Xiao Chiye waited for a moment before Qi Zhuyin let down the
tent flap and stepped out.
“Eldest Madam is here to work out the accounts for me,” Qi
Zhuyin explained.
Xiao Chiye coughed into the expansive night and said, “Oh…”
Xiao Chiye glanced at Qi Zhuyin out of the corners of his eyes.
The commander-in-chief was young, but she also wasn’t young
anymore, at least for a woman; she had long passed the
marriageable age. Xiao Jiming and Lu Guangbai were on good
terms with her, but they never asked her about her marriage,
because everyone knew that Qi Zhuyin could not get married.
“Third Missy’s mental arithmetic is outstanding. I heard about it
when I was in Qudu. The accounts in your residence are
complicated and tedious. With her help, it will be a lot easier.”
“The Empress Dowager has fallen, and her status in Qidong is
not like before. Once Xue Yanqing is done investigating the City of
Chuancheng, it will be the City of Dicheng’s turn. The Hua clan is in
imminent danger. I’m worried my father’s concubines at home will
create a scene and stir up trouble if I don’t let her stay by my side.”
There was still a lingering fragrance of rouge on Qi Zhuyin. She did
not continue explaining along this line, but instead teased, “And
besides, I am this fond of girls.”
Xiao Chiye stood still. Both of them had already ascended their
way up the city wall.
“Your Scorpion is back,” Qi Zhuyin said.
Xiao Chiye pointed to the southeast and said, “The Youxiong
Tribe is willing to make way and open up a path for you. They want
to retreat to the grasslands on the eastern side of Suotian Pass, to
return to their original land.”
The fire reflected Qi Zhuyin’s raised face. Hua Xiangyi was right.
This color of rouge was inconspicuous, and it resembled Qi
Zhuyin’s natural color when tinted by the color of the night. With a
pensive expression, she said, “Dalantai is foolish.”
Only a fool would give up the Qingshu Tribe’s territory and
return to the eastern side of the snowy peaks that had already been
engulfed whole by the yellow sands of the desert.
“He’s not foolish,” Xiao Chiye said. “He makes way for you with
the intent for you to take a detour to Gedale. Once you get there,
he will be the hand that chokes off your retreat path, and when the
time comes, he can make any demands of you as he pleases.”
“Then Dalantai is still a fool, because you and I can see through
such an obvious and easy-to-understand tactic.” Qi Zhuyin tapped
her fingertips on the side of her arms as she looked out into the
depths of the night. “You’ve been hanging out with Lu Guangbai
for a long time and learning all about his ‘earthiness’. You want to
dig deep into the earth when you stand on the ground, and you
itch to commit to heart the terrain stretching for thousands of li all
around. However, you have overlooked the tribe itself.”
Qi Zhuyin skirted around Xiao Chiye. Bracing herself on the
battlement, she nimbly vaulted onto it, then stepped on the
opening and bent over to inspect the mechanical crossbow at the
top of the wall.
“Dalantai makes way for me. My guess is that he won’t obstruct
me. The Youxiong Tribe doesn’t have that many warriors. Dalantai
can only choose to concentrate his military force; otherwise, he
won’t be able to ward off attacks from any party.”
 Xiao Chiye thought for a moment. “You’re saying that Dalantai
is going to concentrate his forces to attack some other places?”
“When I leave the Bianjun Commandery, half of the 40,000
garrison troops here have to leave too. Without Lu Guangbai,
there’s no commanding general who can engage in a to-and-forth
battle with them. If they don’t attack now, then what are they going
to wait for?” Qi Zhuyin said.
“Even so, it’s not worth it, jiejie,” Xiao Chiye said. “Since
Dalantai doesn’t have sufficient troops, then once he takes down
the Bianjun Commandery, you’ll soon be on the journey back. He
will also be attacked by the Cangjun Commandery Garrison Troops
from the rear. There’s no way he can hold on to the Bianjun
Commandery at all. If he goes through all that trouble to get here,
it won’t be just for the sake of food, like Hasen.”
Qi Zhuyin straightened up, and as she turned her head aside,
the wind mussed up her hair. She did not continue to make further
inferences like Lu Guangbai did, but said, “Then we shall give it a
try.”
◈ ◈ ◈
After Xiao Chiye left the battle zone, Libei started to show signs
of exhaustion. However, Hasen’s onslaught of attack never abated.
Lu Guangbai could only hold down the fort and have Mount Luo
increase its vigilance. The eagle eyes of Duanzhou could not see
the banks of the Chashi River. It was at this time Huo Lingyun
quietly left Duanzhou.
Huo Lingyun’s squad was small in number. They were all
Imperial Bodyguards, taciturn men of few words who traveled
simply and rode the ponies they had captured from Achi. They
headed north along the Chashi River, resting at sunrise and
moving after sunset.
The wind was dry tonight. Huo Lingyun finished the last drop of
water in his canteen and wiped his mouth as he sat on horseback
with eyes in front.
If only that annoying chap, Fei Sheng, was here.
Huo Lingyun hung the water canteen back on the back of his
horse. As he lacked Fei Sheng’s observational insights, he was very
slow to react in the darkness. Yet, he could only make his moves at
night.
“Where exactly are we going?” An Imperial Bodyguard
following Huo Lingyun took off his fur collar and poured water over
himself. “We’ve been heading north for five days.”
“We’ll stay here,” Huo Lingyun said, “until we can walk out with
our eyes closed.”
Whenever they came within the vicinity of the Shasan Camp
while heading north, they would turn back. However, they would
not return to Duanzhou but continue going north on the same
route, and so on and so forth. The Imperial Bodyguards kept silent.
Before setting off, Qiao Tianya had given them a dressing down,
so no one refuted Huo Lingyun during the journey.
The ponies had great stamina and endurance. They were not
tired even after walking in the Gobi desert for several days. With
their thick necks, they looked stupid, but the Imperial Bodyguards
had already gotten used to their speed, which was at odds with
their appearance. These were all splendid horses.
When it was almost dawn, Huo Lingyun stopped on the
riverbank. He let the ponies quench their thirst, while he himself
squatted at the side to wash his face.
The water of the river in the early morning was icy cool, and a
splash to the face proved to be invigorating.
Huo Lingyun opened his water canteen and pressed it into the
river. Under the gurgling sounds, he suddenly saw a flash of dark
red lurching out. The fingers he had been pressing down came
into contact with something icy cold but soft. Then, black hair
floated up alongside the red.
“A body!” An Imperial Bodyguard who was similarly washing
his face shouted in a low voice and yanked at the hair to drag the
body out of the water.
Huo Lingyun turned over the body, whose face was bloated
from being soaked in the water. He wrung out the muddy slit and
started establishing the identity of the body.
“He has been stripped of his armor,” the Imperial Bodyguard
said quickly. “He died upstream.”
 Huo Lingyun pulled apart the clothing on the body and jolted
to his feet. “…He’s an Armored Cavalryman.”
◈ ◈ ◈
An Armored Cavalryman was galloping on the bridleway
connecting Mount Luo to Shasan Camp. He tottered on the verge
of falling amid the jolts and bumps, leaving a long trail of blood on
the ground where his horse’s hooves passed. His helmet concealed
his face from view. He was just an unknown junior soldier. His lips
moved, but all he could do was to breathe his words.
“The…”
The horse galloped into the relay station fifty li south of Shasan
Camp. He tumbled off and crashed into the ground.
“The riding stable requests…”
He hung on until this point, but breathed his last before he
could finish his words. As long as he could reach this place, it was a
victory. The Armored Cavalry at the relay station would
immediately convey the news to Shasan Camp, and
reinforcements would head south. But then, the relay station was
deathly still. Corpses were strewn everywhere, including the
falcons in the falcon cage. There were no longer any survivors
here.
Waves of heat shimmered.
Not even the cry of a bird could be heard.
 CHAPTER 246: NIGHT DISPATCH

Huo Lingyun got on his horse. Pulling his reins, he bellowed,

“Head over to the Luosha Relay Station!”
The riding stable on Mount Luo was too far away. Even the
ponies would not be able to make it there on time. Huo Lingyun
could only opt for the Luosha Relay Station, which was closer. That
place was near the Shasan Camp, and it was a supply station for
the transmission of messages between Mount Luo and Libei.
The ponies’ panting began to intensify. The weather was too
hot, and the physically strong and healthy Imperial Bodyguards all
had to pour water over themselves to avoid getting heatstroke. Huo
Lingyun rode northwest from the riverbank of the Chashi River for a
full four hours. By the time he was able to see the relay station, it
was already dark.
“Dead bodies.” An Imperial Bodyguard raised a finger to
scratch his nose and said from the back, “It’s all dead bodies
here.”
An armored cavalryman sprawled face-down before the open
main gates of the relay station. He had already been dead for
several hours, and his blood had soaked the ground black. It would
not be long before the body under the heavy armor would begin to
stink.
The Imperial Bodyguard dismounted from his horse. Without
turning over the armored cavalryman’s corpse, he crouched down
to examine it for a moment before saying to Huo Lingyun, “He was
a real man.”
Huo Lingyun looked at the arrows on the armored cavalryman’s
back and nodded.
There were two arrows on the armored cavalryman’s back. It
was with these two arrows in tow that he had galloped his way to
the relay station, where he finally closed his eyes.
The Imperial Bodyguard stood up and covered his mouth and
nose. With his other hand, he shone the torch forward. “This place
—”
His voice came to an abrupt halt.
Corpses were strewn all over the relay station. The postal relay
stationmaster had been hung up on the flagpole, like tattered rags
hanging out to dry in the silent night. Huo Lingyun took over the
torch and moved in for a closer look, only to realize that the
stationmaster’s head had been hacked off.
“The horses have all been hacked to death,” the Imperial
Bodyguard illuminating the stable said. “Even if someone survived,
he won’t be able to make it to Mount Luo and Shasan Camp before
daybreak… The falcons are dead too.”
The door to the falcon cage had not been securely closed.
Falcons that had yet to break free of their ankle chains all had their
necks snapped. There were no survivors in the Luosha Relay
Station. Even the stray dogs they had been feeding here had all
been slashed to death.
The Biansha Cavalry had been here.
Grasping the torch in hand, Huo Lingyun fell deep in thought.
Mount Luo’s riding stables, after its establishment, became a
fledgling information hub between Libei and Zhongbo. For that
reason, Shen Zechuan built it to be exceedingly solid. Eight
hundred people were stationed at the Luosha Relay Station, with
not only the Libei Armored Cavalry, but also the Zhongbo Garrison
Troops. It was equivalent to a small-scale military camp. Emergency
reporting points had been set up on the four-way bridle paths, and
the watchtower could keep a watch on three sides. Several days
ago, Lu Guangbai had even asked the Luosha bridleways to step
up vigilance. There was no negligence to speak of at all.
 “The Biansha Cavalry are skilled at launching surprise attacks,”
the Imperial Bodyguard said. “Back then, they launched a surprise
attack on the Bianbo Camp…”
“Bianbo Camp.” Huo Lingyu pivoted around and repeated,
“Bianbo Camp… Bianbo Camp!”
In the sixth month of last year, when the Biansha Cavalry
mounted a surprise attack on the Bianbo Camp, they had taken a
detour from the south and used the Mount Luo path to pass
through. Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye later blocked off all access
to that path, but there was no way the area near the Chashi River to
the east could be choked off.
“The Biansha Cavalry came here before during the reign of
Xiande, and they know the terrain here like the back of their hand.
The relay station connects Mount Luo and the Shasan Camp, and it
stands right on the path the Biansha Cavalry once used to head for
Mount Luo.” Huo Lingyun jumped up the stairs in a few steps and
pushed the door open.
“For them to be able to launch a surprise attack here away from
spying eyes, their numbers must have been small.” The Imperial
Bodyguard gave a helping hand and lowered the station master
from the flagpole. “Very likely, the ones who infiltrated their way in
are the Scorpions.”
Whether or not it was the Scorpions, Hasen cut off the relay
station because he did not want news of the surprise attack on
Mount Luo to make its way to Libei. He was delaying the
reinforcements. But this group of Biansha Cavalry who had
launched the surprise attack did not stop. Based on the direction of
the bridleway, Huo Lingyun guessed Hasen planned to have this
group of people continue on south to directly sever the connection
between Dunzhou and Duanzhou, so that Duanzhou would find
itself isolated and cut off from help.
“This place is closer to the Shasan Camp.” Huo Lingyun turned
around and descended the stairs, then whistled to summon his
horse. “We’ll continue to head north. We can reach Shasan Camp
before daybreak and ask Libei for reinforcements.”
Huo Lingyun could not make it in time to Dunzhou. He could
only choose one path, and that was to get the Libei Armored
Cavalry at the Shasan Camp to head south immediately to assist
Duanzhou. But this meant that Duanzhou and Dunzhou had lost all
information, especially Duanzhou, which would be the first to bear
the brunt. If anything were to go wrong with Shasan Camp’s
reinforcements, Duanzhou would face complete annihilation.
Huo Lingyun cracked his horsewhip.
Time for him was pressing. He had to be fast!
The Imperial Bodyguards galloped away as if they were
chasing after the stars and trying to catch up with the moon. They
broke through the silence on the bridleway and moved fast among
the shadows of the trees. Huo Lingyun’s breathing was slightly
urgent. As he had been riding on the horse for a long period of
time, his inner thighs were burning with stinging pain. The saddles
were damp, and their cheeks were slick with sweat. Not having the
time to rest these few days, they were all like strings stretched taut
with tension.
Hurry!
Huo Lingyun clenched his horsewhip tightly and raised his arm
amidst the jolts and bumps. But before he could lash out, the horse
under him neighed as its knees buckled and it went down. Huo
Lingyun promptly covered his head with his arms and rolled to the
ground. Specters dashed among the shadows of the trees on both
sides of the bridle path. Huo Lingyun leaped to his feet and drew
his blade out as he listened to those rapid footsteps breaking
through the bushes to lunge at him.
“Tripping rope!” An Imperial Bodyguard following close behind
him reined in his horse and shouted, “There’s an ambush!”
Huo Lingyun held up his blade to parry the blow, but to no
avail. With his body, the other party slammed Huo Lingyun off his
feet. Huo Lingyun turned aside and grazed past the ground to roll
beside the roots of a tree. The moment the rustling of wind behind
him sped up, Huo Lingyun held on to the root with one arm and
made use of it to slide up and raise both legs to dodge the blow
from the blade.
Scorpions… no, Huo Lingyun hissed through clenched teeth,
“It’s the Biansha Cavalry!”
The elites of the Hanshe Tribe!
 The elites moved swiftly as they outflanked them, like a tightly
woven net closing in on them. The rustling of the footsteps was
abnormally uniform, like snakes writhing in unison. Even the traces
they left behind while passing through the sandy grounds were so
identical it gave one the creeps.
The scimitars on the left side slashed towards the knees of the
Imperial Bodyguards’ horses, but unexpectedly, they were
intercepted midway by the Xiuchun Blades.1 The Imperial
Bodyguards kicked out at the Biansha Cavalrymen’s chests, then
drew their blades out and spun around to land on the ground. At
the same time their soles touched the ground, their blades flashed
like a sudden burst of daylight to slit the Biansha Cavalrymen’s
throats. Then they stomped on the ground and flipped back atop
their horses again, completing the entire sequence of action in one
smooth move!
The elites who did not succeed took half a step back in unison.
One of them touched his throat and said, “The Imperial
Bodyguards!”
An Imperial Bodyguard turned over his blade and wiped the
blood on it on the back of his waist at the same time he slid his arm
out and said, “Imperial Bodyguards? We are now called the
Imperial Cavalry!”
Huo Lingyun’s horse could not stand up in its shock. He dashed
a few steps and grabbed the outstretched arm of the Imperial
Bodyguard to leap onto the Imperial Bodyguard’s horse.
“Libei has their hands full right now.” The Imperial Bodyguard
tugged at the reins of his horse even as they were tightly encircled.
“Biansha has also laid ambushes here. Even if we make it to the
Shasan Camp, it will be too late!”
“Return—” Before Huo Lingyun could finish his words, he held
his blade with both hands and abruptly swung it in a semicircle to
strike away a scimitar that had suddenly come attacking. “Return to
Duanzhou!”
Going to Libei was impossible now!
“Turn around.” Huo Lingyun hastily wiped away the sweat on
his face. “Break out of the encirclement from the south.”
 Hasen was too cautious. He slaughtered everyone in the Luosha
Relay Station and did not even spare the horses and falcons. Yet he
also left his elites on the bridle path to the north to guard against
survivors who could possibly appear after slipping through his
ambush. But this also gave Huo Lingyun the opportunity, as the
number of elites Hasen left here was small.
“Fuck.” The Imperial Bodyguard shook off the drops of blood
on his blade. “This blade was bestowed by the emperor, and now
it’s all jagged!”
The horse stomped its hooves, and the Imperial Bodyguard
yanked the reins to forcibly turn it around. The Biansha Cavalry at
the side had already lunged over. The saddle slipped to the right,
and unable to bear the weight of the gravitational force, the horse
tilted over to the right as well. Huo Lingyun bent his elbow and
slammed it into the Biansha Cavalryman’s face. Meanwhile,
cavalrymen on the left climbed their way up like locusts. The
Imperial Bodyguard held his blade up to parry a scimitar, and was
thrown off by the force of the blow.
The Imperial Bodyguard fell to the ground, and several
scimitars instantly came hacking down on him. He bellowed with
all his might and propped up his Xiuchun Blade with both hands.
Under that ear-piercing sound of friction as blade scraped against
blade, he lifted it up, the veins bulging on the back of his hands.
“I can’t hold on anymore…” The Imperial Bodyguard
shouldered the force of several men as he lay on the ground with
his neck raised, panting heavily and sweating profusely. With
protruding veins on his temples bulging, he strained himself to say,
“Buddy… fight…”
Huo Lingyun, however, rode the horse away.
The Imperial Bodyguard almost deflated with disappointment
and cursed, “Motherfucker…”
With the horse, Huo Lingyun slammed away the Biansha
Cavalrymen. All that lay between his tightly pursed lips was the
taste of salt. That was not sweat, but the blood from having bitten
through his lips. After galloping for some distance, he spun around
and kept his blade away into its sheath. Then he rode straight back,
his horse’s hooves trampling through the superimposed human
shadows.
The Imperial Bodyguard’s slipping arms could not block the
blow anymore. The Biansha Cavalryman’s head was almost right in
his face. At the critical juncture, the pungent smell of gunpowder
wafted into the Imperial Bodyguard’s nostrils, choking him. The
deafening explosion was accompanied by the splattering of blood
that spurt all over the Imperial Bodyguard’s face.
Huo Lingyun leaned down to grab the Imperial Bodyguard’s
hand and brought him back onto the horse.
“Break through the encirclement.” Huo Lingyun’s emotions
were running at an all-time high as he took the lead with his
smoking firearm and charged his way out from the south, shouting,
“Break through the encirclement!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Yin Chang tilted his head back and downed the wine. He
finished it, then belched several times in succession. Leaning over
the battlement, he asked the soldiers guarding the gate, “Any
more? This wine is delicious!”
The soldier guarding the gate shifted a few steps and got a
clear look at Yin Chang’s face under the firelight and moonlight.
“Nope. Elder, you should drink less. We are still on duty!”
“I won’t drink when it’s break time.” Yin Chang’s legs felt a little
weak. He drunkenly swayed to his feet and strained himself to look
at the torches on the battlements. “Aye, why is it short of bows and
arrows here? Men, fill them in, quick!”
Fei Sheng had yet to walk his way over to the city wall when he
heard Yin Chang making a big hoo-ha. He hid the newly
purchased wine underneath, kicked it under a mechanical
crossbow, and pulled a piece of fabric over it. Then he menacingly
headed up and lifted Yin Chang by the back of his collar. “Sure.
Someone will do it right away. You go back to bed!”
Yin Chang’s heels slid across the ground as he was carried
away like this. He rubbed his reddened nose and grumbled, “Why
isn’t General Lu here yet? I’ve been waiting for so many days just to
see him again, and I even drank so many rounds of wine.”
 The last time Yin Chang went to the war zone with Xiao Chiye,
he had been very excited to see Lu Guangbai. He dragged Lu
Guangbai to drink with him, drinking until Lu Guangbai puked
thrice in a night and passed out cold in his tent on the second day.
Without saying another word, Zuo Qianqiu dispatched someone to
send Yin Chang back.
Fei Sheng, unable to stand the stench of a drunkard, waved his
palm as he pinched his nose and said, “Not another word from
you. I’m not going to embarrass myself.”
Displeased, Yin Chang waved his arms and tilted his head back
intending to look at Fei Sheng. Stubbornly, he said, “Is drinking
wine an embarrassment to you? Bah, you are a fine one to talk
about being an embarrassment.”
Fei Sheng dragged him to the bottom and exchanged his
authority token with the duty room. Patrols were strict these days,
and he had to spend some effort signing in for duty.
Yin Chang took the opportunity to look for wine, using his nose
that could not smell to sniff around as he muttered, “Where is it
hidden? Here, right…?”
He tucked away the corner of his robe and kneeled on the
ground. With his butt sticking up, he looked under the mounted
crossbow.
Fei Sheng was indeed still a little too green.
Cocking his head, Yin Chang stretched his hand in to reach for
the wine, muttering, “My little precious, aye, why so far away,
aye…”
Fei Sheng looked back and set down the brush, ready to shout
at the old man to stop, but right at this moment, he heard a very
soft “click”. His ears were so sensitive that he could even hear the
wind clearly. He could not help but turn his head to the side and
listen again with bated breath and rapt attention.
The banner fell, and the wind near the city gate stopped.
Yin Chang finally reached the wine, but instead of raking it out,
he maintained his posture and crouched on the ground to sniff the
smell of the land. Before Fei Sheng could react, Yin Chang
bellowed, “ENEMY ATTACK—!”
 The heavy rock from the catapult crashed into the top of the
wall. A kickup of dust splattered all over. As Fei Sheng covered his
head and avoided the debris, he heard the alarm sound from the
watchtower. A soldier from the garrison troops raised the drum
sticks and began pounding on the drum, shouting, “Enemy attack,
enemy attack! Get the fuck out of bed!”
Fei Sheng pushed aside the soldiers and rushed up the city
wall. When he got a clear look before Duanzhou, he sucked in a
chilly breath.
Yin Chang climbed to his feet, patted a garrison troop passing
through with the sheath of his blade, and barked, “Light up the
beacon and report it posthaste to His Lordship.”
Yin Chang stomped up to the city gate and pulled over Fei
Sheng.
“Take your authority token with you and lead the Imperial
Cavalry to pack up and protect His Lordship and the various
advisors.” Yin Chang’s reddened nose twitched twice. Without
looking out of the city, he pointed to the smoke signal tower2 at the
side. “If the smoke signal here starts burning, then Xiaosheng,
protect His Lordship and head west to Dunzhou!”
Shen Zechuan had yet to go to bed. He was under the lamp,
pinching the center of his brows as he listened to Kong Ling speak
on the matter of the dam when he heard chaos break out in the
courtyard. Qiao Tianya lifted the bamboo blinds, and Ding Tao and
Li Xiong followed him in. Kong Ling stood up and asked, “This…”
“Master,” Qiao Tianya secured his blade. “The Biansha Cavalry
has mounted a surprise attack.”
The advisors in the hall all stood up with an exclamation of
surprise. Yao Wenyu immediately looked at Shen Zechuan and
said, “The reinforcements from Libei aren’t here yet.”
Shen Zechuan put down his arm and stared at the candlelight.
After a moment, he said. “Duanzhou didn’t get any updates. Either
the battle zone has fallen into the enemy’s hands, or Mount Luo is
lost to us.”
Everyone in this room was a scholar. Those like Gao
Zhongxiong who had never experienced war looked even more
ghastly pale. They all looked at Shen Zechuan—the Prefectural Lord
was everyone’s pillar.
Shen Zechuan could not show fear at this moment. He set the
lid of his teacup straight and rose to his feet. Ding Tao shook open
the overcoat and made to drape it over Shen Zechuan, but Shen
Zechuan turned his palm aside to block his attempt.
The Prefectural Lord said, “Get Yang Shan Xue.”
 CHAPTER 247: THE SOVEREIGN

“Where are the mounted scouts?!”

“Dead.” The garrison troops who had been startled awake
followed closely behind Yin Chang. “All the scouts in the perimeter
were wiped out. No one returned.”
Yin Chang filled his wine bag to the brim and hung it back at
the side of his waist. As he slotted his blade, he spat, “Son of a
bitch Hasen.”
No movement from the relay stations, and all the scouts were
dead. Unable to get the news out, the reinforcements would not
come.
“Reorganize the scouting squad,” Yin Chang said. “Wait for an
opportunity to get out. We have to light up the smoke signal tower
before daybreak. Only then will Libei, Dunzhou, and the Bianjun
Commandery receive the news.”
Duanzhou once suffered a massacre because the scouts could
not outrun the Biansha’s horses. That was why Shen Zechuan
imitated the Bianjun Commandery’s Ten Thousand li Beacon Tower
when he established the four-way bridleway of Duanzhou. As long
as these three tower routes were lit, the three parties would know
that Duanzhou was in imminent danger.
Yin Chang had only just lifted the flap of the tent when he
heard the “thump, thump, thump” pounding of the battle drums
outside the city.
The Biansha Cavalry was sounding the drums!
 Yin Chang broke into a run towards the top of the city wall. As
he ran, he shouted with all his might at the top of his voice, “READY
—”
The archers between the battlements drew their bowstrings in
unison, holding their breaths as they focused their gaze outside of
the city.
Cylindrical drums had been secured on both sides of the
Biansha Cavalry’s ponies, its reverberating beats through the night
serving as the first sign of an impending assault. Just as the
drumbeats were about to stop after hitting a feverish pitch, the
ponies snorted hot puffs of air and charged.
Yin Chang immediately waved his hands and continued to
roar, “Release the arrows!”
Unexpectedly, the charging Biansha Cavalry instantly split into
two flanks, revealing the shield-bearing infantry behind. The
infantry moved swiftly against the rain of arrows and pressed in
towards the city gate.
Duanzhou faced the east. Its terrains were open and expansive,
and it was near the Chashi River too. Shen Zechuan was digging
canals here to make a trench, intending to construct a moat that
could protect the city. But time was tight this year. Only the ditch at
the east-facing main gate had begun to take shape, and the waters
from the Chashi River had yet to be diverted over as well. Xiao
Chiye cautioned Shen Zechuan prior to his departure south, and so
Shen Zechuan removed the square bricks at the bottom of the ditch
and replaced them with the caltrops the Libei Army used.
The city gate opened. Yin Chang led the Duanzhou Garrison
Troops and charged out to remove the passage planks on top of
the trench before the Biansha Cavalry stormed them. Without the
passage planks, the Biansha Cavalry would have no way of
crossing over the trench to advance through the city gate.
As soon as the rain of arrows from the top of the city walls
stopped, the kerosene cans started burning.
Dragging the passage planks as he retreated, Yin Chang
continued to shout, “Smash the cans!”
The kerosene cans on the battlements were smashed in unison,
and the flames suddenly flared. The garrison troops leaned
forward and threw the kerosenes cans down with all their might.
Oil splashed all over the infantry’s shields, which went up in flames
with a bang, but Yin Chang did not rejoice, for he had seen the
infantry scatter to make way for the concealed head cart.3
Shit!
This kind of siege wagon was originally used as a cover for the
digging of ditches. It had a screen shield in front, and an assault
wagon at the back. The head cart in the middle could shield
soldiers digging the earth from the arrows. Other than that, it also
had a prominent function, which was to extinguish fires. The
infantry hidden inside the head cart lifted the roof and emerged,
using their daggers to slash through the cowhide sacks that
contained water from the river. In no time, they were able to
contain the fire started by the kerosene cans.
Yin Chang now had a clear grasp on the other party’s aim.
Hasen had used the infantry to deplete the arrows and kerosene
cans of the garrison troops, as well as pushed the infantry before
the trench, all to set the stage for the Biansha Cavalry who were
poised for action at the back.
“Archers, stand by—”
The words had only just left Yin Chang’s mouth when the
infantry raised their shields once again. But Yin Chang had no
intention of releasing the arrows at this moment. He drew his blade
and led the garrison troops in a mad charge forward before the
trench, where he sprang out like an old lion under the astonished
gaze of the Biansha Cavalry.
“Block the trench!”
Yin Chang landed heavily on the brick wall of the trench, and
his feet slid downward right at once. He clung onto the edge of the
trench and kicked out with his legs a few times to crawl his way up.
The garrison troops followed Yin Chang to fight their way into the
infantry camp.
“Release the arrows!”
The rain of arrows came assailing down, and infantrymen who
could not free their hands to raise their shields finally toppled over
to the ground.
 “Who is that?” A strong and sturdy man riding on a pony
craned his head and saw Yin Chang’s white hair through the
crowd. He touched his own scimitar—his bare arm had a lizard
tattoo on it. With considerable interest, he said in the Biansha
tongue, “He’s like a hero.”
“The strong and hale Zhuoli doesn’t know him,” a cavalryman
following by the man’s side said. “He’s the commander of the
Cizhou Garrison Troops, the old general who captured Fanzhou for
Shen Zechuan. His name is Yin Chang.”
Imitating the Dazhou language, Zhuoli repeatedly read it out,
“Yi, Yi Chang?”
“It means prosperity.” The cavalryman soothed his restless
horse.
“He has the courage of a lion.” Zhuoli continued to size up Yin
Chang. He clamped down tight on the horse’s belly and moved
forward unhurriedly amidst the swaying. “I want to fight with
him.”
The cavalryman turned back to look at the Hongying banner at
the back and advised, “Hasen’s orders have not been issued yet.
Now is not the time for Zhuoli to launch an attack.”
Zhuoli exercised his strong, muscular arms and drew out his
scimitar. “Hasen wants us to fight a quick battle. I can’t wait
anymore.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The garrison troops assembled the people inside the city. They
were going to send the commoners over to the west gate, where
the connecting bridle path led to Dunzhou. This was so that the
commoners would still have the opportunity to flee before the east
gate was breached and the massacre began. The commoners
came one after another, looking to be in a hurry as they dragged
their families with them. Occasionally, the wails of infants could be
heard, although they were very quickly stifled. The number of
people gathering increased, and repressed gasps all over followed
in the wake of the bombarding from the east gate.
The advisors had long been waiting here. They carried with
them simple luggage, as well as records under their arms—these
were the fruit of their painstaking labor. Gao Zhongxiong’s ghastly
pale complexion had yet to regain its color. He tugged his cloth
bundle4 tightly and stood together with the crowd of people.
Kong Ling was pushing Yao Wenyu, who had a bag containing
a restless Hunu hanging in front of his chest.
As Yao Wenyu’s wheelchair passed by the commoners, he
heard someone in the crowd sobbing. He turned his head to the
side and fixed his eyes on the other party.
“M, Mister,” a lone widow with her child in her arms covered her
mouth and nose. Amid her sobs, she asked in a small voice, “Is, is
there going to be another massacre…”
The young gentleman’s gaze was gentle as he raised his hand
to hand her his own handkerchief. He answered, “There won’t.”
Sobs rose all around. His words seemed unconvincing under
the sound of combat and killing ahead.
“Humans won’t be able to outrun horses if the city were to be
breached. We still have to die. Everyone will die.” A man squatting
in the corner pulled at his only remaining donkey and said in an
accent, “I shouldn’t have come to Duanzhou!”
“Where did the Garrison Troops go?” Someone came up to the
gate and slapped on it. “Open the gate now and let us flee to
Dunzhou. Every person who can flee before the city is breached is
still a life saved!”
A clamor broke out among the crowd as they jostled their way
towards the west gate. An air of uneasiness pervaded the night.
Gao Zhongxiong had no choice but to lurch forward under the
force of the pushes and shoves. Hugging his bundle close to him,
he turned aside and jostled his way towards Kong Ling.
“Please don’t trample.” Gao Zhongxiong protected his bundle
and tilted his head high to say, “Everyone, please don’t…”
The jostling crowd could not hear his voice at all. Someone’s
elbow hit Gao Zhongxiong in the stomach. Losing his grip on his
bundle, he watched as his paper and brushes scattered over the
ground. He hurriedly bent down to pick them up, but there were
too many people, and before he could reach them, the brushes
broke under the trampling of feet.
Gao Zhongxiong said in an urgent voice, “Don’t step on the
brushes! Don’t step on the brushes!”
 Kong Ling could barely stand steady on his feet from all the
jostling, and Yao Wenyu’s wheelchair proved to be an
inconvenience here. It would be bad if Yao Wenyu were to get
swept away into the crowd! Holding Hunu in one hand and pulling
at the wheelchair with his other hand, Kong Ling said around him,
“Where are the guards? Hurry over to protect Yuanzhuo!”
The wheels of Yao Wenyu’s wheelchair got stuck on a hard
object, making a loud clang and nearly overturning from the
impact. Yao Wenyu turned his gaze and looked at the crowd.
Moonlight, in its untimely silence, cascaded down along his
sleeves and robe to the ground.
The slapping on the gate intensified, with yells of “open the
gate” everywhere. The memory of the massacre in Duanzhou was
so deeply ingrained that they could not see the light in the
darkness. The more savage the fighting ahead was, the more
everyone lost confidence.
“Oh, blast it!” Gao Zhongxiong angrily flung his sleeves. Giving
up on his brushes, he reached out to grab the wheelchair and
brought it before himself. Blocking the waves of people, he cursed,
“Stop jostling! People are getting hurt! What’s the hurry? The city
hasn’t been breached yet. His Lordship stands before us!”
Shouts promptly rang out all around. “Where did His Lordship
go?”
“Where did Shen Zechuan go?”
“No soldiers. No guards. Did he run?!”
How would Gao Zhongxiong know it would turn out this way?
He hurriedly said, “His Lordship is…”
“Shen Zechuan fled!” Someone stomped their feet and fumed,
“I don’t see him!”
The atmosphere seemed to have been set ablaze. Cries once
inhibited erupted forth among the crowd, and irascible sentiments
ran rampage. Gradually, the slapping on the gate turned into
poundings. Panic and terror pervaded the air. Hysteria abounded
all over.
The latent time bomb called “Shen Wei” finally detonated. It
was like a sharp sword hanging over Shen Zechuan’s head all the
time. Concealed within was Zhongbo’s resistance to Shen Zechuan,
which could never be eradicated even if Shen Zechuan obtained
the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. Shen Wei abandoned the city and
fled, resulting in a bloodbath in Duanzhou and Dunzhou. And now,
Shen Zechuan still had yet to show himself. Once again, the Shen
clan had cowered back and fled.
“Open the gate, open the gate…” Someone bawled.
The gate protruded forward slightly, opening up a crack from
all those crowding. One of the remaining soldiers on garrison duty,
unable to stop the crowd, craned his neck and rebuffed, “Stop
jostling!”
But it was to no avail. The crowd had already been thrown into
disorder.
The soldier on garrison duty gasped for breath, not daring to
open the gate. The scouts in the east were all killed. No one would
know even if the Biansha Cavalry took a detour around to the west.
If he opened the city gate now, he would be giving Duanzhou a
stab in the back. The city would be really breached then!
The soldier on garrison duty shoved the commoners with brute
force. Drawing out the blade on his waist, he bellowed, “Who the
hell gonna jostle again?!”
Kong Ling instantly said, “Oh no.”
Sure enough, as soon as the soldier of the garrison troops
flashed his blade, pandemonium completely broke out all around.
Cloth bundles and fists came raining down on him. The tide of
people surged forth and yelled, “Open the gate!”
The garrison troops could not really kill the people. Protecting
his head as he retreated, the soldier on garrison duty sensed
someone seizing his blade and could not help but blurt, “Grab my
blade and I’ll start slashing!”
The city gate shook from the banging. Before the soldier on
garrison duty could stand steady on his feet, a massive force
suddenly came assaulting from the back. The entire city gate let
loose a muffled “bang” as a battering ram broke the gate from the
outside!
“Fuck me!” The soldier on garrison duty lay prone on the
ground and got trampled upon a few times. He crawled to his feet
and kicked out at the commoners blocking the way, frantically
pushing them backward. To his own soldiers, he yelled, “Quick,
block the gate!”
“The Biansha Cavalry!” The crowd shrieked in fear. Everyone
scrambled backward in an attempt to flee. “The Biansha Cavalry
has breached the city!”
Dragging his blade, the soldier on garrison duty pressed his
back up against the gate that was on the verge of collapse. He
shouted in unison with dozens of other soldiers as they attempted
to push the battered gate back into place. But then, the huge
wooden battering ram outside struck the gate once more, the
impact so forceful it made their backs numb.
Yao Wenyu braced himself against the armrests of his
wheelchair. Gao Zhongxiong and Kong Ling stood on each side,
wanting to push Yuanzhuo away. Kong Ling’s hackles were raised.
Through that partially open city gate, he finally heard the long-
awaited sound of horses’ hooves.
“I’ll take Yuanzhuo through the alley.” Pushing Yao Wenyu, Kong
Ling disregarded the records and picked up the hem of his robe.
“Shenwei, run!”
Gao Zhongxiong’s hands were trembling badly. “I’ll stay with
you…”
The city gate was completely destroyed, and wood splinters
flew all over. The garrison troops could not hold up against the
onslaught of attacks, and the Biansha Cavalry galloped in over
their heads and swung their scimitars at Gao Zhongxiong.
The garrison troop soldier lunged and suddenly parried the
scimitar. With his back to them, he said, “Run. Report to His
Lordship quickly. The west gate is down. Our garrison—”
Before he could finish his words, his head tumbled to the
ground.
Gao Zhongxiong involuntarily yelled out. His legs went weak,
and he held onto the wheelchair for support, almost falling to the
ground. Yao Wenyu saw the scimitar come attacking once again.
His back was soaked in sweat. All of a sudden, he turned the
wheelchair around to shield Kong Ling and Gao Zhongxiong.
A column of light cavalry passed through the crowd so swiftly
they looked like a stream of mercury in the darkness of the night. A
longsword that had been hurled forth stabbed into the throat of
the Biansha Cavalryman. The light cavalry, meanwhile, had already
charged to the front just as the other party toppled off the horse.
Qiao Tianya reined in his horse, pulled out his own sword, and
inserted it back into its sheath. He looked at Yao Wenyu as he
gasped for breath and shouted to Ding Tao behind him, “Take the
gentlemen away!”
Yao Wenyu did not move. He gripped the armrests of his
wheelchair tightly. As he turned his head, his eyes looked past
Qiao Tianya to see Feng Ta Shuang Yi neighing as it raised its
hooves. On its back, Shen Zechuan’s white sleeves flipped over.
Yang Shan Xue was like an enraged dragon, moving with swift
efficiency as it passed through the Biansha Cavalry’s throats like a
sudden burst of lightning so quick one could barely get a clear
look at it.
Feng Ta Shuang Yi passed over heads as it galloped towards
the city gate. The Imperial Cavalry behind swept towards the
Biansha Cavalry, the impact of their blades upon scimitars sending
up a spray of sparks in the frigid wind.
Qiao Tianya made to leave too, but Yao Wenyu looked at him,
faint veins bulging on the back of his hands as he whispered to
him, “Bring His Lordship back!”
Shen Zechuan was in ill health, and he had ruined his right
hand a long time back in Dunzhou. What’s more, he was now the
master of the six prefectures. If he were to die on the battlefield in a
moment of carelessness, then all the painstaking efforts of
everyone in Zhongbo would be all for nothing.
Qiao Tianya showed no expression.
Yao Wenyu looked pleadingly at him and enunciated, word for
word, “The ruler who commands all doesn’t put himself in harm’s
way.”
Shen Zechuan shook off the drops of blood on Yang Shan Xue
and reined in his horse in the open space. With his chest heaving,
he faced the wind. The two fingers on his right hand throbbed
faintly with pain. He stood at the very front, looking at the dusky
world. He was not strong, but he would not fall. He was like an
obscure grit in the daylight, and also like the shiny steel blade
nailed to the ground right before the city of Duanzhou.
He was insidious, cunning, unscrupulous, and even vindictive.
He was not cut out to be an emperor at all.
But—
Qiao Tianya leaned over and feebly flicked the center of Yao
Wenyu’s forehead. Just as Yao Wenyu thought he would do as told,
Qiao Tianya turned his horse around and bellowed, “Unto death
we pledge to follow His Lordship in slaying the enemies—!”
Light instantly broke through the horizon, and the vast expense
of darkness dispersed in the blink of an eye. Shen Zechuan’s blade
slipped past the outer side of his thigh, and the sharp edge of his
blade shot straight out in the light.
Like its master, Feng Ta Shuang Yi would only move onward.
Onward!
The Imperial Cavalry sternly shouted in a chorus of voices,
“Unto death we pledge to follow His Lordship in slaying the
enemies!”
In the eyes of these people, he was the sovereign who heralded
the dawn of a new era!
 CHAPTER 248: NAMELESS

Warning: Birds Abuse

The Biansha Cavalry that had come to mount a surprise attack
at the west gate did not expect there to be such a light cavalry
concealed within Duanzhou. This cavalry rode ponies that were
similar to theirs, advancing and retreating freely among the dark
and gloomy landscape.
Shen Zechuan was a white-feathered bird amidst the flock of
crows. The blade he had wiped clean cut through the first glimmer
of dawn. Before the second wave of assaults began, he
commanded. “Retreat.”
Ding Tao guided the commoners into evacuating. The west
gate of the city had already been breached; this place would soon
be reduced to a battlefield. Li Xiong hoisted up Gao Zhongxiong
and brought Kong Ling and Yao Wenyu with him as he followed
behind the commoners.
The Imperial Cavalry stood in order before the gate. They were
few in number, but they were presently the absolute elites of
Zhongbo. The surviving garrison troops at the west gate, not
daring to make an oversight, pushed the mobile gable wall wagon
that served as a substitute at the base of the city wall. This kind of
movable wall filled with lime mortar was not as thick as the city
gate, although the recessed areas allowed for the placement of
powerful bows.
 The Hongying banner flapped in the wind. The Biansha Cavalry
had already started to beat on their drums. Those cylindrical drums
were deafening, and the ponies dug in their hooves, poised for
action. They did not give the west gate the opportunity to be
patched up. Under the beats of the drum, they launched their
second round of attack before the Imperial Cavalry did.
The sound of hooves was like a sudden rainstorm that
hammered down with such vehemence that the ground shook
slightly. Gravel bounced all over, and dust went assaulting them in
the faces all at once. The imposing momentum of the Biansha
Cavalry came bearing down on them right in the face, so swift they
were like starving jackals and leopards.
Qiao Tianya’s horse was just right behind Feng Ta Shuang Yi to
the side. He pulled the reins tightly and said, “Ready—”
It was as if the Imperial Cavalry had entered a state of
meditation. The wind blew across their cheeks, but no sound
followed in its wake. Even their breathing seemed to have
vanished. Galloping on his pony, the head of Biansha Cavalry
closed the distance and pressed in towards Shen Zechuan. Shen
Zechuan got a whiff of the strong stench of the Biansha Cavalry’s
sweat, and even saw the hideous expressions on the Biansha
Cavalry’s faces.
Time seemed to have stood still.
The next moment, Shen Zechuan flashed his blade and
charged. At the same time Feng Ta Shuang Yi bulldozed its way
into the ranks of Biansha Cavalry vanguards, he said, “Slay the
enemies!”
Slay the enemies!
Like a raging tide of dark clouds, the Imperial Cavalry and the
Biansha Cavalry collide fiercely on the passageway of the city gate.
Steel blades and scimitars clinked and clanged as they crossed
each other. The west gate had no battle tactics to speak of; the only
way was to kill the enemies. It was only by thwarting the Biansha
Cavalry head-on that Duanzhou’s defensive battle could continue.
Shen Zechuan had to charge at the very front, using this kind of
crude way to rally and unite the people of Duanzhou.
 The Biansha Cavalry congested the passageway and blocked
out the light. It was here both parties crowded as the sound of
combat and killing thundered through the skies. Sprays of
splattering blood from all around soaked through Shen Zechuan’s
sleeves. He brandished his blade and cut down the enemy troops
before him. The first light of day penetrating through shone upon
his cheeks, which were trickling with blood and sweat. With a
malicious and ruthless expression in his eyes, the Prefectural Lord
knocked down the Biansha Cavalry with unstoppable momentum
and charged right ahead.
This branch of Biansha Cavalry was a sneak attack squad that
had circled to the back. They were no match for the Imperial
Cavalry – whose morale was at an all-time high – and repeatedly
retreated into the passageway. Both times they crossed swords,
they suffered badly, and eventually, they had no choice but to
withdraw from the passageway. The garrison troops saw their
opportunity and acted, pushing the mobile gable wall wagon in
unison to block the destroyed city gate when Shen Zechuan
retreated.
The wheels made clicking sounds as they rotated, and a
garrison troop pushing the wall yelled, “Not enough bows and
arrows!”
Shen Zechuan reined in his horse. Yang Shan Xue hung by his
side, dripping blood the entire way. He said, “Let down the backup
overhanging gate.”
The garrison troops at the top of the city hauled in the rope,
and the overhanging gate crashed down to the ground amid the
rotating sounds of interlocking gears, blocking off access to the
interior of the passageway. This was Duanzhou’s second layer of
defensive wall, specifically designed to deal with situations like
what was happening now.
Shen Zechuan’s right hand could not hold his blade tight. He
only had to stop, and his two fingers would throb with pain. He felt
in his sleeve pocket and only found Xiao Chiye’s blue handkerchief.
He used it to secure the hilt of Yang Shan Xue to his palm,
strapping his two fingers tightly to ensure that the blade would not
slip from his hand.
 “Pass the word to the north and south city gates now,” Shen
Zechuan said. “Lower all the backup overhanging gates.”
Amu’er had the Zhongbo’s military map seven years ago, and
he could be said to know Duanzhou and Dunzhou like the back of
his palm. Judging from Hasen’s tactics of launching swift surprise
attacks and precise points of attacks, he must have also seen
Zhongbo’s military map. Since Duanzhou had already become an
isolated city, it would be unwise to defend just the east gate alone.
“Lower the backup gates, and we won’t be able to get out
anymore.” Qiao Tianya watched the rays of morning light sweep
over the city walls. “The smoke signal towers5 have yet to be lit.”
“There will naturally be people going to light up the smoke
signal towers in Dunzhou and Mount Luo.” Shen Zechuan clenched
his fist. “The east gate is still open. As long as the smoke signal
tower near the Bianjun Commandery is lit up again, the
reinforcements from the Bianjun Commandery will arrive.”
Hasen must have used some way to delay Xiao Chiye, but Xiao
Chiye would definitely come. That was why Hasen had opted for a
swift surprise attack; he wanted a quick battle, so that he could
breach Duanzhou first before Xiao Chiye led the reinforcements
over and looted the granaries clean before making his escape. He
had no wish at all to engage Xiao Chiye head-on in a battle in
Zhongbo.
◈ ◈ ◈
Yin Chang led the garrison troops to kill a bunch of Biansha
infantry soldiers before retreating. As long as he could prevent the
infantry soldiers from erecting the passage planks, the east gate
would not immediately face the brunt of the Biansha Cavalry’s
assault.
“Retreat, retreat! Don’t risk your fucking life and go all out; we
are going to fight a protracted war with these sons of a bitch.” Yin
Chang wiped the blood from his face and kicked out at the
backsides of the slow-running garrison troops.
All four gates of Duanzhou had to be defended and secured,
and to the 20,000 garrison troops, this was a challenge. Yin Chang
wanted to stall for time, so his garrison troops had to be able to
withstand the assault of the cavalry. In addition, he had to be able
to both hold off the infantry and preserve his physical strength
before the Biansha Cavalry charged.
The garrison troops retreated into the city. Yin Chang was the
last batch. He was all prepared to cross the trench when he heard
the sound of horse hooves behind him. He promptly broke out in a
cold sweat. Relying on the foresight of a seasoned war veteran, the
old man rolled on the ground and yelled, “Draw your blades!”
That crescent-like scimitar went slashing through the position
where Yin Chang’s head had been earlier.
His heart palpitating, the old man rubbed his neck and shouted
at the new arrival, “How can you not even say hello!”
Zhuoli could not understand Yin Chang’s words. His powerful
hooves had already stomped its way in front of Yin Chang. Yin
Chang rolled over, covering himself in dust all over.
Zhuoli happily said, “What a nimble prey.”
Yin Chang did not understand what Zhuoli was saying either.
He braced himself on the ground with one hand and grasped the
blade backhandedly with the other hand as he faced off against
Zhuoli in a bizarre confrontation beside the trench.
Savage.
Yin Chang wiped his red nose with his thumb that reeked of the
earth and made his assessment of Zhuoli. The expression in his
eyes was as silent as this expanse of sky. Those din from the
artillery bombardment could not sway him. He was one with the
mother earth, completely poles apart from the raucous image his
appearance portrayed. He always had with him an unparalleled
composure in times of crisis.
“You,” Yin Chang’s dropping voice was slightly hoarse as the
old man said with certainty, “have been to Cizhou seven years
ago.”
On hearing “Cizhou”, Zhuoli gestured to Yin Chang with his
scimitar and said in broken Dazhou language, “I, been there. With,
this blade.”
The strong wind tousled up Yin Chang’s white hair. The old
man kicked out against the ground with legs and sprang up high.
He swung his blade towards Zhuoli’s head. Zhuoli held up his
scimitar to block the blow, and the battle pony under him took
several steps back from the impact of Yin Chang’s force.
Perceptive, Zhuoli asked, “You, recognize me?”
Both of Yin Chang’s palms trembled slightly when he landed
on the ground. He slid his feet apart and suddenly burst out
laughing. “I recognize you, but you don’t recognize me. Seven
years ago in Cizhou, I watched you people burn down the houses
and slaughtered the entire city…” His expression abruptly turned
cold and still.
“You took away their heads.”
Zhuoli half-listened and half-guessed. He waited until Yin
Chang was done speaking before he undid the hemp rope at the
side of his thigh, where the heads of the Chashi River scouts were
hanging. He lifted them up and threw them to Yin Chang, then
said in the Biansha tongue, “I don’t want them anymore. I want
your head.”
The heads rolled at Yin Chang’s feet. They were all young
faces. Yin Chang looked at these faces, then at Zhuoli.
He watched Zhuoli quietly.
Yet Zhuoli felt that the ferocious beast in this old body was
roaring.
“You should accord dignity to those who died in battle,” Yin
Chang said. “You beasts.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Fei Sheng followed the garrison troops to disperse the
commoners. He stood on the street and hesitated for a moment,
then turned around and ran back to the east gate. Midway through,
he heard the sound of hooves, and Fei Sheng looked back to see
Shen Zechuan leading the Imperial Cavalry towards the east gate.
“Get on the horse!” Qiao Tianya threw the horsewhip hanging
at the side to Fei Sheng.
Fei Sheng caught the whip and slowed his pace. When an
unoccupied horse galloped past him, he flipped onto it. Grabbing
on the reins, he asked Qiao Tianya, “How’s the west gate?”
“Destroyed.”
The color drained from Fei Sheng’s face.
Qiao Tianya continued, “And His Lordship walled it up again.”
 Fei Sheng couldn’t help but curse, “Can’t you fucking finish your
sentence in one go?!”
Qiao Tianya burst into laughter. Both of them followed Shen
Zechuan and continued to gallop eastward. When they reached
the city gate, they saw the gate wide open. The garrison troops had
yet to completely withdraw.
Shen Zechuan dismounted and took long strides to the top of
the city. Midway through, the intensive bombardment stopped him
in his tracks. He brushed away the floating dust and asked, “Do we
still have the parapets?”
“Not for long.” Covering his ears, Fei Sheng shouted, “The
Biansha Cavalry switched to single-branch cannons!”6
Shen Zechuan’s heart sank slightly. Hasen meant to smash
down the eastern defense wall of Duanzhou with continuous
bombardment. He looked down along the battlements and saw
that the Biansha Cavalry had already forced their way to within a
short distance from the trench.
“Open the sluice gates and release the water.” Shen Zechuan’s
expression was heavy. “The Biansha Cavalry is going to charge.”
“Open the sluice gates—” Fei Sheng dashed towards the south.
Midway through shouting, he choked on the dust. Covering his
mouth and nose, he instantly recalled something. Grabbing a
garrison troop soldier at the side, he asked, “Why isn’t the city gate
closed yet? The Biansha Cavalry is about to attack!”
The garrison troop soldier answered as he coughed, “The
commander, the commander has not withdrawn yet!”
Startled, Fei Sheng disregarded the heavy rocks flying all
around and held on to the city wall as he looked down. There were
too many soldiers and horses in a jumble down there, and he
strained to find Yin Chang among them.
“Come on, man, return to the city…”
Yin Chang’s blade hooked onto Zhuoli’s scimitar, both of them
engaged in a back-and-forth battle on the ground. The old man’s
feet slid. He bellowed and moved backward, his peripheral vision
capturing the sight of the oncoming cavalry.
He couldn’t fight a protracted war!
 Yin Chang immediately relaxed his strength, and the blade
dropped down along the gap of the scimitar. He reached out an
arm to grab the hilt and broke into a run towards the trench. The
water storage sluice gates on both sides of the city walls had yet to
be opened; they were waiting for the garrison troops to return to
the city before releasing them. But Yin Chang felt scalding heat
behind his back while he was dashing like mad, and as he rolled
forward, he shouted, “SHUT THE GATE—!”
The oncoming Biansha Cavalry behind did not come to storm
the city at all. Taking advantage of the fact that the city gate had yet
to be closed, they tipped out the tits with their tails lit from their
bags. These birds panicky rushed around blindly, their bags
already in flames. Then they swarmed across the trench and went
crashing towards the city gate.
The overhanging gate within the passageway of the city gate
was made of wood. Once it started burning, the defense of the east
gate would be lost.
Yin Chang stopped before the trench and sprang up without
warning, but behind him, Zhuoli followed suit and lunged over to
snag Yin Chang’s robe. Under the sound of ripping, he dragged
Yin Chang to the ground.
Yin Chang thrust his blade onto the ground to steady his body,
which was being pulled along by the pony. He shouted himself
hoarse at the city gate, “Shut the gate! Release the waters!”
“Fuck, fuck!” Fei Sheng braced himself with his arms and
leaped down the stairs, pushing through the crowd as he ran
towards the passageway. “Wait. Fuck your ancestors!”
The flaming birds struck against the city gates. The clothes of
the garrison troops were already on fire. The men rolled on the
ground to put out the fire and ran into the passageway. The base of
the inner city wall all had water pouches on standby to extinguish
fires, but there were too many birds on fire. If they did not shut the
gate now, the overhanging gate would be set aflame too!
Shen Zechuan’s throat was dry and hoarse under the persisting
bombardment. The sunrise in the east stung his eyes as he stood
amidst the dust and gave the order. “Shut the gate.”
 The city gate moved with a muffled noise. Fei Sheng was still
jostling among the crowd of people who were surging back. He
was like duckweed7 going against the currents, with nary a
lifesaving straw for him to grasp on to for support. The light within
the passageway began to fade. The garrison troops crowding their
way in blocked Fei Sheng’s view. He could not see outside, much
less across the trench.
“Don’t shut the gate…” Fei Sheng desperately pushed aside the
garrison troops and said the fastest he had ever spoken, “Don’t
shut it!”
The city gate slammed shut, and the passageway went
completely dark. The sluice gates on both sides suddenly lifted,
and the unfinished trench held in the water with some difficulty,
drawing a boundary line between the city gate and the Biansha
Cavalry.
Shen Zechuan abruptly raised his voice. “Put out the fire!”
Unable to hold up against the force, Yin Chang was dragged
backward by the battle pony. He dragged his blade, scuffing
against the ground. Under the sound of hooves, he ripped off the
wine bag at the side of his waist, opened it with his teeth, and
poured the wine all over his face. Then he tossed away the wine
bag and wiped his face. With his face to the sky, he laughed,
“Whoa, it’s On Horseback!”
Fei Sheng fell to his knees before the city gate. Clawing at the
gap with both hands, he said through gritted teeth, “Open the gate
—!”
Shen Zechuan pursed his lips tightly and watched Yin Chang,
his eyes both reddened.
Fei Sheng’s hands had both gone bloody from clawing at the
iron-sheet-covered crack. He pounded on the gate and slammed
himself against it. “Open the gate. I’m telling you to OPEN THE
GATE!”
Zhuoli lassoed his horsewhip around Yin Chang’s neck and
hauled the old man up with the strength of his arms. Yin Chang
was still gripping his blade. He could not tread steadily on the
ground from the stranglehold. He looked at Zhuoli, choking as he
said, “Make, make it swift!”
 Zhuoli held his scimitar against Yin Chang’s neck. He scythed it
forward, but Yin Chang unexpectedly lunged forward. The old man
took advantage of Zhuoli’s raised arm and abandoned his attempts
to paw at the whip around his neck. The cutting glint of the steel
blade he was backhandedly gripping flashed suddenly as he
practically twisted around half of his body, using his forearm to
bring over the sharp edge of the blade as he roared. Before Zhuoli
got to scythe off his head, he slashed off Zhuoli’s head.
Yin Chang fell to the ground, the horsewhip still tightly secured
around his neck. He let out a ragged breath, then, propping
himself up on the ground with his elbows, he crawled a little in the
direction of Duanzhou. Armored hooves thundered behind him
like an incoming tidal wave.
Nameless nobody.
Yin Chang laughed out loud.
And started crying.
Xiaosheng.
Taking sharp, urgent gasps for breath, Yin Chang shouted at
the city gate, his voice reverberating through the skies. “Your
Lordship, seems to me today is—a resounding victory!”
Thundering hooves engulfed the old man whole.
After a brief moment of dead silence on the other end of the
city gate, Fei Sheng pounded on the iron sheet as he slid down
along that tiny ray of light to the ground, where, with both hands
against the gate, he began to bawl.

Author’s Notes:
I fabricated the mobile gable wall wagon. Perhaps there indeed
was such a defensive weapon with such a function, but I didn’t see
a definite name when I was doing my research, so I made up one
here. (And Lianyin made up the English term ._.)
Thank you for reading.
 CHAPTER 249: WARFARE TACTIC

The flaming birds barging all over were shut outside the gate.
Meanwhile, the garrison troops did not stop. They darted about in
the passageway, dragging the reserve water bags to pour the
water over the city gate as a precaution.
The Biansha Cavalry across the trench was infuriated and
exasperated as they faced Zhuoli’s corpse. Zhuoli was a Lizard who
followed Amu’er deep into Zhongbo seven years ago, and he was
a gift Amu’er gave to Hasen. It was precisely because of him that
Hasen could sever Duanzhou’s external connections in just a few
short days.
“Drag him away!” A Biansha cavalryman looked at the
Duanzhou gate. “This reckless, stupid good-for-nothing… Buck up!
Before Hasen arrives, we must think of a way to cross over this
trench!”
Yin Chang removed the passage planks and even killed the
infantry pushing the head cart, subsequently plunging the Biansha
Cavalry into a brief period of anxiety as they faced the trench. At
the same time, he also gave the garrison troops within the city the
chance to catch their breath. But then, the trench of Duanzhou was
still not considered a moat. In order to connect the trench on both
the north and south sides, the square bricks on both ends had not
been solidly embedded, so this trench could not be kept filled for a
long period of time. The water storage sluice gates had been
opened, and the water had been emptied out. Even if the trench
could hold out, the Biansha Cavalry would soon think of a way to
cross it.
Before dark, the Biansha Cavalry would definitely storm the
east gate.
“Prepare the heavy rocks,” Shen Zechuan turned his head to the
side to say to Qiao Tianya. “Push the mounted crossbow up the city
wall!”
The garrison troops at the foot of the city worked as one and
exerted themselves to push the mounted crossbow up along the
wider passageway. The Biansha Cavalry’s single-branch cannons8
kept up with their onslaught of assaults, and the heavy rocks hurled
at the city wall had already smashed out an opening in the city wall
facing east. Broken pieces of bricks fell off along with pieces of clay
and mud. In addition, a few of the battlements had collapsed too.
The garrison troops had no choice but to cover their heads with
their arms and dodge the debris as they pressed their bodies
against the mounted crossbow that was sliding downward.
The garrison troops were unable to hold up against the force of
gravity, and the mounted crossbow weighed down on them until
their heels scraped against the ground as they slid down too. All
they could do was to shout, “It’s too heavy!”
Qiao Tianya leaped over the stairs, intending to lend a helping
hand, but he saw a commoner in cotton clothes lower his body
slightly and raise both arms to hold up the part of the mounted
crossbow that was sliding down.
Ji Gang, with dust on his white hair, bellowed in a deep voice,
“Lift—!”
The garrison troops felt the weight on their backs lighten.
Bulging veins on Ji Gang’s temple jumped slightly. He strode
forward a step at a time, slowly shifting the mounted crossbow up
along the slope. By the time the mounted crossbow was in position,
both of Ji Gang’s arms were trembling, and his back, too, was all
drenched in sweat.
It was now the hour of si, when the sun shone bright. Soldiers
ran everywhere, their faces smeared with a blend of sweat and dust
that made them choke. They did not dare to recklessly fire the
arrows on the battlements, as the enemy troops might sway them
into depleting their inventory. They had to save it until the Biansha
Cavalry charged before firing the arrows. The same went for the
mounted crossbow too. This killing weapon could not be activated
too rashly. It had to be lethal in one blow and hurt the Biansha
Cavalry, just like how Yin Chang killed Zhuoli.
“Split up the garrison troops into three squads to defend the
three gates. Have the Imperial Cavalry await their orders at the east
gate.” Shen Zechuan raised the hand gripping his blade and used
the back of his hand to wipe the sweat on his cheek. “We have to
seal off the remaining three gates before night falls.”
Duanzhou’s granaries were in full abundance. To attack
Duanzhou, the Biansha Cavalry could lay a long siege to deplete
the granaries in Duanzhou. Trap and strand Duanzhou for a month,
and wear down Duanzhou to death. But Hasen wanted a quick
battle, so he would not adopt the strategy of laying a long-term
siege. The Biansha Cavalry had been mounting a violent onslaught
of attack since last night. If they were to come to a deadlock at the
east gate, then the Biansha Cavalry would very likely circle around
to the other three gates and advance from the side, just like how
they launched a sneak attack on the west gate.
Shen Zechuan had lowered the overhanging gate at the other
three gates as a defense, but this was not a long-term solution, as
the Biansha Cavalry had siege weapons. The battering rams
equipped with thick, sturdy woods could directly break down the
city gates, followed by the overhanging gates to let the Biansha
Cavalry enter the city unobstructed.
“Kerosene. Rocks,” Shen Zechuan said. “Then tear down the
collapsed watchtower in the city and have garrison troops
separately defending the three gates bring whatever they can use
for resistance to the top of the city. As long as you catch sight of the
Biansha Cavalry, blow the horn to sound the signal and throw
down the miscellaneous objects to stop them from charging.”
He had to think of a way to get out of the city again as soon as
possible.
Shen Zechuan looked at the horizon in the southeast.
The smoke signal tower there was still and silent.
◈ ◈ ◈
 All the gentlemen were gathered at the riding stables. This
place, being wide and spacious, could accommodate several
groups of commoners from the city. Gao Zhongxiong had only just
regained his composure. He leaned over to rub at his calves as he
said to Kong Ling, “Just, just now, that situation…”
The moment he got anxious, he started to stammer again.
Kong Ling soothed him. “No harm done. Your courage in
wanting to bring Yuanzhuo away with you at that time is already
deserving of praise. Back then in my younger days in Dunzhou
when I learned that the cavalry had entered the city, I really
couldn’t care about anything else at all.”
Yao Wenyu was clutching at his sleeves when a hand
interrupted his train of thought in the silence. He glanced over and
saw that the woman from earlier was calling her child over to return
the handkerchief. Yao Wenyu raised his hand but did not take the
handkerchief. Instead, he extended his dust-tainted fingers and
gently touched the child’s cheek.
Alive.
Yao Wenyu’s chest heaved slightly.
The sound of footsteps along the riding stables intensified as
the garrison troops sprinted past and made to get to the top of the
wall.
“Supply the bow and arrows to the west gate!” The junior
general in the lead sheathed his blade and moved the
miscellaneous objects with his bare hands. “Leave the collapsed
watchtower to us!”
“Not enough,” the soldier at the top of the wall answered. “Just
one tower collapsed. It’s not enough!”
Duanzhou had quite a number of defensive weapons. The
armory had all been emptied, mainly to support the east gate. The
remaining gates could only pick from what was left to share
between them. A wave of their bows and arrows had been
depleted by Biansha Cavalry in the morning, and now they had to
make up for the shortfall over at the west gate where the entrance
had been blocked up with the mobile gable wall wagons.
What were they to do?
 A man suddenly stood up from the riding stables. Weighing up
an old hoe, he asked, “Can this be thrown?”
The junior general said, “Throw it away, and it won’t be
returned to you!”
“Then you take it.” The man tried his best to speak in officialese.
“The city is besieged. No point in keeping this hoe if we can’t beat
the Biansha Cavalry to death. Are you short of men?”
The garrison troops did not answer, considering that they had
just clashed with the commoners earlier at the west gate.
Many a number of people then stood up from the riding
stables. They were all men in the prime of their lives, carrying with
them their own farming tools. They shouted at the garrison troops.
“Are you short of men? If so, we are all men here!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The Biansha Cavalry’s artillery assault persisted until the hour of
you when dusk fell. The east gate was patched up over and over
again, and the spare parapet walls were all about to be smashed
down to nothing. Yet, the Biansha Cavalry did not show any
intention of stopping. This was the real artillery bombardment—they
would never stop until the collapse of the eastern side of the city
wall.
“The single-branch cannons are all rocks.” Crouching behind
the battlement, Qiao Tianya said to Shen Zechuan against the
sounds of the cannon. “They are out there in the open fields, so
they have no lack of rocks. If this keeps on for two more days, then
even if the Biansha Cavalry doesn’t charge through the trench, the
city wall would not be able to hold up any further.”
“Hasen can’t wait two days.” Shen Zechuan’s cheeks were filthy.
“The Biansha Cavalry will definitely attack before nightfall.”
Now that the garrison troops had lost Yin Chang, the Biansha
Cavalry had to probe just how far over their heads the garrison
troops were at present. Having endured a day of bombardment,
the garrison troops were already very exhausted, and this was
presently an excellent opportunity for the Biansha Cavalry.
“When they cross the trench, we’ll open the city gate,” Shen
Zechuan said. “The garrison troops will continue to defend the city.
Let the Imperial Cavalry fend off the attack.”
 “Fei Sheng and I…”
“You and I.” Shen Zechuan raised his eyes. “You’ll alternate with
me. As long as you beat back the Biansha Cavalry’s charge, retreat
into the city immediately. Don’t persist in fighting.”
The number of Biansha Cavalry far exceeded that of the
Imperial Cavalry. A steel needle could not face up against a broad
ax head-on. Shen Zechuan only had to pierce through the Biansha
Cavalry’s momentum, and he would be able to maintain a
defensive posture.
Qiao Tianya licked his lips and said with a stern countenance.
“You’re the Prefectural Lord, not a general.”
Shen Zechuan did not answer. Bracing himself against the wall,
he stood up. Under the dim filament of heaven, he looked past the
dense cluster of Biansha Cavalry at the Chashi River. The Chashi
River was like a jade belt9 dipping in the sunset, reflecting the thick,
magnificent clouds where the saker falcons soared among.
The expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes gradually took on an
edge of sharpness.
“I’m the Prefectural Lord of Zhongbo,” he said.
Before the magnificent clouds above the Chashi River had
dispersed, the wall beside Shen Zechuan’s hand quaked with a
thunderous crash.
“The catapults!” The garrison troop on the lookout at the
watchtower sounded the alarm at the top of his voice. “Here comes
the Biansha Cavalry’s catapults!”
After a full day’s rest, the catapults that had sounded off the
prelude to the battle last night were now back in the game
following the single-branch cannons. The Biansha Cavalry started
to split up into squads, pounding on their cylindrical drums to
swiftly pass on information on the battlefield.
Shen Zechuan promptly yanked off his cumbersome wide robe,
secured that singular arm guard tightly, and descended the steps
to the base of the city wall where Feng Ta Shuang Yi was waiting
with its chin up. He got onto his horse and said to Qiao Tianya,
“Stay vigilant at the remaining three gates.”
Qiao Tianya bowed, then shouted. “Your Lordship, to a
resounding victory!”
 Shen Zechuan tugged at the reins and turned the horse
around, steering it towards the passageway. His ravishing
appearance was covered with blood and sweat; only his eyes
remained bright. Behind him, the Imperial Cavalry steadied their
breathing—they too wanted to end this battle quickly.
The war steed at a side abruptly sunk slightly as Fei Sheng got
on and shifted the Xiuchun blade at the side of his waist before
him. His bloodshot eyes looked at Shen Zechuan. “I am Your
Lordship’s guard.” He paused for a moment, then drew his blade
and raised his voice. “We are Your Lordship’s shields!”
Shen Zechuan nodded slightly, and Feng Ta Shuang Yi started
to trod forward. His figure gradually stepped into the passageway.
In the moment of silence as he faced the city gate, Shen Zechuan
proclaimed. “I live and die with all of you.”
The city gates opened once again. That dull thud ushered in
the last of the daylight that weaved in and out of the countless
horse hooves.
All at once, the Hongying banner was raised high in the
evening glow. A cavalryman hoisted up the flagpole, and from
where he was behind the reorganized infantry, waved it suddenly
and shouted in the Biansha tongue, “Charge—!”
The stray wisp of Fei Sheng’s hair swayed in the wind. His badly
scraped fingers gripped onto the hilt of the blade tightly, and in the
instant Shen Zechuan spurred his horse on forward, he shouted. “A
resounding victory!”
Feng Ta Shuang Yi trod on the dust and galloped forth.
The infantry abandoned their shields and kneeled orderly with
the passage planks in their arms. As the Biansha Cavalry was about
to cross over them, they started erecting a narrow bridge. Stepping
across the planks, the men with scimitars crossed the trench and
came head to head with the Imperial Cavalry at the foot of the city.
After a full day’s rest outside the city, the Biansha Cavalry was
brimming with energy. They drank their fill of milk tea and ate their
fill of dried meat jerky. At first, they thought they would face up
against an already exhausted garrison troop, but who knew that
the Imperial Cavalry was also sufficiently rested and had also
stuffed themselves full with dry rations. There was no opportunity at
all for the Biansha Cavalry to take advantage of.
Amidst the disarray of hooves, both parties collided with brute
force, like blade striking against blade.
All along, Yang Shan Xue had never met force with force with
the scimitars, for Shen Zechuan artfully went straight for the throats.
His arm guard became heavy, and blood that trickled in slid further
down along his arm, staining half of his body red.
The number of men for the Biansha Cavalry’s first charge was
not enough, and the passage bridge that had been hastily erected
was too narrow and could not hold up against the Imperial
Cavalry’s combat at close quarters. So the Biansha Cavalry could
only retreat temporarily and hastily end this round of attack.
Shen Zechuan immediately turned his horse around and
returned to the city. The city gate shut again when he entered the
passageway. Torches were lit up in the passageway. The hour of hai
was somehow already fast approaching.
Shen Zechuan’s right arm was slow to react. When he was still
in the Imperial Bodyguards, he had never fought with all his might
for such a long period of time. Then he had neglected his martial
arts practice after arriving in Zhongbo. He was already now aware
of how slow-reacting his body was.
No sensation in both fingers.
Shen Zechuan lifted his left hand to wipe away the blood on his
face without so much an expression, then swapped positions with
Qiao Tianya.
The Imperial Bodyguards had not even rested for two hours
when the drums outside sounded again, and the Biansha Cavalry
attacked for the second time. This time, Qiao Tianya led the troops
to resist and fight back, and it was not until the hour of chou that he
returned.
“The warfare tactic of taking turns to fight and wear the
opponent down.”10 Fei Sheng watched from the battlements as the
Biansha Cavalry moved their torches around. “Their cavalry is
different every round of attack, so the fight won’t stop even if the
fight goes on until daybreak.”
 “Hasen stashed away a portion of his troops.” Shen Zechuan
leaned against the wall for a rest and stuffed several mouthfuls of
steamed buns into his mouth. “Otherwise, there won’t be complete
silence from Ce’an.”
Before Xiao Chiye headed down south, he had done a
simulation with Lu Guangbai. The purpose of his trip down south
was to lure Hasen into mobilizing his troops, but the warning sign
to this was that the Biansha Cavalry at the entrance of the battle
zone would be reduced. Lu Guangbai still had yet to come to
provide reinforcement, and that meant that the onslaught of
assaults at the battle zone had not stopped. Hasen had long put
enough camouflages in place in order to attack Duanzhou. It was
very likely that there were more than the six tribes behind Amu’er.
Gazing at the cavalry, Fei Sheng said, “I have to bring the old
man back.”
Shen Zechuan managed with some effort to finish his steamed
bun and stood up with Yang Shan Xue in hand. He had already
gone without sleep for a day and a night.
“We have to think of a way to do so…” Shen Zechuan raised his
head slightly. “Qiao Tianya need not retreat during the next round
of attack. We’ll head out of the city together.”
Fei Sheng looked back.
The expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was somber as he said
with clear enunciation, “Fuck.”
Fei Sheng’s stiff facial muscles gradually began to move. He did
not know why either, but he suddenly broke into laughter. He
laughed and laughed, and in the midst of laughing, he raised a
hand to wipe his tears as he followed suit and said, “Fuck.”
 CHAPTER 250: DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Warning: Violence
Three quarters past the hour of chou, gloomy clouds concealed
the moon.
The Biansha Cavalry withdrew from the front lines after they
regrouped, replaced by the elite forces from the first attack. The
torches they raised suddenly went out, and the drums that had
been sounding all night stopped. The outskirts of Duanzhou were
abruptly plunged into darkness. Without the illumination of the
torches, the archers along the city wall could not see across the
trench clearly. The sentry climbed up the only remaining
watchtower and bravely stepped on the railing, where he craned
his neck to survey from high above the ground.
“Can’t get a clear look.” The sentry’s temples dripped with
sweat as he gestured to the top of the wall. “Too dark!”
The onslaught of attacks from the single-branch cannon and
catapults ceased too. Other than a scattering of sound from
hooves, no other news could be gathered from within the city. In
this rare moment of silence, the garrison troops trod lightly, as if
afraid of startling something. They stood up in their respective
positions, with some premonition of the rainstorm that was about
to come assaulting.
The garrison troops in the passageway began to withdraw
outward, dragging the corpses they had cleared out to make way
for the Imperial Cavalry. Clear water splashed over the green slab
stones and flushed past the hooves of the horses, dissipating the
strong, heavy stench of blood.
The ranks of the Biansha Cavalry moved. They planned to pass
through the passage planks they had securely erected, then form a
wall before the city gate. They had figured out the ways of the
Imperial Cavalry after numerous attempts at feeling them out. To
deal with the steel needle, they had to form a thick brick to smash it
to pieces!
The garrison troops stationed at the top of the city wall did not
dare to wipe their sweat. Their Adam’s apples bobbed as they
listened to the sound of hooves and silently counted down in
unison in their hearts.
The Biansha Cavalry dashed towards the trench.
The hooves of the Biansha Cavalry’s ponies stepped onto the
passage planks, and the thunderous sound instantaneously
resounded through the trench.
Now!
The garrison troops waved their banners and shouted in a
hoarse voice, “Shove—!”
The heavy rocks at the top of the city wall started rolling along
the small wooden passages, rumbling as they turned past a few
small and short areas, where they bumped against the edges and
went springing out to rain upon the trench. The Biansha Cavalry,
who had been hidden in the darkness, could not block the sudden
assault from above, and they were knocked off stride by the
smashing rocks. More than half of the passage planks immediately
broke apart, and countless Biansha Cavalrymen plunged into the
trench.
The city gate was already wide open. With Shen Zechuan in the
center and Qiao Tianya and Fei Sheng as the flanks, the three
squads charged in unison. The Biansha Cavalry’s formation that
had fallen to pieces left countless voids, and the Imperial Cavalry
attacked where they saw openings, tearing the Biansha Cavalry’s
attacking squads into pieces starting from the trench.
Archers replaced the rock pushers at the top of the city wall. Hot
oil was poured over the arrowheads, which were wrapped in
tattered rags. The arrows were then fired down at the same time
they were ignited. The Biansha Cavalry did not have the cover of
the infantry’s head cart, nor did they have the protection of armors,
so the moment the flaming arrows brushed past their clothing, they
would start burning.
All at once, the entire trench lit up.
Fei Sheng’s right flank had already charged across the trench
through the Biansha’s passage planks. He bent half of his body
over in the strong gale and lashed out with his horsewhip to speed
ahead. As he passed by Yin Chang’s position, he suddenly slid
over to pull out the old man’s blade with one arm. The instant he
grabbed hold of the hilt of Yin Chang’s blade, he turned his head
aside to wipe his cheek hard on his shoulder and thrust the blade
into the vacated sheath on his back.
In the wind, Fei Sheng pulled the reins to turn the horse aside
and continued to gallop towards the smoke signal tower in the
southeast.
The Biansha Cavalry sensed a branch of light cavalry breaking
out of the encirclement in the dimness. Before the cavalrymen they
mobilized could close up the opening, Shen Zechuan, who had
similarly crossed the trench, clutched them by the throat and
forcibly dragged them over. The center and left flank of the
Imperial Cavalry were all meant to act as a shield and cover. With
their backs to the burning trench, they spared no effort to fight at
close quarters under the rain of arrows.
The scattered Biansha Cavalry speedily regrouped themselves,
but the speed of the Imperial Cavalry was swift too. None of them
held an advantage over the other on their mounts; it all hinged on
whose blades were faster.
Qiao Tianya’s original appearance was barely discernible under
the splatter of blood. He wiped his blade with his sleeve and
whistled as he followed Shen Zechuan.
“Your Lordship.” Qiao Tianya was done wiping his blade. “Is
this blade still good to use?”11
In the darkness of the night, where bursts of sparks erupted all
over, Shen Zechuan said, “Just as fast as Yang Shan Xue.”
Qiao Tianya’s tattered sleeves exposed his arm. He had not
even put on his arm guard. He was just like a blade without a
sheath. All of a sudden, he turned around and said in a way which
no one could tell if he was being serious, “Don’t say it like that to
Yuanzhuo. It’s a big misunderstanding. I’m not fast.”
“Then I’m really,” Shen Zechuan suddenly held up Yang Shan
Xue that he had been grasping in a reverse grip at an angle to
block the scimitar behind for Qiao Tianya. Blood splashed all over
Qiao Tianya’s face under the slashing sound of a blade. Calmly,
Shen Zechuan continued, “…so very happy for Yuanzhuo.”
The Imperial Cavalry in the back returned to their position, and
Shen Zechuan ceased to speak. With Yang Shan Xue in tow, he
turned the horse around to face the direction of the Biansha
Cavalry’s single-branch cannon, then broke into a run.
The man in charge of passing on military intelligence sped
through the ranks while waving a small flag. Pointing at the single-
branch cannon, he said, “Withdraw the cannon!”
But the Imperial Cavalry was too fast. The Scorpion guarding by
the side of the single-branch cannon swung his hammer at Shen
Zechuan. Just as Shen Zechuan, who was regaining his grip on
Yang Shan Xue, was about to cross swords with the Scorpion, he
suddenly rolled off his horse, and Feng Ta Shuang Yi instantly lifted
its hooves to sidestep away. The Scorpion’s intention to break Feng
Ta Shuang Yi’s legs with a swing of his hammer fell short, and as he
turned around, he cursed in the Biansha Tongue, “Cunning—”
Shen Zechuan kicked out at the ground and leaped forth in a
pounce. The Scorpion was strapping tall and sturdy, and Shen
Zechuan climbed onto the back of the Scorpion’s shoulders and
used a hand to suddenly crank the head of the Scorpion askew to
expose his neck. As the blade met flesh, Yang Shan Xue slashed
across it.
His right hand lacked strength, and he unexpectedly missed,
failing to slit the Scorpion’s throat.
Blood spurted out from the Scorpion’s neck. The hammer he
was brandishing did not stop. He let loose a ragged gasp that did
not sound human and grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan with his free
hand.
A drop of blood on the ridge of Shen Zechuan’s brow trickled
down. He resisted the force, and that blade that had once slashed
across the Scorpion’s neck made another attempt. As if he was
slaughtering cattle and sheep, he used a sawing motion to
completely sever the other man’s throat.
This relentlessness to persist until the other man’s death sent a
chill down the backs of the Imperial Cavalry behind him.
The Scorpion toppled over to the ground with a crash. His
hammer and Shen Zechuan both went falling.
Feng Ta Shuang Yi had already circled back. Shen Zechuan
climbed to his feet and mounted his horse once again. With the tip
of his toe, Qiao Tianya lifted the hammer and weighed it in his
hand, then swung it down hard on one of the legs of the single-
branch cannon stand. The leg of the stand promptly splintered and
broke, and the entire single-branch cannon tilted over to the side.
The sound of wood splitting erupted in their ears. Fire instantly
started to burn.
Fei Sheng was holding a torch. The right flank had already
charged their way close to the smoke signal tower. Exhaling puffs
of air as he dismounted, he stumbled and used the other arm to
grab to the edge of the steps and scrambled up the tower with
both hands and legs.
The Biansha Cavalry, who were in pursuit of them, shouted as
they came attacking. Once again, the Imperial Cavalry crossed
swords with them at the foot of the tower.
Fei Sheng sprinted along the steps, and when he reached the
tower where smoke was to be lit, he tossed the torch in. The dry
tower pit burst into flames. He took two steps back and said, “It’s
done…”
Following that, the garrison troops on top of the city wall cried
out loud and shouted below, “It’s lit!”
Feng Ta Shuang Yi retreated, and Shen Zechuan said,
“Withdraw!”
The flames at the smoke signal tower blazed. Just a few more
moments, and the smoke signal towers to the east would all start
lighting up in successive order. Fei Sheng held his hand to his
chest, wanting to wipe his eyes. But unexpectedly, the sudden wind
sent the ashes fluttering all over. The sky that had been overcast for
half a night began to act up, with a few drops of rain serving as a
forewarning. Before the cheers in Duanzhou could even get going,
the torrential rain came pouring down like cold water all over Fei
Sheng’s face.
It was raining.
The flames of the smoke signal tower were just like delicate
flowers swaying in the rainstorm, their heads bowed low from the
pounding of the water droplets. Gradually, the fire became smaller.
Fei Sheng lunged to the front of the tower. Blocking out the rain
with his hands, he raged. “Bloody heaven!”
No doubt Duanzhou was bound to usher in a bout of rainstorm
after several days of clear skies. This rain poured down in torrents,
which meant that the trench at the east gate would not lack water
for the time being, but it would be tough to light up the smoke
signal tower again.
“Come on… light up… Fuck your ancestors!” Fei Sheng struck
the flint. However, this rain that had come out of the blue was
pouring too hard, and his hands were both soaking wet.
He could not light it up anymore.
This was a sudden rainstorm that came without warning, but it
stopped fast too. As long as they could temporarily retreat back to
the city, they would still have the opportunity.
Shen Zechuan steeled himself and brandished his blade
towards the southeast. “Withdraw!”
Fei Sheng’s vision blurred. He thought it was because of the
heavy rain. He frantically struck at the flint and watched as the
spark spluttered.
Old man.
Fei Sheng’s fingernails that he had badly scraped while clawing
at the gate were bloodstained. His hands trembled as he raked out
the hay that had yet to be extinguished in the tower pit.
It’s too hard to be a hero.
Fei Sheng widened his reddened eyes and pulled out the book
he had used for information-gathering from his bosom and stuffed
it into the pit. He leaned over and blew with his mouth, the smoke
choking him to the point he almost suffocated.
In all my life—
 Fei Sheng blew on the small fire to let the tongue of the flame
lick the book. The fire suddenly flared and almost singed Fei
Sheng’s hair. He fell to the ground and spat.
—This is the only time I’ve ever sacrificed myself for others!
The twice-lit smoke signal tower did not blaze high in this
downpour, but it was enough. Following the one tiny spark in the
southeast that shone faintly, countless flames lit up in succession.
They spread abruptly along the smoke signal towers into the shape
of a long, snaking dragon that flickered in the heavy rain.
Fei Sheng took a few steps to the front of the tower and
prepared to jump down. The voice he wanted to shout out stalled
in his throat, and he stepped back again.
The flood of the Biansha Cavalry before the smoke signal tower
was so overwhelming that there was no opening to be found at all.
The right flank of the Imperial Cavalry was just as slender as an awn
of wheat in this sort of large, retracting squad.
Fei Sheng was drenched through. He looked over his Xiuchun
Blade that was already chipped from all the hacking, and said to
the rain, “I told you a long time ago that a hero doesn’t come to a
good end.”
The rain pounded on Fei Sheng, the cacophony of noises
sounding like it was engaging in a war of words with him.
The blood on Fei Sheng’s face had been washed away. He
tossed away his Xiuchun Blade. Stepping on the edge of the smoke
signal tower, he abruptly pulled out Yin Chang’s blade. Towards
Duanzhou, he shouted, “Your Lordship!” His chest heaved. “Erect a
stone tablet for me. Engrave ‘Loyal and Courageous, Old Fei the
Tenth’. I want to face the Chashi River with the old man and stand
guard over Duanzhou for you for ten thousand years!”
Shen Zechuan spurred his horse on. Rainwater splashed across
his facial features.
Duanzhou.
Zhongbo.
He was no longer the frigid wind coursing through the
territories.12 There were countless figures behind him. That heavy
weight lay upon his shoulders, pinning down a Shen Zechuan who
once drifted in the world back onto the ground. As he stepped
onto this expanse of land, he couldn’t—
The Prefectural Lord lifted his head high under the torrential
rain and roared, “Break out of the encirclement!”
Fei Sheng leaped off the smoke signal tower, rolled to the
ground, and flipped over to his feet. Wielding his blade, he hacked
off the front knees of the ponies and barged his way in along with
the muddy water. The Biansha Cavalry swarmed over like a colony
of ants, breaking up the right flank with its charge.
The glint of Yang Shan Xue broke through the rain. Hooves
trampled over corpses to break out of the encirclement from the
southeast direction.
Fei Sheng held his blade up against a scimitar and was pushed
backward. At the critical juncture, he heard an explosion through
the torrential rain. He abruptly fell back into the mud and rolled
once. He was beside himself with joy as he wiped his face.
“Reinforcements!”
The sound of explosions on the south end of Duanzhou
erupted once again. Following close on the Biansha Cavalry’s
heels, Huo Lingyun relied on the firearms of this Imperial Cavalry
squad to blast out a path for themselves. Exerting himself, he
loaded the firearm and blasted away as he charged his way
through the ranks of the Biansha Cavalry, all without wiping the
rainwater off himself.
Behind, Tantai Hu could no longer hold himself back. As he
drew out his blade, he shouted, “Motherfucking Biansha baldies.
Your Granddaddy Hu is here!”
The vanguard squad of the Dunzhou Garrison Troops that had
set off in advance was here!
◈ ◈ ◈
Thick clouds enveloped the canopy of heaven. When the rain
stopped, the city gate was once again tightly shut.
Shen Zechuan gasped for breath. His fingers were already all
white from the soaking. When he dismounted from his horse, the
water in his boots gushed out, and his boots made squishy sounds
as he stepped across the ground. “Remove your blades and take a
break.”
 The Imperial Cavalrymen all dismounted one after another and
stuffed themselves with food the garrison troops delivered. They
replaced blades that were bent and went to the shacks at the foot
of the city to rest. Time was precious. They did not even have time
to change their clothing; instead, they just wrapped a thin blanket
around themselves and took several sips of hot tea before leaning
against the wall to sleep.
Tantai Hu took off his helmet and followed Shen Zechuan up
the city wall.
Huo Lingyun followed closely behind him and reported, “I
headed north along the Chashi River, and midway through, I found
that the Luosha Relay Station had been massacred. I originally
wanted to return to Duanzhou to report to Your Lordship, but there
were too many of the Biansha Cavalry, so I headed west and lit up
Dunzhou’s smoke signal tower.”
Shen Zechuan’s drenched hair plastered against his cheeks.
“How is the situation in the battle zone?”
“The bridleway has been cut off,” Tantai Hu said. “Looking at it
from the current situation, it’s not easy going for the battle zone
either.”
The few of them reached the top of the city wall and sat on the
ground behind the intact battlements. A rudimentary shed had
been erected here, so it was still rather dry.
Shen Zechuan spread open the military map, and in passing,
took off the agate on his right ear that was so dirty it resembled a
bead of mud and put it under the clothing on his bosom. He
looked at the map for a moment and said, “It’s raining, and the
entrances are all muddy. The Biansha Cavalry’s military supplies are
going to sink and get bogged down in the mud. They will not
attack rashly before the sun rears its head.”
“But they will not stop for too long, either.” Qiao Tianya pointed
at Dunzhou. “They already know that the reinforcements from
Dunzhou are coming.”
“The garrison troops are all infantry. They are slow on their feet.
It will still take another night for the majority of the troops to rush
over to Duanzhou.” Tantai Hu touched the scar on his eye. “My
advance squad only has two thousand men.”
 Fei Sheng was almost lying down. He hugged Yin Chang’s
blade in his arms. He no longer had any strength left to wail, and
his voice had gone all hoarse. “The smoke signal tower in the
southeast has been lit. We only need to defend until the night
passes…”
“The Biansha Cavalry is fast.” Huo Lingyun interrupted Fei
Sheng. “If Hasen wants to intercept and stop Dunzhou’s
reinforcement, he can still make it in time if he mobilizes troops
south. We can’t gamble time on this night.”
Hasen’s advantage lay precisely in his understanding of
Zhongbo’s terrains. The Dunzhou Garrison Troops were not the
Imperial Cavalry. They had to run on two legs. They only had to be
obstructed by the Biansha Cavalry, and they would very likely stall
behind Duanzhou and delay the reinforcements.
“We have to hold until reinforcements from the Bianjun
Commandery arrive.” Huo Lingyun traced his finger along the
bridle path from the Bianjun Commandery to Duanzhou. “Second
Master said it before when he headed down south. As long as
Hasen moves, Commander-in-chief Qi will circle back to Gedale to
launch a sneak attack from behind Hasen. No matter what, Hasen
can’t stay in Duanzhou’s territory for long. The city walls of
Duanzhou are solid, and there is no lack of food. At the very least,
we can defend for another two days.”
Defend for another two days.
The hearts of everyone present sank at these words.
Qiao Tianya turned his head and looked out of the battlements.
“… A battle to the death, huh?”
Haze shrouded the firmament. The Chashi River, which could
still be considered magnificent last night, was now reduced to a
deathly white tattered cotton. After being scoured by the rain, the
city walls would darken. The garrison troops continued to clean up
the battlefield at the city gate. It did not matter which side the
soldiers had been on. As long as they had become corpses, they
would all be stacked together. The faces of those people were
similarly deathly pale as they lay in the mire, like lush grass that
had dried up from a lack of water.
 Shen Zechuan walked down the stairs alone and headed over
to the side of the water vat to wash his face. He braced himself with
one arm and looked at his own right hand. He dipped his hand
into the clear water, and the bloodstains on the handkerchief
promptly blossomed in the water.
A-Ye’s handkerchief was now dirty.
Shen Zechuan undid the handkerchief. Both of his fingers were
swollen from the tight binding. He turned and sat down, then
wrung the blue handkerchief dry and set it out to dry on his knees.
He tilted back his head, fixing his gaze at the top.
The wind caressed the tree beside him, strewing the ground all
around with fallen leaves.
And Shen Zechuan, leaning against the water vat, fell asleep.
◈ ◈ ◈
Hasen scooped up the river water with his hands. While facing
east, he buried his face in it and said his farewell. The heads by his
feet had been strung together. His scimitar was stained red with
fresh blood, and his newly cut leather clothing revealed both of his
wrists. Hidden away in the pocket of his sleeves was the flower of
Chiti13 that Duo’erlan had given him.
The aged wise one cupped the river water in his hands and
raised them to pour the water over Hasen’s head. “May the gods
bless and protect the Heroic Eagle of the Hanshe Tribe.”
Hasen lifted his dripping wet face and looked at the wise one
as he asked, “Will I win?”
The wise one leaned over and stroked Hasen’s forehead, his
cloudy eyes bearing the weight of the river. He seemed to be even
older than the Chashi River was. His wisdom was not one that Bayin
could match. He kneeled, cupped Hasen’s cheeks, and answered
slowly, “You are already standing in a place we have not gone
before.”
“There’s still a wolf ahead standing guard,” Hasen said. “I killed
his father.”
“The King of Wolves killed your brothers and sisters.” The wise
one’s aging face was just like the barren sand dunes in the desert.
“The compassion bestowed upon by the Heavenly God of Chiti
comes accompanied by pain. He took away the grasslands and the
blue sky; we are already committed to fight to the bitter end where
only one of us is left standing.”
Water droplets dripped from Hasen’s chin. After a moment of
silence, he said in a quiet voice, “I will win.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan was startled awake by the sound of artillery
bombardment. He felt cold all over the very instant he opened his
eyes. Under the flurry of footsteps, he swiftly secured the
handkerchief back on his hand and rose to his feet.
“Light the fire!”
Torches around him lit up in a flash. Shen Zechuan stepped up
the stairs to the top of the city wall.
“There are still Biansha Cavalrymen crossing the river.” Fei
Sheng looked out into the distance. “They are gathering in the
direction of Duanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan drank up the ginger soup Qiao Tianya handed
him. “Hasen is here.”
“The Biansha Cavalry has split up into flanks.” Cold sweat broke
out on Fei Sheng’s back. “This is bad. They’re going to charge from
three sides!”
The Biansha Cavalry seemed like an eagle who was in the
midst of spreading its wings open. The center came together to
form a horde, their numbers far exceeded those in the daytime.
Meanwhile, the two flanks of the Biansha Cavalry bearing torches
and taking a detour dashed at lightning speed.
“Notify the south and north gates.” Shen Zechuan smashed the
bowl and raised his voice. “Be on guard and defend to the death!”
Before the words were fully out of his mouth, half of the
battlement near him collapsed with a “bang”. The Imperial Cavalry
and Garrison Troops all broke into a run, while the archers hoisted
up their bows on the battered battlement and drew their bows.
Unlike the two flanks, Hasen’s center squad did not move. He
put all his catapults and single-branch cannons to use. Heavy rocks
came hurtling over in torrents at the Duanzhou city wall, the impact
so strong it sent debris of the wall flying all over. The archers could
not keep a steady hand on their bows at all.
 The Biansha Cavalrymen beside Hasen erected their banners,
and the cavalrymen in the rear all abandoned their drums. Instead,
they held up their horns and blew them. The two flanks had
already reached the north and south gates. The north gates
released a batch of arrows, although the south gate could only hurl
farming tools.
The advisors in the riding stables were all taking a short break
when they suddenly heard a resounding crash from the gate. The
women and children present promptly broke out crying in alarm as
they huddled together.
“They are attacking the city!” Gao Zhongxiong started
trembling as he hugged his papers and brushes close to him.
The battering ram did not succeed the first time, and not a
moment later, an even heavier crash rang out. The outermost city
gate broke apart at once, and the shouts of the Biansha Cavalry
permeated through the overhanging gate. The commoners
present were all in a panic now as they frantically jostled their way
backward.
A garrison troop soldier at the top of the city wall leaped down
and drew his blade, shouting to the crowd, “Run for the alley!”
He had yet to finish his words when the battering ram slammed
into the overhanging gate with a loud crash, sending forth a spray
of wood splinters and creating a hole in it.
The garrison troop soldier raised a hand, his sweat and tears
flowing as he gasped violently for breath. At the very moment the
battering ram sent the lower side of the overhanging door flying,
he took the lead and broke into a run, brandishing his blade as he
charged and shouted, “Slay the enemies!”
With Kong Ling pushing the wheelchair, the advisors followed
behind the commoners as they flooded towards the residential
areas.
The garrison troops could not hold up against the Biansha
Cavalry’s assault. Scimitars scythed across the garrison troops’
heads as though they were reaping harvest. The sounds of hooves
never stopped at all as they charged right into the running crowd.
The advisors had already dashed over to the entrance of the
alley, choked full with commoners inside. A woman had to pull
along several children in tow and carry an elder on her back. All
the young and strong had already taken up their places before the
overhanging gate, and all those who remained here were totally
powerless to fight back in the face of the Biansha Cavalry.
Gao Zhongxiong’s papers fell off along his arms. His legs were
shaking, as was his body. Before he could squeeze his way in, a
Biansha Cavalryman hooked the back of his collar and dragged his
entire body over. Gao Zhongxiong yelled in terror, his tears and
mucus flowing profusely.
The Biansha Cavalryman said something and spat at Gao
Zhongxiong.
Gao Zhongxiong, at the end of his rope seeing no way out,
summoned up a burst of strength out of nowhere and spat at the
Biansha Cavalryman too. He shouted, “A scholar would rather die
than be humiliated!”
The Biansha Cavalryman fell off his horse with a thud. Swinging
a bar of door blot14 he had picked up at random, Kong Ling urged,
“Quick, Shenwei, run!”
Covering the back of his head, the Biansha Cavalryman
clambered to his feet and felt for his scimitar.
Gao Zhongxiong had initially taken a few steps back. Seeing as
Kong Ling was about to fall behind, he yanked over the cloth
bundle under his arm, which still had brushes and an ink slab in it,
without even thinking and slammed it right at the head of the
Biansha Cavalryman, sending the cavalryman, who was caught off
guard, back to the ground.
Without throwing the bar away, Kong Ling lifted the hem of his
robe and pushed Gao Zhongxiong into moving. Both of them then
ran for the alley. Gao Zhongxiong was still turning his head,
looking at his bundle as he cried and said, “That, that ink slab of
mine was really expensive!”
Qiao Tianya galloped past, leading a column of Imperial
Cavalry head-on into the Biansha Cavalry. Both parties start battling
and slaying each other in the darkness. The commoners in the
alley covered their mouths, only daring to whimper and not wail as
they listened to the violent sounds of fighting at close quarters. A
constant stream of garrison troops ran past.
 Yao Wenyu turned his wheelchair, keeping close to the edge,
but he could not hear any sound from Qiao Tianya.
After an hour, torches suddenly lit up at the entrance of the
alley.
Wiping his chin that was dripping with blood, Qiao Tianya
raised his head slightly at the interior. His gaze swept past Yao
Wenyu to Kong Ling. “May I trouble Mister Chengfeng to lead
everyone back to the residence?”
Kong Ling repeatedly answered in the affirmative. Only then
did he throw away the bar in his hands. He hurried forward and
called out the commoners to follow. Gao Zhongxiong hurriedly
bent down to pick up his papers.
Amidst the weaving flames, Qiao Tianya moved aside a few
steps and pressed in towards Yao Wenyu.
Yao Wenyu said, “His Lordship—”
The wheelchair bumped lightly against the wall. Yuanzhuo
suddenly grabbed the armrest with a hand to brace himself as
Qiao Tianya cupped his cheeks and walled him in this dark,
gloomy corner for a kiss. This kiss was not at all gentle. It blazed
with astounding desire under the taste of blood.
Qiao Tianya abruptly let go of Yao Wenyu. He wiped down
Yuanzhuo’s bloodstained chin for him and stepped back quickly,
then got on his horse and left, leaving Yao Wenyu behind, covering
his chin in shock.
◈ ◈ ◈
Hasen cracked his horsewhip. He led the elites to break across
the trench and charge towards the east gate with mud in tow and
the battering rams following behind him.
Tantai Hu waved his arm and said, “Get ready.”
The mounted crossbow at the top of the city wall clicked into
action. A dozen soldiers from the garrison troops propped up the
long arrows. This mounted crossbow with exceptional destructive
power could only be used to deal with Hasen, but it was tough to
find the opportune moment; they had to first make Hasen retreat.
The water surface in the trench rippled. Hasen’s horse had only
just landed on the ground when a blade came at him head-on. He
urgently held up his scimitar and blocked the blow. Through the
flames and dust, he saw Shen Zechuan.
Neither man gained a lead over the other in their first
confrontation. At the very instant they sidestepped each other, they
obtained a measure of the other.
Hasen’s red hair inclined slightly as he spun his scimitar and
pointed the blade at Shen Zechuan, as if taking aim at him. He said
with precision, “Shen Zechuan.”
Shen Zechuan lightly grazed past the blade. Feng Ta Shuang Yi
raised its hooves and stepped around Hasen, and Shen Zechuan
suddenly slashed off the head of the Biansha Cavalry tagging
along with Hasen.
Hasen remembered Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye had sent Achi’s
head back. This was a humiliation of sorts, reminiscent of how he
too had taken away Xiao Fangxu’s head.
Both sides were at the point of no return, and steel blades
clashed several times. The Biansha Cavalry pushed the Imperial
Cavalry back, and the Imperial Cavalry stubbornly pushed them
back again. The hooves of their horses weaved among each other
in the mud. Men kept plunging into the trench, turning into mire.
The garrison troops at the top of the city wall shoved the
remaining heavy rocks down, but an endless stream of
replacements kept filling in for the cavalrymen who were knocked
down. It was as if there was no end to it no matter how many they
killed.
Shen Zechuan was different from all the opponents Hasen had
encountered. He still had his wits about him even in the face of
such a critical assault. Perhaps he was not as strong as Hasen, but
he was sufficiently cunning. All of Hasen’s forceful attacks went
smashing into the water. That was an elusive sense of
powerlessness—this was the most thorny opponent.
Hasen retracted his scimitar and drew out his piked dagger.
Kerosene splashed all over at the top of the city wall, and it
started burning all around. Hasen made the first move, blocking
the trajectory of Yang Shan Xue’s diagonal slash. The battle steed
suddenly charged forward, pressing up against Feng Ta Shuang Yi
as it rammed Shen Zechuan back towards the city gate with brute
force.
Forward charge!
Yang Shan Xue nearly slipped off his hand. The hilt pressed
against both Shen Zechuan’s fingers so hard that his fingers were
almost contorted. Shen Zechuan, however, did not feel it. He
forcibly turned the hilt and used his remaining three fingers to
grasp it such that the back of the blade bumped against his
forearm. Just like that one move of Yin Chang, he held up the
blade with his elbow at the same time he turned around to slash it
towards Hasen’s throat.
Hasen bent over to dodge the blow, and holding his piked
dagger in a reverse grip, dealt out a strike at Shen Zechuan’s chest.
With a lightning move of his hand, Shen Zechuan caught hold of
Hasen’s wrist, but his strength was not enough, and in this blink of
an eye between life and death, he abruptly pressed Hasen’s piked
dagger down so that Hasen’s forward thrust only stabbed him at
the side of his waist, avoiding the vital points.
“Your Lordship!” Watching Hasen attack from the top of the city
wall gave Tantai Hu such a fright that his soul nearly took leave of
him.
Having stabbed Shen Zechuan in the waist, Hasen attempted to
retreat, only to realize that the fingers grabbing him were like steel
nails.
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were grim as he said, “Shove.”
The Imperial Cavalry that seemed to be in disarray behind him
instantly reorganized and followed Shen Zechuan to withdraw
back to the center, where they then swarmed towards this one
squad of Hasen.
We’ve been had!
Hasen pulled out his piked dagger. The Imperial Cavalry’s
battle steeds had already come barging over. His squad of
vanguards was promptly slammed back, and the horses in the rear
all fell butt first into the trench. The mounted crossbow had already
been hoisted up; however, it still was not enough.
Shen Zechuan barked, “Shove again!”
 The passage planks over the trench were all more or less
broken. River water splashed, and the rain of fire from the top of
the city wall was still falling. Hasen’s assault charge had already
fallen apart. In his retreat, he violently rolled off his horse, taking
Shen Zechuan along with him.
Shen Zechuan fell into the mud. Without even pausing to wipe
his face, he rolled over first to draw out some distance between
him and Hasen. He was filthy through and through, and there was
no way to tell where he was bleeding. Drops of blood fused into
the mud and water, masked under the surging beats of hooves.
Hasen knew to seize his opportunity. In the few blows he had
traded with Shen Zechuan earlier, he had already seen through
him. This man’s physical strength had been exhausted to the point
that he was not his match at all. He pounced, and took advantage
of the splattering muddy water to immediately flash his way in front
of Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan parried the blow with his blade and was
knocked back half a step by the impact of Hasen’s force. Before
Hasen could stand firm, Shen Zechuan protruded a foot and swept
Hasen off his feet. Hasen braced himself against the ground with
one hand and immediately sprang back. The piked dagger
between his fingers twirled around with unusual dexterity. Shen
Zechuan dodged it, and Yang Shan Xue and the piked dagger
struck against each other in a collective “crack”.
With a piece of quick thinking, Tantai Hu raised his hands and
bellowed, “Release a fire attack to cover His Lordship!”
Braving the blasts from the cannons, the garrison troops at the
top of the city wall drew their bows. As expected, Hasen retreated a
little. It was only when he got a clear look at the top of the city wall
he knew he had fallen for it again—there was no more kerosene left
at the top of the city wall. Before he could retract his gaze, he felt a
sudden weight on his chest as Shen Zechuan kicked him back. As
Hasen fell backward, he grasped hold of Shen Zechuan’s ankle,
dragging Shen Zechuan to the ground as well.
Mud splashed all over. The handkerchief loosened, and the
three fingers that could still feel failed to hold on tight to Yang
Shan Xue, which fell over to one side. Shen Zechuan coughed out
blood. He attempted to rise to his feet, but failed.
Hasen agilely straightened up. Seeing that Shen Zechuan was
about to grasp his blade, he dragged Shen Zechuan by the ankle
and hauled him backward. From where he was in the mud, Shen
Zechuan grabbed at empty air. He resolutely gave up on Yang Shan
Xue. With one hand, he pressed down on his waist where he was
injured, and flipped to his feet, relying on the physical strength of
his waist.
These few moves were really going to be the death of him!
Gasping hard for breath, Shen Zechuan elbowed Hasen in the
face hard. The Ji Clan Boxing Style was fierce and hard-hitting, and
the force of it caused Hasen to let go of his hand. However, he
reacted quickly. The piked dagger slipped from his right hand and
landed into his left hand, which he thrust right at Shen Zechuan’s
throat, catching him unawares.
Unable to block with one arm, he swiftly clamped down on
Hasen’s left hand with both arms and leaned the upper half of his
body slightly. The piked dagger stopped right within a hair’s
breadth of him. Blood spilled between Shen Zechuan’s teeth. With
the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, he twisted over Hasen’s left
hand and raised his knee to slam it into Hasen’s chest as Hasen
was leaning over towards him.
Hasen instantly fell to the ground.
Shen Zechuan turned his head side to spit out the blood. When
Hasen raised his head, he smashed a fist into Hasen’s head,
knocking it askew. Hasen turned his face away and grabbed hold
of Shen Zechuan’s forearm with his bare hands. At the same time
Shen Zechuan retracted his strength, Hasen flipped over, bringing
Shen Zechuan falling down with him into the mud once again.
Shen Zechuan’s right arm was dislocated. As he fell to the
ground, he gripped the side of Hasen’s collar and called out,
“Tantai Hu!”
Tantai Hu roared, “Release the arrows!”
Sparks sprayed all around the mounted crossbow. At the very
moment the long arrow sprang forth, it hurtled right towards
Hasen with a trail of swift and fierce wind following in its wake!
Hasen yanked Shen Zechuan up and rolled backward to lunge
right into the trench. The arrow of the mounted crossbow went
crashing into the trench, stirring up a billow of waves.
Shen Zechuan gulped in a few mouthfuls of filthy water, which
choked him until his head was swimming. Throughout it all, Hasen
did not release his grip on him. Dragging Shen Zechuan along, he
climbed his way to the opposite side of the trench.
“Your head.” Hasen pulled out the scimitar by the side of his
waist again. “I’m going to gift it to Xiao Chiye.”
With his neck tilting up, Shen Zechuan spat out the muddy
sediment amidst his gasp for breath and let loose a laugh. His
expressive eyes that were partially closed appeared particularly
nefarious as he said, “The wind is here.”
Hasen scythed his scimitar over, but Shen Zechuan instantly
raised a leg to stomp hard on Hasen’s chest. In the very instant that
he did so, he grabbed the dagger at the side of his leg with his left
hand and caught Hasen’s scimitar in its track.
With the scimitar stuck, Hasen strained himself to inch
backward.
Shen Zechuan had already landed on the ground. Snagging
the scimitar from his dagger, Shen Zechuan landed another blow
right in Hasen’s face when Hasen retreated back. Hasen tilted over
and staggered. Imitating Shen Zechuan’s earlier action, he
crouched and swept out a leg without warning.
Shen Zechuan did not fall!
Hasen braced himself against the ground to get up. Right at
this moment, a burst of what sounded like the wind being ripped
once again erupted in the air. A sharp arrow followed in the wake
of a burst of muffled thunder and, along with the torrential
rainstorm, stabbed into the ground beside Hasen.
The Conqueror Bow, soaking in the rain.
That was not muffled thunder from the sky, but thunderclaps on
the ground. The heavy cavalry thundered as they stomped across
the ground, even crashing away the rainwater as they charged like
an overbearing, ferocious beast pouncing out of the dark night.
Lang Tao Xue Jin charged through the curtain of rain, and Xiao
Chiye, awash in blood all over, came killing like a bolt of jet-black
lightning from the horizon to the battlefield.
The passage of heavy frost through the lands.15
The wolf was here.
 CHAPTER 251: RESOUNDING VICTORY

Hasen stood up as the ground quaked and turned back to see

the thunderclouds billowing over to where he was.
The torrential rain washed over the Armored Cavalry and
splashed among the hooves along with the splatter of mud. As the
pack of wolves howled and dashed, the intimidating sense of
oppressiveness, which had not made an appearance in a long
time, swept across the battlefield. This was the edge that belonged
to the Libei Armored Cavalry.
The moment Xiao Chiye appeared on the battlefield of
Zhongbo, Hasen’s swift assault failed. He did not manage to storm
into the City of Duanzhou. Instead, he lost his brave general and
elites here. Staying any longer would be a drain on resources. He
ought to withdraw his soldiers at this time.
The vanguards at the city gate had already turned their horses
around, while the messengers at the back of the trench brandished
the Hongying banner in between gallops. The Libei Armored
Cavalry that formed a long dragon intercepted access to the
southeast, so the Scorpions pushed their siege weapons and
began to retreat towards the Chashi River in the east.
The city gate opened soon after, and Tantai Hu led the garrison
troops, who had been holding back for two days, out in a charge
with blades in hands. With all his might, he shouted, “Second
Master is here!”
 With his scimitar, Hasen flipped onto an empty horse. He
commanded in the Biansha tongue for the elites to fall out and split
into two barriers bringing up the rear. They were to obstruct the
Imperial Cavalry and Libei Armored Cavalry in the west and
southeast, so as to buy time for the withdrawing military supplies
squad in the center.
“Your Lordship!” Huo Lingyun spurred his horse on with one
hand and rushed over to Shen Zechuan with Feng Ta Shuang Yi in
tow.
Shen Zechuan picked up Yang Shan Xue with his left hand. He
did not mount his horse, but watched as Hasen led the elites in a
gallop south to face Xiao Chiye head-on in a battle.
The Prefectural Lord said, “Ready.”
Huo Lingyun reacted swiftly. From where he was on his horse,
he raised his arm and shouted towards the city wall, “Ready—!”
Hasen’s back figure was just about to disappear into the heavy
rain, but his red hair was far too conspicuous, like an illuminated
live target in the rain. Shen Zechuan looked at him as if he was
staring at a moving rabbit.
Hasen seemed to sense something under the raindrops, and
he looked back to see Shen Zechuan saying something through
the rainstorm.
The mounted crossbow at the top of the city wall fired at once.
Massive arrows, which resembled an ox cart rampaging in the air,
shot its way behind Hasen in the blink of an eye. Hasen was forced
to dismount at this critical juncture as the swift torrents of rain
splattered all over. At the very instant he rolled, those huge arrows
crashed into the squad of elite cavalry, knocking them off to the
ground. The ponies could not dodge in time at all, and those that
were struck were all killed on the spot.
The ponies neighed in alarm and tumbled over into the mud.
Sprays of blood instantly spurted. This squad was now broken up.
The mounted crossbow struck terror in the hearts of the Biansha
Cavalry. Its superior killing power was not something that one man
alone could withstand. Every time it appeared on the battlefield, it
would result in countless casualties.
 Hasen crawled to his feet and suddenly swung his scimitar in
front to intercept Xiao Chiye’s Langli Blade! However, Xiao Chiye
was not Shen Zechuan. Hasen’s scimitar paused for only a split
second when Xiao Chiye slammed it down to the ground, causing
it to nearly slip from his hand.
This strength was too terrifying!
Hasen’s entire body sank along with it. He steadied his scimitar
with both hands and bellowed as he attempted to lift it.
Xiao Chiye was not wearing a helmet. Rainwater trickled down
along his temples, and filthy blood that had yet to be scoured
clean by the rain slid across his facial features. He slowly dragged
Langli Blade, and at this moment when he looked down on Hasen,
he flashed a spine-chilling smile.
“I. Was. Looking. For. You.”
The sound of the rain raged. Dark, gloomy clouds blotted out
the sky, threatening to crush down on the battlefield. Thunder
crashed close overhead. In the darkness, Hasen saw the fangs of
the wolf.
The scimitar slammed sideways, letting Langli Blade slip away.
The instant Hasen retreated, Lang Tao Xue Jin’s front hooves
stomped down on the footprints he had left behind and sent up a
splash of dirty filth. The surrounding Biansha Cavalry and the Libei
Armored Cavalry clashed together into a chaotic whole. The
Armored Cavalry’s brand new blades had their fills of fresh blood
over at Bianjun, so sharp were they as if they were roaring right
now. As Hasen swiftly retreated, he got on his horse once again.
Langli Blade suddenly came attacking right in his face, and his
horse took several steps back in response. Xiao Chiye pressed in
every step of the way, as if revitalized.
Tantai Hu sprang up and jumped into the Biansha Cavalry, who
was attempting to withdraw. Swinging his blade, he first hacked off
the ponies’ legs, then led his men to chase after the Scorpions who
were moving their weapons. He squeezed out a fiendish smile and
said, “To hell with you! Pay with your lives, Baldies!”
Duanzhou finally began to launch a counteroffensive. The
Imperial Cavalry raced across the trench, pushing the surge of the
Biansha Cavalry towards the east. The Armored Cavalry squad
near the riverbanks of the Chashi River intercepted along the north
of the river, severing the path right at the riverside where the
Biansha Cavalry were dashing back. Together with the garrison
troops and Imperial Cavalry, they formed a three-way encirclement
to force the Biansha Cavalry into gathering at the open space in the
center.
The only opening still left now was in the north, but Hasen
hesitated to order a retreat to the north, because the north was
close to Shasan Camp. He was worried that this was a deliberate
trap Xiao Chiye left for him, and he was even more worried that Lu
Guangbai was lying in ambush in the north. He was already
virtually in a dead-end, besieged on all sides.
Langli Blade cleaved towards his throat, and Hasen nimbly
bent over to dodge the blow. At the same time he parried the
blade, he commanded in the Biansha tongue, “Switch vanguards!”
The elites who were meeting the Libei Armored Cavalry’s attack
instantly retreated. Seizing their opportunity, the Scorpions formed
a diagonal wall in the southeast. As they spurred their ponies on,
they swung their hammers high.
Langli Blade suddenly lifted, the face of the blade catching the
rapidly drumming raindrop as it lay leveled in mid-air, like the last
chain that tethered the Armored Cavalry. Xiao Chiye did not move,
and neither did the Armored Cavalry behind him.
“CHARGE!” Hasen commanded.
The hooves of the Scorpions’ ponies galloped into the mud. At
the same time the mix of muddy water and rainwater hit them in
their faces, they yelled out in the Biansha tongue.
Xiao Chiye lowered his arms. Before the garrison troops at the
top of the city wall could get a clear look, they heard the Armored
Cavalry simultaneously returning their blades to their sheath—the
Armored Cavalry was actually keeping away their blades at this
time.
Standing in front, Xiao Chiye twirled out his new long blade. It
was as if the Armored Cavalry had flung off their iron sheet cover.
Loud clangs simultaneously rang out, revealing uniformly-colored
long blades on the flanks of the horses. The long blade had never
seen blood back at the Bianjun Commandery. These blades had
only revealed their prowess at the Chashi Sinkhole. And now, as
they soaked in the rain, it was still rainwater dripping off the shiny
tips of the blades.
The Scorpions’ iron hammers swung before them, and the Libei
Armored Cavalry suddenly opened up. They broke up the
vanguard squad and swiftly shifted over to both sides to allow the
Scorpions to gallop in unimpeded. The Scorpions were midway
through when Hasen had a sense of foreboding. However, his
order to withdraw would not make its way here at all, because the
Armored Cavalry vanguard squads on both sides had started to
gallop back.
Xiao Chiye charged at the very front and brushed past the
Scorpions. Thunder crashed in fury, and the sound of rain
intensified. The Scorpions’ hammers had not even come close
when the long blades slashed off their heads.
The Libei Armored Cavalry at the southeast were just like
fortified iron cages as they “ate” the Scorpions, pushing them even
deeper into an encirclement trap. Then they snuffed out the lives of
the Scorpions with their long blades right there and then, just like
what Xiao Chiye did.
The Armored Cavalry flashed their blades in unison, followed
right after by the sound of heads tumbling.
Hasen instantly commanded, “Break out from the east!”
He could not continue to battle on. Whatever advantages the
Biansha Cavalry had vanished entirely here. All that awaited the
Scorpions when they charged into the Armored Cavalry’s
encirclement was slaughter. Hasen risked a surprise attack on
Duanzhou, and he had already lost too much here. He had to
immediately cut his losses and break out of the encirclement and
cross the river as soon as possible.
The Scorpions at the back abandoned their fights. They
mounted their horses and urged on the infantry hauling the
weapons as all of them charged eastward.
Hasen galloped in the rain. Icy rainwater pounded on his
cheeks. He stared ahead, killing a bloody way out at breakneck
speed, but the sound of hooves suddenly rang out beside him as
Lang Tao Xue Jin kept up in hot pursuit. Hasen’s scimitar chipped
as he parried the blow. Xiao Chiye’s speed was even faster. Both
men spared no efforts galloping, charging in the rainstorm like an
artillery shell!
Hasen broke through to the very edge. The Gobi on the banks
of the Chashi River was just right ahead. The Biansha Cavalry that
had gone into the water engaged in an intense battle with the
Imperial Army that was lying in ambush here. The shallows were
already an expanse of red.
Hasen galloped into the river. Lang Tao Xue Jin slammed into
the side of the battle steed’s neck, knocking Hasen’s horse askew.
He had to pull the reins to control it. Xiao Chiye brandished his
blade to cut off Hasen’s reins, and the horse powerlessly turned its
body and tumbled into the shallows with Hasen in tow.
Hasen rolled the moment he landed on the ground. He lost his
piked dagger at the edge of the trench when he fought with Shen
Zechuan, and all he had now were his scimitar and dagger. The
sound of killing around him was deafening. He scooped up the
river water with his freed hand and wiped his eyes clean of the
dirty blood obscuring them.
Xiao Chiye landed on the ground too, his tall, strapping body
blocking off Hasen’s eastward-looking gaze, becoming the
mountain standing between Hasen and the desert. Hasen brought
his bent scimitar before his chest and adjusted his breathing. At the
same time Xiao Chiye sprang towards him, he lunged over.
The sound of blades clashing jarred on the ears.
Xiao Chiye pressed his blade against Hasen’s scimitar and
pushed Hasen back. With some difficulty, Hasen stabilized himself.
Rainwater pounded on his blade. At the very instant they splashed
away, he abruptly withdrew his blade and dodged aside to evade
the blow as Langli Blade swept forward.
River water splashed all over along with their footsteps.
Xiao Chiye’s cheeks were still stained with residual blood on
them. His combat style of only advancing and not retreating
seemed like the moves of a desperado, revealing an intense desire
to go on the offensive. Every slash of his numbed Hasen’s arms.
Under the intensive assault of Langli Blade, his scimitar near about
turned into scrap metal.
 Hasen abruptly tumbled over amidst Xiao Chiye’s hacks. As he
was about to fall into the water, he forcibly braced himself with his
arms and raised his body. Then he squatted and lifted his blade to
block the blow once again.
Without changing his posture, Xiao Chiye simply pressed down
on him with all his might. Under the force of it, Hasen’s scimitar
slowly shifted down close to his shoulder. He could even feel Langli
Blade’s sharpness. A ragged gasp escaped from Hasen’s throat.
The downward pressure from Xiao Chiye was making his legs hurt,
and they were already beginning to bend downward.
Hasen would never kneel to Xiao Chiye.
Untold numbers of people had starved to death when the
Twelve Tribes kneeled before Dazhou. He had come this far all just
to find that one way out for themselves. Hasen held Lake Chiti dear.
Yet, for countless years, he had been sleeping among blades and
swords. He had never once bowed to the Armored Cavalry. He was
the Heroic Eagle soaring in the blue dome of heaven.
Hasen did his best to hold up against Xiao Chiye’s strength. He
bellowed and roused himself to hoist up Langli Blade. Brazenly, he
lunged forward and very nearly sliced Xiao Chiye’s neck.
Xiao Chiye took a sudden step back and bent his elbow to
knock away Hasen’s scimitar. The horse beside him neighed and
fell over. Hasen flipped his dagger out and lunged again before
Xiao Chiye could attack. Unable to turn Langli Blade around in
time, Xiao Chiye let go of the hilt and blocked the dagger with the
arm guard on his right arm. His left hand clenched into a fist, and
he socked Hasen into the water.
A spray of water exploded forth from Hasen’s fall. He coughed
out water and lunged before Xiao Chiye came up to him. Wrapping
his arms around Xiao Chiye’s waist, he hooked his leg around Xiao
Chiye to trip him and knock him down into the water. Water
splashed. In a countermove, Xiao Chiye grasped the back of
Hasen’s collar tightly and held him in a chokehold from behind.
Hasen could barely breathe. He thrust his dagger out and
struck heavy armor. He immediately gave up and jabbed the
dagger at Xiao Chiye’s eyes. Xiao Chiye could only let go and
moved back to evade it. Hasen swapped tactics and wrapped his
arms around Xiao Chiye’s arm, then he turned to the side and flung
Xiao Chiye over his shoulder.
Hasen held down Xiao Chiye’s face so that Xiao Chiye could
not breathe in the fast-flowing river. He clasped his dagger and
made to cut off Xiao Chiye’s head. Xiao Chiye backhandedly
grabbed hold of the dagger. At the same time the blade sank into
his flesh, he arbitrarily straightened up and slammed into Hasen’s
jaw.
Hasen’s eyes watered. In this split second of vulnerability, Xiao
Chiye elbowed him in the chest. He did not manage to stop the
spurt of blood from his mouth.
Xiao Chiye released the dagger, and clenching his bleeding
hand into a fist, he once again punched Hasen over to the ground.
This one blow was too brutal.
Hasen was bleeding from his nose and mouth. He was even a
little dizzy. The sound of combat and killing alternated close and
far. The heavy downpour blurred the scenery. As he braced himself
with his arms, he realized his leather sleeve had split, and the
flower of Chiti in his sleeve pocket drifted away with the water.
Hasen did not manage to catch the flower, and in the blink of an
eye, hooves trampled the flower to a pulp.
Xiao Chiye pulled up Langli Blade again, both of his eyes wet.
Hasen had seen such a wolf before. It was with such a gaze that
Xiao Chiye had chased him for dozens of li in that heavy snow.
The Libei Armored Cavalry broke up the Biansha Cavalry,
leaving them with no way to flee along the banks of the Chashi
River. The river water of the shallows was thoroughly red, and
floating corpses piled up around the corner. The heavy rain soaked
everyone’s face white. Hasen never got to wait until the
reinforcements he left at Gedale arrived.
As Hasen gasped for breath, he raised his head in the rain. He
could not see over Xiao Chiye’s shoulder at the opposite bank of
the Chashi River. He dejectedly murmured to himself in silence.
“May the gods bless—”
Langli Blade suddenly thrust into the shallows. Blood flowed
down along the blade to disperse in the water. With a thud,
Hasen’s body fell to its knees in the rapid currents before falling
face-first into the waters.
Xiao Chiye’s chest heaved under the clamor of the rainstorm.
The sounds of hooves behind him ceased. In the boundless
expanse of heaven and earth, the Armored Cavalry all looked at
him. Facing the Chashi River, Xiao Chiye raised his arm that was
lifting the red hair.
Only the sound of the rapids could be heard in the long,
endless silence.
Tantai Hu waded two steps through the water. He tossed his
blade away and cried out straight ahead, “WE WON!
“We…” The Armored Cavalry’s throats let loose repressed
chokes of sobs before they erupted in earth-shaking roars, “WE
ARE WOLVES!”
The shadow of gloom hanging over them for as long as half a
year finally ebbed away. Blood of countless people flowed in the
Chashi River that ran through the north and south. In the torrential
rainstorm, Libei reclaimed its dignity.
Xiao Chiye clenched his fists tight, his eyes silently reddening.
 CHAPTER 252: FRONTIER LIZARD

The rain subsided, and Xiao Chiye withdrew back to the city
gate of Duanzhou. The garrison troops started to work nonstop
cleaning up the battlefield. The water in the trench, having already
overflowed, soaked the segment of the path before the gate into a
soggy mess. Hooves treading past here were all covered in mud,
and everyone was dirty through and through.
Shen Zechuan stood before the city gate and watched as Lang
Tao Xue Jin galloped closer. Xiao Chiye leaned over from the back
of his horse, and Shen Zechuan lifted his right arm to trade light
bumps with him. Gazing at Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye did not
retract his arm. Instead, he turned his hand over to lift it close to
Shen Zechuan’s chin. In the rain, and with his eyes lowered, he and
Shen Zechuan mutually pressed their foreheads together.
The rain enveloped both men deep in its embrace.
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes. Rainwater trickled along his
eyelashes and dripped onto the bridge of Xiao Chiye’s nose. He
slowly smiled and gradually laughed out loud.
Qiao Tianya rode his horse over. Midway through, he reined his
horse to a stop. Leaning over to look at Ji Gang, he asked,
“Where’s shifu going?”
Ji Gang stood at the entrance of the passageway for a while
before tossing the overcoat in his hands to Qiao Tianya. He looked
at the curtain of rain.
 Qiao Tianya draped the overcoat over himself. “Shifu, the Ji
Clan Boxing Fist’s name will once again spread far and wide after
this battle. The Old Senior Ji can rest in peace if he were to learn of
it.”
Ji Gang looked up at the sky, and rainwater splashed into his
eyes. After a long time, he said, “Duanzhou is going to have a
bumper harvest this year.”
Qiao Tianya smiled.
Putting his hands behind his back, Ji Gang turned around and
let loose a long sigh. Not looking at Shen Zechuan any further, he
said, “Hurry and summon the physician over!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The rain did not stop until the hour of mao the next day. The
bamboo tubes in the courtyard kept up with its tapping against the
mossy rocks. Wrapped in a short-lined jacket, Ding Tao stood
guard with Li Xiong in the hallway and watched as the physicians
entered and exited.
“I’m thirsty,” Li Xiong said.
Clutching his book, Ding Tao whispered, “Then go pour
yourself some water to drink. I’m going to stand guard here.”
Li Xiong looked reluctant as he blocked the hallway and shook
his head vigorously, unwilling to go alone.
Inside, Kong Ling lifted the hanging screen and led the
physician out with a grave expression.
Fei Sheng had only just woken up and had come over to be on
duty. Seeing them emerge, he immediately stepped forth to take
over and had his subordinate lead the physician to the side hall. He
asked Kong Ling, “Mister, how’s Master?”
Kong Ling shook his head and walked into the room again with
him. He said in a hushed tone, “Don’t make a din when you enter
later and disturb His Lordship. Second Master is on tenterhooks
right now. He has been waiting inside the whole night without
sleeping.”
Fei Sheng did not dare to say a word more and followed Kong
Ling into the room, where he saw the bamboo blinds lowered in
the inner chamber.
 Xiao Chiye, who had removed his armor, was in the midst of
reading the prescription. The physician who had yet to leave stood
primly opposite the Second Master, bowing as he said in a soft
voice, “… It’ll prove difficult for him to hold a blade again in the
future… Those two fingers…”
Fei Sheng had an ill sense of foreboding when he heard these
two sentences. His heart sank as he looked at Xiao Chiye’s grave
expression, so oppressively intimidating was it that those waiting in
attendance inside were all as silent as cicadas in winter.
“His waist… and calf…”
And the right arm Hasen almost detached.
Shen Zechuan still looked fine when he had just returned
yesterday. It was only when he washed his face clean that they
could see just how ghastly pale his complexion was. The two
fingers on his right hand were already swollen to begin with, and
then he had fallen into the trench during his fight with Hasen,
where he had further aggravated it from the grappling and
soaking in the filthy water. His right hand could not move at all. In
the end, he even had to use his left hand to lift Yang Shan Xue. He
did not return to the city immediately; instead, he put on a carefree,
laidback act. In truth, the wound on his waist had torn open when
he straightened up, and getting on the horse proved to be too
difficult for him, so he could only use all his willpower to hang on
and pretend all was fine while letting Huo Lingyun lead the horse
instead.
The instant Shen Zechuan’s nerves that had been stretched taut
with tension relaxed, the aftereffect of getting drenched in the rain
kicked in. He thought he was asleep, but in fact, he was in a semi-
coma. Last night’s fever came raging with vehemence, and even
now, it had yet to subside. He vomited everything he ate. His
stomach was all stuffed with hard steamed buns, and after puking
them all out, he regurgitated bile.
The lowered drapes were opaque. Xiao Chiye waited for the
physician to leave before he opened up a slit to look at Lanzhou.
Lanzhou’s hair spread out among the bedding. Unable to curl
up, he half-laid on the side that was not injured, revealing a little of
his side profile. The upturned corner of his eye did not have its
usual seductive allure. He looked as if he was sleeping normally.
Xiao Chiye touched the corner of his eye. He did not move. As
long as Xiao Chiye was by his side, he would dare to be this
unguarded. He looked very, very small, completely enveloped by
Xiao Chiye’s figure.
Xiao Chiye had difficulty breathing. It hurt everywhere in his
chest. He leaned over and kissed Lanzhou on his temple. His
fingertips moved ever so lightly, as if he was caressing a baby cub
that was still a fluff of fur.
The physicians in the courtyard came and went. They fed the
Prefectural Lord a bowl of medicine, and Shen Zechuan puked it
out again at the hour of si. Seeing that it did not work, Ji Gang
hoisted the physician over to continue taking a look at Shen
Zechuan. The side hall was crammed full of people. The joy of
having survived a calamity had not even passed, and already the
residence was shrouded in a cloud of gloom.
During the hour of shen, the military reports from the battle
zone arrived. They were stacked together with the military reports
from the Bianjun Commandery, pressing Xiao Chiye to read them.
Xiao Chiye did not dare to leave Shen Zechuan, so he had it all
sent to the side hall and took the time he used to drink water to
stand in the side hall, where he read the military reports while
listening to the physicians rattle off the prescriptions all at the same
time.
Ding Tao did not dare to stir up any trouble at this moment.
Leading Li Xiong by the sleeve, he said, “There’s a water jar at the
foot of the walkway. I’ll pour you a cup.”
Li Xiong did not move his feet. He rubbed his nose and
nodded unhappily.
Unable to pull Li Xiong into moving, Ding Tao asked in
puzzlement, “Why aren’t you moving?”
Li Xiong did not make a sound as he looked at someone
coming over from the moon gate. Fei Sheng was leading a newly
arrived physician inside. They crossed the walkway in the blink of
an eye, and with a lift of the hanging screen, they entered the
room, where Kong Ling and the other gentlemen were keeping
watch in the outer room.
This newly-arrived physician looked decent and had a Fanzhou
accent as he said, “His Lordship mustn’t get caught in the rain with
this body of his. Given the way he’s vomiting, he certainly won’t be
able to keep the medicine down.” He shook his sleeves up and had
the apprentice accompanying him open his medical chest. He then
took out the kit of acupuncture needles and showed it to Gao
Zhongxiong, who was standing at the side, “I’ll use a few
acupuncture needles on him.”
Kong Ling stood up and said, “No hurry. Wait for the Second
Master to come over before making a decision.”
The physician spread his hands and said, “Saving a life is like
putting out a fire. It cannot be delayed. How about this? You
gentlemen hurry up and send someone to urge the Second Master
over. Meanwhile, I’ll get everything ready.”
Gao Zhongxiong repeatedly voiced his agreement and made
his way out. But when he walked to the door, he found Li Xiong
blocking the doorway.
The physician turned his back to them and lifted a portion of
the hanging screen to walk into the inner chamber, at the same
time still instructing the apprentice, “Lift the chest in—”
Fei Sheng sensed something the instant the apprentice
collected the kit of acupuncture needles. He suddenly grasped
hold of the hilt of his blade and bellowed, “Hold it!”
However, the apprentice instantly swung his hand, and cold
glints from inside the kit flashed. Fei Sheng could dodge, but not
the gentlemen, so he could only draw his blade to block the blow.
Under a series of clinking and clanking sounds as the concealed
weapon struck against his blade, he bumped Kong Ling away.
The table and chairs in the outer room overturned with a clatter.
Kong Ling lost his balance, and as he fell onto the rug, he stretched
out his hands and shouted with urgency, “Men! Come quick!”
The physician had already leaped into the inner room. The
bamboo blinds fell with a swoosh, blocking everyone’s line of sight.
Fei Sheng was so alarmed he broke out in a cold sweat. He had
only just taken a stride out when the apprentice swung a chair and
blocked him.
Oh, no!
Fei Sheng cried out, “Protect His Lordship!”
It was too late for the guards in the hallway to break in through
the windows. All of a sudden, Gao Zhongxiong was knocked over
to the ground. Moving swiftly as if on winged feet, Li Xiong yelled
as he charged into the inner room and lunged at the physician,
knocking him over to the ground. Both of them crashed into the
footrest before the bed, sending the lowered bed curtains
fluttering. The steel needles clamped between the physician’s
fingers aimed right for Li Xiong’s eyes. Li Xiong reached out to
grasp hold of the physician’s hand and slammed his own head
into the physician’s head, sending it slamming back onto the
ground.
The knock made the physician’s head swim with dizziness. He
backhandedly wrapped his arms around Li Xiong’s neck and
twisted around to flip Li Xiong over to the ground, holding him in a
chokehold. As they tumbled, they bumped over the short table in
the inner room. The teapot toppled over and shattered, and
scalding hot tea splashed all over Li Xiong’s face. Gasping hard for
breath, Li Xiong swung a fist at the other man’s face, but he struck
at empty air.
The physician held down Li Xiong. The side of Li Xiong’s face
chafed against the broken porcelain fragments, stabbing him until
it was all streaked with blood. He shouted, “Lizard! Lizard!”16
The physician lifted his steel needle, but unexpectedly, he felt a
sudden weight to his back, and his entire person went crashing
over to the ground where he tumbled. Covering half of his face, he
said something at the top of his voice in the Biansha tongue and
swiftly went groping for the steel needle that had dropped. Xiao
Chiye abruptly hauled up the Lizard by the back of his collar and
slammed him face-down to the ground.
Those in the outer chamber heard a few muffled “thuds”, then
all was silent within.
The guards held down the apprentice. Fei Sheng had not even
caught his breath when the bamboo blinds swung wildly from
being bumped into. The physician with his entire head all bloodied
rolled onto the rug in the outer room, already devoid of life.
Xiao Chiye’s expression was icy and piercing. He forcibly
suppressed his fury and said in a frosty tone, “Seal the place from
the courtyard to the main gate with one person every ten steps.
Who screened them? Scram without needing me to tell you to!”
Everyone within and outside of the courtyard fell to their knees.
To think an entire residence of guards could let the other party
openly enter the inner room. Fei Sheng’s cold sweat never once
stopped. He kowtowed, knocking his head on the ground, not
daring to even utter a sound.
 CHAPTER 253: SICK FROM THE COLD

Once the hour of chen came around, the atmosphere in the city
of Duanzhou underwent an abrupt change. Soldiers filled the
streets and alleys, while the garrison troops and the Imperial Army
took turns to patrol. The four gates remained tightly shut.
Everywhere, the clicking sound of military boots and the clanking
sound of blades abounded. The atmosphere in the residence was
heavy. All the guards were on high alert and ready for combat.
They no longer dared to slacken even the slightest.
Xiao Chiye squatted before Li Xiong and asked, “You know
him?”
Ointment was being applied to Li Xiong’s injured face as he
answered, “Yeah. He’s a Lizard. They drink Gedale’s milk. Very
stinky.”
Xiao Chiye frowned. “Not a Scorpion?”
“Used, used to be a Scorpion.” Li Xiong spoke in such a hurry
that he stumbled over his words a little. “But later, he became a
‘lizard’.”17
Ding Tao could not make head or tail of it. “What do you mean
by he used to be but not later?”
“They are the Lizards.” Li Xiong patted his own arm. “My big
bro spoke to them before. They are not the same as Hai, Hai…” He
could not remember Hairigu’s name. “Not the same as Hai. They
are not cattle and sheep.”
 In the eyes of the Twelve Tribes, the Scorpions were the cattle
and sheep of Gedale. Their status was low and humble.
Xiao Chiye remembered Zhuoli. Zhuoli was a Lizard too, but
Zhuoli had clear Biansha characteristics, so it seemed that a Lizard
was still a Scorpion, only that they had a change of name.
“Lizards.” Xiao Chiye looked up at Li Xiong and guessed, “The
Lizards are Amu’er’s Scorpions. That’s why they have a higher
status than Achi and Hairigu.”
Li Xiong gave him a thumbs up and said happily, “Right. They
have lands, where they can ride horses.” As he spoke, he sulked
again. “They are all super bad people who love beating others, and
they don’t play with the Scorpions. They are more valuable than the
Scorpions.”
Xiao Chiye pressed against his thumb ring and rotated it
gently.
Hasen had not even died for three days, and already Amu’er’s
Lizards had appeared in the courtyard. Did they come along with
Zhuoli’s squad? Or were they originally here to begin with?
“You did well.” Xiao Chiye raised a hand and patted Li Xiong
on the head. “Keep watch over His Lordship here. Second Master
will give you sweets.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“You’ve always been meticulous when it comes to this kind of
matter.” Qiao Tianya’s hair was not even thoroughly dry when he
arrived at the prison. “How could you make such an oversight
today?”
Fei Sheng, who was scrutinizing the corpse, shook his head on
hearing him. “The assassins had Dazhou faces, and they spoke the
local language even more smoothly than you and I do.” He turned
his head to the side. “They even had proof of household
registration.”
Qiao Tianya turned the corpse to look it over.
Shen Zechuan established the Zhongbo census register,18 so
every family’s and every household’s records could be traced and
checked. If these assassins even had household registrations, that
meant that they had very likely laid in ambush in Zhongbo even
earlier than Shen Zechuan.
 “This makes it a tough one to handle,” Qiao Tianya said in a
quiet voice. “There’s no way to tell them apart if they are hiding
among the people.”
“If we were to speak of flaws, there’s only one.” Fei Sheng
pointed at the corpse’s arm.
“Tattoo.”
Qiao Tianya’s gaze shifted down. Sure enough, he saw a lizard
tattoo on the side of the corpse’s arm.
“Back then, to investigate the Scorpions, Master had the various
yamen record down the names of those who had tattoos.” Fei
Sheng folded his arms. “I’ve already sent a letter to Yu Xiaozai in
Dunzhou. If there are no records of these two men’s names, then
they snuck their way in when the city was breached.”
Qiao Tianya nodded. As he retracted his hand, he looked at Fei
Sheng. There was no smile on his face as he said, “Have you ever
considered why they would have such obvious marks on them
despite being assassins who sneaked their way in?”
They were all Imperial Bodyguards, and they knew very well the
necessity of disguise and camouflage. The Scorpions had a reason
for having tattoos, but what need was there for the Lizards, who
were of even higher status than the Scorpions?
The expression in Fei Sheng’s eyes was grave as he lightly
clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan woke up once at the hour of shen, and Xiao
Chiye fed him the medicine. Shen Zechuan was so feverish he was
in a daze. He could hear Xiao Chiye talking, but Xiao Chiye’s voice
kept fading in and out.
“Lanzhou…” Xiao Chiye said something as he brushed aside
the hair by Shen Zechuan’s cheek.
Shen Zechuan gasped lightly as if he could not breathe. Taking
the spoon into his mouth, he swallowed the last mouthful of
medicine. Xiao Chiye wiped Shen Zechuan’s sweat with a soaked
handkerchief. He tilted his head, and the tip of his nose rubbed
against Xiao Chiye’s bandaged palm. His lips opened and closed.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to listen.
 “Handkerchief.” Shen Zechuan’s words were all over the place.
“Mine.”
“It’s with me.” Xiao Chiye covered Shen Zechuan’s soaked palm
with his free hand. “Once you recover, I’ll give it to you.”
Shen Zechuan was so ill he was barely conscious. In his pain, he
indistinctly whimpered twice.
Xiao Chiye’s entire person leaned over on his stomach beside
the pillow and coaxed him, “I’ll really give it to you.”
Shen Zechuan did not believe him. He frowned, as if he was
struggling, his partially closed eyes betraying just how sad he was
as he buried them into Xiao Chiye’s palm. It was in this way he
tugged at Xiao Chiye’s heartstrings. Xiao Chiye lowered his head
and pressed up against Shen Zechuan’s temple, against his sweat.
The taste of bitterness saturated the tip of Shen Zechuan’s
tongue. All his half-opened eyes saw was a mosaic of bizarre,
surreal scenes. Only Xiao Chiye’s scent surrounded him, making
him seem to float among the waves of grass.
In a very, very small voice, he called out, “Xiao’er.”
Xiao Chiye kissed him and answered with a deep nasal twang,
“Mm.”
Shen Zechuan frowned several times and said with his voice
breaking up, “I want to… eat sweets…”
Xiao Chiye’s heart that had been on tenterhooks relaxed some.
He got up to mix him some honeyed water. Shen Zechuan only
drank two spoonfuls of it, only needing the tip of his tongue to get
a taste of the sweetness. Once again, Xiao Chiye rinsed the
handkerchief and wiped down the sweat on Shen Zechuan’s neck.
From the feel of it, his fever seemed to have subsided some.
◈ ◈ ◈
The gentlemen in the side hall were all restless with anxiety.
The suffocating smell of smoking pipes permeated the room, and
no one made to get up even when the hour of hai came around.
They had even forgotten about their meals, as concerned as they
were about the prefectural lord.
“All these physicians are useless,” Tantai Hu sat on the chair and
said to Kong Ling. “Look, Mister, what if I immediately headed out
of the city on my horse and search again in Dunzhou?”
 Gao Zhongxiong’s face paled at the mere mention of this. He
hurriedly waved his hands. “That won’t do. The assassins today
had clear origins that could stand up to scrutiny. If there really are
spies, no one will be able to tell them apart!”
Kong Ling’s frown did not let up.
The entire room of people fell silent once again. Not long after,
they heard the sound of rain falling again outside. The guards
braved the rain and took turns to be on duty. Lanterns that had
been lit up late in the night brightly illuminated the various paths
within the residence, leaving no blind spots for anyone to take
advantage of.
Everyone did not get to rest much after the battle, and by the
time the hour of chou had come and gone, those with weaker
constitutions could no longer take it. They reclined against the
chairs to doze off, drifting between nodding off and staying awake
because they did not dare to sleep, and so it was in this way they
hung in there.
Yao Wenyu took off his fur collar when he entered the room.
The sound of the wheelchair startled quite a number of people
awake. He placed the fur collar on his lap and said in a mild tone,
“Second Master is here, so His Lordship is certain to be fine. I know
that all of you here are burning with anxiety, but now the battle has
just stopped, the documents from the yamen of the various
prefectures are piling up. It would be inappropriate to wait until His
Lordship wakes up to deal with them. It’s enough for Chengfeng
and Shenwei to keep watch here. The rest of you can go back and
rest first. Tomorrow morning, all matters are to be handled
normally. Act at your own discretion for trivial matters, whereas for
major affairs you are uncertain about, present them to the side hall,
and we will discuss and come to a resolution together.”
Kong Ling also got to his feet and said, “His Lordship is
presently ill. It is indeed inadvisable for us to pile him with pressing
work. Everyone, please head back first.”
Everyone stood up and responded in the affirmative, then filed
out of the room one after the other.
Gao Zhongxiong poured tea for Yao Wenyu and said,
“Yuanzhuo is sensitive to the cold. You should ask someone to
accompany you.”
Yao Wenyu took the tea and said his thanks. “I have the fur
collar and overcoat, so it’s fine. It has been raining non-stop these
few days. I see that the drainage of the public ditches in the city is
going along smoothly. There has been no incident.”
“The beginning of the new year.” Tantai Hu roused himself up
and rubbed his eye with the blade scar. “Everyone was here at the
beginning of the year, fearing that the melted snow would cause a
blockage, so they went out of the way to dredge it once.”
“The ones in Dengzhou are clogged, but it’s not a big issue. His
Excellency Yu watched them being dredged during his tour of
inspection,” Gao Zhongxiong said. “There have been plenty of
updates coming in from Cizhou these two days. Other than the
letter in which His Excellency Zhou asked after His Lordship, there
are also those discussing the Eight Cities.”
The properties of the Pan clan had been confiscated, and the
city of Dancheng missed the spring plowing. This was already the
sixth month. Once the autumn harvest that was just around the
corner came calling, the meals of the commoners of Dancheng
would be a matter of worry.
“We are fighting a battle here, and so is Qudu,” Kong Ling said.
“I heard the news that the Grand Secretariat has already instructed
the Ministry of Rites to begin preparation for the enthronement
ceremony.”
Han Cheng was dead, and while Empress Dowager counted
on her connection to Hua Xiangyi to preserve her life, she was
completely imprisoned in the inner court where the harem resided.
The authority to deploy the Eight Great Training Divisions of the
Capital Command Troops returned into the Heir Apparent’s hands.
Li Jianting had the Qidong Garrison Troops to act as surety too, so
how could the noble clans who could not even fend for themselves
stop her?
“We are besieged with external foes. If everyone works as one
to assist His Lordship, Biansha will not pose a difficult problem. But
Qudu of now is torn apart by disunity. Xue Yanqing’s confiscation
and sealing off of the Pan clan’s properties has already caused the
eight cities to stir with restlessness.” Yao Wenyu said in a soft voice,
“The enthronement of the Heir Apparent will prove to come
bearing down even more menacingly.”
“Speaking of which,” Kong Ling looked at Chen Yang, “we still
don’t know what happened in the Bianjun Commandery. Has an
agreement been reached with the Youxiong Tribe?”
Straightening out the military affairs, Chen Yang said, “Had that
been the case, Second Master wouldn’t have been late. Dalantai of
the Youxiong Tribe agreed to our request and promised not to
obstruct Commander-in-chief Qi from moving north. He took
Hasen’s thank-you gift and indeed kept his words not to obstruct
Commander-in-chief Qi from mobilizing troops to Gedale, but he
violated the oath of allegiance and mounted a surprise attack on
the Bianjun Commandery just when Second Master was preparing
to deploy troops to Duanzhou.”
Just as Qi Zhuyin predicted, Dalantai did not take sides with
anyone. He did not want to submit to Amu’er at all, nor did he want
to place himself at Shen Zechuan’s disposal. He saw his opportunity
from Hasen’s and Shen Zechuan’s requests. He wanted to pass
through the Bianjun Commandery to occupy Suotian Pass to the
south, which had no other strong and capable general stationed
there after their loss of Feng Yisheng.
The Youxiong Tribe lived on the grasslands in the south. When
Dalantai roamed the desert, he came to understand that there was
no room for the bears19 there. They endured the rigors of an
arduous journey, trekking through difficult terrains and rivers, to
return to a place near their homeland, all to seek a new place to
live. For this, they were willing to risk their lives and take up their
blades to fight with everything they had.
It was on the yellow sands in the desert that Xiao Chiye’s
armored cavalry crossed paths with the “bear horses”.20
The Bianjun Commandery fought for two days, and Dalantai
died there in battle. The Youxiong Tribe seemed to be forever
unable to cross over that threshold, and they could only, once
again, retreat to the desert.
“The reinforcements Hasen left behind in Gedale were handed
over to Commander-in-chief Qi.” Chen Yang raised the military
report in his hand. “And going by last night’s urgent report,
Commander-in-chief Qi found out on her return journey that
Amu’er is in the midst of deploying his troops.”
At these words, the entire hall promptly grew tense.
Gao Zhongxiong stammered, “Then, then, we are going to
fight, fight again…”
Chen Yang gestured for him to relax. “It’s just a transfer of
troops. After all, the commanding general in the battle zone is
gone. Amu’er has to send someone who can take over Hasen… I
feel this person might very well be himself.”
Because Xiao Chiye did not return Hasen’s head.21
“The specific arrangements for military affairs will have to
depend on Second Master’s instructions.” Tantai Hu reassured the
various gentlemen. “No matter what, they won’t fight their way to
the base of the city anymore. At the moment, we have the upper
hand. Even if Amu’er heads into battle himself, he might not
necessarily be more formidable than Hasen. Besides, if he wants to
cross the Chashi River, he has to ask Second Master for
permission.”
Only then did the atmosphere in the side hall ease off a little.
As they were discussing, they suddenly heard a huge commotion
in the hallway. Chen Yang lifted the hanging screen and poked his
head out for a look.
Ding Tao cried so hard a snot bubble popped out of his nose.
Tugging at Chen Yang, he shouted, “Ge! Call the physicians in
quickly! His Lordship is burning up again!”
The physicians were trembling with trepidation as they
gathered in the walkway and discussed the prescriptions in
whispers. The rain washed down upon the jasmine orange in the
courtyard, covering the ground all over with petals.
Qiao Tianya and Fei Sheng braved the rain as they returned,
stepping across the flower petals before swiftly wiping the water off
their bodies under the eaves.
“The physicians who saw Yuanzhuo before are all here,” Qiao
Tianya threw the handkerchief back, “as are the physicians Ge
Qingqing transferred over from Juexi, and not one of them can
treat the illness?”
 “This fever keeps relapsing.” Chen Yang did not dare to speak
facing the window. He turned to the side and said in a whisper,
“They said his constitution is a gone case. He’s just like porcelain.
Few dare to prescribe medicine.”
“That’s what they said about Yuanzhuo the last time.” Qiao
Tianya did not raise his voice at the physicians. After a moment’s
pause, he continued, “It’s true that His Lordship ruined his body in
his early years consuming that medication, but these days, he has
been recuperating at home, so that shouldn’t be the case at all.”
“Master also wants to be cured deep down in his heart, and he
has been taking his medicine on schedule.” Fei Sheng clutched the
handkerchief he used to wipe away the water. He was worried sick.
“… I suppose he must have been too badly injured that day.”
They were going to disperse the smell of medicine in the room,
and no one wanted to provoke the Second Master at this moment,
so they stood under the eaves and waited to be summoned. But
within a few moments of the servant carrying the medicine
entering, they heard Shen Zechuan vomiting.
Xiao Chiye, who was partially hugging Shen Zechuan, touched
Shen Zechuan’s back, which was already soaked in sweat. The
medicine was all spilled over the ground. Shen Zechuan could not
throw up a thing, and after puking out bile, he dry-heaved. His
stomach was in a twist at present, and his bouts of vomiting were
so bad he retched himself awake.
Fog started to materialize in the middle of the night. Deathly
white lantern lights swayed in the rain. The sound of footsteps in
the courtyard never once stopped. Rain soaked the courtyard
damp, and the bedding had already been changed once.
Fei Sheng apprehensively said, “Prepare a charcoal brazier and
keep the fire going to dry it up a little.”
Chen Yang saw that the bandages being taken out were all
soaked in blood. He did not know if it was Xiao Chiye’s or Shen
Zechuan’s.
Li Xiong sat cross-legged by the door and slept for a while,
waking up when the hour of yin came around. Fei Sheng had the
kitchen give Li Xiong rice. Li Xiong buried his head in the large
bowl and gobbled it down. Once he had eaten his fill, he
continued to sit and stare at the people entering and exiting.
“Persuade the Second Master to sleep for a moment at the hour
of mao.” Qiao Tianya squatted beside the pillar and struck up a fire
to light up his pipe. “Even someone forged in iron like him can’t
take it and just make do and sleep inside. Those of us who guard
the door…”
He had yet to finish his words when a hand reached out from
the side and gently nudged aside his smoking pipe.
Qiao Tianya turned back and looked at Yao Wenyu.
“It’s rather suffocating.” Yao Wenyu turned his wheelchair to
face the principal room.
Willowy wisps of smoke spiraled, turning into the tiny bit of
invisible tenderness in the dripping wet rainy night. With hands on
knees, Qiao Tianya stood up and extinguished the smoking pipe.
It was all silent in the courtyard during the hour of mao. Night
fell, and day broke again. The guards who had been successively
taking the night watch were all wearing out, as passive as they
were in their wait. Fei Sheng was leaning against the pillar with his
eyes closed to catch a breather when his ears suddenly twitched.
He opened his eyes, and it was a long while later when there was
movement in the doorway.
“He’s back.” Fei Sheng quickly leaped down the steps. “Gu Jin is
back!”
One of the lanterns under the eaves went out. Xiao Chiye heard
activity, and after a moment, the hanging drapes lifted slightly.
“Second Master.” Gu Jin, who had braved the elements and
hardships the entire arduous journey, kneeled on one knee in the
outer room. “I’m back late! I was midway through my journey when
I heard the Biansha Cavalry besieged the city of Duanzhou. Even
when I rushed through the bridleway, I couldn’t make it in time.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly jolted to his feet and came out of the inner
chamber. The few people under the eaves listened with bated
breath and rapt attention.
Without wiping the rainwater off his face, Gu Jin met Xiao
Chiye’s gaze and, not daring to hesitate, reported, “Second Master,
the Venerable Master… is indeed dead.”
 CHAPTER 254: JIRAN

Raindrops pelted the fallen flowers into the mud, then pounded
its fragile petals to pieces. The wind swept across the bamboo
blinds, causing the scene inside the room to flutter slightly, making
it hard to get a clear look within.
“I went to Hezhou and found the Venerable Master’s layman
family. They confirmed that after the Venerable Master returned to
Hezhou, he was taken away by the Yan clan under the pretext of
consulting for an illness.” Gu Jin changed his tone. “But heaven
never leaves one in the lurch. Jiran!”
The hearts of the guards at the door all leaped to their mouth at
this one word of “Jiran” from Gu Jin, but then, he did not
continue.
Jiran? Since what?22
Li Xiong was in the midst of picking up the candied fruit in the
jar to eat when he suddenly saw a smooth egg popping out from
the end of the walkway. All wrapped up in a large and roomy monk
cassock, that egg lifted two long trails of sleeves and trotted over.
As he passed by Li Xiong, he did not forget to cast a glance at the
candied fruits, and with this one look, he did not pay attention to
where he was going and tripped over himself and fell into the
bamboo blinds with a “thud”.
“Oops!” The sprawling egg lifted his head and said, “Greetings
to Second Master!”
 The crowd fixed their eyes on him—turned out he was a
fourteen or fifteen years old monk, even younger than Ding Tao.
Dragging his sleeves, the little monk put his palms together and
recited with a solemn and respectful expression, “Amitabha!”
He had a Hezhou accent and could not pronounce the “mi”
clearly, so it sounded like “anitabha”.
“Second Master,” Gu Jin said. “It was precisely for this lad that
the Venerable Master had been willing to return to Hezhou.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.” Jiran nodded his head as though that was
indeed the case. “It’s precisely for this humble monk.”
“The Venerable Master was getting up in the years, and was
well aware that he did not have much time left before he would
soon leave this world. But Jiran was too young, so the Venerable
Master headed back to Hezhou and placed him under the care of
his distant layman relatives. Unexpectedly, it was at that time he
crossed paths with the Yan Clan there.”
“Young Master Yan said that he wanted to bring this humble
monk out to play,” Blinking his clear and round eyes, Jiran
continued, “This humble monk had to fetch the water. He got
impatient waiting and invited Master away first.”
Xiao Chiye noted Jiran’s young age, and his remaining hope
that had just been ignited was thoroughly extinguished.
Gu Jin seemed to read what Xiao Chiye was thinking and
continued. “Even though Jiran is young, he has acquired the
Venerable Master’s legacy, and his medical skills are consummate.
With him consulting for the Prefectural Lord, Second Master…”
“Eh, eh,” Jiran shook his head hard. “No way. How can the light
from a firefly even begin to compare with the brilliance of the
moon? This humble monk and shifu are like the small creek and
boundless ocean—there’s no comparison!”
He still had baby fat on his face. Not only did he look innocent,
but even his words had an air of naivety.
Li Xiong forgot to eat his candied fruit as he tilted his head out
from the side of the door with Ding Tao to size up this soft-boiled
egg.
Gu Jin lifted Jiran up by his back collar and said. “Go take a
look first!”
 ◈ ◈ ◈
Jiran took Shen Zechuan’s pulse, frowning at times and
mumbling to himself at times.
Xiao Chiye lowered his voice to ask, “How is he?”
Jiran lowered his gaze to look at Shen Zechuan’s wrist. After a
long time, he replied to Xiao Chiye, “His Lordship really is fair.”
There was no trace of probing on Jiran’s fair, tender face. His
compliment of Shen Zechuan with those bright, clear eyes of his
was just as natural as if he was complimenting a clear spring or a
white cloud. Xiao Chiye’s terrifying possessiveness found no
footing on which to flare.
“His Lordship’s body is weak due to the adverse effect of the
medication he was consuming, but fortunately, he has been
meticulously nursed these past six months, and his primordial qi 23
still remains.” Jiran rolled up his sleeves, holding onto his brush as
he thought long and hard before writing a prescription down onto
the white sheet of paper.
Xiao Chiye dared not to rest assured just yet, and continued to
probe. “He just needs to continue with the prescription?”
“Of course not. External injuries are still injuries, no less. His
waist was even stabbed. If His Lordship happens to fall into a coma
or stop breathing temporarily tonight, Second Master doesn’t have
to fret.” Jiran regretfully continued. “This humble monk must advise
the Second Master not to allow His Lordship to use martial arts
again in the future. His Lordship’s body is simply not suited to use
such a forceful and hard-hitting boxing style. He throws a punch
out—yes, the other person will hurt, but His Lordship will feel the
pain too. It’s so not worth it. After he gets through these two nights
and his fever subsides, he will have to convalesce for quite several
years.”
Jiran handed the prescription over to Xiao Chiye.
“It is best that His Lordship writes with his left hand these six
months.”
Jiran took the opportunity to look at Xiao Chiye’s palm. He said,
“Even though Second Master is fit and healthy, you have to
remember to rest as well. This injury must not be soaked in water.”
Xiao Chiye asked, “How long is ‘several years’?”
 Jiran rubbed his head. “I’m not sure myself… but you can’t go
wrong with convalescing.”
Xiao Chiye tightened his grip on the prescription and looked
towards the lowered drapes. Shen Zechuan’s breathing was even
as he lay unconscious. His extended wrist exposed in the slightly
dimmed room was just as fair as Jiran had said, so fair that it
seemed as though he would melt at a single touch.
◈ ◈ ◈
In his drowsy state, Shen Zechuan had a dream. He dreamed
he stood before the gate of Qudu at age fifteen, waiting for his
shifu, shiniang, and Ji Mu to take him home. Dressed in the short
padded coat Hua Pingting made, he watched the fine snow stream
down along the city walls.
Ji Mu leaned over the top of the wall and shouted at him.
“Chuan-er, where are you going?”
Grasping his new coat, Shen Zechuan said in a daze, “I’m
going home.”
Ji Mu raised his head and gazed in the direction of Duanzhou
together with him. “Then wait for a little longer. Father is about to
come.”
Shen Zechuan could not remember why he had to stand here.
He waited from dawn till dusk, and even though it was snowing, he
felt very warm.
Ji Mu rubbed his arms and asked, “Ge is a little cold. Want to
come up to warm yourself by the fire?”
Shen Zechuan shook his head. “I feel very warm.”
And so Ji Mu started a fire at the top of the city wall. He
extended both his hands out for warmth as he chatted with Shen
Zechuan. “When we go back this time, Ge will be able to get
married. Mother has been nagging about it for years.”
They waited for a very long time. Shen Zechuan’s waist was
aching, as were his calves. Every part of him hurt. He wiped his
sweat, looking into the horizon ahead throughout.
Seeing as the sky had darkened, Ji Mu suddenly murmured,
“Father isn’t coming anymore.” His fire burned out. He got up to put
on the military coat set at the side and leaned over the top of the
wall to flash a grin at Shen Zechuan. “Chuan-er.”
 Shen Zechuan raised his head and took a few steps, looking at
him.
Ji Mu said, “Ge’s whistle call is sounding. I can’t wait anymore. I
have to go.”
Shen Zechuan nodded, already accustomed to it. “Then go. I’ll
tell shiniang.”24
Ji Mu revealed a troubled expression, as if he was having a
headache, and said with a sigh, “Ge’s worried. You…”
“I’ll walk back from here.” Shen Zechuan raised a finger and
pointed into the distance. “It’s nearby.”
Ji Mu looked at Shen Zechuan, the expression in his eyes
gentle. “What am I to do about my little brother?”
Shen Zechuan heard the sound of hooves and leaped a little as
he yelled, “Ge, shifu is here!”
Ji Mu said nothing and merely remained that way with his head
propped in his hands as he smiled.
Shen Zechuan turned his head and saw a gyrfalcon with its
wings spread flying out from the horizon, followed by a galloping
horse that was black all over with a patch of white on its front
chest.
He stopped in his tracks and watched that horse running over
to him.
Sitting on the back of the horse was a youth wearing a helmet.
The gyrfalcon landed on his shoulder. He removed his helmet,
revealing his rather displeased face, and bent over to scrutinize
Shen Zechuan. “What are you standing there for? Get on the horse.
Second Young Master will take you away.”
Shen Zechuan ignored him, so he dismounted his horse,
knocked his helmet on Shen Zechuan’s head, and hoisted up Shen
Zechuan.
“Ah,” Shen Zechuan said, smothered in the helmet. “I want to
go home.”
Xiao Chiye flicked a finger at Shen Zechuan, unreasonably
impervious to reason. “You’re leaving with me.”
He walked a few steps, then asked, as if angry, “Don’t you
recognize me?”
“I don’t,” Shen Zechuan answered.
 Xiao Chiye made to toss Shen Zechuan into the snow. He threw
Shen Zechuan up, and when Shen Zechuan panicked, caught him
again with steady hands. The gyrfalcon landed on his shoulder,
and he burst out laughing as he looked at Shen Zechuan.
Shen Zechuan lifted the helmet and looked at him, baffled.
The originally darkening sky abruptly lit up. Wind tousled Xiao
Chiye’s hair, and the surrounding wall that blocked his line of sight
all disappeared to reveal a boundless expanse of grassland paved
beneath his feet. It was in this way he hugged Shen Zechuan and
greedily stroked Shen Zechuan’s cheek.
“I want to hide you away,” Xiao Chiye said aloud in the wind,
“or perhaps put you into the pocket in my bosom.”
Shen Zechuan could not hear him clearly. He tilted his head up
and asked, “What did you say?”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and kissed him hard on the cheek.
“I said you’re really good-looking,” he answered. “Too damn
good-looking. No one will ever surpass you in looks, I swear!”
Shen Zechuan covered his cheek and replied loudly, “You’re
lying!”
Paying no heed to his struggle, Xiao Chiye hugged him tight
and said in his ear, “My bad.”
The wind stopped, and Xiao Chiye swiftly grew up. His broad
shoulders blocked out the light as he embraced Shen Zechuan,
looking as if he had just woken up, and at the same time, still in
dreamland. His unraveled hair weaved together with Shen
Zechuan’s, spreading out among the bedding. A tiny little braid lay
across in the middle.
Shen Zechuan opened his bleary eyes and zoned out for a
while. Tiredly, he said, “It’s all bound together.”
“Mm.” Xiao Chiye lifted the little braid with his long finger. “As
they say, they who bind their hair together become husband and
wife.”25
Shen Zechuan had only just woken up and he was still coming
around and getting his bearings.
Xiao Chiye rubbed his back for him and said, “Time to get up.”
He rubbed Shen Zechuan until Shen Zechuan turned slightly
aside and was now lying on Xiao Chiye’s chest. Xiao Chiye had
calluses on his hands, and his rubs felt very comfortable. Shen
Zechuan’s eyes were almost about to narrow. Still, he did not forget
to say angrily to Xiao Chiye, “You’re so noisy.”
Xiao Chiye nuzzled him hard with his stubbled chin and said,
“You’re going to be the death of me, Shen Lanzhou.”
Shen Zechuan poked Xiao Chiye’s cheek with his right hand
that had been wrapped into a dumpling. Very naturally, both of
them shared a tired, listless kiss.
The spell of rain over several days came to a cease, and sunny
days took over in Duanzhou.
Jiran might have been a very modest one, but three days later,
Shen Zechuan was able to consume congee on schedule. The little
monk stood by the window, piously reciting “anitabha”. When Xiao
Chiye asked what he wanted as a reward, he pointed to Li Xiong’s
candy jar without hesitation.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and handed the candy jar
over to him before Li Xiong could protest.
◈ ◈ ◈
The window in the room was opened. Shen Zechuan rested
against the back cushion and listened to Fei Sheng finish his
report.
“If they were spies, there was indeed no need for them to leave
such obvious tattoos on their bodies.” Shen Zechuan held the
report Yuanzhuo wrote in his left hand. It covered all the important
matters these few days which the advisers were in no position to
take the decision into their own hands. “You mean, the reason they
still had the lizard tattoo on them was to distinguish themselves
from the ordinary Scorpions?”
“The Lizards all belonged under Amu’er, and they pride
themselves on being a branch of the Hanshe Tribe,” Qiao Tianya
said. “Zhuoli has to step onto the battlefield, so it’s not surprising
for him to have the tattoo, but the only possibility for infiltrating
Lizards to still have their tattoos could only be that they are worried
about getting confused by others.”
“What did Youjing say?” Xiao Chiye asked.
“The household registrations the assassins used are legitimate.
There are indeed these two people in Fanzhou, but it’s very likely
that they have been replaced,” Fei Sheng said. “After all, we only
know their names, but not their appearances.”
“That can’t be helped,” Kong Ling said in a steady voice. “The
census register has to be filled in and reported every year. Even if
the various prefectural yamen take down their portraits during the
verification process, they can’t be kept for long.”
But Qiao Tianya was right in his conjecture. Why did the
infiltrating Lizards need to have tattoos on them? That way, there
would be no escape for them once they were found out. Amu’er
treated them as his own private soldiers. Even Zhuoli was “loaned”
to Hasen, which showed just how highly Amu’er regarded these
Lizards. If it was really to differentiate themselves from the
Scorpions, then it had to do with the Scorpions who roamed
Zhongbo’s territories all year round.
“Duanzhou isn’t close to Gedale, and it’s even further away
from Amu’er. Even the fastest horses can’t get the news there
instantly.” Xiao Chiye knew the military map to the east like the
back of his hand. “Even Hasen’s saker falcons didn’t manage to fly
back. These two Lizards were not sent by Amu’er.”
Amu-er’s deployment of troops was his contingency plan for
the worst-case scenario where Qi Zhuyin attacked Gedale and
Hasen did not return to provide reinforcements. His confirmation of
Hasen’s death could only happen within these two days. This was
because the Chashi River was not easy to cross, so he had no way
of giving orders to the Lizards a few days prior. There was simply
no time.
Understanding flashed across Yao Wenyu’s expression. “Since
the Lizards are Amu’er’s private soldiers, they would not easily
heed the deployment commands of another person. If Amu’er was
not the one who gave them the order to assassinate, then the only
possibility left is that someone gave them the orders under
Amu’er’s name.”
Fei Sheng furrowed his brows. “If so, that means there is still a
Scorpion or a Lizard by our side, and he knows the movements in
Duanzhou.”
Always the one who would immediately get nervous, Gao
Zhongxiong said, “Then isn’t that terrible? This person is very
familiar with matters concerning Zhongbo!”
“If these Lizards were long-time residents in the territory, then
even if they had proof of household registration, they would also
have been recorded down in the book due to their tattoo,” Qiao
Tianya said, “which means they have only just sneaked their way
in.”
“The yamen’s checks are so strict,” Kong Ling said. “It’s too hard
for them to sneak into the city unnoticed. They have to be able to
evade the guards’ inspections.”
“Then there’s really a place where they can do that.” Chen Yang
bowed slightly to the Prefectural Lord. “The Scorpions of Cizhou are
not subjected to questioning within the territory. They can move
freely following Hairigu.”
Hairigu’s Scorpions originally could only remain at the Beiyuan
Hunting Grounds under the strict watch of the garrison troops. It
was only until they rendered meritorious services at the Chashi
Sinkhole accompanying the Libei Armored Cavalry that Zhongbo
undid their shackles. If the Lizards were with him, then the issue
about the tattoo would make sense.
Fei Sheng promptly said, “Hairigu’s negotiation with the
Youxiong Tribe did not work out too. Master, why not I…”
“What’s the hurry? With the Youxiong Tribe retreating in defeat,
the Qingshu Tribe’s territory has been completely vacated.” Shen
Zechuan set down the report and said to Xiao Chiye, “Let’s give this
piece of land to Hairigu.”
Xiao Chiye lifted his brows slightly.
“Hairigu signed an oath of alliance with the Youxiong Tribe on
my behalf, but the Youxiong Tribe reneged on the agreement.” An
undercurrent of ruthlessness coursed through Shen Zechuan’s tired
eyes. “There is a price to be paid for betrayal. Let Hairigu collect this
debt on my behalf.”
The reason Hairigu wanted to instigate the Lizards hiding in his
own nest of Scorpions was to ignite the flames of war as soon as
possible. He wanted lands, and just like Dalantai, they all seemed
to be wavering, but in truth, they were all working for their own
benefits.
 Xiao Chiye killed Achi over at the Chashi Sinkhole, so the
Biansha Scorpions were now without a leader, and Hairigu had no
more rival to vie with him. If he returned to the desert at this time,
he would be the one and only leader of the remaining Scorpions.
He even dared to do Yan Heru’s business, so he could also turn
around and work with Amu’er again owing to the change in the
situation.
If Shen Zechuan killed off Hairigu, he would merely be killing
off an exposed Scorpion. Amu’er had no lack of this kind of
Scorpions, so Shen Zechuan would not only spare Hairigu but also
give Hairigu the land he yearned for so much. He wanted Hairigu
to stand here and firmly occupy the Zhongbo battlefield,
controlling the flow of Scorpions, thereby becoming the thorn in
Amu’er’s side.
But at the same time, Shen Zechuan also wanted to teach
Hairigu a hard lesson.
If Hairigu wanted that piece of Qingshu Tribe’s land, he had to
first go and deal with the Youxiong Tribe. As long as he did so, the
Twelve Tribes would no longer accept him easily, and Amu’er
would no longer trust him. He would also have to shoulder the
Youxiong’s Tribe’s hatred, for he was the blade-wielding
executioner who carried out the punishment.
The Prefectural Lord wanted to use his resources to the fullest.
Shen Zechuan grew tired from sitting, and as the others were
about to retreat, he said, “There’s no hurry for Yuanzhuo to retire for
a rest upon heading back. Jiran will be going over in a while to
take a look at you.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Jiran was still a child at heart, jumping across water puddles as
he followed after Gu Jin. Seeing his smooth, bald head reflected in
the water, he could not help but double up with laughter.
Qiao Tianya met them at the entrance. Putting his palms
together too, he said to Jiran, “Little Master,26 please enter.”
Jiran returned the greeting. At this time, the birds were
chirping among the trees, and the weather was pleasantly warm.
Dressed in monk robes, he stood in the water puddles of varying
sizes that reflected the blue sky and white clouds, a sight that so
entranced one it was hard to distinguish between heaven and
earth.
“Benefactor,”27 Jiran imitated his shifu’s28 example and nodded
slowly to Qiao Tianya. “You have an affinity with Buddha.”
Qiao Tianya found it interesting and said, “When I was young,
there was a monk who said the same thing to me too. But then, to
date, I still have yet to renounce the world and become a monk.”
Jiran looked at Qiao Tianya. When he was quiet, he had a kind
of otherworldly aura. However, that was not the so-called
detachment far removed from the mundane world, but a natural
transcendence. Such was the little monk, pure and untainted,
observing the secular world with his own pair of eyes.
“Worryfree are the clear waters, that creased in a frown because
of the wind; Ageless are the emerald hills, that sport a crown of
white because of the snow.29 Benefactor’s ‘cause’ already exists, so
would the ‘catalyst’ still be far along?”30 The refreshing breeze blew
up Jiran’s monk robe, and the hem of his clothes drooped into the
water. He clapped his palms gently, looking in all seriousness in his
naivety, as if already certain of Qiao Tianya’s future path.
Qiao Tianya heard the wind chimes under the eaves swaying in
the breeze. He turned his head and saw Yao Wenyu sitting there.
Yao Wenyu’s sleeves instantly swayed with the wind. Unexpectedly
enough, he gave off the same vibe as Jiran strolling among the
white clouds in the water puddles.
Jiran walked to the front of the steps, but did not bow to Yao
Wenyu. Under the tinkling of the wind chimes, he scrutinized Yao
Wenyu. Eventually, he shook his head. “I can’t heal your legs. Even
if my shifu were alive, he wouldn’t be able to heal your legs either.”
Yao Wenyu covered Hunu on his lap with his fingers. “All
conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a
shadow, like the dew and a flash of lightning. And thus, it is so we
shall perceive them.”31
The confluence of causes and conditions of this world was in a
constant flux of change. Yao Wenyu was no longer obsessing over
this pair of legs. Long when he answered, “I’m still standing”,32 he
had already extricated himself from it all. It made no difference
whether he stood or sat. He was still himself. He was him.
 Jiran sighed. “Others want me to speak of the sayings of
Buddha, yet you speak of them to me. Existing in the existential
view of your own mortality,33 you’ve seen the end, so why stop and
linger here? Come with me to the mountains.”
Yao Wenyu said, “I still have the forms of all things34 in my
heart.”
Looking at Yao Wenyu, Jiran raised a finger to point at Qiao
Tianya. “You also have the form of him in your heart.”
The wind blew against Yao Wenyu’s sleeves, and the red thread
on his wrist slid gently. He said, “That is why I’m still an ordinary
mortal.”
The chain of cause and effect, of predestined relationships, was
beyond intriguing. When exactly were its wheels set into motion?
Perhaps it was that night when the red thread was bound, or
perhaps it was that one utterance of “I hate you to the core”35, or
perhaps even earlier, during the third month when spring was
budding in the air.
Qiao Tianya, Qiao Songyue—he was the swallow that left his
mark.
Yao Wenyu understood that all that existed in the world was but
mere illusions. Everything he did today was like the snap of the
finger that would swiftly vanish into the long, never-ending river.
Yao Wenyu, Yao Yuanzhuo—he was the leaf that turned to mud.
“I have nothing to give to you.” Jiran tilted his head slightly.
Yao Wenyu looked at Shen Zechuan’s courtyard and smiled.
“You have already given me what I want.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The yellow sand of the Bianjun Commandery brushed past the
military banner, sending it fluttering. Qi Zhuyin removed her
helmet. Her mouth was all mixed with gravel and grit. Qi Wei
handed her a handkerchief. She could not strip off her armor and
wipe herself down as the male generals did, so she could only bear
the scorching heat and wipe her face with restraint.
“Duanzhou has sent several military reports,” Qi Wei said. “The
report from the battle zone is here too.”
“The one from the battle zone is from Lu Guangbai. What else
can it be but the retreat of the Biansha Cavalry soldiers?” Qi Zhuyin
set down Zhujiu and moved behind the wall to cool off. “Duanzhou
is from Xiao Chiye. Go ahead and read it out.”
Only then did Qi Wei open the private letter and read it out to
Qi Zhuyin.
Qi Zhuyin’s hands, which had initially been folding the
handkerchief, paused. She looked at Qi Wei and repeated, “Give
the Qingshu Tribe’s territory to the Scorpions?”
Qi Wei carefully looked it over again and ensured there was no
mistake before he nodded.
That bit of nonchalance Qi Zhuyin had gradually ebbed away.
The armor on her shoulders was already considered light, but wear
it for a long time, and it would still be heavy enough to make the
shoulders sore.
“Get a brush,” she said, “and reply to Xiao Chiye now. I do not
agree.”
The Qingshu Tribe was taken down and captured by the
Qidong Garrison Troops. Qi Zhuyin had no use for this place, so
she could give it to Libei or Zhongbo, but she had no wish to hand
it over to the Scorpions. What did Hairigu’s occupation of the
Qingshu Tribe’s territory imply? It implied that there would be the
Scorpions keeping watch at her door from then on, one who could
turn around and bite them back anytime.
It was exactly as Xiao Chiye expected when he received Qi
Zhuyin’s reply. He pillowed his head on his arms and said to Shen
Zechuan beside him, “Qidong’s terrains are what give it an
advantage. Expanding eastward would weaken the importance of
the Bianjun Commandery. The two ‘door shutters’ that are Tianfei
Watchtower and Suotian Pass would also lose their purpose. It’s
tough to get Commander-in-chief Qi’s nod regarding this
matter.”
Shen Zechuan was already about to fall asleep. “Libei is willing
to establish a relationship of subordination with the Huiyan Tribe,
and the Armored Cavalry subsequently receives the perks tea
brought them. To Qidong, the advantage of increasing the territory
outward from the Bianjun Commandery will far outweigh the
disadvantages. It will also reduce the burden of military expenses
placed on Commander-in-chief Qi in the future.”
 More than half of the tea the traveling merchants sold at the
harbor from the mutual trade market came from the Huiyan Tribe.
Shen Zechuan gave all this sum of money back to the Libei
Armored Cavalry. It had to be known that the speed at which the
Armored Cavalry depleted their equipment could be said to be
ranked first in the world.
Thinking to this point, Shen Zechuan’s drowsiness eased. He
could not turn over as he pleased, so all he could do was to lean
back like Xiao Chiye was doing as he continued, “The war can last
a lifetime, then what about the next life?”
“Next life.” Xiao Chiye covered his face with the letter and
sighed. “I’d still want to be born in Libei.”
As both of them lay, Ding Tao and Li Xiong smashed walnuts in
the walkway with Jiran, the boys laughing merrily as they did so.
Insects chirped up a ruckus under the blazing sun, one sound after
another.
“Amu’er spent his whole life attempting in vain to unify the
Twelve Tribes,” after a while, Xiao Chiye said. “My father thought he
could become the great ruler.”
“You don’t understand the reason Amu’er didn’t become the
great ruler of the desert.” Shen Zechuan turned his head to the
side. “I can tell you on the sly.”
Xiao Chiye took away the letter and turned aside. It was so
warm he was feeling lazy.
All he said was, “Hm?”
“Because Libei has Xiao Ce’an.” Shen Zechuan raised his eyes
and gazed at him. “You want to cross the river and advance
eastward to go looking for Amu’er.”
Xiao Chiye suddenly covered Shen Zechuan’s eyes. The
weather was so, so hot. He inched closer and whispered back, “My
wife does understand me so.”
The corners of Shen Zechuan’s lips curved up slightly with a
little smugness.
Xiao Chiye loved looking at Shen Zechuan this way. Lowering
his eyes, he could not help but kiss him.
 CHAPTER 255: QINGSHAN

The gardens in Qudu were all a lush shade of emerald green.

Potted plants decorated both sides of Mingli Hall’s open space. The
eunuchs carried basins filled to the brim with ice pieces and placed
them in all corners of the hall to dispel the heat. Meanwhile, the
court officials under the eaves waiting for themselves to be
summoned were all so hot they were sweating, yet they could not
breach decorum, and so could only force themselves to endure it
and let their sweat soak through their robes.
The bamboo blinds to Mingli Hall lifted, and Fengquan, with a
horsetail whisk in hand, walked out and bowed in greeting to the
ministers. Softly, he said, “The sweltering heat is unbearable, and it
has been hard on the various excellencies attending to official
duties. Her Highness has specially instructed this humble slave to
prepare green bean soup.”
The junior eunuchs swiftly came carrying the bowls of soup; the
napkin flowers had all been prepared in advance. Fengquan
bowed once more and retreated into Mingli Hall.
“Her Highness shows such consideration to us humble ones.”
An official who had come from a local region said as he sipped the
soup, “And for that, we are truly grateful.”
Soup spoons knocked lightly against porcelain bowls. An
official from the capital asked Jiang Qingshan, who was at the side,
“Is Wanxiao used to staying at the relay station?”
 Jiang Qingshan finished his soup and gave a slight nod of his
head. He seemed rather at odds with his swift and resolute
reputation that was the stuff of rumors. His manner was tepid and
lukewarm, as if he was also very perfunctory and not that attentive
when it came to other matters. After an hour, a eunuch called out
his name, and Jiang Qingshan lifted the hem of his robe and
entered the hall, where he kneeled and bowed to pay his respect.
“This humble subject, the Provincial Administration
Commissioner of Juexi, Jiang Qingshan, pays his respects to Your
Highness.”
“Wanxiao, please rise,” Li Jianting said. “The weather is hot
today, and I’ve made you stand outside long enough. The Grand
Secretary and I were just discussing Juexi’s governmental affairs,
and I saw from your memorial that the City of Yongcheng has gone
without rain for more than a month. The local granaries are in short
supply, so you wish to borrow grains from Huaizhou?”
“The grains requisitioned by the imperial court last year were
borne by Juexi. The thirteen cities’ granaries are already depleted.”
Jiang Qingshan did not raise his head. “I never expected a
drought to hit.”
Kong Qiu said to Li Jianting from the side, “The City of
Yongcheng is also the granary of the southwest. If this drought is
severe, I fear it would be hard to sustain just by depending on
Wanxiao to borrow grains. It’s still necessary to rely on the imperial
court to transfer the aid relief grains down.”
The flower embellishment on Li Jianting’s forehead was
brilliant red. She pondered it for a moment, then said, “During the
reign of Xiande, you offended the local merchants in order to
provide relief to the disaster victims, causing them to crowd the
yamen to make things difficult for you. This year, you are
negotiating with Huaizhou with every means possible for the sake
of borrowing grains. It has been hard on you. The City of
Yongcheng being hit by disaster is no small matter, but there is no
need to worry either. The Grand Secretary and I will give you a
solution as soon as possible. The grains will definitely be
transferred.”
 Jiang Qingshan was already used to hearing words of excuses
whenever he entered the capital. Even the former Emperor
Tianchen and Emperor Xiande did not possess such a decisive and
straightforward attitude. Thus, on hearing Li Jianting saying so, he
could not help but put on a solemn countenance and kowtow to
pay his obeisances. “This humble subject knows that the imperial
court also has to give consideration to the war in Qidong this year.
The military provisions have priority. Juexi is willing to use natural
silk to offset the debt and exchange it for food with Huaizhou.”
Kong Qiu lost a little of his temper when this was brought up.
“The official transfer of public grains can be implemented right
after Her Highness endorses it. Why must the Prefectural Prefect of
Huaizhou, Tao Ming, defy the edict? Huaizhou had a bumper
harvest last year. According to the memorial Tao Ming presented at
the beginning of the year, he can afford to give relief grains.”
“The imperial edict was issued several days ago,” Li Jianting
said. “Fengquan, go out there and ask if the Prefectural Prefect of
Huaizhou, Tao Ming, has arrived. If so, summon him into the hall to
give us an explanation.”
Before Fengquan had even stepped out of the hall, Fuman
anxiously came to the door and said, “Your Highness, a letter
arrived from the postal relay station, saying that the Prefectural
Prefect of Huaizhou, Tao Ming, has fled with his entire family!”
Li Jianting was taken aback. “Where did he flee to? The
imperial court is summoning him over for a discussion. Why did he
flee?”
Fuman stomped his leg lightly. “He defected to Shen Zechuan
of Zhongbo!”
Murmurs of discussions promptly filled the hall.
Chen Zhen frowned. “Borrowing grains is a commonplace
matter. Why did he run? There has to be a reason!”
“Your Highness is not aware, but,” Fuman said with urgency,
“the official who went to summon him opened up the granary in
Huaizhou and found that there was not much grain left. It’s not
enough to serve as relief grains. Tao Ming acted in collusion with
Shen Zechuan and sold the grains all to Cizhou a long time back.
The moment he heard that Juexi wanted to borrow grains, he was
so frightened that he fled on the very same night!”
An uproar broke out in the hall. Cen Yu stood up. “This… why
didn’t the local investigating censor say a word?!”
Huaizhou had no grains, and Hezhou was empty too. They
could not count on the Eight Great Cities either. Then, what about
the City of Yongcheng? In the end, Juexi still had to tighten their
belt to save up the money by the skin of their teeth!
The atmosphere in the hall abruptly plummeted. Air so chilly
pervaded the hall from the ice basins in the four corners that Kong
Qiu felt a sharp pain in the middle of his back. Covering his nose
and mouth, he coughed for a moment, then stood up when his
coughing subsided and bowed to Li Jianting. “Disaster relief is of
top priority and cannot be delayed. The monthly salaries of the
officials in the capital can be reduced accordingly. This humble
subject shall get the ball rolling. We must not let the commoners
starve to death!”
The officials in the outer area all looked at each other, then
kneeled and echoed, “We humble subjects are willing to do so. We
ask of Your Highness to agree to it.”
The cicadas among the trees were pried off by the eunuchs. Li
Jianting rose to her feet too, and in that brief silence, lamented,
“How can I stop all of you when you are going to such an extent?
Since it’s for the sake of Yongcheng’s common folks, the palace
should also appropriately cut its spending. Wanxiao, you are the
one who asks for the grains, so you shall be the one to make
arrangements for the aid relief.”
Jiang Qingshan kowtowed and said his thanks.
◈ ◈ ◈
At night, flower lanterns and sheer gauze curtains decorated
the courtyard, where a spread of dishes and chopsticks had been
laid out. Only Ya’er36 was waiting in attendance at the side.
Xue Xiuzhuo, dressed in his regular clothes, poured tea for
Jiang Qingshan. “Apologies for being the poor host by having you
come to my residence.”
Jiang Qingshan took the tea and said with a sigh, “There have
been so many social engagements since my entry into the capital.
All those delicacies cannot compare to your homely fare.”
“The life of the poor.” Xue Xiuzhuo set down the teapot and, in
a rare moment, teased, “Which Provincial Governor is like you? You
don’t even use a decent horse carriage when you venture out.”
“I am truly poor, while you are pseudo-poor,” Jiang Qingshan
said, “but we are two of a kind who reek of poverty from head to
toe!”
Both men clinked their teacup and burst into laughter.
“I can see that the Heir Apparent is intelligent. She treats those
under her with decency, and she is straightforward in her handling
of matters. She takes after the style of Emperor Guangcheng.”
Jiang Qingshan picked up the chopsticks and ate the beancurd
with shallot. “It’s just that she’s rather a tad prim and proper, and
her manner of speaking is too mature.”
“She had a rough time in her youth, so naturally, she’s unlike
the average girl.” Xue Xiuzhuo watched Jiang Qingshan eat his
meal. “I saw your letter at the beginning of the year. Liu-niang is
pregnant?”
Jiang Qingshan slowed down his speed of swallowing and
cast a glance at Xue Xiuzhuo. His smile faded. “The usual.”
So Xue Xiuzhuo did not probe further.
Jiang Qingshan had a wife, but no children. His wife was from
the Liu clan in the Prefecture of Baimazhou, and it was not really
considered a rich household. She was on good terms with Jiang
Qingshan, but to date, both of them had still yet to beget a child.
Liu-niang was in poor health. Their firstborn was conceived during
the fourth year of Xiande, when Jiang Qingshan was running all
over outside to borrow grains. The merchants who came to their
doorstep to demand repayments gave Liu-niang such a fright that
she miscarried. After that, it had been hard for her to conceive
again.
“Why are you so dejected?” Jiang Qingshan set down his
chopsticks. “If I’m destined to have no son, then so be it. I won’t
force it.” As he spoke, he looked to the cluster of flowers at the side,
pausing for a moment. “It’s just that my mother has been pushing
us pretty hard, and it’s inevitable that she treats Liu-niang rather…
alas.”
 Jiang Qingshan’s mother, in her anxiousness to gain a
grandson,37 was rather harsh on her daughter-in-law.
“My mother is advanced in age, and she’s strong-minded by
nature. It has been aggravating for Liu-niang to be attending to
her. I’ve been busy with government affairs all these years and
neglected domestic affairs. In the end, I’ve failed to live up to the
vow I made to her back then.” Jiang Qingshan always felt
emotional to mention his family affairs. “At the beginning of the
year, my mother had some distant niece stay over at our residence,
saying that it was only for the time being, but even until now, she’s
still there. Several times I went back to see Liu-niang standing
primly under the eaves, and yet my mother still wants to match-
make me with that woman…”
“If you’re unwilling, it’d be better to turn it down outright,” Xue
Xiuzhuo poured more tea for him, “lest the Old Madam thinks it’s
feasible and it ends up breaking Liu-niang’s heart.”
Jiang Qingshan stayed Xue Xiuzhuo’s hand. “Let’s have wine
instead.”
“I still have to attend to official duties tomorrow morning.” As
Xue Xiuzhuo spoke, he looked at Ya’er and motioned for him to get
the wine.
“You live alone in this residence. It’s so empty.” Jiang Qingshan
raised an arm and waved it. “It’s time for you to settle down with
someone too.”
“Han Cheng has only just been eliminated, and the
investigation of the field taxes has yet to conclude.” Xue Xiuzhuo
took over the wine and poured only for Jiang Qingshan. “If I marry
a wife, I’d be leaving her alone in this empty residence, where
she’d be wasting away her youth. Why sin thus?”
“There is no end to official business,” Jiang Qingshan said.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to carry on like this until you grow old
and die?”
Xue Xiuzhuo nodded in all seriousness and started to discuss
official matters. “The drought in the City of Yongcheng is not as
serious compared to the one during the reign of Xiande, but it has
already put you in a terrible fix. Qudu’s reduction of salaries alone is
useless if this rain still doesn’t fall after the seventh month, or if a
drought hits the rest of the twelve cities. There will still be fatal
casualties in Juexi.”
Jiang Qingshan sipped the wine. “The Grand Secretariat is
willing in spirit but lacking in power. If there is really a surplus of
grains, the Grand Secretary will not make such an unwise move.
I’ve been meaning to ask you too. Are the eight cities really
empty?”
“Yes. The grains confiscated from the Pan clan of Dancheng,”
Xue Xiuzhuo raised a hand and pointed to the side, “are not even
enough to feed the people in this palace.”
“We used to lack money in the past.” Jiang Qingshan shook his
head. “And now, we lack grains. If we had been able to issue the
personnel transfer order earlier to reorganize the Six Prefectures of
Zhongbo and recover the vast expanse of fertile lands, Shen
Zechuan would not have gone on to become the local overlord,
and Dazhou would not be in the predicament it is in today.”
Xue Xiuzhuo said at a slow pace, “The most abundant granaries
in the world are now in Zhongbo. If the drought in Juexi worsens
after the seventh month, I’ll have to consider buying grains from
Shen Zechuan.”
“I fear that will be tough,” Jiang Qingshan said. “Who would
have imagined Shen the Eighth would be able to bring the six
prefectures under his control? The battle in Duanzhou won him the
hearts of the people. This man bears grudges. He will not sell
grains to you that easily.”
Xue Xiuzhuo set the wine jar to the side. “If he wants to walk
among the world in the name of benevolence and righteousness,
he cannot simply sit back and watch the drought ravage Juexi.”
They discussed some more official business. When it was
almost time, Xue Xiuzhuo had Ya’er help Jiang Qingshan back to
rest. As Jiang Qingshan was leaving, he pointed at the front hall
and said, “I met your eldest brother when I arrived at the relay
station. He went there to offer offerings to Chengzhi. I see he has
been promoted, presumably benefitting from his association with
you. Yanqing, he used to make things difficult for you in all kinds of
ways possible because he shares the same family name as you. In
the end, he still has to survive relying on his connection with you,
yet he’s not even willing to say a good word about you.”
Jiang Qingshan was a little drunk, and so a little unsteady on
his feet.
“Seeing how smug he is, I fear he will implicate you in the
future… You should watch out for him.”
Xue Xiuzhuo responded in acknowledgment.
◈ ◈ ◈
Ge Qingqing stepped on a stool and shook out the dice as if he
was performing magic tricks and said, “My lord, you lost!”
Xue the Eldest drank until his face was all flushed. He touched
his pocket and said, “Oh dear me, I forgot to bring my money
pouch before I left home! Qingqing, put it on the account!”
Ge Qingqing blew on the dice and looked at Xue the Eldest,
saying with a laugh, “My lord, why stand on ceremony with me? It
ought to be on my account to begin with. Is the scented tea sent to
your residences a few days ago still acceptable? The goods from
Qinzhou have also just arrived recently. If there’s anything you have
your eyes on, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“No, no, that won’t do.” Although that was what Xue the Eldest
said, he still sat to the side and lit up the pipe. “My residence has
everything and does not lack small playthings like this. It’s just that
the Ministry of Personnel wants to swap around the assignments in
the imperial court of late, and going by what the gonggong said,
there’s a lucrative post.”
Ge Qingqing shifted his feet and sat down beside Xue the
Eldest. “Then our lord is going to receive a promotion.
Congratulations.”
“But the gonggong in this palace all serve the emperor. They
have seen a lot and so they turn their noses up at common
objects.” Xue the Eldest appeared somewhat hesitant. “Do you
have any imported merchandise?”
“Yes, I do. Lots of them. I’ll get Xiaowu to bring the book over
later for you to look over and choose.” Ge Qingqing leaned closer.
“Whatever you choose, I’ll give it to you. No need to stand on
ceremony!”
 “You’re truly my buddy!” Xue the Eldest promptly burst into
laughter. He pointed at Ge Qingqing. “If this official post really falls
into my hands, I’ll make sure to return you double the gift in the
future.”
When Ge Qingqing threw the dice, he knocked against the low
table at the side, seemingly by accident. The Imperial Bodyguard at
the side in disguise as a servant gave a slight nod of his head and
prepared the stuff for Xue the Eldest, even remembering to lay out
a layer of gold underneath.
It grew even later outside, but Xue the Eldest had long since
been having such a good time that he did not even notice it.
 CHAPTER 256: ZUZONG (ANCESTOR)

During the hour of you, Li Jianting went for a walk in the

garden, her only time for leisure for the entire day. With Fengquan
accompanying her at the side, the Heir Apparent strolled along the
stone path, still thinking about the government affairs discussed in
the hall.
“A few days later, there’s going to be a worshipping ceremony
held to pray for rain.” Li Jianting raised her fingers to brush aside
the flower branch by her cheek. “This is a matter of importance.
Nothing must go wrong on that day.”
Fengquan shifted away the flower branch for Li Jianting and
said deferentially, “This humble slave will definitely do his best.”
Li Jianting stood at the edge of the pond and sprinkled fish
bait into it. Watching the carps fighting among themselves, she
said, “You used to serve Imperial Concubine Mu in the past and you
were an arrogant and impudent one who did not know to exercise
forbearance, which earned you the censure of the imperial court
ministers. Now that you had a close encounter with death, you are
a lot more restrained.”
The Heir Apparent certainly did not bring up this matter in the
midst of discussing political affairs on a whim. There was
something else in those words. Fengquan’s gaze flickered, and as
he bowed, he hazarded a guess as to the Heir Apparent’s intent. In
a soft voice, he said, “The servant takes after the disposition of his
master. Your Highness treats the others with tolerance and
magnanimity, and this humble slave, having received Your
Highness’s guidance, naturally dare not be as presumptuous as I
had been before. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been impertinent in
the past when I met the various excellencies from the Grand
Secretariat, and now that I have been graced with the favor of my
lord, I ought to take the past as a cautionary tale and draw my
lesson from it.”
Li Jianting glanced at Fengquan. “You’re a fine one.”
Fengquan had served Emperor Tianchen before. Li Jianheng
was simple-minded, and his emotions were all clearly written on
his face. But ever since Li Jianting entered the palace, she
indistinctly began to exude the regal might of a sovereign that
made her hard to predict. She had no preference when she had
her meals here. No matter how delicious the food was, she would
not put her chopsticks to it over three times. Even the delight and
fury in her words were tough to differentiate.
“I heard just how harsh Fuman was on you when you were in
prison before, and now you’re both working together in Mingli
Hall,” Li Jianting said, “do you harbor any displeasure?”
Fengquan lifted the hem of his robe and kneeled. “This humble
slave is Your Highness’s slave, and this humble slave is aware that
there must be some deeper meaning to Your Majesty’s
arrangement. Although this humble slave and Fuman used to fall
foul of one another, he was also doing his job that time, so this
humble slave dare not harbor resentment.”
“He nearly broke your leg.” Li Jianting looked at the carps that
were still fighting for food.
Fengquan kowtowed and choked with sobs. In a thin voice, he
said, “The gonggong wielding the flogging rods are all old hands
from the Eastern Depot. They know not to go too far.”
Li Jianting focused on watching the fishes and said as if
nonchalantly, “Although Fuman is a long-time eunuch from the
former emperor’s reign, he only began to move around in the
emperor’s presence after the Eastern Depot was left idle.” She
smiled. “I’ve never heard of the former emperor ordering him to
manage the affairs of the Eastern Depot, and I didn’t expect him to
be that familiar with the old-timers of the Eastern Depot too. Looks
like he’s also well-acquainted with the random dogs and cats38 in
my palace too.”
Fengquan made use of the action of wiping his tears to wipe
his sweat. He instantly understood what the Heir Apparent meant.
Li Jianting was poisoned in the palace. All her people in the palace
were selected by Xue Xiuzhuo, and even so, they failed to thwart
the Empress Dowager, so the perpetrator must have had the help
of someone who was familiar with the ins and outs of her palace. Li
Jianting used Fuman when she hosted a banquet to kill Han
Cheng, and now that the thorn in her side, Han Cheng, had been
eliminated, she ought to settle the score.
Fengquan felt a little more settled when he thought to this
point. “Since Fuman is an old hand from the reign of the former
emperor, he differs from the others in the inner court and yamen.
He has vast experience, and he’s in the good books of the various
excellencies from the Grand Secretariat, so the number of people
he is well-acquainted with is naturally more than this humble slave.
Although he has plenty of ‘descendants’,39 he is cordial to people,
attentive to his work, and stays within the confines of propriety.”
“You’re leaving your words unfinished. Stay within the confines
of propriety? He seemed to me to be a very ambitious one; A lao-
zuzong he is.” Li Jianting took the handkerchief to wipe her hands.
“He is but a mere eunuch who has neither the merit in maintaining
state stability nor the courage to remonstrate with his sovereign.
Yet he can be a ‘lao-zuzong’ just because he has been in the
emperor’s presence for long. Whose ancestor?”40 She looked
askance at Fengquan. “Mine?”
Fengquan only felt this breezily-spoken word to be as heavy as
the lofty mountains, crushing down on him such that he dared not
raise his head. He hurriedly kowtowed, “Your Highness is the noble
descendant of the royal family! The glorious legacy of the Great
Ancestor41 is all handed into the hands of Your Highness. Your
Highness is the supreme ruler of the world!”
“The eunuch faction threw court politics into a mess during the
reign of Emperor Xiande. They killed off a lao-zuzong,42 but never
in my imagination would I expect to come across another one.
Evidently, human greed has no limits, like a snake trying to swallow
an elephant. All the kind treatment in the world can’t get you
loyalty. Favoring and trusting someone too much is bound to lead
to disaster.” Li Jianting handed the handkerchief to the palace
maid at the side and said, self-mockingly, “However, he does
indeed have the capability to really be my ancestor for no rhyme or
reason.”
Fuman had “children” and “grandchildren” all over, and he also
had contacts with the imperial court officials with the opportunity
his working in Mingli Hall accorded him. However, he was cleverer
than Pan Rugui here. He did not dare to mess with the etiquettes
when he came face to face with the Grand Secretariat officials; in
fact, he would not even rule out kowtowing to them once every ten
steps if he could. Kong Qiu was previously in ill health, and he had
pushed himself through his illness to go about his official duties.
Fuman, who was waiting in attendance in Mingli Hall, personally
tested Kong Qiu’s medicine and meticulously took care of the
Grand Secretary, all to build up a good reputation for Li Jianting.
Fuman went to such an extent to win imperial favor, but he also just
so happened to commit a big taboo. He took it upon himself to
curry favor with the imperial censors—but he was a eunuch of the
inner palace, so what was he doing trying to win over the outer
court officials? He wanted to be both a lao-zuzong in the palace
and a decent eunuch outside of it. Now that he had garnered
himself quite the prestige inside and outside, it instead held him
back from his official duties.
Eunuchs were the slaves of the Son of Heaven, and serving the
Son of Heaven was their duty. If Pan Rugui had not set the
precedent of undermining court politics, the rights to endorse
memorials would not have been reduced to a common-use iron
plague43 for the eunuchs to line their own pockets. But Fuman was
respectful and modest to those on the outside while accumulating
power on the inside. If Li Jianting wanted to take down Fuman, she
needed a reason that could convince the others.
At this time, the sky was inching toward darkness. A line of
people bearing lanterns walked from the other end of the garden.
Fuman had been doing a good job in his work recently, so his
complexion was naturally rosy. From afar, he saw Li Jianting
standing by the pond, and the junior eunuch following by his side
whispered into his ear, “Zuzong, Fengquan is kneeling!”
Fuman flicked his horsetail whisk. “He has rendered meritorious
service earlier during the banquet. If he has been willing to know
and keep his place, Her Highness will naturally not make things
difficult for him. But that temper of his really leaves much to be
desired. It comes as no surprise if he angered Her Highness over
some trivial matters.”
With that, he harrumphed slightly, but he was all smiles as he
walked over to greet them and bowed to Li Jianting.
“You’re here.” Li Jianting smiled. “Is there a matter of
importance?”
“This humble slave thinks of Your Highness all the time.” Fuman
passed by Fengquan. Knowing that Li Jianting did not like to be
touched, he escorted her down the steps without actually holding
her. “So I grew anxious when I didn’t hear any news while waiting
in the hall! This humble slave saw the clouds gathering on the
horizon, and fearing it would rain later, hurried over to bring an
umbrella to Your Highness.”
“You’re indeed a thoughtful one,” Li Jianting said. “Thorough as
ever in every matter.”
As if he had only just seen Fengquan, Fuman exclaimed in
surprise. “Oh, my, what happened here?”
The sky was silent and still. Amidst the flickering shadows of
the light, Li Jianting suddenly hit on a brainwave. Her expression
gradually grew frostier. “Arrogant and conceited thing. I heard he
was disrespectful to the various excellencies while on duty in the
hall, so I had him kneel here as a punishment.”
On hearing this, Fengquan sobbed and prostrated himself over
the ground, looking precisely like someone who had just been
reproved. He said, “This humble slave was not discerning enough
and offended the excellencies. I really deserve death for my sins,
Your Highness…”
“I know you served as the Brush-holding Director during the
reign of the former emperor, but how can eunuchs be on par with
the officials of the previous court? Those local officials who entered
the palace to submit their reports are all tiring themselves out
working hard for the sake of the local civil administration. Who do
you think you are to be showing them the attitude?”
The local officials.
Understanding dawned on Fuman. No wonder Li Jianting was
angry. The drought in the City of Yongcheng these days had given
the Heir Apparent sleepless nights. Expenditures inside and
outside the palace were all being cut back; even the Heir Apparent
herself was eating round-grained rice every meal, saying that it was
not to forget the hardship of the common folks. She also thought
highly of the local officials.
“Your Highness works hard on government affairs in the hall.
Coming out to take a stroll in the garden is a rare moment to relax
and destress. You mustn’t let this put a damper on your mood.”
Fuman guided Li Jianting away and said with an apologetic smile,
“His Excellency Xue has also just arrived and is waiting in the hall
for Your Highness.”
Fuman cast several glances at Fengquan and said nothing to
intercede on his behalf. Li Jianting did not look at Fengquan again
and made a beeline back. He served the tea after Li Jianting
returned to Mingli Hall and withdrew, and as he waited under the
eaves, he asked the junior eunuch in a hushed tone, “Still
kneeling?”
The junior eunuch snickered. “Still
kneeling.”
“Tell him to get up.”
“Zuzong,” the junior eunuch asked out of curiosity. “Doesn’t he
always act all high and mighty? And he’s so smart-mouthed, too.
Why is Zuzong helping him? Just let him kneel until Her Highness is
done discussing government affairs.”
“As slaves, we have to be of the same mind as our sovereign
and relieve our sovereign’s worries,” Fuman said. “He has forged a
bond with Her Highness from serving her while she is still the Heir
Apparent. Her Highness only told him to kneel without really
punishing him, which means she’s treating him with leniency. Her
Highness forgot about it at this point in time, but when she
remembers it later, and he ends up crying again, then her heart will
soften towards him on account of their old ties. I didn’t plead for
mercy for him earlier. If I let him kneel any longer, Her Highness is
going to reproach us slaves for not knowing any better.”
“Zuzong really does think it through.” The junior eunuch said in
admiration. “You’re always reading the master’s mind. Truly
brilliant! I’ll go now and get him to stand up.”
Fuman looked back at the dim yellowish candlelight emanating
from within Mingli Hall and subconsciously smiled.
Without that old son of a bitch, Han Cheng, he would no longer
have a handle out there that others could use against him. He only
had to serve the Heir Apparent well, then obtain the Grand
Secretariat’s recommendation, and he would enjoy a meteoric rise.
Whatever Pan Rugui could do, so could he, except that he wanted
to do an even better and an even more beautiful job of it.
Fuman turned his gaze. The only thing was that the Empress
Dowager was still around, and that made him unable to rest easy.
To eliminate future trouble, he would have to make his move as
soon as possible.
 CHAPTER 257: TEA-TALK

Shen Zechuan lay in bed, finding it tough to get up. Xiao Chiye
had not left and was still in Duanzhou. After the twentieth of the
month, the Biansha Cavalry’s attacks in the north abated, and Lu
Guangbai personally made a trip to Duanzhou.
“The battle in Duanzhou was perilous. Seems like it will take
time to repair this city wall.” Lu Guangbai dismounted the horse.
“Jiming has dispatched military craftsmen over.”
Dressed in his regular wear, Xiao Chiye said, “Eldest Brother is
indeed thorough in his thinking…” He paused and looked at the
horse carriage at the back with a surprised expression, “Eldest
sister-in-law is here!”
The maidservant lifted the carriage screen, and Lu Yizhi,
clutching her handkerchief in hand, poked her head out.
With a smile on his face, Lu Guangbai announced, “Xun-er is
here too.”
“I’ve been missing Lanzhou back at home,” Lu Yizhi got off the
carriage with the help of her maidservant and said to Xiao Chiye,
who had gone over to receive her, “and so I came over for a look.”
Xiao Chiye turned aside and said, “Lanzhou misses Eldest
Sister-in-law too.”
Looking at the city walls of Duanzhou, Lu Yizhi continued, “Now
that Zhongbo’s victory is already cast in stone, Lanzhou ought to
nurse his injuries.” She turned her head to the side and pursed her
lips into a smile. “I specially brought Xun-er along to relieve
Lanzhou’s boredom.”
Xiao Xun followed behind his mother without needing anyone
to lead him by the hand. He bowed to Xiao Chiye, “Second Uncle—”
Xiao Chiye picked up Xiao Xun and hoisted him up mid-air for
a closer look. “The little lad has grown taller.”
“He’s just like you when you were a child.” Lu Guangbai handed
the horsewhip over to Chen Yang. “He worries all day long that he
can’t grow taller, and he drinks his milk on time. I asked him what
wish he made during the Spring Festival, and he said he wants to
grow as tall as his Second Uncle.” As he said so, he pinched Xiao
Xun’s expressionless’s cheek. “The nephew is just like his uncle.
Well, you can stop thinking about it and just take after me.”
“Uncle is good too.” Xiao Xun held on to Xiao Chiye’s arm for
support and said in a childlike voice, “Magnanimous of heart, and
not given to embellishment. Uncle is a general who is an equally
accomplished man of letters.”
The trio laughed, and Lu Guangbai sighed. “Although you’re
talking about your uncle, it sounds more like you’re complimenting
your father.”
There were now many children in the residence. Ding Tao and
Li Xiong still had Jiran with them. Xiao Chiye carried Xiao Xun
back, but he struggled, saying he wanted to see Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Xun liked Shen Zechuan, so much that he only wanted Shen
Zechuan to hold his hand and lead him during the Spring Festival.
Shen Zechuan’s calves were injured, so he received them before
the steps. After entering the house, the few of them exchanged
some pleasantries, and Lu Yizhi later asked to bring Xiao Xun along
to visit and pay their respects to Ji Gang.
After Lu Yizhi left, Shen Zechuan said, “The war in the north has
eased up some. In coming here, General Lu has something to
discuss with me on Eldest Brother’s behalf.”
Lu Guangbai picked up his teacup and smiled as he lifted the
lid. He cast a glance at Xiao Chiye, then at Shen Zechuan. “Your
Lordship is a heroic man who never forgets about military affairs
for even a moment. That’s right. Jiming indeed has a message for
me to bring to you. Now that Hasen is dead, the crisis in Duanzhou
has been averted, and the Youxiong Tribe in the south has been
defeated. It’s just the perfect time to resume the war.”
“With Hasen dead, the status of the ‘Great Hero’ Amu’er
remains to be seen,” Xiao Chiye said. “Eldest Brother wants to seize
the opportunity to launch a counterattack and seal our victory with
this one move.”
“Brothers of the same mind.” Lu Guangbai sipped his tea. “You
were thinking that, too.”
Xiao Chiye’s position was close to the window. As he turned his
thumb ring, his slightly tilted nape exposed his Adam’s apple
under the dim light. “Amu’er could maintain the stability of the
various tribes because the Hanshe Tribe’s cavalry is brave and
capable warriors, but last year, the Hanshe Tribe’s elites were all
sent into the battlefields, where the fighting went on for a year. The
Hanshe Tribe has long run out of ammunition and food, and they
are not as much of an intimidating deterrent to the other tribes as
they were before. With Hasen’s death, Amu’er lost his right arm. If
we don’t strike now, then when?”
“If you want to enter the desert from the east, you will need the
cooperation of the three armies,” Lu Guangbai said. “Commander-
in-chief Qi is still subjected to Qudu’s deployment orders, so this is
no easy feat to carry out.”
Xiao Jiming and Lu Guangbai both had a personal relationship
with Qi Zhuyin, but this matter had to be directly discussed with
Shen Zechuan in Duanzhou, and that was something a personal
relationship could not resolve. Qi Zhuyin’s successive deployments
of troops were all to assist Libei, but more than half of the Biansha
Cavalry had already retreated, and the Youxiong Tribe in the south
had been driven back into the desert. She had no reason to make
another trip here with Libei.
“The Ministry of War agreed to let Commander-in-chief Qi
deploy troops to Gedale because Chen Zhen and the other
important, long-time ministers of the state are keenly aware that
Libei’s crisis has a bearing on Qudu. Now that Gedale has been
fought and beaten,” Lu Guangbai set down his teacup, “it’s a
different story altogether.”
 Qi Zhuyin did not agree to hand over the Qingshu Tribe’s
territory to Hairigu, and she also had the intent to call a temporary
halt to the war. It had not been easy for her to borrow grains, and
all the grains from Shen Zechuan had to be returned. Let it fester
over time, and it would sooner or later leave a bad taste in her
mouth. Qidong was fatigued from the war this year, and half of the
fields their military troops worked on44 had been neglected. They
had to depend on the imperial court and Shen Zechuan for even
the grains needed to survive through the winter, let alone talk
about the military grains. It would not have been such a big deal if
Qidong was like Hezhou, but Qidong still had the garrison troops,
and Qi Zhuyin held military power in her hands. She could not
afford to be so slipshod here.
“Commander-in-chief Qi is the Li clan’s commander-in-chief. If
she hangs around the rebels, she will be suspected of conspiring
against the state.” Shen Zechuan caressed the frame of his fan.
“When Qidong dispatched troops against the Qingshu Tribe, there
were already impeachment memorials being submitted in the
court. If Commander-in-chief Qi attacks the desert together with
Libei again, Qudu will be able to dismiss her from her post as the
commander-in-chief.”
Qi Zhuyin’s refusal to return Lu Pingyan back then had already
earned her censures from the imperial court. She was not well-liked
by the imperial censors to begin with. Qi Shiyu married Hua
Xiangyi to preserve Qidong’s military power. The Empress
Dowager might have fallen from power again, but this layer of
connection still remained. Qi Zhuyin killed Han Cheng for Li
Jianting when she was in Qudu, and this matter could be both
interpreted as loyalty and treachery.
Shen Zechuan’s eyes were mild and gentle in his sickness, as if
all his sharp edges had been completely eradicated. “The Heir
Apparent is about to ascend to the throne, and going by Xue
Xiuzhuo’s intent, she has to confer a reward upon Commander-in-
chief Qi.” He drank his tea, looking as if he was conversing about
an anecdote from the countryside. “Then we shall wait and see. If
the Heir Apparent really does not begrudge it, she’ll be doing us a
great favor.”
 CHAPTER 258: SMALL FISH ( NO T C A NG J I)

The Heir Apparent led all the officials to pray for rain, but rain
never did fall upon the City of Yongcheng. Jiang Qingshan
traversed all over trying to raise grains, while Liang Cuishan was
still auditing the accounts of the City of Chuancheng. Marquis of
Helian, meanwhile, was so scared witless that he fell seriously ill
after Han Cheng’s death and did not dare to step out of his
residence these few days.
“We can’t give them the run-around on this account,” Marquis
of Helian sighed with distress as he lay on the bed, “and Her
Majesty is being confined in the forbidden palace. Heaven wants
my Fei clan to perish!”
The junior marquis had also gotten quite the fright from Li
Jianting during the banquet that day, so he did not dare to wander
all over town either. Keeping watch by his father’s side, he
reproached, “Why did you have to be that greedy? It’s such a large
sum of money. We can’t even make up for the deficit even if we
want to.”
“How can you blame me? Who am I doing it for?” Marquis of
Helian was in tears. With some difficulty, he propped himself up
and pointed at Fei Shi. “Had you not fallen so short on
expectations, would I need to plead with the others to such an
extent? Look at yourself. You’re neither accomplished in literary
pursuits nor martial arts. Even if you inherit the marquis title, you’d
be just idling around waiting for death. If I don’t pull strings, what’s
going to happen to our Fei clan in the future?”
“Yes, yes, you’re right.” Fei Shi heard his father gasping urgently
for breath and helped him to lie down again. “I’m a rascal, and I’m
stupid. Don’t you go making yourself faint from anger.”
Marquis of Helian clutched his chest to compose himself as he
lay with his tears streaming. “If our properties were to be
confiscated… I don’t even dare to think about it…”
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue, wearing a white flower behind
one of her ears, was holding her child in her arms. She had been
staying at home after her divorce, having grown a lot more
haggard after hearing of the demise of the Pan clan. She handed
the baby over to the wet nurse and motioned for the attendants to
leave.
“Had you known it would come to this, would you have acted
so—It’s too late for regrets now.” Commandery Princess Zhaoyue’s
almond-shaped eyes45 were slightly reddened. “This account has
caused the death of so many people.”
“That’s right. This account has indeed caused deaths,” Marquis
of Helian lamented mournfully, “but without this account, how
could you have been able to marry into the Pan clan? This prestige
and honor of yours were all given to you by this account. When the
Hua clan was at the height of their power, Hua Siqian held sway
over the court and the common folks. We were under their thumbs
and had no choice but to board their boat and throw in our lot with
them. After Hua Siqian’s death, I was hoping that Shi-er would be
able to get an official post and, at the very least, have a say in the
imperial court, but he was always fooling around all day long. I was
left without a choice.”
The Fei clan of the City of Chuancheng had very few male
offspring. There was only Fei Shi of lawful birth in the legitimate line
of descent. If the Marquis of Helian did not plan ahead, they would
become the second Xue clan. However, even though the Xue clan
was on the decline, they had still produced a Xue Xiuzhuo. On the
contrary, the Fei clan genuinely had no one else in the family.
When Marquis of Helian thought to this point, he got up again
and asked, “What’s the name of that child who used to serve in the
Imperial Bodyguards?”
“You mean, Fei Sheng?” Fei Shi offered.
“Right, right! Fei Sheng,” Marquis of Helian said. “It was all
because I vouched for him that he could inherit his father’s
position, and it was also on my account that Han Cheng promoted
him.. He later fled with Xiao Chiye, and now, he’s serving Shen
Zechuan in Zhongbo.”
The color drained from Fei Shi’s expression. “Those are rebels!
Associating with him is punishable by death.”
“There’s no way we can make up for such a large deficit.”
Marquis of Helian raised his voice. “Not only will we be confiscated
of our properties but also stripped of our noble title. Who knows?
Perhaps we will even be beheaded. Look at the Pan clan. How
many of their members are still alive? Even if they were sent into
exile, they would still die midway through the journey.” The more
he spoke, the more his heart grew cold. “We might as well switch
allegiance to Zhongbo… Even Tao Ming of Huaizhou has fled…”
Fei Shi sat, stunned. He was born with a silver spoon in his
mouth, and what’s more, he was a junior marquis. All along, he
had been an official of Dazhou, and yet, he was now suddenly
asked to throw in with the traitors and rebels; he could not help but
find it absurd and ludicrous. After sitting in a daze for a while, he
said, “No, that won’t do. How can I be a disloyal turncoat?46
Chengzhi did not betray the state even right until the time he died.
He and I are bosom friends. I can’t do such a disloyal and
unrighteous thing. Besides, Shen Zechuan is a vicious and ruthless
person who is hard to get along with, while Fei Sheng hankers after
fame and power…. No, this won’t do.”
“Who cares about loyalty and righteousness when disaster is at
hand?” Marquis of Helian was exasperated with his son for failing
to live up to expectations. “You wouldn’t learn what you ought to
learn, but you just have to learn all that reeks of Pan Lin!”
“In any case, I’m not leaving.” Fei Shi started to get all bull-
headed. “For what it’s worth, you are a marquis. I don’t believe the
Grand Secretariat will really lay their hands on you.”
“Why won’t they dare?” Commandery Princess Zhaoyue wiped
her tears. “Without the Empress Dowager, the Heir Apparent will
investigate and deal with the matter according to the law. Once the
memorandum from the Grand Secretariat is issued, it’d be just a
matter of one night for the properties to be confiscated and for the
clan to be executed.” She thought of Pan Yi and covered her face to
weep. “That was what happened to the Pan clan.”
“Look at your elder sister. She still has a child.” As Marquis of
Helian spoke, he shed a torrent of tears too. “Can you bear to see
your old father executed, your dear elder sister sent into exile, and
the whole family ending up as tombs in mass burial graves?”
“But it won’t do for us to leave either.” Commandery Princess
Zhaoyue lifted her head and wiped her tears clean. “Shi-er is right.
When Fei Sheng was in the Imperial Bodyguards, he was already a
master at currying favors with those in authority for personal gains.
He hankers after fame and power. There’s no way to move him if
there is no benefit in it for him. Father, please hear what I have to
say. The City of Yongcheng is now hit with a drought, and Jiang
Qingshan is in Qudu raising grains. But Tao Ming has fled, and the
imperial court is in a quandary. Why don’t you sell off our manors
and use this sum of money to raise grains for the imperial court?”
“But there are no grains everywhere right now,” Marquis of
Helian said. “I won’t be able to raise grains even if I have the
money.”
“Buy back the grains from whoever you sold it to to resell.”
Commandery Princess Zhaoyue tucked away her handkerchief. “As
for Fei Sheng, we’ll talk about him again when the need really
arises in the future.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Mingli Hall replaced its ice basins several days later. Li Jianting
was reading the memorials, while Fuman, bowed at the waist,
stood in attendance at the side with a fan in hand, gently fanning
the Heir Apparent.
“Your Highness has been looking for two hours,” Fuman said
softly. “Please take a break.”
Li Jianting closed the memorial. Before she could speak,
Fuman turned his head to shout outside, “Bring in the chilled sour
plum soup—Your Highness, the weather is hot. Please drink some
sour plum soup to dispel the heat.”
 Fuman was in Li Jianting’s good graces lately; she still seemed
to be angry with Fengquan, keeping only Fuman by her side to
serve her. Fuman was as pleased as punch. In the past, he would
most certainly not have dared to make the decision for the Heir
Apparent, but after several attempts at feeling the Heir Apparent
out, he noticed she did not reproach him, and so he grew
increasingly bold.
When Li Jianting wiped her hands, Fuman tidied up the
tabletop for the Heir Apparent. Li Jianting saw him arranging the
memorials one at a time, sorting them in successive order by
regions and ministries. Thus, she asked, “Why is this memorial by
Ming Zang placed together with the Grand Secretary? From what I
remember, they are not from the same hometown.”
“Your Highness may be unaware, but they are teacher and
pupil.” Fuman was all smiles. “The Grand Secretary was the one
who selected His Excellency Ming for promotion.”
Kong Qiu held the post of the Grand Secretary of the Grand
Secretariat. The number of officials from the various ministries he
evaluated during the appraisals was too numerous to cite
individually. As per customary, these officials could all address him
as “Teacher”. It had not been long since Li Jianting took over
government affairs, so she indeed did not know. There was such a
motley crew of officials from the various ministries in the capital.
Unless she paid particular attention to them, it would be difficult for
her to remember it.
At present, Fuman was merely serving in the presence of the
future emperor. When the time came for the Heir Apparent to
ascend to the throne, he could very possibly become the Brush-
holding Director, who could hold on to the brush dipped in
vermillion ink and comment on or endorse memorials on the
emperor’s behalf.
But Li Jianting was not Emperor Xiande. She personally
managed government affairs, and she was young, so she did not
use eunuchs to handle such important and essential governmental
affairs on her behalf at all. In memorizing these relationships by
heart, Fuman’s ambition was evident.
 It dawned on Li Jianting, who said in understanding, “You
know better than I do.”
Fuman was slightly taken aback on hearing that. Reacting
quickly, he said, “This humble slave doesn’t handle affairs in the
imperial court. This matter was actually mentioned once by the
Grand Secretary back in the office compound the last time. This
humble slave remembered it while serving at the side.”
“It’s a good thing.” Li Jianting’s expression was mild as she said
with a smile, “I just can’t remember, so I’ll still need you to remind
me in the future.”
Fuman stole a glance at Li Jianting as he picked up the bowl. It
was only when he saw that the Heir Apparent looked normal and
no different from how she usually was that he felt relieved. “It’s this
humble slave’s great fortune to share Your Highness’s worries.”
“Have the various gentlemen arrived?” Li Jianting asked. “If so,
let them in.”
Kong Qiu, Xue Xiuzhuo, and the rest who had just arrived
outside Mingli Hall entered on hearing the summon. They
kowtowed in unison and greeted, “These humble subjects pay their
respects to Your Highness.”
“All of you are my teachers.” Li Jianting gestured to Fuman to
help Kong Qiu up. “There’s no need for the Grand Secretary to be
so overly ceremonious on entering the hall. It is I who ought to pay
my respects to the Grand Secretary as a student.”
Kong Qiu took his seat and said with a smile, “Your Highness is
now different from the past. There is no need to abide by the
formalities between teacher and pupil. Mingli Hall is a place where
affairs of the state are handled. There’s only the ruler and his
ministers here. This humble subject dare not overstep my
authority.”
Li Jianting could hardly suppress a smile as she scrutinized
Kong Qiu. “There’s good news today.”
Kong Qiu was reticent, experienced, and prudent, so he rarely
beamed with such visible joy like this. Sure enough, the next
moment, she heard Kong Qiu say, “Jiang Qingshan reported this
morning that the relief grains for the City of Yongcheng are already
all prepared.”
 “That’s fast.” Li Jianting was delighted. “Did he borrow grains
from Hezhou?”
“It was the Marquis of Helian.” Kong Qiu curbed his delight a
little. “Marquis of Helian knew that there were discrepancies with
the field taxes. In the hope that Your Highness will be lenient on
him, he sold his country estates and raised the grains of his own
accord to help the common folks of Yongcheng out of their
difficulties.”
The case of the Chuancheng field tax was one everyone tacitly
understood. The imperial court wanted to recover the arrears, and
even re-survey the fertile lands to return to the commoners. No
doubt Marquis of Helian would have to bear responsibility for it and
accept his punishment. But by doing what he just did, the Grand
Secretariat would now have to use their discretion to make a
judgment in light of his contribution.
“As the saying goes, there is no room for kindness and
tolerance in the law. Your Highness must not take any chances with
villains because of this. In this humble subject’s opinion,” Xue
Xiuzhuo kneeled, “Marquis of Helian still has to be investigated and
punished according to the law, even if he has prepared grains for
the City of Yongcheng.”
“When all is said and done, our investigation of the field taxes
is to restore the people’s livelihoods in the eight cities. Since
Marquis of Helian is willing to raise grains for the City of
Yongcheng, it means he is repentant,” Cen Yu said. “Your Highness
wants to govern the world with benevolence and filial piety, so if
you abide strictly by the law and punish the Fei Clan by
confiscating their properties and executing them, I fear you will
lose the heart of the people.”
Cen Yu was an old-time minister, and he was an old-time
minister who hailed from a humble origin. Yet he was now trying to
preserve the life of Marquis of Helian, and it was all precisely for Li
Jianting. Marquis of Helian raised grains to provide disaster relief.
No matter what, he had made a reputation for being benevolent in
the City of Yongcheng. If Li Jianting were to insist on confiscating
and executing their whole clan, then to the remaining noble clans
who were still adopting a wait-and-see attitude, the only way left for
them was to fight to the bitter end.
A long time back, while they were investigating the accounts of
the City of Dancheng, Cen Yu had already repeatedly advised
Kong Qiu to slow down. The Prefecture of Duanzhou had now
scored a resounding victory, and the six prefectures were now all
under Shen Zechuan’s command. Once Libei has the war under
control, the next stop would be Qudu.
As the saying goes, perseverance yields success, much like
how constant dripping water could wear down a stone. Since the
noble clans were a long-standing and deeply-rooted malady, they
could not rush it, or they would harm their very core—the heart.
How would they have the spare energy and strength to deal with
Zhongbo then?
Besides, with the re-surveyance of commoners’ fields in
Dancheng, they still had to recheck the census register. If the
imperial court wanted to focus on treating their malady, then they
had to do so on the premise that there was no external threat.
“During the reign of Xiande, the imperial court gave them
some latitude, but the eight cities went from bad to worse,
eventually bringing about the incident of reselling public grains,”
Xue Xiuzhuo said. “If we don’t punish one as a warning to the
others, how can we inspire terror in them?”
“The state is now in imminent peril.” Cen Yu kneeled too. “Libei
and Zhongbo revolted one after another, and the rebels are
assembled in the countryside. Shen Zechuan—”
“It’s precisely because the state is in imminent peril that we
have to strictly enforce court discipline. If we can’t root out the
noble clans as soon as possible,” Xue Xiuzhuo kowtowed heavily,
“then how can we strive to bring peace to the lands?”
Cen Yu raised his head and exhorted earnestly, “The potent
medicine has already been administered. The Pan, Han, Hua, and
Wei clans have already collapsed, and the vise grip of the noble
clans is not as it used to be before. If we do not eliminate external
threats at this moment, it will be a great catastrophe in the making.
Your Highness, governing a great state is like cooking a small
fish!”47
 Li Jianting pondered it over without saying a word.
Waves of heat outside the hall billowed. It was so quiet it was
terrifying. After a long time, a junior eunuch with a look of urgency
swiftly made his way before the hall and whispered something into
Fengquan’s ear.
“Your Highness!” The beaded curtain swung wildly. Fengquan
announced, “Her Majesty is critically ill!”
Everyone in the hall turned pale.
 CHAPTER 259: RUMORS

When Li Jianting arrived, the imperial physician in the hall

prostrated himself on the ground in panic. Matron Liu Xiang
kneeled by the side of the bed, holding the Empress Dowager’s
hand as she called out softly, “The Heir Apparent is here.”
The Empress Dowager’s breathing was slightly urgent as she
turned her eyes and saw Li Jianting. She was sweating profusely,
and her non-makeup face was lined with some wrinkles, finally
belying her old age. Her breath was thin and feeble as she said,
“I… want to speak to… Her Highness.”
Matron Liu Xiang stood up and retreated with the attendants.
The drapes in the hall were hung up on both sides. A fragrant
scent wafted from the Buddha statue niche, while wispy, willowy
smoke obscured the statue, rendering its compassionate
expression indistinct.
Li Jianting bent over to pick up the rosary of prayer beads that
had fallen between the rug and caught a waft of rich sandalwood.
“You hosted a banquet to kill Han Cheng.” The Empress
Dowager turned her head to the side, her hair all let down. “And so
I knew… you would not tolerate… my existence either.”
“Although I have the intent, I am too powerless.” Li Jianting
twirled the Buddha beads. “The way Fuman is so anxious makes it
clear that Your Majesty has lost the heart of all. The end is nigh.”
 The Empress Dowager’s chest heaved, but she forced herself to
smile with some difficulty. Her gaze passed through Li Jianting.
“You’re indeed… Emperor Guangcheng’s daughter… How
laughable your Li clan is… Had you been a man…”
“Had I been a man, I would not have lived to this day.”
Grasping the prayer beads, Li Jianting sat on the edge of the bed.
“You killed off all the men in the Li clan.”
The Empress Dowager’s soaked hair on her temples stuck to
her cheeks, offering one a glimpse of her unsurpassed beauty in
those bygone times. Her lips quivered. “Who could have imagined
that he would be that ruthless? He would rather commit incest and
leave such a scourge to me…” With mirth brimming in her eyes,
she continued, “He was the one… who forced Prince Qin… to his
death…”
Looking at the Empress Dowager, Li Jianting said, “You killed
your husband and your sons to get to where you are today. You
could have been an unprecedented emperor never seen before in
history, but you handed over the power and authority to others. You
trusted eunuchs easily, allowing them to undermine court politics,
and you favored and helped Elder Brother, bolstering the influence
and arrogance of the ministers in power… You can hardly absolve
yourself from blame now that the state is in imminent peril.”
The smile in the eyes of the Empress Dowager gradually
waned. She stared at Li Jianting. “It’s lonely at the top… You don’t
understand… I am like a floating duckweed with no one to depend
on…”
“I am like a floating duckweed with no one to depend on…” Li
Jianting repeated these words. There was no sorrow on her face,
nor was there a smile. She looked away, her gaze gliding past the
drapes before settling on the Empress Dowager’s dressing table.
Fixing her eyes on that clear yellow bronze mirror, she said, “Since
you do not have the boldness of vision to dedicate yourself to the
cause, why stir up such havoc in this political storm?”
“You are a woman too,” the Empress Dowager said. “Why do
you not understand me?”
“I am neither a woman nor a man.” Li Jianting looked at the
Empress Dowager again, her eyes clear and bright. “I’m merely Li
Jianting.”
The Empress Dowager felt at a loss. After a while, she said,
“When I saw you, I realized just how regal the Emperor of the Li
clan is… but you too, are also in the control of another.”
“The chessboard lies in no one’s hands, but in the lands of the
empire,” Li Jianting said softly. “Those who think they are holding
the chess pieces are merely late to the game.”
The Empress Dowager’s breathing grew weaker, and her voice
too, turned softer, “…Poor Xue Xiuzhuo, for all his scheming and
plotting…” She widened her eyes slightly and murmured, “the
lands of the empire, huh…”
The last rays of the setting sun outside the palace faded away.
Several birds flew across the blue sky. A petal dropped off the
peony that had not been secured in place and landed on the
dressing table, where a nudge of the wind sent it on its way.
◈ ◈ ◈
The news from Qudu was urgently dispatched to Qidong.
Horse hooves crashed through the silent night, arriving at the
Bianjun Commandery several days later. Hua Xiangyi still had yet
to retire for a rest. Seeing the postal report coming in, she asked
with a smile, “Is my auntie’s letter here too?”
Qi Wei’s expression was odd as he hesitated at the door.
As if sensing something, Hua Xiangyi slowly got up. “Did she
fall ill?”
Qi Wei avoided her gaze and hung his head down. “To reply
Eldest Madam… Her Majesty has passed.”
Hua Xiangyi immediately took a step back, and Hongying
hurriedly held her to support her. She looked dazedly at Qi Wei.
The tears were already flowing a moment later. Bracing herself
against Hongying’s arm for support, she took several steps towards
the door and said in a hoarse voice, “…Don’t lie to me.”
Qi Wei kept silent.
Hua Xiangyi hastily covered her mouth with her handkerchief
and gradually broke into sobs. “How… how could this be…”
Before Qi Wei could answer, he heard Hongying shout,
“Madam!”
 Hua Xiangyi, already tilting and sliding down against her, had
fainted.
◈ ◈ ◈
The inside of the tent was lit with mind-calming and sleep-
inducing incense. When Hua Xiangyi woke up, Qi Zhuyin was
sitting in the chair beside the bed peeling an apple. Sensing that
Hua Xiangyi had awakened, she set it aside on the small table at
the side and wiped her hands before touching Hua Xiangyi’s
forehead. “You don’t even know you have fallen sick.”
Hua Xiangyi’s lips were pale. She did not open her eyes as she
soaked the side of the pillow wet.
Qi Zhuyin was not adept at comforting others. Seeing how
sorrowfully Hua Xiangyi was crying, Qi Zhuyin hurriedly wiped her
tears for her with the handkerchief. It was only when she was done
wiping that she belatedly remembered that this was the
handkerchief she used to wipe her hands. Hua Xiangyi turned her
back to her and curled her knees up, sobbing inconsolably until
she was tired and fell asleep in the same position. When she woke
up again, Qi Zhuyin was still sitting in the chair.
“News travels slowly,” Qi Zhuyin said. “…The new emperor is
about to ascend to the throne soon. I’ll take you back.”
“Since auntie is gone, there is no longer any place there that I
want to return to.” Hua Xiangyi blinked her red, swollen eyes.
“When we parted, auntie was still in good health. It has only been
two months. To think she has passed away from illness.”
Qi Zhuyin was silent for a spell. “… I promised you not to let her
die.”
“Commander-in-chief Qi is far away in the Bianjun
Commandery, and the reach of your power is limited,” Hua Xiangyi
said. “The forbidden palace is not the imperial court. Blades are
invisible there. Even the Grand Secretary’s reach does not extend
there.”
Qi Zhuyin thought Hua Xiangyi was going to say something,
but she stopped right here and propped herself up.
“Commander-in-chief Qi is busy with military affairs,” Hua
Xiangyi said. “So just leave me be.”
 Hua Xiangyi’s wrists dipped in the cold, frosty moonlight. The
way she looked with her eyes lowered was very haggard. It would
not do for Qi Zhuyin to linger any further, so she felt around her
sleeve for a small scented pouch and set it in her lap.
“Hongying is waiting in attendance at the door.” Qi Zhuyin rose
to her feet. “I’ll be in the side hall.”
At this time, the night was already drawing to a close.
Hongying heard Hua Xiangyi’s summon during the hour of mao, so
she sent someone to the kitchen to get breakfast while she herself
went in.
“Bring my chest over,” Hua Xiangyi said.
Hongying went to the cupboard and took down Hua Xiangyi’s
little chest. Hua Xiangyi unlocked it and instructed Hongying to
bring the copper basin over. Then she burned the account books in
the chest.
“Madam, what are you doing?” Hongying anxiously moved to
stop her. “These are all accounts Madam went to painstaking
efforts to calculate.”
“The Heir Apparent promised Commander-in-chief Qi not to kill
my auntie.” Hua Xiangyi released her slender fingers and watched
as the fire gradually devoured up the account books. “If she wasn’t
the one who did it, then she’s incompetent. If she was the one who
did it, then she’s untrustworthy.”
The breeze flipped the pages open and, under the sound of fire
crackling, scattered ashes all over the ground.
◈ ◈ ◈
The night in Duanzhou was cool, and the courtyard was full of
flowers and trees. Mosquitoes were plentiful too. Fei Sheng lit
incense in the newly erected pergola. Shen Zechuan stirred the ice-
cubes in his bowl with the spoon, making a slight noise. As he
watched Xiao Chiye guiding Xiao Xun to pull the bow, he listened
to Fei Sheng reporting the updates from Qudu.
“If Xue the Eldest wants the important post of being in charge
of the granaries, he has to deal with the eunuchs. The eunuchs in
the palace are fond of the imported merchandise from the Port of
Yongyi. Have Qingqing prepare it for him.”
 “Qingqing said it’s already all prepared. When the new
emperor ascends to the throne, she is bound to grant a general
amnesty to everyone in the world. When the time comes, Xue the
Eldest will get his chance to make a name for himself,” Fei Sheng
said. “Also, with the empress dowager’s demise, the noble clans
are in a precarious situation. However, Marquis of Helian sold his
fields to raise grains, so the Grand Secretariat might very well go
lenient on him.”
“The fact that Marquis of Helian could think of raising grains
shows that he is already being forced into a corner. He has no
other choice but to sacrifice what he holds dear and start afresh.”
Shen Zechuan sipped the soup. “I have already done my part and
fulfilled my moral obligations in giving him grains.”
The grains Marquis of Helian bought by selling off his family
assets were from You Tan, the Prefectural Prefect of Liuzhou in Juexi.
Back then, when Yan Heru said he wanted to build a new port, Shen
Zechuan agreed to it, and You Tan of Liuzhou was their inside man
in Juexi. This Prefectural Perfect was just like his name suggested—
he was especially greedy. As long as he was paid enough, he
would dare to take part in even transactions that could cost him his
head. Otherwise, he would not have had any dealings with Yan
Heru right under Jiang Qingshan’s nose.
“Xue Xiuzhuo is too radical. If the battle in Zhongbo was still
ongoing, Kong Qiu and Cen Yu could still have agreed to it, but
now, I have my hands unoccupied.” Shen Zechuan’s eyes reflected
fireflies on the side. “They naturally do not wish to engage in a life
or death fight with the noble clans anymore. Joining forces to
attack the enemies is the top priority. As long as the Heir Apparent
is not a fool, she will pardon Marquis of Helian.”
“Then why are we still giving the Marquis of Helian grains?”
This batch of grains that Shen Zechuan had You Tan give to
Marquis of Helian was not only offered at a fair price but were also
all good-quality grains.
“The relief grains have to be given, of course.” Shen Zechuan
looked at Fei Sheng. “Just get You Tan to tell the truth.”
Understanding promptly dawned on Fei Sheng. He laughed,
“Master is wise!”
 On the other end, Xiao Chiye released his fingers, and the
sharp arrow struck the bull’s eye. Chen Yang and the other guards
cheered in unison.
Fei Sheng sighed with feeling, “This arm strength of Second
Master.”
Shen Zechuan watched Xiao Chiye for a long time before
saying to Fei Sheng, “Elder Yin’s funeral arrangements are all
settled. As for his remaining possessions… you’re the son, so you
decide.”
“Where would he have a single decent stuff… Just throw away
all the tattered mat and blankets. Burn it to him.48 I’m scared of him
scolding me too.” Fei Sheng raised a hand to press down on the
blade at the side of his waist. “I’ll just keep this. This blade is
nameless, as is he.”
“Elder Yin is a hero,” Shen Zechuan said. “This blade ought to
have a name.”
“He and I both follow Master.” Fei Sheng grasped the blade. “So
I’d like to ask of Master to bestow a name upon it.”
As Shen Zechuan turned the porcelain bowl, he saw moonlight
flashing across the side of the bowl, rendering it bright as snow. He
said, “A banner of ten thousand to slay the King of Hell.49 Let’s
name it Zhan Yan Luo.”50
Fei Sheng lifted the hem of his robe and kneeled, saying in a
loud and clear voice, “This blade shall not fail its name!”
◈ ◈ ◈
With the passing of the Empress Dowager, the enthronement
of the Heir Apparent could no longer be delayed any further. The
Grand Secretariat drew up the plan, with the date fixed at the
beginning of the eighth month following right after the funeral.
The reign title51 selected was “Shengyin.”
When Xiao Chiye heard it, he said, “The Heir Apparent has
drive and spirit.”52
At the beginning of the eighth month, Kong Qiu led the various
officials to kowtow before Mingli Hall and pay their obeisances to
the new emperor. Li Jianting thus became the veritable emperor of
Dazhou.
 “Guess what noble rank the new emperor is going to bestow
upon Commander-in-chief Qi.” Shen Zechuan had been cooped up
all day in the house teasing Xiao Xun. With Xiao Chiye here this
time, he teased Xiao Chiye instead. “There’s a prize for the correct
guess.”
“What’s the prize?” Xiao Chiye looked at his military affairs and
let Lanzhou pressed down on his back. “The prize has to be
enough.”
Wherever Shen Zechuan saw, he used his folding fan to draw
over to that spot. He found it rather comfortable to be pressing
down on Xiao Chiye like this. “Anything is fine.”
“Marquis.” Xiao Chiye caught Shen Zechuan’s hand and turned
it over in his palm to look at the scar. “With the commanding sway
the Prince of Libei has over the lands following its rise as a
precedent, Qudu will not confer another as the Prince of Qidong.”
Lu Pingyan of the Bianjun Commandery was already a Marquis
of Bianbo.53 Qi Zhuyin was the commander-in-chief of the Five
Commanderies’ troops. If she were to be of equal rank with Lu
Pingyan, it would be a gross injustice. But since the reign of Yongyi,
Dazhou only had two conferred princes of different surnames.54
One was the Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu, and the other was the
Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei. Qi Zhuyin’s meritorious military
achievement was not on par with Qi Shiyu’s, and she was not in the
imperial censors’ good graces either. Her conferment would be
beset with difficulties. Weighing the two against the other, it would
be much more appropriate to confer her with the title and rank of a
marquis.
“Then I will guess a prince.” Shen Zechuan said into his ear. “If I
win, you have to give me a reward.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Fuman changed into his new robe. As he headed towards
Mingli Hall, all the eunuchs and palace maids along the way had to
pay their respects to him. He was puffed up with pride with his
success, but he did not forget his place here, retreating each time
he encountered a minister of the court, looking even more humble
and deferential.
 Fuman arrived at Mingli Hall, and the junior eunuch waiting in
attendance at the door whispered, “Her Majesty has just woken up
and is currently looking for Zuzong.”
Fuman patted his sleeves and strode in. He took over the tea
from the palace maid and presented it to Li Jianting. “Your
Majesty.”
Li Jianting often slept poorly. Pinching the middle of her brows,
she accepted Fuman’s tea and took a sip. “What did the Grand
Secretary say?”
“This is the Grand Secretary’s memorandum. Please take a
look.” Fuman took out the Grand Secretariat’s note from his sleeve
and presented it to the imperial desk. “If Your Majesty agrees to it, it
can be issued tonight.”
Li Jianting read the memorandum Kong Qiu drafted and
pondered over it for a while. “The preceding Lu Pingyan was a
marquis too. If we conferred Qi Zhuyin as a marquis again, I fear it
will incur Qidong’s displeasure.”
Li Jianting often spoke to Fuman about government affairs.
Fuman did not steer clear of the taboo either. Slightly embellishing
what he heard in the Grand Secretariat’s office compound, he said,
“Lu Guangbai defected. If Lu Pingyan were to be detained in Qudu,
he would have been stripped of his noble rank, so his Marquis of
Bianbo* title and rank no longer stands. Your Majesty is the new
emperor, and Commander-in-chief Qi is a new subject of yours.
Conferring her as a marquis is already a great kindness.”
“You have a point.” Li Jianting set the note on the table. “Then
let’s—”
Li Jianting had yet to finish her words, and Fuman was in the
midst of preparing the ink when they heard someone outside the
hall announce Kong Qiu’s arrival. With this interruption, Li Jianting
set the matter aside and had Kong Qiu enter first.
Kong Qiu’s face was ashen as he lifted the hem of his robe and
kneeled down. After he kowtowed and paid his respect, he said in
a heavy voice, “Your Majesty, there is an issue with the relief grains
sent to the City of Yongcheng. The memorial from Juexi just came
in, so this humble subject dare not tarry!”
 Fuman immediately stepped forth to receive the memorial and
handed it over to Li Jianting’s desk.
The moment Li Jianting opened it for a look, her heart promptly
sank.
“Rumors are now rife in the City of Yongcheng. They are all
saying that the relief grains are provided by Shen Zechuan of
Zhongbo, who is helping in secret. Discussions are abuzz, with
everyone speaking with conviction.” Kong Qiu said. “If we let it go
unchecked, I fear…”
“If we stop the distribution of the relief grains at this point in
time, it will only confirm that these grains have something to do
with Shen Zechuan.”
Qudu had no grains, and there was only this batch of grains
that could provide aid relief to the drought-hit City of Yongcheng.
Li Jianting could not let the common folks of the City of Yongcheng
starve to death. But as Kong Qiu said, if they were to let it be, then
everyone would soon take it as the gospel truth; after all, three men
could make a tiger.55 And Shen Zechuan would then benefit wholly
at the expense of the imperial court, becoming the benefactor of
the City of Yongcheng.
This one move was underhanded and ruthless.
And Li Jianting finally got a first-hand taste of it.
 CHAPTER 260 : BESTOWMENT

“Reward him.” The gears in Li Jianting’s mind whirled as she

shut the memorial. “Marquis of Helian has made significant
contributions in the raising of grains. I56 must reward him
handsomely.”
Kong Qiu prostrated over the ground, nodded approvingly to
himself, and spoke in a respectful tone. “Your Majesty is wise.”
No matter the situation, the relief grains could not be recalled. If
Li Jianting rewarded Marquis of Helian handsomely now, the
rumors would be discredited on their own. Since Shen Zechuan
intended to fight a war of benevolence and righteousness with her,
she was all game for it.
“Han Cheng monopolized power and deceived his master, and
he even harbored the intent to usurp the throne. His crimes are too
reprehensible and heinous to be pardoned,” Li Jianting said, “To
ensure my safety, Commander-in-chief Qi captured that Han traitor
in my stead; it’s indeed a meritorious achievement. Furthermore,
she returned in resounding victory after mobilizing troops against
the Qingshu Tribe. Whether for personal or official reasons, I must
bestow upon her a title.”
“Commander-in-chief Qi has had her fair share of suffering the
bitter cold and impoverishment being stationed at the Bianjun
Commandery,” Kong Qiu said. “Long since the reign of Xiande, she
has earned herself laudable merit for sending troops to come to
the rescue of the emperor. How does Your Majesty intend to go
about conferring a title on Commander-in-chief Qi?”
“I’ve heard that Commander-in-chief Qi has the reputation of
being known as ‘Wind Guiding the Scorching Plains’,” Li Jianting
raised her brush and wrote two neat characters on the paper. “Why
not bestow upon Commander-in-chief Qi the title, ‘Prince of
Donglie’?”
Kong Qiu immediately raised his head and responded in
astonishment, “That’s…”
“Qi Zhuyin has thrice stepped out of Qidong to come to the
emperor’s rescue, burned down the thirteen camps of Biansha with
aid of the wind, and penetrated deep into the enemy’s territory
alone to save her father. Ever since she has assumed the post of the
commander-in-chief of Qidong’s five commanderies’ troops, the
commandery and twin passes have been impenetrable. From the
reign of Xiande to Tianchen, not a single soldier from Biansha
managed to invade our Qidong’s territory.” Li Jianting raised her
eyes. “So why can’t I bestow the title of a prince upon such a loyal,
steadfast, and valiant general?”
“But Commander-in-chief Qi is a woman,” Kong Qiu replied.
“It’s already a breach of protocol for her to be able to set foot on
Yulong Terrace to present herself before the emperor and receive
her conferment. If she were to be conferred the title of prince,57 a
public outcry would no doubt ensue. Your Majesty, please think
thrice!”
Li Jianting looked at Kong Qiu and said, “The Grand Secretary
once taught me*58 during lessons that ‘the sovereign and his
ministers ought to stand together in times of turmoil and peace.’59 I
should accept admonishments borne out of loyalty with
graciousness, and treat the valiant and the virtuous with
magnanimity. Qi Zhuyin is now not only able to stand guard at all
quarters on my behalf, but also to capture and kill rebellious traitors
for me. She treats me with utmost sincerity and loyalty, and yet I’m
still going to harp on the distinction between men and women.
Won’t that make the hearts of all the heroes and talents in the
world turn cold with disillusionment?” She left her seat and
stepped forward to help Kong Qiu up, saying with sincerity,
“Teacher, she is a woman, yet she is willing to don military armor to
slay the enemies. Take away her heartfelt sincerity in dedicating
herself to the service of her country, and all that remains is her
righteousness in being loyal to her sovereign. What’s more, I’m*
also a woman. Teacher teaches me* all that I* have to know without
reservation, and even assists me* in governing the state. Is the so-
called distinction between men and women really that important?”
Li Jianting swapped from the imperial “I” used exclusively by
the emperor to the common “I” used by all, but Kong Qiu could not
switch from “Grand Secretary” to “Teacher”. In addition to her
heartfelt words, the new emperor wanted to confer a title upon Qi
Zhuyin also because Zhongbo and Libei both had well-trained and
powerful armies. Relying on just the Eight Great Training Divisions
to defend the city gates of Qudu was akin to throwing an egg
against a rock. Only Qi Zhuyin – a Qi Zhuyin who held in her grasp
the 300,000 troops of Qidong – could go head to head against the
rebels.
“Your Majesty’s conferment of a title by imperial decree is
already generous to Qidong, but this noble rank is truly too high a
rank.” It was not that Kong Qiu did not understand the situation; on
the contrary, he understood it all too well. Once Qi Zhuyin was
conferred a prince, there would no longer be any other military
power in the present Dazhou that could act as a counterbalance
against Qidong. The rise and fall of the entire dynasty would thus
come to depend on these 300,000 forces of Qi Zhuyin. If they
scored a victory, what other titles could they confer upon Qi Zhuyin
in the future? She had already achieved the same position as Xiao
Fangxu. Not only would there be nothing else to confer upon her,
there was also no longer a Libei that could mutually hold her in
check.
Li Jianting similarly understood this, but Qi Zhuyin was on
good terms with the Xiao clan of Libei, and this was the only thing
she had left in her hands to give Qi Zhuyin.
◈ ◈ ◈
“There lies a sharp sword on the tongue, that kills without
spilling a drop of blood.”60 Yao Wenyu held the scissors in hand
and did an ugly job of trimming the potted plant on his lap. “Once
rumors start spreading, it’s tough to eradicate them altogether. The
new emperor is forced by the current political situation to reward
Marquis of Helian handsomely. Her intent to kill off Marquis of
Helian is already set in stone.”
“It looks to me that the new emperor acts neither like Xue
Xiuzhuo nor Kong Qiu in handling matters.” Shen Zechuan bent
over to pick up the broken branch that had fallen to the ground.
“She has her own mind.”
“She has just ascended to the throne, and already she has seen
the world,” Yao Wenyu said. “How would she still be willing to
remain a chess piece? She is already staking it all by conferring
Commander-in-chief Qi as the ‘Prince of Donglie’. Although Your
Lordship has slightly gained the upper hand in providing aid relief
to the City of Yongcheng, it has also put You Tan in a dangerous
position. If Marquis of Helian were to confess about him under
heavy torture, then our inside man in the Prefecture of Liuzhou
would be forfeited.”
“The new future port in Liuzhou will have merchandise moving
throughout the entire territory.” Shen Zechuan tossed the broken
branch into the pond in the courtyard. “The handling of the tariffs
has a significant bearing on many matters. You Tan is not a good
candidate for it. Tell him to pay more attention since Xue Xiuzhuo is
determined to investigate the accounts. After all, he has a pile of
bad debts at home. I fear he will be too powerless to fend for
himself when the time comes.”
You Tan was a money-grubber. He was convenient to use, but
not convenient to keep around. The most accessible connection
Shen Zechuan had in Juexi was the Xi clan’s contacts, but he still
picked You Tan to do business with the Marquis of Helian.
This was his lord and master’s idea, so Yao Wenyu could not
discuss it in depth. Even if he saw through it, he could not expose
it. The potted plant on his lap grew more and more bare. Yuanzhuo
said, “Looks like Xue the Eldest has already gotten what he wanted
from Ge Qingqing’s latest update.”
“A great position indeed in the palace granaries of Qudu,
managing the coming and going of supplies in the capital. As long
as he has a mind to bribe, he will be able to line his pockets full.
Xue the Eldest has been the rich young master of a noble clan for
all his life, so how could he stand to suddenly become a small-time,
down-and-out official? Xue Xiuzhuo has been particularly careful
when it comes to promoting or conferring titles upon his fellow
kinsfolk of the Xue clan. He’s unwilling to show favoritism and help
the Xue clan, and that has long incurred the disapproval and
criticism of those in the same clan.” Speaking to this point, Shen
Zechuan watched Jiran chase after Xiao Xun as they frolicked at
the end of the walkway. “After taking a look at you that day, Jiran
has never gone back looking for you?”
“Xue Xiuzhuo is thorough in everything he does. Since he
wants to kill me, he will not show mercy. Even if the Venerable
Master is alive, there is no cure for both these legs and this poison.
Jiran is young; Your Lordship need not make things difficult for
him,” Yao Wenyu said calmly. “There is no need to force the matter.
Let’s leave it to Heaven’s will.”
Xiao Xun fell on the ground and quickly scrambled to his feet
before running with stalks of grass on him.
Yao Wenyu released his grip on the scissors. He was not
particularly fixated on this. He continued, “The Hereditary Prince is
healthy. He is neither arrogant nor delicate. I can tell he’s naturally
talented and intelligent, and he excels in learning. With the
teaching and guidance of the various gentlemen in the future, he is
sure to live up to expectations.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing.
Yao Wenyu then smiled. He gifted the potted plant to Shen
Zechuan. “Your Lordship is still hesitating.”
Shen Zechuan raised his left, fan-holding hand and pointed
towards the west. “The empire is a cage.”
Qudu was the freest place of all in the world. It was also the
world’s worst prison.
“Even brothers born of the same parents differ from each other,
just like the nine sons of a dragon are different in their own ways,”
Yao Wenyu said. “Can the wolves of Libei only run in the
grasslands? The Hereditary Prince is bright and intelligent, so why
not Your Lordship ask him himself?”
◈ ◈ ◈
 Xiao Xun was tired of playing, but he still kept his spirit up,
wanting Shen Zechuan to lead him by the hand back. He walked
past the pond and pointed to the water as he said to Shen
Zechuan, “Second Uncle, this is a bright mirror.”
He called Xiao Chiye Second Uncle, and so Xiao Chiye taught
him to address Shen Zechuan as Second Uncle too.61
“Yes,” Shen Zechuan said, “by looking into the mirror, you can
straighten out your clothes.”62
Facing the water surface, Xiao Xun patted his robe clean.
It had to be known that when Xiao Chiye was of the same age,
he was still running after the colts and yearning to sleep all day
long among the grass. Xiao Xun resembled Xiao Jiming in the
looks department, but from what Xiao Chiye had divulged to him,
even if Xiao Jiming was not as prone to getting a beating as Xiao
Chiye was, he was not this quiet either when he was this old.
“Did you come looking for Mister today to teach you to read?”
Shen Zechuan asked.
Xiao Xun nodded. “Reading can make one wise.”
“There are so many learned gentlemen in residence.” Shen
Zechuan’s folding fan lifted slightly to point at Yao Wenyu’s room.
“Why must you pick this one?”
“Mister Chengfeng said Mister Yuanzhuo is the most learned
and knowledgeable.” Xiao Xun paused for a moment, then raised
his head to say to Shen Zechuan, “I want the best teacher.”
After a moment’s silence, Shen Zechuan asked, “What if there is
no Yuanzhuo?”
“Mister Yuanzhuo said, he who stands on his toes is not steady,
while he who takes long strides cannot keep up pace.”63 Xiao Xun
pointed at himself. “Even if Xun’er wants the best teacher in the
world to teach me, Xun’er must be able to understand too. I cannot
reach for what is beyond my grasp.”
The way he spoke was sophisticated. Merely seven years of
age, and he had already far surpassed his peers. Influenced by Yao
Wenyu, the gentlemen in residence would occasionally engage in
philosophical discourses64 when they had no government affairs to
attend to. Xiao Xun did not like those discourses, but he would
always sit by the side to listen whether it was Xiao Chiye handling
military affairs or Shen Zechuan discussing political affairs.
“Are you working so hard because you want to become the best
teacher?”
With a strange expression, Xiao Xun shook his head at Shen
Zechuan and said, “Xun’er is not a teacher, but Xun’er wants
teachers.” Saying so, he pointed at Fei Sheng. “Xun’er is not a
general, but Xun’er wants generals too.”
Of the learned the sage beckons, into my trap the heroes walk!65
Whether the civil ministers or military generals, he wanted all the
“best”. This was the grand ambition of recruiting all the virtuous
and talented in the world.
Shen Zechuan squeezed Xiao Xun’s hand and spoke no
further.
◈ ◈ ◈
The new emperor granted a general amnesty to all in the
world, and personnel from the Six Ministries were transferred
around. On the day of Xue the Eldest’s promotion to the custodian
of the palace granaries, he held a feast on Donglong Street and
invited his distant relatives and next-door neighbors to vindicate
himself.
Having drunk himself drunk, he let Ge Qingqing support him as
he staggered his way home. “The tables have turned. I’m a lucky
man. What’s more, I’m the legitimate son of direct descent.” He
held up a finger and said to Ge Qingqing, “My courtesy name is
‘Pingjing’. Ping—Jing! Xue Xiuzhuo’s courtesy name is ‘Yanqing’.
Extend whose integrity?”66 He patted his own chest and said with a
smile, “Mine. It’s mine. I’m his eldest brother. I should be standing—
burp—higher than him to begin with!”
Ge Qingqing swayed with him and repeatedly concurred, “Yes,
yes, it is as my lord says.”
“Lord,” Xue Pingjing said in a loud voice. “That’s right. I’m the
lord! Why do, do I have to take my cues from him? He’s a mere son
of a concubine who seized, seized my head of family position, and
divided up the family property to kick all of us out. He is really, the
most, most cold-blooded and merciless person.” He waved his
hand, looking as if he could not deign to speak about Xue Xiuzhuo.
“Look at him. He has become a minister of importance in the
imperial court, yet he isn’t willing to help us financially… Is this, this
something a human would do?”
Ge Qingqing did not answer.
“You’re all afraid of him.” Xue Pingjing’s puffs of breath reeked
of wine. “What’s so scary about him? He is of low, lowly birth, born
to a concubine! When we went to school last time, I knew he was
one who wouldn’t be content with his lot in life.” On touching upon
his sore point, he unexpectedly started to choke with sobs, “I’m his
eldest brother. Who is he to be more talented than me? He
wouldn’t do it when those at home told him to write essays for
me… Had he done so, I’d be an important minister too now.”
The more Xue Pingjing cried, the sadder he was. Eventually, he
held on to the wall for support and, with a “blargh“, puked.
”He said I showed favoritism to my concubine… and neglected
my son’s studies… so he wouldn’t allow us father and son to meet
again…” Paying no attention to the wretched mess, Xue Pingjing
covered his face and bawled, “He’s really a heartless one! Even if
my son becomes an ignorant and incompetent ne’er-do-well in the
future, he’s still my son! He snatched another man’s son. He is not
fit to be human!”
Ge Qingqing said comfortingly, “Now that my lord has also
been promoted, you will be able to exchange words with the
gonggong in the palace. Naturally, there will be opportunities for
you to ask for your eldest son back.”
Xue Pingjing wiped his tears and clutched Ge Qingqing’s arm
tightly as he spat with hatred, “I’ve seen him rise to the height of his
power, and I want to see him plunge all the way down too!”

Author’s Note:
I made up the position of the palace granaries custodian. ( 内仓典
守) There was indeed a similar position in the Ming system, but I
can’t really remember offhand what it’s called.
Credit: Special thanks to MaruChan for spotting the typo! <3
 CHAPTER 261 : OF BENEVOLENCE & INTIMIDATION

The next day at noon, the Marquis of Helian headed over to

Mingli Hall to give his thanks for the reward.
Fuman stopped him and advised, “Your Lordship, please hold
on. Her Majesty is taking a nap right now. She will not be able to
summon you until a little later.” He turned aside. “If you’re not in a
hurry, you may wait here first.”
The Marquis of Helian made a special trip here today to express
his loyalty. The rumors in the City of Yongcheng had given him
sleepless nights, for fear that the Son of Heaven, Li Jianting, would
fly into a rage and seal off all their Fei clan’s properties. He
promptly nodded in acknowledgment and waited under the sun.
It was murderously scorching at noon. A little less than an hour
passed. The Marquis of Helian was sweating profusely from the
heat. He did not dare to make any inquiry, but his heart was
gradually sinking. Under the silent gazes of the eunuchs around
him, he became aware of the new emperor’s disciplinary
punishment.
“Your Lordship,” Fuman called out to him softly. “Why don’t you
wait in the side hall first? It’s such a hot day.”
The Marquis of Helian squeezed out a smile with some
difficulty. Wiping his sweat with his sleeve, he answered, “It’s
fine.”
 He was the one who made arrangements for the City of
Yongcheng’s relief grains, so he could not absolve himself of
responsibility when things went awry. If Li Jianting suspected him
of colluding with the rebels, his head would definitely roll. As long
as he could preserve his life, he would even be willing to kneel
while waiting, let alone stand and wait.
The Marquis of Helian did not know how long it had been, but
he felt as if there was a scalding hot iron plate stuck to his back. His
face was ghastly pale, and he was perspiring an abnormally
copious amount of sweat. His vision, too, was swimming. It was all
by sheer willpower that he remained standing.
The beaded curtains swung slightly, and Fengquan leaned
partially out of it to announce in a feminine manner, “Her Majesty is
awake. All of you move quickly. Don’t hold Her Majesty up from
dealing with government affairs.”
The eunuchs and palace maids waiting in attendance under
the eaves entered with the basins in hand. Not long later, the
Marquis of Helian heard his name. He lifted the hem of his robe
and went up the steps to come before the hall. It was such a
spinning blur before his aged eyes that he had no choice but to
hold on to Fuman for support.
“Oh, dear me.” Fuman looked worried. “Your Lordship, what’s
wrong?”
The Marquis of Helian felt so oppressively stifled in the chest
that it made him nauseous. As it turned out, he was having a
heatstroke. Li Jianting was waiting in the hall, so the Marquis of
Helian hastily steadied himself on his feet, though both his legs
were trembling somewhat. He could only murmur to Fuman, “It’s…
It’s nothing.”
“There are basins of ice inside,” Fuman whispered to him. “Just
in time for you to go in and alleviate the heat.”
The Marquis of Helian strode through the door and lowered his
head before Li Jianting’s desk to kneel and pay his obeisance. His
voice was weak and feeble. “This, this humble subject pays his
respect to Your Majesty. Blessed is Your Majesty.”
Holding the memorial with her fingers, Li Jianting did not look
up.
 The Marquis of Helian prostrated himself, not daring to move.
Even his breathing grew lighter. Very quickly, the sweat beside his
forehead dampened his sleeves.
“I’ve seen from Liang Cuishan’s memorial that the Fei clan has
encroached on the commoners’ fields in the City of Chuancheng.”
Li Jianting took a sip of the cooled tea and continued in a gentle
voice, “Do you know of this?”
The sweat all over the Marquis of Helian’s body from the heat
turned into cold sweat. “This humble subject knows. The Chief
Surveillance Bureau has impeached this humble subject, while the
memorandum the Grand Secretariat issued has asked the officials
from the Ministry of Justice to work in collaboration with those from
the Ministry of Revenue to head over to Chuancheng to audit the
field taxes. It even has Xue Xiuzhuo of the Court of Judicial Review
act as an official to supervise and inspect.”
“The Ministry of Revenue is now saying that the Fei clan of
Chuancheng is in cahoots with the Pan clan of Dancheng and the
Han clan of Wucheng. You conspire to deceive the imperial court,
embezzle the field taxes, and even inflict harsh punishments on the
commoners in the cities, causing hundreds of people from
Chuancheng to flee the city,” Li Jianting said. “Is that true?”
The Marquis of Helian was burning up inside with anxiety.
Propping himself with hands on the ground, he took a few slight
gasps and blurted in a moment of desperation, “This, this humble
subject dares not…”
Li Jianting suddenly flung the memorial onto the Marquis of
Helian’s body and said in a frosty tone, “You dare not? So you are
saying no one in Chuancheng died of starvation in winter? You not
only collude with the Pan clan, but also collaborate with the
merchant of Juexi to use the Chuancheng commoners’ grains to
ingratiate yourself with the rebels! Do you think I don’t know? Do
you think the Grand Secretary is unaware? The imperial court has
been watching the whole of you cancerous lot for a long time!”
The Marquis of Helian almost slumped to the ground,
paralyzed. With tears in his eyes, he cried, “Your Majesty, Your
Majesty! During the reign of Xiande, the Hua faction joined forces
with the Pan faction to monopolize state power, and they had the
Empress Dowager on the inside helping them. This humble subject
had no choice but to do so in order to preserve the lives of my
entire family!” He bowed his head and kowtowed, weeping loudly
as he knocked his head against the ground. “The common folks of
Chuancheng are just like my own sons. They have been under the
charge of my Fei clan since the Great Imperial Ancestor67
established and ruled the empire. If I had not been pushed to the
end of my tether, how would I have dared to commit such an
inhuman act?! As for the grains, Your Majesty, this humble subject
saw how troubled Your Majesty was over the Yongcheng’s grains
and could not help but feel anxious too, and that was how I fell for
that traitor Shen’s trap so easily!”
In the face of imminent death, the Marquis of Helian wised up
and disavowed himself of involvement by not bringing up Yan
Heru.
“Han Cheng acted tyrannically and coerced this humble
subject numerous times to help him commit regicide and self-
proclaimed himself king.” The Marquis of Helian’s face was awash
in tears as he raised his head to look at Li Jianting. “But this humble
subject is a court minister of the Li clan and could absolutely not
throw in with him! That night during the banquet, this humble
subject fought at the risk of my life to protect Your Majesty… This
humble subject deserves punishment for my crime. I only ask of
Your Majesty to spare my son and daughter in consideration of the
Great Imperial Ancestor’s great kindness…”
Li Jianting seemed to be moved. “In an act of kindness, the
Great Imperial Ancestor handed the eight cities to you people. Yet
you commit such a grave mistake for your own interests.”
“This humble subject is deeply aware that my crime is
deserving of death.” The Marquis of Helian choked with sobs “…To
be owing several tens of thousands in field taxes… This debt…
Even if the Fei clan has only one person left standing, we will spare
no effort to pay it back.”
As long as Li Jianting did not kill the Marquis of Helian, he
would not only be willing to return all the fertile fields, but also
make up for the arrears in field taxes. The location of the City of
Chuancheng was more special than the City of Dancheng. It was
close to the City of Dicheng, connected to the waterways, and
inextricably linked to Juexi, so he really might just be able to make
up for this sum of money, but the Marquis of Helian was just like the
rest of the wily old foxes from the other noble clans and did not say
how long exactly it would take for this sum of field taxes to be fully
paid up.
Li Jianting turned back, as if contemplating it over. After a time,
she said, “Your crimes are unforgivable. On account that you were
willing to help Yongcheng out of their predicament and that you
still have a conscience, I shall spare your life.”
The Marquis of Helian immediately felt relieved and hurriedly
kowtowed. “Your Majesty is benevolent of heart…”
“However, you formed cliques for your own selfish ends, and
you have failed the Great Imperial Ancestor for the favor he has
shown you. The title ‘Marquis of Helian’ can be retained no more.”
Without giving the Marquis of Helian a chance to gasp for breath,
she continued, “And then there’s the matter of the encroachment
of the commoners’ field.”
The Marquis of Helian’s heart leaped into his mouth again.
“Fuman,” Li Jianting said towards the door. “Drag those few
lowlifes out.”
Fuman acknowledged his order. Not long later, the guards
escorted several detained people to kneel in the open space before
the hall. Propping himself up with his hands, The Marquis of Helian
looked back through the beaded curtain and realized that all these
people were the officials he himself had set up in the City of
Chuancheng’s yamen.
“The Great Imperial Ancestor might have handed the eight
cities to you people, but the eight cities still take after the surname
‘Li’. It is by virtue of my amnesty that you could escape the death
penalty. These people deceive their superiors and subordinates,
trample over the law, and commit all kinds of atrocities.” Li Jianting
stood beside the Marquis of Helian and reached out a slender
palm to pat him gently on the shoulder. “They caused the common
folks in the territory to be forced into displacement. They deserve
death. Fuman.”
Fuman raised his voice. “Flogging paddles in place—HIT!”
 The moment the word left Fuman’s mouth, the iron-covered
upright rods suddenly struck human flesh. The sound of it startled
the Marquis of Helian so much that he trembled all over.
The few of them had their mouths stuffed. They were not
dragged to the Gate of Duancheng in accordance with the
flogging rules, nor were they wrapped in cotton-padded clothes.
They were in their inner garment, their official robes having long
been stripped off them. The paddle-wielding eunuchs were all old
subordinates of the Eastern Depot, and they flogged with
everything they had. A few floggings later, the few people were all
a bloody mangle of flesh.
The Marquis of Helian’s ears were buzzing. Mingli Hall was very
cool, giving him a chill all over. The sound of flogging continued,
and one of them tilted his head back twice, the blood between his
teeth soaking through the white fabric gag as he sobbed and
whimpered at the Marquis of Helian. The entire Mingli Hall was
extremely quiet, with the eunuchs all standing in solemn silence
with their hands at their sides. Only the flogging sound of “thud,
thud, thud” persisted.
After an hour, the acrid stench of blood pervaded the air.
Without looking at the Marquis of Helian again, Li Jianting said,
“You may leave.”
The Marquis of Helian tripped over himself as he got up and fell
back onto his knees on the cold, hard floor. Fuman signaled the
junior eunuch with his eyes, and both of them hoisted up the
Marquis of Helian to send him out. The Marquis of Helian’s boots
stepped into the blood. He widened his eyes and looked at his
feet.
The pool of blood reflected the Marquis of Helian’s official
robe.
The Marquis of Helian staggered a few steps and felt the world
spinning— so frightened was he that he literally passed out cold.
Li Jianting reclined in her chair. Through the dark shadow of
the window, she could see Fuman ordering the guards to clear
away the bodies on the ground.
Fengquan picked up the memorial that had been flung to the
ground and said in a soft voice, “This scene is truly horrifying.”
 “You have never seen a scene of carnage and bloodbath
before.” Li Jianting’s eyes were hidden from view under the
darkness. “When the epidemic ran rampant in the City of
Dancheng, refugees crowded the entrance of Qudu, wanting to
dig their way in through the ditches. Eventually, they clogged up
the ditch, and the stench of corpses permeated all over… No one
saved them. Now, that was a scene that was truly horrifying.”
Fengquan did not touch her desk and merely set the memorial
back lightly.
“Tough times call for tough measures in governance.”68 Li
Jianting paused for a long time. “Let the Marquis of Helian live for a
while longer. Has Xue Yanqing come looking for you recently?”
Fengquan bowed and answered, “He came to ask about Your
Majesty’s daily routine.”
“Cen Xunyi is a long-time elder in the imperial court. He’s far-
sighted in having misgivings about Zhongbo. I did not go along
with what Xue Yanqing wanted this time,” Li Jianting said. “I ought
to make it up to him.”
“His Excellency Xue had his hands clean of corrupted practices,
and he lives frugally when he is in official residence. For that
reason, he has quite the reputation in the Imperial College. If Your
Majesty were to reward him with money and commonplace
objects…” Fengquan lowered his eyes, and his voice gradually
trailed off.
Li Jianting pondered it over for a moment. “Jiang Qingshan
has made meritorious contributions in raising grains, and he treats
the people like his sons. Let the Grand Secretary draft up a
memorandum. I heard his wife, Liu, also has a reputation for being
virtuous. Reward them together.”
Jiang Qingshan was Xue Xiuzhuo’s capable right-hand man in
Juexi, so by rewarding him, she would be appeasing Xue Xiuzhuo.
Besides, Li Jianting still had other uses for Jiang Qingshan. There
was currently no one holding the Prince of Donglie, Qi Zhuyin, in
check. The Qidong Garrison Troops, however, needed military
provisions, and Li Jianting had the key to this granary placed in
Jiang Qingshan’s hands.
 Fengquan acknowledged his order and retreated, taking
particular caution as he did so.
◈ ◈ ◈
“The new emperor has shown her mettle. This move of check
and balance is indeed impressive.” Xiao Chiye pushed aside the
military affairs and read over the updates from Qudu again. “To
pacify Xue Xiuzhuo, she rewarded Jiang Qingshan. She can
intimidate Commander-in-chief Qi and at the same time, threaten
Xue Xiuzhuo, who holds sway over the practical doers faction and
the way the Imperial College blows.”
“It has been so easy for Xue Xiuzhuo to bring on a change of
emperor; she has to be on guard against him. Jiang Qingshan is a
provincial governor who has never received the Li clan’s favor
during the reign of Xiande and Tianchen, and now he is going to
enjoy a meteoric rise.” Shen Zechuan set aside Yu Xiaozai’s letter.
“On the contrary, I do find her way of dealing with the Marquis of
Helian unexpected.”
“It is.” Xiao Chiye looked opposite him. “She’s got some guts.”
Shen Zechuan had truly never expected Li Jianting to take the
measure of flogging the corrupted officials to death to intimidate
the Marquis of Helian. Dipping his brush in ink, he said, “I initially
thought she would find an excuse to kill him. I never expected her
to be able to hold herself back.”
“The Marquis of Helian originally excused himself, saying that
he had no money, and now he has been so frightened he’s willing
to make up for the deficit; he even gave up his manors.” Xiao Chiye
tilted his head back slightly as he slouched lazily in the chair. “The
female emperor adopts a policy of both benevolence and
intimidation and applies carrot and stick judiciously, which allows
for more latitude than Xue Xiuzhuo, who would never let it rest.
Seeing how she treats the Marquis of Helian, the noble clans, who
have been beaten to this point, will certainly take the initiative to
make up for the deficit in the hope of making amends for their
transgressions in exchange for a slim chance of survival.”
What were the accounts the Grand Secretariat was
investigating?
Fields and money.
 If there had been no Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye in the
equation, Li Jianting would perhaps go along with Xue Xiuzhuo’s
way and stick it out to the very end. But she was unbelievably
shrewd, and she understood the truth in Cen Yu’s words.
Compared to dealing with the Eight Great Clans at this moment,
Shen Zechuan was far more terrifying.
“How amazing.” Shen Zechuan held up the brush and traced
Xiao Chiye’s eyes. “Now, this is a genuine emperor.”
“I never used to believe that a person is born to be an emperor,
but she is indeed gifted and talented. She has resided in the inner
compound for merely five years.” Xiao Chiye grasped hold of Shen
Zechuan’s wrist across the table.
“—Want your reward?”
“I was in Zhaozui Temple for merely five years, too.” Shen
Zechuan’s leg under the table kicked off its wooden clog and
inched up along the side of Xiao Chiye’s leg. He loosened his grip,
and the brush fell onto the table, leaving several oblique shadows
among the papers.
Lanzhou bent a finger and pressed it down on the bridge of
Xiao Chiye’s nose.
“Give it to me, quick.”
 CHAPTER 262: SEPARATE WAYS

“If I do, I’m afraid your waist will break.” Xiao Chiye said with a
ghost of a smile.
Although there had never been explicit instructions, Shen
Zechuan had indeed injured his waist and could not stand up to
the torment.
Shen Zechuan held back for a moment and was just about to
put his leg back down, but Xiao Chiye did not permit him to.
Instead, he grasped this ankle in his palm, pressing it against
himself.
“Oh….” Shen Zechuan drew out the end of his words. “You
want me to sate myself by feeding on fantasy, much like quenching
my thirst by looking at plums.”
“It’s getting late.” Xiao Chiye said, but still, he did not let go.
Shen Zechuan initially still meant to say a word or two, but the
hand grasping on to him suddenly began moving.
“If, before the ninth month, Commander-in-Chief Qi is still
indisposed to deploy troops, I will not wait anymore.” Xiao Chiye’s
attire was all in order, and nothing seemed amiss looking at his
upper body. Even the way he spoke was no different from how it
usually was.
“Given the means the emperor resorts to, she will not agree to
the Commander-in-chief’s deployment of troops. Furthermore—”
Shen Zechuan’s voice suddenly went soft, as if he had melted.
 Xiao Chiye took off his clean sock.
There was still tablecloth hanging down around the table.
Spurred along by the movements of Xiao Chiye’s palm, Shen
Zechuan’s knees pressed gently against the table board. His bare,
treading foot worked through the intricately decorative-patterned
robe, and that fabric chafed against the underside of his foot,
belying the hardness blanketed under the softness.
“Besides, Commander-in-chief Qi has to consider the Five
Commanderies too.” Xiao Chiye picked up from where Lanzhou left
off. “Penetrating deep into the desert takes time and effort. She has
to weigh her priorities. Even Qi Shiyu might not necessarily be
willing to go ahead with this battle if it drags on.”
The corner of Shen Zechuan’s eyes reddened, prompted by the
tidal waves of heat. “You told General Lu the other day that you
were going to wait for Qidong.”
“At that time, the emperor still had yet to show her mettle.
Looking at it now, the chances of Qidong deploying troops is slim.”
Xiao Chiye stopped teasing Lanzhou when he spoke to this point.
“This year, you gathered grains from the four prefectures of
Huaizhou, Chazhou, Cizhou, and Hezhou to resolve the dilemma of
putting food on the table. Although we made it in time for the
spring plowing, the Huaizhou granary is lost. Now that Tao Ming
has fled, the imperial court will naturally have to send someone
else to manage it. It’ll be hard to do business with them again next
year. And with the Port of Yongyi and the Xi clan’s copper mines
sealed, Libei’s mutual trade market business is going to fall by half.
Lanzhou, we will not be able to afford to feed the Qidong Garrison
Troops next year.”
Qudu did not give grains when Qidong dispatched troops to
the Qingshu Tribe this time, but Qi Zhuyin still had confidence. But
where had her confidence come from? Other than Shen Zechuan,
who else was there in the world who could be so generous as to
supply a garrison troop the military grains they needed? Xue
Xiuzhuo was not a fool. He was well aware of who had given the
garrison troops their grains. He just did not expose it right to Qi
Zhuyin’s face.
 As Qidong had deployed troops to assist external forces this
year, the military fields of three out of five commanderies had no
one to farm the land, so it was inevitable that the harvest from
military farming would suffer a drop. This, in turn, resulted in Qi
Zhuyin’s military provisions needs this year being even higher than
the previous years. The only thing worth rejoicing was that the
spring plowing of four commanderies’ commoners’ fields was
proceeding as usual, so she only had to worry about the grains for
the army. But even so, the military grain expenditure for 300,000
soldiers was frightfully immense. And this had yet to take into
consideration the invasion deep into the desert, which was a
completely different matter from her leading troops to launch a
surprise attack.
After the victory of the Duanzhou battle, the expenditure for
fortifications and defenses in the various prefectures was bound to
skyrocket. Not only that, the six prefectures were already beginning
to take shape. Shen Zechuan had to supply year-round military
provisions to the 120,000 garrison troops of the six prefectures, as
well as continue to supply military provisions to Libei’s 120,000
Armored Cavalry. Add the Qidong Garrison Troops to the
equation, and the burden of supporting a grand total of 540,000
troops and horses would all fall upon him.
“Wang Xian wrote to me and said that he sent you a letter half a
month ago, in which he elaborated on the stakes involved.” Xiao
Chiye switched to a more comfortable posture. “You didn’t reply.”
The underside of Shen Zechuan’s foot was still sticking to Xiao
Chiye’s bulging and erect member. Leaning against the chair, he
said, “The advisors had yet to draw up an estimate for a budget
half a month ago, so I put a hold on Wang Xian’s letter and did not
reply.”
“The advisors in residence are good, but they are mostly from
the countryside. They are talented, but they are not as well-versed
in the trade as officials like Wang Xian. Wang Xian served as the
Secretary for the Ministry of Revenue and often engaged with the
Ministry of War. Every year, he has to deal with us military officers
who enter the capital to ask for our money and grains. He is well-
acquainted with the various regions’ military expenditures and
military grains needs.” Xiao Chiye had been resting at home of
late, and the issue that had been on his mind the most was the
military provisions too.
It was all too wonderful for the three armies to join forces as
one, but it was also too difficult.
The equipment of the Libei Armored Cavalry wore out too fast,
and the back-end squad still had to bring along the military
craftsmen when they were transporting military provisions. Once
the convoy squad stepped out of the battle zone, there was no
more bridle path for them to take further east. The barren sands of
the Gobi desert were all the Twelve Tribes’ territories, so they had to
increase the numbers of troops for the transportation of military
provisions as a protective measure, but increasing manpower
meant increasing military grains. The farther away the Libei
Armored Cavalry went, the more grains they would consume.
Then, there was also the need to plan for all possible contingencies
that might happen along the way. This was much harder than
fighting a defensive battle.
“Last year, Xue Xiuzhuo abandoned the City of Quancheng and
Luoxia Pass to defend the thirteen cities of Juexi alone. At that time,
it didn’t feel all that impressive.” Finally looking awkward, Shen
Zechuan sighed. “Only now do I know just how impressive it was.”
Who did not want Qi Zhuyin’s military strength? Shen Zechuan
wanted it too. He only had to take down the Qidong Five
Commanderies, and it would be impossible for Qudu to turn the
tide in their favor even if the current emperor was Emperor
Guangcheng himself. All along, Xue Xiuzhuo had been indifferent
to Zhongbo and Libei’s battles. He let Shen Zechuan recruit soldiers
and buy horses at the beginning of the year and did not even
pursue the matter of Qidong’s military grains. This was all another
way of wearing Shen Zechuan down.
“Jiang Qingshan is truly a great help. No wonder the emperor
wanted to use him to contest Xue Xiuzhuo. This person shouldered
the responsibility for the Dazhou granaries all alone with just his
unyielding dauntlessness.” The expression in Xiao Chiye’s eyes was
deep and penetrating. “Lanzhou, the battle you are going to fight is
even harder than mine.”
 Shen Zechuan did not reply to Wang Xian’s letter in
consideration of Xiao Chiye. Similarly, Xiao Chiye was also now
giving up on the Qidong Garrison Troops in consideration for Shen
Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye shifted the chair away and bent over to pick up the
wooden clogs. However, he did not put them on for Shen Zechuan,
but set them aside neatly. He released his grip on Shen Zechuan’s
hand and leaned over to stroke Shen Zechuan’s cheeks,
whispering, “I’ll go by myself.”
The corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes reddened, but there was
no surge of passion in those expressive eyes of his.
◈ ◈ ◈
The watchman’s clapper struck a few times late into the night.
Hugging his legs close to him, Fengquan leaned against the foot
of Li Jianting’s bed. He did not fall asleep, however. After a little
less than an hour, he heard Li Jianting say from within the lowered
drapes, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Resting his chin on his knees such that one side of his delicate,
refined face was buried, Fengquan answered, “Your Majesty has
had difficulty sleeping for several days. We should summon an
imperial physician.”
With her eyes open, Li Jianting turned slightly to the side so
that her back was to the lowered drapes. “I’m just not used to
sleeping here.”
Silence descended in the palace interior for a moment.
“Have you seen Shen Zechuan before?” Li Jianting asked.
“I saw him during the reign of Xiande when he had just
emerged from Zhaozui Temple.”
“Rumors have it that his mother was a dancer from Duanzhou.”
Li Jianting seemed to be seeking confirmation. “Is this true?”
“Yes, it’s true.” Fengquan moved his numbed legs. “He’s the
eighth son of Shen Wei, born of common birth. He was not a
favored child in the Prince of Jianxing’s manor, and was sent away
to a private residence in Duanzhou very early on. He has relations
with Ji Gang, the former Vice Commander of the Imperial
Bodyguards. When Duanzhou fell into the enemies’ hand, he was
in the Chashi Sinkhole too.”
 After a moment of silence, Li Jianting said, “Qi Huilian is a
veritable extremist to dare to cast aside his prejudices to impart all
he had to him without reservation.”
“But Shen Zechuan is small-minded and vindictive.” Fengquan
turned his head to the side. “Ji Lei had a feud with him, and so he
made Ji Lei… suffer a fate worse than death. If Han Cheng had not
been so thick-headed to keep resisting that day at the banquet,
Your Majesty could very well dismiss him from his position and
send him into exile in Zhongbo to see how Shen Zechuan treats
him. No doubt he will also make Han Cheng wish he were better off
dead.”
The shadows of the trees outside the windows fell upon the
ground. The palace in the dead of night was silent and totally
devoid of human voices.
“You are Mu Ru’s younger brother by blood?” Li Jianting
changed the topic.
Fengquan’s expression cracked a little, but he did not reply
rashly.
“You became a eunuch before Mu Ru entered the palace. At that
time, she was already Prince Chu’s favored concubine. Why did you
have to enter the palace to suffer?” Li Jianting’s eyes turned
slightly. “You are not like Fuman, who has been to the Eunuch
School, but you are well-versed in the classics. Given Mu Ru’s family
background, being able to read is already not bad.”
Fengquan immediately kneeled on the ground. “This humble
slave, this humble slave…”
“I can see that both of your ears aren’t newly pierced, but the
former emperor has never rewarded you with ear ornaments, and
it’s highly unlikely for him to do so. Those who can wear pearl or
gem earrings at an early age are either of lawful birth or noble
blood. So, where…” Li Jianting propped herself up and paused for
a moment before looking at the lowered drapes, “…exactly are you
from?”
◈ ◈ ◈
The zither strings jolted with a hum. Looking as if he had just
woken up from a dream, Qiao Tianya raised his hand with the
intent to rub the center of his forehead, only to realize that the skin
on the pulp of his finger was torn.
“The fact that Commander-in-chief Qi has yet to reply means
that she’s displeased with His Lordship for wanting to hand the
Qingshu Tribe’s territory over to Hairigu…” Yao Wenyu stopped
talking and looked into the inner chamber through the drapes.
“This matter is a tough one to deal with. The fear is creating a
rift with Qidong.” Kong Ling followed Yao Wenyu’s gaze. “Songyue
has been restless. Why not come out and have tea with us?”
Qiao Tianya wiped the bit of blood off with his thumb and
leaned back in the rattan chair. With a smile, he said, “Since it is at
your invitation, I shall respectfully comply.”
With that, he set the zither on the table, rose to lift the curtain,
and stepped out.
The weather was fine today, and a tea table had been set up
under the eaves. They did not seem to be discussing official
business, but more like sampling tea. Yao Wenyu was dressed in a
green robe with wide sleeves, and when he drank his tea, the red
thread appeared ever so imperceptibly.
Qiao Tianya did not stand on ceremony and sat down on the
chair beside Yuanzhuo.
“What fine tea is it?” Qiao Tianya accepted the tea Gao
Zhongxiong handed to him. He took only a sniff before saying,
“Oh, the ‘Height of Spring’ from Hezhou.”
“Don’t be misled by how he’s no different from a general,
always astride his horse wielding his blade.” Kong Ling pointed at
Qiao Tianya. “He is, in fact, a tea connoisseur.”
“Make merry to the fullest while the going is good.” Qiao
Tianya sipped his tea. “If I had money, I’d want to satisfy my
appetite to dine and wine. As long as I can sample all the fine tea
and fine wines, I’d be happy to spend the money regardless of the
cost.”
With his eyes lowered, Yao Wenyu said, “You should learn from
Shenwei.”
Gao Zhongxiong hurriedly waved his hands. “On the contrary, I
envy Commander Qiao. Me, I just want to save up money to build
up the family finances so that I can marry a virtuous wife when the
world is at peace.”
“Songyue isn’t married either,” Kong Ling asked. “Don’t you
feel anxious to do so?”
“Look at Old Fei the Tenth. He’s not married either, is he? They
are in no hurry, but of course, I’m burning with anxiety.” Qiao
Tianya set down the teacup and said with a straight face, “I’ve been
wanting to earn this sum of gift money69 so much I have been
tossing and turning all night.”
The various gentlemen burst into laughter.
Qiao Tianya turned his face to the side to look at Yao Wenyu.
“Mister isn’t married, either. Any urgency to?”
The flowers on the branch fell amongst Yao Wenyu’s sleeves.
He turned his gaze to meet Qiao Tianya’s eyes. When the wind
blew off the flowers, it also sent a waft of his slightly bitter
medicinal scent over to Qiao Tianya.
“Used to,” Yao Wenyu answered. “But it doesn’t matter now that
I have Hunu.”
Other than Qiao Tianya, everyone present did not know much
about Yao Wenyu and the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue. They
had only heard rumors that the Commandery Princess Zhaoyue
wanted to marry him, so naturally, they thought he was referring to
her.
“If you ask me, there are three regrets in life. Not being born as
Hunu is one of them.” Qiao Tianya moved to hug Hunu, but
grasped hold of Yao Wenyu’s wrist behind Hunu’s plump body. “Or
I could have rested all day and night on your lap, fantasizing to
infinity and beyond even in my dreams.”
Yao Wenyu’s expression shifted slightly. He did not expect Qiao
Tianya to be so gutsy, and in his fluster, he started to cough.
“Commander Qiao often surprises one with his words. It’d be
wonderful if he could engage in a philosophical discourse70 with
Yuanzhuo.” Gao Zhongxiong sighed with emotion. “I wonder if I
will ever have the chance to see Yuanzhuo’s literary grace on full
display.”
“Philosophical discourses that are mere rhetoric are detrimental
to the state.” Yao Wenyu raised his hand to cover his mouth. His
wrist was a little red. “I have yet to finish my words from earlier.
Commander-in-chief’s lack of reply means she’s displeased with
Hairigu. When all is said and done, we were not the ones who
fought and took down the Qingshu Tribe territory, so we can’t force
the issue.”
Kong Ling nodded. “I’m worried that Commander-in-chief Qi
might bear ill will towards His Lordship because of this.”
“We want to leverage their military force to fight another, but
Hairigu is a Biansha Scorpion, after all. It’s only reasonable for the
Commander-in-chief Qi not to trust him.”
“This is only part of it.” Kong Ling exchanged glances with Yao
Wenyu and slowly shook his head. “The worst fear is Commander-
in-chief Qi suspecting His Lordship of threatening Qidong with this
move.”
“The Qingshu Tribe lies close to the Bianjun Commandery,” Yao
Wenyu said. “Even if Commander-in-chief Qi doesn’t think so, the
various generals of Qidong will. They have had enough of being
held under duress by the army-inspecting eunuch of Qudu. No
doubt they will not agree to let the Scorpions keep a close watch on
them again.”
“If Qidong isn’t willing,” Kong Ling said, “then all we can do is
to make other plans.”
◈ ◈ ◈
A candle was lit in the military tent. Qi Zhuyin sat with a leg
propped as she squeezed her neck and listened to Qi Wei speak.
“Tell Lu Guangbai to stop sending letters. He indeed doesn’t
have the burden of military supplies, and his 20,000 infantry
soldiers can leave at just the drop of a hat.” She stared at the top of
the tent. “Even Jiming and Xiao Chiye have never brought this
matter up again.”
“General Lu has served under the Commander-in-chief for the
longest time,” Qi Wei said. “He knows of your capabilities, so it’s
only natural for him to want to persuade you to deploy troops.”
“I understand his desire to fight the Biansha Cavalry.” Qi Zhuyin
frowned slightly. “But Dazhou has never gone deep into the desert.
It’s a long journey to make, and danger lurks all around. Once all
the three armies have been mobilized, who is going to ensure the
safety of the encampments? The Scorpion in Qudu is still around.”
Qi Wei knew of the spot Qi Zhuyin was in. After hesitating for a
moment, he said, “If you were to reject them at this moment, I fear
you will earn the infamy of forsaking your integrity for gains.”
No sooner had Qudu conferred her the title of Prince of
Donglie than she turned against Zhongbo and Libei while the
garrison troops were still eating Shen Zechuan’s grains. Anyone
who caught word of this would be inclined to condemn her.
Qi Zhuyin couldn’t care less. “As they wish. There is nothing in
the world you can’t control more than wagging tongues.”
“This account is tough to square off. In Zhongbo’s view, their
giving of grains to feed the garrison troops is an act of great
kindness,” Qi Wei said. “But if weren’t for the war in Libei being at a
critical point and Zhongbo needing us to mobilize troops to go to
their aid when their gates were breached, Shen Zechuan’s grains
would not have come this easily either.”
“They are people who scheme for world domination. They
know how to grasp the opportunity.” Qi Zhuyin’s side profile was
serious. There was no trace of her usual cheeky smile. “I was
helping myself by helping Libei, and now, I’m also helping myself
by not deploying troops. Qidong and Libei are brothers who go
through adversities together, but the crisis in Libei has already
been quelled, and Ce’an’s desire to continue pushing further in will
smack of militarism. Refugees abound after the empire started
disintegrating. The wars this year and last year were inevitable. I
know Amu’er is already showing signs of fatigue, and this is an
excellent time to crush the alliance of the six tribes. But the eight
cities’ granaries are empty, and commoners are dying on the
streets. The city of Yongcheng in Juexi is hit with a drought, and yet
Jiang Qingshan still has to do his best to supply grains to Qudu
and Qidong after autumn. These grains all had to be taken from
the people. Of Shen Zechuan’s six prefectures, three have yet to
reach the bumper harvest year, so he also has to rely on the
granaries in Hezhou… It’s exhilarating to be fighting a battle, but I
can’t go.”
 Amu’er was an exceptional man, and the six tribes of Biansha
were the bane of Dazhou’s generals. If they were to emerge
victorious after penetrating deep into the desert this time, then no
matter who was to rule the state in the future, the names of the Libei
Armored Cavalry and Xiao Chiye would go down in history. And
besides, as a general, who would not want to pit themselves
against such an opponent?
Qi Zhuyin snuffed out the candle wick, and the interior of the
tent plunged into darkness. She sat for a moment, then said, “I
voice it out; you write it down. Tell Shen Zechuan that even if the
Qingshu Tribe’s territory were to fall into disuse, I will not permit
Hairigu to set foot on it. Next, tell Xiao Jiming that I, Qi Zhuyin, may
be acquainted with him since our youth and see him as a bosom
friend, but my Qi clan is still a subject of Dazhou. Fighting against
foreign foes together is my duty, but empowering Zhongbo is
treason. And finally, tell Lu Guangbai, I wish him great success in
his military exploits and in seeking redress for his previous
humiliation, but this time, us siblings71 will longer be going the
same way.”
A solitary lone goose cried at the moon as it flew across the
horizon of the Bianjun Commandery. Qi Wei put the respective
letters away and turned to step out of the tent. Yellow sand rustled
under those military boots, and a palm grabbed up a handful of the
yellow sand. Lu Guangbai had his back to the dusky sky, the letter
from Qidong still between his fingers. He squatted for a while, then
put the letter away.
The sand in his palm trickled back to the ground.
Commander-in-chief Qi, treat this letter as you would me in
person.72
In dereliction of duty, I left the commandery without due
authorization, and for that, I have failed the elders of Qidong.
Unless I step onto the battlefield and slay the enemies, my
aspirations will never be realized. I will always be a general
subordinate to Commander-in-chief Qi. We may not be able to
tread the same path and fight together this battle, but the moon
shines bright over the lands of the country. I will not let
Commander-in-chief Qi down.
 Credits: Thank you Ami and Suika for the brainwave, and
daisiesfordaze for spotting the typo.
 CHAPTER 263: LAOHU (TANTAI HU)

In the eighth month, the autumn harvest was sent to the

granaries. Acting on Shen Zechuan’s orders, Wang Xian went on
an inspection tour with Yu Xiaozai to the six prefecture granaries,
where he organized Zhongbo’s grains and had the details
recorded into books for submission to Duanzhou. The horse
carriage crushed over the gravel. All donned in a round-collared
robe,73 Wang Xian watched through the window as the City of
Duanzhou grew gradually closer.
“The moat is still under construction, but the city gates are all
repaired.” Yu Xiaozai pointed out to Wang Xian. “Brother Minshen,
this is where His Lordship defended the city.”
Wang Xian nodded and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
When Yu Xiaozai was still in Qudu, he had some contact with
Wang Xian, but owing to the different nature of their duties, he had
merely a nodding acquaintance with him. It was not until the
seventh month, when they worked together, that they really
became familiar with one another. He said comfortingly, “His
Lordship treats others with magnanimity. Since he is willing to use
you, it means he is willing to trust you. There is no need for you to
keep dwelling on what happened in the past.”
Wang Xian said with a bitter smile. “I was relegated from the
capital and exiled to Zhongbo. If not for Second Master looking out
for me, my head would have already rolled. I’m beyond grateful to
His Lordship for letting bygones be bygones, so how would I still
bear grudges? I’m just afraid that I’d be too inarticulate to answer
in the hall later.”
Yu Xiaozai knew of Wang Xian’s misgivings. After pondering it
over, he said, “Brother Minshen, look at me. I came to Zhongbo at
the behest of my teacher, Censor-in-chief Cen, to negotiate peace
with His Lordship. The talks later failed, and returning to Qudu was
no longer an option. I initially thought of buying a few mu74 of
fertile lands in Zhongbo and becoming a commoner from then on,
but His Lordship promoted me, making me a ‘Surveillance
Commissioner’ of Zhongbo. Brother Minshen was demoted and
relegated because you were caught in the crossfire of Second
Master’s bribery case and framed by Fu Linye and those people.
Second Master is a man who values ties, and he has always
remembered this incident. This time, Brother Minshen successfully
prepared Libei’s military grains without taking the credits. Whether
for official or personal reasons, His Lordship will not make things
difficult for Brother Minshen.”
Feeling slightly relieved, Wang Xian waved his hand and said,
“My contribution is too insignificant to be worth mentioning.”
The horse carriage arrived at their destination and passed
through the overhanging gate that had been lowered. Both of
them got off the carriage one after another and saw Fei Sheng,
who was waiting at the entrance of the passageway.
“Both excellencies are fatigued from the long journey. Please
go in first.” Fei Sheng led both of them inside. “His Lordship has
prepared a banquet to welcome both excellencies at the
residence.”
Slightly surprised, Wang Xian said, “This humble subordinate is
merely following orders. How am I deserving of such favor from His
Lordship?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Yu Xiaozai said with a smile. “His
Lordship is never extravagant when he hosts feasts. It’s just some
common dishes over an invitation of wine and tea.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Wang Xian is swift and efficient in making arrangements for
the military grains.” Shen Zechuan turned his head to the side and
said to Xiao Chiye behind him. “What’s even rarer is that he is able
to successfully negotiate with the yamen of the various prefectures.
It’s too gross an injustice to put him in Chazhou.”
Xiao Chiye secured the bandage for Shen Zechuan and said,
“He could even drag out and stall my account, so of course he’s
also in his element dealing with the various prefectures’ yamen.”
Shen Zechuan sucked in a slight breath at Xiao Chiye’s
movements. “The tyrant of Qudu is going to break my waist.”
“This waist,” Xiao Chiye sized it up and brought his palms
around to the front to lead Shen Zechuan back to his own chest, “is
so slender it looks like it’s within my grasp.”75
“That’s why there is the saying ‘shen yao pan bin’—‘slender of
frame and graying of temples’.”76 Shen Zechuan’s back clung
against Xiao Chiye’s chest. “So, envy not, my beloved—Xiao-lang.”77
“In any case, it’s all mine,” Xiao Chiye said. “The only ones
doing the envying here are the others.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Jiran, who was under the eaves, watched as the maidservants
entered and exited. Putting his palms together, he tilted his head
and said to Ding Tao, “We have a guest.”
There was more to this little monk’s words than meets the ear.
Ding Tao folded his arms and answered in great understanding.
“You will still get your vegetarian dishes. His Lordship has given the
instructions earlier.”
Jiran immediately showed a delighted expression. “Anitabha,78
Ding Tao-gege, you’re so much smarter than the fishes in the
pond!”
Shen Zechuan, who had been in the principal room, had
already stepped out. Preparation was all in order in the side hall,
and the various gentlemen had already all taken their seats. When
Wang Xian and Yu Xiaozai arrived, they first paid their obeisances
to the Prefectural Lord before exchanging pleasantries with the
gentlemen at the table.
“The depositing of grains in the six prefectures is a major event
of utmost importance for the entire year,” Shen Zechuan said.
“Youjing and Minshen have worked hard.”
 During the autumn harvest in the eighth month, the various
regions would sort out the grains and put them into storage at the
granaries. Following right after in the ninth month, they would
calculate the surplus grain reserves in all localities to prepare for
the winter. Going by Zhongbo’s process, there was no way Libei’s
military grains could be prepared this fast, but Wang Xian had
been making preparations as early as the sixth month. Once the
defensive battle in Duanzhou was over, he asked the garrison
troops of the various prefectures to allocate manpower to start
harvesting the grains. They made it in time for the lull in the eighth
month, giving the six prefectures that were about to supply military
grains time to catch their breath.
Wang Xian hurriedly stood up to bow in return. “This humble
subordinate was just following orders. It is all due to His Lordship’s
foresight.”
“I heard Tantai Hu vented his anger on you?” Xiao Chiye,
having not moved his chopsticks yet, said to Wang Xian with a
smile.
“General Tantai is concerned about the war, so it’s only natural
for him to ask about the preparations. We had a pleasant talk in
Dunzhou.” Wang Xian knew that Tantai Hu was chosen by Xiao
Chiye to head down to Dunzhou. He had military merits to his
name, and he was also in the position to get his say in before Shen
Zechuan, so of course Wang Xian could not offend him. “Those
rumors are not to be believed.”
Looks like this incident had really taken place.
This was not the first time Tantai Hu had clashed with the civil
officials. He was impatient by nature, and he was Xiao Chiye’s
trusted aide. While in Dunzhou, he and the yamen functionaries
could still mutually tolerate each other at first. His military reports
were submitted directly to Shen Zechuan’s desk, and he had no
need to be supervised by the yamen. By all logic, there should not
have been conflicts between both parties. However, the Dunzhou
Garrison Troops, having been rewarded several times, boasted of
being a branch of the Imperial Army. By the time of the Duanzhou
battle, they were reveling in the height of their glory among the six
prefectures’ garrison troops. The preparations of military grains
were a matter between Wang Xian and the various prefectures’ Tax
Circuit Intendants,79 and despite that, Tantai Hu dared to interfere
and concern himself with it.
When peace reigned in the world, discord between generals
and ministers merely meant that they could not work together, but
in times of turmoil, dissension was a critical issue that could affect
the overall situation.
Kong Ling, being the insightful person he was, stepped forth to
smooth things over. “General Tantai comes from the Imperial Army,
and he has gone through thick and thin together with Libei. Long
when Second Master decided to fight the Twelve Tribes, he had
discussed with me the issue of military grains. Your Lordship,
General Tantai has deployed troops to come to the rescue several
times, so he’s naturally more attentive when it comes to the military
grains.” He turned his head aside to smile at Yao Wenyu. “Yuanzhuo
and I often ask about the fortification of the city walls too after the
fright we got from the defensive battle.”
The gentlemen laughed at this, and the atmosphere eased a
little.
Yao Wenyu then said to Wang Xian, “Brother Minshen once
served as the Ministry of Revenue Secretary. Censor-in-chief Cen
often praised Brother Minshen for being efficient in his work, and it
can indeed be seen from the preparation of military grains just how
extraordinary Brother Minshen’s capabilities are.”
Yao Wenyu’s words were partially true. Wang Xian was indeed
capable, but he was not that conspicuous. Xue Xiuzhuo, who often
had dealings with the Ministry of Revenue at that time, was in Hai
Liangyi’s good graces more. In addition, the Ministry of Revenue
had always been under the control of the noble clans. So even
when the Ministry of Personnel wanted to promote Wang Xian after
taking the imperial censors’ testimonials into consideration, they
could not manage to do so. But even if what he said was not true,
Yao Wenyu had still accorded him the respect he was due.
Wang Xian had been an official in the capital for a long time, so
how could he not understand? Yao Wenyu’s intent was Shen
Zechuan’s intent. Since Yao Wenyu was willing to speak up to
placate him, then he should leave it at that. The incident had
already been made known, and His Lordship and Second Master
would naturally have their own follow-up arrangements.
Wang Xian bowed. “How would I dare to accept praise from
Yuanzhuo? This humble subordinate is truly unworthy.” With this, he
relaxed a little and continued, “As for the military grains, this
humble subordinate still needs General Tantai’s advice in certain
aspects. Fortunately, the General did not mind and carefully
analyzed the pros and cons with me. To tell Your Lordship and
Second Master the truth, this humble subordinate might have
managed all that relates to the military grains back in Qudu, but
when all is said and done, I’ve never handled supplies over a long
distance. It was all General Tantai who advised me in detail on
issues such as the consumption of grain wagons and the increase
and decrease of military supplies.”
Kong Ling cast a glance at Zhou Gui, who was a short distance
away, and inwardly lamented with a sigh, as expected from an
official from the capital; smart and perceptive, he can get his
message across in much fewer words.
Zhou Gui was also here regarding the preparations of military
grains, although he had arrived several days before Wang Xian
and Yu Xiaozai. At present, he was sitting in his seat listening
carefully to the conversations, finding this Wang Xian to be
measured in his conduct and tactful with his words. He could not
understand why Chengfeng was looking at him.
They discussed a little more about official matters, and Shen
Zechuan then invited Wang Xian to take a seat, thereby signaling
the start of the feast.
◈ ◈ ◈
When they returned to their room at night, Xiao Chiye slipped
out of his clothes, his expression one of displeasure.
Shen Zechuan spoke as he switched out of his shoes. “You
know how Laohu is; he’s not one to become arrogant because of
his achievements.”
Xiao Chiye was still in the midst of disrobing. “The Dunzhou
garrison troops are all soldiers recruited from the two prefectures of
Fanzhou and Dengzhou, and there are a number of bandits among
them. It will not bode well if military discipline is lacking.”
 Shen Zechuan saw the candlelight reflected on the side of the
wolf on Xiao Chiye’s back, looking very awe-inspiring indeed, so he
stretched out a finger and poked it.
Xiao Chiye backhandedly grabbed hold of it and gave it a
squeeze. He continued, “I know Laohu will not get all puffed up
with his achievements, but the fear is that he might get egged on
by others to have the Dunzhou Garrison Troops emulate the
Imperial Army.”
The Imperial Army was a slippery bunch who only knew to skive
on the job, but that was only when there was nothing else going
on. When there was really a war impending, they were the first to
draw their blade and charge onto the battlefield. The Imperial
Army dared to play the ruffian because they were not ruffians at all.
All the 20,000 men were soldiers that Xiao Chiye went to great
lengths to select. They were all from proper military households,8 0
and they were naturally a leg above the others when trained. The
original batch of soldiers from the Imperial Army in Qudu were
once given the cold shoulder, and that had built up their strength
of character. They knew when to go all out and when to pull back,
and that was definitely not something the Dunzhou Garrison
Troops and the like would be able to do anytime soon.
“This time, I’ll lead the Libei Armored Cavalry to advance from
the east. If Qudu plans to seize the opportunity to attack Zhongbo,”
Xiao Chiye turned back, “the Dunzhou Garrison Troops are all that
you will have to rely on.”
Yin Chang’s death in battle was undoubtedly a heavy blow. The
Cizhou Garrison Troops that were just beginning to take shape now
needed a new commander, but scouting for a suitable candidate
took time. The Duanzhou Garrison Troops had taken a beating and
suffered casualties, while the Fanzhou and Dengzhou Garrison
Troops had only been recently established. The only ones that
could be truly put to use were the Dunzhou Garrison Troops and
Imperial Cavalry, and even then, the Imperial Cavalry were low in
numbers.
“Tantai Long could die for Dunzhou, and so can Tantai Hu.”
Shen Zechuan tilted his head up to look at Xiao Chiye. “Don’t worry
about the rear as you advance eastward. I naturally have my own
means.”
“The Eight Great Training Divisions often carry the reputation
for being incompetent, but Han Cheng is now dead, and the new
viceroy is still unknown.” Xiao Chiye’s eyes betrayed his worry. “If
Xue Xiuzhuo has a good candidate…”
Without the vise grip of the noble clan, the Eight Great Training
Divisions could re-recruit.
“I’ll leave 5,000 Imperial Army soldiers to you,” Xiao Chiye said.
◈ ◈ ◈
Several days later, Tantai Hu hurried to Duanzhou as he was
ordered to. The moment he stepped into the residence, he fell to
his knees before Xiao Chiye.
“Master…”
Tantai Hu had yet to say his piece when Xiao Chiye said, “You
are now His Lordship’s general.”
Tantai Hu lowered his head and changed his tune. “Second
Master! Did some shitty official lodge a complaint against me
here? They came into the territory to prepare military grains and
still wanted to audit Dunzhou’s grains and land tax ledgers. Wang
Xian accused my Dunzhou Garrison Troops of squandering public
funds right in front of so many people in the yamen!” He raised his
head in indignation. “Second Master, of the garrison troops in the
six prefectures, our Dunzhou Garrison Troops is the one that can
provide timely assistance. In order to fight the Biansha baldies, we
provide reinforcements all around, so our military expenditure will
definitely be much higher than others! Does he have to go harping
on and on and on about this? His Lordship is aware of this too!”
With one arm propped up on his knee, Xiao Chiye leaned
sideways as he turned his thumb ring and said nothing in reply.
Chen Yang, who was waiting in attendance at the side,
signaled to Tantai Hu with his eyes several times, but the latter
refused to look at Chen Yang at all.
Tantai Hu knew what Xiao Chiye’s temper was like, but he was
furious deep down. Forcing his anger down, he continued, “If
Wang Xian has something to say, then say it to my face! Why stoop
so low to frame me behind my back? What’s the fucking difference
between him and those officials shamelessly currying favors for
personal gains in Qudu? He said I squander public funds. Bah! And
what about him wasting grains in Chazhou with Luo Mu?!”
“You find it a gross injustice.” Xiao Chiye raised his eyes.
Tantai Hu saw Xiao Chiye’s expression and could not help but
feel a lump in his throat. “I brave untold dangers with Second
Master, so how can they trample over me like this?! His Lordship
knows of the account too, yet he doesn’t reprimand that Wang
Xian. I, I can’t take it lying down!”
“You can’t take it lying down?” Xiao Chiye said in a sudden,
frosty tone. “And so you had someone oust Wang Xian from the
yamen? Is that your area of jurisdiction? When I transferred you to
Dunzhou, Lanzhou made it clear that the civil administration
doesn’t outrank you, and likewise, you don’t outrank them either!”
Tantai Hu’s chest heaved. “Even so, he can’t speak that way and
cause the brothers under my command to be disillusioned!”
“I’ve looked through the accounts of the Dunzhou Garrison
Troops. After the battle in Duanzhou, you transferred troops back to
the city and did nothing else but first call together the local gentry
to wine and feast.” Xiao Chiye’s expression was gloomily somber.
“The money for the open banquet where guests are served as they
arrive comes from Dunzhou’s public funds. How very impressive of
you, Tantai Hu. His Lordship rewarded the Dunzhou Garrison
Troops handsomely back in Duanzhou, but you know not to be
content, and you even have to slap your own face in an attempt to
impress beyond your means8 1 by rewarding the soldiers with a
feast. If you ask me, you’re the one who disillusioned me more!”
“Look at how easy it was for Yin Chang to take down Fanzhou
back then. When the Cizhou Garrison Troops returned, His Lordship
hosted a banquet to reward them, but when it came to the
Dunzhou Garrison Troops, we only get a monetary reward.” Tantai
Hu forced his voice down. “Second Master, can several taels of
silver buy the lives of my brothers? It’s on behalf of His Lordship
that I’m—”
Xiao Chiye abruptly jolted to his feet, and his shadow instantly
enveloped Tantai Hu.
 “Second Master!” Chen Yang dropped to his knees with a thud.
“He’s simple-minded, and he indeed did it just for that meal!
Nevertheless, squandering state funds is wrong of him. Second
Master may just punish him!”
The freedom that Shen Zechuan gave to Tantai Hu was an act of
kindness, but Tantai Hu could not hold this kindness hostage to
make demands. Today, he dared to take the decision in his own
hands because of his discontent, so he could very well disregard
His Lordship and overstep his authority to take action tomorrow. He
had several conflicts with the civil officials several times, and each
time, Shen Zechuan had suppressed it without so much as a word,
all in consideration for Xiao Chiye.
Tantai Hu knew he had misspoke out of turn in his desperation.
He kept his head lowered, but could not bring himself to plead for
mercy.
“Give him the ledger of the sealed granary in Dunzhou.” Xiao
Chiye held up Langli Blade and wore it at the side of his waist. “Let
him see this piece of land that Tantai Long defended with his life.”
Chen Yang took down the ledger and presented it before
Tantai Hu.
“Your soldiers,” Xiao Chiye stressed these two words, “could eat
well because the commoners of Cizhou and Dunzhou tightened
their belts to make every money and every grain count. There are
all kinds of delicacies at the open banquet, but my Lanzhou, in his
sickness, is still eating wild vegetables from Duanzhou with the
various advisors.”
Tantai Hu looked at that ledger book in detail, and his eyes
could not help but reddened. He had realized the errors of his
ways, although he still attempted to argue, “The granaries were in
abundance the last I saw them in Dunzhou…”
Xiao Chiye whistled, raised an arm to receive Meng, and left
without so much as a look back.

Credits: Thank you fukixie, AliceLiddell, and MaruChan for

pointing out the wonky footnote and typo! <3
 ♢ CHAPTER 264: SHAO CLAN♢

The preparations for the military expedition concluded at the

beginning of the ninth month, and Chen Yang and Guo Weili set
off first together with the army provisions. The bridleway at Mount
Luo, having already been restored, led the Zhongbo grain wagons
directly from Dunzhou to Mount Luo and then from Mount Luo to
the Shasan Camp. Large numbers of troops from the various camps
were mobilized, with Zuo Qianqiu and Zhao Hui stationed at Shayi
and Sha’er Camps for defense. This time, Xiao Chiye took with him
90,000 elites from Libei.
“You are shouldering the army provisions alone this time.”
There were no traces of Xiao Jiming’s illness to be seen from the
way he was all neatly dressed in his regular wear. He looked far
into the distance at Hongyan Mountains. “When A-Ye returns in
triumph, Libei shall have to give our proper thanks to Zhongbo.”
“Amu’er has wild ambitions. If we don’t wipe him out in one fell
swoop, he will still stage a comeback again in the future, and when
that time comes, Duanzhou will be the first to bear the brunt of his
attacks. This punitive expedition is also for Zhongbo’s sake.” Shen
Zechuan turned aside. “Furthermore, the tenth month is when the
common folks have the spare time to supplement their family
expenses and when the six prefectures can focus on the
construction of fortifications. A-Ye’s deployment of troops now will
not hold the commoners up from plowing the lands, at least not
until the third month next year.”
The caress of the wind sent Xiao Jiming’s sleeves and robe
fluttering, revealing the arm guards on both his wrists. “He is
already a chief commander now.”
Shen Zechuan could often feel Xiao Chiye stroking his cheek
every night. No matter what tasks the latter had, as long as it was
unnecessary, Xiao Chiye would rather remain at home.
He wanted all too much to gaze upon Lanzhou day and
night.
“The sharp edge of a treasured sword comes from honing it.”8 2
The expression in Shen Zechuan’s eyes was complicated as he
looked at Hongyan Mountains. “My only concerns are the complex
terrain and bad weather. The expedition will prove arduous beyond
imagination.”
“There’s Lu Guangbai at the side to assist A-Ye. You don’t have
to over-worry.” Xiao Jiming looked at Shen Zechuan. “I heard from
Yizhi that you were bedridden after the battle of Duanzhou, having
been badly injured. With the sudden decrease in the Libei Armored
Cavalry now, all that’s left to watch over Duanzhou is Wu Ziyu who
is stationed in Mount Luo. If anything were to happen, you can only
go to him for reinforcements.”
Of the 120,000 Libei Armored Cavalry, only 30,000 remained.
Dajing was a large territory, and the various camps did not have
enough manpower remaining for defense. It was also quite
laborious to mobilize and assemble the forces, so before Xiao
Chiye returned, Shen Zechuan only had the Dunzhou Garrison
Troops, Imperial Cavalry, and 5,000 Imperial Army for self-defense.
Shen Zechuan’s brows creased slightly into a frown as he
asked, “Has dage heard rumors?”
“When the noble clans interfered in state affairs in the past,
they had the exceptional talents of Qudu suppressed in places you
can’t see, and now,” Xiao Jiming smiled at Shen Zechuan, “it’s time
for them to step forth and show their worth.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Dripping the melting candle, Qiao Tianya drew out a rabbit
from the edge of the candlestick. From time to time, he cast a
glance at the inner chamber. Gao Zhongxiong was sitting in there
too.
Yao Wenyu was always wielding his brush writing with fervor of
late. The time he spent sleeping grew increasingly shorter. Several
times Qiao Tianya lifted the hanging screen to enter, and all he
could see was Yao Wenyu bent over the table until daybreak. The
pages on the table were all a mess, although the bookshelves at
the side grew increasingly packed.
“The reason the Imperial College assisted Xue Yanqing is that
he removed the noble clans from office,” Yao Wenyu said. “The
situation in the tenth month is still an unknown, but if Second
Master’s expedition goes smoothly, then by the eleventh month,
Qudu will no doubt issue an official denunciation and call to arms.”
Gao Zhongxiong said, “When the time comes, they will
definitely make a big issue of Shen Wei’s troops’ defeat.”
“That’s right.” Yao Wenyu dipped his brush in ink, but did not
put it to paper.
The difficulty here lay in the fact that Shen Wei’s military defeat
was conclusive beyond doubt. So unless Shen Zechuan was willing
to twist the narrative and shove the responsibility for Shen Wei’s
crimes onto Hua Siqian, he would have to suck up the denunciation
in both words and writing, no matter how he refuted it.
“I spoke to Mister Chengfeng earlier about this matter, but
made no headway.” At this point, it was in the dead of night, and
all was silent. With his arm resting on the desk, Gao Zhongxiong
sighed at Yao Wenyu. “If ‘Shen Wei’ were to be replaced with ‘Ji
Gang’, we can claim that His Lordship is Ji Gang-shifu’s youngest
son. Back then, when Duanzhou was attacked by the enemies—”
Yao Wenyu waved his hand and said, “Back then, Xiao Jiming
rendered assistance to Duanzhou and personally verified His
Lordship’s identity. The Imperial Bodyguards later went to Dunzhou
to investigate it thoroughly. His Lordship’s name is on the Shen
clan’s clan register. Besides, His Lordship resembles his mother,
and there will always be former acquaintances in Qudu who still
remember Bai Cha’s charms.”
“Then what can we do?” Gao Zhongxiong asked. “It will be off
to a bad start for us when the denunciation is released and public
sentiment gets whipped up to an all-time high.”
Several times, Yao Wenyu wanted to put brush to paper, but he
did not move. Ink dripped onto the paper.
“Let me think about it,” he said.
It was getting late now, and Gao Zhongxiong could not hold
Yao Wenyu up from resting any further. He stood up and prepared
to leave, but on seeing Yao Wenyu deep in silent thought, he
advised, “The cart will find its way round the hill when it gets
there.8 3 Look at how unwilling the people of the six prefectures
were to acknowledge His Lordship initially, but they are now
completely won over, aren’t they? Clearly, there will be a solution to
this matter!”
“That’s because His Lordship defended the city gates. He was
willing to undergo hardships together with the six prefectures.” Yao
Wenyu set down the brush. “It’s late. You should return early. It’s not
too late to discuss again tomorrow.”
So Gao Zhongxiong bowed and excused himself.
The beaded curtain swayed gently. The candle in Qiao Tianya’s
hand was about to burn out. Seeing Yao Wenyu remaining fixed in
place, he said, “It’s true that His Lordship is a descendant of the
Prince of Jianxing, but it’s also true that His Lordship has reclaimed
the wastelands in the six prefectures and implemented the census
registers.” Drop after drop, the melted candle swallowed up the
candlestick. He continued, as if off-handedly, “However, the
authenticity of the current emperor’s origins is a different story
altogether.”
The gears in Yao Wenyu’s mind clicked in place. He turned his
head over.
“The thing about playing chess,” Qiao Tianya blew out the
candle, “is that you have to seize the advantage by making the first
move.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Qudu was stiflingly hot in the ninth month. After being
dismissed from court session, Cen Yu saw Chen Zhen at the
entrance of the palace. He walked over and said in surprise and
doubt, “I don’t usually see you around, and yet you’re waiting for
me here today. Is something the matter?”
 On hearing him, Chen Zhen raised an arm and gestured for
Cen Yu to get on his horse carriage first. Once both men settled
down in their seats, he stroked the beard he had grown and said,
“I’m here to sound you out. A month ago, the Eight Great Training
Divisions recruited new soldiers and enlisted the young and strong
from the eight cities. There are currently 40,000 Capital Command
Troops. What plans does Boran have for these 40,000 Capital
Command Troops?”
Cen Yu gathered up his sleeves and said curiously, “Then you
should go look for him. The commander of the Capital Command
Troops is supposed to be nominated by your Ministry of War to
begin with. Why? You have no candidate?”
“I’ve assumed office as the Minister of War for nearly thirty
years. Whether it’s the Four Generals of Yongyi or the Four Generals
of Xiande, they all come recommended by me, so how could I not
have a candidate in mind?” Chen Zhen looked to be in a spot. “It’s
just that the situation is different this time.”
“Different how?”
“This person I’m planning to recommend,” Chen Zhen said, “is
a steamed bun seller.”
Even Cen Yu himself looked astonished.
“Xunyi, this matter is of utmost importance. I hope you can work
with me to persuade Boran. Hua Siqian persecuted the loyal and
the virtuous, so it indeed can’t be helped that Qudu has no
generals. Now that the new emperor is sensible and wise, she will
surely be able to exonerate former ministers who have suffered
injustices!” Chen Zhen had always been cautious and meticulous
when he carried out his duties in the emperor’s presence. He lifted
the hem of his robe and bowed to Cen Yu in the cramped, narrow
interior of the carriage. “During the reign of Yongyi, the Hua and
Pan factions colluded with Ji Lei to frame the Eastern Palace for
conspiring against the state. The crown prince slit his own throat in
Zhaozui Temple, and there were countless casualties, injured and
dead, among the Eastern Palace subordinates. Former officials
from the Ministry of War also had their entire families executed and
properties confiscated for this reason. Wasn’t that exactly the case
for Shao Chengbi and Qiao Kanghai?”
 “The empress dowager is already dead. I fear even Her Majesty
will have misgivings bringing up and overturning the verdict for
the old Eastern Palace case! Moreover, no one from the Shao and
Qiao clans survived. What are you going to do?” Cen Yu suddenly
remembered something. “Xingzhi, don’t tell me you…”
“Shao Chengbi is my elder brother-in-law.” Chen Zhen set his
hands on both knees. His eyes, when raised, were pitch dark.
“When the family properties were sealed off for confiscation, I
bribed a warden from the Ministry of Justice and had him hidden
in Qudu.”
The color drained from Cen Yu’s face.
“He endured humiliation and dragged out an ignoble
existence for twenty-seven years—all just for this day.”

Author’s Note:
For the relationship between the Shao clan and Chen Zhen, refer to
chapter 145.
Thank you for reading.
(Or just use the character search :V)
 ♢ CHAPTER 265: CHENGBI ♢

Under cover of night, Ge Qingqing went to the steamed bun

stall at Zhaozui Temple he had to pass by to buy buns. He stood
before the stall and set aside a few coins from his palm. “Old sir,
please give me two buns.”
The old man of this steamed bun stall had poor vision, with one
eye blinded. He turned his head aside slightly, as if trying his best
to listen to what Ge Qingqing was saying. When Ge Qingqing was
done, the old man lifted the lid of the steamed bun bamboo
steamer8 4 and wrapped up the last two steamed buns with the oil
paper before handing it over.
“Thanks,” Ge Qingqing said.
The old man’s voice was very hoarse as he said, “For an old
customer. No charge.”
Ge Qingqing was in the midst of giving him the money when
he froze in mid-action. He jerked his eyes up to stare at the other
man. More than half of the lanterns on the streets had gone out,
leaving only a lantern in the last throes of its life hanging a short
distance away, casting a long oblique shadow from the side of the
steamed bun stall.
Back then, when Ge Qingqing was in Qudu, he loved to come
here to buy steamed buns as a treat to his fellow comrades. It
wasn’t that the steamed buns here were delicious, but because he
could head directly to Zhaozui Temple from here. He had grown
himself a short beard stubble now, and was no longer as delicate
and clean-cut as he had been before. Most of all, he carried himself
differently, no different from the common merchants, but this blind
old man could still tell who he was.
“Oh, you remember me?” Ge Qingqing looked as if he was
asking off-handedly.
Holding the steamed bun steamer in his arms, the old man
hobbled—he was a cripple to boot. He set the steamer back in
place, dragged out the water basin under the table, and bent over
to toss all the dirty bowls and chopsticks in.
“You came here yesterday,” he answered.
Ge Qingqing took a bite of the steamed bun. “You’ve got the
wrong person.”
The old man washed the bowls and did not answer again. Ge
Qingqing simply stood here and finished up the buns before
fishing out a handkerchief to wipe his hand as he walked. The
wind, carrying with it a faint fragrance of rouge, sent the remaining
lantern swinging noisily. Right before Ge Qingqing’s figure was
about to enter the darkness, he turned around and tossed the
copper coins in his palm over. The copper coins clinked crisply as
they landed on the greasy tabletop. He stuffed his handkerchief
back in place and left.
The old man washed the bowls alone. Only when it was almost
dawn that he put the bowls and chopsticks neatly away. The
vegetable vendor next to him pushing a single-wheel cart8 5
greeted him and shouted, “Uncle Cheng, opening for business so
early?”
The old man pulled off the towel on his shoulder and wiped his
sweat as he said, “I’m quitting.”
“Quitting?” The vendor set down the cart, rested his arm
against the edge of the table, and asked, “Why, though?”
The old man tossed the towel onto the table, but did not touch
the money Ge Qingqing left. He looked at the end of the street. “I
have another job now.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Li Jianting dozed off, and the book in her hand slipped down
to her lap. A sudden weight on her shoulders instantly jolted her
awake. She slapped away Fuman’s hand and bellowed, “The
audacity of you!”
With the blanket in hands, Fuman kneeled and raised his hand
to give himself a slap on the mouth. “This humble slave deserves a
slap for disturbing Your Majesty’s rest! I ought to be slapped!”
Seeing that it was Fuman, Li Jianting tilted her face back as if
relieved.
After Fuman was done hitting himself, he sneaked a glance at
Li Jianting and said, “There are ice basins prepared in this hall, so
it’s very cool. If Your Majesty is tired, this humble slave will help you
inside for a rest.”
Without waiting for Li Jianting to answer, Fuman made to stand
up to assist her.
”Kneel!” Li Jianting hissed through clenched teeth.
Fuman hurriedly kneeled back in place with both hands
carrying the blanket. Aggrieved, he said, “Your Majesty, Your
Majesty, please be appeased. This humble slave only did so in a
moment of anxiety, as concerned as I am for Your Majesty’s
esteemed health.”
Hearing Fuman’s voice reminded Li Jianting of men. She
moved to pick up the book in her lap, only to realize that her hand
was trembling.
Fuman moved forward on his knees and said in an attempt to
ingratiate, “Your Majesty mustn’t get angry because of this humble
slave. Your health is of utmost importance.”
Li Jianting composed herself and schooled her expression,
making it such that she would not need to go to the extent of
standing up and withdrawing in avoidance. She clutched the book
tightly, her expression slightly softening as she said amicably to
Fuman. “I had a nightmare from which I had yet to fully wake up
from earlier. I must have frightened you. You may rise.”
It was only when Fuman saw Li Jianting’s neutral expression
that he set his mind at ease and stood up. “It’s cold here. The next
time Your Majesty feels tired, just summon this humble slave.”
“Teacher is coming in a while.” Li Jianting tossed the memorials
to the side before Fuman went up to her. “Why aren’t you waiting in
attendance at the office compound?”
 All Fuman was thinking of was landing a promotion and
making a fortune, so he did not notice Li Jianting’s actions. He
bowed in congratulation. “This humble slave is here to report the
good news to Your Majesty!”
“The grains and tax ledger from Juexi are here?” Li Jianting
asked.
“Not yet. The relay station said it’s already on the way, so
presumably, these couple of days,” Fuman said. “What this humble
slave wants to tell Your Majesty is that the monthly accounts the
palace granaries worked out reveal an earning of 80,000 taels of
silvers for Your Majesty .”
Li Jianting did not expect this. Surprised, she asked, “… Didn’t
the custodian of the palace granaries just assume office?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty, and he was recommended by this
humble slave.” Fuman beamed with joy. “He’s His Excellency Xue
Xiuyi, who formerly held a post in the Ministry of Revenue.”
Xue Xiuzhuo’s eldest brother. The expression in Li Jianting’s
eyes grew slightly darker.
“If you ask me, the work His Excellency Xue did in the past was
really a waste of his talents!” Fuman said. “He has only just
assumed office, and already, he knows to tap new sources of
income and reduce expenses. He even keeps the officials and
merchants from the other regions who enter the capital in line.”
“How so?”
“Your Majesty, anyone who brings goods into the capital has to
pay taxes.” Fuman bowed over to whisper to Li Jianting. “This
account is not an easy one to collect. There are too many dishonest
people defaulting on their taxes. But as it turns out, Excellency Xue
has a way to deal with them. He not only collected all the debts, but
also made arrangements to bring in many a number of rarities into
the palace.”
The palace granary custodian managed the tributes that the
various regions sent to Qudu every month. Half of the fruits and
vegetables that the emperor in the palace ate came from here, and
the custodian had to deal with the various merchants and local
officials. The tax that Ge Qingqing paid when he entered the
capital went here too. The palace granary was not high of rank,
and the tax collectors under it were all minor functionaries who had
close dealings with the eunuchs. Over time, the eunuchs came to
have the final say.
“So much?” Li Jianting asked.
“This is still too little.” Fuman worked it out for Li Jianting as he
counted with his fingers. “Leaving the merchants from the eight
cities aside for the time being. The merchants from the thirteen
cities of Juexi and Hezhou are practically swimming in money, Your
Majesty. Now that the rebels are running amuck, these
opportunistic merchants are heading over to Zhongbo to do
business, where they no longer need to be such a stickler for the
rules of etiquette and the distinction between social ranks. They are
even more extravagant with their food and clothes than the
officials from the capital. These people bear to spend money on
themselves, but they begrudge handing money to the imperial
court. They need someone to teach them a proper lesson and put
them in their places.”
“Xue Pingjing is that impressive?” Li Jianting feigned
ignorance. “I never heard of it before.”
“That’s because he was not put to appropriate use in the past.”
Fuman flattered, “It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s discerning eye for
talents!”
Li Jianting saw Fengquan passing by the window and so knew
Kong Qiu was here; thus, she said quietly to Fuman, “You did well
on this matter. I shall meet him some other day.”
Fuman visibly beamed with pleasure as he retreated with the
blanket in hand. When he stepped out, he only bowed to Kong Qiu
while giving Fengquan a slight nod.
Outside, Fengquan respectfully announced, “Your Majesty, the
Grand Secretary is here.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Ji Gang rested his head against the rattan chair and slumbered
in the courtyard. Xiao Xun and Jiran leaned over the sides of the
rattan chair, stealthily drawing a mustache on Ji Gang’s face with a
brush.
“Anitabha,” Jiran whispered. “A big tiger.”
 “Grandpa is mighty, and the tiger is the mightiest.” Xiao Xun
gave the mustache uplifted corners.
Feeling his nose itch, Ji Gang let loose an earth-shattering
sneeze, and the two children immediately hid behind the rattan
chair. Not at all anxious to wipe his face, Ji Gang lifted Xiao Xun by
the back of his collar and feigned anger as he pinched his own real
mustache. “Disrupting my sweet dream. Watch how I deal with you
both!”
Xiao Xun thought Ji Gang was going to hit him and hurriedly
covered his head with his arms. Unexpectedly, Ji Gang raised him
high and nuzzled his mustache that seemed to be dipped in ink
against Xiao Xun’s cheek, smearing it all black.
When Huo Lingyun entered, he saw Xiao Xun and Jiran
running wild around the rattan chair. He made his way under the
eaves along the long walkway, where Fei Sheng was watching the
boisterous scene with his arms folded.
“Look at the Hereditary Prince.” He said to Huo Lingyun. “He
was so fair and clean when he came.”
Huo Lingyun nodded to acknowledge the sight and asked, “Is
the advisor inside the room?”
It was then Fei Sheng retracted his gaze to look at Huo Lingyun.
“Something’s the matter?”
Huo Lingyun took out the letter in his sleeve pocket. This was
Ge Qingqing’s letter to the Imperial Cavalry, packed with
information on the movements in Qudu. It had already been
opened and read.
“Take a look,” he said.
Fei Sheng took the letter and read it.
Sunlight in the courtyard shone upon the eaves, accentuating
the vibrancy and brightness of its new coat of paint and concealing
the agedness of this residence.
Fei Sheng finished reading the letter. His expression was calm
as he continued to ask, “Have you shown it to Qiao Tianya?”
“I haven’t seen him,” Huo Lingyun answered. “He led Squad
Three out of the city first thing in the morning.”
“Hold on.” Fei Sheng folded the letter, then turned around to lift
the bamboo blinds. Once he entered, he bowed and reported,
“Master, Ge Qingqing’s letter is here. It’s about the transfer to the
post of Viceroy of the Capital Command Troops8 6 in Qudu. The
Imperial Cavalry dare not take the decision into their own hands
without Master looking it over first.”
Gao Zhongxiong stopped speaking, and Shen Zechuan raised
his folding fan to gesture for Gao Zhongxiong to sit. His right hand,
which had seen the bandage removed in recent days, nudged the
folding fan as he said to Fei Sheng, “Present it to me.”
Fei Sheng opened the letter and set it down beside Shen
Zechuan’s hand.
“Shao Chengbi…” Shen Zechuan said. “I remember no such
person among the appraisals that were carried out during the reign
of Xiande. Was Chen Zhen the one who vouched for him?
“Master,” Fei Sheng turned to the side and reminded him. “It’s
Shao from the Ministry of War.”
Shen Zechuan’s relaxed expression curbed a little. He read it
again. “Shao from the Ministry of War during the reign of Yongyi?”
He looked at Fei Sheng and swiftly thought back. “… This is Shao
Chengbi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War who was thrown
into prison when Ji Lei framed him after the Eastern Palace
incident?”
“Master has an excellent memory. That’s him, all right,” Fei
Sheng replied. “The Eight Great Training Divisions changed their
name to the Capital Command Troops this time, and all military
officers sixth-grade and above were dismissed from office and
replaced. Candidates for the posts were to be recommended by
Chen Zhen, the Minister of War, and vetted by the Grand
Secretariat ministers, and the viceroy position was granted to Shao
Chengbi, who has changed his name to ‘Chengbi’ now. Ge
Qingqing said that this man has never left Qudu all these years;
instead, he remained next to Zhaozui Temple selling steamed
buns.”
“Shao Chengbi is Chen Zhen’s elder brother-in-law. It’s only
reasonable for Chen Zhen to want to save him. But Shao Chengbi
ought to be over sixty years old now.” Shen Zechuan closed the
folding fan again. “Qudu tells him to take up post, but can he still
get on a horse and wield a spear?”
 “Not only that. Master, to pull the wool over others’ eyes, he
muted himself with poison and even blinded himself in an eye,” Fei
Sheng said.
As the Minister of War, Chen Zhen had a stable of able generals
to recommend. This person was just like Cen Yu—they were both Bo
Le with a discerning eye for talents.8 7 However, Qudu was at its
most critical period now. Did he give the position of Viceroy of the
Capital Command Troops to the aged Shao Chengbi because
Qudu indeed had no general to choose from, or because Shao
Chengbi indeed had the capabilities to speak of?
“By using a former minister,” Zhou Gui looked at Shen Zechuan,
“the emperor meant to redress the injustice the Eastern Palace
suffered during the reign of Yongyi.”
“It’s not that easy,” Kong Ling said,
“The eight cities have still yet to eradicate the latent threat. If
the emperor were to overturn the verdict for the Eastern Palace
Crown Prince at this moment, she has to first take down the
remaining members of the noble clans.” Yao Wenyu covered the
teacup with the lid. “She has only just stabilized the situation. She
cannot take this risk.”
Li Jianting made an example out of others as a warning, using
the flogging punishment to frighten the Marquis of Helian so much
he was paralyzed in bed. The other clans, too, immediately made
up for part of their arrears in field taxes of their own initiative. Qudu
had just gotten a breather and was now sparing some energy to
rebuild the Capital Command Troops. If Li Jianting were to overturn
the case at this moment, it would only prove to be detrimental to
Qudu.
“The old case of the Eastern Palace implicates countless
officials. To overturn the verdict, there have to be procedures in
place and time to spare.” Yao Wenyu continued, “It must not be
rushed.”
By this, he was also tactfully reminding Shen Zechuan not to
rush it. The old case of the Eastern Palace was even thornier than
the case of Shen Wei’s troop defeat.
“The Shao clan has been lying in hiding for a long time,” Shen
Zechuan said. “We have to ask Qiao Tianya about this.”
 Qiao Tianya returned at the hour of hai and removed his armor
in the side hall before heading over to the principal room to meet
Shen Zechuan. He read Ge Qingqing’s letter and said, “If it’s really
Uncle Shao, the Beiyuan military drill grounds will have to increase
its troops.”
“The Shao clan is affiliated with the Ministry of War, and Shao
Chengbi was even its Vice Minister. He’s not only familiar with the
deployment details of the various lands but also Zhongbo’s
topographic map.” Shen Zechuan brushed aside the tea foam with
the lid. “Ce’an just left, so Qudu will not dare to mobilize troops at
this time, but we have to return to Cizhou before the tenth month.”
If Yin Chang was still alive, Shen Zechuan could remain firmly in
place in Duanzhou. Without Yin Chang, Shen Zechuan had to head
over to Cizhou to coordinate the deployment of Cizhou’s and
Dunzhou’s garrison troops.
“That’s right.” Qiao Tianya casually folded the letter into a paper
crane. “The Shao clan was already considered a military general
household during the ‘Three Yao’ period. The Ministry of War is not
like the other five ministries. Uncle Shao was promoted by the
Grand Mentor to the position of Vice Minister. He had real
capabilities to speak of.”
The “Three Yao” he spoke of referred to the three ministers of
importance in the Grand Secretariat during the reign of Emperor
Yong’an, all three of whom came from the Yao clan of Jincheng. Of
them, Yao Wenyu’s paternal grandfather was the mainstay. That
was the Yao clan’s golden age, and also the beginning of the Yao
clan’s swift retreat whilst still at their peak.
“In his bid to seek peace and safety, my father switched sides to
the Hua clan after the Grand Mentor was imprisoned. Uncle Shao
thus broke off all ties with my father.” Qiao Tianya moved the paper
crane to the side of the candle and burned it. “When I left Qudu, I
heard he had already been beheaded.”
“Since Shao Chengbi was promoted by the Grand Mentor, he
should have addressed the Grand Mentor as ‘Teacher’,” Fei Sheng
said. “Master is the Grand Mentor’s pupil. Looking at it this way, we
have some connection to him too.”
 “The number of people who have been promoted by the Grand
Mentor during the reign of Yongyi is too many to count. Uncle Shao
might be one of them, but he did not have any contact with the
Eastern Palace or with the Grand Mentor. Besides, the Shao clan
had a criminal charge slapped on them because of the Li clan, so
naturally, it should also be the Li clan to redress the injustice they
suffered.” Qiao Tianya wiped away the soot on his hands.
“But,” Zhou Gui said dubiously, “didn’t Yuanzhuo say that the
emperor can’t take the risk at this time?”
“She is indeed ill-afforded to take the risk at this moment.” The
teacup in Yao Wenyu’s palm had gone cold. “She only has to wait
for Shao Chengbi to defeat Zhongbo’s Garrison Troops. Without
external threats, won’t she then be able to get rid of the domestic
threat that is the noble clans?”
Xiao Chiye was advancing east, Libei was empty, and Zhongbo
had no reinforcements. If Qudu did not attack now, then when?
“If we really come to blows,” Zhou Gui said, “we still have Tantai
Hu!”
“Laohu is impatient and rash by nature. He needs someone by
his side supervising him.” Shen Zechuan perked up. “… Fei Sheng,
give shifu a heads up. We are heading back to Cizhou.”

Credit: Thank you Lin for spotting the typos! <3

 ♢ CHAPTER 266: YOUJING♢

Tantai Hu stood with his hand on his blade and listened as the
messenger soldier finished his report, then nodded his head and
turned around to enter the military tent. A few Dunzhou soldiers
were inside smoking a pipe, and they were all Tantai Hu’s trusted
subordinates.
“His Lordship has orders,” one of them asked, “but why is the
general unhappy?”
“Stop smoking the damn pipe now. It’s fouling up the air!”
Tantai Hu took off his blade. “His Lordship wants me to mobilize
troops to the Beiyuan military drill grounds.”
The few soldiers did not dare to mess around when they saw
Tantai Hu’s dour expression and quickly snuffed out the pipe. The
young man with the brittle, yellow hair who spoke earlier was
called Liu Kong, who had been recruited from Fanzhou. He was a
smooth talker, which was how he got into Tantai Hu’s good graces
and ended up following at Tantai Hu’s side.
Liu Kong lifted the tent flap open to disperse the smell and
walked over to Tantai Hu’s side. With a grin, he said, “His Lordship’s
willingness to use the general means that he did not take Wang
Xian’s words to heart. He still believes the general.”
“Of course His Lordship believes me.” Tantai Hu set the blade
on the table with a clang.
“So why is the general still angry?”
 “His Lordship is sending Yu Xiaozai over to supervise the army.
He’s already on the way and should be able to arrive the day after
tomorrow.” The blade scar on Tantai Hu’s face twitched
uncomfortably. “Second Master never had this rule before.”
“The general is the second master’s trusted aide.” Liu Kong
reined in his merry expression. “Not quite the same as His
Lordship.”
On hearing this, Tantai Hu’s expression turned even more
grave. After Xiao Chiye reprimanded him, he apologized to Shen
Zechuan in Duanzhou and even subsidized the yamen’s public
funds on his return to Dunzhou. If there was no war at the start of
spring next year, his soldiers had to help the Dunzhou’s yamen till
the land. This was no big deal, but he could not forget that day. He
was always worrying that Shen Zechuan would disdain him
because of this incident and stop using him in the future. But now
that Shen Zechuan was continuing to use him, he sent over a
military inspector.
“General,” Liu Kong lowered his voice, “His Lordship is skilled in
the art of checks and balance—that is the art of the sovereign.8 8 His
Excellency Yu Xiaozai is the Surveillance Commissioner of the six
prefectures. In coming here, his authority of office is immense, and
he outranks you. Bear with it first, General. Wait for Second Master
to return, and there will naturally be a chance for you to plead your
case.”
Tantai Hu felt increasingly uneasy upon hearing this. “Second
Master is wholeheartedly devoted to His Lordship. He will not listen
to me. I fear I might just end up adding fuel to the fire.”
“How muddleheaded you are, General.” Liu Kong laid it out for
Tantai Hu. “It is for the precise reason of having you guard Cizhou
that His Lordship transfers you to the Beiyuan military drill grounds.
You are so brave and valiant, you will definitely emerge victorious,
and Second Master will naturally be pleased when you win the
battle. When you bring up the subject of removing the military
inspector with Second Master again then, he will surely agree.”
Feeling uncertain, Tantai Hu said, “It will probably be next year
when Second Master returns.”
 “Isn’t that just perfect? The safety of the six prefectures lies in
the general’s hands. What a meritorious service this is!” Liu Kong
saw Tantai Hu’s expression clearing up a little and continued,
“Besides, even if Yu Xiaozai comes, you don’t have to really fear
him. He’s an official from the capital, and he’s a pupil of Cen Yu of
the Chief Surveillance Bureau. Who knows if his loyalty to His
Lordship is genuine? I’m not saying that you judge the heart of a
gentleman with the yardstick of a petty man, but with the war at
hand, you can’t help but be on guard.”
“Youjing…” Tantai Hu was momentarily tongue-tied.
That was right. Yu Xiaozai was Cen Yu’s pupil. Instead of
returning to continue serving as an official of the capital, he
remained in Zhongbo. His Lordship had utmost trust in him, but
what if he was a spy sent by Qudu? Wouldn’t His Lordship be in
danger?
“You’re right.” Tantai Hu looked at the blade on the table.
“Second Master entrusted the six prefectures to me, so I have to
ensure the safety of His Lordship and Cizhou. There can only be
one outcome for this battle, and that is—victory. If there is
something amiss with Youjing when the time comes… I must never,
never condone him!”
Liu Kong lit the pipe for Tantai Hu and handed it over to him.
“I’ll keep an eye on him for you, General.”
◈ ◈ ◈
With his head pillowed upon his arms, Xiao Chiye lay on the
barren, deserted sand and listened to the lapping sound of the
Chashi River. Silently, he counted the stars before his eyes.
He finished counting them once—it was Shen Lanzhou.
He counted them again—still Shen Lanzhou.
Lu Guangbai added a few firewoods to the campfire and
turned his head to look to his left, which was quiet. “Did you bring
along the warriors from the Huiyan Tribe to negotiate with Amu’er’s
six tribes?”
“There’s no negotiation to be had with Amu’er.” Xiao Chiye cast
a glance at Lu Guangbai. “Second Master is now invincible. If
there’s to be any negotiation, he’s the one who should come to
me.”
 “You haven’t grown taller,” Lu Guangbai said, “but you’ve
gotten a lot more arrogant with your manner of speech.”
“Grow any taller, and I’ll be towering into the sky.” Xiao Chiye
heaved a long sigh. “I’m already tall enough.”
“The scout said that the Liaoying tribe stationed near Gedale
has also withdrawn.” Lu Guangbai picked up a sweet potato among
the embers. “Amu’er is planning to concentrate his troops deep in
the desert to deal with us.”
“Right?” Catching a whiff of the sweet potatoes, Xiao Chiye
abruptly sat up. Heedless of the scalding heat, he picked out a nice-
looking one. “Amu’er focused his entire army on Hasen as its core.
Now that Hasen is dead, how would the rest of the tribes still be
willing to fight battles for him in the warring zone?”
“Evidently, military grains pose a headache to everyone,” Lu
Guangbai said. “Without Hasen, the Hulu Tribe has to make plans
for themselves. Even if they don’t submit to Amu’er, they can return
to the banks of Lake Chiti to continue with their lives—I haven’t
eaten yet, man.”
In order to compete with that last sweet potato with Lu
Guangbai, Xiao Chiye ate too fast. It was so scalding hot that both
of them were huffing.
“It’s all the same with or without the Hulu Tribe.” Xiao Chiye
sucked in a light breath. “The oasis of the Hulu Tribe can’t afford to
feed Amu’er’s troops from the six tribes. Why else would he be
farming in Gedale? He means to have a quick battle as soon as
Zhongbo’s supply transportation route is severed.”
“Same goes for mobilizing troops.” Lu Guangbai propped both
hands on his knees, unable to bear the scalding heat. His tongue
felt numb. “This is way too scalding.”
Chen Yang came over, carrying the water bags in his hands.
Seeing that there were no more sweet potatoes in the fire, he
tossed the water bags to them. His expression was indescribable as
he said with mixed feelings, “My dear lords… there are still over
ten of us here out in the cold…”
Xiao Chiye downed the cold water and reverted to his usual
self. “The moment Hasen died, the Hanshe Tribe is no longer the
same as they were before. If Amu’er wants to regain his reputation,
he has to win battles to prove himself to the other tribes. He wants
to be the great ruler of the desert, but so do others. The Hanshe
Tribe has been lording it over in the desert for so many years. It is
also for self-preservation that Amu’er is urgently transferring troops
now that they have suffered a heavy blow.”
Lu Guangbai laughed in understanding. “You meant to have
the Huiyan Tribe negotiate with the rest of the tribes with the
intention of cutting off Amu’er’s external assistance while he is
amassing his forces. You want to join forces with the other tribes to
encircle and annihilate him.”
“The Huiyan Tribe has been benefitting from the mutual trade
market all these years.” Xiao Chiye sealed the water bag tight.
“They are no longer a small tribe.”
Holding his own water bag, Lu Guangbai watched the
boundless expanse of wilderness together with Xiao Chiye. The
sounds of waves from the Chashi River roared incessantly—this was
the echo of the lands throughout the ages.
“Once this battle is over,” Lu Guangbai said, “I’ll return to
Qidong.”
“What?” Xiao Chiye said with a laugh. “Too used to eating the
sands of Biansha?”
Lu Guangbai nodded, as if it was really the case. “The sands of
your Libei are mixed with mud. It’s like drinking gruel.”
Having said that, both men looked aside at each other and
promptly burst out into laughter.
Lu Guangbai drank a mouthful of water. “I admired your father
the most in my youth. Every time I saw him, I always wanted to go
over to your Libei and become a Libei Armored Cavalry. A pity my
brothers at home all died later. My father was an old man at that
time, and he was still rolling and crawling around in the sand.
Other than me, there was no one else willing to remain in the
Bianjun Commandery.”
Xiao Chiye bent his long legs to prop his arms up on them. “If it
were me, I’d have long run away.”
“I really had that thought. Every time Qudu refused to give
grains, I’d think of running. During the fourth year of Xiande, when
we entered the capital, the emperor made me kneel at the
entrance. At that time, I thought, shit, if this goes on, I will become
Shen Wei Number Two.” Lu Guangbai sighed deeply. “Who knew
I’d really run for real in the end.”
Remembering this incident, Xiao Chiye looked at Lu Guangbai.
“At that time, Secretariat Elder Hai transferred grains to cope with
the emergency, but the grains Qudu gave the Bianjun
Commandery were all moldy grains. Lanzhou and I can’t figure it
out. We thought Xue Xiuzhuo was the culprit, but the more we
thought about it later, the stranger it felt to us.”
“I can’t figure it out either.” Lu Guangbai set down the water
bag. “He forced Libei into revolting. There was no reason for him to
force the Bianjun Commandery into revolting again.”
“If the Scorpion has the ability to swap out the grains,” Xiao
Chiye said, “you must have come across them before.”
“I haven’t met that many officials in Qudu,” Lu Guangbai said.
“On the other hand, I’ve met a bunch of eunuchs.”
Both men fell silent for a moment after he was done speaking.
Lu Guangbai jolted to his feet, and the water bag fell onto the
ground. “The army-inspecting eunuch!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuyi reclined in the taishi chair.8 9 There were people
beside him doing the accounting. He only had to sit and watch the
entire process, and he would have been considered to have done
his job. He rotated a pair of glass spheres90 in his hand—this was an
exquisite little plaything he had just obtained, a tribute the
merchants specially offered to him.
“Soliciting help from potential backers?” Xue Xiuyi said. “Then
why are you hiding in the back? Come over and make yourself
clear. Which yamen do you want to work in?”
The eyes of the beardless man with head covering swiveled
around. He moved in closer to Xue Xiuyi and covered his nose and
mouth to whisper, “I’d like to implore Your Excellency to pass a
message to the Lao-zuzong.”
On hearing this voice, Xue Xiuyi asked, “You’re a eunuch too?”
The man started acting self-consciously and hemmed and
hawed. “Yes…”
 Xue Xiuyi straightened up a little and had the people around
him withdraw. He scrutinized the man with suspicion. “Stop
covering yourself up. You have to let me see what you look like. If
you look ugly as sin, however, a re-negotiation will be in order.”
The man moved his headscarf away and waited meekly for a
moment. He did not hear a sound from Xue Xiuyi, so he raised his
head and said with finesse, “Your Excellency doesn’t recognize this
humble slave? Your Excellency, this humble slave is Yingxi, who
served the Lao-zuzong. During the reign of Tianchen, the former
emperor appointed me as the army-supervising eunuch in
Qidong!”
Xue Xiuyi indeed did not recognize him. He was an
insignificant, low-ranking official in the past, so how would he have
the chance to come into contact with these eunuchs? Thus, he
hedged his way through, “Oh yes, yes. I’ve seen you before.”
Xue Xiuyi’s eyes twinkled, but then, he recalled in a split second
that the army-supervising eunuch to Qidong had been detained by
Qi Zhuyin and had been long dismissed from office after his return
to Qudu. He instantly turned hostile. “Weren’t you arrested by the
Ministry of Justice?!”
“Oh, goodness.” Yingxi was so anxious he nearly stomped his
foot. “That’s old news. There’s already a new emperor now. That bit
of crime this humble slave had is already ancient history!”
Xue Xiuyi was doubtful. For starters, he was afraid that Yingxi
was lying to him, and he would end up creating trouble for the Lao-
zuzong if he were to get Yingxi into the palace. He was also afraid
that Yingxi had yet to be fully exonerated of his crime, and if the
Ministry of Justice were to investigate and trace it back to him later,
he would be inviting trouble to himself for nothing, wouldn’t he?!
“It’s on the Lao-zuzong’s orders that this humble slave has come
looking for Your Excellency.” Yingxi took out an authority token
from under the folds of his clothes on his chest and presented it
with both hands to show Xue the Eldest. “Your Excellency, please
take a look. This is a token from the inner court.”
Xue Xiuyi carefully looked over the token with help from the
candlelight. There was really the name “Yingxi” behind it. He
clutched the token, and without returning it, asked, “Have you
already cleared the Ministry of Justice? Entering the palace is not
like going elsewhere. If anything goes wrong, even the Lao-zuzong
himself can’t save you, much less me.”
“It’s cleared.” Fearing he would not believe him, Yingxi
continued, “Can the person the Lao-zuzong find be fake? If so, this
humble slave would not be standing before Your Excellency.”
Xue Xiuyi did not want to offend the eunuchs. If this Yingxi was
really Fuman’s adopted son or grandson, he would be hard-
pressed to explain himself to Fuman if he were to stop Yingxi
outside the palace. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Wait for
the time being. A gonggong will be coming out a few days later to
make purchases. He will be coming to our palace granary to select
seasonal vegetables. If it’s convenient then, you can follow him
in.”
Delighted, Yingxi nodded repeatedly.
Feeling uneasy, Xue Xiuyi pressed, “This is the Lao-zuzong’s
arrangement.”
“Rest assured, Your Excellency.” Yingxi stuffed a bag of gold
into Xue the Eldest’s hands. “This humble slave is clean. I
guarantee I won’t give you or the Lao-zuzong any trouble.”
◈ ◈ ◈
A drizzle descended upon Dunzhou a few days later. Rain
pelted against the green leaves, drenching the stone slabs on the
bridleway, until they turned a shade darker. Tantai Hu waited at the
entrance for a long while with Liu Kong holding up an umbrella for
him. He bristled in irritation. “They said this morning he’d be here
soon; why isn’t he here yet?!”
“Perhaps there was a delay on the way.” Liu Kong craned his
neck to look around and saw a horse carriage coming their way
through the rain. “General, His Excellency Yu is here!”
Drenched by the rain, the horse’s mane was dripping wet; it
stopped in front of Tantai Hu and shook its mane. Tantai Hu raised
a hand to pat the horse on its neck, then said to the carriage driver,
“It’s been a long journey. Lead the horse to the stable later and give
it a good treat.”
As he spoke, he suddenly saw the curtains of the carriage lift
slightly. Yu Xiaozai poked his face out and held his hands out
together in greetings91 towards Tantai Hu.
“We are all well-acquainted. There is no need for such
pretentious greetings.” Tantai Hu glanced into the carriage as he
spoke. “Wang Xian didn’t come?”
“His Lordship has returned to Cizhou, and Duanzhou still has to
supply grains to Second Master. Someone has to be present to
keep an eye on it, so he stayed behind in Duanzhou.” Yu Xiaozai
got off the carriage, and the soldier by the side moved to hold up
an umbrella for him. He took it over and held it up himself,
shielding Tantai Hu as both of them walked in together.
“You are a general of Dunzhou, and he is the treasurer of the six
prefectures,” Yu Xiaozai said. “Laohu, you can afford to offend
anyone but not the money-keeper.”
As the rain drummed noisily against the oil paper umbrella,
Tantai Hu said, “How would I dare offend him? When he comes to
my Dunzhou in the future, I will deploy a procession of troops ten
li 92 long to welcome him and ensure that I speak to him with
utmost gentleness.”
Yu Xiaozai knew he was still sulking, so he said in persuasion,
“Laohu, please don’t think that we make little of military officers;
that’s all on the bad practices in Qudu. Now that the six prefectures
are stabilized, all the various departments have to go by the book.
Let me speak out of turn to say a word to you. When it comes to the
military grains preparations, you are too easily blinded by your own
concern for the matter. You take the military grains into
consideration because of your loyalty to Second Master. No one
would bear to reproach you had it been anyone else, but since His
Lordship clearly designated Brother Minshen to handle it,” The rain
drenched Yu Xiaozai’s sleeve. He swapped over to the other hand
and turned around to continue, “that means it’s a legitimate
assignment he has been appointed to carry out. You asked him on
the court of the yamen, but how can he answer you there? The
grains and land tax ledgers are confidential yamen documents.
You can’t lay them out in the open for a discussion.”
Tantai Hu could tell that Yu Xiaozai was here to play
peacemaker in an attempt to clear the air between him and Wang
Xian. Not that he had to keep dwelling on this matter; he just felt
what Wang Xian did to be unethical. Couldn’t Wang Xian just say
something in Dunzhou itself? He was still acting all affable when he
left, but then he turned around and lodged a complaint about him
to His Lordship!
“Brother Minshen is an official from the capital. He’s new here,
and there will inevitably be some people who can’t accept him.” Yu
Xiaozai spoke effusively. “You’re Second Master’s trusted aide, so
he naturally does not dare to contradict you on the spot; he simply
spoke the truth to His Lordship. He has rendered meritorious
service in making preparations for the military provisions, and he is
well-versed in economics and governmental affairs. His Lordship
will most certainly put him with military administration. You are
bound to run into each other often in the future. After all, when you
mobilize troops in the future, you will have to discuss military
provisions and military expenses with him. It’s inadvisable to let the
situation deteriorate to the point it ends in a deadlock.”
Yu Xiaozai had a point, but his words left a bad taste in Tantai
Hu’s mouth. Yu Xiaozai was clearly speaking up for Wang Xian for
the unfair treatment the latter had received. It had not been easy
for Wang Minshen, given that he was new here, but did that mean
that he, Tantai Hu, deserved to suffer such humiliation? Just
thinking about the grains and land tax ledger incident really made
him fume. Wang Xian did not say a single word to him before he
left, and no one in the Dunzhou yamen mentioned the public funds
when he rewarded the garrison troops with a feast. He finally
realized in hindsight that the Dunzhou yamen was using Wang
Xian to marginalize him.
Yu Xiaozai understood it too. The Dunzhou yamen did not dare
to stir up trouble with Tantai Hu head-on, so they kept humoring
him. Tantai Hu was the commanding general of Dunzhou, yet he
had not even seen Dunzhou’s grains and land tax ledger. This was
the yamen officials setting him up for a fall, wasn’t it? He was
suffering in silence, unable to voice his grievances before Shen
Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. His reprehensible deed in setting up that
ostentatious feast, too, had mortally ashamed him.
But these were extraordinary times, and it was inadvisable to
delve further into this matter.
 Yu Xiaozai handed the umbrella into Tantai Hu’s hand and
spoke in all earnestness, “Laohu, you are straightforward by nature,
and you only know how to advance but not retreat, so you will
inevitably be on the losing end in matters like this. They are making
things difficult for you for no other reason than because you have
military power in hand. Let me give you a word of advice again. If
you have no intention of being an official of the yamen, then don’t
mess with them in these waters. You have illustrious military merits
to your name, so His Lordship will not let you suffer a genuine
grievance. Do you think His Lordship can’t see what is going on
this time? Second Master flew into such a rage, but His Lordship
still let you return to Dunzhou untouched. Is he not backing you up
by that? His Lordship is giving them a good rap on the head on
your behalf! Don’t you go getting into a sulk with His Lordship.
Acknowledge your mistakes with respect and humility, and make
up for the public funds in all conscientiousness. As long as you’re
willing to write a letter to bury the hatchet with Brother Minshen, I
guarantee you that His Lordship will reward you within half a
month.”
Was it so easy to be an official of the capital? Those who said
being officials of the capital was a cushy job had all been deceived
by rumors in the streets. Any official who could gain a foothold in
Qudu, regardless of seniority and family background, were all
figures who had been through the period during the reign of
Yongyi and Xiande when the Hua and Pan clans interfered in state
affairs. They were discerning men who knew best to adapt to
current circumstances. Yu Xiaozai was of humble origins. When the
noble clans were in power, he worked in the localities, where he
dealt with all sorts of local lowlifes. His appraisals were all
outstanding. Cen Yu had promoted so many pupils, but only Yu
Xiaozai could repeatedly undertake heavy responsibilities. His
words to Tantai Hu were all heartfelt.
Tantai Hu’s lips moved soundlessly, his anger all but choked in
his throat.
Seeing Tantai Hu’s gloomy expression, Yu Xiaozai knew he
could still not swallow this anger. Hitting on a brainwave, he said,
“If you could humble yourself to make peace with Brother Minshen,
you’d be shutting up the others’ mouth, wouldn’t you? They ridicule
you for being an ignorant and illiterate person like General Lu
Meng from the southern state of Wu,93 so don’t let them get their
way and show them what you are made of!”
Tantai Hu was impatient by nature, so it would not do to
provoke him. However, he was simple-minded and bore no ill will.
Once he was enlightened, he would be willing to do as advised. He
tightened his grip on the umbrella and said in a rough voice,
“Second Master disciplined me, and I know where my mistake lies.
I shouldn’t have held the banquet as I did, and I definitely have to
make up for the public funds. I’ve even kowtowed back in
Duanzhou, so apologizing to Wang Minshen is no big deal.” He
raised an arm to rub his scar. “I’ll write a letter to Wang Xian
tonight.”
There were many puddles on the ground, and the clamor of
the rain was so noisy Liu Kong could not hear their conversation.
He held up the umbrella, unable to get too close. All he could do
was follow them the entire way. Fortunately, it was not a long
journey to make. Before he could keep away the umbrella upon
arrival at the camp, Tantai Hu sent him off to prepare the pot.
“It’s cold, and the journey is arduous. You and I still have to
leave again for Cizhou tomorrow.” Tantai Hu removed his outer
robe and rolled up his sleeves. “Let’s have hotpot tonight to warm
ourselves up. Liu Kong, go get those rabbits I’ve hunted ready.
Youjing and I will have them with wine.”
Liu Kong acknowledged his orders. With deft moves, he helped
Yu Xiaozai to remove his outer robe and hang it up on the small
clothes rack inside the tent.
Rubbing his hands, Yu Xiaozai surveyed the tent and said
cheekily to Tantai Hu, “This living quarter of yours is a tad too
simple, isn’t it?! I thought…”
Liu Kong retreated to the door and let down the tent flap,
blocking out Yu Xiaozai’s voice.
◈ ◈ ◈
The roads were wet and slippery on rainy days, and the
bridleway was bumpy. Shen Zechuan was initially playing chess
with Yao Wenyu, but midway through the game, he got so dizzy he
felt terrible. Fei Sheng lifted the screen of the carriage a little, and it
was only after he leaned against the window that he regained his
composure.
“Youjing is quick-witted and resourceful.” Yao Wenyu looked at
the rain. “He’s witty with his words, and he doesn’t put on airs.
There is no better person than him to supervise the army; Your
Lordship had made the right choice in sending him over.”
“Youjing can provide amusement when time permits, but he will
never err when it comes to what’s crucial.” Shen Zechuan had
broken out in a bit of a cold sweat as he leaned against a soft
pillow. “He doesn’t speak outright in black and white terms as Zhou
Gui does. He’s more diplomatic.”
Yao Wenyu gathered up his sleeves to put away the chess
pieces.
Shen Zechuan listened to the damp and dense sound of the
rain by the window, still pinching a chess piece between his
fingertips as he tapped it against the edge of the table in tandem
with the sound of the rain.
After a while, he said, “Water that is too clean has no fish, but
it’s also vexing when it’s too murky.”94
 ♢ CHAPTER 267: CHRYSANTHEMUM TRIBUTE♢

Qudu was due to appreciate the chrysanthemums in the ninth

month,95 but as Yongcheng was hit by a drought and the imperial
court still owed part of the capital officials’ monthly salaries,
everyone inside and outside the palace complied with Li Jianting’s
decree and did not brazenly organize a chrysanthemum
appreciation banquet.
Fuman had initially found some people to cultivate several
hundred pots of precious chrysanthemums in his own residence,
but now, he dared not send them in anymore.
During the third quarter of the hour of yin, Fuman woke up. As
the junior eunuch waited on him, he rinsed his mouth and
changed his clothes. Eunuchs had to stay close to their master’s
side to serve at all times, so naturally, they could not have any odor
on them. Their collars were all false collars, so they could
immediately swap them out when they got stained with sweat.
Their socks and shoes were velvet with tight openings that did not
make any sounds when walking.
Fuman cleaned himself up and dressed neatly, then set his
authority token before his waist and strode out of the door. He saw
there were still stars in the sky, so he went to the duty room close to
Mingli Hall and asked a eunuch who waited in attendance in the
bedchamber last night, “Did Her Majesty sleep well yesterday?”
 The eunuch was in the midst of having breakfast with tea.
Eunuchs like them did not dare to eat as they pleased while on
night watch, for fear they would need the lavatory at night and
their breath would stink, so they only dared to have some snacks to
fill their tummies before they went in. The eunuch was famished,
but when he heard Fuman’s inquiry, he hurriedly stood at attention
with hands respectfully by his sides and replied, “To answer the
Lao-zuzong, she slept decently yesterday, turning over four times.
Contrary to expectation, she did not call for this humble slave.”
Fuman estimated the time and reckoned that Li Jianting ought
to have woken up by now, so he stood under the eaves and waited
to be summoned. After a while, he saw Fengquan stepping out.
Even so, Fuman merely smiled and nodded as a greeting of sorts.
As if he did not notice this, Fengquan bowed to him as per
etiquette.
“Her Majesty had the mind last night to summon the Lao-
zuzong to wait upon her.” Bowing, Fengquan said unhurriedly to
Fuman, “Lao-zuzong, a double blessing is about to descend.”
Fuman could not figure out what Fengquan had up his sleeve.
His suspicions were roused, and he did not dare to answer without
thinking, so he merely gave an ambiguous reply, “I hope it is as you
say.”
Having said that, he did not wait for Fengquan to continue
before he lifted the hem of his robe and entered Mingli Hall.
The hanging drapes in the bedchamber had just been bundled
up, and the windows all around were wide open. Fuman could
sense the chill from the falling frost in the early morning. With
small, quick steps, he walked over to the bronze mirror, where he
saw that Li Jianting was already done dressing and dolling up.
Under normal circumstances, he was most certain to sing praises at
this moment, but he was cautious today and merely said, “Your
Majesty, breakfast is ready.”
Li Jianting wore her usual expression, the flower embellishment
between her forehead eye-catching as she held up the golden
hairpin. “Just a light meal is fine.”
“This humble slave dare not forget Your Majesty’s instructions
and has specially gotten the Court of Imperial Entertainments to
choose the simple dishes to make.” Fuman bowed and made to
support Li Jianting. “It’s just mini steamed twist rolls and silky jade
tofu.”
Li Jianting stepped out of the bedchamber. The memorials on
her desk were all newly endorsed last night. She relooked over the
pile that she had specially picked out.
“Tell the Grand Secretary later,” Li Jianting pried apart the
twisted roll, “that the Grand Secretariat can skip the memorials
paying obeisances; there’s no need to pass them on to me. Like
this You Tan of Liuzhou in Juexi. He is so tediously long-winded in
his memorials, and all he goes on and on spouting are words of
flattery. What a waste of time.”
On hearing this, Fuman, who was serving Li Jianting as she had
her meal, said with a smile, “This humble slave has also heard of
this Excellency You. I heard this is how his memorials are. Even
Secretariat Elder Hai couldn’t stand to read them in the past.”
Li Jianting did not answer. She finished her breakfast and
hurried to attend the morning court session.
The topic of Libei’s advancement east was broached during the
morning court session. The scouts in Dancheng had reported the
increment of troops at the Beiyuan military drill grounds. However,
before the Ministry of War was done presenting their military
report, the Ministry of Personnel started bickering with the Ministry
of Revenue, wanting the Ministry of Revenue to hurry up and pay
out the arrears in monthly salaries. The Ministry of Revenue was at
their wit’s end; they had no money, and they could not push the
issue to Li Jianting. All they could do was endure the scoldings in
silence. Midway through the rebuke, an imperial censor from the
Chief Surveillance Bureau impeached the local officials for
dereliction of duty in their negligence to administer public order—
the new prefectural prefect of Huaizhou had not even taken office
for half a month, and already a riot had broken out in Huaizhou.
“The monthly salaries were docked to provide aid relief to
Yongcheng,” the official from the Ministry of Revenue said. “In
times of national crisis, we ought to work as one for a common
purpose. Your monthly salaries have not been issued, but the same
can be said for the rest of us from the Ministry of Revenue. All of us
are starving. How can you just rebuke us?!”
“You people have been auditing the accounts, and you have
checked Dancheng and Wucheng. The properties of the Pan and
Han clans have been sealed off for confiscation, and with the Fei
clan of Chuancheng taking the lead, the rest of the remaining cities
are now making up for the field taxes.” The official from the Ministry
of Personnel retorted, “Going by the budget at the start of the year,
there is enough to pay out the monthly salaries at this point. So
where’s the money? Where has all the money gone? You have to
give us an explanation!”
“First we have the passing of Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager, followed by the ascension of Her Majesty the Emperor,
so ask the Ministry of Rites, where has the money gone? They have
all been used right where they are needed! There’s also the
renovation of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the reconstruction
of the residential district. The Ministry of Works…”
“Stick to the topic of the monthly salaries,” the official from the
Ministry of Works butted in sharply. “Why digress?”
“We are upright men who fear no gossip. The accounts we
investigated were all reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and the
Court of Judicial Review, then audited by the Grand Secretariat and
reported to Her Majesty. We have held nothing back.” Liang
Cuishan bowed to Li Jianting. “Your Majesty, the Ministry of
Revenue’s accounts are all submitted to the Grand Secretariat every
month, with memorandums issued by the Grand Secretary and
endorsement by Your Majesty. Every process goes strictly by the
book and is carried out in stringent accordance with the rules…”
“Goes strictly by the book? Your Excellency Chongshen, I doubt
that’s the case.” The imperial censor from the Chief Surveillance
Bureau raised his hands to pay his obeisances. “Your Majesty, this
humble subject is just about to impeach Xue Xiuyi, formerly of the
Ministry of Revenue, for taking bribes!”
This one shout brought a solemn silence upon the entire hall.
The few bunches of people who had started arguing all turned
their heads over.
 Xue Xiuzhuo stood silently among the crowd of ministers, his
eyes never even twitching once.
Li Jianting cast a glance at Xue Xiuzhuo. After a moment’s
pause, she said, “Isn’t Xue Xiuyi now the custodian of the palace
granaries?”
“To reply Your Majesty, that is correct. This person has been
bungling his work ever since he was in the Ministry of Revenue. He
has slandered the imperial court repeatedly and has never been
entrusted with heavy responsibilities.” The imperial censor lifted the
hem of his robe and kneeled before continuing, “That is, until a few
months ago when Xue Xiuyi colluded with the merchants and took
advantage of the general amnesty Your Majesty granted to bribe
the palace eunuchs and obtain the post of palace granaries
custodian.”
The golden butterfly at Li Jianting’s temple swayed lightly as
she straightened up on her throne.
“Xue Xiuyi brazenly made a fortune in this position and gained
himself three courtyards on Donglong Street. This person is
shameless. He even collaborated with the palace eunuchs to falsify
accounts and resold the treasures he pilfered from the palace
granaries for a grand total of 200,000 taels!”
A clamor instantly broke out in the hall. Yongcheng’s aid relief
was merely 100,000 taels, and Xiao Chiye’s bribery case that
involved the Quancheng’s silk during the reign of Xiande was only
8,000 taels. Who could have expected Xue Xiuyi to embezzle
200,000 taels less than three months after he assumed office?!
“R-rat…”96 The long-time Grand Secretariat officials felt dizzy.
Li Jianting’s expression grew increasingly darker. The treasures
Xue Xiuyi resold netted 200,000 taels, but he had Fuman report
80,000 taels to her, which meant that they had misappropriated all
the remaining 120,000 taels.
“This humble subject also wants to impeach the Vice Minister of
the Court of Judicial Review, Xue Xiuzhuo!” The imperial censor
switched targets and pointed directly at Xue Xiuzhuo. “Xue Xiuzhuo
abuses his power and exploits public office for private gain! He is
high of rank, yet he reflects not upon himself. He is in Your
Majesty’s favor, and yet he understands not Your Majesty’s heart.
He lets a rat into the granaries and acts in cahoots with Xue Xiuyi.
He is truly most abominable, reprehensible, and condemnable!”
“The audacity!” Li Jianting snapped.
Everyone in the hall fell to their knees. It was so silent one could
hear a pin drop.
Li Jianting stood up and turned to the side before the throne,
saying as she pointed at the imperial censor, “As an imperial
censor responsible for the important task of supervising and
impeaching the various officials, you ought to verify the facts! You
are keenly aware that you hold sway over the narrative presented
to the imperial court, yet you use this as an excuse to discriminate
against those who hold dissenting opinions from you. If you ask
me, you’re the abominable one!”
The rank of an imperial censor was not high, but he was a
deterrent force to behold from top to bottom. Even Emperor
Guangcheng did not dare to rebuke the imperial censors back
then; it was a one-way street where only the imperial censors could
reprimand him, not the other way round. Except for that punk Li
Jianheng during the reign of Tianchen who, in order to stabilize
the situation during the bribery case, lost his temper at Fu Linye.
Other than that, there had never been an emperor in Dazhou who
dared to offend the imperial censors on the imperial court.
Sure enough, the imperial censor immediately said, “This
humble subject has conclusive evidence, yet Your Majesty insists on
siding with the criminal minister. Is that not a failure to distinguish
between right and wrong, good and evil—”
“Xue Xiuzhuo is the Imperial Preceptor!” Li Jianting said frostily.
“How can I allow you to bring such false accusations against my
teacher?!”
Kong Qiu’s heart sank. As he prostrated himself, he exchanged
a glance with Cen Yu.
“Xue Xiuyi took bribes and perverted justice. I am now ordering
the Ministry of Justice to investigate. You must get to the bottom of
the matter as soon as possible. As for Xue Xiuzhuo,” Li Jianting left
with a flick of her sleeve, “It’s all a bunch of crocks!”
“Your Majesty,” the imperial censor said sorrowfully, “the Xue
clan, if not eliminated, will go on to become a faction! He, Xue
Xiuzhuo, is clearly the next Hua Siqian…”
Xue Xiuzhuo lay prostrated over the ground with his head
lowered, never once saying a word.
◈ ◈ ◈
As evening approached, it began to rain in Qudu too.
Fengquan waited in attendance outside Mingli Hall and
vaguely heard Kong Qiu in the midst of remonstrating.
“Xue Xiuzhuo may be Your Majesty’s teacher, but he’s
implicated in Xue Xiuyi’s bribery case. According to the law, he has
to be suspended pending investigation too,” Kong Qiu said. “Your
Majesty rebuked the imperial censor on the imperial court today,
which runs counter to the late Taizong’s97 precepts. That truly
should not have happened.”
Li Jianting had remained silent after dismissing the court
session. No matter how Kong Qiu spoke with urgency, she did not
answer. Kong Qiu got up and bowed down. Seeing that Li Jianting
had no wish to answer, he straightened up and bowed again.
“I have already made up my mind,” Li Jianting said. “The Grand
Secretary need not persuade me any further. Fengquan, help the
Grand Secretary away!”
The drizzle in Qudu continued uninterrupted. Fengquan
supported Kong Qiu by the arm and personally held up the
umbrella for him. Kong Qiu strode out of Mingli Hall. The strong
wind stirred up several fallen leaves. He turned all of his
exhortations into a single sigh and gently pushed Fengquan aside.
Without even wanting the umbrella, he stepped into the rain by
himself. Fengquan hurriedly lifted the hem of his robe and chased
after him, holding the umbrella up high as he sent Kong Qiu all the
way out.
On hearing the wind, Fuman, who was on the other side,
hurried to Mingli Hall, where he kneeled even before he stepped
through the door. The instant he kneeled, he wiped his tears with
his sleeves. He wanted to cry injustice through the hanging screen,
but he had not even opened his mouth when a teacup suddenly
came hurtling towards him from the interior and smashed to
pieces on the ground before him.
 “You hanker after fame and position, and you colluded with an
imperial court official to misappropriate treasures from the palace.”
Li Jianting rebuked through the curtain. “Men, drag this deceitful
jerk out!”
Fuman had heard the details of the dispute during the morning
court session from his informant in the duty room. He hardened his
heart and kneeled on those shattered porcelain pieces. With hands
on the ground, he hastily kowtowed, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty,
please hear this humble slave out. That Xue Xiuyi was transferred
on the recommendation of the excellencies from the Ministry of
Personnel. What has it got to do with lowly people like this, this
humble slave? Oh, Your Majesty,” he cried out miserably, “what
have I done to deserve such injustice?!”
Li Jianting brandished her sleeves and said nothing, looking as
if she was still furious.
Fuman then kowtowed with loud thuds as he cried, “This
humble slave’s lowly life is nothing to bemoan about. Your Majesty
may just go ahead and punish me. However, the lords on the
imperial court are all men well-versed in the classics. How can they
trample upon this humble slave like this?!”
Fuman already had someone to clear away the stuff that Xue
Xiuyi had paid tribute to him. He was usually cautious, so he would
not send all the good stuff into the palace; instead, he had them
hidden all in his residence in Qudu, with his godsons looking after
them. Now that this had happened, the Ministry of Justice was
definitely going to investigate the case and check him out; thus, he
had immediately sent someone to pass on the tip when he was still
back there in the duty room.
On hearing Fuman’s wretched cries, Li Jianting looked as if her
sense of compassion had really been evoked.
Fuman seized the opportunity and was about to recriminate the
Chief Surveillance Bureau for seeking credit for themselves under
the pretense of remonstrating when he saw Fengquan hurrying
back.
Fengquan stood under the eaves and kept away the umbrella.
As if he did not see Fuman pleading his case, he reported to Li
Jianting, who was inside the chamber, “Your Majesty, while on the
way, this humble slave saw several junior eunuchs hurrying along
with flowers in their arms. It was only after questioning them I
found out they were delivering those flowers to Mingli Hall.”
Fuman found those few eunuchs familiar. Each of them was
carrying expensive chrysanthemums in their hands. He then
looked again at Fengquan, who was standing with head held high,
and suddenly felt an ill sense of foreboding.
Li Jianting lifted the hanging screen and walked out. With a
frown on her brows, she asked, “I’ve already given the instructions
not to waste time and energy planting these chrysanthemums.
Who was the one who sent them in as tributes? The duty room
never reported them either.”
The eunuchs kneeled and kowtowed, “To answer Your Majesty,
Fu-gonggong was the one who gave the instructions.”
Fuman was burning with anxiety as he refuted, “How dare you
spout nonsense with the Son of Heaven here! It’s my turn to be on
duty today, so when have I ever instructed you to do such a thing?”
The palace still owed the outer court ministers their monthly
salaries. Li Jianting kept up with the order she issued when
Yongcheng was hit by a drought. The palace still pursued a policy
of frugality, and there were signs of doing away with the customary
need for extravagance. What’s more, Fuman was currently
implicated in the pilfering of the palace granaries, and this was
right when he feared getting caught up in trouble. By piteously
pleading his case here, he meant to abandon Xue Xiuyi and make
him the scapegoat. He wanted to make a big issue of how he
himself did not dine on delicacies and was instead consuming
soybeans every day, but he did not expect the sudden turn of
events and found himself in even more of a predicament.
“Castrated traitor, shut your mouth!” Li Jianting’s expression
grew increasingly grim as she said to the eunuch in an icy voice,
“Tell me the truth.”
The eunuch answered in terror, “Last night, Fu-gonggong sent
someone to pass on instructions to this humble slave. He said the
chrysanthemums from his manor were sent into the palace
together with the ones purchased by the Court of Imperial
Entertainments. These flowers, being valuable, all have to be well
taken care of. Once Your Majesty gets off court session today, we
should send them to Mingli Hall to relieve Your Majesty’s boredom
—”
Fuman’s limbs were icy cold. In a flash, he snapped, “How dare
you frame me without proof! Since you say I was the one who sent
someone over, where is the note? Where is the authority token?”
The eunuch raised an arm to wipe away the rain. Fuman’s
interrupting bellow gave him such a fright that he nearly slumped
paralyzed to the ground. “… The person who came looked familiar;
he is th-the Lao-zuzong’s godson. How would this humble slave
dare demand a token?”
Fuman clenched the porcelain piece, which dug into his palm
and turned it into a mangled pulp of flesh and blood. The moment
Fuman heard that the eunuch did not have an authority token, he
replied immediately, “So it’s really a load of bullshit! I have served
the nobility in the palace for nearly twenty years, and even though I
may be stupid, I know the rules. No one does their duties and
errands without a token. Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” He held up
his own authority token and shuffled forward on his knees, looking
at Li Jianting as his cries grew increasingly louder. “Even if this
humble slave dies today, it has to be a justified death!”
“Your Majesty, this humble slave also finds this matter odd.”
Fengquan lifted the hem of his robe to kneel before Li Jianting. “Fu-
gonggong helms the affairs within the palace and is Your Majesty’s
trusted right-hand man. It would absolutely not do to let him be
framed with false charges. We have to first ascertain the truth.” He
looked at Fuman, “Why don’t we summon that ‘godson’ who
passed on the gonggong’s order before Your Majesty so that Your
Majesty can see what’s really going on?”
Fuman deciphered derision in that delicate, handsome face.
Without waiting for Fuman to respond, Li Jianting commanded the
guards, “Go. Find and bring the lao-zuzong’s son over.”
She stressed the words “lao-zuzong” so heavily that it chilled
Fuman to the bone.
Within a few moments, the guards brought the man to the front
of the hall. Rainwater washed over the steps. This godson lowered
his head and prostrated himself over the ground in the rain,
shivering all over.
Unable to get a clear look, Li Jianting said, “Lift your head.”
He let loose a whimper and clung close to the ground, shaking
his head frantically as if he had been given a scare. The guards at
the side pressed him down by his shoulders and lifted his head up.
Li Jianting did not recognize him, but the junior eunuch in the
rain said, “That’s him, Your Majesty. It’s Yingxi-gonggong!”
“Yingxi, the army-supervising eunuch during the reign of
Tianchen.” Fengquan quietly reminded Li Jianting. “The Prince of
Donglie held him in custody and brought him into the capital. He
has long been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s prison.”
Fuman looked at Yingxi, stunned. As the guards approached
him, he snapped to his senses and shouted, “This humble slave has
been wronged… Your Majesty… this person is definitely not…”
Chafing against the ground, Yingxi started bawling. He clung
to the ground, choking and crying, “Lao-zuzong, Lao-zuzong, save
me, save this son of yours!”
Li Jianting yanked away the hem of the skirt that Fuman
touched and looked at him. “How very capable of you. You can
even extricate a eunuch the Ministry of Justice convicted. As
expected of the ‘Lao-zuzong’ thousands of people look to for
backing.”
A chill spread all over Fuman’s body. He knew death was
certain this time. “Your, Your Majesty,” he murmured, “please show
mercy on account of old ties…”
“You and I are merely master and servant in the palace,” Li
Jianting said, “so where are there old ties to speak of? I showed
you great favor, yet you do not know to feel gratitude. You
committed such a grave mistake that I am well-justified in killing
you.”
As the guards dragged Fuman, Fuman’s round collar choked
him by the neck. Panicking, he kicked out with his legs and
struggled. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty—”
Fengquan signaled the guards with his eyes, who promptly
gagged Fuman and dragged him out the fastest they could.
◈ ◈ ◈
 “It didn’t work?” Shen Zechuan looked back and glanced at Fei
Sheng.
Fei Sheng nodded. “Allegedly, the emperor rebuked the
imperial censor in anger on the imperial court, causing such a stir
that it became the talk of the town. Master, didn’t she reward Jiang
Qingshan earlier for the sake of pitting herself against Xue
Xiuzhuo? This is such an excellent opportunity, so how did teacher
and pupil become on such good terms again?”
Shen Zechuan looked askance at the bright mirror. The jade
earring on his right ear was dark and obscure. He contemplated it
over for a moment. “I have underestimated the emperor.”
Yao Wenyu watched under the eaves as the raindrops dripped.
He suddenly brandished his arm and brushed away the entire
chessboard of chess pieces. The black and white pieces instantly
splashed into the rain, where ripples soon covered them up.
Feeling the metallic taste of blood in his throat, he coughed a few
times. “The tree that stands above the forest will be blown over by
the wind; the soil that jutted out of the riverbank will be washed
away by the rapids.98 From what the emperor said on the imperial
court, she meant to both use and depose Xue Xiuzhuo.”

Credits: Neon Starrzzify for pointing out the typo! <3

 ♢ CHAPTER 268: BODHI ♢

Xue Xiuyi’s legs felt weak. He braced himself against the

doorframe as he slid to the ground, where he sat and watched as
his wife, concubine, and maidservants pack up the valuables with
harried expressions. He muttered, “Can’t leave… I haven’t gotten
Jin-ge’er back…”
The sound of footsteps rang out beyond the courtyard. The
guard guarding the compound craned his neck for a look and got
the fright of his life when he saw that it was all the Capital
Command Troops. The door to the courtyard slammed open with a
crash. As the Capital Command Troops swarmed in, Xue Xiuyi
waved his arms and cried, “The imperial censor slandered me. I
was wrongly accused!”
The newly appointed general of the Capital Command Troops
fished out an authority token and document from under the folds
of his clothes and said, “The writ from the Ministry of Justice comes
with Her Majesty’s inked approval.” He surveyed the courtyard.
“Take the rest of them away.”
The Capital Command Troops hoisted Xue Xiuyi up, his feet
slipping on the ground as they gagged him.
With Fuman imprisoned, a batch of eunuchs had been
removed from office. That very night, Li Jianting swapped out all
the key officials from the palace affairs yamen. The guards who
went knocking on doors did not even wait for the parties involved
to refute; they simply gagged them outright and arrested them,
moving even faster than they did the time Li Jianting was
poisoned. The sounds of footsteps prevailed everywhere in the
palace, and innumerable guards stood in the shadows at the foot
of the walls. Eunuchs and palace maids who were still on shift duty
moved and spoke with caution. Everyone of them kept their hands
to themselves and lowered their heads, not daring to look around
as they pleased.
Xue Xiuzhuo did not sleep. With his clothes draped over him,
he stood by the window and listened to the flurry of running
footsteps beyond the high wall. The overcast clouds had just
dispersed after the rain stopped, and the cold, clear moonlight
bathed him within. Shadows of the bamboo before the window fell
upon his side profile.
“Uh, uh.” Ya-er rubbed his nose roughly and urged Xiu Xiuzhuo
to rest.
Xue Xiuzhuo looked back and asked, “Is Jin-ge’er sleeping
well?”
Ya-er nodded and pointed in the direction of Xue Jin’s room as
he uttered “uh-huh” in a reply of sorts.
Xue Xiuzhuo thus said, “You may go to bed.”
Ya-er was unwilling to. He beckoned to Xue Xiuzhuo with a
hand, indicating for him to eat something.
Xue Xiuzhuo did not answer. He lowered his fingers to pick up
the chess piece on the chessboard and scrutinized it, as if he could
not figure out something. Ya-er looked resigned when he saw Xue
Xiuzhuo remaining still in place, but instead of leaving, he sat down
at the entrance of the room.
A long time passed before Xue Xiuzhuo tossed the chess piece
back into the chess container.
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, after the morning court session, Xue Xiuzhuo
waited outside Mingli Hall for Li Jianting to summon him. There
were countless memorials impeaching him today. The moment
Xue Xiuyi was imprisoned, the charge of corruption and bribery
against him was substantiated. Rumors on the streets kept in step
with the course of events, and subsequently, the number of
students from the Imperial College sending visiting cards99 to Xue
Xiuzhuo saw a decline too.
“Xue Xiuzhuo’s taking of another man’s son indeed runs
counter to feudal ethics.”100 An imperial censor kneeled before the
emperor’s desk. “No matter what, Xue Xiuyi is his elder brother of
lawful birth. Your Majesty, since time immemorial, there has never
been a case where the younger brother of common birth seized the
legitimate first-born son of his older brother of lawful birth. What’s
more, as the Imperial Preceptor, he ought to lead by example. By
acting in such a way, isn’t he teaching the whole world to show
contempt for the rules of propriety and to disregard one’s
clansfolk?”
Li Jianting closed the memorial. “Xue Xiuyi favors his
concubine and neglects his wife, and he hankers after wealth and
is given to extravagance. On the contrary, I think that in doing so,
Xue Xiuzhuo has acted exactly in accordance with propriety. He is
doing it in consideration of his Xue clan’s legitimate lineage. There
is nothing improper with it.”
This imperial censor was almost seventy of age. He tottered
unsteadily as he kowtowed and continued, “This old subject thinks
otherwise. If his elder brother has done wrong, he can openly
admonish and exhort him. This is what it means by showing love
and respect as brothers should…”
Li Jianting, having heard an entire morning’s worth of tenets
on propriety, promptly rose to her feet.
“… As the saying goes, appoint the virtuous, and stability will
prevail; appoint the unvirtuous, and turmoil will reign.101 What is a
person of virtue? He is one who can distinguish between the noble
and the humble and abides by the rules of propriety… Your
Majesty, just as fine medicine that cures is bitter on the tongue,
sincere advice that benefits is often jarring on the ears.”
Unable to take a stride forward, Li Jianting sat back down.
The sunny weather that followed the rain was stifling hot, so
scorching that the flowers planted before the hall wilted a little. The
imperial censor rested for a moment, drank a cup of tea, and
continued with his exhortations all without waiting for Li Jianting to
speak, and so Li Jianting sat there from the time she got off
morning court session until the hour of you.
After drinking the nth cup of tea, the imperial censor said
genially to Li Jianting, “Your Majesty, the more intelligent and
knowledgeable one is, the more one has to keep their eyes and
ears open…” he smacked his lips and took a couple of breathers,
“and hence…”
“Listening to your sermon today trumps studying the classics
for ten years.” Li Jianting got up and came over to personally help
the imperial censor up. The flower embellishment on her forehead
made her face appear all the more vibrant and beautiful. With an
amicable countenance, she said, “I shall have to ask you to share
these most sagacious, famous sayings with the students of the
Imperial College another day. It’s late today, and I can see the signs
of weariness on your face. You should head back first for a rest.”
The imperial censor answered, “I am not worthy” as he walked,
but even right before he stepped out of the door, he still had to
add, “The wise sage nips the trouble in the bud.102 Xue Xiuzhuo…”
Discerning enough to read the scene, Fengquan came over
with a bow to help support the imperial censor. With a smile, he
said, “The ground before the hall is slippery. Your Venerable
Excellency, please watch your steps. This humble slave shall
support you as you walk.”
The imperial censor let Fengquan support him and walked off
into the distance. The sunset glow of the setting sun cast a reddish-
orange sheen over the potted plants before Mingli Hall, its
brilliance causing the golden hairpin by Li Jianting’s temple to
sparkle. She turned to the side and gazed at Xue Xiuzhuo, who was
standing at the foot of the hall. Xue Xiuzhuo’s back was as straight
as a ramrod, his shoulders bearing the last of the light, his official
robe shrouded under the remaining rays of the setting sun. Li
Jianting could not get a clear look at his expression.
“Teacher,” Li Jianting raised a hand to lift the beaded curtain,
“this way, please.”
There were no lamps lit in Mingli Hall, nor was there anyone
waiting in attendance. Upon entering, Xue Xiuzhou kneeled before
the emperor’s desk, but Li Jianting did not return to the throne. She
stood at the side of her desk and looked at the calligraphy painting
on the wall.
“Xue Xiuyi’s transgressions have nothing to do with Teacher,” Li
Jianting said. “If Teacher is here to apologize, it is not at all
necessary.”
“Xue Xiuyi is corrupt and took bribes. The Ministry of Justice has
ordered the arrest of the Juexi merchants who are involved in this
case. They have, however, turned up empty.” Unlike the others who
prostrated themselves over the ground, Xue Xiuzhuo kneeled with
his back straight, just like the way he did when he was teaching Li
Jianting in his residence. “Your Majesty has ordered the Capital
Command Troops to assist in this case. Naturally, this has nothing
to do with this humble subject.”
“The numbers of memorials impeaching Teacher of late are as
numerous as the numbers of hairs on an ox. Over ten criminal
charges against Teacher are listed. But Teacher sounds to me to be
civilized and composed,” Li Jianting gazed at the painting.
“Presumably, you must have long anticipated it.”
“One tends to think of change in times of adversity,”103
The light in Mingli Hall disappeared, hiding both of them under
the obscure darkness. The palace lanterns hanging under the
corners of the eaves outside the hall were not lit, and the entire
palace seemed to be in a deep sleep. The towering palace rested
against the backdrop of faint light on the horizon. There were no
songs of the birds to be heard, nor human voices.
“You once saved the thirteen cities of Juexi with Jiang
Qingshan, and took down Hua Siqian with Hai Liangyi. You also
went without sleep and rest in order to investigate the eight cities’
field taxes. There is no one else in this world who understands
better than you just how tough it is to eliminate the chronic ailment
that is the noble clans.” Li Jianting raised a finger to touch the
calligraphy painting with Emperor Guangcheng’s imperial seal on
it. “You insisted on pursuing the accounts in spite of opposition on
the imperial court, and you did it all just to give me an opportunity
to win over the long-time ministers.”
Every matter had an order of importance and urgency. Han
Cheng and the Empress Dowager fell from power one after
another, and the noble clans had no one else to take up the
mantle. They were already showing signs of self-defeating fatigue,
one that would lead to its own collapse, and Xue Xiuzhou
understood it better than anyone else.
“You successively submitted memorials requesting to rescind
the Fei clan’s former rank of nobility, seal their properties for
confiscation, and execute their entire clan,” Li Jianting slid the pulp
of her finger around, dragging out fingerprints on the painting,
“which consequently caused the noble clans to be particularly
resentful towards you, and you did that also to give me the
opportunity to share a common enemy with them.”
The Fei clan of Dancheng, the Han clan of Wucheng, and the
Hua clan of Dicheng—these were the main forces of the noble clans
the Grand Secretariat and Xue Xiuzhuo assisted Li Jianting before
and after her ascension to the throne to expel in one go. Now that
they were forced to de-escalate the tension with the noble clans
owing to the threat from Zhongbo, someone had to shoulder the
responsibility for their past feud.
Li Jianting looked back and said, “Teacher means to sacrifice
himself to help me secure my throne.”
The palace lanterns at the corners of the eaves were finally lit,
and the faint light peeked through the beaded curtains to shine
upon Xue Xiuzhuo’s back in a mosaic of mottled light. His back was
skinny, and his official robe was old. He was like a pine nailed to
Qudu, standing unwaveringly in the wind.
He gazed at that painting and said, “To safeguard the state,
one should not begrudge the sacrifices made.”
It was said that those who posed a threat to the emperor at the
top and lorded it over the imperial court at the bottom were
ministers in power. Majority held a tight grip on an enormous
amount of power and did not comply with the rules of propriety.
They overstepped their authority and formed cliques. In this vein,
Hua Siqian was a minister in power. If Li Jianting was just as
indecisive and weak-willed as Emperor Xiande and Emperor
Tianchen had been, Xue Xiuzhuo could have opted to become a
minister in power too. However, Li Jianting was not.
 Perhaps, at certain points in time, Dazhou needed a gentle and
mild emperor, but not in the here and now, where the pack of
wolves were lying in wait for opportunities to strike. If Li Jianting
could not be strong-willed and decisive, then all she could do was
to be a puppet subjected to the manipulations of the court
ministers. In that case, she would be utterly unworthy of sitting here
on the throne.
“There are the imperial censors for admonishments and the
court ministers for government administration. Only the Imperial
College is not above the imperial court, yet it can help facilitate the
discussion of political affairs worldwide. If the reputation of the
imperial college is dependent on a single official, then he is the
wolf that can influence the sovereign’s policy-making decisions.
That is why this humble subject has to stand isolated from the
entire body of ministers.” Xue Xiuzhuo’s eyes were extremely calm.
His calm, however, was not like that of ordinary people. It was more
like he already knew of the path that lay ahead, and for that reason,
he would not budge even if the others were to cast stones at him or
spurn him.
A prestigious reputation might seem elusive, but in truth, it was
also the key to forming a political faction. Hai Liangyi never formed
cliques when he was alive. He did not even meet the court officials
after returning to his residence every day. But was he really
factionless? The gathering of those of humble origins, the political
orientation of the imperial college, and the fact that Yao Wenyu
could recruit all the virtuous talents in the world for Shen Zechuan,
all bore the mark of Hai Liangyi’s prestigious reputation at play.
Xue Xiuzhuo’s appraisals when he served as the Chief
Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue were all
outstanding. He rendered meritorious service in straightening up
Juexi and revitalizing its thirteen cities during the reign of Xiande,
and then he made meritorious achievements by auditing the field
taxes and returning the fields to the common folks during the reign
of Shengyin. He used this “reputation”, and he knew very well the
power of inciting “social movements”.
Li Jianting suddenly turned back and asked, “Does Teacher not
fear death?”
 To date, no one had ever asked Xue Xiuzhuo this question. He
looked at Li Jianting and answered, “Court officials die for the
state.”104
To safeguard the state, one should not begrudge the sacrifices
made.
Xue Xiuzhou did not begrudge this life of his and even this
lifetime’s worth of reputation—he could bear to give them all up.
Li Jianting was silent for a moment. “I respect Teacher, and I,
too, do not begrudge it.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Objects that do not hit its limit will not reverse its course; evil
that has not reached its peak will not meet its demise.”105
Yao Wenyu scribbled rapidly, his handwriting a scrawl. The
ground of the inner chamber was all paved with paper. His brush-
holding hand trembled ever so slightly. Finally, he abandoned the
brush and covered his lips to cough violently.
Opportunity, opportunity.
Qi Shiyu wanted the Qi clan to keep inheriting Qi Zhuyin’s
“Prince of Donglie” title. He was far more cautious than Xiao
Fangxu, and even at this point, he could still exercise patience to
observe the situation. Shen Zechuan had just won over the hearts
of the people from the six prefectures with the Duanzhou battle. To
completely disassociate himself from the two words “Shen Wei”, he
had to be benevolent and righteous to the end. So even when
Tantai Hu’s Dunzhou’s garrison troops arrived at the Beiyuan
military drill grounds, he could not take the first move to mobilize
troops. And besides, as long as Qi Zhuyin did not move, the
300,000-strong Qidong Garrison Troops would be a blade to the
south of Zhongbo.
Opportunity, opportunity.
The Prefectural Lord wanted an opportunity to completely
eradicate the latent threat.
The sound of Yao Wenyu’s coughs was short and urgent. No
longer holding the brush, he merely covered his mouth with a
handkerchief.
Qiao Tianya had only just arrived tonight, and the moment he
dismounted his horse and entered the courtyard, he heard the
coughing inside the room.
“Did no one prepare the medicine for Mister?” Fei Sheng asked
the maidservant in the courtyard.
“He only took half a bowl,” the maidservant answered in a soft-
spoken voice, “then he kept himself inside the room and said not
to disturb him.”
Qiao Tianya pushed the door open. The woolen rug was all
covered with fallen paper pages. Fei Sheng, who was following
behind, bent over to pick them up, only to see them crammed with
words all over. He could not help but blurt out in astonishment, “Is
Mister planning to author a book…”
Qiao Tianya was already in the inner chamber. Yao Wenyu’s
handkerchief was stained red. He shoved aside the wheelchair and
picked Yuanzhuo up in his arms.
To Fei Sheng, he said, “Call Jiran!”
For some reason, when Yao Wenyu tilted his head back, his
nose suddenly started bleeding. Qiao Tianya pulled away Yao
Wenyu’s hand, which had been covering his mouth and nose—it
was damp and cold.
By this time, it was already late in the night. Jiran had long
gone to bed.
Qiao Tianya did not dare to wait. With Yao Wenyu in his arms,
he leaped down the steps and ran towards Jiran’s courtyard.
With eyes half-closed, Yao Wenyu turned his head aside to
burrow into his chest, murmuring, “… Fei Sheng… pass the
message…”
Qiao Tianya ran until he was sweating all over. He reached out
a hand to cup the other side of Yao Wenyu’s face, as if he wanted to
hold Yuanzhuo down in his bosom.
Fei Sheng went on ahead and ascended the steps. Pounding
on the door, he shouted, “Open up! Wake the little monk up now!”
The young male servant watching the door did not dare to
tarry and ran to shout for Jiran after moving the latch out of the
way. Jiran was bundled up in his monk robe when he stepped out.
With eyes bleary from sleep, he said, “This humble monk does not
see patients at night—oh! What happened to Mister?!”
 By the time Shen Zechuan hurried over, it was almost dawn.
Dressed in a wide robe, he saw Yao Wenyu sleep soundly in the
inner chamber and motioned for everyone to head over to the side
hall.
“Expending yourself mentally can easily shorten your life,” Jiran
said. “The poison Mister is inflicted with is called ‘late return’. As the
name implies, it’s just the opposite of ‘swift pursuit’. This poison is
late to come and slow to disperse. It has been over a year now,
right?”
“It should be a year and a half now,” Fei Sheng still
remembered, “… starting from the time in Dancheng.”
Jiran set down the brush, put his palms together, and bowed to
Shen Zechuan, saying truthfully, “When this humble monk first saw
Mister, his wrists were already showing shades of blue. Your
Lordship, this humble monk can’t cure this poison and swift
pursuit.”
The color drained from all the faces in the side hall.
◈ ◈ ◈
In his trance, Yao Wenyu heard the sound of rain. He dreamed
of Mount Bodhi. It was as if he closed his eyes, all that greeted his
sight would be the endless rain. The cloudy fog among the
mountains covered the green bamboo from view. Mud stained his
sleeves as he stood in the face of the wind. He felt damp all over,
but he could not tell if it was his sweat, or the rain.
“A spring and an autumn106 have since passed with our last
parting.” The soughing of the bamboo sang behind him. Hai
Liangyi stood at a far distance. “And now Yuanzhuo is back.”
Yao Wenyu looked back. The refreshing breeze sent his wide
sleeves billowing. He greeted, “Teacher.”
Hai Liangyi stood with his hands behind his back. His short
beard had already gone white. He was not wearing his official
robe, just like the year he led Yao Wenyu by the hand into the
academy; there was even a zhaowen bag107 hung around his waist.
“I heard the wind rouse, and that was how I knew you were back.”

The soughing of the wind among the bamboo forest was too
loud. Hai Liangyi’s figure lay concealed within, leaving only Yao
Wenyu standing alone. The mountain fog was dense. Yao Wenyu
looked into the far distance at the imperial palace in Qudu. He
once climbed to a high spot to look far out, but he only saw the
picturesque mountain scenery in the twilight. It was only now that
he realized just how vast and expansive the world was.
“Wait for me, Teacher,” Yao Wenyu said. “Once the rain stops…”
The sound of the zither suddenly rang out. The scene before
Yao Wenyu’s eyes vanished, and he landed back onto this bed of
his. The partially covered window kept out the sunlight. He did not
have the sensation of waking up when he opened his eyes; on the
contrary, he felt as if he had fallen into a dream. Several times, he
closed his eyes. Eventually, he said, “Songyue, it’s already the hour
of si.”
Qiao Tianya pressed down on the zither strings and said, “You
have gone all confused from a messed up sleep schedule. Don’t
you usually call me Qiao Tianya?”
“The moon over the pines108 lends to the chill of the night; the
wind and the spring,109 in a melodious chorus, sing.” Yao Wenyu
said. “This name is too lonely.”110
“I once had a friend named Shao Fengquan.” Qiao Tianya
strummed the zither strings, which elicited a series of random
sounds but did not form a tune. “A pity he died.”
Yao Wenyu listened to that disarray of zither sounds and asked,
“You play the zither. Does he play it too?”
“I don’t remember anymore,” Qiao Tianya said. “The only one
who can play the zither for you, however, can only be me, Qiao
Tianya.”
Yao Wenyu looked at him. “You have yet to teach me the tune
you were going to teach me back then during our first encounter in
spring.”
Qiao Tianya stopped and looked at Yao Wenyu as he
answered, “It’s still not too late now.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuyi did not give a clear account. The residences of those
merchants were all empty. Qudu required proof of household
registration for access in and out of the city. The Capital Command
Troops kept guard for three days, but they never did find those
people. These merchants who had wantonly squandered their
money on Donglong Street seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Kong Qiu received Xue Xiuzhuo’s request in the office
compound. He set the teacup down and considered it for a
moment. “Let him go.”
When the official returning his reply left, Cen Yu said from
opposite him, “I fear it’s inappropriate to let Xue Xiuzhuo have a
hand in this case at present.”
“This matter concerns the inner court, and the amount of silver
involved is large. After the Ministry of Justice formulates the
charges, they will definitely want a joint trial by the Three Judicial
Offices.” Kong Qiu picked up the teacup again. “Xue Xiuzhuo is the
Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister. Since he has not been
suspended from duty, he has the authority to supervise and
investigate.”
“Xue Xiuyi is his eldest brother, after all. He ought to avoid
drawing suspicion to himself.” Cen Yu held his knees. “Furthermore,
the amount of memorials impeaching him are increasing of late.”
“Not that I’m insinuating anything, but Xunyi, the Chief
Surveillance Bureau ought to be dealt with too.” Kong Qiu took
several sips of tea. “It’s not wrong to impeach Xue Xiuyi for
corruption and bribery that day on the imperial court, but dragging
in Xue Xiuzhuo inevitably makes it look like there’s personal grudge
at play too. Look at those words spouted; every single one is
groundless.”
“Xue Xiuzhuo is a man of extraordinary merits, and he comes
from a noble clan,” Cen Yu said. “Those who hate him are only all
too anxious to trample on him. If Her Majesty had been willing to
rebuke him a word or two when dealing with Xue Xiuyi, it wouldn’t
have gone as far as to cause such a mass outrage.”
Unable to taste the tea in his mouth, Kong Qiu set down the
teacup and said after a moment of silence, “To begin with, a direct
remonstration is not the way to go for this matter. Xue Xiuzhuo
audited the field taxes and returned the fields to the commoners in
the cities of Dancheng, Wucheng, and Chuancheng. Yongcheng
suffered a drought this year, and Jiang Qingshan encountered
difficulties in trying to borrow grains, begging from all quarters in
Qudu. Even so, both of them did not touch the grains allocated to
the common folks of the three cities. The people all remember him,
and they are even willing to erect a longevity tablet111 to honor him
at home. Her Majesty has only just refuted his memorial to continue
pursuing the field taxes, and to ease the situation, she rewarded
Jiang Qingshan. If she were to censure Xue Xiuzhuo now because
of that scoundrel Xue Xiuyi, the people of the three cities would
object. Besides, it’s common knowledge that Xue Xiuzhuo and Xue
Xiuyi are on bad terms with one another, and they have long
divided up the family properties to live apart. You imperial censors
want Her Majesty to dismiss Xue Xiuzhuo from office pending an
investigation because of this matter, but if Her Majesty did as you
asked, wouldn’t she be cold-hearted and ungrateful for casting him
aside once he has served his purpose? Xue Xiuyi colluded with
Fuman to commit embezzlement and bribery, and Her Majesty
immediately ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate. She has
not shown any intent to shield Xue Xiuyi for Xue Xiuzhuo’s sake
either. Investigate what ought to be investigated and kill those who
ought to be killed. You can’t push others into too tight a corner.”
Cen Yu could tell from Kong Qiu’s words that he meant to
protect Xue Xiuzhuo, so he said, “The imperial censor remonstrated
only because he feared Her Majesty will show favoritism and side
with Xue Xiuzhuo. If Her Majesty listens to Xue Xiuzhuo in every
matter, it will mess up the order of hierarchy between the sovereign
and her subjects. Besides, Her Majesty showed favor towards
Fuman a few days ago, but didn’t Fuman forget his place and do
wrong still?”
Kong Qiu pointed at Cen Yu. “That’s right. It’s because Her
Majesty favored and trusted Fuman that Fuman would commit one
mistake after another, but this time, you’re not seeing it clearly. Let
me ask you, who is Fuman? He was on good terms with Xiao Chiye
at the beginning, yet he could switch allegiances to Han Cheng
and lured Xiao Chiye into the palace, and he could also turn
around and kill Han Cheng for the sake of his own future prospects
and life—the poisoning case was left inconclusive; Her Majesty
might not have pursued it, but she is no fool. Fuman is highly
reputable among the inner court yamen, and his godsons and
god-grandsons are everywhere. Most importantly, he is a eunuch
with power and influence who has served in two reigns, waiting in
attendance by the Son of Heaven’s side. He holds the endorsement
rights112 that will permit him to reject the Grand Secretariat’s
memorandums. Right now, Her Majesty is the prime of her life, but
what about after? Any oversight while retaining such a vile
character by the side will result in physical harm or worse, the ruin
of state foundation! Even if Her Majesty doesn’t kill him, I will kill
him!”
As Kong Qiu spoke, he stood up and paced a couple of steps.
“Shen Zechuan mass deployed troops to the Beiyuan military
drill grounds. How long can the 40,000 new soldiers in Qudu hold
up for? We have to ask Commander-in-chief Qi to mobilize troops
to come to Her Majesty’s aid. When Commander-in-chief Qi sent
troops to fight the Qingshu Tribe the last time, Xue Xiuzhuo was the
one who forked out the military salaries and provisions, and now
that we want to get past Tianfei Watchtower to fight Zhongbo, we
still have to ask Xue Xiuzhuo for the military salaries and
provisions!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The warden from the Ministry of Justice was familiar with Xue
Xiuzhuo and opened the doors for him. “Is Your Excellency here to
see Custodian Xue? As long as you have a memorandum, I’ll go
open the doors now.”
Xue Xiuzhuo looked along the warden’s arm for just a fleeting
moment before he withdrew his gaze and said, “I am here to see
Yingxi.”
The warden did not ask too many questions. After looking
through the memorandum, he led Xiu Xiuzhuo inside and
unlocked the cell door for him. “As Yingxi-gonggong still has an
ongoing case, he is not locked up with the others. Your Excellency,
this way.”
Xue Xiuzhuo lowered his head and entered the cramped,
narrow cell.
Yingxi’s prisoner attire was filthy, and he had been tortured. At
present, he was lying inside with his arms and legs curled up. On
hearing movements, he shuddered and jolted up into a sitting
position, covering his head as he cowered out of the way and
shouted, “I’m guilty, guilty! Don’t hit me!”
Xue Xiuzhuo looked around.
Yingxi saw Xue Xiuzhuo through the gap between his arms and
immediately scrambled off the bed to kneel at his feet and
pleaded, “Your Excellency, is Your Excellency here to investigate
the case? I’m guilty! Guilty!” Shaking the chains, he pointed at his
own face. “But this time I was wrongly accused!”
He clenched at Xue Xiuzhuo’s official robe until it was all
creased.
Xue Xiuzhuo lowered his eyes to look at Yingxi. “A final
judgment has not been reached for your crimes yet. I’m going to
ask you a few questions. If you can answer me truthfully, I will put in
a mitigation plea to the officials from the Ministry of Justice.”
Yingxi hurriedly nodded, his gaze following Xue Xiuzhuo as he
answered, “I will tell you all I know! Everything I did was all at the
Lao-zuzong’s behest!”
“Who was the one who sent you to Qidong to supervise the
army?”
“The, the former emperor…” Yingxi answered. “The former
emperor sent me to Qidong to supervise the army, and the Lao-
zuzong was the one who recommended me for it. The Lao-zuzong
said with us father and son on the inside and the outside, we will
no longer have to worry about our meals, nor put ourselves at other
people’s beck and call.”
Xue Xiuzhuo continued to ask, “Were you the one who
swapped out the military grains in the Bianjun Commandery?”
How would Yingxi have expected Xue Xiuzhuo to ask about
this? He released his grip and started cowering back, his gaze
evasive as he hedged, “I’m merely an army-supervising eunuch…
how would I dare to swap the military grains…” He looked at Xue
Xiuzhuo’s displeased expression and unexpectedly blurted out to
implicate other people, “I… I did not force that Lu Guangbai to
defect!”
Xue Xiuzhuo bent over to grab Yingxi’s arm. He probed again,
“Were you the one who swapped out the military grains in the
Bianjun Commandery?”
 Yingxi’s breathing was short and urgent. Unable to avoid it, he
could only wipe his tears and snot and answered with deep
remorse, “This matter really isn’t up to me, Your Excellency, Your
Excellency! I only knew that I had to swap the grain wagons, but
who knew it was all moldy rice inside! If I had known it beforehand,
I would not have dared to switch it even if you endowed me with
ten guts!” When he spoke to this point, he recalled the constant
fear and anxiety he had been under this year and could not help
but shed tears as he sniveled, “The Lao-zuzong has really put me in
hot water! Commander-in-chief Qi took me into custody. I, I’m just
the scapegoat taking the blame for Fuman. He has a guilty
conscience, so naturally, he wanted to save me.”
Xue Xiuzhuo had been investigating the Bianjun
Commandery’s military grains case all this time. There were no
problems with all the Ministry of War officials involved. It was only
until Yingxi re-entered the palace that he remembered the army-
supervising eunuch.
Scorpion!
Xue Xiuzhuo stared at Yingxi as he asked, “What are you
planning to do by entering the palace?”
Yingxi shook his head vigorously, his face a wretched sight as
he choked with sobs and answered, “It’s not me, not me! It was
really at Fuman’s behest that I entered the palace this time. Your
Excellency, he wrote a letter to me in the sixth month, wanting me
to take care of the flowers and plants in his courtyard on his behalf.
He was waiting to use them in the ninth month to win his master’s
favor! I really came here this time to deliver the flowers!”
“You people have been hiding in Qudu.” Xue Xiuzhuo raised his
voice. “Who else do you still want to kill?”
Yingxi’s arm was hurting from Xue Xiuzhuo’s grip. He bawled, “I
don’t know! I don’t know! I was wrongly accused!”
“How about Shen Zechuan?” The expression in Xue Xiuzhuo’s
eyes grew increasingly grim. “Is Shen Zechuan a Scorpion too?”
Yingxi shook his head haphazardly as he struggled. “I have
nothing to do with the rebels! I swear to Heaven, I’m in no way
associated with the rebels!”
 “Was Xiao Chiye’s nomination of Fuman into office also
instigated by Shen Zechuan?”
In the instant Yingxi pushed and shoved at Xue Xiuzhuo, Xue
Xiuzhuo felt a chill creep down his spine. Things that he could not
figure out now all seemed to click together.
“And that relay report that told on Wei Huaigu.” The expression
in Xue Xiuzhuo’s eyes was terrifying. “You eunuchs were the one
who swapped the tags and had the Ministry of Justice switched to
the Ministry of Revenue. The aim was to make Wei Huaigu turn
himself in. You were cutting off the tail to keep the Scorpions safe. It
was Fuman… It was the eunuchs!”
No wonder there were no traces to be found on the imperial
court.
◈ ◈ ◈
Fuman had his head lowered as he gasped for breath when a
bucket of salt water suddenly splashed over his face. He was
wounded all over, and the pain caused him to yell out, but as his
limbs were all bound, he could only cuss at the top of his voice, “—
You son of a bitch!”
Fengquan threw aside the bucket and scoffed, “You’re no
decent cur either.”
“It’s all because of you,” Fuman’s voice was shrill, “that I’m in
such dire straits today!”
“You did it to yourself.” Fengquan smacked Fuman’s face
condescendingly. “Just a mere few years old bastard, and you dare
to call yourself the Lao-zuzong. Seems to me you’re tired of living.”
Fuman could not hold his face straight from Fengquan’s smack.
Such a smack like this that used moderate strength did not hurt like
a slap would, but it was much more humiliating. Blood saturated
Fuman’s mouth. Spewing a mouthful of blood, he said, “Just you
wait. Her Majesty—”
“Wait for Her Majesty to raid your properties and execute your
family.” Fengquan leaned in and whispered, “Do you think no one
knows you poisoned Her Majesty? You set me up and had me
thrown into prison, so anxious were you for me to die. Do you think
Her Majesty can’t see through you?” He started laughing oddly, as
if he loathed Fuman to the death. “Once your family is wiped, we
can move on to all nine generations of your clan.”
Fuman spat out a few mouthfuls of teeth that had come loose
and said, “Bull-fucking-shit, you despicable thing! It wasn’t me…”
Gasping heavily for breath, he tilted his head back and shouted, “It
wasn’t me!”
“Who else can it be if not you?” Fengquan took several steps
back. “You were the one who received Han Cheng’s ‘swift pursuit’.
Han Cheng gave it to you, wanting you to add it to Her Majesty’s
meal. Once she was killed, the Capital Command Troops would
immediately be able to kill the officials of the Grand Secretariat on
grounds of rushing to the emperor’s aid. So you poisoned Her
Majesty’s food and almost killed her.”
“I know my own limits…” Fuman was so resentful his voice
trembled. As he looked at Fengquan’s expression, his eyes
gradually widened. “It’s you… You were the one who added the
poison…”
Fuman was in two minds between Li Jianting and the noble
clans. He did not dare to disobey Han Cheng, but he did not dare
to poison Li Jianting for real either; thus, he had “swift pursuit”
swapped over to a common poison, and he only added a little, so
it was not all that deadly.
Fengquan, whose face lay concealed in the darkness, revealed
his pearly white teeth. “You are the Lao-zuzong, the great forefather.
I am the little zuzong.”113
Fuman wished with a vehemence to tear Fengquan apart with
his hands. Clanging the chains hard, he snapped, “Yingxi is your
bitch!”
“Tsk.” Fengquan made nothing of Fuman. “The one who
brought him up single-handedly is the ‘Lao-zuzong’. He’s so
overwhelmed with gratitude for you he doesn’t acknowledge me at
all.”
“I have been wronged…” Fuman could not hold back his cries
as he wailed sorrowfully, “Your Majesty, I am innocent!”
Unaccustomed to the stench of blood, Fengquan covered his
nose as he advised, “Since you have confessed to it all, I will
present your statement as is to Her Majesty.” He turned around and
summoned the warden in. “The Lao-zuzong is advanced in age.
Don’t apply any more heavy torture. The various excellencies have
yet to declare him guilty, so we must follow procedures. He keeps
threatening suicide, and I fear he will bite off his tongue to kill
himself before he can even be beheaded.”
That former subordinate from the Eastern Depot was advanced
in age too. Bowing to Fengquan’s wish, he snickered, “We are
experts at this, so don’t worry, Feng-gonggong. I guarantee he will
live until his execution. As for biting off his tongue to kill himself, all
we have to do is to just have to cut off his tongue to preempt it, isn’t
it?”
Fengquan looked back and replied, “Then I shall have to
trouble you.”
Fuman watched the eunuch approach and cried out in terror,
“Without permission from the Ministry of Justice, how dare you,
how dare all of you—”
The door slammed shut with a loud clank.
◈ ◈ ◈
It was night.
Xue Xiuzhuo was waiting in the office compound for Kong Qiu’s
official reply in writing. He wanted to see Fuman tonight, so he had
to have the memorandum from the Grand Secretary. This was long
past working hours, but the Grand Secretariat had yet to break off
for a rest due to the increase of troops at the Beiyuan military drill
grounds.
“Fuman tried to bite off his tongue to commit suicide yesterday,
and a merciless official114 took matters into his own hand and cut
off his tongue.” Kong Qiu took time away from his hectic paperwork
and said to Xue Xiuzhuo, “Even if you go now, you can’t get
anything out of him. Fortunately, they recorded his confession
statement before they applied the torture. Should you wish to take
a look at it, I’ll get the Ministry of Justice to pass it to you.”
Xue Xiuzhuo froze for a moment when he took the memorial,
then frowned and asked, “How can he take matters into his own
hands when it is a matter of this magnitude? Who was the official
who applied the torture?”
 “A young man in the prime of his youth.” Kong Qiu frowned
too. “That was really one ruthless move. The Ministry of Justice has
already dismissed him from office.”
Such a coincidence?
Xue Xiuzhuo turned his head to the side. “I’ll go take a look—”
“Put everything else aside first!” Cen Yu ran through the door all
drenched in sweat; even the sides of his temples were soaked
through. He stuffed a paper he was clenching before Kong Qiu and
said in an urgent tone, “Boran, look. Isn’t this a disaster?!”
◈ ◈ ◈
“The reigning emperor comes from the common people. Who
can truly prove without a doubt that her lineage is authentic? We
only have Xue Xiuzhuo’s words for it!” Rumors in the streets spread
fast. In the course of a night, almost everyone was holding that
paper of unknown origin. “Xue Xiuzhuo can’t be trusted either. Just
look at his eldest brother, Xue Xiuyi. What is he? The national rat
that almost made the Grand Secretary pass out from anger.”
“Didn’t they all say that the current emperor looks like Emperor
Yongyi?”115 An old man with a walking stick craned his neck. “The
various excellencies from the Grand Secretariat have given the nod
too.”
This teahouse was in a mess. Ge Qingqing stroked his newly
grown beard as he said, “Yeah, and the little girl from that butcher
household in front looks like the former emperor too! It has been
over ten years since Emperor Yongyi was alive. Don’t they all have
two eyes and one mouth when it really comes down to it? Seems to
me like everyone here resembles him too.”
The students gathered around and read that piece of paper
through. Each of them had their own ideas on the topic, and after
several disputes, they actually went so far as to come to blows.
“The Xue clan dominates the imperial court, and you people
are conspirators who are his accomplices in evil! You’re all sinners
of Dazhou, condemned through the ages!” A student’s spittle
spewed all over. “The national rat has already shown his face, and
Her Majesty still doesn’t bring the Xue clan to justice. If this is not
fear of them, then what?!”
 “Xue, Xue…” The other party, who was being yanked by the
collar in a crowd so crammed he was tottering, crumpled the torn
paper in his hands and lifted it up high. “His Honorable Excellency
Xue audited the field taxes and returned the fields to the common
people. Who among us here can do that? You are all just
despicable people slandering him! You people are the real sinners
of Dazhou! Her Majesty did not punish His Honorable Excellency
Xue because…”
“Screw your motherfucking balls!”
“Why are you people so insufferably vulgar?!”
Tables and chairs were thrown into disarray as the students
traded blows with one another. Brushes and inkstones were
knocked all over the ground. One misstep was all it took to end up
in ink from head to toe. Doors and windows clattered noisily as the
students bumped into them. A headmaster hurried in to calm the
situation, but he had not even shouted a word when the repeated
bumps and shoves from the students jostled him out of the door.
“Call for the Capital Command Troops,” the headmaster lifted
the hem of his robe and stomped his foot as he urged. He was in
such a state of anxiety that his neck was flushed red and he was
sweating profusely. “Hurry, call the Capital Command Troops over!
People are going to get killed!”
“His Honorable Excellency Xue is the beacon of light whose
glory shines throughout the annals of history; he is a loyal subject!”
Shreds of paper fluttered all over the air. A student stepped onto
the chair and table to stand at a high spot, where he pointed all
around him. “You people persecute loyal subjects based on a piece
of unfounded nonsense. The state and society will be ruined at the
hands of you vile…” He had yet to finish his sentence when an
inkstone hurtling at him smashed into his head.
“It is indeed true that Xue Xiuyi colluded with the eunuchs to
steal and sell treasures from the palace granaries.” The fired-up
students could no longer tell who around them was in whose
camp. “Xue Xiuzhuo is a rat too!”
The table flipped over with a thud, and the student lost his
footing and fell to the ground. Before he could scramble to his feet,
he was trampled upon by the jostling crowd of students.
 “Don’t hurt others.” A few teachers from the sides pulled at the
students. “You must not hurt the others!”
“What’s happening here…” The schoolmaster slapped his
thigh, his tears coursing down his aged face. “Stop it now!”
◈ ◈ ◈
The tinkling sound of the zither lingered in a never-ending
loop in the air. Yao Wenyu played very slowly. The red thread on his
wrist swayed at the opening of his sleeves. He had strummed away
at the strings until his fingers turned red.
Qiao Tianya pressed down on the zither strings and said, “You
missed a part.”
Without waiting for Yao Wenyu to ask, he plucked a few strings
beside Yao Wenyu’s hand. Yao Wenyu, however, could still not
remember it, so Qiao Tianya took Yao Wenyu’s hand and led him
into maneuvering the strings.
Yao Wenyu raised his eyes to look at him. “Have you ever
taught others like this before?” He asked.
Qiao Tianya’s palm was scalding hot, although when he
smiled, it was still as carefree and unfettered. He cast a glance at
Yao Wenyu and answered, “I did. Many of them.”
“And no one ever told you,” Yao Wenyu said, “that you’re
holding too tight?”
“Perhaps someone did,” Qiao Tianya said, “but I don’t
remember.”
“You forget fast.” The back of Yao Wenyu’s hand gradually rose
in temperature too. “It’s a good habit to have.”
Qiao Tianya looked back at Yao Wenyu. In this brief exchange
of gaze, he suddenly reached over the small table and kissed Yao
Wenyu on the lips. The leaves in the courtyard rustled as they fell
and landed on Qiao Tianya’s back. He raised a hand to secure Yao
Wenyu’s chin in place.
The taste of medicine was bitter, as was Yao Wenyu.
This bitterness sprang from between their lips and tongues and
dissolved in his chest, becoming a piercing pain. Qiao Tianya
found it painful, and he thought the same for Yao Wenyu. As they
kissed, he caressed Yao Wenyu’s cheeks, as if he had never
touched Yao Wenyu in such a way before and wanted to make up
for it now.
“Do you have something to say to me?” Qiao Tianya stopped
and touched the bridge of his nose with Yao Wenyu’s.
“You’re lying.” Yao Wenyu’s pale face broke into a smile. “I’m
your first student.”
Qiao Tianya smiled too.
“Qiao Tianya.” Yao Wenyu raised his fingers to touch Qiao
Tianya’s eyes. “Seek not great merit in life, but a safe and smooth-
sailing life blessed with honor, prosperity, and happiness. I wish
you a life of great success116 and longevity.”
Qiao Tianya’s expression remained unchanged, but the rims of
his eyes had gone red. “Why don’t you wish me luck in finding a
good match and be blessed with a household full of children and
grandchildren?”
Yao Wenyu did not wish to say.
“You’re lying too,” Qiao Tianya said. “You already knew how to
play this tune.”
“Yuanzhuo has kept his spring date with you this life.” Yao
Wenyu retracted his hand. “I have no more regrets.”
The wind brushed past them, sending both of their sleeves and
robes fluttering.
They were clearly this close together, and yet, they were so very
far apart.

Credit: Thanks to Katie82 and fukixie for spotting the typo! <3
 ♢ CHAPTER 269: METASTASIS♢

Not even the ban imposed by the imperial court could stop the
gossip from spreading like wildfire around Qudu. Everyone in the
streets and alleys, pleasure quarters and teahouses were all
discussing the female emperor’s birth origins. The city gates were
sealed off, but the rumor still made its way to the eight cities and
was now spreading to Juexi.
“Have the Capital Command Troops seal the gates as soon as
possible,” Kong Qiu said during the discussion in Mingli Hall. “The
news must not be indiscriminately spread! The Imperial College
caused such a commotion the Capital Command Troops had to
intervene. Chengbi is a long-time minister. He knows how to
handle the situation.”
Shao Chengbi kneeled before the emperor’s desk. The new
official robe he was wearing fitted him, but his hair was all white,
and he did not look at all like a military general. His voice was very
hoarse as he said, “It’s not the first time the students have stirred up
trouble. It’s hard to get a right handle on it. My fear is that it might
just end up adding fuel to the fire when the soldiers arrive.”
“Even so, you have to intervene.” Cen Yu stood up. He was an
imperial censor, so he naturally understood the stakes involved.
“Public opinions can obscure the truth, and repeated slanders can
bring about one’s ruin!”
Li Jianting did not sleep last night. She sat behind her table
and drank strong tea, finishing it in a few mouthfuls. “I have a clear
conscience, but the way the rumors started this time is fishy. Who
exactly wrote that paper? Does the Ministry of Justice still not have
a clue?”
“It’s being copied all over now,” Kong Qiu said. “We don’t know
whose handwriting it is.”
“It’s true that there is nowhere to trace the handwriting.” Xue
Xiuzhuo looked at Cen Yu. “But Your Excellency Cen, please take a
look at this article again carefully.”
Cen Yu was burning up with anxiety when he saw this piece of
paper last night, so where would he have the time to look it over
carefully? On hearing Xue Xiuzhuo say so, however, he took over
the article and read it again. After looking at it for a while, he
suddenly jolted to his feet and took a few steps while holding the
article in hand. “The article that made paper expensive117 in Qudu a
few years ago was the ‘Lamentation of Chashi’. This article seemed
to be from the same hand as the ‘Lamentation of Chashi’.”
Kong Qiu vaguely remembered such a person and said
hesitantly, “Is it that…”
“The ‘Eloquent Brush’ Gao Shenwei.” Cen Yu turned back. “It’s
Gao Zhongxiong!”
Gao Zhongxiong had grandiose ambitions but little skill. He
served as Han Jin’s aide in Qudu and caused the Eight Great
Training Divisions to end up getting trounced by Xiao Chiye. Han
Cheng meant to deal with him at that time, and Gao Zhongxiong
struggled to keep himself alive in Dancheng. Who could have
expected him to eventually throw in his lot with Shen Zechuan?!
“What’s of top priority now is not only to stifle the rumors but
also to convince Commander-in-chief Qi to mobilize troops as soon
as possible,” Kong Qiu said. “Shen Zechuan has the 120,000
garrison troops of Zhongbo in his grasp. No matter what, we
cannot fight them head-on when it comes to military strength.”
“I have already issued an edict to Qidong,” Li Jianting said,
“telling the Prince of Donglie to send troops across Tianfei
Watchtower to launch a direct assault on Dengzhou.”
Zhongbo had no reinforcements. Shen Zechuan dispatched the
Dunzhou garrison troops over to Cizhou and left the Imperial
Cavalry to guard Duanzhou, leaving Fanzhou and Dengzhou
inevitably empty.
“There’s no need to panic just yet,” Chen Zhen said. “The
Zhongbo garrison troops are newly established too. Shen Zechuan
only has the Dunzhou and Cizhou garrison troops available for use.
He doesn’t even dare to mobilize the Chazhou garrison troops
rashly. Chengbi, the 40,000 Capital Command Troops are at your
disposal. We are practically evenly matched with Shen Zechuan!”
“I’m worried Shen Zechuan still has something up his sleeve.” Li
Jianting rose to help up Shao Chengbi. “All I can do now is entrust
Qudu to Viceroy Shao.”
“This old subject shall sacrifice my life to repay Your Majesty’s
kindness.” Shao Chengbi limped. “There is no time to lose. This old
subject will head out of the city tonight on horseback and hurry
over to Dancheng, but before I leave, I have a favor to ask.”
As Li Jianting looked at Shao Chengbi’s aged face, she
suddenly felt a surge of emotions for some unknown reason.
Supporting Shao Chengbi by the arm, she said in an emotional
moment, “This battle is dangerous. Regardless of success or failure,
as long as I am still here, I will definitely redress the injustice
Viceroy Shao has suffered.”
“This old subject is already old. It’s all because of the favor Your
Majesty showed me that I can still do my utmost for my country. As
for the rest, I will leave it to fate.” Shao Chengbi’s expression was
grave and solemn. “This old subject would like to request to open
up the Chunquan Battalion armory.”
Li Jianting was slightly taken aback.
“Chunquan Battalion is equipped with firearms,” Shao Chengbi
said. “This old subject would like to take this batch of firearms with
me.”
“You have my approval.” Li Jianting promptly turned around
and called for Fengquan to bring the wine over. She personally
poured a cup for Shao Chengbi. “I shall wait in Qudu for Viceroy
Shao to return in victory!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Gao Zhongxiong set down his brush and said to Yao Wenyu,
“In Yuanzhuo’s opinion, how will Qudu fight this battle?”
 “First, quell the rumors, then persuade Commander-in-chief Qi
to mobilize troops,” Yao Wenyu turned his wheelchair to the other
end of the table and spread out the map, “and have Shao Chengbi
guard Dancheng. Xue Xiuzhuo will certainly make an issue of His
Lordship’s background. He wants a justifiable reason to dispatch
troops too.”
“There are indeed 40,000 garrison troop soldiers still left in
Fanzhou and Dengzhou, but they are all new recruits, so we can
only wait for Huo Lingyun to rush over to provide reinforcement.”
Zhou Gui was a little worried as he sighed with emotion. “Xue
Xiuzhuo returned the fields to the commoners. He has an excellent
reputation in Dancheng. If the imperial court were to bring up Shen
Wei, it’d be hard for us to counterattack.”
Kong Ling then said, “They bestowed beneficence upon the
three cities, but our benefactions extend to the six prefectures. His
Lordship’s contributions in the three territories are all tangible
accomplishments. It’s not something the new emperor can
compare to. We were also the ones who joined forces with Libei
and Qidong to win over the Chashi River’s line of defense. Second
Master has also made illustrious military achievements in bringing
peace and stability to the Bianjun Commandery and advancing
east into the desert. Zhongbo and Libei are unbeatable in terms of
achievements.”
Shen Zechuan sat alone in the principal seat, looking pensive.
“There is one more matter I can’t figure out. The issue of
commoners’ fields in the three cities has just been settled,” Zhou
Gui pointed at Qudu. “However, the number of commoners forced
to leave their homes for Zhongbo is still increasing instead of
decreasing. What is the reason for this?”
“The noble clans have had jurisdiction over the eight cities for a
long time. The so-called encroachment on the commoners’ fields
doesn’t just refer to the eight great clans. The reason why the
Grand Mentor implemented the census register system118 back
then was exactly to curb any attempts at field encroachment. The
three cities of Dancheng, Wucheng, and Chuancheng had indeed
straightened out their field taxes, but this sum of field tax was also
forcibly imposed and collected by the Pan, Han, and Fei clans. In
other words, there are still many ‘bandits’, who are affiliated with
the noble clans but are not of noble birth themselves, stealing the
commoners’ fields, and they continue to make the common folks
pay for this shortfall.” Yao Wenyu looked at Shen Zechuan. “Since
the noble clans have the name of ‘chronic ailment’ and ‘deeply-
rooted malady’, they cannot be easily eradicated.”
“Yuanzhuo has hit the nail on the head.” Shen Zechuan lifted
the lid to open up the teacup and covered it again. “It’s not hard to
implement the census register. The real difficulty lies in accounting
for the yearly cumulative total, which requires internal regulations
of government affairs and supervision in the data entry and
submission of the reports. The selection of local officials in the
various areas is also a top priority. Qudu has been caught up in the
tussles between political factions in recent years, and those from
the noble clans and those of humble origins have each suffered
losses. By the time the new emperor ascended to the throne, the
imperial court was empty and the key positions, vacant. Even if Xue
Xiuzhuo does his utmost to turn the tide and save the desperate
situation, he cannot do it alone.”
“Qudu can’t even pay the monthly salaries now,” Kong Ling
said, “and they still have to bear the military expenses of the
40,000-strong Capital Command Troops. The longer it stretches on,
the more strapped they will be. The commoners can’t prosper, and
the silver treasury in Xue Xiuzhuo’s hands will not make it past
winter this year.”
“At this stage,” Shen Zechuan said, “we are fighting a war of
words. Let’s see how Qudu responds.”
The bamboo blinds rose gently, and Fei Sheng entered with a
letter in hand. “Master, a letter from Second Master has arrived.”
Seeing as it was already late, Kong Ling rose with Zhou Gui and
Gao Zhongxiong in tow and said to Shen Zechuan, “It’s too late
today, and Your Lordship ought to retire for the night too, so we
shall take our leave first.”
Shen Zechuan waited for them to leave one after another
before opening Xiao Chiye’s letter. The moment the paper was
spread open, a few tiny paper-folded wolves dropped out.
My wife, treat this letter as you would my person.
 Shen Zechuan brushed his fingers over this line.
This expedition is dangerless. The Armored Cavalry has
already arrived at Mosanchuan. We can reach Amu’er native place
in the eleventh month. With the Huiyan Tribe as an example of the
benefits of the mutual frontier trade, I have drawn over three desert
tribes to our side, hoping to exhaust the combined strength of the
three tribes to attack the bald vultures together. The provisions are
ample, and the sweet potatoes are filling. The only thing, though, is
that Lu Guangbai is way too noisy. If I can emerge victorious in one
battle, I will be able to rush back home to spend the new year with
you. Miss you.
Shen Zechuan looked at the bottom, where Xiao Chiye had
used charcoal to scrawl a dark, starry night sky. Shen Zechuan read
the few short lines repeatedly for a very long time. The candlelight
shone upon the paper-cut window decoration. The night in Cizhou
could still be considered refreshingly cool, but autumn was already
setting in to the east of the Chashi River. Mosanchuan – or the
Three Rivers of the Desert – were all barren shores with harsh
sandstorms. He wondered if Xiao Chiye would be thin when he
returned.
All the thousands upon thousands of words Shen Zechuan had
to say dissolved into that phrase, “miss you”.
There was another official letter sealed with the commander’s
seal behind Xiao Chiye’s letter from home. Shen Zechuan opened it
to find that it was a letter from Lu Guangbai.
◈ ◈ ◈
Several days later, the sound of horses’ hooves broke the
silence. The cold night had not yet awoken. The man who reined in
the horse produced his own authority token and shouted at the
soldiers guarding the camp. “Tally of urgency119 from the express
dispatch station!120 Hurry up and open the gates. I want to see the
Prince of Donglie!”
Qi Zhuyin already had a premonition when she draped her
clothes around herself. She lifted the curtains and stepped out,
where she saw the authentication token from the express dispatch
station against the cobalt blue sky.
“Military report?” She asked.
 “Military report!” The official from the express dispatch station
dismounted his horse and kneeled to pay his obeisance. In a loud
voice, he said, “The Ministry of War has specially authorized the
Prince of Donglie, Qi Zhuyin, to dispatch troops to Dengzhou to
crush the Zhongbo rebels immediately!”
Qi Zhuyin pursed her lips lightly. She did not immediately
answer.
The official from the express dispatch station then stood up and
lifted the tally high. “As per the imperial decree, Her Majesty has
appointed the Prince of Donglie to dispatch troops! “
“There are 40,000 Capital Command Troops right in
Dancheng,” Qi Zhuyin said. “Why is Shao Chengbi not making a
move? Tianfei Watchtower is a key natural barrier of Dazhou. Each
time my troops pass through, it will deplete several tens of
thousands in military salaries.”
“The Grand Secretariat has already given an official reply in
writing to the Ministry of War; Qidong’s military salaries will arrive
in a few days.” The official had an oblong face shape. Formerly
Shao Chengbi’s old subordinate, he had come to ask Qi Zhuyin to
deploy troops. He continued, neither obsequious nor supercilious,
“The ambitions of the band of traitorous rebels are all too clear.
Viceroy Shao’s stationing of his troops in Dancheng is, in fact, to
guard Qudu. The traitor from the Shen clan is presently diverting
his troops to Cizhou. His back is empty. As long as the Prince of
Donglie sends troops, you can attack them from the front and the
rear simultaneously with Viceroy Shao to besiege and annihilate
the rebels.”
Qi Zhuyin did not answer.
The official pressed in a step closer. He wore a yellow belt
bestowed by the emperor around his waist, along with a renowned
blade bestowed by the emperor. Qi Wei promptly strode forth to
stand before Qi Zhuyin and berated, “Remove your blade on
seeing the prince!”
“My blade was bestowed by the Son of Heaven.” The official
was not in the slightest afraid as he said coldly, “The rebels are
threatening Qudu, and they have already forced their way before
the emperor, so why is the Prince of Donglie unwilling to deploy
troops to come to Her Majesty’s aid?” He abruptly yanked off the
yellow belt. “The Qi clan takes orders from the Son of Heaven; you
are a subject of Dazhou, so Qi Zhuyin, why are you not heeding the
order?”
Qi Wei, having already lost his temper, snapped, “My lord’s
honorable name is not something for you to call!”
The official stood tall and dauntless. “The state is in imminent
danger! If the Prince of Donglie doesn’t dispatch troops, Dazhou
will perish. When that time comes, the emperor is not the emperor,
and the subject ceases to be the subject. You and I will merely be
the slaves of a fallen empire. There will be no status and rank to
speak of!”
Qi Wei was enraged. “Take him down—”
“Stand down!” Qi Zhuyin suddenly raised her hand, and the
overcoat on her shoulders slid to the ground, revealing her regular
wear and Zhujiu at the side of her waist. “Leave the tally behind,”
she said. “I’ve got the message.”
Under the tense atmosphere, the official took the tally and
presented it to Qi Zhuyin with both hands. He bowed again and
said in a quiet voice, “This humble official shall wait in Dancheng
for the Prince of Donglie to return in triumph.”
Having said that, he turned around and got on his horse.
Without even drinking a drop of water, he spurred his horse on and
set off on his return journey.
“This man is truly rude!” Qi Wei took two steps after him and
looked back at Qi Zhuyin. “Commander-in-chief, why do you have
to put up with it? Qudu is the one begging us to send troops right
now!”
“He’s a decent official, composed in the face of danger and
calm in the face of crisis. You should learn from him.” Qi Zhuyin
flipped over the tally for a look. “We have been raising our horses
and training our troops to this day, and all the food consumed has
to be repaid.”
“So we are really going?” Qi Wei followed Qi Zhuyin closely.
“Second Master is away on an expedition. Attacking Zhongbo now
is to exploit another’s plight.”
 “Exploitation is still a thing when you’re fighting a war?” Qi
Zhuyin turned around to enter the military tent. She set the token
on the table and looked at the map hanging on the wall. “Shen
Zechuan lacks generals now. There’s only a Huo Lingyun who can
temporarily stand in as Dengzhou’s commander, but the soldiers
under his commands are not the best quality. Twenty thousand
soldiers will be enough for us to fight Dengzhou.”
“I just fear…” Qi Wei started.
“Tantai Hu can’t be in two places at once,” Qi Zhuyin continued,
“and Shen Zechuan has still yet to recover from his injuries. Once I
make my move, Jiming will come.”
With the interruption from Qi Zhuyin, Qi Wei forgot what he was
going to say and instead exclaimed in surprise, “The Hereditary
Prince—I mean, the Prince is going to return to the battlefield?”
“Xiao Chiye left his beloved there.” Qi Zhuyin cast a glance at
Qi Wei. “You think he’d dare to leave without a contingency plan?”
“Libei only has 30,000 Armored Cavalry left.” Qi Wei started to
worry for Xiao Jiming. “The Prince of Libei is still in recuperation. If
something were to happen to him, won’t the Princess Consort
drown Qidong in her tears?”
Qi Wei could already imagine what Lu Yizhi would look like as
she pounded Qi Zhuyin with her fists and bawled herself a river
with her eyes shut.
“River of Ice Armored Cavalry, Xiao Jiming,” Qi Zhuyin said.
“He’s the Xiao Jiming who sped through the snowy night and
crossed the river to head down south to launch a sudden assault
on the Biansha Cavalry. Even if Libei had only 5,000 Armored
Cavalrymen left, he would still dare to come, let alone with 30,000
of them.”
Qi Wei was already at a loss what to do. He was not at all wishy-
washy when fighting battles with the Biansha Cavalry, but with
Libei…
“Commander-in-chief,” he said. “If we really come to blows, we
will both suffer casualties. Leaving aside the troops who will sustain
injuries and deaths, the common folk in both territories will also be
in a state of panic and unease. Dengzhou did a good job
straightening out the grain fields this year. We cross over, and
people will still have to starve to death next year. Aren’t the officials
from the capital all capable? Let them convince Shen Zechuan with
their eloquence. The way it seems to me, Shen Zechuan will not
move as long as the Capital Command Troops remain in place.”
“Then you have to understand one thing.” Qi Zhuyin turned
around and said in all seriousness, “If we don’t fight this battle, you
and I will be the slaves of a fallen empire. In the future, you and I
will be subjects of a former reign, and the empire will see a change
of surname thereafter. If we do not bow down to Shen Zechuan, we
will have to kneel to Xiao Chiye.”
Qi Wei was struck dumb.
“Since time immemorial, loyalty and righteousness have
struggled to co-exist.” Qi Zhuyin looked at the map again. “And this
is a perfect example.”
The sounds of footsteps suddenly rang out at the door. Qi Wei
turned his head back for a look.
“I heard an official from the express dispatch station has
arrived.” Hua Xiangyi was in the midst of lifting the flap to enter.
She was plainly dressed in white, mourning clothes, the contrast of
which accentuated her delicate, dainty features.
“A-Yin, that’s a military report?”
◈ ◈ ◈
Before Shao Chengbi left Qudu, Li Jianting had Fengquan pack
his bags for him. In truth, however, Shao Chengbi had nothing to
pack. All he brought along was a broadsword.
Fengquan washed Shao Chengbi’s hair for him, then tied his
hair into a topknot before the bronze mirror. Shao Chengbi’s white
hair was very rough.
He said, “I can’t grow it out when going onto the battlefield to
kill the enemies. Might as well cut off some.”
So Fengquan had a junior eunuch bring a razor, which he used
to cut Shao Chengbi’s hair short.
“Her Majesty asked you to see me off.” Shao Chengbi’s voice
had gone all hoarse from the poison he took. It was not damaged
to the point he could not speak, but his voice box was thoroughly
ruined. “It is, in itself, a great kindness.”
 Soft shaving sounds came from the razor. Fengquan answered
expressionlessly, “It is as Father says.”
“This one parting stretches eternal.” Shao Chengbi looked at
Fengquan in the mirror. “Us father and son won’t see each other
again.”
“Father is composed and steady in directing military
operations. You will not lose.” Fengquan carefully shaved Shao
Chengbi’s hair. “Furthermore, the firearms of the Chunquan
Battalion are all in Father’s hands. They are enough to give Shen
Zechuan a headache.”
“He succeeds the Grand Mentor,” Shao Chengbi said. “He is a
formidable and ambitious man.”
“The Grand Mentor might have been able to devise strategies
from a command tent and score victories without a trace.” White
hair rustled as they fell to the ground. Fengquan wiped the blade
with his thumb. The side of Shao Chengbi’s neck was right within
reach. “But he is afflicted with a disease that all intelligent people
possess, and that is, conceit.”
Shao Chengbi’s blinded eye moved with great effort.
Fengquan kept away the razor and swiftly rolled Shao
Chengbi’s hair up to secure it in place.
Shao Chengbi sat quietly. The rays of the setting sun
penetrated the window and drew a boundary line between
Fengquan and him. Dust motes floated in the air.
“In the next life,” Shao Chengbi said, “I will be your son.”121
After a moment of silence, Fengquan answered, “Spare me.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Qudu took half a month to draft up the official proclamation
and public denunciation, and the various yamens put it up in public.
Other than the defeat of Shen Wei’s troops, there were also
mentions of Shen Zechuan’s crimes, such as possessing his own
troops under his own banner and forming a faction to plot a
rebellion.
“The imperial court has shown kindness to the Shen clan, but
the remaining survivor of the Shen clan proclaimed himself king in
lands he seized with the intention of plotting a rebellion!” The
junior yamen official struck the gong and shouted to those illiterate
commoners. “He is now gathering bandits and pressing in towards
Dancheng. He’s a rebel and a traitor! From today onward, the
Capital Command Troops will patrol the city and impose a curfew.
No one is allowed to go out after the hour of you!”
The Capital Command Troops, equipped with superior arms of
the finest quality, ran around the streets and markets regardless of
day or night. All the teahouses and wine taverns where rumors
were the most prevalent were closed down. Anyone who gathered
in groups was arrested and imprisoned for slander and libel. In no
time, everyone was thrown into a state of alarm. The sound of
stringed and woodwind instruments, as well as reed pipes, no
longer permeated the most prosperous Donglong Street.
“The ascension of the emperor is neither backed by the
imperial genealogy records122 nor authenticated in writing in
cinnabar.”123 Gao Zhongxiong stepped on a rock and lifted the
article high. The sun was blistering hot, and his face was all
drenched in sweat. “It’s hard to believe based on Xue Xiuzhuo’s
words alone! If she is truly Prince Qin’s legitimate descendent of
lawful birth, then may I ask, where is the cinnabar seal? Prince Qin
is without an heir; if he has a daughter of lawful birth, how could he
have allowed her to end up wandering among the common
people?”
“Ever since the Great Imperial Ancestor124 ascended to the
throne, Dazhou has had twenty-one sovereigns, and there has
never been an emperor with such dubious origins in hundreds of
years! Is the one everyone kneels to today a sovereign of the Li
clan, or a powerful minister of the Xue clan?!” Gao Zhongxiong
wiped his sweat, his tone somber, “Court politics were undermined
during the reign of Yongyi, its army was defeated during the reign
of Xiande. The Li clan is held captive by the noble clans. They no
longer have any grace to extend. They can’t even fend for
themselves!”
◈ ◈ ◈
An urgent flurry of footsteps sounded in the office compound,
while the candlelight in Mingli Hall burned through the night
without end.
 “The express dispatch station reported back that the Prince of
Donglie meant to send troops.” The mobilization of soldiers and
horses was no small matter. Chen Zhen had already been here for
four days; he even had his meals and slept here. “But there is no
military report as to the exact timing for departure and arrival. We
have no idea too.”
“The grains were all put together in haste. We can’t wait, and
we can’t let it drag on. Issue a tally of urgency. If Qi Zhuyin doesn’t
get into motion, then issue it to Qi Shiyu!” Kong Qiu sat in seat, so
anxious was he that he was fuming. “If we can make it a quick
battle in Dengzhou, the Beiyuan military drill grounds will definitely
withdraw troops and turn back to provide reinforcements. Shao
Chengbi will then be able to go into battle and follow up with an
attack. But the imperial court has over ten writers, and yet Gao
Zhongxiong still managed to get the upper hand. Is there no one
in the Hanlin Academy and Imperial College?!”
The Grand Secretary was in a rage, and the hall fell silent for a
moment. All the officials standing under the eaves with their hands
by their sides kept their mouths shut.
Li Jianting’s birth origin was dubious to begin with. At first, it
was said that she was Prince Qin’s legitimate daughter, but even so,
she ought to have a genealogy record, or if not, at least Prince
Qin’s last words in writing or cinnabar seal. When Xue Xiuzhuo
verified the identity of the Heir Apparent, the proof he had
produced was in the handwriting of Emperor Tianchen, Li
Jianheng. The bright yellow125 satin-covered folded book was
indeed affixed with the imperial seal, but at that time, Li Jianheng
was already dead, and the long-time officials from the Grand
Secretariat all knew nothing of the matter.
And now, Zhongbo was insisting that Li Jianting was definitely
not of the Li clan’s bloodline. Although the various regions strictly
prohibited private discussions of state affairs, the rumors persisted.
Even worse, there were also speculations about the female
emperor and Xue Xiuzhuo.
“This battle is a tough one to fight,” Cen Yu said. “It’d be far
better to go give the Prince of Donglie another nudge.”
◈ ◈ ◈
 Shao Chengbi bumpily hobbled his way up the city wall. He
could not see Cizhou from here, only the continuous stretch of the
Dunzhou garrison troops’ military tents. Tantai Hu had complied
with Shen Zechuan’s order and was approaching Dancheng
amidst both parties’ increasingly heated cussing.
“Tantai Hu was originally Xiao Chiye’s general, but was later
transferred by Xiao Chiye to Zhongbo, where he began to guard
Dunzhou. That Shen Zechuan could successfully defend Duanzhou
was, in part, thanks to Tantai Hu.” The official following beside Shao
Chengbi’s side was the same official who went to Qidong to deliver
the tally of urgency. He was the son of a former subordinate of
Shao Chengbi. His name was Xu Yu. After the Shao clan had their
properties sealed off and family members executed, he was
dismissed from his military rank. He stayed in the relay station
where he eked a living in a sinecure. He knew the generals from
the various regions like the back of his hand.
Shao Chengbi shifted his crippled leg and moved closer to the
battlements. “What is this person’s relationship to Tantai Long?”
“He’s Tantai Long’s younger brother.”
“Tantai Long is steady and reliable. If he takes after his elder
brother’s nature,” Shao Chengbi looked at the boundless horizon
where dusk was creeping up on, “then he probably won’t make a
rash move.”
“Shen Zechuan won over the six prefectures by playing the
benevolence and righteousness card,” Xu Yu said, “and now he is
taking the stand that ‘the Li clan is malevolent’, and ‘the Prefectural
Lord has just cause’, so naturally, he would not dare to let Tantai Hu
attack the city, lest he gives the others grounds for gossip.
However, the way this humble official sees it, the Dunzhou garrison
troops intend to encircle and block off the city gates to deplete
Dancheng’s granary in an attempt to force Viceroy Shao to open
the gates.”
“The treasury is empty, and the army is short on military grains.
Besieging the city to force a surrender is indeed an excellent
strategy.” Shao Chengbi walked along the battlements. “How is
Tantai Hu’s management of his troops?”
 Xu Yu looked out of the city and thought for a moment.
“Relaxed and free handed,” He answered.
◈ ◈ ◈
Tantai Hu ate his meal in the camp. Ever since he had arrived at
the Beiyuan military drill grounds, Yu Xiaozai had been eating and
staying with him.
It was already dark now.
“Anything unusual during the night patrol?” Tantai Hu asked.
Liu Kong, who was standing at the entrance of the tent,
answered, “All is well. General, that Shao Chengbi was so scared
on hearing of your mighty name that he doesn’t even dare to step
out of the city gates.”
“I heard Shao Chengbi is a cripple.” Tantai Hu cleaned out his
meal in several mouthfuls. “I wonder if he dares to fight on
horseback with us.”
“They want to defend the city.” With Yu Xiaozai present, Liu
Kong watched his words and merely said, “If there are any orders
from His Lordship, I’ll immediately report it to you, so please take a
rest, General.”
The camp was buzzing with mosquitoes, so the tent flap was
lowered. Yu Xiaozai soaked his feet in hot water and asked Tantai
Hu in a quiet voice, “I can see that this person is quick-witted and
bright. How come I didn’t see him on my last tour on inspection?”
“I hadn’t promoted him yet at that time,” Tantai Hu said. “He has
had a hard life. He comes from a farming household in Dengzhou.
During the fourth year of Xiande, his family was slaughtered by the
Biansha Cavalry, and he mixed in with the Fanzhou bandits for a
period of time. Later, he joined my troops. I guess he can be said to
have turned over a new leaf.”
Meticulous as always, Yu Xiaozai thought about matters as he
wiped his feet.
At night, they slept on separate beds. Tantai Hu’s snores were
deafening, but unexpectedly, when the hour of chou came around,
his stomach started acting up. Tantai Hu initially thought that the
food was unclean. He was in such pain that his face had turned
white. It was only until the latter half of the night that he felt
something amiss.
 Outside the tent, Liu Kong reported with urgency, “General! The
brothers are all having the runs!”
Clutching his stomach, Tantai Hu slipped on his shoes and
lifted the tent flap to hear moans everywhere around the camp. The
latrines were all crowded full of people. His expression grew
slightly grim as he said, “Summon the military medics first, then
send someone to convey the news immediately to Cizhou!”
Yu Xiaozai was half-dead sleeping, but he crawled up from bed
on hearing the commotion. As he draped his clothes over him, he
walked out and exclaimed in shock, “What’s happening?!”
“Someone poisoned—”
Before Liu Kong could finish his words, the sound of vomiting
rang out from the sides as all the soldiers began to throw up. With
such similar symptoms, what else could it be if not a case of
poisoning? Tantai Hu’s heart skipped in alarm as he realized that
there was a spy among the soldiers.
“Summon the military medics, quick!” Tantai Hu commanded
with urgency.
◈ ◈ ◈
Xu Yu was already asleep when he heard the scout reporting
back. He did not even have the time to wash up when he went to
summon Shao Chengbi. As he led Shao Chengbi up the city gate,
he said, “Viceroy Shao, the garrison troops are in chaos!”
Shao Chengbi looked at the bright lights in the far distance
and heard human voices.
Xu Yu was delighted. “The scout reported back that everyone
from top to bottom in the garrison troops ate something bad and
are now suffering from stomach upsets, with bouts of vomiting and
diarrhea. That Tantai Hu is now burning with anxiety, like an ant on
a hot pan.”
Being prudent, Shao Chengbi said, “Is it true? If it’s a trap to lure
the enemies, there may still be an ambush.”
“Tantai Hu has the runs too. Everyone in the campground is
down for the count. It doesn’t seem to be fake. Besides, Zhongbo
has no reinforcements. He would never use 20,000 garrison troops
to put on a show.” Xu Yu held his blade in his hand, feeling a surge
of emotions in a rare moment. “Viceroy Shao, once we emerge
victorious in this battle and return home in triumph, the injustices
we suffered will be redressed!”
Shao Chengbi’s breathing was slightly heavy. He braced
himself against the battlements, still hesitating. The junior soldier at
the bottom hurried up the steps and cupped his fists at Shao
Chengbi. “Viceroy Shao, the express dispatch station’s tally of
urgency—the Prince of Donglie has mobilized troops!”
Shao Chengbi narrowed one of his eyes and tilted his head
back to roar with laughter under the firelight. He suddenly turned
back and said, “Heaven is helping me! Lead the horse over!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Tantai Hu was down with a bad case of vomiting and diarrhea
too. His stomach was churning, and his legs were trembling. There
were not enough military medics to go around. The erected shack
was packed full of soldiers lying down. Even Liu Kong had puked a
few times.
“Is the message sent?” Tantai Hu asked with a ghastly pale
face.
Yu Xiaozai smacked his thigh. “How’d I know?!”
At this moment, it was tough to even form a squad that could
still stand on their feet, let alone lined up in formation. Tantai Hu
extinguished half of the torches in the camp to put on a show of
normalcy, but his eyelids suddenly twitched, and he kept having
the nagging feeling that something was going to happen tonight.
Liu Kong said to Tantai Hu, “The ones transporting military
grains are all our own men, so nothing will go awry on the way. We
have been eating rice and noodles for a month without incident,
but something just had to go wrong tonight of all times…”
Tantai Hu said through gritted teeth, “There has to be a spy
from Qudu among the troops.”
Although Yu Xiaozai tried his best to divert the topic, he was the
only one in the entire camp who was still fine. Cold sweat broke out
on his back. It had already occurred to him what the other party’s
intent was. The gears whirled in his mind. His expression
unchanging, he said, “Let’s not lose our heads now. If by any
chance—”
 He had yet to finish speaking when he heard the sound of
hooves from the western side of the camp galloping their way over.
The soldiers on the watchtower struck the drum to sound the alarm.
In an instant, the words “enemy attack!” reverberated through the
entire camp.
Liu Kong let loose an exclamation and cried out in a fluster,
“General!”
Tantai Hu abruptly jerked to his feet, his chest heaving. Then he
yanked up the soldiers who were in slightly better condition and
shouted, “Get into formation!”
The Capital Command Troops had light cavalry as their
vanguards, so they could launch a surprise attack and gather
intelligence on the facts of the matter. If the Dunzhou Garrison
troops were indeed laying a trap to lure the enemies in, they would
be able to retreat immediately.
The light cavalry of the Capital Command Troops charged their
way to the western side. The drum on the watchtower was
pounded with such intensity it was about to break. Tantai Hu raised
his arm and hollered, “Archers!”
The Dunzhou garrison troops often had to face off the Biansha
Cavalry, and in order to deal with the Biansha Cavalry, Tantai Hu
had the bows the troops used swapped from longbows to the
strong bows used by the Libei Armored Cavalry. The results had
been remarkable the few times they were used in battles, but right
now, soldiers who could still draw a bow were few and far
between.
The bows and arrows failed to wear down the light cavalry. The
other party already knew of the fatigue and frailness of the
Dunzhou garrison troops. The infantrymen behind charged swiftly
with shields in hands, their armors glinting in the moonlight. These
were the finest gears of the Eight Great Training Divisions.
The campground’s wooden fences were knocked down. Even if
the garrison troops were to run now, it was too late. Tantai Hu drew
his blade to face the enemies head-on, but before he could get to
the infantry of the Capital Command Troops, the light cavalry
rushed right into his sight. He caught a whiff of gunpowder, and his
heart went cold as he rolled to the ground.
 The bronze firearms instantly blasted into action, sending
sparks flying in all directions.
Tantai Hu covered his head and dodged, but both his arms
were stinging in searing pain. He turned his arms over and gasped
in alarm.
“By grace of imperial magnanimity, the imperial court will not
pursue the heinous crimes of all those willing to surrender tonight.”
Shao Chengbi spurred his horse into the camp. “The 300,000-
strong Qidong garrison troops have already made it past Tianfei
Watchtower. The Shen clan’s rebellion has failed to come to fruition
and is now at a dead end. This old man advises all in attendance
to wise up and surrender before it’s too late!”

Credits: Thank you Gale for spotting the typo! <3

 ♢ CHAPTER 270: DOORSTEP♢

Tantai Hu understood that victory would prove hard for this

battle. He spat a mouthful of saliva and cursed, “Son of a bitch, wily
old fox. To think you would use such an underhanded trick!”
Unmoved by the cussing, Shao Chengbi looked at Tantai Hu
and continued, “By following you into battle, the soldiers are
entrusting their lives to you. You have no chance of victory now. In
resisting stubbornly, you are disregarding the safety of the soldiers.
Tantai Hu, this old one is a former acquaintance of your eldest
brother, so let me advise you again to surrender and pledge
allegiances to the side of the righteous.”
“Bullocks.” Tantai Hu said coldly as he rose with his blade. “I
followed His Lordship on a campaign to fight against the Biansha
Cavalry, and yet you want me to surrender to you at the end of the
day. Bah! I, Tantai Hu, will not bow!”
The words had yet to be fully out of his mouth when Xu Yu
heard the “whoosh” of an arrow being released from the top of the
watchtower. The whistling sound pierced through the darkness of
the night, sounding particularly jarring on the ears. Xu Yu, having
long heard about the smooth passage of the Zhongbo bridleway
and great numbers of relay stations, guessed that Tantai Hu was
passing on the news with this one move.
Xu Yu immediately advised, “Viceroy Shao, there is no time to
lose. Let’s make this a quick battle and get it over and done with!”
 “We treat you with compassion even though you insist on
resorting to arms.” Shao Chengbi gripped the hilt of his
broadsword. “To catch the bandits, first capture their chief. Kill
Tantai Hu, and we will be able to score a victory without fighting
tonight.”
The Capital Command Troops had already swarmed in at the
drop of his voice. The garrison troops were too powerless to resist
and could only cut a wretched sight as they fled. Yu Xiaozai saw
that Tantai Hu was in no position to do a thing without support. Just
as he was about to be surrounded, a few partridge cries suddenly
rang out from outside the camp.
Partridges?
Where on earth were there partridges in Zhongbo?
Right at that time, in the very instant Shao Chengbi drew out his
new broadsword, Yu Xiaozai covered his head and shouted,
“Laohu, roll!”
Tantai Hu originally did not want to roll, but at the very moment
he was about to lunge forward, he felt a pain in the back of his knee
and his entire body went down with a “thud”, his face to the
ground. Before he could steady himself, he heard the military tent
at the side collapse with a thunderous boom, smashing right into
the Capital Command Troops in front.
The catapult!
Tantai Hu subconsciously thought it was the Biansha Cavalry,
but then he thought the better of it and exclaimed with an
overjoyed expression, “The Imperial Army!”
With the light from the flames, Xu Yu saw soldiers surging out
from the eastern side of the camp and could not help but curse
“shit” to himself. The firelight outside the camp suddenly
intensified. The Imperial Army had even brought along the catapult
from the Cizhou armory. They had been waiting for a long time just
to seize the opportunity to fight the Capital Command Troops
tonight.
In the twinkling of an eye, the tables had turned. Shao Chengbi
wanted to withdraw his troops, but the retreat route in the back had
already been intercepted and severed.
 “Viceroy Shao,” Xu Yu said to Shao Chengbi, “We have played
into their hands!”
The collapsed military tent knocked over the torches, and
sparks abruptly shot up. The Capital Command Troops’ light
cavalry were only a few hundred in number. As they hastily
retreated, they bumped into the Imperial Army that had come
circling around to their backs.
Tantai Hu looked as if he had seen his dear mother the instant
he saw the Imperial Army. He propped himself up and rose to his
feet, crying out with joy, “Bloody hell, Qiao Tianya!”
On hearing this name, Shao Chengbi looked back in the
firelight. A few strands of white hair from his slightly loosened bun
fell, blocking the sight of his blinded eye. His vaguely hunched
back was not at all strapping tall, but it looked like a steep,
protruding hill in the color of the night.
“Uncle Shao.” Qiao Tianya’s blade-gripping hand slid down,
where it rested on the hilt of a sword that was not easily drawn.
After a moment’s pause, he continued, “—Shifu.”
The past materialized in that very instant, but in just a split
second, it dissolved away into the long, endless night. Qiao Tianya
was at the age of four when he acknowledged Shao Chengbi as his
master. This sword that he had brought along when he left Qudu
had also been a gift from Shao Chengbi.
Shao Chengbi did not have a sword. He slowly drew out that
brand new broadsword of his and looked at Qiao Tianya as he
proclaimed in a hoarse voice, “Traitors ought to be executed.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Huo Lingyun galloped through the starry wilderness, speeding
through the lush expanse of grass as he rushed in the direction of
Dengzhou. At the foot of the city wall, he raised his authority token
high and bellowed, “Open the gates!”
The Dengzhou overhanging gate slammed down with a
thunderous bang, and Huo Lingyun galloped across the
passageway, dismounted his horse, and sprinted up the city wall.
He grabbed over the torch at the side and thrust it before him to
illuminate the way ahead, gasping heavily for breath as he drove
away the darkness. The Tianfei Watchtower mountain chain was
still and silent in the pitch-dark night; the Qidong Garrison Troops
mentioned in the urgent report were nowhere to be seen.
Huo Lingyun asked the general guarding the city, “Any activity
from the smoke signal towers?”126
“All as usual,” The general guarding the city answered.
Huo Lingyun’s back was all soaked from speeding the way over.
He wiped the sweat off his face with a palm and returned the torch
to the general guarding the city.
“Be on your guard,” he commanded.
◈ ◈ ◈
Dark clouds hid the moon from view, and the stars faded away.
All good things were gone in a flash, fleeting and ephemeral.
Sparks flew all over as broadsword and sword collided. The victor
was decided at the moment when Shao Chengbi fell off his horse.
His broadsword was broken, as were his master-disciple ties
with Qiao Tianya.
The camp was illuminated by the collapsed and pinned-down
torches. The footsteps of the Capital Command Troops were in
disarray. They were no match for the Imperial Army, who were
masters at combat on foot.
Shao Chengbi, too, was no match for Qiao Tianya.
Qiao Tianya was only a few steps away from Shao Chengbi. His
sword returned to its sheath under the firelight, and a disarray of
overlapping shadows shrouded the side of his body. In his trance,
he actually bore some resemblance to the Shao Chengbi who drew
his broadsword earlier.
“Defeat is certain this battle,” Qiao Tianya said softly under the
crackling sound of the fire. “Shifu is not here to crush me.”
With his hand covering his chest, Shao Chengbi struggled to
gasp for his dying breath. His pale lips opened and closed. “I’m
already at this age… I’m no longer as valiant as I was in those
days… I came to see you… Your father erred…” Shao Chengbi
tried his best to open his eyes wide as he gazed at the blurry
canopy of heaven. “… And so have I… With this battle… I’ve repaid
the debt… on your father’s behalf… Shen… truly lives up to the
Grand Mentor’s… words…”
Qiao Tianya looked at Shao Chengbi.
 But Shao Chengbi would not look at Qiao Tianya. His hoarse
voice was just like a drum that had been broken. In the last
lingering moments of his life, he murmured, “Qiao Songyue. A fine
lad.”
Qiao Tianya tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword. He
stood unmoving and still in the entire sky of flying ashes and let
the dust settle upon him, his shoulders cutting a sorry sight. The
day he went to the Shao’s residence to acknowledge Shao
Chengbi as his master, Shao Chengbi had patted the top of his
head and said the exact words, “Qiao Songyue. A fine lad.”
Tantai Hu, who was on the other end dragging the bodies,
whistled at Qiao Tianya and tossed over the firearms they had just
seized.
“Other than the dozen or so equipped by the light cavalry,”
Tantai Hu’s expression was odd, “the others are all
malfunctioning.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Qi Zhuyin stood before the Tianfei Watchtower’s beacon tower
and overlooked the winding mountain range. This night was just
like a rising tide, trapping not only her but also Qidong. She had
stood here alone countless of times before, watching over the Five
Commanderies.
Seeing her lonely back, Qi Wei could not stop himself from
calling out, “Commander-in-chief…”
At this call, Qi Zhuyin thought of her conversation with Hua
Xiangyi before she set off.
Hua Xiangyi sat upright opposite her, the white flower at her
temple hidden among hair the color of raven black, as if floating
open on the crystal clear water surface. It was not as conspicuous
as the lady herself, but it gave her a boost of charm. As she brewed
the tea, she said, “Looks like success or failure hinges on this one
move, given how Qudu is pressing you so urgently.”
Qi Zhuyin watched her steep tea, her womanly, dainty hands
holding up the clay teapot. Strangely enough, as long as Hua
Xiangyi was there, all the strife outside seemed to have vanished.
Hua Xiangyi could always quite manage to make Qi Zhuyin think of
the pleasure of rouge.
 “I saw that your entire army is ready to depart, so I thought of
having another cup of tea with you.”
“Tea to send me off?” Qi Zhuyin asked.
As boiling water poured over the tea leaves, wisps of steam
spiraled into the air.
“Tea to make you stay,” Hua Xiangyi said.
The tension in the atmosphere turned up a notch. Qi Zhuyin
braced herself by the side of her knees, looking as if she was going
to get up.
“By mobilizing troops, Commander-in-chief Qi means to
obstruct Shen Zechuan from advancing west so that he will stay put
in Zhongbo and not enter conflict with the Li clan. But if you ask
me, Commander-in-chief Qi is merely deceiving yourself with this
one move, much like the thief who plugs his ears when stealing a
bell. Not only is it of no benefit to the common people,” Hua
Xiangyi nudged the tea gently over to the other end of the small
table and looked at Qi Zhuyin, “it also deviates from Commander-
in-chief Qi’s original intent.”
Qi Zhuyin stopped mid-action.
The emerald window gauze reflecting the banana leaves
blocked out some of the sunlight, making Hua Xiangyi look like she
was sitting in a painting.
She said to Qi Zhuyin, “Food is scarce in Qudu, and the eight
cities’ granaries are empty. You were unwilling to follow Xiao Chiye
eastward because deploying troops into war would make it hard
for the common people, but how is your aid towards the Li clan
now any different from sending troops?”
“The cage of the noble clans is already broken. Qudu is now at
the time when they are filtering out all that is inferior and
worthless.” Qi Zhuyin decided to speak frankly. “Dazhou still has
the opportunity to turn things around. But once Shen Zechuan’s
troops enter Qudu, this opportunity will be forfeited.”
“I know best the eight cities’ accounts,” Hua Xiangyi said. “The
opportunity Commander-in-chief Qi speaks of is not an opportunity
for Dazhou or the common people in the world, but merely for the
emperor.”
Qi Zhuyin was slightly taken aback.
 “The legitimate lineage of the Li clan’s bloodline has long since
been severed with Li Jianheng. I do not recognize who the one
sitting on the imperial court right now is. When my aunt was still
alive, she often said Li Jianting bears a striking resemblance to
Emperor Guangcheng, but Xue Xiuzhuo insisted that she is Prince
Qin’s daughter.127 There is one thing mentioned in Zhongbo’s
diatribe that is true. If this woman is really a legitimate descendant
of Prince Qin, then why doesn’t Xue Xiuzhuo produce the precious
proof from Prince Qin? Since he is so certain, why not show the
proof to convince the entire world too?”
When Emperor Xiande was still on the throne, he addressed
Hua Xiangyi as “san-meimei”, or “Third Younger Sister”. Everything
she used was purchased in accordance with protocols meant for a
princess. Even Li Jianheng had to respectfully address her as
“jiejie”, or “Elder Sister”. Li Jianting ought to have called her
“gugu”, the address for a paternal aunt. If there was anyone else in
the world who could verify Li Jianting’s identity now that the
empress dowager was dead, it was Hua Xiangyi.
Hua Xiangyi continued in a soft voice, “If the female emperor
lacks legitimacy, then how can Commander-in-chief deem herself
loyal?”
Qi Zhuyin clenched the teacup. Ripples began to form on the
surface of the tea. “If she can achieve peace and stability for the
common people, then my helping her is loyalty.”
“If that’s the case, Commander-in-chief Qi might as well assist
Shen Zechuan rather than Li Jianting.” Hua Xiangyi finally showed
her mettle amid her gentle words. However, she swapped back her
address of Qi Zhuyin. “A-Yin, you and Xiao Jiming are friends who
have been through adversity together, and you and Lu Guangbai
are former superior and subordinate. If you assist Li Jianting, these
two men will have to draw their blades against you, and you, them.
This is the first reason.
“Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye jointly administer military and
political affairs in the northeast. Shen Zechuan’s withdrawal of
troops when you attack Dengzhou is a minor matter, but Xiao
Chiye’s military defeat is a major issue. A military expedition afar is
arduous. Without Shen Zechuan, the 90,000-strong Armored
Cavalry will undoubtedly be defeated. Should the Biansha Cavalry
stage a comeback at the time, the common people in the three
regions to the east would still have to face this menace. Your loyalty
today is to make the expectant common people in the three
regions suffer again. This is the second reason.
“Li Jianting conferred the noble title of ‘Prince of Donglie’ on
you not out of gratitude, but because she was forced by the
situation. It is often said that water brims only to overflow, the moon
waxes only to wane.128 Let’s say you really quell the rebellion in
Zhongbo. Once Qudu settles down, Qidong will be crowned with
illustrious military service, but there will be no Libei to mutually hold
Qidong in check. Since she can make you a prince today owing to
the situation, then she can also be forced by circumstances
someday to strip you of your conferred title.129 This is the third
reason.
“Yao Wenyu serves under Shen Zechuan’s command, and with
his eloquence, spurred all the talents in the world into swarming
over to Zhongbo. Shen Zechuan not only entrusted heavy
responsibilities to the former Qudu minister, Yu Xiaozai, but also
promoted the former advisor of the enemy’s forces, Gao
Zhongxiong. He does not let family status and past history
prejudice him as he leads the advisors under this command to
push ahead with the census registry. In just one year, he has
already rooted out the bandits in Zhongbo and created the world’s
grains hub. Given how he has acted with magnanimity in Zhongbo
thus far, he will similarly be able to accommodate the competent
ministers on the imperial court when his troops enter Qudu. This is
the fourth reason.”
Hua Xiangyi gently held up the white flower at her temple and
said slowly, “Everything of the above that Li Jianting can do, so can
Shen Zechuan, but all that Shen Zechuan can do, Li Jianting might
not necessarily be able to.”
These four admonitions made complete sense, whether for
personal or public reasons. Like a slap to the head,130 it shattered
Qi Zhuyin’s loyalty to pieces.
However, this was still not enough.
 Hua Xiangyi’s slender fingers that were holding the flower
formed a contrast with the eastern pearl on her ear. She still looked
wan and sallow, her expression several shades downcast. She
spoke slowly and unhurriedly, “A-Yin, the Secretariat Elder once
said that ‘men who wield brushes die in remonstrations, while men
who wield swords die in battles’, but look, in these twenty years of
political storms, how many of them are able to die worthy deaths?
“Han Cheng wanted to support a boy of his own clan into
becoming the emperor, but the world wouldn’t let him, not out of
loyalty to the Li clan, but because the Han clan was immoral and
was thus unworthy of the throne. Dazhou’s internal and external
strifes are endless, and the one who can truly end this all has long
since ceased to be Li Jianting. Shen Zechuan improves the lives of
the people so that they thrive. He has just cause, and he has the
respect and support of the people—he is the hope of all in the
world.” She slowly raised her eyes to gaze at Qi Zhuyin, as if she
was gazing at the stabilizing force131 that would determine the rise
and fall of the empire. Her gaze held both admiration and
heartache. “And now, the lives and deaths of the people all lie in
this one decision of yours.”
The thick mist from the tea dispersed among the window
lattice.
After contemplating it for a long time, Qi Zhuyin asked Qi Wei,
“A hundred years later, will anyone still remember Qi Zhuyin?”
“They will.” Qi Wei suddenly choked up with emotions. “With
this move, the Commander-in-chief will fulfill the wishes of all in the
world. From now on, the people will live in peace, and the great
cause will be accomplished… Who wouldn’t remember Qi
Zhuyin?”
“My name cannot be recorded into history, and my memorial
tablet cannot be served with offerings. This is also a violation of the
Qi clan’s ancestral teachings. I am, in truth, a traitor of Dazhou.” Qi
Zhuyin gazed at the landscape. “After my passing, I will be a pile of
yellow earth, a handful of sodden mud.”
With his hand on his blade, Qi Wei kneeled and said, “If
Commander-in-chief Qi passes and I am still alive, I will lay
offerings before the Commander-in-chief’s memorial tablet. If I’m
not, then my sons, grandsons, and generations after generations
of my family shall light that everlasting altar lamp132 for the
Commander-in-chief.”
Qi Zhuyin looked back and smiled, “In that case, it’s all worth
it.”
◈ ◈ ◈
The city of Dancheng was close to Qudu. All the imperial court
officials in the capital city were on tenterhooks. Mingli Hall was
brightly illuminated, and the side hall was full of people. The
moment the military report came in, everyone listened carefully
with rapt attention.
“What is the update on the battle?” Li Jianting asked.
“To reply Your Majesty,” the back of the military officer kneeling
before the door was all drenched in sweat as he gasped heavily for
breath, “the 20,000 Capital Command Troops fell for the rebel
troops’ trap, and Viceroy Shao was caught in a heavy siege—”
“How about the Prince of Donglie?” Kong Qiu stood up.
The military officer wiped his sweat and answered, “The news
of the Prince of Donglie’s mobilization of troops is actually faked.
Qidong’s 300,000-strong Garrison Troops have not moved at all!”
The teacup in Cen Yu’s hand clattered to the ground. A sudden
uproar broke out in the side hall. All the eunuchs and palace maids
present were thrown into a panic.
“What about the remaining Capital Command Troops?” Xue
Xiuzhuo asked.
“Transfer them back immediately!” Chen Zhen reacted swiftly
and strode a step out to say in an urgent tone, “Transfer the
remaining Capital Command Troops back to Qudu immediately!”
“Hold on,” Xue Xiuzhuo suddenly spoke up. He looked at the
military officer and said in a low voice, “When the Capital
Command Troops are being transferred back, issue the tally of
urgency to Juexi, Hezhou, and Huaizhou. Say that the rise and fall
of the nation all hinges on this moment. Whoever can deploy
troops to aid Qudu, the imperial court will reward them with a
million taels!”
One million taels—with such a heavy reward, there were bound
to be brave men stepping forward.
 Xue Xiuzhuo was already forced to a dead end. The riot in
Huaizhou had yet to stop, and there were still leftover bandits in
Hezhou. With this move, he was dangling the key to the Xi clan’s
money vault at the city gates of Qudu—Shen Zechuan was not
invincible without the assistance of the Libei Armored Cavalry.
Whoever could tilt the scale in their favor at this moment would
become the next power of Dazhou!

Credit: Thank you to Katie82 for the clarification! <3

 ♢ CHAPTER 271: HUILIAN♢

“Qi Zhuyin has really turned traitor?” Cen Yu was in disbelief.

“The Qi clan has guarded Qidong for a century. With this move,
she’s destroying Qidong’s hundred years of prestigious reputation
overnight…”
Dazhou was surnamed Li. They could remonstrate with their
sovereign and die for their sovereign, but they could acknowledge
no one else other than the Li clan as their sovereign. Hua Xiangyi
said that the people did not want the descendant from the Han
clan because of the Han clan’s immorality. That was a pretext. The
ministers who really stood in the imperial court were all ministers of
the Li clan. Without the Li clan, they would all be officials of a
former dynasty.
If the emperor was bad, he could be changed, but he had to be
surnamed Li—This was legitimacy. Otherwise, why would Hai
Liangyi remonstrate with his death? Why would Xue Xiuzhuo do his
utmost to such an extent? Wouldn’t it be better for them to switch
allegiances to another master and declare Libei king? Centuries of
the so-called “loyalty” all rested on this one surname. Overstep that
boundary, and they would be treacherous traitors and despicable
scums who violated the ethics of social order.133 So they ran around
shouting with arms raised, doing all they could. What they wanted
was a resurgence of the Li clan’s Dazhou, not to kneel to another
master.
 Gao Zhongxiong rose to fame, but even when Qudu read his
articles, they still spat on him and cursed him. This was because he
was a turncoat.134 To betray his original master was to be disloyal. A
minister stood by loyalty. If he could not even stay loyal to his
master, what kind of an official was he? He was merely a beast in
human clothing!
Yao Wenyu was renowned all over the world for his talents, and
yet the virtuous talents he sought for Shen Zechuan were mostly
recluses from the countryside; those that came from Qudu were
few and far between. When the Imperial College discussed him,
they lamented him for being a talent led astray and cursed him for
turning his back on his former teacher’s legacy. Hai Liangyi
remonstrated to his death to protect the legitimacy of the throne,
and yet he went to serve Shen Zechuan whose origins lack
integrity. He threw in his lot with a traitor, and for that, he had long
been disdained by these Confucian scholars at the core of the
Dazhou empire. He was no longer that unimpeachable “unpolished
jade” of yesteryear.
Tears coursed down Kong Qiu’s face at the way things were
now. He sighed, “It is I who have misjudged Qi Zhuyin!”
“Why was Shao Chengbi so easily defeated?” Chen Zhen
collapsed into his chair. “He even took away the firearms from the
Chunquan Battalion…”
◈ ◈ ◈
Shen Zechuan ascended the stairs. Dawn had yet to break, and
mist was rolling at the campground they were originally stationed.
He could already get a clear look at Dancheng.
“It’s getting cold.” Fei Sheng followed behind him, holding the
overcoat for Shen Zechuan. “Master, watch out for the chills.”
Thin frost condensed among the mud. Qiao Tianya, Tantai Hu,
and the few of them crossed over with their blades in tow as they
followed the Prefectural Lord up. Tantai Hu had just made another
trip to the lavatory, and his face was ghastly pale as he kneeled to
pay his obeisances to Shen Zechuan. After greeting “Your
Lordship”, he consciously felt ashamed.
“You did well beating them at their own game,” Shen Zechuan
looked askance at him. “Once Second Master is back, you’ll be
rewarded.”
Tantai Hu’s face flushed red. “This… This is because of Your
Lordship’s thorough planning… I fucking… didn’t expect a spy
among the troops.” He did not want credit that was not his to begin
with. Pointing at Yu Xiaozai at the side, he continued, “It’s all thanks
to Youjing for being quick-witted!”
“Then you might as well thank Ding Tao,” Yu Xiaozai teased.
“He was the one who struck the back of your knees and sent you
sprawling for cover.”
At other times, Qiao Tianya would have said something to poke
fun at him, but today, he looked depressed as he stood by the side
and said nothing.
“How did Your Lordship guess that there was a spy among the
troops?” Tantai Hu inquired.
“Weren’t you the one who told me that?” Shen Zechuan asked
him in reply. He was in a good mood today. “You set off for
Duanzhou when you heard that Wang Xian had arrived at
Duanzhou. How would you have the guts to do so in the past? Not
unless there was someone else instigating you.”
Tantai Hu admired Xiao Chiye the most, and he feared Xiao
Chiye the most too. Although he was headstrong and obstinate, he
wholeheartedly yielded to Second Master. If there was no one
dropping hints in his ears, then given his frank and blunt nature
alone, the thought that Wang Xian would lodge a complaint
against him would never have occurred to him.
“The only question is whether this spy,” Yu Xiaozai said, “is a spy
from Qudu or Biansha.”
“I wasn’t sure at first,” Fei Sheng said. “But from what he did last
night, he is clearly a spy from Qudu.”
“No,” Qiao Tianya suddenly piped up. “The spy hiding among
the troops is definitely not sent by Qudu.” The rest turned back to
look at Qiao Tianya, who continued, “If he was sent by Qudu, the
Capital Command Troops would not have been completely in the
dark… Even Uncle Shao was unaware. Your Lordship, there’s
something fishy about this matter. Second Master is in the midst of
pressing in towards Amu’er. If Amu’er had arranged to plant a
Scorpion here, he would definitely not use laxative, but lethal
poison. That way, the garrison troops will be no match for the
Capital Command Troops. Once Cizhou is in danger, Second
Master will withdraw his troops and return to provide
reinforcement. Only then will Amu’er’s crisis be averted.”
Xiao Chiye had already arrived at Mosanchuan, where he was
relying on the Huiyan Tribe to win over the three tribes to form a
mutual frontier trade market alliance and prepare to attack Amu’er
together. Amu’er’s vanguard, Huhelu, and chief general, Hasen,
had all died in battle. At present, he was a trapped beast. If he
wanted to break out of the encirclement, killing off the Dunzhou
garrison troops would be the most convenient option.
Tantai Hu, being the artless person he was, said off-handedly,
“Then who else can it be? It can’t be our own people in Zhongbo,
can it?”
An innocuous remark on the speaker’s part, but not so on the
listener’s end.
The gears turned in Yu Xiaozai’s mind, but he did not dare to
continue from where Tantai Hu left off. Were someone to say that
there were no factions in Zhongbo, they would be speaking of an
impossibility. When Shen Zechuan was in Cizhou in the early days,
the advisors under Zhou Gui’s command clashed for this exact
reason. To date, officials who held key positions in Zhongbo
belonged to one of two categories. The first was local officials in
Zhongbo Shen Zechuan promoted, and the second was former
ministers of Dazhou who came to throw in their lots with Shen
Zechuan. Although they sat on equal footing with the officials from
the six prefectures, everyone’s interpersonal relationships in private
differed, as were their purposes for serving the Prefectural Lord.
Between them, a boundary line existed.
Yu Xiaozai studied under Cen Yu, who was a major official of
the Grand Secretariat. He came to Zhongbo to meditate for peace,
but in the end, he did not leave owing to his own selfish desire to
follow and serve the Prefectural Lord. Shen Zechuan treated him
well and entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of conducting
inspection tours. He traveled around the six prefectures to
supervise and inspect the government administration, and it was
inevitable for him to have friction with others. However, this had not
deteriorated to the point where they mutually fought each other,
because he did not manage the government affairs of a prefecture,
had no soldiers in his command, and reported directly to Shen
Zechuan. Shen Zechuan could dismiss him at any time he so
wished. The one who really upset the balance was Wang Xian.
Wang Xian was a criminal official who was relegated out of the
capital, yet he still had direct jurisdiction over the key economic
affairs of the six prefectures—he really gave Luo Mu hell when he
was in Chazhou.
“Speaking of the spy,” Shen Zechuan asked Tantai Hu, “has he
been caught yet?”
“The troops were in disarray last night.” Tantai Hu looked back
at the squad in the distance. “We still aren’t done with the count
yet… Your Lordship, the firearms we seized this time are all
malfunctioning.”
Shen Zechuan had only just learned of this matter. With a slight
frown on his face, he asked, “Malfunctioning?”
Qiao Tianya eased over to Shen Zechuan and reminded him
under his breath, “That batch of firearms from King Yi of Fanzhou.
There are a total of one hundred and thirty-five.”
Of Dazhou’s Eight Great Training Divisions, only the Chunquan
Battalion was equipped with firearms. Back then, when Xiao Chiye
wanted it, it was only by virtue of his relationship with Li Jianheng
that he could get his hands on them to fiddle with. Firearms were
restricted by the Ministry of War, and even the Ministry of Works did
not have its blueprint, so it was very difficult for one to get leaked
out. Shen Zechuan did not manage to get his hands on one either
when he was in the Imperial Bodyguards. The number of firearms
was scarce; excluding the damaged ones in the armory, there were
less than two hundred in total.
Shen Zechuan said in a quiet voice, “Have you checked the
serial numbers?”
Qiao Tianya nodded. “Uncle Shao brought along a hundred
and fifty firearms. They have the same numbers as the ones Huo
Lingyun handed in.”
No wonder they were malfunctioning. The real firearms had
made their way into Shen Zechuan’s hands a long time ago.
 Shen Zechuan was slightly stunned. Reacting swiftly, he said,
“The Ministry of War had the firearms blueprint and the key to
Chunquan Battalion’s armory stored away. If Chen Zhen was the
one who swapped them out, he would not have handed them to
Shao Chengbi, and Shao Chengbi would not have been able to
deploy troops.” He looked at Qiao Tianya. In the blink of an eye,
many thoughts occurred to him. “Shao Chengbi knew that this
batch of firearms had been swapped, yet he insisted on sending
his troops and coming over to send himself to his death, because
—”
Opportunity!
If Shen Zechuan wanted to send his troops into Qudu, he
needed to have an opportunity.
“The Grand Mentor wanted me to conceal myself among the
Imperial Bodyguards to wait for Your Lordship.” Qiao Tianya’s eyes
were pitch black. “In the indenture135 he gave to Your Lordship,
there was no mention of my surname or birthplace.”
Qi Huilian only wrote the word “Songyue”.
“In that case, other than me,” Qiao Tianya said calmly and
steadily, “is there another ‘Fengquan’?”
Raindrops pitter-pattered down between Shen Zechuan’s
brows, and the strong wind suddenly came sweeping over, wiping
out the smoke in the camp. In the twinkling of an eye, a rainstorm
came pouring down in torrents. Fei Sheng shook the overcoat
open to shield Shen Zechuan from the rain.
“Should there come a day you and I both lose our lives in the
midst of this, the arrangement today will be the killer move that will
preserve his life.”
Qi Huilian hugged his legs as he sat under the eaves and
watched the torrential rain pour. He set down the empty wine
gourd and grinned at an oblivious Ji Gang beside him.
“You gifted him Yang Shan Xue. I’ll give him Shi Jun Dao—the
Blade of Regicide.”
 ♢ CHAPTER 272: TWIST♢

Raindrops pelted the military tent. Tea was boiling on the stove.
Having already changed his clothes, Shen Zechuan sat in the chair
and asked Ji Gang, “Does shifu know ‘Fengquan’?”
“Yes.” Ji Gang held the teacup in hand and glanced at Qiao
Tianya at the side. “But I had no idea he’s Shao Chengbi’s son,
much less knew that Shao Chengbi was selling steamed buns at
the entrance of Zhaozui Temple… When the Grand Mentor said
back then that he was going to do this, he only said that Fengquan
was an informer.”
“Since he is Shao Chengbi’s son,” Shen Zechuan wondered,
“how did he become Mu Ru’s younger brother?”
Ji Gang held the tea in his mouth before swallowing it a while
later. “Do you still remember that night when we entered Zhaozui
Temple, the Grand Mentor said that Eastern Palace suffered
countless casualties, injured and dead, among its subordinates? It
occurred to me at that time that since the Grand Mentor could
feign insanity to survive, there must be several others from the
Crown Prince’s faction who could have also slipped through the net
to survive too. I asked the Grand Mentor later, but he wasn’t willing
to speak of it, until one day, I chatted with the palace eunuch who
came every month to deliver food and heard that Prince Chu, Li
Jianheng, was fond of beauties and was racking his brains to scout
for them in the local regions.”
 Ji Gang told Qi Huilian about it as a joke, and several months
later, Li Jianheng sent Mu Ru from the manor in the City of
Jincheng to Qudu.
“I inquired with the Imperial Bodyguards. They said that Mu Ru
was raised and trained in the manor since she was a child, and she
barely even saw her younger brother once every five or six years.
Fengquan was able to follow her into Qudu because their former
family house was burned down, and he had nowhere to go except
to seek refuge with his older sister.” Ji Gang set down the tea bowl
and said with a serious expression. “I believed it to be true. You saw
it too in Qudu. That Mu Ru really treated him as her younger
brother. Who could tell that this was a sham?”
Before Li Jianheng could take Mu Ru into his residence upon
her arrival in Qudu, Xiaofuzi seized the opportunity to offer her to
Pan Rugui. Mu Ru was very much favored and pampered by Pan
Rugui, and subsequently, Fengquan got into Pan Rugui’s good
graces. However, he was still not Pan Rugui’s “grandson” at that
time, because Pan Rugui still had a Xiaofuzi by his side.
“On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival in the eighth year of
the reign of Xiande, the Grand Mentor devised a plan to kill
Xiaofuzi. You know of this incident too. I thought the Grand Mentor
just wanted to get you out of the temple,” Ji Gang said, “but who
would expect a Xiao Chiye to pop out midway through?”
When Shen Zechuan thought to this point, he suddenly
remembered that not long after being released from Zhaozui
Temple, when he was in the Imperial Bodyguards raising
elephants, Xiao Chiye intercepted him to demand his thumb ring
back, suspecting that he had planted a spy around Li Jianheng.
A natural-born talent.
That was how Qi Huilian praised Xiao Chiye. Because his sense
of smell was too keen. With just his understanding of Li Jianheng
alone, he sensed that someone was instigating Li Jianheng to fight
for Mu Ru. However, Xiao Chiye also did not expect that Shen
Zechuan was not at all the person who planted the person by Li
Jianheng’s side. He pitted himself against Shen Zechuan, only to
turn up for it empty-handed. Qi Huilian, however, had not exposed
a single trace at all. This acuity of Xiao Chiye was simply
astounding.
“After Fengquan was sent in,” Ji Gang said, “the Grand Mentor
never mentioned him again.”
The sound of drumming rain on the roof of the tent slightly
underscored the quietness in the interior of the tent.
Hunu was lying in Yao Wenyu’s lap, so Yao Wenyu did not feel
cold. He broke the silence, “If it’s him…”
“If it’s Shao Fengquan, why did Shao Chengbi bring along the
firearms?” Shen Zechuan propped up his head with his left hand,
his train of thoughts running along smoothly in the warm tent.
“Shao Chengbi knew the firearms were replaced to give to the
Fanzhou bandits. He understood that this batch of firearms is not
usable, but he still brought them along.”
Shao Chengbi came to meet death in the face all to give Shen
Zechuan a reason to attack the City of Dancheng. He had hundreds
of ways at his disposal; he did not need the firearms to further
compound the issue—unless this batch of firearms was not meant to
be used at all.
Qiao Tianya, who had been leaning back in his chair, abruptly
sat upright. After a moment of silence, he said, “Uncle Shao is
trying to tell Your Lordship who the Scorpion is.”
The firearms were given to King Yi by the Scorpion in Zhongbo,
and this Scorpion in Zhongbo got them from the Scorpion in Qudu.
Chen Zhen could transfer the firearms around, and he held the
blueprint in hand, but strangely enough, he had totally no
knowledge of the loss of firearms from the Chunquan Battalion.
“The one who has eyes and ears everywhere is none other than
a eunuch.” A strange feeling overcame Shen Zechuan. Some of the
matters he had been clear on began to blur, while those that had
been obscured started to clear up. “Lu Guangbai told me that the
one who swapped out the Bianjun Commandery’s military grains is
the army-supervising eunuch, Yingxi.”
“If that is the case, then Fuman is a scapegoat,” Yao Wenyu said,
“and Xue Yanqing is a shield.”
“This blade,” Shen Zechuan’s brows creased in a slight frown,
“is a little inscrutable.”
 ◈ ◈ ◈
“Where exactly are you from?”
Xue Xiuzhuo squatted before Fuman and examined Fuman’s
expression.
After all the brutal tortures, Fuman was only left with a layer of
skin. He had no tongue, and could only glare at Xue Xiuzhuo with
bulging eyes as he opened and closed his lips. Behind Xue
Xiuzhuo, Ya-er attempted to stuff the paper and brush he was
holding into Fuman’s hands, but all ten of Fuman’s fingers were
broken. He was already a disabled person on the last legs of his
life.
Xue Xiuzhuo did not expect the Scorpions to move this fast.
This was simply the same as the time they forsook Wei Huaigu back
then. He stood up and said, “You are a eunuch who entered the
palace during the reign of Yongyi, who has served Emperor
Guangcheng. Later, Pan Rugui died, and Xiao Chiye recommended
you during the public ditches case. Only then did you start to make
your mark. Subsequently, you sent your godson, Yingxi, to Qidong
to supervise their army and indicated to him to switch the Bianjun
Commandery’s military grains. You meant to make the Bianjun
Commandery suffer a defeat and open up the Qidong’s line of
defense for Amu’er.”
Gurgling sounds rang out from Fuman’s throat. He touched the
chains with whatever was left of his fingers and lay on the ground
with his eyes staring unblinkingly at Xue Xiuzhuo.
Military and political changes were bound to be inextricably
linked. Back then, after the military defeat case, Hai Liangyi and the
other court ministers noticed the aberration in Dazhou. Since the
beginning of the Yongyi reign, they were fighting tooth and nail
with the noble clans, stuck in a stalemate between the collision of
two powers. But after the military defeat case, the situation no
longer developed in the way either party envisaged. The one who
unmasked his true nature and gave himself away was Hua Siqian.
He was too overly flustered when Hai Liangyi was chasing down
the accounts, and colluded with the Biansha Cavalry to ink a debt
of blood in the six prefectures. Xue Xiuzhuo, who was then Chief
Supervising Secretary for the Ministry of Revenue, clearly saw the
transfer of grains and silvers.
Xue Xiuzhuo turned back and muttered to himself, “But Lu
Guangbai did not die. Instead, he took the Bianjun Commandery
Garrison Troops with him and deserted. Qi Zhuyin swiftly returned
to defense mode, and Qidong remained impregnable. Your plan
failed, so Amu’er transferred Hasen away and started to launch a
major offensive against Libei.”
This was the entire gist of the Bianjun Commandery’s military
grains case.
Fuman exhaled through his nostrils and swiveled his eyes
around listlessly as he started to get all worked up.
The leading factor in the Libei’s military grains case was Wei
Huaigu, who colluded with the Juexi officials to resell the grains to
Zhongbo for huge profits. In the process, they replaced Libei
military grains with moldy grains, and this matter was exposed by
the relay report from Yang Cheng. The report was originally meant
to be submitted directly to the Ministry of Justice, but instead, it was
sent to the Ministry of Revenue on its arrival at Qudu. Both Xue
Xiuzhuo and Shen Zechuan thought this to be a move to threaten
Wei Huaigu, because, at that time, Xiao Chiye kept his grip on the
case and refused to let go, and they had to make a quick decision
to cut their losses and kick Wei Huaigu out. Only then could they
ensure that the other Scorpions hiding in Qudu would not be
implicated.
In that case, who else was a part of these “others” apart from
Fuman?
Fuman’s bloody palm scraped across the ground as he strained
himself to scrawl in an attempt to tell Xue Xiuzhuo something.
Streaks of blood intersected on the ground, and his breathing
gradually grew heavier. All of a sudden, he heard the door to the
cell open.
“Your Excellency,” Fengquan stood outside the door as per the
regulations. “The relay report said the defectors have arrived. The
Grand Secretary and Her Majesty are both waiting in Mingli Hall for
Your Excellency to head over for a discussion.”
 As the cell was dimly lit and the hall was brighter, Fengquan’s
bowing shadow crept into the cell and shrouded Fuman. Fuman
looked as if he had been bitten by a snake, his tears and sweating
flowing as he stared at Xue Xiuzhuo’s back. He parted his lips, but
could make no sound.
Fengquan made way for Xue Xiuzhuo. After the latter left, his
gaze shifted back to Fuman. Fuman panted for breath heavily, his
chest heaving. The corner of his lips was still drooling with clear
fluid that could not be concealed. Fengquan circled around him to
size him up. When the cell door was shut tight, he kicked Fuman
with his foot.
“What were you going to tell Xue Yanqing?” Fengquan looked
at the criss-cross of bloodstains on the ground, and understanding
dawned on him. “You wanted to write my name.”
Fuman attempted to escape from Fengquan’s shadow, but he
could not move.
“Don’t rush it.” Fengquan gripped Fuman’s wrist and led him to
write on the ground, stroke by stroke. “Hush. Listen to me. Even if
you tell him, he won’t believe you. When the time is right, I will tell
him myself. All clever people need such a lesson like this.”
Fuman’s entire arm was trembling.
The bloodstains on the ground increased as Fengquan
stubbornly persisted in writing. Leading Fuman, he turned a stroke
in the “feng” that Fuman had written into a crooked “kill”.136
“Hang in there,” Fengquan said in a feminine manner. “I will not
treat you unjustly.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Tantai Hu finished the headcount of the garrison troops but did
not see Liu Kong, so he asked around, only to realize that Liu Kong
had really gone missing.
“That son of a bitch had better not flee before the battle.” Tantai
Hu gripped the name roster. “I must have been blind, putting in all
my effort to nurture him!”
“He waited for both sides to suffer casualties, but he didn’t
expect His Lordship to have such incredible foresight. If he stays on
any longer, he won’t be able to make his escape.” Seeing no one
else around, Yu Xiaozai whispered quietly to Tantai Hu, “When you
report it to His Lordship later, just say it as it is. Don’t say a word
more than necessary.”
It was only then it hit Tantai Hu. He blurted in shock, “You’re
saying that Liu Kong is the spy?! He fought battles too when he
followed me to Duanzhou! Besides, as Qiao Tianya said, what’s the
point of him giving us the runs?!”
Unable to explain it, Yu Xiaozai simply said, “Just report to His
Lordship as is, and His Lordship will understand. What I’m worried
about now is that the traitor behind him will run too now that he
has fled!”
Tantai Hu felt a chill run down his back. He took a few steps out,
then backtracked and said quietly, “Tell me on the sly, so I know
how things stand and prepare myself for it. The advisors all love to
speak incisively in profound terms. If they don’t say the name, I
won’t be able to guess it. I may have a bad temper and erred back
in Dunzhou, but I don’t think I have ever offended anyone. This
crook has to have a reason for doing this to me!”
So Yu Xiaozai stretched out a finger to point to the south,
looking to be in a spot. “This… sigh, you just got caught in the
crossfire.”
Officialdom was like a spiderweb where every thread and node
was intricately connected. Any single promotion or dismissal could
cause repercussions within its range. Yu Xiaozai could not say it, for
he had no evidence. If he spoke up rashly, he would be suspected
of ostracizing fellow officials.
Chazhou, which was under Luo Mu’s charge, was the main gate
to the trade route between Huaizhou, Cizhou, and Chazhou. In the
earliest days, Shen Zechuan had no one under his command. As
Chazhou’s prefecture perfect, Luo Mu held the three powers –
legislative, executive, and judicial – in hand, and no one other than
the Imperial Cavalry censors could restrain him. In any work he did,
he only had to send in a request document to ask Shen Zechuan;
he had no need to seek another’s opinion. Over time, Shen
Zechuan would lose the “eyes” he left in Chazhou. As such, when
Wang Xian, who came from the Ministry of Revenue, made his
appearance, Shen Zechuan immediately had him assigned to
Chazhou.
 Wang Xian had the power and authority to administer the
economy of Chazhou, and he took over the management of
Chazhou’s Tax Circuit Intendants and taxation of the commoners’
fields. This, in truth, had already split away Luo Mu’s powers. Luo
Mu wanted to take Wang Xian out of the game, but he could not
impeach the latter or stir up trouble. The safest way was to strike at
him by leveraging someone else’s might. The Dunzhou yamen
bore ill will towards Tantai Hu. Tantai Hu was impulsive and prone
to causing trouble, and he had no personal relationship with Luo
Mu. Luo Mu arranged for Liu Kong to go over and planted him by
Tantai Hu’s side. It just so happened that Wang Xian had to make
arrangements for the military grains. When both encountered each
other, no doubt a dispute would arise. Tantai Hu was also Xiao
Chiye’s trusted aide, and Wang Xian could not afford to offend
him, so he could only take the matter to Shen Zechuan. Were Shen
Zechuan to probe into the matter, he would be probing the
Dunzhou yamen and Tantai Hu, which had nothing at all to do with
Luo Mu.
With this move, Luo Mu could plant his own man in the
Dunzhou garrison troops and, at the same time, make Wang Xian
lose Shen Zechuan’s favor. What was the relationship between Xiao
Chiye and Shen Zechuan? If Wang Xian insisted on stirring up
trouble with Tantai Hu, he would be putting both the Prefectural
Lord and Second Master in a spot.
Shen Zechuan assigned Yu Xiaozai to supervise the army, and
Yu Xiaozai was an official from Qudu. If Yu Xiaozai were to screw
things up in the Dunzhou garrison troops, he would become a spy
in collusion with Qudu. Then Wang Xian, who was similarly an
official from the capital, would surely be implicated.
This was called “striking a cow from the other side of the
mountain”.137
This matter was initially a done deal, but Shao Chengbi proved
to be a stroke of bad luck. Luo Mu himself probably did not expect
that the viceroy Qudu had carefully selected was here to throw his
life away. Long before the Capital Command Troops came
attacking, Liu Kong sensed Yu Xiaozai watching him, so of course,
he would seize his opportunity during the chaos to run once the
battle started.
“Quick, go and inform His Lordship.” Yu Xiaozai lifted the hem
of his robe and walked toward the other end. “I have to ask Fei
Sheng if the Imperial Bodyguards set up in Chazhou have been
withdrawn!”
Fei Sheng was in the midst of having his meal. After hearing Yu
Xiaozai’s question, he replied in puzzlement as he held his bowl in
his hands, “Of course, they had been withdrawn. At that time, when
His Lordship went over to Duanzhou, he wanted to establish the
Imperial Cavalry. We don’t have enough manpower, and there’s
you to supervise the various regions’ yamen. So my men were all
withdrawn.”
Yu Xiaozai promptly exclaimed in shock, his face turning pale
as he said, “Oh no, Old Fei, this is bad!”
◈ ◈ ◈
Xue Xiuzhuo braved the rain to make his way over to Mingli
Hall. When he entered, he saw everyone wearing a myriad of
expressions.
“News came in earlier.” Cen Yu gestured for Xue Xiuzhuo to
look at the letter. “Luo Mu of Chazhou brought along 20,000
garrison troops to defect to us!”
“I suspect it’s a trap Shen Zechuan laid,” Kong Qiu said. “Why
would Luo Mu take such a risk instead of remaining in his position
as the prefectural prefect of Chazhou?”
“Firstly, because of the imperial court’s reward of one million,”
Chen Zhen said. “And secondly, because he is sincerely loyal to the
state. He was forced to submit to the rebels against his own will.
From what he said in the letter, he already had the intent to switch
allegiances a long time ago. However, Shen Zechuan had
misgivings of him, and that was why it was only until today that he
dared to risk his life to come to the state’s rescue.”
“The garrison troops from Huaizhou are still on the way.” Li
Jianting stood beside her desk. “If Luo Mu is already on his way,
then going by the timing, he will arrive a few days later.”
“Dancheng is already lost to us. Assemble the remaining
Capital Command Troops,” Xue Xiuzhuo said. “Together with the
men Luo Mu brought with him, we still have 30,000 soldiers. Qi
Zhuyin wants to betray the state. Sure. Grand Secretary, please write
a letter to Qi Shiyu and ask him if he wants to turn traitor too.”
He folded up the letter.
“Midway in his journey, Luo Mu can intimidate Hezhou to make
the Yan clan of Hezhou hand over their remaining grains as well as
cut off Shen Zechuan’s grains route. Without Chazhou and Hezhou,
Shen Zechuan would be no different from having an arm severed.
We are lacking in grains, so his grains have to be depleted too—
Now that the 90,000 Armored Cavalry soldiers have penetrated
deep into the desert, for each day Xiao Chiye doesn’t return, Shen
Zechuan will be hard-pressed to forge ahead.”

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Footnotes
1. 绣春刀 The Xiuchun Blade was the blade of the Imperial
Bodyguards during the Ming Dynasty.
2. 狼烟 specifically smoke of wolves’ dung burnt to indicate
the presence of hostile forces
3.
4. 头车 literally head cart according to sources; a complex
siege weapon used for mining which can also be used as a
protective cover during a siege.

5.
6. 包袱, a cloth bundle. In the old days, people traveled
around with their clothes and possessions bundled up with a
piece of cloth. The bundle was then worn across the
shoulders and carried around. It also works for carrying food
around.
7. 狼烟 specifically smoke of wolves’ dung burnt to indicate
the presence of hostile forces

8.
9. 单梢炮 Single-component catapults, or one-branch
trebuchet
10. 浮萍 also refer to a person who wanders from place to
place; a drifter with an uncertain life
11.
12. 单梢炮 Single-component catapults, or one-branch
trebuchet
13. 玉带 literally jade belt, or belts made of jade worn by
high-level government officials in the course of duty. It’s also
a term in Fengshui where the road surrounds the building,
much like how the jade belt embraces the waist of the
wealthy in graceful semicircular arcs.
14. 车轮战 the tactic of several persons or groups taking turns
in fighting one opponent in order to wear him down (kind of
attrition warfare)
15. Presumably, it explicitly refers to his blade (“this blade of
mine”) but the way it is phrased also can be read as referring
to himself as the blade (“this blade that is me”)
16. Refer to chapter 174
17. 赤缇 also refers to light red.
18.
19. 门闩杖 it’s a bolt in the shape of a horizontal bar , or rod,
that’s used to hold a door closed in ancient days. Could be
long or short. Something like the above.
20. Full line is:
The passage of heavy frost through the lands
leaves not a blade of grass in its wake.
Refer to chapter 211
21. Just a note that he literally said 蛇 which is “snake”,
although what he meant was 四脚蛇 literally “four-legged
snake”, i.e., lizard.
22. 四脚蛇 is also literally translated as “four-legged snake”,
aka lizard.
23. 黃冊 Huangce or literally yellow registers/yellow book
served during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for
taxation and recruitment based on the household’s
classification according to their occupation. It was mainly
divided into three categories: civilian, military, and
craftsman.
24. Youxiong is a tribe that takes the bear as its totem. The
Biansha Tribes’ names are based on animals. For a list, you
can refer to to the worldmap.
25. Refer to 242
26. For those who forgot, refer to chapter 250, returning of
the head to the Biansha Tribes is considered a humiliation of
sorts.
27. 既然 jiran literally means “since”
28. 元气 or yuan qi, or primordial qi, or vital energy, is the
fundamental qi we are born with.
29. Just a note that it actually said “mother“ in the raws, not
sure if it was an unintentional typo. As usual, will double
check with the traditional chinese physical copy when it is
released.
30. A practice in former times where two locks of hair from
the husband and wife are bound together during the
wedding as a symbol of lasting union.
31. 小师父 Little shifu, or Little (Venerable) Master, the shifu
here is term of respect for a monk or nun and is not referring
to Jiran as Qiao Tianya’s martial art master.
32. 施主 shizhu, or benefactor, patron; term used by monks
or nuns as a general term of address towards laymen; also
used by Buddhist monks or Taoist priests for someone who
has contributed to a monastery or temple.
33. This shifu here is legit his shifu lol. To distinguish
between the shifu, we’ll be using shifu for one’s master and
little (venerable) master as the monk address for Jiran.
34. “绿水无忧，因风而皱；青山不老，为雪白头① by Shen Yi-
fu (沈义甫)
35. 因缘 in Buddhism, all things, phenomena, and social
activities are believed arise out of the combinations of causes
(因) and conditions (緣) (i.e., primary cause and secondary
causes that combines to bring about a result, or effect (果). 因
缘 also refers to predestined relationship or affinity.
36. “一切有为法，如梦幻泡影，如露亦如电，应作如是观。”
from the Diamond Sutra《金刚经》Basically, all phenomena
are fleeting and ephemeral, so we should treat them as such.
37. Refer to chapter 184
38. 向死而生 “being-towards-death”, a concept by German
philosopher Martin Heidegger. According to Heidegger, the
human being is a “being toward death” (Being and Time),
one who cannot fully live an authentic life unless one
confronts one’s own mortality.
39. 相 in Buddhism at its most basic refers to form or
appearance, etc of all things. Sort of mean how he still has
an attachment to all things/phenomena/etc in the secular
world and can’t renounce the world just yet.
40. Refer to chapter 203
41. This is the mute lad mentioned in chapter 221, will use
Ya’er (“mute lad”) as his name.
42. Having a son to carry on the family line is considered an
act of filial piety in ancient times.
43. i.e., tom, dick, and harry
44. Does not refer to real descendants but the people under
his “protection,” just like how Fengquan was Pan Rugui’s
god-grandson and Ji Lei was Pan Rugui’s godson. So this
eunuch has to be someone with high rank and power in the
palace who can bring some benefit to his ‘descendants’,
such as better treatment and opportunities, etc.
45. 老祖宗 literally old ancestor or forefather; sometimes the
top eunuch in the Ming Dynasty is privately addressed as
such
46. 太祖 Taizu, Great (Imperial) Ancestor ; usually the
posthumous title of the first emperor (or founder) of a new
dynasty.
47. Refers to Pan Rugui
48. 铁券 iron plaque, conferred by the emperor on a
distinguished minister as a special honor. It is being used
here as a “free-pass”.
49. 军屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry
out garrison duties and farm crops to supply the border
garrisons with grains.

50.
51. 杏眼 almond eyes; a kind of eye shape said to give off a
younger, adorable or pure vibe.
52. 三姓家奴 literally, a slave with three surnames. The term
originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 《三国
演义》 and refers specifically to Lu Bu. It’s used mockingly to
refer to capricious, disloyal and unrighteous people who
serve traitors.
53. 治大国若烹小鲜 literally, ruling a large state is like
cooking/steaming/boiling a small fish. Just as one should
not turn small fish too frequently when cooking lest they
break apart, the ruler of a big country should not make
unpredictable changes in policy or otherwise interfere too
much in the lives of the people, but instead should respect
the natural order of society, from Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)
《道德经》by Laozi
54. As offerings. The burning of offerings is considered an
expression of filial piety to provide the deceased with the
means to enjoy the comforts of what they once had when
they were alive.
55. 旌旗十万斩阎罗① Original quote “此去泉台招旧部 旌旗十
万斩阎罗。” “I shall head to the netherworld to summon my
former [deceased] comrades and, with a banner of 10,000
[soldiers], slay the King of Hell (a reference to the
Kuo//min//tang here)” from “The Three Chapters of Meiling”
《梅岭三章》by Chen Yi (陈毅).
56. 斩阎罗 Zhan Yan Luo, aka, Slay(er of) the King of Hell
57. 年号 reign title a designation for the years when an
emperor was on the throne
58. 盛胤 the name Shengyin would translate to “prosperity for
posterity“.
59. It says Marquis of Bianbo in this chapter. Previously in
earlier chapters, it was Marquis of Biansha, and then he got
“promoted” to Earl of Biansha. Will double-check with the
traditional Chinese copy when it is released.
60. 异姓王 Specifically princes, or lords, with different
surnames from the imperial family These were conferred
princes who were bestowed the title by the Emperor.
61. 三人成虎, literally three men make a tiger. i.e., three
people spreading reports of a tiger would make one believe
that there is really one around. Basically, a repeated rumor
becomes a ‘fact’.
62. From here onwards, Li Jianting used “朕” (zhen) to refer to
herself (unless stated otherwise). It’s an imperial term for “I”
exclusively used by the Emperor. It differentiates the
monarch from all his people and subjects.
63. 异姓王 Specifically princes, or lords, with different
surnames from the imperial family. These were conferred
princes who were bestowed the title by the Emperor.
64. * Li Jianting used the common “I” (我) here (marked with
*), then reverted to the imperial “I” (朕) used exclusively by
the emperor.
65. 君臣本同治乱，共安危 from “Essentials of Government in
the Zhenguan Reign” 《贞观政要》is a compendium on
statecraft during the Zhenguan reign (627-649) in the Tang
Dynasty.
66. 舌上有龙泉，杀人不见血 i.e., Words (of a sharp-tongued
person) can do serious harm; from “Essentials of
Government in the Zhenguan Reign” 《贞观政要》is a
compendium on statecraft during the Zhenguan reign (627-
649) in the Tang Dynasty. Longquan refers to a city in
southern Zhejiang province where famous Longquan swords
are made.
67. 二叔 er’shu (for Xiao Chiye) vs. 二叔叔 er’shushu (for Shen
Zechuan). 叔叔 as “uncle” refers to one’s father’s younger
brother and is also a child’s form of address for any young
man one generation older.
68. The full line, “以铜为镜，可以正衣冠；以史为镜，可以知兴
替；以人为镜，可以明得失” by Tang Taizong (唐太宗); He
who uses bronze as his mirror can tidy his apparel; He who
uses history as a mirror can know of the rise and fall of a
dynasty; he who uses people as his mirror can understand
successes and failures.
69. 企者不立，跨者不行 from 《道德经》Tao Te Ching
(Daodejing) by Laozi
70. 清谈 Qingtan is a Chinese philosophical movement and
social practice among political and intellectual elites where
the literati engaged in highly sophisticated intellectual and
philosophical discussions on lofty and non-mundane
matters.
71. A variant of 天下英雄入吾彀中矣 “all heroes of the world
have fallen into my trap” spoken by Tang Taizong in
reference to the imperial examinations, which not only build
a meritocratic government but also replace martial conflicts
for civil examinations. The people, in voluntarily choosing to
take the examinations, thus fall into Taizong’s “trap”,
spending their lives dedicated to studying the classics
(which instill precisely the values that keep the emperor in
power) rather than rising in rebellions, etc.
72. His name means 延 (extend/prolong/engage) 清
(clear/pure/upright/impartial)
73. 太祖 Taizu, Great (Imperial) Ancestor “; usually the
posthumous title of the first emperor (or founder) of a new
dynasty.
74. 乱世用重典, Govern with severe punishments in turbulent
times. i.e., the rulers should impose strict laws and inflict
severe punishments in turbulent times, especially as a
deterrent, from “Grand Pronouncements of Ming” (明大诰).
75. 份子钱 gift money that is given during occasions like
weddings, birth of a child, etc
76. 清谈 Qingtan is a Chinese philosophical movement and
social practice among political and intellectual elites where
the literati engaged in highly sophisticated intellectual and
philosophical discussions on lofty and non-mundane
matters.
77. specifically elder sister and younger brother
78. 见字如晤 literally seeing this letter is akin to a meeting in
person. It’s commonly used in old times as an opening, sort
of like “I hope this letter finds you well” in modern times.
79.
80. 团领衫 or 圆领袍 round-collared robe/attire typically worn
by officials in the Ming Dynasty.
81. 亩, mu, or Chinese acre, measure of land equal to 0.0667
hectares
82. 掌中物 literally object in one’s palm, also used to refer to
being in one’s control.
83. 沈腰潘鬓 shen yao pan bin (the ‘shen’ here is the same
‘shen’ in Shen Zechuan); refers to a man with a frail body
and premature graying of hair.
84. 萧郎 Xiao-lang (the ‘xiao’ here is the same ‘xiao’ in Xiao
Chiye); 郎 –lang, young man; a form of address that is also
used as a term to address a lover or husband. So if your lover
has the surname Zhang (张), you would be calling him
Zhang-lang (zhanglang written in different characters btw,
also means cockroach); 萧郎 Xiaolang as a whole also refers
to a male lover or beloved in poetry.
85. Anitabha, or Amitabha, read with Jiran’s accent.
86. The official title is Tax Circuit Intendant,(督粮道) but it’s
also a counterpart of Grain Tax Circuit (粮储道). Literally
though, 督粮道 is “Grain-supervisory Circuit”.
87. Households were classified and recorded into the
Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book (黃冊) according to
their occupation to provide basic data for taxation and
recruitment. It was mainly divided into three categories:
civilian (民户), military (军户), and craftsman.
88. 打肿脸(充胖子) slap one’s face until it’s swollen (in an
effort to look imposing); to do something beyond one’s
means in order to be impressive
89. 宝剑锋从磨砺出The sharp edge of a treasured sword is
the result of honing. i.e., one’s mettle or abilities have to be
honed in order to become useful and outstanding
90. 车到山前必有路 i.e., things will always sort themselves
out; cross the bridge when you come to it.

91.

92.
93. 独轮车i.e., a kind of wheelbarrow
94. 都军 it is also used as another name for the Imperial Army
during the Song Dynasty, but to make it less confusing, we’ll
use Capital Command Troops, aka troops in active service in
the capital
95. 伯乐 a figure famed for his ability to judge the quality of
horses. Refers to someone who is a good judge of talents.
96. 帝王之道：制衡之术 art of rulership/governance of ruler:
The technique of checks and balances was one of the most
common political tools used by the emperors in ancient
China to govern their officials.

97.
98. 太师椅 Taishi Chair or Grand Preceptor Chair, is a classical
style of a wooden armchair in ancient China.

99.
100.A form of hand exercise using a pair Baoding balls,
designed to help relieve stress while building finger
dexterity and wrist and forearm strength. We all know what
you’re thinking though. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
101.
102.里 li, an ancient measure of length, 1 li is approx. 500m
103.吴下阿蒙 General Lu Meng (from the Three Kingdoms
Period) was originally uneducated, but he later devoted
himself to studying for many years, becoming so
knowledgeable and wise that he surprised Lu Su, who said to
him, “You are no longer A-Meng from Wu”. Now used as a
model of self-improvement through diligent study.
104.水(至)清则无鱼 literally, water that is too clean has
no(/few) fish, i.e., one should not demand absolute purity;
you cannot expect everyone to be squeaky clean.
105.Chrysanthemums, which symbolize longevity, bloom
around the ninth lunar month, also called “the month of
chrysanthemum”. It is also customary to hold
chrysanthemums appreciation sessions during the Double
Ninth (Chongyang) Festival. Chrysanthemum is also one of
the Four Gentlemen (along with plum, orchid, and bamboo)
in Chinese art, which compares them to the Confucian junzi,
or “gentlemen”.
106.硕鼠 a large rat; a metaphor for a greedy official who
levies and collects money.
107.太宗 taizong, posthumous name given to second
emperor of a dynasty
108.木秀于林，风必催之；堆出于岸，流必湍之 from “On
Fortune And Destiny” 《运命论》by Li Kang (李康). I.e., a
person who is too outstanding will incur jealousy and is
easily subjected to attacks and slanders.
109.名帖 (also 拜帖), a name card (or visitation card) written
or paper or wood used by officials, nobles, or distinguished
people to notify the other party of their visit. It would usually
indicate his name, position, and so on.
110.天理 “Law/Principles of Heaven” i.e., feudal ethics as
propounded by the Confucianists in the Song Dynasty
111.任贤必治，任不贤必乱 (original line 任贤必治，任不肖必
乱) from “Historical Events Retold as a Mirror for
Government” 《资治通鉴》compiled by Sima Guang.
112.明者，销祸于未萌 from “Historical Events Retold as a
Mirror for Government” 《资治通鉴》compiled by Sima
Guang.
113.穷则思变 literally one will start thinking about changes
when he is in extreme poverty (or when he hits rock bottom
or is at the end of his resources).
114.Based on “君王死社稷” the sovereign die for the state
from “The Books of Rites” 《礼记》
115.物不极则不反，恶不极则不亡 from “Historical Events
Retold as a Mirror for Government” 《资治通鉴》compiled
by Sima Guang.
116.一春秋 also refers to a year
117.招文袋 a small bag hung at the waist for keeping
documents or money.
118.The first two characters for “moon over pines” (松月,
literally pine moon) are the same characters for Qian
Tianya’s name, Songyue.
119.The first two characters for “wind and spring” (风泉,
literally wind spring) are the same characters as the name of
the eunuch, Fengquan.
120.松月生夜凉，风泉满清听 “Overnight at Master’s Mountain
Lodge When Ding the Eldest (Ding Feng) Failed to
Arrive”《宿业师山房待丁大不至》by Meng Haoran (孟浩然), a
Tang dynasty poet.
121.长生牌 Longevity tablet, a tablet used to pray for the
blessings of one’s benefactors. (As opposed to ancestral
tablets to pray to one’s dead ancestors.)
122.批红 compilation of an endorsement on a memorial;
chief eunuchs had the right to note down remarks in red
color (pihong 批紅) on the incoming memorials, even before
the Emperor had seen them.
123.老祖宗, lao-zuzong or old/senior forefather/ancestor is
also used to address the top eunuch. 小祖宗 xiao-zuzong or
little/junior forefather/ancestor is also used as “little brat/little
devil”.
124.酷吏 specifically officials who used harsh laws or torture
to brutalize the people.
125.It was Emperor Guangcheng in the jjwxc version but
edited to Emperor Yongyi (after the name of his reign) in the
simplified Chinese physical copy. As usual, the final copy will
be double-checked against and based on the traditional
Chinese physical copy when it is released. Please bear with
us for now.
126.Specifically to retire after achieving success.
127.纸贵 literally paper expensive. When a work is so popular
everyone is copying it to circulate it, leading to paper
shortage and causing the price of paper to skyrocket.
128.黃冊 Huangce or yellow registers/yellow book served
during the Ming Dynasty to provide basic data for taxation
and recruitment based on the household’s classification
according to their occupation. It was mainly divided into
three categories: civilian, military, and craftsman.
129.火牌 military token/tally/seal or warrant to identify and
authenticate soldiers delivering urgent messages.
130.急递铺 urgent delivery station or express post station.
Together with the relay (post) stations, they formed the
“arteries and veins” of the Ming Empire, working together to
circulate people, information, and goods throughout the
lands.
131.Supposedly, to repay the debt he owes his son in this life.
132.玉牒 literally jade records; i.e., genealogy record of the
imperial family
133.朱批/朱砂印 literally vermillion or cinnabar seal as
authetication
134.太祖 Taizu, Great (Imperial) Ancestor “; usually the
posthumous title of the first emperor (or founder) of a new
dynasty.
135.Yellow was the color of the emperor.
136.狼烟(台) specifically smoke of wolves’ dung burnt to
indicate the presence of hostile forces
137.For those still confused, Li Jianting is the end result when
Emperor Guangcheng forced himself on his daughter-in-law,
aka Prince Qin’s wife, so if you were to really go into it, she’s
both Emperor Guangcheng’s daughter and granddaughter.
138.水满则溢，月盈则缺。Water brims only to overflow, the
moon waxes only to wane. i.e., things/situations reverse
when they reach their extreme or limit.
139.异姓王 Specifically princes, or lords, with different
surnames from the imperial family These were conferred
princes who were bestowed the title by the Emperor, so
naturally, they can be stripped of the title by the emperor too.
140.当头棒喝 literally, a blow to the head or a loud shout; i.e.,
a stern advice/criticism or a severe shock that brings one to a
sudden realization of the error of one’s thinking/ways. From
a traditional Chan (Zen) Buddhist teaching method where a
monk would often hit a beginner student on the head or
shout loudly at him to shock him out of his erroneous
thinking and help him achieve enlightenment.
141.定海神针 literally “The Sea-Anchoring Divine Needle”.
According to the novel Journey to the West 《西游记》, this
was a divine ‘needle’ (or pole) that could shrink and grow
according to its owner’s wish. At first, it was a treasure of the
Eastern Sea Dragon King’s Dragon Palace, but Sun Wukong
(孙悟空) later took it away to use as his weapon and changed
the needle’s name to the Ruyi Golden Cudgel (如意金箍棒).
It’s used to refer to a stabilizing force.
142.长明灯 changming lamp (or literally eternally bright
lamp), an altar lamp that is kept burning day and night
usually set in front of a memorial tablet on the family’s
ancestral altar as a visible aspect of ancestor veneration.
143.纲常 i.e., the three cardinal ethical relationships of social
order (including the relationship between the ruler and his
subject, father and son, husband and wife) and the five
constant virtues in Confucianism.
144.三姓家奴 literally, a slave with three surnames. The term
originates from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 《三国
演义》 and refers specifically to Lu Bu. It’s used mockingly to
refer to capricious, disloyal and unrighteous people who
serve traitors.
145.卖身契 more specifically, it’s an indenture or a deed of
sale of oneself or one’s family member to someone else
(e.g., into slavery, etc, or in Qiao Tianya’s case, to repay a
debt.)
146.For those interested in the actual characters in Chinese,
Fuman wrote “风” which is the “feng” in “Fengquan”.
Fengquan changed the “X”-like stroke into “杀”, or “sha”,
which means kill.
147.A martial arts move where one hits an enemy from a
distance away without actually laying hands on said person.
i.e., to deal an indirect strike
 ♢ CHAPTER 273: REVEAL♢

Note:
The titles in chapter 273, 274 – Reveal (显山), Unveil (露水) – are
from the idiom “显山露水”. i.e., to reveal or flaunt one’s talents or
the facts.
◈ ◈ ◈
Located to the east of Gedale, Mosanchuan made its name
from the three rivers stretching uninterruptedly into the desert,
where several li of barren shores and the Gobi Desert lay, adorned
only by swathes of desert poplar trees.
It was already dark in Qudu at this moment, but here, it was still
evening.
Xiao Chiye pillowed his head on both arms and watched the
last sunset.
The sky of Mosanchuan was so vast that if one were to lie on
the sandy ground and watch for long, they would have the illusion
of being embraced in heaven’s arms. Like flowing syrup, the
viscous glow of the sunset flooded over the earth.
Meng landed beside Xiao Chiye and hopped onto his chest.
Xiao Chiye had been holding a straw of grass in his mouth, which
he spat out when he felt the weight on his chest as Meng stepped
on him.
“Hey,” Xiao Chiye said, “You’re so heavy, gege.”
 Meng cocked its head and looked askance at him with the eye
on one side.
Xiao Chiye could only free an arm and ruffle Meng’s feathers.
He whistled at Lang Tao Xue Jin, which was by the stream drinking
water, and indicated for it to come over and take Meng away to
play. Lang Tao Xue Jin, however, trod on its front hooves and
turned its ass around to continue drinking the water.
The Armored Cavalry had been stationed here for a few days
already. Lu Guangbai took off his helmet and patted off the sand all
over him as he walked over.
“Commander-in-chief Xiao.” Lu Guangbai’s neck was damp
with sweat. He followed Xiao Chiye’s gaze and looked to the west.
“Laid-back, aren’t you?”
“That, I’m not. I’m miserable deep down.” As if that was very
much the case, Xiao Chiye pointed to the west with the hand he
used to stroke Meng. “My wife is over there at that end, his face
awash in tears every day as he awaits my return home.”
“Put it on the record.” Lu Guangbai tossed the helmet to Chen
Yang. “Go back and tell that to your household’s prefectural lord,
and we’ll see exactly whose face it is that’s awash in tears.”
Xiao Chiye waited for Lu Guangbai to sit down before asking.
“What did the Mengtuo Tribe say?”
“Same old words.” Lu Guangbai propped himself on his knees.
“Baya’er is determined to betroth his daughter to you. If you don’t
want his daughter, then he will decline to form an alliance with the
Libei Armored Cavalry.”
“Baya’er, that old blockhead of a camel.”122 Xiao Chiye sat up,
and some of the sand of his back slid off. He looked at Lu
Guangbai. “He wants to give me his daughter because he’s afraid
that I’ll cast him aside after he has served his purpose, so he wants
to trap me with a woman. If I were really such a disloyal and
unrighteous man, I’d still kill him even if he gives me his wife.”
Lu Guangbai pointed at Xiao Chiye and said, “You went and
met him with this expression. Of course he’s scared.”
Xiao Chiye’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “It’s not like I’m there to
beg him.”
 “Keep on being hard-mouthed.” Lu Guangbai said. “The
territory of the Mengtuo Tribe is right at the western desert entrance
of Mosanchuan, blocking it. If we can’t win over Baya’er before
attacking Amu’er, we risk falling into an encirclement trap.”
“Then you tell him,” Xiao Chiye folded his arm, “that I have a
ferocious tiger123 back at home. I am but a henpecked husband.”
“He even has his daughter’s dowry ready. He’s just waiting for
her to marry into your family and show proper respect to this
‘eldest madam’.” So troubled was Lu Guangbai that he could not
help but laugh in spite of himself. “Everybody loves Xiao Ce’an.”
The son-in-law that Baya’er had set his heart on was Hasen, but
Hasen insisted on marrying Duo’erlan of the Hulu Tribe, which led
to animosity between him and the Mengtuo Tribe. When Xiao
Chiye came to discuss an alliance after Hasen’s death in battle,
Baya-er stood on the sand dunes and took note of Xiao Chiye’s
strapping tall height and distinguished air. What’s more, Xiao
Chiye was the alpha wolf of Libei who slew Hasen with his own
hands, and so, Baya-er began to harbor the intent to marry his
daughter to him.
“The Hulu Tribe has already retreated to the banks of Lake Chiti,
so why are they back again?”
“You killed Hasen,” Lu Guangbai said. “His wife rode east on
horseback and brought back the warriors of the Youxiong Tribe that
you broke up and pleaded with her tribesfolk who had retreated
back to Lake Chiti to help Amu’er again. Duo’erlan swore before the
Hongying banner of the great desert she will kill you.”
Xiao Chiye remembered the flower that had floated away with
the water before Hasen died.
“Also,” Lu Guangbai curbed his smile. “Duo’erlan was already
pregnant before she headed east. That’s Hasen’s posthumous
child.”
Xiao Chiye secured his arm guard in silence. The last light of
the setting sun vanished, and a brief stillness materialized in the
sky that had no sun and no moon. That smear of heavy blue
enveloped the dome of heaven, and the cry of the falcon pierced
through the banner. Long hair that fluttered in the wind spread
under this blue sky as Duo’erlan supported her lower abdomen
with her hands.
Bayin covered Duo’erlan with thick clothing and persuaded,
“The night is cold. You should go back.”
“My husband is in the west,” Duo’erlan said softly with her head
tilted high as she watched a goshawk fly across in the wind. “When
will my Heroic Eagle return?”
Bayin could not bear to see her like this and felt the urge to
wipe his tears.
“The wolves of Libei bit my elder brother to death, then bit my
husband to death.” Hatred settled in Duo’erlan’s green eyes.
“Bayin, he is here to kill my child.” She covered her abdomen, took
two steps back, and said, “I want to protect my child.”
“The Hero will not let Xiao Chiye hurt you.” Bayin softened his
voice. “Your father won’t either. The desert will work together to
protect you, because this is Hasen’s child.”
“You’re wrong, Bayin. Look at the desert with your wise eyes.
There are already three tribes following his Armored Cavalry.”
Duo’erlan was almost shrinking into the wide outer robe. Her lean
chin lay concealed within, and tears pooled in her heavy-hearted
eyes. “In his quest for peace, Baya’er could even give his own
daughter away to our enemy. No one other than Hasen can protect
me.”
Sadness flashed across Bayin’s dark-skinned face. “I failed to
accomplish what Hasen entrusted me with and was deceived by
the Youxiong Tribe. I am Hasen’s wise man, yet I did not let him get
the glory he deserved. Now that Xiao Chiye has come to the
desert, Duo’erlan, we will take our revenge.”
Bayin took down the dagger at the side of his waist and held it
in his palm as he handed it to Duo’erlan.
“I swear.”
◈ ◈ ◈
To the wolf pup of my family, treat this letter as you would my
person.
The bed in Cizhou has lain untouched in recent days. I’ve been
staying in tents with the army, and sleep has proven elusive thus
far.
 Xiao Chiye looked at the words by the campfire, the forlorn
ache in his chest dissolving away into a bittersweetness of knowing
that he was being pined for. It was all his, Xiao Ce’an’s, chest that
Lanzhou slept on behind closed doors. Without him, Lanzhou
would sleep poorly, no matter how good the bed was. Xiao Chiye
picked up On Horseback with his other hand and drank a mouthful,
pouring that feeling onto his chest, lest he became too emotional.
He continued reading as he drank.
Teacher left me a blade. Former minister, Shao Chengbi, was
killed in battle. Everything in Qudu is in order and under control, so
don’t worry. An expedition afar is arduous; you must take care of
yourself. Er-lang, if we can win this battle, we will never part again
in the years to come. A warm spring bed awaits homecoming in
winter. I shall sleep thinking of you.
Xiao Chiye set down the wine bag and looked at the bottom,
where Shen Zechuan had drawn a fox with drooping ears and a tail
with a brush. He could not help but smile in spite of himself.
Lu Guangbai flung a sweet potato at Xiao Chiye, and Xiao
Chiye caught it with a lightning move of his hand.
“It’s almost the eleventh month.” Lu Guangbai peeled the sweet
potato and started eating it. “What do you have in mind for dealing
with the Mengtuo Tribe?”
The position of the Mengtuo Tribe was special. Its chieftain,
Baya’er, had batches of camels. If they were to throw in with
Amu’er, Amu’er’s current food dilemma could be resolved. Horses
from Libei or Qidong were, in fact, not suitable for making long
journeys in the desert. If Baya’er could lead the Mengtuo Tribe into
throwing in with the Libei Armored Cavalry, it would prove not only
beneficial to the transportation of military grains during the war,
but also prove advantageous to the mutual frontier trade in the
future.
“Since he’s afraid that I’d turn against him after the fact…” Xiao
Chiye opened up the bag that came along with the letter; it was all
dried beef jerky inside. He tossed the bag with a “Lu” on it to Lu
Guangbai and continued, “I’ll do just that.”
Lu Guangbai was already being polite, so Xiao Chiye had no
need to continue keeping up with the courtesy. He had 90,000
Armored Cavalry, 10,000 Imperial Army, and 20,000 Bianjun
Commandery Garrison Troops. He did not come here to negotiate
peace. He had already handed them the carrot from the Huiyan
Tribe. Continue putting on airs, and he was going to use the stick.
“Tell Baya’er,” Xiao Chiye popped the beef jerky into his mouth
and said, “I’m in a hurry to go home for the new year. If he wants to
sink with Amu’er, I will send him on his way tonight.”
Chen Yang nodded to receive his order and called for
someone to convey the message as he retreated.
◈ ◈ ◈
There were no troops stationed in Dancheng once the Capital
Command Troops withdrew. When the Dunzhou Garrison Troops
entered the city, the entire city was dead silent. There were
countless rumors of the Prefectural Lord of Zhongbo, Shen
Zechuan, some fearsome, and some respectable. Commoners
converged in the city. Quite a number of them had also fled to
Qudu the same night.
Tantai Hu was well aware of the need to appease the people.
This time, he did not dare to be sloppy and gave strict instructions
for the garrison troops to behave themselves. He had come to grief
because of Liu Kong, and so, he specially led his brothers from the
Imperial Army, neither disturbing the commoners at night nor
alarming them during the day.
Yao Wenyu, having spent nearly more than a month bent over
the table, was taking a stroll near Dancheng with Shen Zechuan
today. Looking at the mottled marks on the city wall, he said,
“Dancheng has had a close call. Luo Mu has already arrived in
Hezhou’s territory with his garrison troops. Qudu will be hard to
attack from now on. I heard the news today that Qi Shiyu sent three
letters from home, urging Commander-in-chief Qi, who is still at
Tianfei Watchtower, to return home.”
“Qi Shiyu is paralyzed in bed and can’t lead the troops.” Shen
Zechuan basked in the sun; it was a rare sunny day today. “All the
men in the house cannot compare to Qi Zhuyin. Even if he really
wants to dismiss Qi Zhuyin from her commander-in-chief position,
he can’t strip her of her commander-in-chief military power.”
 Qidong’s vital point lay in Qi Zhuyin, so they had to be able to
go for the jugular with a psychological attack when it came to Qi
Shiyu.
“Qi Shiyu wavers between the noble clans and those of humble
origins. As long as Your Lordship is willing to give him a promise,”
Yao Wenyu turned the wheelchair, “the merit in assisting the new
emperor in creating a new reign will far surpass the ability to
protect the current emperor.”
They definitely had to make an issue of it. Shao Chengbi’s
mobilization of troops ended in defeat. Qudu had long been
thrown into turmoil. This was just great now. Li Jianting’s legitimacy
was in question, and so was Shen Zechuan.
“Qi Shiyu is experienced, and he understands the stakes
involved best. If I speak of the merit in assisting the new emperor in
creating a new reign now, he might not necessarily dare to agree.”
There was no telling the state of Shen Zechuan’s injury from his
straightened waist. “Xue Xiuzhuo wants Luo Mu. I’ll give him to
him.”
Qudu wanted the chess piece, Luo Mu. Shen Zechuan would
not begrudge the loss.
The grains in Chazhou were distributed by Shen Zechuan, and
Cai Yu was eliminated by Shen Zechuan too. All the revitalization of
the various trade that followed after was aided by Shen Zechuan
too. Luo Mu ran so fast precisely because he could not prise Shen
Zechuan away, and since he had followed Cai Yu before, all those
he could take away now were the bandits.
“But I want Jiang Qingshan.” Shen Zechuan looked back. “The
only question is whether Xue Xiuzhuo can bear to give him up.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Qudu fell further into desolation. As the eleventh month drew
closer, the streets of the market became a lot more deserted. The
news that the rebels had fought their way to Dancheng had
spread. If not for the presence of the Capital Command Troops still
stationed in the city, anarchy would have already broken out. Even
so, the people still fretted with restlessness.
Kong Qiu, having already switched into a thicker robe, said to
Cen Yu before he entered the palace, “The snow is going to fall
early this year.”
Cen Yu raised his head to look at the sky. At that moment, he
could not tell if Kong Qiu was talking about this sky or Dazhou. He
let out a sigh and raised his arm to urge, “Let’s go.”
“I wrote Qi Shiyu a letter. He had his son answer.” Kong Qiu
walked up the stairs. “He says that he is too ill to even get off the
bed.”
“The aggravation of his illness is certainly very timely,” Cen Yu
scoffed while lifting the hem of his robe.
Kong Qiu slowed down and said, “Qi Shiyu is a sly old fox.
Rather than say he trims his sail to the wind, one might as well say
he’s wisely playing it safe to save his skin. Even back at home, he
knows very well that Qi Zhuyin didn’t deploy the troops, but he just
has to wait for us to write to him before he starts putting on a show
of cursing,” He said with a sigh, “He’s jacking up the price with us in
a roundabout way.”
“Just you watch. When Her Majesty really confers upon him
what his heart desires,” Cen Yu said, “he will then not dare to
accept it!”
“We still have to send someone with the gift of the gab over.”
Kong Qiu strode over the threshold. “I originally thought
Chongshen would do, but he isn’t experienced enough to be able
to hold down Qi Shiyu. After going back and forth choosing,
Wanxiao is still the most suitable choice.”
It was only when Cen Yu heard Jiang Qingshan’s name that he
remembered. “Wanxiao just sent a letter saying that his wife is
pregnant. He probably won’t make a long-distance journey at this
time.”
“There’s no one else left in the imperial court. If he doesn’t go,”
Kong Qiu raised a finger to point at the palace wall, “Shen Zechuan
will soon be here. I heard that Wanxiao’s mother highly values ties.
If it really doesn’t work, we will get in touch with the Old Madam. If
that doesn’t work, then we’ll get Wanxiao to bring his wife along.”
Jiang Qingshan’s wife, Liu-niang, had only just gotten
pregnant, and what’s more, she was nursed back to fertile health
by a wandering physician from the martial art fraternity and was
being cherished at home. But he could not disobey the imperial
court order. The journey was a long one to make, and he was
initially unwilling to bring Liu-niang along and subject her to the
hardship of traveling, but if he were to leave Liu-niang at home, he
did not know what kind of grief his mother would give her. So, after
thinking it through, he eventually decided to bring her along.
The moment Jiang Qingshan set off, Jiran set out too.
Ding Tao brought Jiran to Qidong and paid a formal visit to Qi
Zhuyin, who had rushed home to receive a tongue-lashing.
“His Lordship said that he heard the old commander-in-chief
and eldest madam have been in ill health lately.” Ding Tao bowed
to Qi Zhuyin. “His Lordship has nothing to give, so he had me bring
along his own physician to take a look at the old commander-in-
chief and the eldest madam.”
Qi Zhuyin saw Jiran looking all tranquil and at ease, not at all
timid in the presence of others. His aura was special, and he really
had an ethereal air to him. “Shen Zechuan must really lack
manpower. Even you have stepped out to go on errands.”
“Commander-in-chief Qi doesn’t know it, but I have been the
Second Master’s guard since a few years ago.” Ding Tao led Jiran
over before Qi Zhuyin. “This is the Venerable Master Yideng’s last
disciple.”
Qi Zhuyin was moved by the words “Yideng”. Seeing as Jiran
was young, she said, “… The old man has already retired for a rest
today. I’ll notify the rear yard in a while. Someone will naturally
come to receive him.”
Ding Tao and Jiran bowed in unison.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Eldest Madam is exceedingly intelligent. She is familiar with
the accounts, and her mental arithmetic is outstanding.” Yao
Wenyu covered his lips and coughed twice. “It would be best to
have her discuss with Jiang Qingshan.”
Shen Zechuan was in the midst of reading Ge Qingqing’s letter.
On hearing that, he only asked Fei Sheng, “How long has Luo
Mengzheng been gone for?”
“Almost half a month,” Fei Sheng answered.
“Even if he’s riding a tortoise, he should have reached Qudu by
now.” Shen Zechuan closed the letter. “If the motley crew wants to
guard the city gate, then let them do as they wish. No one can say
for sure whether they are brave men or boors lured by reward.
Shenwei should also take a break these few days. Push them into
too tight a corner, and they might be driven to take desperate
measures.”
Shen Zechuan did not fear those 30,000 to 40,000 motley crew
of soldiers in Qudu. Even if he fell short, he still had Xiao Jiming
behind him to back him up. A 30,000-strong Armored Cavalry was
enough to intimidate Qudu. Xue Xiuzhuo was indeed formidable,
but Xue Xiuzhuo did not have soldiers. Qudu wanted to coerce Qi
Zhuyin into deploying troops, so Shen Zechuan would force down
this blade that was Qi Zhuyin. It did not matter if he could not use
her; just let those 300,000 main forces remain in place as
decorations. Qudu could also forget about hoping that the Qidong
Garrison Troop would be able to stride past Tianfei Watchtower. For
the sake of maintaining stability in the area, he even had Huo
Lingyun placed there.
“Tao Ming has been eating and drinking well in Cizhou. Now
that he has grown some fat, he ought to start moving too.” The
prefectural lord’s folding fan tapped gently against the edge of the
table. “He is the prefectural prefect of a prefecture, after all. He’s as
close as family to the people of Huaizhou. The anarchy in Huaizhou
is intense. Give him a few thousand Cizhou Garrison Troops
soldiers and send him back to quell the unrest. If he does well, he
will be handsomely rewarded in the future. If not, have him leave
his entire family in Cizhou for me to take care of.”
Xue Xiuzhuo wanted to cut off Shen Zechuan’s Hezhou, so Shen
Zechuan would take away his Huaizhou. Huaizhou was close to
Luoxia Pass, which was in turn close to the city of Quancheng, the
native hometown of the Xue clan, the route of which formed an arc-
shaped encirclement, just like the trade route between Huaizhou,
Chazhou, and Cizhou.
Everyone, be it Xue Xiuzhuo or the emperor, had already
exposed their weaknesses in the contention for supremacy. Had it
been in the past, Shen Zechuan would definitely have nothing to
worry about, but after Shao Chengbi’s death, Fengquan was akin to
a thorn stuck in the most inconspicuous of spots.
One that had already penetrated deep.
 ♢ CHAPTER 274: UNVEIL♢

Note:
The titles in chapter 273, 274 – Reveal (显山), Unveil (露水) – are
from the idiom “显山露水”. i.e., to reveal or flaunt one’s talents or
the facts.
◈ ◈ ◈
The Mengtuo Tribe’s territory was close to the forest of desert
poplar trees. From a distance, they looked like they lived in an
inextinguishable bonfire in the desert. The desert poplar was their
symbol. This was where the tributary of the Chashi River lay. They
occupied the only water source of Mosanchuan. Further east along
was the hinterland of the desert, dominated by sweltering heat.
It was here Baya’er, an obese man who had grown himself a
grizzled goatee, hosted a feast for Xiao Chiye. He personally
poured wine for Xiao Chiye and said, “I’ve heard of the legend of
the wolf. Your Armored Cavalry is just as cold and grim as the
severe frost stampeding through the Chashi Sinkhole to crush
Achi’s elite Scorpions.”
The open-air feast was bathed in moonlight. The nights of the
desert were not at all black but a rich deep blue. Xiao Chiye sat
here, different from the swift and brave men of Biansha. He had the
wildness and frivolousness that hailed from Libei, one that was
made all the more conspicuous after he removed his armor.
“Having received the Mengtuo Tribe’s praise,” Xiao Chiye said,
“I’m willing to form an alliance with the tribe to become brothers
who can rely on each other, just like the Huiyan Tribe.”
“In that case, why don’t we form a marriage alliance?” Baya’er
looked at Xiao Chiye and sighed with emotions. “Hongyan
Mountain produces fine men, and I know you people from Libei are
all tough men. I really admire you, and my daughter truly wishes to
marry you. If you are worried that your wife at home will not agree,
then I am willing to give five hundred camels to this eldest
madam.”
The women of the Twelve Tribes controlled the tribes’ supplies.
In Baya’er’s view, if Xiao Chiye’s “wife” was a sensible person, then
he should agree to this marriage and minimize the hassle imposed
on his husband.
Far away in Dancheng, Shen Zechuan sneezed softly. Ji Gang,
who was in the outer chamber holding the medicine in hand,
shouted, “Chuan’er, take your medicine on time. This weather
changes on a whim. If you are not careful, you’ll get a cough
again.”
Xiao Chiye grasped the wine Baya’er toasted him. He had a
great capacity for wine, drinking On Horseback in small sips on the
way, and he was unbeatable back at home. But now, he seemed to
be drunk and did not look as severe as he had been the last time
he came to discuss with Baya’er.
Baya’er felt this to be an opportunity to exploit. He raised an
arm to motion for Xiao Chiye to look to his right, where his
youngest daughter, with her face covered with a thin layer of veil,
sat with her head lowered as if she was shy. Confident that Dazhou
had no girls like this, Baya’er said, “My Wuya is very loveable and
well-behaved. She can take care of the eldest madam like a
younger sister would.”
On hearing this, Lu Guangbai cast a glance at Xiao Chiye as he
sliced the beef with a dagger. “Our Pref—Eldest Madam has no
brothers at home, so I think it’s good if there is really a younger
sister in the picture.”
Following along Baya’er’s arm, Xiao Chiye looked over, and the
girl hung her head even lower.
Baya’er then said, “Wuya, come over and toast a cup of wine to
the chief wolf.”
 Wuya stood up. Intricate ornaments hung from her waist,
tinkling as she walked, but Xiao Chiye’s mind was already
wandering. He remembered that he had also hung a silver bell on
Lanzhou’s ankle the one time he had taught Lanzhou a “lesson”
while he was still in Dunzhou. It not only tinkled when it swung;
there was also Lanzhou’s moist, disorderly panting.
Wuya had already come before Xiao Chiye. She had an exotic
fragrance on her, and when she leaned over, she revealed her fair
neck.
Lanzhou’s neck was the most gorgeous drenched in the rain,
soaking in the water, and immersed in sweat. Its arch was exquisite,
tilting up and hanging down in tandem with his body that was
being held captive… Xiao Chiye missed Shen Zechuan very much,
and it was especially obvious at this one moment.
Wuya poured the wine to the brim and leaned over to offer it to
Xiao Chiye. Her long lashes lifted, revealing her hatred when she
looked at Xiao Chiye. The golden chain around her waist clattered
as the young girl flipped out a dagger with her slender palm and,
taking advantage of her movement as she made a toast, thrust it
right at Xiao Chiye’s throat.
Chen Yang had yet to react to the sudden turn of event so close
at hand, but Gu Jin had already heard something amiss. He strode
a step out and involuntarily blurted out, “Second Master—!”
The golden goblet smashed onto the tabletop with a “thud”,
splashing wine all over. Xiao Chiye did not even touch Wuya as he
used his arm guard to parry the dagger. The next moment, the
short table overturned, and Wuya went rolling. Her dagger that
had already slipped from her hand landed between Xiao Chiye’s
palm. Before Baya’er could snap back to his senses, Xiao Chiye
stood up and suddenly nailed the dagger onto Baya’er’s table.
Nearly stabbed in the fingers, Baya’er was so startled that he
turned pale from panic and fell paralyzed to his butt on the
ground.
Xiao Chiye wiped the wine off his arm guard. His eyes sober as
he said frostily, “I sincerely came here to befriend the Mengtuo
Tribe, but the Mengtuo Tribe are hypocritical and malicious rats
who spout honeyed words but hide swords behind their backs.”
 The generals at the feast all jolted to their fe