Chapter 418: Taking His Own Life

Peng Youzai glanced sideways at Feng Lingbo, waved the others away, and only then said, "Once this campaign is over, that man cannot be allowed to remain. Find a way to deal with him."

Feng Lingbo did not understand. He asked respectfully, "Father means...?"

Peng Youzai lifted his chin toward the figure receding in the wheelchair.

Feng Lingbo tried, "Meng Shanming?"

Peng Youzai nodded slightly.

Feng Lingbo's heart tightened. "Why?"

"Under a great reputation there is no empty name. You've seen it yourself. The man truly is formidable. If he remains, then even after Shang Chaozong is suppressed, Meng Shanming will only encourage him to dream of rising from the ashes."

"So between Meng Shanming and Shang Chaozong, only one can remain alive. Which one do you choose?"

Feng Lingbo understood. No matter what else could be said, Shang Chaozong was still his son-in-law. Everything Feng Lingbo was doing now harmed Shang Chaozong's interests, but unless there was absolutely no alternative, he did not want the man's life. If circumstances permitted, he still had to consider his daughter to some degree. The best choice was therefore to cut away Shang Chaozong's wings. Whether internally or in the eyes of outsiders, if Feng Lingbo casually refused to spare even his own son-in-law, what would people think?

If he had to choose, naturally he would choose for Shang Chaozong to live.

"Make him disappear quietly. Don't create any disturbance." Peng Youzai gave him a sidelong look as he delivered the warning, then turned and left.

Feng Lingbo bowed slightly to see him off. When he looked again toward the distant man in the wheelchair, he could only sigh inwardly. He too had never imagined that Meng Shanming, a famous general of his generation, would ultimately fall beneath his blade. Though he felt some reluctance and sorrow, he could not afford mercy. Some of his father-in-law's words were reasonable. Meng Shanming was unquestionably a man of great influence and one of Shang Chaozong's strongest arms...

By the lakeside, Meng Shanming raised one hand in a small gesture. Luo An turned the wheelchair until he faced the blue waves. Green mountains in the distance lay beneath the afterglow of sunset. Meng Shanming gazed toward them with deep, tranquil eyes. His whitening temples looked faintly desolate beneath the evening light. For a long while, he said nothing. No one knew what he was thinking. Shang Chaozong and the others exchanged glances. Shang Shuqing moved to the side of the wheelchair, her skirts brushing softly as she approached.

"Uncle Meng, you haven't slept properly for a long time. Go back and rest."

Meng Shanming returned to himself. He tilted his head and looked up at her. Looking at her face, he suddenly seemed saddened.

"I still haven't seen the Commandery Princess married. Commandery Princess, you're not young anymore. It's time you found a household of your own. I imagine that is something the late prince would have wanted to see as well."

Shang Shuqing lowered herself into a half crouch beside the wheelchair and smiled.

"Qing'er has long been used to being alone. I'm quite well this way. Qing'er doesn't want to marry."

Meng Shanming stroked her hair fondly, affection filling his eyes.

"Silly girl. What woman goes through life without marrying? Do you intend to live your whole life carrying such a great regret?"

"I understand what's in your heart. If we can see Master Dao again later, I'll mention it to him and ask whether he has any solution."

"The birthmark on your face was planted by Mr. Dong Guo. Master Dao is Mr. Dong Guo's disciple, and he also comes from the Shangqing Sect. Perhaps he knows some way to undo it."

Shang Shuqing smiled. "Uncle Meng, there really is no need. I'm truly quite well like this. Does Uncle Meng want Qing'er to find a man who judges people by their appearance?"

Meng Shanming's eyes remained full of affection.

"Girl, remember this: so long as a person's heart is upright, judging by appearance is not some grave wrong. It is ordinary human nature. What fault is there in that?"

"Besides, what woman does not love beauty? These years have truly been hard on you."

"Our silly girl is a treasure. Whoever chooses you will be blessed. Unfortunately, the people of this world have eyes yet fail to see."

"I truly don't know whether Mr. Dong Guo helped you or harmed you when he planted that ugly birthmark on your face."

Armies rolled in like a tide from several directions, converging upon a city. At the head of one column flew a great banner bearing the character WU. Beneath it rode Wu Tiandang, his armor gleaming brightly. The defenders on the city walls trembled with fear.

Wu Tiandang reined in his horse outside the walls, flaunting his might. He drew his sword, pointed it toward the battlements, and shouted, "Defending commander on the wall, listen well! Open the gates and surrender immediately. Anyone who submits will have all past offenses forgiven. If you resist to the bitter end, then once the city falls, you will all be killed without mercy!"

After a while, a hanging basket was lowered from the walls, carrying one man down to negotiate. Two hours later, the city gates opened. The defending commander emerged without armor, bare-chested, with thorn switches bound across his back as he presented himself for punishment. Wu Tiandang accepted the surrender. The army then entered the city and formally took control. At first the common people inside were terrified. Only after discovering that the troops did not disturb them did they gradually settle down.

Scenes like this were repeating throughout the six upper commanderies of Nanzhou...

The imperial palace in Yanjing blazed with lamplight. Inside a magnificent hall, a gray-haired man in yellow imperial robes paced barefoot with his hair disheveled, roaring himself hoarse.

"Eight hundred thousand troops! Eight hundred thousand!"

"In only a few days, they were defeated into utter ruin!"

"Zhou Shouxian, you fool! You betrayed the hopes I placed in you. You have ruined me. You have ruined me!"

Inside the hall, Grand Minister of Works Tong Mo, Chief Steward of the Inner Palace Tian Yu, and Director of Imperial Carriage Office Ga Miaoshui all stood with lowered heads and said nothing. One looked grave, another heartsick, another taut with strain... Inside a military camp, armored soldiers patrolled back and forth while Goldenwings continuously took flight and descended. Within the main command tent, intelligence reports and military orders arrived and departed with the endless movement of messengers. Zhou Shouxian stood before the map without removing his armor.

His face was haggard, but anxiety showed even more clearly. He had not slept for several days. Dark circles ringed his eyes. He still wanted to salvage the situation. After all, several hundred thousand of his troops remained inside Nanzhou. But the rebel army occupying Nanzhou had given him no opportunity. It had forcibly scattered, exhausted, encircled, and trapped those hundreds of thousands throughout the region. Large groups were routed. Small groups could not gather with one another. Every message reaching him was filled with desperate cries for aid.

Zhou Shouxian wanted to send help. But what was he supposed to send? From beginning to end, every rebel attack had struck precisely at his vital point. They had carried out a near-perfect strategic and tactical offensive. The result was what now lay before him: his eight-hundred-thousand-man army had been broken apart into loose sand. Another report arrived. After reading it, Zhou Shouxian swayed on his feet.

Xue Xiao, Provincial Inspector of Dingzhou, sat nearby with a taut face. He rose, took the report from Zhou Shouxian's hand, and read it himself. It was not truly an intelligence report. It was a letter from one of Zhou Shouxian's trusted generals still inside Nanzhou. More than five thousand men were trapped in the mountains. The birds and beasts had already been frightened away. At first, the soldiers could still eat grass and chew tree bark, while the streams gave them water to drink.

But the enemy had diverted the streams, cutting off their water, then occupied favorable terrain and surrounded them without attacking. Their men had gone an entire day without water. Morale was on the verge of collapse. If no rescue came soon, even the general would no longer be able to suppress the troops' desire to surrender in order to survive. He could only betray the court's trust and submit. Xue Xiao drew a deep breath. He had accompanied Zhou Shouxian for some time now.

In a single day, he had already read more than a dozen similar pleas for rescue. By now, he more or less understood how Zhou Shouxian had lost so completely. He pressed the letter flat on the table and sighed.

"The strategy was ruthless, steady, and precise, aimed directly at Brother Zhou's weakness. The tactical attacks were unpredictable, yet every advance and retreat controlled the rhythm of the entire battlefield."

"Brother Zhou's eight hundred thousand troops were pinned down so thoroughly they could not bring their strength to bear."

"I have to admit, the rebel army's command of offensive operations was extraordinarily sophisticated. It was practically a magnificent spectacle that broadened one's horizons."

"I never imagined Feng Lingbo possessed such military talent!"

Zhou Shouxian suddenly raised his head and cried in anguish, "Brother Xue, can you possibly still believe the rebel army was being commanded by Feng Lingbo?"

Xue Xiao froze. "Didn't the court's intelligence say Shang Chaozong's military authority had already been taken over by Feng Lingbo? Isn't Feng Lingbo the wartime commander of the five lower commanderies, with authority to deploy all five armies?"

Zhou Shouxian said bitterly, "Brother Xue, the court's intelligence ruined me! Feng Lingbo entrenched himself in Guangyi Commandery for years. My forces faced his across the border for years. What kind of man he is, and how capable he is—would I not know?"

Xue Xiao said, "Shang Chaozong?"

Zhou Shouxian shook his head, pain twisting his expression.

"Someone who can command six hundred thousand troops with this kind of ease and freedom—do you think a man commanding an army of this scale for the first time could do it?"

"Who on that side possesses experience like this?"

"Does Feng Lingbo?"

"Does Shang Chaozong?"

A flash of realization crossed Xue Xiao's mind. He suddenly drew a sharp breath.

"Meng Shanming!"

Zhou Shouxian planted both fists against the table and lowered his head, weeping.

"If I had known from the start that it was Meng Shanming, how could I possibly have arranged my forces that way? How could I ever have lost this disastrously?"

"The court's intelligence was wrong. It ruined me!"

Xue Xiao said nothing. His brows drew together slightly. He did not entirely agree with that excuse. But Zhou Shouxian had already reached this state, and there was little point saying certain things anymore...

Early the next morning, Zhou Shouxian lay over the table in the main command tent, trapped in a nightmare, when a commotion outside suddenly jolted him awake. He stood, worked some feeling back into his numb, stiff body, and hurried out. The moment he lifted the tent flap, he discovered that every face outside was unfamiliar. His three thousand personal guards had vanished. Another force had replaced them.

"What is going on?" Zhou Shouxian shouted.

No one answered. Before long, Xue Xiao approached with a group of people. Jin Wuguang and Cao Yuer were on either side of him. The expressions in the eyes of the two sect leaders were exceedingly complicated as they looked at Zhou Shouxian. Xue Xiao stopped directly before him. The two men faced one another in silence. Zhou Shouxian seemed to realize something. He gave a miserable smile.

"Brother Xue, has an imperial decree arrived?"

Xue Xiao's lips tightened slightly before he slowly answered, "His Majesty has decreed that Brother Zhou be escorted to the capital. Brother Zhou's remaining affairs are to be handed over to me for resolution."

Zhou Shouxian looked toward Jin Wuguang and Cao Yuer. Seeing their expressions, he could already guess what had happened. They were abandoning him.

He asked, "Sect Leaders, may I have a word with the two of you in private?"

The pair exchanged a look, then both turned toward Xue Xiao. When Xue Xiao showed no objection, they nodded slightly. The three entered the tent one after another. Once the flap fell closed, Zhou Shouxian cupped his hands and bowed deeply to them.

"I was incompetent and dragged Zhenling Academy and Feihua Pavilion down with me."

Cao Yuer smiled bitterly. "Things have already reached this point. Nothing can reverse them. My lord need not blame yourself."

"What is done is done."

"I only hope my lord can understand our difficulties. We can no longer continue protecting you."

Zhou Shouxian naturally understood. Things had reached this stage. The two sects could hardly turn against the imperial court, help him resist arrest, and take him away in flight. They could only abandon him. Zhou Shouxian cupped his hands again.

"If possible, and if circumstances permit, I hope the two of you will remember our many years of friendship and help look after my wife and children."

Jin Wuguang said, "It has not reached that point yet. My lord has long enjoyed His Majesty's trust. There may still be a turn for the better."

Zhou Shouxian shook his head and sighed.

"I won't survive."

"Someone has to bear the blame for this. After the investigation, only one road awaits me: death."

"Sect Leaders, wait a moment."

He walked back behind the desk, took up a brush, and wrote hurriedly. When he finished, he affixed his signature and seal. Then he shook the sheet dry, returned to the two sect leaders, and held it out.

"I'll trouble the two of you to give this to Lord Xue outside and have him submit it to the imperial court."

The two accepted the paper and opened it. The moment they finished reading, both faces changed drastically.

Cao Yuer said urgently, "Lord Zhou, it hasn't come to this!"

Zhou Shouxian raised a hand to stop her.

"After I'm escorted to the capital and interrogated, I will not escape responsibility. I will certainly die, and I may easily drag my family down with me. If I take my own life after defeat, at least I can preserve the name of a loyal subject. The court will not implicate my family, or else it would chill the hearts of every soldier and general serving it."

"Either way, I die."

"There is no need for the two Sect Leaders to persuade me further."

"Take care of yourselves."

He extended a hand toward the exit. What else could the two of them do? They too understood that, among the choices remaining to him, this was the wisest.

The moment Jin Wuguang and Cao Yuer lifted the tent flap and stepped outside carrying Zhou Shouxian's letter of self-accusation, a metallic ring sounded behind them as a sword left its sheath. Both immediately turned. Standing outside, Xue Xiao also saw Zhou Shouxian's movement through the open flap. His face changed violently.

He thrust out a hand and cried, "Brother Zhou!"

Zhou Shouxian wore a final, resolute smile. The sword edge swept across his throat. A spray of blood burst from his neck...

[End of Chapter 418]