Chapter 733: Threatening Nanzhou

Fortunately, Jinzhou had been mentally prepared and had made practical preparations as well. Nanzhou had already arranged a fallback route for them. The moment signs of war appeared, large quantities of Jinzhou's supplies began moving toward Nanzhou. Without obtaining permission from the Yan court, Nanzhou simply opened Yan's border and let Jinzhou's forces enter without obstruction.

Jinzhou's troops fought as they retreated and eventually withdrew wholesale into Nanzhou territory. The foundation Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion had built over so many years finally fell into the hands of the Zhao court.

Zhao's forces also advanced all the way to Nanzhou's border, which was likewise the border of Yan. Whether they should invade Yan territory and become embroiled in an even larger war provoked fierce debate at the Zhao court. The troops pressed against the frontier but hesitated, appearing uncertain for the moment.

With Zhao's army looming at the border like a tiger eyeing its prey, all of Nanzhou fell into panic.

Although Zhao had not yet launched an attack, Nanzhou had already begun preparing for war. Civilians were being evacuated toward Dingzhou so they would not suffer once fighting broke out.

Many people had only recently managed to establish homes and livelihoods in Nanzhou. They were unwilling to abandon their homes and property yet again and could not bear to leave. Even those who did go departed with the elderly and children in tow, their hearts full of sorrow.

The prosperous situation and stable order Nanzhou had built over the past few years collapsed in an instant...

During a halt in the army's rapid march, a large flying mount came from the distant sky and descended. Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, had returned after making a trip back to Nanzhou to inspect the situation.

With a dark expression, he went straight into the central command tent.

Meng Shanming was in the middle of giving instructions to Shang Chaozong. Shang Chaozong was about to leave. He would personally lead Nanzhou's cavalry back in haste, because Nanzhou had no great general there to preside over the situation. Either he or Meng Shanming had to return, and in the end they had decided Shang Chaozong should go.

The most important reason was that Meng Shanming could control the various regional lords gathered here more easily. Beyond that, if Meng Shanming took Nanzhou's forces away and left Shang Chaozong here alone, Shang Chaozong might well be in danger. If the court could make one attempt on his life, it could make a second.

This side had already made secret contact with Niu Youdao. After Nanzhou's forces had put enough distance between themselves and the army here, Niu Youdao would send large flying mounts to meet them on the road and carry Shang Chaozong back to Nanzhou first, so he could take command and direct the defense. The cavalry would continue the journey afterward.

Seeing Huang Lie enter, Meng Shanming said, "Sect Leader Huang, you've come at just the right time. His Highness is about to return to Nanzhou. I will have to trouble Dachan Mountain to escort him."

Huang Lie's face remained dark. Instead of answering, he demanded, "Why did you allow Jinzhou's forces into Nanzhou? Why was Dachan Mountain never consulted beforehand on a matter this important?"

Meng Shanming and Shang Chaozong exchanged a look. The latter asked, "Is there something improper about it?"

Huang Lie said, "Don't tell me you don't know what the situation in Nanzhou is now! Don't you understand that only by denying Jinzhou any road of retreat could we force its troops to resist Zhao to the death? Now look at what's happened. Instead of Jinzhou becoming a forward defensive barrier for Nanzhou, its forces have fled into Nanzhou, and Nanzhou has become their refuge. Can we even shelter them? We have handed Zhao the perfect excuse to attack Nanzhou! Zhao is already clamoring that Nanzhou must expel Jinzhou's forces at once, or Nanzhou will be treated as Zhao's enemy. Did none of you consider the consequences?"

Other matters could be discussed. But the present situation directly threatened Dachan Mountain's interests, and Huang Lie could not possibly remain calm.

Shang Chaozong said, "Sect Leader Huang, Jinzhou is Nanzhou's ally. We have maintained relations for years and depend on one another like lips and teeth. This is not some temporary relationship of convenience. How could we abandon all good faith and watch them die without helping?"

Huang Lie stamped his foot in furious frustration. "Your Highness, you're muddleheaded! That only matters if we can actually save them! At this point, talking about allies is merely deceiving ourselves. Your Highness, Marshal Meng, the situation can still be salvaged. Please issue an order immediately and make Jinzhou's forces get out of Nanzhou. If they refuse to leave on their own, threaten to join Zhao in destroying them. They won't dare stay! Where they go afterward is none of our concern. They only need to leave Nanzhou."

Shang Chaozong said, "Master Dao would probably never agree to that."

"Heh!" Huang Lie sneered repeatedly. "Niu Youdao again. I knew this had to be his idea. Your Highness, Niu Youdao left Jinzhou a fallback because of his own selfish interests. He has always done everything possible to keep the right to negotiate with Jinzhou in his own hands, so he can play the indispensable intermediary between Jinzhou and Nanzhou and preserve his own interests. On a matter of right and wrong this great, how can his private calculations be allowed to interfere? If Nanzhou falls, he can run whenever he pleases. What about us? We have so many people under us. Where are we supposed to run?"

"Sect Leader Huang, don't be in such a hurry." Meng Shanming raised a hand. "Things are not as you imagine. The decision to allow Jinzhou's forces to withdraw into Nanzhou was not Master Dao's alone. Before Nanzhou decided to send troops east, Master Dao and I had a long discussion at Maolu Villa. We had already anticipated that Zhao might move against Jinzhou, and preparations were made even then to allow Jinzhou's forces to retreat into Nanzhou. Letting them enter was not only for Jinzhou's sake. It was also for Nanzhou's."

"For Nanzhou's sake?" Huang Lie asked in a low voice, his expression ugly. "Marshal Meng, are you joking with me or trying to fool me?" The other side obviously meant to persist in this course regardless of Dachan Mountain's interests.

Meng Shanming first sent Lu Zheng outside to stand guard and keep anyone from approaching. Then he signaled Luo Da'an to push him before the map. Taking up a pointer, he indicated Nanzhou and Jinzhou's positions. "Back when His Highness escaped the capital, he had only a few hundred followers. Later, he borrowed troops from Guangyi Commandery and established himself in Canglu County. That alone made His Majesty wary of him. The only reason His Majesty did not move against him then was because he had other calculations. When His Highness expanded until he held the territory of two commanderies, he had already aroused His Majesty's killing intent. With His Highness's strength alone, he could never have resisted!"

The pointer moved to Jinzhou. "His Highness was able to establish himself because he relied on Jinzhou's support. Internally, Tianyu Sect used its good relations with Yan's three major sects to pressure the court. At the same time, the court did not wish to turn the matter with Zhao's Jinzhou into something larger and risk starting a war between states. Two mere commanderies were not worth that much to the court, so they closed one eye and let the matter pass. Once His Highness took Nanzhou, however, the situation changed abruptly. What had been no more than an itch had become a true hidden danger, and the court could no longer restrain its desire to eliminate him."

"At that point, the forces of Jinzhou and Nanzhou were roughly equal. They truly became allies who depended upon and supported one another. Whether Zhao moved against Jinzhou or Yan moved against Nanzhou, either state would have to face the combined resistance of both provinces. Whoever made the first move would pay an enormous price. The consequences of a rebellion in Cangzhou alone already showed how serious such a thing could become, much less two provinces joining hands."

"This mutually beneficial relationship will continue under the present situation. It benefits both sides. As His Highness said, the two provinces have dealt with each other for years and depend on each other like lips and teeth. This is not a temporary alliance of convenience. If one side falls into danger, the other cannot stand by and watch it die."

Huang Lie said, "Marshal Meng, I understand all of that. Saying it changes nothing. I'm talking about the present. We can barely protect ourselves. What are we supposed to use to protect Jinzhou?"

Meng Shanming laid the pointer horizontally across his hands and sighed. "Sect Leader Huang, I am only making the stakes of protecting Jinzhou clear. As for the present, do you truly believe that if we obey Zhao and hand Jinzhou's people over, Zhao will then refrain from attacking Nanzhou? Under the momentum of the greater situation, if Zhao means to send troops against Yan, then even if we surrender Jinzhou's forces, Zhao will still invade. If Zhao does not wish to attack Yan or turn the matter into something larger, then after reclaiming Jinzhou, even if we shelter Jinzhou's people, Zhao will still not dare lightly provoke a war with Yan."

Huang Lie fell silent.

"Master Dao and I reached that conclusion when we discussed the matter earlier. Only afterward did we decide that Jinzhou's forces could take refuge here if necessary. At the time, Nanzhou's army was about to embark on its eastern campaign and our defensive strength at home would be inadequate. We had no choice but to guard against Zhao. Jinzhou, as our ally, could serve as Nanzhou's forward barrier. If Jinzhou failed to stop Zhao's offensive, then the foresight of that earlier decision would show its value now."

The pointer tapped Zhao again. "If Zhao is determined to attack Yan, Nanzhou will bear the brunt. At present, Nanzhou's elite troops are campaigning outside, and Dachan Mountain's own elites are likewise with the army. Neither can return in time to reinforce the province. In this campaign against Song, Nanzhou also consumed enormous quantities of supplies in support of the war. Nanzhou's resources are no longer enough to sustain another great campaign."

"Yet precisely because Nanzhou refused to abandon an ally despite the danger, Jinzhou is overwhelmed with gratitude and now sees Nanzhou as its only road of retreat. Jinzhou's forces have practically stripped the province bare. Large quantities of supplies have been transported into Nanzhou. Most of Jinzhou's troops have withdrawn into Nanzhou as well, and the cultivators of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion have come to lend us their strength. Nanzhou has gathered Jinzhou's manpower, material resources, and wealth. If we need troops, we have troops. If we need grain, we have grain. If we need resources, we have resources. If Zhao leaves us alone, so be it. If Zhao attacks, Jinzhou's people have nowhere left to retreat and will fight to the death beside Nanzhou. Nanzhou now has the strength to fight bravely. At the very least, we can hold until our reinforcements arrive!"

Huang Lie stared blankly at the map, as though a veil had suddenly been lifted from his eyes.

"Sect Leader Huang, this was precisely why Master Dao and I decided long ago that, if circumstances changed, Jinzhou's forces would be allowed into Nanzhou. We could preserve our honor and loyalty, making Jinzhou grateful, while also drawing upon Jinzhou's strength to resist an outside enemy. If we drive Jinzhou away now, wouldn't we be cutting off one of our own arms? Sect Leader Huang, if we expel Jinzhou's support and Zhao then attacks Nanzhou, how is Nanzhou supposed to resist? Who will help protect Dachan Mountain's interests? We would be harming others without benefiting ourselves. I hope Sect Leader Huang will think carefully."

Under the expectant gazes of both men, Huang Lie remained silent for quite a while. Then he slowly said, "If there is another major decision like this in the future, I hope you will inform us beforehand!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left, apparently still dissatisfied.

Meng Shanming and Shang Chaozong slowly turned toward one another and smiled.

Huang Lie had only just stepped out of the tent and breathed out when, before he had gone far, he saw one of the large flying mounts patrolling overhead signal approval and allow another large flying mount to descend near the tents of Zijin Cave.

Huang Lie narrowed his eyes to observe the arrivals. Two Zijin Cave disciples had escorted a female disciple here. Even from a distant glance, it was obvious that the woman possessed extraordinary beauty.

Her garments fluttered as she descended. With graceful reserve, she followed behind the other Zijin Cave disciples. Her cloud-dark hair was simply bound, her skin surpassed snow, her features were luminous and flawless, and her figure was slender and graceful. Even the way she walked carried a refined elegance that drew the attention of many men nearby.

From the way the arrivals behaved, it was clear that the beautiful woman was the important person among them. Yue Yuan, Elder of Zijin Cave, appeared outside the tent and allowed the woman inside while keeping the others out.

After watching for a while, Huang Lie asked Elder Huang Tong beside him, "That woman is exceptionally beautiful. If she can enter Gong Lince's tent for an audience, she cannot be an ordinary disciple. Who is she in Zijin Cave? Why does she seem so unfamiliar?"

Huang Tong shook his head. "I've never heard of her or seen her. I'll make some inquiries."

[End of Chapter 733]