Chapter 173: The Sky Grows Dark

From the moment news arrived at dawn that the king's army had appeared nearby, the common people, officials, and powerful households of Chuzhou City began craning their necks, waiting for the result.

Once the main force of the Zhenbei Army left the city, everyone became even more like giraffes, stretching their necks in hopes of seeing as early as possible which banner the returning troops would carry.

For ordinary commoners, perhaps their lives would not change all that much.

The Yan were not like the barbarians of rumor, who delighted in slaughter and ate human flesh.

The Yan distributed grain.

A great deal of grain.

The thinking of common people was often simple.

If you treated me well, I felt well-disposed toward you.

It did not matter whether it was appeasement policy or mere surface performance.

But for Chuzhou City's officials and powerful families the consequences were far greater.

One wrong step and the lives and fortunes of their entire households might disappear.

At last, before everyone in the city twisted their necks apart an army returned.

The moment people saw rider after rider entering the city on horseback a dispirited mood began slowly spreading through Chuzhou.

Accompanied by the rolling hoofbeats of the Zhenbei Army it felt as though everything was being trampled down into the deepest valley.

The Blind Man stood beside the street.

Behind him stood Yuexin, whom he had only just brought out from the Wen residence.

Yuexin still supported the Blind Man by one arm.

She genuinely treated him as a blind man.

As Zhenbei Army riders passed before them the Blind Man clearly felt the young woman beside him begin to tremble.

No matter how clever a woman might be, it was natural to fear a force of tiger-like veterans who had only just stepped down from a battlefield.

Especially when they were soldiers of an enemy state.

Bloodstains still covered the armor of the Zhenbei Army riders.

Almost every saddle had a severed head hanging beside it.

Heads represented military merit.

An "old custom" passed down from more barbaric ages yet one that had never truly disappeared.

Because war had never been a refined business.

The smell of blood began spreading through the city.

The vast, terrifying pressure of the Zhenbei Army descended over Chuzhou once more.

Those powerful riders.

Those hideous severed heads.

Those Qian military banners being dragged through the streets.

Every one of them silently announced the result.

The king's army the Qian army had lost!

The Qian people inside Chuzhou City had no idea that this particular Qian army had merely been passing through.

Naturally, they assumed it had been dispatched by the court and the Emperor specifically to recover Chuzhou.

The king's army had come.

And now the king's army's heads were returning hanging beside Yan saddles.

Its banners dragged along the ground like giant street-cleaning brooms.

Even commoners with no understanding of warfare could clearly see that the Qian army had lost.

And lost terribly.

The Yan army looked as though it had merely ridden out beyond the city for a casual hunt then returned with full bags.

The hoofbeats continued hammering against the blue-brick streets.

Each impact seemed like a heavy mallet striking the hearts of everyone inside the city.

A faith.

An emotion.

Something simple and inborn was being cut apart with one snip after another.

The Blind Man reached out and patted the girl's hand.

"Don't be afraid."

Yuexin lightly bit her lip.

"I'm not afraid."

She was afraid.

But the fear inside her was not especially complicated.

Strictly speaking she was already half a Yan person now.

At that moment, Zheng Fan rode past.

He noticed the Blind Man.

Naturally, the Blind Man had already noticed his Master.

Liang Cheng saw him too.

Then noticed the young woman supporting the Blind Man's arm.

The two stopped.

They turned their horses toward the street corner and came before the Blind Man.

"Kowtow.

"Call him Master."

Yuexin obeyed immediately.

Right there in the street she knelt before Zheng Fan.

She was intelligent.

Liang Cheng stood behind Zheng Fan.

So with a single glance, she immediately understood which man was the "Master" her husband had spoken of.

"Master."

Yuexin's voice was crisp and clear.

Zheng Fan's face filled with question marks.

"What happened?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Thanks to Master's blessing, this subordinate just took a wife."

"Uh..."

I go out and fight one battle and you bring a wife home?

Zheng Fan still had an entire head full of questions.

But the young lady had already kowtowed and greeted him.

As Master—

Zheng Fan naturally could not give her nothing.

He reached into his robes and took out a jade pendant.

Leaning down from horseback he offered it to the girl kneeling beside his horse.

"A greeting gift.

"Don't dislike it."

Yuexin raised her head and accepted the pendant.

Coming from a great household, she had seen plenty of valuable objects.

The moment she looked at the jade a trace of surprise appeared across her face.

"What?

"You recognize this jade?"

Zheng Fan asked in a deliberately testing tone.

Truthfully he had no idea what it was.

"Reporting to Master.

"This is East Sea Verdant Jade.

"It is said to be found only occasionally on islands in the Eastern Sea.

"It is extremely rare and precious.

"A piece this large...

"I...

"I..."

Yuexin had originally intended to say the gift was too valuable to accept.

But after a brief hesitation she changed her words.

"Many thanks for Master's reward."

"If I give it to you, take it."

Zu Dongcheng's personal jade pendant how could it possibly be ordinary?

The Zu Clan Army operated along the Eastern Sea.

They were practically the Eastern Sea King in everything but name.

Not every military household lived as frugally as the Marquis of Zhenbei, who normally could barely bear to eat meat.

Of course, no matter how valuable the pendant was, Zheng Fan felt no pain giving it away.

Garrison Commander Zheng possessed at least this much breadth of mind.

"Master, we won?" the Blind Man asked a pointless question.

Liang Cheng answered, "A great victory.

"More than twenty thousand enemy heads taken.

"Master personally captured the enemy commander—the legitimate eldest son of the Zu Clan."

"Master is mighty."

"Enough.

"Enough.

"Pack up.

"Get ready to move."

Zheng Fan turned his horse.

After exchanging a few words with the Blind Man, he rode away.

The Yan army's return to the city seemed to crush every remaining shred of spirit from Chuzhou.

Like a rebellious youth suddenly entering old age.

Understanding fate.

Accepting fate.

...

Inside the Wen residence after the servants delivered their report the Wen Clan members in the main hall all showed expressions of relief.

And Wen Sutong, who had only just sent off his fine grandson-in-law, slowly reached for the official hat placed beside him.

For a moment every Wen Clan member in the hall fell silent.

At last, they seemed to understand what kind of sharp vision this old man truly possessed.

Wen Sutong stood.

He pushed away the steward who tried to support him.

Then he walked out of the hall by himself.

He continued outward.

Across the courtyard.

Past the open well.

All the way to the front gate of the Wen residence.

The servants standing on either side opened the doors.

Wen Sutong walked outside.

Below the front steps row upon row of armored soldiers stood holding weapons.

At their head was Chuzhou City's newly appointed garrison commander, Liu Sicheng.

The man who had personally led surrendered Qian troops the previous day to exterminate several prominent households.

"This General greets the Military Commissioner!"

Liu Sicheng dropped to one knee.

Behind him thousands of surrendered Qian soldiers knelt together.

"We've seen what we needed to see.

"We've waited for what we needed to wait for."

Wen Sutong placed the official hat onto his head.

Then continued, "The Yan blade is fast.

"But not accurate enough.

"The Yan have already cut once.

"We will make the second cut."

Liu Sicheng and the surrendered soldiers beneath him shouted together, "We obey!"

...

Zu Dongcheng had been thrown inside a tent.

Xue San was responsible for guarding him.

Everyone else sat in a circle around a fire.

An iron pot rested over the flames.

Hotpot seasoning filled the broth.

A chaotic mix of ingredients simmered inside.

The Fourth Lady sat behind Zheng Fan, kneading his shoulders.

Yuexin, meanwhile, very sensibly busied herself around the iron pot.

From time to time, she picked up the large ladle and stirred.

One could tell she was not accustomed to spicy food.

She kept turning her head aside to cough.

"It's ready," Yuexin said.

"Serve it," the Blind Man said.

"All right, Husband."

Yuexin picked up bowls.

She filled one for every person and handed them around.

The Fourth Lady said, "Little Sister, the rice is steaming over there."

"All right."

Yuexin showed no displeasure at being ordered about.

She rose and went to bring the rice.

Everyone received one bowl of hotpot stew and a large bowl of rice.

They ate with enormous satisfaction.

Yuexin could not handle the spice.

So she mostly shoveled rice into her mouth.

While eating, however she also studied the people around her.

What made her clever was that she did not furtively peek at everyone.

She openly observed each person.

And because of that whenever someone noticed her gaze, they would glance at the Blind Man seated beside her, then either nod or smile toward her.

In Yuexin's eyes the man wearing armor was extremely heroic.

Blood remained on his body from the battlefield.

He should have only just returned from fighting.

Yet he felt exceptionally cold.

The kind of man whose mere presence made the air around him seem colder.

Beside that man sat another.

This one possessed the free, graceful air of a Qian scholar.

But he did not seem to enjoy eating.

He barely touched the food.

Instead, as though terribly thirsty, he kept drinking from a water skin.

He must be like her unable to endure spicy food.

Then there was the iron-built giant.

He ate incredibly quickly.

He did not even use a normal rice bowl.

After everyone else had served themselves he placed the entire remaining bucket of rice before himself.

Then used the large serving ladle to shovel rice directly into his mouth.

The little dwarf came out from the guard post.

He took some food.

Then swept one glance across her.

After that he glared viciously at her husband.

And stormed away.

This dwarf had some kind of conflict with her husband.

Finally—

Yuexin's gaze settled on Zheng Fan and the Fourth Lady.

This was Master.

The beautiful elder sister beside Master was she the Mistress?

Yuexin carefully studied Zheng Fan.

This man... looked utterly ordinary.

His bearing also ordinary.

Even the way he ate was completely ordinary.

Such a completely ordinary man had somehow made her husband acknowledge him as Master?

After the meal—

Zheng Fan said, "Pack up."

Naturally, this "pack up" did not mean clearing the bowls.

The army would be departing tomorrow.

Everyone needed to prepare.

Zheng Fan walked into the tent where Zu Dongcheng lay.

Xue San had only just put down his bowl.

He wiped his mouth.

"Master.

"He's awake.

"Pretending to sleep."

Zu Dongcheng continued keeping his eyes closed.

Zheng Fan said, "Piss him awake."

Zu Dongcheng opened his eyes.

Zheng Fan squatted beside him.

Then reached out and patted the man's relatively fair face.

"You're a military man.

"Why bother growing such a pretty face?"

Zu Dongcheng turned his head and looked at Zheng Fan.

He said nothing.

"He's gone mute.

"Use piss to cure him."

"............" Zu Dongcheng.

"Gladly."

Xue San reached toward his waistband.

"Why humiliate me?" Zu Dongcheng finally spoke.

"Then why is a prisoner putting on such a rotten attitude here?"

"What is your name?" Zu Dongcheng asked.

Smack!

Zheng Fan slapped him across the face.

Zu Dongcheng froze.

"Mind your position.

"Truthfully—don't think being Young General of the Zu Clan Army means you can put on airs here.

"Didn't your thirty thousand troops turn into mountain goats fleeing across the countryside?"

"Then why keep me alive?

"Why not kill me?"

"I'm bored.

"I wanted to humiliate you a little."

"My surname is Zu.

"My name is Dongcheng."

"See?

"Wouldn't it have been easier if you'd said that from the beginning?

"As for me—my name is Zheng Fan.

"Garrison Commander of Green Willow Fortress in Yinlang Commandery of the Great Yan."

"It's you?"

"Looks like I'm fairly famous."

"You are indeed famous.

"I never imagined...

"I would fall into your hands as well."

"That is your honor."

"What do you intend to do with me?"

"Haven't decided yet.

"But I do have one initial idea.

"Can you persuade your father to reverse allegiance and surrender to the Great Yan?"

Zu Dongcheng stared at Zheng Fan as though looking at an idiot.

"Fine.

"That was a stupid question."

Zheng Fan flicked his hand.

Truthfully he had not decided what to do with Zu Dongcheng.

He had only come over after dinner for two reasons.

First to help digest the meal.

Second to take another look at the piglet he had caught and thrown into his pen today.

Li Fusheng had no elaborate plan for Zu Dongcheng either.

That was not because Li Fusheng underestimated the enemy.

As a veteran general he understood perfectly well how naive it would be to imagine that capturing one man's son meant you could force that man to do anything.

"Why don't we approach it differently?

"Tell me what you can offer me.

"Let's make a trade."

"A trade?"

"A deal.

"Negotiation.

"Business."

A mocking smile appeared across Zu Dongcheng's face.

Bang!

Xue San punched him.

Zu Dongcheng's right cheek instantly swelled.

"Master.

"I was wrong.

"I acted impulsively."

"No.

"You did very well."

Zu Dongcheng spat out blood-tinged saliva.

"Yan dog.

"Sons of the Zu Clan do not have soft knees."

"Fine.

"Fine.

"I know.

"I know.

"Then let me chat with you instead.

"Do you know what we're doing next?"

Zu Dongcheng remained silent.

"You need to cooperate a little.

"Who knows?

"You might hear some military secret of the Great Yan from me.

"If you ever escape—you could even carry word back.

"Right?"

"What are you doing next?"

"South."

Zheng Fan gave the answer directly.

"South?"

Zu Dongcheng stared.

"South!"

"You don't believe me?"

"With only these men—how can you possibly go south..."

"Oh.

"You're mistaken.

"This southern campaign includes two hundred fifty thousand iron cavalry."

"Impossible...

"Impossible...

"Impossible..."

"I didn't believe it at first either.

"But that's reality.

"Right now, across Chu Commandery—two hundred fifty thousand cavalry have already spread out.

"When we came through—we didn't bother with your Three Frontier defenses at all.

"We simply rode past them."

"How dare you!"

"There's nothing we don't dare.

"Our Emperor dares play the game this way.

"But does your Emperor?

"Tell me—does your father dare continue north and refuse to turn south?"

Zu Dongcheng fell silent.

A villainous smile appeared across Zheng Fan's face.

"Think about it.

"Your Zhao sovereign wakes up one morning—then suddenly discovers more than two hundred thousand cavalry outside Upper Capital.

"Unexpected?

"Surprising?"

"Upper Capital... is not so easy to capture."

Upper Capital was the pride of the Qian people.

It was no exaggeration to say not only in the eastern world, but across both east and west—

Upper Capital was one of the brightest jewels in existence.

One of the most exquisite.

One of the most prosperous cities beneath Heaven.

"Chuzhou City was strong too.

"Didn't we take it?" Zheng Fan asked.

"It's different.

"I imagine Chuzhou fell so quickly because it had no warning at all.

"But Upper Capital will certainly be prepared now.

"When the time comes—one imperial decree from His Majesty can summon armies from across the realm to rescue the capital.

"Several hundred thousand troops could be gathered easily."

"If Upper Capital can be taken—we'll take it.

"As for those so-called relief armies—you and I both understand what quality most of them possess.

"Before the Great Yan's iron cavalry—numbers like that don't mean much."

Zheng Fan took out a metal case.

From it he drew a cigarette.

Xue San thoughtfully struck a fire striker and lit it for him.

Zheng Fan inhaled.

Then slowly blew out a smoke ring.

"Truthfully—we never expected to take Upper Capital."

"Then what are you..."

Zu Dongcheng's eyes suddenly widened.

Clearly, the Young General who had grown up inside an army had finally realized the Yan plan.

"Heh heh.

"You thought of it, didn't you?"

Zu Dongcheng ground his teeth.

Inside his mind he could already see his father.

Old Lord Zhong.

Young Lord Zhong.

Grand Commandant Yang.

All of them leading the hundreds of thousands of troops from the Three Frontiers south to rescue the capital.

And then, more than two hundred thousand Yan cavalry suddenly erupting from every direction.

Everything everything would become a larger version of the battle he had just experienced.

Fugitives covering the hills and fields.

Yan cavalry pursuing them like mad.

Blood staining the earth red.

The elite forces of Qian's Three Frontiers burned away in a single disaster...

"Why... are you telling me this?" Zu Dongcheng asked.

"You can think about that yourself."

Zheng Fan reached out and patted Zu Dongcheng's face again.

Then stood.

And walked out of the tent.

By coincidence he saw the Fourth Lady emerging from the Blind Man's tent.

Directly behind her came a male foot soldier.

At first glance the scene looked almost as if the Fourth Lady had been doing something inside the tent with that soldier.

But Zheng Fan misunderstood nothing.

He might misunderstand anything else but he would never imagine the Fourth Lady secretly taking another man.

That degree of confidence in her character still existed.

And once that assumption had been removed the identity of the "male soldier" behind her became obvious.

At exactly that moment the Blind Man came over carrying a box filled with dossiers.

The documents had all been collected from Chuzhou City.

They were materials worth studying repeatedly.

Zheng Fan held the cigarette between two fingers.

He pointed toward the Blind Man.

Then asked the Fourth Lady, "You disguised her this quickly?

"What is the Blind Man supposed to do tonight?"

The Fourth Lady shrugged.

"Master, don't blame me.

"The Blind Man asked me to disguise her first."

If Yuexin was going to travel with the army she needed to be disguised as a male soldier.

The Fourth Lady did the same while marching.

Bringing women openly inside an army was genuinely inappropriate.

Then the Fourth Lady covered her mouth and laughed.

"Master—once the lights are out, isn't everyone the same?"

Zheng Fan heard that and replied, "For the Blind Man—lights on or lights off are the same anyway."

(End of Chapter)