Chapter 183: Assassins

For a moment, the warm chamber fell utterly silent.

Zheng Fan tried to keep himself looking natural.

But before long a bitter smile appeared on his face.

He had underestimated the enemy.

Of course, whether Garrison Commander Zheng personally underestimated anyone had absolutely nothing to do with the greater course of events.

All it proved was one thing.

Anyone capable of sitting on a dragon throne was rarely simple.

The Three Frontiers of Qian held nearly seven hundred thousand troops.

And they were the most battle-capable forces Qian currently possessed.

Originally, if those armies had marched south in relief, then with the Marquis of Zhenbei and Marquis of Jingnan commanding two hundred thousand iron cavalry on the open plains annihilating that entire force was completely possible.

If that battle succeeded northern Qian would lose most of its ability to resist.

But now, if the armies of the Three Frontiers did not march south at all if they remained nailed in place like iron spikes or even secretly detached part of their strength and sent it north against the now-empty State of Yan then no matter how freely the Zhenbei Army and Jingnan Army rampaged across northern Qian, they would still be unable to fully swallow and digest this enormous piece of meat.

Instead the Three Frontiers would remain lodged in their throat like a fishbone.

At the same time the Barbarian Royal Court would seize this opportunity to break free from the control of the Marquis of Zhenbei's household.

They had already waited a hundred years for such an opportunity.

And Jin because of the principle that the lips and teeth depended upon each other would most likely send a large army against Yan as well.

In fact, that was already nearly certain.

Otherwise, the Imperial Guards from Yan's capital and the rear formations of the Jingnan Army would never have been dispatched so early toward the easternmost frontier of the dynasty.

Yet Yan's strongest field army would remain trapped in northern Qian.

Advance and it could advance no farther.

Retreat and not only would it have to spit out the enormous piece of meat already caught between its teeth, it would also have to endure the Qian counterattack behind it.

For a moment a cold sensation spread through Zheng Fan's heart.

The Great Yan, which had appeared to hold such an overwhelming advantage had suddenly fallen into the position of fighting three sides at once.

Seeing Zheng Fan remain silent, the Qian Emperor spoke.

"Truthfully—

"I should thank Ji Runhao.

"The phantom payroll of the Three Frontiers and the Imperial Guards—that enormous amount of military expenditure being devoured every year—no one dared touch it before.

"Not even I dared touch it.

"But now—your Yan blades happen to be helping me.

"Helping Great Qian.

"Helping us cut open this festering abscess.

"Tell me.

"How should I thank your Emperor?"

"But most of northern Qian has already been smashed apart."

"No matter.

"No matter."

The Qian Emperor waved one hand carelessly.

"The true wealth of Great Qian lies south of the Qian River.

"In Jiangnan.

"Jiangnan's taxes account for eighty percent of the annual revenue of my treasury.

"The Three Frontiers have already been neglected for far too long.

"Chu Commandery and Beihe Commandery are poor commanderies.

"Perhaps they seem rich to you Yan people.

"But to us Qian people—they count as poor places.

"The only region truly affected is Xishan Commandery.

"But even if Xishan Commandery is beaten into ruins—to me, that is still an acceptable trade.

"I'm not afraid to let you laugh.

"Great Qian has long suffered severely from the Three Redundancies.

"Beneath the brilliant surface, the treasury is already close to borrowing from tomorrow to survive today.

"The first redundancy—is redundant soldiers.

"I have sent wave after wave of regional troops forward and let you scatter them.

"Now the generals of the Three Frontiers and the Imperial Guards—and the powerful people standing behind them—will no longer dare conceal the phantom payroll so openly.

"I can seize this opportunity and use the momentum of events to extend my hand into those two military systems with a perfectly legitimate excuse.

"The second redundancy—is redundant officials.

"How many officials in the north have failed their duties?

"How many have died?

"How many have surrendered?

"That conveniently clears away another entire layer.

"And the third redundancy—is Buddhist and Daoist clergy.

"You Yan people believe neither in Buddha nor Dao.

"Along your march, you've destroyed countless temples and monasteries.

"You have helped me enormously there too.

"Even better—some temples and monasteries, hoping to preserve themselves, voluntarily handed grain over to the Yan army.

"That has given me another excellent excuse.

"I have disliked those people who produce nothing, perform no labor, and yet pay no taxes for a very long time!"

The more he spoke the more animated the Qian Emperor became.

He rose.

Then actually spun once in place.

Ignoring his age the movement genuinely looked elegant and carefree.

Perhaps it fit the aesthetics of this age perfectly.

Zheng Fan, however, could not appreciate it.

Maybe because his previous world had already produced far too many performance artists.

"Your Majesty," Zheng Fan said.

The Qian Emperor stopped moving.

"What else do you wish to say?"

"Every plan looks beautiful at the beginning."

"I understand.

"That is why I did not let you meet the civil and military officials.

"I am quite happy right now.

"But most of the officials are probably frightened and uneasy.

"Even the Chancellors at court—they are all first-rate men during an age of peace.

"But in chaotic times—they can do little more than serve as decorative frames."

"Your Majesty.

"This foreign envoy believes Your Majesty may be imagining things too beautifully."

"Are you merely refusing to admit defeat?"

"Qian cannot conjure an army out of thin air!"

"Give me three years.

"I can train a genuine eight-hundred-thousand-strong Imperial Guard again!"

The Qian Emperor bent forward.

He stared down at Zheng Fan, who sat on the carpet.

Then said, "Truthfully—

"I have been a fairly ordinary Emperor.

"But there is simply nothing I can do about that.

"Imagine two children.

"One herds cattle.

"One gathers firewood.

"They sit together beneath a great tree for an entire afternoon and do nothing.

"But the cattle-herding child—his ox has already eaten its fill.

"The child gathering firewood—has not collected a single stick.

"Do you understand the meaning?"

An inexplicable anger suddenly rose inside Zheng Fan.

Irritation.

Truthfully—

Garrison Commander Zheng had never truly considered himself a Yan person in the deepest sense.

But Yan was where he had "been born" into this world.

It was also the state where he had struggled and risen all this way.

An emotional bias was unavoidable.

The Qian Emperor continued.

"One is poor.

"One is rich.

"Their foundations are different."

He flicked his long sleeve.

"Great Qian possesses more capital.

"Ji Runhao trampled the great clans beneath his cavalry hooves.

"He gambled everything merely to launch this war.

"I do not especially enjoy gambling.

"I rarely even play games of chance.

"But I understand one principle.

"The more desperately you want to win—the more likely you are to lose.

"My family possesses deep foundations.

"I can lose once.

"Twice.

"Three times.

"I can lose many times.

"But Ji Runhao cannot afford to lose.

"Not even once!"

Zheng Fan realized that both in momentum and in the entire tone of this conversation the Qian Emperor had completely suppressed him.

Still—

Zheng Fan rose.

He gave the Emperor a deep bow.

Then said solemnly, "Your Majesty.

"If Great Yan truly cannot swallow this piece of Qian meat—we still will not leave it intact, waiting for Qian to pick it back up."

"What do you mean?"

A cold glint flashed in the Qian Emperor's eyes.

Zheng Fan, however, showed no fear.

He answered directly, "Your Majesty should understand that since riding south—the Yan army has remained restrained."

Li Fusheng had practically gone insane from suppressing himself yet even he still endured.

"Because the Yan army believed the land ahead would eventually become Yan territory.

"And the people living upon it—would eventually become Yan subjects.

"But if events truly develop into the situation Your Majesty described—then Great Yan's two hundred thousand cavalry will no longer keep their blades sheathed.

"Starting from the Capital Region—we will loot and massacre all the way back north.

"Your Majesty may order the Three Frontier armies to remain exactly where they are.

"Great Yan's blades—will return north dripping blood the entire way!

"Leaving not even chickens or dogs alive across northern Qian—that is impossible.

"But leaving nine houses empty out of ten?

"That would not be difficult!

"Even with Jiangnan's wealth—facing a completely ruined north cannot possibly feel comfortable."

The Qian Emperor's voice deepened.

"I can accept it."

An Emperor's heart could casually declare:

These are all my subjects.

Then, in the next instant burn paper offerings for them as the dead.

"Then what about Chu?

"If Qian's vitality is already severely damaged—will Chu truly remain indifferent?"

"Not bad.

"Now you finally sound somewhat like an envoy.

"But do you know your problem?"

"This foreign envoy does not."

"You take too many things for granted."

The Qian Emperor walked toward the table.

He picked up a bunch of grapes.

Then ate while speaking.

"The King of Chu is already old.

"He has been bedridden for a year.

"Chu's four Princes each possess their own fiefs.

"Each controls troops of his own.

"Do you truly think Chu can still launch an external war now?"

Zheng Fan fell silent.

"Of course—if you Yan truly slaughter your way north and reduce several northern Qian commanderies to wasteland, I will indeed feel pain.

"But perhaps that would not be entirely bad either.

"Sometimes, making everyone—from court officials to common people—genuinely hate one thing... is extraordinarily difficult.

"Now—the problem solves itself.

"You Yan may go ahead and do it.

"I can calmly remain behind, gather the people's hearts again, and once more raise the cry of a northern expedition.

"Perhaps the state itself suffers.

"But the dragon throne benefits."

Zheng Fan took two steps backward.

He bowed.

"This foreign envoy has been taught."

"Strange.

"Perhaps because I rarely meet someone whose temperament suits me this well—someone who can relax in front of me, speak freely, and not behave stiffly—

"I have spoken more than usual today.

"Minister Zheng.

"How about this?

"You may remain in Qian.

"I will give you a future!"

Zheng Fan immediately dropped to his knees.

A smile spread across the Qian Emperor's face.

"Minister Zheng.

"You agree?"

Zheng Fan shook his head.

"This foreign envoy feels somewhat dizzy."

"Why?"

"For a moment, this foreign envoy almost thought Qian's armies were outside Yan's capital—rather than Yan's army standing outside Upper Capital."

After saying that Zheng Fan stood again.

He showed none of the panic one might expect after playing a trick on the Emperor.

"Everything I said to you earlier—was any of it wrong?

"Tomorrow—you Yan may attack the city and see for yourselves.

"See whether this Upper Capital is something your teeth can bite through!

"Then wait.

"Watch and see.

"When the barbarians and Jin armies invade Yan's heartland—what will Yan use to resist them?

"HEAVEN'S MANDATE DOES NOT BELONG TO YAN!"

Zheng Fan sighed.

Then looked at the Qian Emperor.

"Your Majesty.

"This foreign envoy would like to ask one question."

"Ask."

"Your Majesty—have you ever fought a war?"

"What?"

"Have you personally carried a saber?

"Have you personally charged at the head of troops on the front line?"

"Never."

"Oh.

"That explains it.

"Your Majesty—although I am a foreign minister, in return for all the food Your Majesty gave me earlier—

"I would like to offer one piece of advice."

"Speak."

"Your Majesty.

"Battles are fought one saber stroke at a time.

"They are not won by reclining here in a warm chamber on soft carpets while speaking eloquently.

"No matter how much Your Majesty says—none of it changes one fact.

"The Great Yan army is already standing outside Upper Capital.

"Leaving everything else aside—if someone inside the city suddenly cooperated with the Yan army outside—

"Upper Capital might fall simply because it falls.

"Nothing in this world is an eternally unconquerable city.

"If that truly happened—then everything Your Majesty just explained to this foreign envoy... what meaning would any of it still possess?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"This foreign envoy would not dare.

"Truthfully, this foreign envoy does not know how to solve the situation Your Majesty described.

"But there is one thing I understand very clearly.

"No matter how eloquently you speak—words cannot block the edge of a cavalry saber.

"I only recently began learning how to fight wars.

"But I have entered enough battlefields by now to understand one principle.

"The imperial court is the imperial court.

"Political methods are political methods.

"But battlefield killing—is an entirely different thing."

After speaking—

Zheng Fan bent deeply at the waist.

"Your Majesty.

"This foreign envoy has said everything he needed to say.

"I have also remembered Your Majesty's teachings.

"This foreign envoy believes... it is time for me to leave."

"You just finished scolding me.

"And now you want to leave?"

"If this foreign envoy fails to leave the city tonight—then tomorrow, one hundred thousand of Your Majesty's subjects in the Capital Region will be buried with me.

"This foreign envoy... does not especially care."

"Heh.

"Do not worry.

"Two states at war do not kill envoys.

"I will let you leave.

"I also want you to carry one verbal message back for me.

"The debts from before—

"I will settle them with Ji Runhao one account at a time in the future."

"This foreign envoy accepts the command."

"Go."

"This foreign envoy takes his leave."

The moment Zheng Fan stepped out of the warm chamber cold air struck him.

He instinctively shivered.

He looked back once at the room behind him warm as spring.

Sigh.

After living at Green Willow Fortress for so long, his living standards had genuinely fallen badly.

Back in Tiger Head City, he had at least possessed two residences.

At night he could even soak in the bath pool.

Who knew when these hard, bitter days of struggle would finally end?

Then, the words the Qian Emperor had spoken earlier suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The armies of Qian's Three Frontiers not a single soldier was to march south.

Zheng Fan's heart suddenly sank.

Don't tell me... that in the end—

Great Yan might be the one that reaches its end first?

He continued outward.

After passing through the covered corridor the female Silver-Armored Guard still stood there.

Zheng Fan could not help looking at her several more times.

Truthfully for Garrison Commander Zheng to still find amusement at a time like this was rather impressive.

The woman looked back at him.

As Zheng Fan walked past she suddenly asked, "I have heard Yan people are skilled in riding and archery?"

Hiss...

Zheng Fan nodded.

"This envoy is also skilled in riding and archery."

"Is that so?"

Disbelief appeared across the woman's face.

"If there is an opportunity in the future—we can test each other.

"Exchange a few moves.

"Then, young lady, you will know that this envoy was not lying."

"There is lust in your eyes."

"You saw incorrectly."

Zheng Fan's heart suddenly tightened.

"Will the Yan attack the city tomorrow?" the woman asked.

"I don't know.

"Probably make some appearance of it.

"You know how it is.

"The weather is this cold.

"Everyone needs something to do and some way to move their bodies.

"Otherwise, catching a chill is easy."

"Then tomorrow—

"I will compete with the envoy."

"Huh?"

Zheng Fan suddenly felt that something was slightly wrong.

As though that Qian Emperor had lied about something important.

"Envoy—you should also participate in tomorrow's siege, correct?"

"Barring an accident, probably.

"But I will be below the wall.

"You will be inside the city.

"Unless Upper Capital is breached tomorrow—we probably won't have a chance to meet."

"No matter.

"I can come down and find you."

"Wait.

"Why are you this interested in me?"

"Because when the envoy walked past earlier—the way you looked at me made me very uncomfortable.

"It made me want to kill you with one sword.

"But you are an envoy.

"You cannot die inside Upper Capital tonight.

"So—

"I can only find an opportunity to kill you tomorrow."

"Young lady.

"I believe matters between men should be resolved between men.

"I—"

"I have no man."

"My apologies.

"I spoke clumsily."

"I am not married.

"So my matters—can only be resolved by me."

"Huh?"

Not married?

Suddenly a sword floated into view.

It hovered behind the woman.

As though alive, it gave a faint hum beside her cheek.

This was genuinely high-level skill.

Ninth Grade Martial Artist, my ass!

Even Garrison Commander Zheng, an Eighth Grade Martial Artist, could not remotely do something like this.

He would not even dare imagine it!

Widow?

Lover?

Some secret indescribable pleasure?

You shameless old bastard of a Qian Emperor!

"I remember the envoy's name is Zheng Fan."

"I think perhaps we—"

"My name is Baili Xianglan."

Zheng Fan's eyes widened instantly.

He blurted, "Baili Jian is..."

"My elder brother."

"............" Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan left in something of a daze.

At this point—

Great Yan's national fortunes and future were no longer what occupied his mind.

The course of the war had been thrown aside too.

Right now, Zheng Fan's head contained only one thing.

The younger sister of Baili Jian one of the Four Great Swordsmen had said she intended to kill him?

Baili Jian should not be weaker than Shatuo Queshi, right?

Even if his younger sister were weaker anyone capable of standing guard over the Qian Emperor could not possibly be weak by much.

Carrying this oppressive thought, Zheng Fan walked a considerable distance.

What he did not know was that after he left—

Baili Xianglan looked at the sword floating before her.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Then she murmured to herself, "You said... you sensed the final wails of those three swords on him.

"Did that fool Yuan Zhenxing die by his hand?"

Immediately memories from childhood surfaced inside Baili Xianglan's mind.

A greasy-haired man carrying three swords on his back.

Pushing a wheelbarrow piled high with candied hawthorns.

Walking up to her when she was still a little girl.

Then saying, "Call me Uncle.

"All these candied hawthorns are yours!"

After she obediently called him "Uncle" the man who loved carrying three swords had laughed like a complete idiot.

As though gaining one generation of seniority over her elder brother were some enormous victory.

That fool who had always behaved carelessly who clearly possessed excellent sword cultivation yet somehow lived in poverty his entire life was simply... gone?

Baili Xianglan did not understand.

Fortunately swordsmen handled things simply.

When faced with a knot they could not understand they cut once.

Either the knot broke.

Or the sword broke.

Either outcome ended the matter.

...

Led by the little eunuch carrying a lantern, Zheng Fan boarded the carriage again.

Inside the Blind Man was wiping his mouth.

A'Ming remained as calm as ever.

"Qian food really is excellent," the Blind Man sighed.

Then he looked at Zheng Fan.

"Master.

"How did it go?"

All of this conversation took place through the mental channel created by the Blind Man.

There was no need to worry about outsiders overhearing.

Zheng Fan rubbed his face vigorously with both hands.

Then said, "Something went wrong."

Through the mental channel, Zheng Fan recounted everything.

He did not leave out Baili Jian's younger sister either.

"Heh.

"A widow?"

A'Ming laughed first.

"What are you laughing at?

"How many sword strikes do you think you can block from her?" Zheng Fan asked.

A'Ming shook his head.

"Master.

"This is simple.

"Just do not go out alone.

"Would she really dare charge directly into our military camp to kill you?"

By now, the carriage had already left the imperial palace.

It moved through streets locked down by curfew, heading toward the northern city gate.

Suddenly more than a dozen black-clad figures appeared from the houses on both sides of the street.

Every one of them held a crossbow.

All aimed directly at the carriage.

The Blind Man's expression changed sharply.

He shouted, "ASSASSINS!"

(End of Chapter)