Chapter 190: East!!!

The State of Jin was mountainous.

In northern Jin, the Heavenbreak Mountain Range was known as the longest continuous mountain chain in the entire East. From time to time, news emerged of demon beasts appearing there.

But those creatures were, at best, comparable to the Pi Beasts raised by the Yan imperial house.

Many were not even that impressive.

They were mostly curiosities.

So whenever Jin merchant caravans traveled beneath Heaven, their most marketable goods were often all manner of strange demon beasts.

Years ago, when Qian's great literary figure Yao Zizhan was still young, he traveled through Jin.

He had originally wanted to use the grandeur and ruggedness of the Heavenbreak Mountains to brew some poetry inside his belly.

Instead through sheer carelessness he was captured by a settlement of wild men living within the mountains.

Had a Jin army not happened to be clearing wild-men settlements nearby and rescued him, Qian's future literary giant might have withered before he ever had the chance to truly bloom.

The Heavenbreak Mountains were one barrier.

To Jin's west, along the border with Yan, stood another mountain chain.

The people of Jin called it the Horse-Breaking Mountains.

The Yan called it the Horseshoe Mountains.

That mountain range continued all the way toward southwestern Jin.

In a sense, Jin resembled an egg wrapped in mountains.

Its only open gap its only broad, unobstructed route lay along its border with Chu.

In fact, long ago, Jin and Chu had not shared a border at all.

Chu lay in the southeastern region of the eastern continent and had originated from the Great Marsh.

The Emperor of Chu even claimed that his clan carried the bloodline of a Golden Phoenix born deep within the Great Marsh.

But over the past several centuries, Chu's expansion had never stopped.

It continuously destroyed the smaller states around it.

Eventually—

Chu expanded far enough to border Jin.

From time to time, wars involving tens of thousands erupted between the two states.

In southwestern Jin, using the terrain where the Horseshoe Mountains extended downward a strategic pass had been built.

South Gate Pass.

Beyond South Gate Pass stood several small states.

Those states were wedged between Jin, Chu, and Qian.

All three great states deliberately preserved their existence as a buffer zone.

Because of that although South Gate Pass looked exceptionally imposing, the last true battle fought there had been several decades earlier.

At the time, a coup had erupted inside one of the small states.

Powerful nobles usurped the throne.

The ruler fled toward Jin.

His pursuers chased him all the way to South Gate Pass before being driven back by Jin's defenders.

However, because Qian and Chu both intervened, Jin ultimately did not send troops to restore the exiled ruler.

Instead they granted him the title Duke of Anle and supported him in comfort.

Another explanation claimed that by then, the Three Great Clans within Jin had already become enormously powerful.

A saying even circulated at the time:

*As for the ruler of a state—naturally, the virtuous man should occupy the position.*

In their view, if a ruler could not preserve his own throne or state then his mandate was exhausted.

Such was simply the natural movement of Heaven's Dao.

The implication behind those words was obvious to anyone with eyes.

At this moment, beneath South Gate Pass an enormous merchant caravan was being inspected.

The caravan numbered seven or eight hundred people.

Three men stood atop the wall.

One wore armor.

He was the commander responsible for guarding South Gate Pass.

Another an elderly man dressed in Confucian robes was an Assistant Minister of Jin's Ministry of Revenue.

Of course, the Jin imperial court retained little more than an empty shell these days.

What this Assistant Minister actually did was conduct business on behalf of the imperial house.

He had personally led merchant caravans through this route for more than ten years.

Behind the old man stood a black-faced young attendant.

"I say—there's fighting between our Jin and Yan in the west.

"Down southwest, the Yan are fighting Qian too.

"Where the hell is a caravan this large planning to go?"

"To Qian, naturally," the elderly official answered with a smile.

"Qian?

"You're going to Qian now?"

"The Qian are rich.

"Most of my wagons carry medicinal herbs from the Heavenbreak Mountains.

"This is exactly the right time to sell them there for a good price."

"Aren't you afraid you'll run into Yan troops inside Qian?

"They'll see you're Jin merchants, rob you outright, and maybe even take your lives."

"As they say—wealth and honor are sought amid danger."

"Looks like our Emperor is truly desperate for silver, eh?"

The commander of South Gate Pass mocked openly.

There was not the slightest respect for the Jin Emperor in his tone.

And why should there be?

Jin might still be called the State of Jin.

Jin might still possess an Emperor.

But the state's military and political authority had fallen into the hands of the Three Great Clans many years ago.

Each of the three clans possessed its own fief and its own armies.

Strictly speaking they were more like three Feudal Lords within Jin.

The Jin Emperor's decrees sometimes could not even leave the Capital Region.

He was closer to a ceremonial mascot being kept alive for appearances.

When Zheng Fan first learned of Jin's political situation, he had remarked that the Jin imperial house sounded almost exactly like the Zhou royal house during China's Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Reality was indeed much the same.

The reason the Three Great Clans continued preserving the Jin Emperor was nothing more than the need to maintain overall stability within Jin.

After all—

Yan watched hungrily from the west.

And Chu to the southeast erupted into conflict with Jin every so often.

At the same time the Three Great Clans themselves had not yet reached the point where they truly wanted to divide the household.

But from court to countryside, Jin had long since developed an awareness centered upon the Three Great Clans.

As for the Emperor above them almost no one took him seriously anymore.

Perhaps only the commoners around the Capital Region and the imperial household troops still retained some loyalty toward the Emperor.

That prevented him from looking entirely like a puppet.

"Isn't that the truth?

"War with Yan has cut off the western trade route.

"Qian is at war too, so Qian caravans can't come in either.

"Both trade routes vanished at once.

"Last month, the court couldn't even pay the stipends of all those Princes and nobles in the capital."

"Our Emperor must be having a hard time too, then?" the commander teased.

"Naturally.

"His Majesty was planning to rebuild the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"They're already halfway through.

"But the silver for the rest has dried up.

"His Majesty is worried sick."

Every year, the Three Great Clans symbolically sent a little silver from their fiefs to the Jin Emperor.

But the amount was pitiful.

Tax revenue from the Capital Region was nowhere near enough.

The enormous imperial clan, together with many old noble families inherited from earlier generations, all depended upon treasury stipends to survive.

Yet the treasury could hardly collect tax revenue from the provinces at all.

So many years ago the Jin imperial house had begun conducting business itself and organizing merchant caravans.

The Three Great Clans turned a blind eye.

As long as the Jin imperial house existed it still had to maintain some dignity.

Otherwise, the people losing face would actually be the Three Great Clans themselves.

Neighboring states would laugh at them.

"My lord."

At that moment, the black-faced young man walked forward.

He carried a pouch.

He handed it to the commander.

The commander frowned slightly at first.

But after opening the pouch and seeing the jewelry and jade inside a smile appeared on his face.

Looks like the imperial household truly is having a hard time.

They're even pawning old palace objects to survive.

There was not much inside.

But anything that came from the imperial palace each piece was worth an enormous sum.

This commander was a household general of the Wenren Clan.

He had been ordered to guard South Gate Pass.

At present, the Wenren Clan and Helian Clan had joined forces and already begun fighting Yan in the west.

The Yan could genuinely fight.

But they probably could not hold much longer.

Both clans had mobilized their foundations.

Combined their forces were approaching six hundred thousand men.

And if Yan iron cavalry ranked first beneath Heaven then second place belonged to Jin.

True, Jin was mountainous.

But it also possessed broad plains.

There was no shortage of land for raising horses.

The wild men inside the Heavenbreak Mountains, together with the settlements living in the bitterly cold lands farther north, endured harsh environments but possessed many horses.

Jin frequently campaigned against them and seized warhorses.

Sometimes, it even captured wild men themselves and formed wild-man cavalry.

Of course, Jin's wild men could not truly compare with the desert barbarians west of Yan.

"General, once we return from this trip, there will be another generous gift for you.

"Our hands are genuinely tight right now.

"Grinding silver is pressing heavily upon us."

The Assistant Minister of Revenue smiled ingratiatingly.

The commander nodded.

He did not especially intend to make things difficult for them.

He turned toward the soldiers below and waved signaling them to let the caravan pass.

The city gates opened.

The merchant caravan began moving.

The commander then pointed toward the black-faced young man beside the Assistant Minister and laughed.

"You're damn black.

"Been this dark since you were a child?"

The black-faced young man nodded.

A shy smile appeared on his face.

"Tch tch..."

The commander clicked his tongue with some regret.

If this fellow were not so black he actually looked rather handsome.

The commander might have considered keeping him.

The fashion of male lovers was extremely popular in Jin.

Every state had its own preferences.

Qian men loved ingesting powders.

Jin men indulged in male lovers.

Only the Yan seemed truly barbaric.

Aside from fighting wars they appeared to have no other hobbies.

"Reporting to the General—

"I've been this black since childhood."

"Black isn't necessarily bad."

The commander still could not resist.

He reached out and lifted the young man's chin.

"I hear our Emperor's face is quite dark too.

"Years ago, I accompanied the Clan Head to the capital for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration.

"The Empress Dowager looked surprisingly young.

"Quite like a pretty widow.

"Tch tch.

"But His Majesty—

"I only saw him from far away.

"All I could make out was a lump of black charcoal.

"Hahahahahaha!"

The black-faced youth laughed along.

When he smiled his brows and eyes seemed to open at once.

For a moment the commander actually licked his dry lips.

Then asked, "What's your surname?"

"Reporting to the General.

"My surname is Yu."

"Yu?"

Yu was the surname of Jin's imperial house.

The state surname.

But hearing that surname only made the commander's desire stronger.

These days, the Jin Emperor himself lived badly enough.

Other imperial clansmen were worth even less.

Women surnamed Yu marrying merchants had long become commonplace.

Any household with a little wealth wanted to marry some woman surnamed Yu as though doing so allowed them to borrow a trace of imperial aura.

"Yu, eh?

"What's your name?"

"Yu Ciming."

"Yu Ciming?"

The commander blinked.

He muttered to himself, "Why does that sound so familiar?"

At that moment, the Assistant Minister of Revenue, who had been bowing and scraping beside him the entire time, spoke.

"General.

"Our Emperor is also named Yu Ciming."

"Oh.

"Right.

"So you've actually got the same name as our Emper—"

The commander's expression suddenly changed.

At the same instant the black-faced youth whose chin he had been holding raised one hand.

A concealed crossbow was already in his grip.

He pulled the trigger.

A weapon like this was too small for battlefield use.

It was easy to conceal, though, so people of the martial world often carried them.

At nearly point-blank range even though the commander was an Eighth Grade Martial Artist the bolt struck him directly in the face.

Poison had been smeared on the bolt.

It acted immediately.

The commander collapsed.

His body rapidly became numb.

The black-faced youth drew a dagger.

He crouched.

Then cut directly into the man's throat.

Pretty widow?

Pretty widow!!!

At the same time people throughout the merchant caravan began pulling sabers and spears from the cargo crates.

They attacked the soldiers guarding the pass.

South Gate Pass's defenders were caught completely unprepared.

From the north a cavalry force had already begun charging forward.

Using the path opened by the people inside they stormed directly into the pass.

These were the Jin imperial household's own troops.

There were not many of them.

But they were utterly loyal to the Jin Emperor.

At present they were the only military force within Jin the Emperor could directly command.

The sounds of slaughter quickly faded.

Faced with such a treacherous surprise attack, South Gate Pass's defenders never had a chance to organize proper resistance.

After more than half were cut down the rest quickly threw down their weapons and surrendered.

At that moment, the black-faced youth turned toward the Assistant Minister of Revenue beside him.

"Minister Xu.

"Change my clothes for me."

The Assistant Minister took half a step backward.

"This minister obeys."

A short while later the black-faced youth who had originally worn coarse hemp clothing now stood dressed in imperial dragon robes.

The surrounding imperial guards dropped to their knees.

"LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY!

"LONG LIVE!

"LONG, LONG LIVE!"

Yu Ciming drew in a deep breath.

Guilt appeared on his face.

Then he said, "I—am not a good Emperor."

Yu Ciming looked around at everyone.

Slowly, he continued, "I am grateful that you are still willing to remain beside me.

"Willing to help me.

"I know myself.

"I am no brilliant sovereign of sweeping talent.

"But I will do everything I can so that all of you may continue living well beside me.

"I will protect your wives and children.

"And if possible—

"I am also willing to give all of you a better future."

Beside him—

Assistant Minister Xu Qianhe wept openly.

Just then to the southwest of South Gate Pass a vast black shadow appeared.

Looking out from the gate tower the pressure it radiated was terrifying.

Yu Ciming spoke to Xu Qianhe beside him.

"Minister Xu.

"Do you believe I have done wrong?"

"Your Majesty.

"This minister—is loyal only to Your Majesty."

Yu Ciming nodded.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"I am Emperor of Jin.

"A descendant of the Yu Clan.

"By all rights, I should never commit something this rebellious and treasonous.

"But I know.

"I understand.

"Long ago—the Situ Clan already wanted to divide Jin among the Three Clans.

"The plan failed only because the Helian Clan and Wenren Clan opposed it.

"The Situ Clan controls eastern Jin.

"The Helian and Wenren Clans, meanwhile, occupy the west.

"If the household were divided now—those two western clans would obviously suffer too great a loss.

"That is why they have desperately maintained the present arrangement.

"But if this campaign against Yan succeeds—and the Helian and Wenren Clans seize part of Yan's territory—then the division of Jin among the Three Clans will become inevitable.

"Naturally—

"I, the Emperor—will be deposed.

"If they still care about appearances, they will make me abdicate to the Three Clans.

"They'll offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth above, announce it to the ancestors below, and proclaim that all beneath Heaven should belong to the virtuous.

"Afterward, they'll keep my branch of the imperial family penned up somewhere.

"Officially—they'll claim we're being honored and well cared for.

"But then—

"I will die for reasons no one can explain.

"My sons and grandsons will die for reasons no one can explain.

"Within three generations—my bloodline will certainly be extinct.

"And if they stop caring about appearances—they'll simply let some disorderly soldiers enter the palace while pretending they're wild men and slaughter the entire imperial household.

"Whether anyone beneath Heaven believes the story won't matter.

"All they'll want is a scrap of cover inside the histories."

"Your Majesty..."

Xu Qianhe began sobbing again.

"Minister Xu.

"The Yan are already before us.

"Tell me.

"Will Ji Runhao keep his promise?

"I do not ask—and I do not dare hope—to rule all of Jin.

"I ask only for a Feudal State of my own.

"Enough to protect all of you.

"Protect them.

"Protect the place where my ancestors may continue receiving sacrifices and offerings."

Xu Qianhe let out a long breath.

Then said, "Your Majesty.

"Eight hundred years ago, during the Great Xia Dynasty, the ancestors of the Ji Clan were enfeoffed in the bitter cold lands of the northwest.

"By command of the Son of Heaven of Great Xia—they defended the East against the barbarians.

"Great Xia has been gone for six hundred years.

"Yet the Ji Clan has still never allowed the barbarians to cross through Yan territory even one step.

"Even a century ago, when Qian launched its northern expedition—the Ji Clan sent only thirty thousand cavalry back as reinforcements.

"The main strength of the realm remained in the desert and fought the barbarians to the finish.

"Among the many states and imperial houses of this age—when it comes to honoring one's word—none surpasses the Ji Clan!"

"Truthfully, Minister Xu—

"I already understand everything you've said.

"It's just that... to personally open the gates of my ancestors' realm and hand them to outsiders—for an Emperor—it still feels somewhat absurd."

"Your Majesty.

"Great Jin has suffered from rulers who are not rulers—ministers who are not ministers—for far too many years."

"Yes.

"Yes.

"For several generations now, we Emperors surnamed Yu—have barely possessed even half the appearance of Emperors!"

As he spoke the Jin Emperor seemed to finish adjusting his state of mind.

Because the Yan army had already reached beneath the walls.

"Minister Xu.

"Tell me.

"How useless must those Qian people be?

"The Yan army actually traveled all the way through Qian territory—circled around—and reached us here.

"Qian obviously possesses nearly a million troops across the Three Frontiers.

"Yet there still hasn't been the slightest movement?

"Earlier, I was actually thinking—if the Yan failed to get here, then I would no longer need to suffer through this choice.

"But now—

"I suddenly feel that Heaven's Mandate—that damned Heaven's Mandate—may genuinely be favoring Yan."

Xu Qianhe understood.

The Jin Emperor was searching for a reasonable justification for his choice.

If Heaven's Mandate belonged to Yan then he was simply obeying the will of Heaven.

What better justification could there be?

"Your Majesty.

"Then let us—obey the will of Heaven."

The Jin Emperor sighed.

He waved one hand.

"Enough.

"Enough.

"Let it be so.

"Pass down my order.

"Open the gates.

"I will personally leave the pass to welcome the Yan."

...

"Wujing.

"When we get there—are you kneeling or not?"

The Marquis of Zhenbei sat atop his Pixiu, staring toward South Gate Pass ahead as he asked Tian Wujing the question.

"His Majesty promised the Jin Emperor that he would preserve his Feudal State and imperial title.

"He is Emperor now.

"And in the future—he will still be an Emperor."

"Sigh.

"Doesn't feel satisfying.

"Doesn't feel satisfying at all."

"Once South Gate Pass opens, the rear of the six-hundred-thousand-strong Jin army attacking Great Yan from the west will already be completely exposed to us.

"This battle—can essentially be considered decided.

"But if he cooperates properly, then when we govern and absorb these Jin territories afterward—there will be far less trouble.

"The men beneath us—will die in fewer numbers."

"Now that, I like hearing.

"If it lets fewer of the boys beneath me die—

"I'd be willing to lick the man's boots."

Tian Wujing shook his head.

He said nothing further.

The Marquis of Jingnan possessed a strict and meticulous temperament.

The Marquis of Zhenbei was free-spirited and bold.

Their personalities stood at opposite extremes.

The gates of South Gate Pass opened.

A group of people walked out.

The man at their head wore imperial dragon robes.

He was exceptionally conspicuous.

The Yan army advanced closer.

The Marquis of Zhenbei and Marquis of Jingnan dismounted together.

They walked forward.

Behind them stood the main strength of the Zhenbei Army and Jingnan Army.

However, just as the two Marquises prepared to kneel and salute the Jin Emperor—

Yu Ciming suddenly dropped to his knees before them first.

His voice was earnest.

"This ruler of a lesser state, Yu Ciming—pays respects to the two Marquises!"

(End of Chapter)