Chapter 455: This Age

“Call me Brother.”

Even in Chu, Xiong Liqing had heard that the Marquis of Jingnan valued Count Pingye enormously.

There were rumors that Count Pingye was the Marquis of Jingnan’s personal disciple, taught the methods of battlefield formations by the Marquis himself.

There were even rumors that beneath Yupan City, the reason the Marquis of Jingnan ordered the massacre of forty thousand surrendered Azure Luan soldiers was merely to help Count Pingye break through a bottleneck in his heart and advance in martial cultivation.

The first rumor at least had traces that could be followed.

The second was simply far too absurd.

Yet the person who had spread that second rumor was a member of the Chu diplomatic mission that had once accompanied Jing Yang to Yan.

That man claimed that on that day, tens of thousands of Azure Luan soldiers dyed the Wang River red, corpses floating everywhere.

While he himself stood there horrified, he saw Count Pingye walking upstream along the riverbank in a dazed state, clearly in the midst of some kind of “comprehension.”

And behind him the Marquis of Jingnan followed step by step.

Clearly standing guard over his cultivation.

The moment that account spread, everyone assumed the Chu envoy had lost his mind that day.

No matter how highly the Marquis valued him no matter how much he admired him no matter how much he treated him as one of his own how could anyone possibly go that far?

After returning to Chu, that envoy was quietly shelved.

Even members of his own clan treated him as though he had gone mad.

But now, one sentence—

“Call me Brother” suddenly made the Princess remember that absurd rumor.

And for a moment she actually wanted to believe it.

This was the commander’s tent of an active army.

Yet the Marquis of Jingnan directly told her to change how she addressed him.

The meaning behind that had long since moved beyond a superior merely treating a subordinate with heartfelt trust.

It exceeded even the ordinary understanding of a trusted personal retainer.

Xiong Liqing placed both hands before herself.

She bowed deeply.

And called in a clear voice:

“Brother.”

The pressure of standing before the Marquis of Jingnan was enormous.

Xiong Liqing felt even that single word had come out with a faint tremor.

Tian Wujing withdrew his hand.

Then untied a jade pendant from his waist.

Although he was in the army, Tian Wujing wore ordinary clothing today.

His gilded armor hung at one side of the commander’s tent.

The white robe on his body was embroidered with a majestic flood dragon.

Strictly speaking, Tian Wujing was still a Marquis rather than a Prince.

Wearing something like this technically exceeded his rank.

But nobody cared.

“It’s nothing valuable.

“Keep it for now.”

Tian Wujing tossed the jade pendant down before the Princess.

Xiong Liqing blinked.

Then first turned her head and looked toward her “husband.”

“Take it,” Count Zheng said calmly.

By now, Count Zheng had long since become accustomed to accepting milk-powder money from the Marquis.

Besides she had already called him Brother.

Naturally, an elder relative giving a meeting gift was perfectly proper.

“Thank you, Brother.”

The Princess accepted the jade pendant.

Truthfully, it was not especially fine jade.

At least for a Princess of Great Chu, there were already very few pieces of jade in this world capable of making her consider them truly precious.

This pendant was merely an ornament hanging from the lower edge of the Marquis of Jingnan’s clothing.

Tian Wujing himself had been born into the powerful Tian Clan, but he had never cared much about such things.

Yet jade was not valued the same way as gold or silver.

People often said jade nourished its wearer.

In truth, people also nourished jade.

Gold or silver vessels could be melted down and still retain their intrinsic worth.

Jade was different.

First, its value depended on material and color.

Second and more importantly it depended on who had once worn it.

That evening the Marquis of Jingnan kept them for dinner.

Naturally, Jiang Hu and Gongsun Ling possessed no qualification to eat inside the commander’s tent.

The Marquis’s personal guards took them away and arranged lodging elsewhere.

Three dishes sat on the small table.

One was pickled vegetables.

One was meat soup.

And one was an enormous steamer full of buns.

At Snow Sea Pass, the steamed buns themselves counted as a dish.

All three sat on carpets.

The Marquis and Zheng Fan sat casually, legs apart.

The Princess knelt properly.

Once the Marquis picked up a piece of meat, Zheng Fan and the Princess began eating as well.

Both reached for buns at the same time.

Count Zheng took one bite.

Tsk.

At last, the taste of home.

Comforting.

The Princess took a bite too.

Then discovered in surprise that the bun actually contained filling.

Shredded radish and minced meat.

It did not taste greasy at all.

For two people who had spent their entire journey through the mountains eating roasted game, these buns already counted as rare delicacies.

The Marquis said:

“By coincidence, supplies from Snow Sea Pass arrived not long ago.”

Snow Sea Pass naturally had no obligation to provision the army here.

But according to the customs of Snow Sea Pass, during festivals and important occasions, proper gifts toward major figures who enjoyed a good relationship with their Master were never forgotten.

Zheng Fan nodded.

He picked up some pickled vegetables and continued eating them with the bun.

The Marquis and Count Zheng both ate quickly.

The Princess was more refined.

Once both men had finished, she set down her chopsticks as well.

The Marquis looked at her.

“Keep eating.

“No need to restrain yourself.”

“All right.”

The Princess obediently picked up another bun.

The Marquis then looked toward Zheng Fan.

“Tell me about it.”

The Princess froze faintly.

Discussing such matters directly in front of her surprised her.

But from another angle it also proved that the Marquis of Jingnan now treated her as one of their own.

Count Zheng proceeded to recount everything that had happened from the moment he entered Chu until his return.

After hearing it all the Marquis said:

“Recite that lyric for this Marquis as well.”

“‘My hair bristles beneath my cap in fury...’”

The line—

Laughing in thirst, drink the blood of Yan slaves became—

Laughing in thirst, drink the blood of savage slaves.

After hearing the lyric, the Marquis nodded.

Then he pointed at Zheng Fan and laughed as he scolded him:

“Poetry and lyrics somehow become less interesting when they reach your hands.

“Since ancient times, great poets have climbed heights and gazed upon mountains to release the ravines within their hearts.

“Some watched the sunrise over the sea and sighed at the endless horizon.

“Some watched maple leaves fall and poured out a hundred twists of sorrow.

“The way of poetry is nothing more than borrowing the world to express the heart.

“Read the poem.

“Taste the lyric.

“And through it, one can glimpse what the poet saw and felt on that day, in that year.

“But with you— it is merely a craft of words pulled casually from your hand.

“A perfectly elegant affair becomes full of the smell of the workshop once you touch it.”

The Marquis of Jingnan was famous for his personal martial strength and godlike command of troops.

But his literary cultivation was not low either.

He had, after all, been born the legitimate son of the Tian Clan.

*Man Jiang Hong* was undeniably heroic.

But the Marquis knew perfectly well that it did not directly express Zheng Fan’s own heart.

He understood Zheng Fan’s personality.

This trip into Chu alone had only happened because Tian Wujing practically forced him to go.

So Zheng Fan had neither the feeling nor the scene behind the lyric yet could still produce something this good.

The only explanation was that he treated poems and lyrics like weapons inside a foundry, forging them in batches.

Count Zheng smiled awkwardly.

“That elder brother-in-law of yours, however, seemed extremely satisfied with the lyric?”

The Princess spoke:

“Yes.

“Imperial Brother always believed Husband was Mr. Su.

“He practically regarded Husband as a kindred spirit in the literary way.”

The Marquis nodded.

“Who knew he was harboring a wolf’s ambition.”

The Princess smiled shyly.

“After going back and forth with him so many times, I don’t even know what I was thinking.

“I just felt I ought to follow him.

“Brother, do you think I was bewitched?”

Xiong Liqing had clearly begun relaxing.

From the moment the Marquis of Jingnan told her to call him Brother this intelligent woman had begun using her strengths.

Sometimes, between men, there were inevitably certain barriers.

When expressing emotion, both sides tended to remain restrained.

A woman could instead fill that gap.

Besides, she was a Princess of Chu.

Not some ordinary young woman.

She naturally adapted more quickly when facing great scenes and great figures.

Tian Wujing said:

“Being bewitched is good.

“This brat may possess ten thousand faults, but there is one thing about him.

“If someone treats him sincerely— he will return sincerity.

“So no matter how much you give him, don’t be reluctant afterward.

“Since you have already given it, ask for nothing.

“Only then can you truly receive.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Tonight, this Marquis will submit a memorial to His Majesty.

“A Princess of Great Chu has entered Yan and shares mutual affection with Count Pingye of Great Yan.

“His Majesty and the lords of court will surely be delighted.

“But do not worry.

“His Majesty is not a petty man.

“He will not give you some title like ‘Princess of Submission.’

“Since you have entered Yan— since you have chosen your man then your husband’s household comes first.”

“Yes.”

The Princess slowly rose.

“Marquis, Husband, I’ll go prepare tea for you.”

She understood that she had sat here long enough.

It was time to leave space for the two men to speak privately.

Once the Princess left the commander’s tent—

Tian Wujing lightly tapped one finger against the small table.

“How is it?”

“Reporting to the Marquis:

“Inside Chu, power is dispersed but not chaotic.

“The reason— is the Regent.”

Tian Wujing nodded.

“The annexation of Jin succeeded because the Three Families had divided Jin for too long.

“The ruler was no ruler.

“The subject was no subject.

“Qian and Chu are different.

“If we intend to take Qian or Chu, the methods must be even fiercer and swifter than those used to swallow Jin.

“A soft knife slowly slicing flesh will not work.

“The flesh being cut— would be our own.”

“Yes.

“This general thinks the same.

“If we move, it must be with thunder.

“We do not necessarily need to swallow an entire state in one bite.

“But take Qian as an example.

“Either we do not fight at all— or once we fight, we must completely break its Three Frontiers strongholds.

“Chu is the same.

“If we truly decide to attack it, Zhennan Pass must fall in a single campaign.

“Then our spearhead must spread directly into Shanggu Commandery.”

It was like a wolf hunting prey.

Either keep circling the quarry or once the opportunity appeared and the jaws closed tear off an entire chunk of flesh.

A long, drawn-out grind stalemate or attrition would instead be unfavorable for Yan.

Tian Wujing rose.

“Help this Marquis put on armor.

“Let’s ride forward and have a look.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Zheng Fan helped the Marquis of Jingnan into his armor.

Then Tian Wujing mounted his Pixiu and rode in front.

Count Zheng mounted an ordinary horse and followed behind.

Two cavalry detachments had originally intended to follow them.

The Marquis raised one hand and ordered them to stop.

“Not long ago, this Marquis used the defection of an Assistant General under Xue Rang to strike the Zhennan Pass garrison.

“But the Chu general called Nian Yao reacted quickly.

“Chu troops immediately took control of Zhennan Pass and gave this Marquis no opportunity to exploit the situation and enter the pass.”

Tian Wujing’s expression remained perfectly calm as he said this.

On a battlefield, one side searched for openings and waited to strike.

The other patched openings and waited for its own chance.

If the last opportunity was missed then wait for the next.

“I hear Nian Yao was originally a household slave from the Regent’s residence.

“Marquis, Chu is full of great noble clans.

“In truth, it resembles Great Yan back when our own great clans stood everywhere.”

Tian Wujing raised one hand.

“It is still too early to discuss that.

“First, Chu’s current condition is indeed similar to Yan in those days.

“Its ability to expand outward is insufficient.

“But when forced into defense, it will become even more stubborn.

“Those great nobles understand perfectly well that after Great Yan trampled its own aristocratic clans beneath cavalry hooves, once Yan enters Chu, we will not allow them to continue enjoying their present lives.

“Second, even if we intend to divide and break them from within—

Zhennan Pass must first be pried open.

“If Dacheng had not been defeated back then, Zhennan Pass would not now be in Chu hands.”

“But if Dacheng had not fallen, this general and the Marquis would have found it difficult to appear here either.”

“Different.

“Situ Lei possessed great ambition.

“If he had not died early— anything might have happened.”

Back then—

Situ Lei and Great Yan had actually reached a tacit understanding.

Dacheng would become a vassal state of Yan.

Situ Lei would descend from Emperor to ruler of a subordinate state.

Had that truly happened then Yan armies would have joined Dacheng forces and entered Chu together through Zhennan Pass.

“That girl is quite intelligent,” the Marquis said.

Whatever the Marquis of Jingnan wanted to discuss—

Count Zheng naturally accompanied him.

“Yes.

“Precisely because she is intelligent, I dared release her after capturing her.”

“It will not take long before this magnificent exploit of Count Pingye spreads throughout the realm.

“You— always manage to surprise this Marquis.”

“It is all because the Marquis taught me well.”

“Then strike while the iron is hot.

“This Marquis will give you another year.

“Help me gnaw through Zhennan Pass.”

“Marquis.

“I need two years.”

The previous year had been about survival.

That goal was already complete.

This year, Snow Sea Pass needed to focus on development.

Workshops had to open.

Commercial routes needed to remain smooth and busy.

Population.

Military strength.

Self-sufficiency.

Every area needed to rise to a certain height.

Only the following year would quantitative accumulation begin transforming into qualitative change.

“Two years.”

Tian Wujing neither approved nor rejected the timetable.

The two continued riding.

By now, they were already far from the main camp.

Outlying scout detachments began appearing frequently.

During the day, Chu troops had apparently tried to expand their sphere of control and push their feelers outward.

The Jingnan Army had forcibly stopped them.

This was not because the Chu people had suddenly lost their minds and decided to seek excitement.

On a battlefield even the defender could not simply sit completely behind city walls.

And Chu possessed sufficient troops.

They did not want Zhennan Pass to become a completely isolated fortress.

If they were compressed entirely back behind the pass then, to put it bluntly, Yan could send small cavalry groups around Zhennan Pass and directly raid Shanggu Commandery for livestock and supplies.

Zhennan Pass merely blocked the most convenient junction between the plains and mountain country separating Jin and Chu.

It did not seal Chu territory airtight.

Otherwise how had Count Zheng returned this time?

Of course, the path Zheng Fan had taken was unsuitable for armies.

But farther east, the terrain improved considerably.

The Chu people therefore had to maintain control over that region.

So they needed to push troops outward.

Perhaps only several thousand cavalry.

Ten thousand at most.

Because the main body could not move too far forward before Zhennan Pass fell.

Otherwise they might find themselves unable to withdraw.

Strategically, that would immediately place them in a passive position.

Naturally, Nian Yao, the Chu Grand Commander at Zhennan Pass, could not allow that either.

It would put both him and the court into a politically difficult situation.

So even though Nian Yao knew his troops could not defeat the Jingnan Army in open field battle whenever opportunity appeared, he still had to push outward and test the ground.

Farther ahead they were already approaching Chu scouts.

Zheng Fan did not warn the Marquis.

He quietly took down his bow instead and prepared to maintain vigilance.

“His Majesty’s thinking is also that two years from now—

Qian or Chu must be broken first.”

Zheng Fan had long known the Emperor of Yan was impatient.

He was an extraordinarily ambitious sovereign.

He yearned to push Great Yan’s conquest of the realm forward while he was still alive.

Two years.

Destroy one state.

“What the court is weighing now— is whether to attack Chu or Qian first.

“His Majesty wishes to attack Qian first.”

The State of Qian was the wealthiest of the Four Great States.

Swallowing Qian had also been the Emperor of Yan’s lifelong ambition.

“I still think attacking Chu first is the most suitable choice,” Zheng Fan said.

“Why?”

“If we attack Qian— there may be no use for me.”

This was naked self-interest.

If the court committed its full strength to attacking Qian, Zheng Fan—as a Count stationed at the far northeastern corner of Great Yan—would have very little to do.

Most likely, he would simply watch Chu’s movements from the eastern side.

If the war developed poorly, an imperial decree might even order him to lead troops thousands of li toward the Qian battlefield.

That would be the least profitable kind of war.

The battlefield lay far too distant from his own base.

Even if territory was conquered, he could not occupy it.

Even if he looted wealth, he would need to transport it thousands of li home.

As for merit and fame after stealing the Princess, Count Zheng no longer lacked either.

What he lacked now was actual power.

“This Marquis also believes attacking Chu first is the most suitable.

“Qian’s Three Frontiers press against Great Yan’s Yinlang Commandery.

“Qian’s wealth is a thorn in Great Yan’s throat.

“But if we destroy Chu first, then even if Great Yan temporarily lacks strength to continue attacking Qian, the next generation of Yan will not become complacent.

“In battle— you pick the soft persimmon first.

“But when destroying states— you should destroy the hardest bone first.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Ahead—

Chu scout riders had already appeared.

But they merely watched from a distance.

The two riders approaching them looked far too relaxed.

Tian Wujing continued forward.

Count Zheng continued following.

More and more scout riders began appearing nearby.

Eventually organized scout units of fifty men even appeared.

Gilded armor.

A Pixiu beneath him.

Who had arrived was already obvious.

The Southern Marquis of Yan!

Prince of Jingnan!

The Marquis of Jingnan had come!

Message after message raced backward.

“The matter here is nearly settled.

“This Marquis intends to withdraw the army soon.

“For the moment, Chu probably will not dare advance north and cause trouble.

“When that happens, this Marquis will lend you fifty thousand Jingnan troops.

“Help you settle the snowfields once more.”

Last time, after breaking the Savage King’s main force, the Yan army had already been exhausted.

And tens of thousands of Azure Luan soldiers had still remained inside Yupan City.

So the Marquis of Jingnan had not ordered the army to continue northward into the snowfields and avenge the people of Dacheng.

But now a full year had passed.

Once the confrontation at Zhennan Pass ended—

Yan could move more calmly than it had the previous year.

The snowfields still needed to be cleaned out.

“Many thanks, Marquis.”

Fifty thousand Jingnan troops.

Add the Snow Sea Cavalry.

Count Zheng was confident he could make every Savage tribe on the snowfields kneel and sing surrender before him.

The people they had once abducted.

Their cattle and sheep.

No even the tribesmen themselves would become wealth belonging to Snow Sea Pass.

One Naiman Tribe alone had already allowed Snow Sea Pass to pass an abundant year.

There were still many tribes on the snowfields comparable to the Naiman or even larger.

Chu scouts continued sweeping past at a distance.

And at some point while chatting casually—

Zheng Fan and the Marquis of Jingnan had unknowingly advanced deep into enemy territory.

So deep that they could already see the forward Chu encampment.

This was ground the Chu troops had expanded into over the past several days.

The camp itself had only recently been built.

What happened next—

Count Zheng would remember for a very, very long time.

Tian Wujing stopped speaking.

He simply sat quietly on the back of his Pixiu.

Under the moonlight man and beast looked like a statue washed in pale lunar light.

Cold.

Distant.

Untouchable.

A short while later the Chu encampment ahead began stirring.

The Chu soldiers did not rush out to surround them.

Quite the opposite.

They began to withdraw.

[End of Chapter 455]