Before Liuzhou was officially recognized by the Liyang court as the fourth prefecture of the Northern Liang Dao, the Qingliang Mountain had already begun constructing two major post roads. One started from the Qingyuan Military Town, which controlled the western gate of Liangzhou, and the other from the Jiboziguan Pass in the northwest of Lingzhou, both leading to Qingcang City, where the residence of the Liuzhou Governor was located.
Shortly after the brutal battle at the Miyun Mountain Pass concluded, three caravans, under the joint and rigorous escort of elite cavalry from within the pass and the Fushui Fang assassins, successively entered Qingcang City.
The leaders of these three caravans shared identical statuses—each was a governor and general, truly deserving the title of frontier officials. In Liangzhou, there were Shi Fu and Bai Yu; in Youzhou, Song Yan and Huangfu Ping; and in Lingzhou, Chang Sui and Han Laoshan. Among the six, three governors had assumed office in the third year of the Xiangfu era. Particularly Bai Yu, the newly appointed governor of Liangzhou, shocked both the internal and external officials of the Northern Liang Dao. No one had expected that the White Lotus Scholar from Longhu Mountain would become a “servant of the Xu family.” In contrast, due to the earlier influx of scholars into Liang, Chang Sui, a disciple of the moral master Han Guzi from the Shangyin Academy and senior brother of Xu Wei Xiong, ascended to the position of Lingzhou Governor in one leap, which was hardly surprising. As for Song Yan, the former deputy governor of Lingzhou, who smoothly climbed another step to become the top civil official of Youzhou, it seemed even more effortless. The Northern Liang officialdom now knew that this ruthless official, who advocated the “law, tactics, and power,” had already connected with the new Liang King when he temporarily served as the Lingzhou General, making him part of the second wave of officials who pledged allegiance to the young feudal lord, second only to Li Gongde, Huangfu Ping, and Han Laoshan.
While the three caravans entered Qingcang City from east to west, a group soon arrived from the west, galloping into the city. Along with Yang Guangdou, the governor of Liuzhou, a total of seven frontier officials jointly went out to welcome them—an extremely rare and high-level reception in the Northern Liang Dao, whether in military or civil matters.
Within sight of the city gate were over eighty cavalrymen, each carrying a sword; Xu Yanbing, holding an iron spear diagonally; two senior Fushui Fang officials, Mi Fengjie and Fan Xiaochai; and over twenty riders who, for some reason, wore no armor and carried no swords.
The convoy halted outside the city gate. From the lead carriage, a dust-covered young civil official stepped out. After smiling and nodding to the governors and generals, he turned to the second carriage and called out, “We’re here.”
Following the young official’s gaze, the high-ranking officials of the Northern Liang Dao, who had secretly gathered in Qingcang City, saw a man and woman slowly disembarking. Neither was particularly striking in appearance. The man was tall, wearing a jade belt with a Xianbei-style buckle, a symbol of Northern Mang nobility. The woman had a fuller figure, with an exquisite sachet at her waist, embroidered with a half-faced pipa-playing woman, though it was badly damaged. The man looked indifferently at the unimpressive western gate of Qingcang City.
The twenty riders surrounding the carriage were on high alert, each vigilant. Though these mysterious horsemen were unarmed, as seasoned veterans, they remained mounted, poised to charge at any moment.
For a warrior, dying on horseback is a noble end.
The young man with the Xianbei-style jade belt said calmly in Northern Mang language, “Dismount.”
Though visibly reluctant, the riders obeyed without hesitation. Many were clearly injured, yet all stood straight.
The two young men, both of Northern Mang origin and noble birth, had met drastically different fates. The former was Xu Beizhi, grandson of the former Northern Mang Northern Court King Xu Huainan, now visiting the Landuo Mountain as the deputy military governor of the Northern Liang Dao. The latter, Zhong Tan, the eldest grandson of the Zhong family and a rising star among Northern Mang’s new generation of generals, was known only through official reports.
As the saying goes, you might escape the first day, but not the fifteenth. Zhong Tan, who had previously broken through the encirclement at the Hulu Pass in Youzhou, was intercepted this time by Xu Yanbing and eighty riders from the Wu Family Sword Tomb at the border of Gusai Prefecture. He then reunited with Xu Beizhi at the Linyao Military Town before arriving in Qingcang City.
As Zhong Tan identified the figures at the city gate through intelligence reports, his already heavy heart sank further. His assignment to assist Huang Songpu in directing the Liuzhou campaign seemed like a fallout from the Hulu Pass defeat, relegating him to a secondary battlefield away from the main action where merits could be earned. However, this expedition was not only crucial for the Zhong family’s hopes of his resurgence but also closely watched by the Taiping Ling. Before the Miyun Pass battle’s outcome, Zhong Tan had been on the verge of a major victory. Had tens of thousands of Landuo Mountain monks surrendered to Northern Mang, coordinating with Huang Songpu’s forces, it would have meant Northern Mang gaining an overwhelming “momentum” in the Liuzhou theater, inevitably crushing the Longxiang Army and threatening Liangzhou’s western border, supported by the Qingyuan Military Town, and even the entire Lingzhou, which had stayed out of the first Liang-Mang war. Even if Huang Songpu suffered heavy losses, retaining 20,000 to 30,000 cavalry would have allowed a swift advance into Lingzhou’s northwest, crippling the Northern Liang border army’s vitality and drastically shrinking the Xu family’s strategic depth.
But all this had become a laughable “what if.” Worse, Zhong Tan now saw these top Northern Liang officials gathered here, confirming his suspicion that Northern Liang was determined to make a major move in Liuzhou. The Miyun Pass battle was no impulsive decision by two young Northern Liang generals.
Fortune favors the bold—and when it does, the rewards are immense.
Zhong Tan sighed inwardly. His own luck had been abysmal. He later learned that upon spotting Cao Wei’s cavalry, the Landuo Mountain monks had not stood idly by but quickly mustered 20,000 troops, with 3,000 cavalry nearly catching Cao Wei’s rear. Had he been given just half an hour more, he could have breached Xie Xi Chui’s bloody defense line at the Miyun Pass, or had Cao Wei hesitated slightly, the 3,000 monks would have pinned him down. Zhong Tan couldn’t fathom why Xie Xi Chui, not even a native Northern Liang general, would fight so desperately for Northern Liang, even willing to die for Cao Wei.
Zhong Tan felt this defeat was both unjust and entirely deserved.
Unbeknownst to him, future historians would hail his loss to Cao Wei and Xie Xi Chui as a “glorious defeat,” for the latter two would rank among the top ten generals of the next three centuries after the Xiangfu era. Years later, Zhong Tan would become the first Northern Mang official to enter the central court of the Central Plains, serving as the Right Vice Minister of War alongside Cao Wei as the Left Vice Minister. Meanwhile, Xie Xi Chui, widely regarded as the most qualified to compete with Kou Jianghuai for the Minister of War position, chose the jianghu over the court. Later generations joked that had Xie Xi Chui not abandoned his political career, the Ministry of War could have been called “Miyun Pass.”
On the way to Qingcang City, Zhong Tan and Xu Beizhi, one a military man and the other a civil official from opposing sides, had several candid conversations. Zhong Tan understood that as a prisoner, his head wouldn’t immediately be used as a sacrificial banner by the Northern Liang border cavalry or tossed into the Hulu Pass to “add to the pile” of the massive jingguan.
Zhong Tan never believed in the saying “a fate worse than death.” As long as one lived, there was hope for resurgence.
Thus, throughout the journey, Zhong Tan refrained from any futile actions—partly because he knew that unless the Northern Mang’s military god, Tuoba Pusa, personally led an army to rescue him, even a terrestrial immortal couldn’t save him from Xu Yanbing and the eighty Wu Family swordsmen.
Just then, a carriage emerged from the city gate, and three men stepped out.
Three Northern Liang Dao officials of even higher rank than the governors and generals.
Northern Liang Dao’s Deputy Administrator Song Dongming, Deputy Military Governor Yang Shenxing.
And the Northern Liang King, Xu Fengnian.
After exchanging brief pleasantries with Yang Guangdou and the others, the young feudal lord approached Xu Beizhi and Zhong Tan. Looking at the Northern Mang Summer Nabbo and his maid, he spoke in flawless Northern Mang court language, “It’s been a while since we parted at the Hexi Province’s Chijie Ling residence.”
Zhong Tan replied indifferently, “Had I known Your Highness’s identity then, I would have done everything to keep you.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head with a smile, “Back then, though my cultivation wasn’t high, even if you and this expert from the Princess Tomb had tried your hardest, you might not have stopped me from escaping.”
Zhong Tan sneered, “Your Highness forgets that my father and uncle were nearby at the time.”
Xu Fengnian said something cryptic, “No offense, but I’ve always been curious—your name is Zhong Tan, your brother is Zhong Gui, your uncle is Zhong Liang, all two-character names. Why is your father named Zhong Shentong?”
Zhong Tan frowned but didn’t answer.
Xu Fengnian instructed Song Dongming and Yang Shenxing to lead the governors and generals to the Liuzhou Governor’s residence first. He then walked into the city with Zhong Tan and Xu Beizhi.
The young feudal lord walked side by side with the youngest Deputy Military Governor of Liyang, followed closely by Zhong Tan and his maid, Liu Daogu.
Zhong Tan, looking at Xu Fengnian’s back, cut to the chase, “Your Highness, am I to live or die? If die, when? If live, how long?”
Without turning, Xu Fengnian smiled, “That depends on you.”
Zhong Tan said solemnly, “If Your Highness expects me to persuade the Zhong family to defect, you overestimate my influence and underestimate my family’s principles.”
Xu Fengnian stopped and turned to the resolute Summer Nabbo, his smile odd, “You’re jumping the gun.”
Perplexed but unwilling to probe further, Zhong Tan hesitated before asking, “In Liuzhou, who will Northern Liang use against Huang Songpu’s army? Who will lead the lone force heading straight for Xijing?”
Slowing his pace, Xu Fengnian walked alongside Zhong Tan and answered frankly, “Originally, it was my brother Huang Man’er and Liuzhou General Kou Jianghuai against Huang Songpu. Now, Xie Xi Chui’s Landuo Mountain monks will join them. Yu Luandao’s Youzhou cavalry will also coordinate with Cao Wei’s forces to penetrate your southern territory.”
Zhong Tan nodded, “In Liuzhou, Northern Liang was barely holding on before. Now, you’re barely winning. Our great advantage was squandered.”
Xu Fengnian grinned, “General Zhong, you’re a great contributor.”
Zhong Tan remained expressionless, but his maid couldn’t contain her killing intent.
Unfazed, Xu Fengnian continued, “When I said you jumped the gun, I meant there’s no rush. If Northern Liang loses outside the pass—say, if Jubei City falls—you’ll surely die. But if the tides turn unexpectedly—say, if we retake Hutou City next year—you’ll naturally gain ‘influence.'”
Zhong Tan said flatly, “Then I’ll wait and see.”
Xu Fengnian suddenly quipped, “When I went to Northern Mang, I had to speak your language the entire time. You’re luckier—you don’t have to speak Central Plains court language here in Qingcang City.”
Zhong Tan ignored the remark.
But the Princess Tomb woman sneered, “I heard the Xu family of Northern Liang has deep grudges against the Zhao family of Liyang. Who knew the prince would be so merciful, loyally guarding the emperor’s house!”
Before Xu Fengnian could respond, Zhong Tan snapped, “Daogu!”
Her eyes dark, lips pressed tightly, she stared fearlessly at the young feudal lord, a martial arts grandmaster.
She was ready to die.
Xu Beizhi, who had stayed silent until then, remarked lightly, “That’s… quite hurtful. Not very kind.”
Pulling Liu Daogu behind him, Zhong Tan showed a rare hint of submission, “Your Highness, please forgive her.”
Xu Fengnian glanced at the worn sachet at her waist and asked, “Ever tried our Northern Liang’s Lüyi wine?”
She retorted sarcastically, “Drank it once years ago and never wanted it again—too crude. But Lüyi wine laced with poison? I’d love some. Don’t be stingy—a cup won’t do; bring a pot.”
Zhong Tan turned and roared, “Liu Daogu! If you want to die, don’t drag me down!”
Xu Fengnian looked away, seeming weary, and walked on, “Enough acting. One hopes to die to appease the prince and buy the master a sliver of life. The other tries to distance himself from his maid to avoid collateral anger. Frankly, you two are cruder than Lüyi wine.”
Stripped of their pretenses, Zhong Tan and Liu Daogu fell silent.
Xu Fengnian gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
He had asked about the wine because the Princess Tomb spy reminded him inexplicably of the maid in Wutong Yard whom he’d nicknamed “Lüyi.”
Men die nobly for their country, for their lords—heroically, grandly.
Some women live only for their men, to please them, and die—softly, tenderly.
Approaching the governor’s residence, Zhong Tan, Liu Daogu, and the twenty-some Zhong family elite riders departed under the “escort” of Mi Fengjie, Fan Xiaochai, and several Fushui Fang spies.
Xu Beizhi stood outside the official residence, watching them leave, and said self-deprecatingly, “I’d prepared a speech to persuade you not to kill Zhong Tan. Wasted effort.”
Xu Fengnian smiled without a word.
Xu Beizhi asked, “What, planning to recruit this talented Northern Mang Summer Nabbo? Doesn’t seem like it—otherwise, you’d have played the ‘regret not meeting sooner’ card.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head, “I’d never use Zhong Tan.”
He quickly added, “Besides, you didn’t even tie him up. How could I rush forward to untie him personally?”
Xu Beizhi grimaced, “Disgusting!”
Xu Fengnian suddenly asked, “How many heads do you think Zhong Tan has?”
Xu Beizhi blinked, “Joking? Not funny.”
Xu Fengnian gazed into the distance, murmuring, “Inside the Hulu Pass in Youzhou are the Wogong and Luanhe Cities. But Zhong Tan has only one head—not enough to go around.”
Xu Beizhi nodded, “Then keep it for now. Might be useful later. If Northern Mang descends into chaos, the Zhong family could add fuel to the fire.”
Xu Fengnian agreed.
Xu Beizhi recalled something and asked curiously, “Zhong Tan is one thing, but why spare that Northern Mang woman? Taken by her charms? I must say, for someone so plain, you’ve got low standards.”
Xu Fengnian sighed, “That’s not very kind either.”
Soon, the “Persimmon” slung an arm around the “Tangerine’s” shoulder, grinning, “Didn’t you notice how she pretended to be fearless but was drenched in sweat? And my murderous aura—you didn’t sense it? I almost warned you, ‘My killing intent’s too strong—duck!'”
Xu Beizhi rewarded him with one word, “Scram!”
Xu Fengnian pouted.
Xu Beizhi sobered and whispered, “Zhong Tan said it best—’wait and see!’ Northern Mang’s western front commander Wang Sui, Hexi Province’s Chijie Ling Helian Wuwei, Crown Prince Yelü Hongcai, the new Xijing Vice Minister of War Yelü Dongchuang, and certain Spring and Autumn pieces deeply embedded in Northern Mang’s territory. Now add the Zhong family. It’s really…”
Xu Fengnian finished slowly, “Liyang has its own restless elements—Gu Jian Tang, Han Lin of the Lianghuai Dao, Prince Jiaodong Zhao Shu, Han Fang and Yang Huchen of Jizhou! So really… so much killing intent.”
The entire world teemed with hidden dangers.
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