Zhao Xiuyuan started, then remembered: “General, keep this maid. The most skilled dyer in the Ji family is Second Miss Ji Yingying. Find her, and you’ll have the dyeing secrets.”
“Ji Yingying?” Chi Kuang recalled something and laughed, patting Zhao Erlang’s shoulder. “The White King mentioned your conditions. Tell me, where is she?”
From among the crowd, Nanny Ji glared at Zi’er, leaping like a lioness with her hairpin plunging into Zi’er’s chest: “You shameless traitor!”
With a flash of the bright blade, Nanny Ji fell with Zi’er.
Uncle Ji shouted incoherently as he ran toward Nanny Ji. Chi Kuang, enraged, kicked him aside and lifted Zi’er’s chin: “Where is she?”
Zi’er clutched Chi Kuang’s armor hem with all her strength, her survival instinct driving her to speak: “First Young Master said… hidden in the house… save me…”
She was tossed aside by Chi Kuang, hope fading from her eyes.
Chi Kuang stood straight and roared: “Search!”
Various sounds echoed in Ji Yingying’s ears. Looking at her mother’s face, her mind buzzed. She had once resented her mother and brother. Now, they would never hear even her resentment. The infant’s face in the swaddling cloth was only the size of a fist, clutched tightly in her brother’s arms. Blood had stained the cloth, spreading in a pool on the ground.
Footsteps made the wooden boards above the thunder. Zhao Xiuyuan thought of Xiang’er and Zhu Erlang. Seeing soldiers searching everywhere without success, he said: “General, she’s a strong swimmer. I heard she might have escaped down the river. I’ll take men to search along it.”
He had wanted to search earlier, but the Nanzhao army had already arrived. Calculating the time, Zhao Xiuyuan figured Ji Yingying couldn’t have swum far.
“I’ll have soldiers search. Come, to the Zhao house!” Chi Kuang, tired of wasting time at the Ji house, left with his men.
Nanzhao troops were already pursuing fleeing civilians toward Qingcheng. With plains all around, Ji Yingying surely couldn’t escape. Seeing Chi Kuang glaring at him, Zhao Xiuyuan hurriedly followed.
Another wave of crying erupted in the courtyard.
The soldiers took away all surviving household members. The Ji house gradually fell silent. In the darkness, lanterns hanging from the eaves quietly illuminated the dead in the courtyard.
Xiang’er’s eyelashes trembled as she opened her eyes. Her hand still covered her mouth; seeing the corpses in the courtyard, a short sob escaped her nostrils.
She turned to Ji Yingying, who was staring wide-eyed, biting her arm motionlessly. Terrified beyond words, Xiang’er could only push at her repeatedly.
Ji Yingying released her bite, her lips stained with bright blood.
“Miss.” Xiang’er finally began crying softly.
Ji Yingying crawled out, looking at her mother, at her brother, wanting to touch them but not daring.
Xiang’er followed, anxiously looking outside: “Miss, will the Nanzhao troops return?”
A groan came from behind. While Ji Yingying stood frozen, Xiang’er turned to look. Seeing Zhu Erlang awake, she rejoiced: “Master Zhu!”
Zhu Erlang had only been knocked unconscious, suffering flesh wounds. Seeing the scene outside, he quickly crawled out: “This… who did this?”
Anxious Xiang’er covered his mouth, crying: “Young Master Zhao brought Nanzhao people. We don’t know if the soldiers will return.”
Soldiers’ laughing voices came from outside: “This house looks good…”
“Soldiers are coming!” Zhu Erlang spat out bloody saliva, grabbed Ji Yingying, and said to Xiang’er, “Quick, run!”
Ji Yingying suddenly realized her mother and brother were getting further away. She forcefully shook off Zhu Erlang’s hand and lunged toward them.
“My lady! People are coming—hide back here!” Zhu Erlang anxiously pulled her back under the corridor.
They had barely hidden when a group of soldiers entered, laughing.
No one looked at the corpses as they ran into the houses searching for valuables.
One group of soldiers left, and another came. The last group left cursing, empty-handed. By dawn, the courtyard was finally quiet.
Ji Yingying slowly came to her senses, silently weeping as she looked at the bodies on the ground.
“When it’s dark and there are fewer soldiers by the river, we’ll swim away,” Zhu Erlang whispered.
“My mother, my brother, my sister-in-law, and Nanny Ji…” Ji Yingying couldn’t continue. Could she just leave them lying here? She had to live—live to kill Zhao Xiuyuan. Tears falling rapidly, she said with difficulty, “Brother Zhu Er, let’s burn this place.” Better to burn it all than leave them lying here unburied.
…
Brocade piled like mountains.
Chief Secretary Sang faced the Nanzhao people with a cold expression.
Sheng Fengze strolled to his side: “Thirty thousand bolts?”
Secretary Sang answered through gritted teeth: “The city lacks transport. This shipment is only five thousand bolts. When the carts return, we’ll deliver more. Prince, Yizhou Prefecture has shown its utmost sincerity for peace.”
Autumn wind stirred the tall grass as the western sunset warmly painted the plains. Sheng Fengze showed a trace of melancholy: “No matter. This prince brought so many men just to move Shu brocade.”
“You… what do you mean?” Secretary Sang was shocked. A cold steel touched his neck as Chihu’s blade pressed against his throat. Secretary Sang shouted: “Sheng Fengze, you can’t go back on your word! You deserve to die by a thousand cuts!”
Chihu struck him down with one palm. He casually beckoned two soldiers and threw the man to them: “Watch him.”
Sheng Fengze looked toward Yizhou City, calmly ordering: “General Hu Nan.”
“At your command.”
“Lead the vanguard disguised as cart drivers into the city. This prince will follow with the main force.” After giving the order, Sheng Fengze couldn’t help thinking of Ji Yingying. Was she still in Yizhou City? By this time tomorrow, he would be at Yizhou’s gates.
…
News of Nanzhao’s military movement had long reached the Dragon Throne.
The Emperor’s demands for explanation received a response from Nanzhao’s ruler, Sheng Fengyou.
Sheng Fengyou spoke eloquently: “The Military Commissioner of Xichuan is greedy and cruel, his soldiers are disloyal, and the people suffer. As one honored with the Son of Heaven’s appointment, I must help solve the Son of Heaven’s troubles.”
This response bought time. As Sheng Fengze’s army marched toward Yizhou City, debates between war hawks and peace advocates continued in the Daming Palace.
The war faction believed Nanzhao was becoming arrogant and needed to be taught a lesson to demonstrate Tang’s might. The peace faction was helpless—the treasury was empty, and the Military Commissioners acted independently. The Emperor had neither money nor troops.
“Your Majesty, Governor-General Guo of Dongchuan has requested to engage the enemy.”
The Emperor, dizzy from his officials’ arguments, brightened at this news. Just as he was about to order the Dongchuan army to reinforce Yizhou, another voice emerged: “Your Majesty, urgent news—Nanzhao is attacking Zitong. If Zitong falls, Chang’an will be threatened!”
With northern Jiannan’s Zitong lost, Nanzhao forces could exit through Jiange Pass and cross the Qinling Mountains’ natural defenses.
The Emperor decisively ordered: “Command the Dongchuan army to rescue Zitong.”
As for Yizhou… the Nanzhao forces were few. Let them plunder if they must. They couldn’t hold Yizhou anyway.
Nanzhao’s attack on Zitong cost Yang Jingyuan his chance to return to Yizhou City.
…
Historical records state: In the third year of Taihe (829 CE), Nanzhao penetrated deep into Xichuan territory, plundering greatly before withdrawing.