Nanling Commandery is now the most contentious place in the realm. Since the Great Liang army’s crushing defeat last year, the forces of Gao Wei have driven straight in, successively capturing several commanderies including Nanqiao, Longkang, and Anfeng. Now they are stationed north of the Yangtze River, separated from Nanling Commandery by only a single river.
The one commanding the Gao Wei army here is Gu Juhan, the legitimate eldest son of Duke Yanguo. Though only twenty-three years old, he repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats in last year’s great battle, even nearly taking the head of Great Liang’s highest military officer, General Han Shouye. It was truly a case of becoming famous throughout the realm in a single battle. Now he personally guards the great camp north of the river, waiting for the right opportunity to tear through Great Liang’s border defenses and march south to take Jiankang directly.
The great river rolls on endlessly. Even within the general’s tent, the sound of the tides can be clearly heard. But at this moment, the generals are discussing matters inside the tent, their voices clamoring and drowning out the sounds of the river tides.
A general with a full beard angrily cursed: “Those Liang people are truly a pack of cowards! We guard here day and night, calling out daily for them to come out of the city for battle, yet those spineless wretches can actually turn a deaf ear to it all? How infuriating!”
This general was named Guo Man, one of the old Duke Yanguo’s former subordinates. Though Gu Juhan was naturally gifted as a commander, he was still inexperienced after all. The old Duke, not entirely at ease, transferred his elite generals to his eldest son’s side as support.
As soon as Guo Man finished speaking, all the generals in the tent were filled with indignation.
Their anger was understandable.
Though the Wei state was victorious in last year’s Battle of Shicheng, Great Liang reinforcements later arrived and retook the city. The two armies then began a standoff that lasted several months. This Shicheng was an important stronghold of Jiangzuo, built with remarkably high walls and deep moats, and relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. If the Liang army held fast and refused to come out, even if they of Great Wei were as fierce as wolves and tigers, they could not easily capture it.
The Xiao Liang forces were weak and tired, lacking divine weapons and capable generals. As long as they came out to fight, they would surely face certain death. So for these past months, Wei’s generals had taken turns leading their men across the river to hurl insults. Their words were so filthy that anyone who heard them would find them unbearable. Even their own men felt they were cursing too harshly – anyone with ears would surely be unable to bear it and come out to fight.
This method indeed proved effective. The Liang army stationed in Shicheng finally began to grow restless, eager to come out of the city for a deadly battle with Gao Wei. Great Wei’s generals were so excited they could barely sleep, daily warming up and training their troops in various ways, just waiting to tear the Nanling garrison to pieces. But just when everyone was fired up, Great Liang’s Privy Council suddenly sent seven iron edicts in succession to Shicheng, ordering the Nanling generals to defend the city without coming out, decreeing death for those who spoke of battle.
This was quite something! The saliva Gao Wei’s generals had spent several months spewing all at once flowed away with the river water. The city gate that had almost been cursed open by them once again closed tightly, and when the day of great battle would come again was anyone’s guess.
When Wei’s generals thought of this matter, they were so angry their teeth itched. Another general continued Guo Man’s cursing: “General Guo speaks truly! That Great Liang Privy Council really isn’t a decent thing! Infuriating beyond words!”
“If we’re going to curse, curse that newly appointed Vice Director of the Privy Council!” another general chimed in. “Damn it, as soon as he took office he ruined our great enterprise!”
The twenty-three-year-old Gu Juhan had a face like jade and sword-like eyebrows with starry eyes. Wearing full armor, he sat in the commander’s seat at this moment, listening to his subordinate generals argue, remaining silent.
Liu Shaotang, not yet fifteen years old, was also in the tent, but his rank was very low and he couldn’t get a word in. Seeing Gu Juhan’s face dark as water, with no anger in his eyes but seemingly some worry, he interjected: “General need not worry. That Vice Director of the Privy Council is said to have just reached the age of twenty, and he’s a young master from a aristocratic family. How big waves could he stir up? I think Xiao Liang truly has no one left, to actually elevate such a person to control the Privy Council. Sooner or later we’ll capture Jiankang and make Xiao Liang perish!”
These words stirred up another wave of excitement in the tent, but Gu Juhan’s brow did not relax.
He had heard of this newly appointed Vice Director of Great Liang’s Privy Council – the legitimate second son of the Qi family. The former young runner-up of the imperial examinations whose fame moved the world. Everyone knew this young master’s literary works were like brocade, but for such a person to control the Privy Council… what would his style be like?
Gu Juhan couldn’t figure it out.
Great Wei was not afraid of fighting – rather, they feared not fighting, and they feared fighting slowly. Though Great Wei had strong troops and horses, they were ultimately not as prosperous as Great Liang of Jiangzuo. Once it dragged into a prolonged war, their supplies would be insufficient and they would inevitably become exhausted, and everything would be for naught.
This battle had to be fought, and moreover, it had to be fought quickly.
Gu Juhan’s brow tightened as he asked: “Has the person we sent over replied?”
A general answered: “Our man is right beside Jiang Yong. He has already surrendered as a Wei minister and now strongly advocates war. But those few edicts from the Privy Council were too severe – he doesn’t dare make any moves for now. And moreover…”
Gu Juhan raised his sword-like brows: “And moreover what?”
That general’s face showed hesitation as he answered: “And moreover, we hear that Qi Jingchen from the Privy Council has personally come to Nanling…”
Upon hearing this, a sharp light flashed in Gu Juhan’s eyes, and he fell into silence.
At dusk.
The great Gao Wei camp north of the river was like a crouching tiger, quietly lying beside the great river. While Shicheng on Jiangzuo stood in the evening sun’s afterglow, like a dark solitary fortress.
Xu Zhengning, one of the Privy Council’s twelve divisions, looked at Qi Ying who was now standing on the mountain slope gazing north across the river, and stood quietly with bowed head.
The Privy Council’s twelve divisions each had their duties, and Xu Zhengning was one of them. He was not tall, aged around forty, but his hair was already more than half white. Yet he had a round face, making it very difficult to judge his age. His right hand was calloused – the hands of one accustomed to wielding swords. There was a scar on his neck, making his fierce aura particularly heavy.
Among the twelve divisions, Xu Zhengning specialized in secret missions. He knew most of the private affairs of the various important ministers in Great Liang’s court, and more than half of the secret orders and letters issued by the Privy Council had passed through his hands. Moreover, this official had worked in the division specializing in assassination when he was young, and even now had not completely let go, occasionally visiting his old office to lend a hand. He was known as a ruthless character called “the executioner.”
This official had served in the Privy Council for over ten years. In these ten years, he had seen all kinds of officials in Great Liang’s court. Many had deeper qualifications and higher positions than the Qi family young master before him, yet none were more inscrutable than he.
For instance, at this moment Xu Zhengning could not tell what this young Master Qi was thinking, why he was standing in this place, or when he planned to enter the city.
He was not the only one waiting. He was the official who had accompanied Qi Ying from Jiankang to this place. At this moment, below the mountain slope, Nanling’s defending general Jiang Yong was personally leading troops waiting. He had already waited for most of an hour, yet young Master Qi remained unmoved, only gazing toward the north bank for a long time.
That young General Gu stationed in the north bank camp might have done it deliberately. Perhaps he knew Qi Ying was arriving today, so he purposely made a great commotion during military training, as if demonstrating. The sounds of Gao Wei soldiers drilling echoed everywhere along both sides of the river bank, with impressive military might that made one’s heart tremble.
Xu Zhengning secretly observed Qi Ying, but saw him composed and calm, watching this display very peacefully without showing any unusual expression. He secretly admired this, and was just thinking of advising Qi Ying to go down the mountain and enter the city, when he heard footsteps. Looking back, he saw a young general with a troubled expression climbing up the mountain slope. After paying respects to both Xu Zhengning and Qi Ying, he said: “This humble officer is Deputy Officer Peijian under General Jiang. It’s getting late – please follow this humble officer into the city. The General has prepared a welcoming banquet to wash the dust from both honored officials.”
Having served as an official for many years, Xu Zhengning was too familiar with the ways of officialdom. Seeing that this Deputy General Pei was young and probably not very important in Jiang Yong’s army, he understood that Jiang Yong himself didn’t dare come urge Qi Ying to depart. So now he was sending Peijian to test the waters, to see if he could persuade his superior to move. If he could persuade them, that would be best; if not, he himself wouldn’t face blame.
Jiang Yong calculated shrewdly, but it was hard on this young general. Xu Zhengning saw that after Peijian finished speaking, Qi Ying acted as if he hadn’t heard, still gazing across the river with no intention of departing. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him, gave him a look, and told him to step aside and wait.
Peijian received this look and awkwardly stepped back.
He had just stepped back a few paces when the sun began to set in the west. The Wei army across the river also stopped their clamoring, and suddenly the vast river surface no longer had the sounds of weapons and warfare, leaving only the rolling river water flowing eastward.
Only then did Peijian see that official who had been standing with hands behind his back turn around.
According to protocol, he could not look directly at a superior official, so naturally he should bow. But that Master Qi turned around too quickly – he didn’t notice and still caught sight of his face. Though Peijian had heard early on that this superior was very young, he hadn’t expected him to be young to this extent. He looked to be about the same age as himself, and was extraordinarily handsome, even more like a young master from a noble family who knew nothing of government affairs. But his bearing was profound and deep, making people not dare act presumptuously. Peijian quickly lowered his head and requested this official to go down the mountain and enter the city.
He was bowing when he heard this official approach and stop in front of him, making him inexplicably nervous. Then he heard that official ask: “Does General Gu drill his troops to this hour every day?”
Peijian was stunned for a moment, thinking for a while before realizing the superior was asking about Gu Juhan across the river.
Gu Juhan was indeed diligent in drilling troops. Though today’s commotion was especially loud, ordinary days weren’t much different. Peijian answered truthfully, then heard the superior acknowledge with a sound, and say: “But I don’t see General Jiang drilling troops.”
The superior’s words had unclear implications. They didn’t seem intended as criticism, just spoken casually, but Peijian’s back inexplicably broke out in a layer of sweat.
He didn’t know how to respond and stood frozen in place for a moment.
Fortunately, this Master Qi from Jiankang didn’t press him further, just went down the mountain himself. But Peijian remained standing there in a daze. Later, a blue-robed boy pushed him and he came back to his senses.
The boy nodded to him and said: “General Pei, let’s go.”
Only when Peijian looked up did he see that both superior officials had already left. He was extremely embarrassed, his face flushing bright red, and hurriedly followed the blue-robed boy to catch up.
Though Shicheng was still in the midst of war, before the north and south had become a complete mess it had been a prosperous place. Unfortunately, when the Wei army broke the city last year it suffered a round of looting, and now it was much worse than before.
The Prefect’s Office in the city had nearly been burned down by the Wei army, but just as they had lit that fire, Great Liang’s reinforcements arrived again. The two sides fought with crackling and popping, and Shicheng changed hands again. The Prefect’s Office was rescued, with only half burned down. Now Jiang Yong had fixed up this remaining half and made it his residence.
Jiang Yong was from Jiankang, with a square face, extremely thick eyebrows, and very heavy body hair. His build wasn’t particularly tall but was quite sturdy. It was said he had served under Han Shouye since his youth, and counting to now it had been nearly twenty years.
He very warmly and attentively hosted a banquet to welcome Qi Ying and Xu Zhengning, but the feast was not luxurious – all ordinary dishes. Looking carefully at the mansion he now lived in, though it had been repaired, one could still see everywhere traces of the previous fire, quite simple and hardscrabble.
During the banquet, Jiang Yong apologized to Qi Ying and Xu Zhengning, saying: “Both honored officials have come from afar, but this place is nothing but broken walls and ruins. This humble general’s hospitality is inadequate – I hope the honored officials won’t take offense.”
Author’s Note: Ten years ago, the mutually unknown Southern Qi and Northern Gu now only want to quickly finish off each other (Sigh, stop fighting, stop fighting!)