“The message was false—the Song people deliberately made us think the water camp was poorly defended.” Wu Yanqie didn’t yet know it was the opponent’s trap. “Fortunately, Duan Ge, you broke through the gap and lost only a hundred ships—a blessing in misfortune.”
“This subordinate doesn’t deserve such praise.” Duan Geshou was complimented but felt no joy. Having sacrificed a hundred ships and over ten thousand men without achieving results—what meaning was there?
Wu Yanle asked, “What do we do now? With messages unable to cross, we don’t know the situation there. When Song forces guard the camp, when they leave—we know nothing. How can this battle be fought?”
“There’s still one place where we can gather intelligence.” Wu Yanqie pointed to a spot on the eastern edge of the map. “Qingyu.”
Qingyu lay east of Fengzhou and was also where Wu Yanqie had originally proposed peace talks. The island had only one large town; the rest was mountains and forests. The island lord’s surname was Nan, given name Yu. The Nan family had owned Qingyu for generations, only conducting trade with the original four kingdoms. Because it was merely a small island without mineral resources, though it bordered Daqiu and Yuling, plus the Nan family excelled at social relations—sending sons to study alongside noble children in both nations and marrying daughters into prominent clans—they maintained independent rule with tacit approval.
Nan Yu had stayed in Daqiu until age sixteen. What many didn’t know was that he had also served as Wu Yanqie’s study companion. Though only for one year, the two had deep private friendship and secretly addressed each other as brothers. After Nan Yu returned to Qingyu, within a few years he inherited the island lord position. He wasn’t the eldest son—his ability to become island lord owed much to Wu Yanqie’s assistance. Though Qingyu appeared unchanged from before, free from other nations’ interference, today’s Qingyu was no different from Daqiu territory.
“Duan Geshou, go rest first.” There were some matters Wu Yanqie didn’t want others to know yet.
Wu Yanle watched Duan Geshou leave the tent and said, “Imperial Brother, let me go to Qingyu.”
“I wanted to keep you by my side to help me, but sending others to Qingyu, I fear Nan Yu may not comply.” Wu Yanqie’s face showed fatigue. His poor health required rest, but with national territory being invaded, how could he sleep peacefully?
“Nan Yu has received so many benefits from us—how could he not comply?” Wu Yanle had only casual acquaintance with Nan Yu.
“You don’t understand this person. Nan Yu is cunning and extremely flexible. For him, there’s no such thing as friendship. If you help him, he helps you. Once he’s repaid the favor, if you want him to do things for you again, you must see what price you can offer—even if you’re brothers.” Wu Yanqie had grown up in an environment of scheming and intrigue, so everything he obtained came through calculation and conspiracy, treating even love and friendship with the same methods. Therefore, he understood that Nan Yu and himself were birds of a feather. The two called each other brothers, but how much brotherly affection existed depended on the conditions each offered.
“It’s just gathering intelligence—surely he needn’t be evasive?” Wu Yanle thought simply.
“No, gathering intelligence is just what I told Duan Geshou. I wouldn’t send my most trusted brother out merely to collect information.” Wu Yanqie wouldn’t dispatch his most trusted brother just for intelligence gathering. “Long before the war with Yuling, I placed eight hundred ships with him. We agreed then—though I gave them to him, if I urgently needed them one day, he must return the ships without compensation.”
“There’s such a thing?” Wu Yanle was somewhat pleasantly surprised. “This way, we needn’t fear the Song army.”
Wu Yanqie shook his head. “Last time Nan Yu sent me fifty thousand shi of grain and provisions, he said the debt of gratitude was settled. I took it as a joke. When Song forces captured Fengzhou, I sent him an urgent letter demanding he return the ships. Not only was there no reply, even the messenger never returned. Whether the messenger met with misfortune or he deliberately didn’t respond is hard to say. But his island has only a thousand guard troops. If you go, I expect he won’t dare do anything to you. His character of coveting small advantages will never change until death. When you go, don’t confront him directly. If he proposes conditions for the exchange, as long as they’re not excessive, agree. The urgent priority is getting the ships back. Then we can cross the river in one sweep and annihilate Song forces on Daqiu soil.”
Wu Yanle curled his lip. “A mere small island—if he dares drive up the price, isn’t he afraid Daqiu will send troops to destroy him? Imperial Brother, rest assured, I will certainly not fail this mission.”
Reaching Qingyu required only two days by ship. Wu Yanle led three thousand armored troops into the harbor, and islanders swiftly went to report to Nan Yu.
“Yanle, I’m going with you too.” Ye’er still dressed as a man and had never left Wu Yanle’s side.
“You stay on the ship.” Wu Yanle didn’t look at her, addressing the short and tall officials beside him instead. “Elder Hu, Elder Gao, please guide and advise me.”
Goatee Beard and Tall Bamboo Pole—the two military attendants who initially held Wu Yanle in low regard now followed him loyally with utmost devotion.
“Young Marquis, as long as we two are here, we absolutely won’t let you suffer the slightest harm.” Elder Hu’s eyes flashed with brilliance. Compared to the emotionless Wu Yanqie, this one before them, though lacking domineering presence and somewhat impulsive, was a master people would willingly follow.
Wu Yanle smiled. “You two have braved life and death with me. Once this mission is complete and we return to the capital, I’ll ask the king to promote you both to higher ranks and nobility.”
Elder Gao grinned widely. “Young Marquis, we’re both getting on in years. We don’t seek high office, only generous rewards to accumulate more blessings for our descendants.”
Elder Hu glared at him irritably. “You’re thinking awfully far ahead.”
Wu Yanle was amused by the two, but seeing Ye’er frowning with a troubled face, he couldn’t help consoling her. “I’m not here to sightsee. Once business is done and the ships obtained, we’ll leave. What would you do coming along?”
“I don’t know, I just feel uneasy inside. Yanle, take me with you. I can help you.” Ye’er made up her mind—regardless of whether he agreed, she got into the small boat.
Elder Gao laughed. “Young Marquis, Miss Ye’er is devoted to you. Marry her soon, and she won’t worry about gains and losses anymore—she’ll stay home peacefully.”
Wu Yanle’s facial expression stiffened somewhat as he remained sullenly silent.
Elder Hu tugged Elder Gao’s sleeve and gave him a look, signaling him not to meddle.
“I wondered who would arrive with such grand style—turns out the Young Marquis honors us with his presence.” Dozens of fine horses approached from afar. The leading man had wheat-colored skin and hearty laughter, with slanted narrow eyes concealing sharpness—this was Island Lord Nan Yu.
Wu Yanle leaped from the ship’s railing, landing steadily on the ground with cupped fists, calling loudly, “After years of separation, Brother Nan seems to be living as happily as a fish in water!”
Nan Yu dismounted and quickly stepped forward to grasp Wu Yanle’s cupped fists. “Brother Le, you’re doing well too! Commander’s bearing, expert guards, beauty by your side—you’ve enjoyed everything. You didn’t even send me a letter. If I’d known earlier you were coming, I would have respectfully awaited your arrival instead of making you wait so long.”
“An unexpected guest dares not complain about the host’s delayed arrival.” Wu Yanle was equally polite. “Brother Nan, shipboard fare is crude and plain. I’ve come to beg a cup of good wine from you. Let’s drink and chat together—how about it?”
“I was waiting for those very words. Good wine and food are already prepared at the residence—please, quickly.” Nan Yu had subordinates bring horses.
Coming like wind, going like wind—the harbor returned to its usual calm.
The Nan residence sat at the town’s highest point, overlooking most of the town and the nearby ocean—the scenery was wonderfully beautiful. The Nan family had used this terrain to build a Sea-Gazing Pavilion for holding grand banquets to entertain honored guests.
Today the Sea-Gazing Pavilion overflowed with wine fragrance and gentle music.
“Is the Young Marquis satisfied with this wine?” Nan Yu embraced a beauty, his face full of smiles.
“Imperial Brother said you most enjoy good wine, fine music, and beautiful women—it’s indeed true.” Wu Yanle accepted wine from Ye’er’s hands and drained it in one gulp. “I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll speak directly with Brother Nan. Now that our Fengzhou has been occupied by Song forces, Imperial Brother and I need to fight across the river and require ships.”
Nan Yu made a sound of acknowledgment. “You mean to borrow the eight hundred ships originally given to me?”
Borrow? Wu Yanle raised his eyebrows.
“If Island Lord Nan is willing to lend aid, my king will be most grateful.” Elder Hu spoke at the opportune moment.
Wu Yanle calmed down. “Brother Nan, you and Imperial Brother are close as brothers. You wouldn’t refuse to help with this small matter, would you? Moreover, we won’t be ungrateful.”
Nan Yu pushed away the beauty and sighed. “Young Marquis misunderstands. It’s not that I’m unwilling to lend the ships—I simply cannot lend them.”
Ye’er laughed coldly. “What do you mean ‘cannot lend’? Clearly you’re just evading.”
Nan Yu stared at Ye’er, then shifted his gaze to Wu Yanle. “A beauty who doesn’t talk too much is more pleasing. Young Marquis, wouldn’t you say so?”
Elder Gao slammed the table and stood. “This person is treacherous. The king already sent a letter demanding the ships, which he ignored. Naturally he’s making excuses now. No need to waste words with him—beat him until he’s willing to surrender the ships.”
Nan Yu remained unhurried. “A misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding. I never received any letter from Brother Qie, and I’m absolutely not evading. The ships—they’re gone.”
Hearing this, Wu Yanle also stood. “Brother Nan, aren’t those words rather laughable? The island is yours, the ships were placed with you—what do you mean they’re gone?”
Nan Yu looked up, his expression helpless. “The blame lies with this letter your Imperial Brother sent me.”
“You just said you never received any letter.” Ye’er also wanted to stand but suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed back down.
Wu Yanle hurried to support her but discovered he felt dizzy too, weakly kneeling back at his seat. He immediately shouted, “You poisoned the wine?”
Elder Hu and Elder Gao were old hands who never expected to fall for such a crude trick. Both tried to circulate their energy to expel the poison, only to have swords placed at their necks.
“It’s not poison—it’s Muscle-Softening Powder, which is why you couldn’t detect it.” A woman’s voice.
Nan Yu sighed again. “Ah, I actually always hoped you wouldn’t come, but unfortunately—”
Wu Yanle looked over to see an unfamiliar face. “Who are you?”
“I’m called Qiu Shuang, deputy general of Song’s vanguard army. We’ve been waiting for you all for quite some time.” The woman smiled as she sat beside Nan Yu. “Island Lord Nan truly didn’t lie. We intercepted the letter, and as for the ships, they now belong to us. As for you all—we’ve captured you alive.”
Nan Yu looked helpless. “General, I’ve done everything you asked. Can you release my son now?”
Ye’er struggled to block Wu Yanle’s front, as if doing so could save him. “Surnamed Nan, you’ve betrayed us.”
“I had no choice. They’re utterly vicious—they kidnapped my only son. Seven or eight thousand troops hid on the island waiting for you to come seeking aid. I can die, but the Nan family cannot be cut off. Brother Yanle, I’m sorry.” He too was forced.
Wu Yanle had only one question he wanted to ask. “Tell me—was this Mo Zi’s idea?”
Qiu Shuang clapped her hands. Immediately people came forward to bind them. She looked coldly at Wu Yanle. “You can ask her yourself.”
Hoist the sails.