After another five days of rest in Liangzhou, seeing that Li Chi had no further cause for concern, Tang Pidi departed first, returning to the Yanshan Camp.

The plan to take Jizhou City together with Luo Jing had reached the moment of implementation, and autumn had arrived — the most favorable season for the operation.

Over those five days, the swelling on Li Chi’s face had gone down considerably; the ghastly puffiness was a thing of the past. The wounds across his body had been redressed several times without signs of infection.

Perhaps this was what people called good fortune.

In that era, those who fell on the battlefield were not the whole count of casualties. The vast majority of the seriously wounded would die in the days that followed — once infection took hold, there was almost nothing to be done.

Throughout those days, Gao Xining had barely left Li Chi’s room. Every need he had — save the ones a woman couldn’t see to — she attended to herself.

Though in her own estimation, even those needs wouldn’t have been a difficulty. She was, in name at least, already his wife.

And so Li Chi thought: once he returned, he would have to give Gao Xining a proper standing. Not to do so would be deeply unfair to her.

“Your appetite is so much better today.”

Gao Xining watched Li Chi work his way through a generous portion of food, eyes filled with warmth.

Li Chi made a sound of assent and hadn’t yet spoken when Gao Xining leaned over and gently wiped the corner of his mouth.

Li Chi opened his mouth and caught her finger between his teeth — gently, not biting down, just holding it lightly.

The two of them looked at each other. And in that moment, Yu Jiuling walked in through the door and took it all in.

Yu Jiuling froze. Then he coughed a few times.

Both Li Chi and Gao Xining went briefly flustered — and perhaps because of the fluster, Li Chi forgot to let go.

Yu Jiuling immediately turned to Gao Xining: “Don’t be afraid, Big Brother — I know exactly what to do about this. Pull out two hairs and stick them up his nostrils. The moment his nose starts tickling, he’ll open his mouth. Last time Daoist Changmei and I went out to catch soft-shelled turtles, one clamped onto my finger, and that’s exactly what Daoist Changmei told me to do.”

Gao Xining raised her other hand and rapped Li Chi on the skull. “Are you going to let go?”

Li Chi released her at once.

Yu Jiuling said: “You can’t really blame our leader. We always see his wise and stalwart side. We forget he’s still basically a child — likes to suck on things.”

He extended his thumb. “Here, try this one. Change the flavor.”

Li Chi: “Nine-Mei, rest assured — the moment I’m up and about and can hit you again, I’m sewing that thumb into your own mouth.”

Yu Jiuling grinned and said: “I came to let our leader know — Dantai’s army has marched out.”

Li Chi made a sound of acknowledgment. Yesterday Dantai had already come to tell him: Qiuci had been the first to step forward, pledging to assist the Liangzhou Army in the campaign against the Yuezhi Kingdom — the Qiuci king leading the army personally.

Once that was known, the other Western Region kingdoms would surely respond. Especially Mauli Kingdom. Their new ruler, Qihuali, certainly understood what was called for in this moment.

Mauli and the Yuezhi had long been at odds, sharing a border and centuries of mutual hostility. If the Yuezhi could be destroyed in this campaign, Mauli stood to gain vast stretches of land. This was not a difficult choice. If Qihuali chose to oppose the Liangzhou Army, he could not count on many allies — and fighting Liangzhou was a prospect entirely without confidence. Fighting the Yuezhi was different altogether: the two kingdoms had always been roughly matched in strength, and now there was a coalition of dozens, with the Liangzhou Iron Army behind it. The Yuezhi wouldn’t hold for long.

Yu Jiuling said: “Dantai just had me tell our leader — he absolutely wants to wait until he gets back so you two can leave together. He’s set on coming with us back to the mountain stronghold.”

Li Chi nodded.

Yu Jiuling brightened at once: “If Dantai can come back with us it’ll be wonderful… And there’s also, ah, something else…”

Li Chi smiled. “You have something you want to ask me?”

Yu Jiuling twisted a little awkwardly. “There’s also… there’s also the matter of… I was thinking of trying to persuade Princess Tike Huaqing to come back to the Central Plains with us…”

Li Chi’s expression turned serious. He looked at Yu Jiuling. “Nine-Mei, you should understand this involves a dispute between two kingdoms. Tike Huaqing is wanted by Mauli, and she also carries the aspiration to restore her nation.”

Yu Jiuling went quiet at those words, his expression falling.

Then Li Chi said, in measured tones: “So it depends on what capacity she goes to our stronghold in. If she’s only coming to us as a refugee seeking shelter, the matter warrants further discussion. But if she goes as a family member of one of our people…”

Yu Jiuling’s eyes lit up.

He leaned forward and lowered his voice: “Our leader, this really does need you to step in on my behalf. If I go on my own, it feels… it doesn’t feel very solemn.”

Li Chi sighed. “Have you thought about what this will mean for your life, Nine-Mei? The moment you truly commit to taking her as your wife, your days will come with a few more constraints.”

Yu Jiuling said immediately: “I’m a grown man now. A grown man, first and foremost, has to learn to hold himself to account. You can’t be waiting on someone else to provide your constraints. The difference between being constrained by another and constraining yourself — that’s the very line between maturity and immaturity.”

Li Chi looked at Gao Xining. Gao Xining found it almost impossible to believe.

In barely half a month, the bond between Yu Jiuling and the princess had grown remarkably fast.

Li Chi said: “Who was it just now laughing at me?”

Yu Jiuling stuck his thumb in his own mouth, mumbling indistinctly: “Here — stick something up my nostrils, quick!”

Gao Xining burst out laughing. “Let me go talk to her,” she said softly. “Girls find it easier to talk to each other.”

Yu Jiuling bent in a deep bow before Gao Xining: “My respects to my big brother’s wife — long life and prosperity to my big brother’s wife, and may she be blessed with many—”

Li Chi: “Mm?”

Yu Jiuling was out the door in a flash.

At the same moment. Jizhou City. The Shen Medical Hall.

Shen Rushan looked up at the figure who had just entered, wrapped in a rain cape and bamboo hat, the rain heavy outside. The person had paused to glance back before stepping in — the posture of someone with something to hide.

The person came to the front of the hall and said, voice low: “I’d like to speak with your proprietor.”

Shen Rushan happened to be checking the medicines in the front hall. She looked at the person and said: “I am the proprietor of the Shen Medical Hall. Who are you?”

The figure removed the hat and smiled. “Jiang Ran.”

Shen Rushan’s brow lifted slightly. Jiang Ran had come to the Shen Medical Hall without warning — which meant the plan was about to be set in motion.

She turned toward the inner hall: “Please follow me, Administrator Jiang.”

Jiang Ran assented and fell into step behind her.

An hour later, Jiang Ran departed the Shen Medical Hall. Another hour after that, more than a dozen of the hall’s clerks were dispatched in two groups — one heading north toward Yanshan, the other heading northeast toward Youzhou.

Half a month later. Youzhou.

On the training ground, Luo Jing stood watching the ranks that had fallen into formation before him. He stood on the high platform, drew several slow deep breaths, and stepped forward to the edge.

“You were all my father’s men,” he said, his voice carrying. “I have not forgotten my father’s death. I trust none of you have either. As his son, I cannot let my father’s death go unavenged. As his men, you cannot let your lord’s death go unavenged.”

He raised his hand and pointed south. “Today I lead you out. We take Jizhou. We bring back Pan Nuo’s head as an offering to my father’s spirit.”

A roar went up from the assembled Youzhou Army.

“Vengeance!”

“Vengeance!”

“Vengeance!”

Luo Jing looked down from the platform at Luo Zhijie and called out: “Luo Zhijie — I name you vanguard commander. Take ten thousand men and advance ahead of the main force.”

Luo Zhijie stepped forward at once, fist to chest: “Your subordinate obeys!”

That day, Luo Jing led the full sixty thousand of the Youzhou Army out in a sweeping advance.

Three days later. The Yanshan Camp.

Tang Pidi had only just returned to the stronghold when the message came — the person sent by Shen Rushan had been waiting for him.

He heard them out and gave a nod. No time for rest; he looked at Zhuang Wudi. “I’m taking the army to Jizhou this time. Big Brother Zhuang — hold the stronghold as before. Everything here is in your hands.”

Zhuang Wudi said: “Go without worry. While I’m here, the home holds.”

Tang Pidi organized the troops at once and led approximately eight thousand soldiers of the Ning Army out of the Yanshan Camp, marching toward Jizhou.

Northern border. The frontier pass.

Standing on the pass walls, Xiahou Zuo raised his spyglass and scanned the north. Each year at this time, the Black Wu raiders would come.

Several years had gone by, and yet the Black Wu showed no movement. Something about that felt off.

The Black Wu knew exactly when to strike for maximum effect. After centuries of facing each other across this border, both sides understood the other far too well.

The autumn grain harvest was upon them now. How much the autumn harvest meant to the people of Chu needed no explanation. If the summer grain came up short, the people could last on bark and roots. But if the autumn grain came up short, there was no surviving the winter — in the bitter cold of the north, people without food or clothing would die in great numbers.

So every year at harvest time, the Black Wu would come to harass the border — the purpose clear. Even if they couldn’t destroy Chu, they would drain Chu’s strength without end.

“General.”

Someone hurried up and stopped at Xiahou Zuo’s side. “The Yanshan Camp has sent another grain shipment. The convoy is outside the gate and waiting to be checked in.”

Xiahou Zuo nodded, and the familiar guilt rose up in him again.

He was stationed here at the northern frontier, and word reached him late. Many things he only learned of long after they had happened.

The White Mountain Army from Yanzhou had besieged the Yanshan Camp, for instance — and in that attack, Yanshan Camp’s chief, Yu Chaozong, had been killed and the camp burned to the ground. He had received the news well over a month after it happened, and had immediately ordered his men assembled, prepared to lead the army personally to find Li Chi.

Before the troops could depart, a messenger from Li Chi arrived. He had brought a letter. A very short letter.

*I am well. Uninjured. Hold the pass and keep your mind at ease.*

Later, after the summer harvest, Li Chi had dispatched a supply convoy. The messenger brought another letter — equally short.

*We have fewer men now and don’t need as much ourselves, so I am sending the surplus to you. After the autumn harvest I will send more. I am well in all respects. Keep your mind at ease.*

When Xiahou Zuo read the line *we have fewer men now*, something in him had come undone, a sudden piercing ache he could not hold back.

Li Chi was so young. And what rested on his shoulders was already a mountain.

He stepped quickly down from the wall and went to the inner gate, where the Yanshan Camp’s supply convoy was still waiting. At their head were Chen Dawei and Gang Gang. Both men bowed in greeting when they saw Xiahou Zuo.

“Is there a letter from Li Chi?” Xiahou Zuo asked.

Chen Dawei shook his head. “Our leader is still in the Western Regions — he hasn’t come back yet. Before he left, he said: the moment the summer grain from the fields below Yanshan was brought in, it was to be sent to General Xiahou first.”

Xiahou Zuo was caught off guard. “What is he doing in the Western Regions?”

Chen Dawei said: “Leading an escort — chasing down a band of enemies, and at the same time seeing Dantai Yajing safely back to Liangzhou.”

“Did Tang Pidi go with him?”

“He did. Commander Tang was the first to return… He said — said our leader was injured and still recovering in Liangzhou, so he would be delayed in coming back. Commander Tang said: General Xiahou needn’t worry. He said our leader’s injuries are not serious.”

When Xiahou Zuo heard the words *our leader was injured*, his hand gave a small, faint tremor.

Chen Dawei said: “There is a letter from the General’s mother.”

He produced it and handed it over. Xiahou Zuo took it without thinking, and stood in silence for a long time.

He opened the letter. His mother’s writing was long.

One line in it sent a sharp pang through him.

*Chier is your brother. He knows you carry a people’s duty. Chier is your brother. Do you truly know him?*

—