Seven days later, seventy li to the northwest of Dengzhou.
A large formation was resting here — numbering at least ten thousand men or more. This force still flew the Ning Army’s banners.
Inside the main camp.
Xie Jingren stood watching as soldiers moved on patrol, his brow tightly furrowed.
His subordinates were reporting to him, and with each piece of news Xie Jingren listened to, his expression grew heavier.
“Daren.”
A subordinate bowed and said: “We’ve received an urgent message from our people. Zhang Tang’s Tingwei Army Black Riders first appeared in Bi County, where they stayed for one night, went directly to the county office’s stores to draw supplies, then departed the following morning. Their route appears to be heading toward Fengzhou.”
Xie Jingren frowned and murmured to himself: “Would he dare march on Fengzhou with only twelve hundred Black Riders? Where does he get such confidence?”
Wang Dangzhi, at his side, said: “Unless he doesn’t truly understand the situation in Fengzhou. Even Xu Ji didn’t know that it’s us who actually control Fengzhou.”
Xie Jingren gave a nod. “That would make sense. Everything Zhang Tang knows came from Xu Ji’s mouth — so his assessment is that he can march straight to Fengzhou. In his view, what would you call that? A bold direct strike?”
Wang Dangzhi smiled. “His people must have noticed that our force has been traveling alongside Xu Ji, so he’s concluded that Fengzhou is lightly manned and that none of our family leaders are there. He thinks that by going directly to Fengzhou, he can strike at our base.”
Xie Jingren said: “Analyzed that way, this Zhang Tang is truly a formidable figure. That kind of boldness alone — there aren’t many men in the world today who can match it.”
Wang Dangzhi said: “Compared to him, Xu Ji falls far short in that regard. That Xu Ji — all talk.”
He asked Xie Jingren: “And our plan?”
Xie Jingren replied: “The plan remains unchanged. We still need to drive the Yin family out of Dengzhou and push them to seize Fengzhou — and give them the illusion that they can hold both Dengzhou and Fengzhou. “
He looked toward Xie Xing and Xie Zhi: “We don’t need so many men here anymore. The two of you, ride back to Fengzhou. Since Zhang Tang thinks he can accomplish great things there, go and give him a welcome.”
Xie Xing and Xie Zhi bowed. “By your command!”
The two turned and left.
Xie Jingren looked toward Wang Xiaoxiao: “You stay by Xu Ji’s side and watch him closely. Whether he can be used to drive the Yin family to march on Fengzhou is absolutely critical.”
“Understood.”
Wang Xiaoxiao smiled. “That fellow is nearly scared out of his wits. His face has been ashen the whole journey.”
Xie Jingren smiled slightly: “He rose to fame young and fancied himself a great administrator and statesman. Let him understand now just how much weight he actually carries — his spirit will take a blow.”
He then turned to Wang Dangzhi: “You hold the formation here. I need to leave for Jingyang. From Yuzhou to Fengzhou, Jingyang is the only route — it’s the most vital pass and stronghold. I’ll go ahead to make arrangements.”
Wang Dangzhi clasped his hands in salute. “Much obliged, Brother Xie.”
—
Two days later. Dengzhou.
Inside the Yin family’s great manor, Wang Xiaoxiao, dressed as a handmaid, supported Xu Ji as they entered the reception hall.
Xu Ji was feigning illness — his steps unsteady, as though he needed someone to hold him up just to walk.
Yin Ke — Yin Xin’an’s father — appeared on the surface entirely composed, but as his eyes shifted about, it was clear he was full of suspicion about Xu Ji’s reasons for coming.
“Xu Daren.”
Yin Ke said with a smile: “My son arranged to meet Xu Daren in Mayang County and went out to wait there long ago. Why has Xu Daren arrived in Dengzhou alone?”
Xu Ji sat, with Wang Xiaoxiao standing close behind him — a cold dagger pressed into the small of his back.
But the threat they held over Xu Ji was not his own life — after all, he had been willing to put a blade to his own throat before. What they were using to coerce him was something else. Xie Xing had told Xu Ji that his assassins were already watching Xu Ji’s brother-in-law, and that if Xu Ji refused to cooperate, not only Ye Ce-leng — Ye Xiansheng, Xu Ji’s brother-in-law — but anyone connected to Xu Ji would die.
Beyond that, they had already forged a large cache of letters in Fengzhou — supposed proof that Xu Ji had long been in secret collusion with the Yin family.
Even so, they were taking no chances, so they had Wang Xiaoxiao watching Xu Ji closely. If Xu Ji dared say anything out of line in front of the Yin family, Wang Xiaoxiao would act immediately.
With Xu Ji, Xie Jingren had this arrangement. Without Xu Ji, he would have other arrangements.
And they understood as well: a person who is unafraid to die does not stay unafraid forever — the desire to survive cannot be overlooked in anyone.
Either way, they would push the Yin family into marching on Fengzhou.
Hearing Yin Ke’s question, Xu Ji smiled slightly and said: “Elder Yin has already taken his men ahead to Fengzhou.”
Yin Ke did not believe this. If his son Yin Xin’an had already left for Fengzhou, he would have sent word in advance.
“Would Uncle not believe me?”
Xu Ji reached into his robe and produced a letter, extending it to Yin Ke. “This is a letter in Elder Yin’s own hand.”
The letter was of course forged — Xie Jingren had arranged for someone to imitate Yin Xin’an’s handwriting.
Yin Ke unsealed and read the letter. From the brushwork alone, he could detect nothing false.
In it, Yin Xin’an told his father that he had already led a contingent ahead to Fengzhou under the pretext of escorting iron ore, and urged his father to bring troops at once to rendezvous with him — delay would invite disaster. The letter also stated that Xu Ji had been persuaded and had agreed to cooperate.
Yin Ke set the letter down and pondered for a moment.
He asked Xu Ji: “Xu Daren — why did you agree to my son’s request?”
Xu Ji let out a soft sigh. “Uncle may not yet know: Jizhou has dispatched someone to investigate me — Tingwei Army Centurion-Commander Zhang Tang. The man is ruthless and brutal, and we have no love for each other.”
He looked at Yin Ke. “Besides, I am not exactly a man of high standing under Prince Ning. Last time, I used the illusion of a hundred thousand troops to save Jizhou, and yet Prince Ning gave me not a single reward. What use is it to remain loyal to such a shortsighted lord?”
Yin Ke nodded slowly. “I know of this matter. A feat of that magnitude, and Prince Ning offered no reward — that does seem hard to justify.”
He smiled slightly. “But raising troops is not something I can decide alone — I still need to consult with the clan. Please allow Xu Daren to rest in the quarters we’ve prepared for you.”
Xu Ji rose. “Of course — Uncle, do not delay.”
He turned and glanced back at Wang Xiaoxiao. “Let us go.”
They were led to their quarters. Inside and out, Yin family men stood watch — it was clear they did not trust Xu Ji.
After entering the room, Xu Ji sat down, looking rather composed. He raised a finger and pointed at his own mouth. “Will you reset my jaw now?”
Wang Xiaoxiao found herself amused despite herself. She walked over and sat across from Xu Ji. “What’s this, Xu Daren — have you resigned yourself to your fate?”
Xu Ji replied: “I haven’t resigned to anything. But I must stay alive first. Only by staying alive can I find a way to defeat you.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Wang Xiaoxiao burst out laughing. “Now that actually makes me think better of you. I thought you were just a useless wretch.”
She stood. “Fine, keep your mouth then. Didn’t you just say you want to live? If you want to live, you won’t do anything foolish.”
She turned and left the room. The quiet that followed was instant.
—
Meanwhile, in Yin Ke’s study, he paced back and forth across the room. His other son, Yin Xinying, asked: “Father — do you suspect Xu Ji is deceiving us?”
Yin Ke shook his head. “Your third elder brother’s handwriting is beyond question. But the reason Xu Ji gave for being willing to join our side — that I don’t quite believe.”
He looked at his son. “Did you notice it earlier — when we were speaking?”
Yin Xinying asked: “Notice what?”
Yin Ke replied: “While Xu Ji was talking to me, I caught a glimpse — whether he meant for me to see it or not — of his wrist, when his hand came out from his sleeve. There was blood.”
Yin Xinying was startled. “Could someone have had him in custody?”
Yin Ke said: “It seems we’ll need to find a way to make quiet contact with Xu Ji. If he’s being held under duress, that won’t be easy.”
Yin Xinying thought for a moment. “Let me think of something.”
—
Back in the quarters.
Xu Ji extended his hand from his sleeve. The raw, broken skin of his wrist ached — not from rope marks, but from his own doing, rubbing it against the carriage wall on the way here, just before arriving at the Yin manor. He had done it deliberately, to let Yin Ke see.
—
Twenty days later. Fengzhou.
Inside a certain inn, Gui Yuanshu stood at the window looking down at the busy street below, mentally going over his plan one more time.
Entering Fengzhou had not been difficult — they were people no one here was watching, people none of the locals knew or recognized. They were entirely outside this web.
Zheng Shunshun came hurrying in from outside, stepped close to Gui Yuanshu, and lowered his voice: “Daren, we’ve confirmed it. Xu Ji’s two most powerful associates are the prefectural deputy Xie Nanju and the chief clerk Wang Kaitai.”
Gui Yuanshu gave a nod. “If my reasoning is correct — that the Yin family are merely someone else’s pawn — then the person pulling that pawn must be among Xu Ji’s own inner circle.”
He turned to Zheng Shunshun. “Put both men under covert surveillance. Their daily movements, what they do, when the best moment to act would be — I want it all mapped out clearly.”
Zheng Shunshun said: “Understood. I’ll go assign people now.”
Gui Yuanshu cautioned him: “Their people are everywhere here. Be careful in everything.”
Just then, a commotion rose from the street below — and looking out, they could see a large contingent of troops moving along the main road toward the city gate. At least ten thousand men, by the look of it.
“Why are they mobilizing so many troops? What are they trying to do?”
Zheng Shunshun asked, puzzled.
“They’re going after that Tingwei Army unit.”
Gui Yuanshu thought for a moment and continued: “But this doesn’t add up. Why would that Black Rider unit expose themselves so openly? We’ve been following them all this way — they entered every city they came to, drawing directly from the government stores for supplies, without the least bit of concealment.”
“If they’d been operating this way from the start, the enemy wouldn’t have lost so many men outside Mayang County. So the only explanation is that the Black Riders chose to expose themselves after leaving Mayang County.”
Gui Yuanshu suddenly understood: “That Black Rider unit — they’re drawing off Fengzhou’s rebel forces.”
Zheng Shunshun still could not follow the logic. “The Black Riders number around a thousand. The force Fengzhou has just mobilized is more than ten times their size, fully equipped as Ning Army soldiers. If they’re surrounded, the Black Riders won’t be able to win.”
Gui Yuanshu smiled. “He won’t fight them — whoever is leading those Black Riders, he’s genuinely earned my admiration.”
He added: “Though I still haven’t worked out exactly why the Black Riders need to scatter the rebel forces here, this is good news for us either way.”
He glanced back at the table behind him — at the Night Demon mask resting there.
But he did not give the order immediately. He sat in thought for a long while before speaking.
“Still — let’s hold off for now. I’m afraid that if we move too soon, we’ll startle the prey and ruin everything. For the time being, let’s settle in here in Fengzhou.”
Gui Yuanshu walked over and tucked the Night Demon mask into his robe. “Perhaps it won’t be long before the answer reveals itself.”
—