Hè Jìngyuán had not slept a wink since receiving the letter from the main city of Jìzhōu, informing him that the youngest daughter of the Fán family had been abducted without cause. After Fán Chángyù reviewed the case files, Hè Jìngyuán was wide awake in his tent, studying military texts. Suddenly, a guard stationed outside entered to report that Gōngsūn Yín was requesting an audience.
Hè Jìngyuán pondered briefly, unsure of what agenda this chief advisor under the Marquis of Wǔ’ān might have. After a moment’s consideration, he instructed the guard to invite him in.
As the tent flap lifted, it became clear that Gōngsūn Yín was not alone.
Hè Jìngyuán’s gaze fell upon the man behind him, dressed in a dark robe with cloud patterns and narrow sleeves. Startled, he quickly rose to his feet. “Your Grace?”
Xiè Zhēng’s lips curved into a slight smile. “General Hè, I trust you’ve been well.”
Compared to the veteran generals who had fought on countless battlefields, he was remarkably young. With his striking good looks, many in the military had initially doubted him, believing he had merely been born into the right family as the sole heir of the Xiè clan, with Wei Yán as his uncle, allowing him to rise quickly through the ranks.
However, with the recapture of Jǐnzhōu and the recovery of the twelve commanderies of Liáodōng, achievements unmatched since the previous dynasty, all voices of doubt were finally silenced.
While others merely praised him as a heaven-sent prodigy, Hè Jìngyuán, being a fellow military officer, knew well that any one of Xiè Zhēng’s accomplishments would be enough for an ordinary general to boast about for a lifetime.
Behind that glorious facade lay countless sacrifices, paid for with blood and repeated brushes with death.
Although Hè Jìngyuán was more than two decades Xiè Zhēng’s senior, he held genuine admiration for this youngest Marquis in the history of the Great Yīn Dynasty.
He ushered Xiè Zhēng to the main seat, asking, “What brings Your Grace to Lùchéng so unexpectedly?”
Xiè Zhēng did not decline the offer. If he didn’t take that seat, no one else in the room would be able to sit down.
He sat down with a casual demeanor, accepting a cup of tea personally offered by Hè Jìngyuán. When their eyes met, Hè Jìngyuán lowered his posture slightly, his eyes betraying a hint of guilt over the previous grain requisition incident.
Xiè Zhēng’s lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t press the issue at this moment. Instead, he said, “Suí Tuó, that old fox, has surrounded Jìzhōu with fifty thousand troops, intending to completely cut off the grain supply route by water after spring arrives. Although the front lines are currently stable, I’m concerned about the rear supply lines, so I’ve come personally to assess the situation.”
Hè Jìngyuán clasped his hands and solemnly declared, “Please rest assured, Your Grace. As long as I, Hè, draw breath, I will not allow the rebels to capture Jìzhōu.”
Xiè Zhēng lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. His pitch-black eyes held a hint of amusement, yet still carried an air of natural authority. “I didn’t come here because I doubt General Hè. Whether Jìzhōu can be held depends entirely on Lùchéng. However, the current garrison in the city is only twenty thousand strong. If Prince Chángxìn launches an assault, it may be difficult to withstand. The newly recruited troops are said to number fifty thousand, but in reality, there are only thirty thousand, and they’re all farmers who have never seen battle. If it comes down to forcing all the troops onto the city walls for a desperate defense, Lùchéng won’t have much of an advantage. After inspecting the terrain around Lùchéng with Advisor Gōngsūn, I’ve devised a plan that could potentially engulf all fifty thousand of Prince Chángxìn’s troops besieging Lùchéng.”
Hè Jìngyuán hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Lùchéng was besieged. Now, hearing that Xiè Zhēng had a strategy to defeat the enemy, he couldn’t hide his surprise. “May I ask what plan Your Grace has in mind?”
Xiè Zhēng looked toward Gōngsūn Yín, who explained on his behalf: “The Wū River flows from west to east, passing through Jìzhōu, with its source in the Yān Mountains. After spring, when the ice and snow in the Yān Mountains melt, the water flows into the Wū River. We’ll send troops to build a dam upstream to temporarily block the Wū River. The river bed near Lùchéng will remain shallow. General Hè can then lure Prince Chángxìn’s troops to cross the river bed. At that time, we’ll blow up the dam upstream, flooding Prince Chángxìn’s fifty thousand troops.”
Upon hearing this plan, Hè Jìngyuán couldn’t help but clap his hands in approval. “This plan is brilliant! However, building a dam is no small task. It will require thousands of soldiers. How can we keep this hidden from Prince Chángxìn’s scouts?”
Xiè Zhēng replied, “Prince Chángxìn recently sent me a letter of challenge, expressing his intent to take Yànzhōu. I’ll borrow twenty thousand troops from Jìzhōu to return, but along the way, I’ll deploy most of these forces to build the dam upstream of the Wū River. General Hè can send more men to intercept the scouts. This way, we can deceive them completely.”
Hè Jìngyuán was puzzled. “Previously, Advisor Gōngsūn suggested weakening the defenses of Yànzhōu to lure Prince Chángxìn back to attack. If Prince Chángxìn falls for the trap, shouldn’t he be heading straight for Yànzhōu to catch us off guard?”
Gōngsūn Yín smiled and said, “General Hè is not wrong. Prince Chángxìn’s move is to turn our strategy against us. He’s pretending to fall for our plan to attack Yànzhōu, but in reality, he still intends to attack Jìzhōu, aiming to occupy the salt lake and control the waterways.”
Hè Jìngyuán, being an experienced veteran, immediately understood that their previous mention of sending troops back to aid Yànzhōu was also a counter-strategy, making Prince Chángxìn believe they were truly protecting Yànzhōu.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, “What if Prince Chángxìn also sees through this stratagem?”
Xiè Zhēng replied with certainty, “He won’t notice.”
Hè Jìngyuán looked puzzled.
Gōngsūn Yín, suppressing a smile, explained, “Your Grace’s only daughter is in Prince Chángxìn’s hands. On the surface, Your Grace borrowing troops to return to Yànzhōu is also to rescue his daughter.”
Xiè Zhēng shot a cold glance at Gōngsūn Yín, who quickly sat up straight.
Hè Jìngyuán, however, was quite bewildered. After a while, he collected himself and cupped his hands, saying, “I wasn’t aware that Your Grace had been blessed with a daughter. I imagine she must be suffering in the hands of those rebels.”
Gōngsūn Yín, who had just managed to contain his laughter, nearly lost control again due to Hè Jìngyuán’s words.
Xiè Zhēng’s expression turned extremely unpleasant. He finally explained, “She is my wife’s younger sister. The rebels misunderstood her identity.”
Hè Jìngyuán had just been forced to accept the idea that Xiè Zhēng had a daughter, and now learning that the person captured by the rebels wasn’t his daughter but his sister-in-law—implying the sudden existence of a Marchioness—was still shocking, despite his mental preparation.
If it had just been his daughter, born to a woman he kept by his side, it wouldn’t have been a big deal.
But the fact that he had a Marchioness was no small matter. How many noble families in the capital had been racking their brains, hoping to form a marriage alliance with him? Even after rumors spread about his falling out with Wei Yán, the royal family, which had long been suppressed by Wei Yán, thought about marrying a princess to him to use his influence to pressure Wei Yán.
So many people had been eyeing that position with red-rimmed eyes, and when did it suddenly become occupied?
Not only Hè Jìngyuán, but even Gōngsūn Yín was greatly surprised.
He had originally thought that Xiè Zhēng’s feelings for that butcher’s daughter named Fán were just a mix of gratitude for saving his life and some affection developed over time. He never expected that he would consider her his wife.
For a moment, Gōngsūn Yín even wondered if Xiè Zhēng had been bewitched.
Although the Xiè family now only had him as the sole male heir, it was still a centuries-old noble house. If he were to take a wife, it would stir up a storm of blood and iron throughout the entire capital, as it would mean a redistribution of power in the whole city.
Only the most outstanding noble ladies from prominent families in the capital would be worthy of becoming the matriarch of the Xiè family. Marrying a rural village woman—wouldn’t that make them the laughingstock of the entire capital?
Gōngsūn Yín’s brows furrowed tightly. He knew well that the man he had known for over a decade was not one to act on impulse. He wanted to ask a few more questions but held back due to Hè Jìngyuán’s presence.
Seeing both Hè Jìngyuán and Gōngsūn Yín lose their composure, Xiè Zhēng’s eyes remained calm. He simply asked, “What does General Hè think of this plan?”
Hè Jìngyuán snapped back to attention, temporarily suppressing the shock in his heart, and quickly said, “This plan is excellent. All the troops in Lùchéng are at Your Grace’s disposal!”
Saying this, he raised both hands above his head, presenting the tiger tally of Jìzhōu.
There could be no more sincere expression of loyalty than this.
Xiè Zhēng took the tiger tally, seemingly unimpressed by this iron token that could command all the troops in Jìzhōu. He twirled it between his fingers, lowering his eyes as he spoke, “There’s one more thing I’d like to ask General Hè about.”
His use of the word “ask” was rather intriguing. Hè Jìngyuán vaguely guessed what he wanted to ask. Ever since he had prevented Wei Xuān from requisitioning grain, Hè Jìngyuán had decided to tell him everything he knew from back then. At this moment, he simply said, “Whatever Your Grace wishes to ask, please do. As long as I know the answer, I will hold nothing back.”
Xiè Zhēng’s lips curled upwards slightly at this assurance. He asked, “In Língan Town of Qīngpíng County, there was a butcher’s family surnamed Fán. Why did Wei Yán want the lives of that couple? And what was he repeatedly sending people to search for in their homes?”
Gōngsūn Yín, hearing Xiè Zhēng ask so many questions about the Fán family, instinctively furrowed his brow. Could it be that his interest in that Fán girl was related to Wei Yán?
Hè Jìngyuán’s expression grew complex. He also wanted to know how much Xiè Zhēng already knew about the events of that year. He asked, “Before I answer Your Grace’s questions, may I ask why you are investigating the matters behind the Fán family?”
Xiè Zhēng replied, “My wife’s parents died unjustly. It’s only right that I investigate on her behalf.”
Upon hearing these words, Hè Jìngyuán abruptly raised his eyes, his expression could only be described as shock.
Xiè Zhēng assumed that, like Gōngsūn Yín, he was surprised by the status he had promised to Fán Chángyù. His expression cooled slightly as he said, “Can General Hè speak now?”
Hè Jìngyuán’s fingertips trembled imperceptibly. He lowered his aged eyelids, remained silent for a long while, then sighed and said, “The deceased Fán butcher was once one of the Chancellor’s men. Later, he betrayed his master and fled, living under an assumed name. But the Chancellor still tracked him down and took his life. As for what the Chancellor was looking for, I don’t know what it was.”
Wei Yán had once shown him great favor and later nurtured his career. Although they now had different political views, Hè Jìngyuán still respectfully referred to him as “Chancellor.”
Xiè Zhēng’s eyes suddenly sharpened, though his lips still bore a smile. “If I’m not mistaken, it should be General Hè who took that item, correct?”
Hè Jìngyuán said bitterly, “Yes, I took it, but I truly don’t know what it was.”
The patience in Xiè Zhēng’s eyes waned. “Does General Hè think I would believe such a story?”
Hè Jìngyuán replied, “Whether Your Grace believes it or not, every word I’ve said is true.”
Xiè Zhēng gave a cold laugh. “You don’t even know what Wei Yán was looking for, how could you find it for him?”
Hè Jìngyuán laughed self-mockingly. “My actions in Jìzhōu over these years have already displeased the Chancellor. When he ordered me to kill the Fán couple, it was merely to test if I was still loyal to him. He didn’t ask me to find anything. That item was given to me by the Fán couple before they died, instructing me to hand it over to the Chancellor when he asked for it, and not to open it myself.”
Xiè Zhēng sensed something odd in this and asked, “Were you acquainted with the Fán couple?”
Hè Jìngyuán’s eyes couldn’t hide his weariness. “They were old friends of mine.”
Gōngsūn Yín, who was unaware of the Fán family affair, couldn’t help but interject at this point, “So, General Hè, to convince Wei Yán of your continued loyalty, you killed your old friends?”
Hè Jìngyuán remained silent, which was as good as an admission.
Seeing his mournful demeanor, Gōngsūn Yín remarked with an unclear tone, “Since ancient times, it’s been difficult to be both loyal and righteous. One can hardly blame General Hè.”
Hè Jìngyuán detected the sarcasm in his words and said, “If I hadn’t acted, the Chancellor would have sent someone else. By killing the Fán couple myself, I could at least fulfill their wishes and protect their two children. If others had gone, it would have been a complete extermination.”
Gōngsūn Yín was momentarily speechless. They were all too familiar with Wei Yán’s methods.
After a moment, he asked, “Since Wei Yán didn’t ask General Hè to search for that item, weren’t you afraid of arousing his suspicion when you presented it to him later?”
Hè Jìngyuán answered, “Of course I was afraid. But since Your Grace has married the Fán girl, I assume you’re aware that the two sisters knew nothing of their parent’s affairs. My old friends are gone, and I feel guilty. I only wish to protect what little of their bloodline remains. At that time, Wei Xuān had been defeated in battle, and rumors of Your Grace’s life or death were circulating. The situation in the northwest was chaotic, and the Chancellor had no choice but to use me, so he turned a blind eye.”
Xie Zheng lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, remaining silent. What He Jingyuan said didn’t stray far from what he had previously suspected.
Gongsun Yin then asked, “The items that the Fan couple left you—did you not look at them, Master He?”
He Jingyuan let out a bitter laugh. “Mister Gongsun, you jest. If I had looked at them, would the Chancellor still tolerate my presence?”
Gongsun Yin shrugged and glanced at Xie Zheng.
After all the questioning, it seemed they had unraveled many puzzles, yet none of the truly critical questions had been answered.
Suddenly, Xie Zheng raised his gaze. “What was Fan Erniu’s real name and position when he served under Wei Yan?”
Sweat dripped down He Jingyuan’s forehead as he replied, “Marquis, I’m afraid I cannot disclose that information at this moment.”
Xie Zheng’s phoenix-shaped eyes carried an intense pressure when he wasn’t smiling. He scrutinized He Jingyuan and asked, “Why?”
A bitter taste filled He Jingyuan’s mouth. He was well aware of what the truth behind the Fan family meant for Xie Zheng. If Xie Zheng had no personal ties to the Fan family and had merely uncovered their secrets while investigating the Jinzhou case, then He Jingyuan could still hold out hope for some mercy in Xie Zheng’s heart. After all, the Fan couple was already dead, the past was settled, and perhaps Xie Zheng would let the matter rest for the sake of the two orphaned sisters.
But Xie Zheng had now taken Fan Changyu as his wife, and the younger Fan daughter had been kidnapped by traitors who mistook her for Xie Zheng’s child. He Jingyuan couldn’t imagine what would happen to the two sisters once the truth was revealed.
He intended to tell Xie Zheng the real identities of the Fan couple—but not now. At the very least, he needed to wait until both sisters were safely out of harm’s way.