……

After Lin Haizheng and Fan Dahei withdrew, Zhao Ting’er saw Han Qian sitting by the window, taking only an occasional sip of hot tea after long intervals. His brow carried a melancholy and dispirited expression, as if a mouthful of foul air was stuck in his chest that he couldn’t expel no matter what. She couldn’t help asking: “What’s really going on?”

“They persuaded Shen Yang to recommend Fan Dahei for official position,” Han Qian told Zhao Ting’er what had happened at the military headquarters office earlier.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Don’t tell me you expect people to willingly be your servant for life?” Xi Ren couldn’t help mocking.

Han Qian glanced at Xi Ren, thinking that she’d only been in Jinling for two days—the intricate and complex relationships here couldn’t be explained to her clearly in a short time.

“They really are pervasive over there,” Zhao Ting’er pouted her small mouth, saying with displeasure. “I thought Lin Haizheng was unreliable, but I never expected Fan Dahei’s mind to be even more active than Lin Haizheng’s.”

“People climb toward high places, water flows toward low—human hearts are just like this,” Han Qian said, clasping his hands behind his head with a bitter smile. “This time they were really willing to invest heavily.”

Seeing Xi Ren wasn’t very clear about the relationships behind this, Zhao Ting’er patiently fulfilled her teaching duty, explaining everything to her one by one.

Zhang Qian had originally been the village head of Taowu Market. He was recommended by Shen Yang to enter the military headquarters as an attendant. Like former Dragon Sparrow Army Vice Commander Guo Liang, both had initially been very close to Shen Yang.

Later, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s direct subordinate, Military Headquarters Works Section Adjutant Zhou Yuan, seeing Qiuhu Mountain Villa burning lime to supply the military headquarters and diverting away military affairs that originally belonged to the Works Section, vigorously encouraged Zhang Qian and Guo Liang to also build lime kilns at Taowu Market to share in Qiuhu Mountain’s profits.

After that, Guo Liang’s attitude remained quite ambiguous, seemingly still harboring resentment over having his military authority stripped away, but Zhang Qian became closer with Zhou Yuan.

During their four months away from Jinling, they had even less idea how far Zhou Yuan had progressed in winning over Zhang Qian. But given Wanhong Pavilion and the Xinchang Marquis manor’s tactics and deep scheming, turning around to win over Zhang Qian and others was exactly the kind of thing they would put effort into doing. On the other hand, they also wouldn’t sit idly by watching Shen Yang coalesce forces at the garrison military headquarters that could oppose them.

The current situation very clearly showed that Wanhong Pavilion and the Xinchang Marquis manor, not satisfied with winning over Zhang Qian through Zhou Yuan, also wanted to extend their reach through Zhang Qian to the direct subordinates Han Qian was cultivating.

Shen Yang had always been able to handle matters impartially. Moreover, he didn’t know about the schemes behind the Xinchang Marquis manor and Wanhong Pavilion. His stepping forward to recommend Fan Dahei for official position should mostly still be unintentional exploitation by others. Shen Yang might not even be clear that Han Qian didn’t know beforehand about Fan Dahei’s intention to marry Zhang Qian’s daughter.

“They probably haven’t fully witnessed your methods yet. Who knows if in the end they won’t lose both their wife and their soldiers?” Xi Ren rarely saw Han Qian suffer setbacks. When saying this, she was somewhat gloating.

Han Qian glanced at Xi Ren but didn’t respond to her.

None of this was beyond his expectations. If the Xinchang Marquis manor wanted to use marriage alliances and other means to become more closely interwoven with their side, and if they had stated it directly and openly, he would have had no way and no reason to refuse.

However, these people were accustomed to sinister calculations. They waited until everything was a foregone conclusion in their own estimation before revealing the answer. How could Han Qian’s heart feel comfortable? He sensed darkly that these people, in order to achieve control over him, were truly pervasive!

However, what really stuck a mouthful of foul air in Han Qian’s chest that he couldn’t expel was that this moment made him think of that tragic ending the dream world had portended for him!

Could it be that in the end, he still couldn’t escape the fate of being betrayed and abandoned by everyone?

Han Qian recalled how Lin Haizheng’s expression had been quite envious when explaining for Fan Dahei. His heart grew even more resentful. He knew that Zhou Yuan and these people had first chosen to invest heavily in Fan Dahei rather than selecting Lin Haizheng, mainly still considering the factor of Fan Xicheng. But if they truly wanted to use such methods to win over Lin Haizheng, would Lin Haizheng also fall into their trap?

Although Han Qian repeatedly consoled himself inwardly that Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng didn’t know about all those intricate and complex details and twists behind the scenes, and naturally didn’t have sufficient resistance and wariness toward Zhou Yuan and the others, the foul air stuck in his chest couldn’t be expelled no matter what. He sensed darkly that he probably ultimately wasn’t the kind of person with a broad and open heart.

Han Qian had no mind to sort through several months’ accumulated workshop affairs. After washing up and getting into bed, he couldn’t sleep. He lay with eyes open looking at the sky full of stars and moon outside the window, the wind howling through the mountain forests, as if thousands of troops and horses were galloping. Not until dawn did he drowsily fall asleep, only to dream again of being torn apart by five horses in the street. This time he dreamed that Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng, riding horses, pulled his body into two bloody halves.

Startled awake from the dream, Han Qian sat up gasping for breath. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he discovered he was already drenched in sweat.

Although his head was also somewhat heavy, seeing the sky had brightened, Han Qian had no sleepiness. He dressed, took down the saber hanging on the wall, pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard, only to see Xi Ren walking on tiptoe under the veranda like a cat.

Although two shining silver bracelets were fastened around Xi Ren’s fair and tender ankles, the bells surprisingly didn’t ring at all.

Not expecting Han Qian had slept so late last night yet was already up and out at this time, Xi Ren’s heart jumped in alarm. Her footsteps became disordered, and the silver bells on her ankles began tinkling.

Han Qian stared at Xi Ren with a gloomy expression.

Being stared at by Han Qian made Xi Ren’s heart feel guilty. She said: “I couldn’t sleep and was afraid of waking you all.”

Han Qian went back into the room and grabbed a short sword, throwing it to Xi Ren. He said: “Practice blade techniques with me!”

Xi Ren caught the short sword but still hesitated. Han Qian drew his blade, throwing the scabbard aside. Gripping the blade with both hands, he slashed furiously down at Xi Ren’s face.

Han Qian’s blade carried tremendous force. Combined with Han Qian’s gloomy eyes, Xi Ren had no doubt that if she hesitated even slightly, this strike would cleave her in half. Not knowing what madness had possessed Han Qian, she was frightened into using both feet to spring off a veranda pillar, leaping up to evade the blade’s momentum while simultaneously drawing her sword to thrust and slash toward the rear.

When Han Qian used his blade, the changes in blade momentum and footwork were extremely limited, yet like violent wind and rain splashing in all directions. Xi Ren’s strength was inferior to Han Qian’s—she simply didn’t dare attack close to his body. But her evasive and maneuvering skills were extremely formidable. Han Qian couldn’t do anything to her either.

Only after Han Qian vented all the pent-up frustration in his heart did he stop his blade momentum, drenched in sweat. He picked up the scabbard and sheathed the blade, staring at Xi Ren and saying: “Now you should know that if you still want to assassinate me, you must make complete preparations before making your move. Otherwise, be careful that I’ll exterminate every last member of the Xi clan remnants!”

Xi Ren’s face was somewhat pale. Don’t think that because she mainly evaded and didn’t have many opportunities to directly clash with Han Qian, her energy consumption was definitely greater than Han Qian’s. At this moment, she was nearly exhausted.

She had never seen Han Qian fight before. Usually seeing Han Qian practice boxing, she thought he was merely using it to strengthen his body. But she hadn’t expected that his martial skills, even if not equal to Tian Cheng and Gao Shao, were absolutely not weak and couldn’t be ignored by her.

“Young Master! My lord!” Fan Dahei, Lin Haizheng, Tian Cheng, Gao Shao, and others had long since heard the commotion and run to this courtyard. Seeing Han Qian’s blade momentum toward Xi Ren was so fierce, completely disregarding that he might accidentally cleave the seemingly infinitely soft Xi Ren directly in half, they were also somewhat shocked. But they stood outside the courtyard gate, and only after Han Qian sheathed his blade did they enter and call out.

Han Qian handed his saber to Zhao Ting’er to hold for him, looked at the crowd in the courtyard, and said: “Yesterday I already suggested to His Highness that we take the initiative to request battle. The Dragon Sparrow Army could depart from Jinling at any time. Fan Dahei, Lin Haizheng—you two will each lead a group of men and immediately infiltrate Xiangzhou and Nanyang Commandery to collect all necessary intelligence!”

“Right now?” Fan Dahei asked in surprise. “What about the workshop, investigation office, and Military Section affairs—to whom should we hand them over?”

“Were my words not clear enough?” Han Qian’s profound and icy pupils looked toward Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng as he asked.

“Yes, we’ll prepare immediately and depart before noon.” At this moment, the young master Han Qian’s appearance reminded Lin Haizheng of when Han Qian ordered the execution of Niu Erdan and four negligent scouts. Not daring to prattle on, he immediately acknowledged the order and pulled Fan Dahei away to prepare first.

“Gao Shao, you select two groups from Donggui’s men to accompany Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng to Xiangzhou and Nanyang,” Han Qian instructed Gao Shao. “From now on, you’ll be responsible for investigation office affairs, and Tian Cheng will be responsible for Military Section affairs!”

“Yes, my lord!” Gao Shao and Tian Cheng had not a word of nonsense. They didn’t ask why they shouldn’t let Lin Haizheng and Fan Dahei select men they were familiar with themselves, nor did they ask whether they needed to have Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng hand over investigation office and Military Section affairs. They simply and decisively accepted the orders.

……

……

After distributing all these various matters, the foul air in Han Qian’s chest gradually dissipated. He then sat in the courtyard and, with pickled cucumber and salted duck eggs, thoroughly and satisfyingly drank down two large bowls of rice porridge.

Fan Dahei and Lin Haizheng finished packing. Each assembled a group of men and came over to report and take their leave. Han Qian didn’t see them—he just had them leave Qiuhu Mountain Villa directly to depart. In the morning, he remained in the eastern courtyard, looking through the documents accumulated from the investigation office, Military Section, and workshop operations during this period.

Before noon, Li Zhigao, along with Zhou Yuan and Zhang Qian, came to call.

“Where is Fan Dahei? He promised to deliver two hundred cartloads of coal to the military headquarters early this morning. How come I haven’t seen any coal boats coming down from the back mountain?” Zhou Yuan asked immediately upon seeing Han Qian.

“Fan Dahei has already been dispatched by me. From now on, if the Works Section has any matters requiring coordination with our side, please have Director Zhou come directly to me,” Han Qian said, cupping his hands. “The matter of two hundred cartloads of coal should be delayed for now. Wait until I’ve sorted through the workshop affairs from this period or clarified the accounts between the workshop and military headquarters.”

“How did he suddenly get dispatched? Where did you send Fan Dahei?” Zhou Yuan asked.

“The Left Office’s affairs—it doesn’t seem to be Director Zhou’s place to stick his nose in and ask questions, does it?” Han Qian stared into Zhou Yuan’s eyes and asked.

Only then did Zhou Yuan realize Han Qian’s tone was unfriendly. His expression froze.

Zhang Qian smiled awkwardly to smooth things over, saying: “Director Han speaks too harshly. Director Zhou was just asking casually.”

Han Qian glanced at Zhang Qian and said indifferently: “Director Zhang need not worry. My dispatching Fan Dahei shouldn’t delay the marriage with Director Zhang’s family. In a couple days, I’ll send someone to Director Zhang’s residence to present the betrothal gifts!”

When Shen Yang said yesterday he wanted to recommend Fan Dahei for official position, Li Zhigao had sensed something wasn’t quite right. But Shen Yang had always handled matters fairly, and Han Qian usually showed Shen Yang considerable respect, so he hadn’t thought in other directions.

However, seeing Han Qian’s attitude of keeping people at a thousand li distance at this moment, Li Zhigao also knew a major problem had occurred. At present, he could only force a smile to discuss a few matters, then pulled Zhou Yuan and Zhang Qian away to take their leave…