After breaking through the Donghua Gate water gate, the Shitang River waterway broadened. The willow trees on both banks were faintly visible under the sparse starlight.
The boatmen and sailors re-erected the masts that had been folded down when passing through the water gate tunnel, working hurriedly to rehoist the sails and accelerate their eastward progress along the river.
Although a contingent of enemy cavalry pursued them from Donghua Gate, their hoofbeats thundering like thunder in the dark night, after exiting Donghua Gate all the way to Chishan Lake, the scouts they had sent ahead reported that the route was clear with no armed warships present. No one feared the cavalry could leap across the seven or eight zhang-wide water surface to jump aboard and engage in close combat.
To prevent the rebel cavalry from shooting arrows, the two war sailing ships with parapets and fighting awnings sailed close to the southern bank, shielding the four merchant vessels that lacked such protection.
Standing at the stern, everyone gazed westward at the water gate tower several hundred paces away. More and more soldiers were continuously climbing up, their armor, bows, and halberds flashing with sharp, cold glints under hundreds and thousands of torches, making hearts tremble.
Everyone felt secretly fortunate. Fortunately, they had rammed through the iron grate gate and rushed out through the water gate before the rebel forces reinforced it. They were also lucky that the original garrison at Donghua Gate harbored doubts about Xu Anlan, who had hastily taken over Donghua Gate’s defenses with secret orders from the Bureau of Military Affairs, and did not fully trust him, so they had not resolutely used the existing defensive facilities atop the water gate to attack them.
Otherwise, even if they could have fought their way out of the city, casualties would have been unavoidable.
The Qianyang, used as the vanguard to break through obstacles, had rammed through several covered boats that Xu Anlan had urgently deployed to be scuttled, smashed through the water gate’s iron grate, causing its massive iron plow-like ram to break off and sink to the bottom. Large quantities of thick planks at the bow section had been shattered and fallen away, exposing the steel components beneath, which were severely deformed from the impact. The ship’s first and second compartments had been flooded with river water.
However, the Qianyang was divided into twelve watertight compartments. Currently, it had only slowed down but could still continue forward.
The enemy cavalry did not pursue far. They fired a sparse volley of arrows while hugging the riverbank, but seeing no effect, they withdrew back toward Donghua Gate—for the Anning Palace, the urgent priority was still to take control of the situation within Jinling City at the first opportunity.
Sailing in the dark, it took an hour and a half to reach Longhua Pier.
After the Jingxiang campaign, Longhua Pier had been incorporated into the Taowu Camp garrison military prefecture. Once the ships reached Longhua Pier, they had entered the territory of the Taowu Camp garrison.
At this time, they could see a contingent of people sparsely gathering from the northwest direction. Seeing these people dragging children along, they shouted across the dozen or so zhang of water surface and confirmed they were estate households withdrawing from the direction of Yongchun Palace manor estates after receiving orders from Marquis Xinchang Li Pu and the Young Princess Consort.
This group was almost the last batch. Previously, fifteen to sixteen hundred estate households had already entered the Taowu Camp garrison military prefecture.
However, arriving at Longhua Pier did not mean everything was settled—they could not let down their guard.
The Taowu Camp garrison military prefecture occupied an extremely vast area. Facing Chishan Lake to the south and backed by Baohua Mountain, it possessed over two hundred thousand mu of farmland. From the westernmost Longhua Pier to the easternmost Jingshan Hermitage, the narrow terrain stretched over thirty li.
The military prefecture’s administrative seat was south of the Qiuhu Mountain estate. All estate households and garrison households were to withdraw to Qiuhu Mountain for assembly and reorganization.
The several ships continued sailing forward for several li before entering Chishan Lake.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Taowu Camp garrison docks. Feng Liao and Jiang Huo accompanied Han Daoming, Han Wenhuan, Han Daochang, Zheng Chang, and others ashore, heading first to the military prefecture’s administrative seat to meet Marquis Xinchang Li Pu and the Princess Dowager and Young Princess Consort Li Yao, who had withdrawn from the city earlier.
The military prefecture’s administrative seat was actually a fortified structure approximately seven hundred paces from east to west and over three hundred paces from north to south. More accurately, it could be called an administrative citadel, which just happened to seal off the valley exit from Qiuhu Mountain estate.
The military prefecture’s administrative citadel was not large in scale, capable of accommodating only three to five thousand people. However, passing through it led to the Qiuhu Mountain estate and workshops, extending all the way into the depths of Baohua Mountain. The coal field twenty li away was also considered part of Qiuhu Mountain’s domain.
Around Qiuhu Mountain’s ridges and passes, nine sturdy outpost fortifications had been built at strategic locations, forming together with the military prefecture’s administrative citadel a complete defensive system.
From the time the Dragon Sparrow Army was first established and controlled the epidemic source, the military households of the military prefecture had been under strict military management.
When Marquis Xinchang Li Pu rushed over, before nightfall he had withdrawn nearly seven thousand military households and over forty thousand men, women, elderly, and children scattered across twenty-four garrison camps outside the military prefecture, settling them all within the Qiuhu Mountain estate behind the military prefecture.
Although the Qiuhu Mountain estate was still in chaos, at least they didn’t have to worry about being suddenly killed by rebel cavalry bursting in, catching the men, women, elderly, and children off guard amid ghostly wailing.
Additionally, six thousand able-bodied men had been organized within the administrative citadel, distributed armor and weapons, and divided into squads of armored soldiers to guard the surrounding outpost fortifications. At this time, small contingents were also sent out from the administrative citadel to use carts and horses to consolidate grain and other supplies scattered across the various garrison camps, large and small.
When Feng Liao and his group arrived, the military prefecture’s administrative citadel had already weathered the most chaotic two or three hours. By this time, it had restored some strict order and brought the surrounding situation under control.
Such highly efficient assembly speed was truly astonishing.
At this time, over ten cavalry were wandering along the northern shore of Chishan Lake. Without asking, everyone knew they were scouts dispatched by the Bureau of Geography. However, they did not dare approach the heavily guarded administrative citadel, nor did they dare harass the small groups of estate households continuing to withdraw toward the administrative citadel.
After all, before receiving formal orders, lower-ranking military officers did not dare launch a killing spree without authorization, let alone forcefully attack the tightly defended military prefecture’s administrative citadel.
Clearly, the Anning Palace side had completely failed to realize that the Taowu Camp garrison military prefecture could organize its forces this quickly, hadn’t they?
Otherwise, anyone would have immediately dispatched elite cavalry to crush this place, rather than allowing it to become a stubborn nail stuck in their side.
Feng Liao had long since reviewed detailed information about the Taowu Camp garrison military prefecture. However, when he returned to Jinling under Han Qian’s orders, the military prefecture’s administrative citadel, workshops, and other facilities were completely managed by Marquis Xinchang’s faction.
The premises previously used to house the Secret Chancellery’s Left Division Military Office and Investigation Office had been completely absorbed into Jinyun Tower and withdrawn from Qiuhu Mountain. Feng Liao had thus never had the opportunity to enter Qiuhu Mountain’s interior to glimpse its secrets.
However, this entire system had been completed through the joint efforts of Han Qian and Shen Yang at Taowu Camp, guided by the principles of the “Epidemic Water Management Memorial.” Yet the reason Marquis Xinchang’s mansion was able to pluck this fruit was that initially, Marquis Xinchang’s mansion and the Wanhong Tower had provided the vast majority of resources for establishing this system—the lower-level clerks of the garrison military prefecture were also mainly from Marquis Xinchang’s faction.
On the road, Han Daoming and Han Daochang had been constantly worried that after they withdrew to Qiuhu Mountain, the Anning Palace would subsequently dispatch troops to pursue and kill them, and they would have no military forces to rely upon.
Only upon seeing the administrative citadel’s walls lined with orderly armor and gleaming blades and halberds did they finally relax somewhat. At least tonight they need not be homeless dogs continuing to flee in panic.
After everyone paid respects to the Princess Dowager, they sat in separate seats in the administrative citadel’s public hall.
“Lord Han obeyed the edict and went to see Wen Muqiao?” Upon hearing Feng Liao and Jiang Huo describe the latest developments in the city, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s face instantly darkened, as though water could be wrung from it.
Yao Xishui and the Lady in Black Veil stood behind the Princess Dowager. It was inappropriate for them to directly point fingers and speak out in such a setting.
Even the Princess Dowager at this moment had to display an attitude of humbly seeking advice and allowing ministers to decide all matters. However, Yao Xishui understood in her heart why Marquis Xinchang was reacting this way.
With Emperor Tianyou under control and choosing to pass the throne to the Crown Prince, this was absolutely not good news for them. Moreover, Han Daoxun had actually obeyed the edict and gone to see Wen Muqiao.
If Han Daoxun, Wen Muqiao, and Marquis Liyang Yang En, who had rushed over afterward, ultimately all decided to obey the edict and summon court officials to support the Crown Prince’s ascension, what would that make them?
What should they do?
Yao Xishui noticed that the Princess Dowager’s hand gripping the armchair’s armrest showed bulging veins, and from the side, she could see deep fear and malice in her eyes.
At this moment, no one could ignore the status of the Han Daoxun and Han Qian father-son duo in the Third Prince’s heart.
Even if the Third Prince no longer trusted the Han Daoxun and Han Qian father and son, if Han Daoxun and Han Qian decided to abandon the Third Prince and compromise with the Anning Palace, changing to support the Crown Prince’s enthronement in exchange for prominent power and position, this would be an extremely devastating blow to Tanzhou!
“Since the information is confirmed, Marquis Li, it’s time to make a decision now. There must be sacrifice!” The Princess Dowager, Lady Wang, finally spoke at this moment.
Feng Liao’s heart jumped in alarm.
Now, inside and outside the military prefecture’s administrative citadel, everyone was from Marquis Xinchang’s direct faction, so the final decision-making power naturally lay in Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s hands. But what did the Princess Dowager mean by saying “the information is confirmed”?
Could it be that Marquis Xinchang and the Princess Dowager had already heard news that his lord had obeyed the edict to see Wen Muqiao, and were just waiting for them to arrive for final confirmation?
“Old Master Han is advanced in years and his energy may be insufficient. Feng Liao, you and Old Director-General Jiang escort Old Master Han to rest,” Marquis Xinchang Li Pu said with a darkened face, telling Feng Liao and Jiang Huo to help the old master leave first.
Feng Liao was filled with suspicion. He could vaguely guess what Marquis Xinchang was scheming, but without even an official position, when Marquis Xinchang Li Pu wanted to expel him from the public hall, he had no excuse to stubbornly remain.
Although Jiang Huo still commanded the Prince of Tan’s estate guards and Jinyun Tower’s scouts, together with the forces led by Feng Liao and Zhao Wuji, they only numbered three hundred elite troops. They lacked the official position and prestige to openly confront Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, Han Daoming, and Zheng Chang on equal footing.
Moreover, the Princess Dowager, Lady Wang, was still present.
In this era that emphasized filial piety, even the Third Prince could not casually defy the Princess Dowager, Lady Wang.
At this moment in Qiuhu Mountain, they had become insignificant. Beyond following orders, they no longer had any say in matters.
“Let’s go! Feng Liao, help me down to rest!” Han Wenhuan showed no hesitation and instructed Feng Liao in an increasingly aged voice.
Extremely unwilling, Feng Liao and Jiang Huo could only first escort Han Wenhuan out.
Zhao Kuo, Han Laoshan, Zhao Wuji, Han Jun, Han Duan, and others had arranged the estate guard retainers and were now waiting outside in the courtyard. They hadn’t expected that while deliberations were still ongoing in the great hall, Feng Liao and Jiang Huo would escort the old master out first.
“Why has Grandfather come out first? What should we do next?” Han Jun asked. He wanted to go in and get to the bottom of it but hesitated somewhat.
“I’ve grown too old and useless. I can’t even sit properly anymore. Staying would be no help—I couldn’t contribute any ideas,” Han Wenhuan said tremblingly, leaning on his walking stick and sighing.
“Has the Grand Elder already figured out what decision they will make?” Feng Liao had hesitated earlier, uncertain of Han Wenhuan’s attitude and wanting to consult with him first after coming out. He hadn’t expected that Han Wenhuan had actually already understood what decision those remaining in the great hall would make.
“Daoxun has his own choices and principles. In his eyes, the state and its people are more important than the clan, even more important than who ultimately sits on that throne. But this is only his final struggle and persistence—a cornered beast still fights. Not everyone can be like him!” Han Wenhuan gazed at the dark night sky with his murky old eyes and said hoarsely.
Han Laoshan and Zhao Wuji stood frozen, vaguely sensing but unable to fully grasp what the old master and Feng Liao were saying so gravely.
“The Young Master will not accept this!” Feng Liao said.
“Qian’er should be able to understand such a decision, shouldn’t he?” Han Wenhuan said doubtfully.
“Feng Liao is powerless to change the Princess Dowager’s, Marquis Xinchang’s, and the eldest master’s decision to completely abandon his lord. But no one in this world can see through the Young Master,” Feng Liao said grimly.
“What? The Princess Dowager and they want to abandon his lord? How will they abandon his lord?” Han Laoshan asked, both shocked and bewildered in his heart…