“Master, please think thrice before acting!” Feng Liao, Tian Cheng, and the others never imagined that when Han Qian made a move, it would be to venture alone into the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair that was Jinling. They didn’t understand on what basis Han Qian judged that Jinling would see blood flowing like rivers. At this moment, they all knelt down to advise: “Material resources have limits, human strength has its boundaries. The Master knows that Jinling’s situation is too complex and tangled—it cannot be reversed by a few people alone. Why take such risks? If the Master can protect one region’s mountains and waters, that is also carrying on the Elder Master’s last wishes!”
Han Qian couldn’t possibly bring many troops. Once Anning Palace and Prince Xin learned of Han Qian’s whereabouts, they absolutely wouldn’t easily let him go. For him to accomplish anything after arriving in Jinling, even with truly divine and ingenious strategies, there wouldn’t be the slightest possibility!
“Madam Ting is six months pregnant. In just over three more months, the young master or young miss will be born. Even if the Master thinks of Madam Ting and the young master or young miss, he cannot go to Jinling to take risks at this time!” Yang Qin urged.
Zhao Ting’er’s pregnancy was already showing. At this time, she spent more time in Longya City peacefully nurturing the fetus. Unless there was something important, she wouldn’t constantly come up the mountain to stay by Han Qian’s side. For the past two days, Zhao Ting’er hadn’t come up the mountain.
Yang Qin still tried to use Zhao Ting’er and the child she was carrying to persuade Han Qian to abandon the risky idea.
“My mind is made up. Don’t try to persuade me. Ting’er came up the mountain three days ago, and I already discussed this matter with her in detail.” Han Qian stood on the mountain, letting the mountain wind blow over him as he spoke.
Tian Cheng, Yang Qin, and others thought no wonder Madam Ting hadn’t come up the mountain these past two days—she didn’t want to bear the pain of a parting that might be forever.
Han Qian continued speaking:
“After I leave, except for battalion commanders, county lieutenants, county magistrates, and military officials above these ranks who are trustworthy in Xuzhou, you should tell outsiders that I am studying poetry and literature intensively on the mountain and will no longer receive outside visitors. If I am unfortunately killed in Jinling, you should abandon Jiming Stronghold and return it to the Xi clan of Chenzhou. From then on, you need only defend Xuzhou and absolutely must not participate in any rights and wrongs of the outside world. This way, you may preserve the peace of this region and quietly await the end of this bloody chaotic age. You must also remember to publish craft manuals in my name and my father’s name containing methods for textile dyeing and continuous furnace iron smelting, and distribute them throughout the world. This is probably the only way to restore his good reputation!”
Hearing Han Qian say this, Tian Cheng, Gao Shao, Yang Qin, and Feng Liao also realized that Han Qian had absolutely no confidence in this journey, which was why he was deliberately arranging his affairs in advance.
Feng Liao’s allegiance to Xuzhou was mixed with extremely complex thoughts—it could even be said he harbored tenacious ambitions to revitalize the Feng clan. At this moment, his heart was also shaken.
“Please allow us to follow by the Master’s side.” Tian Cheng and Gao Shao, who had suffered through chaos and upheaval, knelt on one knee, requesting to follow Han Qian to Jinling.
“This journey to Jinling is extremely dangerous—nine deaths for every life. It’s sufficient if thirty to fifty people volunteer to go with me, but Xuzhou needs the four of you to remain, and staying behind doesn’t mean your burden will be lighter.” Although Han Qian said this to all four—Tian Cheng, Gao Shao, Yang Qin, and Feng Liao—he mainly required Tian Cheng and Gao Shao to remain and garrison Xuzhou.
Beyond their personal capabilities and prestige among Xuzhou’s military and civilians, more importantly, these two had experienced the suffering of chaos and upheaval in the first half of their lives, and amid that chaos they had managed not to abandon their families and relatives. If he met with misfortune in Jinling, only Tian Cheng and Gao Shao could carry out his last wishes to preserve Xuzhou’s peace and not compete with the world for a relatively long time.
If Yang Qin or Feng Liao governed Xuzhou, should he meet with misfortune, they would follow his last wishes in the short term, but over time, it would be hard to say their thoughts wouldn’t change.
“I’ll go to Jinling with you,” Xi Ren said.
“Ting’er is still angry with me. You stay behind to take care of her for me,” Han Qian said.
Hearing Han Qian say this, Xi Ren’s beautiful eyes brimmed with tears but she no longer insisted. However, she could understand why Zhao Ting’er was angry with Han Qian.
Yes, Han Qian could clearly watch the situation change with a smile. Hadn’t he once said to Wang Jixiong: “When the waters of Canglang are clear, I can wash my cap ribbons; when the waters of Canglang are muddy, I can wash my feet”? At this time, with chaos and upheaval everywhere, human life like grass, to disregard everything, abandon all these affairs, and run off to Jinling—which was like a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair—with only a one-in-ten chance of survival, who wouldn’t be angry?
Her belly was about to burst from anger, but if she didn’t stay behind to accompany Zhao Ting’er and care for her, if Zhao Ting’er’s mood became depressed, it would be harmful to both her and the child in her belly.
How infuriating!
Staying behind was truly a more difficult matter.
Han Qian looked toward Shi Ji, Wei Chang, and others who were determined to return home, asking: “When you return to Jinling, do you only want to find your own parents and family members, then find a place to hide and wait for this chaotic age to end? Or are you willing to join me in this task of a mantis trying to stop a chariot, to fight for a thread of survival for the tens of thousands of family members of the Dragon Sparrow Army soldiers?”
“We pledge to follow the Master unto death, to risk our lives to fight for a thread of survival for the tens of thousands of family members of the Dragon Sparrow Army soldiers!”
“We pledge to follow the Master unto death, to risk our lives to fight for a thread of survival for the tens of thousands of family members of the Dragon Sparrow Army soldiers!”
“We pledge to follow the Master unto death, to risk our lives to fight for a thread of survival for the tens of thousands of family members of the Dragon Sparrow Army soldiers!”
Shi Ji, Wei Chang, and others declared vibrantly. Hot blood surged in their hearts. They wished they could draw their swords and slash apart all the chaos and upheaval before them, returning heaven and earth to bright clarity, so that from then on all common people could live and work in peace, no longer suffering from chaos and displacement.
“Good. I originally waited to find thirty to fifty people willing to go with me to Jinling. This matter should be swift rather than delayed. Now with Shi Ji, Wei Chang, and the others, I will set out tonight. I’ll temporarily leave the Governor’s seal with Gao Shao. The five of you should consult with Xi Xunqiao on all matters.” Han Qian removed the palm-sized bronze Governor’s seal from his waist and handed it to Gao Shao to hold.
“Depart tonight?” Xi Ren asked with trembling heart. Even knowing Han Qian’s mind was made up, she hadn’t expected him to leave so quickly.
“Jinling’s situation changes in an instant. I was also waiting for Yueyang’s reaction before making the final decision. This has already been delayed nearly ten days,” Han Qian said.
“If Yueyang is determined to transfer Li Zhigao to defend Ezhou and sends someone to Xuzhou seeking advice, how should we respond?” Feng Liao asked.
“Don’t receive them, don’t answer,” Han Qian said.
On this journey to Jinling, he would need to adapt to circumstances most of the time. Many matters couldn’t be planned in advance. At this time, Yang Yuanpu had perhaps already made the decision with Marquis Xinchang’s household and the Zheng family to transfer Li Zhigao to separately defend Ezhou. At least on Yueyang’s side, some things he couldn’t change in a short time.
At the same time, it was precisely Yueyang’s decision that might cause the offensive and defensive battle of Jinling to become extraordinarily bloody and cruel—it was a key reason for his final decision to infiltrate Jinling.
Li Zhigao’s relationship with him was somewhat closer, but that didn’t mean Li Zhigao would listen to his opinion on everything. Han Qian also didn’t want to communicate with Li Zhigao right now.
Han Qian decided to leave that very night, then have Tian Cheng and Gao Shao transmit the entire matter to battalion commanders, county lieutenants and magistrates, and main auxiliary officials who were clearly Han family direct subordinates, to prepare emergency contingency plans for any changes that might occur after his departure.
To avoid alarming more people, Han Qian changed into civilian clothes when descending the mountain. Returning to Longya City, he urgently summoned Feng Yi, Chen Jitang, Zhao Qi, Zhou Chu, Kong Xirong, and others who were in Longya City at the time to give them instructions.
Everyone else remained at their posts. All requests to follow him to Jinling were refused by Han Qian, who required them to stay in Xuzhou.
Most of the Personal Guard Battalion still had to remain in Longya City. Zhao Wuji, Kong Xirong, and others would lead a small elite force together with Wei Chang, Shi Ji, and others to make up fifty people—the first batch to head east with Han Qian.
The first group would disguise themselves as crew, sailors, and guards of two ordinary merchant ships. The target couldn’t be too conspicuous, so they could evade the garrisons and various faction’s eyes and ears along the route and reach Jinling in time.
After hesitating for quite a while, Feng Yi gritted his teeth and said: “Although I’m not much use, I’ll accompany you on this journey!”
“This trip truly has only a one-in-ten chance of survival,” Han Qian said.
“Don’t try to scare me. I’ve already spoken—if I take it back, will I still have face to continue in Xuzhou?” After Feng Yi’s expression struggled hesitantly for quite a while, in the end he spoke with magnificent spirit: “In organizing refugees to establish the Dragon Sparrow Army, I also contributed my part. Now I must fulfill that responsibility. At worst, I’ll die looking up at heaven—repaying with my life.”
“You all quietly prepare. In a moment, we’ll depart directly for Chenyang,” Han Qian said. Every day merchant ships departed from Linjiang or Qianyang, passing through Chenyang heading north. If they intercepted one or two merchant ships departing from Xuzhou at Chenyang, they could save nearly two days. “I’m going to have a word with Ting’er.”
However, when Han Qian reached the rear residence, Zhao Ting’er didn’t open the door to see him. She only said through the door: “You insist on going. I cannot stop you. You must remember to come back. If the situation truly becomes irretrievable, you must preserve a thread of life and not leave me and the child in my belly as orphans and widows in Xuzhou.”
Han Qian could only shrug and smile at Mother Han Zhou and Zhao Ting’er’s father Old Man Zhao who were standing in the courtyard, then returned to the front courtyard to make final preparations before departure…