Facing the furiously arriving Li Changfeng and others, Han Qian merely spread his hands and said:

“This Marquis truly knows nothing of this matter—there must be some misunderstanding. This Marquis cannot get away at present, so I can only have Guo Rong accompany Marquis Li to Canglang to ask General Wen face-to-face what this is about. Does Marquis Li find this acceptable?”

Han Qian pushed all responsibility away so cleanly—how could Xu Jing and Yao Xishui easily believe him?

Li Changfeng pondered for a long while before nodding. “Then this Marquis will make the trip first.”

Arguing here would yield no results. Now that Tangyi was militarily strong, unless Xiangbei, Huaidong, and Prince Shou’sMansion could form a unified position and create an offensive-defensive alliance, no single party could do anything about Tangyi.

And riding at full speed to Canglang would only take two days.

Though the journey would be extremely arduous, even if they truly needed to move against Han Qian and Tangyi forces, or even invite Huaidong, Prince Shou’sMansion, the Zheng clan and others to jointly attack, they needed concrete evidence. Three to five days would make no difference.

Having decided to make the trip to Canglang first, Li Changfeng did not linger in Huangchuan. Besides sending two people to rush to Qisi to inform Li Zhigao, they headed directly from Huangchuan toward Jiuli Pass.

In early January, the shaded mountain paths on the southern slopes of Tongbai Mountain still held remnant snow. Galloping hooves trampled the frozen hard earth ridges, like low thunder rolling through the mountain forests.

To facilitate reaching Canglang City faster, Huo Li led two squads totaling one hundred twenty guard cavalry to escort Guo Rong on the journey, bringing a full three hundred-plus Western Barbarian warhorses.

Li Changfeng and Xu Jing suspected nothing else, assuming Han Qian was merely putting on airs, wanting to demonstrate urgency in clarifying what had happened, while also fearing they might make some move to harm a core figure like Guo Rong—hence dispatching so many guards and extra horses for rotation.

Two days later, they reached Fancheng.

Chai Jian had also immediately led his personal guard troops to garrison Fancheng. Seeing Guo Rong arrive representing Han Qian, he naturally showed no pleasant expression. His subordinate officers even attempted to detain Guo Rong and the hundred-plus guard cavalry Huo Li commanded.

The Luoshan garrison had originally been a duck in their mouths. Tangyi forces’ unreasonable interference had resulted in the Luoshan garrison being independently organized as a new army outside Xiangbei’s control—this already filled Xiangbei officers with resentment. Now in just over ten days, this new complication arose. How many hot-blooded, rough-tempered Xiangbei military officers could endure this?

Both sides drew swords, tensions high. Only Li Changfeng and Xu Jing’s extreme mediation prevented bloodshed.

After resting one night in Fancheng, Li Changfeng disregarded Chai Jian and Xu Jing’s attempts to dissuade him. Despite the risk of being detained by Wen Bo, the next day he departed Fancheng with Guo Rong and Chai Jian’s subordinate Military Adjutant Fei Wenbo, heading west along the Han River’s northern bank toward Canglang City to question Wen Bo about the unexplained delay.

Perhaps the Battle of Zhongli had left Xu Jing with deep psychological scars—he and Chongwen Palace Internal Attendant Chen Ruyi both remained in Fancheng, observing developments alongside Chai Jian. But Yao Xishui, bringing her personal maid Ye Feiying, rushed to Canglang City with Li Changfeng and Guo Rong.

Besides Chai Jian personally returning to garrison Fancheng, over ten thousand Left Divine Martial Army elite troops had already rapidly withdrawn from the Fangcheng defense line, advancing toward Xichuan and Fancheng at maximum speed.

During the newly formed Right Divine Martial Guard Army’s westward advance, local defense systems along the route had all been activated, maintaining high alert status.

Even now, scouts Chai Jian dispatched through the northeastern mountains could confirm that Wen Bo had not driven his troops to attack Canglang City.

Canglang City’s defenses had been strengthened before the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army arrived. Five hundred county troops defended it, most being elite veterans retired from mountain stronghold forces. After garrison troops detected the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army’s abnormal behavior immediately, they conscripted able-bodied men from the city onto the walls—now over a thousand men defended the walls.

Wen Bo lacked necessary siege equipment. Storming Canglang City could not be accomplished in a day or two, let alone that Chai Jian could directly send reinforcements to Canglang City from Xiangfan, Xichuan, or Jingzi Pass via the Han River and Dan River waterways.

With developments reaching this point, Yao Xishui was completely confused, unable to guess what Wen Bo—or rather the sinister Han Qian secretly controlling everything from behind the scenes—actually intended.

The Han and Dan Rivers converged southwest of Canglang City. Northwest stretched continuous precipitous mountains. Approaching the Han from the north and the Dan from the west formed two narrow land passages on the Dan’s eastern bank and Han’s northern bank—easily defended, difficult to attack.

Currently the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army mainly assembled behind these two narrow passages. Xiangbei forces lacked powerful naval warships to control the Han and Dan Rivers, making flanking attacks on the Right Divine Martial Army quite difficult.

Reaching the Right Divine Martial Army’s camp gate on the Han River’s northern bank, Wen Bo sent Vice Commander Xue Chuan to receive them at the gate.

Guo Rong and Huo Li could lead their guards directly into the camp. Li Changfeng, Yao Xishui and others were required to leave their guards outside the camp. Even several personal attendants were strictly searched to prevent concealed short blades.

Wen Bo’s attitude clearly showed collusion with Han Qian, but having run to the Right Divine Martial Army’s command tent, Li Changfeng was not afraid of detention—nor could Yao Xishui turn back to Fancheng now.

The group entered Wen Bo’s temporarily erected command tent under oppressive atmosphere.

Wen Bo treated Li Changfeng with reasonable courtesy, respecting his status as Ministry of War Vice Minister and senior minister. He specifically invited him to sit behind the central long table before ordering all guards to withdraw to discuss confidential matters.

“Why has the Right Divine Martial Army stopped at Canglang City without continuing north? Can General Wen give this Marquis and Minister Guo an explanation now?” Li Changfeng’s eyes fixed penetratingly on Wen Bo sitting in the upper left seat as he asked in a somber voice.

Inside the tent, besides Wen Bo, Xue Chuan, Cao Ba, Wen Yuanyu and others were all core commanders of the Right Divine Martial Army. Yao Xishui also stared at their faces, observing subtle expression changes, pondering what could have caused this turn of events.

“This subordinate’s forces stopping below Canglang City certainly has reasons, but the matter is grave. This subordinate dares not decide independently. Yet fearing Xiangbei commanders are deeply wary of this subordinate, I dared not easily communicate with them. I could only wait for Vice Minister Li and Minister Guo to arrive and take charge,” Wen Bo said gravely.

Li Changfeng currently held the position of Ministry of War Vice Minister—calling him “Vice Minister Li” was naturally honorific, but these were minor details. Li Changfeng would certainly not be easily swayed, impatiently pressing: “What exactly is the matter? There are no outsiders here—please speak, General Wen.”

“This subordinate encountered over ten merchants at Canglang who claimed to be envoys of Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong, saying Shu Crown Prince Wang Hongyi is secretly plotting to frame and harm the Marquis of Changxiang. After obtaining this information, they traveled from Liang Province down the Han River into Chu seeking aid…” Wen Bo said.

“Nonsense! Does Wen Bo truly take this Marquis for such a fool?” Li Changfeng slammed the table, glaring furiously at Wen Bo. He would not believe Wen Bo’s wild tale—how could such coincidences exist in the world?

“Whether true or false, we could invite the Marquis of Changxiang’s envoys for a meeting,” Guo Rong said methodically.

Li Changfeng exhaled lightly, knowing that even if everything before him was a performance arranged jointly by Han Qian and Wen Bo, he could only let them continue the charade for now. He waved his hand, indicating Wen Bo should summon the so-called Marquis of Changxiang’s envoys.

Moments later, Guo Que entered leading two males, one older and one younger. The elder appeared only twenty-four or twenty-five, the younger merely fourteen or fifteen. After they entered, Wen Bo introduced: “These two claim to be Cao Yong, second son of Yuzhou Military Adjutant Cao Gan, and Wang Ang, heir of Marquis of Changxiang. However, this subordinate is dull and cannot confirm their identities, nor can I verify the Marquis of Changxiang’s handwritten letter. I request Vice Minister and Minister Guo make the determination.”

Both Yao Xishui and Left Divine Martial Army Military Adjutant Fei Wenbo gasped sharply, suddenly realizing that if Cao Yong and Wang Ang’s identities were genuine, the entire scheme Han Qian had secretly orchestrated was far larger than they had imagined.

Guo Que came from Han family retainer origins. Though only twenty-five or twenty-six now, he was quite an important figure around Han Qian. They had suffered such losses in Chenzhou precisely because Guo Que had targeted them.

Previously they could confirm that when Wen Bo led the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army westward, Guo Que had not appeared near Luoshan City. When they brought Guo Rong over, only about a hundred Tangyi guards accompanied them under the command of Wang Wenqian’s wife’s nephew—they could confirm Guo Que was not among them. Clearly Cao Yong and Wang Ang had arrived at Canglang with Guo Que to meet Wen Bo.

This meant Cao Yong and Wang Ang’s identities were even less likely to be false.

Looking more carefully, their facial features indeed bore resemblances to Cao Gan and Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong.

Of course, the ghost story about Wang Hongyi plotting to harm Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong, forcing them to rush here for aid—they would never believe this even under torture.

Shu Crown Prince Wang Hongyi desperately wanted his half-brother Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong dead, but however stupid Wang Hongyi was, he could not possibly choose to move against Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong precisely when core loyalists Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian led troops away from Shu to attack deep into Guanzhong.

In fact, they had previously anticipated that Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong might launch a military coup to usurp the throne, but they assumed Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong would be more patient, waiting until Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian’s forces were too entangled in Guanzhong to extricate themselves before acting.

Yet everything before them indicated that not only would Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong strike first against Wang Hongyi, fearing insufficient strength to succeed, he had secretly sought Han Qian to borrow troops.

The Right Divine Martial Army was the force Han Qian agreed to lend.

The so-called surrender of Wen Bo’s forces to join the Left Militant Cavalry Army in attacking Guanzhong was thoroughly a monstrous lie Han Qian had spun. And Cao Yong and Wang Ang arriving at Canglang with Guo Que could be said to be hostages sent by the Marquis of Changxiang.

Understanding all this, Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo both felt a chill rush up their spines, their hearts shocked into tumultuous waves, completely at a loss for what to say or should say.

Was this a scheme Han Qian began orchestrating when he sent people to infiltrate Xuzhou and abduct Wen clan members back to Tangyi?

They had been completely oblivious throughout, continuously used by Han Qian as chess pieces?

Li Changfeng’s face at this moment was dark and extremely ugly. For someone of his stature to be played in the palm of another’s hand—how could he feel comfortable?

His deep, malevolent eyes swept back and forth between Wen Bo and Guo Rong. After a long while, he forcefully suppressed the fury in his chest, exhaled deeply, and asked gravely: “Your scheme has reached this point. Some words, once outside this tent, you can completely deny. Is there anything now you cannot speak openly and clearly?”

“Marquis Li is indeed a man of understanding. Not only will some matters not be concealed from Your Lordship, Donghu will subsequently send a confidential memorial to Jinling reporting everything. Only because the matter is grave could we not inform Marquis Li beforehand—we must ask Marquis Li’s forgiveness!” Guo Rong said with a smile.

Li Changfeng had no mood for Guo Rong’s nonsense, merely indicating he should continue quickly.

“The matter’s origin is that the Marquis of Changxiang fears that after Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian capture Guanzhong, Wang Hongyi’s position will become increasingly secure. Yuzhou will ultimately be unable to escape the bleak fate of purges or even massacres. Thus he decided with Cao Gan, Jing Qiongwen and others to launch a military coup to usurp the throne while Shu forces join Chu in the northern campaign against Guanzhong. In early November, Cao Gan secretly arrived at Donghu seeking aid. Despite our lord’s days of earnest persuasion, we could not dispel Cao Gan and their determination to launch the coup. Choosing the lesser of two evils, seeing Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong’s mind was set, our lord could only be forced to choose to assist the Marquis of Changxiang in his scheme…”

“You have only over ten thousand troops here. Even if no one drags you down, even if all twelve thousand troops can advance west along the Han River, however negligent and careless the garrison forces Wang Hongyi and Zhao Mengji left defending Liang Province, they absolutely cannot let you easily seize Liang Province and cut off Zhao Mengji’s army’s return route—the Marquis of Qianyang must have other arrangements, correct?” Li Changfeng stared at Guo Rong as he asked.

Though Li Changfeng had not commanded troops for over a decade, spending most of his time idle in Hong Province, his military strategy remained first-rate in the current age.

Wen Bo bringing out Cao Yong and Wang Ang was equivalent to revealing his cards—how could he not guess Han Qian’s intentions in scheming on the northern front?

However, after Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong took control of Yuzhou, his power had indeed grown considerably these past years, but his influence remained mainly concentrated in southeastern Shu regions like Yuzhou.

Though Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong’s planning was meticulous, he could catch Shu Lord Wang Jian and Crown Prince Wang Hongyi off guard, suddenly sending troops to occupy the Shu capital, even quite possibly successfully usurping the throne there. But beyond Yuzhou, the Shu capital and a few other places, how could other parts of Shu possibly submit to a usurper?

Regardless, these places would first maintain a neutral stance observing developments.

At that time, as long as Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian led their main army back, most provinces and counties in Shu would likely throw themselves into Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian’s embrace. Then even if Wang Hongyi died, Shu’s military and civilians could still enthrone Wang Xiaoxian.

The Marquis of Changxiang’s only opportunity was to timely cut off Zhao Mengji’s army’s return route, or wait until Zhao Mengji’s army suffered irreparable heavy losses in Guanzhong. Only then, when he sent troops to occupy the Shu capital and launch a coup to usurp the throne, would he have sufficient time to control the situation in other Shu regions.

From the current situation, Han Qian and the Marquis of Changxiang’s conspiracy must involve using Wen Bo’s forces to launch a surprise attack on Liang Province to cut off Zhao Mengji’s army’s southward return route to Shu.

The problem was that Liang Province, as a key northern Shu stronghold controlled by Shu Crown Prince Wang Hongyi, had over ten thousand elite Shu troops garrisoned there, defended by core commanders of the Crown Prince’s faction. However strong Wen Bo was, how could he capture Liang Province City and the surrounding five county cities by surprise before Zhao Mengji led his forces back?

“Xuzhou and Tangyi guard cavalry—five thousand elite troops—are already disguised as Yuzhou troops escorting grain and supply convoys and civilian laborers, approaching Liang Province along the Litchi Road,” Guo Rong said. “As long as General Wen leads the Right Divine Martial Army west along the Han River, drawing the main Liang Province garrison forces out of Liang Province City, capturing Liang Province City will not be difficult.”

Hearing Guo Rong say this, Li Changfeng could not help falling into contemplation.

Liang Province governed six counties. Two cities near Jun Province were located on the north and south banks of the Han River—the eastern gateway of Liang Province. Their sudden westward advance along the Han River could indeed lure out part of the garrison from Liang Province City.

Of course, however much the main garrison fell for the trick, as their foundation, Liang Province City’s remaining forces would absolutely not be less than three thousand men.

Others might not dare claim that relying on five thousand surprise troops they could storm a city defended by at least three thousand elite troops. But if these five thousand surprise troops were elite forces Han Qian extracted from Tangyi forces, the success probability was truly not low.

Afterward, if Wen Bo led his forces around intercepting troops into Liang Province City, joining with the five thousand surprise troops to withstand Zhao Mengji’s army’s counterattack, Wang Yong’s usurpation truly had a very high chance of success…

Seeing Marquis of Linjin Li Changfeng actually swayed by Guo Rong’s words, Fei Wenbo loudly objected:

“Outrageous! Our Great Chu and Shu forces agreed to a joint attack on Guanzhong. Sending troops now to assist the Marquis of Changxiang in rebellion and usurpation—how will the world view our Great Chu?”

“The Empress Dowager will absolutely not stand by watching Great Chu forces act in bad faith, absolutely not stand by watching anyone arbitrarily破坏 Great Chu and Shu’s alliance!” Yao Xishui also declared sternly at this time.

She did not know what methods Han Qian used to break through the trust barrier between Tangyi and the Wen family, but Han Qian’s ability to confidently use Wen Bo’s forces for a surprise attack on Liang Province already demonstrated that Han Qian’s infiltration and control of the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army far exceeded their imagination.

At this time they should be doing everything possible to weaken the Right Divine Martial Army—how could they stand by watching them help the Marquis of Changxiang usurp the Shu throne? How could they watch this scoundrel Han Qian’s power and influence grow further?

Regardless, they absolutely could not let Wen Bo easily lead the Right Divine Martial Army to raid Liang Province, even less let him easily execute this feinting strategy of声东击西, luring main garrison forces out of Liang Province City to give Tangyi ambush forces lurking in Shu the opportunity to seize Liang Province City.

Fei Wenbo continued: “I still advise you to rein in at the cliff’s edge. General Chai has already rushed to garrison Fancheng, and the Marquis of Jiangyin is stationed at Jingzi Pass. Even if you threaten Marquis of Linjin’s life now, you cannot shake General Chai and the Marquis of Jiangyin’s resolve—if you dare act rashly, tens of thousands of elite troops will directly swoop in from both flanks. Just wait for disaster to descend!”

Yao Xishui’s eyes at this moment coldly fixed on Wen Bo and Guo Rong. She could not help sneering coldly, thinking that without someone dragging their feet, Han Qian’s strategy of feinting and seizing Liang Province might succeed. But they had not even captured Canglang City yet—the army’s grain stores might only last three to five days. Chai Jian need not even request the Marquis of Jiangyin transfer troops from Jingzi Pass. He merely needed to command Right Militant Guard forces to attack from both flanks, coordinating from inside and outside with Canglang City defenders. Perhaps in just three to five days, the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army could be routed.

Could they still hope Chai Jian would cooperate with their actions?

Yao Xishui could not help wanting to mock their pipe dreams.

Seeing Wen Bo and Guo Rong’s composed expressions, Li Changfeng could not help sighing deeply, his expression dark as he asked: “The Marquis of Qianyang has schemed so long—he could not possibly leave such a major flaw. Is Jiangzhou Governor Zhou present in Canglang?”

Zhou Dan in Canglang?

Yao Xishui was so shocked she nearly jumped up. Fei Wenbo even knocked over the tea cup before him. In their hurried panic, they had not thought Han Qian still had this move available.

“Truly nothing can be hidden from Marquis Li.” The tall, lean Zhou Dan emerged from behind the screen wearing informal robes, cupping his hands in salute. “My elderly mother fell gravely ill. Zhou Dan’s concern was extreme—unable to wait to report to the court, I secretly rushed back to Canglang. I did not expect to encounter Marquis Li here. I must ask Marquis Li not to spread this about, lest Zhou Dan receive court reprimands…”

Though Zhou Dan spoke humbly and courteously, Yao Xishui’s heart went half cold at this moment. She stared blankly at Guo Rong, Zhou Dan, Wen Bo and the others.

She had never imagined Han Qian was truly a master strategist without omission, having Zhou Dan secretly return from Jiangzhou to Canglang early to plot confidential matters.

The so-called return home due to mother’s illness was merely deceptive talk to fool the world and deceive the sovereign.

And both Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou were representative figures of Jun Province mountain stronghold forces. The newly established Jingyun County in Jun Province west of Canglang City on the Han River’s northern bank—its county seat was expanded from Zhou Dan’s early stronghold Jingyun Stronghold.

Initially when Han Qian conscripted mountain stronghold civilian laborers to build Canglang, they mainly came from Jingyun Stronghold—all Zhou Dan’s subordinates. Canglang City’s first batch of civilian households also migrated from places like Jingyun Stronghold.

Later these laborers and other large numbers from Qinling mountain strongholds established illustrious combat merit defending Canglang and Xichuan.

After the war, with Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou as leaders, these soldiers were viewed in the Left and Right Dragon Sparrow Armies as the mountain stronghold faction close to Han Qian. When Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou faced exclusion and suppression, being successively transferred from the military, quite a number of mountain stronghold faction military officers also faced suppression, withdrawing from the ranks and returning to local areas.

Though the Left and Right Dragon Sparrow Armies’ mountain stronghold faction power was dismembered, undeniably after these officers returned to the countryside, they rapidly became the backbone force of local power.

Zhou Dan’s appearance here also meant the Right Divine Martial Army quite possibly had the capability to take Canglang and Jingyun cities without bloodshed, and could obtain certain grain supplies from various mountain strongholds.

Thus along the banks of the Han and Dan Rivers they had cities to defend, short-term freedom from grain shortages, and no fear of Chai Jian leading forces attacking from both flanks.

Or perhaps Zhou Dan had already secretly met the garrison commanders of Canglang and Jingyun cities and reached conspiracy.

Canglang and Jingyun cities were positioned to the rear flanks of the Deng-Jun defense line. Historically they recruited only three to five hundred county troops to handle city defense and public security capture of bandits—though Jingyun County bordered Liang Province’s eastern boundary with quite prominent strategic position, since Chu and Shu reached peace, neither side stationed elite forbidden troops in bordering counties.

Though the county magistrates, vice magistrates, sheriffs, registrars and other main official positions in these two places were all directly appointed by the court, considering accommodation of mountain stronghold faction commanders’ sentiments, roughly half came from mountain stronghold faction officer origins, let alone the six ministry clerks below.

After all, these years the mountain stronghold faction had established illustrious combat merit for Emperor Yanyou’s succession to the throne. However much one crossed the river and demolished the bridge, there had to be limits.

Besides most official and clerical positions being held by Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou’s subordinates, the two counties’ county troops were primarily composed of elite veterans from the mountain stronghold forces.

These years they might not necessarily recognize Han Qian, but Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou were their old stronghold chiefs, old superiors, old family heads—Yao Xishui truly could not imagine, with Zhou Dan appearing below Canglang City now, plus Wen Bo leading the newly formed Right Divine Martial Army’s twelve thousand elite soldiers, did they still have the capability to prevent Wen Bo from sending troops to lure Liang Province’s main garrison forces out of Liang Province City?

“The Marquis of Changxiang promises that upon success, besides pledging vassalage to Great Chu, honoring His Majesty as elder brother, and presenting annual tribute of two hundred thousand strings of cash, he will also return Liang and Xia provinces to Great Chu,” Guo Rong said. “Cao Yong and the Marquis of Changxiang’s heir Wang Ang came bearing the state letter…”

Clearly Guo Rong entered Wen Bo’s command tent together with them, yet Li Changfeng did not know when he had already reviewed the so-called “state letter” Cao Yong and Wang Ang brought from Guo Que or Wen Bo. Presumably these were all conditions Han Qian and the Marquis of Changxiang had negotiated beforehand?