After Fang Qin left, Yan Chi once again summoned all the officers in camp to the council hall.
Seated in the main position, Yan Chi said, “Though the army’s morale has stabilized, things are different from before. That’s why I’ve gathered you all to discuss our next steps.”
Master Qi sat in the first position on the left, while Chu Feisheng sat opposite him. Zhang Dongxuan was also present in the hall. When Yan Chi spoke thus, everyone’s expressions grew solemn. Yan Chi continued, “Since I intend to declare myself king, we naturally need to hold cities as our base. Moreover, to guard against the imperial court, we must divide our military forces in Shuoxi into two.”
The crowd listened with grave expressions as Yan Chi frowned and said, “Shuoxi now has three urgent matters. First, we must ensure Bailang Pass does not fall and prevent the barbarians from advancing one step into Great Zhou. Second, we must ensure we have sufficient forces to defend against any imperial army. Third, we must maintain the livelihood of Shuoxi’s people and prevent them from suffering.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. “Previously, we only managed military affairs. The civilians in Xilin City were governed by the City Magistrate, but those in other tribal areas barely even had household registrations. Therefore, besides military matters, we must now ensure proper civil administration in Shuoxi. On this point, I plan to appoint several people as Chief Administrators and Military Advisors to the Prince’s Manor. Master Qi and I have already considered some candidates, and we’ll discuss this with each of you individually later.”
After a pause, Yan Chi continued, “What I want to discuss with you now is the division and deployment of forces. The Prince’s Manor will be established in Xilin, while the main camp will be in northwestern Shuoxi. Therefore, I plan to move thirty thousand troops to Xilin and set up a camp east of the city. This position can defend against attacks from Meng Prefecture and Ding Prefecture. Meanwhile, the main camp will both guard against the barbarians and keep Liang Prefecture in check. Do any of you have objections to this?”
When Yan Chi finished speaking, everyone’s eyes lit up!
Those who remained were all those who trusted and respected Yan Chi. Though they knew the path he chose was fraught with danger, it was said that heroes emerge in chaotic times. If Yan Chi wanted to maintain an independent force, he naturally needed to reform the system. This reform would bring earth-shattering changes to Shuoxi. For a moment, everyone felt surging emotions, excited about undertaking great endeavors with Yan Chi. One person spoke up, “Your Highness, isn’t thirty thousand troops too few for the southeastern force? If the imperial court attacks, they’ll surely send no less than a hundred thousand troops.”
Yan Chi shook his head. “Between the eastern and western main camps, we’ll naturally prioritize the western side. The barbarians are naturally fierce and accustomed to severe cold and high plateaus. The central plains are different. Shuoxi has geographical advantages, and the imperial troops must come either from the north or south. For them, Shuoxi’s climate and terrain are already major obstacles. So we don’t need numerical superiority. Besides, you and I are all Zhou people. Unless necessary, I don’t wish to fight our people.”
Yan Chi’s control of Shuoxi was ultimately forced by circumstances, and the officers below all understood this point. Hearing his words, they hurriedly nodded in agreement.
“The eastern camp hasn’t been built yet. These past few days, I’ve been selecting a location with Master Zhang. Once the site is decided, I’ll first take five thousand troops back to Xilin, both to return to the Prince’s Manor and to oversee the eastern camp’s construction. We’ll strive to have the soldiers move to the eastern camp within two months.”
Yan Chi looked at those seated in the hall. “You’ve stayed in the main camp for many years and must have formed attachments to this place. Those who wish to go to the eastern camp may volunteer. If no one volunteers, I’ll have to issue military orders, and there’ll be no room for discussion then.”
“We obey Your Highness’s command. We’re just rough soldiers, it doesn’t matter where we go.”
After Yan Chi finished speaking, someone spoke thus, and everyone exchanged smiles, showing no signs of competition. Seeing everyone’s frank attitude, Yan Chi nodded, “Very well. Since the eastern camp is newly established, those who go will naturally face some hardships. If there are no volunteers, I’ll make the assignments directly later.”
No one objected, and seeing Yan Chi’s clear planning, they understood he had given much thought to choosing this path, rather than being forced into it without preparation. Thus, the lingering unease in everyone’s hearts gradually dissipated. Seeing no objections, Yan Chi continued, “These past six months, with Father’s incident and my absence from camp, training has become somewhat lax. From today onwards, all drills will return to their former rigor, and everyone must not grow negligent.”
Everyone stood up and agreed, and soon dispersed. After the crowd left, Yan Chi kept Master Qi, Chu Feisheng, and Zhang Dongxuan behind.
On the long table to the left of the council hall lay a very large map. As Yan Chi examined the southeastern direction of Xilin City, Master Qi looked at it and said with a smile, “Now that we have Master Zhang here, we must certainly choose a place with good feng shui.”
Having traveled this journey with Yan Chi, Zhang Dongxuan had gained much more experience. Hearing this, he waved his hand, “His Highness has victory in his destiny. It doesn’t matter where we choose.” Yan Chi naturally wasn’t having Zhang Dongxuan check the feng shui. Though Zhang Dongxuan might have some genuine skill in the Dao, Yan Chi was very wary of such things in military matters. The earlier mention was merely to stabilize morale. However, since feng shui emphasized timing, geographical advantage, and human factors, Yan Chi discovered its merits and thus had Zhang Dongxuan join the discussion.
Soon, they decided on a location. Like the main camp, the eastern camp’s position was chosen in a plain basin backed by hills.
After settling these matters, Yan Chi discussed the candidates for Chief Administrator and Military Advisor of the Prince’s Manor with Master Qi, then spent some time calling each candidate for inquiry. After several busy days, all these details were finally arranged. During these days, the main camp resounded with battle cries as soldiers trained and exercised with high spirits, sweeping away the gloom of the past half year in one stroke!
During these days, Qin Wan occasionally wandered around the camp, visiting the wounded soldiers’ camp to check on those injured during the battle with Lin Xugui’s forces. She had no idle time, and gradually, Qin Wan’s reputation for medical skill and kindness spread throughout the main camp. Additionally, with Xu Zi’ang and others returning to the main camp from Bailang Mountain camp, people became even more aware of Qin Wan’s care for the wounded soldiers. It was said that the Prince’s Consort was gentle and compassionate, with miraculous healing hands. Due to Qin Wan’s beauty, her reputation as a living Bodhisattva spread, to the extent that whenever Qin Wan visited the wounded soldiers’ camp, the injured soldiers became very well-behaved. They no longer dared complain about bitter medicine when taking it, nor curse when changing bandages no matter how painful it was. No one dared show any crude or disrespectful behavior before the Princess Consort, and they almost wished to stay sick longer so the Princess Consort would come to check on them every day.
After several busy days like this, everything in camp was in good order, and the soldiers’ morale was high. Seeing everything return to normal, Yan Chi ordered preparations for returning to Xilin.
In the central army tent, Qin Wan was instructing Bai Ying, “Leave the medicinal materials we brought earlier in camp, even though there’s no fighting for now.”
Bai Ying hurriedly agreed, and when Yan Chi entered the tent, Qin Wan went to meet him and said, “I want to write another letter to Yue Ning, is that alright?”
Last time, Qin Wan had written a letter at Bailu Zhou, and now two months had passed. The letter should have reached Yue Ning’s hands by now. At that time, Qin Wan hadn’t yet reached Shuoxi, and now that she was fairly well settled, she wanted to update Yue Ning to prevent her from worrying. Yan Chi immediately smiled and said, “Of course. Write it. When spring comes, the northern road will be much easier to travel, and the letter will reach Yue Ning quickly.”
Qin Wan smiled and hurriedly prepared ink and paper. Yan Chi said from beside her, “Yue Jia left Shuoxi at the end of last year. Before leaving, he rescued two Shuoxi officers who had been captured by Lin Xugui.”
Qin Wan looked up. Having been in the main camp for many days, she naturally knew something about Yue Jia’s situation, though not very clearly. She hurriedly asked, “How is he after returning?”
Yan Chi reassured her, “Nothing much. He should temporarily join the patrol forces. His involvement with us won’t implicate him.”
Yan Chi seemed to know what Qin Wan was worried about. Hearing this, she nodded, “Good, I’ll ask about this in the letter too. Now that we’re settled, if Yue Ning wants to send us letters, we should be able to receive them.”
Yan Chi agreed, “Just have the letters sent to Xilin.”
Following his words, Qin Wan explained this in the letter. Though it was just a short letter, Qin Wan spent half the afternoon writing it before finishing. She handed it to Yan Chi, who ordered it to be sent quickly to the capital. Two days later, Yan Chi led five thousand troops and departed with Qin Wan for Xilin City.
The journey from Shuoxi’s main camp to Xilin City took two days, and the road was still difficult. However, the terrain showed some changes.
Compared to the dead trees and snowy wilderness seen when entering Shuoxi from Liang Prefecture, on the way to Xilin City, they occasionally saw touches of green. Though the terrain was still divided by ridges, the climate seemed somewhat clearer and more humid. After traveling for a day, the land before Qin Wan’s eyes suddenly became much flatter, and even the ridges were just low hills. They could occasionally see village smoke, and the people here mostly wore thick fox fur clothing, their skin having a healthy darkness. Compared to rumors that said the people of the Shuoxi plateau had barbarian blood and were mostly rough and unreasonable, the common people Qin Wan met along the way were mostly simple and honest. A force of five thousand men wasn’t small in the snowy wilderness, but strangely, Shuoxi’s people weren’t afraid of the Shuoxi army. On the contrary, when they saw the Shuoxi army camping by the roadside to rest, some civilians would voluntarily bring them cakes, showing how noble and righteous the Shuoxi army was in the hearts of Shuoxi’s people.
As Qin Wan traveled and observed along the way, she gained a deeper understanding of this land. Two days later, at nightfall, Qin Wan’s group arrived outside Xilin City.
In the distance, under Shuoxi’s unique dark blue night sky, Xilin City appeared magnificent. The city walls here were also built with huge Shuoxi red stones, and though they had flying eaves and pavilions like the gate towers in the central plains, they lacked that meticulous refinement and instead had several parts of unrestrained roughness and grandeur, yet without losing their beauty. The tower was brightly lit, making Xilin City appear like an impregnable magnificent fortress that a million perfect armies couldn’t breach. This sense of weightiness and hardness was something the capital or those carved beams and painted buildings in the south couldn’t match. Qin Wan took a sharp breath, suddenly moved by this city.
As the procession drew closer, gradually the blurry outlines became clear. Qin Wan could even see the soldiers in heavy armor standing ready at the city gate, holding long halberds, wearing thick armor, and standing on the tower like ancient warriors. As Qin Wan wondered, Yan Chi explained, “Xilin City has five thousand patrol troops to maintain regular civil administration. These men also come from the Shuoxi army, with new patrol troops rotating in every two years.”
Qin Wan understood in her heart. As they got closer, Qin Wan noticed quite a few people standing below the city tower. Yan Chi lifted the curtain to look and said, “The Xilin City Magistrate has come to welcome us.”
Qin Wan looked carefully and indeed saw that the person at the front by the city gate wore crimson official robes, indicating the fifth rank.
The carriage moved forward steadily and soon arrived outside the city gate. The Xilin City Magistrate, leading the various officials of Xilin City, came forward to welcome them, immediately kneeling in the snow to perform a grand ceremony. Yan Chi personally got out of the carriage to help them up and then introduced Qin Wan, which led to another round of greetings.
After the greetings, the Xilin City Magistrate said, “This humble one has waited long for Your Highness, worried that you might encounter difficulties on the road.”
Yan Chi smiled, “The journey was peaceful enough. How are things in the city?”
The Xilin City Magistrate was a man who appeared to be past fifty, with hair and beard both snow-white. When he spoke, his throat made hoarse sounds, seeming to have some throat ailment. Hearing Yan Chi’s question, the City Magistrate immediately said, “Your Highness need not worry, everything has been arranged properly. Now everyone in the city knows the old Prince was murdered by the Emperor. Currently, everyone is hoping for your return. The Prince’s Manor has been cleaned out, and these past days, people have been keeping watch in front of the manor gates daily, waiting for your return to set their minds at ease.”
Yan Chi nodded, “Well done, thank you for your efforts. Have there been any changes in the government offices?”
The City Magistrate hurriedly replied, “Two people resigned. These two had homes in Meng Prefecture and originally came here after being pushed out from there. With this incident, they didn’t dare stay.”
“That’s human nature. Let them leave then.”
The City Magistrate nodded, “Exactly so. In any case, everything in the city is fine now, Your Highness need not worry. The hour is late now – if Your Highness had come during the day, the common people would likely have lined the streets to welcome you, making the road impassable.”
Yan Chi naturally didn’t want to see such a scene and found the current quiet night better. “This is perfect now. Let’s enter the city!”
Thus, the group finally passed through Xilin City’s gates. Upon entering, the city was different from what Qin Wan had imagined. Unlike the roughness at the city gate, the layout of the markets and neighborhoods inside was no different from places like the capital and Jian Prefecture. Rows of houses and mansions were arranged in an orderly fashion, and though they were mostly built of stone and not particularly refined, bringing the water pavilions and flower terraces of the southern country here would have been quite out of place. It was almost the first watch now, and there weren’t many people in the streets, but not far away there were still colorful lights burning, naturally indicating areas that stayed lively through the night. Qin Wan kept lifting the carriage curtain to look outside, finding this Xilin City increasingly charming in its unique way.
Following the city’s main road north led to the Prince’s Manor, the most magnificent building in the city. The Prince’s Manor was built entirely according to capital standards, and though the Prince’s Manor wasn’t considered the most noble in the capital, it was unique here in Xilin City. Just as the carriage stopped in front of the manor gates, Qin Wan heard Fuling’s excited voice from outside!