The transactions with the Nian rebels proceeded smoothly. Liu Heita led his team to collect grain at midnight. Although he ignored Gu Pingyuan completely, it was a straightforward exchange of money for goods. After several peaceful transactions, Gu Pingyuan’s tense nerves gradually relaxed. The only thing that worried him somewhat was Yang Si. This waiter truly had a business mind. Taking advantage of his trips to various villages to purchase grain, he bought many small items like needles and thread, pots and pans—household necessities. He used the time between the third watch and dawn to open a “ghost market” outside the Nian camp, and business was surprisingly good. Gu Pingyuan heard people say that Yang Si’s large sack he carried with him was nearly bursting with silver coins.

Until one day, when the pack train was about to depart, Yang Si was nowhere to be seen. Without him, there was no one to guide the way, so Gu Pingyuan had to order the convoy to stop and wait. They waited until the sun was high in the sky before seeing Yang Si return with a bruised and swollen face. When Gu Pingyuan asked him about it, Yang Si stammered and wouldn’t say. From that day on, he never went to set up his “ghost market” again. Gu Pingyuan assumed he had some trade dispute with the Nian rebels and didn’t press further. As long as nothing serious had happened to him, that was fine.

That evening, wind and clouds surged, completely obscuring the bright moon so that one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. Seeing the harsh weather and with several camel caravans that had gone to distant places to transport grain and fodder still not returned, Gu Pingyuan felt somewhat worried. He waited in his tent, becoming increasingly restless, always feeling as though something was about to happen. Unable to sit still any longer, he walked to a small hill outside the camp to keep watch.

The night was pitch black, like an endless dark curtain shrouding the entire loess plateau. Only the howling wind could be heard in his ears. Gu Pingyuan shielded his eyes with both hands against the wind and sand, squinting as he peered in all directions.

He didn’t see the camel caravan, but in the pitch darkness before him, he seemed to see something writhing, and quite a number of them, quietly advancing toward the camp.

Gu Pingyuan took two steps forward, leaning forward to see more clearly. Suddenly, the alertness in his heart boiled up like water coming to a boil. In the wind, he seemed to hear a “whoosh” sound. Instinctively, he tilted his head slightly, and a sharp arrow missed by just three inches, passing by his ear and shooting straight into the endless black night.

Gu Pingyuan quickly crouched down. Looking up again, he could see more clearly—the opposite side was full of men and horses. The men wore black night clothes, and the horses were all uniformly black steeds with bit rings. In such weather, unless one was alert, even walking face to face, one might not notice them.

This arrow exposed the enemy’s identity. Gu Pingyuan turned and ran like the wind, shouting as he ran, “Bandits! Everyone be careful, the horse bandits are coming!”

Gansu horse bandits were the most vicious. One man, one horse, with a swift blade in hand, they robbed merchant caravans and never left anyone alive. This group of bandits probably numbered fifty or sixty men. If a real fight broke out, even though the pack train had more people, they wouldn’t be a match for them. If they fought head-on, even if they could repel these bandits, they would probably suffer heavy casualties.

There were sentries posted in front of the camp. Upon hearing that horse bandits had arrived, they immediately sprang into action. After letting Gu Pingyuan through, they set fire to oil-soaked timber in a deep ditch in front of the camp, and flames immediately shot up ten feet high. The Nian rebels had just come to collect grain, and many people in the pack train were still counting and calculating. Now they all hurriedly gathered around Gu Pingyuan.

“How long can we hold out?” The horse bandits didn’t retreat but simply reined in their horses outside the fire line, waiting quietly. By the firelight, Gu Pingyuan saw that these men’s eyes were filled with merciless killing intent. He couldn’t help but feel secretly alarmed and turned to ask Leader Du.

“About a quarter of an hour at most. The combustible materials are limited. This is just using the ditches on both sides to block them slightly.” This was a common technique used by the Chengjiang Horse Gang to deal with horse bandits. After this, they would have to unload their goods, travel light, and flee. In any case, when encountering horse bandits, preserving one’s life was the greatest fortune; goods were only for buying one’s life.

“We can’t retreat, and we certainly can’t abandon the goods. This is military provisions. Once it falls into the hands of horse bandits, the army will be cut off from supplies. Even one day would be an unforgivable offense, and the Monk Prince won’t spare us.” Gu Pingyuan thought clearly. “We’ll gather the pack train together, with the scouts on the outer perimeter, fighting while retreating toward the Monk Prince’s main camp. The horse bandits definitely won’t dare to approach there.”

“By the time we get there, probably half of us will be dead.” Everyone turned to look—it was Su Zixuan speaking with a cold laugh.

“Then what do you suggest?” Gu Pingyuan asked.

“Arrange the camels in a circle, with people and goods hidden inside. The bandits’ horses can’t break through a camel formation.”

Chief Sun said, “That would only delay things a bit more. It’s still not a long-term solution.”

“Who said anything about long-term? The horse gang has firecrackers, right?” Su Zixuan asked Leader Du.

“Yes, we do. They’re used for communication between groups. Don’t tell me you want to call back those scattered caravans—that would be sending sheep into the tiger’s mouth. It won’t work.”

“Do as he says.” Gu Pingyuan understood and looked at Su Zixuan with admiration.

“Manager Gu, this…” Leader Du was still hesitating.

“Rather than us going to find the army, better to have the Monk Prince send the vanguard battalion to rescue us. Understand?” With one sentence from Gu Pingyuan, everyone suddenly realized.

But Su Zixuan, taking advantage of everyone’s confusion, beckoned Fourth Sister over and had her prepare two fast horses.

“Miss, are we going to escape?”

“No, I’m going to negotiate a business deal.” Su Zixuan’s eyes kept watching the horse bandits outside.

Su Zixuan’s strategy indeed worked. After the fire died down, the horse bandits leaped over the fire line but found their path blocked by the camel formation. They could only shoot arrows, while the scouts also used the camels as cover, returning fire with bows and arrows. The two sides were locked in a stalemate for a while, but still the horse bandits had the advantage with their mobility, shooting while riding back and forth. Moreover, the pack train wasn’t there to fight after all—they didn’t carry many arrows and gradually found it difficult to continue.

Just at this moment, someone suddenly charged from behind, shouting battle cries, wielding a nine-section chain whip and consecutively knocking down several horse bandits, fighting against three or five men.

The horse bandits had been unable to break through for a long time and were already furious. This person had really stirred up a hornet’s nest. In an instant, bright blade light surrounded him front and back. Although his martial arts were excellent, he immediately found himself in grave danger. In a moment of carelessness, his shoulder was slashed, and blood immediately spurted out.

“Liu Heita!” Gu Pingyuan didn’t understand—hadn’t he just left with the grain? How had he come back alone?

Liu Heita had walked about ten li when he heard a string of firecracker sounds coming from Gu Pingyuan’s camp behind him and knew something had happened. Being a rough man, he didn’t immediately think that if something happened to the pack train, the next batch of grain couldn’t be supplied. He only thought of Gu Pingyuan and spat hatefully.

“Bah! I don’t care about that bastard’s life or death. Keep going!”

But after walking a few more steps, he couldn’t help but remember when he was in Taiyuan Prefecture, following Gu Pingyuan’s guidance and triumphantly completing a big business deal. At that time, he truly regarded him as a god. Later, when he tried to save him, he went three days and nights without eating or drinking, fainting from hunger outside Dr. Li’s house. As for walking through Black Water Marsh and fighting the prince’s mansion, without this person, he and his father would have long since been ruined.

“Sigh!” Liu Heita slapped his thigh. “He may be heartless, but I can’t be unrighteous! Otherwise, I’d become a bastard too.”

But this batch of grain was extremely important—so many Nian brothers and their families depended on it to survive. It couldn’t be lost. Liu Heita thought it over and had the grain carts continue back to camp while he spurred his horse and ran back, just in time to encounter the horse bandits besieging the camp.

Although he was brave and fierce, two fists couldn’t fight four hands. Several times he nearly lost his life. Gu Pingyuan watched from within the camel formation with his heart in his throat.

“If this continues, he’ll surely die!” Chief Sun was an old acquaintance of Liu Heita and was also sweating for him.

“Who’ll come with me to bring him back inside? I’ll pay double in silver!” Gu Pingyuan called out with raised arms. Although they knew it was dangerous, this trip was all about risking their lives, so naturally there was no shortage of brave men to follow. Each grabbed weapons and was about to charge out.

Just then, the horse bandits suddenly fell into chaos. A chestnut war horse charged in like a whirlwind, with a warrior on horseback wielding a hurricane blade, followed by several hundred men. This person led from the front, and the soldiers behind him were also fearless of death, engaging the horse bandits in battle.

The horse bandits were few in number and were only seeking to get rich. Seeing official troops coming to the rescue, they had already lost their fighting spirit. After fighting for just a few rounds, they relied on their fast horses to break through and flee. The warrior reined in his war horse and didn’t pursue. Of course, Liu Heita wouldn’t be foolish enough to chase either. Only two horses took advantage of the vast night to chase out from the edge of the camp.

Gu Pingyuan had sharp eyes and saw that the warrior was precisely Deng Tieyi. Overjoyed, he was just about to call out when Deng Tieyi pointed at Liu Heita and asked, “Who are you?” He saw that this man’s martial arts were excellent, and he wasn’t dressed like someone from the pack train—he looked more like a Nian rebel.

“Who I am is none of your business!” Liu Heita glared with his deep, gruff voice.

“You’re a Nian rebel!” Deng Tieyi had already sheathed his sword but now drew it out again.

“No, no!” Gu Pingyuan ran and shouted, coming to Deng Tieyi’s horse and grabbing his reins. “Big brother, he’s a local villager, very loyal and brave, who came especially to help.”

“Is that so?” Deng Tieyi looked suspiciously at him. By the torchlight, Gu Pingyuan kept winking at Liu Heita.

“Hmph!” Seeing that the siege was lifted, Liu Heita didn’t want to stay longer. Although his shoulder was still bleeding, he completely ignored it, turned his horse around, and rode away leisurely, humming a little tune.

“Big brother, how did you come?” Seeing Deng Tieyi still staring at Liu Heita’s retreating figure, Gu Pingyuan hastily diverted his attention.

“The Monk Prince sent a general, and I volunteered for the mission! Otherwise… let me go back to camp and talk about it. From today on, I’ll bring a troop to guard your pack train, so those horse bandits won’t come again.”

Gu Pingyuan was grateful in his heart, but the matter of the Nian rebels buying grain couldn’t be known by the official army. Although Deng Tieyi had a good relationship with him, there were so many other soldiers—it was hard to guarantee that word wouldn’t leak out. He repeatedly waved his hands: “Big brother, if you station troops here, the common people who come to deliver grain will all be scared away. Besides, those horse bandits have suffered a loss and know we can call for official troops—they won’t dare come a second time.”

He saw that Deng Tieyi’s face was injured and thought it was from the horse bandits, but when he asked, it turned out Iron Haqi had hit him.

“Damn it, the Monk Prince looks down on Han generals and keeps saying we’re cowardly and don’t deserve to lead troops into battle!” After drinking a bowl of wine, Deng Tieyi began cursing. “That day, when several of us old brothers were discussing this matter and spoke a bit loudly, Iron Haqi overheard and slapped me in the face.”

“This person is excessively violent. Big brother, you’d better not provoke him.” Gu Pingyuan filled another bowl for Deng Tieyi, who drank it all in one gulp and smashed the bowl.

“Who’s afraid of him? Sooner or later, we’ll show those Mongols that we Han people are not cowards!”

The horse bandits fled in defeat. After turning around a thicket of thorns, they counted their numbers and found that eight brothers had died. Just as they were feeling dejected, they suddenly heard hoofbeats. Thinking the official troops were pursuing them, they were about to flee again when they saw it was only two horses, and the riders were unarmed.

When Su Zixuan saw the group of horse bandits approaching with drawn swords, she only smiled and held up a piece of paper high, then let go. The wind blew the paper toward the bandits. The bandit leader reached out and caught it, seeing it was a bank note. “Ten thousand taels?” He looked at the person opposite him in shock.

“That’s just the deposit.” Su Zixuan said lightly.

Watching the horse bandits ride away with whistles, Fourth Sister wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Miss, you’re really bold. These people kill without blinking—those blades looked like they could cut a person in half.”

“No one quarrels with silver, except the smartest people and the stupidest people.” Su Zixuan lightly kicked her horse.

“Let’s go to another place.”

“Where else are we going?” Fourth Sister hadn’t slept all night either and was so sleepy she wanted to yawn, but didn’t dare to. She endured it until tears welled up in her eyes.

“To kill someone.” With one sentence from Su Zixuan, Fourth Sister’s sleepiness completely disappeared.

The leaders of the Nian army were holding a meeting. Liang Wang Zhang Zongyu, Fu Wang Chen Decai, Lu Wang Ren Zhu, and others were gathered around a large map, planning strategy.

“This map won’t do. It’s still from the Kangxi period. The mountains and rivers have all changed. Yesterday, my soldiers went to lure the enemy and ended up in a dead end—all because of this map.” Lu Wang slammed the table.

What he said, Liang Wang and Fu Wang knew all too well. The two exchanged glances, both showing worry in their brows.

“If there’s no other way, we can only break up into smaller units, scatter, and then find a place to regroup. Either in Qinghai or at the Gansu-Mongolia border.” Fu Wang pondered.

“I’ve thought of that too, but dividing troops and regrouping will inevitably result in losses. Even if we can avoid encirclement by local gentry militias, some brothers won’t be willing to come back. Could we gather even half?” Liang Wang felt uncertain.

“The Monk demon is pursuing us closely. I think this is our only option.” Fu Wang said.

“Report! Someone outside the camp requests an audience with Liang Wang.”

“Who is it?” Liang Wang asked.

“A handsome young gentleman with a page boy.”

The men in the tent looked at each other in surprise. The reporting soldier also produced a long paper scroll. “This person said it’s a meeting gift and asks Liang Wang to accept it with a smile.”

When they unrolled the paper scroll, all three men simultaneously widened their eyes. This was a map drawn by personnel sent by the Northwest Military Affairs Commissioner during the early Xianfeng period, only about ten years old. Even slightly larger ridges were clearly marked on it. Lu Wang greedily opened his eyes wide, searching on the map. Suddenly, he used his club-thick finger to forcefully tap one spot. “Right here! If I’d seen this map one day earlier, my two hundred boys wouldn’t have had to die!”

“Don’t break it, don’t break it.” Fu Wang quickly pushed his hand away.

Liang Wang was the youngest here but also the most composed. He instructed: “Quickly invite that person in.”

When the person entered the tent, both Lu Wang and Fu Wang’s eyes lit up. “Oh my, this boy is really handsome.” Fu Wang unconsciously murmured aloud.

“Young Master Su, so it’s you.” Zhang Zongyu was both surprised and delighted.

“Liang Wang, is this map useful?” Su Zixuan had entered deep into the rebel camp, facing three leaders as casually as if on a spring outing, gracefully pointing to the map spread on the table.

“Extremely useful. Where did you get it?” Lu Wang asked eagerly.

“I bought it in Xi’an city. The clerk in charge of maps said that losing a copy would cost him his official position, so I conveniently bought his black gauze cap too. A ninth-rank secretary—five thousand taels of silver was enough for him to go home and retire.”

One map for five thousand taels—others might think it expensive, but all three men present knew that maps were priceless treasures for military campaigns, especially after suffering from an old map. They felt this was truly a priceless treasure.

“I can’t let Young Master Su spend money. I’ll buy this map.” Zhang Zongyu said and was about to have his personal guards fetch silver.

“I said it was just a meeting gift. If Liang Wang is so formal, I won’t dare say what I came to say today.”

Liang Wang was startled. “Young Master Su, you didn’t come for this map?”

“What’s one map between friends? I came to present another great gift.” Su Zixuan had been smiling all along, but now her expression became more serious.

“Oh?” Ever since that day when she spoke up for Gu Pingyuan, Liang Wang had a good impression of Su Zixuan. Hearing her say this, he quickly had people serve tea and offer seats.

“There’s something I want to say in front of these two gentlemen—is that alright?” Su Zixuan looked at Fu Wang and Lu Wang.

Zhang Zongyu smiled. “Let me introduce them. This is Fu Wang, sent by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to help us. Ying Wang Chen Yucheng is his nephew.”

Chen Yucheng was the most capable general in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Qing troops were terrified at the mention of his name. So this person was his uncle. Su Zixuan couldn’t help but take another look.

“This is Lu Wang, one of the four great leaders of the Nian army. He joined the Nian before I did. Three years ago, he was the one who killed Liu the Hungry Wolf with a single blade.”

Liu the Hungry Wolf was a spy planted by the Qing court among the Nian rebels. He had already received the imperial title of general. Lu Wang had killed this man, so he would never have any connection with the Qing army. Liang Wang said this to put Su Zixuan at ease.

Indeed, Su Zixuan’s brow relaxed. “Then I can rest assured.” She slowly stood up and walked to the Guan Gong shrine set up in the tent. She knelt down, clasped her hands together, and swore an oath: “Heaven, earth, people, and spirits bear witness—I, Su Zixuan, have come to the Nian army camp. Everything I say and do is entirely to avenge my father’s death at the hands of the Qing court. If my words don’t match my heart, if there’s even half a false word, let me die under chaotic blades, not preserving my whole corpse.”

The three men behind her looked at each other in shock and suspicion. Such an oath sworn voluntarily was absolutely genuine. Since it was vengeance for her father’s death, she was indeed irreconcilable with the Qing army. What exactly was Young Master Su going to say?

They saw Su Zixuan come to the table, her slender fingers slowly tracing along an invisible line. Suddenly she stopped, drew a circle at a mountain pass where Shaanxi, Gansu, and Mongolia provinces met, then turned around and asked a question that was like thunder exploding in the ears of all three men.

“Do you want Sengge Rinchen’s head?”

“Miss, ever since we came back from the Nian rebels, we’ve been watching these Qing soldiers set up camp every day. Aren’t you bored?” Fourth Sister sat glumly on an earthen mound, looking at the Qing army’s main camp down the slope in the distance.

“Look…” Su Zixuan pointed, and Fourth Sister stretched her neck to take a look, then pouted.

“It’s still those horse bandits. We’ve gotten sick of watching them these past days.”

The horse bandits had taken Su Zixuan’s silver and, relying on their fast horses, went to harass the Qing soldiers every night. Sometimes they would shoot one or two whistling arrows, sometimes they would bang on a large gong while cursing the ancestors of the Monk Prince for eight generations with filthy language.

Sengge Rinchen was so angry his lungs nearly exploded. He ordered Iron Haqi to catch the horse bandits, but these bandits came and went like the wind and were familiar with the terrain. Iron Haqi exhausted himself but didn’t catch even a hair of a horse bandit. Every day he was scolded by Sengge Rinchen until his face was dark with gloom.

“At night the horse bandits don’t let the Qing soldiers sleep well, and during the day the Nian rebels send out small groups of fast cavalry to lead the Qing army in circles. Watch—this hot-tempered Monk Prince is about to explode. When the time is right, I’ll go find him.” Su Zixuan said.

In fact, Sengge Rinchen’s anger had lasted more than just one day. He had originally thought that on the open loess plateau, his cavalry could charge straight through and eliminate the Nian rebels without breaking a sweat. He hadn’t expected things to go so poorly. Yellow dust covered the sky, blinding them, and the Nian rebels’ movements were mysterious. After several battles, it was only a draw. To prevent the Nian rebels from escaping, he gritted his teeth and forced marches every day, but often discovered he had been led in circles by the Nian rebels. Now even horse bandits were bullying them—this truly made the Monk Prince so angry that one Buddha left the world and another ascended to heaven. Military law was enforced in the camp daily, heads were chopped every day, and flogging and whipping were routine. All the officers and soldiers in the camp felt they would go mad if they continued this pursuit.

“Miss, it’s past midnight. Be careful of catching cold—let’s go back.” Fourth Sister gently put a cloak over Su Zixuan’s shoulders.

“I’m not tired or sleepy.”

“I know…” Fourth Sister’s nose suddenly tingled, and tears flowed out.

“Why are you crying?” Su Zixuan frowned.

“This time last year, Miss took me and San Xiao boating in the garden at Chengde. We were still playing with colored glass bottles from the West to catch fish… I miss it so much, I want to go back so badly.”

A bitter smile appeared on Su Zixuan’s lips. She stroked Fourth Sister’s hair. “Silly girl, when I fulfill my wish, I’ll take you to catch fish again.”

“Really? When?” Fourth Sister raised her head and asked with blinking eyes.

“Soon.” Su Zixuan straightened her back and pointed at the continuous camps below. “Sengge Rinchen and his hundred thousand troops are the pillar that the court relies on in the Northwest. Once the entire army is annihilated, the Nian rebels can connect the Northwest with Zhili in a line. Within half a month, they can attack Beijing. Then the court will have to withdraw half of the large army besieging Nanjing to guard against the Nian rebels, and the siege of the Taipings will be lifted. Chen Yucheng and Li Xiucheng won’t miss this opportunity. When they launch another Northern Expedition, the Nian rebels will definitely respond. Nothing short of great chaos under heaven will result.”

“Great chaos under heaven…” Fourth Sister murmured, repeating these four words.

“Yes, I’d like to see if that pair of man and woman can sit securely on their throne!” A flash of viciousness crossed Su Zixuan’s eyes.

“Let’s go back.” Although Su Zixuan said she wasn’t tired, she was actually just excited. She was a woman traveling thousands of miles with this group of men for trade, and many hardships were covered up by the joy of revenge. In reality, her body was already thoroughly exhausted.

“Ah…” Suddenly, a fierce roar came from the main camp behind them, the sound heart-rending and lung-splitting, like someone undergoing the punishment of being torn apart by horses. Even someone as composed as Su Zixuan felt her heart tremble upon hearing it.

As soon as this sound died down, two similar fierce roars came from different parts of the main camp. Then, like one dog barking causing a hundred dogs to bark, wave after wave of miserable screams rose throughout the camp, sounding as if the camp was pitched at the entrance to the underworld, with thousands upon thousands of evil spirits rushing out from hell together.

“Miss…” Fourth Sister’s body went soft and she was about to cry from fear. Su Zixuan was also initially startled, but suddenly she remembered something. Joy gradually appeared on her face as she murmured: “It’s a camp mutiny. Heaven is truly helping me.”

“Where’s my jade flute?”

Fourth Sister tremblingly pulled out the jade flute she carried with her from a velvet pouch and handed it over. Su Zixuan grabbed it and hurriedly walked down the hillside.

In the main camp below, Sengge Rinchen had already awakened with a start. At first he thought it was a night attack by the Nian army. He grabbed his armor and put it on, took up his long sword, and mounted his war horse. But when he looked outside the camp gate, he could see clearly under the bright moon—the vast plain was empty and desolate, without even the shadow of a Nian rebel. Looking again at the soldiers around him, each had a crazed expression, appearing mad and insane, making guttural sounds and running around like headless flies.

“Camp mutiny!” Sengge Rinchen suddenly remembered an ancient tradition passed down in military camps. If soldiers remained in extreme tension and constant anxiety for too long, they would lose their sanity. During the day they would be like normal people, but at night, if one person started shouting from a dream, countless others would follow. They would run and scream like madmen, and finally even take swords and spears to hack and stab at each other. Sometimes entire armies would be destroyed this way.

Sengge Rinchen drew in a sharp breath. No matter how skilled he was at commanding troops, no matter how fierce and ruthless, at this moment he was helpless.

“Your Highness…” Iron Haqi had already chopped off several heads, but it was completely useless. He ran over in panic.

“Wait for sunrise.” Sengge Rinchen gritted his teeth. “They say once the sun comes up, it will be fine.”

Iron Haqi had also heard of camp mutinies. Looking around, people were already fighting each other hand to hand, punching and kicking, tearing with mouths and biting with teeth. If this continued until dawn, how many would die? Could even half of the 150,000 troops survive? Although he was cruel and ruthless, he didn’t dare think further.

Just when both were at their wits’ end, a clear and bright flute melody broke through the clouds and entered everyone’s ears directly. The soldiers who were running madly and fighting all shuddered and unconsciously stopped their hands and feet. The flute melody was melodious and graceful, with several high-pitched echoing notes, soaring higher and higher like a kite in the clouds. The sound entered their ears and plucked at heartstrings, gradually clearing the minds of soldiers who had already lost their sanity.

The Monk Prince could tell this was the piece “Spring River Flower Moon Night.” The nine-fold music of Xiao Shao could summon the phoenix. Although his mansion had musicians hired for thousands of gold, they couldn’t match even one ten-thousandth of the skill of whoever was playing this piece. He stood in front of the main tent in the center of the camp. Before him was the road leading straight to the camp gate, and someone was walking in while playing the flute.

Moonlight poured down like water onto the earth. Su Zixuan, dressed in white as pure as snow, walked slowly and calmly into the camp of ten thousand men, the jade flute in her hands producing heavenly music that left the thousands of soldiers lining the path watching in fascination. When she finished the piece, she had already walked before Sengge Rinchen and bowed deeply. “Commoner Su Zixuan pays respects to Your Highness.”

Sengge Rinchen had also been entranced by the music. Seeing this graceful young gentleman who seemed to have stepped out of a painting, for a moment he didn’t know if he was dreaming. Looking around, all the officers and soldiers had returned to normal, but each was staring in amazement at Su Zixuan, who seemed not to belong to this mortal world.

Although the Monk Prince was barbaric, he understood what had just happened. Despite his princely status, he actually cupped his hands in salute.

“Sir, you are truly an immortal. Perhaps you descended from heaven to rescue the royal army.”

Su Zixuan sneered inwardly but was polite in speech, speaking surprisingly in Mongolian: “I dare not accept such praise. Your Highness is too kind.”

The Monk Prince was both surprised and delighted. “Sir, are you Mongolian?”

“My father is Manchu, my mother is of the Borjigit clan from the grasslands.” This sentence Su Zixuan spoke truthfully, but everything after was fabricated. “I have followed my father in trade since childhood. Just now I was passing by the camp and saw this crisis. I couldn’t help but display a small skill. I didn’t expect to actually succeed—it must be Your Highness’s blessed protection.”

The Monk Prince was even more pleased. This person spoke appropriately, had outstanding abilities, and most remarkably was Mongolian. He immediately invited Su Zixuan into his tent and entertained her with fine tea and wine.

“Your Highness, have you come from afar to suppress the Nian rebels?” After exchanging pleasantries, Su Zixuan knew tonight was an excellent opportunity. The camp mutiny incident would certainly have greatly shaken the Monk Prince’s mind, and implementing her plan now would be twice as effective with half the effort.

“Exactly, but these Nian bandits are cunning and not easy to eliminate.” The Monk Prince, usually arrogant and self-willed, rarely sighed as he did tonight.

“Calling them cunning is indeed true. If they divide into small bandit groups, this vast loess land is so extensive that they’ll probably escape.”

This reminder made Sengge Rinchen feel another wave of irritation. He had turned the Northwest upside down, and if he still couldn’t achieve success, his reputation would be too damaged.

Seeing him deep in thought and silent, Su Zixuan smiled slightly: “Your Highness, have you ever heard the story of Master Wang and Nian Gengyao?”

Sengge Rinchen had known military affairs since childhood and was familiar with all the Qing Dynasty’s military precedents. When Su Zixuan mentioned this, he nodded.

Su Zixuan said: “Your Highness’s current predicament resembles Nian Gengyao’s. He too used troops in Qinghai to suppress Lobzang Danjin, laboring for a long time but never being able to engage the enemy’s main force in decisive battle. Later, a Master Wang showed him the way.”

“Right under one’s nose!” The Monk Prince continued: “That Luo army rebel was hiding not far from Tar Monastery, using the Buddhist temple to obtain grain for winter.” But he didn’t understand why this person was bringing up this matter.

“Exactly.” Su Zixuan smiled and stood up, walking to the map hanging in the tent and pointing with her finger: “Different situations but same principle—the Luo army needed grain, the Nian bandits need water! Your Highness, if you continue pursuing, ahead is a stretch of desert. After crossing the desert, the Nian rebels’ water will be nearly exhausted.”

“You’re saying…” Light flashed in the Monk Prince’s eyes as he stood and strode to the map.

“Here!” Su Zixuan pointed at the map. “After passing Shizui Mountain in the Helan mountain range, the Nian rebels will definitely rush straight to the Yellow River. Your Highness should divide half your army to circle around and set an ambush there, while the rest stick closely to the Nian rebels. Once they pass Shizui Mountain, that will be Your Highness’s moment of complete victory.”

Watching Sengge Rinchen nod continuously, Su Zixuan sneered inwardly: “The moment of complete victory will also be the moment of death!”

Su Zixuan had unknowingly grasped command of both the Qing army and the Nian army. Ten days later, after a desert pursuit battle ended, although not many died in the fighting on both sides, everyone was exhausted with weary men and horses. But the pack train suffered the worst. Who would have thought the Monk Prince’s pursuit would extend several thousand li? Where could they find grain in the vast desert? Even Yang Si was dumbfounded. Gu Pingyuan could only use the clumsy method of using the camp as center, with more than ten horse teams and camel caravans searching in large circles for grain and fodder, not letting go of even a single catty or tael. Even so, they could only supply the Qing army one meal a day and the Nian army one meal every two days. Including the pack train, everyone was so hungry their faces turned green and they swayed when walking. At this point both sides were truly gritting their teeth in bitter struggle—if they couldn’t fight the enemy to death, they would drag them down through exhaustion.

Once again Gu Pingyuan escorted grain and fodder to the Qing army main camp. The lookout soldiers couldn’t help but burst into cheers. While the soldiers were busy unloading grain, Gu Pingyuan quietly took out two roasted sweet potatoes from his chest and secretly handed them to Deng Tieyi: “Big brother, I saved these for you.”

Deng Tieyi’s eyes lit up. He took them and wolfed them down, finishing one in just a couple of bites. Gu Pingyuan hadn’t had water or rice for two days either and was starving. Smelling the fragrant aroma of the roasted sweet potatoes, he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

Deng Tieyi caught a glimpse of this and felt somewhat embarrassed, handing back one: “Brother, you eat one too.”

Gu Pingyuan pushed it back: “Big brother has to lead troops in battle. How can you fight on an empty stomach?”

“Sigh, it was fine before, but the day before yesterday Iron Haqi took away all the food, only leaving grain for officers of fifth rank and above. If brother hadn’t arrived on schedule today, people in the main camp would have starved to death.”

Hearing the word “grain,” Gu Pingyuan immediately asked alertly: “Why did Iron Haqi take away all the grain?”

“Not just grain.” Deng Tieyi carefully looked around. “He also took half the troops. Perhaps the Monk Prince has some new strategy for suppressing the Nian rebels. To tell the truth, rather than starving with our chests against our backs, we’d rather fight a good battle.”

“Hmm, hmm,” Gu Pingyuan pondered. Before leaving, he asked: “How much grain did he take?”

“You know in your heart how much grain was in the main camp,” Deng Tieyi replied.

Gu Pingyuan calculated in his mind—Iron Haqi’s men and horses had taken about three days’ worth of grain, and he had already been gone for two days. “Could it be that tonight…”

When he returned to camp, Liu Heita was leading people to transport grain. This time, contrary to his usual practice, he wanted as much as possible. Gu Pingyuan vaguely heard someone among the Nian rebels say: “Tonight we can finally eat our fill—plenty of big steamed buns!” His heart became even more suspicious. When the grain carts were about to leave, he followed them for a li and called Liu Heita aside.

“Brother Liu…”

Liu Heita’s face was dark and he said nothing.

“I’m asking you—are the Nian rebels planning some major action? Are you going to have a decisive battle with the Monk Prince?”

“How did you…” Liu Heita realized he had said too much halfway through and quickly shut his mouth tight, but it was already too late.

Both sides’ actions were unusual. It seemed one side must have set an ambush. Gu Pingyuan, concerned for the pack train’s safety, insisted on getting a straight answer, but Liu Heita just wouldn’t talk.

Finally Gu Pingyuan became anxious: “Fine, you won’t say, and I won’t force you. Tonight I’m going to the Qing army main camp, or maybe I’ll stay there tonight.”

“No!” Liu Heita’s copper-bell eyes widened.

Gu Pingyuan said nothing, just quietly looked at him. Liu Heita was after all a man who couldn’t keep secrets in his heart: “Tonight we’re going to chop off the Monk demon’s head.”

“How?”

Liu Heita puffed out his cheeks and said nothing. Gu Pingyuan also had a map in his tent. After this month he had become familiar with it. Now he slowly thought in his mind: After the desert comes Shizui Mountain, where the terrain is most treacherous. If the Nian rebels set an ambush here, the Qing army might be completely annihilated… But how would the Monk Prince fall for this trap? A flash of inspiration struck him as he remembered Su Zixuan’s frequent visits to the central command tent recently!

“Shizui Mountain!” Gu Pingyuan unconsciously spoke aloud. Liu Heita was startled. Seeing he was about to leave, he quickly blocked his way.

“I must go to the Qing army main camp. There’s someone there I cannot fail to save.” Gu Pingyuan didn’t want to hide it from him.

Liu Heita was not stupid at all at this moment: “This matter absolutely cannot leak out!”

“I’ll only tell one person!” Gu Pingyuan still insisted on going.

Liu Heita angrily pulled out his nine-section chain whip and with a crack split a large rock beside him, shouting: “No!”

Gu Pingyuan softened his tone but was even more determined: “Brother Liu, if you want to beat me to death, go ahead. But I cannot fail to show loyalty!” After speaking he stepped forward to leave. Liu Heita stared blankly at his retreating figure, stood dazed for a long while, then threw his nine-section whip to the ground: “This, this, sigh…”

“This matter is absolutely true. It’s already midnight now, and the Monk Prince is still ordering the army to march, which proves the situation is extraordinary. Big brother, find an excuse to move slowly—don’t let the Nian rebels make mincemeat of you.” Gu Pingyuan was ultimately kind-hearted. Although he suspected Su Zixuan, he didn’t mention her name.

Deng Tieyi was also an old military hand. After hearing Gu Pingyuan’s account, he broke out in a cold sweat. After thinking, he said: “I’ll go request an audience with the Monk Prince and inform him of this urgent military intelligence.”

“Big brother!” Gu Pingyuan hadn’t expected him to handle it this way and grabbed him: “This matter requires caution. Why don’t you come with me first?”

“No.” Deng Tieyi shook his head. “Brother, you came to save me, and I’m endlessly grateful. But you’re not a soldier—you don’t understand. In an army, all are comrades-in-arms who should watch out for each other. I, Deng Tieyi, will never be a coward who flees in the face of battle out of fear of death.”

When Deng Tieyi arrived at the Monk Prince’s tent and told the whole story, the Monk Prince frowned and looked toward Su Zixuan beside him. Su Zixuan was greatly alarmed but maintained her composure, asking: “How did you learn of this matter?”

“It was Gu Pingyuan, who supplies grain to the army, who came through the night to inform us.”

“Oh.” Su Zixuan secretly hated this, then turned to the Prince and said: “A merchant making wild guesses, trying to curry favor—not credible.”

“Your Highness, it wouldn’t hurt to wait until dawn before advancing. Crossing this dangerous terrain in the dark is really too risky.” Deng Tieyi knelt on the ground making his suggestion.

Su Zixuan glanced at him, then turned to the Monk Prince: “If we can’t stick closely to the Nian rebels and they scatter and escape, all previous efforts will be wasted.”

“This makes sense.” The Monk Prince hated most to hear the phrase “all previous efforts wasted.” He stood up and came before Deng Tieyi, looking down at him contemptuously: “Do you understand what’s called ‘speed is precious in war’? You Han people, one by one, have no courage and only know how to wait and see! What’s to fear about darkness? Eagles on the grassland can fly above the clouds to see the sun, while rabbits in grass nests can only tremble in fear of lightning!”

He kicked Deng Tieyi to the ground: “That matter of having you supervise grain supplies—I temporarily didn’t settle accounts with you for the sake of the grain. Yet you still don’t know when to advance or retreat! Get out! I’m punishing you to be a cook in the rear camp. Watch how Mongolian cavalry charges through Shizui Mountain and wipes out the Nian rebels completely.”

Deng Tieyi returned to the rear tent and pulled out from under his bed a bottle of old wine he had hidden for a long time and never been willing to drink. He gulped it down in one breath. Gu Pingyuan at his side kept asking questions, but he gritted his teeth and said nothing.

The Monk Prince’s harsh words lashed Deng Tieyi’s heart like whips. He too was a soldier who had faced life and death, yet now for one loyal word he suffered such humiliation. Moreover, the Monk Prince bore grudges—even if nothing happened now, when the time came to return to court, accounts would inevitably be settled. Thinking of this, he smiled bitterly in his heart: “Brother, you go back to the pack train first. I’ll come shortly!”

“Big brother…” Gu Pingyuan looked at him with concern.

“Don’t worry.” Deng Tieyi pushed him out of the tent. “Oh, don’t forget what I said when I first invited you to drink.”

Gu Pingyuan rode his horse, thinking all the way. Just as he was about to reach the pack train, he suddenly yanked the reins hard, turned his horse around, and raced back toward the main camp in a cloud of dust.

He understood what Brother Deng meant. That time, just after Deng had saved him, while drinking at Tongshengxiang, he had said many things, but really only one sentence was important:

“Brother, in my lifetime there are two things I value more than my eyeballs—one is my old mother, the other is this sword.”

Now bringing up old words again, he was clearly entrusting his final affairs!

Gu Pingyuan spurred his horse like the wind, with only one thought in his mind: he couldn’t let Brother Deng go to his death!

Sengge Rinchen’s army had already advanced to the mouth of Shizui Mountain. Using his telescope, he peered through the heavy night toward the front. With just one look, the Monk Prince couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat.

This truly was a place where one man could hold off ten thousand! Between two mountains lay a narrow valley, with strange rocks jutting from the mountains like interlocking fangs, like a tiger’s jaws tightly clamping down on that mountain passage.

“No wonder it’s called Shizui Mountain!” the Monk Prince murmured. He suddenly felt some regret—earlier he had spoken too absolutely. If he had known the terrain was like this, he really should have waited until dawn to advance slowly. But after hesitating briefly, the innate pride of Genghis Khan’s descendants stopped him.

He absolutely couldn’t let those Han people see him as a laughingstock! Thinking of leaping over Shizui Mountain and blocking the Nian rebels at the Yellow River pass, killing them until blood flowed like a river, throwing tens of thousands of Nian corpses into the river to float downstream, the Monk Prince couldn’t help but feel his blood boil.

By then, without waiting for his own memorial, countless local officials along both banks of the Yellow River would submit memorials to the capital. This earth-shaking great achievement would be enough to overshadow men like Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang.

Thinking of this, the Monk Prince narrowed his eyes and licked his lips greedily. He looked once more at Shizui Mountain waiting like a beast to devour men in the pitch-black night. Just as he was about to order a forced march, suddenly there was commotion in the central command behind him. He looked back angrily but unconsciously widened his eyes.

He saw dozens of fast horses burst from his own army like lightning. In the time it took the hundred thousand men to be slightly stunned, this cavalry unit had already charged to the mouth of Shizui Mountain.

“The commander’s flag!” someone cried out in alarm.

Sengge Rinchen looked toward his central command and indeed saw that the large “Seng” character flag that had been fluttering in the wind was now nowhere to be seen. Looking at the cavalry unit again, the leader was waving the great flag and shouting as he charged forward. That spirit of pressing forward without regard for consequences made even the usually brave Mongolian iron cavalry cheer loudly.

The Monk Prince hurriedly raised his telescope to observe, then slowly lowered it: “It’s him…”

Gu Pingyuan had by now spurred his horse to the army’s flank and watched helplessly as Deng Tieyi led men charging toward Shizui Mountain. He was shocked speechless.

Deng Tieyi was truly risking his life in desperation. After Gu Pingyuan left, he found more than ten old Xiang Army brothers, originally intending to tell them this news so everyone could avoid danger. When he spoke of this pent-up grievance, everyone was indignant. Finally they unanimously chose Deng Tieyi to lead, wanting to win some honor for the Han army before both armies.

This charge by Deng Tieyi shocked even Su Zixuan, who had been preparing to quietly slip away while the Monk Prince was off guard. No matter how unparalleled her wisdom, she had no solution and could only nervously watch the battle before her eyes. She knew that at this moment Shizui Mountain was full of Nian rebels, just waiting for Sengge Rinchen’s central command to enter the valley, when the Nian rebels would light the fuses. They had buried all the explosives captured from government arsenals in the valley, not leaving a bit.

Deng Tieyi roared like a wild beast as he charged into the valley like a whirlwind. Liang Wang, leading a team of soldiers to observe the enemy from halfway up the mountain, was also stunned by this scene.

“The commander’s flag? Could it be the Monk demon leading a charge?” Fu Wang said this, then shook his head: “Impossible, impossible.”

“It’s a probe. Have the brothers hold steady, absolutely don’t…” Before Liang Wang could finish, there was an earth-shaking explosion. Instantly smoke scattered from the mountain, dust flew everywhere, and everyone’s ears felt as if thunder had crashed, feeling their ears had gone deaf and could no longer hear any sound.

Those nearby experienced it thus, but those far away could see it most clearly. The hundred thousand troops heard a distant rumble of thunder, then saw a small peak protruding from Shizui Mountain suddenly collapse, breaking into several city-gate-sized pieces of stone that came rumbling down the valley.

Only afterward did Zhang Zongyu learn that the soldier handling the explosives, seeing the Qing army’s commander flag, became so excited that he unconsciously moved forward the bamboo tube with lit tinder in his hand. A spark flew out and landed right on the fuse, detonating hundreds of catties of explosives.

“Shoot arrows!” Things had come to this—no matter what, they couldn’t let these people escape. What if it really was Sengge Rinchen leading the charge? At Liang Wang’s command, arrows rained down like drops of water.

Sengge Rinchen saw everything clearly, and his face couldn’t help but turn pale. He looked angrily at Su Zixuan beside him, whose face was also still pale: “Master Su, what is this about? Why would the Nian army set an ambush here?”

Su Zixuan was stunned for a moment, then her eyes rolled slightly: “The plan wasn’t kept secret—perhaps someone deliberately leaked the information.”

“A leak?” A thought suddenly struck the Monk Prince, and his eyes flashed with an ominous light: “I know now!”

The Nian army shot a volley of arrows. Seeing that the Qing army formation ahead remained orderly with no reinforcements arriving, they knew Sengge Rinchen certainly hadn’t fallen into the trap. Liang Wang sighed, knowing that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had been missed. Worried about being surrounded by government troops on the mountain, and with Iron Haqi by the Yellow River also being a major threat, Liang, Fu, and Lu Wang each led a unit and scattered into the Helan Mountains.

When Deng Tieyi’s unit was rescued and brought before the Monk Prince for treatment, the scene was too tragic. Some had their heads smashed flat, with white brain matter flowing out; some from the waist down had their lower bodies crushed to pulp; others died pierced by random arrows. Of more than twenty men, only three survived, with Deng Tieyi wounded most severely. Although his horse had shielded him from the falling rocks above, he was struck by two arrows—one in the shoulder, another straight through his belly, with a black iron arrowhead protruding from his back.

The army physician cut off the arrowhead and pulled out the shaft, applied the finest wound medicine externally, and quickly stopped the bleeding. But Deng Tieyi kept spitting fresh blood, and the physician shook his head at the Monk Prince.

The Monk Prince saw that Deng Tieyi’s eyes kept looking toward him, his gaze gradually becoming unfocused. He too felt quite moved—this man surnamed Deng indeed had courage and had saved his life. He was a brave general, but unfortunately was about to die.

He turned and took out a bright yellow vest from his saddlebags, bent down to cover Deng Tieyi’s wounds with it, then mounted his horse and rode away with a crack of his whip.

Deng Tieyi smiled—desolate but with some pride. Everyone in the army knew the origin of this vest. It was a reward when the previous emperor bestowed the title “Baturu” on the Monk Prince. “Baturu” in Manchu means “hero”!

“Big brother!” Gu Pingyuan pushed through the crowd and saw Deng Tieyi’s critical condition. He grabbed the physician’s arm: “You must save him.”

“This expedition was hasty to begin with. We don’t lack external wound medicine, but we can’t stop this internal bleeding from vomiting blood—we don’t have any medicine that works.” Without medicine, he could only wait to die! Gu Pingyuan paced frantically in circles. Su Zixuan stood among the crowd. She carried a medicine box containing both external and internal medicines—imperial palace remedies of incomparable effectiveness. But seeing Gu Pingyuan so anxious, and thinking that this failure was entirely due to his interference, she said nothing and watched him coldly.

“Sigh.” The physician sighed. “While he still has some consciousness, record his final words to comfort his family.” He took out the ink and brush he used for prescriptions to lend to Gu Pingyuan.

Who would have expected Gu Pingyuan to suddenly snatch the ink, smell it with his nose, throw it aside, and shout loudly: “Who has Hu Kaiwen ink from Huizhou!”

Recording final words and still being picky about ink and brush? No one had heard of such a thing. They all thought this person had lost his mind. Even someone as clever as Su Zixuan was startled. Gu Pingyuan shouted several times before a red-nosed third-rank secretary stammered: “I do have some…”

“Bring it here!” Gu Pingyuan lunged forward and grabbed the secretary by the collar.

The secretary saw him looking like a mad tiger and was greatly startled, deeply regretting his loose tongue. “I do have some, but…” Before he could finish speaking, Gu Pingyuan yanked the traveling bag from his back and dumped everything out with a clatter.

“Hey, you, you…” The secretary was so anxious he couldn’t speak properly, watching as Gu Pingyuan found an ink box among the items. Opening it, he saw authentic Hu Kaiwen “Four Gentlemen” ink blocks of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—old ink that gave off a faint fragrance. Without saying a word, he wrapped the four ink blocks in cloth and began smashing them against a stone.

The secretary winced in pain—this fine ink he himself was reluctant to use, keeping it as study ornaments for idle enjoyment. Now it was all being destroyed in Gu Pingyuan’s hands.

Gu Pingyuan smashed the ink to powder, asked for clean water to mix into a bowl of thick ink, and supported Deng Tieyi’s head to pour it down his throat.

It really worked! Before long, color returned to Deng Tieyi’s face and he stopped spitting blood. The army physician was dumbfounded, turning the ink bowl over and over to examine it.

“Cough, cough. Brother, what did you give me to drink? It tastes awful. I want wine—before I die, I want to drink wine happily!” Deng Tieyi opened his eyes, saw it was Gu Pingyuan, and murmured.

Gu Pingyuan smiled with tears in his eyes. “Big brother, you won’t die. This is Hu Kaiwen ink—it contains more than ten medicinal ingredients and stops bleeding fastest.” Gu Pingyuan’s family lived in Huizhou, and he had heard about the benefits of this ink since childhood.

Everyone in the army now knew that Deng Tieyi and those dozen dead and wounded brothers had saved everyone’s lives. Otherwise, with the earth-shattering explosion and arrows flying everywhere just now, everyone might have lost their lives. Therefore, they sincerely felt grateful to Deng Tieyi and together lifted him onto a supply cart to recuperate.

The Nian rebels scattered into the Helan Mountains, but unexpectedly the court sent commendations. It turned out the Grand Council was most worried about the Nian rebels using their fast horses to become roving bandits like those of the late Ming, harassing localities and even raiding the capital. Now that they had been forced into the mountains by the Monk Prince, the Nian rebels’ horses had lost their usefulness. The Shaanxi-Gansu Governor-General could be ordered to lead troops to suppress them, and the Monk Prince could return to court.

Having such results from this great military campaign was not easy. The Monk Prince felt the battle hadn’t been satisfying, but it was acceptable face-wise. Moreover, with the Nian rebels in the mountains, his cavalry had no place to be useful either, so he went with the flow, thanked the emperor for his grace, and led his army back to Xi’an according to the court’s strategic directive. He kept his word—on the road he ordered the release of Kang Suyuan, Aunt Lei, Mao Hongyi, and others still imprisoned in the provincial jail. That forged Nian rebel letter by Su Zixuan was thus forgotten.

When a prince returned victorious from commanding troops, all civil and military officials in the city had to go out to welcome him. Governor-General Wei invited the Prince to his mansion for a grand celebratory banquet. During the feast, officials large and small came to toast. Who wouldn’t want to curry favor on such an occasion? After a round of toasts, this battle of mixed results became Sengge Rinchen’s divine majesty causing the Nian rebels to flee at the news. The Monk Prince had been keeping a stern face, but now showed a trace of smile.

“The locality has also taken great pains. Military provisions and pay were raised quite adequately. This Prince will naturally memorialize the court to request merit for all of you.”

Military merit was easiest to receive rewards. As long as the Monk Prince’s brush moved lightly and someone’s name appeared on the recommendation, promotion was just around the corner. All civil and military officials were delighted to hear this. With more wine consumed, gradually some unseemly behavior emerged. The Monk Prince saw this and was somewhat displeased. Suddenly he coughed heavily.

“In this campaign, there were merits and faults. Merits should be rewarded by the court, but faults must be punished by military law right now!”

His voice was extremely loud, stunning everyone. Their wine was ten parts sobered, followed by whispering among themselves, not knowing whom the Monk Prince would punish. Speaking of military law—could he actually be beheading someone on the spot?

“Gu Pingyuan.” The Monk Prince spoke unhurriedly. “This time you followed the army handling provisions, not letting my soldiers go hungry. You’re quite capable.”

Gu Pingyuan had no seat at such an occasion, but the Monk Prince had specifically ordered him brought into the Governor-General’s mansion. At first he didn’t understand the intention, but now knew it was trouble. Still, he respectfully walked out from the crowd, came to the center and knelt down saying: “How dare a commoner claim heaven’s merit? This is all because the court loves the people like children, and Your Highness commands troops well, thus heaven and earth are harmonious and all affairs proceed smoothly.”

“Is that so? You speak very well. According to what you say, the Nian bandits didn’t go hungry either—is that also because they love people like children and command troops well, thus heaven protects them?”

The Monk Prince’s words shocked all officials present, who all looked at Gu Pingyuan kneeling in the main hall. Gu Pingyuan’s heart went cold—what he feared had come to pass. How did the Monk Prince know about the Nian rebels buying grain? Gu Pingyuan thought he couldn’t admit to this crime of aiding rebels, so he hardened himself and said: “Your Highness must have heard false words.”

“Hmph, I knew you wouldn’t admit it!” The Monk Prince clapped his hands. Iron Haqi walked over, carrying someone like an eagle catching a chick, and threw him down in front of Gu Pingyuan.

Yang Si! He was trembling with fear, saying with a bitter face: “Manager Gu, this matter was exposed back on the loess plateau.”

“I wondered why the Nian rebels took desperate risks to rob scouts a few times, then went quiet. Turns out you were secretly supplying them with grain.” The reason Sengge Rinchen hadn’t stopped it was precisely to use the pack train to keep track of the Nian rebels’ movements, preventing them from moving far from their grain supply. Thus, all parties actually had their own calculations. Now that the battle was over, it was time to settle accounts with Gu Pingyuan.

The Monk Prince’s eyes shot two fierce rays at Gu Pingyuan. He leaned forward slightly and said in a mocking tone: “Your business strategy was truly clever, pity this Prince saw through it. Aiding rebels is a grave crime—the law has no provision for pardoning death. Don’t blame this Prince for being ruthless. As for your merits this time…” The Monk Prince pulled his mouth corners into a smile, but the smile was quite frightening. “I’ll have someone burn paper money for you!”

“Come, drag him out and behead him right here on the lawn below this hall!”

“Your Highness, this commoner is wronged. I have something to say…” Gu Pingyuan was being pushed outside while turning back to shout.

“Say it to King Yama in the netherworld!” Sengge Rinchen’s mouth corners showed a trace of contemptuous smile.

Iron Haqi had long found Gu Pingyuan an eyesore. He laughed heartily, strode over with great steps, and raised his ghost-head saber to strike. These officials had never seen such brutal killing and were frightened into silence. Only Education Commissioner Liao pitied Gu Pingyuan as a talent who had resolved one of Xi’an’s difficulties. He summoned courage to stand up: “Your Highness, this humble official has something to say.”

“Oh!” After all, Liao was a second-rank Education Commissioner, so the Monk Prince couldn’t be too dismissive. “What does Commissioner Liao wish to say? Don’t tell me you’re pleading for this traitor?”

“This humble official wouldn’t dare. But since Xi’an was built, countless criminals have been executed, all at noon to avoid harming heavenly harmony. Your Highness returns victorious at a most auspicious time—please follow heavenly way and delay the execution.”

Sengge Rinchen considered this: “Very well. Letting him live one more hour won’t matter.” But it wasn’t because of any heavenly way—he knew this fear of impending death was most tormenting. Education Commissioner Liao sighed with relief and sat back down, thinking: I’ve done my utmost duty. If no miracle occurs within this hour, then Gu Pingyuan must accept his fate.

The Monk Prince sat drinking with great authority while the Governor-General, Provincial Governor, and others accompanied him. At this moment, the dozens of officials large and small were nearly silent as crows. Everyone was secretly glancing at bound Gu Pingyuan in the courtyard, thinking that in an hour there would be an execution with blood spattering on the spot. Many officials couldn’t eat or drink anymore—if not for the Monk Prince’s presence and Iron Haqi standing below with his blade, they would have quietly slipped away.

At this time, at the city gate, a master and servant were boarding a carriage preparing to leave. Fourth Sister asked: “Miss, don’t you plan to stay and watch this drama to the end?”

Su Zixuan silently shook her head. This time coming to Xi’an, her most desired objective had been ruined by Gu Pingyuan. Now that he was about to die, Su Zixuan felt not the slightest joy in her heart.

“Let’s go. If we stay… I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist saving him.”

Watching time pass minute by minute, less than half an hour remained until noon. Iron Haqi was impatient, pacing around Gu Pingyuan and occasionally looking up at the sun. He held his great blade and gestured at Gu Pingyuan’s head, then made several false cuts by his ears. The blade made whooshing sounds in the wind. Iron Haqi looked pleased: “You Han dog, daring to toy with the Prince—don’t expect me to chop off your head with one blow later.” Gu Pingyuan closed his eyes without answering, as if he hadn’t heard. Iron Haqi leaned close to his ear and said viciously: “I’ll use my blade to cut through your neck bones, keeping you alive for at least another quarter-hour.”

Just as he said this, urgent hoofbeats came from outside the gate. Someone actually rode his horse up the Governor-General’s office steps, causing the gatekeepers to scramble away in panic.

The rider tumbled to the ground, staggered up again, passed through the second gate and immediately saw Gu Pingyuan bound on the grass.

“Brother, brother…” It was naturally Deng Tieyi who came. Having gained prestige in the army, someone had naturally informed him of this matter. Disregarding his unhealed wounds, he had seized a war horse and rushed over. Seeing Gu Pingyuan safe and sound, he finally relaxed somewhat and embraced Gu Pingyuan’s shoulders.

Gu Pingyuan forced a carefree smile: “Big brother, you’ve come. Finally I have someone to tell something to. In this lifetime I also have several people I can’t rest easy about—my old mother is still alive, my younger siblings are still young…”

“Brother, don’t say anymore.” Deng Tieyi’s heart was like being cut by knives. He left Gu Pingyuan and crawled on his knees to the banquet.

“Your Highness.” He raised high the imperial gift vest with both hands. “I’m willing to return this reward. I know Your Highness promoted me to fourth-rank commandant—please withdraw that too. I’m willing to guarantee with my head that Gu Pingyuan is absolutely not a Nian rebel traitor!”

“How can imperial rewards be used to guarantee a rebel bandit?” The Monk Prince angrily said: “Come, pull him away.”

“Your Highness, if not for Gu Pingyuan’s warning, we would all have died at Shizui Mountain.” Deng Tieyi shouted with all his strength. Officials on both sides immediately whispered among themselves.

“This proves he conspired with the Nian bandits!” Sengge Rinchen’s face couldn’t hold up, and he slammed the table hard.

Deng Tieyi was about to plead again when suddenly clear, audible sounds of bells and drums came from the distant sky. Without asking, this came from the Bell and Drum Tower built during the Ming Hongwu period not far from the Governor-General’s office. Traditionally bells announced dawn and drums announced dusk, hence “evening drums and morning bells.” Now approaching noon, why were there bell and drum sounds? All officials present stared at each other in bewilderment.

Commissioner Wei quickly sent someone to inquire. The messenger reported: “Sir, Xi’an’s marketplace has exploded—merchants are all closing their doors saying they’ll strike.”

“Why strike for no reason?”

“They heard… heard that Gu Pingyuan would be killed. Someone surnamed Qiao from Shanxi is leading them, and all the merchants are making a fuss.” The messenger looked timidly at Prince Sengge Rinchen whose eyebrows and beard were bristling.

Commissioner Wei drew a sharp breath and exchanged glances with his colleagues. Everyone stood up together, bowing to the Monk Prince: “Your Highness, although Gu Pingyuan has rebel traces, he also has small merits. Your Highness is magnanimous—please forgive him this once.”

“What, are you afraid of merchants making trouble? Hmph, don’t forget I still have a hundred thousand soldiers in the city.” The Monk Prince glared.

Commissioner Wei was even more alarmed upon hearing this. The Monk Prince was a pillar of the state, and with troops being deployed everywhere, the court was relying on him heavily. If Mongolian soldiers slaughtered good citizens in the city and incited popular rebellion, the Grand Council would definitely make him the scapegoat.

“Your Highness, don’t forget the Nian rebels were just driven away by you. If they knew the city was in chaos and took the opportunity to return, wouldn’t all your painstaking efforts be wasted?” Commissioner Wei had a flash of inspiration and thought of good words.

“Hmm!” The Monk Prince was somewhat moved, but having always been domineering with his princely status, thinking of releasing Gu Pingyuan would make people mock him for being coerced by merchants and citizens, he hardened his heart and shouted: “Iron Haqi, don’t wait for noon—execute him immediately!”

“Yes!” Iron Haqi responded loudly and raised his blade above his head. At this moment he had forgotten his earlier words, single-mindedly wanting to chop off Gu Pingyuan’s head, preferably flying more than ten zhang away to land outside the gate, so those Han dogs could see clearly.

Gu Pingyuan closed his eyes, knowing that with the Monk Prince’s order for immediate execution, except for the Emperor, probably no one in the world could save him. However, Iron Haqi’s blade was raised high but didn’t fall for a long time. Instead, he was staring wide-eyed at the gate.

Gu Pingyuan closed his eyes awaiting death but the blade didn’t fall. Opening his eyes, he saw a scene he could never have imagined in his dreams.

Outside the Governor-General’s office, a group of merchants gathered at the gate spontaneously parted to make way, staring dazedly at a woman walking slowly in. She wore a red silk long robe with a short vest decorated with nine phoenix patterns over it. Her headdress was luxurious and dignified, mainly gold and silver ornaments inlaid with various gems. She wore a white sable crown with tassels flowing in brilliant colors, dignified and beautiful.

Not to mention the gatekeepers didn’t dare stop such attire—even Iron Haqi stared dumbfounded. Born a Mongolian house slave, he knew such clothing wasn’t fit even for minor tribal princesses—only royal daughters had such colors. Could this be some Mongolian prince’s daughter?

This beautiful princess walked unhurriedly with leisurely steps straight to Iron Haqi, glanced at his still-raised ghost-head saber, and stood firmly before Gu Pingyuan.

“If you want to kill Gu Pingyuan, please kill me together with him.”

With these words, everyone present was truly dumbfounded. Even Provincial Governor Wei stared straight-eyed at what was happening below, as if he had lost the ability to respond. Gu Pingyuan’s voice carried a trace of choking: “Miss Chang, why throw away a life for nothing? Please leave quickly.”

Chang Yu’er bit her lip, her eyes already red. She said nothing, but thought in her heart: “Big Brother Gu, no matter how you treat me, I will never like another person in this life. I’m wearing this outfit as my wedding dress. Being able to go to the yellow springs with you, I’m not sad at all.”

The Monk Prince had already left his seat, hurried down the steps to come close, frowned as he looked this woman up and down, and asked in Mongolian: “Which family’s princess are you? How did you come here to plead for this person?”

“In answer to Your Highness.” The woman curtsied gracefully but replied in Chinese: “This commoner woman Chang Yu’er is a Shanxi merchant’s daughter, not a noble Mongolian princess.”

“Hmm?” The Monk Prince looked at her darkly. “Then why are you wearing royal princess clothing?”

“This was a reward from Prince Korqin. This commoner woman firmly declined but was not permitted to refuse, so had to accept it.”

Prince Korqin was Sengge Rinchen’s cousin. With this explanation, the Monk Prince was even more confused: “Why would Prince Korqin reward you?”

“Actually it wasn’t rewarding this commoner woman, but praising Gu Pingyuan for exposing a villain’s plot and preserving countless lives on the grassland. So out of love for the house extending to the crow, he heavily rewarded this commoner woman.” Chang Yu’er looked deeply at Gu Pingyuan as she spoke.

“Continue.” The Monk Prince knew there must be an inside story—just this outfit alone was no ordinary reward. When he heard how Gu Pingyuan had broken through Black Water Marsh to deliver medicine to Mongolia, then bravely fought villains on the Onan River, finally preserving the medicinal materials in the Thousand Gold Prescriptions and keeping Mongolian people and livestock safe from plague, even the Monk Prince couldn’t help but be moved.

He had long heard of this matter. If the plague hadn’t been stopped in time, these soldiers he brought out all had family on the grasslands. If the whole army wept in mourning white, military morale would definitely be in chaos. Forget fighting Nian rebels—even self-preservation would be problematic. It seemed Gu Pingyuan had truly made a great contribution.

He looked admiringly at Chang Yu’er again. A “Mulan” bravely entering military camps, facing arrow rain to see the Prince—this story had long spread throughout the grasslands like it had feet. Who would have thought it was such a delicate, timid little girl, now wanting to die together with her beloved? The Monk Prince loved brave warriors most in his life, and Chang Yu’er’s actions truly suited his taste. Birds of a feather flock together—if Gu Pingyuan could be loved by such a woman, he must also be a remarkable man.

The Monk Prince hesitated. He wanted to release Gu Pingyuan, but having spoken too absolutely earlier, this step down wasn’t easy to take.

Gu Pingyuan was clever to begin with. Seeing the Monk Prince’s expression, he understood eighty to ninety percent. He shouted loudly: “Your Highness, when the Nian rebels said they wanted to buy grain, if this commoner hadn’t sold to them, they would have desperately attacked grain routes everywhere in desperation, and the army’s provisions couldn’t be supplied either. This commoner had to handle it expediently. I supplied the army three meals daily but gave the Nian rebels only one meal’s worth of grain—this can all be verified by records. Please investigate clearly, Your Highness.”

“Please show mercy beyond the law, Your Highness!” Commissioner Wei was an old hand at officialdom and knew this matter had to be suppressed, otherwise there would be endless trouble. Taking this opportunity, he led all civil and military officials in the city to plead for Gu Pingyuan.

“Very well!” Sengge Rinchen wasn’t made of wood or stone after all. With a wave of his large hand: “Consider your merits and faults balanced—no further investigation!”

This was truly the power of a hereditary prince—with one sentence he canceled the charge of “conspiring with enemies and treason.” Gu Pingyuan was safe. Deng Tieyi rushed over to untie the ropes on Gu Pingyuan. Gu Pingyuan tried to stand but found his legs hurt like needle pricks from kneeling so long. Chang Yu’er at this moment had tears in her eyes and couldn’t care about proprieties between men and women, supporting Gu Pingyuan from one side while Deng Tieyi held his arm from the other.

The three slowly walked out of the Governor-General’s office. At this moment noon had just arrived, with a great patch of sunlight shining straight down from overhead. Gu Pingyuan truly felt as if he had lived through another lifetime. He saw standing at the front of the merchants filling the street were Qiao Zhiyong, Aunt Lei, Mao Hongyi, and Kang Suyuan with a large group of managers behind him. They were all watching him intently, their eyes full of concern.

Gu Pingyuan’s heart surged with warmth and his tears could no longer be held back. He tremblingly cupped his hands in salute. The crowd before him erupted like during New Year celebrations, loudly clapping and cheering. Laughter immediately spread throughout the entire street. Li Qin and Ruyi were also mixed in the crowd—one looking at the extraordinarily handsome Gu Pingyuan, the other at the graceful Chang Yu’er, both showing jealousy and hatred in their eyes.

“Big brother, this is your share—keep it safe.” Gu Pingyuan pushed a bank note across the table. He had been accompanying Deng Tieyi in Xi’an for over a month while he recovered. Deng Tieyi truly had a robust constitution—despite such severe injuries, after just over a month of recovery he could now come to Tongsheng Restaurant to drink Xifeng wine.

He took the bank note and looked at it: “Twenty thousand taels—isn’t this too much?” He said hesitantly, but thinking of the glory of returning home with twenty thousand taels, his heart pounded.

“Nonsense. This is what big brother earned with your life. Moreover, what I want to repay you isn’t just these twenty thousand taels. I used silver to bribe a secretary under the Monk Prince to arrange a good position for you.”

Deng Tieyi looked at him uncomprehendingly.

“Go to Shanxi to help me collect debts.” Gu Pingyuan smiled and placed a thick stack of papers on the table. Deng Tieyi, drinking his wine, picked them up to look—each was a promissory note for large amounts of silver, stating payment would be made by the Shanxi Provincial Treasury, with the Monk Prince’s commander seal below.

“The silver for buying grain was borrowed from that Su Zixuan at four percent interest. After returning to Shanxi and repaying principal and interest, I’ll still have earned…” Seeing Deng Tieyi listening intently, Gu Pingyuan deliberately teased him, picking up a chopstick of tripe and chewing slowly.

“This… exactly how much is this?”

“Two hundred twenty thousand taels.”

“So much!” Deng Tieyi’s eyes widened.

This wasn’t even Gu Pingyuan’s most satisfying achievement. The Kang family’s crisis had been completely resolved by Gu Pingyuan’s efforts. Although losses were heavy, at least the shops were preserved. Kang Suyuan was extremely grateful and bought back Dong Qichang’s painting from Education Commissioner Liao with great expense to return to Gu Pingyuan. Gu Pingyuan took this opportunity to present his business strategy written for the Kang family. When Kang Suyuan saw it, he was simply amazed.

“Brother Gu, would you be willing to become a manager at my Kang family? I’ll give you twenty percent of the Wealth God shares.” Kang Suyuan had truly made a blood investment. Getting twenty percent of the Kang family’s Wealth God shares would truly be like the God of Wealth manifesting. If Gu Pingyuan wholeheartedly managed the business for him and revitalized this great enterprise, he himself would have inexhaustible wealth not just for one lifetime, but for three lives and three worlds. But Gu Pingyuan didn’t accept. Instead, he presented the little booklet with both hands, explaining he wanted nothing in return.

Kang Suyuan truly had never imagined there could be such a businessman in the world—one who would risk his life to help others in urgent need, then ask for no reward afterward. The Kang family owed him such a great debt of gratitude—how could they not repay it? So he agreed with Gu Pingyuan that henceforth, whatever Kang family business passed through Shanxi would have dealings with Taiyufeng. This cost the Kang family nothing but greatly benefited the money house—income that required no capital but provided steady cash flow year-round.

Gu Pingyuan understood clearly that the Kang family’s gesture was completely out of trust in him, so he accepted Kang Suyuan’s goodwill.

“What I’m paying big brother is cash silver from the Nian rebels—I can take it out as I say. But the large sum the Monk Prince owes me has to be collected from the Shanxi Provincial Treasury. I’m just a merchant who has to kowtow and call people ‘Your Excellency’—how can I collect such debts?”

“I’m just a sixth-rank military officer, while the Provincial Treasurer is a third-rank civil official. I can’t exactly force them to pay debts either.”

“But big brother, you’re a military officer under the Monk Prince. Not just the Provincial Treasurer—even the Governor-General wouldn’t dare offend the Monk Prince.” Gu Pingyuan paused, then said: “Big brother, you’re carrying that Baturu vest with you, aren’t you?”

Deng Tieyi indeed carried such a thing with him. Folded, it was only palm-sized, but spread out it lay golden and brilliant on the table.

Gu Pingyuan leaned forward, his left hand pressing the stack of bank notes, his right hand pressing the imperial gift yellow vest. His expression suddenly became very serious.

“Big brother, I’ll be frank—this time coming to Shaanxi wasn’t actually for business.”

“Then what did you come for?” Deng Tieyi felt his younger brother’s words today were all full of mystery that he didn’t quite understand.

“I came to find these two things.” Gu Pingyuan’s eyes fixed steadily on the promissory notes and yellow vest. “Now my painstaking efforts weren’t in vain—I’ve finally found them.”

He was thinking of something Yan Xian’er had said yesterday. He had specifically gone to Yan Xian’er’s character-reading stall yesterday to present fifty taels as thanks. Yan Xian’er smiled and accepted it, wanting to give him a character reading. Gu Pingyuan thought about it—last time he had written “move” which proved remarkably accurate. Having escaped danger this time, he simply wrote “pacify.”

“Still seeking wealth?”

“No, I may have a conflict with someone soon. I want to ask about fortune and misfortune.”

Yan Xian’er frowned: “Forgive my bluntness—I’m afraid things don’t look good!”

“Why?”

“This character ‘pacify’ means ‘one bow, two arrows, directly shooting one person’—beware of being harmed by hidden arrows!”

Hidden arrows harming people? That meant guarding against petty people. Gu Pingyuan made mental note to be careful, but if he couldn’t trust this Brother Deng before him, there would be no trustworthy person in the world. On this trip back to Shanxi, Brother Deng would help set the stage—he was an indispensable leading actor. Thinking this, Gu Pingyuan hesitated no more. Hearing the waiter outside their private room greeting other customers, he pulled up his trouser leg, revealing a fire-brand mark on his ankle.

“Big brother, look at this!”

Deng Tieyi recognized it: “Brother, you’re an exile?”

“An exile who privately escaped into the pass!” Gu Pingyuan corrected him. Seeing Deng Tieyi staring at him in shock, he smiled bitterly: “Let me tell big brother a story to go with your wine.”

Downstairs on the main street, people came and went with flowing traffic. No one noticed that in this Tongsheng Restaurant, someone was telling a story of the past. Gu Pingyuan told everything from taking the imperial examination in Beijing to falling into Wang Tiangui’s trap, then spoke of Jin Hu’s recent death. “After that I came to Xi’an. Big brother knows the rest.”

Deng Tieyi listened with fury burning in his seven apertures. He looked around, grabbed a wine jar and threw it down from the second floor, smashing it to pieces on the street with a crash that startled all the passersby.

“I’m going to kill that Wang Tiangui to avenge you, brother.”

“Big brother, stay calm and hear me out.” Gu Pingyuan was quite composed. “He has vast wealth and even holds a seventh-rank official title. Killing him would be murdering an official—absolutely not permitted. Moreover, the nation has its laws. If we can’t bring such a villain to proper justice, then there will be more Sun Tiangguis and Li Tiangguis… How can we warn the world?”

“Then…” Deng Tieyi looked at Gu Pingyuan with confusion.

“The trap—I’ve already set it!”

With these promissory notes, Deng Tieyi could swagger into the Provincial Treasury office wearing his yellow vest to collect debts. The Treasury had considerable silver deposited in Taiyufeng, so naturally they could examine the money house’s account books. The disaster relief funds Wang Tiangui had handled for Youlugou Village were no small sum—traces would definitely be found in the accounts.

“I’ll add an experienced senior manager who has a blood feud with Wang Tiangui to help big brother examine these accounts. As long as we uncover evidence of his embezzling public funds, using his position for personal gain, and harming lives, big brother can immediately notify the Provincial Justice Department to handle the case. You’re a battle general from the Monk Prince’s army, wearing an imperial gift yellow vest—no worry about not being able to bring down Wang Tiangui!”

Deng Tieyi was a soldier—when it came to killing, he preferred direct approaches. How could he have imagined such intricate schemes? He was already stunned. “Brother, you’re really something. So you had this whole elaborate plan figured out from the start?”

Gu Pingyuan smiled without answering. The promissory notes were essential to him, and Deng Tieyi was the person he needed to find. Only that yellow vest was an unexpected delight. Originally he had worried that Deng Tieyi’s rank was too low, but now even provincial governors would stand to greet him, making the entire official circles of Shanxi Province accessible.

“There’s one big problem. If you step forward to examine accounts, you’ll be breaking with Wang Tiangui completely. You’re a fugitive exile—that can’t be denied. If he becomes desperate and files charges against you, wouldn’t you be walking into a trap?” Deng Tieyi suddenly remembered something and said urgently.

“I’ve thought of that too. But there’s no good solution. I’m counting on attacking him with lightning speed, uncovering evidence of his crimes in one night, leaving him no chance to retaliate.”

“That won’t work. He can still deal with you once you’re in court. It’s not worth risking your life for that bastard.” Deng Tieyi shook his head. “Unless…”

“What good idea do you have, big brother?” Gu Pingyuan poured more wine and looked at him questioningly.

“Why didn’t the Monk Prince kill you? Wasn’t it because of those words ‘merits and faults balance out’? If you could establish some military merit, even if Wang Tiangui accuses you, I could protect you on the spot.”

“Military merit?” Gu Pingyuan’s heart stirred. “Big brother, look at this.” He took out a map from his chest.

“This looks like a defense plan for some mountain fortress.” Deng Tieyi was an old soldier and recognized it immediately.

“It’s the defense plan for the bandit stronghold at Evil Tiger Gorge in Shanxi.” This map had been given to Gu Pingyuan by that woman who committed suicide, originally to be delivered to the Shanxi General, but Gu Pingyuan had never had the opportunity and carried it with him. “With this map, could we break the bandit stronghold?”

“Absolutely!” Deng Tieyi slapped his thigh after understanding the situation. “I’ll take five hundred men and level Evil Tiger Gorge in half a night. Your name will be first on the merit list.”

Having discussed matters to this point, everything was finally clear. Gu Pingyuan breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at the sky where among blue heavens and white clouds, Jin Hu, Senior Manager Ding, and Xiao Qizi’s cousin seemed to be smiling at him. “Please bless my success in bringing down Wang Tiangui. When that time comes, I’ll certainly give you justice!”

Several days later, a figure knocked on the door of the Zhu family compound in Taigu County. Before the old servant who opened the door could ask questions, this person stepped inside without explanation and firmly closed the door behind him…

A few more days passed, and Deng Tieyi arrived in Taigu County territory with several hundred soldiers. This time he was quite pleased with himself. All along the route, local officials knew this man had saved the Monk Prince’s life and been rewarded with an imperial gift yellow vest—promotion was imminent. Serving him well could establish connections, and even if they couldn’t befriend him, they absolutely couldn’t offend him. So local officials personally escorted him across boundaries and arranged post stations with fine food and drink. After this journey of more than ten days, Deng Tieyi’s belly had grown another size.

Now he had reached the right place. Looking around, he saw Gu Pingyuan waving from beside a grove outside the city. Since Gu Pingyuan had appeared, it meant their previously discussed plan was proceeding smoothly. Gu Pingyuan had secretly found Senior Manager Zhu Sheng to first collect evidence of Wang Tiangui’s crimes in the county seat. After Deng Tieyi captured the stronghold and earned military merit for Gu Pingyuan, they would combine forces to go to the Taiyuan Treasury.

Gu Pingyuan temporarily couldn’t show himself. Having no strength to bind a chicken, he wasn’t suitable for warfare either, so he would stay at Wubian Temple awaiting Deng Tieyi’s news. Deng Tieyi led his troops from beside Taigu city along the Xiaonan River for more than ten li. After crossing a shallow ford and just preparing to make camp, suddenly a servant-dressed person approached the army, carrying a wax-sealed secret letter that he said must be delivered directly to Master Deng.

Deng Tieyi was surprised to receive the letter. Upon reading it, he was shocked—it was actually an invitation from Shanxi General Ke to meet privately, explaining that the matter required secrecy and it would be best if Deng Tieyi came alone.

Deng Tieyi pondered at length. Although the letter bore the General’s official seal, caution was always best in all matters. So he selected ten personal guards to accompany him, ordered the rest to camp on the spot, and followed that person to a hillside five li away.

Deng Tieyi didn’t know this was where Jin Hu had died. Beyond this hillside, the mountains suddenly rose high, a peak jutting up covered with massive rocks, deep and unfathomable. In the distance, they could see an abandoned mountain god temple halfway up the slope.

“It’s up there. Go up by yourselves.” The guide looked very honest, even somewhat timid and cowering.

Deng Tieyi pulled out a silver coin and handed it to him. “What’s your name?”

“This humble person is called Qiao Songnian.”

Deng Tieyi felt something sudden about this situation, especially in such a desolate place, so he remained extra vigilant. But unexpectedly, upon reaching the mountain god temple, General Ke came out with a hearty laugh to greet him. Having met him once while passing through Shanxi, Deng Tieyi saw it was truly the General inviting him, and his heart settled by eighty to ninety percent.

In front of this desolate temple where birds flew in disorder and vines covered the walls, a banquet was actually laid out, quite sumptuous with wine and meat steaming hot. General Ke invited Deng Tieyi to sit, drinking wine and chatting about Northwest military affairs, but never getting to the main topic. Finally Deng Tieyi couldn’t help asking: “General, you must have a reason for inviting me to meet in this place?”

General Ke pondered a moment, set down his wine cup: “I know you’re going to attack Evil Tiger Gorge. Not wanting you to make a futile trip, I invited you here.”

Deng Tieyi was greatly shocked, leaning back so hard he knocked over his wine cup, staring straight at General Ke.

“Heh heh, no need to be so surprised. There are no walls without cracks in this world, especially when you’re marching in my Shanxi territory. How could I, the provincial general, not know what you’re doing?”

Deng Tieyi calmed down slightly: “The General speaks seriously. Those bandits at Evil Tiger Gorge are extremely cunning. I was worried about information leaking and them escaping.”

“They won’t, they won’t.” General Ke shook his head dismissively and pointed down the mountain. “Look, what’s that?”

Deng Tieyi followed his pointing finger and looked down the mountain. With darkness falling, he saw more than ten torches arranged in a line, moving up the mountain.

“General, this is…”

“Just the bandits from Evil Tiger Gorge you mentioned. County magnate Wang Tiangui is devoted to serving the country and helped the authorities recruit them a few days ago. Now they’re coming to surrender.”

“The General flatters me too much. Wang is truly ashamed to accept such praise. Serving the court is only natural duty.” A thin old man walked out from inside the mountain god temple, immediately fixing his wolfish eyes firmly on Deng Tieyi. Behind him stood a man with a crooked hat and folded arms.

“Wang Tiangui…” Deng Tieyi felt his heart grow cold, knowing today’s events were no coincidence. So their entire plan with Gu Pingyuan had been discovered by others.

“No wonder they say there are no good banquets!” Deng Tieyi no longer cared that a second-rank General with red button cap was present and gave a cold laugh.

“Colonel Deng, your temper is too hasty.” General Ke glanced at Wang Tiangui. “This Manager Wang sincerely wants to befriend you. As the saying goes, ‘one more friend, one more path; one more enemy, one more wall.’ Don’t misunderstand his intentions.”

Wang Tiangui said nothing more, taking out a ten-thousand-tael bank note from his person and gently placing it under Deng Tieyi’s cup.

“Master Deng, everyone knows there are benefits to suppressing bandit strongholds. Not to mention anything else, when breaking a fortress, the gold, silver, and treasures are there for the taking. Now that the Evil Tiger Gorge bandits have surrendered, General Ke says the merit should naturally include you, so let me, Wang, provide the benefits. Please take this money to buy drinks for your brothers.”

“Bullshit!” Deng Tieyi could no longer restrain himself, hurling his wine cup at Wang Tiangui. “You small-time merchant, daring to bribe a military officer in broad daylight—don’t you want your head?”

His wine cup was thrown with great force—if it hit, it would certainly split open Wang Tiangui’s head. But Old Crooked moved, reaching out from behind to catch the cup and squeeze hard, turning the white porcelain cup into powder.

“Why be so extreme, why be so extreme? Colonel Deng, you’re too rash!” General Ke repeatedly tried to mediate.

By now the dozen or so bandits from Evil Tiger Gorge had climbed the mountain. Although Deng Tieyi was angry, he was still quite tactful, unwilling to let these bandits see court officials quarreling, so he stood aside with a dark expression.

General Ke displayed his official authority, pointing at the leader: “You are Lü Zheng.”

It was indeed “Purple-Faced Tiger” Lü Zheng who came. He hadn’t wanted to surrender to government troops like this, but his cousin, that black and fat third-in-command, kept urging him, saying this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Annoyed by the persuasion, he finally reluctantly agreed.

“Your Excellency, this commoner is indeed Lü Zheng.”

“Did you bring the roster?”

“It’s right here.” Lü Zheng handed the roster to the third-in-command, who presented it.

“Good, this shows sincerity. Tomorrow bring all your followers down the mountain and check them one by one against this roster. If accurate, this official will certainly report to the court to request your appointment—a fifth-rank colonel position is assured for you.”

Lü Zheng’s heart eased. This roster was newly made because some people refused to surrender and had fled down the mountain overnight, necessitating a new list. He hadn’t expected it to pass so easily. He kowtowed: “Thank you for your accomplishment, Your Excellency.”

“Enough.” General Ke maintained his dignity, spoke some ceremonial words, then said: “Recruitment is like ancient blood oaths—without wine, sincerity seems lacking. Come, let’s all drink this cup. Yesterday bandits, today officials—from now on, serve the court with loyal hearts.”

He held the highest office here, so when he raised his cup first, naturally everyone had to follow. Even the soldiers Deng Tieyi brought each drank a cup of wine.

Deng Tieyi was troubled. With things at this point, clearly the other side was prepared. He didn’t know what to do next. Feeling unsettled, while others drank only one cup, he poured himself two more cups. General Ke watched him with a smile.

Deng Tieyi wanted to hurry down the mountain to find Gu Pingyuan. He stood up to take his leave, but suddenly felt dizzy. “This wine is quite strong…” He held his forehead, feeling his hands and feet weak and powerless, wanting only to lie down and sleep well.

“The wine is nothing special, but the knockout drug is from Annan—most effective.” Wang Tiangui said leisurely.

“What!” Lü Zheng also felt something wrong with his body. Struggling to lift his head toward General Ke, just then—quick as lightning—the third-in-command behind him gritted his teeth and suddenly drew his blade, the sword flashing cold light as it chopped down.

On any ordinary day, Lü Zheng might have been able to dodge this blade, but the attacker was someone he completely hadn’t guarded against. Moreover, with the knockout drug taking effect, he couldn’t avoid it.

Only a “thud” was heard as Lü Zheng’s head flew ten feet away, blood spurting from his neck to splash on the banquet. The third-in-command didn’t look again, turning to hack left and right at the stronghold brothers. Though these men had martial skills, wanting to flee their legs were weak, wanting to fight their arms were powerless. They could only scream continuously as they were slaughtered.

“You…” Deng Tieyi knew things were bad, glaring at General Ke. Suddenly feeling his neck tighten, he struggled to look back—strangling his throat was that crooked-hatted man.

“Refusing to understand the times, yet wanting to be an official.” General Ke shook his head. Wang Tiangui recited: “Yesterday an official, today a ghost,” signaling Old Crooked with his eyes. Old Crooked twisted hard. Though Deng Tieyi had great skills, he couldn’t use them. His neck was immediately broken, his body collapsed limply, blood frothing from his mouth. After kicking a few times, he moved no more.

Deng Tieyi truly died with eyes wide open!

“Not one of these soldiers can be left!” General Ke glanced at the men Deng Tieyi had brought. Wang Tiangui raised his chin toward Old Crooked.

“Bandits killing officials—what cruel methods. If not for the third-in-command’s timely change of sides, I’m afraid Manager Wang and I would have met with violence too.” General Ke stood up, addressing the third-in-command who had already sheathed his blade: “However, you still haven’t shed your bandit nature. Stay at Manager Wang’s place for a while. In a few days I’ll arrange military merit for you, then you can take office, so the camp brothers won’t be unconvinced.”

“All thanks to Your Excellency’s cultivation!” the third-in-command said tearfully with gratitude.

“This affair succeeded entirely due to your accurate information. Investigating this account would be serious—even the Provincial Governor couldn’t escape involvement.”

Wang Tiangui naturally understood. He actually hoped even Grand Councillors couldn’t escape involvement—that would be even better. No matter when, the umbrella over one’s head could never be too big.

“My bodyguard will handle this matter cleanly, leaving absolutely no traces.”

“Government troops and bandits with mutual casualties—this is common. Knockout drugs can’t be detected anyway. Even if the Jade Emperor himself came to investigate, we wouldn’t fear!” General Ke sneered. “But you still need to handle your accounts more cleanly.”

“Your Excellency, rest assured—definitely clean!”

When Wang Tiangui returned to his Taigu mansion, just as he was about to enter and rest, he spotted Sister-in-law Qiao with a sewing basket heading to the servants’ quarters. This was truly a rarely seen beauty. He stared at this woman for a long while. Originally planning to handle tomorrow’s business, having seen so much killing tonight, he suddenly became excited.

“Qiao family woman, come here.”

Sister-in-law Qiao walked over somewhat timidly. When Master Wang first spoke, it sounded quite nice, with Gu Pingyuan as guarantor, so she and her husband had come to work at Wang mansion with peace of mind. Unexpectedly, as time passed, Master Wang gradually became handsy. Once he even tried to drag her into his room. Afraid of frightening her husband and thinking of the high wages here that could buy more food for the family, especially the two children, she endured silently. But whenever she heard Wang Tiangui’s footsteps, she would quickly hide.

“Have you heard the big news at the mountain god temple on North Pan Mountain outside the city? More than ten bandits killed government troops.”

Sister-in-law Qiao shook her head blankly.

“Then you certainly don’t know that the one who led the bandits up the mountain was your husband Qiao Songnian!” Following Wang Tiangui’s instructions, after leading the government troops up the mountain, Qiao Songnian had waited at the crossroads to point the way for the Evil Tiger Gorge bandits. In his confusion, he thought this was easy work, not knowing he had already fallen into Wang Tiangui’s trap.

Sister-in-law Qiao was indeed shocked and alarmed: “That’s impossible! He’s someone who fears a falling leaf might hit his head. How could he?”

“If you don’t believe it, go ask your husband, then come to my room to find me.” Wang Tiangui lifted the curtain and entered.

Before long, Sister-in-law Qiao came in frantically and immediately knelt on the ground: “He said, he said it was the master who…”

“Shut up!” Wang Tiangui had been waiting for her. “Having him bring bandits up the mountain was to accept surrender, but it turned into killing officials. Who knows if he conspired with the bandits? This requires going to the authorities and using torture to get the truth!”

“No, no…” Sister-in-law Qiao wept, anxiously shaking her head. Her husband had a history of mental illness. Though much better now, how could he testify in court? Not to mention torture—even hearing the gavel strike would frighten him into illness. Then they’d say he was raving in court and beat him to death on the spot.

“Don’t be afraid.” Seeing he had frightened her, Wang Tiangui gently pulled her up. “Only I know about this matter. If I don’t tell, no one will know. Understand?” As he spoke, his hand moved toward Sister-in-law Qiao’s clothing.

“No!” Sister-in-law Qiao recoiled like being bitten by a poisonous snake.

“Hmph, then go reunite with your husband—though only for tonight.” Wang Tiangui viciously squeezed out these words through his teeth.

Sister-in-law Qiao stood dazed, thinking of her husband, tears flowing down like broken pearls. After a long while, she slowly raised her hand and undid her buttons.

“Smart!” Wang Tiangui gave a sinister laugh, blew out the candle on the table, turned and pushed Sister-in-law Qiao onto the bed…

Gu Pingyuan didn’t learn of the tragedy at the mountain god temple until the next morning from pilgrims coming to burn incense. Upon hearing the words “Evil Tiger Gorge” and “government troops,” his heart immediately rose to his throat. He borrowed a good horse from the temple and rode straight to North Pan Mountain.

When he arrived at the mountain god temple after a frantic ride, many common people had already gathered. The three classes of yamen runners were all present, and the coroner was examining corpses. County Magistrate Chen was naturally on scene, already anxious and sweating profusely. Such a case occurring in his territory meant severe reprimands were unavoidable. Learning that the dead colonel was also a beloved general of the Monk Prince, Magistrate Chen was even more agitated, knowing he would probably face misfortune this time. Just to vent the Monk Prince’s anger, the Provincial Governor wouldn’t spare him lightly—demotion or dismissal were both possible. So in his fury, seeing these common people watching the excitement, he ordered the runners to whip them severely.

Gu Pingyuan squeezed to the front, taking several lashes as if feeling no pain. He immediately saw Deng Tieyi lying on the ground with wide-open eyes.

“Big brother!” Gu Pingyuan wanted to shout, but his throat felt blocked by cotton—he couldn’t make any sound. He wanted to cry but had no tears, only able to stare at the now-dead Deng Tieyi.

Magistrate Chen ordered the runners to drive everyone down the mountain. Gu Pingyuan followed the crowd down in a daze. Looking up at the temple halfway up the mountain, he suddenly gave a bitter laugh: “The gods are truly efficacious. Wang Tiangui, your incense wasn’t burned in vain!”

Saying this, he mounted his horse and rode straight to what was now Wang mansion—the former Chang family compound. His horse ran madly through Taigu’s main street with all four hooves, causing pedestrians to scatter in alarm. When he reached the compound gate, he happened to encounter Ruyi looking out idly from the spirit wall, with Chang Yu’er beside her. Gu Pingyuan, as if not seeing them, charged straight in toward Wang Tiangui’s bedroom. Seeing him like this, Ruyi silently followed, with Chang Yu’er hurrying ahead.

Gu Pingyuan reached Wang Tiangui’s room and was about to kick the door open when suddenly Chang Yu’er grabbed him from behind, anxiously shaking her head slightly.

“Big Brother Gu, don’t…” Chang Yu’er’s expression carried some terror. She knew something major had happened—otherwise, given Gu Pingyuan’s usual composure, he wouldn’t have such a desperate, mad-tiger fighting stance.

“You must endure, you must endure. I beg you.” Chang Yu’er pleaded softly. She knew that breaking with Wang Tiangui here would be asking for trouble, possibly even seeking death. In her urgency, she finally began to cry.

These tears dropped onto the green stone brick floor like sweet rain, gradually extinguishing the anger in Gu Pingyuan’s heart and slowly restoring his reason. He bit his lower lip hard, staring deadly at that door. Finally stamping his foot hard, he was about to turn and leave when the door behind them opened just then.

What no one expected was that Sister-in-law Qiao emerged from inside, her clothes disheveled. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes vacant, stepping out from Wang Tiangui’s room.

“Sister-in-law Qiao!” Gu Pingyuan exclaimed, stunned.

“Oh, it’s you.” Sister-in-law Qiao seemed to just notice him, forcing a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth. “Manager Gu, thank you for recommending such a good family to me.” With that, she spat in Gu Pingyuan’s face, then swayed slightly and walked out dazedly. Ruyi gave a cold laugh, saying in the lowest possible voice: “This old coffin board is sinning again!”

Wang Tiangui then coughed, emerged wearing blue silk clothes and trousers, carrying a tobacco pipe. Seeing Gu Pingyuan standing dazed in the center, his eyes flashed as he slowly walked over. Gu Pingyuan stared at him with deadly eyes, momentarily unable to decide whether he should just strangle him here, even if it meant mutual destruction.

But Wang Tiangui unexpectedly patted Gu Pingyuan’s shoulder: “This time, you handled things very well. I’m going to burn incense now. Come find me at Wubian Temple later.” With that, he too walked away.

Chang Yu’er offered a handkerchief, wanting Gu Pingyuan to wipe the filth from his face. Gu Pingyuan didn’t take it, just staring at her in confusion: “What did he just say—that I handled this very well?”

“Yes…” Chang Yu’er was also puzzled.

Gu Pingyuan shook his head vigorously. This time he truly understood nothing at all. Deng Tieyi’s death proved their secret plot was definitely known to Wang Tiangui, who had struck first. But why had he only borrowed others’ hands to eliminate Brother Deng while praising him highly? Could it be a cat-and-mouse game? Gu Pingyuan’s head was about to explode from thinking.

Suddenly he stood up and rushed outside. “Where are you going…” Chang Yu’er asked worriedly from behind.

“To find Sister-in-law Qiao!” Gu Pingyuan left this sentence behind. He rode frantically through the marketplace, just spotted by Su Zixuan emerging from Daping House.

“He didn’t die!” Fourth Sister said in surprise.

“Really tough life—he’s back in Taigu, and seems to have some urgent business. Let’s follow and see.” Su Zixuan watched Gu Pingyuan’s retreating figure.

When Gu Pingyuan reached the Qiao family home in Youlugou Village, he saw Qiao Songnian playing a guessing game with two children outside the house. Gu Pingyuan carefully approached: “Brother Qiao, your wife she…”

Qiao Songnian didn’t look up, just pointed to his earthen house.