According to the Geographical Records of Da Feng, Yun State stretched for 60,000 li, rich in resources such as agriculture, silk, porcelain, and medicinal herbs. Before Emperor Wu raised his banner in rebellion, Yun State’s prosperity ranked among the top five in all of Da Feng’s states.
The imperial road wound its way towards the horizon, flanked by dark fertile fields and distant rolling mountains. The sun had just risen, the air still crisp with the night’s chill, as a group of over a hundred people slowly made their way along the road. The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves mingled with the creaking of wagon wheels.
“In the early years of the Yuanjing era, Yun State’s total population reached 5 million. Since then, with the census taken every decade, the population has steadily declined. By Yuanjing 30, Yun State’s population was just over 3.5 million. Now it’s Yuanjing 36, and in four years it will be time for another census. I wonder how many people are left in Yun State?” Governor Zhang mused, lifting the curtain of his carriage.
A population reduction of 1.5 million in 30 years was terrifying, and the actual decrease was likely even greater. Given Yun State’s fertile land, famine wasn’t a concern barring natural disasters. This meant that under normal circumstances, the population should have steadily increased over those 30 years.
… From 5 million to 3.5 million wasn’t a simple subtraction. The actual population decrease was likely at least double that… “What kind of hellhole is this?” Xu Qi An cursed under his breath.
Governor Zhang glanced at him before continuing, “Of the lost population, half left due to heavy taxes. They abandoned their fields to become wanderers, either seeking work in cities or turning to banditry. These people aren’t recorded in the census. The other major factor is the severe bandit problem. They burn, kill, and plunder, making a bad situation worse. Sometimes mountain bandits actively raid villages to replenish their workforce. Of course, these bandits aren’t in the census either.”
Xu Qi An gazed silently into the distance, listening to Governor Zhang while analyzing the situation in his mind.
… There were still 5 million people in the early Yuanjing years, but the population was already declining by Yuanjing 10. By Yuanjing 30, 1.5 million were gone, and the real number was likely even higher… Yun State’s rapid decline began over twenty years ago, almost coinciding with when Emperor Yuanjing started pursuing cultivation…
Did the Witch Cult see an opportunity because the Da Feng Emperor was obsessed with cultivation? The Witch Cult had been plotting for over twenty years; they wouldn’t engage in small-scale actions. A major conflict between Da Feng and the nations led by the Witch Cult seemed inevitable.
Lost in thought, Xu Qi An’s head drooped, and he nearly dozed off.
“You don’t look well,” Governor Zhang observed with a frown. “What’s wrong?”
The governor remembered that Xu Qi An had behaved properly throughout the journey, not frequenting brothels, so he shouldn’t be this exhausted.
Xu Qi An turned to the governor with a wry smile. “It’s nothing, I’ve just become a master of time management.”
This was his eighth day without sleep. His head throbbed painfully, blood vessels feeling ready to burst. At breakfast, he even experienced mild hallucinations, thinking Little Bell was trying to steal his meat bun.
With bloodshot eyes and dark circles, Xu Qi An was reminded of his life in the 996 work culture, occasionally experiencing 007. He looked just as miserable then.
“Two more days. If I can make it through these two days, I should be able to advance to the Forge Spirit realm. I can’t let myself fall asleep now, or all my efforts will be wasted… Why does my heart feel so uncomfortable?”
Xu Qi An took a deep breath, removed his water skin, and poured it over his head to stimulate his body and stay alert.
…
A caravan of 300 people trudged along the imperial road. Flatbed horse-drawn carts carried goods covered by waterproof cloth – silk, tea, porcelain, and cosmetics, all products of Yun State. There were also local specialties like snake saliva inkstones and yellow crystal stones.
The caravan’s owner was a burly man named Zhao Long. In his younger years, he had been a renowned hero in Yun State’s jianghu, with connections in both legal and criminal circles. Tired of living on the edge, he leveraged his reputation and connections to start a merchant caravan business.
He always managed to negotiate with the mountain strongholds along the way, safely leaving Yun State to distribute goods across the country, and making substantial profits. Over time, many merchants were willing to pay hefty sums to join Zhao Long’s caravan for protection.
Zhao Long’s business had evolved into a hybrid of commerce and escort service.
Yang Yingying was one of those seeking shelter under this big tree. She had joined the caravan as an individual, paying twenty taels of silver for protection. After all, a weak woman like her had no chance of leaving Yun State alone; she might have been kidnapped by bandits on the imperial road and forced to become a bandit’s wife. With her beauty, she was more than qualified for such a fate.
Yang Yingying had once been a courtesan in Yun State’s pleasure district. In her youth, she had even been a top courtesan. Later, she was fortunate enough to meet a good man who redeemed her, and she became his concubine, living in his household.
Now in her thirties, her beauty remained undiminished. Her figure had become more voluptuous, adding to the allure of a mature woman. She had a pair of bright almond eyes that sparkled when she looked at people.
Riding on horseback, Yang Yingying noticed the fiery gazes of the escorts around her. She couldn’t help but tighten her cloak and lower her head even more.
At first glance, her hand seemed to be protecting her ample bosom from the leering gazes of some men, but in reality, she was guarding an object in her arms. It was this object that had forced her to leave Yun State.
An escort gazed lustfully at Yang Yingying’s back. On horseback, her dress clung to her body, and the taut curves of her bottom were truly tempting.
The strong-bodied escort spurred his horse, catching up to Yang Yingying. He grinned, “Beautiful lady, how about keeping this brother company tonight? I’ll give you all the silver I earn from this trip. It’s ten taels, you know.”
Yang Yingying ignored him completely, neither responding nor refusing, as if he didn’t exist.
The escort said a few more things, and seeing that the beauty wasn’t responding, he left, cursing.
A few escorts who knew him well burst into laughter, mocking him. But disappointment lingered in everyone’s eyes. This woman was impervious to their advances; they had no chance either.
Several escorts with blood on their hands flashed a vicious look. If a luscious woman like her, traveling alone, hadn’t encountered Old Boss Zhao, she would have been devoured, leaving not even bones behind.
At the front of the caravan, Zhao Long raised his hand in a gesture. The escorts immediately drew their weapons, on high alert. But the blades were only half-drawn – an unwritten rule in their line of work. Everyone in the jianghu was after money; unless there was a huge disparity in strength, they wouldn’t fight to the death. Moreover, Old Boss Zhao had some reputation in the underworld, otherwise he wouldn’t be in this business.
Seven or eight dozen men suddenly sprang out from the dense forest on both sides of the small path, their blades and spears gleaming. Over twenty more riders emerged from a side road, all strong men on sturdy horses.
Zhao Long was puzzled. He traveled this road several times a year and knew exactly which sections needed bribes and which mountain strongholds needed to be appeased. When did such a group of fierce bandits appear in this forest…
Zhao Long lowered his hand, signaling his escorts to stay calm. He rode forward a short distance and called out, “I am Zhao Long. Friends, which territory were you operating in before…”
As he got closer, he suddenly realized something was amiss. These fierce bandits had military crossbows at their waists and were holding standard-issue long swords – all military equipment.
Zhao Long had heard that some major bandit strongholds didn’t lack military supplies. They had everything from military swords and crossbows to even firearms. But those were top-tier bandit strongholds, not something that should appear here.
…
“Ning Yan, you look like a sick man who’s been drained by women,” Song Tingfeng, riding alongside Xu Qi An, took the opportunity to tease and mock.
Xu Qi An glanced at him and replied calmly, “I have a friend who asked me if the Astronomical Bureau had any pills for male potency and kidney health.”
Song Tingfeng’s smile froze.
“That friend of mine is Zhu Guangxiao. Guangxiao, you’re already engaged. Why are you pushing yourself so hard?” Xu Qi An shifted the blame to Zhu Guangxiao.
Zhu Guangxiao silently glared at him, feeling indignant. He retorted, “I’m gentle with women. You’re the one who’s too rough. Every morning, the girls who sleep with you can’t even get out of bed.”
“You don’t know how to control yourself and have depleted your energy.”
Warriors had strong physiques and abundant vitality, but even the Ox Demon King would become weak if he plowed from dusk to dawn every day for an extended period.
“That just shows how good I am,” Song Tingfeng replied proudly, unwilling to concede. “Only the courtesans in the pleasure district can keep up with me, though even they struggle to match my pace.”
“Tingfeng…” Xu Qi An called out to him.
Song Tingfeng turned his head, “What?”
“It’s not that you’re good. It’s that they can tolerate your inadequacy.”
“Get lost!”
Amidst their playful banter, Jiang Luzhong, who was leading the team, said in a low voice, “There’s the smell of blood ahead. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”
The sound of unsheathing blades rang out in unison as the Tiger Tally Guard and the Night Watchmen drew their swords and readied their military crossbows.
“Charge!” Jiang Luzhong spurred his horse forward.
The governor’s entourage instantly shifted into battle formation, moving swiftly and orderly.
After ten minutes of rapid advance, a dense forest appeared ahead, and the wind carried a strong scent of blood.
As they entered the forest, arrows suddenly flew from both sides, targeting the charging Night Watchmen and Tiger Tally Guards.
Jiang Luzhong raised his hand and then lowered it. The arrows struck an invisible air wall and fell harmlessly to the ground.
He waved his hand and said, “Tiger Tally Guards, enter the forest and kill the enemy.”
As he spoke, Jiang Luzhong looked ahead. Hundreds of corpses lay strewn across the imperial road, blood staining the ground. Even the horses hadn’t escaped death. The goods transported by this merchant caravan were scattered everywhere.
He quickly analyzed the situation… Because he had smelled blood early and ordered the team to charge, these highway bandits didn’t have time to retreat when they heard the approaching hoofbeats, so they set up an ambush in the forest.
Fierce fighting sounds came from the dense forest. The Tiger Tally Guard was one of the five guards of the capital, and while not as valiant as the Imperial Guard, they far surpassed local troops.
The two sides were roughly equal in number, with arrows and blades clashing in a back-and-forth battle.
Jiang Luzhong was a bit surprised. He turned to Xu Qi An and asked, “Ning Yan, have you ever killed anyone?”
“I’ve killed one and severely wounded another,” Xu Qi An replied casually, gazing at the corpse-strewn merchant caravan.
Jiang Luzhong let out a derisive laugh. “You’re still wet behind the ears.”
The Night Watchmen burst into laughter.
Except for Xu Qi An, who had joined the Night Watchmen less than two months ago, the others were all battle-hardened warriors who could kill without blinking an eye.
Jiang Luzhong pointed at the forest and said, “Go, get some practice. Kill at least ten.”
Xu Qi An took a deep breath and replied, “Alright!”