At the end of midwinter, the allied forces of Liang and Chen conquered Jinzhou, continuing their northward advance with the momentum of splitting bamboo. General Pei Song’s army retreated step by step in defeat.
Several days later, they broke through Ziyang Pass.
The Liang heartland was separated from its southern and northern borders by Ziyang Pass and An Pass respectively.
Thus, following the battles at Majialiang and Wayaopu, the allied forces of Liang and Chen led by Grand Princess Hanyang of Liang finally delivered another devastating blow to Pei Song.
On the day the great army entered the pass, withered grass lay flattened on the mountains flanking the pass entrance, which were covered in thin snow.
Wen Yu stood at the cliff slope on the mountain ridge, her white-based gold-patterned wide-sleeved palace robe of brocade fluttering slightly in the cold wind. Her long hair was also blown into slight disarray, yet the twelve large hairpins inserted in her hair above remained unmoved and imposing.
Behind her, two strongmen held up a ceremonial canopy, its tassels tumbling in the cold wind. Further back stood Zhao Bai, Tongque, and more than ten other Azure Cloud Guards along with over a hundred elite Liang soldiers, appearing in this desolate landscape like an iron-cast wall.
From here, one could perfectly see the great army below surging into the pass like a black torrent, its momentum devouring the vast universe.
Someone approached hurriedly from behind, passing through layers of armored guards before stopping one zhang away from the canopy, bowing with cupped hands toward Wen Yu: “Your subject Zhou Sui pays respects to the Princess.”
Wen Yu turned around, looking at the person in azure robes whose bearing was thoroughly refined, saying “Please rise quickly,” then adding: “Since our parting in Yongzhou long ago, seeing Master Zhou again truly feels like it was only yesterday. Pei Song used poisonous rumors to slander this palace and the Liang camp. Fortunately, Master Zhou remained calm in crisis, visiting academies throughout the southern border and persuading scholars across the realm to clear this palace’s name. This time, Pei Song even sent his hounds to assassinate Master Zhou. Today, seeing Master Zhou unharmed brings comfort to this palace’s heart.”
Zhou Sui bowed, saying: “Your subject’s talent and learning are shallow. I am ashamed that I cannot share Your Highness’s worries in governmental affairs. I could only rely on the passionate spirit of a scholar to exert minimal effort. Now, with all the scholars from Songya Academy writing books for Your Highness and Great Liang, I dare not claim credit for myself. To receive such concern and worry from Your Highness, I am already moved to tears of gratitude. However, this time I was able to retrieve my life from Pei Song’s hounds only thanks to a righteous female warrior who came to my rescue.”
Wen Yu said: “Master Zhou need not be modest. Our Great Liang has Elder Zhou’s loyal bones before and Master Zhou’s pillar-like support now—this is Great Liang’s fortune and this palace’s fortune.”
Zhou Sui repeatedly protested his unworthiness.
Wen Yu knew his final words carried intent to introduce someone, and asked: “Where might that female warrior be now? She saved Master Zhou—this palace must personally thank her.”
Zhou Sui said: “That female warrior greatly admires Your Highness and has considerable intent to join military service in our Liang camp. She accompanied me to Ziyang Pass on this journey and is currently waiting outside the military formation.”
Wen Yu was quite surprised and ordered: “Summon her quickly.”
Before long, a woman in nomadic garb strode forward. She was tall with almond eyes and thick brows—originally quite a pretty appearance, but the fierce spirit between her brows like strong liquor quenching a blade immediately gave rise to a heroic air.
Zhou Sui was about to make introductions: “This is…”
But Wen Yu had already called out the woman’s name: “Gu Xiyun?”
Zhou Sui, seeing the two seemed acquainted, showed surprise on his face but promptly stopped speaking.
Upon seeing Wen Yu, the woman appeared momentarily dazed, seeming to want to smile radiantly at her as in the past. But suddenly remembering their positions had now changed, she restrained herself and merely curved her lips inward, bowing toward Wen Yu: “Your subject Gu Xiyun pays respects to the Princess.”
Wen Yu stepped forward to personally help the woman up. In her pale, tranquil eyes, beyond surprise, only many emotions remained: “How did you come here?”
Wen Yu and she had once been intimate friends in the inner chambers. Her elder brother Gu Changfeng and Wen Yu’s brother Wen Heng were even closer friends.
Unfortunately, Duke Gu had died of illness three years ago.
On the day Luodu City fell, Great Liang’s General Who Defends the Nation, Gu Changfeng, also died defending the city gates.
Gu Xiyun’s eyes now showed a hint of redness.
This most noble daughter of Great Liang would never know that three years ago, her brother—unable to visit to propose marriage due to their father’s death and upon learning of her engagement to the Chen Prince’s heir—had locked himself in his study for over half a month. Nor would she know that when Heir Wen personally escorted her out the city gates, as府 guards accompanied her southward, a young general on the city tower watched her departing carriage and horses with heart-piercing eyes.
She had left, and that young general who had watched her grow up died not long after at the southern city gate where he had once seen her off to marriage.
Gu Xiyun finally smiled at Wen Yu, saying: “My father and brother both died for Great Liang. Though the Gu family no longer has a single son, at the Battle of Wayaopu, Old General Weichi, over seventy years old, could still fight. I, a daughter of the Gu family, can still wield that dominating spear—how could I justify dwelling in one corner?”
Having said this, she cupped her fists and bowed to Wen Yu again: “Your subject Gu Xiyun is skilled with the dominating spear and golden mace, can break formations and slay enemies. I now wish to serve under Your Highness’s command. Is Your Highness willing to employ me?”
The wind on this mountain was too cold, too chilling, sharply cutting to the bone. It blew until Wen Yu’s eyes showed hidden soreness and pain, yet within that faint redness, it wrung out waves of killing intent between heaven and earth.
She said: “To gain such a general—what more could I ask?”
Below the mountain, the great army entering the pass still flowed in slowly like black molten iron—not rushing, yet possessing unstoppable momentum.
Wen Yu’s wide sleeves caught the wind. Standing sideways at the cliff’s edge, her gentle brows and eyes were desolate and cold, imposing and unmoved.
The alarming drum the teacher had beaten on Wayaopu’s city tower had shattered not only Pei Song’s ambition to swallow the southern border in one stroke, but also awakened countless muddled former ministers of Great Liang and the multitude of scholars.
Her Great Liang—its time had not yet come!
As the cold wind rose again, she declared: “Take Xiangzhou within half a month and reconnect the southern and northern vital routes!”
—
Eagles circled in the sky. Thick snow covered thousands of military tents.
Inside the central command tent, Yuan Fang grinned as he drank a mouthful of hot tea, dispelling the chill throughout his body. Looking at the young, cold, and stern man seated in the main position, he sighed: “The Marquis received our benefactor’s latest letter of resignation and in his distress fell ill and cannot rise.”
He seemed puzzled: “Benefactor, the Marquis is someone who cherishes talent. Previously, the Young Lord and the County Princess showed much disrespect, and the Marquis severely punished them both. Why does our benefactor still insist on leaving?”
Xiao Li set down the bamboo scroll in his hand. Not knowing what he had experienced in recent days, his cold, resolute face showed no emotion. Even the fierceness that once resided between his brows was now concealed, like a snow-covered grey mountain—only desolation remained, making him even more unfathomable.
He said: “I have failed the Marquis’s high regard. However, when Xiao initially led his brothers northward, it was only to avoid disaster. To repay the Marquis’s great kindness, Xiao and his brothers below could only fight the enemy courageously. Now the barbarians beyond the pass have ceased activity, and the Pei forces within the border have also been completely expelled. To continue supporting us idle people would likely be a burden to the Marquis. Many brothers below are homesick and do not adapt to the northern climate. Xiao thinks it would be better to lead the brothers back home.”
Yuan Fang paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back. Hearing this, he said with extreme anxiety and heartache: “Benefactor, what kind of words are these!”
He continued: “You destroyed many barbarian forces that repeatedly violated the border camps at Yanle Mountain, discovered Pei Song’s secret troop movements in our northern border, and executed the traitor Dou Jianliang. Each of these achievements, taken alone, deserves the Marquis’s great reward!”
Xiao Li only said: “Xiao feels deeply ashamed.”
Yuan Fang heard that his mind was made up. After a regretful sigh, he sat back in his chair, saying: “I know I cannot persuade our benefactor to change his mind, but the Young Lord’s wedding is imminent. Benefactor, please wait until after the Young Lord’s wedding before leaving.”
His expression seemed troubled: “Among the people, there are already many doubts about Princess Wanzhen’s identity. If our benefactor leaves at this time, it will inevitably cause much criticism. Given our benefactor’s kindness to our Wei camp, I should not open my mouth about this, but Northern Wei is indeed at a difficult juncture. I can only presume.”
After saying this, he added with infinite emotion: “The Marquis often mentions our benefactor to me, always saying our benefactor resembles the deceased eldest son. Toward our benefactor, there is indeed considerable father-son affection. It is also because of this relationship that the Young Lord, with his youthful temperament—proud and jealous—has been hostile toward our benefactor. If our benefactor must leave, please personally bid farewell to the Marquis.”
After some consideration, Xiao Li promised: “At the Young Lord’s wedding, I will accompany the General to Weizhou to attend the ceremony.”
Yuan Fang seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. After cupping his fists toward Xiao Li and expressing more words of gratitude, he lifted the tent flap and departed.
Once he left, Zhang Huai along with Song Qin and Zheng Hu emerged from the inner tent separated by a curtain.
Zhang Huai looked at the still-swaying tent flap, his expression not bright, saying: “Since the Lord has let Marquis Shuobian know your intention to leave is firm, going to Weizhou this time requires preparing for rainy days.”
—
Three days later, Xiao Li accompanied Yuan Fang to Weizhou to attend the grand wedding ceremony of Wei Pingjin and the former Jin Princess.
The two were originally to lodge at the city’s post house, but after learning of their arrival in the city, Wei Qishan’s side quickly sent people to receive them, saying courtyard quarters had been prepared for them at the manor and that there seemed to be matters to discuss with Xiao Li.
The two could not refuse and redirected to the Marquis’s manor.
Xiao Li traveled alone on this journey, not even bringing Song Qin and Zheng Hu, who usually accompanied him to banquets.
Yuan Fang had asked about this on the road. Xiao Li stated plainly that he had come to bid farewell and it was inconvenient to bring too many brothers. Yuan Fang could say no more, only appearing pained and melancholy throughout the journey.
Upon entering the Marquis’s manor, servants led them toward the guest quarters.
On the road, Yuan Fang suddenly asked: “Benefactor, after returning to Tongzhou, what are your plans?”
In the distance, a persimmon tree was planted at the corner of the courtyard wall. Thick white snow covered its dark branches. Though the fine twigs had shed all their leaves, several bright red persimmons still hung from them—quite a pleasing sight.
Xiao Li said: “I am an idle, rough person who has never had great ambitions. After killing Pei Song, I can also be a rustic villager.”
But Yuan Fang said: “Benefactor commands troops like a god and manages subordinates effectively. Wherever you go, you can achieve great success.”
As they spoke, they passed through a narrow passage flanked by high walls on both sides.
The sounds of bows and crossbows being loaded instantly rang out from the openings at both ends and from atop the walls on either side. Looking up, densely packed armored soldiers had aimed their crossbows at Xiao Li.
Those arrow tips glinting with cold light carried a chill even greater than the wind and snow in this flurrying snowfall.
Yuan Fang dared not turn to look at Xiao Li. With his back to him, his expression was particularly troubled as he said: “I know I have wronged our benefactor, but since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness are difficult to reconcile. Benefactor harbored Princess Hanyang and deceived the Marquis. If there is any misunderstanding or hidden circumstance in this matter, benefactor can speak plainly to me. I will certainly plead for our benefactor before the Marquis…”
Xiao Li’s face showed a calmness bordering on indifference, completely devoid of any anger over this banquet trap and deception. He only slightly raised his eyelids: “So it’s not to invite me to the wedding feast?”
Yuan Fang’s face showed even greater discomfort, also feeling ashamed for his previous words that used emotional bonds as bait to trick Xiao Li into meeting Wei Qishan.
He made a gesture, and the armored soldiers on both wall tops and blocking the front and rear of the corridor all lowered their crossbows.
He said: “The Marquis truly wishes to see our benefactor. I must trouble our benefactor to surrender your blade before the audience.”
Xiao Li half-raised his eyes, removed the black iron forged blade from his waist, and tossed it over.
Yuan Fang caught the blade and handed it to an armored soldier behind him, gesturing “please” to Xiao Li.
The armored soldiers blocking the front of the corridor had long since divided to stand on both sides. Their swords and blades unsheathed, they watched Xiao Li with extreme vigilance, all knowing he had repeatedly performed miraculous feats and possessed the courage of an overlord reborn. The trusted general Liao Jiang of Wei Qishan had even praised him as the human incarnation of the God Taisui. They dared not be the slightest bit careless.
As Xiao Li walked past without looking sideways, many armored soldiers’ palms gripping sword and blade hilts were soaked with sweat.
The armored soldiers at the rear corridor opening, holding sharp spears, followed from a distance with equal trepidation, as if encircling and fighting some fierce beast.
When Xiao Li casually swept his eyes over them without intention, it nearly frightened the soldiers guarding ahead into retreating several steps.