She opened the envelope, took out the letter and unfolded it. Her long lashes lowered slightly as she read through it rapidly.
The letter began with these words:
“When my lord opens this letter, you must have already heard of the upheaval in Yongzhou and news of this subject’s death. My lord, do not grieve. This subject has not forgotten what my lord entrusted that day, but as a subject of Liang, my heart feels ashamed. This subject passed the imperial examinations in the sixth year of Xianchong and has received stipend for seventeen years to date. I knew the ruler’s worries yet never cleared the treacherous from his side; I knew the people’s suffering yet was unable to seek their welfare. Now that the dynasty and realm have fallen to such ruin, we subjects who failed to act bear great guilt!”
“My lord possesses enlightened virtue and lofty aspirations, with the heroic ambition and far-reaching strategy to execute the treacherous rebels and restore the realm. This subject’s heart is comforted. Now my lord’s path is arduous, and Great Liang’s collapse is difficult to stop. This subject is willing to use his decaying body to obstruct this collapsing momentum, proclaiming to all under heaven: Though Liang has fallen, the integrity of its subjects remains! When my lord leads troops northward, why would there be no benevolent and righteous men of old Liang who would hasten to join you? This is what this subject’s heart holds dear—though I die nine deaths, I shall not regret it. What my lord entrusted, I have already fully instructed to my worthless son. On the day when Liang’s armies stabilize the Central Plains, I only wish that my worthless son may serve again as a subject of Liang in my stead and remain loyal to my lord!”
Wen Yu only felt severe stinging pain in her eyes. She looked back toward the direction of Yongzhou, her temples disheveled by the long wind, calling out hoarsely: “Governor Zhou…”
—
Yongzhou.
Snow drifted for a thousand li, frost condensed for ten thousand li.
Pei Song’s twenty thousand troops pressed down upon the city like a dark cloud.
Inside and outside Yongzhou’s city gates, everything was draped in white mourning cloth. The wind made the white flags on the city tower snap loudly.
Zhou Sui wore mourning hemp and hemp cap, accompanied by Yongzhou’s officials both great and small who were similarly dressed in mourning clothes, kneeling outside the city gate to welcome Pei Song’s army.
The north wind swept past carrying snow pellets, striking faces with piercing pain.
Zhou Sui pressed his forehead to the ground and shouted hoarsely: “Yongzhou Governor Zhou Jing’an—has taken responsibility and ended his own life. I—Zhou Sui—offer surrender on his behalf. I respectfully welcome the Grand Tutor’s army into the city!”
The Yongzhou officials great and small kneeling behind him echoed in unison: “We respectfully welcome the Grand Tutor’s army into the city!”
Further back, Xiao Li and a group of guards, along with Yongzhou’s garrison troops, formed orderly ranks. All wore armor with weapons removed, white cloth tied around their arms, kneeling on one knee with their heads half-lowered.
Before lowering his head, Xiao Li glanced through the raging wind and snow toward the person sitting high on horseback before the distant military formation.
Against the backlight, the dark silhouette of those twenty thousand troops in formation seemed like an iron wall carrying a chilling murderous aura. Though he couldn’t see the face of the person on horseback, he could feel that fierce, sharp intent.
That was a wolf with fangs and claws at their sharpest.
Pei Song seemed to sense something and swept a glance toward the military formation behind Yongzhou’s city gate, his eyes seeming to hold the raging wind and snow.
Everyone could see he was especially displeased.
Vice General Xing Lie, seeing he hadn’t spoken for a long time, said: “Grand Tutor, if you’re dissatisfied with this surrender, we’ll just slaughter our way into the city!”
Pei Song’s expression was cold, fierce, and sinister: “Zhou Jing’an really is a good dog of Great Liang!”
His chief secretary, not skilled in horsemanship, sat in a war chariot. Hearing this, he quickly said: “My lord! You must not massacre the city! Even though that Zhou Jing’an was cunning—after the Wen clan remnant Hanyang issued poems and prose denouncing you and summoning her former subordinates, he died to demonstrate his resolve and made this tragic gesture to elevate the Wen clan’s prestige—as long as Yongzhou has offered surrender, if you still massacre the city, you would undoubtedly give them another handle to attack you!”
“Now Wei Qishan has already dispatched troops from Youzhou, and the Wen clan remnant is gathering her former subordinates to go to Southern Chen. When they encircle you from north and south, the danger will be to you, my lord! Even though you’ve already dispatched troops from various routes to hunt down the Wen clan remnant, before definite news returns, you must not act impulsively. Taking the Central Plains heartland into your grasp is the urgent priority. Therefore, Yongzhou cannot be massacred! Otherwise, who will dare surrender next?”
Pei Song’s eyes were icy cold. He raised his hand slightly. The chief secretary understood he had listened to these words and said to the flag officer at the side: “Transmit my lord’s command—accept the surrender!”
The flag officer quickly spurred his horse forward and shouted: “The Grand Tutor is benevolent and accepts the surrender!”
Kneeling on the ground, Zhou Sui’s tears had nearly been blown by the cold wind into frost ice condensing on his face. His hands and feet were frozen nearly numb. Receiving this statement, the large stone weighing on his heart finally lightened somewhat.
He led the Yongzhou officials to their feet and knelt on both sides of the city gate.
No one raised their heads. They only heard the sound of horse hooves treading on the frost-covered ground gradually approaching, arrogantly entering the city gate.
Only after Pei Song’s personal guard troops had all entered the city did the Yongzhou officials, frozen with stiff and painful knees, struggle to their feet. Zhou Sui had been observing mourning these recent days, and in his grief had no appetite for food or drink. Having knelt in the snow for so long, he staggered when rising. Fortunately, Xiao Li came looking for him and supported him in time, calling: “Young Master.”
Zhou Sui smiled bitterly and said: “Let’s go back.”
—
Pei Song rode into the city on horseback. The common people along the street who saw them mostly showed fearful and watchful expressions. Not one person dared speak loudly.
When they reached a fork in the road and the guiding official was leading them down one path, Pei Song reined in his horse and demanded: “Where does this lead?”
The guiding official answered tremblingly: “Knowing… knowing the Grand Tutor would come, the young master has already had people arrange everything at the post station, only waiting for the Grand Tutor and your generals to move in.”
Pei Song curved his riding crop, saying casually: “Why such trouble? We can simply stay at the Zhou residence.”
“This…” The guiding official dared not make decisions on his own.
Having received word, Zhou Sui hurried over. He bowed humbly before Pei Song’s horse: “If the Grand Tutor is willing to condescend to grace my humble home, this official is deeply honored and fearful, only afraid that my humble home is simple and will neglect the Grand Tutor.”
Pei Song’s young face held a cold smile as he looked down at him and said: “No matter.”
Zhou Sui bowed even more deeply, saying: “In that case, my humble home will surely be glorified by your presence.”
He instructed his subordinates to hurry back and report so the residence could make some preparations, while he personally guided Pei Song’s way.
When the group arrived at the provincial residence, Lady Zhou, also dressed in mourning clothes, was already waiting at the door with the residence’s servants.
Seeing Pei Song dismount, she curtseyed and said: “The Grand Tutor’s honored presence fills this lady with both joy and trepidation.”
Pei Song said mockingly: “I see no joy, but Madam does indeed appear quite fearful.”
Lady Zhou knew he was reproaching her husband’s suicide and dared not respond, only bowing her head and curtseying even more respectfully.
Pei Song didn’t make things more difficult for her, a widowed woman, and walked past her through the residence gate.
However, Pei Song’s trusted general Xing Lie stared at Lady Zhou with fixed eyes. Even after walking past her, he kept turning back to look.
Today Lady Zhou hadn’t even pinned pearl hairpins in her hair, only wearing a plain silk flower, but she was already a beautiful woman to begin with. Well-maintained, her figure revealed the distinctive fullness of her age. Such simple dress instead added to her piteous appearance.
That gaze was completely unabashed, making both Lady Zhou and Zhou Sui, who had returned with Pei Song, turn extremely uncomfortable.
Only after all of Pei Song’s people had entered the residence did Zhou Sui walk to Lady Zhou’s side, his eyes filled with extreme anger and shame as he said: “Mother, I…”
He ultimately couldn’t continue speaking and choked up: “It’s your son who is incompetent…”
For a lady of rank to be so brazenly scrutinized was truly humiliating.
Lady Zhou patted her son’s shoulder and said: “No matter. Your father’s spirit tablet has been moved to the west courtyard. From now on, I’ll only be there. But my son…”
She said with reddened eyes: “From now on, you must still work well under the Grand Tutor.”
How could Zhou Sui not understand the deeper meaning in his mother’s words? What Pei Song wanted was for his father to personally offer surrender, then wag his tail and beg for mercy like a dog, seeking favors from him and showing off gleefully to other former Liang officials, trampling the integrity and dignity of Liang subjects to pieces.
This way, he could greatly dampen the morale of those Liang subjects who hadn’t yet submitted, and also let the common people see the ugly behavior of their parent officials, breeding contempt and venting all the bitterness from being oppressed by corvée labor and heavy taxes onto the “corrupt officials” of former Liang.
The more the common people saw such “corrupt officials” who were “greedy for life and afraid of death,” the more their disappointment in former Liang would grow. With Pei Song adding a bit more guidance, this profiteering rebel might even be praised as a righteous army.
His father understood all this, which is why he resolved to die as a martyr, using his unyielding backbone to make Pei Song hit a soft nail given the current situation.
To preserve the overall situation, Pei Song didn’t dare wantonly slaughter the city’s people to vent his anger, but he would certainly find various reasons to torment him.
But as long as he kept his posture low enough and endured whatever humiliation Pei Song gave him, then Pei Song would have no way to directly strip away the power in his hands.
—The Liang subjects who hadn’t yet submitted were all watching.
If surrendering only resulted in being stripped of power and reduced to the status of pigs and dogs, they might as well fight to the death.
So what he had to do next could be summarized in two words—endure humiliation.
Zhou Sui took a deep breath, suppressing the grief and indignation filling his chest, and said: “Your son understands.”
The mother and son were about to enter the residence together when more soldiers on horseback came galloping down the long street outside the gate. After reining in and tumbling off his horse, one said urgently: “Young Master! Those troops that entered the city have not been restrained and are currently abducting women everywhere!”
Zhou Sui shouted: “How can this be so absurd?”
He quickly pointed to Xiao Li: “Brother Xiao, your martial arts are excellent. First take the residence troops to deal with the Pei family soldiers. Don’t let them continue such acts of oppressing men and women. I’ll go persuade Grand Tutor Pei to strictly enforce military discipline among his subordinates!”
Xiao Li clasped his fists: “This subordinate will go now.”
—
Pei Song entered the Zhou residence study and sat behind the yellow rosewood desk, casually picking up an ancient book from the desk to browse through.
The personal soldiers below searched through Zhou Jing’an’s collection of books and paintings in the bookcases and curio shelves. After searching through everything, they reported to Pei Song: “My lord, we found no suspicious correspondence!”
Pei Song’s fingers tapped one by one on the armrest of the round-backed armchair as he said with interest: “This old fox covered his tracks well. Outsiders only think he martyred himself for his former master to enhance Hanyang’s reputation when she denounced me. But when he killed himself, the essays denouncing me that were simultaneously posted in several major prefectures hadn’t even reached Yongzhou yet. If his choice to die at this time wasn’t coincidence, then he must have known early on when the essays would be posted.”
The chief secretary, who was searching through the bookcase, suddenly paused in stroking his beard and looked toward Pei Song: “My lord means that Zhou Jing’an was likely secretly in contact with the Wen clan remnant?”
The corner of Pei Song’s lips curved slightly: “Everything in this world, as long as it’s been done, will always leave traces. Just like that Princess Hanyang of former Liang—if she wants to summon her former subordinates, she must expose that she hasn’t died yet and is continuing toward Southern Chen. Though she was clever enough to throw smoke screens on every major route leading to Southern Chen to confuse my vision, and even calculated that my men might not be able to catch up to her, but…”
He changed tack, his smile deepening: “Even clever people sometimes overlook something. My men can’t catch up, but the bounty for capturing former Liang remnants has been issued. In any prefecture she passes through next, there will be plenty of soldiers and bandits to intercept her for me.”
The guard outside suddenly said: “Grand Tutor, Young Master Zhou requests an audience!”
Pei Song exchanged a glance with the chief secretary. The chief secretary waved his hand, signaling the personal guards below to return all the books to their original places.
When Zhou Sui entered, he saw only Pei Song sitting behind the yellow rosewood desk where his father had often sat during his lifetime, an elderly man with a graying beard standing at his side, and several other personal guards standing on both sides below.
Zhou Sui cupped his hands: “I pay respects to the Grand Tutor.”
Pei Song asked unhurriedly: “Young Master Zhou came in such haste—is there an urgent matter?”
Zhou Sui bowed humbly and said: “This subordinate has ordered people to prepare simple wine in the front hall, wanting to welcome and wash away the dust for the Grand Tutor.”
Pei Song stared at him, his smile not reaching his eyes, saying: “Young Master Zhou is thoughtful.”
Zhou Sui quickly said: “I dare not. The Grand Tutor’s presence is the Zhou family’s fortune.”
Pei Song said: “In that case, I’ll trouble you then.”
But Zhou Sui didn’t rise: “This subordinate has one more matter to beseech the Grand Tutor.”
Pei Song slowly raised his eyes: “What matter?”
Zhou Sui said: “Today the common people of Yongzhou saw the Grand Tutor enter the city with their own eyes. From now on, the Grand Tutor is their heaven. The common people have suffered greatly under corvée labor and all hope the Grand Tutor will lead them to good lives, but… in the Grand Tutor’s army there are actually those harboring evil intentions who, after entering the city, plundered goods and raped women, intending to incite popular resentment and make the Grand Tutor lose the people’s hearts. I hope the Grand Tutor will severely punish these people!”
These words were spoken flawlessly, but Pei Song sitting above only cast him a cold glance: “The soldiers below followed this general through life-and-death battles. Just for seizing a few women, the Yongzhou people would lose faith in me? It seems… the Yongzhou people’s hearts were never with this general in the first place…”
Zhou Sui was so shocked he knelt down, kowtowing: “The Yongzhou people hold the Grand Tutor in high esteem, but this forcing good women into prostitution… how can it be acceptable?”
The chief secretary also knew this matter was the fault of those soldiers below and was about to speak when he heard Pei Song say: “If that’s the case, then I’ll trouble Young Master Zhou to find some beauties from the pleasure quarters for the soldiers. How about that?”
Zhou Sui’s face paled slightly, but he still bowed his head: “This official… accepts your command.”
After Zhou Sui withdrew, the chief secretary said: “My lord, what Young Master Zhou said was not wrong. My lord really should strictly control the soldiers below.”
Pei Song waved his hand. Seeing he was impatient to listen, the chief secretary could only stop talking.
Pei Song said: “I know everything sir says. Those below will naturally be severely punished. It’s just that Zhou Jing’an wanted to be a martyred loyal subject and is still holding mourning in his residence with his body laid out. I’m truly displeased in my heart. Why not let his son accompany the soldiers below in drinking and feasting?”
Hearing this, the chief secretary sighed and said: “I know my lord is angry, but the one loyal to Great Liang was Zhou Jing’an. His son may not be as stubborn and inflexible as he was. I observe this Zhou family young man—though young in years, he conducts himself with measured advance and retreat and is quite capable. Rather than humiliating him, my lord might as well grant him favors and make him serve my lord! After all, the Wen clan has no one left. A girl fleeing in distress to Southern Chen—what waves can she stir up? If he thinks it through even slightly, he’ll know how to choose.”
Pei Song gently rotated the iron thumb ring on his finger, his voice faint: “How does sir know whether this will tether a dog to my side or raise a wolf?”
“This…” The chief secretary couldn’t answer for a moment.
Pei Song stood up, looking out the window with his hands behind his back, the corner of his lips lifting slightly: “Forget it. Let me see how far he can endure. After all, dogs that don’t bark bite most fiercely, isn’t that right?”
When the Zhou residence servants came to respectfully invite them to the banquet in the front hall, Pei Song instead took his cloak and headed out: “I’ll trouble sir to go to the banquet for me first. I still have some private matters to handle.”
He rode with dozens of attendants straight to the Yongzhou prison. Passing through a street on the way, he saw soldiers who had entered the city with him brawling with several Yongzhou residence guards.
Leading the few residence guards was precisely Xiao Li.
Following Zhou Sui’s instructions, he was doing his best to “dissuade” the soldiers who had entered the city from oppressing men and women and plundering the common people.
But those military ruffians were all troublemakers. At the slightest disagreement, they started fighting.
The residence guards trained by the provincial government were elite. When going head-to-head with these military ruffians, when the other side had fewer people, they still had a great advantage.
Seeing his side defeated, a military ruffian with a pot belly spat out a bloody tooth and viciously grabbed the throat of the young woman they had abducted earlier, staring at Xiao Li with a cold laugh: “I followed the Grand Tutor into battle to kill enemies, earning merit with every blade and sword. Forget abducting a few women—even if I chop off your heads to use as chamber pots, the Grand Tutor won’t punish me!”
His five fingers tightened, the flesh on his face vicious: “Wasn’t it for this stinking woman that you wanted to teach me a lesson? I’ll wring her neck right in front of you!”
He exerted force with his hand, but before he could completely strangle the young woman’s throat, he was suddenly sprayed with blood all over his face.
The blood-covered woman fell to the ground and screamed first. Only then did the military ruffian come to his senses.
He screamed while clutching one side of his arm, crying and shouting at the top of his lungs:
“My hand! My hand! They attacked the army! They attacked the army! Quickly report to the general! Kill these Yongzhou bastards for me!”
Several residence guards panicked somewhat and asked Xiao Li: “Brother Xiao, what should we do now?”
Xiao Li stared coldly at the screaming military ruffian and said: “I didn’t attack the army. There are traitors in the army trying to ruin Grand Tutor Pei’s reputation. I’m rectifying military discipline for the Grand Tutor.”
“You… give me your life!” The military ruffian was extremely hateful and directly grabbed a blade from a brother at his side, slashing toward Xiao Li.
But having lost one arm, his body was unbalanced. That slash was inaccurate to begin with, and Xiao Li easily dodged it with a sidestep.
He staggered forward several steps and crashed into a tall horse, cursing. Just as he raised his head, a whip struck his face.
A personal guard who had come at Pei Song’s signal shouted: “Disgraceful thing! Get back and accept your punishment!”
The military ruffians didn’t recognize him but recognized the armor on his body. Frightened weak in the knees, they quickly said: “We know our error! We’ll go back and accept punishment now!”
The personal guard also coldly swept a glance at Xiao Li and the group of residence guards before turning his horse and leaving.
The military ruffians didn’t dare linger and scattered like birds and beasts.
Xiao Li squinted toward the group of people on horseback standing in the distance. He couldn’t make out the appearance of the leading general, but seeing that those following him were all mounted soldiers, he figured their status must be quite high.
One residence guard patted his chest lightly: “Fortunately, their own Pei clan people passed by here. Otherwise, today’s matter really wouldn’t have known how to end.”
Another residence guard watched the personal guard riding away in the distance and muttered: “That group doesn’t follow military discipline themselves and harms the common people. Why did that person who rode over just now whip that military ruffian, yet still look at us unkindly?”
The senior residence guard slapped him on the head and scolded: “Are you stupid? Brother Xiao led us few people and beat more than a dozen of them into that state, even cutting off the ruffian leader’s arm. When those generals see their subordinates suffering losses, it’s a slap to their faces. How could they feel comfortable?”
With this reminder, several residence guards felt some fear in their hearts.
One person said: “This world is in such chaos. Now that the Zhou residence isn’t controlled by the young master anymore, we might as well join the army and venture out rather than continue as residence guards, being stifled day in and day out!”
Someone asked Xiao Li, who hadn’t spoken: “Brother Xiao, what about you?”
Xiao Li was staring at the retreating backs of Pei Song’s group. His arm was bumped once, and coming back to his senses, he said: “I have no great ambitions. I only want to stay with my mother and be filial.”
The residence guards weren’t surprised by this answer and continued talking about joining the army. “The ancients all said heroes emerge in chaotic times. If the brothers really go join the army, we might be able to make a name for ourselves.”
Someone scoffed: “Like that group just now, oppressing men and women?”
The one who proposed joining the army spat and said: “Isn’t the Marquis of Shuobian in the north also recruiting soldiers? I heard the Marquis of Shuobian governs his troops well and loves his soldiers like sons, not like that Pei Song fellow who’s moody and brutal to his subordinates.”
At the mention of Pei Song, the residence guards felt their teeth itch. As they walked, they said: “The Pei family isn’t any great clan either. That Pei Song is only twenty-five or twenty-six. Who knows how he got to where he is today!”
Xiao Li had no interest in participating in these conversations, but those few words “twenty-five or twenty-six” inexplicably stuck in his ears.
The one who slaughtered Wen Yu’s entire family, forced Zhou Jing’an to suicide, caused Great Liang’s realm to collapse to this extent, and would in the future resist the Marquis of Shuobian and Southern Chen’s troops with his own strength—was only a young man of twenty-five or twenty-six?
He looked up at the snow drifting down from the sky, his expression dark and unreadable.
—
Pei Song rode his horse with a group of trusted followers continuing forward, holding the reins as he asked: “Those people were all Zhou residence guards?”
The personal soldier who had gone to stop the dispute answered: “Precisely.”
Pei Song narrowed his eyes: “That young man who drew his blade and cut off someone’s arm—his swordsmanship was excellent.”
The personal soldier hesitated, then asked: “Should we investigate his identity?”
Pei Song brushed the light snow from his shoulder and said: “Since he’s from the Zhou residence, there’s no rush to investigate now.”
The personal soldier nodded and asked again: “Then… those military ruffians who caused trouble—how should they be punished?”
Pei Song’s tone was cold: “Beat them to death with clubs.”
“I don’t keep such disgraceful waste under my command.”
The personal soldiers immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.
When the group arrived at Yongzhou prison, the prison warden, having received news, had already led the jailers and guarding soldiers out to greet them: “Grand… Grand Tutor, why have you come?”
Pei Song tossed his riding crop to the personal soldier behind him. His lips held a smile, but that smile made people’s spines turn cold. He said: “In your prison, there’s an old acquaintance of mine.”
The smile piled on the warden’s face stiffened slightly. He quickly knelt down: “I beseech the Grand Tutor to see clearly—this lowly one is only responsible for guarding this place. As for how the people in the prison were imprisoned, this lowly one knows nothing. They were all judged by various levels of government offices and then escorted here. There are even those exiled here to do hard labor. This… this all has nothing to do with this lowly one…”
Pei Song raised his eyelids slightly and only said: “Take me to see the criminal who was exiled here fifteen years ago.”
The warden cried: “This… this… Grand Tutor, criminals exiled here only increase each year, countless numbers. Those who freeze to death or die of illness are innumerable. This lowly one wasn’t even working here fifteen years ago. I truly don’t know who you’re talking about—the criminal exiled here fifteen years ago…”
Pei Song’s expression turned cold. Behind him, the cold blades of two personal guards scraped out of their sheaths an inch with a “clang.”
The warden was so frightened his legs trembled. He quickly said: “There is, there is such a person! He might be the person you’re looking for, Grand Tutor! But the criminal register doesn’t record his name, and he’s been crazy for over ten years. This lowly one doesn’t know his surname or name either…”
Pei Song only said: “Lead the way.”
The warden led him and his several personal guards tremblingly toward the deepest part of the prison cells.
From far away, they could already hear the mad old man’s humming: “Drunk, I light a lamp to look at my sword, dreaming I return to the camp with trumpets sounding…”