For several consecutive days, bugles sounded continuously in the palace. Soldiers departing from the Northern Grand Camp assembled in batches outside Xianchi Gate, marching northward to greet the first rays of dawn in the spring morning.

On the eleventh of the first month, scouts from the Tage Grasslands sent another urgent dispatch. By rough estimate, the combined armies of Chili and Northern Liang exceeded 1.2 million troops. This was the largest military campaign Great Sui had encountered since the dynasty’s founding. On the day the urgent dispatch was received, Zhu Yushen immediately ordered the mobilization of another three hundred thousand troops from the Southwest and Huguang regional commands.

After nightfall on the fourteenth of the first month, the entire Sui palace was brightly lit.

The next morning, Zhu Yushen would personally lead the campaign. Even though the day to resume court hadn’t arrived, all civil and military officials had already returned to the palace, assembling successively outside Xianchi Gate together with the departing soldiers to see off this battle-tested emperor.

Wu Chang had just withdrawn from Jinshen Palace when he saw Liu Chaoming walking toward him.

“Lord Liu, you’ve come.”

Liu Chaoming asked, “Has His Majesty retired for the night?”

Wu Chang sighed. “How could he? Earlier Lord Su came to report on the final verdict matters of the military farm case. After His Majesty finished discussing with him, he only leaned against the imperial desk for a brief nap. He woke just now, saying there are still several memorials left unread. He won’t rest tonight. This servant just sent in ginseng soup.” He asked again, “Is Lord Liu here to see His Majesty? This servant will go announce you immediately.”

Actually, most of the memorials from the imperial desk had been sent to Liu Chaoming at Liuzhao Pavilion. The few in Zhu Yushen’s hands were temporarily submitted by the War Ministry and concerned military intelligence.

Having finished reading them, he stood before the terrain model contemplating the northern frontier’s military defenses. Hearing the hall door sound, without raising his eyes, he only asked, “Why have you come at this hour?”

Liu Chaoming bowed. “Your Majesty is about to depart on campaign. This subject has come to inquire if Your Majesty has any further instructions?”

Zhu Yushen said, “There’s nothing left. Entrusting government affairs to you, I am ultimately at ease.”

He had already changed into armor, only not yet wearing his helmet. On the sword platform beside the terrain model, a sword named “World’s Hero” rested quietly.

The hall was filled with flickering lamplight. Liu Chaoming’s gaze fell on “World’s Hero,” and he paused slightly. In his memory, before Zhu Yushen first commanded troops at Beiping, he had visited the prince’s residence and seen precisely this scene.

At that time, Liu Yun was only sixteen, standing in the Fourth Prince’s residence filled with the air of cold iron, hearing Zhu Yushen ask, “Liu Yun, do you have anything precious?”

In this desolate life, only two people had treated him with deep affection and righteousness—one was his mother who passed away early, one was the old censor who later adopted him.

He untied a jade pendant from his waist and extended it forward. “This is my mother’s only keepsake. If Your Highness values it, consider it modest repayment for Your Highness’s life-saving grace when I escaped from the Liu residence years ago.”

The jade pendant was warm and lustrous, its pale white luster faintly glowing.

Yet Zhu Yushen said, “This prince doesn’t want your repayment. This prince only wishes to use this as a token to establish a gentleman’s covenant with you.”

He accepted the jade pendant and smashed it on the ground.

Under Liu Chaoming’s stunned gaze, that jade pendant almost as important as his life shattered into four pieces.

Zhu Yushen gathered up the shattered jade pendant and took down from the sword platform behind him a sword completely ink-black, forged with flowing gold dark patterns. “Though dead, the chivalrous spirit remains fragrant; unashamed to be a hero of this world. This is this prince’s token.”

—Today, this prince establishes a covenant with you. In the future, upon ascending the throne, I hope to receive your assistance four times.

—And this prince shall also promise you three vows.

—The northern frontier is war-torn, the people have no means of livelihood. Tomorrow at dawn, I will personally request to command troops in battle. This first vow, this prince promises you peace in the northern frontier.

Bugles sounded again in the palace precincts—the yin hour was approaching, and the departing soldiers had already assembled outside Xianchi Gate.

Zhu Yushen withdrew his gaze from the terrain model and took down “World’s Hero.” “Let’s go. Accompany me to Xianchi Gate.”

The night was at its deepest and darkest. The two walked down the stone steps together, passing through palace corridors.

Zhu Yushen said, “Su Shiyu came earlier. The military farm case is nearly concluded. Of the forty-six cases, officials from various regions involved should be dealt with as appropriate. When she submits the memorial, you handle it accordingly.”

Liu Chaoming nodded. “Yes.”

Zhu Yushen continued, “Among the major officials implicated, Du Zhen and Ren Xuan—one holds the noble position of Vice Minister of Finance, the other Vice Minister of Personnel. Su Shiyu’s proposition is to drag them before Wumen Gate for public execution, proclaiming their crimes to the world. But old officials in court are all pleading for Ren Xuan’s mercy. After all, he inherited his father’s Marquis Changping title. Harming the face of old officials means harming the imperial family’s face. What do you think?”

Liu Chaoming said, “This subject knows of this matter. Several ministers and retired old officials have also spoken to this subject about it. But this subject’s view is the same as Su Shiyu’s—execute without mercy.”

If the imperial family’s dignity required a noble title for preservation, then it wouldn’t be called the imperial family.

This was the beginning of implementing new policies. Only severe measures could eliminate future troubles. They had to demonstrate this to the realm.

Zhu Yushen glanced at Liu Chaoming. “Fine. Since you and Su Shiyu are of the same mind, stand together against dissenting voices. If you can prevail, then prevail. I won’t interfere.”

Pausing slightly, he continued, “She’s quite honest. She also told me that the military farm system has been implemented for three years. The reason so many cases arose actually has something to do with Shu Yu.”

If Shu Wenlan hadn’t wanted to obtain leverage against Liu Chaoming and interfered with correspondence to and from the capital, Du Zhen and Ren Xuan alone couldn’t have concealed things from Liu Yun and Shen Qingyue for so long.

Therefore, though Shu Wenlan hadn’t directly participated, to hold him accountable would certainly be sufficient.

“I asked Su Shiyu if she wanted to impeach Shu Yu. She said she hadn’t found evidence and feared it would backfire into ‘unwarranted charges,’ so she could only let it go and asked me to reprimand her.” Speaking thus, Zhu Yushen laughed. “Do you believe it?”

When Su Jin was in Shu, she had already found connections between Shu Wenlan and this matter through traces. Adding the other forty-six military farm cases, no matter how cautious Shu Wenlan was, he would inevitably reveal flaws. With Su Shiyu’s abilities, how could she possibly not find evidence?

She simply didn’t want to impeach Shu Wenlan.

The dispute between Liu Yun and Shu Wenlan lay in whether to establish a eunuch bureau.

But after the turmoil in Shu, whether this bureau was established had long depended on Zhu Yushen, not Shu Wenlan. Zhu Yushen cherished talent. If he could tolerate Jin’an’s old faction, how could he not tolerate one Shu Wenlan?

Moreover, for Su Jin, regarding the current situation in the Cabinet, would removing one Shu Wenlan allow her, Shen Xi, and Liu Yun to coexist harmoniously?

She and Shen Xi naturally had loyalty stronger than gold, but with Liu Yun, they were sometimes enemies, sometimes friends. Political situations changed in an instant. Keeping Shu Wenlan to form a tripartite balance was most stable.

Su Shiyu had lofty aspirations and no interest in争, but she also needed to survive.

Muddling through when appropriate, ruthless when necessary.

Liu Chaoming looked at the faint light at the horizon’s edge. Somehow, he recalled the Su Jin who had knelt before him years ago, saying, “My lord’s aspiration is also Shiyu’s aspiration.”

Carrying three parts youthful innocence, three parts confusion about the unknown path ahead.

Yet now, this Su Shiyu could stand on her own and protect herself. He no longer needed to shield her for life.

Arriving outside Xianchi Gate, the assembled officials were already waiting. The hundred thousand departing soldiers formed ranks in the wilderness by the roadside. Banners covered the sky, military might stretched endlessly.

Liu Chaoming said, “Your Majesty has worked hard these years. This campaign will be unprecedentedly difficult. But after hardship comes peace, otherwise ultimate prosperity. When Your Majesty returns victorious, the realm will surely be tranquil.”

Zhu Yushen said, “Yes, but the enemies in the northern frontier and northwest are nomadic peoples. When I retreat, they invade. When I defend, they harass. When I attack, only then do they retreat. To truly preserve regional peace and ensure the realm’s tranquility, the defensive garrison must move north, the capital must relocate north.”

Actually, it would be soon. The capital in Beijing was already under construction.

Attendants brought wine. Liu Chaoming, together with Su Jin, Shen Xi, and Shu Wenlan, led the assembled officials in drinking with the emperor and soldiers.

After the wine, Zhu Yushen mounted his steed.

Across the wilderness, bugles sounded again. Horse hooves set forth, raising billowing dust.

Liu Chaoming stood at the head of the assembled officials, watching the dust fill the sky, recalling how many years ago, after losing the jade pendant and receiving “World’s Hero,” he returned home and asked Meng Liang, “Teacher, today I thought of an interpretation for the character ‘ji’ (relief/salvation). I don’t know if it’s correct.”

“Emperor Jingyuan is a founding sovereign who conquered the realm on horseback, emphasizing cutting through disorder with swift action, using severe laws in chaotic times. But who should remedy the chronic illnesses of the previous dynasty, the lingering wounds of troubled times?”

“The world experiences continuous storms, unbearable chaos and separation. The so-called ‘ji’ is choosing my sovereign, protecting my people.”

“I wish to choose a sovereign who breaks with the old and establishes the new. This person cannot be too benevolent, otherwise insufficient to cleanse the chaos of feudal princes and pacify the realm. This person cannot be evil, otherwise how can they bring relief to all living beings? This person must be able to endure, otherwise in chaotic circumstances, how can they establish a firm foothold? This person must be accomplished, employing talent regardless of background, putting the people first.”

Meng Liang asked, “Have you found such a person?”

Liu Yun shook his head. “Not yet.” But he was willing to spend five years, ten years, even twenty years searching.

Meng Liang said, “Liu Yun, we stand in this chaos, surrounded by darkness where one cannot see one’s own hand. Occasionally moonlight shines brilliantly, beautiful beyond measure. But the moonlight is too distant—how can it be grasped?”

“In chaotic times, everyone pursues moonlight like moths to flame—like me, like Boyuan. But throughout our lives, we cannot change this world one bit. Later I thought: while yearning toward the bright moon, perhaps one should move contrary to this moonlight and luminosity, walking toward the depths of darkness. Water too clear has no fish. The so-called breaking with old and establishing new—perhaps only by tearing through such darkness with bare hands, dispersing these decades of ceaseless wind and rain, can sunlight pour upon the mortal world.”

Reaching this point, Meng Liang smiled. “As you said, whether choosing a sovereign or protecting the people, the sovereign is secondary, the people primary. The so-called character ‘ji’ ultimately cannot escape being rooted in the realm and people’s livelihood. Unfortunately, I’m old, with few years left and unable to think it through clearly. Speaking on and on, I still don’t know how to proceed. In the future, you must explore this yourself.”

The campaign road was long, dust billowing. Reaching the road junction, Zhu Yushen suddenly reined his horse around.

Sunlight broke through clouds, pouring down silently.

Riding his horse, he slowly approached Liu Chaoming, removed “World’s Hero” from his waist, and extended it forward. “Though dead, the chivalrous spirit remains fragrant; unashamed to be a hero of this world.”

—Though dead, the chivalrous spirit remains fragrant; unashamed to be a hero of this world. This is this prince’s token.

—This prince shall promise you three vows.

—First vow: peace in the northern frontier, tranquil livelihood for the people.

—Second vow: moderate prosperity for the people, every family provided for and self-sufficient.

—Third vow: the realm bright and prosperous, peaceful and flourishing times, eternal relief throughout the world.

Sunlight fell on the completely ink-black sword body, flowing with hidden radiance.

“Teacher, how can you trust me? How can I find the character ‘ji’ that even teacher searched for in vain?”

“I trust you,” Meng Liang said. “Years ago I heard it said: the Liu family has a son who chose ‘Yun’ as his given name.”

“Good.” The young Liu Yun nodded. “Then Liu Yun will spend this lifetime seeking an answer.”

The radiance on the sword body gathered together, dazzling enough to rival the sun.

Liu Chaoming smiled faintly, reached out his hand, and accepted World’s Hero.