Minister Liu and his army of two hundred thousand fought to the death in Helan. After Tong Pass fell, enemy forces attacked from both sides of the pass, leading to the complete sacrifice of all two hundred thousand soldiers.

By mid-February, Liangzhou had fallen. The Southern Barbarians’ morale soared as they marched south. Within three days, their iron cavalry had crossed Xianyang Bridge. With vast plains ahead, the capture of Chang’an seemed imminent.

The news galloped back to Chang’an. Before the officials could even mourn the passing of the Prime Minister, they were already pale with fear at the approaching Southern Barbarian army. In the hundreds of years since Great Wei’s founding, barbarians had never breached the capital Chang’an. The ministers hurriedly sought an audience with the Emperor to discuss countermeasures.

They hoped the Emperor would mobilize the hundred thousand elite troops stationed in Chang’an and issue an emergency decree to summon reinforcements from all provinces. The plan was to defend the city with these hundred thousand troops while waiting for the provincial military governors to arrive with their forces.

This suggestion came from Minister Zhang, who had served alongside the late Minister Liu as Prime Minister.

However, the Emperor rebuked him in court: “Even the two hundred thousand elite troops in Longyou who fought foreign barbarians for years couldn’t stop the enemy. How could Chang’an’s hundred thousand troops possibly hold them back? This strategy of yours will doom the nation – what are your true intentions?!”

Minister Zhang stared at the Emperor, his face turning ashen. He raised his sleeves, wanting to say more, to question why the Western Regions had fallen so quickly.

Hadn’t Minister Liu advised the Emperor that the time wasn’t right for battle? Hadn’t it been the Emperor who constantly pressed for military action, suspecting Minister Liu of cowardice? Hadn’t it been Liu Wenji who sowed discord, making the Emperor distrust the Western Regions army?

Minister Zhang couldn’t believe the Western Regions had fallen so quickly!

Perhaps there were spies, perhaps someone in court was collaborating with the Southern Barbarians, passing information…

But facing the Emperor, who was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, Minister Zhang no longer had the strength to speak these words. He could speak, but the Emperor wouldn’t want to hear any of it.

Seeing the officials’ cold indifference and silence, the Emperor slammed his desk in fury: “The enemy is about to storm Chang’an, and you all sit here playing Buddha! You all pride yourselves on being from century-old noble families, well-read scholars, or commoners of noble character… yet at this crucial moment, not one of you can offer a solution?”

Minister Zhang’s heart grew cold for the deceased Minister Liu.

On behalf of all officials, he asked: “Given the situation, what else can we do besides defend the city? Does Your Majesty have a better strategy?”

The Emperor pondered briefly before saying: “I have an idea. The mountains endure, and firewood can always be gathered anew. In this crisis, our lives are more important than a single city. The Southern Barbarian army might reach Chang’an’s gates tomorrow. We should quickly pack and withdraw from Chang’an.

“Those barbarians won’t know how to govern even if they take Chang’an – they won’t keep it. Once the reinforcements arrive and drive out the Southern Barbarians, we can return.”

The court erupted in an uproar.

They stared dumbfounded at the calculating Emperor, the absurdity leaving them in a daze. The entire hall fell silent, no one able to speak.

“Preposterous!” Minister Zhang’s face flushed red as he spoke without restraint.

One Prime Minister had retired, and another had died, leaving only three Prime Ministers in court. Among them, Minister Zhang was close in age to the late Minister Liu. While Minister Liu had been known for his stern demeanor, Minister Zhang was the most gentle-tempered of the Prime Ministers.

With his kind eyes and benevolent nature, he was always easy to talk to. The late Minister Liu had once joked that he was like “Maitreya Buddha,” saying he lacked ambition and merely drifted through his days, turning a blind eye to everything, as if all was peaceful under heaven.

But now, this Minister Zhang spoke with a trembling voice: “Is Your Majesty suggesting we abandon the city and flee? When the enemy arrives, can Chang’an’s million residents escape like us? Can the ancient sites, gardens, and treasures flee with us? How will Your Majesty answer to the people of the realm?!”

The Emperor replied craftily: “Do you know how many times Chang’an has been destroyed throughout history? It gets rebuilt after destruction – this wouldn’t be the first time.”

He declared: “My mind is made up!”

Minister Zhang: “Where can Your Majesty flee to? South to Yizhou? Is the Shu Road even passable now? The battle in Jiannan is hardly better than our situation.”

Emperor: “First to Bingzhou, then cross the Yellow River…”

Minister Zhang couldn’t help but mock: “Even crossing the Yellow River? Since Your Majesty brings up history, I must add – throughout history, no regime that fled south ever had the chance to return to the Central Plains. Does Your Majesty intend to hand over this great land to others?”

The Emperor was speechless, then exploded in anger. Unable to counter Minister Zhang and furious at the officials’ disrespect, he shouted: “Minister Zhang is spreading chaos and speaking treasonous words – lock him up! Liu Wenji, discuss the evacuation plans with the others…”

Liu Wenji, holding his horsetail whisk, bowed deeply.

The outcome of the court discussion left the non-participating officials in deep sorrow. But wiping their tears, they could only hastily kneel and bow to the people.

What could ministers do when their sovereign had decided?

Wei Shu, who had been feuding with Liu Wenji and previously offended the Emperor, had been confined to his residence for reflection these past days. When he received the news, he was told to flee with the other officials and the people.

Wei Shu froze, asking: “Why must we flee?”

He was pure and clean as snow falling in a forest. This pristine, clear beauty, without sharp edges, and his handsome bearing had always been admired by others.

The eunuch delivering the message had forgotten how another eunuch had once been unnerved by this man and just smiled saying: “The Southern Barbarians’ iron cavalry is invading. If the Longyou army couldn’t defeat them, we certainly can’t. Naturally, His Majesty must endure for the future.”

Wei Shu grew even more puzzled and said: “Defending a city is different from attacking one. Being unable to defeat them doesn’t mean we can’t defend against them. Defending requires people, not just soldiers. Chang’an has millions of residents, abundant grain, flowing water throughout the city – we lack neither water nor food. What are we afraid of?

“We only need to close the four city gates. At worst, we’d be holding up in the city. Once reinforcements arrive, wouldn’t Chang’an be saved?

“Moreover, even if reinforcements can’t immediately drive back the Southern Barbarians, Chang’an’s food stores can last a year. So I don’t understand why we need to flee?”

The eunuch was bewildered by his words.

Young Master Wei’s reasoning was so logical, clear, and calm that the eunuch was convinced, wondering why they needed to flee… if they had food and supplies, what were they running from?

But His Majesty wanted to flee!

The eunuch stammered: “Defending the city might be difficult…”

Wei Shu interrupted: “I’ve defended cities before. I know how to defend a city. I know defending is easier than attacking. As long as the defenders don’t surrender, the attackers’ losses will be far greater!”

After a long pause, the eunuch muttered: “These are His Majesty’s orders. Please don’t make things difficult for this servant.”

Wei Shu gave a cold smile.

His usually calm eyes flashed with severity. Stepping forward, his hand on his sword hilt, his bearing was like ice breaking through a jade river, making the messenger eunuch repeatedly step back.

Wei Shu’s previous gentleness vanished as he demanded: “Minister Liu’s body isn’t even cold, he died fighting for the country, and His Majesty thinks of fleeing? Longyou fell so quickly for unknown reasons, and His Majesty thinks of hiding?”

The eunuch fell to his knees: “This servant… this servant doesn’t know!”

Wei Shu ignored the eunuch and ordered his household guards to bind him. He hurriedly left, heading first to the residence of his eldest brother, Wei Kai, the head of the Wei family’s main line.

Wei Kai was organizing books and clothes at home, where women, children, and servants were in chaos. Faced with calamity, everyone had been affected by their superiors’ panic and started to lose composure.

Wei Shu was led to the study to see Wei Kai, who stood with his back turned and mocked: “What a rare guest! Since Zhao Wu Niang left the capital, Juyang cut ties with us, shouting about breaking from the Wei family. What brings you to my door today?”

Wei Shu was concise: “Elder Brother, let’s reconcile.”

Wei Kai was startled, turning to look at him.

The perpetually striking young man wore gray robes, disheveled from his hurried journey, covered in dust.

Yet Wei Shu’s expression remained calm as he asked: “I wish to reconcile with Elder Brother, to reconcile with the Luoyang Wei clan. Tell me, Brother, what would it take for you to forgive me, for there to be no more rifts between me and the Wei family?

“Do you want me to kneel and kowtow, or must I give something else?”

Wei Kai gazed at him for a long while.

Setting down his book, Wei Kai lowered his eyes and spoke softly: “Juyang opposed the Wei family for ten years without yielding. Refusing marriage, going on diplomatic missions, breaking ties with the family over a woman… why suddenly seek reconciliation now?”

Wei Shu was direct: “In times of national crisis, family disputes are meaningless. I seek reconciliation with the Wei family to access family resources and cooperate with Elder Brother’s power. I detest the Wei family’s control over me, but… the Wei family is just a small part of Great Wei.

“Too many people are about to die, too many have died without explanation. I’m willing to reconcile with the family, if only… to save this realm!”

Wei Kai silently watched him.

Wei Kai said: “I know what you want to do. But the reason our Luoyang Wei clan has endured for hundreds of years is that we never involve ourselves in such matters.”

Before Wei Shu could argue, Wei Kai seemed lost in thought for a moment before smiling: “But our Wei clan has also endured for hundreds of years because we made the right choices at every crucial moment. Times create heroes, and heroes suit their times. Every time our clan faced such great tides, we were extremely fortunate to have clan members step forward, riding the tide to protect our family.

“I don’t know if Juyang is such a person, but I’m not. Since I’m not, I should make way for people like you… this era belongs to you. I won’t stand in your way.”

He walked toward Wei Shu, studying this brother he had never liked. He had despised this brother for being a son of a concubine, yet possessing extraordinary talent, hailed as a prodigy since childhood. Being a prodigy was one thing, but this brother was also arrogant with his talent, keeping to himself. All their peers were overshadowed by Wei Shu’s ability and angered by his arrogance.

But now that they had grown and been through much, Wei Kai understood that his seventh brother perhaps wasn’t arrogant or looking down on them.

He was just poor at social interaction, unable to curry favor with his brothers.

Wei Kai couldn’t help but smile.

He said: “Juyang, go do what you want to do. Whatever you need, the Wei family will pave the way. If it’s wrong, I’ll take responsibility for everything today.”

Wei Shu bowed to him: “I don’t need Elder Brother to take responsibility for me, I’ll bear it myself.”

Wei Kai cursed: “You brat!

“Still don’t know how to talk properly!”

The Wei family’s influence permeated throughout the court departments. Though perhaps their highest officials weren’t in the most senior positions, they had Wei family members with influence in each of the Six Ministries, which made them extremely formidable.

That night, when the Emperor was being escorted by Liu Wenji to his carriage to flee the city, the procession couldn’t move forward after leaving the city gates. Liu Wenji reported to the Emperor that the Imperial Guards refused to leave, having been convinced to stand with the people and defend Chang’an.

The Emperor cursed endlessly.

But if the Imperial Guards wouldn’t leave, how could the Emperor they protected dare to leave?

The Emperor was helped down from his carriage by Liu Wenji, while the concubines hiding in the carriages behind grew anxious. Among them, Consort Xian Chunhua secretly lifted the curtain to look outside.

She saw soldiers lining the road, torches blazing everywhere, Liu Wenji with his back to them. Facing the Emperor, standing neither submissive nor arrogant, was a young man she recognized as Wei Shu.

The Emperor angrily questioned Wei Shu: “Minister Wei, aren’t you overstepping your bounds, reaching too far? You dare to make the Imperial Guards refuse to leave… Commander Jiang, are you listening to a mere Secretary of the Ministry of Rites instead of your Emperor?”

Wei Shu bowed: “Your Majesty, during my time as envoy, I established diplomatic relations with various states. The fall of Longyou has them all equally alarmed. I’ve written to request their aid for the Western Regions. The Southern Barbarians advanced too quickly, their rear must be vulnerable. With forces from various states pressing from behind while Chang’an attacks from the front, the Southern Barbarians will be caught in the middle, trapped with nowhere to go.

“Only then will they panic.”

The Emperor mocked: “Who knew a mere Secretary of the Ministry of Rites could be such a military strategist! Where is the Minister of War…”

Wei Shu remained composed: “The Minister of War had too much to drink and is resting at his residence.”

Liu Wenji’s eyelid twitched violently as he glared at Wei Shu.

Wei Shu… had detained Lord Zhao? Detained Zhao Wu Niang’s father? How dare he?

The Emperor also realized this, showing signs of shock and suspicion. He stepped back, fearing Wei Shu might place him under house arrest as well.

The Emperor spoke anxiously yet warily: “Commander Jiang…”

The burly general who had been standing silently with his head bowed nearby said: “Your Majesty, Young Master Wei speaks sense. In this national crisis, we cannot leave, Chang’an cannot be lost. A million citizens of Chang’an are watching us… we cannot abandon them.”

Emperor: “Wei Juyang was an envoy, a diplomat! He’s silver-tongued and persuasive – you’ve all been deceived by him!”

Wei Shu: “This is the first time I’ve been called ‘persuasive.'”

Emperor: “Wei Juyang, what are your true intentions?!”

Wei Shu: “Nothing more. I request Your Majesty return to Chang’an, return to the palace, and stay there peacefully. As long as Chang’an stands, Your Majesty cannot leave. Until Minister Liu’s death is explained, Your Majesty cannot retreat.

“All court officials are following Your Majesty, watching Your Majesty.

“Chang’an’s hundred thousand elite troops will all be watching Your Majesty, protecting Your Majesty.”

The Emperor was dumbfounded.

He looked at the troops lining the road, at the silent officials with lowered heads. He looked at the blazing torches, then back at Chang’an City behind the flames.

Cold sweat broke out over his body. He did not doubt that if he insisted on leaving tonight, Wei Shu might commit regicide… all the court officials were watching!

They all wanted to kill him!

Every one of them wanted to kill him!

The Emperor was terrified, never before so deeply aware of the officials’ hatred toward him. Liu Wenji supported him from behind, suddenly bringing him back to his senses.

The Emperor thought thankfully that at least he had Liu Wenji. The Imperial Guards had apparently all aligned with the scholars represented by Wei Shu, and it seemed the noble families and commoners had joined forces. But Liu Wenji still had troops, the Northern Command was still loyal!

The Emperor’s voice was hoarse and strange: “Then… I shall return to the palace.”

Wei Shu remained silent.

Liu Wenji raised his eyes to meet Wei Shu’s gaze as they passed each other. As they brushed shoulders, fear welled up in Liu Wenji’s heart.

Though Wei Juyang’s eyes were so calm, Liu Wenji sensed his killing intent. A civil official who had led troops in attacking and defending cities as an envoy was no ordinary civil servant.

Wei Shu would begin the killing.

Unlike gentle characters like Yan Shang, Wei Shu’s killing might be utterly calm, perhaps without any psychological burden… the more emotionless a person, the fewer weaknesses they showed.

Liu Wenji felt agitated, realizing his own danger. No, he had to save himself. This Emperor was essentially going to be deposed by Wei Shu… and today, with Minister Liu’s death, the noble families and commoners had joined forces to attack the palace servants, who would surely be defeated.

He had to find a way to save himself—

Chang’an entered its siege state in mid-February.

Just as Wei Shu had predicted, Chang’an’s food stores could last at least a year, and its gates, built to protect the capital, were not easily breached. Defending Chang’an wasn’t difficult; what made it challenging was its role as the capital, the symbol of Great Wei.

With Chang’an in crisis, military governors from all directions would naturally come to rescue the Emperor.

Suddenly, troops from across the realm converged on Chang’an. Minister Liu’s death had aroused the fury of Great Wei’s soldiers. The Emperor and Chang’an being besieged felt like a humiliation to every person in Great Wei.

Other commanderies might fall, but Chang’an could not.

The relief forces didn’t know about Wei Shu’s virtual house arrest of the Emperor, nor did they know about the overt and covert attacks between the scholar-officials and palace servants within Chang’an.

With Chang’an besieged, armies rushed to its aid. As a result, the Jiannan region below Chang’an received far less military and supply support than before.

With Chang’an itself in danger, it naturally couldn’t provide supplies to Jiannan; with Chang’an in crisis and its gates sealed, it also couldn’t issue orders or send troops to fight in Jiannan.

Jiannan had reached the most crucial stage of its war, yet both supplies and troops were critically low. Yan Shang used every means to borrow troops and supplies from various regions, but all provinces needed to aid Chang’an. Compared to Chang’an, Jiannan’s gains or losses seemed insignificant.

Yan Shang was anxious about this, rushing about, but supplies continued to dwindle daily, and there were no more troops to be mobilized.

Consort Zhao gritted her teeth, volunteering to use her father’s status to borrow troops. The neighboring province had been repairing the Yangtze River dikes, and last year they had sent supplies to help and dispatched fifty thousand troops to assist. Moreover, that province’s military governor was her father’s student.

She said: “Brother Yan, Cousin, don’t worry. I will definitely borrow troops and supplies! I will help you resolve this crisis!”

Yang Si was covered in blood, his face exhausted. When Zhao Lingfei made her pledge, he had just finished a major battle. He sat on the ground, hand supporting his forehead, thinking about the corpses on the battlefield.

His expression was cold, his eyes dark and fierce. This was the aftermath of returning from the battlefield… fighting day and night on the battlefield could completely transform a person.

Yang Si thought about how he could kill Meng Zaishi. Killing Meng Zaishi would win them half the battle in Jiannan. Then Brother Yan wouldn’t have to be so anxious, Lingfei wouldn’t have to go against her father, and he could…

Yan Shang stood behind Yang Si, keeping his distance due to the other’s extreme reactions, and spoke gently: “Third Brother, you haven’t slept for two days. I need to go take care of something, you should rest a while.”

Yang Si shook his head: “I can’t sleep.”

Yan Shang was worried but only sighed, saying nothing more. He and Zhao Lingfei left the military camp separately. Before leaving, he instructed his sister, who was treating the wounded in the camp, asking Xiazhou to take extra care of Yang Si.

Yan Xiazhou agreed but worried: “Second Brother, we’re out of medicine too. With more wounded coming in, we simply can’t save them all…”

Yan Shang rubbed his brow, saying: “I’ll think of something.”

A voice came from behind: “We’re even short on medicine?”

The siblings turned to see Yang Si standing at the tent entrance.

Yang Si pondered for a moment, then said: “Then we need to end this quickly.”

Yan Shang said: “Third Brother, you don’t need to…”

Yang Si: “I know how to fight a war, I don’t need you to teach me.”

Yan Shang knew his personality had changed drastically due to the war, his way of speaking becoming cold and ruthless. Yan Shang exchanged another look with Yan Xiazhou, only hoping his sister could help ease Yang Si’s tense nerves somewhat. After giving all these instructions, Yan Shang left the camp.

He had his matters to attend to.

He carried an enormous pressure in his heart, yet told no one.

This would be the last time Yan Shang and Yang Si saw each other—

In early April, Yan Shang led his guards and, after confirming it was safe, met with an envoy from the Ale King of Guangzhou.

The other party brought a jade pendant and a box.

Seeing the jade pendant, Yan Shang’s expression tightened, his hand trembling slightly in his sleeve.

Yet his face remained calm: “What does this mean?”

The other party spoke wildly: “Guangzhou has been sealed off for two months now. You haven’t had contact with that side for over two months, right? Let me tell you, our mighty Ale King has captured your wife, that so-called princess.

“These are her possessions! You must recognize them, right?”

Yan Shang’s hand trembled in his sleeve.

Yet his face remained indifferent: “I truly don’t recognize them.”

The envoy said: “Then you can open the box and see… those are your wife’s fingers! If you still don’t withdraw your troops from Jiannan, next time we send something, it won’t be just fingers!”

The color drained from Yan Shang’s face.

For a moment he felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, his head growing dizzy, his thoughts suddenly blank. It took great effort to maintain his composure, to not let the other party see his true feelings. He desperately tried to stay calm, but his mind remained empty.

He had long been prepared to sacrifice himself for his country, ready at any moment to die for the nation… but when this day truly came, his mind was still blank.

Yan Shang calmly went to open the box, while the Southern Barbarian envoy, held by guards, watched him nervously, afraid he might spot any flaws.

The Ale King, intending to deceive, had naturally prepared thoroughly. He had prepared a fire-blackened woman’s finger, chosen from a girl of similar slight build to the princess… with a charred finger, they weren’t afraid this Second Young Master Yan would recognize it.

Yan Shang looked at the charred, bone-white finger in the box.

The guard behind him turned away, unable to look.

Yan Shang gazed at it quietly, his eyes falling on the jade pendant, then vacantly turning to the finger.

In that instant, perhaps many thoughts crossed his mind, or perhaps it remained blank.

Perhaps he thought of Mu Wanyao’s graceful figure, of her turning back to smile at him, yet also thought of her standing amidst raging flames, her robes flying as the fire consumed her…

Yan Shang said: “You bring such things to deceive me, thinking I would fall for it? This is not my wife’s finger, merely your scheme. In war between nations, we don’t execute envoys. I won’t kill you, but for trying to deceive me with falsehoods, you cannot escape punishment.”

His eyes gazed vacantly at the tent ceiling: “Bind them and interrogate them thoroughly.”

As Yan Shang left the tent, the guard following him said admiringly: “As expected of Second Young Master. I couldn’t tell it wasn’t the Princess’s finger, only you could recognize it… Those people dare to deceive you, we must interrogate them well, see what’s really happening in Guangzhou…”

Before he finished speaking, Yan Shang’s body swayed slightly ahead of him.

The guard was startled and hurried to support him, touching Yan Shang’s ice-cold hand.

Yan Shang turned his head, his face still pale.

The guard realized something was wrong: “Could it be… that finger wasn’t fake? It was the Princess…”

Yan Shang spoke as if trying to convince himself: “…it must be fake.”

The guard froze.

Looking at Yan Shang’s complexion, he began to feel lost.

The guard spoke softly: “Is Second Young Master not questioning whether it’s real or fake? The Princess means so much to you, yet you respond like this?”

Yan Shang lowered his head: “Interrogate that envoy, I need to know the situation in Guangzhou.”

The guard called out loudly: “But are we still going to send troops? We have no troops left! Jiannan has reached its critical moment, we cannot withdraw! Second Young Master…”

He worried Yan Shang would choose love over country, and tried repeatedly to persuade him. Yan Shang stood frozen before the tent, his thoughts still in chaos. He dared not think of anything, but his heart had already begun to contract.

He said softly: “I know.”—

While Zhao Lingfei went to knock on the provincial governor’s door, begging for troops, Yan Shang remained in the outskirts, interrogating the envoy, demanding information about Guangzhou.

In the war in Jiannan, Yang Si fought like a man possessed. He hadn’t rested for days, though he should have let other generals take command. He had already lost several battles, yet he refused to leave the battlefield.

The Great Wei army retreated step by step, already short of troops, making a bad situation worse.

Complaints about Yang Si echoed throughout the Jiannan military camp, but with Marshal Yan Shang absent, the generals had no one to report to, and Yan Shang had given Yang Si too much authority before leaving, allowing him to ignore other generals’ objections and deploy troops at will.

He wouldn’t listen to anyone.

The entire camp’s morale was low.

Meng Zaishi keenly noticed the state of Great Wei’s forces, and after several battles, realized something was wrong on Great Wei’s side. Otherwise, Yang Si wouldn’t suddenly become so aggressive, wouldn’t suddenly lose so many times, yet still fight as if driven by desperation, determined to win at all costs.

Meng Zaishi realized this was his opportunity.

But his years of warfare had taught him caution. Meng Zaishi sacrificed many scouts to confirm that Jiannan was running short of both food and troops, which was why Yang Si had to win. Yang Si needed a victory, but the more desperately he needed it, the more vulnerabilities he would show.

Meng Zaishi began a full-scale attack!

No longer hiding his strength, he was determined to take advantage of Yang Si’s lack of composure to destroy both him and his forces. After ending the Jiannan battlefield, he would negotiate peace with Yan Shang, with Great Wei. Then after dealing with the Ale King… the Southern Barbarians could truly develop according to his vision!

In late April, Meng Zaishi and Yang Si fought their decisive battle in the Great Valley.

Of Yang Si’s hundred thousand troops, only fifty thousand remained. The Great Wei army retreated into the valley, with Meng Zaishi leading a hundred thousand troops in pursuit. After entering the valley, Meng Zaishi discovered Yang Si’s army had suddenly vanished.

He sensed something was wrong, realizing the terrain disadvantaged his forces, reminding him of that military exercise in Chang’an years ago, when Yang Si had led just a hundred men to trap him in a pocket-shaped valley, preventing his advance.

Meng Zaishi looked up at the mountain paths on all sides, the lush green foliage, and pulled his horse’s reins, shouting: “Retreat! Retr—”

From the mountaintops all around, Great Wei’s troops looked down coldly at the Southern Barbarian army. Yang Si shouted: “Kill—”

Meng Zaishi looked up, meeting Yang Si’s ice-cold eyes.

Yang Si licked the blood from his mouth, gripping his spear tightly. He stood before the rocky cliff, looking down at an enemy force twice their size. This made his blood boil, his whole body trembling with excitement.

He shouted fiercely: “The victory or defeat of the Jiannan battlefield rests on this one battle, attack with everything—”

The military advisor behind him worried: “Even though we’ve lured the enemy into this valley that naturally disadvantages them, their commander is formidable, their forces strong, and still twice our number, we still…”

Yang Si: “Then we fight to the death.”—

If we must fight, then fight to the death.

If we stake everything on one throw, never look back.

Without an end, all is blood.

While holding a spear, never fall.

“Kill—”

The sounds of slaughter echoed across mountains and valleys, reverberating through the earth.

The great battle in the valley lasted three days, both Meng Zaishi and Yang Si proving formidable, their forces suffering heavy losses. Yang Si attacked relentlessly, while Meng Zaishi fought desperately to break through. But Great Wei truly had fewer troops, and Meng Zaishi’s military prowess couldn’t be underestimated.

In this battle, Great Wei destroyed seventy thousand enemy troops, leaving Meng Zaishi with only thirty thousand.

The cost was that all fifty thousand of Great Wei’s troops perished in this valley.

By the end, when everyone else was dead, Yang Si had been struck by multiple arrows. With no comrades left beside him, he tried to fight on with his spear, but his face was stained with blood, corpses filling his vision. His body couldn’t move due to the arrows, and he knelt among the bodies.

The valley wind was bitter cold in April.

Meng Zaishi was equally exhausted, watching as all the Great Wei troops died, and Yang Si also fell to his knees, unable to move.

Meng Zaishi fell silent.

A soldier behind him suggested: “General, General Yang is too formidable. We should shoot a few more arrows, and make sure he’s dead.”

Meng Zaishi refused.

Though an enemy, he wanted to give Yang Si final dignity.

He walked through the corpses, step by step, stumbling, towards Yang Si who knelt holding his spear. The young man’s face was hidden beneath his armor, completely transformed, unrecognizable to Meng Zaishi. But Yang Si’s eyes were so calm, reminding Meng Zaishi of that military exercise in Chang’an years ago.

He stood before Yang Si, whose body was riddled with arrows, and said softly: “Our war, from that exercise until today, I have finally won—”

A general behind him shouted: “Great King!”

Meng Zaishi looked down to see Yang Si’s spear thrust upward, piercing his heart.

Meng Zaishi felt bewildered, his strength failing as he collapsed to his knees.

Yang Si smiled, blood between his teeth, saying: “I didn’t lose.”

From afar, the Southern Barbarian army watched in fear as their king died, then charged forward in fury, their swords and blades reducing Yang Si to pieces. But what did it matter being cut to pieces? Yang Si fell to the ground, watching Meng Zaishi who had fallen beside him, convulsing as he tried and failed to get up.

Yang Si gazed up at the sky.

In his heart, he thought: You didn’t win, and I didn’t lose.

In the end, I dragged you down to die with me.

He grew dizzy, thinking he probably had many unfulfilled wishes, many attachments… but he couldn’t quite remember them anymore.

Let it be so—

Heavy rain poured down, and heaven and earth fell silent.

The downpour washed everything away.

Zhao Lingfei knelt before the military governor’s gate, pounding and crying: “Please! Please lend us troops! My cousin needs troops, Jiannan needs troops…”

The great rain washed everything clean.

Yan Shang sat stiffly in his tent, anxiously awaiting the results of the envoy’s interrogation. He refused to withdraw troops from Jiannan and refused to aid Guangzhou. His heart broke piece by piece, but staring at that jade pendant, he sat rigidly, still refusing to withdraw. Hurriedly, a messenger arrived with the news:

“Marshal, we’ve won—

“But Third Young Master Yang and fifty thousand soldiers, all perished.”

Yan Shang suddenly stood up, walking toward the tent’s entrance. As he lifted the tent flap, the messenger repeated the news, and Yan Shang lowered his head, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

On one side was Mu Wanyao, and on the other was Yang Si…

He collapsed, spitting blood, throwing the entire camp into chaos—

In the Jiannan military camp, Yan Xiazhou lay exhausted over a stack of documents, watching over the wounded.

In her drowsiness, she seemed to have a dream.

In the dream, she was chasing someone, but everything was shrouded in mist, nothing clear.

Hazily, she remembered back then, telling her second brother she wanted to find Third Young Master Yang.

At that time she had been full of hope, saying his life shouldn’t just be about his youth. He still had the latter half of his life, he still had—

Born to serve as a Palace Guard of Han,

First following the cavalry to battle at Yuyang.

Who knew the hardships at the frontier would not matter,

Even in death, the bones of a hero still spread their fragrance.

Suddenly, she heard cheering in the military camp and awoke from her dream.

Yan Xiazhou thought Yang Si had finally returned from battle, and joyfully pulled open the tent curtain, wanting to see if he was injured, if this time his wounds would be worse—

“Third Brother!”