With the plan settled — leave at dawn for Mei City — the next question was who would stay behind.

Jiang Wei had arrived with a dozen or so attendants, all of them his own trusted men. But they were not familiar with the terrain around Qingmian County.

Whoever was left behind needed first and foremost to be capable of keeping the three thousand Shu Province troops in line.

That meant the person could only come from among Fang Biehan’s own subordinates — and choosing who became something of a dilemma.

Jiang Wei asked, “Who are you leaning toward?”

Fang Biehan said, “In terms of martial skill, ability, and seniority — Pei Shujian is the stronger candidate. But I haven’t finished looking into his background, and it’s quite possible he was planted by Dou Qusheng.”

Jiang Wei said, “Then bring him with us. If he shows any signs of trouble along the way, deal with him on the spot.”

Fang Biehan nodded, and told one of his trusted men to go and fetch Banner Officer Yang Liulin.

Fang Biehan had always been marginalized within the Mu Camp. While other Chief Banner Officers commanded at least ten banners worth of troops, he had only six.

Yan Xilai was something of a special case — Yan Xilai had even fewer men, because Yan Xilai had been assigned specifically to keep watch on Fang Biehan. Between the two of them, their combined forces barely matched the strength of a normal Chief Banner Officer’s command.

In the time since Master Ye had left Qingmian County to confer with Gui Yuanshu, Jiang Wei had already issued orders for all of Yan Xilai’s captured men to be executed.

Before long, Banner Officer Yang Liulin came hurrying in. It was the middle of the night, and the sudden summons told him immediately that something significant was about to happen.

Fang Biehan explained everything to Yang Liulin, and Yang Liulin’s expression changed at once.

He had thought this was simply a matter of surrendering to Prince Ning. It hadn’t occurred to him that they also intended to assassinate Dou Qusheng.

They could have simply slipped away. Why take such a risk? Even if they wanted to avenge the late Middle-Rank Officer Mo Lili — couldn’t that revenge come after joining Prince Ning’s side? Surely there would be no shortage of opportunities in the future?

But as Fang Biehan’s subordinate, he had no choice but to follow orders.

Fang Biehan instructed him to keep the three thousand Shu Province troops firmly in hand, and above all to prevent any contact between them and the personnel coming from Kao Shan Pass to collect grain.

Yang Liulin accepted the order, though his heart was uneasy.

At this point, Jiang Wei leaned in and murmured a few words to Fang Biehan.

Fang Biehan thought for a long moment, then nodded. “Do it as you say.”

Jiang Wei then looked at Yang Liulin and gave his instructions. “Banner Officer Pei Shujian may be a serious problem. If we take him with us to Mei City, he could sabotage everything. So we’re leaving him here as well. If he does anything suspicious at all, you have authority to kill him on sight.”

Yang Liulin clasped his hands. “Understood.”

Jiang Wei dropped his voice and added a few more words: “If this man is truly Dou Qusheng’s plant, the moment we leave, he may break cover and try to slip away quietly to Mei City to report. If you notice anything, move immediately.”

Yang Liulin clasped his hands again. “I will remember.”

With the arrangements made, everyone glanced at the sky outside — it was already faintly brightening. Rather than try to sleep, they simply pressed on.

Jiang Wei assembled his men. Fang Biehan selected a few dozen of his most trusted followers. A few large carts were loaded up, and before dawn the group departed Qingmian County.

Inside the carriage, Yu Hongyi leaned close and lowered her voice: “I don’t think a single word from that man Jiang Wei is sincere.”

Master Ye smiled. “One is.”

Yu Hongyi asked, “Which one?”

Master Ye answered: “Killing Dou Qusheng.”

He explained: “Whether this man truly intends to surrender, or whether he plans to use us to eliminate a rival and then turn around and deal with us — that’s a question for later. His desire to kill Dou Qusheng is genuine.”

Yu Hongyi said, “But once we’re in Mei City, even with Jiang Wei’s arrangements, even if we can kill Dou Qusheng quietly, getting out alive will still be very difficult.”

Master Ye said, “That’s precisely why I insisted they give us a few days of freedom to move around and investigate once we arrive.”

His voice grew a shade more somber. “If we tried to infiltrate Mei City on our own to gather intelligence, it would be utterly impossible… So although this is a one-in-ten chance at best, as long as even one of us makes it back alive, we can bring the route we traveled, the fortifications and terrain we passed through, and the defensive layout of Mei City back to His Highness.”

He let out a slow breath and continued: “The forty-odd brothers who went in before us had the resolve to die. We are all of the Court of Justice — we must have that same resolve.”

Every person in the carriage gave a firm nod.

Master Ye said, “Each of you has a distinct role. I will certainly be watched closely by Jiang Wei and the others at all times. Your responsibility is to observe everything along the way and commit it to memory. If at all possible, sketch it out and keep it hidden.”

“Yes!” they answered in unison.

Master Ye said, “In terms of age, I am your elder. In terms of experience, I am your senior. So once we reach Mei City, everything goes through my command — no one acts independently.”

“Yes!”

That settled, Master Ye let out a long, silent breath deep within himself.

Your Highness — you are not only your teacher’s little one. You are mine as well. From the very beginning, when you treated me with the reverence a student gives a teacher, I knew I ought to do more for you.

If this time it takes my death to illuminate the inner workings of Shu Province for you, I begrudge that life not at all.

I carry only one wish in my heart… that one day, the realm under your hands may be restored to life. That our nation may stand tall in this world. That our people may never cease to strengthen themselves.

The others in the carriage were also silent — yet the thoughts in their hearts were surely much the same as Master Ye’s.

For the old, rotten, blood-eating world to be brought down, there must be sacrifice. The ones who walk ahead pave the road with their own flesh and blood, so that those who come after may walk it more easily. And those who come after will never forget the price their predecessors paid.

Meanwhile, back in Qingmian County.

Banner Officer Pei Shujian came striding in from outside, took one look at Yang Liulin sitting in the seat of authority, and visibly suppressed whatever anger was rising in him.

“Banner Officer Yang — what’s the matter?” Yang Liulin set down the scroll he had been looking through — the roster of Shu Province garrison troops — and asked the question in a mild tone.

After Jiang Wei’s group departed, Yang Liulin had immediately led the Mu Camp soldiers into the Shu Province barracks and taken control of the troops with as much speed as he could manage.

Now, seeing Pei Shujian’s stormy expression upon entering, it was plain that Pei Shujian was deeply displeased with Jiang Wei’s arrangements.

“Leaving me behind is one thing,” Pei Shujian said, sitting down across from Yang Liulin. “But why leave you behind as well? I know Mei City. I could have been useful.”

Yang Liulin smiled. “That doesn’t sound like what you actually want, Banner Officer Pei.”

Pei Shujian said, “What is it that I want?”

Yang Liulin said, “What Banner Officer Pei has always wanted is to surrender to Prince Ning as soon as possible — not to go back to Mei City and take risks. Yet now you’re suddenly changing your tune. I wonder whether it’s sincere or just a performance.”

Pei Shujian said, “Of course it would be best to kill Dou Qusheng. If that man doesn’t die, even if we go over to Prince Ning’s side, we won’t have a single day of peace. This is a matter of striking at the root. It must come first.”

Yang Liulin raised his hands and applauded. “Banner Officer Pei, your courage fills me with admiration.”

Pei Shujian said flatly, “Spare me the sarcasm.”

He got up and went to the window, peering outside, then pointed out at the courtyard. “When the Chief Banner Officer left, I wasn’t at his side. Has he given any orders regarding the disposal of these soldiers?”

Yang Liulin said, “Chief Banner Officer’s instructions were that none of them are to be let out freely, and all are to be kept under close watch.”

Pei Shujian gave a derisive snort. “Close watch? What use is that? How do you possibly keep three thousand people properly watched? The way I see it, every last one of them should be killed.”

Yang Liulin said, “Three thousand men — and how exactly would you kill them? Even adding together all the Mu Camp soldiers in our hands, we number only a few hundred. Do you really think we can handle ten to one?”

Pei Shujian said, “Don’t give me that. They’ve all already surrendered their weapons, docile as lambs. Killing them now would be easy enough.”

Yang Liulin said, “These are the Chief Banner Officer’s orders. Do you dare defy them?”

“A general in the field need not always obey every command from above,” Pei Shujian said, “let alone the orders of a Chief Banner Officer.”

“If even one of them escapes, they’ll be a serious threat. We have enough drugs in our stores — slip something into their rations, and they’ll all be too weakened to resist. Once they’ve lost their strength, what’s the difficulty in killing them?”

Yang Liulin turned the idea over in his mind. There was a kind of logic to it. He pretended to be reluctant. “If the Chief Banner Officer returns and asks, I’ll be telling him the full truth.”

Pei Shujian said, “Since we’re defecting anyway, we need to be resolute and decisive. The Chief Banner Officer is always too soft-hearted. We need to look out for our own lives, not do everything according to his preferences. When he comes back, say whatever you like. I’ll take responsibility for this.”

Yang Liulin said, “If that’s how you feel, then I’ll go along with you.”

He rose and made for the door. Pei Shujian was already out ahead of him, clearly impatient.

“Wait.” Yang Liulin suddenly remembered something.

“The drugs are all stored in the Chief Banner Officer’s private storeroom. Can you even get that door open?”

Yang Liulin asked the question. Pei Shujian turned. “Private storeroom? I didn’t even know there was one.”

“Because the Chief Banner Officer doesn’t trust you.”

“Follow me. I’ll take you there.”

Pei Shujian followed him to Fang Biehan’s study. Yang Liulin glanced around, then reached under the desk and felt out a key.

He took a book from the shelf. Behind it was a keyhole.

Yang Liulin fitted the key into the lock and gave a light push — the bookshelf swung outward, revealing a hidden chamber behind it.

He turned to Pei Shujian and said, “Wait here. I’ll go in and get it.”

“Hold on!” Pei Shujian frowned. “This is the Chief Banner Officer’s hidden chamber, and you know exactly where everything is?”

Yang Liulin smiled. “Because I am the Chief Banner Officer’s true confidant. You are not.”

He turned to step inside. But Pei Shujian felt something was wrong and lunged forward, pushing past him to enter the hidden chamber first.

The light inside was dim. The moment he crossed the threshold, Pei Shujian drew his long blade — clearly on guard.

Yang Liulin said, “There’s a mechanism in here. Don’t step on that floor tile in front of you!”

Pei Shujian looked down at the tile. In that instant, he felt a cold sensation at his lower back, followed by a burst of sharp pain.

Yang Liulin had driven a blade into the vulnerable point at Pei Shujian’s lower back, then twisted it, back and forth, several times.

“You…” Pei Shujian turned his head with great effort, only to be kicked off his feet by Yang Liulin.

There was no mechanism. Pei Shujian crashed down onto that very tile — and nothing happened at all.

Yang Liulin stepped forward, placed one foot on Pei Shujian’s back, and leveled his blade at the spot between his shoulder blades.

“This is merely the Chief Banner Officer’s private resting place. He was always afraid of being killed by Dou Qusheng’s people, so he could never let his guard down, not even while sleeping.”

Pei Shujian’s mouth was filling with blood. He held onto his last breath and asked, “Why are you killing me?”

Yang Liulin crouched down, and with a faint smile said: “Because right now, I have good reason to kill you. Blame Jiang Wei if you like.”

“But…” The smile spread. “I always knew you weren’t the one watching the Chief Banner Officer. Because—”

He drove the blade down, through Pei Shujian’s back and into his heart.

“I am.”

After killing Pei Shujian, Yang Liulin stepped immediately out of the hidden chamber, closed the door behind him, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the study at an easy, unhurried pace, looking for all the world as though nothing had happened.

—