Chapter 492: Entrustment

Attack Chen...

Attack Chen.

Yan Daiqing stared at these two simple characters, yet fell silent and dazed for a long while.

He thought of his hometown, of his youth spent poring over books in bitter study, of countless things — the sunlight of Chen, and the wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement outside the window during his school days.

The two words "Attack Chen," like a sharp blade, once again cleaved a vast chasm between Yan Daiqing's memories and reality.

In the late-August wind south of the river, there was already a touch of bleak chill. Yan Daiqing gathered his sleeves in his palms, gazing at the distant Tianlan, thinking of his father and mother at home. When he had left home, he had hoped to become a famous scholar.

"But, Father, Mother, have I truly become a famous scholar?"

"Would you be proud of me?"

Even if your son must personally become a member of Tiance Prefecture.

To campaign against his own homeland.

Yan Daiqing's expression grew somewhat complicated.

The other core members of Tiance Prefecture who had learned of this news were likewise stirred.

The chance to unify the realm was about to arrive.

The four corners of the world had been locked in chaotic warfare; the various states had been at peace for over a year. Apart from the usual rest and recuperation, each nation had its own other means of restoring its national strength.

Ying had replenished its treasury by purging corrupt officials, while Li Guanyi's forces relied partly on the support of the great clans and partly on the reserves from the royal treasuries of the thirty-six Western Frontier Tian Kehan kings.

But to campaign against a state was a long, drawn-out affair. The years of bitter fighting before had dealt a tremendous blow to the people's livelihoods. If a war lasting three to five years were launched again now, even Li Guanyi's domain would see displaced peasants and rebellions.

If seven-tenths of a decade were spent at war, even the common folk of the Central Plains would absolutely be unable to bear it.

At present, the moment was still far from ripe for a head-on, hard-fought campaign.

Tiance Prefecture's prior strategy had also been very clear.

Relying on the supply depots that Chen Tianyi had exposed, and using the Mystical Realm of the Primordial Red Dragon, they would accumulate forces; once the moment came, they would strike with a sudden army, drive straight in, and breach Chen's Ducheng and Yicheng.

Although everyone felt they should concentrate their forces and first take Chen's Ducheng Jiangzhou.

Yicheng was also an Iron Fushu land, but it was merely a garrison town.

In strategic terms, it could not be mentioned in the same breath as Jiangzhou City and could be set aside for now.

Yet the Qin Wang, who was usually calm and ever open to good counsel, became extremely stubborn — even obstinate — on this point alone, insisting that Yicheng also be included in the first-phase siege objectives, and refusing to change his mind.

Only Mr. Pojun, Master Yan Daiqing, and those generals who had come from Chen's Gold Guard were able to guess the rough reason. Since it was their lord's demand, the many strategists could only pool their wisdom.

By now, tens of thousands of troops had already been amassed there — all elite Southwestern Flying Army soldiers. Such a force was not enough for a frontal siege.

But with Chen's interior left hollow —

If they were to suddenly appear and strike directly at its capital —

They could fully accomplish the strategic objective.

Only such a strategy was extremely difficult to realize. It required an exceedingly rare opportunity — one that would draw the attention of the entire world elsewhere — so that the surprise assault could succeed.

This one opportunity, Tiance Prefecture had been waiting for, for a long time.

Chen Wenmian looked at the letter Li Guanyi had sent. The hand gripping his long-handled double-bladed weapon tightened unconsciously, and this divine weapon, refined and elevated from Yu Langwang's own hands, kept letting out a keening wail.

"Mother... Father..."

Chen Wenmian thought of his mother, whom he had been a single step from saving, and of his father, who had been beheaded. The pain in his chest was like a drill through his heart, nearly choking him. He often had nightmares.

In his dreams he would return to that year's great sacrifice in Chen, with fire everywhere.

He would search frantically for his mother. When he found her, she would smile at him, then push him away with both hands, and be swallowed by the flames herself. Every time he reached this point, Chen Wenmian would wake with a start from his nightmare.

Drenched in cold sweat, he would sit there for a long while, unable to collect himself.

Often, beneath that cold, silent moonlight, he would sit the whole night through.

These past causes and effects, these twenty full years of long-nursed hatred, were finally about to meet their end.

Chen Wenmian gripped his weapon, his expression taut, while Xiao Wuliang watched Chen Wenmian.

He sensed the fluctuation of vital energy from the latter.

"... The Heart Tribulation barrier between stepping from the Seventh Heaven into the Eighth Heaven — is it right here?"

"If he can step through it, once the young lord enters the Eighth Heaven, there will be no further obstacles."

The most important point of this strategy was secrecy.

Li Guanyi's secret letter was not widely circulated; only Tiance Prefecture and the core members of the strategy against Chen knew of it. Li Guanyi was at this moment still in Xiyicheng, reinforcing the city's defenses, and would from time to time appear atop Xiyicheng's walls.

Occasionally he would lead troops out, roam the four directions, smash the small detachments of three forces that drew near, raid them on the side, and take prisoner soldiers back to be converted by General Fan Qing.

At the same time, Jiangnan Dao began to shift its troops. In the process of moving soldiers, each time a batch of elites would quietly vanish.

Among them was even Yue Qianfeng, who had only just recovered.

Yue Qianfeng's battle-halberd had been shattered by the Great Khan King in this battle. While recuperating, the fearless Yue Qianfeng had succeeded in winning the recognition of one of the five weapons from the Overlord's hidden cache — the Axe of the Heroic General.

Now wielding a mystic-grade battle-halberd in one hand and, in the other, the embryonic form of a divine weapon left behind by a once top-ten general of the realm, Yue Qianfeng, after familiarizing himself with the moves and the weapon, fought a great battle against Yue Pengwu. The latter personally assessed that the strength Yue Qianfeng could bring to bear had risen another step.

In other words, he could now fight the realm's top-ten divine generals even more freely.

Upon learning that Li Guanyi meant to attack Yicheng —

Yue Qianfeng burst out laughing heartily: "Years ago, it was old Yue himself who personally took Yicheng. The world has been in chaos for so many years, and now once more it should be old Yue who leads the vanguard!"

"Hahaha, leave it to me! I refuse to believe I'll run into another top-ten of the realm!"

Yue Qianfeng paid no heed to the approaching winter.

Leading a contingent of elites, he took advantage of Tiance Prefecture's troop movements in Jiangnan to slip into the mountains and head toward the location of the Mystical Realm, and he took with him the heavy armor that had been reforged over the past half year.

Tiance Prefecture's most core strategy was set in motion.

And in Ying —

The ever more aged Jiang Wanxiang leaned on his sword, standing beneath the great hall, watching the bleak autumn wind. His white hair had already grown dim and grayish, and the skin of his face had begun to sink in slightly, making him look as if he were in his final years.

Yet he was like an aging azure dragon.

Jiang Wanxiang looked at the battle report and said: "Li Guanyi has occupied Xiyicheng and the Ashina's lands, yet has not immediately sent out troops to further expand this advantage. This is contrary to expectations, Grand Preceptor."

Jiang Su stood beside Jiang Wanxiang, still dressed in a black robe.

Beneath the robe, armor could faintly be seen; his bearing was resolute and weighty, like mountain ridges. Jiang Su's expression held a trace of sorrow.

Jiang Wanxiang was aging far faster than anticipated. It had only been two years since the rebellion of the Divine Martial King; the Jiang Wanxiang who could once ascend the Star-Picking Tower unhurriedly with wine in hand now looked even more aged than Jiang Su.

"He has already taken Xiyicheng, yet does not push the front line further forward, instead holding fast and refusing to move. What Li Guanyi seeks is something great — likely not confined to the gain or loss of a single city or stretch of land."

Jiang Wanxiang said: "Oh? What does the Grand Preceptor think Li Guanyi intends to do?"

Jiang Su said: "It cannot be said that there has been no movement at all."

"The steppe is too vast. When the Great Khan of the Turks plans to attack the territory from outside Xiyicheng to the Central Plains, he has no choice but to withdraw from the grasslands originally held by the Ashina."

"The Qin Wang seized this opportunity and successfully occupied the Ashina's lands."

"But within the Xiyicheng region — a place that any military strategist must contest — there has been no movement whatsoever."

"When he restrains action in one place, he must be scheming for another. It is like the Long Snake Formation: when the head does not move, the tail moves; when the tail does not move, the head moves. What the Qin Wang seeks is likely to take advantage of the changes at Xiyicheng that draw the attention of all under heaven, and ride the momentum to advance from south to north, to campaign against Chen."

Jiang Su raised his hand and made a casual grab; the long spear in a nearby guard's hand flew out and landed in his grip. He casually twirled a spear flourish, then drew a line on the ground with the spear's tip, saying: "At that time, Chen will surely have to turn back to defend. If Xiyicheng can then send out troops in concert, two armies striking together, then Chen may face a great upheaval."

Jiang Wanxiang said: "Then, what does the Grand Preceptor think we should do?"

Jiang Su said: "Inform Chen of this news."

"And let the Qin Wang and Chen Dingye tear at each other. Of these two powers, whichever grows stronger than the other is not a good thing for our Great Ying. Only when the two sides are evenly matched can it buy enough time for Great Ying."

Jiang Wanxiang gazed quietly at the furrows drawn upon the ground. After a long while, he said:

"Then let us proceed according to the Grand Preceptor's wishes."

Jiang Su nodded. He casually drove the war-spear in his hand into the ground, then followed Jiang Wanxiang forward through the palace. In their youth, Jiang Wanxiang had been much shorter than him; later, that youth had gradually grown bold and spirited, his stature shooting up, rising above him.

Later, Jiang Wanxiang grew old, withered, and was now shorter than him once more.

Even shorter than the youth he had been back then.

Jiang Su accompanied Jiang Wanxiang as they paced forward. Jiang Wanxiang's voice was unhurried, and when he spoke there was already a touch of rambling:

"The parasites in the court — I have already purged a great many of them. But as soon as I am gone, these loyal ministers of today will gradually change their hearts. When that time comes, I will have to trouble the Grand Preceptor."

"Killing one batch will suffice; there is no need to kill them all. These scholars are very clever — if they see that you intend to root them out entirely, they will likely join hands against you. When that happens, the nation will collapse from within."

"You must make them split from within on their own, become each other's enemies, recommend each other, suspect each other — only then can stability be maintained. From ancient times to now, the so-called art of rulership is nothing more than keeping the civil officials and generals in internal balance, yet all loyal to the sovereign, united against the outside. It is merely the manipulation of human hearts."

"These methods, the Grand Preceptor surely…"

Jiang Su suddenly spoke, cutting Jiang Wanxiang off: "Your Majesty."

Grand Preceptor Jiang Su said solemnly: "I am merely a general. These arts of rulership — I do not understand them, nor do I need to."

Jiang Wanxiang looked at Grand Preceptor Jiang Su. After a long while, he said with a smile:

"Alright, alright, alright, I understand. What's your rush? There aren't any axe-men lying in ambush in this palace, and it's not as though if I knocked something over, three or five hundred of them would leap out from behind some rockery and surround you and hack you into mincemeat."

"Besides, even three or five thousand axe-men would not be a match for the Grand Preceptor, wouldn't they?"

"Sword Mad Murong Longtu could cut through three thousand Iron Tiesuo; the Grand Preceptor would not be weaker than him, would you?"

"Hahahaha."

Jiang Su watched the laughing Jiang Wanxiang, sorrow in the depths of his eyes.

In his youth, beside Jiang Wanxiang there had been, just as today beside Li Guanyi, an invincible figure at his side — only, the youth of those days had now grown old and frail.

Jiang Su replied: "It is a Life-Extending Gu of the Wu Gu lineage. However, I have already searched — there is no Gu insect under heaven that could allow one who bears the Mandate of Kings, like yourself, to cultivate."

Jiang Wanxiang murmured something, lowered his eyes, felt a touch of regret, then at once said with a carefree air: "Is that so?"

"So that's how it is, hahaha. After all, I walk the path of the Son of Heaven — what Gu insect under heaven could bear the Son of Heaven's Mandate? It is only to be expected; one might call it fate, hahaha."

"It seems the path I walk truly cannot be replaced."

Jiang Su said: "The effect of the Life-Extending Gu is merely to extend life by several years after one's span is nearly spent — at most no more than ten years. Sword Mad Murong Longtu's surging momentum is, after all, a legend of the martial way; what kind of strange beast could bear the consumption of a martial legend?"

"The Life-Extending Gu of the Wu Gu lineage would certainly have a weaker effect on him than on an ordinary person."

Jiang Wanxiang sighed with feeling and said: "Is that so? But when one's span is about to end, to still have a junior who spares no cost, treks ten thousand li, braves danger in person, and brings back such a treasure for you — and after the span is spent, one can still wield a sword freely."

"Such a thing truly is something to envy."

"The days of youth and vigor, once gone, do not return. This river of time — even I am helpless against it. Speaking of which, my two sons…"

Jiang Su lowered his head.

Jiang Wanxiang was quiet for a while, then said: "The world is about to change. From Li Guanyi's actions, war is about to flare up again. I have already entrusted the nation's fortune entirely to you, Grand Preceptor. Afterward, let my second son serve as the so-called Emperor."

"If it were the eldest, he would likely oppose your resolve to campaign in all directions, Grand Preceptor."

"When the world is at peace, you may depose my second son."

The aged, battle-hardened Jiang Wanxiang spoke words chilling enough to make one's heart grow cold. He gazed into the distance, the sovereign's sword propped in his hand, and said: "As for Gao'er, Gao'er… he is a good son, unlike Jiang Yuan."

"Whoever wishes to be Emperor, let him be Emperor; whoever wishes to live out his days in peace, let him live in peace. Please, Grand Preceptor, grant Gao'er a tranquil life. As for that ruthless son of mine who raised his hand against his own father—"

"Let him serve as a puppet to deal with those treacherous ministers."

Jiang Wanxiang cursed: "Dog eats dog, both end up with fur in their mouths."

He paused, then this white-haired old fellow turned his head to the side and went ptt, ptt, ptt.

"This useless son, he actually cursed his own father!"

"He deserves a beating, deserves punishment!"

Jiang Su said: "It was Your Majesty yourself who cursed yourself."

Jiang Wanxiang: "…………"

Jiang Su added: "Besides, if a son is not taught, the fault lies with the father. Jiang Gao was raised by your own hand, but Jiang Yuan — when Jiang Yuan was still young, your wife had already passed away. At that time, to stabilize the court, you entered into marriage alliances and took wives, establishing countless consorts."

"You drove away Gao Xiang, and made Jiang Yuan's temperament increasingly extreme."

"His change is not without your involvement."

Jiang Wanxiang was silent for a long while. The sword in his hand struck the ground, and he cursed loudly:

"Dog Emperor."

"Satisfied now?!"

The corner of Jiang Su's mouth curved slightly, but his expression was far too resolute and solemn for such a subtle shift to be detected by the naked eye. Only Jiang Wanxiang felt considerably more at ease; as he breathed, he drew in a breath of autumn's cold air and said:

"Heaven and earth are vast and endless. When we were young, Gao Xiang and I were as close as brothers. When I went to rob a bride, he grabbed his bow and arrows and dared to risk his life alongside me. But later, I became an ever-better sovereign, while he left me behind, and we did not contact each other for decades."

"When we were young, we said we would pledge ourselves as brothers to each other, and even if we later became sovereign and general, we would not abandon one another. We agreed that every autumn, when the fallen leaves covered the earth, the three of us would drink together. But now, the leaves cover the ground, and only I remain."

Jiang Su said calmly, "Is this minister not a person?"

Jiang Wanxiang faltered; the sorrow rising in his heart was abruptly cut off by the overly serious and resolute Grand Tutor. He could not help but laugh: "I meant the three of us back then—back then, Grand Tutor!"

"Back then, I was nothing more than a prince born of a concubine, and Gao Xiang was just a child from a minor house, an unremarkable son of a concubine no one paid attention to. Others ignored us, so we only had each other for company. Gao Xiang and I, back then—it was she who pawned her own jewelry for money."

"Only then did we have our own horses and bows."

"Only then could we start from the Imperial Forest Army and build our achievements step by step. She has already left me behind, and Gao Xiang as well. Here only remains this old fellow whose qi mechanism was broken by the baleful aura of the Divine Martial King."

"But after I die—"

Jiang Wanxiang's voice paused: "After I die, he will still come back."

"He is, after all, a fierce general on one side, a martial artist who has carved out his own path on the martial road. He will become an aid to you, Grand Tutor."

"When that time comes, Grand Tutor, do not resent him."

Jiang Su looked at Jiang Wanxiang's back, his expression resolute, sorrow in his eyes:

"Yes."

Jiang Wanxiang sensed the Grand Tutor Jiang Su's emotions. He steadied his footing, used the sword he was leaning on to knock against Jiang Wanxiang's leg, and laughed heartily: "Don't be so sorrowful, Grand Tutor. I'm still alive, I haven't died yet."

"There's still a fire burning in my heart."

"Although this fire is about to go out, it still has some warmth. I've been taking heaven-and-earth spiritual medicines that can extend my lifespan every day. Even if I borrow a few more years from heaven and earth, in the end…"

"I too must die upon my own path, Grand Tutor."

………………

Tianqi Year Fifteen · Early Tenth Month.

In Xiyicheng, Li Guanyi was flipping through intelligence scrolls. When he saw the figure of thirteen taels of silver, the corner of Qin Wang's eye twitched. He stared fixedly at what came after the thirteen, wondering if perhaps a ten-thousand character had been left off.

After confirming it was indeed just thirteen taels, his heart was seizing.

That was our money!

It was the money for our academy, our dam, our logistics!

Qin Wang silently noted this down in his heart, then turned his gaze toward the sky.

"The State of Ying has reined in its military edge… It seems Jiang Su and Jiang Wanxiang have already guessed something. But the State of Chen continues forward without the slightest hesitation. Chen Dingye, what exactly are you thinking?"

Li Guanyi could no longer understand Chen Dingye.

The blue-robed elder wiped his sword. In recent months, Murong Longtu had not been particularly active on the battlefield; he had merely pored over many scrolls that greatly interested him, then sent a sword strike from afar, forcing the Great Khan's Tie Futu to abandon Ashina's original grasslands.

Absolutely majestic and imposing.

Murong Longtu's fingers brushed across the blade of the Longtu Sword as he asked casually: "When does Guanyi plan to return to Jiangnan? Murong Qiushui wrote to ask."

"This is already the eighteenth letter."

Li Guanyi sighed and said: "I want to go back earlier too, but the situation is unclear. At this moment, I cannot leave."

Battlefield matters—even if it's just an elite force striking the enemy's Ducheng—cannot be decided on a whim today.

It requires a precise moment.

The matter of Xiyicheng counts as a broad opportunity, drawing the eyes and attention of the world, but it is still not enough.

The matter of attacking Chen requires Li Guanyi to return to Jiangnan, hide and Enter the Mystical Realm, and then from the southwest, with Marshal Yue holding down one region and sending out troops, while Li Guanyi himself holds down another region hidden in Jiangnan. Only when Marshal Yue draws away Chen's forces can Li Guanyi drive straight in.

As for what pretext to use to return to Jiangnan, it had long been prepared.

This was also the reason Mu Rong Qiushui had written to inquire.

He was about to turn twenty, the so-called year of Weak Crown.

The sovereign of a nation, in his year of Weak Crown, must perform the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, which is extremely elaborate. Qin Wang had previously written to the Central Province Red Emperor, Emperor Ji Zichang, requesting that the ceremony be conducted at the sovereign's standard. When those officials and scholars of the Ministry of Rites saw that Qin Wang had 'returned to the right path,' they nearly wept.

Li Guanyi tossed the bead in his hand and murmured:

"The Coming-of-Age Ceremony of Qin Wang falls at a perfect moment."

"But before that, there is still one thing to do."

Li Guanyi caught the golden bead, held this golden bean before his eyes, looked at the somewhat softened luster on its surface from being rubbed so many times, his expression gentle: "I also wish to fulfill my promise."

"On the day of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, trample through Guan Yicheng."

"But before that, I still have one thing to do."

Murong Longtu was puzzled.

Li Guanyi smiled slightly: "First, forge a cauldron."

The grasslands of the original Seventh Prince Ashina had already been retaken by the Great Khan, but after the Great Khan departed, Li Guanyi had leisurely taken this region back into his hands. After several such repetitions, the Great Khan and others had no choice but to temporarily abandon this place.

Using the grasslands of the Seventh Prince Ashina and the Xiyicheng region as the foundation,

he would attempt to forge one of the Nine Cauldrons.

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer elder had already contacted the divine eagle Li Guanyi had seen before. Under the mobilization of the army, the gold and iron for forging the Nine Cauldrons had long been prepared by the Seventh Prince Ashina. Before heading off to attack Chen, Qin Wang Li Guanyi would go to forge a cauldron and raise his strength.

Matters that once required painstaking effort now, with his current status and authority, only needed a few words spoken, and someone would handle them.

But after he and Murong Longtu departed, an unexpected incident occurred in Xiyicheng.

The current lord of Xiyicheng, the third younger brother of Duke Li Zhaowen—Li Yuanchang.

Was dead.

?? Begging for monthly tickets, friends~!