Duan Yunfeng: “You… uh—”

Xiao Heng reached out and pinched his cheek, making Duan Yunfeng close his mouth. Then, with a swift motion, he pulled up the carriage curtain and signaled the servant driving the carriage to leave quickly.

Inside the gradually fading carriage.

“Hmph…” Duan Yunfeng crossed his arms and muttered in his heart, “If you won’t kiss me, then I won’t let the Princess kiss me in the future. Let’s see what she’ll do.”

…

In the study with a warming stove.

Zhang Zhicheng stood respectfully to the side, looking much like a student waiting for a teacher in the study.

After a while, the door creaked open, and a gust of wind and snow blew in. A figure walked into the room, walking against the wind and snow, removing his cloak and handing it to a eunuch standing nearby.

“Your Highness…”

Zhang Zhicheng barely made out that the person in front of him was very tall and had a commanding presence. When Xiao Heng lowered his gaze, it felt as if the wind and snow outside had blown into the room, and Zhang Zhicheng stiffened all over. A single glance from Xiao Heng made him shiver down to his toes. He hurriedly lowered his head, avoiding Xiao Heng’s gaze.

The man before him exuded an inexplicable sense of pressure that Zhang Zhicheng couldn’t put into words. When he was in front of Duan Yunfeng, his fear was rooted in the fact that Duan Yunfeng carried a knife, causing a natural, physical fear. But the person in front of him was only followed by an old eunuch, with no guards in sight. He didn’t appear to be a direct threat to him, but the sheer aura surrounding Xiao Heng made Zhang Zhicheng too fearful to raise his head and meet his eyes.

In front of Xiao Heng, Zhang Zhicheng suddenly felt insignificant.

Xiao Heng sat down in the central seat and raised his hand to gesture to the chair next to him, signaling Zhang Zhicheng to sit.

—At today’s banquet, what the heir said should not be taken to heart. He was drunk and speaking without thinking.

“Not at all, not at all…” Seeing that Xiao Heng said this, Zhang Zhicheng’s heart relaxed a little. He tentatively asked, “Has the Princess been staying comfortably at the Zhang residence these past few days? Were the servants not attentive enough?”

Xiao Heng:

—Everything is fine.

—Other than the Zhang residence, I also think you’ve done a good job governing Jinzhou.

Zhang Zhicheng repeatedly waved his hand. “Your Highness overestimates me.”

After exchanging a few more words, his nerves were no longer as taut as they had been earlier. He thought to himself that the gift he had sent a few days ago had worked, and now, if he kept trying, he could win over the Princess. If that happened, Duan Yunfeng would likely not do anything drastic to him or the Zhang family.

Xiao Heng:

—I asked you here because I want you to look at something.

Zhang Zhicheng: “What would the Princess like me to look at?”

His gaze instinctively drifted to the box that Li Jinxi was holding.

A treasure? A jade artifact?

Li Jinxi opened the box carefully, revealing a letter inside. He unrolled the letter and presented it to Zhang Zhicheng. The letter clearly read:

“Jinzhou Sima^[1]De facto ruler Qian Kan’s report.”

Qian Kan, having switched allegiances after betraying Li Jichang, had sent an emissary to deliver this letter. Li Jichang’s side was unaware of the recent changes in Jinzhou, which had been taken back by the Northern Army. Now, the emissary had arrived, and the letter stated that General Han Hu, a subordinate of Li Jichang, had led 50,000 men and would arrive at Jinzhou by early tomorrow morning.

The letter conveyed a simple message:

Li Jichang intended for his general, Han Hu, to replace Qian Kan in governing Jinzhou, and Qian Kan was promised a prestigious post in the central government.

The moment Zhang Zhicheng saw the letter, he felt as though he had been doused in a bucket of ice water. Only then did he realize Xiao Heng’s true intentions. He “plopped” down onto the ground and knelt. “Your Highness, please forgive me! I was unaware of Qian Kan’s betrayal! Please forgive me…”

In the boundless silence,

“Rise and respond.” Li Jinxi conveyed Xiao Heng’s will. “Your Highness does not hold any grievance toward Zhang Biejia.”

“I dare not,” Zhang Zhicheng’s head almost touched the ground as he trembled, “Although I was unaware, as the assistant governor of Jinzhou, I am unable to absolve myself from blame for such a great change in Jinzhou!”

Xiao Heng didn’t respond. Instead, he asked:

—What do you think should be done about this matter?

Zhang Zhicheng pondered for a moment and said, “I will write a letter explaining the situation in Jinzhou City and reject their offer…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a soft sneer sounded from above him.

Xiao Heng:

—Zhang Biejia^[2]Bejia in here means de facto ruler too really has the heart of a child.

Although Zhang Zhicheng didn’t have a brilliant mind, he was no fool. He immediately understood that Xiao Heng was subtly mocking him for being so naive despite his age.

He quickly corrected himself: “I am ignorant and foolish, I humbly ask Your Highness for guidance.”

Xiao Heng:

—Han Hu’s 50,000 troops are elite soldiers from the Chu army. If we face them head-on, it will be a hard fight. I want to preserve Jinzhou, do you understand? As for the method, that depends on you, Biejia, but I hope it’s not too difficult.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhicheng seemed to have guessed Xiao Heng’s intentions. A moment of fear flashed in his heart, but with no way out, he gritted his teeth and said, “Understood! I will do my utmost to assist Your Highness! Whatever Your Highness commands, I will follow without hesitation!”

Xiao Heng:

—The emissary from the Chu army is in the outer hall. What to say and what to do, I believe you already understand.

—Go ahead.

“Yes!”

As Zhang Zhicheng stood up, a layer of sweat had already soaked through his back.

…

Early morning.

General Han Hu of the Northern Army led 50,000 troops, marching in a grand procession toward Jinzhou. In no time, the flags covered the sky, and the black armor of the soldiers flowed like a tide across the plains, stretching for miles.

Han Hu’s scouts reported that they had discovered abandoned camps along the Huotuo River, with signs of disorderly tracks and fallen flags. These must have been left behind during a hurried march, and there were no traces of the Northern Army or any ambushes nearby.

Han Hu held the surrender letter from the Jinzhou City emissary and scoffed, “Duan Yunfeng probably escaped back to Taiyuan, crying in front of the King of the North.”

He immediately threw a decree to the emissary who had come to offer the surrender: “Go back and tell your Sima that the Chu army is here. Tell him to open the city gates for this general.”

“Yes!”

The emissary, upon receiving the order, quickly left.

One of Han Hu’s staff members said, “General, Jinzhou is still under the control of the King of the North’s Hebei command. The former governor, Su Yue, was one of his men. Is this sudden surrender a trap? Shouldn’t we be cautious?”

Han Hu: “Our army has 50,000 elite soldiers, and the supplies we’ve brought can sustain us for a month. Even if we just encircle the city without attacking, we can starve Jinzhou into submission. How could they dare to fake a surrender?”

“Moreover, Qian Kan already sent Su Yue’s head to the Emperor, how could this still be a lie?”

Staff: “Yes, General, you’re right. But the Northern Army…”

Han Hu: “The opportunity to have Jinzhou open its gates is right in front of us, and you’re talking about an invisible Northern Army? A true man doesn’t miss his chance to strike, nor does he waste time on insignificant details. To hesitate now would be laughable!”

Han Hu was known for his strict military discipline. Any soldier who showed even the slightest sign of fear on the battlefield would be executed by his officers. It was for this reason that Han Hu’s command was respected and feared by all.

Seeing that his mind was made up, his subordinates dared not speak further.

Soon, Han Hu led the bulk of the Chu army to the gates of Jinzhou.

In the vast fog, Zhang Zhicheng, the Jinzhou Biejia, stood with several officials atop the city tower. Seeing Han Hu’s approach, he quickly ordered the gates to be opened for the Chu army.

The city gates slowly rose, as agreed.

Seeing everything progressing so smoothly, Han Hu was in a good mood. After all, capturing the stronghold of Jinzhou without a single casualty was a great accomplishment. He immediately ordered the vanguard to enter the city first.

5,000 elite soldiers in armored steps marched into the outer city like a tidal wave.

When Han Hu saw the vanguard’s progress was going smoothly, he was not suspicious. He immediately mounted his horse and led the central army toward the city gates.

At the moment when he and his personal guards were about to disappear into the shadows cast by the towering city walls…

“Clang!”

The heavy city gate slammed down, cutting the Chu army inside and outside the city in half.

Countless hidden troops surged from the city walls, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens. Arrows and stones rained down from the arrow towers, trapping the 5,000-strong vanguard of the Chu army like turtles in a jar.

“This gate is a trap—”

“The Northern Army! It’s the Northern Army! There are hidden troops from the Northern Army inside the city walls!”

The vanguard of the Chu army, trapped inside the city, was immediately thrown into chaos. Soon, they were surrounded and annihilated by the Northern Army, which emerged from all directions.

“Damn it, they dared to fake surrender!”

In the midst of the sudden chaos, Han Hu, a seasoned veteran of the Chu army, reacted instantly. Without hesitation, he leaped off his horse, rolled to the ground, and dashed out beyond the gate.

“Form up!”

With the sound of horses neighing, Han Hu drew his sword and cut down several fleeing soldiers. With a roar, the scattered Chu army outside the city regained their footing. The frontline infantry raised their iron shields in a dense formation, creating an impenetrable wall of defense while steadily retreating.

Han Hu led the main force of the Chu army back to a position beyond the range of the Jinzhou city walls.

Having fallen into a trap, Han Hu was now furious beyond measure. He immediately ordered the army to reorganize and prepare for a fresh assault on the city, determined to capture Jinzhou.

As a general, Han Hu held immense authority within the Chu army. Despite the devastating ambush faced by the vanguard, the morale of the majority of the Chu troops remained steady, and they quickly reorganized for a counterattack.

“Attack the city!”

At Han Hu’s command, the Chu army surged toward Jinzhou like a black cloud.

Battering rams, siege ladders, and armored siege carts were deployed in turn.

On the city walls, defenders responded with boiling oil, stones, and arrows.

This siege battle lasted from dawn to dusk, nearly four hours (eight hours in total). Han Hu’s forces breached several sections of the city wall, but the defenders quickly repaired them with earth and rubble. By evening, the Chu army had still not broken through the city gates.

The defenders inside Jinzhou could rotate in and out of the fighting, taking breaks, while the Chu army outside was continuously engaged in battle, with no time to drink water. Coupled with the exhausting march, the Chu soldiers were at their limits, exhausted to the point of being unable to continue.

Reluctantly, Han Hu ordered a retreat and withdrew the majority of his forces to the banks of the Huotuo River to rest and set up camp, starting to prepare food.

The soldiers of the Chu army, their bellies growling with hunger, could only think of one thing—getting a hot meal and some rest.

Just then, from not far away, a barrage of shouting and cursing could be heard. Amidst a cloud of dust, they saw a group of northern cavalry, brimming with murderous intent, charging toward the Chu army camp.

These troublesome Northern Army soldiers seemed to enjoy nothing more than throwing their long halberds and knocking over the Chu army’s cooking pots. After knocking over the pots, the Chu soldiers had no choice but to muster their remaining strength to reform their infantry formation to face the enemy. But by the time they were ready for action, the northern cavalry had already vanished, speeding away like lightning.

The Chu soldiers cursed as they set up their stoves and tried to cook again.

Not long after, another cloud of dust and curses filled the air.

The Northern Army was back.

The Chu army went out to attack.

The Northern Army fled again.

They came again.

And ran again.

They came again.

And ran again…

Under the continuous harassment of the northern cavalry, the Chu soldiers spent the afternoon gnawing on cold, hard rations, their nerves frayed to the point where even the slightest noise would send them into a state of heightened anxiety. Several incidents of soldiers turning on each other due to misunderstandings occurred in the camp.

In this state of extreme exhaustion and nervous breakdown, nightfall quietly arrived.

At the third watch, the evening mist was dense.

A thick fog had risen around Jinzhou.

The city gates of Jinzhou, tightly shut, silently opened, and a thousand elite troops of the Northern Army, dressed in dark armor, moved like serpents into the night, vanishing without a trace.

…

The moment the horn sounded, Han Hu dashed out of his tent, and all around him, flames began to rise.

Taking advantage of the darkness and the thick fog, the northern cavalry launched a surprise attack. By the time the Chu sentries reacted, Duan Yunfeng had already led his elite forces into the central command of the Chu army.

In the blaze of fire, Han Hu saw a figure charging through the military formation made of iron armor, with a headband fluttering in the flames, matching the color of the fire. Behind him, thousands of iron-armored elites followed on horseback, and in an instant, the sounds of battle filled the air—clashing weapons and war cries resounded.

Duan Yunfeng, leading his 3,000 elite cavalry, tore through the disintegrating and fleeing Chu forces, like a tiger pouncing on its prey. The air was thick with the stench of blood, and the ground was littered with mangled corpses.

Seeing the army in disarray, with no ability to fight back under the Northern Army’s ambush, Han Hu realized the situation was dire. He hurriedly mounted his horse, preparing to break through with his personal guards and lead the remnants of his forces in retreat.

“Whoosh—”

As he made his frantic escape, a sudden and powerful barrage of arrows flew through the air.

Duan Yunfeng shot an arrow that struck Han Hu’s horse, sending it crashing to the ground.

In the dizzying moment of falling, Han Hu found himself captured by the Northern Army soldiers. As he lay on the ground, he saw Duan Yunfeng, riding his horse and holding a black iron bow, looking down at him from an elevated position with an air of superiority.

…

In the Battle of Jinzhou, the Chu army’s commander Han Hu was captured alive, and 50,000 elite Chu soldiers suffered a heavy blow. Han Hu’s deputy was forced to abandon their supplies and siege equipment, retreating in disgrace with fewer than 10,000 remaining troops back to Bianzhou.

The Northern Army captured over 7,000 sets of armor, along with numerous supplies and siege equipment.

The day after the great defeat of the Chu army, Zhang Zhicheng, the Jinzhou district officer, personally oversaw the execution of Han Hu and Qian Kan in front of many captured Chu soldiers.

He then released a few Chu soldiers and sent envoys to escort them back to Bianzhou.

Along with them, a gift addressed to Emperor Li Jichang of the Great Chu was sent in the name of Zhang Zhicheng.

…

“Ah—”

Li Jichang clenched the insulting letter sent by Zhang Zhicheng and shouted in fury. The two severed heads on the desk fell to the ground, their unblinking eyes staring at him. Kicking over the table, he roared, “How bold of Zhang Zhicheng from Jinzhou!”

“He dares… he dares to challenge me like this!”

“I will lead the troops personally…”

“Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down!”

His advisors quickly urged, “Your Majesty, you must not act impulsively. General Han led 50,000 elite troops, and now half of them have been lost. Jinzhou is now garrisoned by the Northern Army. If we attack rashly, it will hurt our morale. Another defeat would shake the confidence of our soldiers. If we face the Northern Army in the future, it will be like a mouse facing a cat, and we will panic instinctively. Moreover, Your Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, and your rule is still unstable. The King of Wu in Jiangnan has repeatedly violated our borders, and the rebels in Huainan continue to revolt. Zhang Zhicheng is just a minor regional official. Your Majesty should focus on pacifying the rebellion and securing the hearts of the people. We can take our time to avenge this insult later.”

After much persuasion, Li Jichang reluctantly calmed down and suppressed his rage.

…

Jinzhou City, Governor’s Mansion.

“Your Highness…” Zhang Zhicheng knelt pitifully before Xiao Heng, his face full of despair. “At this moment, the Zhang family and Jinzhou can only rely on Your Highness. I beg for Your Highness’s compassion!”

Earlier, when Han Hu’s army approached the city, Zhang Zhicheng, under Xiao Heng’s coercion, had no choice but to show his stance.

He first pretended to surrender to the Chu army, then personally oversaw the execution of Chu’s commander. He even sent people to insult Li Jichang. Now, he had completely offended Li Jichang, who would undoubtedly seek revenge. Zhang Zhicheng knew that from now on, he was bound to Xiao Heng and the Northern Army, unable to turn back.

To demonstrate his loyalty, Zhang Zhicheng took out the key to the Zhang family’s treasury in the suburban mansion and offered it with both hands. “I have nothing else, but this modest token of goodwill, I hope Your Highness will accept it.”

Though this was not the entirety of the Zhang family’s wealth, this treasury contained most of the savings accumulated by the Zhang family over generations.

Xiao Heng’s gaze lingered on the key for a moment before he lowered his head and took a sip of the tea in his cup.

Zhang Zhicheng was smooth and pragmatic, and for the most part, as long as you gave him a slight hint, he would understand your intentions.

Xiao Heng did not mind such officials who were adept at reading the mood of their superiors.

Xiao Heng thought to himself:

— I said I would protect Jinzhou, and I will.

Zhang Zhicheng expressed his gratitude. “With Your Highness’s word, I can rest assured!”

“This key…”

— No need.

With those words, Xiao Heng calmly turned and left the Governor’s Mansion.

In the main hall, Song Shiyu, who had been watching, felt sympathy and asked, “Your Highness, will you really not accept it?”

Since leaving Luoyang, the Northern Army’s provisions and pay had been exhausting their resources every day. After all, there were thirty thousand mouths to feed, including ten thousand cavalrymen, all of whom were waiting for food.

After their victory over Qian Kan and Han Hu, and after retaking Jinzhou, the promised rewards for the soldiers were still pending.

The reason was simple: the heir could not produce the money. If this continued, they would have to sell off their assets.

Wang Muchuan, stroking his beard, quietly said without turning his gaze, “Your Highness is following the example of the ancient sages, practicing the courtesy of three refusals and three offers.”

Song Shiyu sighed. “The princess is truly well-learned and knowledgeable. Her insight and demeanor are so different from us warriors, so calm and composed.”

Wang Muchuan replied, “Naturally, Your Highness is.”

Song Shiyu glanced sideways at Wang Muchuan and saw the man’s calm demeanor, his face unflinching, with a composure that reflected his distinguished ancestry, having once been a prime minister. He couldn’t help but marvel, “If I had 500,000 taels of silver…”

“What?” Wang Muchuan exclaimed, startled.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand and lowered his voice. “500,000 taels?”

That would be enough to cover two months’ worth of pay and provisions for the 30,000 troops.

“Exactly…”

Before Song Shiyu could finish his sentence, Wang Muchuan, like a gust of wind, followed Xiao Heng’s steps out…

Forget about the three refusals, forget about the ancient sages.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must accept the money!

After a lot of back-and-forth, Zhang Zhicheng finally handed over the key to the money vault to Li Jinxi, the eunuch beside Xiao Heng.

In the evening, he returned to the Zhang family residence, nearly collapsing into the armchair.

Madam Zhang made him a cup of tea and said, “My lord, you’ve been working so hard these past few days.”

Zhang Zhicheng sighed repeatedly. These days, he felt like he was walking through a field of lightning—one wrong move, and he’d be struck by a thunderbolt. “This princess is no ordinary person, not simple at all. From now on, our Zhang family is tied to the Northern Army. There’s no turning back…”

Madam Zhang asked, “But with the situation so chaotic, what if the King of Chu sends troops to Jinzhou…”

Zhang Zhicheng reassured her, “There’s no need to worry too much. Although Li Jichang seems to be in power and controls a large territory, I actually have more confidence in the Northern Army. Li Jichang won’t be able to keep his throne for long. Just wait and see.”

Madam Zhang was curious. “Why do you say that, my lord?”

Zhang Zhicheng replied, “The Northern King and his son are exceptional generals. They could easily rule a region, but to unify the Central Plains, they lacked some key elements. But now they’ve added a strategist, someone who can control the bigger picture. This changes everything.”

“Look at yesterday. General Han Hu led an elite force of fifty thousand soldiers, but the Northern Army first feigned surrender, breaking the morale of the Chu vanguard. Then, when the Chu army retreated, the Northern Army continued to harass them with small forces. This tactic—retreating when the enemy advances, attacking when they tire—directly crushed the Chu army’s morale.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhang felt reassured.

Zhang Zhicheng took a sip of tea, then suddenly leaned in closer to Madam Zhang, lowering his voice. “You’ve been looking for someone to arrange a marriage for Qingqing, haven’t you? Why not find someone in the Northern Army? In these times, family background and titles don’t mean much. It’s soldiers and horses that hold the real power.”

Since the Zhang family had already decided to ally with the Northern Army, it made sense to strengthen the connection through marriage. This way, Xiao Heng would have more trust in them, and they could secure their future by aligning with the powerful Northern Army.

Madam Zhang became interested. “You’re right, my lord! The Northern King’s son, Duan Yunfeng, seems like a fine young man.”^[3]Madame you picked the wrong candidate pfft hahahaha

Zhang Zhicheng slapped his thigh, shaking his head vigorously. “Ah!”

Madam Zhang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Zhicheng pointed at her. “You’ve really narrowed your options, you’re being foolish!”

Zhang Zhicheng continued, “Let’s not talk about how Duan Yunfeng already has a legitimate wife. Even so, if Qingqing marries him, she’ll only be a concubine. Do you know who his wife is? That Princess Zhaoyi!”

“When Li Jichang set a trap for Duan Yunfeng in Luoyang, it was the princess who led the men to open the city gates. In one night, she killed dozens of people.”

Madam Zhang was so shocked that she clutched her chest. “Oh my, would the knives have even stayed sharp?”

This princess was so fierce. If their daughter married into such a family, the future would be a living hell.

She immediately stopped mentioning Duan Yunfeng and instead asked Zhang Zhicheng, “Then, my lord, do you have someone in mind?”

Zhang Zhicheng said, “I’m thinking of his deputy, Song Shiyu. He seems like a good man. To be able to assist Duan Yunfeng, he must be hardworking and capable. He’s now highly regarded by Duan Yunfeng, and his future prospects are certainly bright.”

“Indeed, he does seem quite refined for a deputy.” Madam Zhang seemed convinced. “In that case, my lord, should we have someone inquire about him tomorrow?”