Chapter 258: What One Can Do

As the morning sun rose, an atmosphere of panic and restlessness already enveloped the entire city.

Faint reports of fighting came from the vicinity of Qiantang Gate in the west. The fire in the north of the city seemed to be still spreading, yet everything remained in a state of immense chaos. It was unclear whether the army was clashing with the city's residents, or with Fang La's forces who had infiltrated the city. Due to the spread of this chaos, conflicts of varying scales erupted throughout Hangzhou, leaving people in fear and without a sense of security.

As one of the most important and symbolic cities in Jiangnan, Hangzhou had not experienced warfare since the founding of the Wu Dynasty. Even when the situation in the south was turbulent, with Fang La and his forces fighting in places like Shezhou and Wuzhou, the Wude Camp maintained strict defenses here. Everyone understood the great significance of Hangzhou. For those who had lived in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area for generations, the sense of crisis from war had always felt distant. Thus, when news spread that Fang La's troops were approaching, and the nightmare suddenly became reality overnight, households throughout the city were abruptly stunned.

At this time, Hangzhou was prosperous, and a considerable number of imperial and garrison troops were stationed there, though primarily under the command of the Wude Camp. In recent days, due to the earthquake, the Wude Camp's main forces had already converged, bringing the total number of troops guarding the city and its surroundings to about thirty thousand. As soon as the chaos erupted near Qiantang Gate in the west, the army immediately consolidated, closed all four city gates, issued warnings, repelled the enemy, and began suppressing the internal unrest.

The army was not insufficient; moreover, the Wude Camp stationed in Hangzhou was well-supplied, and its combat effectiveness was assured. Amidst the chaos that began in the morning, Ning Yi and others in Taiping Alley could only listen to the unfolding disorder and defend their own lane. They had no clear understanding of how events were progressing. People on the street were anxiously waiting for concrete news, and some even approached Ning Yi, asking what they could do. Ning Yi simply waved his hand and told his cook to go back and prepare breakfast.

War is dangerous. When such matters are imminent and one lacks sufficient resources, Ning Yi couldn't be expected to have much resolve. At that moment, a large fire was spreading in the north of the city. Recalling Yuan Dingqi's demeanor yesterday, and his beheading this morning, it was clear that Fang La's forces must have infiltrated the city early under the cover of chaos. Their exact numbers were hard to ascertain. For now, he could only temporarily trust the Wude Camp's combat strength and wait for more news to clarify the situation.

Of course, what needed to be done was not merely to wait. By this point, he needed to consolidate what he could actually do.

He drank his morning porridge.

Various sounds still emanated from all directions of the city, an irritating buzz. Ning Yi and his family sat in the courtyard, eating breakfast, while outside, people on the streets still moved about anxiously. However, at this time, security primarily focused on the main streets, and few dared to venture out of Taiping Alley, as no one knew if they might encounter Fang La's infiltrators. After some thought, Ning Yi instructed Dong Zhu to prepare the carriage. Those nearby were startled by his decision, and Xiao Chan's eyes widened. "Master, what are you going to do...?"

"Nothing..." Ning Yi was about to explain when the deputy ward head entered from outside the courtyard. It turned out that soldiers from the Wude Camp had just arrived, delivering an order for everyone in every street to guard their homes strictly and not wander about. Some of Fang La's bandits were inciting unrest within the city, and the Wude Camp was encircling them to prevent them from seizing further opportunities.

The deputy ward head added that, according to the Wude Camp's messenger, the disturbances near Qiantang Gate in the west had been anticipated. The enemy had already been repelled from outside the gate. Although they attempted to breach the collapsed section of the city wall, they would surely not succeed, giving the citizens cause for reassurance. Listening to the commotion from earlier that morning, this seemed plausible. After all, Hangzhou still had capable individuals; even with a collapsed wall, they wouldn't be entirely unprepared. It seemed the government troops had intentionally shown a weakness to lure them in. The bandits who had entered the city, however, managing to create such a large disturbance, was likely something the authorities hadn't anticipated.

Ning Yi felt a little relieved by this, but he couldn't fully trust the government troops. What he had decided to do, he still had to proceed with. He told the deputy ward head that he would be going out shortly, produced the Wude Camp commander's token from yesterday, and offered a few perfunctory reasons. Only then did the deputy nod before leaving to inform others about the impending curfew in Taiping Alley.

After the deputy ward head left, Xiao Chan was so anxious she looked like she might cry. "Master, where are you going? Those bandits are already in the city! What if you run into them?"

Ning Yi softly said, "I'm going to visit the Qian family, do some things, and then see if we can get a boat. Going north via the canal is out of the question, but there are still sea vessels on the Qiantang River to the east..."

"No, you can't! Not now, there are bandits outside!"

"We have to try, don't forget your master is a ruthless butcher with bloody hands. We're all jianghu people, there's nothing to fear. I'll be back soon." Ning Yi smiled, comforting her. Then, he put an arm around her, patting her shoulder. Despite many family members being present, his gesture was completely natural and unselfconscious. Xiao Chan was momentarily stunned, only vaguely hearing Ning Yi murmur to himself, "Take a chance, a bicycle can turn into a motorcycle..."

After a brief embrace, he released Xiao Chan. Su Tan'er watched him from across the room, not seeming to mind Ning Yi hugging Xiao Chan. She simply walked a little aside with Ning Yi before speaking softly, "Xiao Chan is right, at this time, sea vessels might be..."

"I know," Ning Yi nodded, replying in a low voice. "Sea vessels can leave the city, but there certainly won't be many. By now, I expect the docks are already full, so there's no hope for us to just go there. However, as long as the government has even a sliver of hope, they will absolutely not allow ships to leave, otherwise, morale will only plummet further. Those ships will definitely be their fallback. We need to prepare for both scenarios. If it truly comes to the point of escaping, I must find a way to secure some spots: for you, Wen Fang, Wen Ding, Chan'er, Juan'er, Xing'er... The Wude Camp is prepared, the city won't fall too quickly, so I must go find Qian Xiwen as soon as possible. It's not just about sea vessels; we need a third contingency plan."

"What about the others...?"

"I'll do my best, but if they really break in..." Ning Yi thought for a moment, "I can only prioritize you all."

Su Tan'er squeezed his hand and nodded. "...Husband, please come back quickly. I'll watch over things here."

Ning Yi nodded. After Dong Zhu had harnessed the carriage, Ning Yi didn't intend for him to drive. While there was a possibility of danger outside, he estimated it wasn't high. Still, after a thought, he moved two cans of gunpowder into the carriage. He then drove the carriage out of the alley.

As he drove, many streets and alleys along the way were tightly guarded by their residents. The unrest still centered on the area where the fire in the north of the city was spreading, but from a distance, it seemed to have been largely suppressed and was now apparently dispersing into smaller groups. That area was quite far from here, so it shouldn't extend this way immediately. However, after driving for a while, he noticed some streets and alleys were not simply holding their ground. Instead, groups of armed guards and local militias seemed to have organized and were heading somewhere. He encountered several such groups in quick succession. Ning Yi leaned forward in thought for a moment in the carriage, and when he encountered another group, he pulled closer and showed his token.

A man at the head of one group saw the token and was momentarily somewhat skeptical, yet Ning Yi didn't look like a bandit. He said, "Someone previously told us to guard our own neighborhoods, but after a while, another military officer came and told us to send people to help defend the city, to gather at Xichun Bridge, threatening military law for anyone who disobeyed. Who are we supposed to listen to in such a situation?"

Ning Yi separated from this group. Soon after, he encountered another group whose direction seemed different. They claimed a messenger had ordered them to gather at Gumao Alley. That man was covered in blood, spoke sternly, and carried a yamen token, so these people naturally dared not disobey. Ning Yi took a breath and told this group to return and guard their homes. They seemed to believe Ning Yi's words and began to head back.

Similar incidents were likely happening quite often within the city at that time. Although Ning Yi gleaned some clues, he had no time to deal with them and continued straight to the Qian family residence. Many of the Qian family's houses had also collapsed. Numerous Qian family guards and escorts were securing the vicinity. However, after Ning Yi announced his arrival, he was immediately granted an audience with Qian Xiwen.

At the Qian family's ancestral home, the house where Qian Xiwen originally resided had not been destroyed by the earthquake, but a temporary shelter had been set up in the courtyard. As Ning Yi was led over, the elder was sitting on a chair inside the shelter, drinking tea. Since the courtyard wall had collapsed, one could see the smoke and dust in the northern sky from there. Seeing Ning Yi approach, Qian Xiwen stood up, smiled, and then placed his teacup on the table. The old man appeared quite composed. He seemed to approve of Ning Yi coming to him at this time and instructed a servant to pour tea.

"Li Heng, please sit. It's a simple place, no need to be formal. Although that house didn't collapse, the younger generation in the family has been worried and insisted that an old man like me only stay in a straw hut. But then again, with the wall down, the night breeze is quite cool. You must not be having an easy time either, are you?"

Ning Yi bowed to him. "This junior has come to ask for your esteemed opinion on defending the city, sir."

Qian Xiwen nodded. "At the Autumn Equinox Poetry Gathering, you offended the Lou family. Later, despite the earthquake, you didn't come to find me, which showed you had things under control. Today, you came immediately, indicating that you are not merely arrogant. You understand how to react, when to advance and retreat, and you have spirit. This is very good."

At this moment, a servant offered Ning Yi a cup of tea. Qian Xiwen raised his own cup and gestured northward. "I am a scholar, and I have no grasp of today's events. However, I just had someone inquire, and the army was indeed prepared for Fang La's bandits taking advantage of the earthquake to seize the city. The bandits at Qiantang Gate launched a sudden attack, but their first wave has been completely repelled. If you ask me about the war, I cannot say, but those I've consulted seem somewhat confident, although... that large fire did take them by surprise. Furthermore, many situations within the city indicate that a considerable number of Fang La's bandits have indeed entered. However, if the attack from outside the city is unsuccessful, with the entire city as their enemy, they won't be able to cause trouble for long."

Ning Yi nodded. "So, the army is confident."

Qian Xiwen took a sip of tea and waited for a moment. "If one takes on responsibility, one must be accountable. As for confidence, everyone has it, but without this earthquake, the situation would be much better."

"Does Elder Qian also have confidence?"

Qian Xiwen chuckled and shook his head. "As I said, I am a scholar, so it's not proper for me to speak on such matters, nor can I. However, since Li Heng has asked this question, for Siyuan's sake, there are some things I won't shy away from. In the western campaign, the Wuwei and Wuzhou armies have had occasional victories and defeats against Fang La's bandits. Any minor incident is reported as a great triumph. But in the military and political circles, deception and concealment are rampant. As for how much one can believe what this person or that person says, I still have to see for myself. Frankly, although the Wuwei and Wuzhou armies haven't suffered a major defeat, Fang La's forces don't seem to be significantly weakened; in fact, their influence has grown. This time, he is attacking Hangzhou, a vital strategic city that has not seen war for many years. That the Wude Camp can defend Hangzhou... I largely believe this. But I have lived for decades and seen many things. What if there is a 'what if'... that is something I prefer not to contemplate..."

The elder lowered his voice, not for any secret, but simply musing. "The Wude Camp is said to be elite, but they haven't seen battle in many years. This defense of the city has no precedent, which is a disadvantage. Fang La's side may not be so formidable either, after all, they are people who can barely get enough to eat... I have never experienced warfare myself, but Siyuan once lamented that no matter how powerful an army seems, it is not necessarily always victorious..."

Qian Xiwen was not easily fooled. In a siege battle, victory meant victory, but defeat meant countless families ruined and lives lost. Although he believed they should win, he remained clear-headed. After listening to him, Ning Yi looked up and said, "I apologize for my presumption, but if there's an emergency, can the sea vessel port to the south be used for escape?"

"Yes, since the army is prepared, those ships were secured long ago. However, they won't be moved unless the city falls. There aren't many sea vessels, and the number of people who can leave is limited. Once they start departing, there will undoubtedly be a mutiny at the port."

"In that event, this junior would like to request seven spots. There will be a generous reward for this matter."

"Seven is quite a few," Qian Xiwen smiled. "But it can be arranged. I will give you the credentials shortly. However, I will not be leaving by boat. If such a time comes, I can also fight my way out with the retreating troops."

"Thank you. This is just in case. I have family, and you, Elder Qian, also have family; I wouldn't want anything to happen to them. Oh, as I was coming here, I noticed something..."

Ning Yi explained to Qian Xiwen the situation he encountered while driving. Qian Xiwen frowned. Ning Yi said, "Although Fang La has been a menace not far to the west, for them to coordinate an attack on the city so quickly after the earthquake, within seven days, seems rather fast to me. Those incoming displaced people might not be genuine refugees; they would need to gather slowly here, trying not to reveal themselves. Most of them are likely pre-selected bandit soldiers. Furthermore, orders within the city have their own mechanisms; spreading false information isn't impossible but would be difficult. Their rapid response, simultaneously setting fires and disseminating different messages everywhere, suggests something more. I don't know if there are other things happening within the city..."

"There were indeed people causing trouble near Fenghuang Gate, where the city wall also collapsed. The Wude Camp has heavily guarded it, but there are no signs of an external siege there," Qian Xiwen interjected, then said, "Please continue, Li Heng."

"Then they're deploying feigned troops everywhere, coordinating with the external offensive to exhaust the Wude Camp. To create widespread chaos, those who infiltrated must be skilled individuals, and their execution is so precise that I believe they had a plan in place even before the earthquake. Fang La's advance on Hangzhou must have been prepared beforehand, and then, mid-execution, they encountered the earthquake..."

Qian Xiwen paused, then sighed, "In that case... they've gained a timely advantage..."

"I hope Elder Qian will inform the person in charge of the city's defenses about this as soon as possible. The person who orchestrated these events is very formidable, and they must have entered the city; otherwise, the response within the city would not have been so insufficient. If this person can be apprehended, it might slightly alleviate the pressure both inside and outside the city." Ning Yi paused. After all, he was too unfamiliar with Hangzhou, so a mere reminder was sufficient. "Additionally, I hope Elder Qian can procure a token for me."

"What kind of token?"

"I want to persuade the wealthy merchants and prominent families around Taiping Alley, as well as the various martial arts schools and escort agencies. At this moment, the soldiers within the city are sufficient, so there shouldn't be an immediate need to enlist them for defense. However, if an emergency arises, and they are needed, or if everyone needs to escape, I might be able to improve the situation. Regarding the sea vessels, since there are few boats and many people, I want to do what I can to provide a third option."

Qian Xiwen looked at him for a while, then thought, and smiled with a strange expression. "Someone appreciated by Duke Qin is certainly not simple, I know that. However, there's something I've always wanted to ask Li Heng: What exactly are you skilled at?"

Ning Yi thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Last year's disaster relief strategy was written by me. As for the rest, it's hard to explain."

Qian Xiwen listened, nodded slightly, then opened a drawer and took out some talismans and seals.