Chapter 270: The Road Home (3)

Fictional History

In the darkness of night, birds soared across the sky. Under a half-moon, mountain ranges undulated and stretched. Waterways, illuminated by starlight, appeared as faint white ribbons crisscrossing the land, spreading with the terrain like strands of hair or tree roots. The only traces left by humans in this darkness were scattered specks of firelight, sometimes gathered, sometimes isolated.

It was the early morning of the ninth day, nearly five days since Hangzhou had fallen. The initial chaos following the great upheaval finally began to show a clearer pattern. Nighttime lights, initially centered on Hangzhou, had spread outward after the city's fall. What was first a restless and dense scattering gradually coalesced into distinct streams. And within Hangzhou city, the fires, after their initial brilliant blaze, had also begun to stabilize.

Bleeding, slaughter, and death had stained the city's streets red over the preceding four days. However, after the initial period of madness, everything inevitably quieted down, and it was time to wash away the bloodstains. The amount of bloodshed during four days of killing and looting was indescribable. Numerous wealthy merchants, gentry, and officials who couldn't escape the city were hunted down and brutally killed, almost to the last person. Even ordinary citizens were not guaranteed to survive; countless people were killed in "suspected" acts of resistance, and many women were violated. After the initial resistors were eliminated, the survivors became largely numb, allowing the "righteous armies" from various regions to seize one territory after another.

Only a few well-established individuals were exceptions.

Not far from the Hangzhou Prefectural Office was a large residence that originally belonged to the Chang family, one of Hangzhou's four prominent families. Though damaged by an earthquake, it wasn't severe, and repairs had since been made. It was shortly after midnight, and the house was brightly lit inside and out, as a banquet was drawing to a close. At the mansion's main gate, the host bid farewell to a large group of guests, greeting each one individually as they departed into the street.

Typically, in the chaotic Hangzhou of this time, those capable of hosting banquets were usually the leaders of the righteous army who had entered the city. However, the attendees here were not righteous army members; the guests appeared simply dressed and somewhat submissive. The middle-aged host and his attendants, on the other hand, carried themselves with considerable poise. This middle-aged man was Fang Qifo, known as "Buddha Marshal," Fang La's most trusted brother in Hangzhou. The people he was seeing off were mostly prominent gentry and wealthy merchants from Hangzhou, as well as some officials who had pledged allegiance to Fang La. Among the mingling crowd, the head of the Lou family, Lou Jinlin, was conspicuously present.

As one of Hangzhou's major families, the Lou family had not previously been connected with Fang La. Fang Qifo only contacted Lou Jinlin the night before the city fell. Because the Lou family's business was diverse, dealing with all sorts of people, Fang Qifo used some connections and appealed to his emotions. Lou Jinlin's reply at the time wasn't resolute, but feeling resentful from prior harassment by Qian Haiping's men, he didn't refuse.

Thus, on the second day when the city fell, he assisted Fang La's unfamiliar army in inventorying all sorts of supplies in Hangzhou. He subsequently became an honored guest within Fang La's forces. With the Qian, Mu, Tang, and Chang families having already departed, if Fang La could indeed establish firm control over Hangzhou, the Lou family, having retained almost all their capital, would implicitly become the foremost influential family in Hangzhou at that time.

Of course, Fang La's hold on Hangzhou might not be stable, and the future was far from optimistic. But for now, this was the only justification they had to console themselves.

The group of survivors currently present, to some extent, knew each other or had heard of each other within Hangzhou. Some had secretly colluded with Fang La from the beginning, while others were later persuaded to join. In Fang La's nascent regime, they might become the first generation of native nobility. However, unless they were among those who had firmly joined Fang La's faction from the outset, the others harbored some apprehension. They didn't speak much to each other or engage in casual conversation, simply bidding Fang Qifo a respectful farewell before departing.

Towards this group, Fang Qifo's demeanor was notably gentle and amiable. Nearing forty, he was tall and exceptionally skilled in combat, having slain countless enemies as a general. Yet, as a strategist, he displayed a composed and reserved side. Within Fang La's military system, there were countless unruly characters: Shi Bao was known for his ferocity, Deng Yuanjue for his wildness, Li Tianrun was steady but arrogant, and Si Xingfang was notoriously fierce. Each possessed unique skills, but they were all exceptionally deferential in Fang Qifo's presence. Even the capricious young woman who called herself Liu Dabiao, or the equally versatile and astute Wang Yin, would typically follow his orders without much argument when facing him.

After seeing off the banquet guests, he turned and walked back, followed by a young attendant. The attendant said, "Teacher, you value them so highly, but from what I see, they may not like it. Many of them seem dispirited, probably thinking our 'business' won't last long. In my opinion, those who weren't truly loyal to us from the start should just be killed… and we could make another fortune."

Perhaps accustomed to his disciple's tone, Fang Qifo merely glanced at him indifferently, not seeming angry, and smiled slightly. He said, "Chen Fan, we've now occupied Hangzhou. You need to change these bandit-like habits of yours. What 'this business,' what 'making a fortune'? The Saintly Duke is about to proclaim himself emperor; you'll be at least a great general in the future. Don't always be so greedy for small gains."

"Tsk, Teacher," Chen Fan retorted, "it's always more interesting to be greedy for small things. As for emperors and generals, just thinking about them gives me a headache…"

The young man named Chen Fan appeared somewhat lethargic, but Fang Qifo didn't mind. He continued walking and said, "Hangzhou is a vital stronghold in Jiangnan. When the Saintly Duke proclaims himself emperor, Hangzhou will be the capital. Such an important place cannot be completely destroyed. Autumn harvest is approaching; the rice needs to be cut, and we need manpower. Later, this city needs to be rebuilt, with rules and commerce. And for the emperor's enthronement, we need people to uphold the appearance of order. Our comrades who entered the city aren't skilled in these matters; they only know how to burn and loot. This is our home now, and we should restrain ourselves a little."

Fang Qifo sighed. "What we don't understand, they do. It's fine if they're unhappy now; as long as they're willing to work, I'll give them status and power, and they'll like it… Since we've taken Hangzhou, I'll be setting off to attack Jiaxing in a few days. Before that, I need to arrange these matters properly. Once I leave in a few days, you will stay here and ensure they are not harassed. Remember this?"

"Teacher," Chen Fan pleaded, "I want to go with you to attack Jiaxing. I don't understand these matters. Why don't you leave General Wang or An Xifu behind and let me go instead? It's fine if I go to Huzhou…"

"It's not that you don't understand; you're just too lazy to think, otherwise, why would you speak of them like that… Currently, Wang Yin needs to manage the situation in the south, and An Xifu is going north to Huzhou. It's best for you to stay. You are my disciple, and you're unreasonable enough."

"I'm not unreasonable," Chen Fan argued. "I think I could have An Xifu replaced. And stepping back, isn't that girl from the Overlord Blade family even more unreasonable than me when she gets things done? I could replace her too."

"Those going north to Huzhou are a chaotic, mixed bunch. Sending them there is partly to let them disrupt Huzhou, and partly just to give them an opportunity to loot. Xifu is going along to command this group when necessary. Do you know that at noon today, Lu Qiao and Yao Yi almost came to blows? It was only thanks to An Xifu arriving promptly with the Black Plume Guard that the situation was quelled. If it had been you, you probably would have just added to the chaos… As for Overlord Blade, where has she been these past few days?"

Chen Fan tilted his head and scratched his eyebrow. "A few days ago… when the city was in turmoil with all the killing, she was on the streets, being friendly with the neighbors, distributing steamed buns to people, and not allowing us to kill anyone. Yesterday, she also went north, I heard she and her subordinates are looking for someone named Ning Liheng. Is he the one who outwitted both her and General Shi, and killed Gou Zheng and his men? Anyway, I think that girl is quite idle…"

Fang Qifo frowned in thought. "When the city fell, most people fled north. I heard Ning Liheng had contacted many people beforehand to break out to the north together. Today, Yao Yi and others seem to have targeted a group of fleeing people. Could he be among them?"

"Teacher, should I go after them and warn them? Clearly, that Ning Liheng is very powerful. And while I'm at it, I can bring Liu Dabiao and her people back?"

"What's there to warn them about? Even if there are soldiers among those fleeing, they are already dispirited and exhausted. Ning Liheng only succeeded for a moment on that day; what can one person's strength achieve in such matters… As for you wanting to bring Liu Dabiao back, go talk to her yourself. As long as you can convince her to return and maintain order in the city, then why wouldn't I allow you to go north?"

"Teacher, then you'd have to give her an order…" Chen Fan said, tilting his head. But Fang Qifo, ahead of him, waved his hand and continued walking without stopping. After waiting for a while, Chen Fan exclaimed exasperatedly, "But I can't maintain order in the city either! You… Teacher, aren't you asking for the impossible? I want to fight!"

Piles of bonfires glowed faintly and dimmed, as the camp entered its resting phase.

This small camp, situated on a hilltop, was not neatly arranged; there were no fences or extensive patrols, and few tents. Tired soldiers, clutching various mismatched weapons, slept around bonfires in the open field. Though bothered by mosquitoes and other insects at this time, they were all deeply drowsy.

Lu Qiao was supposedly sleeping in his tent—though he wasn't actually asleep. He lay on his bed, gnawing on half a roasted chicken, gazing at the tent ceiling, occasionally spitting out bones.

"Damn it…"

What truly annoyed him was the inexplicable anger he'd felt that noon. Several of his own men had been beaten, ambushed in the valley, and yet that Yao Yi stubbornly insisted he had ambushed him!

It was truly a case of 'give a dog a bad name and hang him,' utterly infuriating…

Their main responsibility for this northern expedition, though stated as disrupting Huzhou to prevent it from supporting Jiaxing and Hangzhou, wasn't actually a heavy task. In the northwest, the only force capable of rescuing Huzhou or Jiaxing was the Martial Brigade, originally under Kang Fangting. However, ever since Fang La took Hangzhou, the Martial Brigade had been tied up in the northwest by Fang La's sister, Fang Baihua. As long as Fang Baihua remained undefeated, Huzhou's limited forces would be powerless to intervene on either front.

Encountering such an undeserved misfortune during what was supposed to be an easy task of killing and looting, he had initially thought he must retaliate no matter what. But he naturally failed to do so later. When that black military discipline squad arrived, both sides ceased fire.

Within Fang La's army, though most units were comprised of homeless refugees, some couldn't even procure full sets of weapons. For example, Lu Qiao's own unit was formed from his hometown, Tongxian, and after joining the Saintly Duke's army, he was given a command and a structure. Nevertheless, there were still a few truly elite military units.

Setting aside the armies under Fang Qifo and others, to prevent excessive routs on the battlefield, the military discipline squad established by Fang Baihua was indeed an undisputed elite unit. Its members, dressed in black, were ruthless killers. In several battles, if the front line collapsed, heads would fall in batches behind them. The current leader of this unit was a young man named An Xifu, who had a silent, scholarly air about him. However, Lu Qiao couldn't deny that he felt a little intimidated whenever he saw him.

It must be said that among the current rebel forces, most participants still operated with a 'gang mentality,' where might made right. Lu Qiao naturally couldn't provoke figures like Deng Yuanjue, Shi Bao, or Si Xingfang, nor could he cross the Black Plume Guard. However, he followed Li Tianrun, and he could certainly afford to provoke Yao Yi, who was under Si Xingfang. Feeling disgruntled today, he couldn't sleep and cursed inwardly for a while.

As he vented his frustration, he suddenly heard a slight commotion outside his tent. His heart jolted, and he thought, 'Could Yao Yi be causing trouble again?' Grabbing his broadsword, he pushed aside the tent flap to step out. No sooner had he emerged than he saw a group of people crossing the camp and heading towards him. The person leading was small in stature, a girl wearing a skirt and a black veiled conical hat. Behind her, a tall person carried a box on their back. Following them, a vaguely visible group of people was approaching. Their footsteps disturbed the bonfires along their path, sending scattered lights swirling into the air. Lu Qiao pondered for a moment who these people could be, and when he realized, he was stunned.

The girl produced a token and waved it. Lu Qiao quickly saluted, but before he could speak, the middle-aged man carrying the box behind her spoke first. "General Lu, no need for formalities. We are looking for a scholar named Ning Liheng. He might be among the fleeing groups heading north. Has General Lu heard anything about him?"

Lu Qiao blinked. "N-no, I haven't…"

"You must have captured a few stragglers on your way here. Where are they being held? Could you take us to question them?"

Fleeing crowds scattered in all directions, and along the way, some people were certainly captured. Some were summarily killed and robbed, while others were taken for questioning. Lu Qiao nodded quickly, then led the group over. From a distance, dark figures flickered among the mountains, suggesting more hidden forces. Once the captives were brought, the girl and her companions didn't require him to stand guard, so he returned and sat by the bonfire, watching them.

He had never been familiar with this group, only heard of them. They were the Overlord Blade Camp, led by the renowned Liu Dabiaozi from the southwestern martial arts world. This Liu Dabiaozi was a martial arts hero, not a bandit, but he had a connection with Fang La. When Fang La's rebellion began, Liu Dabiaozi rallied in response, and his camp was considered an elite force of the righteous army, alongside the Black Plume Guard.

Of course, while the Black Plume Guard's reputation was built on relentless executions, the Overlord Blade Camp's renown stemmed from Liu Dabiaozi's own legendary status. It was said that his 'Overlord Blade' technique had few rivals in the Jiangnan martial arts world. He was described as a formidable hero, eight feet tall with an eight-foot waist and a formidable chest of hair. Few among the righteous army could truly compare to him.

When Lu Qiao first heard of Liu Dabiaozi upon joining the righteous army, he greatly admired him. However, as his own status within the army grew, he realized that while soldiers from the Overlord Blade Camp were occasionally seen, Liu Dabiaozi himself was never encountered. This person seemed not to participate in the various power struggles and territory grabs within the righteous army, remaining mysterious and acting with authority. But later, Lu Qiao vaguely heard that Liu Dabiao had died several years ago. The one now giving orders in his place was Liu Dabiao's daughter, who stubbornly insisted on being called Liu Dabiaozi, seemingly wanting her father's name to live on. He initially found this somewhat amusing, but later sensed that the atmosphere around it was not quite right.

It was said that although Liu Dabiao's daughter had an eccentric personality, her martial arts skills were exceedingly high. Few among the righteous army's high-ranking officers dared to mock the name 'Liu Dabiaozi,' as she had fought many battles with them over it. Though physically slender, the girl found a unique way to wield her family's formidable Overlord Blade. It was rumored that even Shi Bao and Wang Yin, who were considered the most skilled fighters in the army at that time, might not be able to defeat her. Chen Fan, Fang Qifo's disciple, was said to possess strength capable of uprooting a willow tree and fought like an Asura on the battlefield. Yet, it was rumored that his encounters with this Liu Dabiao always ended in a draw.

Lu Qiao was unclear about any other reasons behind these draws, but at least those who drew were still alive. In the army, however, there were quite a few people rumored to have been genuinely killed by 'Liu Dabiao.' Thereafter, although others rarely saw the girl, they dared not refer to her by any name other than Liu Dabiao, and over time, her legend grew. Seeing her for the first time today, he didn't sense much overt domineering presence, but he also made sure not to show any disrespect.

After a while, the questioning seemed to be over, and they headed back towards him. The girl nodded slightly in thanks, and he quickly returned the gesture. The middle-aged man behind her said, "We've asked, but there wasn't much result. We just came from General Xue Dounan's side. General Yao should be nearby too; have you seen him?"

This group was actually quite polite. Hearing the question, Lu Qiao realized the girl and her party had been inquiring among each group of people heading north. He quickly nodded. "Yes, I've certainly seen him. Yao Yi's troop should be just over that mountain, to the west. Oh, and the Black Plume Guard, led by Mister An, has probably gone ahead already."

"Thank you," they said, and turned to walk into the darkness. After a few steps, Lu Qiao saw the girl turn her head and speak. It was the first time he heard her voice; it was somewhat cold, yet pleasant to the ear. "We are looking for someone named Ning Liheng, General Lu. If you encounter any more fleeing people tomorrow, please help us inquire about him. Thank you."

"Uh… certainly, certainly, no problem."

Lu Qiao said this, watching as they disappeared into the darkness, and let out a small sigh of relief. He felt that these people were quite easy to get along with, and then it occurred to him that perhaps this was the aura of truly formidable individuals. It would be best if they went to Yao Yi and really gave him and his men a hard time; that would be ideal…

At the same moment, our gaze shifts further north. In the valley where numerous refugees had set up camp, several bonfires were burning. In the darkness there, Chan'er sat on the grass with her knees hugged, her gaze slightly sorrowful as she watched the figure by a distant bonfire. Another female figure was carrying a cup of water and walking towards that direction.

Some things she didn't understand; even if she dimly comprehended them, by now, they had become somewhat incomprehensible.

In the morning, the young master-in-law's hand injury was diagnosed as critical, and the doctor administered emergency treatment. When she, Juan'er, Sister Xing'er, and others were forcibly rushed into the departing group by the young mistress, she was so heartbroken she almost burst into tears. But it wasn't the time to cry, so she held it back.

In the afternoon, both the young master-in-law and the young mistress caught up, which made her very happy. However, during the journey, she inquired and learned that the young master-in-law's injury was very serious. Yet, once they arrived, he immediately started working, doing all sorts of things: rushing around persuading wealthy merchants to offer gold, silver, and jewels as bait, gathering old soldiers and hunters to ask about various situations. These activities didn't stop until nightfall. He constantly questioned by the bonfire, occasionally pondered, took a few steps, but mostly wrote and drew on paper, consulting a map.

Injuries and illness typically slow down one's thinking, and the young master-in-law's condition didn't seem ideal either. But from beginning to end, he didn't stop, occasionally asking for the young mistress's opinion. Even after everyone he had questioned had fallen asleep, he continued to write and think.

It wasn't that she entirely failed to understand the young master-in-law's intentions for doing these things. But something kept nagging at her heart: his injuries were too severe, he wouldn't be able to bear it…

She wanted to go over and say a few words to persuade him, but she couldn't summon the courage. This time, the young mistress also didn't try to persuade him; she simply followed and watched, mostly silently, which was perhaps a wife supporting her husband. She envied the intimacy between the young mistress and the young master-in-law, but… he wouldn't be able to hold on…

Just now, she had carried a cup of water, intending to go over, almost mustering the courage to overstep her bounds as a maid and suggest that the young master-in-law take a break. However, the young mistress, passing by, took the cup from her. Perhaps seeing the expression on Chan'er's face, the young mistress shook her head slightly and gave her a hug, then carried the cup of water over herself. Chan'er returned to her spot, unable to sleep, and watched the young mistress and young master-in-law sitting side by side. She hugged her knees, pressed her lips against them, and began to cry softly and stifledly…

Fires crackled, sending up a shower of luminous dust. In the glow, Ning Yi lifted his face, thought carefully for a moment, then lowered his head again, continuing to write and draw on the paper. The night, perhaps, was still long…

That night, Ning Yi finally managed to get some sleep, and when he woke up the next day, he resumed yesterday's planning and deductions. As the refugees broke camp and changed direction, he continued to ponder on horseback, sometimes consulting with Su Tan'er and handing her his thoughts for review. Along the way, he also questioned various people. It wasn't until dusk that he handed a rough outline of his ideas to Chen Xingdu. Some details within it still needed revision by someone truly experienced in military affairs, and perhaps it wouldn't even be accepted in the end, but for now, this was the extent of what he could do.

While some people were discussing in the newly set-up tents, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er rode a horse towards a nearby hillside. Beyond the hillside was a winding waterway. The sun was setting, casting golden rays upon the mountains and water. Below, the water shimmered, and on the hillside, beautiful wildflowers bloomed.

Ning Yi dismounted and reached out to help Su Tan'er down. Although he managed to support his wife, he stumbled back a few steps, and they both fell onto the grassy slope. Ning Yi still had some strength at this point, so while they fell, it wasn't enough to cause Su Tan'er too much discomfort. Then, they lay there, chuckling softly.

Looking up, on the evening of the ninth day, a flock of wild geese flew across the sky. The clouds that day were beautiful, like pure white cotton. Ning Yi stretched out his arms, and Su Tan'er gently placed her hand over her stomach, like two children.

The two lay there for a while before one of them finally spoke…

Another six thousand words. I almost hate myself; it would've been great if I had posted this a few days earlier, but it's okay. I wonder if everyone has a new chapter out today; there's no double bonus this month anyway… Please!!!

Also, I recommend a book, 'Storm at the End of the Ming Dynasty' by Saintly Morning Thunder. I read it yesterday, and it's excellent. I've always trusted this author's books, and this one is indeed great to read, a very good 'farming and romance' novel. That farming atmosphere he creates is something I've always wanted to learn to emulate. Anyone interested can go check it out!

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