A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 27

When Lin Jianshu came to the farmstead again, it was two days later.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and an air of grim severity surrounded him. Chen Liangyu knew that the Bow Bow Fort and the government troops had engaged in battle.

He tossed a roasted chicken wrapped in leaves to Chen Luan, gave him a reluctant, lingering look, and then, without saying a word, took Zhai Ji away.

“General Lin!” Chen Liangyu chased after him.

Someone restrained her and pulled her back.

“General Lin, Beiyong is bellicose! If our dynasty’s military strategy falls into the hands of Beiyong, they will surely launch another attack on Daling, bringing war and suffering to the common people! General Lin!”

Chen Liangyu struggled, and in her desperation, she injured several people who were blocking her before breaking free to catch up with Lin Jianshu.

“My maternal grandfather created the He Clan Military Strategy precisely to resist Beiyong’s invasions! The war in the northern border lasted for sixteen years! Uncle Lin!”

Hearing her mention his former teacher, Lin Jianshu stopped, and spoke slowly, “When the teacher was still alive, he taught us the ways of the world and discussed the state and the people. Only after several decades did I finally realize, what ‘way of the world’ is there? It is merely a tool used by emperors to deceive and blind the populace. But I do not wish to drift with the current and sink into mediocrity. I still keep in mind the teacher’s teachings from that year: the people are important, the ruler is less so. The king should be a model for the realm, and the throne should be held by one who is virtuous, talented, benevolent, and loves the people. The current Son of Heaven is without virtue, ascended the throne by stepping on the lives of his subjects, and has held the imperial seat for nearly twenty years. I originally thought a time of clarity would bring about justice, but they only wish to bury the old, filthy scandals and cover up their flaws. When one makes a mistake, one should take the blame and apologize. Since they are unwilling to correct it, a change of ruler might not be unacceptable.”

He thought for a moment and added, “Back then, he was pursued by Prince Fengde and fled into a village. A family gave him a ladle of water to drink, and the entire family died at the hands of Prince Fengde. Prince Fengde held his sword over the head of the family’s young child, forcing him to kneel and beg before sparing his life. At that time, I thought that a grand Prince, willing to kneel for a mere child, would make a good emperor.”

With that, he started walking. When Chen Liangyu tried to stop him again, Lin Jianshu struck her down. Immediately, several people came up with ropes, tied her up securely, and threw her into the woodshed.

The night was filled with bright stars, and a heavy fog descended upon the mountain village.

When the government troops breached the Bow Bow Fort, the first person to find them was the swiftly arriving Zhang Jialing.

Torches burned down the houses; the thatched huts quickly turned to ash in the scorching fire, and the thick black smoke made the mountain fog even denser.

Corpses lay scattered on the ground.

A young general walked towards them, cupped his hands, and said, “I am Jiang Andong of the Northern Imperial Army, tasked with assisting Commander Chen.” He then added, “The Emperor has commanded that Commander Chen immediately return to Yongdu.”

Chen Liangyu nodded in return.

Court Eunuch Wei stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by firelight, with the bodies of the ‘human monkeys’ at his feet.

He hung his head, his expression unclear, muttering to himself, though only a few words could be vaguely discerned: “Go now, leave it to me.”

Walking along, she saw a few familiar faces. The two bandit guards who looked like door gods and who had watched over them were also corpses lying in the fields. A net had been erected around the clearing, and huddled inside were only the old, the weak, and the women and children.

A’yin raised his head, staring at them with hostility.

She did not see Lin Jianshu. For a moment, Chen Liangyu hoped he had escaped. A great general should not die so ignominiously.

If he were to die here, the name “Ghost-Saber Lin Jianshu” would no longer exist in the annals of history. Instead, the Daling military archives would simply record: In a certain month of a certain year, a certain general led troops to suppress a certain number of mountain bandits, and the bandit leader was executed.

Not long after, her worries were confirmed.

The government troops dragged his body out of a civilian house. The cut on his neck was deep, and the blood had not yet dried.

Zhai Ji walked out behind them, with no sign of successful fulfillment on his face.

Zhai Ji could not be allowed to live. He had to be killed before he returned to Beiyong.

He must not be allowed to take the Three Scrolls of Yin and Yang back to Beiyong.

Perhaps the murderous intent in her eyes was too strong, as Zhai Ji, after tidying Lin Jianshu’s clothes slightly, walked straight towards her.

He said, “Chen Liangyu, when the world is united, the fighting will cease. To truly end the chaotic era, this is the only path that works. Do you think that if you don’t offend others, others won’t offend you? With unrest across the land and taxes unreduced, how can there be peace and prosperity? Do you really think you can safeguard the peace of Zhongling in this chaotic era? I truly don’t know whether to call you too arrogant or simply brainless.”

Chen Liangyu retorted, “World unification? Heh, you make it sound simple with a mere movement of your lips. Have you considered how long this path will take to reach the end—fifty years? eighty years? or a hundred, or several hundred years? And during that time, how many innocent people will die in war and famine? It is never beneficial for a nation to prolong its military operations! You advocate conquest; you do not need to use ‘peace for all under Heaven’ as your excuse.”

Zhai Ji said, “Great achievements require sacrifice. Temporary sacrifice for eternal peace—why can’t you calculate this account correctly?”

“Even if the world is truly unified, the fighting will not stop! After unification, there will be division, and new forces will clash and contend. War will never cease; it is endless.” A trace of sorrow flashed in Chen Liangyu’s eyes. “A single life is but a hundred years, or even less. If I can devote this life to preserving peace in one region and ensuring one generation lives in peace and contentment, I will have no regrets in life.”

Zhai Ji said, “Short-sighted and womanly benevolence!”

Chen Liangyu said, “Aspiring to the heavens, an idiotic pipe dream!”

They parted on bad terms.

Looking back, Zhang Jialing was holding a woman in his arms, whispering words of comfort. She was one of the hostages rescued from the bandit fort.

Chen Liangyu pulled Zhang Jialing away. She had always been disgusted by his frivolous and wayward manner; his previous violent streak when galloping through the marketplace was more palatable.

“What are you doing?” Zhang Jialing said, displeased. “Her father died, killed by that man.”

Guan Ren was being held down by government soldiers, still cursing.

“Were all the hostages rescued?” Chen Liangyu asked.

Lin Jianshu had once ordered the bandits to only rob the rich and not to harm lives. When the bandits captured people, if they looked like a wealthy family, they would send a letter to the hostage’s family to extort a ransom.

Guan Ren, seeing the government troops today, had gone mad and started attacking indiscriminately, injuring many hostages, regardless of friend or foe.

“They’ve been rescued and are settled outside the fort. They’ll return to the city with the nearby garrison tomorrow.”

So, he did go to a nearby city for reinforcements!

“Miss Yan Jiu is now an orphan. It’s not safe for her to travel with the main group.”

That was true. Chen Liangyu squeezed between Zhang Jialing and the woman, separating them, and asked, “Miss, where are you from? Who else is in your family?”

The woman sobbed, knelt, and kowtowed to her: “My common name is Shen Yan, and I am the ninth child in the family, so the adults may call me Yan Jiu. My family were salt merchants in East Baiyue, who moved from Pingcheng. My father was murdered. The only family left are my uncles and aunts who left ahead of us, and are now waiting for my father and me in Helu Town.”

“I’ll send people to escort you there,” Chen Liangyu helped the woman up, looked around, and called over two soldiers.

“M-m-me, I can do it,” Zhang Jialing volunteered, raising his hand. “I’ll take her back.”

“You are not needed.”

Shen Yan continued to sob, sniffled, and said, “Young Master Zhang… he is very kind.”

Chen Liangyu was momentarily speechless. “He… sigh, alright.”

After settling everything here with Jiang Andong, the general who came to meet her, Chen Liangyu galloped back to Yongdu and immediately locked herself in her study to write a memorial to the throne.

The memorial was quickly approved. After deliberation by the central government, the strategy of “Reclamation instead of Extermination” was deemed feasible, and a land reclamation policy was drafted and issued to the various prefectures for implementation.

On the seventh day after Lin Jianshu’s death, a light drizzle began to fall.

That same day, Guan Ren was executed.

Chen Liangyu went to the execution ground and offered a jug of last drink wine.

Guan Ren laughed bitterly, “I didn’t expect anyone to come and send me off. You are a promising talent. Remember, do not be foolishly loyal.”

Before the execution, the overseeing official began to read Guan Ren’s list of crimes one by one.

He listened with contempt and silence until the crime of “rape of women and murder of infants” was read out. He then charged like a mad bull, pushing away the soldiers restraining him and lunging at the overseeing official.

“Bullshit! Screw your mother! I’ve had military training! How could I commit such a disgraceful act? Murdering infants—that’s what your Emperor does! I’ll be waiting on the Road to the Underworld for Xie Lin to bring ruin upon himself!”

Four or five soldiers rushed forward, and the red-tasseled spear shafts struck Guan Ren’s back, knocking him to the ground. Blood flowed from Guan Ren’s mouth, mixing with the rainwater and pooling in the low ground.

“I was a soldier…”

He roared with the howling wind, clinging desperately to the ground, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the execution platform, as fresh blood continuously poured from his mouth.

“I was a soldier, too…”

He was dragged away by his trousers. The execution tablet splashed the water on the ground, and the long saber swung, leaving behind a miserable scene of crimson gore.

He had killed many government soldiers and wealthy hostages during his rampage, so his execution seemed inevitable and deserved. But for some unknown reason, Chen Liangyu was deeply saddened for a long time.

It wasn’t until Mama Shan noticed that Chen Liangyu hadn’t touched her food all day. Realizing she couldn’t comfort her, she went to the front hall and invited Yan Baizhang.

It was the sixteenth day of the lunar month, and the moonlight was bright and clear.

Chen Liangyu sat alone on the rooftop, playing with a jade flute in her hand. Unconsciously, she brought it to her lips and began to play. All things slept in the night, and the world was silent, allowing the mournful tune to drift far away.

Since returning from Xiling, she had been consciously or unconsciously avoiding Chen Yuanqing. Those close to her at home had noticed this subtle change.

“Uncle Yan, I always feel that he shouldn’t have met such an end. Neither he nor Uncle Lin should have ended up like this today.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She hugged her knees and wept bitterly.

Yan Baizhang knew she had developed a profound inner conflict. After she tired herself out crying, he recounted the full story of what had happened that year.

“At that time, the late Emperor was gravely ill, and the five princes were contending for the succession, each vying for power. It also coincided with a great famine year. Everywhere one looked, there were withered corpses and white bones. Court officials were busy with factional struggles and were too preoccupied to care about the lives of the people. This situation continued for a year or two without any sign of a turn for the better. Later, Chancellor Xun accidentally learned of a secret technique from a medical mountain villa in the south and presented a plan to the Emperor: to train Shadow Guards to assassinate the other contenders for the throne and quickly end the chaos within the royal family. At that time, no one knew how long this state of destitution would last. Perhaps this plan was the quickest way Chancellor Xun could devise to stabilize the country.”

Chen Liangyu wiped her tears and asked, “Why didn’t my father try to dissuade him?”

“The Marquis was unaware. Chancellor Xun knew that your father and Ghost-Saber Lin would surely object, so he kept it hidden from them. When the secret was exposed, Chancellor Xun countered Ghost-Saber Lin, asking: The youngest soldiers under the various princes are no older than twelve or thirteen, and hundreds or thousands die every day. If a major battle were to occur, tens of thousands would perish—what solution is there for that? These children were already abnormal, surviving only by medicine. The ingredients for the medicine were precious, costing more than bright pearls, and beyond the means of ordinary families. Moreover, the famine problem was not solved; even if these children were released, they would still die. It was better to put them to good use.”

Chen Liangyu said, “Throughout history, scholars die through remonstration, and generals die in battle. Those in power strategize; common people farm and weave to pay taxes and render services. Each has their own duty! The death of ten thousand soldiers is a valiant sacrifice; the death of one common person is the failure of the ruler’s virtue, the minister’s strategy, and the general’s ability! Where is the logic in pushing the infants of the common people to the forefront just because the realm cannot be stabilized? The beginning was wrong, and yet they insisted on compounding the mistake.”

Yan Baizhang was momentarily lost in thought.

On one hand, he was gratified that his student could distinguish between virtue and principle. On the other hand, he didn’t know how to tell her about that particularly harsh period. During the Rebellion of the Five Princes, the various vassal kings, lacking sufficient troops, would forcibly conscript people. Originally, even forced conscription was supposed to leave one male per household, but as the fighting became desperate, they seized anyone they could find to fight.

Families were left without heirs, and nine out of ten houses were empty.

“Ghost-Saber Lin gave Chancellor Xun the same answer. In the end, Chancellor Xun failed to persuade Ghost-Saber Lin, so he tricked the Marquis, falsely accusing Ghost-Saber Lin of planning to defect with his troops. When the Marquis rushed over, he indeed saw Ghost-Saber Lin fighting the garrison troops. After learning about the Shadow Guards, the Marquis was so enraged that he nearly killed Chancellor Xun. It was from that time on that the Marquis and Chancellor Xun became bitter enemies. The lifespan of a Shadow Guard is inherently shorter than that of a normal person. Nearly twenty years have passed; if there are any living Shadow Guards left, there shouldn’t be many. The Marquis has felt guilty about this matter for half his life. After returning from the Northern Frontier this time, the Marquis has constantly wanted to resign his post and stay away from the court.”

Chen Liangyu caught sight of a figure out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw Chen Yuanqing standing on the veranda, looking towards them. After a long pause, he lowered his head and turned to walk back into the house, his back a picture of profound desolation.

“Liangyu, nothing in the world is truly clean. The Marquis is only worried that after seeing all the filth in the world, you will no longer be able to keep your original integrity.”