Chapter 48: Confrontation (1)

Pei Jian felt that recent events in Shicheng could only be described as tumultuous.

He had joined the army at twelve and, over nearly a decade, risen from an obscure soldier of humble origins to become a junior commander. Despite enduring countless battles, he had never witnessed such intrigue and chaos as now.

The catalyst for this turmoil was the assassination attempt on the official from the Privy Council.

Pei Jian hadn’t witnessed it himself. A few nights ago, the city had erupted into chaos with fires breaking out everywhere. He had led his soldiers across the city to extinguish them. Just as dawn approached and the flames began to subside, news spread that Lord Qi had been targeted in an assassination attempt.

This naturally caused an uproar. General Jiang was furious, and the generals convened an emergency meeting in the tent.

Dressed in full armor, his face dark with anger, Jiang Yong sat at the head of the tent and roared, “The dogs of Wei! How dare they set fire to our city and take advantage of the chaos to assassinate one of our imperial officials! The audacity!”

His words shocked everyone in the tent, including Pei Jian, who felt a surge of indignation. Yet, something seemed off. Shicheng was a fortress, its defenses tight, and patrols were relentless. If Wei’s forces had indeed set the fires, it couldn’t have been outsiders. Could there be spies within the city?

Lacking the authority to speak up, Pei Jian listened as another general chimed in, saying, “The Wei curs are too arrogant! For months, they’ve been provoking us, and now they’ve gone this far! Do they truly believe Great Liang has no capable men left?”

The generals, their faces still smudged with soot from battling the fires, looked haggard and enraged. Damn those Wei curs! Not only had they infiltrated the city and set it ablaze, but they’d also killed their superior officer. This was unforgivable!

Seeing the collective fury, Jiang Yong added, “Gentlemen, calm yourselves! Now that Lord Qi has been attacked, and Wei’s forces are stationed across the river, what should we do? Any thoughts?”

One general declared firmly, “The Wei curs are pressing us hard, and now they’ve killed our superior officer! If we don’t open the gates and fight, how can we face His Majesty? Even if Gu Juhan is a military genius, our troops are backed by Shicheng’s defenses and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. We might not lose this battle! Please, General, give the order to mobilize immediately and engage the enemy!”

His words resonated like steel striking steel, igniting the bloodlust of the assembled generals. They had endured months of humiliation, and now, even if it meant dying on the battlefield, they wanted to confront Wei’s forces and vent their frustration. With someone taking the lead, others followed suit, fearlessly clamoring for war.

Jiang Yong hesitated, saying, “I understand your desire to serve the nation, but the Privy Council has explicitly forbidden us from engaging in battle. This…”

Before he could finish, another general interrupted, saying, “Why hesitate, General? The Privy Council may have issued orders, but Lord Qi has already been attacked! Why should we still obey those decrees? Let’s march out and avenge Lord Qi! What can the Privy Council say then?”

“Exactly!” another voice chimed in. “A general in the field must sometimes disregard royal commands! Besides, the Privy Council isn’t the emperor. Are we really going to remain cowards forever?”

Voices erupted, each general red-faced and eager to storm out of the city and slaughter the Wei forces to vent their anger!

A flicker of satisfaction passed through Jiang Yong’s eyes as he saw the generals sufficiently riled up. Seizing the moment, he said, “Since all of you feel this way, I think we should…”

He had spent the entire night orchestrating this, and now, just as he was about to propose opening the gates, someone stepped forward and sharply interjected, “General, reconsider! We absolutely cannot open the gates and fight!”

The interruption stunned not only Jiang Yong but everyone else in the tent. They turned to see who dared utter such treasonous words and found Junior Commander Pei Jian. His face flushed, fists trembling, yet he stood his ground despite the intense stares. Boldly, he repeated, “Generals, please calm down! Wei’s forces are formidable, and Gu Juhan has been eyeing Shicheng for months. If we open the gates, we’ll surely suffer more defeats than victories!”

The generals were livid! What a cowardly junior commander! They’d seen timid men before, but never one so brazenly spineless! Had the young Gu Juhan truly frightened him so much?

One general scolded, “Pei Jian! You’ve served Great Liang for nearly a decade, and yet you’re such a cowardly wretch! Are we to endure eternal shame and ridicule by refusing to open the gates?”

The generals vented their anger, hurling insults at Pei Jian. His heart raced, his face flushed crimson, but he gritted his teeth and shouted louder than anyone else, “What if we are ridiculed? What if we are cursed? Though humiliated, we will preserve the lives of our soldiers! If Shicheng falls, Gu Juhan will march south to Jiankang. What then for His Majesty? For Great Liang? It would mean the fall of our nation!”

His words thundered through the tent, silencing everyone.

The fall of the nation.

Those four words struck like a bucket of cold water, dousing half the generals’ rage.

Indeed… Gu Juhan was extraordinarily skilled, nearly decapitating General Han. If they opened the gates and lost, not only would they lose their lives, but the nation would collapse. The emperor would punish their families, and then what? Wouldn’t it be better to swallow their pride, keep the gates closed, and preserve themselves? At least they could claim they were following the Privy Council’s orders and blame the failure on Qi Jingchen, who was already dead. Who cared if he bore more curses?

With this convoluted reasoning, the generals calmed somewhat, and their fervor for battle gradually waned.

Jiang Yong, observing the shift in momentum, panicked. After all his efforts, how could he let a junior commander ruin everything at the last moment? With Qi Jingchen dead, Jiang Yong had nowhere left to turn in Great Liang. If he failed to help General Gu breach the city, where in this vast world would he find refuge?

Failure meant death! Jiang Yong steeled himself and bellowed, “Pei Jian! You eat the emperor’s food yet grovel before Wei like this—it’s a disgrace to us all! If you repent and vow to serve Great Liang with your life, I’ll overlook your earlier remarks. Otherwise…”

Jiang Yong’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

Pei Jian noticed the flash of killing intent but showed no sign of retreat.

At twelve, he had joined the army, bravely fighting on the battlefield, never fearing the Wei forces. He wanted to defend the land and protect the people, not out of cowardice but because he refused to fight a battle destined for defeat. The Wei forces across the river were well-prepared, their sights set on destroying Shicheng—a barrier they absolutely could not lose. If Shicheng fell, Great Liang would teeter on the brink of destruction, one step away from annihilation!

As a man of honor, how could he cower behind the walls? But he knew the Privy Council’s orders were correct. Acting recklessly would only harm the nation. Enduring temporary humiliation was the path to future strategy. Today, even though the official from the Privy Council had been attacked, Pei Jian, insignificant as he was, would stand firm against all odds. Even if it cost him his life, he wouldn’t retreat!

Seeing Pei Jian’s unwavering resolve, his eyes even sharper, Jiang Yong sneered, “Fine, if you’re so stubborn, I’ll kill you to consecrate the battle flag! Let the world see the valor of Great Liang’s men!”

With that, he swiftly drew his sword and strode toward Pei Jian. The blade gleamed coldly, Jiang Yong’s murderous intent clear. Pei Jian stood still, his fists clenched tightly, thinking that even if he died today, he had spoken his piece and had no regrets…

Jiang Yong reached him, raising his sword. Pei Jian closed his eyes, hearing the sound of the sword slicing through the air and piercing flesh. Then came gasps from the generals. Yet, strangely, he felt no pain. Opening his eyes, he saw himself unharmed while Jiang Yong knelt, a sword embedded in his right shoulder.

Pei Jian was stunned. Behind him, a voice said, “Even if the emperor were here today, he couldn’t casually override the Privy Council’s orders. General Jiang, how dare you defy them?”

Everyone turned to see a figure walking through the burning city, tall and composed, wearing an elegant robe and exuding authority. It was none other than Qi Jingchen, rumored to have been assassinated! Behind him stood Bai Song and Xu Zhengning, their steps unhurried yet commanding, exuding an overwhelming presence.

Jiang Yong’s shoulder was pierced through, blood gushing profusely. In agony, he knelt, unable to rise, and stared at Qi Yin approaching him, shock evident in his eyes: Qi Jingchen was alive? How was this possible?

Earlier tonight, he had ordered Wei assassins to infiltrate the city during the chaos of the fires and attack Qi Yin. He had personally witnessed Qi Yin being struck by an arrow. How could he now be standing here, perfectly fine?

Something was amiss.

Jiang Yong, accustomed to navigating dangerous waters, quickly deduced that his betrayal had likely been exposed. His only option now was to deny everything. Without concrete evidence, they couldn’t touch him. Even if they had proof, he was a trusted general under Han Shouye. Given the scarcity of capable military officers in Great Liang, could Qi Jingchen really kill him? The noble families weren’t a monolithic bloc—surely Qi Jingchen wouldn’t dare cross Han Shouye.

Having settled on this plan, Jiang Yong ignored his bleeding shoulder and feigned surprise, kneeling and bowing to Qi Yin. “It’s fortunate that you’re safe, Lord Qi! If anything had happened to you, I would have personally taken Gu Juhan’s head to avenge you!”

Pei Jian, standing below the steps, watched in shock as the seemingly unruffled official walked past him, towering above Jiang Yong. Calmly, without a word, Qi Yin grasped the sword hilt with his scholar’s hands and, without hesitation, yanked it out.

Blood splattered as Jiang Yong, a hardened warrior, writhed in agony, collapsing to the ground, clutching his wound and howling. Blood stained Qi Yin’s sleeve, yet he remained unfazed, his expression tranquil as he asked, “The Privy Council issued seven ironclad edicts forbidding battle. How dare you speak of war, General Jiang?”

His voice was calm, like a still pond, yet it silenced every general in the room.

Jiang Yong, struggling to kneel despite his injury, sweat pouring down his face, replied, “Forgive me, Lord Qi. In our shock and anger, we lost composure. We only wished to tear the Wei forces apart to vent our hatred. Now that you’re safe, we swear not to speak of battle again. Please forgive us.”

Jiang Yong, experienced in high-stakes situations, cleverly used language to his advantage. Though seemingly casual, he repeatedly referred to “us,” implicating all the generals present, banking on the idea that collective wrongdoing would make punishment difficult.

Pei Jian swallowed nervously, unsure how the situation would unfold. He watched as Qi Yin, unmoved, turned slightly and asked Xu Zhengning, “Master Xu, I haven’t been in the Privy Council long and am still unfamiliar with its rules. What is the punishment for defying its orders?”

Xu Zhengning, standing three paces behind Qi Yin, bowed slightly, his eyes sharp and ruthless. “To answer Your Excellency, the punishment is—execution.”

The moment the words “execution” left his lips, the generals were stunned.

This… Jiang Yong was a high-ranking official. Though Great Liang traditionally valued scholars over soldiers, he was still a fourth-rank official. Qi Yin, despite wielding real power, was also only a fourth-rank official. How could he possibly have the authority to execute a fourth-rank military officer? Moreover, Jiang Yong was part of General Han Shouye’s faction. Would Qi Yin truly dare to kill him?

But upon hearing the word “execution,” Jiang Yong realized that there would be no peaceful resolution today. He abandoned his pretense of submission, his expression darkening as he glared at Qi Yin and bellowed, “Qi Jingchen! I’ve shown you respect because you’re of noble birth, but what now? Are you really going to harm an imperial official?”

Struggling to rise, he was abruptly kicked back down by Bai Song. The assembled generals watched as Qi Yin’s personal attendant, usually cold and silent, delivered a brutal kick to Jiang Yong’s chest. The force sent Jiang spitting out blood, his face turning deathly pale.

Jiang, both shocked and in pain, collapsed on the ground, unable to rise. Summoning his last ounce of strength, he pointed at Qi Yin, gasping and cursing, “Qi Jingchen, how dare you…”

Before he could finish, he saw Qi Yin approach with the sword in hand. Terrified, Jiang scrambled backward, shouting defiantly, “Qi Jingchen! I am a trusted subordinate of General Han Shouye! Even if I am guilty, only His Majesty and General Han have the authority to punish me! If you dare kill me, General Han will never forgive you!”

He thought his words had struck a nerve when Qi Yin paused mid-step. A flicker of triumph crossed Jiang Yong’s face, thinking that this young scion of the Qi family still feared General Han’s influence. Just as he was about to boast further, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation pierce his chest.

Without hesitation, Qi Yin had thrust the sword into Jiang Yong’s heart.

The generals were speechless, watching in stunned silence as this elegant nobleman—this seemingly refined scholar—calmly killed a fourth-rank military officer without so much as a flicker of emotion. Blood sprayed nearly shoulder-high, yet Qi Yin stood amidst the crimson pool, his expression serene, almost mournful. He resembled both a compassionate bodhisattva and a wrathful deity of hell.

His voice was cold as he looked down at Jiang Yong and said, “In all matters of military and governance, the Privy Council has the authority to execute first and report later. If General Han knew you had become a traitor, he would personally see to your punishment. Today, I act on behalf of my esteemed elder. I believe General Han will not hold it against me.”

With that, he pulled the sword out without hesitation. Jiang Yong’s heart stopped, and he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

An eerie silence enveloped the room. Pei Jian, standing below the steps, gazed at this superior officer with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Never had he imagined that someone born into such privilege and raised among books and scrolls could so decisively take a life.

Qi Jingchen was a man of contradictions: outwardly a gentleman, inwardly a warrior of ruthless resolve.