CXD - 79

Outside the wing, Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong looked down at the several captured black-clad individuals on the ground, their suspicions confirmed.

They had already found it strange—if a governor were to defect to the enemy, he should have the ability to control the entire province or even surrender the city outright, rather than relying on covert sabotage to give the rebels an opportunity.

Even with the presence of the princess complicating matters, Zhu Fengyuan wouldn’t have been able to act unilaterally. Yet, he could have simply refused to allow the Xuan Ce Army to supervise the defense. Why let the rebels suffer a defeat in their first attack?

Zhu Fengyuan was known for his obsequiousness to superiors and authoritarianism toward subordinates. It was more plausible that the insider was constrained by the governor and couldn’t act overtly. Their initial failure forced them to resort to secretly burning the supplies.

If they had been alarmed by the raging fire in the west and assumed Governor Zhu had defected, their minds preoccupied with concerns about future provisions, they might have neglected vigilance—allowing the true insider to succeed.

Seeing Jingzhe rush over from the west wing, Jiang Zhiyi quickly asked: “Did Miss Xueqing get frightened?”

With San Qi guarding her side, she had earlier arranged for Jingzhe to stay in the west wing, pretending to be Pei Xueqing lying on the bed.

Jingzhe reassured her: “Please rest assured, Young Mistress. Miss Pei is sound asleep and has been settled back on the bed.”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded and turned her stern gaze to the bound, trembling figures kneeling on the ground: “Who sent you?”

San Qi crouched down, lifting one man’s chin and resetting his jaw.

“Mercy, Your Highness! We were merely following orders from Commander Cao...”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhiyi glanced at Pei Zisong. “He says it was Chief Secretary Wei.”

The black-clad man: “...”

Earlier, when Pei Zisong recounted how they were saved from rioters by Wei Ji, both he and Jiang Zhiyi held a favorable impression of Wei Ji. They thought his cautious demeanor and responsibility as a senior official aligned with his actions.

However, upon reflection, those rioters might have been instigated by Wei Ji, aiming to detain the Pei siblings in Xingyang City.

As for her unexpected arrival—though Wei Ji was wary of the hundred-strong Xuan Ce Army accompanying her, capturing such a significant figure would surely be worth the risk.

Thus, when she proposed returning to the capital, Wei Ji conveniently reported unrest among refugees in eastern Xingzhou, delaying her departure.

This unrest likely never existed. A fabricated disturbance served to keep her in place while dispatching troops just before the battle began—a clever move indeed!

Pei Zisong also recalled these events. Realizing his comatose sister was indirectly harmed by Wei Ji, his expression turned cold. He pointed his sword forward: “How many of you are there? Where are you dispersed within the city? How do you communicate after succeeding?”

Half an hour later, at the western military camp.

Amid clusters of campfires, medics bustled about, treating and bandaging wounded soldiers.

Soldiers returning from the fire scene, covered in soot and sweat, collapsed onto the ground, guzzling cool water from their pouches into their parched throats.

Having just endured a battle and rushed to fight the fire, running back and forth under the scorching summer sun left everyone utterly exhausted.

The granary fire hadn’t been fully extinguished yet. Chief Secretary Wei ordered the remaining capable Xuan Ce Army soldiers to continue firefighting while allowing others to return to camp to rest.

Large groups of soldiers collapsed onto the muddy ground, too fatigued to focus, their eyes vacant.

However, some still retained energy, raising their voices to ask: “...Hey, do you think Governor Zhu really defected? If so, why are we still fighting?”

Someone immediately chimed in: “Exactly! With our supplies burned, holding the city means starving to death!”

“We’re charging ahead, who knows when we’ll get stabbed in the back by spies left by Governor Zhu! Besides, if we’re already like this, Chang’an must have fallen. Why not surrender?”

“Yeah, whoever becomes emperor is still an emperor. It’s not like foreign invaders coming to massacre us. If we surrender voluntarily, maybe nothing bad will happen!”

The two exchanged glances, each adding fuel to the fire. The soldiers grew restless: “So should we—”

At that moment, a long whistle sounded from the south, and a signal flare shot into the sky. Startled, the soldiers scrambled to grab their weapons.

Wei Ji, counting the troops nearby, flashed a knowing look in his eyes and raised his hand to stop them: “Don’t panic. The Young Mistress has summoned me for personal matters. I’ll take a few men with me; the rest of you can rest here.”

The soldiers sighed in relief and collapsed again: “At a time like this, she’s still using trivial matters to bother people with flares. This Yongying Princess is truly as rumored...”

Wei Ji consoled them: “It’s her first experience with such warfare; she must be terrified. Bear with her.”

Someone sneered: “I heard her father once defended the city walls as a civil official. Seems like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree...”

Wei Ji selected a few soldiers, gave them a meaningful glance, gripped his waist sword, and exited the camp.

Just as they were about to mount their horses, thunderous hoofbeats echoed through the night, shaking the ground like rolling thunder.

Out of the darkness surged a tide of black-armored cavalry, nearly blending into the night. In an instant, they surrounded the group.

Wei Ji sensed trouble, his scalp tightening as he drew his sword: “What do you think you’re doing? Hedong has rebelled—are you from Hexi planning to follow suit?”

Behind Wei Ji, several soldiers hastily drew their swords, panic evident on their faces.

The commotion drew the attention of the camp’s occupants, who poured out and hurriedly armed themselves with swords.

Amidst the standoff, a tall and luxurious carriage broke through the night, rumbling to a stop outside the encirclement. A graceful young maiden stepped down from the carriage, supported by her maid’s hand, and elegantly descended the footstool. She raised her hands and faced Wei Ji: “Isn’t it you, Chief Secretary Wei, who conspired with Hedong to rebel?”

Wei Ji tightened his grip on his sword and forced himself to remain calm: “Your Highness, what do you mean? Governor Zhu defected, and I merely assumed his duties as acting governor. Everything I’ve done has been for Xingzhou—how can you accuse me of rebellion?”

San Qi, seated on his horse, sneered and gestured behind him: “Burning the granary, breaking into the governor’s residence at night, and attempting to kidnap the princess and the chancellor’s son to present to the enemy—isn’t this rebellion?”

Several bound black-clad men were pushed forward: “Master, it was the Young Mistress who ordered us to use signal flares to inform you that we had succeeded...”

The surrounding soldiers erupted in murmurs, glancing at each other uncertainly, their swords wavering slightly.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Wei Ji’s eyes narrowed, feigning confusion: “Wasn’t this flare your signal to me, Your Highness? That’s why I gathered my men and came. Why are you turning against me now?”

“It seems all of Chief Secretary Wei’s remaining men are here—just these few. No wonder you’re reduced to telling blatant lies.” Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the handful of nervous individuals behind Wei Ji.

Capturing her and the Pei siblings must have been Wei Ji’s final plan. He would surely gather his forces to transport them out of the city to rendezvous with the rebels. The black-clad men tasked with capturing them only revealed the identity of those waiting at the city gates but didn’t know who else among Wei Ji’s ranks remained.

Identifying Wei Ji was simple, but rooting out the spies—after discussing with Pei Zisong, they decided to use the signal flares to lure the snakes out of their holes.

Wei Ji smiled sympathetically: “Perhaps Your Highness, shocked by Governor Zhu’s defection, sees traitors everywhere. Sheltered and inexperienced in warfare, you might be overwrought, leading to such delusions. I truly cannot comprehend what you are saying…”

The soldiers in the camp seemed to find his explanation reasonable, raising their swords once more toward the Xuan Ce Army.

The sound of approaching hooves echoed in the distance. Jingzhe turned and whispered to Jiang Zhiyi: “Young Master Pei has arrived.”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded and gestured behind her: “If Chief Secretary Wei’s ears refuse to understand, perhaps his eyes will?”

Pei Zisong reined in his horse, coldly eyeing Wei Ji, and signaled to the Xuan Ce Army behind him.

Several Xuan Ce soldiers carried three stretchers covered with white cloth forward: “Reporting to the Young Mistress, we discovered the bodies of Governor Zhu and his wife and daughter in the northern woods!”

The stretchers were placed on the ground, and the white cloths lifted, revealing three fresh corpses. Zhu Fengyuan’s neck bore fresh bloodstains, his eyes wide open in death, disbelief etched onto his face.

The soldiers stared in shock and anger, their swords trembling in their hands.

Seeing Zhu Fengyuan’s corpse, Jiang Zhiyi paled and held her breath.

Noticing her slight tremor, Jingzhe moved to support her, but she shook her head, refusing assistance.

Unflinching, Jiang Zhiyi coolly regarded the three bodies.

Wei Ji clenched his teeth, scanning the encircling Xuan Ce Army, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged forward.

Before Wei Ji and his men could approach Jiang Zhiyi by even an inch, several Xuan Ce soldiers swiftly subdued them.

With a thud, Wei Ji was pinned to the ground.

Jiang Zhiyi planted her feet firmly where they were, as if the sight of the un-closed eyes and the blades aimed at her meant nothing. Taking a deep breath, she fixed her gaze on the top of Wei Ji’s head: “Wei Ji, Chief Secretary of Xingzhou, for conspiring with the rebels, burning military supplies, and murdering a provincial governor, you are sentenced to immediate execution!”

“Yes!”

“I am a chief secretary of the fifth rank!” Wei Ji struggled to lift his face from the mud, glaring furiously at Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong. “How dare you, an apolitical princess and an unappointed civilian, sentence me to punishment!”

“You, a mere fifth-rank secretary, should consider yourself fortunate to have the princess send you off—don’t bite the hand that feeds you—San Qi!”

San Qi drew his sword and stepped forward but paused, recalling something. He glanced at his large blade, then turned to look at Pei Zisong’s elegant scholar’s sword, reaching for it instead.

Jiang Zhiyi paused, lowering her voice to ask: “Why change swords?”

San Qi whispered, “The young general said that in front of you, executions should be more refined, so as not to frighten you.”

“...”

As if shaken by the act, Jiang Zhiyi’s nose stung, her eyes heating up. She forced back the tears, her voice cold: “...I now order you to frighten me. If you fail to scare me, you will face military law!”

San Qi sobered, nodding in acknowledgment, and motioned for several Xuan Ce soldiers to step forward.

“Mercy, Your Highness—mercy—”

Dozens of gleaming scimitars were raised high and brought down heavily, severing heads that rolled and scattered.

Jiang Zhiyi trembled, staring blankly at the gushing wounds, dizzy and nauseated as a head rolled to her feet.

Jingzhe quietly reached out to support her lower back.

Pei Zisong’s breath caught, feeling suffocated by the carnage. After a moment, he steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly, and turned to Jiang Zhiyi, softly saying: “You should return to the carriage; leave the rest to me.”

Their display wasn’t merely about executing Wei Ji.

By keeping many of the Xuan Ce Army busy at the granary, Wei Ji intended to reduce their defenses while spreading demoralizing rumors in the camp.

Clarifying the truth in front of the entire camp was to rally the scattered morale.

The smell of blood permeated the hot summer air. Jiang Zhiyi steadied herself through the dizziness and gently shook her head at Pei Zisong.

If she was the best one to speak, then she would.

Jiang Zhiyi clenched her fists tightly, summoning her strength, and slowly stepped forward: “This is the fate of traitors. Have you all seen clearly?”

Her voice rang out like a clear spring, her light skirt brushing past the severed head as if a celestial maiden wielded the sword of justice. The soldiers watched, awestruck.

“Chief Secretary Wei was right about one thing—the Princess Yongying has never seen war. But the future wife of the Xuan Ce Army has.” Jiang Zhiyi placed her hands in front of her, her gaze sweeping over the weary, dirt-streaked faces.

“Even though Governor Zhu was murdered and Chief Secretary Wei betrayed us, the next wave of enemies may arrive soon. I am not afraid. You achieved victory in the first battle, and Commander Cao still holds command in the city. There is enough food left in the camp to last several days. Are you willing to retreat before me?”

“You believe that the rebels, seeking popular support, won’t massacre the city, making surrender a viable option. For other provinces, perhaps. But for Xingyang, Hedong intends to use it as a fortress to resist Hexi reinforcements. Can a fortress bear two colors of flags? Even if you surrender the city, the rebels’ first act upon entering will be to slaughter all local defenders to eliminate future threats! My father, Lord Ningguo, was acquainted with Hedong’s governor, Fan Denian. I once called him Uncle Fan. I know he prefers to kill a thousand innocents rather than let one guilty person go. So, like me, you have no way out!”

The soldiers clenched their fists tightly.

“Our only path is to defend Xingyang with all our might until Hexi reinforcements arrive. Tonight, you fought alongside the Xuan Ce Army and witnessed their capabilities. These hundred soldiers are just a fraction of our army. Tens of thousands of Xuan Ce troops are racing day and night to reach Xingyang, led by General Shen, who once traveled a thousand miles alone into enemy territory.”

“General Shen could launch a counterattack in enemy territory over a thousand miles away. How much easier will it be for him to travel from Hexi to Guannei, where every checkpoint and city will open its gates for the Xuan Ce Army. Soldiers—” Jiang Zhiyi drew the sword from Pei Zisong’s hand, “will you join me in trusting General Shen? Will you stand with me to repel the invaders?”