Chapter 1

In the Huai region during the fifth year of the Dàyue Tianxuan era, in early spring, the weather had yet to warm up, and there was still a thin layer of snow in the valleys and forests.

In the mountains of Tongbai, on the horse path leading from Guangzhou in the Huai South West Road to Tangzhou in the Jingxi South Road, a carriage was slowly making its way.

"Grandpa, where are we now?"

A delicate, young hand, like a sprig of green onion, lifted the curtain, and a tender, fair face peeked out.

The road was rugged, and the girl's bright eyes swept over the dense forest, spotting a wide river to the north that cut through a shallow valley.

As the upper reaches of the Huai River, the riverbed between the broad valleys and narrow gorges of the Tongbai Mountains widened and narrowed with the terrain. In the swift current, piles of rocks and sandbanks occasionally emerged.

Not to mention deep-draft boats, even bamboo rafts and wooden rafts were extremely dangerous to navigate downstream at this time. The girl could see a fishing boat from afar, moored in a river fork with swirling water. A fisherman, wearing a straw raincoat and hat, sat at the bow, fishing leisurely, his face indistinct.

Several cormorants, seemingly wary of the cold, stood proudly on the bow, shaking their dark brown feathers.

The girl, who looked to be about twelve or thirteen, had delicate features and a face as fresh as the first snow, exuding a charming and bright aura like the early spring sunshine.

Her face now showed a puzzled expression.

They had set out from Xinyang County at dawn, and she had fallen asleep in the carriage, nestled in her nurse's arms. Now, she woke up with a dizzy, swollen head, the sky overcast, unsure of where they were.

A scholar in a green robe, over sixty years old, with a thin, clear face, turned around and said to the girl:

"We are about thirteen or fourteen miles from Huayuan Town. From Huayuan Town westward, the road is not very good, but it's still about 130 miles to Binyang County. We will rest in Huayuan Town for a night before continuing."

Hearing the unfamiliar name Huayuan Town, the girl, curious, asked, "What is Huayuan Town? Have you ever been this way, Grandpa?"

"The Master has traveled far and wide, more knowledgeable than I, a wanderer. He has certainly been on this horse path through the Tongbai Mountains. As for Huayuan Town on this path, it has a significant connection to the Master."

The coachman turned around and smiled at the girl.

"How so?" the girl asked curiously.

The coachman smiled and said, "Tongbai Mountain is also known as Chushan. According to the Book of Yu, 'The Huai River originates here.' It stretches for 300 miles, spanning the states of Tang, Guang, Sui, and Ying. The horse path we are on dates back to the Spring and Autumn period. Starting from Guangzhou, it passes through the broad valleys and narrow gorges of the Tongbai Mountains, and in two or three days, you can reach Binyang County in Tangzhou, a shortcut connecting the east and west along the south bank of the Huai River. However, the road is long and dangerous, and even in peaceful times, there were many bandits. In the past, merchants from the Huai Southwest Road preferred to take a longer route around the north of the Huai River through Cai and Ying to reach Deng and Tang, rather than take this shorter path. In the fourth year of Yongxi, when the Master was appointed to the Jingxi Office of the Secretariat, he submitted a memorial to the court, requesting the establishment of a new military post at the confluence of the Baijian River and the Huai River, with over a hundred elite soldiers to guard against bandits. This made the horse path safer for merchants, and the towns along the way prospered. Huayuan Town, adjacent to the new military post established in the fourth year of Yongxi, is a key point for water and land transportation in the Tongbai Mountains. Goods from the surrounding villages are often traded there, making it the largest market in the mountains, bustling with activity, rivaling even Xinyang County."

"Really? Then we should stay in Huayuan Town for a couple of days!" the girl exclaimed excitedly.

The scholar hesitated, and the coachman also urged, "Stay in Huayuan Town for a couple of days, Master. Old Lu can take the opportunity to visit an old friend I haven't seen for over ten years."

"Over ten years? Was he also a veteran of the Jingsheng Army?" the scholar asked.

"My old friend is named Xu Wuxuan. When the Master served as the Censor of the Jingsheng Army, you might have heard of him!" the coachman said.

The coachman was slightly younger than the scholar, with a gaunt face and temples tinged with gray. His eyes, however, were sharp and penetrating.

His right hand, holding a whip, was tucked inside his sleeve, while his left hand held the reins, exposing his hand and part of his wrist to the cold air, both covered with several ugly scars.

Perhaps recalling some painful memories, a faint sorrow clouded the coachman's weathered face. Then, his slightly hunched body straightened, revealing a fierce and unyielding aura.

The scholar, seemingly unaware of the coachman's subtle change in demeanor, gazed at the distant mountains and forests with slightly cloudy eyes and said calmly:

"I served in the Jingsheng Army for a short time, but I was still considered an old-timer. How could I not know Xu Wuxuan, the commander of the personal guard of Wang Xiaocheng, known for his strength and bravery? He was a renowned warrior in the Jingsheng Army! Why didn't he stay in the army?"

"Wang Xiaocheng died in Jingzhou, and the court ceded Jingzhou and other areas to the Tangut. The morale of the Jingsheng Army was shattered. Worried that the soldiers would miss their former commander, the court dispersed them to different places and recruited new soldiers. Xu Wuxuan returned to his hometown in the Huai region at that time. I haven't seen him since we parted in Jingzhou, over ten years ago."

The coachman then added, "I heard that the Xu family is a prominent clan in the Tongbai Mountains, and Xu Wuxuan has always admired the Master. If you stay in Huayuan Town for a couple of days, Xu Wuxuan will surely treat you with great hospitality."

"I am a disgraced man, and I cannot afford to be seen associating with local gentry," the scholar sighed. "I am grateful for your protection from Bianjing. From Huayuan to Binyang, it's only a day or two's journey. Since you want to meet your friend, let's part ways here."

"If the Master is in a hurry, we can deal with everything on the return trip. It's been over ten years since I last saw Xu Wuxuan, so a few more days won't matter," the coachman insisted. "Cai Ding is not a broad-minded person. The Censor Chen Huai and the Military Commissioner Zhang Kuo, who offended him, were killed by bandits on their way to exile..."

"There is no evidence for those accusations. The talk of assassination is just speculation, and it's not wise to dwell on it," the scholar said, not wanting the coachman to have a bad impression of the court officials. "However, the decline of the people and the increase in bandits in the mountains are real concerns."

"Although there is no evidence that Cai Ding sent assassins to kill Chen Huai and Zhang Kuo, I am still worried. I don't think Cai Ding will let you go easily once we reach Binyang," the coachman said, still believing that Cai Ding was behind the deaths. "The Master is not afraid of offending Cai Ding or of death, but you must consider the safety of Miss Xuan."

"I am a disgraced man, and Cai Ding's actions no longer affect me. There is nothing to worry about," the middle-aged man tried to smile, but his heart was heavy, and he sighed, "I am concerned that Cai Ding and others, driven by greed for merit, will launch a hasty attack on the Khitans without proper preparation, leaving a major threat unresolved."

"Cai Ding has always been a sycophant and a bully in the Western Army, often stealing others' achievements. I understand why the Master opposes his leading the army to attack Yan. However, the Chihu people have risen in the northern desert, defeating the Khitan cavalry in the Yin Mountains, which shows the Khitans' weakness. The court officials believe this is a good opportunity to reclaim the Yan and Yun territories from the Khitans. What does the Master think?" the coachman asked.

The scholar said, "The Chihu people have indeed defeated the Khitan cavalry in the Yin Mountains, making the Khitans seem less formidable in the north. Many court officials advocate allying with the Chihu to attack Northern Yan, seeing the benefit of driving the tiger to devour the wolf. But what happens after the wolf is devoured? We will face a fierce tiger directly in the north! The Khitans are in decline, with corrupt officials and a decaying army. In comparison, our situation is better, but not without its own problems. You have been in the army for many years and have seen many military towns. Apart from a few elite units in the Western Army, how many of the other imperial and local troops are truly capable? For over a hundred years, our court has been plagued by redundant officials, soldiers, and expenses. Have these problems been resolved? I am not against reclaiming the Yan and Yun territories, but Cai Ding and others are acting too hastily..."

The coachman, having faced many hardships, understood the dangers of the world but was not well-versed in state affairs.

He had always admired the scholar's integrity and character, and he had followed him for a long distance to protect him and his granddaughter on their journey to Tangzhou. However, hearing the scholar's words, he wanted to offer some comfort but didn't know what to say.

The scholar then laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "Ah, I am no longer in a position of power, and thinking too much is futile—"

The girl, who had lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandfather, had been influenced by his teachings but was still young and didn't fully understand state affairs. She laughed and said, "Perhaps these are just your baseless worries, and in the end, you will be ridiculed by Cai Ding and his ilk..."

"I hope so!" the scholar waved his hand, as if trying to dispel his endless worries and concerns.

"Master, you and Miss Xuan, get back into the carriage!" the coachman suddenly said.

"What's wrong?" the scholar asked, alarmed when he saw the coachman reach under the carriage and pull out a wrapped saber, placing it beside him.

"There's someone on the cliff!" the coachman lifted his straw hat slightly, pointing to a stone cliff ahead.

They were currently crossing a hill, about twenty zhang above the Huai River to the north. About a hundred paces ahead, there was a gap in the mountain ridge, with two steep cliffs rising about eight zhang high, like an eagle's beak blocking the path.

The coachman had never been to the Tongbai Mountains before, but he had heard from his old friend Xu Wuxuan about the terrain near Huayuan Town. Recognizing the unique landscape of the hill and cliffs, he knew this was the famous "Eagle's Beak" at the eastern end of Huayuan Town.

The Eagle's Beak was extremely steep, with the cliff extending outward and the walls covered in slippery moss, making it impossible to climb. The coachman was alarmed to see someone standing on the cliff, watching them.

The person's face was indistinct, but he could see a knife handle protruding from the person's waist. The person was also unusually muscular, giving off a sense of oppression even from a distance.

At that moment, the sound of galloping horses came from behind.

The sound of hooves seemed to pound in the coachman's heart.

He glanced sideways and saw three fast horses, each carrying a bearded man dressed as a hunter. But the coachman knew they were not real hunters.

The horses were strong and well-chosen, the bows were lacquered and hard, and the swords were over four feet long. They were clearly not genuine hunters.

The worst-case scenario he had anticipated had finally come to pass.

The coachman sighed inwardly.

Facing four formidable enemies, and unsure if there were more assassins hiding beyond the Eagle's Beak, he knew he could do little. But he remained calm, loosening the reins and letting the horse pull the carriage forward slowly.

He placed the wrapped saber on his lap, and his hunched body straightened, like a hungry wolf in the grass, ready to pounce on its prey.

The scholar, who had faced many storms in his life, clenched his thin, veined hand, feeling only endless sorrow but no desire to struggle.

He did not retreat into the carriage but gently patted the coachman's arm and said, "I am a disgraced man and no longer of any use. If someone sees me as an obstacle, let them take my life. Brother Lu, you are skilled in martial arts, and we are close to Huayuan Town. They will not dare to tangle with you for long. Please take Xuan to Tangzhou..."

The scholar firmly pushed his young granddaughter back into the carriage, pulled down the curtain, and stood up at the front of the carriage.