Chapter 115: Did Everyone Hear That Clearly? (Bonus Chapter 1 for “I Want to Live for Several Decades”)

Taiping County.

"The alien army is on the move!"
"Flee for your lives!"

A few peasants who had been foraging outside the walls rushed into the city in a panic, not forgetting to carry their baskets on their backs even while fleeing.

The gate guard shouted, "What alien army?"

A peasant gasped, "I don't know... so many of them... all cavalry, and they look absolutely vicious."

"Their numbers!" the guard maintained his basic discipline.

The peasants all shook their heads. "We don't know."

Nan He arrived. "Where did those alien cavalry head?"

The difference between a commander and a common soldier was evident in that single question.

One peasant pointed south. "They headed south."

Nan He clenched his fists. "Pass the order: close the city gates, place the entire city under martial law. No one is to leave without permission; otherwise... execution without question."

A soldier asked, "Brother Five, the south is the direction of the Magistrate’s office! Why aren't we going to rescue him?"

"Follow orders!"

Nan He returned to the county office and found Yi Niang.

"So, you're saying those aliens have headed toward the Master?" Yi Niang’s expression was calm.

"Yes." Nan He swore by his military judgment that this was the only possibility.

Yi Niang’s lips trembled. "Then why aren't you going to rescue him?"

Nan He lowered his head. "I cannot."

Yi Niang roared, "What are you thinking? Do you intend to sit by and watch the Master die in battle?"

Nan He endured the scolding and left the county office in silence. Walking through the streets, the eyes peering through door cracks were filled with disdain.

"That idiot, he won't even go to save the Magistrate."

Amidst these stares and curses, Nan He walked up to the city wall and murmured, "By the time a hundred infantrymen reached there, the battle would have long been over. Meanwhile, the enemy cavalry could turn around and raid this undefended county town."

"The only thing I can do right now is hold the county town for the Master!"

A soldier on the wall shouted, "Someone is coming!"

Nan He commanded, "Defensive positions!"

The soldiers on the wall gripped their blades and spears, staring intensely at the dozen or so riders approaching. As the cavalry drew closer, someone raised a hand.

"It's our people!" someone on the wall exclaimed.

Nan He’s heart pounded. He had feared the Master’s defeat, yet he had also hoped the Master might escape in time to await a chance at a comeback.

"Victory report!" the lead rider shouted. "Open the gates!"

The gates swung wide. Several riders galloped in, while the rest dismounted to report.

"Victory report! The Magistrate led the Death Squad to defeat eight hundred cavalry of the Washe Tribe!"

Boom!

The entire city of Taiping was stunned by the news. Ignoring the fact that the curfew had not yet been lifted, the commoners threw open their doors.

"Victory report! The Magistrate led the Death Squad to defeat eight hundred cavalry of the Washe Tribe!"

...

In the slums of the northern city, the series of connected houses looked grey and inconspicuous, but the atmosphere inside was murderous. Sun Yu stepped out of the inner room for the first time in an age, standing on the steps of the main hall with Wang Zhangyi at his side.

"The city is in chaos," Sun Yu said, his tone serene.

The dozen burly men standing below had fire in their eyes—wild fire.

Sun Yu was pleased with the scene. He said slowly, "The corrupt official took his men to guard the grain supply, but news has just come that an overwhelming force of alien cavalry is heading to cut it off. I judge the official to be as good as dead. At this moment, what can we do?"

Wang Zhangyi bowed slightly. "Master Sun, what we should do now is... make the city even more chaotic."

Sun Yu nodded. "Correct. Make the city chaotic, and once it is, we can take advantage of the situation—hmm!" He glanced at Wang Zhangyi. Often, a subordinate is just a shield.

Wang Zhangyi coughed. "The corrupt official caused us heavy losses, but just as we suffered, others have been restless, wanting to seize our business. This is an opportunity. Once the city is in turmoil, we can strike and finish off those fools."

Eliminate the competition!

Sun Yu nodded. "Then prepare to act. I have fine wine ready, waiting for your return... to celebrate!"

The men murmured their assent. As the main gate opened, Sun Yu watched his subordinates prepare to leave, saying with ambition, "I have waited a long time for this day."

Every criminal gang loves anarchy. Only in such a state can they become masters of the city. The burly men looked toward the street with bloodthirsty grins, but their grins quickly turned to shock.

The sound of hoofbeats erupted.

"Victory report!"
"The Magistrate led the Death Squad to defeat eight hundred Washe cavalry!"

The men turned and scrambled back inside. Someone slammed the gate shut and leaned against it, as if looking outside for even a second would mean death. Sun Yu stood on the steps, his face flushing red before returning to calm.

Wang Zhangyi lacked such composure. He cursed, "It must be a lie! Go check!"

"Shut up!" Sun Yu snapped, then slowly walked into the inner room.

"Dismissed," Wang Zhangyi waved his hand. The men dispersed quietly.

Wang Zhangyi entered the room and saw Sun Yu standing by the window, his right hand clenched into a fist, pounding heavily against the windowsill. His face was twisted in a way never seen before.

"Damn corrupt official!"

...

Triumphant.

When the Death Squad returned, the entire population of Taiping poured out. The cheers were deafening.

Nan He knelt outside the city gate. "I did not send troops to rescue you, Master. I deserve death."

Yang Xuan helped him up and smiled. "If you had sent troops, it would have been a wasted effort—a losing move regardless of the outcome. You did well."

As he entered the city, the cheering exploded. "Magistrate!"

Countless hands waved wildly in the air. The enthusiastic crowds nearly crushed Yang Xuan. Once inside the county office, even Yi Niang barely recognized him. Yi Niang’s tears were the best weapon, and upon seeing her, Yang Xuan voluntarily explained the battle.

"Those alien cavalry looked fierce, but they were utter trash. A few charges by my Death Squad and they were routed. I was just commanding from the back, as if I were out for a spring stroll outside Chang'an; the only thing missing was a bonfire to roast some meat."

Yi Niang broke into a smile through her tears and bowed to Nan He. "My apologies for earlier."

Nan He returned the gesture. "I dare not accept."

Yi Niang was the final line of defense around Yang Xuan, his personal filter. Despite her constant busyness in the rear courtyard, she kept eyes on everyone from Cao Ying to Wang Lao'er. If anyone was suspicious, Yi Niang would inform Yang Xuan immediately. To call her a mere personal attendant would be wrong; one only had to see the way she looked at Yang Xuan—like a mother hen protecting her chicks. All of this was her instinct.

Jiang Zhen was also among the welcoming crowd. He returned quietly to his room and took out the letter he had prepared to send, looking at it.

He read the lines: *Yang Xuan defeated and killed.*

"Sigh."

Recalling how Yang Xuan had patted his shoulder earlier, as if saying "You've worked hard," Jiang Zhen felt a sense of confusion. He burned the letter and wrote again.

*—Aliens defeated.*

His hand gripping the pen was exceptionally firm. Even his brow looked energized.

After a long time, he whispered, "Will those people think the Magistrate is too powerful and use even more ruthless means to deal with him?"

The room filled with the smell of burning paper and smoke.

*—Aliens defeated, he suffered heavy casualties.*

"Yes, that will do."

Jiang Zhen felt a warmth on his forehead. He looked up, and a ray of sunshine fell upon his face.

...

Lin'an.

"I feel a bit uneasy." Liu Qing sat behind his desk. Always diligent with official business, he now let the documents lie scattered and ignored.

Lu Qiang knew the reason for his unease and sighed. "Other grain routes would be one thing, but this is Chen Prefecture; opposite us are countless aliens. Let alone guarding the grain route, even holding Chen Prefecture itself is difficult."

"Duke Xu is too..." Lu Qiang could not bring himself to say anything harsh.

"He is a petty man!" Liu Qing had no such reservations. "Does His Majesty expect him to fight all the way to Ningxing? This is nothing but a war of retaliation. An army of fifty thousand is more than enough, yet he orders local officials to guard the grain routes. This is a shameless shirking of duty."

Ningxing was the capital of Northern Liao.

Lu Qiang looked into the void, bewildered. "Prefect, what I fear is... he is afraid before the battle even begins."

"Drop the 'fear,'" Liu Qing said coldly. "He *is* afraid before the battle begins. If the grain route is cut, Zhang Chumao can use the excuse of 'lack of supplies' to withdraw. That dog—does Chang'an not see through these low-level tricks?"

Lu Qiang smiled bitterly. "Chang'an naturally sees it, but... it is rumored that His Majesty and the Four Great Families are as thick as thieves now. Duke Xu is the son-in-law of the Yingchuan Yang clan, and he has been guarding the southern frontier for years."

"The Southern Zhou fears the Tang army, so how would they dare to attack? Thus, the southern frontier is peaceful. Yet, even so, Zhang Chumao can still rise to power. It shows that no amount of merit compares to nepotism. Damn it all!" Liu Qing cursed.

Lu Qiang sighed. "The Jiedushi has always been in Xuan Prefecture; why not let him lead the reprisal? Instead, they sent someone who is all bark and no bite. Sigh!"

Liu Qing shook his head. "The Jiedushi has always insisted on guarding the northern frontier and avoiding attacks. Chang'an has complaints about him. Besides... this might be an opportunity for merit. The Four Great Families must have reached some agreement with His Majesty to get Zhang Chumao appointed... they want to seize a chance for glory."

"But what about the Great Tang?" Lu Qiang felt depressed.

"The Great Tang..." Liu Qing was about to speak when a commotion erupted outside.

"Prefect!" A minor official rushed in, ignoring protocol, his face pale. "Washe Tribe cavalry have raided the Taiping grain route."

Liu Qing forced himself to stay calm. "How many men?"

"They say one thousand."

Liu Qing rose abruptly. "Yang Xuan only has five hundred in his Death Squad, I... I should have given him more armor and weapons. Regret is too late now. Men, gather the troops! I will go to the rescue myself."

Lu Qiang stood up. "Let me go, Prefect."

Liu Qing shook his head, walking toward the door. "He could sense the danger, yet I remained numb, to the point where he had to trade his own knowledge for armor and weapons. I failed as his superior... this is my fault, and I shall be the one to redeem it."

The troops in the city gathered quickly. Liu Qing, fully armored, coughed in the cold wind. "Keep watch over Lin'an; I am leaving now."

The city gates opened slowly. Several riders galloped in.

"Victory report!"

Liu Qing paused. "Bring them in!"

As the riders approached, they shouted, "Victory report! Magistrate Yang of Taiping led the Death Squad to defeat one thousand Washe cavalry!"

Liu Qing swayed. "Who?"

The soldier’s face was cut by the cold wind, but he was beaming with joy. "Magistrate Yang of Taiping."

Liu Qing closed his eyes. When he opened them, he cursed, "What are you waiting for? Spread the news of the victory throughout Chen Prefecture! Go!"

"Yes!"

"Wait!" Liu Qing called Lu Qiang back and whispered, "Tell them he defeated two thousand. Understand?"

Lu Qiang understood. "I understand, Prefect."

"Defeated two thousand!"

The victory report began to spread everywhere.

"Victory report! Magistrate Yang of Taiping led the Death Squad to defeat two thousand Washe cavalry!"

...

Fifty thousand troops were packed into Tao County, the headquarters of the Northern Frontier Jiedushi, filling it to the brim. Inside the Jiedushi office, the Northern Frontier Jiedushi, Huang Chunhui, sat kneeling at the head. His aged face was covered in wrinkles, like the bark of an old tree. His eyes were droopy, as if he might fall asleep at any moment.

The generals below looked on with bitter smiles. Deputy Commander Zhang Du stood outside the door, his eyes nearly spitting fire. He was only in his twenties and had earned his rank through merit; he swore that had Huang Chunhui not insisted on defense, he would have been a full general by now.

Inside, the Judge, Wu Lin, said with a smile, "The army still needs to rest. No need to rush."

General Jiang Cunzhong’s eyes were like lightning. "Since we are retaliating, we should strike like thunder, not wait for the enemy to prepare and then engage in a stalemate. Is that not foolish?"

Wu Lin coughed. "Duke Xu has his own plans. Do not overstep."

The implication was clear: *You are merely a General; can you interfere with the grand strategy?*

Jiang Cunzhong sneered. "Northern Liao is becoming increasingly arrogant. If the army does not move, it is a sign of weakness."

Wu Lin smiled. "Those matters are naturally handled by Duke Xu... and the Censor-in-Chief."

Huang Chunhui was the Northern Frontier Jiedushi, holding the nominal title of Censor-in-Chief.

Someone arrived from outside and reported, "Censor-in-Chief, the army is on the move."

Soon after, a general arrived. "The Duke orders me to inform the Censor-in-Chief that the opportunity has arisen. The army has left the city."

Huang Chunhui opened his eyes and said blankly, "Oh! Understood."

The general’s eyes showed disdain as he bowed perfunctorily and left. Once he was gone, Jiang Cunzhong raged, "Impertinent! And Censor-in-Chief, Northern Liao has already stockpiled a large army opposite us. What is the meaning of sending troops now?"

Huang Chunhui coughed and mumbled, "Order every city to hold their ground. Also, stock up on medicinal herbs, prepare the physicians... everyone, go."

On the fifth day, a team of scouts rushed into Tao County. "Censor-in-Chief, the vanguard has been defeated, and the army is retreating."

Huang Chunhui said, "Oh. Prepare to provide cover. Keep scouts active and dense. Also, pass the order to all areas: continue to hold the line."

"Understood!"

A group of generals and officials left, their faces burning. Not from shame!

"I am beyond furious!" Jiang Cunzhong fumed. "He should have attacked long ago, but he was indecisive and cowardly... waiting until the enemy had gathered to strike—this is... damn it!"

The army returned. Duke Xu, Zhang Chumao, arrived at the Jiedushi office. "The enemy was strong, and the vanguard was incompetent, leading to defeat. I saw the situation was dire and, to preserve our strength, I had to retreat slowly. The enemy did not dare to press the attack."

Huang Chunhui’s dull, aged eyes showed a flicker of fatigue. "Is that so?"

Zhang Chumao looked at him. "Naturally."

Huang Chunhui sighed. "If you say so. By the way, where is the enemy?"

"Censor-in-Chief, the enemy has surrounded the city!" a soldier shouted from outside.

"Oh!" Huang Chunhui ordered, "Same as before: hold the line."

Outside the door, Zhang Du gritted his teeth, wanting to burst in, but he was held back.

Jiang Cunzhong suppressed his anger. "Censor-in-Chief, we must at least sally out to strike them and dampen their morale."

Huang Chunhui coughed, his throat sounding phlegmy. He muttered vaguely, "Hold! Sigh! It’s freezing out there; why are they surrounding the city? They should just go home to warm by the fire and eat some mutton."

Veins bulged on everyone’s foreheads. However, everyone’s gaze avoided Zhang Chumao.

Zhang Chumao stood up. "I am returning."

"Oh!" Huang Chunhui raised his eyes, looking blank. "Duke Xu! Take care. I won't see you out."

After Zhang Chumao left, the hall was deathly silent. Someone outside remarked, "He said he retreated with ease and the enemy didn't dare press, but what is that outside the city right now?"

The word "shameless" echoed in everyone’s minds, but none dared speak it. Duke Xu, Zhang Chumao, was not alone; behind him stood the Four Great Families, and even the Emperor, who was currently as thick as thieves with them. To offend Zhang Chumao was to offend that massive power structure.

The Northern Liao army surrounded the city, and the people were terrified. Yet, for some reason, the Liao army withdrew the next day.

Jiang Cunzhong watched from the wall, puzzled. "Why is this? Is it as the Censor-in-Chief said... they went home to roast mutton?"

Zhang Chumao lived quite comfortably in the city, even with singing girls. Embracing a beauty, he drank fine wine. "The vanguard performed poorly in this battle. Write it clearly in the report and send it to Chang'an immediately."

"Yes," the Chief Clerk replied. The Chief Clerk was Zhang Chumao’s confidant. He whispered, "Duke, Huang Chunhui seems old and incompetent, but he has sat on the northern frontier for years without major failures. We must be careful he doesn't... slander us privately."

A murderous glint appeared in Zhang Chumao’s eyes. "He doesn't have the guts. If he did, I would ensure his reputation is destroyed."

The clerk sighed. "It is a pity the grain route was not cut; otherwise, this withdrawal would have been effortless."

Zhang Chumao sneered. "He Zun went to inspect the grain route and there is no news."

The clerk laughed. "Master He surely has his reasons."

Zhang Chumao suddenly pushed the beauty away. "Get out!"

The singing girls bowed and left. Zhang Chumao’s expression was cold. "This matter must be handled quickly... Forget it. If I don't return to Chang'an in time, petty people will surely spread rumors. Prepare a victory report for Chang'an and request permission to return."

The clerk agreed but was worried. "Duke, some of Huang Chunhui’s subordinates are restless. If they... speak ill behind your back..."

Zhang Chumao sneered. "Tomorrow I will go and see who dares to speak!"

The next day, Zhang Chumao went to the Jiedushi office. Huang Chunhui was still sitting there, listening to reports, as if his spirit were elsewhere.

"Censor-in-Chief Huang!"

Huang Chunhui raised his eyes, looking blank. "Ah, Duke Xu!"

Zhang Chumao sat down, his gaze sweeping over the officials. "The vanguard failed in this battle, and I have punished the commander. Then the Northern Liao army attacked, and I led the troops to intercept... Censor-in-Chief, what do you think?"

Was this not a blatant lie? Jiang Cunzhong’s eyes filled with anger.

"Oh!" Huang Chunhui coughed. "What’s for lunch?"

Everyone was stunned. An attendant replied, "Chicken."

Huang Chunhui smiled. "Is it the one that’s been crowing and keeping me from sleeping?"

"Yes."

Everyone looked at each other, wondering if the old man was senile or mocking someone.

Zhang Chumao sneered and rose abruptly. "The northern frontier has been stagnant for years, completely useless. Chang'an has waited long enough for a victory!"

"Victory report!"

Before he could finish, a minor official rushed in, his face beaming with joy. "Censor-in-Chief, a victory report!"

"Bring the messenger in."

A soldier entered the hall and saluted. "Greetings, Censor-in-Chief."

Huang Chunhui nodded. "Read it."

The soldier shouted with the volume of a victory report, "Victory report from Chen Prefecture! Magistrate Yang of Taiping, Chen Prefecture, led four hundred members of the Death Squad to guard the grain route and defeated two thousand cavalry of the Washe Tribe!"

Huang Chunhui said, "Oh. I didn't hear that clearly. I'm old, and my ears aren't good. Say it again! Louder!"

He was the Northern Frontier Jiedushi; Xuan Prefecture, Chen Prefecture, and Wei Prefecture were all under his jurisdiction. The victory report had to come here.

The soldier was stunned, thinking, *I was already loud! Even a deaf man could hear that!* But orders could not be disobeyed.

The soldier raised his voice, almost roaring, "Victory report! Victory report from Chen Prefecture! Magistrate Yang of Taiping, Chen Prefecture, led four hundred members of the Death Squad to guard the grain route and defeated two thousand cavalry of the Washe Tribe!"

"I hear it clearly now," Huang Chunhui smiled. He looked at the crowd and asked softly, "Did you all hear it clearly?"

"We heard it clearly," the group responded in a thunderous roar.

Zhang Chumao clenched his fists!