Chapter 19

In the deep of night, they raced along the rugged mountain path, reaching the edge of the foothills just as midnight approached.

The darkness was impenetrable, and from here, the eastern gate of Suzhou’s city wall could be seen, distant yet looming.

Long Shouren raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to hide behind the meadow grass.

The chill of late autumn bit through the mountain air; Gu Wan tightened the thick cloak Xie Ci had just draped over her shoulders. Yet it seemed she alone felt the cold; the others were indifferent. Long Shouren spoke to them: "Tonight, Commander Chen Mantian is on duty guarding the city. The gates will open after the dawn watch is changed."

That was half an hour earlier than usual.

In winter, with the bitter cold, no townsfolk would be waiting at the gates so early. They could slip into the city under cover of darkness.

"The recruitment ended the day before yesterday. After a day of sorting, today, young Xun Sun will go to the main camp at first light for inspection and admonition."

From today, you are Suzhou soldiers—troops under my command. This was once the duty of the governor, now entirely replaced by Xun Sun.

"He will leave the governor’s mansion at dawn. We’ll head there first."

The timing matched perfectly.

"We must rescue the governor first!"

The icy night caused the warhorses, their muzzles bound, to snort uncomfortably, breath steaming in the cold. Gu Wan listened as she stroked her horse’s mane. At this point, Long Shouren’s face betrayed deep anxiety; he paced urgently, "I wonder how the governor fares?"

Time crawled by in anxious waiting, marked only by glances at the moon. Suddenly, a lone scout horse approached, its hooves muffled with straw, and after a brief survey, quickly reported to Long Shouren.

"Good!"

Long Shouren mounted his horse, blade in hand: "All units, advance at full speed under cover of night!"

Boots thundered and hooves pounded as Long Shouren led his elite swiftly and silently to the east gate. The city gate opened soundlessly; Long Shouren led his forces inside. Commander Chen Mantian quietly met them, and the former hissed: "Just keep the gate secure. Today, do not let that brat Xun Sun out!"

Long Shouren hurried to the governor’s mansion, slipping through alleys in silence. All patrol troops had been diverted or subdued; those who resisted were bound and cast aside. At last, at the second quarter of dawn, they surrounded the entire mansion and its adjoining alleys.

The main gate was forced open; Long Shouren charged ahead on horseback, and the mansion was instantly thrown into turmoil. Captain Wang Fan, furious and alarmed, cried, "Long Shouren? What are you doing?!"

"You’ve gone mad—"

Long Shouren’s eyes blazed. After several fierce exchanges, he slew Wang Fan beneath his horse: "You villain, accomplice to tyrants!"

Blood spurted from his neck, splattering five steps.

The mansion guards’ resistance was soon crushed by Long Shouren’s furious assault. He fought his way into the Red Pine Courtyard, breaking down the door.

The cold, stone-floored chamber resembled a snow cave—no fire, no coal. The force of entry overturned cold rice and leftover broth, spilling onto the floor. The stench of waste mingled with stale air, nauseating all.

Long Shouren saw the filthy, frail old man lying on the bare bed, and fell to his knees with a cry: "General! General—"

He crawled forward, embracing the barely breathing elder, tears streaming. Xun Rongbi stirred from his stupor, gripping Long Shouren’s hand with trembling fingers, pointing: "...Go! Go and kill that traitor—"

Long Shouren carried Xun Rongbi out, urgently called for a physician, placed him in a wicker chair, wiped his tears, then, blade in hand, mounted his horse and charged straight for the Suzhou main camp!

Xie Ci and Gu Wan followed throughout.

The two exchanged a glance and immediately kept pace.

...

Long Shouren and his trusted officers stormed into the Suzhou main camp. Today marked the first drill for new recruits; both new and old soldiers and officers were assembled. It was the perfect moment to seize Xun Sun.

Gu Wan quietly asked, "General Long, where is the eldest son? I’ve heard much about Xun Da Gongzi—refined and stern, much like his father."

Long Shouren paused, covering his face in pain: "He was ambushed and killed last year at Jiren Slope."

Hooves beat like drums as they sped toward the western camp.

By then, the last traces of night were dispelled by dawn. The cold morning light touched every corner of the camp; the veterans stood silently in formation, while new recruits marched in squads to the flag platform, standing in neat rows.

"Now that you are in the Suzhou camp, you are soldiers of Suzhou! Learn the regulations, obey orders..."

Long Shouren, Xie Ci, Gu Wan, and the trusted officers entered silently.

Today’s main focus was the new recruits. Atop the platform stood Xun Sun, now the master of the Suzhou army.

Long Shouren had already contacted the veteran officers.

Xun Sun’s scheme to swap heaven and earth meant he couldn’t replace his father’s trusted lieutenants all at once.

Long Shouren declared again, "In barely half a year, he thinks he can supplant his father? Impossible."

Gu Wan looked up. On the drill field, most new recruits came from poverty; now, with food, lodging, and pay, under the stern discipline of the army, their morale soared.

On the platform was a young man in russet armor, hawk-nosed and sharp-eyed, draped in a crimson cloak. He was tall and imposing, bearing some resemblance to Xun Rongbi, though his features were deeper, his gaze fierce, and he was younger. He looked down with a satisfied expression, pride radiating from his stance.

Below, the old generals exchanged glances, their eyes smoldering with resentment.

Long Shouren spoke gravely, "Kou Weishuo’s division may have pledged loyalty to Xun Sun. Chen Ying and Fan Liang—one died in battle, the other retired for breaking regulations, and his son is not one to stir trouble."

Clearly, Xun Sun had been working feverishly over the past year.

Fortunately, not much time had passed.

Now, both sides were roughly equal in strength.

But this was still the Suzhou camp, and the governor and commander was Xun Rongbi, not Xun Sun.

Long Shouren suddenly stood, waved his hand: "Take action!"

A signal arrow shot into the sky—"whoosh!"—bursting into a brilliant blue flame.

Chaos erupted!

Suddenly, a fierce shout rang out. The Suzhou soldiers, who were supposed to return after the new recruits, surrounded the drill field in tight formation led by their officers. Archers appeared, drawing their bows, aiming at the central platform.

Xun Sun was startled: "What is happening?!"

His officers reacted swiftly, forming a defensive circle around the platform.

A veteran rode out, shouting in anger: "Look behind you!"

All eyes turned—the main gate was open, and black-armored troops flooded in like a tide. At their head were a dozen riders, led by none other than Long Shouren, who should have been stationed at Feishan Pass and would not leave without a signed order from Xun Rongbi.

His fury was palpable.

Xun Sun’s face changed dramatically!

"Incredible! Wretch, how dare you imprison your father and seize power?!"

This stunned everyone. All eyes turned to Xun Sun, his face as dark as storm clouds.

Long Shouren roared, "All soldiers, seize this traitor! Any resistance will be punished equally!"

At that moment, a palanquin followed the armored troops through the gate. Inside sat Xun Rongbi, frail beneath a soft blanket, his gray-white hair unbound. With a ginseng slice in his mouth, he propped himself up and shouted hoarsely, "Seize that traitor!"

"Any resistance—kill without mercy!"

"First merit, a thousand gold and promotion by three ranks!"

Xun Sun’s eyes nearly burst: "That damned old man—"

The battle to capture the traitor began at once.

The fighting was fierce; Xun Sun had many die-hard followers, and the situation was controlled as they retreated while fighting.

But Long Shouren shouted, "You are all registered Suzhou soldiers! Anyone who does not lay down arms will be treated as mutineers!"

This was aimed at the common soldiers.

Whether former imperial troops or newly recruited locals, all had their origins and family addresses registered.

Mutiny implicated their families.

The soldiers’ movements faltered instantly.

Victory and defeat can hinge on a moment—once courage falters, fear takes hold, and the balance shifted rapidly.

The archers drew their bows, forming a barrage. At Long Shouren’s signal, arrows whistled toward the platform.

A long arrow shot straight at Xun Sun’s chest; a bodyguard took the blow, and his lieutenants pulled at him, "Second son, let’s retreat—"

Xun Sun shook them off, his eyes wild, shouting, "Attack!"

"Anyone who retreats—kill them on the spot!"

He cut down seven or eight men, stabilizing the situation for a moment. But Long Shouren charged through the ranks, "Wretch, prepare to die—"

Xie Ci rode forward, bow drawn, aiming at Xun Sun’s chest.

Most officers hesitated to claim the first merit, but two were willing to kill Xun Sun.

Gu Wan watched intently. An arrow like thunder struck—"thud"—and blood blossomed on Xun Sun’s chest!

Xie Ci, filled with hatred, drove the arrow through his chest, piercing his heart and knocking him from his horse.

He landed before Long Shouren, who swung his halberd with a roar—"crack!"—the sound of breaking ribs. Xun Sun collapsed on the yellow earth, blood pooling beneath him, motionless.

...

The battle to purge the traitor lasted only three quarters of an hour.

Brief, but blood was everywhere.

Even after Xun Sun’s death, some still resisted. Many officers fought in earnest, and the ground was stained red.

But these matters no longer concerned Gu Wan. Seeing Xun Sun fall, she cried, "Hurry, hurry!"

She and Xie Ci spurred their horses through the melee, straight to Xun Sun.

"Is it him?"

They dismounted, crouched down. Gu Wan quickly asked Xie Ci.

Xie Ci turned Xun Sun’s head, yanking off his helmet, scrutinized his face several times, then nodded, "Yes, this is Xun Sun."

Gu Wan pressed the arrow wound on his chest, checked his pulse and heartbeat, and used her fingers to inspect his pupils.

"Breathing, heart, and pulse have all ceased, and the pupils are dilated with no response to strong light."

She was exceptionally skilled in this.

With such a wound, there was no hope of survival—not even modern medicine could save him, much less here.

She was certain—this man was dead beyond doubt.

"He really is dead."

They exchanged glances, the tension finally easing.

It seemed to be true.

Xie Ci closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.

In that instant, his face seemed both sorrowful and joyful, a heavy expression finally giving way to a strange mixture of grief and elation.