[Fantasy] Clouds Dance and Moon Rises (Complete) - 10-12

Chapter 10

thought it over and over, and felt that the arrival of these local militiamen was really suspicious. But what could they possibly want in broad daylight? In any case, if the sky fell, the Imperial Guards would take care of it; he should just do his duty and not meddle in other people's business.

The local militiamen led the way, and sure enough, there was a flat grassland ahead, surrounded by dense forests and steep cliffs. There were several soldiers there looking at wine jars, meat, fruits, and vegetables. Huang Dechen was overjoyed to see this, as he was very hungry and thirsty from the journey. Without any ceremony, he went over and sat down to eat. Xue Qing and the other Imperial Guards followed suit. The patrol officer Ma told everyone to distribute the food and drink to the group and sat down to keep Huang Dechen company.

Unexpectedly, these local militiamen were very hospitable, even preparing food for the garrison soldiers. The garrison soldiers had witnessed these Imperial Guards eating and drinking well and acting arrogantly all along the way. Having contributed the most yet suffered discrimination, Huang Dechen was already resentful. Now, finally able to feast, he was overjoyed. The entire column stopped abruptly, carts huddled together, soldiers in small groups, drinking and eating heartily.

Huang Dechen ate with relish, thinking that this Inspector Ma was quite sensible, much more well-behaved than others along the way. After a while, he noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the two women behind him. He frowned, about to signal them to leave, when suddenly he heard a series of groans from within his ranks. Then someone clutched their stomach and collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from their orifices.

The crowd erupted in chaos, someone shouting, "Poison! Someone poisoned us!"

He was shocked and about to get up when he saw Inspector Ma's expression change, and he leaped forward, kicking Huang Dechen. He broke out in a cold sweat, but thankfully he hadn't forgotten his martial arts skills. He raised his hand to block, but because he wasn't wearing armor and the kick was extremely powerful, his arm throbbed with pain, and he slumped to the side, falling to the ground. However, after falling, he rolled eighteen times on the spot, rolled a long distance, stood up, drew his sword, and glared angrily at Inspector Ma: "You rat, how dare you cheat your grandpa!"

Inspector Ma sneered and kicked over a charging soldier. By this time, most of the soldiers in the transport team had been poisoned. A few who hadn't eaten or drunk anything still had strength, but fighting wasn't their forte. These "village soldiers" were extremely ruthless and merciless. After grabbing weapons from the carts, they fought fiercely with the government troops, and the grass was instantly covered in blood and flesh, with flashing blades. The Imperial Guards quickly finished their business, and the soldiers scattered and fled. However, these villains had several bows and arrows lying in wait around them, firing relentlessly. The terrain was treacherous, with nowhere to escape, and they were struck by arrows one after another. In the blink of an eye, the twenty-odd men who hadn't been poisoned lay dead on the ground.

Even though Huang Dechen had never fought a battle, he knew from the situation that he was doomed. These local militia were ambushing and killing government troops—was this a mutiny? Regardless, this was a heinous crime of rebellion and treason, and they would leave no survivors. He gritted his teeth and cursed, "You scoundrels! How dare you ambush and kill government troops! Aren't you afraid of your entire clan being wiped out!"

Before he finished speaking, a scream rang out beside him. A blood-soaked sword tip protruded from Xue Qing's chest. The woman disguised as a man behind him, her face contorted with rage, pulled out the sword and kicked the corpse over.

"You!"

Huang Dechen finally understood. The other side had premeditated this, meticulously planning a scheme to wipe him out, and he had walked right into it.

However, before he could react, someone kicked him in the back of the neck, the subtle force shattering his cervical bones. He coughed up blood, his body collapsing to the ground. The last thing he saw was the beautiful woman he had once raped and ravaged, now watching him with a cold smile…

*************************** (Separator)

August 19th, Bianjing, Left Minister's Residence.

Zhang Dun, the Left Minister of the Song Dynasty, frowned as he looked at the secret letter in his hand.

After years of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, experiencing countless storms, he had finally reached the pinnacle of power. Most people would be complacent, but Zhang Dun was not.

The current emperor trusted him so much, appointing him Prime Minister, but not Right Minister, clearly demonstrating Zhang Zihou's dominance in the Council of State. The Emperor's great favor and trust in him, allowing him free rein to govern, was something Zhang Zihou, a scholar-official who considered the fate of the nation his responsibility. A scholar would die for one who understands him, and he could not help but devote himself wholeheartedly to repaying that kindness. But Zhang Zihou's ambitions went far beyond this. He aimed to assist the current Emperor in becoming the most capable and enlightened ruler in the history of the Song Dynasty, to recover the lost territories of Hexi and Yanyun, and to make the Song Dynasty a prosperous and powerful nation comparable to the Han and Tang dynasties. He, Zhang Zihou, would then become a renowned prime minister, comparable to Zhuge Liang and Wei Zheng.

This was Zhang Dun's true ambition.

Back then, Wang Anshi and the late Emperor Shenzong had given him hope for the Song Dynasty's revival. Unfortunately, after the late Emperor's death, Sima Guang and his cronies, those old-timers and hypocrites, made a comeback. He himself had argued with Sima Guang in court, claiming he had no selfish motives, only a desire to preserve the achievements of the more than twenty years of hard work during the reign of Emperor Xifeng. These advancements, achieved at the cost of billions of manpower and resources, nearly draining the vitality of the Song Dynasty, and the tireless efforts of an entire generation, would be a sin against history if abandoned now.

It is heartbreaking that the fate of the Song Dynasty was ultimately ruined by a foolish woman who knew nothing! That old woman, Empress Dowager Gao, destroyed over a decade of achievements and hard work, causing the Yuan You Reforms to stall for a full eight years!

Eight whole years!

Eight years that money couldn't buy!

When he returned, everything had changed. The national treasury was empty; the wealth painstakingly accumulated during Emperor Shenzong's reign had been almost entirely squandered by the old guard. Restoring the new laws wouldn't be a quick task; it required capable officials, otherwise they would be accused of disturbing the people. All the abandoned projects would have to be restarted, a daunting and troublesome undertaking. It was truly infuriating; so many years had been wasted in this back-and-forth.

But this wasn't his biggest worry.

Although the wrongs have been rectified, the old faction has been swept out of the court, and Empress Dowager Gao is dead, a hidden danger still exists deep within the inner palace: Empress Meng.

According to the Song Dynasty's system, the empress, in principle, also possesses decision-making power. However, the current empress dowager, Empress Xiang, is known for her indifference to fame and fortune, her lack of interest in politics, and her lack of worldly ambition. Such a person has negligible influence on the court, so the key lies with the empress.

And the current empress was personally chosen by Empress Dowager Gao.

Empress Dowager Gao's attitude towards the new laws is well-known; will Empress Meng share that same stance? Zhang Dun has already deeply experienced the role these women in the inner palace can play in crucial moments. If there is another Empress Dowager Gao, will there one day be another Yuan You Restoration? Several generations of the Song Dynasty have seen empress dowagers rule from behind the curtain; it's hard to guarantee that such a situation won't recur.

The Song Dynasty simply cannot withstand such turmoil!

Meanwhile, news arrived from Jingzhao Prefecture in Shaanxi: in broad daylight, a large group of thieves had openly intercepted and murdered government transport convoys, killing nearly a hundred Imperial Guards and local militia! More than ten convoy carts were missing! Such a heinous crime occurring in Shaanxi, a region teeming with troops, was unheard of! Could there be signs of unrest among the people of Shaanxi, a potential rise of figures like Zhang Shun or Wang Xiaobo?

Moreover, he had already inquired with the Privy Council, and the contents of the thirteen missing carts were even more extraordinary. Since the New Party came to power, Zhang Dun, skilled in both civil and military affairs and having previously served as Privy Councilor, was still regarded as his former superior by the officials of the Western Prefecture, even though he was now Prime Minister. Han Zhongyan, who was now in charge of the Privy Council, was his political ally, and thus they were completely open with him.

The thirteen carts, nominally carrying medicinal herbs, were actually a shipment of top-grade military equipment: two hundred Divine Bows and thirty Tiger-Blow Cannons. The weapons were secretly sent to the front lines of Huanqing Road, mixed in with medicinal herbs. This was because a hardline policy towards the barbarians was a consistent tenet of the New Party, while the weakness of the Old Party had caused widespread discontent. Therefore, with the Old Party's downfall and the restoration of military pressure on the Western Xia seemingly inevitable, some wanted to prepare for the worst.

Previous shipments of military equipment to Hedong and Shaanxi had been secretly transported among ordinary goods without incident.

Now, however, an accident had occurred en route, and within the territory of Jingzhao Prefecture.

Was this the work of thieves? Zhang Dun simply couldn't believe that the Song Dynasty had such thieves. What kind of thieves would actively attack a large contingent of government troops? How was this any different from rebellion? Moreover, these people were extremely purposeful; they didn't steal anything else, only these military weapons. It should be known that without training, one wouldn't know how to use these bows

, crossbows, and firearms. Using them haphazardly would only result in friendly fire. In other words, these bandits were no ordinary people; they were well-prepared, with accurate intelligence and logistical support. Furthermore, their target was very clear—a quality that ordinary bandits could never possess.

Could it be the work of the Liao or Western Xia? But that transport team also numbered over a hundred. While it might be understandable for the Western Xia or Liao to infiltrate and attack the convoy on the border, for a large force to penetrate deep into the capital region was simply unbelievable.

Also, most of the corpses left at the scene showed signs of poisoning, and a highly potent one at that. The coroner of Ganbei Town in Jingzhao Prefecture was once a squad leader in the Huanzhou vassal army. He was wounded and distinguished himself in the great victory at Hongde Village that year, and later, after being crippled, he left the army to work as a coroner in his hometown of Ganbei Town. According to his identification, this poison was extremely similar to the poison used by Zhang Zhifu when he defeated the enemy, and it was very likely the same poison.

Although Zhang Dun didn't know the exact details of Zhang Jie's great victory over the Western Xia, he roughly knew how he used troops. Using poison was a common military tactic. When Zhang Dun himself led troops against the Southern Barbarians, some of the southwestern barbarians knew how to use poison, but the toxicity wasn't very strong. The poison used by Zhang Jie, however, was a rare and unprecedented poison, capable of collapsing an army of 100,000 in a single day.

Now, this same rare poison had been used against the Song Dynasty's imperial army.

Could this also be the work of Zhang Jie? Zhang Dun simply didn't believe it. Unless Zhang Jie was insane, why would he commit such a treasonous act? Although the Song Dynasty did not kill scholar-officials, rebellion and treason were exceptions. Zhang Dun himself was not insane, and of course, he wouldn't believe that Zhang Jie was. Moreover, given Zhang Jie's intelligence, he would never have left such obvious clues when plotting such a scheme.

Furthermore, these villains didn't rob valuables but only military equipment, clearly indicating they were not ordinary bandits; hoarding weapons—could it be a prelude to rebellion? And the fact that not a single one of the nearly one hundred soldiers escaped alive only demonstrated the thoroughness of the enemy's preparations and the meticulousness of their plan.

However, this matter had already caused a sensation in Jingzhao Prefecture, with rumors flying everywhere. It was said that Western Xia cavalry had infiltrated Jingzhao Prefecture to ambush the government troops. Jingzhao Prefecture and Huanqing Road were now under martial law, with strict road checks everywhere, and the people were filled with fear. Such a shocking case had occurred in Jingzhao Prefecture; the local military governor had sealed his seal and submitted a memorial requesting punishment, and now even the emperor knew.

Of course, Zhang Dun knew long ago that this matter could not be covered up; regardless, the deaths of nearly one hundred soldiers were still human lives. He simply didn't believe it was the work of the Western Xia people; if it wasn't foreign invaders, then it must be internal traitors. Zhang Dun suspected someone in the court had orchestrated this, believing the shipment itself was confidential, and the envoys and soldiers escorting it were completely unaware of their true mission. Those with access to such secrets were all high-ranking officials.

However, Zhang Dun wasn't certain about this; he wouldn't speak carelessly about something he wasn't sure of.

As prime minister, he had to give the emperor an explanation, impeaching whomever was deemed worthy without leniency. Although the emperor was young, he was extremely intelligent, possessing the wisdom of his predecessor, and couldn't be easily fooled. Moreover, he didn't intend to deceive the emperor; this was the integrity a subject should have.

But what troubled him was the letter in his hand, written by Zhang Jie from Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture, which detailed the origin of that strange poison.

It was from the Daoist sect in the capital?

Zhang Dun knew the name Zhang Huaisu; the Daoist sect's deep involvement in military and state affairs sent a chill down his spine. Moreover, Zhang Huaisu's frequent visits to noble and powerful families were backed by the Prince of Suining. Involving the imperial family, Zhang Dun couldn't help but be cautious. Although the prime minister of the Song Dynasty was above even a prince, the Prince of Suining was the emperor's most favored younger brother. If he rashly impeached him without solid evidence, he risked being accused of sowing discord within the imperial family.

While the Song Dynasty didn't forbid officials from associating with outsiders, it was a different story if these outsiders involved members of the imperial family, especially those closely related to the emperor. In any dynasty, ministers associating with members of the imperial family was a major taboo! Especially since Zhang Jie was a powerful warlord holding considerable military power! This was a red line in power struggles; crossing it meant certain death.

Although Zhang Dun didn't know whether Zhang Jie had actually associated with the Prince of Suining, it was no longer important. Such matters were difficult to explain; the more you tried to clarify, the worse it became, and getting involved would be extremely damaging. This matter couldn't be concealed; sooner or later, it would become common knowledge. Even if he didn't impeach Zhang Jie, other censors would impeach him for associating with the imperial family, which was unbecoming of a minister. Moreover, if people knew he wasn't impeaching Zhang Jie, those censors would likely impeach him as well.

No prime minister in the Song Dynasty had ever dared to underestimate the power of the censors.

Zhang Jie's transfer to Nanjing was originally intended to protect him. At that time, the finances were strained, the treasury was empty, and the country simply couldn't afford large-scale military operations. If Zhang Jie continued to defend Huanqing, he might engage in a major conflict with the Western Xia. If a full-scale war broke out, the Song Dynasty wouldn't be prepared, and it would only worsen the situation. The New Party's policy was to continue military expansion on the borders. They planned to wait a year or two until the finances improved before transferring him back to the front lines, where he would be put to great use. His military talent was no less than that of Wang Shao and Di Qing in their time.

Now, with this situation, Zhang Dun lamented, embroiled in the power struggle of the imperial court. It seemed he couldn't protect Zhang Jie. He'd only been in Yingtian Prefecture for a short time, and it seemed he'd soon be demoted again, probably to Lingnan, which was quite popular lately.

However, this Taoist priest, Zhang Huaisu, wanted to have a good talk with him, so he ordered the Kaifeng Prefecture to bring him in for questioning.

Just as he was about to send a document to the Kaifeng Prefecture, his trusted servant Zhang Lie came to report. Seeing it was him, Zhang Dun gestured for him to come forward. Zhang Lie leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words. Zhang Dun frowned: "Someone from the palace?" "

Indeed, claiming to be sent by Hao Yaban, requesting an audience with you, sir."

"What's his name?"

"He didn't say, only that you'd know upon seeing him."

Zhang Lie then described the man's appearance. As Zhang Dun listened, a thought struck him, his hawk-like eyes narrowed, and a chilling glint flashed deep within them…

********************************** (Separator)

August 21st, Bianjing, Ma Xing Street.

The old Taoist priest Zhang Huaisu emerged from a restaurant, having eaten and drunk his fill, yet still retaining his eccentric Taoist nature. He possessed an air of otherworldly elegance, wearing a two-element crown, a black and yellow eight-trigram robe, cloud-patterned shoes, and carrying a whisk. His every glance exuded a certain ethereal quality, like a deity descended to earth.

His unworthy disciple, Han Yue, had vanished without a trace, leaving without a word. However, Zhang Huaisu didn't dwell on it; Han Yue wasn't his true disciple, so his departure was understandable. But the disappearance of Sun Erniang and the others from Peach Blossom Cave stirred unease within him. Were these juniors up to something shady behind his back? He didn't want to be implicated. He knew a little about the lewd activities Han Yue engaged in in the palace, but he had no idea what role Sun Erniang played.

He didn't want to be arrested by the Kaifeng Prefecture constables one day.

Should he lay low for a while, or perhaps seek out the Prince of Suining to sound him out? However, this Prince of Suining was no pushover. His hidden ambition might fool others, but it couldn't escape Zhang Huaisu's notice. Dealing with such a person required utmost vigilance.

However, he hadn't walked far when he realized he was being followed. The people following him were using typical official methods—were they constables from Kaifeng Prefecture, or scouts from the Imperial City Guard? And there was more than one group.

He hadn't shaken them off, and knew it was impossible. After reaching an alley, he stopped.

Turning around, he bowed respectfully: "Esteemed gentlemen, may I ask why you are following this humble Taoist?"

The two men behind him remained expressionless, simply clasping their hands and saying, "Immortal Master, my master has some matters to consult with you. We would be grateful if you would accompany us."

As they spoke, they revealed their Kaifeng Prefecture badges.

Could it be that bad luck had indeed struck, and his misfortune had truly come true? Had his identity as a member of the Maitreya Sect been exposed? Had the authorities really come to arrest him? Zhang Huaisu's heart tightened, his toes gripping the ground as he focused his strength. But then doubts arose in his mind. If it were truly the authorities making an arrest, why would only two people come? Moreover, being in plainclothes was already unusual; when had officials ever made an arrest in plainclothes?

Furthermore, if he had truly revealed his identity, the Liquan Temple would also be implicated. Why not arrest him there, with a large contingent of officials surrounding him? Wouldn't that be more effective?

However, he didn't want to deal with the officials, at least not now. These two officials were acting mysteriously and didn't seem like good people. Knowing his sensitive identity, and that the other party's actions were clearly not without reason, Zhang Huaisu felt increasingly uneasy.

"May I ask what your esteemed master wishes to ask this humble Taoist?"

Zhang Huaisu asked evasively, while simultaneously searching for a way to escape. There was no one else in the alley; if he were to suddenly attack, what were his chances of subduing these two? These two seemed to be highly skilled in martial arts, and he only possessed a whisk, hardly a weapon. If he were to kill them, he would have to use the Maitreya Sect's ultimate technique, the Eight Steps to the Lotus.

However, the other party wasn't going to let him continue evading the question, and immediately approached. Zhang Huaisu lightly touched the ground with his toes, seemingly gliding across the earth, when suddenly a warning flashed through his mind. Startled and enraged,

he whirled around like a whirlwind, his speed like a ghostly shadow. Looking behind him, he saw someone had appeared. This person was dressed as a scholar, but his eyes were like lightning, and he merely smiled coldly at Zhang Huaisu. Zhang Huaisu almost instinctively felt a chill run down his spine—an instinctive reaction to danger. This scholar who had appeared silently behind him was an extremely dangerous fellow. The look in his opponent's eyes clearly betrayed ill intent.

He was facing three opponents alone, and he didn't even know how many of them hadn't shown themselves.

Strike first!

Thinking this, Zhang Huaisu laughed, "Amitabha! Your skill is truly impressive. Such prowess suggests you are no nobody. Why not reveal your name? I have a few friends in the martial world; let's not let the flood wash away the Dragon King's temple."

As he spoke, he channeled his inner energy into his feet, slightly bending his knees and arching his back.

However, the other party clearly scoffed at his words. The scholar retorted, "Enough with the nonsense, you old bastard! Show me how far you've mastered your Eight-Step Lotus Ascent!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Huaisu suddenly flicked his whisk, sending it flying straight at the scholar's face. The instant the scholar's vision was obscured, Zhang Huaisu's toes touched the ground, his body transforming into a whirlwind. His right foot, with all its might, struck the scholar's dantian, arriving almost instantly. The scholar's robe, touched by Zhang Huaisu's foot, instantly turned to ashes as if it had rotted away.

But that was all.

The scholar's body rose with the wind, and although Zhang Huaisu's foot had touched his clothes, he couldn't quite land on it. Then, Zhang Huaisu's left foot sprang up, kicking straight at the scholar's groin. But the scholar flashed forward, and with a muffled thud, he had actually exchanged a kick with Zhang Huaisu. Zhang Huaisu's body seemed to fly away like a bird, landing with his entire leg numb from the impact. His left foot was so painful he couldn't feel it.

He staggered a few steps and fell to the ground with a thud. Holding his foot, he stared at the scholar in shock, stammering,

"Eight Steps to Lotus! You...you are...a successor of Maitreya?"

At this moment, the two plainclothes officers quickly stepped forward and swiftly bound him. Then, another person appeared leisurely, but Zhang Huaisu could tell that this person didn't know martial arts. Moreover, this person had a fair complexion, delicate eyebrows and eyes, and was truly a handsome and elegant man. Moreover, it was obvious at a glance that this person was an official. His demeanor, his temperament, his every move—Zhang Huaisu, who frequently visited the homes of high-ranking officials and wealthy families, immediately concluded that this person was a high-ranking official.

"Immortal Master, if you had heeded my wise advice earlier, why would you have come to this?"

"You, who are you?"

"I am Cai Jing, and I have been waiting for you for a long time. I have some mundane matters to discuss with you, Immortal Master. Disturbing your peaceful cultivation is a grave offense."

The handsome man smiled slightly, appearing confident. However, Zhang Huaisu saw a chilling murderous intent hidden beneath that charming smile.

Half an hour later, in a house by the Cai River.

Zhang Huaisu, now untied, looked at Cai Jing before him.

This man was no ordinary person; as an official of the court, he had the assistance of experts from the Maitreya Sect. Judging from the situation, this man likely knew the secrets of the Maitreya Sect. This man was clearly not a traditional scholar-official. Scholars believed in knowing what to do and what not to do, yet he harbored cult members as henchmen. He was clearly a man who despised morality and law, and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He would either become a pillar of state remembered in history or a notorious villain.

"Master Zhang, do you know why I have invited you here?"

"It is about the matter of the successor of Maitreya. Falling into your hands is my misfortune. However, I am unworthy to have troubled Lord Cai to personally intervene. I am truly ashamed." "

Not at all. So what if he is the successor of Maitreya? Does Master Zhang really think I care about this matter?"

Cai Jing interrupted him with a smile. "Besides, Master Zhang has a wide circle of friends. All the officials in the court are your guests. I am neither the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nor the Minister of Justice. I have not served as the Prefect of Kaifeng for many years. What ability do I have to implicate you?"

"In that case, I wonder what Lord Cai's intention is in arresting me?"

"My actions are truly out of necessity. I fear the Immortal Master might misunderstand my sincerity, so I have specially ordered my family to reveal the truth before the Immortal Master, to reassure him and let him know my magnanimity. In the future, I fear I may still need the Immortal Master's help."

Cai Jing's words couldn't be clearer.

Zhang Huaisu was a smart man, and he understood. Besides, Cai Jing had no reason to lie to him. He was currently in Cai Jing's hands; killing or dismembering him was a simple matter. There was no need for him to play any tricks. If he wanted to extract information about the Maitreya Sect's secrets, he might as well just drag him to the yamen for a good thrashing. He himself wasn't sure if he could withstand the government's torture.

Moreover, judging from his unbridled utterances of treason, this man was clearly a cunning and ruthless individual. As long as he could be of use to him in the future, he would spare his life. This man's audacity was practically an open declaration of rebellion. However, it was advantageous to him. He held leverage over him, and he held leverage over him.

If this man gained power in the future, the fate of the Song Dynasty would likely be sealed.

But what did the fate of the government have to do with him? He had been moving among the officials to build connections and find patrons. Although this man was somewhat coerced, upon closer examination, he was a rather ideal choice. An alliance with him might be a win-win situation.

"Lord Cai, your kindness is immense. I would never fail to repay you. What is it you wish to ask? I will answer without reservation."

"There are two matters. First, some time ago, a strange case occurred in Shaanxi, involving a rare poison called Qilin Dan..."

At this point, Cai Jing paused, carefully observing the old Taoist's expression, but could not discern anything.

"But what is the other matter?"

"The other matter is that I request the immortal master to tell me in detail about the deeds of your esteemed disciple, Daoist Han Yue."...

Night fell, in the eastern wing of the outer city, beside the Bian River, at a Daoist temple.

Several dark figures, taking advantage of the moonlight, evaded the patrolling soldiers and bypassed the watchtower guards, quietly approaching the temple. They stopped at the foot of the temple wall, waited for a while, and then one by one nimbly scaled the wall, their movements as light and agile as cats, landing silently.

The candlelight flickered inside, casting long shadows of the three figures. The air was thick with the distinctive smell of burning candles, mingled with a faint stench of blood.

The scholar looked at the old Taoist's corpse lying on the ground, knowing he had arrived too late.

This old Taoist was the true provider of the Qilin Pill; Zhang Huaisu was merely the transporter. Who was behind this old Taoist? To whom was this extraordinary poison supplied? And who could manufacture such a poison? Two years ago, during the great victory at Huanzhou, who instructed him to provide this poison to Zhang Jie to help him defeat the enemy? This person couldn't be an ordinary citizen; they must be a high-ranking official with access to state secrets.

Just like what was happening in Shaanxi now, bandits and thieves couldn't possibly have access to classified intelligence, indicating a mole within the government.

But now, these questions could no longer be asked. Someone had killed the old Taoist with a needle before they could. The scholar crouched down to carefully examine the old Taoist's injuries. He found the wound was in the center of the forehead, with only a small amount of bleeding, clearly a fatal blow. The skull is one of the hardest bones in the human body, and this embroidery needle had penetrated deep into the brain, demonstrating astonishing force. There were no signs of a struggle at the scene. The old Taoist's hands had thick calluses, and his bones were large, indicating he was a martial artist. This meant the newcomer was someone who could make the old Taoist lower his guard.

Such an embroidery needle could hardly be called a weapon. The scholar had never heard of any martial arts master in the Song Dynasty who could injure someone with an embroidery needle, and make it unleash the power of a crossbow bolt. This was practically a divine skill, probably only possessed by legendary sword immortals like Nie Yinniang, Xue Hongxian, and Kongkong'er.

A two-inch-long embroidery needle, not a hidden dart, thrown by the hand, killing someone from ten paces away… He had never heard of such a thing. In the past, he would have laughed it off, but now, it was a real sight before him. And in the capital city no less.

The scholar suddenly felt that the vast city of Bianjing, shrouded in darkness, seemed to have transformed into a vast, unfathomable abyss…

Night fell, at the Left Minister's residence.

Zhang Dun looked at the handsome, elegant man before him, a rare moment of hesitation in his heart. This man, like himself, was adept at opportunism, but while he was wholeheartedly devoted to the country, it was hard to say how much this man was loyal to the country and how much was selfish. This man possessed too many cunning schemes and maneuvers; even with his experience and insight, he couldn't see through him. However, since he had already entrusted such a secret matter to him, he had essentially placed him as a confidant. It was too late for regrets now; he could only choose to trust him.

He gestured for the other man to sit down. “Yuan Chang, there’s no need for formalities. Sit down and let’s talk.” The middle

-aged man opposite him was none other than Cai Jing, the Acting Minister of Revenue.

Although Cai Jing kept his head down and avoided direct eye contact with Zhang Dun, reporting his investigation results to Zhang Dun in a calm and unhurried tone, maintaining a composed demeanor, his heart was burning with fervor.

The fact that he had gained the favor of the Prime Minister and been entrusted with such a confidential matter was enough to show that Zhang Dun considered him a confidant. His ambition was to climb to the same position as Zhang Dun. Although the Minister of Revenue was also a prominent figure in the court, he was still worlds apart from the man before him. What he needed to focus on was how to use Zhang Dun's trust to consolidate his own position and, in turn, maximize his own interests in this matter.

Cai Jing always believed that opportunity arises from creating trouble. If the Song Dynasty remained calm and uneventful, how could he profit from the chaos? Only when the existing order was shaken would it create opportunities for those below to rise.

This was Cai Jing's consistent philosophy: he thrived on chaos and would fish in troubled waters.

He would never forget the turmoil of the fourth year of the Yuanfeng era. It had fully demonstrated the astonishing effects that chaos could produce. Who could have imagined that a simple adultery case, exploited by those with ulterior motives, could stir up such a huge storm, ultimately throwing half the court into chaos, involving so many high-ranking officials and nobles, and even the prime minister himself could not escape unscathed. This also led to his first major setback in his career.

At that time, he was merely a censor in the Jixian Hall, having only recently begun his career as a court official. Yet, he saw the immense opportunity hidden within that huge storm. Therefore, Cai Jing actively participated, stirring up trouble and creating chaos, but he overdid it and ultimately ruined himself.

Since that setback, Cai Jing understood that while opportunities may arise from creating trouble, when the opportunity truly arrives, one must have the ability to seize it. Those who overestimate their abilities have no future. Twelve years ago, although he had ambition, talent, and courage, he lacked the ability, so when the opportunity came, he couldn't grasp it and ultimately lost more than he gained.

And now, Cai Jing seems to feel that same stirring of emotion again.

Regardless of the details, this matter involves a major case in Shaanxi and also touches on palace secrets, making it rife with intrigue and chaos. Could this be a new opportunity? If so, does he have the ability to seize it? And could this opportunity potentially shake up the existing political landscape, creating some leeway for his position?

"That Taoist priest is already dead?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dun's expression changed slightly.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, after questioning Zhang Huaisu, I sent men to arrest him overnight, but it was too late; the Taoist priest had already been silenced. My subordinates are incompetent and cannot discern the assassin's origin. The Taoist priest's residence was also thoroughly searched, but yielded nothing." "What is the Taoist priest's

background? What about the Taoist temple he resided in?" "

That Taoist priest was a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, and his ordination certificate was genuine; the temple also belonged to the Shenxiao Sect. However, the Shenxiao Sect has millions of disciples scattered throughout the world, and it's not certain that all of them can guarantee their moral character."...

After serving the soup and seeing the guest off, Zhang Dun recalled Cai Jing's account, his heart filled with doubt.

Originally, the case involving the transport of goods implicated the Taoist priests of Liquan Temple. If the Kaifeng Prefecture went to arrest them, they would be easily apprehended. The Song Dynasty was ruled by scholar-officials; even if these Taoist priests cultivated connections with powerful officials and members of the imperial family, it was utterly useless. They would be arrested without question, and no one dared to obstruct them. However, unexpectedly, the night before last, Hao Sui, the Imperial Attendant, personally came to the mansion. His arrival changed everything.

Zhang Dun had no interest in what shady business Liu Xianfei and the Taoist priest Han Yue of Liquan Temple might have. He wasn't Liu Xianfei's subordinate, so why should he work for her? If she truly committed crimes, she deserved to be punished if exposed. However, Han Yue was Zhang Huaisu's disciple, a fact that concerned him. Both master and disciple were involved in court intrigues; was there any connection between them? Was Han Yue's disappearance related to the events in Shaanxi?

More importantly, he couldn't refuse the conditions Liu Xianfei offered.

An alliance was formed, both internally and externally, to jointly overthrow Empress Meng. Empress Meng had always been a thorn in Zhang Dun's side, and now that someone had proactively offered cooperation, it was exactly what he needed. Moreover, Consort Liu promised that as long as Empress Meng could be overthrown and she made empress, she would absolutely support the implementation of the new laws. Zhang Dun was a learned man, and naturally knew the immense potential power of the inner palace in all dynasties. No powerful minister in history could last long without allies within the inner palace.

Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, this choice was easy to make.

However, this meant that they couldn't openly arrest people at Liquan Temple. Who knew what shameful secrets Consort Liu might have in the hands of these Taoist priests? If they dragged her to the Kaifeng Prefecture court, these secrets would eventually be exposed. With Wang Qinchen's integrity, he would surely submit a memorial impeaching her, making it known to everyone, and then Consort Liu would be finished. This would not benefit them either.

Therefore, they could only act secretly. But an upright official like Wang Qinchen wouldn't engage in such underhanded dealings without a legitimate reason. Even if ordered by someone, he wouldn't obey such an unreasonable command.

At that moment, the person he thought of was Cai Jing.

This man was the one who had advised him to reinstate the new laws. However, he was a complete opportunist; during Sima Guang's reign, he had abolished the exemption from corvée labor within five days. Nevertheless, Zhang Dun was confident that he could control him with his abilities. Moreover, Cai Jing had previously served as the prefect of Kaifeng; he was exceptionally talented and adept at managing subordinates, enjoying considerable favor and trust among the officials of Kaifeng. Even now, as the acting Minister of Revenue, he still maintained significant influence over the officials in Kaifeng.

Zhang Dun believed that someone as power-hungry as Cai Jing would inevitably cultivate a few henchmen within Kaifeng, and this was the perfect opportunity for them to exert their influence, perfectly in line with the principle of operating covertly.

As for the old Taoist priest Zhang Huaisu, Zhang Dun had always considered him an insignificant figure, utterly unworthy of his attention, even now. Such a person, having managed to survive for so long in the vast and competitive world of Bianjing, must possess extraordinary abilities. Even if Zhang Huaisu were to actually reach the main hall of Kaifeng Prefecture, Zhang Dun was certain that Zhang Huaisu understood what could and could not be said. If he didn't even understand this, he couldn't possibly have survived this long.

However, whether involving Cai Jing in this matter was a blessing or a curse, he couldn't say for sure…

**************************** (Separator)

August 22nd, Shaanxi, Xihe Road, Lanzhou.

Two li outside the South Gate, there was a large flat area used as a drill ground by government troops. At this time, a large contingent of soldiers was training, the dark mass of cavalry and infantry arrayed in formation, densely packed like a swarm of ants covering the earth. Guided by countless flags and drums, they changed formations in perfect unison. The flat ground was churned with dust from the hooves of tens of thousands of horses and soldiers. With each beat of the war drum, the soldiers shouted loudly, their momentum as powerful as a rainbow.

Zhe Keshi stood on a high slope, watching the thousands of Han and vassal warriors under his command, their military spirit soaring to the sky, and couldn't help but admire them. I had long heard of the elite troops of Xihe Road, and seeing them today, I can attest to their exceptional quality. They are no less formidable than, and perhaps even surpass, the troops that Zhang Jie painstakingly trained in Huanqing Road.

The majority of the troops in Xihe Road are former subordinates of Wang Shao and Li Xian, seasoned veterans forged in countless battles. The Qing Tang vassal states are also renowned for their ferocity, and the troops selected from among them are truly a force of tigers and wolves. Zhe Keshi has spent his life on the front lines, initially in Hedong Road, then under Zhong E in Linyan Road, later in Jingyuan Road, and finally under Commander Zhang Jie of Qing, where they worked together to decisively defeat the Western Xia. He has seen much of the world, and while the strength of each army is not significantly different, in terms of combat experience and the soldiers' bloodthirstiness and fighting spirit, none of the armies he has encountered before can compare to Xihe Road.

Back then, when Wang Shao opened up the Xihe frontier, expanding the territory by thousands of miles, he relentlessly slaughtered those rebellious vassal tribes, leaving rivers of blood in his wake—a truly ruthless killing spree. With this "glorious tradition," the Song army of the Xihe route was known for its warlike nature, leaving corpses strewn everywhere they went.

However, although Zhe Keshi wore an approving expression, his gaze turned grave as he looked at the letter in his hand.

Since receiving Zhang Jie's letter, he had secretly intensified his investigations. A seasoned general with years of military experience, he could practically recite the ins and outs of the army with his eyes closed. He recognized the secret letter immediately: a secret document from the Gangyun. He had seen such documents countless times before; to mistake it would be a joke.

Zhang Jie clearly understood that this was intelligence risked by "Qingyun," the most important spy within Western Xia, to deliver. Western Xia, or more precisely, Liang Yibu, was eyeing a certain branch of the Song Dynasty's Gangyun. This move might be related to the power struggle within Western Xia.

Of course, Zhe Keshi didn't let anyone know about the existence of this letter; private correspondence between two border officials was a major taboo in the court. He only secretly strengthened the checks within Lanzhou, but soon after, an official document from the Jingzhao Prefecture arrived, and he learned that such a shocking case had occurred in the Jingzhao Prefecture, and he also understood which shipment Western Xia had targeted. However, this shipment wasn't destined for Lanzhou, so he had no right to inquire about what was inside. But he guessed it might be military equipment. Western Xia itself was a military power; the only area where it was inferior to the Song Dynasty was probably armor, bows, crossbows, and firearms. What Western Xia was particularly interested in was obviously not ordinary stuff. Could it be…? He

suddenly thought of the battle at Hongde Village, the earth-shattering thunder and fire, the powerful crossbows that pierced through gold and stone…

Recently, the Privy Council had been fond of this kind of trick, secretly transporting military equipment to the front lines by mixing it with grain and miscellaneous goods. He had received such shipments in Lanzhou before.

The officials of the Privy Council probably thought themselves clever, but in Zhe Keshi's view, this move was truly unnecessary. If it were done secretly, it would naturally be a surprise attack, a preparation for a future offensive. However, the court had issued a strict order forbidding border generals from provoking, so it was better to make a grand display, which would intimidate the Western Xia and leave him confused. He had been acting like a thief, and now that something had happened, he probably wouldn't dare to speak out, fearing it would unsettle the people. He was truly creating trouble for himself.

But now it was too late, and he couldn't decide whether to report to the court that it was the Western Xia's doing. By principle, a subject should speak frankly, otherwise it would be deceiving the emperor, and this involved matters of great military and national importance, not to be taken lightly. If Liang Yibu's interest in these weapons truly stemmed from the internal power struggle in the Western Xia reaching the point of armed conflict, then perhaps this was another opportunity for the Song Dynasty, and the regrets of the Yuanfeng Western Expedition could perhaps be remedied.

However, if he didn't speak up beforehand and only revealed it afterward, wouldn't that be digging his own grave? Moreover, the contents of Zhang Jie's letter weighed heavily on his mind.

He hadn't even settled into his post in Yingtian Prefecture when Zhang Jie's new appointment arrived: Academician of the Longtu Pavilion, Prefect of Guangzhou Military and Prefecture. Suddenly demoted from the governor of one of the four capitals of the Song Dynasty to a treacherous military and prefectural region in the remote Lingnan area—this was a severe demotion. Although the accusation in the letter was rather vague, mentioning something about "lacking the demeanor of a minister," Zhang Jie seemed somewhat deflated in the letter, a far cry from the spirited general he was when he pacified Huanqing and decisively defeated the Western Xia.

Zhe Keshi could understand his feelings; he had achieved great feats on the battlefield, yet was unjustly demoted. Having finally seen the New Party come to power, he was transferred away from the front lines, and now, after struggling in the officialdom, his situation only worsened, culminating in his demotion to Lingnan. For a talented and ambitious scholar like Zhang Jie, this was worse than death.

And now, if he were to report this matter to the court, not to mention the damage it would cause Zhang Jie, those censors and remonstrators in the court were all ruthless and merciless. They were blind to the soldiers on the frontier risking their lives, and they could magnify even the smallest things, portraying you as an outrageously wicked villain. Their profession was finding fault with others, and their specialty was drowning others in slander from a safe distance.

At this time, Zhang Jie was in dire straits, and his report on this matter would inevitably implicate him. Those corrupt officials in the censorate would surely kick him while he was down, accusing him of all sorts of crimes, such as privately harboring spies, colluding with the Western Xia, and plotting rebellion. Zhe Keshi could easily come up with a whole host of charges.

He and Zhang Jie had a deep mutual respect and friendship in Qingzhou. Zhang Jie did not look down on him because he was a military man; on the contrary, he considered him a confidant. How could he let him suffer even more now? Moreover, Zhang Jie was a pillar of the nation, and it would be a great loss for the Song Dynasty to have his talents buried like this. For both public and private reasons, he could not kick him while he was down.

Judging from the meaning of Zhang Jie's letter, he probably wanted him to keep the matter a secret. Since that was the case, the choice was easy. He burned the letter. Although the generals around him were curious, no one dared to ask any questions due to military law.

Zhe Keshi then called over a trusted military advisor and whispered a few words of advice. The military advisor bowed and withdrew, then spurred his horse and rode back into the city...

************************ (Separator)

Western Xia, Xingqing Prefecture.

"Empress Dowager, I dare to ask, from whom did this intelligence come?"

Ren Duo Baozhong looked at the secret document in his hand, his brows furrowed. The matter of the memorial was indeed of great importance and secrecy, but knowing that all's fair in war, he habitually adopted a skeptical attitude towards all unfamiliar situations.

"This report came from my trusted confidant, whom I personally placed within the First-Rank Hall,"

Empress Dowager Liang said casually, subtly hinting to Ren Duo Baozhong that she was not a woman easily deceived. She had her own intelligence sources and her own group of men; she didn't rely solely on them to succeed.

"Empress Dowager, may I ask again, is this person trustworthy?"

Ren Duo Baozhong persisted.

"My trusted confidant is naturally very trustworthy. What? Is Chief Ren Duo afraid of falling for a counter-espionage plot?" Empress

Dowager Liang's tone turned displeased; Ren Duo Baozhong's attitude had offended her. Sa Chen gently tugged at him, and Ren Duo Baozhong realized his mistake. This was simply a habit he had developed over years of battle; in fact, most military generals shared this habit—believing only what they saw and heard, and doubting any information obtained from others.

"Your Majesty, I dare not! I misspoke. Please forgive me."

Ren Duo Baozhong hurriedly knelt down. However, Empress Dowager Liang did not truly intend to punish him. After pardoning him, Ren Duo Baozhong continued, "If this matter is credible, it means that the villain Liang Yibu has succeeded. Next, I fear he will rebel." "

Although the Eastern Dynasty's crossbows and firearms are powerful, their numbers are limited, and their effectiveness is ultimately limited. If Liang Yibu intends to use them to cause chaos, he is overestimating himself. How can he possibly defeat the 100,000 elite troops of Xingqing Prefecture with just a few crossbows? Could it be a feint?"

Sa Chen offered a different opinion.

"If the timing and terrain are favorable, a small number of powerful weapons in the right hands can be worth ten men."

Ren Duo Baozhong paused here, but Empress Dowager Liang's expression changed, clearly recalling the disastrous defeat at Hongde Village. Just a few hundred crossbows and a few dozen strange, earth-shattering firearms had indeed caused an army of 100,000 to collapse like a house of cards. The thunder and lightning that shook the mountains and split the earth were deeply imprinted in Empress Dowager Liang's mind. Did Liang Yibu intend to use those terrifying, godlike firearms against her?

That was truly the most terrifying nightmare...

"Moreover, Liang Yibu also has influence within Xingqing Prefecture. What if he directly attacks the palace? He only needs a few inside agents among the six guards within the imperial perimeter. With these powerful bows, crossbows, and firearms, and with careful planning, who dares to say there won't be an opportunity for rebellion? Besides, he is currently the prime minister and has the ability to secretly transport these things into Xingqing Prefecture. He also has the ability to create chaos in the city. Then, taking advantage of the chaos, he can launch a surprise attack and perhaps succeed."

"The six guards within the imperial perimeter alone have five thousand elite soldiers, and tens of thousands of prefectural guards outside the city are also under the Empress Dowager's control. Once a change occurs, they can arrive in an instant..."

Sa Chen, who was in charge of the defense of Xingqing Prefecture and the Xiangqing Army of Xiping Prefecture, had great confidence in his subordinates.

"Back then, Yelü Chongyuan of the Northern Dynasty rebelled, daring to launch a frontal attack on tens of thousands of the Pishi Imperial Guard with only four hundred Song crossbows and a few hundred elite soldiers, and nearly succeeding in assassinating the emperor. After the failure, he was able to break through the encirclement of tens of thousands of pursuing troops and flee to the desert. This shows that the difference in troop strength is not everything. Moreover, the Six Guards and the Prefectural Guards suffered many casualties when they were defeated in Huanzhou. Who can guarantee that there are no spies of Liang Yibu among the soldiers and officers who have been transferred in? Liang Yibu has held military power for a long time, and the number of desperate henchmen he has raised is probably twice that of Chongyuan. Now he also has powerful weapons. If we are not careful, even if we gather all the iron in the nine provinces, we will not be able to cast a single word."

Listening to Ren Duobaozhong and Sa Chen talking back and forth, they both said that the situation was very dangerous and that they needed to make a decision as soon as possible. Empress Dowager Liang noticed that the old general Wei Ming Amai remained silent, so she asked, "Old Commander, why are you silent?"

"Your Majesty," Wei Ming Amai replied, "this old minister is simply thinking that since we know what Liang Yibu is plotting, the Eastern Dynasty should know even more. Zhang Dun is currently in power in the Eastern Dynasty; this man is arrogant, warlike, and aggressive. With such a perfect pretext, we should have sent envoys to question him and launched an invasion long ago. Why is there still no movement? Could it be that the Eastern Dynasty is unaware of our actions?"

"Exactly!"

Mei Le Du Bu, standing beside him, brightened up, clearly understanding the situation. "The one Liang Yibu relies on is the Yipin Hall. If he were to mobilize troops to infiltrate the vicinity of Chang'an and ambush the Song army, unless every soldier under his command is a god, how could hundreds of thousands of troops from the Eastern Dynasty pass through the blockades undetected? Do they think the Song army is deaf and blind? This is absolutely impossible! Even if such elite troops exist, they must not be unknown, so why haven't we heard of them? Moreover, if Liang Yibu wanted to mobilize troops, it's impossible for him to keep it a secret from even a few of us." "However

, there are widespread rumors among the people of the Eastern Dynasty that the Western Xia cavalry have penetrated deep into Chang'an to plunder..."

"This is a common practice in the Eastern Dynasty; no matter what happens, there are always inexplicable rumors circulating. Perhaps it is precisely because of these rumors that the Eastern Dynasty is unsure of the truth and has not acted rashly."

"This means that Liang Yibu bribed bandits from the Eastern Dynasty. Therefore, that batch of weapons probably hasn't even entered Western Xia yet; it's still in the hands of those bandits. Does Liang Yibu still need to find a way to bring these weapons into the country? Moreover, with such a major case in the Eastern Dynasty, they must be checking roads and intensifying their investigations. Those weapons probably won't leave the country so easily."

At this point, several high-ranking officials unusually reached the same conclusion.

Delay would only lead to complications; a swift and decisive action was needed!

"Your Majesty, I have a plan. We can order our spies within Song territory to investigate which bandit group robbed these weapons. Once we find out, we can switch them out to lure Liang Yibu into a trap, then execute him!"

Sa Chen's face flushed with excitement; finally, it was time to settle accounts with Liang Yibu.

Empress Dowager Liang's heart stirred, but she hesitated, a rare occurrence. It wasn't that she cared about Liang Yibu's life, but rather that the events had unfolded so suddenly. They had just been discussing how to handle the crisis, and now it seemed like the perfect opportunity to act had arrived.

"Empress Dowager, hesitation will only lead to future troubles,"

Ren Duobaozhong led the way, kneeling down. Then the rest of the officials knelt, swearing solemn oaths. This was a golden opportunity to eliminate the traitor.

Empress Dowager Liang looked at these high-ranking officials, and inwardly encouraged herself.

They would inevitably turn against each other sooner or later; it was better to strike first!

******************************** (Separator)

Bianjing, Wansheng Gate.

Tong Guan, mounted on his horse, looked back at the majestic walls of Bianjing, a surge of excitement rising within him.

Bianjing, I, Tong Guan, am still a nobody today, but one day when I return, I will be a peerless hero, admired by all. After enduring so many years in the palace, I have finally gotten my chance to prove myself. I will definitely seize this opportunity, seize Consort Liu, seize Hao Sui, seize everything I can to climb up the social ladder.

Beside me, the palace maid Su Hu, now dressed as a man, is also dashing and spirited. This woman is already beautiful, but in men's clothing, she possesses an even more captivating charm. It's somewhat unexpected that Consort Liu would send her out of the palace; it seems Consort Liu is extremely worried about this matter and has specially sent her trusted confidante to supervise.

Tong Guan has never personally witnessed this woman's abilities. She remains silent and aloof, like an ice queen, but sometimes Tong Guan can see a hint of cold murderous intent inadvertently revealed deep in her eyes.

Moreover, judging from her demeanor, although she has spent years in the inner palace, she is well-versed in the affairs of the outside world, clearly possessing rich experience in the ways of the world. Tong Guan can't help but suspect that this woman often secretly leaves the palace to travel the world. This suggests that Consort Liu is not as simple as he originally imagined.

There was another Confucian scholar, whose origins were unknown, who also accompanied them.

However, none of this dampened Tong Guan's excitement. The feeling of those scholars who passed the imperial examinations was probably the same as his own: ten years of hard study went unnoticed, but one day fame spread throughout the land. He had spent over a decade in the palace, even cutting off his own manhood, enduring humiliation and hardship, all for a bright future. Finally, after more than a decade, he had gained the favor of a powerful figure, who had made him a trusted confidant—what a wonderful opportunity!

Of course, despite his excitement, Tong Guan wouldn't forget his true identity. He was a eunuch, and this trip out of the palace was a cover for a procurement mission to Shaanxi; his true purpose had to be kept secret. The scholar-officials had a natural aversion to eunuchs, and if local officials found even the slightest fault in him, they would impeach him relentlessly, perhaps even to the point of execution. His fate would then be sealed.

Although he didn't know which methods Hao Sui had used to secure the assistance of which high-ranking official in the outer court, the official documents and city records of the suspects had been thoroughly investigated, and all the clues pointed to Shaanxi.

He had no choice but to either return empty-handed or return laden with spoils.

This trip wasn't the end for Tong Guan; he was certain he could overcome this hurdle. Once he survived, he would be transformed, completely different, no longer a lowly eunuch at the beck and call of others, but a truly powerful figure.

Spurring their horses on, the three galloped onto the official road, heading west in the golden glow of the setting sun…

September 19th, the first year of the Shaosheng era of the Song Dynasty, Shaanxi, Qin-Feng Road, Fengzhou, Liangdang Town.

Han Yue, dressed as a wandering Taoist priest, looking travel-worn, rode a donkey along the official road. The official road from Fengxiang Prefecture to Fengzhou followed the Wei River to the Gudao River, separated by the Chencang Mountain. The boundary between the two prefectures was the famous Dasanguan Pass, one of the four passes of Guanzhong. After entering the territory of Fengzhou, up to Liangquan County, the seat of Fengzhou Prefecture, the official road was built along the water. South of Fengzhou City, the Gudao River was renamed Jialing River according to the local custom.

Liangdang Town is located on the banks of the Hongya River, a tributary of the Jialing River. It falls under the jurisdiction of Liangdang County, from which the county derives its name. However, the county seat of Liangdang is in Guangxiang Town, a county renowned for its wealth and prosperity, particularly in Fengzhou and even the entire Qin-Feng Circuit. This is because one of the few large silver mines in the Song Dynasty was located within Guangxiang. In the fifth year of the Kaibao era, the imperial court established a silver supervision bureau here. In the first year of the Zhiping era, the bureau was abolished and placed under local jurisdiction. In the sixth year of the Yuanfeng era

, the mines were depleted, and the bureau was abolished. However, the area remained prosperous due to its well-developed roads, dense population, and the rumor that the silver mines had not been completely exhausted. Near the south gate of Guangxiang Town, a bustling market town had already formed, with hundreds of taverns, inns, and shops, teeming with people and vehicles. Fengzhou, located in the inland region of Shaanxi, unlike the border prefectures of Huanzhou and Suizhou which were heavily guarded against the Western Xia and had strict fortifications and rigorous checks on travelers, was much more prosperous. Although there were government-established outposts here, their function had long since shifted to collecting taxes from passing merchants; their military significance was merely symbolic.

However, recently, the local people noticed a change in the situation. The soldiers, unlike their usual listless state, were now heavily guarded by imperial guards, each one clad in armor and wielding weapons, exuding an imposing aura. Not only were checks at the city gates strengthened, but the checkpoints along the main roads were also filled with officials. All the county's garrison troops, patrol officers, and archers were out in the streets, their faces grim. The unsuspecting people were bewildered by this atmosphere of impending doom, whispering amongst themselves, speculating about what had happened. Were the Western Xia bandits about to attack again? This situation must mean something serious had occurred.

Only the merchants near the South Gate brought the news.

A few days ago, a major case had occurred in the Jingzhao Prefecture: a group of audacious thieves had openly ambushed and murdered government troops in broad daylight, killing hundreds and stealing countless carts of tribute goods. Some said that Western Xia cavalry had infiltrated Jingzhao Prefecture to ambush government troops, resulting in the death of a high-ranking official; others said that bandits from the Liao Dynasty's Shangjing Road had entered the country, plundering the Song Dynasty, and that government troops had been defeated in their attempt to suppress them. All sorts of strange and bizarre rumors circulated, leaving the people speechless and doubtful.

Rumors are something that can never be completely eradicated, no matter the time or event.

Han Yue, along his journey, also sensed this tense situation. Although Shaanxi Road was probably the most heavily guarded region compared to other roads in the Song Dynasty, it was still noticeably different from two years ago.

Back

then, when he and Zhang Huaisu traveled to Huanzhou, the impending invasion of the Western Xia army made the tense situation understandable.

But even then, the heartland like Jingzhao Prefecture hadn't been on such high alert as it was now.

He had already heard about the major incidents that had occurred in Jingzhao Prefecture along the way. Han Yue scoffed at the Western Xia cavalry invasion. He himself had served in the military and was intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the armed forces. Even the Liao Dynasty's elite cavalry, touted as one of the best in the world, couldn't possibly have ignored the hundreds of thousands of Song Dynasty border troops and penetrated so deep into Song territory. What

merit did the Western Xia possess that they could accomplish what the Liao Dynasty couldn't? Moreover, the Western Xia was facing the Song Dynasty's most elite hundreds of thousands of Western Army soldiers. Such rumors were far too dismissive of the Song army and could only fool uneducated country bumpkins.

The claim that it was Liao bandits was even more impossible. The Zubu barbarians of Shangjing Road were always unruly, and such a large tribe could mobilize over 100,000 able-bodied men to fight at any time. The Liao court had always been merely subservient, with surrenders and rebellions being commonplace. It was just that this time the situation had escalated too much, and even the Northwest Pacification Commission had suffered a defeat. And once these barbarians gained power, their first target would undoubtedly be Daotaling. Because the Daotaling Military Governor's Office and the Northwest Pacification Commission were two nooses placed around the neck of Shangjing Road by the Liao Dynasty, Daotaling separated Xijing Road from Shangjing Road, protecting Xijing Road from invasion by Shangjing Road rebels. Now that the Northwest Pacification Commission has been defeated and is no longer a significant force, it is only natural that the rebels would cross Daotaling Road to plunder Xijing Road.

Furthermore, Shangjing Road does not border the Song Dynasty at all, separated by the Western Xia and Liao Dynasty's Xijing Road. Unless the barbarians of Shangjing Road sprouted wings and flew into Song territory, how could they possibly appear in Jingzhao Prefecture? This is utterly absurd and laughable.

As for that major case, it might truly be the work of bandits. Based on what he had seen and heard along the way, he was 70% certain that it was related to the Maitreya Sect. He knew the power of the Qilin Pill. Since it contained the Qilin Pill, it must be related to the Maitreya Sect, and perhaps even to Sun Erniang. The government is now investigating the case extensively, while rumors are flying through the underworld, with many offering high prices for inside information.

Among them is the "Red Lady" from Hebei.

Han Yue is certain this woman has government connections, likely belonging to a government-sanctioned bandit group.

Otherwise, a woman couldn't possibly have expanded her influence so much. Even if she claims to be a descendant of the Yang family generals, so what?

There are countless military families in the Song Dynasty. Aren't the local inspectors and bandit leaders in Hebei all powerful figures with meritorious ancestors? Why don't they seem to be as successful in this area?

It's said she previously targeted the Maitreya Sect, specifically the wealthy man surnamed Lu in Daming Prefecture. Although Han Yue doesn't know his connection to Sun Erniang, she intuitively feels Sun Erniang is involved. Han Yue has her own intelligence sources; Zhang Huaisu, that old Taoist priest, may be a charlatan, but his information network is undeniably excellent. With Red Lady's renewed focus, is she truly working for the government?

Furthermore, the events within Shaanxi Province are inevitably connected to the Western Xia. If it truly was Sun Erniang's doing, could they really have some unknown deal with the Western Xia? Han Yue would never believe that Sun Erniang had surrendered to the Western Xia; she hadn't stooped that low. Considering the previous case involving the wealthy Lu, could it be related to this case?

Such a major case, regardless of who committed it, is a capital offense. Attacking government troops is treason, and if caught by the authorities, it's an absolute death sentence! Even the entire family could be implicated! The Maitreya Sect has a history of rebellion, and Sun Erniang's men are former followers of Su Yanfu, mostly desperate criminals; attacking government troops is nothing new to them. Moreover, it's hard to imagine this was a spur-of-the-moment act; it must have been meticulously planned over a long period. The missing transport carts haven't been found since the incident, indicating extremely thorough preparation, leaving the authorities with no clues. Ordinary thieves are only interested in money and grain; no one would touch the government's transport goods.

The more Han Yue thought about it on the way, the more alarmed she became. It was very likely that Sun Erniang had been planning this for a long time. Whatever her plan was, was her painting part of it?

What exactly was she stealing? What use would she have for it? Had she gotten herself into some terrible mess?

This woman was definitely not to be underestimated.

Fortunately, he had already received the money; all he needed to do was deliver the painting to her when he arrived. She seemed quite trusting of him in this regard, paying him upfront and then having him carry the painting all the way to Shaanxi, not afraid he would run away halfway.

Perhaps this woman had completely figured out his character, knowing he wasn't the type to break his word.

Thinking of this, Han Yue felt a surge of frustration; he hated this feeling. He knew nothing, yet he was completely controlled, like a puppet being led by the nose, not even realizing when he was being sold out.

It was hard to imagine that this woman had been so destitute and humiliated in the Liao Kingdom. Now, thriving, her true colors were so terrifying that one couldn't afford to be careless; a slight misstep could lead to her exploitation.

However, he wasn't entirely without options. His promise was only to deliver the painting; he had no other responsibility. What he did afterward was entirely his own business. He would stay at the Lin family inn in Fengzhou City. The inn had a background in the bandit world, and coincidentally, it seemed to be under the wing of Hong Niangzi.

If he were to continue his journey in the bandit world, finding a good backer was essential. Zhang Huaisu, that old Taoist priest, was no good; he had already caused trouble for him, and it was unlikely he would protect him anymore. Hong Niangzi had a great reputation; befriending her wouldn't hurt him. As for what would happen to Sun Erniang, Han Yue didn't even consider it.

In a mill at the south entrance of the town, Han Yue met Sun Erniang.

Han Yue couldn't help but admire this woman. How had he never realized before that this woman was so knowledgeable and skilled in disguise? Her once beautiful face now looked twenty years older, her complexion sallow and covered in pockmarks, her hair gray and white, yet it didn't look unnatural at all. Although one could still discern her original features upon closer inspection, she exuded an aged air. And she spoke with a distinct Shaanxi accent.

Originally a scout specializing in reconnaissance, infiltrating enemy territory to gather intelligence was a common occurrence for him. Sometimes he would disguise himself for convenience, but his own disguise skills were utterly insignificant compared to this woman's.

"Senior brother is indeed a trustworthy person. I thank you in return."

Sun Erniang put away the scroll, seemingly letting out a sigh of relief.

“Junior Sister, what are you saying? It’s nothing. But I have something I must say, and I hope you will forgive me. I wonder what use you have for this painting? This matter involves too many things and cannot be taken lightly.”

Sun Erniang stared at him for a while before finally smiling and saying, “Senior Brother, are you asking this for yourself or for someone else?”

“Why bother, Junior Sister? Rumors are flying everywhere, both in the underworld and the legitimate world. If you wanted to keep your tracks hidden, you wouldn’t need to use the Qilin Pill. I wonder what your purpose is in making such a grand gesture? Could it be that you want to inherit the unfulfilled ambitions of your predecessors and change the dynasty?”

“I am not a Song person. What does it matter to you whether the Song Dynasty changes its rule?”

“Although I am not a Song person, this matter is too deeply involved. Moreover, the bandits of the world do not distinguish between Song and Liao people. There are people spreading rumors in the underworld now. You must know that, Junior Sister. You have close ties with the Western Xia. It’s best to be careful.”

"What makes you say that?"

Sun Erniang knew Han Yue was bluffing her, but her expression remained unchanged.

"What happened in Shaanxi that's unrelated to Western Xia? The government troops' transport isn't grain or money; what's the point of risking it? If it were just for money and grain, why would they intercept government transport? I never knew you'd climbed such a high branch, you've truly kept it from me for so long."

"Brother, you don't need to lie to me, but I don't need to hide this from you either. I did it. The government troops claim to be the elite army of the West, but in my opinion, they're all incompetent fools. As for Western Xia, you've misunderstood. I was just doing it for money; I didn't defect to Western Xia."

Seeing Sun Erniang readily admit it, Han Yue was startled.

"Junior sister is indeed a woman of great talent, no less than any man. It seems you're preparing to undertake something great? I wonder if there's anything I can do to help you? If so, please don't hesitate to ask. We're like siblings, inseparable."

While saying this, Han Yue secretly planned to distance herself from this madwoman as soon as she left, lest she be implicated by her. This woman's actions were truly insane. Could she really be plotting a rebellion? Had she truly lost her mind?

"I have no intention of changing the dynasty; I merely wish to avenge the elders of our sect. The outlaws and the government are inherently mortal enemies; what's a few soldiers?"

Sun Erniang smiled faintly.

"Besides, the government has a blood feud with me for killing my father. In the Song Dynasty, ordinary people are beheaded for smuggling twenty catties of salt, while those corrupt officials rake in huge sums without anyone caring. Where is justice? I knew things were going to get out of hand, and sooner or later someone would come after me. But since I've taken this case, I'm not afraid. Let whoever has the guts come and get their revenge."

Han Yue saw Sun Erniang's nonchalant expression and knew that she had already disregarded life and death.

Her painting, this painting that involved the most sordid and secret matters of the Song Dynasty's inner palace, was probably something that Western Xia also wanted. Otherwise, it would be impossible for Sun Erniang to take out such a huge sum of money as six thousand strings of gold and pearls without batting an eye. It would be impossible without someone backing her up.

But since she admitted it, it means that her Maitreya followers have now become powerful. They dare to attack and kill government soldiers, so they naturally won't take other bandit forces seriously. There are many powerful and resourceful people in the underworld, and Sun Erniang can't hide it for long. Sooner or later, people will find out that she committed such earth-shattering heroic deeds. Regardless of the motives of those in the underworld, it's unlikely anyone can touch her, and as for the government, given Sun Erniang's skill in concealing her tracks, it's probably difficult to catch her. The fact that she could survive in the capital for so long and now settle here clearly indicates that she has various perfect cover identities, which couldn't have been built up overnight. The potential of the Maitreya Sect is obviously only the tip of the iceberg.

"Junior Sister, you flatter me. I only had some questions in my mind, but now that they've been resolved, I'll take my leave. Keep the scroll safe, and we'll meet again. However, Junior Sister, please be careful. Since I can guess the clues, there are many intelligent people in the world who can guess as well. I hope Junior Sister will take good care of herself."...

Night falls, Liangdang Town.

Patrolmen carrying torches passed through the town entrance at night, while watchmen beat gongs. Apart from these, few pedestrians were on the streets. Military prefectures along the Song Dynasty's borders enforced strict curfews, and the government also implemented a system of mutual responsibility (baojia), so ordinary people stayed indoors after dark. Last month's major case in the capital had sparked widespread rumors, prompting the prefect to order increased patrols to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the situation.

As the patrols passed, two ghostly black figures appeared and disappeared at the mill's entrance.

"Second Sister, the envoys from Western Xia have arrived,"

a composed young man bowed and reported in a low voice.

Sun Erniang remained calm, waved her hand, and the young man slipped out. A moment later, two people entered with him, a man and a woman.

The woman in the lead was a blonde, blue-eyed woman from the Western Regions, dressed in a black robe, with an extraordinary air about her. Sun Erniang recognized him and smiled, clasping her hands in a fist and palm salute, saying, "Lord Ma Kui has come in person; I apologize for not being able to greet you from afar..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly saw the man behind the woman and was horrified, blurting out, "You!"

The atmosphere in the room instantly became strange and tense.

Tang Yun gathered his strength, his eyes fixed on Sun Erniang, a sinister sneer spreading across his lips: "Sun Erniang, it's truly fate that we've met from afar; I never thought I, Tang Yun, would live to see you again!"

With that, he lunged forward, reaching out to grab her.

Sun Erniang dodged to the side, and the young man behind her, like a tiger, lunged from the side, his body coiled around her, and kicked out, his toe aimed straight for Tang Yun's ribs.

Tang Yun knew the danger. He spun around to avoid the kick, simultaneously throwing a swift backhand punch straight for his opponent's ear. The young man ducked at the last second, raised his hand to block, and the two exchanged blows. A muffled thud was heard as the two powerful forces collided, and Tang Yun staggered back several steps before regaining his footing. He was surprised that his seemingly sure strike had been blocked, and that this young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes was truly strong. Tang Yun's martial arts skills were unparalleled in the First-Rank Hall; no one had ever been able to withstand his divine strength.

Yet this young man had blocked it so easily. The young man was also secretly shocked. He had practiced martial arts for over ten years and could lift a 500-pound boulder. Since he began his journey in the martial world, he had never suffered a loss with his skills. Unexpectedly, today, this Western Xia man's punch had left his arm numb. After exchanging a single blow, they knew they had encountered a formidable opponent. Tang Yun drew his dagger, and his concealed sleeve dart was ready. The young man, however, produced a large bow from somewhere and quickly drew it, aiming an arrow at Tang Yun.

"Fang La, stop!"

Sun Erniang was the first to stop the young man.

"Tang Yun, why is this?"

a cold voice rang out.

Having received his superior's order, Tang Yun had no choice but to answer, "Reporting to Ma Kui, it was this woman who caused me to leave my home and wander in this foreign land. Seeing her today, I couldn't help but be enraged and thus attacked. I know my crime, please forgive me, sir." He then

sheathed his weapon.

"What makes you say that?"

"Back then, this woman was an accomplice of the notorious bandit Su Yanfu. She used sweet words to trick me into going with them to return to Yi with Da Xia. When the matter was discovered, I was almost captured and beheaded by the Song army as one of their accomplices. I barely escaped with my life and fled to Da Xia..."

Tang Yun briefly recounted the events of that year. In fact, Yi Pin Tang already knew all about these things, and Sun Erniang didn't deny it, because Tang Yun was telling the truth.

Unexpectedly, after two years apart, Tang Yun had actually defected to Western Xia and become an important figure in Western Xia's First-Rank Hall. But then again, Tang Yun's portrait is still posted at city gates everywhere. After I escaped death from the Liao Kingdom, Su Yanfu was captured and killed by the court in Hedong, while Tang Yun's whereabouts remained unknown; it

seems he betrayed his country and defected to the enemy. It seems I really did put him in a difficult position back then, leaving him with no place to stay in the Song Dynasty.

"Commander Tang, you flatter me. Back then, you were a soldier and I was a bandit; deception and treachery were commonplace. Besides, we barely escaped with our lives after our defeat and suffered greatly. I think Commander Tang's anger should have subsided by now. If Commander Tang had remained in the Song Dynasty, he probably wouldn't be so highly regarded in Western Xia today. In my opinion, this is a blessing in disguise. Now, Lord Tang is a military officer in Western Xia, and we are serving your country. Why dwell on those old grievances?"

"Tang Yun, those past grudges are minor. Now that you are an official in our Great Xia, you should prioritize the greater good."

The woman's words were full of authority, which was only natural. Today's friend can be tomorrow's enemy; this has always been true. It's all about self-interest. The grudge between Tang Yun and Sun Erniang back then wasn't some deep-seated hatred that couldn't be resolved. If Tang Yun truly prioritized the greater good, he shouldn't dwell on these personal grievances. Of course, she left room for maneuver in her words, after all, Tang Yun was a subordinate she valued, and they had a close personal relationship.

"I will obey Ma Kui's orders!"

Tang Yun saluted and withdrew. Since his superior had spoken, he made no further move. His expression was neither cold nor warm, but the ferocious murderous intent from before was gone. Sun Erniang hadn't expected this guy to agree so readily; he was truly flexible and adaptable. She felt a chill in her heart. If such a person had designs on you, he would be the most terrifying, because he was too patient, and you never knew when he would strike.

"I came today to ask Master Sun when that batch of goods will be delivered. There are all sorts of rumors circulating in Shaanxi now; I suppose Master Sun has already succeeded?" "

I have fulfilled my mission."

Sun Erniang smiled smugly.

"The master's methods are truly divine. In that case, I wonder when the transaction will be completed?"

"When does Ma Kui hope for?"

"The sooner the better."

"This matter is not difficult, but I wonder if Ma Kui has prepared the 80,000 strings of gold and pearls?"

"Don't worry, master, it's already prepared. We're just waiting for the cash on delivery."

"However, there's one more thing."

Sun Erniang chuckled, "The painting isn't included. If Ma Kui wants it, an additional 20,000 strings will be required. I hope Ma Kui will understand; we've invested heavily and taken risks to obtain this painting. I suppose Ma Kui is a man of great ambition; he wouldn't want us to lose money, would he?"

Tang Yun watched his superior's expression from the side, inwardly sneering. When it comes to doing business, no one in the world can compare to the merchants of the Song Dynasty. Asking exorbitant prices is a basic skill of unscrupulous merchants. They don't even know this, yet they dare to haggle with others. Western Xia is not the Song Dynasty; they don't have much copper coins or gold and pearls. In the past, they received annual tributes from the Song Dynasty, which provided a small boost to Western Xia's treasury. Now that the Song Dynasty is pursuing a hardline policy and the annual tribute has long been cut off, Western Xia is facing a currency shortage. Such a large sum, if converted into copper coins, would be truly difficult

to obtain. Of course, the Liang family has been in power for decades, and the gold and silver they have amassed within their household are piled up like mountains, so they

could certainly come up with this amount of money. However, an extra 20,000 strings of cash for no apparent reason is not a small sum for Liang Yibu. But unexpectedly, his superior quickly agreed. Tang Yun was startled, thinking that Liang Yibu must have given her the power to make decisions, which also showed that Liang Yibu was eager to obtain this mysterious batch of goods.

Tang Yun hesitated, and the woman, seeing the expression on her beloved general's face, thought that Tang Yun was dissatisfied with Sun Erniang's extortion, and said in a low voice, "The important matter is paramount, just bear with it."

Tang Yun was just putting on an act anyway, since it wasn't his money being spent. As for the important matter, he disdained it even more.

Important matter... Hmph... What do you frogs in a well know? And who knows the ambitions in my heart, Tang Yun? "If it weren't for something important, why would I be here..."

Tang Yun's heart was churning with unspoken emotions, unaware that Sun Erniang opposite him was also filled with doubt.

Looking at him, for some reason, she thought of Han Yue. Both men were so handsome and charming. The difference was that Tang Yun possessed a clean, cool, resolute, and ruthless quality; while Han Yue was unrestrained and rebellious, yet somehow capable of captivating women. If these two stood together, judging from their appearance and demeanor, people would probably say they were brothers...

brothers... Hmm?

Sun Erniang suddenly remembered something. She had, coincidentally, had had fleeting encounters with both men. She clearly remembered that when they undressed and were naked together, Tang Yun wore a jade pendant, and Han Yue seemed to have one too... Yes, the two jade pendants were remarkably similar. Although she had seen Tang Yun's two years ago, Sun Erniang remembered it very clearly...

In that instant of recollection, a conclusion flashed through Sun Erniang's mind that she herself could hardly believe.

Could such a coincidence truly exist?

Those two jade pendants could very well be a pair. Indeed, a pair—one bearing the character "Yun" (cloud), the other "Yue" (moon). This couldn't possibly be a coincidence! Could these two truly be brothers? Tang Yun had mentioned years ago that he had a younger brother who was lost at a young age…

Tang Yun, Han Yue. But Han Yue himself said he was adopted and took his adoptive father's surname.

In that instant, Sun Erniang felt she had a rare find. She now held another trump card against Tang Yun. The world is full of wonders; if these two were truly brothers, their backgrounds would be incredibly legendary. One was originally a Song citizen, now a military officer in Western Xia. The other was originally a military officer in Liao, now a Song citizen. Both suffered great upheavals, forced to flee their homes and live as fugitives in foreign lands. Even their experiences were similar; it would be a pity they weren't brothers…

**************************************** (Occasionally, a dividing line) On the first day of the tenth month of the fifth year of Tianyou Min'an in the Western Xia Dynasty,

in Xingqing Prefecture, Western Xia, Liang Yibu listened to Ma Kuinü's report, his heart surging with excitement. There was excitement, fear, and hesitation within him. Had

things really come to this? Was it really time to turn against each other…?

Only now did he understand the feelings of Emperor Huizong Li Bingchang, who had been imprisoned by him and his son years ago. Any mortal who had tasted the sweetness of power would find it incredibly difficult to relinquish it. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, they would seize every opportunity to reclaim power. Li Bingchang had been like that back then, and so was he now.

The difference was that Li Bingchang was, after all, from the Wei family, surnamed Li, the nominal master of Bai Shang Kingdom, and the emperor of Great Xia. Even if he lost in the power struggle, at most he would only lose power. After all, Great Xia was still a monarchy. If they didn't want a civil war to break out within the country, no ambitious person would dare to threaten the life of the monarch. But Liang Yibu was different. If he lost the power struggle, there would be no way out for him; only death awaited him. He was aware of this. He and his father had held power for so many years, engaging in reckless military campaigns and perverse policies, incurring widespread resentment both domestically and internationally. Countless people in the court and among the populace secretly hoped for their demise.

At this time, no one could be relied upon; only his own strength, only iron and blood, could save him!

While he still held influence in the army, he had to take a gamble. Previously, the Liang family controlled the military, which was why the coup in the seventh year of the Da'an era succeeded. For years, he had clung to military power, constantly launching wars, hoping to build his prestige and achievements within the army, hoping to one day gain the support of the army like Emperor Taizu of Song and be crowned emperor.

But now his military power had been greatly weakened, and he could no longer recreate the storms of the past. This prompted him to take a risky approach, wanting to emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Emperor Taizong of Tang was not in a favorable position in the political struggles, yet he dared to fight against overwhelming odds, succeeding in the Xuanwu Gate Incident and ultimately establishing the prosperous Tang Dynasty. If Emperor Taizong could succeed, why couldn't he? What ability did that woman, Lady Liang, possess? Was his talent inferior to that of a woman?

The Song Dynasty's weaponry might not have been anything special to the Song Dynasty, which had countless skilled craftsmen, but in the eyes of the Tangut people, it could be described as "divine weapons." Those terrifyingly powerful bows and crossbows, and the immensely powerful firearms, had caused the warriors of Bai Shang Kingdom to bleed profusely in decades of war. Two years ago in Huanzhou and Hongde Village, the Song army's divine weapons routed the 100,000 elite troops of the Great Xia.

This was beyond human capability; in Liang Yibu's view, it could only be explained by supernatural power.

Now that he possessed such power, when that nightmare recurred, could the garrison troops and the six guards within the imperial perimeter still maintain their fighting spirit? Didn't even those who claimed to be the most loyal scatter that night? No matter how brave, they were still just mortals.

How could mortals contend with the power of gods and spirits?

Liang Yibu began to imagine his secretly trained assassins, equipped with Song Dynasty bows and crossbows, and aided by spies bribed by the Ban Zhi army, storming the palace with lightning speed, quickly defeating the stubborn Ban Zhi guards, taking control of the palace, killing Xiao Liangshi, and then controlling Qian Shun. Qian Shun was just a child, not a threat. Once he controlled Qian Shun, the nominal ruler of Xia, he would have a legitimate claim. With just an imperial edict, he could seize control of the six Ban Zhi and the garrison troops within the imperial perimeter. With Xiao Liangshi dead, his followers would be leaderless and unable to oppose his legitimacy.

Once he gained military control of Xingqing Prefecture, the capital would be in his grasp. And the local military supervisors would only obey orders from Xingqing Prefecture. Then, with absolute power in his hands, the country would be his!

"When will we act?"

"The date is set for the fifth day of the tenth month, near Tiandu Mountain. However, Tiandu Mountain is the defense zone of Wei Ming Amai. That old scoundrel is cunning; I'm afraid he might..."

"No problem. That little bitch used the excuse of Aligu's harassment of the border to order that old scoundrel Wei Ming Amai to lead 10,000 troops to Xiliang Prefecture to oversee the defense against the Tubo. They've been gone for several days. The Six Military Commands of Hanoi were originally under my personal command, but Wei Ming Amai's entry into Hanoi was an attempt to diminish my power. I went along with it without objection, and that bitch even thought I was afraid of her. How laughable! With him gone, Tiandu Mountain is left unguarded, making it convenient to act."

"Your Excellency is wise!"

"Good, then go and make the preparations. Paying these Song people an extra 20,000 strings of cash is not a difficult matter; I can afford it. Just make sure to send more men to escort them along the way. Remember, this is the most important matter; there must be no mistakes."

"Your subordinate obeys. This time, the entire Yipin Hall will be mobilized to ensure absolute safety."

After Ma Kuinü left, Yao Ning's figure appeared like a ghost in the shadows.

"Is Tang Yun alright?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, this servant monitored the entire journey and did not find anything amiss."

"Is that so?"

Liang Yibu always felt a little uneasy about this Han Chinese, but at this moment, he couldn't pinpoint any faults. It seemed he was indeed being overly cautious...

On the fourth day of the tenth month, at Tiandu Mountain, Xishou Baotai Military Command, Xixia.

The Yipin Hall's large contingent traveled along the mountain road. No Xia army sentry post dared to stop them, or even ask any questions. The power struggle at the top had not affected the lower-ranking officers and soldiers. Ordinary soldiers and officers had no idea about the situation in Xingqing Prefecture. Most of them didn't even know where Xingqing Prefecture was. The highest-ranking official they had ever seen in their lives was their tribal chief, and the Yipin Hall used the imperial edict from the Prime Minister's Office. To them, that meant they were high-ranking nobles, and they dared not ask any questions. Even watching them head towards Song territory, they dared not ask any questions, only watching them leave.

Being soldiers was just a matter of fulfilling their duties; no one wanted to meddle in the affairs of powerful figures they couldn't afford to offend.

Looking around, all that remained were desolate mountains and dense forests. The weather was getting colder, and light snowflakes began to fall, though small, a chill inexplicably creeping into Ma Kui Nu's heart.

"Tang Yun, is it still far?"

"Not far."

Further ahead, they would enter Song territory. Of course, being on the front lines of a long-standing war, the Song-Xia border wasn't so clearly defined; some unguarded wastelands served as tacitly agreed-upon buffer zones. Tiandu Mountain directly faced the Song Dynasty's Jingyuan Road, a frontline position. The Song army had always stationed heavily here, composed of elite troops battle-hardened. If the Song garrison discovered their movements, annihilating this force of a thousand or so men would be a piece of cake.

This was all thanks to the private merchants and bandits operating along the border. These people had countless connections with the Song Dynasty's outlaws, and it was through them that the female bandit Sun Erniang found a safe trading location on the border.

"Go another thirty li, cross that mountain gorge, and at the mountain pass there's a valley. The valley is surrounded by mountains and is very secluded. Sun Erniang will wait there."

"In that case, hurry on your way. Xu Jiao, lead a team to scout ahead."

Ma Kui Nu saw the treacherous terrain of the gorge ahead and was on high alert. This place was close to Song territory, and Song scouts often crossed the border to raid. Her large group, carrying so much gold and silver, would be ideal targets if they encountered Song troops. Most of her men were former bandits, not soldiers. Their strength lay in scaling walls, breaking into houses, and assassinating, but most were not skilled in armored combat. In a real battle, they might not be a match for the Song army.

Tomorrow is the fifth day of the lunar new year, and with the deadline fast approaching, there's no room for carelessness.

Soon, Xu Jiao returned to report that everything was fine ahead.

"Cross the mountain!"

The large contingent slowly advanced, surging into the mountain gorge. Due to the narrow and rugged road, many dismounted. These men of the First Rank Hall, whose discipline was far inferior to that of a regular army, had already failed to maintain formation while marching; now they were in complete chaos, with wagons moving slowly and shouts and neighing filling the air.

From behind some bushes on the mountainside, an old general with a white beard and hawk-like eyes, clad in iron armor, coldly watched the chaotic ranks below.

These were the "death squads" that Liang Yibu relied on—truly a rabble. Compared to the well-trained, brave, and tenacious heavy armored army of the Song Dynasty, they were an extremely fragile opponent. Liang Yibu's attempt to succeed with these rabble was a recipe for disaster.

Behind him, dozens of Western Xia officers stood solemnly, holding his command flags and arrows. Further behind, on both sides of the mountain, countless Western Xia soldiers were hidden behind dense thickets of trees and weeds.

"Fire!"

the old general spat out two cold words through gritted teeth.

Down the mountain, amidst the chaotic crowd, Ma Kuinü was furious, but being a non-military person, she was helpless in this situation. She shouted for people not to wander off while searching left and right for Tang Yun. Tang Yun had served as a military officer in the Song army; she figured he could handle this.

But searching around, she saw only a chaotic scene of people leading horses, and Tang Yun was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did that scoundrel go?"

Ma Kuinü thought angrily. Just as she was about to unleash a torrent of curses, a strange whistling sound suddenly arose overhead. Many people looked up in surprise, only to see a dark, oppressive cloud of iron raining down. Many were seeing this for the first time, their curiosity outweighing their astonishment. But Ma Kuinü was different; in that instant, she felt her heart almost stop.

A trap!

A hail of arrows, blotting out the sky, swarmed into the crowd, countless men and horses riddled with arrow shafts like hedgehogs.

Blood flowed like a river within the gorge in an instant. Ma Kui Nu was terrified. She raised a shield to shield herself from the rain of arrows, leaped off her horse, and quickly rolled behind the rocks at the foot of the mountain. Her men, meanwhile, were screaming and scattering like headless flies. Only a few, trained soldiers, remained calm and sought cover. Many rushed to retreat, only to be struck by a hail of arrows, falling to the ground amidst splattering blood.

Countless corpses, riddled with arrow shafts, lay piled upon each other. The rain of arrows never ceased; tens of thousands of arrows poured down on the small gorge, covering every inch of land.

This was not an attack by bandits, but by a well-trained army, and a large, elite one at that, capable of creating such a rain of arrows. Could it be the Song army? Impossible. If such a large Song army were near Tiandu Mountain, the Xia army would have noticed. Could it be… the Western Xia army? Wei Ming A Mai?

Ma Kui suddenly remembered Liang Yibu's mention of the 10,000-strong army led by Wei Ming Amai! Those 10,000 elite soldiers who had gone to Xiliang Prefecture, those elite soldiers who had been in the desert for several days and out of their sight for several days.

But with so many spies from Yipintang, it was impossible for such a massive army of 10,000 to return undetected.

What was going on?

At this moment, she was convinced that the army ambushing them was almost certainly the 10,000 elite soldiers led by Wei Ming Amai. She just didn't know when they had circled back, but where could such a large army be hidden that it could have remained undetected by Yipintang's intelligence network? Suddenly, she remembered the intelligence from a few days ago—the Southern Dynasty monk skilled at finding water?

Xihan Well Canyon? Everything suddenly connected. They had been planning this conspiracy for so long!

This army ambushing them must be secretly hidden in Xihan Well Canyon.

Someone on their side must have leaked the information! The enemy had struck first! Ma Kuinü looked around blankly. Her men were either dead or had fled; the scene before her was like a living hell. Where was Tang Yun? Was Tang Yun dead too? She hadn't seen him since. Only the two of them knew this route. Could it be…

could it be… he was the real spy?

At that moment, Xia soldiers emerged from the mountains, cautiously approaching from the bottom, shields raised. Every man still struggling was struck down and beheaded. Everyone threw down their weapons and shouted surrender. Ma Kuinü knew her final moment had arrived. She gripped her short sword tightly, staring at the old general surrounded by the crowd, and the word "Renduo" on the banner behind him.

Renduo Baozhong? Not Weiming Amai? So Weiming Amai really went to Xiliang Prefecture to take over the territory? The Prime Minister personally led the Left Wing; since they dared to do this, they were essentially treating the Prime Minister as a dead man. Had something happened to the Prime Minister?

Xingqing Prefecture? Has something happened in Xingqing Prefecture?

The old general noticed her too. Ma Kui Nu threw her short sword, a flash of cold light in the air. A personal guard beside the old general drew his sword, a swift, sharp blade striking directly at her. The short sword flew into the air amidst the crisp clang of metal.

The old general slowly raised his hand, hundreds of bows were drawn and aimed at her, the arrowheads gleaming with a chilling light.

A hail of arrows shot out, and then all fell silent…

October 5th, Western Xia, Xingqing Prefecture Palace.

This winter was particularly cold; by October, light snow had already begun to fall. In the left wing camp of the Six Guards within the Imperial Enclosure, Left Chariot Army General Guang Ning Chan was distributing winter clothing. The Guang Ning clan was not a large tribe among the Dangxiang tribes, and the position of Chariot Army General was already a high-ranking military officer in the Western Xia army. To reach this rank was enough to show that his talent was recognized by the court.

After early morning roll call, Commander Meile Dubu left the camp for the Prime Minister's residence, saying the Prime Minister summoned him to discuss matters. He was left in the camp to handle daily affairs. Cha Jun was the general's deputy; with the Grand Commander absent, the camp was his

domain. After dealing with the winter clothing, he dismissed everyone and went to his own camp. Three trusted generals—Left Attendant Ling Jin Jie Wu, Tent General Xi Mu Qu, and Supervisor Ye Li Zhu Xiong—were waiting inside. Such secret meetings between officers were a capital offense under military law. Grand Commander Meile was extremely strict in his discipline, never lenient with his subordinates' mistakes. Normally, no one in the camp would dare to violate such a rule, but these three clearly hadn't done it before, as their expressions remained unchanged.

"Generals, the Empress Dowager's secret decree has been issued. Now, go and gather your troops. Today's actions are carried out on the Empress Dowager's orders. Success will surely bring rewards and riches."

"General, should we send someone to inform the old general before we go..."

Yeli Zhuxiong clasped his hands in salute. Although short in stature, he was a battle-hardened general, renowned in the Western Xia army for his martial prowess. Although his surname was Yeli, he belonged to a remote and unrelated branch of the Yeli clan, having no connection to the current clan leader. He had earned his place in the Imperial Guard through his own military achievements, not through privileged family background. The other two generals were also seasoned veterans, and they seemed somewhat hesitant.

"General Mei Le has not returned from the summons of the Chancellor. Furthermore, this matter was a secret imperial edict conveyed to me by the General. Do you generals not trust me and think I am forging an imperial decree?"

Guang Ningchan's face darkened, his eyes instantly filled with murderous intent. He gripped the hilt of his sword, and the guards outside the tent, swords drawn and bows at the ready, approached the door. It seemed he would order the execution of these three men on the spot if they disagreed.

These three were all seasoned veterans, and Guang Ningchan was their superior. The Six Guards of the Imperial Enclosure were the personal guards of the Xia Emperor, known for their strict discipline and rigid hierarchy. Disobeying a superior's orders was a capital offense, especially a "secret edict from the Empress Dowager." Although they had their doubts, they dared not disobey their commander's orders. Mei Le was not in the camp, so Guang Ningchan was in charge. Military orders were absolute; who dared to disobey!

"This humble general dares not! This humble general will obey the orders of the Imperial Guard!"

The three men immediately bowed in obeisance. Guangning Chan smiled with satisfaction. Then, each of them issued orders for their troops to assemble. Horns sounded frequently throughout the camp, and soon three groups of men, numbering over four hundred, had gathered in the east wing camp. The other camps, though unaware of what was happening, dared not move without orders from their superiors, merely watching the passing troops with suspicion. Some seasoned veterans who had experienced the coup of the seventh year of the Da'an reign were filled with doubt and secretly instructed their subordinates to prepare their weapons. Back then, the six guards within the imperial garrison had been just as tense, with large numbers of armored troops marching without orders—exactly the same situation as today. Could it be that the court was about to change hands?

Guangning Chan led his troops out of the main gate, heading straight for the west wing camp. However, upon arriving at the west wing camp gate, he found it wide open. Seeing this, he immediately led his men through the gate and seized control of it. The guards at the gate roared angrily, lashing him across the face with their whips. They shouted that they had received an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager, brandishing yellow silk, and immediately knelt before the horse.

"By order of the Emperor, Magu Lulong is plotting rebellion; he is to be immediately dismissed and arrested."

This announcement caused an uproar among the crowd. Magu Lulong was the deputy general of the Western Wing Camp, a decorated general entrusted with important responsibilities by Meile Dubu. His punishment was completely unexpected. Moreover, the six guards within the imperial perimeter had always been under Meile Dubu's command; the old general was not present in the face of such an unusual event, raising many suspicions. However, with the imperial edict in hand, no one dared disobey Guang Ningchan.

"How dare you, Guang Ningchan! You dare to falsely convey an imperial edict! Do you not value your life?"

Just as the crowd was in a state of panic, a shout rang out, and a general in full armor led his troops in—it was Magu Lulong. He too held an imperial edict in his hands.

"By imperial decree! A traitor has caused chaos. Magululong is hereby ordered to temporarily assume the command of the Six Guards within the Imperial Enclosure, leading troops to protect the safety of the Imperial Palace and the residences of the ministers. Guangning Chan, how dare you falsely convey the imperial decree!"

Guangning Chan was furious. His decree was personally delivered to him by Mele Dubu; how could it be false? He pointed his halberd and shouted, "How dare you! You are the one who falsely conveys the imperial decree! You traitor, are you plotting a rebellion? Soldiers, Magululong has falsely conveyed the imperial decree; his crime deserves the extermination of his entire clan. Do not be misled by him, lest you implicate your families. Today, we will only arrest Magululong; it has nothing to do with anyone else..."

Before he could finish speaking, Magululong, also holding a "imperial decree," was desperately urging his soldiers to obey his orders, while loudly proclaiming that anyone who captured Guangning Chan would be richly rewarded. Although most of the people around did not know whose orders to follow, several men behind Magululong had already drawn their bows and arrows.

"Rebellion! Rebellion!"

Guangning Chan roared in fury. These murderers had truly lost their minds, daring to defy imperial orders and arrest people in broad daylight. He waved his hand: "All soldiers, seize these traitors! Yeli Zhuxiong and Magu Lulong have rebelled; execute them on the spot!"

At his command, neither side hesitated. A hail of arrows rained down, striking each other repeatedly. Several men on each side were hit, while the rest shielded themselves with their shields. A chaotic melee erupted, with arrows flying in all directions like locusts. Many bystanders were wounded, and others retreated, some even caught in the crossfire. The western camp descended into chaos.

Guangning Chan, protected by shields, retreated to the rear amidst the arrows. Those in front were now engaged in close combat, blood and flesh flying everywhere. The Six Guards of the Imperial Enclosure, true to their reputation as the elite of Western Xia, fought with extreme bravery. The soldiers charged forward, swords and spears in hand, fighting fiercely. Arms and legs were severed, blood splattered everywhere, intestines spilling out, yet they still brandished their weapons and slashed wildly.

"You traitors, you've truly rebelled!"

Once the initial shock subsided, Guangning Chan immediately regained his fierce nature. At this moment, he wasn't sure how many people had followed Magu Lulong in his rebellion, but seeing so many people around, he couldn't distinguish friend from foe. He had only brought a little over four hundred men, while the western camp had a total strength of two thousand five hundred. If even half of them rose up in rebellion, the situation would be beyond his control.

"Quickly, quickly return to the eastern camp to gather troops! Quickly send someone to report to the old general!"

Guangning Chan roared in exasperation.

His words had barely left his lips when he heard horns sounding behind him. A dark mass of troops had already surrounded the western camp, led by Mele Dubu, and behind him were the guards of the eastern camp, and even the garrison troops of Xingqing Prefecture.

Wasn't this old man supposed to be at the Prime Minister's residence? What? In an instant, Guangning Chan realized that he had been used as a scapegoat. This old man was unwilling to take the risk himself and instead sent him to lead the charge! Without a doubt, this Magu Lulong was a henchman of the Prime Minister. Mei Ledu Bu was unsure how many soldiers in the Ban Zhi had been bribed by Liang Yibu, so he used him as bait to lure them out! He cursed the old man's ruthlessness in his heart. He had been favored by Empress Dowager Liang and had risen too quickly in the Ban Zhi army, which must have threatened the old man's position. Was he trying to use someone else to kill him?

Thinking of this, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Turning his head, he saw that Meiledubu's eyes were filled with murderous intent. He was about to shout when Meiledubu, holding the imperial edict, preemptively gave the order: "Guangning Chan and Magu Lulong have rebelled. By order of the Empress Dowager, we shall quell the rebellion. Fire arrows!"

In an instant, thousands of arrows were unleashed. Guangning Chan was terrified, but before he could even utter a cry of "injustice," he was riddled with arrows like a hedgehog. Before he breathed his last, the last thing he saw was the ferocious smile on Meiledubu's face...

Meiledubu was the old commander of the Six Guards within the Imperial Enclosure, and his prestige was well-established. With him personally leading the army and holding the imperial edict, who would dare disobey? After shooting down more than a hundred people, the remaining soldiers all threw down their weapons and knelt down, shouting that they were willing to follow the old general to quell the rebellion. Sa Chen watched coldly from the sidelines, inwardly sighing at Meile Dubu's ruthlessness. However, such things were commonplace in Western Xia; anyone who wanted to rise had to climb over others. Sa Chen's current position was also the result of stepping on countless people.

This was the survival rule of Western Xia. Just like today, Liang Yibu's doom was approaching, and he was destined to become a stepping stone on Sa Chen's road to success...

The Prime Minister's Residence.

At this moment, the area around the Prime Minister's Residence was already packed with people. All the streets and alleys were crowded with Western Xia soldiers in full armor, and countless bows were drawn, aimed at this second largest building complex in Xingqing Prefecture. Empress Dowager Liang, accompanied by Emperor Qian Shun of Xia, personally arrived and issued an imperial edict, listing Liang Yibu's crimes of rebellion and treason. Finally, she announced that whoever brought Liang Yibu's head would be rewarded with ten thousand strings of cash, granted a marquisate, and appointed as a general.

On the tallest building in the manor, the Qilin Pavilion, Liang Yibu stood, his face deathly pale, seemingly oblivious to the shouts of battle emanating from outside the walls. His household guards and elite soldiers were desperately resisting the government troops charging in. Arrows rained down over the walls, and the ground was littered with the blood of those killed by stray arrows, forming small, foul-smelling rivers.

Utter defeat, utter defeat…

these were the only words echoing in his mind.

From the moment he saw Tang Yun, he knew things were dire. Seeing Tang Yun's blood-soaked, disheveled state, and hearing the devastating news of the entire First-Rank Hall's ambush and annihilation, his mind went blank, as if struck by lightning. He had

planned everything, but he hadn't anticipated the enemy striking first.

He no longer had the mind to consider why his side had failed; the enemy's knowledge of his plans meant there must be spies among them. But with the deafening battle cries outside, who had the time to think about such things? He had already lost; even if he understood, what difference would it make? He had already lost.

"Prime Minister, let's break through!"

Tang Yun wiped the blood from his face and urged urgently. "Where there's life, there's hope!" "

Break through? Where to?"

Liang Yibu hadn't recovered from this huge blow and muttered to himself blankly.

"The world is vast, there's nowhere you can't go!"

Yao Ning appeared out of nowhere. "Prime Minister, you are the most honorable person in the country. Where in the world can't you go? You know Xia's strengths and weaknesses well. Whether you flee to Liao or go to Song, if any country has designs on Xia, they will value you. Even if we don't use your strategy, as the Prime Minister, you will be treated with respect if you come to surrender. At the very least, you'll become a wealthy man!"

These words jolted Liang Yibu awake. He drew his sword and shouted, "Good! Break through!"

But looking around, he saw only a dense sea of soldiers. Liang Yibu, having commanded troops for a few days, immediately recognized the overwhelming disparity in strength. Fighting them head-on with the forces of his own residence would be suicide; breaking through was no easy feat.

"Prime Minister, the tunnel! The tunnel!"

Yao Ning reminded him from behind. The tunnel within the Prime Minister's residence had always been a secret, and Liang Yibu had almost forgotten about it in his haste. Now, suddenly realizing his mistake, he felt he had grasped a lifeline and turned to run downstairs.

Behind him, Tang Yun and Yao Ning exchanged a glance and followed with a dozen or so of the Prime Minister's personal guards…

Outside the residence, Mei Le Du Bu and Sa Chen were overseeing the battle with their swords drawn. Waves of Xia soldiers, shields raised, desperately charged towards the wall. The retainers of the Prime Minister's mansion atop the wall knew they would surely die if the enemy breached the wall, and with no escape route, they could only fight to the death. Arrows rained down, and soldiers from both sides fell in droves. But the Xia army, seeing victory in sight, surged with morale. Countless long ladders were erected atop the wall, and men carried heavy logs, shields raised, to ram the wall, causing it to sway violently.

The leader of the Prime Minister's retainers, Sagunai, was a burly man wielding a blood-stained axe, having already killed five Xia soldiers who scaled the wall. He had originally been a bandit, captured by the Xia army's raiding forces and presented as a slave to Liang Yibu. Liang Yibu, impressed by his strength, had freed him from slavery. Therefore, he was extremely loyal to Liang Yibu, shouting orders to urge on the battle.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the wall, followed by a hail of stones sweeping across the area. Several of the guards on the wall were smashed, their heads bleeding, and they fell to the ground. Sagu hurriedly climbed the corner tower, only to see a pair of camels standing in the distance, their backs drawn by massive cartwheels.

"The Po Xi Army!"

Sagu exclaimed in alarm. The Po Xi Army was the only professional assault force within the Xia army. While largely ineffective against Song dynasty cities, they were quite effective against Song field camps and infantry formations. The walls of the Prime Minister's residence were not Song dynasty city walls; they wouldn't withstand many blows from the Po Xi Army's whirlwind attack.

He roared, ordering his men to advance, but the guards all looked fearful. In that moment of hesitation, rows of Xia soldiers scaled the wall and leaped into the courtyard, shouting. (

Chapter 12, March 21

) Sagu roared, swung his axe, and jumped from the tower. With a single swing of his axe, Sagu smashed the side banner of a military officer, breaking his arm and causing him to cry out in pain. Sagu retaliated with a backhand swipe of his axe, striking him squarely in the chest. The officer's body flew through the air, knocking down another soldier. Sagu roared, "Drive them out, or we'll all die!"

Seeing their leader's ferocity, the retainers regained their courage, grabbing their swords and spears and returning to engage the Xia army in a fierce melee. Hundreds of men from both sides clashed in the small courtyard, a bloody battle raging. Broken swords and spears flew everywhere, heads rolled, and severed limbs were trampled underfoot—the hand-to-hand combat was chaotic and terrifying.

Sagu was surrounded by five or six Xia soldiers, a spear wound to his thigh from which blood gushed. But he seemed oblivious to the pain, roaring as he swung his axe like a whirlwind, smashing another soldier to death with a backhand. At this moment, Xia soldiers continued to scale the wall in droves. He panicked, turning to look for his archers, but found none. "These bastards!" he cursed, about to launch another fierce attack. Suddenly, a loud crash followed, then a cloud of dust. More than ten feet of the courtyard wall had been smashed down from the outside, burying everyone underneath. Then, a large contingent of government troops stumbled and swarmed in through the smoke, instantly overwhelming the resisting crowd.

It was over! Seeing that all was lost, the Prime Minister's retainers finally lost their will to resist, letting out a shout before fleeing in all directions. Sagu's eyes were wide open in fury, trembling, several arrows embedded in his body. Several spears were stuck in his stomach, blood gushing out like a fountain, a section of intestines spilling out. A military officer leaped over and swung his sword, sending the bloodied head flying high into the air. The officer picked up the head, tied it to his waist, and shouted as he joined the attacking tide rushing into the inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence.

Outside, Mei Le Du Bu and Sa Chen exchanged a glance, as if by unspoken agreement, and whispered, "The situation is settled."

In the mountains outside Xingqing Prefecture, near a dry well, Liang Yi Bu and his men, who had narrowly escaped death, were climbing out. This tunnel entrance had clearly been meticulously designed, cleverly concealed. Surrounded by no signs of human presence, it was an ideal hiding place. It was already dark, but the commotion within Xingqing Prefecture could still be faintly heard. They had probably discovered the body of the imposter Liang Yi Bu who had self-immolated, and were likely celebrating their victory.

Just wait and see, you bastards, one day, I, Liang Yi Bu, will rise again.

"Let's go, to Liao."

Liang Yi Bu knew his enmity with the Song Dynasty ran too deep, so he decided to flee to Liao. He marched north from the Blackwater Yan Garrison deep in the desert into the Liao capital. The commander of the Blackwater Yan Garrison was someone he had personally promoted; he could trust him. If he could persuade him to join him in raising an army, that would be even better.

Just as he was thinking about how to get some horses, he heard a scream beside him.

He turned around in shock and saw Tang Yun's dagger slash across the neck of one of his followers, a spurt of blood shooting into the air.

"You!"

Liang Yibu was both shocked and furious. He watched as Tang Yun moved like the wind, dodging another follower's knife, grabbing his neck and twisting it, snapping it in two. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he pierced the throat of another man.

"You're going to rebel!"

Liang Yibu drew his sword, glaring at Tang Yun.

"The Prime Minister's head can bring me wealth and glory; how could I give it to someone else?"

Tang Yun chuckled, but his eyes were like a snake eyeing a frog, sending chills down one's spine.

"You scoundrel! You despicable wretch! I will tear you to pieces!"

Liang Yibu cursed furiously. His close followers, who had no bows or arrows, drew their swords to protect him.

"Is that so? But I wonder who the real culprit is."

Before Tang Yun finished speaking, Yao Ning's figure flickered like a ghost, her hands flashing out simultaneously, two crossbows shooting from behind at the two men. Then, a short sword flashed across one man's neck, his head flying through the air, blood dripping from it. Tang Yun then leaped up, two more hidden arrows piercing the chests of the two men. Liang Yibu's followers were utterly powerless against the combined attack of these two, slaughtered in an instant like cutting melons and vegetables, not even one managing to escape.

Moments later, besides the corpses strewn across the ground, only three remained standing.

"You! You bastard! Even you betrayed me!"

Compared to Tang Yun's betrayal, what Liang Yibu found even more unbearable was that Yao Ning had also betrayed him. This woman, whom he had raised since childhood, had always regarded as his personal mistress and spy, absolutely loyal to him. Unexpectedly, she betrayed him at this crucial moment.

"This servant has never been loyal to the Prime Minister, so how can there be any talk of betrayal?"

Yao Ning sighed softly, her figure moving like the wind, her short sword plunging into Liang Yibu's abdomen.

Liang Yibu's eyes widened, his body instantly stiffening, followed by excruciating pain that made him gasp for breath.

"The Prime Minister must want to know why he died, right?"

"It's...it's all because of you...greedy for wealth and power...you won't have a good end either..."

Liang Yibu clutched his stomach, blood gushing from between his fingers.

"No, the Prime Minister should die knowing the truth before he dies..."

Yao Ning said gently, her lips close to his ear. Liang Yibu's body trembled violently, looking at Tang Yun with a strange expression of disbelief mixed with pain.

"You...you are...his son..."

His body trembled as he staggered backward, finally leaning against a poplar tree. Looking at Tang Yun, he actually laughed, while simultaneously vomiting blood violently. The pain from his wounds made it difficult for him to breathe.

"I never thought... this would be my retribution. I didn't eliminate you completely back then... leaving you, this traitor... and now you've come to harm me..."

He seemed to have a final burst of energy before death, craning his neck to ask, "You... are you avenging your family... or are you truly loyal to that vile woman..."

Tang Yun didn't answer, but his expression said it all.

"Fine... hahaha... that vile woman's reliance on you... is a death wish. You can take my head and claim credit, and I'll wait in the underworld to see what fate awaits that vile woman..."

He coughed up blood and died...

In the first year of the Song Shaosheng era, the fifth year of the Western Xia Tianyou Min'an era, in the tenth month of winter, Western Xia experienced its fifth coup since its founding.

The Liang family, which had effectively controlled the Xia state for over twenty years, erupted into internal strife, with the Xiao Liang family emerging as the final victor. Meanwhile, Renduo Baozhong, Meile Dubu, Sachen, and others led their troops to massacre the entire family of Chancellor Liang Yibu. Liang Yibu died while fleeing, and his head was delivered to Empress Dowager Liang's desk. Wei Ming Amai, who had just arrived in Xiliang Prefecture with his army, was in charge of the Right Wing Army to defend against Tibet and Khotan. Upon hearing of Liang Yibu's death, he naturally assumed control of the Right Wing Army, and Liang Yibu's power collapsed almost instantly. At

this time, the Xia ruler, Li Qianshun, was only eleven years old, and all state affairs were still in the hands of his mother, Empress Dowager Liang. After eliminating Liang Yibu, the biggest obstacle to her power, Empress Dowager Liang finally achieved her goal of standing at the pinnacle of power in the country, becoming the most powerful woman on the continent.

Because the scope of this coup in Western Xia was limited, it was irrelevant to the Liao Kingdom whether the ruler of Western Xia was male or female. Western Xia's policy of submission to Liao would not change, and Liao now had its own major problems to solve.

The rebellion on the Shangjing Road grasslands was escalating rapidly. After defeating Yelü Aru, the Mogus rebels once again routed the newly appointed Northwest Route Commander, Yelü Dabuye, whose army was primarily composed of Khitan cavalry. Yelü Dabuye, a renowned Liao general, was highly respected and commanded by his troops; his death on the battlefield shocked the frontier. More and more

Zubu tribes rose up against the Liao, and the Liao army, unusually, suffered repeated defeats. Each defeat weakened the prestige of the Khitan as the dominant power on the grasslands, encouraging more people unwilling to be oppressed by the Khitan to rebel.

Although the Liao army's elite troops were, as usual, mostly stationed on the Xijing Road, Nanjing Road, and Zhongjing Road to guard against their most powerful and dangerous adversary: the Southern Dynasty, rebellions by barbarians were commonplace, and the Liao army had never struggled so much to suppress them before. After all, the Liao Dynasty's iron cavalry, hailed as the strongest in the world, possessed an elite force far superior to the barbarian tribes of Tokyo and Shangjing. According to defeated Liao soldiers, the barbarian rebels included many elite troops equipped with exceptionally superior weaponry, even surpassing the regular Khitan palace guards. Without this advantage in weaponry, the Liao army was essentially evenly matched with the rebels, as the Khitans were not the most numerous among the various nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall.

Currently, Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture is under martial law, and the Liao army can only operate in the areas of the Ugulu River, Xuelingge River, and Tuwula River basins, where the Northwest Pacification Commission is located. The Wugu Dilie Commandery near Wugu Mountain and Luyu River, the Heichezi Shiwei, and the Menggu tribes near Hannan River are relatively close to Linhuang Prefecture, and most remain subservient to the Liao, so there are no signs of instability for the time being. However, if the Khitans continue to suffer defeats, the situation will be difficult to predict.

Meanwhile, the large tribes of Zubu Wuguzha, Dalidi, and Bosimu launched a joint attack on the Daotaling Jiedushi Commandery, and the Changxiadi tribe plundered the Xilu Qunmu Commandery. Two-thirds of the entire Shangjing Road region was no longer under Liao control. Emperor Yelü Hongji of Liao was still hunting and traveling, but he had already issued an edict to gather elite troops from various routes to quell the rebellion in Shangjing Road. He appointed Yelü Zhengjianu, the renowned Liao general and Nanjing garrison commander, as the third Northwest Route Commander-in-Chief, and appointed Zuo Yilibi Yelü Tuduo and Weichang Duguan Saba as Northwest Route Military Supervisors, and Xiao Xiuge as the Commander of the Wugudilie Army. He was determined to gather elite troops from all sides to suppress the rebellion.

At the same time, the Liao Dynasty showed great concern for the presence of well-equipped soldiers within the rebel army. In the world today, no military strategist could rival the Song Dynasty in skill and expertise. Although the Liao and Western Xia also possessed large quantities of iron armor of comparable quality to the Song army, only the elite troops wore it; the vast majority of auxiliary troops, such as household guards, were unarmored. Not to mention the Qiang and Zubu tribes, considered barbarians by the Western Xia and Khitan.

The armor worn by ordinary soldiers of the Song imperial guards would be something only nobles and chieftains in the Liao's Shangjing Road possessed, and would likely be passed down as family heirlooms. Even the armor of Song soldiers was far superior to that of some barbarian generals.

Therefore, this superior armor couldn't have fallen from the sky; its origin was either Song or Xia.

For Liao, it was simply a matter of choosing one over the other, the key being which would be more advantageous. The current Liao emperor, Yelü Hongji, was notoriously tyrannical, frequently using large armies to extort neighboring countries. That's how it is among the nomadic peoples beyond the Great Wall; whoever is powerful is considered right. Despite the current internal strife in Liao, this behemoth has steadily oppressed its surrounding nations for over a century, and even a slight turn of its head casts a shadow that still makes its neighbors tremble with fear.

In the current situation, the Liao Dynasty is more inclined to believe that the Song Dynasty is behind it all. Although there is the Treaty of Shanyuan between the Song and Liao, the Liao Dynasty has always believed that the Song Dynasty has not given up on Nanjing Road, and that any alliance is backed by strength. The Song Dynasty has never missed an opportunity to weaken the Liao Dynasty, just as the Liao Dynasty has never taken any alliance seriously.

During the Qingli era, taking advantage of the Song army's defeat at the hands of the Western Xia, the Liao Dynasty stirred up trouble, heavily invading the border and forcibly demanding ten counties south of the pass, completely disregarding the Treaty of Shanyuan, forcing the Song Dynasty to increase its annual tribute. In the seventh year of the Xining era, taking advantage of a severe drought in the north of the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty sent troops to forcibly demand the Huangwei Mountain area in Hedong. Emperor Shenzong of Song had no choice but to cede seven hundred li of land east and west of Huangwei Mountain. The Song Dynasty regarded this as a great humiliation and had been looking for ways to retaliate. Now, the rebellion in Shangjing Road, could it be that these Song people have given them an opportunity for revenge?

Although there is no evidence, Liao envoys have already gone south. The Liao Dynasty is accustomed to being arrogant and unreasonable; evidence is not important. Back then, they forced the Song Dynasty to cede territory without even seeking evidence, and ultimately got what they wanted.

For the Song court, with the New Party in power and a hardline policy towards the surrounding barbarians, it didn't matter who the ruler of Western Xia was; their hostile attitude would never change, especially since they were both surnamed Liang. The Liang family had ruled for decades, and the accumulated resentment couldn't simply vanish with the execution of Liang Yibu. With Empress Dowager Liang in power, in a militaristic state like Western Xia, the only way to consolidate rule was through war to divert domestic conflicts.

It's conceivable that now that internal strife has been resolved, the brief period of peace on the Song-Xia border is over, and continuous warfare will follow.

The New Party is currently busy politically purging the Old Party and doesn't have the energy for external expansion. Western Xia is also prepared for renewed war, but currently lacks the strength and will to attack.

Zhang Dun, a man of military expertise, understood the lessons of the Yuanfeng Western Expedition and realized that the Song Dynasty was incapable of conquering Hexi in one fell swoop. The current policy was a gradual, piecemeal encroachment along the border. Although Zhang Jie had been demoted to Guangzhou, his strategy of "building fortifications and launching shallow attacks" was appreciated by Zhang Dun. The troops in Shaanxi were constructing fortifications on a large scale, gradually encroaching on the Hengshan region.

As for accusations against the Liao Dynasty, the Song Dynasty had no interest in them. The Song court and its officials were only gloating over the Liao's internal strife. Although they didn't know who was secretly aiding the Liao rebels, they hoped the Liao's internal chaos would be as great as possible. The court shared this assessment: it was either the Western Xia or a border general within the Song's border regions secretly stirring up trouble in the Liao. The most likely culprits were the border officials in Hedong Road; if the Liao found a weakness, another major upheaval was inevitable.

Although the Liao Dynasty no longer possessed the strength to launch a massive attack with 100,000 troops during the Xining era, the Song Dynasty also lacked the power to openly confront the Liao. Therefore, while coldly dealing with the Liao envoy, he ordered the garrison in Hebei Road to be on guard, and secretly dispatched the eunuch Liang Congzheng to Hedong Road to investigate the matter.

The common people were abuzz with speculation about this news, treating it as mere gossip. They considered the Western barbarians to be ignorant of manners and shame, and that infighting was commonplace for them. Liang Yibu was no better; he had repeatedly instigated border wars, his hands stained with the blood of the Song people. His death in this internal strife was seen as retribution, and the people rejoiced, hoping the enemy state would descend into chaos, ideally ending in a dogfight that would bring them to their own demise.

Han Yue learned of this news while in Xianzhou, Hedong.

The Hedong Circuit of the Great Song Dynasty was established by Emperor Taizong after conquering the Northern Han, using the former territory of the Northern Han. Compared to Shaanxi and Hebei, Hedong Circuit was a unique region, bordering both Liao and Xia. Every time the Song Dynasty waged war in the north, Hedong Circuit was inevitably involved. Therefore, its people were known for their fierce and warlike nature. Han Yue had traveled here after leaving Shaanxi.

He Yue hadn't yet decided what his next move would be. He knew he couldn't return to Bianjing, and his brief connection with the Maitreya Sect had come to an end. He didn't care what Sun Erniang and the Western Xia were planning; he had the money, and the rest was none of his concern. Having spent two years in the Song Dynasty, he still couldn't feel a sense of belonging, always feeling like a mere passerby in this country.

He had considered going to Jiangnan, but the Song Dynasty's territory was too vast, and he didn't recognize the mountains and roads. Moreover, the further south he went, the hotter and more humid the climate became, along with the relentless, moldy rain, which was unbearable for a typical northerner raised in the harsh winds of the north. He'd heard that Jiangnan was even more humid and hot; living in such a place, Han Yue felt, was truly unbearable.

So, subconsciously, he only wanted to go north. Although he had witnessed the splendor and prosperity of the Southern Dynasties, deep down, he still considered the Northern Liao Dynasty his homeland, so he subconsciously wanted to be closer to his homeland.

Xianzhou, belonging to Hedong Bingfa Circuit, was probably the smallest prefecture in the Song Dynasty, governing only Jingle County, located on the banks of the Fen River. The county seat itself was also the prefectural capital; a prefecture consisted of only one city. Located in the Kelan Mountains, the area was mostly mountainous and the land was barren. Further north along the Kelan Mountains, Shanxi was Kelan Army, and Shandong was Ninghua Army, directly opposite Wuzhou of the Liao Dynasty's Xijing Circuit.

By this time, Han Yue had already shed his Taoist robes, dressed as an ordinary merchant, hired ten porters and four large carts loaded with bamboo utensils, silk, and tea, and joined a caravan of dozens of vehicles traveling north. He absolutely could not wear the Taoist robes again; heaven knew how many people were looking for him.

Official documents were not difficult to obtain; as the saying goes, money makes the world go round, and as long as you were willing to invest, nothing was impossible.

He had recently met a young private merchant named Song Jiang in Taiyuan City. Despite his young age, Song Jiang was an extraordinary figure, skilled in martial arts, quick-witted, decisive, and incredibly audacious, a seasoned traveler on the northern trade routes. Back when Han Yue was a stable boy in Xijing Road, he had encountered similar Southern Dynasty private merchants, smuggling, trafficking, murder, and robbery across borders—ruthless figures who lived on the edge of death. Song Jiang was a typical example of this type; though called a private merchant, he was essentially a bandit, with countless lives on his hands, and his favorite saying was, "Fortune favors the bold."

After Han Yue's chance encounter with Song Jiang, both being members of the outlaw world, Song Jiang developed a mutual respect for him and treated him very well. This fellow had some connections in the Taiyuan City government and helped Han Yue obtain legal status for 100 strings of cash. However, this merchant status was truly unavoidable; Han Yue knew nothing about business. He only knew how to spend money and rob, but had never learned how to make money.

Seeing that Han Yue actually had money, Song Jiang suggested he join his private caravan. This man claimed to have years of experience traveling the Xijing Road trade route, and he had already smoothed things over with all the powerful figures along the way, guaranteeing unimpeded passage. They smuggled silk, tea bricks, bamboo wares, and other goods to the Liao Kingdom, trading them for cattle, sheep, horses, and camels. He had already found buyers, a sure-fire way to make money. The Liao barbarian tribes were particularly fond of Southern Dynasty artifacts, and with the Xijing Road in chaos and many trade routes disrupted, demand far exceeded supply—a perfect opportunity to seek fortune amidst danger.

Encouraged by Song Jiang, and with Han Yue himself subconsciously wanting to return to the Liao Kingdom—after all, it was his homeland—and feeling he should seriously consider his future, he finally agreed to join. It was indeed a viable option; besides fighting, he knew nothing about farming, so this was probably the only thing he could do, and it was a quick way to make money. Having lived in Xijing Road for so many years, he knew those barbarian tribes inside and out. He knew that these barbarians were basically swindlers who were happy to be cheated in business. He shouldn't lose money doing business with such opponents.

Then came the purchase of goods, which showed him the skill of true businessmen. The cunning of the Southern Dynasty merchants was far beyond his reach. He felt like he had lost almost half of his several thousand strings of cash without much trouble, and this was only because of Song Jiang's help.

Now, this group set off, heading towards the northern border. They were surrounded by fierce and ruthless figures, with bandits hidden in the carts—it seemed there were more bandits than merchants. Song Jiang clearly held a high position in the group, greeting everyone. It was said that all the cart drivers and porters here depended on him for their livelihood, and some small caravans also followed his orders. He was one of the leading figures among the caravans in the entire Hedong Road. This made Han Yue look at him with new respect; he hadn't expected such a young man, younger than himself, to possess such extraordinary abilities.

As for the route, it was to exit through Fengzhou and enter Ningbian Prefecture of the Liao Kingdom.

Han Yue had long heard of Fengzhou, a place adjacent to Fuzhou, the territory of the famous Zhe family generals of Linfu. Located at the junction of the Song, Liao, and Xia kingdoms, it was a place where Han and non-Han peoples lived together, known as a difficult-to-govern, truly a no-man's-land. Song Jiang's choice of this place proved that he was indeed experienced. However, after passing Xianzhou, it was actually already the territory controlled by the Zhe family. Even now, Han Yue sometimes dreamed of He Guan, the patrol officer of the Volcano Army, whose deadly archery skills sometimes woke him up from nightmares, and the scar on his head would still ache faintly.

He wondered what official position that hero was now. The Volcano Army was also part of the Zhe family's territory. With that man's abilities, he was probably not still a lowly patrol officer. He wondered if he was a military officer of the Zhe family, and whether he would see him this time.

When they arrived at the west gate of Xianzhou, the caravan passed through the city without entering, but rested their horses in a small village five miles outside the city. As dusk approached, Song Jiang and his men arranged for their caravan to camp. The local villagers were clearly used to these private merchants, as they mostly ran inns and taverns. They would invite familiar merchants into their establishments to rest. The village was bustling with activity; taverns and inns opened their doors to welcome customers, creating a lively atmosphere.

Han Yue, a first-timer and unfamiliar with the customs, simply followed Song Jiang to an inn. Seeing Song Jiang's familiarity with the place, Han Yue secretly nodded in approval, thinking that this unassuming fellow was meticulous and thorough in his work. Along the way, they indeed received help everywhere; most of the villagers were likely also bandits. Otherwise, these merchants, each carrying knives and whips, with fierce faces, wouldn't have been met with fear, but rather with the warmth of old friends.

"We'll rest here for the night. Tomorrow, a big boss is coming to join us, so we'll have to wait."

"What big boss?" Han Yue asked curiously. In his opinion, Song Jiang was already quite audacious. Who exactly is this "Great Master" he's referring to?

"Hehe, we've been passing through the Zhe family's territory all this way. Without their protection, we wouldn't have arrived here so easily. This Great Master is the Zhe family, the family of Grand Commandant Zhe," Song Jiang whispered.

"Grand Commandant Zhe, could it be that you're referring to the Zhe family of our Great Song Dynasty?" Han Yue was genuinely surprised. In the world today, who doesn't know the renown of the Zhe family of the Great Song Dynasty? They were a powerful military family, personally bestowed upon them by Emperor Taizu of Song, with hereditary titles and garrison duties. Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, countless families have served as military commanders, but only the Zhe family has this distinction. For centuries, they have fought for the Song Dynasty, with generations dying on the battlefield—truly a family of unwavering loyalty. She never imagined that such a loyal and virtuous family would secretly engage in such illegal activities.

"Does our Great Song Dynasty have another Zhe family that can rule Hedong with absolute authority? Our trade route thrives only because of the Zhe family's protection. Every time we travel to the northern frontier, we have to pay them a cut. Otherwise, they could crush us with a single finger. The Zhe family also engages in this kind of trading, but their scale is far beyond our reach. Tomorrow, a woman from the Zhe family will arrive; you'll see when you meet her."

A woman from the Zhe family? Han Yue was stunned. The Zhe family wasn't content with just operating behind the scenes; they actually had someone stepping into the limelight? And a woman at that? This was novel. Having spent two years in the Southern Dynasty, Han Yue knew that women there were the backbone of the household, usually managing the family's trade. But to run a business this large, operating in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, even extending overseas—this woman's ambition and courage were truly remarkable.

The women of the Zhe family were indeed different. While men risked their lives on the battlefield for fame and fortune, these women treated this life-or-death business as casual matters. What a remarkable woman !

But who exactly is this extraordinary woman? Han Yue was initially filled with worry, constantly wondering if she would lose money in her first business venture. Her money was hard-earned, and she didn't want to squander it all. There were also all sorts of worries about the journey; it was truly more tiring than being a soldier. But now, her weary body and mind were gradually filled with curiosity.

********************************** (Separator)

Fengzhou, Liangdang Town.

The scholar Chen Qi walked slowly towards the city gate. It was already dark, and he still had to prepare food when he got home. Tomorrow he had to get up early to patrol the villages with the inspector. These past few days had truly been exhausting. However, fortunately, Sun Erniang and the others had left, and he had received eighty strings of cash, which made Chen Qi incredibly happy.

This was eighty strings of cash, gleaming yellow copper coins, not paper money. In Fengzhou, this was a veritable fortune. Although he held an official title, he knew nothing of farming, was destitute, and lived alone, earning a living only through writing and secretly engaging in bandit business. However, he hadn't expected Sun Erniang to be so generous; this sum was enough for him to live comfortably for three to five years without doing

anything. Although he was a follower of the Maitreya sect, he had absolutely no interest in its tenets. What wasn't all he did to earn a living? He was just an ordinary bandit, only unfortunate enough to have a father who was a member of the Maitreya sect.

Therefore, his association with Sun Erniang and her group, providing them with conveniences, was purely out of a sense of bandit code, without any genuine affection whatsoever. The forged official documents, official certificates, and ordination tokens he made for them all cost money. Fortunately, Sun Erniang and her group were savvy, and he received the money smoothly.

Not many people knew the name Chen Qi; probably no one outside Liangdang Town knew him. But the townspeople were unaware of another life he led: Jin Rang, a master craftsman in the greenwood, one of the most renowned forgers in the northern greenwood, specializing in forgeries for the underworld. Hundreds of counterfeit official documents, contracts, fake tickets, counterfeit money certificates, tea certificates, salt certificates, and paper money circulated through his hands; his skillful hands produced items so convincingly that they were indistinguishable from the real thing.

This was why the Maitreya Cult still remembered this seemingly insignificant figure. There was no shortage of people capable of fighting, but such special skills were extremely rare. The imperial court had always placed great importance on financial management, and those who disrupted the economic order with private money and counterfeit currency were always severely punished. Those few in the underworld who engaged in this trade were either caught or forced to retire. Chen Qi, however, was cautious and used aliases when traveling the underworld, never flaunting his wealth, which allowed him to remain carefree to this day.

In truth, even now, he himself was somewhat unsure which of his true self was the real him; perhaps both were. Perhaps the identity of Jin Rang, which he created, had become a part of his true self, and without either half, he would not be complete.

At the city gate, the local militia archers recognized Chen Qi. Being from the same village, they greeted him and let him pass.

"Mr. Chen, are you going out?"

"Brother Zhang Wu, a soldier from the mining supervisor asked me to write a letter home. I'm off now."

"Mr. Chen, please hurry, the sun is already setting. Don't miss the city gate." The scholars of the Song Dynasty were formidable. Despite Chen Qi's impoverished state, his literacy made him a thousand times better than anyone else. Even the patrol inspector would be treated with respect. The guards dared not cause him any trouble.

"Thank you." Chen Qi nodded and smiled, maintaining the air of a scholar, and strolled leisurely out of the city gate.

Three miles outside the city, near a grove of trees, in a local temple, Chen Qi had changed his appearance. He now had a beard, and his skin was rougher, making him look like a boorish landlord. Standing before him at the entrance to the main hall were three people: two men and one woman. One man was tall and beardless, the other had a gloomy expression. Beside him stood a woman, her face veiled, her pretty features barely discernible. All three looked weary from their journey, speaking with a Hebei accent.

"Three official warrants, issued by the Dingzhou prefectural government, practically indistinguishable from the real thing. A total of 1200 coins. Please accept the travel tokens as a reward."

Chen Qi spoke while observing the woman. There were countless men involved in banditry, but women who were monks or Taoists were rare. Although bandit friends often bought warrants from him, mostly for business, this was the first time he'd seen a woman, and this woman seemed different from the bandits. Even these three were somewhat different.

Having been in this line of work for so long, he consistently adhered to several principles. First, he would never team up with others; he did everything himself. The more people knew his secrets, the greater the danger. Second, he insisted on concealing his true identity to avoid being seen by his fellow villagers and acquaintances. Third, he never trusted the code of honor among bandits; in this world, there were too many double-crosses, and he couldn't be too naive.

He had been running this local shrine for a long time. Behind a tree beside him, a rope hung from the treetop, concealing a crossbow case disguised as a bird's nest, piled high with leaves and branches, its firing angle perfectly aimed at the area where the three stood. If anything changed, pulling the rope would unleash a volley of twenty-five steel-tipped crossbow bolts, each tipped with aconite—a deadly weapon his father had secretly acquired during the chaos of the Qingzhou mutiny, a weapon of state intended to slay souls.

"Master Jin, your methods are truly remarkable; even if it were real, it wouldn't be this good," the gloomy-faced man at the head of the group said, praising the document after examining it. He casually tossed a bundle over, which Chen Qi caught and found heavy with not only copper coins but also silver. He was startled, staring at the man.

"Sir, you must have misheard. This reward is too much."

"Not at all. Besides this matter, there are some other things I need to inquire about with Master Jin. The extra amount is simply to buy you a word of truth."

Oh no! Chen Qi's heart sank. He had been dealing with bandits for over a decade and had never known this was a sign of double-crossing. He had been able to do business for so long because of his reputation. What these people wanted to know was undoubtedly the secret of the false identities used by other bandits—things he knew inside and out. Revealing even a little would be a matter of life and death for them. But this was something he absolutely could not say, which told him something strange about these three!

Chen Qi acted decisively, saying, "What do you three want to know…who!?" He suddenly shouted loudly, his eyes fixed outside, his face filled with surprise, as if he had seen some uninvited guest. The three involuntarily turned to look. Chen Qi seized the opportunity, pulled the rope, took out a pair of small maces from his robes, and turned to leave.

A click of the mechanism was heard, followed by a whoosh and a burst of black light, carrying withered branches and leaves flying everywhere. The violent vibration of the springs even made the trees sway slightly. However, the three men were prepared and dodged in all directions. By sheer luck, they escaped the crossbow bolts. All twenty-five bolts struck the ground, cracking it and some even embedding themselves completely, leaving only the fletching.

The three men were both shocked and furious. They had known this man wouldn't just sit idly by; they hadn't expected such a vicious and ruthless plan. Fortunately, they had all escaped. Tong Guan roared and gave chase, but the other two were even faster. One had already climbed the wall, while the other circled around to intercept them.

Chen Qi had just climbed over the wall when his pursuers arrived. He swung his mace backward, but the opponent's single blow sent his small mace flying. He was terrified by their immense strength. His martial arts were mediocre; he was no match for them. He staggered a few steps, not yet regaining his balance, when he was kicked in the backside, falling face-first into the dirt. He lamented to himself, "Everyone in the martial world eventually faces this; I never thought it would come so soon."

Looking back, he saw the woman standing coldly behind him. He sprang to his feet and brandished his single mace. Tong Guan rushed in from the side, his iron crutch flashing, sending Chen Qi's last remaining mace flying from his hand. Chen Qi cursed inwardly, thinking how strong this fellow was. His own martial arts were mediocre; he was utterly helpless against these vicious men.

"Master Jin... Chen Qi! You've witnessed our abilities, do you really need us to go to such lengths?"

The gloomy-faced man finished speaking, his body sinking slightly before he strode forward, lightly tapping the wall with one foot. The dilapidated earthen wall remained unmoved, yet a deep footprint sank in.

Such formidable Yin energy! This kind of skill is truly terrifying! Seeing the man call out his real name and witnessing his martial arts prowess, Chen Qi's expression suddenly changed: "Eight Steps Lotus Kick? You are... a fellow disciple?" Only fellow disciples of the Maitreya Sect could possibly know his true background. This person...

"Hmph, good for you. I know your background perfectly well, don't pretend in front of me!"

"If we are fellow disciples, and I have not offended you, why are you acting this way?" Chen Qi was truly dumbfounded. If this guy was truly a fellow disciple of the Maitreya Sect, he had some kind of kinship with him. He had never met this person before, how could he have offended him?

"You haven't offended me, but there are some things I need to ask my senior brother. I wonder if any of my fellow disciples visited you recently? I'd like to know where their ordination certificates were issued and where they went. I hope you won't hesitate to enlighten me."

"I haven't seen any of my fellow disciples," Chen Qi replied instinctively, believing this man was looking for Sun Erniang's group, but unsure of their grudges.

The gloomy man smiled slightly, a smile that truly sent chills down one's spine. The woman beside him, her face veiled, who hadn't spoken before, took a step forward. Neither of the two beside her moved, allowing the woman to approach Chen Qi. The woman's eyes held a sickly light as she scrutinized Chen Qi. Suddenly, she said, "Since you're so ungrateful, then this old lady will deal with you

. You have nothing to say, right?"

Tong Guan and the man, clearly aware of the woman's abilities, replied in unison, "We'll leave it to you, young lady."

The woman lightly lifted Chen Qi with one arm. With a casual toss, she launched him over the earthen wall. Chen Qi, caught off guard by the woman's martial arts skills, was thrown about, nearly fainting. In his dazed state, he only remembered being dragged into a local temple. The wooden door was closed, his clothes were stripped off, and then the woman waved something in her hand—it was as if a silver needle had appeared—and then pierced the back of his head.

The strange feeling was indescribable; he felt a slight pain, followed by a throbbing headache, a surge of lust within him, and an erection. Yet, his limbs felt numb, powerless, and he couldn't move.

What kind of evil magic was this?! Chen Qi was terrified, but in an instant, his reason was consumed by a raging lust. Like a wild beast, he stared blankly at the naked body of the woman before him, who had already undressed, his throat emitting heavy breaths. The woman showed no shame. After undressing, she simply said, "I never thought I'd get such a good deal from you, you country bumpkin. It's truly a case of dying under a peony flower and still being a romantic ghost." As she spoke, her usually icy expression transformed into boundless lust. She lewdly swayed her serpentine waist, making various obscene gestures to arouse Chen Qi's desire.

Chen Qi had almost lost his mind at this moment, and he no longer cared about anything else. If he hadn't been unable to move his limbs, he would have pounced on her long ago. His lower body was so hard that blood was about to burst from his veins. Seeing that the time was right, the woman leaped into Chen Qi's arms. Chen Qi, like a parched land receiving rain, let out a heavy sigh and tried his best to lift his hips. The woman's buttocks sank down, completely swallowing his erect, purplish-red penis into her vagina.

Outside the temple, Tong Guan and the man listened to the sounds inside. The woman's wanton and excited moans and the man's painful yet pleasurable groans were clearly audible, along with the sounds of objects colliding. Clearly, intense lovemaking was taking place inside. Tong Guan, being a eunuch, wasn't particularly bothered, but he was astonished that such a woman came from the deep palace, and was even a confidante of Consort Liu. Her strange and unorthodox skills seemed different from ordinary martial arts; they resembled Taoist secret techniques like absorbing yang energy to replenish yin.

The man, however, looked displeased. He had long noticed a strange rhythm in Su Hu's passionate moans, seemingly capable of arousing the lust of normal men. Clearly, she was trying her best to push Chen Qi's desire to its peak, waiting until the moment of climax had passed and his body and mind were relaxed to their limit before she could use her techniques.

Was there such an extraordinary person in the palace?

The two men remained vigilant; the woman's moans were far too loud, and it wouldn't be good if someone passing by heard them. However, there were few people around the grove.

Inside the temple, a woman straddled the naked body of a paralyzed man, bouncing him up and down with abandon. Sweat dripped from her body with each violent movement. Her hands pressed against his chest, her buttocks twisting and swallowing him with abandon. His engorged penis, glistening with her juices, was barely concealed between her buttocks. Their genitals were soaked with a sticky, white, viscous fluid, completely obscuring their pubic hair.

The man, however, remained like a puppet, allowing the woman to ride him. Several silver needles were inserted into his body, but the fire of lust burned fiercely in his eyes. The veins on his forehead and neck bulged, bloodshot like a bull in heat. Clearly, his pent-up desire, sealed by the woman's needles, had reached a point of unbearable agony, as if he were about to burst like a balloon at its limit.

The woman's vaginal muscles were clearly well-trained, gripping and sucking the man's penis relentlessly. There seemed to be an unfathomable pull within her vaginal cavity, making the man want to ejaculate inside her, even if it meant being drained dry.

Seeing the moment was right, the woman took a deep breath, her buttocks plunging down so forcefully that she almost swallowed his testicles whole. With a swift movement of her delicate hands, she removed several silver needles. Chen Qi's expression changed; his pent-up lust suddenly found an outlet. He roared, and his semen gushed out like a burst dam. The woman's eyes were now as bright as two lamps, and the man could no longer resist the endless pull, feeling as if all his energy was being sucked into an abyss by her.

Soon, the man's eyes dimmed, becoming withered and dry, like those of an old man who had aged decades. The woman, her body glistening with sweat, remained contentedly engulfing the man's penis, straddling him as she inserted two silver needles directly behind his ears.

Chen Qi, still experiencing the intense pleasure of ejaculation, his mind clear and relaxed, suddenly felt a chill run through his brain, a numbing sensation like an electric shock, followed by a blurring of consciousness…

********************************************* (Separator)

Xingqing Prefecture, the Western Xia Palace.

At this moment, Xingqing Prefecture was shrouded in a thick fog, the streets filled with armored soldiers. The people of Xingqing Prefecture were almost accustomed to this situation. Western Xia was a militaristic state where strength reigned supreme; changes of power naturally involved military confrontations. The victorious faction controlled the capital, while the defeated were wiped out—this was the law of Western Xia.

Just like the powerful minister Mo Zang Epang before him, once defeated in the power struggle, the fate was truly tragic. Liang Yibu now resembled Mo Zang, his entire family, both noble and common, was almost wiped out in the coup. The Right Wing Army under his control was ruthlessly purged repeatedly by Wei Ming Amai, and many generals were branded as traitors and executed along with their families. The government of Xingqing Prefecture fell into the hands of Ren Duo Bao Zhong, Mei Le Du Bu, and others. Every day, court officials who had been close to Liang Yibu were imprisoned and their homes confiscated—this was the privilege of the victors.

Even the Six Guards within the Imperial Enclosure were in a state of panic. As the Xia Emperor's most trusted personal guard, even within their ranks were traitors bribed by Liang Yibu. After the coup, a large number of military officers were purged; Empress Dowager Liang would absolutely not allow any unstable elements to emerge within this armed force. In any case, the six guards within the imperial garrison were hostage troops, and there were plenty of tribes that had pledged allegiance to Empress Dowager Liang

; as many as were purged, the rest could be replaced. In the small training ground of the inner palace, dozens of guards stood solemnly around the perimeter, with weapon racks on both sides fully stocked with swords, spears, and halberds. The Bai Shang Kingdom was founded on military strength, and its monarchs throughout history had revered martial prowess, so even within the palace, weapons were not taboo.

At this moment, several boys were competing in archery. Twenty paces away was a human-shaped arrow stack, with several arrows stuck in it. Most, however, lay on the ground.

One of the boys, dressed in the most ornate brocade robe, was about ten years old. He held Zhang Xueshe's black lacquerwood bow, nocked an arrow, his face flushed, and with a powerful pull, slowly drew the bowstring taut, aimed at the straw man's throat, and released the bowstring. With a whoosh, it hit the target squarely. The surrounding guards immediately cheered, "Wu Zu is mighty!" Even the children around cheered loudly.

The young man in the brocade robe wiped the sweat from his brow and said to an older, beautiful palace maid watching nearby, "Yao Ning, how was my arrow shot?"

The maid knelt and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty's accuracy is excellent, but the time it took to draw the bow was too long. In battle, arrows rain down like rain, requiring quick eyes and hands. As the saying goes, 'The first to strike wins, the last to strike suffers.' If it were the enemy, how could they allow the opponent to slowly draw their bow and aim? Therefore, if Your Majesty wishes to practice archery for battlefield combat, you must strengthen your arm strength."

The young man was Li Qianshun, the current ruler of Western Xia, eleven years old. Of course, he currently held no political power, merely a symbol of rule. However, he still possessed the temperament of a young boy, playful and active, and didn't care much for power. He spent his days gathering a group of young companions for hunting games. Recently, due to the great turmoil in the city, the Empress Dowager forbade him to leave the palace.

Hearing this, he knew the maid was implying his lack of arm strength and that his archery skills were merely for show, but he wasn't angry. He simply said, "What you say makes sense. My archery skills still need more practice. In the past, my ancestors, Emperors Jingzong and Yizong, led armies to conquer all directions, setting an example for their soldiers, which is why they were able to intimidate other nations. Now, my Bai Shang Kingdom has been in decline for a long time. The treacherous Liang Yibu has rebelled, and there are treacherous officials everywhere, making the court a mess. I, as emperor, must revitalize the soldiers of Great Xia."

"Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven, and the Empress Dowager is wise; she will surely bring prosperity to Great Xia."

The young man took a sip of water and said to the slightly younger, chubby-faced child beside him, "Ya Ning, among my attendants, your son Cha Ge is the bravest. Let him shoot a few arrows and see."

At that time, although Western Xia claimed to be a kingdom, for two consecutive generations they abandoned Han customs and adopted non-Han practices; this was merely self-deception. Calling themselves emperors was the greatest Han custom; otherwise, why not continue using the ancient title of Shanyu Khan? Therefore, regardless of whether the Western Xia used Han customs or non-Han customs, it was essentially a mixture of Han and non-Han systems. The young attendants around Qian Shun were of non-Han custom, reflecting their nomadic nature. The leader selected peers to grow up alongside him as servants. In a Central Plains dynasty, the emperor, the supreme ruler, wouldn't tolerate such idle people.

The boy named Chage was the largest among the children. Without ceremony, he bowed to Qian Shun, picked up a bow, and said, "Your Majesty, I can shoot forty paces."

Forty paces?! Qian Shun was astonished. He was two years older than Chage and could only shoot twenty paces. Although Chage was strong, he was still a child. If that was true, his strength was truly astonishing, almost superhuman. Yao Ning had served him for four years and knew Chage well, recognizing his great strength. "But only forty paces…"

"Weren't you only able to shoot twenty paces a while ago? How come you can shoot forty paces today?"

"Your Majesty, I practice archery every day so that I can serve Your Majesty in the future, fight on the battlefield, achieve unparalleled merit, and be enfeoffed as a marquis. Therefore, I dare not slack off for a single day. With daily hard practice, I have naturally made progress." Although the child was young, he spoke clearly and logically, and had a proud and arrogant expression.

"Good! Good, Brother Cha! Then shoot and see. But there is no joking before the emperor. If you miss, I will punish you with ten horses, and you will have to become a herdsman. In the future, let alone becoming a general, you will not even be able to become a regular soldier. You may even have your face tattooed and be used as a servant. Do you dare?" Qian Shun also became serious. Moreover, his expression became very serious, as if he were an adult.

Yao Ning, who was standing nearby, immediately knelt down. After all, Chage was her and Tang Yun's biological son. Although she had ulterior motives for hiding in the Western Xia court, it didn't mean she could ignore her son.

She knew Tang Yun's true origins, the national and familial hatred he carried, and how many years he had endured and prepared for revenge. Even the current Empress Dowager Liang believed Tang Yun was a deserter from the Song Dynasty who had only defected to Western Xia two years ago. In fact, Yao Ning had met Tang Yun in Xingqing Prefecture nine years ago. At that time, he wasn't even a military officer in the Song Dynasty; he was just a young man in his early twenties. Chage

was conceived that year, and from the first moment she saw this young Han Chinese, her heart was no longer her own. From then on, her purpose in life was to help Tang Yun realize his ambitions. Liang Yibu believed Chage was his own son. In order to get close to and influence Qian Shun, he secretly forged Yao Ning's identity and sent her to the palace to serve by Qian Shun's side, so as to plant his own spy closest to Qian Shun. This, however, gave Tang Yun an opportunity.

Nine years had passed since she last stayed in the palace, and her son had grown up there, alongside Qian Shun, for a full nine years.

When Liang Yibu fell from power, the entire city was searching for his followers, yet she remained unscathed. This was all thanks to Tang Yun's secret machinations. From then on, no one knew her true identity; they only knew her as a widow, a widow of the Weiming tribe named Weiming Yao Ning, whose husband was also a minor leader of the Weiming tribe, once stationed at the Heishui Yanzhen military headquarters, who one day encountered a sandstorm and was buried in the desert. Liang Yibu had previously commanded the Right Wing, and Heishui Yanzhen was within his sphere of influence. Forging military records was a piece of cake for him; this identity was already solidly established, and with Tang Yun's covert manipulation, it was now as secure as a mountain.

However, nine years had passed. Qian Shun was intelligent and valiant, and he and Cha Ge were very close, considering each other brothers. He treated her well, not as a servant, but with great respect. Even at such a young age, he already possessed the bearing of a wise ruler. Although he didn't know Tang Yun's thoughts, he subconsciously considered Qian Shun as family and this place as his own home.

Since he had long-term plans in his subconscious, he naturally had to worry about his son. He was about to scold his son for his arrogance when Qian Shun waved his hand to stop him: "I only want to hear what Brother Cha has to say."

"If I hit the target, what will Your Majesty reward me with?" Brother Cha's eyes were filled with unwavering determination, even a hint of cunning.

Qian Shun laughed, instantly reverting to his childlike playfulness. Pointing at him, he said, "If you hit the target, I will bestow upon you the surname Li, and take you as my brother. From now on, you will be my younger brother, Li Brother Cha. How about it?"

"Your subject obeys!" Upon hearing this, Brother Cha immediately knelt and kowtowed three times, then stood up and stepped back. When he was forty paces away from the stilt, he drew his bow, aimed again and again, and fired three arrows in quick succession, each hitting the straw figure in the chest. This not only surprised Qian Shun, but even the surrounding guards cheered. It is truly extraordinary that a minor possesses such martial arts skills.

"Excellent, excellent!" Qian Shun clapped his hands and shouted, "It seems that our Great Xia will have another valiant general in the future. Cha Ge, I will bestow upon you the surname Li, and from now on you will be my younger brother. As long as you are loyal, why should I be stingy with rewards? When I assume personal rule in the future, you may very well have your day to lead the army."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cha Ge was overjoyed and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Ya Ning, you have raised a fine son." Qian Shun, still feeling unsatisfied, turned and asked, "It's a pity I never got to see Cha Ge's father. To have such a son, he must have been a hero. What a pity..." Having known each other for so many years, he naturally knew "how Yao Ning's husband died."

"Your Majesty, the sun is high in the sky, it's time for dinner." Yao Ning cleverly changed the subject. The stone table beside him was filled with delicious vegetables and fruits, as well as roasted lamb legs that were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and grape wine served in crystal jade cups. The people of Western Xia were known for their generosity, and even children did not abstain from alcohol and meat from a young age.

Qian Shun sat down and took a bite of roasted lamb leg, then suddenly looked around and said, "Why is General Tang not here today?"

"He must have been summoned by the Empress Dowager, otherwise he would be here serving His Majesty."

"Speaking of heroes, General Tang is certainly a fine one. Although he is Han, his bravery is no less than that of our Tangut warriors. Last time I heard that the guards had a contest to draw a heavy bow, a three-stone bow, and General Tang could draw it thirty times in one go. Truly divine strength! I heard that General Tang was originally from the Song Dynasty?"

"This servant does not know."

"I do know him. I heard that he was originally a Song general, a subordinate of the famous Eastern Dynasty general Zhe Keshi. Later, he offended his superior and, having nowhere else to turn, defected to our Great Xia. Two years ago, when my mother personally led the army to conquer the Eastern Dynasty, the army suffered a major defeat due to the treacherous Liang Yibu's rebellion. My mother was nearly killed by Liang, but it was this General Tang who saved her; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Now that Liang has been defeated, I heard that General Tang also made great contributions, which is why my mother bestowed upon him the official title of Banzhinei and ordered him to guard the palace."

"Your Majesty, I am a woman, and I do not understand these matters."

"This Tang Yun is quite a talent. The Eastern Dynasty had such a man but couldn't use him, forcing him to come to my Great Xia. It's the Eastern Dynasty's incompetence in employing people. Although he has only served me for a short time, he has an excellent reputation among the guards; everyone praises his exceptional bravery. I also find him quite pleasing, and I will inevitably have to ask him about his experience leading troops in the Eastern Dynasty in the future."

"Your Majesty, that General Tang is a Han Chinese..."

"So what if he's a Han Chinese? As long as he's loyal to my Great Xia, what difference is there between a Han Chinese and a Tangut? Liang Yibu was a Tangut, but how can he compare to Tang Yun? If Emperor Jingzong hadn't used Zhang Yuan and Li Hao, how could he have defeated the Eastern Dynasty and become a powerful force in the world? Zhang Yuan and Li Hao were both Han Chinese. And Li Qing, also a Han Chinese, was utterly loyal to my father..." At this point, Qian Shun suddenly stopped speaking.

Yao Ning's heart stirred, and looking at Qian Shun's expression, it was clear that the boy had something on his mind. She suddenly remembered Tang Yun's instructions to use her current advantages to stay close to Qian Shun. Did Tang Yun intend to follow the same path as his father? This Qian Shun was intelligent, brave, and decisive, displaying a cunning and scheming nature beyond his years. When he grew up, he would inevitably learn of his father Bing Chang's affairs. How would he then handle his relationship with his mother, Empress Dowager Liang?

****************************************** (Separator)

In the Western Xia Palace, in the Empress Dowager's chambers, Tang Yun knelt respectfully on the ground, his face lowered, his expression unreadable.

Looking at this handsome Han man, Little Liang felt a surge of affection.

This Han man, though Han, had saved her life. If it weren't for him, she would have died long ago in the desolate mountains of Huanzhou, at the hands of that traitor Liang Yibu. This was her true confidant. Although powerful ministers like Ren Duo Bao Zhong and Wei Ming Amai supported her, they were all warlords from large tribes with their own armies. The Wei Ming clan was also royalty; if given any opportunity, their influence would swell to the point of threatening the throne. Therefore, while Empress Dowager Liang relied on and trusted such people, she always maintained a degree of wariness.

Tang Yun, however, was different. Although he was still a lowly and insignificant figure, he had already demonstrated his abilities. Moreover, he was a Han Chinese, a Han Chinese without any roots in Western Xia. His only path to advancement was through her promotion.

Although she had won the struggle and held supreme power, Empress Dowager Liang was actually living a very tiring life in this environment filled with bloodshed and intrigue. When Liang Yibu was still in power, she lived cautiously every day, under immense mental pressure, fearing that one day Liang Yibu would lead a mutinous army into the palace and she would be doomed. Now that he had won, he dared not let his guard down. According to the rules of power struggles in Western Xia, and based on the experience of his father and aunt, even the throne of supreme power was not secure.

To remain on this throne for long, he had to maintain constant vigilance. In the environment of Western Xia, a moment of carelessness could lead to utter ruin. Even a ruthless and valiant emperor like Emperor Jingzong Yuanhao did not remain on the throne forever, ultimately dying at the hands of his own crown prince.

How could he compare to Jingzong…

Although Liang Yibu was dead and his clan exterminated, and no one dared to challenge him openly, countless eyes were still secretly eyeing the throne of supreme power. If he could not demonstrate overwhelming strength and ruthlessness in this position, new challenges might come tenfold, a hundredfold. What would his fate be then? Even a ruthless and iron-fisted figure like Li Yuanhao was humiliated to death with his nose cut off. What would become of him?

Of course, she had no complaints. Growing up in this environment gave her a profound understanding of the brutality of power struggles in Western Xia. Outwardly, she had to wear the mask of a ruthless queen, manipulating and controlling everything, using blood and heads to intimidate her challengers and suppress their ambitions. She understood this was her duty as the supreme ruler, even a necessity for maintaining her position and life. But deep down, she knew this wasn't the life she wanted.

She finally understood the situation her aunt, Empress Dowager Liang, had experienced. Only now, truly in her position, could she truly comprehend her aunt's feelings. She had thought that once she ascended the highest throne, she could indulge in unrestrained pleasure, conquer and dominate others, and make everyone in the world follow her whims.

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