The Blood Crown - Chapter 174

Yan Sikong chose a day to set off.

Emperor Zhao Wu had dispatched eight hundred men from the garrison to accompany him. Officially, they were escorting the steed Drunken Red, a priceless treasure and a gift for Feng Ye to demonstrate Da Sheng’s sincerity in seeking his surrender. In reality, they were also there to protect Yan Sikong. First, because Qianzhou was rife with bandits, and second, because there were likely people who did not want Feng Ye to surrender and might pose a threat to Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong’s mission was to inspect Qianzhou as an Imperial Inspector and to negotiate with the rebellious troops. Officially, he was not allowed to bring soldiers, but he had obtained these eight hundred troops from Emperor Zhao Wu. Although he alone could deploy them, once he reached Qianzhou, he would meet with the Da Tong Army commander stationed there. He carried the Emperor’s secret orders for the Da Tong Army to cooperate fully in subduing the rebels. However, those troops were not his to command, so the only soldiers he could use effectively were these eight hundred.

As Yan Sikong rode out of the Yongding Gate on Drunken Red, he reined in the horse and looked back at the towering city walls before him. He marveled at the city’s grandeur and felt a surge of heroism. A poem from the past unexpectedly surfaced in his mind.

When Huang Chao was defeated and left Chang’an, he wrote, “When my flowers bloom, all flowers wither; the city is filled with golden armor.” Many years later, he returned to Chang’an with his rebels, and from that point on, the once flourishing Tang Dynasty began its path to destruction.

Remembering this poem now felt ominous…

Yan Sikong turned and gazed at the distant horizon, resolutely spurring his horse onward.

The eight hundred cavalrymen were lightly equipped and moved swiftly. They traveled nearly a thousand miles in just thirteen days. They could not afford to be slow; if they delayed any longer, Feng Ye might have already captured Qianzhou.

Qianzhou, located at the junction of the Mongol, Da Tong, and Central Plains regions, was the only natural barrier extending from the Hetao region to the Mongolian Plateau. Beyond Qianzhou, there were no high mountains, making it a critical military site in the northwest. However, after Da Sheng lost Hetao years ago, it struggled to form an effective defense line. Even though Feng Jianping had defeated the Wala and recaptured some cities in Hetao four years ago, Mongol raiders continued to harass and plunder sporadically, making it unsafe for settlers or farmers. With insufficient troops in Qianzhou and the recent death of Feng Jianping, the Da Tong Army’s defenses were cut in half, leaving only a modest force of ten thousand to hold the fort.

The cities in Qianzhou were built to resist the Mongols, but those facing the Central Plains were mainly intended to protect supply lines and hubs. Their walls and defenses were relatively weak, making them vulnerable to Feng Ye’s attacks.

If Feng Ye captured these cities, not only would he cut off Qianzhou’s supply lines, but Da Tong would also be affected, creating a dire situation.

As soon as Yan Sikong entered Qianzhou, he received news that Feng Ye had captured Qiao Zhou. If he also took Mao Ren, Qianzhou would be in grave danger. However, Feng Ye’s otherwise undefeated army had suffered an unexpected setback at Mao Ren, where they had lost five thousand men and failed to capture the city.

Mao Ren was a small town with only thirty to forty thousand residents and a garrison of just three to four thousand. Yet, it had managed to hold off Feng Ye’s vigorous fifty-thousand-strong army.

Yan Sikong was astonished by this news and quickly asked his scout, “Who is the defender of Mao Ren?”

“Sir Imperial Inspector, it is General Wang Lie, but the one leading the defense is the county magistrate of Mao Ren.”

“Who is that?” Yan Sikong wondered. How could a mere county magistrate withstand such a powerful army? What kind of ambition, courage, and wisdom did this person possess? It reminded him of Yuan Mao from years ago, and he was determined to meet this individual.

“Sir Imperial Inspector, this person is quite remarkable. He is the top scholar from the 29th year of the Zhao Wu era, Shen Hexuan.”

Yan Sikong was stunned and took a long time to recover. If he hadn’t heard the name again, he would have almost forgotten about Shen Hexuan. After Yan Zilian’s death, Xie Zhongren had purged the aristocrats, and Shen Hexuan’s denunciation of the eunuchs had led to his fall from a promising scholar to poverty. At that time, Yan Sikong was preoccupied with the issues regarding the Feng family and had not even remembered where Shen Hexuan had been exiled to. It turned out he was in Qianzhou!

Such a prodigious talent buried in such a desolate place as a minor official was truly a pity. No wonder this small town could withstand Feng Ye’s uprising.

Yan Sikong instructed, “Order the camp to be broken at the tiger hour tonight. We must reach Qianzhou tomorrow.”

“Understood!”

By noon the next day, Yan Sikong arrived in Qianzhou. The civil and military officials of the city came out to welcome him. Although Yan Sikong had been demoted, everyone knew of his public denouncement of Xie Zhongren and his high standing as the emperor’s son-in-law. Now, he was tasked with negotiating with the rebellious “Little Wolf King,” so his arrival was of great importance.

As soon as he met Xu Yong, the governor of Qianzhou, Xu praised Yan Sikong’s righteous actions against the eunuchs and then vehemently denounced them. His apparent eagerness to distance himself from the eunuchs made Yan Sikong suspect that he was hiding something, but he chose not to investigate further, offering polite responses instead.

Once he was settled in the inn, Yan Sikong impatiently inquired about the situation in Mao Ren.

According to the scouts’ report, after Feng Ye’s setback at Mao Ren, he had retreated thirty miles to camp. Xu Yong had already thoroughly investigated Yan Sikong’s situation, but unsure of Yan Sikong’s relationship with Shen Hexuan, he cautiously probed, “I’ve heard that Lord Shen was also a top scholar in the same year as Lord Yan?”

Yan Sikong nodded, “Lord Shen was indeed a remarkable talent, the top scholar with unparalleled ability, whereas I was only seventh in the list. Compared to Lord Shen, I am truly lacking.”

“Oh, Lord Yan is too modest. The imperial examination system has always been criticized for its rigidity; it cannot be used as the sole measure of one’s worth.”

Yan Sikong asked, “I wonder how Lord Shen has fared in Mao Ren these years?”

Xu Yong and the officials of Qianzhou exchanged uneasy glances, seeming somewhat embarrassed, “To be honest, Lord Yan, while Lord Shen is indeed exceptionally talented, his temperament is rather… well, it’s quite inflexible and harsh. He has had many conflicts with us.”

An official nearby interjected, “Though Lord Shen has a peculiar disposition, since his arrival, he has managed Mao Ren with great order and fairness. He has been very clear in rewarding and punishing, and the people live in peace and contentment. He is truly a rare and good official.”

“And Lord Shen is extremely poor; the people speak highly of him.”

Xu Yong cleared his throat and added, “What they say is true.”

Yan Sikong smiled slightly, thinking that this indeed aligned with Shen Hexuan’s character. Although he had fallen from a promising career, he had not abandoned his responsibilities. Even as a county magistrate, he had performed his duties honorably, which was admirable. Yan Sikong said, “Lord Shen and I were fellow students and served together in the Hanlin Academy. I must visit him no matter what.”

“What about Feng Ye…”

Yan Sikong’s mind trembled for a moment, and he paused, “Feng Ye must have known of my arrival by now. He likely wanted to capture Mao Ren before I reached Qianzhou. If he failed, he would retreat and camp, and he will not move until I take action.”

“Lord Yan makes a good point.”

Yan Sikong stood and said to Wu Mang, the overall commander of Qianzhou, “Please, General Wu, report to me on the situation in Qianzhou in detail.”

“Lord Yan, please follow me to review the maps.”

In the evening, Xu Yong hosted a welcome banquet for Yan Sikong. In addition to Xu Yong and Wu Mang, there was also Yu Shenglang, a general from Da Tong who had been temporarily assigned with ten thousand troops. They discussed strategies for repelling the enemy and quelling the rebellion.

After the meal, Yan Sikong showcased Drunken Red, and everyone praised it as an extraordinary steed.

With a glass of wine in hand, Yan Sikong’s face flushed slightly as he gently stroked Drunken Red’s thick mane, “This is my gift for Feng Ye. It was originally a gift from His Majesty to Feng Ye when he was still the Crown Prince of Jingyuan.”

“Such a magnificent steed is truly loved by any general,” Wu Mang marveled, “This gift is indeed very generous.”

Yan Sikong smiled, “In the past, Feng Ye and I had our disagreements, which were well known in the capital. However, we were also close friends and comrades, and I married his cousin. This steed from the Tianshan is meant for Feng Ye and me alone. There is no better envoy than me.”

“Lord Yan is right. His Majesty is indeed wise and martial, and with your connection to Feng Ye and your persuasive skills, you are truly the best envoy.”

Yan Sikong’s smile almost froze on his face. If one looked closely, they would see that his smile did not reach his eyes. Even after drinking two pounds of wine, he could not dispel his anxiety about meeting Feng Ye again.

He was even uncertain about what he would face when visiting Feng Ye’s army camp and whether he would be able to return. Although emissaries are generally not harmed in battle, his complicated relationship with Feng Ye was far beyond a simple enmity. Moreover, his goal was not to persuade Feng Ye to surrender but to have Feng Ye feign submission while secretly undermining Da Tong’s army. Their ambitions were not limited to just the Hetao region.

When Feng Ye advanced from Hetao towards the imperial capital, he needed to truly possess the power to overthrow a dynasty. Currently, he was still far from that.

But did Feng Ye still believe in him?

AN –

Happy Dragon Boat Festival~~·

On the Dragon Boat Festival, I’m sharing some good news: tomorrow, will finally see Feng Ye!!! I’ve missed him so much. (End of Chapter)