The Blood Crown - Chapter 198

Under the pretext of suppressing bandits, Hou Ming began recruiting soldiers on a large scale in Yunnan. Military funds were extorted through threats and inducements from local elders, gentry, wealthy merchants, and nobles.

At the same time, according to Yan Sikong’s orders, over ten thousand people living at the foot of Yazi Mountain were forcibly relocated. Although these people had long been harassed by bandits, their land was their livelihood, their only means of survival. Especially with spring being the planting season, few were willing to comply. Despite their resistance and pleas, they were eventually forced to leave their homes under the threat of swords.

Yan Sikong stood on the city wall of Zhongqing, watching the long lines of the displaced. He couldn’t help but recall the year the court abandoned the seven states of Liaobei, forcing him and his family to move south from Taining. It was a scene of desolation and marked the beginning of his lifelong tragedy.

Common people, common people, lives as insignificant as grass.

In just a few short days, over twenty thousand new recruits had been gathered. Yan Sikong had Chen Mu arrange for Yuan Nanyu to train the new soldiers. Although Yuan Nanyu was once just a person of the rivers and lakes with no military experience, after three years with Feng Ye, he had learned a great deal and was now capable of taking charge on his own. Of course, the main purpose of this arrangement was to gradually replace Chen Mu’s people with his own. When the time came, Yan Sikong would remove or even eliminate Qian Feihong and Hou Ming without making a fuss, leaving Chen Mu to rely solely on him.

The recruitment speed was so fast primarily because Yunnan was impoverished. Many people, who either couldn’t get enough to eat or lived by theft and plundering, were willing to enlist just for a meal. However, such people were both quick to enlist and quick to desert, making them likely to become deserters. Under Yan Sikong’s instructions, Yuan Nanyu quickly executed nearly a hundred individuals, killing anyone who deserted or refused to be disciplined. This soon had a deterrent effect on the recruits.

The more than six thousand sky lanterns prepared in secret were now ready. Yan Sikong had observed the weather for several days and finally chose a clear day with a southern wind. He had troops stationed at various access points at the foot of Yazi Mountain and then ignited and released the lanterns into the sky.

That night was perhaps the most spectacular and unforgettable night ever witnessed by the people of Zhongqing. Countless sky lanterns rose with the wind, drifting towards Yazi Mountain. The dim sky at dusk was illuminated as if it were daytime, with the lanterns resembling fireflies or falling firestones, cascading into the depths of Yazi Mountain in waves.

Before long, fires broke out all over the mountain. What started as scattered flames grew larger and more widespread, eventually merging into a massive sea of fire that engulfed the entire mountain.

The Duzhangmian could never have imagined that, despite their dominance over the mountains and their defiance of two dynasties, they would be exterminated in such a manner.

Historical records provide a somewhat vague description of this battle—let’s call it a “battle”: the sky lanterns fell like rain, and the fire on Yazi Mountain burned for three days and nights. The Duzhangmian vanished from existence.

Yet these brief words fail to capture even a fraction of the horrors of those three days and nights.

More than twenty thousand Duzhangmian were burned alive by the fire. Those who attempted to escape down the mountain were killed on the spot by the soldiers stationed at the base. The fire not only consumed Yazi Mountain but also destroyed the houses and fields of the people living below. The flames raged on, and Hou Ming personally led troops up the mountain to hunt down any remaining bandits, following Chen Mu’s orders—to drive them out, hunt them down, and exterminate them completely.

It was said that during the night of the firestorm, the screams of the Duzhangmian reached the heavens. The people of Zhongqing were too afraid to sleep, and children cried endlessly.

Standing on the city wall, watching the mountain fire, Yan Sikong emotionlessly asked Yuan Nanyu, “Do you know how many people need to die for this vengeance?”

Yuan Nanyu felt a mix of emotions and struggled to answer.

Yan Sikong murmured to himself, “Zhuge Kongming set fire four times in his lifetime. To save Liu Bei, he burned the Bowang Slope; to fight Cao Wei, he burned the Red Cliffs; to secure Yunnan, he burned the Tengu soldiers. Millions of souls perished in Kongming’s fires. But when he tried to burn Sima Yi, a great rain extinguished his northern campaign ambitions. He said fire attacks were too cruel and would incur divine wrath. Do you think that rain was divine will?”

Yuan Nanyu took a deep breath. Yan Sikong’s icy tone made him feel uncomfortable. Looking at the blazing Yazi Mountain and thinking of the dying people up there, who could remain calm?

Yan Sikong obviously didn’t need an answer from Yuan Nanyu. He continued, “Today, I used fire to wipe out a tribe. If there is divine retribution…” He gave a bitter smile, “Let it shorten my life, but don’t let what I need to accomplish fail.”

Yuan Nanyu quickly replied, “In war, casualties are inevitable. The Duzhangmian harmed the people and committed many crimes. They deserve their fate. You don’t need to worry about divine retribution. You are… acting in accordance with heaven’s will.”

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: “A wolf eats sheep, and a sheep eats grass. Killing the wolf is to eliminate harm for the sheep, and killing the sheep is to eliminate harm for the grass. There is no such thing as acting on behalf of heaven; it’s just about defending one’s own path.”

“Sikong…” Yuan Nanyu looked at Yan Sikong’s hollow eyes and suddenly felt he had never truly understood this person, and might never be able to. Yet, he still felt a pang of sadness. “Stop staring and go rest.”

Yan Sikong nodded. “Have the soldiers search the area thoroughly to hunt down any remaining bandits. Make sure to eliminate them completely and eradicate any future threats.”

“Yes.”

The fire not only shook the entire Yunnan but also spread throughout the world.

The extermination of the Duzhangmian made all the mountain bandits in Yunnan see the court’s determination and ruthless methods. They became fearful and refrained from causing trouble, becoming much more subdued.

Qian Feihong sent several envoys to issue a call for surrender. Those who resisted were immediately dealt with, leaving no survivors. As a result, most of the mountain bandits complied with the amnesty. The bandit problem that had plagued Yunnan for a hundred years was swiftly resolved.

With the newly recruited soldiers and the bandits integrated into his army, Chen Mu’s forces had more than doubled to over fifty thousand men, fulfilling Yan Sikong’s promise.

Chen Mu was fully convinced of Yan Sikong’s strategy and shocked by his ruthlessness. His demeanor became more respectful and cautious, avoiding any oversteps. To sever any remaining aspirations, Yan Sikong became even stricter than before, and for a time, there was peace between them.

At the same time, news came from the northwest that Feng Ye had taken control of Datong, bringing the entire northwest under his control.

However, Feng Ye did not have smooth sailing. Having guarded Datong for nearly thirty years and killed countless Mongols, he had old grudges with various tribes, such as the Chahar tribe, whose leader, Nadehan, had lost family members to Feng Ye’s forces. Despite receiving benefits from the court, they refused to submit to Feng Ye and even killed Feng Ye’s envoys sent to negotiate peace.

If the Chahar tribe did not cooperate, Feng Ye would be holding the river loop, equivalent to holding a gold mine that he couldn’t exploit. More seriously, as long as the Chahar tribe did not submit, Feng Ye could not advance into the Central Plains, leaving him without a retreat if Datong were to be threatened from behind.

Yan Sikong, hearing this news, was anxious for Feng Ye, but distant waters could not quench nearby fires. He hoped Feng Ye could quickly subdue the Chahar tribe, which, with Feng Ye’s abilities, should only be a matter of time.

Feng Ye, as per their agreement, claimed he would support Prince Chu to reclaim his rightful position as heir, to clear the court’s corruption, and to restore order.

With the chessboard set, Yan Sikong and Chen Mu were accelerating their preparations for troops, supplies, and winning over the surrounding princes. Now that Chen Mu had fifty thousand troops in hand, he no longer needed to disguise his recruitment as suppressing bandits—it was no longer hidden. He boldly engaged in the conspiracy, madly recruiting soldiers, strategists, and money. As the Crown Prince with Feng Ye’s support, he was more favored than Chen Chun, who backed the eunarchs, and many willingly responded to him. The army was expanding at an astonishing rate.

News of Prince Chu’s rebellion swept across the land, and with internal and external troubles, the court was in turmoil.

At this time, it had been more than half a year since Yan Sikong left Feng Ye and joined Chen Mu. One day, Yuan Nanyu brought a secret letter from Feng Ye, instructing Yan Sikong to return to Datong immediately.

The letter read: “Your matter is settled. Return quickly. No further details.”

Yan Sikong frowned. “Right now, His Highness still needs us. It’s not yet time to go back.”

“There are many strategists around Prince Chu, and he currently commands a large army. It’s not essential for us to be there.”

“That’s precisely why I cannot leave.” Yan Sikong looked at Yuan Nanyu. “I placed you in the army to weaken Hou Ming. Sooner or later, I will have to eliminate him so that he can only rely on me.”

Yuan Nanyu pondered. “Sikong, you should understand that you need to use Feng Ye to contain Prince Chu, and use Prince Chu to contain Feng Ye, while also making them cooperate. If you offend Feng Ye, even if you control Prince Chu’s army, what good will it do? Conversely, as long as you have Feng Ye, you needn’t worry about Prince Chu not listening to you.”

Yan Sikong remained silent.

Yuan Nanyu sighed. “You don’t want to return because you don’t want to see him, right?”

“… What would I see him for?” Yan Sikong smiled coldly. Why should he go seek humiliation? The further he stayed away, the more he might remember Feng Ye’s past merits. Face to face, he only wanted to escape.

Yuan Nanyu said calmly：“Decide for yourself.” He placed the secret letter on the table.

Yan Sikong looked at the familiar characters on the paper and wearily closed his eyes.