Chapter 48: The General’s Allegiance

The traitorous envoy smiled faintly and remained silent, forcing Lord Yan Chun to suppress his anger and inquire once more.

“King Ren of the North does not wish to raise arms again, and my Yan Kingdom, too, is willing to forge ties of kinship with the Northern King. When will the Northern Army return to the grassland steppes? Our Yan Kingdom will offer lavish gifts in gratitude!”

If peace could be achieved, and Liaobei restored, it would be ideal, yet even to imagine it was futile.

Heh! Wu Yangjing let out a soft laugh. How simple Lord Yan Chun imagined things to be! It was already rare that the Northern Army would not press further south, yet he still dared hope for the return of Liaobei!

“Lord Yan Chun, from north to south, the Northern King has claimed thousands of miles of land. If Yan wishes to reclaim Liaobei, it is not difficult!”

“All it takes is a single battle!”

Lord Yan Chun’s heart leapt for joy, but as soon as he heard “battle,” his spirits plummeted.

Damn it! If I could muster an army, I’d already have had you killed!

“General Wu, what is the Northern King’s true intent? Please speak plainly.”

Le Jian, who was merely watching the spectacle, no longer wished to wait. Who knew how long these two fools would keep stalling? In this time, the Northern Army could already be scaling the walls!

Lord Yan Chun fell silent, unwilling to continue. Once, Le Jian had treated him well; Wu Yangjing, too, felt it inappropriate to waste more words.

“Yan Dan’s crimes have enraged the Northern Army! Hundreds of thousands long to ride down to Jicheng, filling the rivers with corpses! Yet the Northern King is magnanimous and willing to make peace with Yan.”

“The Northern King asks only two things: that Liaodong and Liaoxi henceforth belong to the North, and that the King of Yan surrender the bronze box in exchange for Yan Dan.”

Liaobei was already lost—Lord Yan Chun knew as much. But now the Northern King also demanded the mysterious bronze box!

Le Jian gave a bitter smile and shook his head; such matters were beyond his authority.

“Liaobei is negotiable for Yan, but as for Yan Dan’s crimes, let the Northern King decide his fate to quell his wrath.”

Lord Yan Chun wished for Yan Dan’s death; then he himself would be next in line for the throne.

Wu Yangjing nodded, making Lord Yan Chun rejoice, thinking the matter was settled.

But the words that followed utterly unnerved him.

“The Northern King grants Yan three days. If, after three days, either the deed to the land or the bronze box is missing, the Northern Army will obliterate the fortress and sweep south to the Yan River, to face the heroes of the Seven Kingdoms.”

“However, Lord Yan Chun should understand: Liaodong’s garrison fell to us in a single battle. How many more days can Jidu hope to hold out?”

Ah! Le Jian shook his head with a bitter smile. Even if the Seven Kingdoms were willing to come to their aid, Yan would never last that long!

If the Northern Army swept south, it would spell the end of Yan’s royal house. There would be no restoration—Lord Yan Chun himself would be left with nowhere to stand.

“You have been informed. I will now take my leave and report.” Wu Yangjing had no desire to linger, nor did the Northern King command him to stay.

Lord Yan Chun immediately had the wretch escorted out, wanting him gone at once.

“General, I will ride back at once!”

Le Jian saluted him. “Thank you for your efforts, Lord Yan Chun.”

Lord Yan Chun smiled faintly, saying no more.

Northern Army Encampment.

Wu Yangjing returned, and Lin Shu received him at once.

“Well then, speak. What did Liaohai Gate have to say?”

Drawing a deep breath, Wu Yangjing bowed.

“Northern King, I have relayed your message to Lord Yan Chun. Yan will likely concede Liaobei, but the matter of the bronze box requires the Yan King’s decision. As for Yan Dan, his fate lies in your hands—life or death, as you please.”

Thinking of Yan Dan, Wu Yangjing was filled with fury. That useless fool had brought ruin to so many.

“Hmph! If I were to kill Yan Dan, it would be too merciful.”

Originally, he had not planned to release Yan Dan so soon, but now he saw that sending him back to Yan was the true punishment.

Wu Yangjing smiled. “The Northern King is right—everyone in Yan wishes to flay Yan Dan alive.”

This fellow? Lin Shu could tell that Wu Yangjing was clearly trying to align himself with him.

Wu Yangjing dared not conceal anything and bowed deeply again.

“Northern King, my entire clan has nowhere to turn. I beg for your protection!”

“If you cannot accept a defeated general, then grant me death at once!”

So that’s it! Lin Shu sighed and shook his head.

It seemed Wu Yangjing was prepared to take the blame for the defeat at Liaodong.

“General Wu Yangjing is a rare talent,” Jingni interjected, her interest piqued. “If his entire family can be saved, he will surely pledge his unwavering loyalty.”

The empire was short of capable men, and Lin Shu was more than willing.

“Very well. Since the general wishes to return to the empire, first go to Liaodong to pacify the surrendered troops. Select several thousand soldiers, and I will make arrangements in due course.”

“Rest assured, I will see that your entire clan is delivered safely by Yan.”

At last, they could live!

Wu Yangjing bowed deeply once more.

The defeated troops in Liaodong needed pacifying, and loyal soldiers must be selected. Wu Yangjing was the best candidate for the task.

A small detachment of personal guards was dispatched to escort him to Liaodong.

“How does the King intend to deal with Yan Dan and the leader of the Mohists?” Jingni asked. She cared little about Yan Dan’s fate, though he was of royal blood. What concerned her more was the Mohist leader—she did not wish to make an enemy of the Mohists.

Keeping these useless captives only meant feeding them daily, and besides producing waste, they were of no use.

“What do you think should be done with them?” Lin Shu asked, unwilling to kill them just yet—he still wished to witness the general plot of “The Bright Moon of Qin Times.”

Jingni smiled. “I suspect, husband, that you do not wish to kill them either. Since Yan Dan no longer matters to Yan, let him go.”

The Moon Goddess nodded. “That is wise. The empire does not fear the Mohists, but there is no need to make them our enemies.”

The Mohists and the Confucians were the two great schools of the age, and many skilled artisans across the Seven Kingdoms belonged to the Mohist lineage.

“Very well. Let them go—spare us their incessant complaints!” Lin Shu declared.

With that, Yan Dan, the Six-Fingered Black Hero, and their companions were dumped before a carriage.

After making himself presentable, Lin Shu stepped out.

“Northern King!” Upon seeing the Northern King again, Yan Dan felt nothing but terror.

Glancing around, the Six-Fingered Black Hero slowly rose.

“King Lin of the North, if you wish to kill us, just do it. No need for words.”

The Mohist leader thought the Northern King was about to try and win him over, given the Mohists’ considerable influence.

Lest he antagonize the King, Jingni stepped forward.

“Six-Fingered Black Hero, His Majesty is merciful and respects the Mohist creed. This time, you are spared. If there is a next, we, his ministers, will show no mercy!”

Faced with her threat, the Black Hero wanted to sneer, but given his own weakened state, he could only nod in silence.

“Open the gates, let them go.”

At the king’s command, the personal guards withdrew at once.

Not even a carriage was provided! Swallowing his anger, Yan Dan quietly followed the Black Hero away.

Once outside the camp, the Six-Fingered Black Hero frowned and sighed.

“This—how is it possible? It’s only been a few days!”

It was over. Yan Dan’s face was filled with despair. The Northern Army was already at the gates of Liaohai! That meant Liaodong and Liaoxi were surely lost.

“Let’s go back!” said the Mohist leader, striding toward the fortress.

Step by step, Yan Dan, dazed and listless, was hauled up to the city walls by Diaolan.

General Le Jian gave him no time to rest, immediately arranging for a carriage to escort him to Jicheng.

Upon entering the fortress, Yan Dan wished to inquire about the war, but not even a minor officer or soldier would give him the time of day.

General Qing Qin of Liaodong, fearful of punishment, pinned the blame for the defeat on Yan Dan and Wu Yangjing.

Once the Crown Prince, Yan Dan was now the greatest criminal in Yan.

The Yan Kingdom had but three million people, an army of three hundred thousand—yet because of Yan Dan, over a hundred thousand perished in Liaobei.

And over four hundred thousand citizens of Liaobei could never return to their homeland.