Chapter 261: Chapter 259: Fate and Luck
Fang Chuning and Xie Jue, Xie Xun, gazed at each other across the torrential rain and howling winds. Fang Chuning’s eyes deeply settled on Xie Jue. Both were clad in silver armor, the appearance they knew best over these seven years. Whenever they donned their armor, it was always side by side on the Ningzhou Battlefield, fighting together, laughing and chatting.
He had never imagined there would come a day when he’d wear armor to clash swords with Xie Jue in the Capital City.
The Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard chased closely behind the Northern Iron Cavalry. There was ambush ahead and pursuers behind, leaving no path of escape. The Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard were at their heels.
"Ting Feng, if you want to leave the city, it will have to be over my dead body," Fang Chuning softly asked, "Will you kill me?"
"I will!" Xie Jue said coldly.
He didn’t even offer an explanation. His longsword slashed the air, "Fang Chuning, move aside!"
Fang Chuning closed his eyes in pain. Ting Feng and Xie Xun had reached their limits. He didn’t see Xie Zhang nor Marquis Zhenbei, knowing they must have perished. Ting Feng understood that once they left tonight, Yanyang would fragment, wars would rage, yet he remained resolute in leaving—no matter if it meant becoming enemies, no matter if it meant turning the blade on comrades.
The Northern Iron Cavalry and Jiangnan Army had always stood watch over each other. He and Xie Jue had been the bridge between the two armies, yet Xie Jue didn’t care about turning his blade on him.
Or against the Jiangnan Army.
He had decided to rebel!
Fang Chuning thought in despair, what else could he do? In such a desperate situation, what could he possibly do to turn the tide, to prevent Yanyang from fragmenting?
Ting Feng, surrender. You and Xie Xun leaving the Capital will ignite war in Sannan and Beiman, and plunge Yanyang into civil strife. The people will suffer in catastrophic misery, with no peace to be found anywhere.
You and Xie Xun could exchange your lives for the peace of the realm, couldn’t you?
If it were the scholars or Confucians, they would certainly persuade in this way: choose the lesser of two evils, they excel at weighing the pros and cons. But as for Fang Chuning, he would never counsel Xie Jue in such a manner.
What else could he do?
Ting Feng, as long as you submit, I can guarantee that both you and Xie Xun will be safe.
He could manage that. Would Ting Feng be willing?
Through the rain-filled air, Xie Jue could no longer make out Fang Chuning’s face. The downpour buried all love, hatred, joy, and grief. His horse, Treading Snow Black Steed, seemed to sense its master’s anxiety and whinnied incessantly. Fang Chuning spurred forward, pushing closer to Xie Jue. Xie Xun rode out from the side, ready to swing his sword to block him, but Xie Jue raised his hand to stop him.
The army behind Fang Chuning surged forward like waves, rushing toward the Northern Iron Cavalry. Marquis Zhenbei and Xie Zhang were dead, and now Xie Xun had become the commander-in-chief of the Northern Iron Cavalry’s three divisions. Without his orders, the Iron Cavalry wouldn’t dare to act. Or perhaps the Iron Cavalry’s generals had known Fang Chuning too well over the years and automatically opened a path for him.
The Jiangnan Army passed by the Iron Cavalry, positioning their troops at the city gates to block the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard. The banners of Jiangnan crossed with the tiger flags of the Northern Iron Cavalry as they passed.
Fang Chuning pulled his reins tight in front of Xie Jue. Upon seeing Xie Jue’s bloodshot eyes, Fang Chuning’s heart twisted with pain. He had his answer.
Ting Feng was unwilling!
Seeing the dilapidated city walls and listening to the sounds of slaughter within, he knew that it had become irrevocable. Fang Chuning suppressed his swirling emotions, "Ting Feng, don’t let Beiman cross the Ningzhou front!"
This was his only request!
If Beiman crossed the Ningzhou front, tens of thousands of Yanyang citizens would face devastation of their homes and breakdown of families. No matter how much hatred they had for the Yuwen Royal Family, they couldn’t let Beiman invade.
Xie Jue lowered his eyes slightly and gave no response.
"Xu Zhou, Cui Lansong, lead the troops out of the city!" Xie Xun ordered sternly, "Whoever dares to block them, act directly!"
"Yes!"
Xu Zhou and Cui Lansong immediately led the Iron Cavalry toward the city gates. Only the vanguard from the four cities who had come to assist the emperor were there, while the main forces were still an hour’s march away. Intimidated by Fang Chuning earlier, they dared not block the Northern Iron Cavalry, instead splitting to the sides as they watched the Iron Cavalry charge through the gates.
Lin Cheng rode out on horseback and shouted harshly, "Fang Chuning, have you lost your mind? Letting them return to Ningzhou is tantamount to rebellion. You are the sole son of the Princess Regent, will you truly aid the wicked and ruin the nation?"
Fang Chuning laughed bitterly in anger. Who exactly was ruining the nation? Who was aiding the wicked? Who started this coup that divided Yanyang?
Half a month ago, the Crown Prince urgently summoned the Jiangnan Army to return to the Capital to assist the emperor. Marshal Fang received secret information and foresaw the change ahead, arranging the Jiangnan military affairs before leading his army to the Capital. Three days ago, Fang Chuning learned of this news and requested permission to lead the vanguard to assist the Capital. Marshal Fang hesitated for over two hours before granting his request.
Before departure, Marshal Fang said that if the Marquis perished and the Marquis Mansion faced trouble, the Xie family would perish completely, and not a single member would survive. The Xie brothers must never return to Ningzhou.
Set the tiger free, and the trouble would be endless.
If even one of the Xie brothers escaped the Capital, the Yuwen Royal Family’s grip on the throne would collapse. War and chaos would engulf Beiman and Sannan, and multi-front battles would last decades.
This coup had to be buried within the Capital, with Fang Chuning taking command of the Northern Iron Cavalry, allowing Yanyang to continue its recovery and let the people live in peace.
Fang Chuning replied firmly, "I give my word—I will not let Xie Jue and Xie Xun leave the Capital!"
Yet he could only feign compliance and let Xie Jue and Xie Xun go.
Father, do you know what would happen in Ningzhou without Xie Jue and Xie Xun?
After this coup, Yanyang had been gravely weakened. If Beiman advanced southward, who would stop them? How could he possibly watch idly as Xie Jue perished in the Capital?
The Crown Prince’s carriage slowly appeared at the forefront of the Forbidden Army. A eunuch raised the carriage curtain, letting the rain mist pour into the frame. The Crown Prince coldly declared, "Tonight, execute Xie Jue and Xie Xun. Anyone who tries to stop it—kill them without mercy!"
Fang Chuning raised his longsword horizontally, the gleam of silver cutting across thousands of troops. "Let me see who dares!"
"Fang Chuning, Marquis Zhenbei Xie Yuan has rebelled, punishable by extermination of nine clans. Does the Fang family also wish to rebel along with them?" Lin Cheng shouted urgently.
Lin Xiao, standing by Xie Xun’s side, froze with dread when he heard Lin Cheng’s words.
"Extermination of nine clans?" Fang Chuning sneered. "My nine clans—do you dare?"
The Crown Prince’s face darkened. With the Xie family revolting, if the Fang family rebelled as well, then Yanyang would truly be doomed. His plea to the Jiangnan Army for Marshal Fang to assist the emperor was based on the certainty that the Fang family wouldn’t turn traitor!
Rulers and subjects faced off icily, while the storm washed away the filth of the world.
"Aning, see you on the battlefield!"
Xie Jue’s voice shattered in the stormy rain. Fang Chuning did not turn back as he listened to the thundering hooves receding into the rain. Sitting atop Treading Snow Black Steed, his back remained straight and unyielding.
Ting Feng, the next time we meet, it will truly be on the battlefield!
In the eleventh year of Jianming, on the sixth day of June, Emperor Jianming passed away. Marquis Zhenbei was executed for rebellion, and Xie Zhang died with arrows pierced through his heart. On June seventh, Marshal Fang entered the Capital to assist the emperor. Fang Chuning guarded the vanguard and let Xie Jue and Xie Xun go.
At 5:15 AM, Marshal Fang led the Jiangnan Army and the four cities’ forces into the Capital. A carriage slowly entered the North City gate of the Capital, where it was stopped by the Forbidden Army. "Halt, who goes there?"
A slender hand lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a token engraved with the Lin family emblem. The Forbidden Army knelt immediately, "Greetings to the Young Master Lin!"
Even the torrential rain could not wash away the thick scent of blood that enveloped the Capital. When the curtain was lifted, a tall figure stepped down from the carriage and opened a bone umbrella.
At 5:45 AM on June seventh, the Young Master of the Lin family, Lin Helin, entered the Capital during the rain-soaked night.
The flags of the Yanyang Army and the tiger flags of the Northern Iron Cavalry were scattered across the ground, as the Forbidden Army and the Jinyi Guard carried corpses and cleaned the streets. If it weren’t for Lin Helin’s arrival, the carriage wouldn’t have been allowed into the Capital.
The streets were littered with corpses and severed limbs, blood flowing like rivers. Lin Helin held the umbrella tightly, his face grave. Amidst the distant trumpets and cries of battle, only ruin remained.
Lin Helin thought, the skies over Yanyang had changed!
On June eighth, Crown Prince Yuwen Jing ascended the throne. Everything was carried out with simplicity. The country’s name was changed to Yuan Hui, and the Crown Prince’s Consort Lin Yushu was declared Empress on the same day. Elder Lin fell gravely ill and passed away at midnight.
"Yanyang’s fate has run its course, there’s no saving it... Heaven does not favor Yanyang; its destiny is over!" The Lin clan relatives knelt by the bed as Elder Lin, in his final moments, remained anguished over the nation’s fate.
In Lian City, the Iron Cavalry stood guard at the gates. Xie Xun, who had lost too much blood, awakened two days later to find Fengyu resting by his bedside. For a moment, he wondered if his grievous injuries were causing him to hallucinate. "Ayu?"
Why was Ayu in Lian City?