Chapter Sixteen: Plum Blossoms Stained with Blood (Part One)

Li Fu glanced back at the few broken stone tablets buried amid wild grass. Here, in the imperial Shanglin Garden of the Eastern Capital, lay quietly dozens of those defeated in the struggle for the throne. All of this was the result of the emperor’s mercilessness...

The three wandered leisurely through Shanglin Garden; Yang Zixu’s other friend, Chu Ge, was not at the residence. He had left just after dawn, heading to the Tiance Office, apparently to report on military matters.

...

Along the way, Li Fu and Jiang Moyuan conversed happily. One was a promising young talent of the Tiance Army, who had followed Marquis Wu in campaigns since the age of nineteen and earned many military honors, considered a candidate for the future Eight Divine Generals. The other was a disciple of the Grand Tutor, now the young master of Tiance, and both benefited greatly from each other in discussions on strategy, battlefield simulations, and martial cultivation.

...

“I’ve heard the young master is well versed in military strategy. Earlier, Zixu told me you immediately discerned Shen Ce’s intention to ‘sustain war with war’? Even after the supply lines to the northern frontier were cut, Marquis Wu considered this approach, but to this day, the matter remains unresolved,” Jiang Moyuan asked solemnly in the garden beside the Plum Orchard.

“To be honest, I didn’t dare think that at first, but there was a certain arrangement by Shen Ce I couldn’t understand,” Li Fu replied thoughtfully.

“Which arrangement?” Jiang Moyuan inquired.

“Yongguan…”

“Yongguan? Wasn’t that related to the shortage of provisions before the decisive battle?”

“Yes, Yongguan. I’m not clear on the army’s provisions, but last April, the command of the Rongdi was truly questionable. Judging by their strength and route, the Rongdi army was almost trapped by Shen Ce’s forces in Tianliang County. Though the Rongdi managed to break out, they retreated to Yongguan. It was later confirmed that when the Rongdi army was besieged in Tianliang, there were at most tens of thousands of Rongdi defenders in Yongguan. If Shen Ce had forcibly taken Yongguan, the Rongdi would have had no choice but to withdraw, even if they didn’t want to. But the strange thing is...” Li Fu paused in thought before continuing.

“So that means… Yongguan was practically an empty city!” Yang Zixu exclaimed, startled by Li Fu’s words, inadvertently swallowing the plum pit he’d just put in his mouth.

“Even so, with thick walls and a strong fortress, as long as there were thirty thousand defenders, it would be difficult to take,” Jiang Moyuan shook his head, disagreeing with Li Fu.

“It could be taken,” Li Fu affirmed, clearing his throat before elaborating,

“Less than twenty li from Yongguan lies Dongwu Mountain. Its northern side used to be vast farmland, with the Wei River behind it. During the reign of Taizong, the local magistrate diverted the Wei River to irrigate the fields. During the reign of the Holy Empress, frequent floods prompted a change and the river no longer flowed there. Though the farmland was abandoned, the irrigation channels remained. Stationing ten thousand soldiers to dam the area, with another ten thousand to clear the old canal and connect it to the Wei River, the waters could flood Yongguan. The whole process would take just three hours. Once done, Yongguan could be taken effortlessly, and from there, the army could advance north, passing through Qingcheng and Baima Counties, striking straight into the Rongdi’s rear.” Li Fu patiently used the teapot and cups in the pavilion to sketch a rough marching route.

“The strange thing is, while the Rongdi army was trapped in Tianliang, our Tang only had Shen Ce directly confronting them on the northern frontier, and the Yu Ling Army had withdrawn to Liangcheng. The Rongdi needed only to reinforce from the rear with a hundred thousand troops, then emerge from Yongguan. Liangcheng had no natural defenses and could not withstand such an assault, nor was there any nearby support. Once Liangcheng fell, the Rongdi could sweep south unimpeded...” Li Fu fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

“If I were them, I would certainly have marched that way. Once the northwest third of the cities were occupied, whether Yu Ling or Shen Ce or even the Northern Court Protectorate, they would all be cut into pieces, unable to support each other. Then, by concentrating forces for extermination, the entire northwest would fall into Rongdi hands. That’s why, as soon as Marquis Wu entered the northern frontier, he recovered Yongguan at the first opportunity.” Li Fu used objects on the table to create an improvised sand table, explaining carefully.

Jiang Moyuan and Yang Zixu exchanged glances, each seeing terror in the other’s eyes. Sudden realizations flashed through their minds.

The movements of Shen Ce at that time were indeed abnormal. Even the Ministry of War had sent six inquiries about it. Several opportunities to annihilate the Rongdi were wasted, and the encounters seemed almost staged; despite some gains, the main force of the Rongdi was never seriously damaged. Moreover, the commander of Shen Ce in this campaign was also questionable.

...

Rumors gradually spread among the court and the public, whispering that Shen Ce and Rongdi were fighting a collusive war! Because of this, the Emperor directly ordered the Tiance Army to enter the northern frontier!

“Indeed, during the battle of Yongguan, our Tiance left wing was nearly decimated. If not for the last-minute reinforcement of the central army, it would have been impossible to take it in a short time,” Jiang Moyuan sighed.

Yang Zixu, hearing this, stretched lazily, bones cracking audibly. Then he stood up from the stone bench in the pavilion, dusted his clothes, and looked at the other two.

Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, even sharp.

“If it were me leading the army, I’d first eliminate Shen Ce behind us, then deal with the Rongdi. After fighting on the northern frontier for so long, and only defeating fifty thousand remnants of the Rongdi, if there was no secret collusion in Shen Ce’s camp during this Rongdi incursion, I simply don’t believe it!” He spoke casually, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Moyuan replied expressionlessly, “Zixu, you must remember: without absolute evidence, to accuse or attack fellow troops would be considered treason.”

Yang Zixu gently rubbed the back of his right hand with his left, sighing, “But if the Rongdi really followed Li Fu’s plan, then not only would the northwest of our Tang become scorched earth, but the entire frontier would be shaken.”

Li Fu and Jiang Moyuan gave no response, nor any reaction.

Yang Zixu was right; after occupying Yongguan, the Rongdi did not rush south but lingered on the frontier for a long time. Especially after Shen Ce entered, the two armies fought no major battles. When the Rongdi finally retreated to Yongguan, they stayed only long enough to resupply. Had they pressed south at once, the flames of war would have engulfed the entire northwest.

Furthermore, once the northwest was mired in war, there would be nothing to prevent Northern Yan and the tribes from seizing the opportunity to advance east. At that point… the Tang border would be plunged into endless chaos!

Chu Ge said nothing, deep in thought. What Yang Zixu said was not impossible, yet... how could Shen Ce possibly betray the country? The matter he and Zixu had just thought of was exactly that.

“Boom—Boom—”

A terrifying crash echoed from the front hall, followed by several muffled tearing sounds.

“What’s happening?”

“Seems something’s going on in the front hall.”

“Let’s go see!”

The three exchanged worried looks; unease filled the air as they hurried toward the front hall.

...

The floor of the front hall was littered with rubble and splintered wood. The marble stairs were covered in cracks.

Most striking was a gilded plaque, broken in two; one half lay on the ground, bearing a deep footprint, and the other was embedded in a column, raising clouds of dust.

As the dust settled,

Several dozen horsemen appeared outside the gates of Shanglin Garden.

They were dressed in finery, obviously of noble birth.

Their expressions were cold and indifferent, clearly not ordinary men.

A young knight, surveying the ruined gates, said impassively, “Why is this house of the dead still here?”

The knight was in his twenties, with refined features but a proud, cold aura. As he spoke, his gaze swept over the torn entrance, as if he cared nothing for the residence’s status in the Eastern Capital, nor for the consequences of his actions, radiating supreme arrogance.

Li Fu and his companions rushed from the back courtyard. Jiang Moyuan was stunned at the sight; hearing the young man’s words and recognizing him, a cold smile curled his lips, growing wider with each moment. He squinted and, saying nothing, turned back toward the rear courtyard.

Li Fu, too, glanced at the young man, then walked to the broken plaque, extracted the piece lodged in the column. On it was the character “Garden”—and the handwriting...

Li Fu recognized it instantly. Suddenly, the deep footprint on the ground caught his eye, and his gaze grew cold.

A chilly wind swept through, carrying the faint scent of plum blossoms from the Tiance Academy’s rear courtyard. It brushed Li Fu’s cheeks and cleared the dust from the plaque, at the same time chilling his eyes.

The words “Grand Tutor” emerged, and atop them, a glaring footprint!

Yang Zixu came to his senses and stared coldly at the mounted youth, asking, “Shangguan Yu! Are you tired of living?!”

The youth ignored him, looking down at Li Fu holding the broken plaque, and said indifferently, “Were you the one making trouble in front of my residence yesterday?”

Li Fu did not reply, for a gust swept past his side.