On the northeastern border, Jianxing Pass.
Qi Yanzhu felt as though he were dreaming when he received the imperial decree.
He had thought he would never have a chance to rise again in this lifetime, yet here he was, faced with this unexpected turn of events. The Heavens bless the worthy, he thought to himself.
From the eunuch who delivered the decree, Qi Yanzhu learned of a name he had never heard before—the current Grand Tutor and Imperial Preceptor, Su Yi.
Qi Yanzhu couldn’t understand why Su Yi had chosen him. Could it really be as simple as valuing his military skills? He found it hard to believe that anyone from the corrupted court of the capital could act so selflessly. He still vividly remembered the indifference and disregard he faced when he was exiled from that place.
In this world, could the virtuous truly gain any support? Clearly, people are more willing to support the powerful.
Qi Yanzhu didn’t consider himself the type to sit and wait for fate to run its course. Since the opportunity was right before him, how could he not seize it?
Without delay, after sending off the eunuch who delivered the decree, Qi Yanzhu immediately delegated military affairs, gathered a team of personal guards, packed his belongings, and set out overnight, heading straight for Xuanyang Prefecture.
Meanwhile, Ying Gutong was filled with a thousand and one grievances back in Liangzhou. In the end, he had no choice but to comply with the imperial decree and set out for Xuanyang Prefecture.
When Ying Gutong departed, Qi Zongbi didn’t even bother to see him off. Rumor had it that Ying Gutong flew into a rage at the city gates, accusing Qi Zongbi of being a self-serving scoundrel. He ranted that Minister Qi had begged him to detour to the North Watching Pass the moment Minister Qi felt like he was in trouble.
Now that the war had taken an unfavorable turn, the court had started to lay blame. Ying Gutong had become the first scapegoat under the emperor’s knife.
Meanwhile, Qi Zongbi acted as though they were strangers in order to protect himself.
No one cared enough to investigate whether Ying Gutong’s accusations were true or false. The officials who came to see him off at the city gates did so more out of courtesy for past associations and to fulfill social formalities. But once Ying Gutong left the city gates, whether they would acknowledge him in the future was another matter entirely.
However, Ying Gutong’s words made the officials realize that it had been a number of days since they had last seen Qi Zongbi. Those who were unaware of what was going on were understandably puzzled, while others, who had caught wind of certain rumors, wisely chose not to say anything.
Qi Yanzhu was someone who knew how to seize opportunities, and Qi Zongbi was not the type to sit and wait for his fate either. Thus, he was busy using the entirety of the remaining time to make arrangements within the military, ensuring he wouldn’t be left completely powerless when Qi Yanzhu arrived.
He certainly didn’t buy into the naive rhetoric about co-governing the army with Qi Yanzhu—in an effective military, there would only be one voice that mattered.
Although Qi Zongbi had long expected the court to come after him, it seemed to have happened faster than anticipated. Sitting at his desk, he massaged his aching temples, surrounded by piles of documents.
Initially, he had assumed the court would swiftly recall him to the capital, but instead, he was ordered to stay in Liangzhou. After the initial confusion and slight surprise, he came to terms with it.
Perhaps he was allowed to stay because recalling him to the capital would create complications for those around the emperor—they couldn’t easily explain away their involvement in his wife’s death. If the court failed to properly address this, it would risk disheartening the ministers and causing greater unrest.
Qi Zongbi’s breathing grew heavy as he mourned his wife. He was not a heartless man, but when forced to choose between the nation and his family, he had always placed the nation first.
Irritation surged uncontrollably within him. Qi Zongbi recalled a line from a secret letter sent from the capital: Grand Tutor Su Yi may be the mastermind.
"Su Yi, is it..." Qi Zongbi slowly wrote the name on a piece of paper, then crumpled it into a ball and tossed it aside.
"A self-righteous fool."
Qi Yanzhu and his entourage had arrived in Xuanyang Prefecture several days earlier. Since they were part of the army, they stayed at the city’s garrison quarters.
The Governor of Xuanyang Prefecture warmly welcomed Qi Yanzhu and his entourage. After all, it was already certain that Qi Yanzhu would take over the Liangzhou Prefecture war effort.
As long as Liangzhou held, this battle would pave the way for a smooth career ahead. For officials, recognizing those that warranted respect was a matter of survival.
Although the deadline for handing over the military command had long passed, Qi Yanzhu seemed entirely unbothered.
One of his personal guards asked, "General, why aren’t you worried at all?"
Qi Yanzhu replied with a smile, "Our Marshal Ying seems rather attached to Liangzhou and is in no rush to leave. Don’t concern yourself. If he misses the opportunity and delays our defense, His Majesty will see to it that justice is served."
Ying Gutong must have understood this well. Despite his immense reluctance, he did not stall for too long. After dawdling on the road for several days, he finally arrived in Xuanyang Prefecture.
Ying Gutong was still a Marshal, so the Governor personally greeted him outside the city. Qi Yanzhu’s guards suggested he join them, but he refused. "Why should I go? Rushing to receive the military command token would make me look desperate, wouldn’t it? Let’s wait here—Ying Gutong will bring it to me."
It wasn’t until midday that a squad of cavalry appeared in the distance, heading toward the garrison quarters.
"Marshal Ying has arrived," a guard reported.
Qi Yanzhu donned his armor and led his men out of the garrison. From afar, he saw an aging general on horseback looking toward him.
"Marshal Ying"—Qi Yanzhu cupped his hands and greeted him with a smile—"It has been three years since we last met. I trust you’ve been well?"
Ying Gutong looked haggard. His former vigor was entirely gone and he seemed to have aged several years overnight, his once black-and-white hair now completely frosted with white.
He snorted coldly, pulled the military command token from his robe, and casually tossed it to Qi Yanzhu. "Qi Yanzhu, spare me that smug face. Whether you can hold onto your position as Strategist General is still unknown."
Qi Yanzhu caught the military command token effortlessly and smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Marshal Ying. Since His Majesty has entrusted me with this great responsibility, it shows his faith in me. Please watch carefully how I fight this battle, one that will be remembered forever."
These words struck a nerve with Ying Gutong, whose face darkened even further. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to respond, but no words came out. Finally, he snorted heavily, cracked his whip harshly on his horse, and rode off without looking back.
"Safe travels, Marshal Ying—I won’t see you off." Qi Yanzhu’s distant voice lingered in the air.
After Ying Gutong’s group had completely departed, one of Qi Yanzhu’s guards approached him and asked, "General—what’s our next move?"
Qi Yanzhu gently stroked the military command token in his hand and smiled. "Be prepared. We will march to Liangzhou Prefecture immediately."
As the guards left to carry out his orders, Qi Yanzhu muttered to himself, "Whether we soar to the heavens or are buried in the dirt... it all depends on this battle."