Volume One: Flames at the Border Chapter Forty-Six: Sudden Upheaval
Li Jun’s wrist dropped, his body stiffened, and he collapsed softly to the ground—he was already dead. He Yu sat paralyzed on the floor, tears long since dried, his heart hollow and empty.
Suddenly, someone shouted furiously, “Where has that dog Li Yu gone? Go catch him and bring him back!”
“Catch him, hack him to pieces, avenge the Master!”
“…Hack him to pieces…avenge…”
Li Jun was highly respected within the fortress; everyone obeyed him. Without waiting for orders, the soldiers spontaneously formed teams to pursue Li Yu, leaving only a few close attendants to watch over the scene.
Li Ling, weakly waving his hand, said, “You may all leave. Let me sit alone with Captain He for a while.”
The remaining attendants exchanged glances, then silently withdrew.
Li Ling seemed to have aged suddenly, and after a moment, he asked, “Captain He, you’ve been at the Chen fortress for over half a year now, haven’t you? Do you miss home?”
He Yu hesitated, realizing Li Ling was referring to Jinling. “I do miss home. I was planning to ask the Master for leave these days, to return for a while.”
Li Ling shook his head with a bitter smile. “Captain He, you are talented and value loyalty, but you’re still young and can’t lie. There’s no need to hide it from me. The Master sent you; I’ve known for a long time that the Master’s family plans to move south.”
He Yu, seeing the old man’s sadness, could not bear to deceive him further. He answered truthfully, “You guessed right, Master sent me to Jiangnan. As for myself, I have no strong opinion either way.”
Li Ling looked up at the sky, as if recalling old memories, and murmured, “Captain He, perhaps you don’t know—our Master was raised on his old mother’s milk. How could I not guess his intentions? But then, the two clans fell out, quarreling over trifles, and the Master slowly grew wary of my family…ah…his heart has long since left this place, yet he must bear the burden of such a vast fortress alone. Truly, it’s not easy for him.”
He Yu had not expected such entanglement between Chen Jing and Li Ling, and was unsure whether to comfort or advise him.
Li Ling stood up, sighing deeply. “I used to oppose the Master leaving behind such an estate and moving south. Yet just now, I understood: living well is more important than anything. Go and tell the Master, for others I cannot vouch, but our Li family is willing to move to Jiangnan with him.”
“I had four sons—three died, one fled. Only a grandson and granddaughter remain. I’ve had enough of days living on the knife’s edge, enough to last a lifetime. Jiangnan is peaceful, no war—it is a good place. To spend my remaining days as a wealthy man would suffice.”
Li Ling bent to carry his son’s lifeless body, staggering toward his home.
He Yu accompanied him, watching the old man’s pain and restraint, thinking, “The old Master has endured calamities yet remained unbroken—though not a great man, he is truly heroic.”
Back at home, Chen Qingyun happened to be present. Deng’er and she had put aside all previous misgivings, now calling each other sisters and getting along well. As long as He Yu nodded, the blessing of both wife and concubine would naturally come to pass.
Seeing the traces of tears on He Yu’s face, the two hurried over and asked what had happened. He Yu recounted the events. Deng’er felt little, but Chen Qingyun burst into tears—Li Jun had treated her as a little sister since childhood. Though she did not wish to marry him, she respected him deeply.
The soldiers searched all night but Li Yu managed to escape.
Such a large fortress as the Chen estate had, besides its regular gates, several secret passages unknown to outsiders, as a precaution. Li Yu, holding a high position, knew of one such passage—though long unused and difficult, it allowed him to flee.
With Li Jun dead and the murderer escaped, the fortress suffered a grievous blow, shrouded in an ominous atmosphere. He Yu conveyed Li Ling’s thoughts to Chen Jing, who was greatly pleased. With the plan to move south, his last doubts disappeared.
He personally sought out Li Ling to plan the migration, intending to relocate to the south as soon as possible. The fortress would be handed to those unwilling to leave.
Li Ling, meticulous in planning, suggested that to avoid weakening the fortress and inviting enemies, they should migrate in stages: first sending the elderly, women, and children, then gradually withdrawing the core forces, replenishing as they went. Though this would take longer, it ensured safety and flexibility.
Li Ling, over seventy and still so wise, impressed He Yu greatly.
He Yu proposed forming an alliance with Lianyun Stronghold, so the two could support each other and strengthen their positions. The plan settled, preparations for the migration began in an orderly manner.
He Yu was soon to head south and prepared gifts to bid farewell to his master at Lianyun Stronghold. Deng’er, recently, had been feeling tired, listless, unwilling to move even a step.
Ran Yu cherished Deng’er dearly. Fearing she might offend, Deng’er forced herself to mount a horse, but after only a few steps, she vomited violently and could not continue, so she remained at home. He Yu suspected Deng’er was ill and planned to ask the physician to examine her after saying goodbye to his master.
Arriving at Lianyun Stronghold, He Yu discussed the alliance—a win-win plan, and Ran Yu readily agreed. Then he spoke of the move to Jiangnan. Though Ran Yu was reluctant to part with He Yu, he fully supported the decision. He added, “Once things here are settled, I plan to head to Jiangnan myself.”
He Yu knew his master’s “big matter” referred to seeking vengeance against Murong Ke’s two sons, Murong Kai and Murong Shao. Ran Min had been captured by Murong Ke, now dead—so the sons must answer for their father’s crimes. Among the people, Murong Kai had a decent reputation, but Murong Shao was notorious. However, regardless of their character, He Yu naturally sided with his master and wished he might kill those enemies at once.
Ran Yu’s legs had recovered much; though he still lacked strength, he could walk without a cane and felt greatly relieved.
Yet Ran Yu’s plan to go south was news to He Yu. He asked the reason.
Ran Yu spat out four words with hatred: “The Imperial Jade Seal!”
The Imperial Jade Seal was renowned—the national treasure of the Chinese people, carved from the Heshi Jade by order of the First Emperor through his prime minister, Li Si. It bore the seal script, “Heaven’s Mandate Received, Long Life and Prosperity,” and served as the token of legitimacy for successive emperors. Possession conferred rightful rule; loss meant weakness and ridicule as an illegitimate ruler.
He Yu recalled the Imperial Jade Seal disappeared during the Later Tang, and as the Eastern Jin preceded them, it should still exist, though its connection to his master was unclear.
Ran Yu raged, “The late emperor destroyed Shi Zhao and seized the Imperial Jade Seal, founding his state upon it. When he was defeated, in desperation, he sent the seal south as a token to seek aid from the Southern Court. The Southern Court promised everything, tricked him out of the seal, yet never sent a single soldier. Thus, my Ran clan lost its home and country. The Southern Court’s treachery is worse than the Xianbei barbarians!”
The Southern Court he referred to was what later generations called the Eastern Jin.
He Yu thought, “Ran Min’s defeat was mostly his own fault. Judging from history, the Imperial Jade Seal could as well be called the Seal of Lost Nations. Yet the Eastern Jin’s breach of faith was truly contemptible.”
He Yu had studied much history and knew well the darkness of the Two Jin dynasties, the suffering of the people, and felt no affection for the Sima clan. He agreed, “The Sima clan is despicable. Once I reach Jiangnan and establish myself, I will assist you in reclaiming the Imperial Jade Seal.”
Ran Yu was overjoyed, laughing, “The seal is now in the inner palace—not easy to retrieve. But with your help, it may be possible.” He then asked after Deng’er’s health.
He Yu, uneasy, described her symptoms. Ran Yu had spent years only on martial arts and revenge, so he had no suggestions for everyday ailments. But a middle-aged guard beside him, one of the few married men among the warriors, offered, “It seems Deng’er is expecting.”
His words struck home. He Yu and his master exchanged a look—thinking it over, it seemed quite likely, and they both smiled.
Ran Yu burst out laughing, “I am to become a grandmaster! Yu, you must hurry home tomorrow morning and take good care of Deng’er. If anything happens, I will not forgive you.”
“In three days, I will bring gifts to see Deng’er at Chen Fortress.”
He Yu’s heart warmed. “Master, your visit itself will make Deng’er overjoyed; no need to worry about gifts. We have all we need.”
Ran Yu waved his hand. “I have my own plans.” He ordered a banquet to entertain his disciple.
After feasting, He Yu toured the stronghold, intentionally visiting the key figures. Though Lianyun Stronghold had few people, all were descendants of the Army of Survival—battle-hardened and formidable.
He Yu, with grand ambitions, needed their support, so forming good relations was essential. His reputation preceded him, as Ran Yu’s sole disciple and future leader of the stronghold. His courteous visits won many hearts.
The leaders, honored by his presence, arranged banquets in his honor. Though He Yu had already eaten well, he accepted their hospitality and drank heavily, ending up carried to bed, thoroughly drunk.
Too intoxicated to return to Chen Fortress the next day, He Yu stayed another day on the mountain. The previous night’s drinking had an unexpected effect: by day, rumors spread that “the young master, famed at Yanmen, has no airs and is loyal—he drank happily among his own, truly treating us as family.”
He Yu smiled to himself, “How easily those of high status win favor.”
Seeing that several families remained unvisited, he prepared gifts and made rounds, again drinking until he was tipsy, then returned to sleep, planning to leave early the next day.
He was sleeping soundly when loud knocking sounded outside his door. Before he could rise, the door was pushed open, and a cold wind swept in, dimming the lamp’s flame.
“Captain He…Captain He…Chen Fortress is gone…Chen Fortress is gone…sob…sob…”
“Captain He…Captain He…Chen Fortress is gone…Chen Fortress is gone…sob…sob…”
He Yu saw two men kneeling by the bed, covered in blood, wounds still bleeding—his own trusted South Gate soldiers. Behind them stood several men from the stronghold.
His head buzzed, all the wine evaporating into cold sweat. Glancing out the window, he saw darkness, unable to tell the hour.
As he dressed, he pressed urgently, “What happened? What’s wrong with Chen Fortress? Speak quickly!”
The two men wept, one cursing bitterly, “After that traitor Li Yu escaped, he somehow joined forces with the court’s Prince Zhao, Murong Lin, and brought the Xianbei army back by night!”
“Li Yu slipped in through the secret passage, opened the gates, and the Xianbei army poured in. Chen Fortress was completely unprepared and lost in an instant…” Overcome with emotion, he could not go on.
The other continued, “We were on duty at the South Gate, fought desperately to break out and come here with the news. Now…the barbarians are likely starting the massacre…”