Love Beyond the Grave

Not many days later, Prince Ji could no longer restrain himself and led his troops to attack the Southern Capital. With his schemes exhausted and daggers drawn, he engaged in bloody combat with Prince Su. The streets of the Southern Capital were thrown into chaos, filled with the clamor of battle, and all the commoners shut themselves indoors. Fang Xianye, too, found himself trapped in Jin'an Temple and thus had no choice but to accompany the Emperor day after day.

The Emperor was indeed at the end of his strength, yet he stubbornly clung to life, waiting for his two sons to exhaust each other in battle before making his final move.

Fang Xianye, along with Zhao Gonggong, tended to the Emperor. Master Song Yun, well-versed in the art of medicine, came daily to check the Emperor’s pulse and deliver herbal remedies.

One evening, the Emperor finally awoke from his prolonged slumber. His gaze wandered aimlessly to the shadows of trees outside the window before he suddenly turned to Fang Xianye and asked, "Minister Fang, you once mentioned that you lost your parents at a young age. What exactly happened?"

Fang Xianye was taken aback. He bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, in my childhood, my family suffered from a severe drought that left our fields barren. While fleeing the famine, three of my family of five starved to death. My father sold me to a wealthy household as a servant, and I was resold multiple times thereafter. Fortunately, I encountered a kind-hearted scholar who took pity on my misfortunes. He redeemed me, taught me literature, and enabled me to study and sit for the imperial examinations."

"And what became of that scholar? And your father?"

"The scholar passed away from illness. Later, when I sought out my father, I discovered he had died the year after we parted."

The Emperor fell silent for a moment, then turned to study Fang Xianye. His weary eyes held no spark as he remarked, "Such a tragic past, yet you speak of it with such detachment."

"All men suffer in this world, not I alone." After a pause, Fang Xianye added, "I entered officialdom in the hope that there might be fewer wretched souls in the world."

In recent days, his responses to the Emperor’s questions had always been impeccably measured—neither boasting nor complaining, his conduct utterly composed. The Emperor lapsed into silence again, squinting as he watched the sunlight slowly fade. When only a faint, dusky glow remained, he murmured softly, "The sun is setting."

As Fang Xianye lifted his head to follow the Emperor’s gaze, the Emperor continued, "I know you are clever and capable, Fang Xianye. Your achievements in the Ministry of Revenue and in Yun and Luo Provinces have not escaped my notice, and your reform proposals are insightful. But Fang Xianye, this world has never lacked clever men—what it lacks is the right timing."

"Had I lived a few more years, your opportunity would have been better than it is now."

The Emperor’s tone was calm, as if he were speaking from the heart. Fang Xianye pondered his words and surmised that the Emperor had originally intended to bolster Prince Jin’s influence in the coming years, perhaps even to discreetly transfer Fang Xianye from Duke Pei’s faction to Prince Jin’s camp.

But given the current circumstances, all of that was now too late.

"You saved me, and in these days, you have not revealed my whereabouts. Song Yun says you are trustworthy, and his judgment has always been accurate—this time is no exception." The Emperor spoke lightly, then turned his gaze back to Fang Xianye. "Since that is the case, I shall grant you this opportunity."

"I shall draft an edict for you. For your meritorious service in protecting the Emperor, I confer upon you the title of Marquis of Zhonghe and appoint you as Vice Military Commissioner and Participant in the Administration of Government Affairs."

Fang Xianye was stunned. To be appointed as Vice Military Commissioner and Participant in the Administration of Government Affairs meant ascending to the ranks of the highest ministers—an unprecedented rise, the very position he had dreamed of since entering officialdom. He immediately kowtowed in gratitude, but beneath the shock and awe, suspicion overshadowed his joy.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that things were not so simple.The Emperor fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "I recall you and Marshal Duan have never been on good terms."

After a pause, the Emperor sighed as if lamenting, "Marshal Duan still hasn't returned yet."

The ominous premonition slowly grew in Fang Xianye's heart.

The envoy sent by the Emperor had naturally arrived at Duan Xu's camp long ago and, as expected, had "unfortunately" encountered bandits. Barely escaping with his life, he had lost the imperial edict and military tally. Duan Xu received the envoy courteously, expressing complete belief in his words. However, without seeing the military tally or edict, he could not withdraw his troops according to regulations.

After settling the envoy, Duan Xu carried on as usual, as if completely unaware of the situation in the Southern Capital. Ding Jin remarked that the envoy, having lost the military tally and edict, was already guilty of a grave crime. By all rights, he should have fled, yet he had rushed here at full speed to deliver the news, clearly valuing it more than his own life. The news was likely true.

Shi Biao grew somewhat worried and said to Duan Xu, "If the Emperor orders us back and we refuse, won’t we be held accountable later and lose our heads?"

Duan Xu crossed his arms, gazing at the geographical map of troop deployments on the table, and answered obliquely, "Shi Biao, what have our casualties been since we began the attack on Youzhou?"

Shi Biao scratched his head. Ding Jin glanced at him, shook his head, and answered instead, "The Returning Crane Army of 130,000 has lost 3,000 and has 9,000 wounded. The Accomplishing Victory Army of 70,000 has lost 800 and has 3,000 wounded. The Hall North Army of 100,000 has lost 5,000 and has 15,000 wounded. Total losses: over 8,800 dead and 27,000 wounded."

Duan Xu nodded and said, "We attacked while they defended. The terrain in Youzhou is complex, so our losses are far greater than Danzhi's. Though we’ve routed Danzhi and taken most of Youzhou’s cities, their main forces remain intact. If we withdraw now, the thirteen cities we captured will immediately fall back into Danzhi’s hands. Not only that, but neighboring Jingzhou and Qizhou might also suffer losses. So why did these 30,000-plus soldiers suffer and die?"

Are the lives of the Southern Capital’s nobles the only ones that matter? Are the lives of these soldiers who died on the battlefield worthless?

Duan Xu ultimately didn’t voice this treasonous thought. Instead, he looked up at Shi Biao with a bright smile.

"My soldiers will not have died in vain. The land I, Duan Xu, have taken, no one will make me surrender. If returning means losing my head, I’ll be the first to go—I won’t drag you down. Rest assured."

Shi Biao flushed with embarrassment and declared loudly, "My life belongs to Marshal Duan! Whatever the Marshal commands, I’ll obey. As long as my head remains on my shoulders, the Marshal’s will never fall!"

Ding Jin said coldly, "All talk, as usual."

Shi Biao immediately bristled with anger. Seeing his two subordinates about to quarrel again, Duan Xu turned to Ding Jin and asked, "Earlier, you mentioned some discussions in the Returning Crane Army. What’s the matter?"

Ding Jin recalled the issue and reported solemnly, "Recently, Danzhi soldiers suddenly became incredibly strong and impervious to blades. We’ve faced the toughest resistance since the campaign began, and the troops are full of doubts. Superstitious rumors are spreading wildly. With the crucial battle for Fujian City approaching, I’m concerned about morale."

Duan Xu clasped his hands and rested them against his lips, smiling brightly as he pondered. "Luda’s strategy is progressing well."Last time he came to the Northern Territory, few Han people knew of the Azure God. Now, upon his return, many Han people had already heard the legends of the Azure God, even attributing setbacks in battle to divine miracles. Had he arrived a few years later, many Han people might have been reciting the Scripture of Azure Words and embracing its doctrines.

"Let's finalize the battle plan first. I'll speak with them before the battle begins," Duan Xu said, pointing at the map.

The discussion lasted late into the night, with Duan Xu, Ding Jin, and Shi Biao strategizing over every possible scenario and arranging their troops. Their front had achieved near-total victory in previous battles, but most were merely routs—the main forces of Danzhi's army had suffered little damage. Fujian was the burial ground Duan Xu had chosen for Danzhi, where he intended to annihilate their main army.

Duan Xu effortlessly sketched Fujian's terrain with perfect clarity, leaving Shi Biao puzzled. How could Duan Xu know Fujian so well without ever having been there?

Duan Xu laughed. "What if I told you an immortal revealed it to me in a dream? Would you believe me?"

Shi Biao looked utterly bewildered. In such matters, Ding Jin was far more perceptive. Having followed Duan Xu from the Southern Capital to suppress bandits before coming to the Northern Territory, he was long accustomed to Duan Xu's mysteries. He simply patted Shi Biao on the shoulder and said, "Just listen."

Once everything was prepared, Duan Xu gathered the elite soldiers of the Returning Crane Army for a blood oath ceremony atop Mount Xingyun. The day was bright, and countless armored soldiers gleamed under the sun like a surging sea of steel.

Duan Xu stood atop the high platform, clad in silver-white armor, the Illusion-Breaking Sword at his waist clinking against the metal with each gust of wind. Under the vast sky, the armored figure seemed both insignificant and immense. Gazing at the elite troops below, Duan Xu smiled faintly and spoke.

"Since its founding, the Returning Crane Army has been under my command. Each of you is a soldier I personally trained. I am not much older than any of you, nor am I one for pompous solemnity. From the very first day, I told you that the most important judgment does not come from us but from our enemies. My name and the name of our Returning Crane Army must become the nightmares of our foes. Even in death, we shall die with laughter, mocking them—for they will bleed, weep, and kneel in submission before us."

"We have never lost a single battle. When we first trained with the Feather Formation Vehicles, many of you questioned their purpose—such massive war machines, such intricate tactics—what use were they? Yet year after year, we honed these tactics to perfection, ensuring our undefeated record in the Northern Territory. Danzhi's cavalry is formidable, true. The Hú Qì People grew up on horseback, and once they rode south with their proud horsemen, seizing seventeen of our provinces and slaughtering millions. Among those millions may have been our grandparents' forebears, countless of our kin. But now we have returned. We stand upon this land, and we will make them taste the fear we once endured."

"Some say they fear Danzhi's gods and ghosts. No—it is they who should fear! The bones of our ancestors, slain by the Hú Qì People, lie buried beneath our feet. Their ghosts fill the mountains, rivers, and seas. If they could speak, their voices would deafen the Hú Qì People and shatter their courage. If there truly are gods and spirits in this world, our strength would outmatch theirs ten thousandfold. We need only avenge our ancestors and wash away their grievances!""Now, six or seven-tenths of Youzhou is in our hands. Ahead lies the last stronghold, Fujian. After taking Fujian, capturing Youzhou will only be a matter of time. Where is Youzhou? It is the throat of Danzhi, a direct path to the Upper Capital of Danzhi. Those Hú Qì People in the royal palace should tremble in fear—even the sound of a spear dropping from our hands would startle them from their sleep. And shouldn’t they? They have committed heinous crimes, still enslaving our brothers. How can they sleep soundly and mock our helplessness?"

Duan Xu raised his hand and pointed toward Fujian City, enunciating each word clearly: "The army of Great Liang stands here today, determined to destroy Danzhi, reclaim the Central Plains, and avenge the dead!"

The wind carried his voice far, echoing through the valleys. Below the platform, soldiers raised their spears and halberds, roaring like a tidal wave: "Destroy Danzhi, restore China! Destroy Danzhi, restore China!"

Their eyes burned with fervor, their voices amplified by the valley’s echoes, shaking heaven and earth. A metallic taste rose in Duan Xu’s throat, but he calmly swallowed the blood and drew his sword, pointing it toward Fujian City. "Sound the drums and pass the order—we march at the hour of the Snake."

Ding Jin acknowledged the command.

Duan Xu descended from the platform, patting Ding Jin and Shi Biao on the shoulders. "I am not yet fully recovered, so I will not join the battle. I leave this fight in your hands."

The Returning Crane Army surged forward like a black cloud, pressing toward the heavily fortified Fujian.

Meanwhile, in the chaos and bloodshed of the Southern Capital, the Emperor, hidden in the Jin’an Temple, suddenly awoke from his slumber and grasped Fang Xianye’s arm. Startled, Fang Xianye turned to him. "Your Majesty, are you all right?"

The Emperor’s eyes were open, and he murmured, "I dreamed of the Empress Dowager..."

Fang Xianye hesitated, unsure how to respond, as the Emperor continued, "When the Empress Dowager was still alive, the Princess of Xihe occasionally visited the palace. I even held her child—Duan Shunxi. I held him too."

"All children feared me, except Duan Shunxi. It seems Commander Duan, from the very core of his being, holds no reverence for me or the royal family." The Emperor slowly turned his head toward Fang Xianye, his sickly, clouded eyes revealing a trace of malice. "He still hasn’t returned."