The corvée labor in the Border Commandery was arduous—reinforcing city walls, fortresses, and repairing roads. Especially after the outbreak of war, the labor became even more burdensome, as if walls, fortresses, and roads were perpetually in disrepair. Local officials seemed intent on forcing laborers to work day and night without rest.
However, the war frequently interrupted the labor. Since the afternoon wolf-smoke alarm had driven them back into the fortress, they had not ventured out again until dusk.
From the highest vantage point, they could see distant flames, and the biting wind faintly carried the sounds of clashing weapons. Soon, both the flames and the sounds of battle faded away.
Not long after, the order to lift the alarm was issued.
"Those damned Western Liang bandits," the garrison commander cursed, then sighed in admiration. "But our Great Xia men are truly mighty."
Turning his gaze to the laborers crouching nearby, he grew irritated. Though the alarm had been lifted, it was now dark, and lighting torches for work was too risky for safety.
"Get lost, you criminals!" the commander snapped angrily.
The laborers scattered at once. Being cursed was nothing compared to the joy of having barely worked that day. Still, the commander's displeasure meant they would face some hardship—for instance, the meat and vegetable soup they should have received that evening was replaced with watery porridge.
"The entire Yunzhong Commandery is fighting the enemy with all its might, and soldiers have given their lives. You criminals should be grateful to be alive and have something to eat," the commander roared.
His followers cheered in agreement, shouting, "The commander is mighty!"
"That old bastard," one of the brothers muttered under his breath, clutching his bowl of clear, thin porridge. "What’s so mighty about bullying us? If he’s so brave, let him go fight the enemy."
Liang Qiang nudged him with his elbow, signaling him to keep quiet, then cautiously scanned their surroundings. The laborers were all convicts—of every kind—
If they were reported for another offense, they could die here without anyone knowing.
The brother fell silent and began sipping his porridge. But when they returned to their quarters, there was a surprise—Second Master Liang had returned.
Not everyone was assigned to hard labor. While the young and strong toiled as laborers, the elders of the Liang family were given other tasks, such as cleaning official residences.
Not only had Second Master Liang returned, but he had also brought two roasted chickens. In their small, cramped hut, the sound of drooling was almost audible.
"Father, did Uncle give these to you?" Liang Qiang asked, ignoring the tempting aroma of the chicken and pressing urgently, "Has he found a way to get us out of here?"
Minister Liang’s crime had implicated the entire family. However, after being exiled to the border, Minister Liang himself avoided the hardships of labor and the humiliation of being ordered about—not because his reputation still held sway, but because he had offered his daughter to a local gentry shortly after arriving, securing a comfortable residence in the city.
Another brother, drooling over the chicken, nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! Tell Uncle to find more families. Our family has daughters we can offer too."
Liang Qiang glanced at his younger sister, curled in their mother’s arms in a corner. The child, exhausted and chilled, had fallen into a deep sleep, undisturbed even by the scent of roasted chicken. Yet her lips twitched occasionally, as if she were dreaming of eating something delicious.
"By the time she grows up, we’ll already be dead from this hardship," he said grimly, turning to his father. "Father, if we can’t offer daughters, will Uncle abandon us?"
Second Master Liang quickly reassured him, "No, no, he won’t. Your uncle has asked his son-in-law for help. I no longer do cleaning—I’ve been assigned as a clerk."
A clerk—that meant he was once again a scholar.The brother who had been drooling earlier clapped his hands joyfully. "Great! Father has escaped. When our sister grows up and marries into a good family, we'll be free from forced labor."
Second Master Liang nodded with a smile. After being convicted, daughters were more useful than sons. Sons with criminal status couldn't marry into powerful families, but daughters could - whether as replacement wives or concubines, hidden away in inner quarters where no one would know, yet bringing many benefits.
His only regret now was not having taken more concubines and fathered more daughters.
He called to the young men: "These were given to me by the county magistrates."
Actually, the county officials had intended to reward the soldiers today, but when the soldiers didn't show up, the food couldn't go to waste. He had shamelessly pushed forward and was spotted by the county magistrate, who gave him two roasted chickens.
In this border town, the roasted chickens were crudely prepared, but to young men who hadn't seen meat for months, they were delicacies. They swarmed forward, tearing at the chickens with their hands.
Liang Qiang didn't join the rush. Instead, he walked out and returned to his cold little room, taking out a tattered government notice from under his pillow.
It announced the late Emperor's passing, the new Emperor's ascension, and the appointment of the new Empress.
Chu family's daughter, Chu Zhao.
Liang Qiang's gaze swept over this line.
The notice described how the Chu daughter had shown bravery and wisdom, wielding a sword and riding a horse to protect the Crown Prince's grandson.
He could almost see that girl fighting her way out of the darkness, just as she had faced the scholars stirred up by the Third Prince - neither retreating nor avoiding confrontation—
Truthfully, his memories of this girl were few. Mostly from watching the commotion at a tavern, when the girl suddenly looked at him and said: "Young Master Liang Qiang isn't afraid of hardship - he can wield a brush off horseback and swing a sword on horseback—"
At that moment, the girl became clear in his eyes, clearer and clearer, until—
The Crown Prince's grandson with Xie family blood became Emperor, and the Chu daughter who was close with the Xie family became Empress.
How wonderful, how wonderful to be close with the Xie family.
Being close with the Xie family meant rapid promotion and soaring success. Opposing the Xie family meant conviction, downfall, exile, and sinking into the muddy depths.
The tattered notice crumpled in his hand, becoming even more fragmented.
A sudden knocking sound came from the broken door, making the young man in the room startle and turn around.
"A-Qiang." His father's voice came from outside.
Why was Father here?
Liang Qiang hurriedly opened the door to see Second Master Liang standing outside, still carrying the aroma of roasted chicken.
"What's wrong, Father?" Liang Qiang asked nervously.
Second Master Liang looked hesitant. "There's something I can't decide. I want to discuss it with you."
Liang Qiang quickly asked: "What is it, Father?"
Second Master Liang said quietly: "I met an old acquaintance who now holds some power in Yunzhong Commandery. He's willing to offer me a position."
He looked at Liang Qiang as he spoke.
"It's not a position obtained by selling daughters."
"Nor is it a position gained by flattering superiors."
"And it's certainly not a position earned by writing."
Just these few words made Liang Qiang's whole body tingle. He asked: "Then by what means?"
Second Master Liang looked at him: "By risking our lives."
...
...
In the deep night, Second Master Liang's earthen house was again filled with family members, though this time there were no roasted chickens to eat. The lingering meat aroma in the room didn't make anyone drool.
"They want us to join the army?" a young man exclaimed quietly, trembling slightly whether from cold or fear. "This is sending us to our deaths."Liang Qiang said, "Joining the army doesn't necessarily mean death. Look at all the soldiers out there."
Another young man smiled bitterly. "Ah Qiang, others are others. We are the Liang clan—criminals, and we bear a grudge against the Xie family, the current Imperial Uncle."
The law couldn't execute them, but the Xie family had countless ways to ensure their demise.
"Fighting to protect our homeland and country, even if the Xie family is the Imperial Uncle, they can't trouble us over personal grudges," Liang Qiang argued. "Besides, even if we die, we can cleanse our criminal status."
The young man smiled bitterly. What use was cleansing their status if they were already dead?
Although when they were first convicted and exiled, everyone claimed they'd rather die than endure humiliation, in the end, no one had chosen death.
Life was hard, but enduring it was still better than dying. At least alive, they could eat porridge every month and occasionally enjoy roast chicken. Dead, they'd have nothing. Moreover, life seemed to be gradually improving—
"How is it improving?" Liang Qiang raised his voice. "By sending our girls to be playthings for the elderly? By becoming clerks despite our extensive learning? By becoming live-in sons-in-law? Is that the 'good life'? Don't forget, we are the Liang clan of Mount Liang!"
Perhaps unable to withstand the vibration of his voice, the paper on the broken window rustled loudly.
From outside came a shout: "Everyone, sleep! Who's making noise?"
Second Elder Liang puffed out the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing.
"Ah Qiang," an older clansman whispered, "everything in this world rises and falls, lives and dies. The Liang clan of Mount Liang started with nothing too. As long as people survive, you and your children's generation will someday restore the Liang clan—"
Liang Qiang scoffed. "That won't be the Liang clan of Mount Liang anymore. It'll just be commoners named Liang, unworthy of being called a clan."
His words silenced the room again.
"Since our Liang clan still has some use left, we have one more opportunity, one more path," Liang Qiang stood up and declared. "We either go achieve merits and restore the Liang clan's glory, or we die in battle—"
He looked at the young men in the darkness.
"Those who find life here unbearable, follow us."
"Those who can still endure, stay and care for the women and children."
...
...
Due to the war, not a single light was visible in the night. Standing outside the fort, one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
"Sir," someone whispered in the darkness, "will these cowards from the Liang clan dare to come?"
A figure shrouded in a large cloak and hood, warming their hands with their breath, replied, "Whether they come or not, we lose nothing. Without them, we'll just select others."
As they spoke, another person nearby murmured, "They're here."
They turned to look back into the darkness.
...
...
In the end, only Liang Qiang and his son stepped forward.
"Uncle," a young man seeing them off whispered in explanation, "it's not that everyone is afraid to die—"
Liang Qiang cut him off coldly. "Being afraid to die isn't shameful. Just say it outright."
The young man sighed helplessly. "Ah Qiang, you're so full of resentment now, you've lost your reason."
Liang Qiang laughed, looking at this brother. "So Fourth Brother has already submitted. I never expected it. Back home, when Grandfather praised me just once more, you were so unconvinced and challenged me for half a year. I admired your determination then, but it turns out it was nothing special."
The young man showed no shame or anger, simply stating, "It was just ignorant arrogance."He fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"Moreover, the decline of our Liang family has allowed me to see people's true faces. They wanted our downfall for profit, so what motivates those willing to help us now? I don't believe this old acquaintance is truly doing this out of—"
"Even if it is for profit, so what? Isn't everything in this world driven by profit?" Liang Qiang said coldly.
The Second Master Liang smiled nearby, signaling to the young man: "Ah Si, you should go back now. Everyone has their own aspirations and choices. Since the decision has been made, there's no need to say more."
The young man stood rooted to the spot, watching as Second Master Liang strode forward into the night with Liang Qiang.
"It's not about profit, nor is it about ambition," the young man sighed helplessly. "Beyond these, think about yourself—how can you be so certain that going there will lead to achieving merit and establishing a career? Second Uncle, we have never set foot on a battlefield before."
......
"Second Master Liang." The man in the night smiled as he bowed in greeting. Rising, he lifted his hood to reveal an unremarkable face, weathered by the harsh conditions of the Border Commandery. Even his accent bore traces of long years spent there. "It has been many years. I never imagined we would meet again here in Yunzhong Commandery."
Second Master Liang replied, "This is what they call the unpredictability of life. Back then, I merely spoke a word on your behalf, and you still remember it."
The man bowed once more. "That word from you, Second Master, allowed me to bypass three additional days of waiting and enter the military department directly, securing the assignment I needed. Otherwise, I might still be drifting aimlessly, struggling to survive. So, Second Master, this is not me helping you—it is you helping yourself."
Second Master Liang quickly reached out to support him, and the two clasped hands, their shared understanding rendering words unnecessary.
The man continued, "Moreover, I deeply admire your courage, Second Master, in abandoning the scholar's brush for the soldier's sword. While I am helping you find an opportunity, this opportunity is exceedingly dangerous—it is a gamble with one's life. I feel uneasy—"
Second Master Liang interrupted him, "Brother Cai, do not say such things. If you do not disdain this scholar as useless, I am still capable of riding and archery. Though my hands have never been stained with blood, I will not hesitate to kill a Western Liang bandit for the sake of our country and people."
Magistrate Cai laughed heartily. "Second Master, you jest. To have these hands kill only one Western Liang bandit would be a waste. On the battlefield, you will naturally serve as an official or a commander, strategizing and planning, with these hands slaying countless Western Liang bandits."
Under the torchlight, Second Master Liang could not conceal his surprise. To think this old acquaintance could now arrange for him to hold an officer's position—he had become so influential.
He could barely recall those earlier days, remembering only an insignificant, low-ranking soldier.
"This is how it is in Yunzhong Commandery," Magistrate Cai said with a bold expression. "Wealth and honor are sought in peril. As long as one fears not death and earns military merits, one can rise rapidly, and no one can stand in the way."
A look of yearning appeared on Second Master Liang's face, while the young man behind him shone with even brighter eyes.
Noticing this, Magistrate Cai smiled and turned to the young man. "However, the young master is too youthful. It would be difficult to arrange an officer's position for him—"
Liang Qiang stepped forward, cutting him off. "I do not want an officer's position. I will earn my rank through the merits of killing the enemy."
Magistrate Cai nodded. "Excellent. Hardship has not worn away the Liang family's spirit." With that, he turned and called for his attendants.
From the shifting shadows of the night, someone emerged leading horses.
Liang Qiang clenched his hand at his side, took a deep breath, and strode resolutely toward the horse.
Magistrate Cai cupped his hands toward Second Master Liang. "Second Master, please."Second Master Liang nodded and walked over as well, taking the reins and mounting his horse.
Magistrate Cai also mounted his horse: "Then I invite the Liang family's warriors to join me in slaying the bandits and achieving glory."
As he spoke, hooves clattered in disarray, and the group galloped away swiftly, soon vanishing into the night.
The outpost returned to quietude.
Whether it was the Liang family members stepping out earlier or their departure in the night, the patrols who were originally forbidden from speaking loudly and the outpost guards all seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The night enveloped the land as if nothing had ever happened.
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