The summer sun was scorching, but it did not slow the couriers' pace. Five dust-covered couriers rushed into a relay station.
The station soldiers routinely inspected their tokens and official documents, noting they came from Yunzhong Commandery.
Although the border war had ended, peace had not fully returned. First, Empress Chu's rebellion had implicated the Border Army, and the court had dispatched troops to surround Yunzhong Commandery, causing tension across regions. Fortunately, the commander was promptly replaced, stabilizing the situation.
Not long ago, another commander was appointed—again, the Empress's father. When the news spread, it sparked various discussions.
Frequent correspondence between the court and the Border Army was hardly surprising.
While letting their minds wander, the station soldiers efficiently returned the documents and handed over cooling, detoxifying herbal tea.
"Hot water and clean clothes are ready," they said. "Lads, freshen up first, then we'll prepare a meal."
But the couriers didn't head inside, merely downing the tea in one gulp.
"We'll rest at the next stop after dark," the lead courier said. "We need fresh horses now to continue immediately."
It seemed to be an urgent message. The station soldiers asked no further questions, knowing the couriers' schedules were strict and unforgiving. They quickly prepared fresh horses, stocked provisions and water, and the briefly rested couriers mounted again.
"Oh, this," the lead courier suddenly remembered, pulling a courier dispatch from his robe. "The General orders this posted and proclaimed along the route."
This was common—usually for victory bulletins or announcements of military achievements, like the flying victory bulletins during wartime, spreading joyful news to the capital.
In peacetime, it might be about bandit suppression.
The station soldiers took it with an affirmative response as the couriers spurred their horses and galloped away, kicking up clouds of dust.
Chatting and laughing, the station soldiers walked toward the main hall. One of them lazily unfolded the dispatch behind the others—it was large, formatted for public posting.
"Wonder what's newsworthy enough to announce along the route," the soldier remarked, holding it up. His first impression drew an exclamation: "Wow, the characters are huge—"
It was probably the usual affairs, which didn't interest them much. They preferred listening to travelers in the hall share regional gossip—like which official took three days off not due to stomach issues from overeating, but because his wife had beaten him.
"Whatever it is, just post it," they said casually. "Anyone curious can read it."
But as they spoke, the soldier behind them stammered, his voice stiff and dry: "Th-this... this can't be posted—"
Everyone turned to look. The soldier held the dispatch, which rustled violently, whether from the wind or his trembling.
"What's the message?" they asked, puzzled. "Why can't it be posted?"
The soldier looked up at them, stammering: "This seems to be... a proclamation denouncing a traitor—"
Denouncing? A proclamation? More confused, they crowded around to read the document in his hands.
"Empress Chu Zhao proclaims to all: The traitor Xie Yanfang conspired to murder Empress Chu Zhao, forged decrees to deceive the masses, coerced the Son of Heaven, monopolized court authority, harboring the heart of a wolf—"
Just these opening lines struck like a thunderbolt, stunning them all. The following words became a blur.
"What are you looking at?" "What good news?" "Is this the new courier dispatch?" "What does it say?" "Let me see too."The hall was filled with people resting, some coming in and others going out. Several couriers crowded at the entrance naturally drew attention, prompting onlookers to approach and inquire as they gathered around.
Hearing the questions, one courier snapped back to reality and instinctively shielded the dispatch in his hands.
"You can't look—" he shouted.
But it was too late. The dispatch had been unfurled, and the characters were written large and bold. Those who glanced over caught sight of the prominent line at first glance.
"Empress Chu Zhao issues a decree to all authorities: the traitor Xie Yanfang—"
Those frequenting the courier stations were officials who understood the implications immediately, and the hall erupted into chaos.
A proclamation of war!
The fugitive Empress Chu had resurfaced!
The fugitive Empress Chu was now rallying against Xie Yanfang!
The Station Chief, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stood under the corridor watching the chaotic crowd. He listened as a courier, who had struggled free from the throng, reported back clutching only a torn corner of the dispatch.
His face pale, the Station Chief stared blankly at the disorderly station, speechless and stunned.
"Hurry and disperse these people," the courier urged anxiously. "How do we stop them from spreading this?"
The Station Chief glanced at him and gave a bitter smile. "Stop them? Have you lost your mind? Don't you remember who delivered this proclamation?"
The courier froze, his already pale face turning ashen.
It was the couriers.
Soldiers from the Border Army.
"Clearly, Yunzhong Commandery and the Border Army are already under Empress Chu's control," the Station Chief said, his gaze shifting beyond the clamoring crowd into the distance. "Like a sudden clap of thunder, unstoppable."
……
……
The thunderous momentum was not confined to the courier stations.
On the bustling streets, a troop of soldiers galloped past. Their armor was neat, and colorful flags fluttered on their backs.
This was a rapid march.
Having grown accustomed to military movements from the previous war with Western Liang and the suppression of Prince Zhongshan's rebellion, the civilians quickly made way.
The cavalry sped through the streets without uttering a word or shouting, but as they passed each block, they flung their hands, sending scrolls tumbling to the ground.
The people on the street were startled, thinking the soldiers had dropped them, and called out urgently, but the troops vanished in the blink of an eye.
The scrolls were unsealed and scattered upon impact. A bold civilian picked one up and shook it open.
Those who were literate took one look and stared in shock.
Those who were illiterate asked those around them, and the literate ones who saw it recoiled as if they had seen a ghost.
"This—"
"This says it's Empress Chu's proclamation denouncing the traitorous Xie family—"
"Empress Chu? The Empress—"
"The Empress has returned—"
"The Empress declares the Xie family are the true traitors—"
Instantly, uproar and clamor exploded across the street.
By the time the authorities hurried to the scene, even if they retrieved the proclamations, they could no longer prevent their spread.
Not all rapid marches boldly traversed cities in broad daylight. Under the cover of night, some troops moved stealthily, their passage marked by faint whistling sounds through the air.
Amid the whistling, countless arrows shot forth like meteors.
The arrows carried thick sheets of paper that fluttered down like petals in mid-air, scattering and tumbling through the darkness, only to stir waves of unrest in the city by dawn.
……
……
Not only cities and towns were affected; even villages were not overlooked.
At dawn, an elderly man gathering cow dung tremblingly picked up a sheet of paper from the ground. The characters on it were large and intimidating, but the prominent official seal made the illiterate old man deem it important. He hurried back to the village, searching for someone who could read.
"Quick, see what it says! Is it a new notice from the authorities?"In this village, only a few children studying in the town were literate. The children, initially unhappy about being woken up to read something—since they hadn't studied long and weren't very good at it, yet the villagers always assumed that attending school meant knowing everything—perked up as they approached the paper.
"If you don't know how, you'll be scolded for not working hard, and your parents will give you a good beating," they grumbled.
But as they drew near the paper, their moods lifted instantly.
"I recognize all these words," they exclaimed happily, their reluctance gone as they read aloud: "Empress Chu, victimized and forced to flee; the traitorous Xie family has seized the court. Now I return to punish the wicked and eradicate evil. I inform the villagers: do not panic or cause disorder, each remain in your place, and await peace quietly."
So many words, and they read them all in one breath—how impressive they were!
The children puffed out their chests and stood tall, waiting for their families and neighbors to praise them.
But the families and neighbors stood frozen, their expressions blank, before suddenly scattering in a frenzy.
"Something big has happened—"
"Fighting is about to break out—"
"Martial law, martial law—"
"Gather all the villagers—"
……
……
The world seemed to grow noisy all at once.
Even standing deep in the mountain forest, one could sense that the atmosphere had shifted.
Ding Dachui set down the rope in his hand, squinting at the winding mountain path below. In the time it took for one incense stick to burn, he saw horses galloping past, people rushing by with carts and carriages, and others hurriedly carrying loads or holding children.
Such a remote place rarely saw so many passersby.
If this secluded area was crowded, it meant trouble might have erupted elsewhere, driving people here for refuge.
"Ding Si—"
A loud shout snapped Ding Dachui out of his thoughts. He turned to see a fellow villager.
"Slacking off again?" the villager said. "You haven't caught a single prey today. How can you call yourself a hunter like this?"
Ding Dachui grunted, "Take it slow."
"Slow? It's been ages, and you can't even bag a rabbit," the villager lamented, deeply concerned. "You came to rely on your great-aunt, but she's poor and can't support you. You have to provide for her and find a livelihood. Otherwise, how will you support a family? How will you marry? Let me tell you, Old Yang's eldest daughter from the east end of the village has taken a liking to you. But if you can't afford a house of your own, she won't squeeze in to sleep with you and your great-aunt—"
As the villager rambled on, Ding Dachui listened half-heartedly, then suddenly interrupted him.
"Listen, what's that sound?" he said.
The villager paused, asking, "Did prey fall into a trap?" He pricked up his ears but heard no animal cries—the forest was quiet, with only occasional bird calls.
The birdsong was clear and drawn-out.
Just as the villager was about to speak, Ding Dachui suddenly mimicked a bird call, startling him.
"You think that'll fool the prey?" the villager chuckled, ready to patiently instruct him. "That won't work—"
Before he could finish, Ding Dachui emitted another bird call, louder, sharper, and slightly hoarse than before—
Birds in the forest responded with calls of their own.
"Are you trying to learn bird calls?" the villager said again. "Birds aren't worth much. If you want to make money, you need rabbits or pheasants—"
His words were cut short as Ding Dachui tossed the rope to him, saying, "Brother Tieniu, I'm leaving."
Leaving? The villager stared in surprise, then hurriedly added, "Don't give up on yourself. Hunting isn't something you learn in a day or two. You need patience."Ding Dachui grinned at him, approached, took the bow and arrows from his hands, and swept his gaze over the mountain forest. Suddenly, he raised his hand and shot an arrow.
As the arrow flew, the bushes nearby rustled and shook violently. A rabbit with an arrow lodged in its back darted out, then collapsed motionless.
"Hunting requires steadiness, but you must also act swiftly. Brother Tieniu, your archery is excellent, but you tend to hesitate. Be more decisive next time," Ding Dachui said, shoving the bow and arrows back into his neighbor's hands before striding away.
Was he teaching him how to hunt? The neighbor stood dumbfounded and called out, "Ding Si'er, where are you going?"
Without turning back, Ding Dachui waved a hand and replied, "Going hunting."
Hunting? Weren't they already hunting? The neighbor watched as the frail, listless man suddenly became as agile as a wild hare, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
...
...
Couriers that even pursuers couldn't catch up to.
Mysterious troops emerging from nowhere in the night.
Proclamations scattered across towns, being recited with rhythmic cadence by people.
Rhyming warnings of impending war and urgent evacuation spreading by word of mouth through villages and countryside.
It was as if a blazing arrow had been shot from the Border Commandery, igniting a raging fire along its path, sweeping straight toward the capital to encircle it.
...
...
Three commanderies outside the capital stood on high alert, with troops erecting multiple checkpoints. Anyone passing through was subjected to rigorous inspections, carried out with extreme ferocity.
However, upon seeing the official identification documents of this group of travelers, they tempered half of their ferocity, replacing it with peculiar expressions.
"General Liang," the leading officer said, "My condolences."
Liang Qiang's expression was wooden, a stark contrast to his usual gentle and courteous demeanor. He ignored the officer, who didn't seem bothered by his attitude and led his men away.
"Pitiful, really."
"Didn't even make it to the Border Army before it was gone."
"His father is still in the Border Army—who knows what's happened to him now—"
"He certainly wouldn't have escaped. Empress Chu now harbors deep hatred for the Liang family, especially since a Liang daughter has become Empress—"
"No discussions. Get back to work immediately."
Amid the shouts, the clamoring troops dispersed, but Liang Qiang's expression remained grim.
"Young General Liang," a guard whispered, "Do we continue forward?"
Forward? To do what? Xie Yanfang had appointed him as a general of the Border Army, but now Empress Chu had seized control of it. What purpose would going serve? To throw his life away? Liang Qiang rose woodenly. "Return to the capital."
"But what about General Liang..." a guard couldn't help but ask.
Liang Qiang shot him a glance, and the guard fell silent.
"How can personal attachments outweigh duty to the state?" he said, then mounted his horse and took one last look toward the distant northwest.
He and his father had come this far—they couldn't both end up dead.
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