The Road to Glory

Chapter 139: "What He Regained Was Truly the Former..."

Seeing that Wei Qishan also seemed to highly appreciate Xiao Li, Yuan Fang felt happy for Xiao Li and replied, "Indeed."

Xiao Li's stature stood out even among the crowd of martial generals. As he was attending a banquet today, he wasn't wearing armor but ordinary brocade robes, which he wore with an exceptional air of heroic nobility. Combined with his stern, unsmiling face, he was truly eye-catching.

He cupped his hands and said, "You flatter me, Marquis. With your countless military achievements, your prestige still intimidates the villains beyond the pass. My minor exploits are hardly worth mentioning before an expert."

Wei Qishan pointed at Xiao Li and said to Yuan Fang with a laugh, "Rare indeed—to possess such martial prowess while remaining so humble. Given time, this young man will surely achieve great things."

Anyone could see that Xiao Li had truly caught Wei Qishan's eye.

After Wei Qishan invited everyone to be seated, attendants guided the guests to their seats. Xiao Li was placed second from the left, right after Yuan Fang. Both Wei generals and righteous army leaders showed subtle changes in expression at this arrangement.

Once everyone was seated, the music of strings and pipes resumed. Maids dressed in elegant, plain attire stood at the back, then stepped forward with wine pots, slightly crouching to pour wine for the guests with graceful poise, as if they had stepped out of a mural.

The righteous army leaders who had emerged from harsh, impoverished lands had seen their share of dancing girls during their rise to power. But compared to these pristine, porcelain-like maids of Marquis Wei's residence, the swaying bare arms and slender waists they recalled now seemed vulgar and crude. Their respect for the Marquis's household instantly grew.

After the rewards were distributed based on merit and three rounds of drinks had been served, Wei Qishan suddenly said to Xiao Li, "I am more than two decades older than you, young friend. May I take advantage of my age and call you 'nephew'?"

Xiao Li replied, "It would be my honor."

Wei Qishan's attitude became even more cordial. "I see you are a decisive man, nephew, so I'll speak plainly. You are young and accomplished—are you married yet?"

The implication of this question was too obvious. The generals at the banquet unconsciously set down their chopsticks. Song Qin and Zheng Hu exchanged glances, both detecting a hint of trouble in each other's eyes.

Xiao Li still had half a piece of roasted lamb skewered on his dagger. Rubbing the patterns on the dagger's hilt, he answered, "Not yet."

Wei Qishan was greatly pleased. "I have a daughter who is seventeen. In earlier years, I couldn't bear to marry her off and wanted to keep her by my side a while longer. Unexpectedly, this indulgence has made the girl rather willful. Now I'm worried about finding her a suitable husband. Seeing your exceptional talent today, and though young, your temperament is exceedingly steady—I wish to propose this match. What do you think, nephew?"

After their initial surprise, the Wei generals weren't particularly astonished.

Xiao Li had made his name in the Youzhou campaign, achieving the foremost merit. The various righteous armies that had come to join were now under his command. By recruiting Xiao Li, they would essentially be recruiting the tens of thousands of troops under him.

If they only offered official positions and wealth, there was no guarantee this young man wouldn't eventually amass power for himself.

But a marriage alliance would smoothly resolve everything.

The righteous army leaders at the banquet had clearly realized this as well. For all of them, this proposal was a cause for mutual satisfaction.Xiao Li becoming Wei Qishan's son-in-law would allow Wei Qishan to fully absorb the righteous armies that had come to join him, and they would no longer need to worry about Wei Qishan's suspicion.

Just as everyone thought Xiao Li would immediately accept, he set down his dagger and said, "I am honored by the Marquis's kindness, but I have no plans to marry for now."

The smile on Wei Qishan's amiable face faded slightly, his gaze turning scrutinizing. "Why?"

Xiao Li replied, "My mother's death remains unavenged. I dare not start a family."

Fearing that Wei Qishan might take Xiao Li's words as an excuse, Song Qin stood up and clasped his hands in explanation: "The Governor's mother tragically died at the hands of Pei Song several months ago. The Governor led us north to seek refuge with you, Marquis, precisely to personally slay Bandit Pei and avenge this blood debt. His heart is not set on matters of romance at present. We beg your forgiveness, Marquis."

Wei Qishan studied Xiao Li for a long moment, his expression unreadable, and finally said, "It was presumptuous of me. I did not know of your mother's misfortune."

Since it was due to his mother's death, Xiao Li's refusal of the marriage proposal was somewhat understandable, and the atmosphere at the banquet did not become too tense.

Yuan Fang smoothed things over and urged everyone to continue feasting. Just as Song Qin breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his seat, he saw another group of people entering from behind the screen at the entrance.

"Your son has arrived late from the government office and missed the start of your banquet, Father."

The young man at the forefront wore brocade robes and a jade belt, his hair tied with a golden crown. His face appeared quite young, with a hint of arrogance and indulgence. From his words, everyone understood his identity.

However, the several scholars behind him did not seem like attendants; they appeared somewhat timid and hesitant. After entering, they nervously glanced around before lowering their heads and following closely.

Wei Qishan cast a cold glance at his son but, mindful of the generals present, did not embarrass him. "Take your seat," he said.

Wei Pingjin did not move. His gaze casually swept over Xiao Li, who was seated in the second seat on the left, and he said with a smile, "I am very happy for you, Father, for the great victory in Youzhou and for the many heroes who have come to join you. However, today at the government office, I met several retainers who defected from the Liang Camp. I learned that they have a past connection with Governor Xiao of Tongzhou. Thinking that since they have all come to our Wei Camp, it would be a joyous occasion, I brought these retainers to reminisce with Governor Xiao."

The banquet hall fell silent instantly. Everyone could sense the underlying meaning in Wei Pingjin's words.

Wei Qishan looked at Xiao Li. "Nephew, are you acquainted with these people?"

Xiao Li glanced at the retainers from the Liang Camp behind Wei Pingjin and said, "I have no recollection of them."

Song Qin and Zheng Hu broke into a cold sweat. They knew that Xiao Li had once served in Pingzhou, but now Northern Wei, due to the Ma Family Liang tragedy, had fallen out with the Liang Camp. For Wei Pingjin to produce these defected retainers from the Liang Camp to identify Xiao Li at this moment was clearly a hostile move.

Hearing Xiao Li's response, Wei Pingjin's smile widened. He turned to the retainers and said, "Governor Xiao says he does not recognize you. What do you have to say?"

These retainers had already secretly observed Xiao Li from behind the screen with Wei Pingjin before being brought forward. Only after confirming that he was indeed the former Liang general did they follow Wei Pingjin into the main hall.

Now, questioned by Wei Pingjin, the lead retainer glanced once more at Xiao Li seated at the banquet before nervously lowering his head and saying, "General Xiao was once highly esteemed in the Liang Camp. It is natural that he would not recognize minor officials like us."

At these words, the entire hall was shocked.

Wei Qishan's face darkened abruptly as he looked at Xiao Li and demanded, "You were from the Liang Camp?"Yuan Fang was also stunned by this sudden news, but seeing many Wei generals already eyeing Xiao Li and the other Tongzhou commanders with considerable hostility, he instinctively spoke up for Xiao Li: "There must be some misunderstanding here..."

Xiao Li seemed oblivious to the undercurrents swirling through the banquet hall. He rotated the wine cup in his palm and replied calmly, "I once served in the Liang Camp, but I don't deserve to be called 'a Liang Camp man'."

Wei Qishan's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but Wei Pingjin retorted sharply, "Father! Don't listen to his sweet talk! How could such coincidences exist? Pei Song and Dou Jianliang ambushed our Wei army at Majia Ridge, and he just happened to be there to rescue General Yuan from tens of thousands of Pei Army troops? When Youzhou was in crisis, even General Liao couldn't devise a solution, yet he managed to infiltrate the enemy camp with just a few dozen cavalry and burn the barbarians' grain depot? I ask all generals present - who among you would dare claim you could accomplish either of these miraculous feats?"

The assembled generals remained silent.

Zheng Hu listened with rising fury, unable to suppress his temper as he cursed, "Well I'll be damned! My second brother here has risked life and limb with our men to help your Northern Wei to this extent, and this is how you repay us?"

Wei Pingjin sneered, "Still acting? You concealed your Liang Camp background, deliberately set up the Majia Ridge scenario, exploited the debt of life-saving to gain General Yuan's trust, then pretended to bring troops to reinforce our Youzhou. Isn't this all to recreate the Majia Ridge ambush - to stab our Wei army in the back after gaining my father's trust?"

Zheng Hu kicked over the low table laden with food and wine before him, spitting fiercely, "Bullshit! Even a dog biting Lü Dongbin wouldn't bite this way! How many of our Tongzhou soldiers died to rescue your Wei generals? We traveled thousands of miles to jointly defend against foreign enemies, won the battle, and now you dump this shit pot on us!"

He scanned the entire hall and coldly declared, "Your Northern Wei is too high and mighty for us miscellaneous troops to associate with!"

Turning to Xiao Li and Song Qin who remained seated, he said, "Big brother, second brother - we don't need to endure this bullshit! Let's go!"

No sooner had he spoken than a group of armored soldiers wielding weapons poured in from behind the screen, their blades and halberds pointed uniformly at them.

Wei Pingjin smiled with an air of certain victory. "Thinking of leaving after your scheme is exposed? What do you take the Wei residence for?"

Seeing the situation escalating beyond control, Yuan Fang quickly clasped his hands toward Wei Qishan in explanation: "Marquis, I swear on my life that the battle at Majia Ridge was definitely not orchestrated by Chief Xiao and the Liang Camp..."

Wei Pingjin interrupted him: "General Yuan, don't let momentary gratitude for saving your life blind you. That day at Majia Ridge, besides the Chen Army under the traitor Dou, there were forty thousand Pei Army troops alone. How could a mere Tongzhou miscellaneous force break through such encirclement to rescue you?"

Yuan Fang retorted angrily: "That day, the traitor Dou held twenty thousand Chen Army troops watching from the sidelines. It was Chief Xiao who ordered the mountains set ablaze, startling Dou's troops into charging down and clashing with the Pei Army in the darkness. Then they took uniforms from fallen Pei Army soldiers and disguised themselves as Pei troops to fight through the encirclement and rescue dozens of us! As for the Youzhou battle, Chief Xiao had observed for days to learn the barbarians' guard rotation before leading men disguised as barbarian soldiers to infiltrate and burn their grain depot..."

Wei Pingjin shouted sternly: "Then why did he conceal his identity as a Liang Camp general from you?"Yuan Fang was momentarily silenced by the questioning. Wei Pingjin then pointed at Xiao Li and said, "If this man is so valiant, why doesn't Liang Camp employ him? With so many suspicious points laid bare before us, General, can you still claim his disguise as a righteous army from Tongzhou infiltrating our Wei Camp isn't part of a scheme?"

Yuan Fang wished to defend Xiao Li further, but his clumsy tongue failed him. He could only clasp his fists toward Wei Qishan once more and say, "Marquis, this humble general believes in Chief Xiao's character."

"General Yuan! Are the lives of thousands of our Wei Camp soldiers to be entrusted to your mere belief?"

Wei Pingjin confronted him sharply again.

Xiao Li sat in his seat, seemingly unaffected by the tense atmosphere around him. Listening to their argument, he merely curled his lips in a faint, mocking smile.

How familiar this scene felt.

The old arrow wound in his left shoulder began to ache dully again.

Yet he still had the leisure to pick up the wine cup from the low table, raising it toward Wei Qishan from afar as he said with a laugh, "Marquis, I have now experienced the victory banquet you've prepared."

After draining the cup in one gulp, he overturned it on the table and stood up, addressing Song Qin and Zheng Hu: "Since guests are unwelcome here, we need not overstay our welcome."

At his words, Song Qin immediately pushed himself up from the table.

The Wei soldiers surrounding them with blades and halberds, who had initially approached with some bravado, now showed clear fear in their eyes as Xiao Li and Song Qin rose.

Though Wei Pingjin insisted this man's miraculous achievements in Jinzhou and Youzhou were fabricated, until proven otherwise, they were confronting fierce generals who had fought their way out of tens of thousands of Pei Army troops and dared penetrate barbarian camps with just a few dozen cavalry.

Zheng Hu, long suppressing his fury, glared fiercely at the surrounding Wei soldiers with tiger-like eyes and roared intimidatingly, actually forcing a circle of men to retreat. He couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

Wei Pingjin, feeling humiliated, shouted with a darkened face, "Seize them now!"

The hesitant Wei soldiers had no choice but to advance again. Wei Pingjin yelled outward, "Crossbowmen!"

Instantly, another group of soldiers armed with crossbows flooded the hall, their arrows aimed squarely at Xiao Li and his two companions.

Clearly, Wei Pingjin had some self-awareness and didn't intend to capture Xiao Li's group relying solely on tiger guards. Song Qin scanned their surroundings, his expression growing somewhat grim.

Yuan Fang, frantic with worry, clasped his fists toward Wei Qishan and pleaded, "Marquis!"

Wei Qishan finally spoke: "All of you, stand down!"

After a moment's hesitation, the tiger guards with blades and halberds and the crossbowmen sheathed their weapons and retreated to both sides.

Wei Pingjin was both furious and bewildered: "Father, why..."

Wei Qishan said coldly, "As long as I stand here, you have no say in Wei Camp."

These words struck Wei Pingjin like a slap across the face. His expression shifted between green and red, his eyes filled with humiliation and shame as he stiffly turned his face away.

Wei Qishan descended from his main seat, his powerful voice resonating through the hall like a great bell: "Southern Liang invited our Northern Wei to form an alliance with the traitor Chen to jointly attack Pei Song, yet they orchestrated the deaths of twenty thousand of our Southern Border sons at Majia Liang. From this day forth, Northern Wei and Southern Liang are as distinct as Chu and Han!"

The courageous Wei generals present all wore expressions of fury upon hearing this, their gazes toward Xiao Li's group far from friendly.

Wei Qishan looked at Xiao Li: "Nephew, you saved my key general and lifted the siege of Youzhou. These two great kindnesses, I, Wei Qishan, remember well. I have but one question: Nephew, why did you leave Liang Camp?"Xiao Li gave a slightly self-deprecating smile before replying with a few words: "Our paths differ, thus we cannot collaborate."

This could hardly be considered a proper response. Wei Pingjin, seeing that his father had already given an opportunity while the other party remained ungrateful, was about to erupt when he heard Wei Qishan declare heartily: "Excellent!"

"Regardless of which side you previously served, if you are willing, from now on you shall be my Wei general!" After speaking, Wei Qishan actually bowed deeply to Xiao Li: "I apologize on behalf of my son's rudeness."

The entire assembly was astonished. Xiao Li hadn't anticipated Wei Qishan would take such action either, and having no time to avoid it, he was forced to accept the bow. He could only quickly step forward to help Wei Qishan rise: "Marquis, there's no need for this. Please rise quickly."

Yet Wei Qishan remained unmoving, instead asking: "Are you willing to join my Wei camp?"

This put Xiao Li in a difficult position. The arrow wound on his left shoulder still throbbed faintly, but as he watched Wei Qishan's bowing figure, the shadow of that arrow seemed to branch into new paths at this very moment.

He looked towards Song Qin and Zheng Hu.

Song Qin nodded at him. Although Zheng Hu had been greatly angered by Wei Pingjin earlier, since Wei Qishan had personally apologized to this extent—demonstrating true respect for talent—his anger dissipated. He said: "I'll follow Second Brother's decision."

After two breaths of silence, Xiao Li cupped his hands towards Wei Qishan: "The twenty thousand righteous army troops in Tongzhou henceforth pledge their service under the Marquis's command."

Yuan Fang's shock turned to delight, and he immediately offered congratulations: "Congratulations, Marquis! My felicitations on acquiring such an unparalleled fierce general!"

The other righteous army leaders, who had been anxiously wondering how today's events would conclude, breathed sighs of relief upon seeing the two resolve their conflict, promptly joining in with congratulatory gestures.

Wei Qishan was equally pleased, gazing at Xiao Li with boundless emotion: "From the first moment I saw you, I found your face familiar. My eldest son also possessed the courage to lead dozens of cavalry deep into barbarian territory. He died on the battlefield at just sixteen. Had he lived, he would likely have reached your stature by now."

As he continued, his expression grew increasingly sorrowful, even mournful: "Looking at you feels like seeing my long-departed eldest son. That's why, after our initial conversation, I wished to propose a marriage alliance between you and my daughter. But with your esteemed mother recently passed, I refrained from mentioning it. Now I wish to adopt you as my sworn son. Are you willing?"

Wei Qishan's sincere words left Xiao Li in a delicate position. Having already publicly declined the marriage proposal, refusing the adoption would undoubtedly humiliate Wei Qishan before everyone.

Under the gaze of all assembled generals, Xiao Li again cupped his hands and addressed Wei Qishan: "Sworn Father."

This time, Wei Qishan genuinely stroked his beard and laughed heartily, personally helping Xiao Li rise: "Rise quickly, my son!"

The generals erupted in congratulatory cheers.

Wei Pingjin hadn't anticipated events unfolding this way. Having lost all face today, he was so enraged he wanted to storm out immediately, but was restrained by his loyal advisor, who shook his head slightly at him.

Watching Wei Qishan lead Xiao Li back to the banquet, calling everyone to resume their seats while completely ignoring his own biological son, Wei Pingjin turned away with barely contained hatred, his eyes burning crimson. Finally, he shook off his advisor's hand and strode out of the hall without looking back.

Knowing Wei Pingjin had behaved inappropriately, the advisor bowed to Wei Qishan before hurriedly pursuing him.The retainers from Liang Camp who had followed Wei Pingjin to identify Xiao Li naturally dared not stay any longer and hastily retreated along with him.

The atmosphere at the banquet, which had just begun to liven up, once again fell into an awkward stalemate because of this incident.

Wei Qishan, however, seemed to harbor great dislike for this son. With a cold expression, he said, "Pay him no mind. This boy was raised by women in his early years and has grown accustomed to a spoiled and willful temperament. It's high time he was tempered."

The advisor chased after Wei Pingjin not far and saw him venting his anger by whipping a winter plum tree in the long corridor.

He glanced back at the few Liang Camp retainers and the newly promoted advisor who had followed. After they tactfully cupped their hands and withdrew, he approached to advise Wei Pingjin: "Young master should not act so impulsively and behave discourteously before all the generals."

Wei Pingjin, in the heat of his anger, swung his whip forcefully, breaking a cluster of plum branches. Pointing toward the banquet hall, he said bitterly, "I'm acting impulsively? Shan Bo, did you not see? When has Father ever regarded me as his son?"

Those words seemed to strike at his deepest pain. He wiped his eyes awkwardly: "Mother was right. Whenever it involves that ill-fated mother and son, Father loses his senses! A mere Liang Camp soldier who somewhat resembles his beloved eldest son can earn such favor from him—he even wants to marry Minmin to him! If that man is truly a spy from Liang Camp, how could Father endanger Minmin and the lives of thousands of our Wei Camp soldiers?"

"Young master, watch your words!" Shan Bo's voice suddenly turned grave. After scanning the surroundings to ensure no one was listening, he sighed: "Why can't you understand the Marquis's painstaking efforts? How many leaders of the righteous army attended today's banquet? Even if you exposed that man as a former Liang general, without solid evidence, how could you prove he colluded with Liang Camp in the battles of Jinzhou and Youzhou?"

"Moreover, Liang Camp and Pei Song are sworn enemies. How could a Liang general possibly orchestrate two remarkable achievements within Pei Army and the barbarian forces? If you had arrested them at the banquet, you would have alienated all the righteous armies!"

Somewhat comforted by this reasoning, Wei Pingjin still protested indignantly: "But should Father keep such a great threat by his side?"

Shan Bo said: "Even if he is a Liang general, could Liang Camp offer him more than the Marquis?"

Wei Pingjin was taken aback.

Shan Bo looked at him and said: "A wise bird chooses a tall tree to perch on. The Marquis truly values this man's talent and the righteous army behind him. Whether he intends to marry the Virtuous and quick-witted county lord to him or adopt him as a foster son, it's all to win this man over to the greatest extent."

Forming marital ties with their Wei clan or becoming foster father and son meant that their Wei Camp could offer greater benefits than Liang Camp.

At best, Liang Camp could promise high positions and generous salaries.

But these, their Wei Camp could equally provide—and even make him truly one of their own.

Unless he was a fool, he would know which choice to make.

Though Wei Pingjin now understood Wei Qishan's intentions at the banquet, he still felt offended and said contemptuously: "How could a mere brute like him be worthy of marrying Minmin? Even the lowest maid sweeping floors in our Wei residence would be more than a match for him!"

Shan Bo looked at the young man before him, genuinely showing a trace of disappointment: "Young master, the empire has collapsed. No one knows how many more years of chaos the heartland of the Central Plains will face. The ruffians of today may well become the mighty warlords of tomorrow. How can the marriages of aristocratic family children remain as they were in times of peace?"

Finally, he added, "This applies to you as well, young master."Wei Pingjin abruptly turned his head and glared at Shan Bo.

In the main hall's victory banquet, the generals raised their cups to feast once more. This time, however, not only were there traditional string and wind instruments playing, but a woman holding a pipa also began singing a folk tune. Her accent was strongly local, and Xiao Li couldn't discern the lyrics, yet he noticed many of Wei's generals at the banquet had grown solemn.

Song Qin, having traveled extensively in his earlier years, possessed broader knowledge. He lowered his voice and said to Xiao Li and Zheng Hu, "This is a Jin accent."

Xiao Li's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

As a surrendered general from the previous dynasty, most of Wei Qishan's subordinate commanders were also former Jin officials. During these thirty-plus years since surrendering to Great Liang, they absolutely could not listen to Jin accents or Jin melodies at such banquets, if only to avoid suspicion.

But today, since Wei Qishan had made such arrangements, the reasoning behind it was worth pondering.

When the pipa player reached the mournful parts of her song, many of Wei's generals present were already weeping openly.

Wei Qishan surveyed the assembled officials and generals, declaring, "Thirty-five years ago, when heroes rose across the Central Plains and the nation was torn apart, the Rongjue barbarians drove southward just like this. Though Jin fell, we Jin officials did not perish completely! The 120,000-strong Wei Army defended the Yanle Mountain line until only 30,000 remained, but not a single barbarian passed through the gates!"

Many veteran generals from Wei's camp who had personally experienced that brutal battle were present. Just hearing Wei Qishan recount those old events made their eyes redden and blood surge through their veins.

Xiao Li took a sip of wine and remained silent.

After driving the Chen Kingdom's rulers and officials out of Hundred Blades Pass, the former Jin Dynasty experienced over a decade of great governance before turmoil erupted again. However, the entire Central Plains had already exhausted its national strength during the decades of warfare between Jin and Chen. Population dwindled across prefectures, nine out of ten homes stood empty in the countryside, and former fertile fields lay untilled, overgrown with weeds.

Thus, although regional lords maintained private armies and completely ignored the Jin imperial court's commands during the following decades, and conflicts frequently erupted between prefectures, all parties tacitly understood not to initiate devastating large-scale wars, focusing instead on recovery.

The Jin imperial court became so pathetic that scholars would openly mock and curse them in wine shops, sarcastically remarking that as long as the regional lords didn't storm the imperial palace, the court could continue deceiving themselves with banquets and pleasures.

The decadence and absurdity of Jin emperors truly stood out even among incompetent rulers throughout history.

The last Jin emperor, Emperor Ling of Jin, though unlike his brother who enjoyed seizing ministers' wives and publicly humiliating them before officials during state banquets, and though the practice of offering wives for official positions didn't flourish during his reign, was obsessed with immortality. Believing Taoist alchemists' claims that eating infant brains could grant eternal life, his reign saw imperial guards scouring the streets for babies. No infant dared cry after dark throughout the Jin capital.

Any minister daring to remonstrate was executed by dismemberment. Eventually, he grew so deranged that he imitated his brother's absurd state banquet behavior, preparing five hundred boys and girls, ordering executioners to split their skulls on the spot and pouring boiling oil to cook their brains, then inviting ministers to feast together, proclaiming they would all ascend to immortality.

When the righteous army and various heroes stormed the Jin capital, cheers erupted throughout the land.

Though after Jin's fall, conflicts among regional lords continued for decades until Great Liang's founding emperor Wen Shi'an unified the internal strife, finally bringing stability to the Central Plains.

Wei Qishan had always been called a surrendered general from the previous dynasty, but when the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun came under his control, Great Jin had already fallen for decades. The title stemmed merely from his ancestors having received noble titles from Jin.

Whether court intrigues contributed to this label being attached to him remained unknown.After all, there were rumors among the people that Wei Qishan had once aspired to contend for the empire. His first wife was the daughter of a noble from the former Jin dynasty. However, as Wen Shi'an and Yuchi Ba had already gained overwhelming momentum, and with the Outer Pass Barbarians relentlessly harassing beyond Youzhou, Wei Qishan ultimately submitted. To sever ties with the former Jin, he even ruthlessly executed his first wife, publicly claiming she had hanged herself.

To completely cut off his path to contention, the Liang dynasty firmly labeled him as a surrendered general of the previous regime.

Regardless of whether this title was accurate, with the passage of time, the common people had long accepted it as truth. For Wei Qishan to shed the reputation of being a minister who served two dynasties was no easy task.

Many righteous army leaders present who knew this history wore subtle expressions.

Wei Qishan continued passionately: "I know the world still condemns me, Wei Qishan, as spineless for surrendering to the Liang dynasty before Wen Shi'an and Yuchi Ba could capture the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun."

He gazed at the Wei generals present: "I have indeed failed the former emperors of Great Jin and my comrades-in-arms of old. But I can stand straight and declare with clear conscience that I have never failed the people of the Sixteen Prefectures of the Northern Border!"

An old general hastily wiped his eyes: "We have never blamed the Marquis."

Younger Wei generals echoed in agreement.

Wei Qishan stood as upright as a cliff rising from the earth, majestic and austere. Since surrendering to Liang, this steadfast cliff had endured thirty-five years of storms. Only today did he reveal his unyielding backbone: "With the Liang court collapsed and villains running rampant, our beautiful land has been thrown into chaos again. My Wei army marches forth to repel foreign barbarians and suppress domestic rebels - we act in accordance with Heaven's will to restore peace to the people! When that woman of the Wen clan invited my Northern Wei to ally against the rebels, I agreed. What reward did we receive? Twenty thousand of my men dead in the wilderness!"

Wei Qishan glared fiercely, blood vessels stark in his eyes, roaring: "I, Wei Qishan, surrendered to Liang back then solely to spare the people under my governance from war! During my thirty-five years as a Liang minister, I guarded against the Outer Pass Barbarians without losing a single city or territory - I earned every coin of Liang's salary! But from this day forward, my Wei house ceases to be subjects of Liang!"

The Wei generals shouted excitedly in unison about no longer serving Liang, while the various righteous army leaders remained silent.

Although popular speculation had long suggested that Wei Qishan would contend for the throne after defeating Pei Song, the Great Liang dynasty, however brief its reign, had genuinely ended over a century of internal strife. Though the dynasty had lasted only thirty-five years, its ministers had followed the Wen clan for countless years before establishing this foundation.

Moreover, when the empire was collapsing, the imperial clan had produced the virtuous rulers Changlian Wang and his son, who enjoyed high reputation both in court and among commoners.

The fall of Great Liang resulted not from popular discontent, but from the traitor Pei Song's machinations.

Even when campaigning against Pei Song, Wei Qishan could only use avenging Changlian Wang and his son as justification. The Liang lineage still had Changlian Wang's descendants, and though currently represented by a woman, her capability and determination rivaled any man's. Not only did she enjoy support from many former Liang ministers, but she also had Southern Chen's strong backing. Only the infamous massacre of Ma family's Liang-Wei troops had temporarily damaged her popular support.

If Wei Qishan attempted to use the public sympathy gained from that tragedy to claim the throne, the label of "usurper" would instantly be transferred to him.Given Wei Qishan's cunning and foresight, having chosen to establish his own faction at this moment, he shouldn't be lacking in consideration.

The leaders of the righteous army were all waiting for his next words.

Sure enough, Wei Qishan immediately continued, "Heaven has shown mercy! A descendant of the Great Jin imperial family still remains among the common people. This is Heaven's will to restore our Great Jin!"

Many present whispered among themselves about the revelation that a royal bloodline of the former Jin dynasty had survived in obscurity. When a disturbance arose at the entrance and a woman in lavish attire entered surrounded by maidservants, the quick-witted immediately understood what was happening.

Wei Qishan sought to contend for the empire but couldn't do so under his identity as a minister who had served two dynasties. Thus, following the example of the Liang Camp's alliance with the Chen Kingdom, he produced a supposed former Jin princess of dubious authenticity as his banner.

The gathering instantly grew particularly lively. Wei Qishan presented a bright yellow swaddling cloth and a vermilion-endorsed document bearing the seal of the former Jin's imperial jade seal as material evidence, along with an elderly, one-eyed former Jin imperial Shadow Guard as a witness. Based on the birth and death dates of the woman's grandfather as she recounted, it was proven that her grandfather was indeed the son of Emperor Ling of Jin—a descendant left among the common people during Emperor De of Jin's early incognito travels.

The woman showed no trace of timidity before the assembly of Wei generals, speaking with clarity and responding with composure. She recounted that her grandfather had only one son, her father, who toiled excessively and fell ill, fathering only her, a daughter. Though the family was poor, they still ensured she received an education and understood principles. Before her father succumbed to illness, as war erupted again in Liang territory, he entrusted her with the bright yellow swaddling cloth and the vermilion document on his deathbed, instructing her to take these items to the Northern Border to seek out Wei Qishan and find refuge in these turbulent times.

Once the woman's identity as a princess of the former dynasty was confirmed, the Wei generals began mourning the fallen former Jin and Emperor De of Jin, under whose reign the entire Jin dynasty had declined after his death.

To outsiders, this appeared somewhat farcical; it was hard to believe the Wei generals present hadn't coordinated their reactions beforehand.

After observing for a while, the various righteous army leaders began offering congratulations or words of consolation.

Xiao Li found it all rather noisy.

He lowered his gaze to the wine cup beside his hand. The candle's reflection shimmered in the cup, tinting the clear wine with an intoxicating amber warmth.

Amid the Wei generals' repeated cries of "Princess" and "Your Highness," that amber hue seemed to slowly conjure the image of a cold, elegant beauty in golden-orange palace robes, her arms draped with silver gauze, her raven hair piled like clouds.

But as the wind blew, the candle flame flickered, and the wine in the cup gently rippled, everything vanished without a trace.

The news that Wei Qishan had recovered a former Jin princess, reverted to calling himself a Jin subject, and intended to restore the Great Jin reached Wen Yu two days later.

By then, she had already arrived outside Dingzhou City. Outside the carriage, snow fell thick as willow catkins. Inside, she silently read the intelligence report delivered by a spy from the north, saying nothing.

Zhao Bai frowned and said, "You sent so many letters to the Wei camp clarifying the circumstances. Surely Wei Qishan can't still believe we conspired with Southern Chen to trap and slaughter his twenty thousand troops at the Southern Border!"

A small clay stove with warm tea was placed in the carriage. Wen Yu's jade-like fingers held the letter over the stove, and the charcoal fire instantly ignited the paper.

She said, "Whether it's clarified or not no longer matters."

The carriage window was half-drawn. Her eyes reflected partly the firelight from the clay stove and partly the snow outside, inexpressibly cold and still. "What Wei Qishan wants is this opportunity to reclaim his identity as a Jin subject."

Zhao Bai's face turned ashen. "Is the one he recovered truly the former Jin princess?"The letter had burned to ashes, a speck of ash carried by the wind onto Wen Yu's skirt. She brushed it away, her tone still betraying no emotion: "If he truly sought to restore Jin, what he should have sought out is a prince."

Even someone as simple-minded as Tong Que understood now—Wei Qishan's move was likely just to have a legitimate pretext for rebellion.

She recalled another piece of news from the northern regions and gazed at Wen Yu, hesitating to speak: "I heard General Xiao…"

"Let's return." Wen Yu's voice was icy. The wide sleeves of her fox-fur-trimmed robe fell, half-covering the hand warmer she held and a section of her slender, pale fingers, reddened from the cold. Leaning against the carriage wall, she closed her eyes as if already weary.

Tong Que had no choice but to swallow the rest of her words and lower the half-raised carriage curtain.

The wheel tracks on the snowy ground circled away from Dingzhou. An eagle crossed the vast sky, leaving only a clear cry behind.