Liu Wenji did not immediately agree to cooperate with the Southern Barbarians.
He first placated the envoy, arranging for him to stay at his private residence. He prevaricated, saying he needed a few days to consider.
The envoy sneered coldly, knowing Liu Wenji wanted to review the battle reports before making a decision. As a Southern Barbarian, the envoy instinctively looked down upon the military strength of Great Wei. How could the Southern Barbarians possibly lose to Great Wei on the battlefield? If this Lord Liu wanted to see, then let him see.
Over the following days, the battle reports reaching Chang'an were all related to the two fronts. The Hexi front was where Great Wei's main forces were stationed, having long guarded against neighboring nomadic tribes, with elite troops perpetually on standby.
The Southern Barbarians failed to gain any advantage on the Hexi front in the short term.
For years, due to geographical advantages, the Hexi battlefield had been the primary arena for conflicts between Great Wei and the surrounding nomadic tribes. In previous wars between Great Wei and the Black Barbarians, the battles had also taken place at Hexi. Although Great Wei had foreseen the Southern Barbarians' changes through Yang Sanlang's intelligence, the court believed that if the Southern Barbarians were to attack Great Wei, the main battlefield would still be Hexi.
Even now, apart from Liu Wenji—who had suspicions after speaking with the Southern Barbarian envoy—no one else in Great Wei had realized that this time, the Southern Barbarians had concentrated their main forces on the Jiannan front.
Great Wei shared borders with the Southern Barbarians only through Longyou Circuit and Jiannan Circuit. Longyou had topographical advantages, while Jiannan's terrain was perilously steep... Who would abandon Hexi to focus on Jiannan?
Unless the Southern Barbarians' goal in this war was to seize Jiannan.
Jiannan had previously bordered the Black Barbarians, who had suffered significant losses there during their conflicts with Great Wei. After the Black Barbarians rejoined the Southern Barbarians, King Ale recognized Jiannan's strategic heartland position, understanding that as long as Jiannan remained in Great Wei's hands, it would be difficult for the Southern Barbarians to break through into the interior and reach Great Wei's truly prosperous regions.
Only by making Jiannan their own... would it become much easier to wage war against Great Wei in the future.
Naturally, Hexi was also important. If they could capture Hexi, break through the Yumen Pass, and sweep across the vast plains, they could directly seize Chang'an and capture the Great Wei emperor... the benefits would be equally great.
King Ale of the Southern Barbarians, ambitious and bold, mobilized the entire nation's military, claiming an army of four hundred thousand, divided into two fronts. Whichever front achieved a breakthrough first would receive reinforced support.
Battle reports circulated continuously among Chang'an officials. With war raging, the Ministry of War became the center of attention. Not only did Lord Liu press for updates incessantly, but even Liu Wenji inquired about the battle reports three times a day, putting immense pressure on the Minister of War.
The greater pressure came from the unfavorable battle outcomes.
King Ale personally commanded the forces, determined to capture Jiannan in one stroke. The Jiannan border was the first to see action, and for days, the reports from Jiannan were all defeats, turning Lord Liu's face as dark as a pot, his mood perpetually gloomy. The constant defeats were occasionally punctuated by a few minor victories, which drew intense scrutiny—
During court deliberations, eunuchs and scholars set aside their disputes to jointly study the war situation.
Lord Liu thoughtfully examined the reports of the "victorious" battles: "Who led these troops? Promote the generals who won these battles, grant them titles and honors, and send them to the main battlefield!"
The Minister of War wiped his sweat, looking deeply embarrassed: "These few victories were merely fortunate coincidences and cannot be considered the norm..."
Lord Liu pressed: "Who led the troops?"
The Minister evaded the question: "Although we are temporarily at a disadvantage, our army has ample supplies..."
Lord Liu repeated: "Who led the troops?"Liu Wenji chuckled softly from the side, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Minister Luo, is the Ministry of War so incompetent that it plans to fill the battlefield with soldiers' lives? No matter how abundant the provisions are, they will eventually run out. Besides, does Great Wei have no other expenses? Should the Ministry of Revenue solely fund the Ministry of War?
"As far as I know, two days ago, Hebei reported that the Earth Dragon had awakened, killing many people. The rainy season has arrived, and this year, floods in Huainan and Jiangnan have breached dikes, submerging numerous houses. Even the local government offices were washed away.
"Setting aside distant matters, let's discuss recent ones. The palace halls are leaking due to their age. The day before yesterday, several rooms in Xian Fei's palace collapsed, crushing several palace maids and eunuchs to death. Even the eldest prince was frightened and sent to another consort to be cared for. The palace also needs funds for repairs. Today, it was just a few palace maids who were killed. What if one day it were Xian Fei or even His Majesty who were crushed... that would be unthinkable.
"Moreover, His Majesty wishes to tour beyond Chang'an, but the Secretariat has consistently refused to approve it. His Majesty has been quite displeased these past two days.
"You see, every single matter requires the Ministry of Revenue to provide silver. Even if the war is urgent, we can postpone our affairs for a while. But no matter how critical the war, if we keep pouring resources without seeing results, it seems rather pointless, doesn't it?"
Officials from the Ministry of War glared at him furiously.
Lord Liu turned to Liu Wenji, his tone cold: "In that case, what advice does Eunuch Liu have? Could it be that you possess extraordinary talent and unique insights into the war?"
Liu Wenji smiled: "I wouldn't dare. If the war effort is ineffective, the commanding general should be dismissed. I merely think that if the Minister of War is unfit for his position, it might be appropriate to let someone else take over. Alternatively... if Great Wei truly cannot win this war, seeking peace would be acceptable as well."
For a moment, an uproar erupted among the scholars, plunging them into a new round of disputes.
All the ministers began arguing over the matter. Amid the chaos, only one official from the Ministry of Rites, Wei Shu, the seventh son of the Wei family, remained quiet and silent.
Wei Shu watched their quarrels with utmost calm. He thoughtfully observed the scholar faction led by Lord Liu, noting how aristocratic families and common-born scholars had joined forces to attack the eunuchs. He then glanced at Liu Wenji, whose words were sharp and swift.
Wei Shu's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he lowered his gaze, unconsciously stroking the wooden armrest of his desk: Liu Wenji's eyes held a trace of anxiety.
What was he anxious about?
What matter was running out of time?
Could it be that Liu Wenji particularly hoped for Great Wei to win this war?
Wei Shu frowned, feeling this did not resemble the Liu Wenji he knew. Of course, he had only spoken with Liu Wenji a few times, back when he was fourteen or fifteen. So much time had passed, and Liu Wenji had changed so much that Wei Shu no longer recognized him at all.
But there was one person who would understand Liu Wenji better than he did.
Wei Shu decided to return and write a letter to Yan Shang, informing him of Liu Wenji's unusual behavior and asking if Yan Shang could discern anything—
The court debate that day ended with the Minister of War resigning in anger. Without batting an eye, Liu Wenji pushed Duke Zhao, a powerful figure from the Zhao family with whom he had close ties, into the position of Minister of War. The scholars could do nothing; they could not stand by and watch Great Wei seek peace.
Yet it was the scholar faction that had suffered defeat, and the powerful eunuch Liu Wenji refused to let it go, insisting someone must be held accountable.
Casting a glance at Duke Zhao, who followed Liu Wenji's every command, Lord Liu could not bear to look longer and stormed off in a sweep of his sleeves.
After leaving the hall, having calmed down somewhat, Lord Liu asked a eunuch following him: "What has His Majesty been doing these past two days?"The eunuch bowed his head: "His Majesty, troubled by the war, went to the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to the ancestors. After returning, he has secluded himself in the palace for days, fasting and praying for the prosperity of Great Wei."
Lord Liu sneered coldly—who would believe an emperor who skipped court deliberations, claiming to fast and chant prayers for Great Wei?
But Lord Liu waved his hand irritably, thinking that as long as the emperor stayed quietly in the palace without causing trouble, he could do as he pleased.
As Lord Liu descended the vermilion steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned to ask the Minister of War. But looking back, he saw officials in twos and threes, all in solemn court robes—purple and crimson garments exuding grandeur. Then he recalled that the Minister of War had recently resigned and was no longer among these officials.
Standing on the steps, surrounded by people, Lord Liu felt an abrupt emptiness, as if he were utterly alone.
An official inquired with concern, "Is something troubling you, my lord?"
Lord Liu snapped back to attention: "Old age—my mind wanders."
The official pretended not to notice the weariness in Lord Liu's eyes and said, "Take care of your health, my lord. We all depend on you."
Lord Liu nodded and asked the Vice Minister of War who happened to be passing by, "Earlier, your minister didn’t specify who achieved those successive victories. Why was he so hesitant?"
The vice minister glanced cautiously toward the golden hall behind him and whispered, "There’s no particular reason—it’s just that the person bears the charge of rebellion. With His Majesty watching, it’s difficult for us to promote him. It’s Yang Sanlang, Yang Si."
Lord Liu fell silent, understanding immediately—the emperor was narrow-minded and would resent seeing a former follower of the Crown Prince cleared of rebellion charges.
With a sigh, Lord Liu decided to write to Yan Shang and entrust Yang Sanlang’s matter to him.
His steps down the stairs grew unsteady, his back increasingly hunched. Perhaps he truly was aging—lately, he often suffered insomnia and felt weary... He thought that once this war ended, it would be time to resign. But before that, he needed to recall Yan Suchen to Chang’an.
Among his disciples, Yan Suchen was the one he trusted most. It wasn’t that the others lacked political skill, but Yan Shang’s ability to remain steadfast amid political turmoil was rare. Once his disciples and the Liu family supported Yan Shang in suppressing the eunuchs, Lord Liu could retire with peace of mind.
He was old—it was time to enjoy his remaining years in tranquility.
After resigning, he would leave Chang’an and live with his favorite granddaughter and her husband. Two years ago, his granddaughter had given birth to a great-grandson he had yet to meet... Thinking of Liu Ruozhu, whom he had personally mentored, Lord Liu’s eyes softened with warmth.
Yet worries lingered.
His granddaughter’s husband was currently stationed in Hexi, and Liu Ruozhu had accompanied him there. With the intense warfare in Hexi, private correspondence had yielded to military dispatches... Lord Liu had lost contact with his granddaughter for some time.
He worried deeply for them.
But he was the chancellor of Great Wei. With an incompetent emperor, the chancellor governed—he could not prioritize personal feelings over state affairs.
Only in the stillness of night did he pray for his granddaughter’s family to safely overcome this crisis—
The four prefectures of Hexi were its most crucial strongholds. From the war’s outset, the entire Longyou region had entered a state of conflict. Bordering foreign lands for generations, Longyou had always granted military officers significant authority. When the Southern Barbarians attacked Longyou, all civilian officials yielded precedence to the military commanders.While military officers fought battles, civil officials evacuated civilians—this had become a well-practiced collaboration in Longyou after years of development.
Liu Ruozhu’s husband, Lin Dao, was one such civil official.
When the area under his jurisdiction was engulfed by war, he worked alongside other officials to relocate civilians inland. The people were reluctant to leave their homeland and part with their homes and grain stores, requiring officials to enforce the evacuation firmly. In Lin Dao’s case, as soon as he and Liu Ruozhu sensed trouble, they had already sent their nanny and servants fleeing inland with their young child.
Liu Ruozhu could not leave.
Unlike ordinary civilians, she was also responsible for preserving the precious books and cultural relics they had painstakingly collected and rescued from various countries over the years.
Those manuscripts and ancient texts were treasures passed down through millennia. If consumed by war, they would be lost forever. How could the couple bear to abandon the texts they had spent years gathering and preserving in Hexi?
Thus, they had no choice but to flee with two carts laden with their hidden collection. Along the way, they encountered civilians and took the opportunity to assist them. Although they occasionally faced skirmishes and lost some books during the journey, it was far better than abandoning everything outright.
The terrain of Longyou was diverse, ranging from vast deserts to fertile plains.
In the afternoon, Liu Ruozhu and Lin Dao took shelter behind a sand dune. After eating some dry rations, they rested with the civilians in the lee of the dune. Lin Dao frowned, his gaze fixed on the carts carrying their books.
Liu Ruozhu took his hand, and he turned to look at her. Softly, she reassured him, "Don’t worry, husband. My grandfather is in the court—he would never stand by and let Hexi fall into the hands of the Southern Barbarians. Once we reach the foot of the Qinling Mountains, we will be safe. We will surely preserve these books."
Lin Dao replied, "If we run out of time, you must protect the books and lead the civilians to safety. The Southern Barbarians will need to negotiate with Hexi officials—I will buy you time."
Liu Ruozhu was stunned.
She stared at him unblinkingly, her eyes shimmering like a starry night, with fragments of light swirling within.
She said, "Are you afraid Hexi will fall to the Southern Barbarians? No, it won’t. The central government won’t abandon Hexi... my grandfather won’t abandon Hexi."
Lin Dao put his arm around her shoulder and said, "I’m only considering the worst-case scenario. We must prepare for the worst... Hexi is far too important for the central government to relinquish. But we must be cautious."
Tears welled in Liu Ruozhu’s eyes as she insisted, "There is no worst-case scenario. Even if there were, I would never abandon you and flee alone. I will stay with you."
Lin Dao scolded her, "Nonsense! You’ve always been sensible—why are you being so reckless now? If you stay with me, who will look after the civilians? Who will protect the books we worked so hard to save and spent countless resources to acquire? Who will care for our child? Ruozhu, don’t be childish."
Liu Ruozhu turned her face toward the undulating sand dunes. Her eyelashes glistened with moisture as she whispered, "Husband, it’s not about calculations like that. If things truly become dire... we will prepare together and arrange everything accordingly. But I will not leave you behind.
"There is no such thing as ‘forced by circumstances’—in this world, the one who will accompany me for life is you, and only you. Human life cannot be relived; regrets over missed opportunities cannot be undone. Since we share the same aspirations, we should live and die together."Lin Dao looked down at her. He couldn't help but laugh, feeling they were overthinking. He grasped her hand in return and was about to speak when a commoner suddenly shouted, "The enemy is coming, Prefect, my lady—the enemy is here! I see the Southern Barbarians' banners!"
Lin Dao and Liu Ruozhu's faces paled simultaneously. They immediately called out to everyone, "Quick, everyone get down and hide—the sandstorm is strong here. We're not soldiers; they might not even notice us. Everyone stay hidden and don't come out!"
As for the two large carts of books following them, the couple gritted their teeth and abandoned them—leaving it to fate.
The Southern Barbarians were illiterate, unable to understand the Great Wei's script, and disdained learning it. These books were useless to them, and they would likely show little interest, at most discarding a few volumes...
Sacrificing a few books to save everyone's lives was already a good outcome—
The night wind blew against the window, forcing a crack open. The cool breeze startled the young man who had been resting his head on the desk.
In the deep night of Lingnan, Yan Shang was abruptly awakened by the wind. Lifting his head, he met Mu Wan Yao's gaze as she stood beside him holding a candle, leaning over to observe him. Yan Shang adjusted his shoulders and realized an extra robe had been draped over him.
Feeling uneasy about troubling Mu Wan Yao with his concerns, he glanced at her apologetically and asked, "What is it?"
Mu Wan Yao suppressed her care for him. Since the war began, Yan Shang had been unable to sleep, waiting daily for news from Chang'an. Sometimes she resented it, thinking that if he was so concerned, he might as well return to Chang'an directly... Blaming Lingnan's remoteness for the slow message delivery.
Mu Wan Yao said softly, "A letter from Chang'an has arrived. I brought it for you."
Yan Shang's spirits lifted, the anxiety between his brows easing slightly.
Setting the candlestick down, Mu Wan Yao sat beside him, holding several letters. The couple opened them together. There were letters from various court officials, one from Lord Liu, and another from Wei Shu.
From the officials' letters, Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao learned of the current situation. Both felt disheartened, never expecting the war to face repeated setbacks. After all these years, Great Wei still appeared militarily weak against the Southern Barbarians. Next, the couple read Lord Liu's letter, which included battle reports mentioning Yang Sanlang's several victories.
Mu Wan Yao remarked, "Since there are capable fighters, they should be promoted. What is the central government hesitating about?"
Yan Shang replied calmly, "They're likely considering the Emperor's feelings."
Mu Wan Yao paused and scoffed.
When they read Wei Shu's letter, Mu Wan Yao found nothing notable, but Yan Shang fixated on the passage mentioning Liu Wenji's unusual behavior, reading it over and over.
While Mu Wan Yao studied Lord Liu's letter, pondering why the central government couldn't control Yang Sanlang and was writing to Yan Shang—as if he could influence decisions on the Jiannan battlefield—Yan Shang suddenly said, "Liu Wenji might have ties with the Southern Barbarians."
The candle flame crackled and popped. Mu Wan Yao sharply raised her head.
Mu Wan Yao said, "You can't make baseless guesses without evidence."
Yan Shang explained, "Years ago, Liu Wenji privately killed Luo Xiu, who was part of the Black Barbarians' envoy group. I discovered a court official exchanging Great Wei intelligence with Luo Xiu and later suspected it might be Liu Wenji. But then... I was imprisoned and couldn't pursue it further. I did warn Liu Wenji to be cautious back then, but if Ju Yuan's judgment is accurate, Liu Wenji is indeed problematic."
A cold glint suddenly flashed in Mu Wan Yao's eyes.She said, "Your imprisonment... while partly due to your own recklessness and youthful arrogance, upon reflection, it's likely Liu Wenji had a hand in pushing you from behind."
Yan Shang remained silent.
After years had passed, through meticulous unraveling, certain deeply buried political factors that had gone unnoticed now surfaced from the abyss, revealing their ugly faces as they mockingly gazed at the two.
And once traces emerged, more clues followed.
Mu Wan Yao gritted her teeth: "That bastard!"
Unwilling to dwell on his past imprisonment, Yan Shang sighed and said no more. Yet both grew solemn—if Liu Wenji proved problematic, their methods of influencing Chang'an would require recalibration...
Mu Wan Yao picked up a letter from the desk, noting it contained a map of Jiannan territory. Yan Shang had meticulously marked all attack routes and troop deployments across Jiannan. This highly detailed strategic map was clearly originally intended for Chang'an.
She mocked him: "A civil official like you directing military operations—hardly appropriate, is it?"
Rubbing his temples, Yan Shang explained, "I'm not the one commanding. This was included in a letter Sanlang had Xiaozhou send me two days ago. I merely transcribed it for the central command..."
He paused: "But it can't be used now."
If there were untrustworthy elements at court, this map could endanger Great Wei. Though uncertain whether Liu Wenji had betrayed the dynasty... caution was paramount.
Yan Shang spread the letter anew and began scribbling random battle directives... His haphazard commands mattered little—his primary role was to express stance, urge Chang'an to act, and press the Ministry of War to advance the campaign.
Seeing Yan Shang immersed in work again, Mu Wan Yao fell silent. She gently pressed his slender shoulder before rising and closing the door behind her. Leaning against the study door, she listened to the soft scratching of his wolf hair brush inside. She recalled how Yan Shang had once participated in Chang'an's military exercises with Yang Sanlang—though he couldn't fight personally, that didn't mean he couldn't direct others.
Fang Tong approached with a lantern, noticing the princess had stood too long in the frosty air. Worried her delicate health might suffer, he reminded her to return indoors.
Glancing at the young man's silhouette against the window, Fang Tong said, "Your Highness need not worry. This subject will ensure Erlang doesn't stay up all night."
Mu Wan Yao waved dismissively, indicating that wasn't her concern. "Tomorrow I'll prepare some sedatives for our Yan Xiao Er—let him sleep properly for a day."
Fang Tong stayed silent.
Pensively, Mu Wan Yao instructed: "Fang Tong, after our Yan Xiao Er falls asleep tomorrow, take your Imperial Son-in-Law's seal and summon the military governor of Guangzhou to see me. No... not just Guangzhou. Summon all military governors of Lingnan.
"Inform them Lingnan will commence military exercises to guard against external threats."
Fang Tong tensed immediately: "What? Would the Southern Barbarians attack Lingnan? Do they have sufficient troops?"
Mu Wan Yao's lips curved: "They claim four hundred thousand troops, but I estimate only three hundred thousand remain after excluding the aged and infirm. These three hundred thousand split into two fronts... If Great Wei holds firm, they'll be defeated. Constant warfare has hollowed them out—hence their desperate need for battle. But if this war prolongs, Great Wei will emerge victorious.""If they wish to avoid risks, they likely wouldn't dare open another front. Even Meng Zaishi couldn't afford to disperse his forces like this. The reason I ordered the Military Exercise in Lingnan wasn't because I fear their invasion of Lingnan... but because I worry there are people in the court who aren't on our side and would refuse to deploy troops to Jiannan and Hexi.
"It's better to prepare early."
Fang Tong suddenly remarked, "Now that Duke Zhao has become Minister of War, and his daughter Zhao Wuniang Zhao Lingfei is in Jiannan, would Duke Zhao really abandon his own daughter? Could we possibly win Duke Zhao over?"
Mu Wan Yao's eyes sparkled as she cast an approving glance at Fang Tong: "Then let Fifth Lady strive for it!"—
In the imperial palace of Chang'an, the Emperor lay critically ill. Due to the ongoing war across the nation, nearly all his former luxuries had been stripped away. With no end in sight to the conflict, he could bear it no longer.
Liu Wenji came to pay respects to the Emperor, originally intending to deliver military reports, but the Emperor seized his arm and launched into endless complaints about Lord Liu's inflexibility.
The Emperor grumbled discontentedly: "It's not that I'm ignoring the war! My fasting is for blessings, yet that old man lectured me, telling me to stop believing in supernatural nonsense. That old fool—sooner or later I'll control the court and make everyone obey me!"
Liu Wenji shot a cool, sidelong glance at the Emperor.
The Emperor continued complaining, saying the war had drained the treasury dry—so much so that even his palace roof leaked at night, with no funds for repairs.
Liu Wenji studied him for a long moment, thinking: This is the emperor we're serving?
How ironic.
Suddenly, Liu Wenji spoke: "Your Majesty, Southern Barbarian envoys have actually come to Great Wei seeking peace talks. I suppressed the matter because I believed we shouldn't negotiate during wartime."
The Emperor stared blankly, then seeing Liu Wenji kneel to beg punishment, hastily said: "I understand—you feared Lord Liu and his faction would criticize you, didn't you? Since they refuse negotiations, you didn't dare mention it. You've suffered injustice!"
The Emperor asked: "What are their terms for peace?"
Liu Wenji: "They want Jiannan."
The Emperor was stunned, never expecting such ambition from the Southern Barbarians. He immediately erupted, cursing their wolfish ambitions and delusional demands—how dare they claim Great Wei's territory! Seeing the Emperor's fervor, Liu Wenji wondered if he'd misjudged him.
Sure enough, after his outburst the Emperor declared: "We can't give them Jiannan."
Liu Wenji bowed his head in agreement.
But then the Emperor shifted tone: "We can only cede part of Jiannan. Places like Yizhou must never be surrendered. You know the saying 'Yangzhou first, Yizhou second'—we absolutely cannot yield such prosperity. However, the rest of Jiannan beyond Yizhou is mostly barren wasteland. Giving that away hardly matters. Those Southern Barbarian savages won't know the difference anyway—we can easily deceive them."
Liu Wenji observed this emperor intently.
He had initially sought to prop up a useless ruler, but only now did he truly realize: this useless person was a useless person who knew everything yet cared about nothing. Even Liu himself had hesitated about surrendering Jiannan, yet the Emperor only cared about withholding the prosperous regions.
Such a man was their sovereign.
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