Chapter 176 Fleeing South

Chapter 176: Flight to the South

Wudati Hou descended upon them with terrifying force, throwing Chang'an into panic as dread of the kingdom’s fall spread like wildfire.

Many aristocratic clans had already packed their valuables and decided to flee south for refuge as soon as the war began. While court officials could not leave immediately, some had arranged for their families to depart ahead of time.

At the Huan residence, the steward Hu, seeing Lady Huan lay awake night after night, advised, "Perhaps we should call a physician to prescribe a calming draught for you, my lady. If you keep exhausting yourself like this, your health will suffer. The entire household depends on your management."

Lady Huan reclined on a low couch and sighed. "What is Lord Huan thinking? Seventh Son wrote ages ago urging us to prepare to leave for the south, yet he refuses to agree. As a high-ranking court official, he cannot flee his post, but surely he could arrange for the younger ones to go ahead?"

Her voice sharpened with resentment, especially when she thought of Eleventh Son—barely a man, unmarried still.

Hu could only offer words of comfort.

Lady Huan remained troubled. Several days later, when Lord Huan finally relented, her weary face softened into a rare smile, and she immediately regained her energy.

Just as she was directing the servants to pack their belongings, news came that Eleventh Son was kicking up a fuss and refusing to leave. Suppressing her frustration, Lady Huan went to persuade him personally.

Eleventh Son declared, "A man’s duty is to defend his land. The more perilous the times, the more one must stand firm. If everyone flees south, who will resist the Xiongnu?"

Lady Huan was furious. "Do you think dabbling in swordplay qualifies you to be a great general turning the tide? You’re dreaming! Going to the battlefield now would only mean certain death. Don’t even think about it."

Despite Eleventh Son’s protests, Lady Huan remained adamant. She ordered him confined to the house and forbade him from going out, then resumed preparations for their journey south.

Shamed by his mother’s rebuke, the young man withdrew into sullen silence. Seeing this, Jiang Yuer, who rarely took the initiative, visited his courtyard to console him. "Mother is only worried about you. Besides, Miss Lu is also in Chang'an. She has few attendants, and the journey south swarms with bandits. If you go with the family, you can look after her along the way."

Eleventh Son had a passionate, loyal heart, much like the heroes in the tales he loved. But as Lady Huan had said, he alone couldn’t change the tide of war. Though Jiang Yuer wasn’t particularly close to him, having lived in the same household for years, she still wished him well.

Her reminder made Eleventh Son think of Lu Yun—yes, his elder brother had entrusted her to his care.

When Lady Huan heard that Eleventh Son had finally calmed down, her weary face softened into a rare smile. The estates and shops had been settled, the carriages, servants, and valuables were nearly ready, and their departure seemed imminent. But the next day, like a bolt from the blue, the emperor ordered all city gates of Chang'an sealed, banning civilians from fleeing.

Early in the year, the Emperor of Liang had repeatedly mobilized garrisons from across the land to resist the Xiongnu, setting up three defensive lines at Chencang, Mei County, and Zhouzhi. Unfortunately, these areas lacked natural barriers, leaving them vulnerable.

The Liang army failed to stop the enemy at the frontier. Once the Xiongnu cavalry entered the Guanzhong plains, they became like wolves among sheep. The soldiers and commoners of Liang State were no match for them, and Chencang fell within two months.

With Chencang breached, the Xiongnu roamed freely across the vast plains, burning, killing, and looting at will.

Terrified civilians fled with their families, but their roots and land were here. Unlike the wealthy aristocratic clans, ordinary people could only escape so far before becoming refugees, barely surviving until they succumbed to starvation or illness on the road.

Some fled, others perished—scarcely one in ten survived.

Having tasted the spoils of plunder, the Xiongnu army, after a brief period of indulgence, whet their knives anew and turned their gaze eastward.

There lay the capital of Liang State, teeming with gold, grain, and women.

The great freeze two years prior had devastated even the southern regions of Liang, but the Xiongnu, farther north, were decimated—countless livestock and people frozen or starved to death.

The barren grasslands could no longer feed their people. They had to conquer the south.

The Emperor of Liang was seized with panic.

No longer able to spare concern for the Xianbei in the north, he withdrew the garrisons from Hedong and Anding—troops he had been reluctant to move—and sent them all to the front lines. He appointed Zhou Ji as grand general, though Zhou was already ill when he took command.

Liang’s elite forces had been decimated two years prior. The conscripted army now at the front was no match for the ferocity of the Xiongnu, their warhorses inferior in every way. Most critically, the Liang army’s morale had collapsed.

In recent years, Liang had suffered defeat after defeat against the Xiongnu, without a single decisive victory. The people’s faith had long since crumbled. Once, they could still pin their hopes on Liangzhou—its presence had kept the Liang State relatively secure. But now that Liangzhou had openly severed ties with Liang, the nation lost its strongest talisman, leaving only despair in its wake.

Suddenly, most of the aristocratic families were preparing to flee south, which enraged Emperor Liang so he issued this order.

Madam Huan couldn't believe her ears and knocked over the teacup beside her.

"His Majesty personally issued the decree and ordered the patrol guards to secure all city gates. No one leaves without written permission."

Madam Huan slumped into a chair, pressing her hand to her forehead.

What kind of mess was this? Just two days too late, and now they couldn’t leave Chang’an? Had she known, why would she have bothered with all the arrangements? She should've just grabbed provisions and valuables and fled immediately.

After anxiously waiting half a day, Madam Huan rushed to ask Old Master Huan as soon as he returned to the estate, "Father, is there any way to get the city guards to look the other way?"

Old Master Huan shook his head. "His Majesty has given a strict order. The guards at the gates are his elite guard."

He hadn’t expected the emperor to issue such a sudden and swift decree. Now, even the Huan family couldn’t leave, and he couldn’t help feeling some regret.

Before the fall of Chencang, he had still held onto the illusion that Liang wouldn’t be so easily breached. Fleeing south at this point would seem cowardly, and if they weathered this crisis, it might later become a mark against them. That was why he had hesitated before.

He had thought this way, and so had others. Only when it became clear that Liang was truly finished did they arrange for their families to flee south.

With Liang already weakened, Emperor Liang saw that these aristocratic clans were not thinking of how to defend the country but were instead preparing to flee. If everyone fled, Chang’an would be even harder to hold. Thus, the ban was extremely strict—those caught fleeing would be executed without mercy.

Even Old Master Huan could do nothing. Madam Huan returned to her courtyard in despair and told Nurse Hu to inform everyone that the departure was canceled.

The next day, when Jiang Yuer came to pay her respects, she saw Madam Huan looking worn out and knew what weighed on her mind. She stood carefully beside her and said, "Mother, after receiving your orders yesterday, I thought about it all night. Since we're stuck in the city for now, shouldn’t the household also make more preparations?"

"Hmm? What are your thoughts?" Madam Huan lifted her eyes.

Jiang Yuer lowered her head. "Even in the inner quarters, I’ve heard how unstable things are outside. With the city sealed, the grain from the estates can’t be delivered. With so many people to feed in the household, if our supplies run short, we should send people to the rice shops to stock up in case of emergencies. We should also prepare more medicines and remedies. The servants should be strictly disciplined—if any have ill intentions, it’s best to get rid of them now. Otherwise, they could become thieves within the household. The more chaotic it is outside, the more united we must be at home."

Madam Huan nodded in agreement.

Jiang Yuer continued, "It would also be good to select some servants and guards to form patrol teams, arranging shifts day and night. If we could raise the courtyard walls, that would be even better... We should also send people to gather news from outside. Grandfather’s court updates are important, but the rumors from the streets can also be useful..."

She shared everything she could think of, then added humbly, "These are just my random ideas. You’ve run the household for so long and have far more wisdom than I do. If you find any of this useful, please act on it. Otherwise, just treat it as idle talk."

Madam Huan grasped her hand, her eyes brightening. "Good child, you’re usually so gentle at home—I never expected such insight from you. You’re absolutely right. We must prepare. Once Chang’an falls into chaos, who knows how many bandits will emerge?"

Jiang Yuer knew these ideas weren’t entirely her own. Ah Yan had warned her in letters, and over the years, she had read many books. Occasionally, she had picked up court gossip from Eleventh Brother. She wasn’t particularly shrewd, but her understanding and temperament had indeed grown since her days in the palace.

Madam Huan had also considered these issues, but she hadn’t yet acted on purchasing grain.

Last month, the estates had just delivered a batch of grain, enough to feed the household for three months. But now, three months didn’t seem so long. With the city sealed, anything could happen. Loading up on extra grain wouldn’t hurt.

She immediately told Nurse Hu and instructed, "Take my keys to the treasury and withdraw funds. Gather people and buy as much grain as possible from the major shops. Spare no expense."

"Yes."

As Nurse Hu was about to leave, Madam Huan added, "Don’t use marked carriages, and don’t mention the Huan name for convenience. Have the servants pose as regular townsfolk and avoid drawing attention when transporting the grain back."

Nurse Hu tensed and quickly agreed.

Afterward, Madam Huan discussed household matters with Jiang Yuer. One pair of eyes might miss things, but two could cover more ground.

Once they finished, Madam Huan assigned her some tasks, mainly checking supply lists, while she herself handled cracking down on the servants.

After a busy day, Jiang Yuer bumped into Eleventh Brother on her way back and called out to him.

"What is it?" Eleventh Brother turned around.

This was an alleyway, flanked by walls on both sides, making the path feel even more cramped. The dimming light added to the sense of confinement, and the presence of a young man and woman alone together could easily spark romantic notions.

Jiang Yuer glanced around to ensure no outsiders were nearby before speaking, "Miss Lu only has a few maids with her. With the troubled times outside, she might easily become a target. You should find a way to look after her—see if you can move her to a safer place. It would be even better if she could enter the manor."

Young Master Eleventh listened, acknowledging the logic in her words, but his mind wandered elsewhere. "Aren’t you jealous? Why are you so kind to Sister Lu? You know very well that my older brother..."

At this point, he suddenly felt a pang of resentment toward his brother.

Jiang Yuer didn’t understand why he asked this so abruptly and merely shook her head, her gaze calm.

Eleventh Brother seemed to recall something and pressed further, "Do you like my brother?"

The young man had grown older and become sharper about the subtle emotions between men and women. He had once assumed she harbored feelings for his brother, but now it seemed that might not be the case.

Jiang Yuer fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "Regardless, your brother has given me stability and taken me under his wing all these years."

Eleventh Brother studied her thoughtfully.

Apart from the Huan family, other households, once they realized the situation, also began frantically stockpiling grain. In just a day or two, grain prices had doubled or even tripled, putting it beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Even affluent families felt the pinch.

Matriarch Huan hesitated not at all, continuing to splurge exorbitantly on purchasing grain.

Grain prices would only rise day by day. If they didn’t buy now, they might not get any later.

——

The Zhang Residence.

Though Liangzhou had not been touched by war, the atmosphere in the Zhang household remained heavy.

In the past, they would have exhausted every means to block the Xiongnu from advancing south. But this time, they stood by helplessly as the thunder of Xiongnu hooves rode past them.

No one understood the savagery of these Xiongnu better than they did, and they could well imagine the slaughter that would befall the people in the cities the Xiongnu occupied.

The Marquis of Liangzhou stood atop the city walls, gazing southeast with tears in his eyes.

Looking back on the decades from his youth to now, he recalled the lofty ambitions they once held, pledging to build a golden age together.

Today, he had betrayed the Founding Emperor’s trust—he had ultimately failed to safeguard the Liang kingdom for him.

——

Far away in the Xianbei royal seat, Jiang Congyan received news of Chencang’s fall and went days without smiling, her mood visibly brooding.

She looked at her hands—so pale, slender, and delicate they seemed incapable of even catching a chicken. Yet these same hands had loosed that arrow, personally sealing the fate of half the kingdom.

She closed her eyes.

Did she not know what suffering the people would endure once the Han dynasty fell into the hands of the nomadic tribes? She knew. Yet she had allowed it to happen, even orchestrating it.

The Han dynasty was indeed rotted to the core, doomed to collapse. If the Xianbei had taken the initiative to send troops, with Tuo Baxiao leading them, the people might have suffered less. But she had not done so.

A Han dynasty could fall by the hands of the Han or the nomadic tribes—but it must not fall by Tuo Baxiao’s hand.

Jiang Congyan wondered if she had become a true politician, seeing only profit and turning a blind eye to the suffering of millions.

But for the sake of future rule, she had to do this.

When Tuo Baxiao finished freshening up, he found her still sitting in the study, staring blankly, shrouded in a haze of sorrow.

He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "Still beating yourself up?"

Jiang Congyan shook her head. "It's not really about blame."

Tuo Baxiao heard her words, but her unhappiness was evident. He said, "Liang State’s downfall is entirely their own fault. It wasn't you who ordered Wudati Hou to attack, nor was it you who killed those people. The Emperor of Liang sits on the throne but can’t even protect his people—he’s the one who should die."

Jiang Congyan knew he was trying to comfort her. Well, what was done was done. What’s the point of acting like this now?

"At this point, I almost want Chang’an to fall fast," she said.

If Chang’an falls, the Liang court is finished, and then Tuo Baxiao could lead his troops south.

Tuo Baxiao's gaze sharpened. He got her meaning—he’d been preparing for this day too.

——

After Zhou Ji took command, the Liang army’s collapse slowed a little. For three months, they barely held off the Xiongnu in Mei County and Zhouzhi. But he’d come too late. Even with his extensive military experience, the objective gap in strength could not be bridged by strategy alone.

The Xiongnu had already pushed into Guanzhong, and there were no natural barriers left to stop them.

Zhou Ji couldn’t turn things around.

When the news reached Chang'an, the court exploded into fierce debate—should they flee south?

Before, no one had dared to suggest it, but now it had to be openly discussed.

The Emperor of Liang exploded in rage upon hearing it, berating his officials, "How did I end up with such spineless cowards? At this critical moment, instead of thinking of how to defend Liang State, all you can think of is running away! What use are you to me?"

The officials lowered their heads.

"Your Majesty, we are not abandoning Liang State. But General Zhou’s reports say they’re barely hanging on. The Xiongnu will take Zhouzhi within a month or two at most and march straight for Chang'an. If we don’t leave now, it will be too late once the Xiongnu reach the city walls. We should retreat south for now, using the Yangtze as a natural barrier against the Xiongnu, and then slowly rebuild our forces for the future."

No matter how they pleaded, the Emperor of Liang refused to agree.

Abandoning Chang'an meant abandoning half of Liang State. If Liang fell under his rule, how would history judge him as an emperor?

Hmph. He knew what these aristocratic clans were thinking. Their roots ran deep—even if Chang'an fell, they could start anew elsewhere. The most important thing was to save their own lives. But as the emperor, he had no way out.

The Emperor of Liang remained resolute, and some in the court, still holding onto their principles, were determined to stand or fall with the capital. Eventually, the court officials split into two factions, arguing endlessly over whether to flee south.

Then urgent news arrived—Zhouzhi had also fallen. Only scattered remnants of the army still resisted, and the Xiongnu forces were advancing straight toward Chang'an.

There was no time left.

This time, the aristocratic clans stopped caring what the Emperor of Liang thought. They plotted to fling open the gates and run, secretly contacting the Wang family and Empress Wang in the palace to abduct the Fifth Prince.

The Emperor of Liang had barely any heirs. Though he had several surviving princesses, like some kind of curse, of the six princes he had fathered, two had died young. The eldest and third princes, raised with such effort, met tragic fates—one succumbed to an epidemic, and the other was left half-paralyzed after a riding accident. Now, only the ten-year-old Fifth Prince and sickly four-year-old Sixth Prince were left.

The Sixth Prince was frail and sickly, and it was uncertain whether he would survive. Everyone pinned their hopes on the Fifth Prince.

By taking him, their intentions were clear—they intended to abandon the current Emperor of Liang and establish a child emperor in the south.

The Emperor of Liang hit the roof and ordered them arrested on the spot.

"Execute them! Every last traitor!"

"Where’s Sima Wei? Get him here now!"

But Sima Wei never showed up.

The palace attendant sent to deliver the message went to Sima Wei's residence and returned to report, "Your Majesty, there is no one left in Sima Wei's household."

Emperor Liang nearly passed out from fury, smashing everything in the palace that could be broken.

"Traitors! They are all traitors!"

Not long ago, when the court officials were endlessly quarreling, Sima Wei had still stood firmly by his side, righteously denouncing those who advocated fleeing. He’d raised a dog, only for it to turn around and bite him.

After months of suffering, as the situation grew increasingly dire, the Huan family had also been preparing for the worst.

At first, the lockdown of Chang'an had been manageable, but as food shortages worsened, the city descended into chaos. Many wealthy homes were hit by thieves.

Sending people to gather news, they frequently heard of homes being broken into at night—not only were their supplies looted, but many were also killed. The authorities had lost control.

Lady Huan had been extremely cautious from the beginning, reorganizing the household early on and forbidding servants from coming and going freely. This had kept them safe for two months.

Other things could be hidden, but a mansion of this size could not. Their high walls and grand courtyards screamed wealth—and the wealthy had the most food. Eventually, the Huan family became a target.

That night, twenty or thirty ruthless thieves climbed over the walls, each armed with blades. Discovered by the patrol, Eleventh Brother rallied the guards and servants for a desperate fight against the intruders. Fortunately, Eleventh Brother was highly skilled in martial arts and had been training the household—men, women, old, and young—as long as they could move. He’d even modified weapons to make them deadlier. In the end, they killed the thieves and successfully defended the Huan residence.

After this battle, word spread, and others learned that the Huan family was not to be trifled with. No one messed with them after that.

A few days earlier, Lady Huan had received a hint from the Huan patriarch: the time was near. She told everyone to pack light—only one bundle of valuables each.

Looking at the exquisite screens, porcelain, and sandalwood furniture in the house, Lady Huan’s heart bled, but she steeled herself and left them behind.

Had it been earlier, she might have taken more. But now, with the Xiongnu cavalry ready to attack any second, these possessions were nothing but burdens. Nothing was more important than survival.

That night, flames shot into the sky from the eastern and southern gates, followed by panicked shouts and the sounds of battle.

The gates were thrown open, and the aristocratic clans, who’d been ready for this, bolted out.

Leading the way were the Wang, He, Xie, Sima, and Gao families. The Huan family and others followed in the rear, while commoners who got wind of the escape stampeded after them.

Everyone pushed desperately toward the city gates. The commoners knew nothing of the court's disputes, but the lockdown of Chang'an alone was enough to terrify them.

Now that the aristocratic clans were fleeing, it meant Chang'an could no longer be held. If they didn't run now, death was certain.

The crowd jammed up at the gates, and countless people were trampled. The Huan family’s group of a hundred, who had initially stuck close together, was scattered by the surging masses.

Jiang Yuer realized her carriage had been separated from the rest. Fear seized her as she peered outside—the night was pitch black, filled with chaotic torchlight and unfamiliar faces.

She willed herself to stay calm, ordering the driver to press on toward the city exit while searching for familiar figures. But the crowd was too dense, and the carriage could barely move.

Spotting the carriage, some saw an opportunity. Two or three burly men closed in and ripped the door open. Jiang Yuer screamed in fright, kicking one of them in the hand while drawing a dagger. "One more step, and I’ll stab you!"

Seeing only two young women inside, one trembling as she held the dagger—clearly bluffing—the man was undeterred. He had initially intended to seize the carriage and its valuables, but upon seeing Jiang Yuer, his intentions turned darker.

Just as he was about to climb inside, a spear suddenly skewered him through the back, straight into his chest.

Eleventh Brother was back.

After the Huan family's group was scattered, Eleventh Brother noticed Jiang Yuer was missing and rushed back to find her.

On horseback, he fought his way through the crowd more easily than the carriage, quickly reaching her trapped carriage.

"Are you all right?" Eleventh Brother pulled the spear free, the carriage now splattered with blood.

Jiang Yuer froze for a moment, her mind still replaying the scene. At his question, she instinctively replied, "I'm fine."

She was actually very scared, just as scared as she had been that night when encountering assassins in the Tongling Garden, but she knew now was not the time for fear.

"Let's go, we need to get out of the city first," Eleventh Brother said, grabbing her carriage's reins.

Remembering something, Jiang Yuer quickly asked, "What about Miss Lu? Have you seen her carriage?"

Eleventh Brother's eyes widened.

He had arranged for Lu Yun to leave the city with the Huan family. Though Madam Huan had objected, Jiang Yuer had persuaded her, and considering it was a life-or-death matter, she had ultimately agreed.

Eleventh Brother tried hard to recall what he had seen earlier. At the time, he had only noticed Jiang Yuer's carriage was missing and hadn’t noticed Lu Yun’s.

"I don’t know either. I’ll get you out of the city first, then go back to look for her," Eleventh Brother ground out.

Meanwhile, Lu Yun’s carriage had also been separated from the Huan family’s group. With only a coachman and two maids by her side, she was quickly targeted.

Just as someone was about to strike, two men materialized. They unsheathed blades and swiftly stabbed the assailant in the heart, then dumped the corpse.

"Miss Lu, don’t worry. We are assigned to protect you covertly."

Hearing this address—*princess*? The Sixth Princess? She had indeed extended favors to Lu Yun before, but Lu Yun’s intuition told her it wasn’t her. Unbidden, she thought of Princess You'an, who had married far away to the northern deserts.

"The situation is urgent. We don’t have time to explain much. If you trust us, we’ll escort you out of the city."

Lu Yun thought quickly. "Alright, thank you."

"My lady?" The maids in the carriage hesitated—these men were strangers.

Lu Yun shook her head. "They struck so decisively—they’re clearly not ordinary people. If they wanted to harm us, it would be effortless. There’s no need for such an elaborate scheme."

Luo Qi faintly overheard the conversation inside the carriage and mused that this Miss Lu was both clever and composed—reminiscent of their mistress.

Without further hesitation, they escorted Lu Yun’s carriage toward the city gates.

After sending Jiang Yuer out of the city, Eleventh Brother searched but couldn’t find Lu Yun. Doubling back, he spotted the men guarding her and, fearing she had fallen into enemy hands, almost lunged at them in panic. Fortunately, they straightened out the confusion in time.

Reunited at last, everyone was safe. Old Master Huan glanced over and noticed the additional men around Lu Yun. After a few questions, Luo Qi simply said they had been sent by Huan Jun to assist. With Eleventh Brother vouching for them, Old Master Huan dropped the matter and allowed them to join the journey.

Lu Yun didn’t expose them, but her suspicion about their patron deepened.

In a single night of upheaval, most of the great clans had escaped Chang’an.

The Emperor of Liang was about to send men in pursuit when the Xiongnu army reached the capital's outskirts.

Forced to abandon the plan, he instead commanded the gates sealed and mounted a siege defense.

Yongan Year 19, eleventh month, the Xiongnu besieged Chang’an.

At the same time, far away in Xianbei, Tuo Baxiao assembled 120,000 Xianbei horsemen.