Chapter 25 I Won’t Redeem the General, Only the Soldiers

Chapter 25: I Won’t Redeem the General, Only the Soldiers

The jubilant atmosphere welcoming the triumphant return of Liu Laozhi and the other generals was instantly chilled by winter’s bite, abruptly cut short on the spot.

Yet no one could possibly blame Empress Wang Shen’ai for this.

...

“What exactly did I say when I assigned General Xie to command the western front?”

In the imperial court, Wang Shen’ai clenched the battle report in her hand even tighter, her anger palpable. “I told him to guard against Huan Xuan’s attack!”

Even when citing examples, she had mentioned how Xie An had once outlasted Huan Wen, preventing his usurpation. Xie Yan should have stood as an impenetrable wall, blocking Huan Xuan’s ambitious eastward advance!

That was the duty he was supposed to fulfill.

But what had Xie Yan done instead?

“Xie Yuandu (Xie Yan’s courtesy name), he’s truly lost his wits…” Whispers of dismay spread through the court.

An odd tension settled, restoring a tense silence to the hall.

Wang Xun averted his gaze, sneaking a glance behind him, and was startled to see an uninvited presence in the court today—someone who should not have been there.

Xie Daoyun of the Chenjun Xie clan, once wed into the Langya Wang family but later divorced from Wang Ningzhi.

While it was not unprecedented for an empress to hold court due to extraordinary circumstances, what about Madam Xie?

He had suggested to Wang Shen’ai that Madam Xie “advise her in court,” but he never meant for her to become an official court minister. How had things escalated to this point?

Yet, in that fleeting thought, Wang Xun realized that even if he raised objections to Madam Xie’s presence now, someone would surely push back—not the empress, but the Xie clan and their disciples!

After the deaths of Xie An and Xie Xuan, the Chenjun Xie clan’s standing had plummeted. Though figures like Xie Yan, of the same generation as Xie Xuan, still upheld the family’s reputation, it was a shadow of their former selves. Now, with Xie Yan defeated and captured, if Madam Xie, as his elder sister, did not secure a position in court, their situation would only worsen.

Perhaps… this was for the best.

The empress valued Madam Xie’s insight and courage, willing to give her—and the Xie clan—a chance.

It was just unfortunate for Xie Yan.

Being captured by a junior like Huan Xuan was humiliating enough, and now his failures were being dragged through the mud once more.

Wang Shen’ai rubbed her temples, as if unable to stomach reading the report any longer, and handed it to a nearby attendant. “Read it aloud for them.”

She couldn’t even be bothered to summarize it.

The report detailed how Xie Yan, upon arriving in Liyang, had immediately butted heads with the local garrison over military authority. Only his surname “Xie” and his rank as Right Wing General allowed him to suppress some of the disputes.

But that wasn’t the biggest issue. After all, the Liyang garrison had long established its own defensive routines, and Xie Yan only needed to serve as their symbolic leader.

If nothing else, he certainly had the confidence and bearing of a general.

Yet Xie Yan insisted on doubling down on his blunders.

Seeing Huan Xuan’s forces stationed along the river, seemingly indecisive—perhaps due to the revelations from the heavenly scroll—and their fleet in disarray, Xie Yan made a shocking decision.

Look, he thought, Huan Xuan’s forces were already on the back foot, ready to retreat to Jingzhou the moment they set out. How could he resist seizing the opportunity?

Xie Yan intended to put the upstart Huan Xuan in his place while he was still inexperienced and uncertain!

A fine idea—if only Xie Yan’s troops were entirely loyal to him, or if Huan Xuan were truly as hesitant as he appeared.

Reality was cruel.

The Liyang garrison repeatedly tried to dissuade Xie Yan, but he overrode their protests using his authority as Right Wing General, leading them straight into Huan Xuan’s trap.

In naval warfare, the Jingzhou troops held an overwhelming advantage—especially with a competent commander at their helm.

The outcome was inevitable. Huan Xuan won in a rout.

Xie Yan and his son Xie Zhao were both captured. Many of their soldiers were killed or wounded, and the survivors were rounded up as prisoners on enemy decks.

“What’s the traitor Huan Xuan after now?” someone demanded.

Wang Shen’ai replied coldly, “Traitor? He doesn’t see himself as one! He claims his forces were stationed east of Jingzhou, nearly crossing the border, not out of disloyalty to the court, but as a loyal subject torn by duty.”

The audacity! The letter she had sent him certainly hadn’t said any of this.

After Huan Xuan’s revisions, he had somehow made himself sound righteous.

“He says he wants to be a loyal subject of Jin. If not, why would the heavenly scroll have shown him that blood-sealed decree? And perhaps, after seeing that Yong’an had the bearing of a true emperor, he switched allegiance, becoming a faithful vassal of the new dynasty—only to be slandered by history due to a rift between ruler and subject.”

“Uncertain of whom to serve, he made a decision: until the heavenly scroll revealed the truth, he would use the Jingzhou troops to rebuild the northern defensive line, waiting for an opportunity to launch a Northern Expedition amid the chaos. And then, just as he was doing this, Xie Yan attacked him.”

What a poor, wronged General Huan…

By this point, Wang Xun had forgotten all about Madam Xie’s irregular presence in court. He felt as if he’d swallowed a fly thanks to Huan Xuan’s words—unable to spit it out or swallow it.

If Huan Xuan’s victory over Xie Yan wasn’t the result of a deliberate trap, he’d eat his hat!

“—So what terms does he want to negotiate with the court now?”

Wang Shen’ai sighed. “He says he doesn’t want open war. Since Xie Yan is his prisoner, he won’t kill him. But if he simply releases him, he fears he won’t be able to answer to Yong’an’s camp.”

Wang Xun fell silent.

“He also says that our appointment of Xie Yan as a general lays bare the court’s incompetence—no wonder Yong’an toppled us. If we don’t reform, today it’s just Xie Yan being captured. What next?”

Wang Shen’ai relayed this without hesitation, even curious about how Huan Xuan would react when he eventually learned who Emperor Yong’an really was.

But for now, the ones most aggrieved weren’t Huan Xuan—it was the officials in the hall, who looked as if they’d been gut-punched.

When Xie Yan had pushed for the command, none of them had imagined this outcome.

Wang Shen’ai continued, “He says he’ll release Xie Yan, but his goal is a Northern Expedition to retake the ancestral capital and expel the barbarians. Jingzhou alone cannot sustain such an effort. Though Shu Province has submitted to Jin, the Di people are largely independent and unreliable. So—”

“He wants three hundred thousand dan of grain and ten thousand dan of salt in exchange for Xie Yan. For Xie Zhao, another one hundred thousand dan of grain and three thousand dan of salt.”

“He’s insane!” Yu Hong blurted out.

Four hundred thousand dan of grain and over ten thousand dan of salt could feed an elite army of ten thousand for five years!

Jingzhou’s nominal garrison strength was thirty to forty thousand, but in reality, it was only around ten thousand.

Five years’ worth of rations in exchange for Xie Yan and Xie Zhao was nothing short of highway robbery.

Yet, Huan Xuan managed to frame it so elegantly.

Had he rebelled against the Jin Dynasty? No. It was Xie Yan who, believing he harbored treasonous intent for leading troops outside the capital, made the first move. As for the previous Governor of Jingzhou, Yin Zhongkan, whom he killed—that, too, could be spun as the man’s poor governance inciting public resentment, leaving Huan Xuan to temporarily take over.

With Wang Ningzhi’s precedent, this explanation was entirely plausible. The dead don’t speak.

Had he turned against Yong'an because of that sarcastic remark about "loyalty"? Hardly. Yong'an had ambitions for a northern campaign, and he was already preparing to pave the way.

If this battle report were spread among the people, even the long-buried Huan Wen might have his reputation slightly rehabilitated.

Truly, a paragon of loyalty!

"Enough. Speak your minds," Wang Shenai said.

The biggest question was how to deal with Huan Xuan—and whether to ransom Xie Yan.

The civil officials hesitated, or rather, they were too incensed by Xie Yan’s folly to think straight.

Ransoming him felt like a terrible deal. But leaving him in enemy hands was hardly proper, given his status as one of the leaders of the aristocratic families.

The military officers, however, spoke up first.

Liu Laozhi stepped forward, clasped his fists, and declared, "Your Highness need not humor Huan Xuan’s nonsense! If we wish to rescue General Xie, there’s another way. I volunteer to lead an attack on Jingzhou and drive back Huan Xuan!"

With him taking the lead, others quickly followed:

"I volunteer as well!"

"So do I!"

Then we fight.

Indeed, just because Huan Xuan set these ransom terms, did they have to accept them? Why not forge a new path—like launching a swift attack while Huan Xuan waited for the court’s response, delivering a crushing blow!

Yet amid this fervor for battle, only the Idiot Emperor whooped like a fool. The Empress sat unmoved, her face like stone.

"Nonsense! Jingzhou holds a commanding position upstream, with vast territory and strong troops—no comparison to Wang Gong’s rabble. Has any of you here ever actually fought the Jingzhou Army?"

No. Not a single one. So what was there to discuss?

"I ordered you to eliminate the traitor Wang Gong and reclaim military authority so the court would have forces to deploy—because Wang Gong’s troops were stationed near Jingkou, and his response was predictable."

"But Jingzhou? Let me remind you all—the reason the Jin Dynasty has held out against the north is because Yang and Yue are our bedrock, while Jing and Chu serve as support. Only with Jing and Yang united can our front hold. If we recklessly set Jingzhou and Yangzhou at each other’s throats before the situation is clear, what then? If we could swiftly decide the outcome in one battle, fine. But what if it drags on into a prolonged war?"

Word from the north told of Tuo Bagui having crossed the Taihang Mountains and launched an attack on Mu Rongbao, seemingly granting the south respite to settle its internal strife.

But the north wasn’t just Tuo Bagui’s Northern Wei and Mu Rongbao’s Later Yan—there was also Yao Xing’s Qin.

If Huan Xuan were given breathing room, what if he cast off his loyal façade and allied with Yao Xing?

"Xie Yan, drunk on his lineage’s pride, acted rashly and brought about this defeat. Must you all follow his example and act without thinking?"

Liu Laozhi lowered his head.

He had to admit—the Empress was absolutely right. The Jingzhou troops were nothing like Wang Gong’s rabble. This would be no skirmish—it’d be a bloodbath.

But the thought of his hard-won victory parade in Jiankang being ruined by Xie Yan and Huan Xuan’s clash—while Huan Xuan’s "terms" took precedence over his own achievements in court—filled him with resentment. "So we’re just supposed to cede those resources to ransom General Xie?"

Were it not for Xie Yan’s pedigree compelling deference, he’d spit the title like a curse.

He couldn’t accept this!

Wang Shenai gave a thoughtful look, silently noting that this general, who had sworn loyalty after she saved his life, also had clear temperamental flaws.

However, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

She countered sternly, "Who said anything about ransoming Xie Yan?"

"Exactly! He made his own mistakes, gave the wrong orders, and failed to prevent his actions from implicating his soldiers and inciting internal strife. To punish him severely as a warning would already be lenient—why waste supplies to bail him out?" A stern voice spoke up from the court officials.

Yu Hong had initially wondered who’d dare speak up like that.

If the empress said it, fine—but a general? Under the Nine-Rank System, aristocratic families dominated the court. Many here could speak from the same stance as Xie Yan, and many sympathized with him—how could they just write him off?

Yet, upon seeing the speaker's identity, he immediately fell silent.

Because the one backing Wang Shenai up was Xie Daoyun herself.

As a fellow member of the Xie family, Xie Daoyun was of the same generation as Xie Yan and even older than him. Naturally, she could reprimand him from the position of an elder.

This verdict of "not ransoming" was also something only she could declare, most effectively silencing some dissent.

Wang Shenai's gaze met Xie Daoyun's across the room, clearly seeing the frustration in her eyes—every word rang with conviction!

Xie Daoyun did not actually know what Wang Shenai had done earlier, but she had to speak this way.

The truth was, Xie Yan wasn’t worth the trouble of a full ransom.

Yet, the Xie family, once flourishing with talent like orchids and jade trees in their halls, now faced a decline in capable successors. Her temples were grayer—how could she not sigh?

"Madam Xie understands me. Xie Yan acted recklessly, inviting this defeat. He should be dismissed and investigated." Wang Shenai sighed deeply. "But since he has already fallen into enemy hands, any punishment beyond dismissal will have to wait."

The officials traded uneasy looks, sensing something amiss in her words, "will have to wait."

If the court had no intention of ransoming Xie Yan, he was as good as dead.

Unable to hold back, Wang Xun asked, "Then what of Huan Xuan's terms? Shall we ignore them?"

Wang Shenai replied, "Wasn’t it in the report? Huan Xuan didn’t just capture Xie Yan and his son. The court has no intention of ransoming those two, but we wish to redeem the soldiers captured in Liyang. Tell him to make a new offer."

"As long as there are terms to negotiate, Huan Xuan need not immediately defect. And to the people of the realm—" She shut her eyes, biting back a flood of words, but only uttered four: "Someone has to answer for this."

The generals messed up, but the soldiers didn’t—this was the answer she gave.

Since Jingzhou and Yangzhou were tied together, Liu Laozhi and Liu Yu, returning with the momentum of great victories, could not turn around and swallow Jingzhou. But neither could Huan Xuan, based on the rhetoric in his battle report, claim he couldn’t lose.

She would not ransom the general—only the soldiers!

After what seemed like a long silence, she finally continued, "If he wants the world to see that he, Huan Xuan, will choose between the Jin Dynasty and the new dynasty which is more worthy of loyalty, and if he takes the first step in launching a northern campaign—so be it. We will grant him that. But in the future, will it not also be for our own benefit?"

"If he wishes to recognize his enlightened ruler, then let him see who truly holds greater virtue now."

What a move—saving the troops, not the commander!

Wang Shenai's words hit the court like a bolt, immediately lifting the spirits of Liu Laozhi, who had earlier failed in his plea for war.

He then heard her next words: "Today, Jingzhou is irreplaceable, and the Jingzhou troops are difficult to subdue. But if an opportunity arises in the future, how could we let Huan Xuan get away with this!"

If they got the chance, they’d strike. But for now, their priority was to absorb the extra troops from beating Wang Gong.

These people previously acted in accordance with the late emperor's will, and now they ought to adapt to the new ruler.

Then came the final question.

"What if Huan Xuan takes this opportunity to make unreasonable demands? Although the court's finances are not as tight after confiscating Sima Daozi's private treasury, the funds still have many other uses. They can't all become resources for Huan Xuan's northern expedition."

What kind of mess would that be!

Wang Shenai pondered for a moment before replying, "Since we are redeeming the soldiers to reassure the people's trust, then let each great family contribute a share. The Wu and Kuaiji regions have amassed considerable wealth. According to the heavenly signs, they’ve reached the point where official oppression incites rebellion—they should contribute even more. Let’s also bring Wang Gong’s head along to show them the consequences of defying imperial decrees."

Liu Laozhi: "...Ah?"

He strained to discern Wang Shenai’s tone, certain he hadn’t misheard. Your Majesty’s meaning was not merely to put Wang Gong’s head on display as a warning but also to dispatch part of the army that had defeated him to station troops in the southeast, ensuring the "ransom" could be swiftly gathered.

Well… that wasn't completely out of line?

The pent-up frustration these generals had over being unable to declare war on Huan Xuan had to find an outlet somewhere!

"As for whether Huan Xuan will demand an exorbitant price, I intend to send someone to go to Jingzhou as an envoy—"

Before she could finish, Xie Daoyun’s response came: "This humble elder, though lacking in talent, volunteers to go to Jingzhou."

Whether it was because few among the court officials could negotiate with Huan Xuan or because this matter had originated from the Xie family, she was the one who ought to take on this mission.

This was no ordinary appointment, but before the murmurs and silent criticisms in the hall could coalesce into outright opposition, the empress acted again.

Following the previous "standard procedure," the gloom on her face faded slightly as she turned to the "figurehead" and asked, "What does Your Majesty think?"

The discussion had reached a conclusion—it was time for the emperor to make the final decision.

...

"Lady Xie, your journey is long and perilous—take care." As they exited the palace gates, Wang Shenai couldn’t help but offer a last words of caution.

Xie Daoyun had initially intended to say that Huan Xuan had taken Xie Yan hostage because he saw value in him and had no reason to detain her as well. But she suddenly felt that Wang Shenai would not appreciate such words and swallowed them back.

Instead, she replied, "Your Highness personally escorts me out of the city—good fortune must be with me. There is no need for such concern."

Just look at the treatment she was receiving now.

The carriage Xie Daoyun would use for her journey to Jingzhou was still behind them—for now, she rode in the empress’s own imperial carriage.

Liu Yu, the lieutenant general who had just returned from defeating Wang Gong, escorted the procession.

To an outsider, it might seem as though she were undertaking some important state mission.

"Lady Xie, with your sharp mind and wide perspective, decisive resolve, and bold courage, you are a rare talent in this world. If any harm were to befall you because of Huan Xuan, who could I turn to for justice?"

Wang Shenai truly hoped that if she were indeed the future victor foretold by the heavenly signs, she could look out for those she favored and ensure their safe return.

But no matter how worried she was, she would never stop Xie Daoyun from stepping up for this task.

Anyone else might fail to convey the principle of "redeeming soldiers, not generals" clearly enough to make Huan Xuan, who thought he held the upper hand, suffer a setback.

If Xie Daoyun succeeded, it would also solidify her standing in court—not merely as an elder propping up a declining Xie family, but as a figure of genuine influence.

Without a doubt, this was a golden opportunity.

Only...

Xie Daoyun had never received such blunt praise before and felt a little uncomfortable. "I will return as swiftly as possible, hopefully bringing good news for Your Highness."

Wang Shenai was satisfied.

But suddenly, her expression tensed as she looked ahead.

Amid the rumbling of the carriage and the clamor of the streets, she had heard the sound of galloping hooves.

"Who dares to ride at full gallop in the capital?!"

If Sima Yuanxian were still alive, he would have dared. If Jiankang hadn’t witnessed the successive attacks on Yu Kai and Wang Xun, perhaps some foolish young nobles might have tried it too.

But now, with the two fronts of war keeping everyone on edge, who would have the audacity to gallop through the streets?

Unless they had a death wish.

Yet when Wang Shenai lifted the curtain, she saw that the rider charging toward them was not a finely dressed noble but a woman in worn-out clothes.

A scar marred her otherwise delicate features, accentuating the fierce northern spirit in her eyes.

The wind howled, the horse neighed—swift as lightning.

Only when the woman turned to look back did Wang Shenai tear her gaze from that face and notice the child hidden beneath her cloak.

She was startled—but so was the woman.

The empress and her envoy’s procession, no matter how modest, still carried an air of official pomp—and now it blocked her path.

He Song pulled hard on the reins, displaying expert riding skills as she brought the commandeered horse to an abrupt halt. In the same motion, she slid from the saddle with Tuo Bashao in her arms, steadied herself, and pressed a hand against the horse’s head.

But no sooner had she completed this smooth move than several halberds were pressed against her neck—one more step, and her head would come off.

Until a voice called from the carriage: "Stop!"

The two closest halberds backed off a little.

He Song finally turned her head to face the carriage.

"Mother..."

"Quiet."

He Song’s face was stone-cold as she pushed Tuo Bashao back, her eyes turning steely.

Half a month ago, she had still been Tuo Bagui’s wife. Traveling two thousand li to this place hadn’t made her forget. She could recognize the rank of the carriage before her—and thus, the identity of the noblewoman who had called for the guards to stop.

Wang Shenai, however, did not yet know who she was. Eyeing the odd pair, she asked, "Do you not know that you can't gallop in the capital?"

He Song clenched her teeth.

If not for desperate straits, she would never have done this.

She had heard that the empress was just—better to encounter her than anyone else. But if charging through the streets was a crime, and she was punished for it, who knew where she might end up? The empress surely had more important matters to attend to than someone like me.

Unless she declared who she was at once and handed Tuo Bashao over as a hostage.

But if she were willing to do that, why would she have fled that cage in the first place?

No—that wouldn’t do...

In that split second, her gaze swept over the halberds before her—and an idea came.

A sentence flashed through her mind, and she spoke it at once: "Your humble subject wishes to ask Your Majesty the Empress a question—why does Your Highness not recruit women soldiers?"

"Women like me—raised with bow and horse since childhood."