Chapter 37 I Am Not a Man Who Breaks His Word

Chapter 37: I Am Not One to Break My Word

Sun En was truly bewildered.

Logically, for any sensible person caught in such a chaotic situation, if they lacked ability, wouldn't it be wiser to remain quietly in place? There might still be a chance to survive.

For Wang Ningzhi, this held even truer.

Given his status, had he not overreached himself and instead remained peacefully secluded—just as the Celestial Screen had portrayed him, utterly incompetent—perhaps both Her Majesty and Madam Xie would have simply pretended he didn’t exist.

Why did he insist on overreaching himself?

And not just any overreach—this one cost him his head.

Zhang Dingjiang cradled her forehead, making it difficult to discern the brief upward curve of her lips before she slowly suppressed it, adopting a thoughtful demeanor. "...Do you recall something the Celestial Screen once said?"

"What was it?" Sun En asked.

"That day in the hall, everyone was stunned by the phrase 'the divine loves all people,' yet they overlooked the preceding line—that Her Majesty herself dislikes her own surname. In the future, she even fabricated a new origin for it."

Sun En’s eyes immediately brightened: "You mean—since Her Majesty intends to redefine her surname, Wang Ningzhi had no familial ties to her!"

"More than just unrelated!" Zhang Dingjiang declared with absolute certainty. "He defied court edicts, sought to obstruct General Liu’s campaign against rebellion—he was a rebel and a traitor!"

She had once known only how to act preemptively, but now, having learned a few tricks from Her Majesty, she had adopted new strategies.

One was to think strategically—hence why she hadn’t immediately gone abroad searching with Sun En, but instead first gathered forces to take action.

The other was to preemptively shift blame onto others. Before Her Majesty, one could admit guilt, but when leading troops in the field, no matter what, the problem always lay with someone else.

She spoke with unshakable confidence: "News of Her Majesty’s ascension has already reached Yangxian and will surely spread to Kuaiji and Qiantang. Knowing this, and aware that Wang Xun had already been convicted for defiance, he still raised arms in rebellion. His death was utterly meaningless!"

"Who knows… the crime of conscripting civilians for temporary aid might even be greater than killing Wang Ningzhi."

Sun En nodded reflexively. "Precisely."

Zhang Dingjiang reassured him, "If you’re still uneasy, why not redeem yourself through merit?"

She gestured toward Wu Commandery, the suggestion self-evident.

"Redeeming with merit" naturally meant that after repelling the reinforcements from Wu Commandery’s powerful clans, they would continue supporting Liu Laozhi.

Sun En hurriedly asked, "Then what should we do next?"

Zhang Dingjiang’s expression darkened. "Why ask me about leading troops? How to fight is your responsibility, General Sun. I’ve given you the strategy—you can’t just be the one making empty proclamations."

Meeting her faintly disdainful gaze, Sun En answered without hesitation, "Of course not!"

Indeed, the next steps were his to take. If he wanted to secure his place under Her Majesty’s banner, he couldn’t rely solely on his Celestial Masters connections. Besides, with the strategist at hand, she could always guide him if anything went wrong.

After brief consideration, Sun En barked orders: "Send a squad of local Kuaiji garrison troops, still flying the Prefect's standard, to the Yu family estate. If they gain entry, set fires immediately. The rest will follow me—we’ll strike another target and—"

He glanced at Wang Ningzhi’s head with unseeing eyes. The earlier fear of having killed a royal relative had vanished, replaced by a cold command: "Hang his head on a flagpole. Let our enemies see it clearly!"

Eagerly rubbing his hands together, Sun En turned to Zhang Dingjiang. "Military Advisor, what do you think?"

Zhang Dingjiang couldn’t very well admit that Her Majesty hadn't taught her this part yet. She simply said, "This will do for now."

Sun En was delighted. Whether "this will do for now" was praise or a polite way of saying "needs improvement" didn’t matter—approval sufficed. They moved at once!

The aristocratic clans of Wu Commandery had never encountered such crude, unorthodox tactics before…

From the observation tower of their estate, the Yu family spotted the approaching Kuaiji reinforcements and knew their call for aid had been answered. But wary of betrayal—say, if Wang Ningzhi switched sides—they kept the inner gates shut, opening only a secondary gate for the troops.

Yet these soldiers didn’t even wait to penetrate enemy lines before scattering to set fires, then charging out of the estate.

At the same time, Sun En led his forces straight for the Zhu family’s lands.

Even with the absorbed Kuaiji troops, this motley crew looked like little more than a mob. Had they been rebels, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they’d been swiftly crushed.

But accompanying them was the head of Kuaiji’s prefect, Wang Ningzhi—demonstrating that southern reinforcements had been cut off.

And in the distance, the Yu estate was now a raging inferno, as if Liu Laozhi’s reinforcements had already breached their defenses and could reinforce Sun En’s forces at any moment.

Panic spread through the Zhu estate. How could they hold their ground now, when even the solidarity of the aristocratic clans had failed them?

To make matters worse, at the critical moment of battle, battle drums suddenly boomed from behind Sun En’s lines.

Soon after, a cavalry unit rode forth to join Sun En at the front.

The leader announced himself as Sun Wuzhong, deputy general under Liu Laozhi.

"General Liu has seized the moment to attack the Yu family," Sun Wuzhong called out over the chaos, pulling up his horse. "Fearing complications on your front, he sent me to assist."

Sun En’s reply was lost in the din.

From Sun Wuzhong’s vantage, all he saw was Sun En, flanked by Celestial Masters devotees, bearing down on the fleeing Zhu patriarch.

The estate’s private soldiers had broken ranks, while the revolutionary forces loyal to Emperor Yong'an were at their peak. As one waned, the other waxed, and victory was only a matter of time.

His arrival, it seemed, had merely been to sound the drums of triumph. Or so it appeared.

"General, you’re mistaken," Zhang Dingjiang interjected as she stepped into the scene during the mopping up. Hearing the two Suns bonding as brothers, followed by Sun Wuzhong’s remark, she added, "Had you not come, the troops led by myself and 'Young General Sun' would have remained militia. But with your drums, we’ve become official soldiers."

To outsiders, they could claim that Liu Laozhi, short on troops to suppress the rebellion, had temporarily enlisted the two of them to recruit local patriots and divide their forces.

It would save Her Majesty a great deal of trouble.

Sun En, however, was displeased. "Why does his arrival make me 'Young General Sun'?"

He had captured the Zhu patriarch, led a decisive victory, and washed away the bitterness of his earlier defeat in Jiankang at the hands of Liu Bobo—only to be demoted after the battle.

Sun Wuzhong laughed it off. "Enough, enough—you’re both General Sun. Her Majesty has countless 'General Lius'—what’s a few more 'General Suns'?"

In the end, victory was all that mattered.

The fall of the Zhu and Yu families meant Wu Commandery’s attempt to resist Yong'an’s "grand cause" was hopeless.

Even if they laid down arms now, relying on their reputation in the Wu-Kuaiji region to survive temporarily, once Her Majesty stabilized the realm, their fate would still be sealed.

As for those imperial loyalists, their rise was assured.

Sun Wuzhong glanced at the bound Zhu patriarch and said, "When Her Majesty’s edict of ascension reached Yangxian, it included an additional decree: if necessary, show no mercy—make an example. General Liu’s orders are—"

"Execute this one alongside the former Wu Commandery prefect."

One was an official of the former dynasty, the other his ally. Their deaths would serve as a warning to the Jiangdong aristocratic families!

***

Huan Xuan was still worrying about who would take over to handle the chaos in Jiangdong, unaware that many had opened the door to a new world due to the Celestial Screen. To prove their loyalty to Her Majesty, generals without deep-rooted backgrounds would hardly shy away from committing such ruthless acts.

And now, he was on his way to the capital, having removed his armor.

The deep autumn was bleak. In the fields outside Jiankang, the harvest had been gathered, leaving only barren land.

He lifted his gaze from the carriage window and saw a funeral procession along the road, white funeral streamers and banners accentuating the sorrowful atmosphere.

It was unclear which family had lost someone this autumn, holding such a sizable funeral procession.

Huan Xuan was about to lower the curtain and rest briefly, preparing for the confrontation with Her Majesty upon entering the capital, when he suddenly froze.

For he suddenly spotted several familiar faces among the procession.

That was...

Just as he was about to order the carriage to stop and step out to inquire, Xie Daoyun's carriage turned ahead, blocking his path to the group.

Xie Daoyun lifted her curtain and asked gently, "General Huan, are you wondering why these people, who are not from the same family, are escorting the funeral procession together?"

"Exactly," Huan Xuan replied, also puzzled why some among them looked ashen-faced, as if bereaved of parents.

Xie Daoyun answered, "An urgent message arrived in the capital last night, which may clarify things for you. A few days ago, Her Majesty issued a test to the capital's officials to rectify court discipline. The test had no words—just a blank sheet of paper, encouraging officials to speak freely and express their views. With the new dynasty just established and much to rebuild, those with substantive proposals could achieve great things. Her Majesty must have put great thought into such a test."

Huan Xuan: "...Indeed."

He agreed outwardly but inwardly secretly criticized. Given the court officials' habit of reading too much into things, a blank test was far more difficult to answer than one with clear questions! Even he wouldn’t know how to respond.

"And these people?"

Xie Daoyun replied, "Their answers were all ambiguous. Her Majesty saw that they still remained loyal to the previous dynasty, with many being former subordinates of Sima Daozi. Out of consideration for their sentiments, she did not force them to serve the Ying Dynasty. Instead, she allowed them to construct mourning huts by Sima Daozi’s tomb to honor their master-servant bond."

"Ah..." Huan Xuan uttered softly, then quickly added, "Her Majesty is truly thoughtful."

How exceedingly thoughtful!

From the crowd, he spotted Xie Zhong’s expression of despair and disbelief. He could easily imagine the scene when this decree was announced.

Those who tried to please both sides gained nothing before Her Majesty’s decisive actions—only shooting themselves in the foot. "Guarding Sima Daozi’s tomb to uphold loyalty" was nothing more than being cast out from Jiankang’s bureaucracy with no chance of return.

Yet none could criticize Yong'an for it.

But then, Huan Xuan felt as if he had been slapped as well. This so-called indecisiveness and playing both sides described not only these former officials but also himself!

Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath to regain his composure. "And the others?"

Xie Daoyun answered, "Those who answered well were naturally entrusted with important tasks. For instance, Wu Yin (Wu Yinzi), who spoke insightfully on southern governance, has already been dispatched to his post. However, upon learning that his extreme austerity had impoverished his family, Her Majesty had his wife brought to Jiankang for medical treatment, delaying his departure until she recovered. This shows both wisdom in appointments and benevolence in governance."

"Many viable suggestions have been compiled for court deliberation. Even Che Wuzi, who previously resigned due to illness and criticized the court, has retracted his dissent and been appointed as Imperial Censor, encouraged to speak freely on current issues."

"As for those who only knew how to flatter, Her Majesty deemed them skilled in literature but lacking in governance. They were assigned to sinecure positions for two years to improve before seeking promotion."

Huan Xuan fell silent for a moment. Meeting Xie Daoyun’s calm gaze, he had no choice but to concede, "Her Majesty is indeed a wise ruler, excelling in talent management."

The incompetent were sent where they belonged, the flatterers sidelined, and the rest assigned appropriately—revitalizing the Jiankang court while creating vacancies.

No doubt, the humble scholars emboldened by the Celestial Screen would flock even more eagerly to serve!

He was more than just a step behind.

He had only known the difficulty of usurpation, not the limitless potential once one truly held the title and power of an emperor.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, rapid and uniform hoofbeats approached from ahead.

Looking up, he saw a woman in cavalry uniform leading a cavalry unit into view.

Spotting the carriage, the leader—prompted by someone beside her—quickened her pace, reining in sharply beside them.

"Historian Xie," He Song saluted from horseback, "Her Majesty has been expecting you."

"It’s you." Xie Daoyun was momentarily surprised.

When they last met, He Song had been sent out of Jiankang to Liyang.

Back then, though skilled in archery and horsemanship, she still moved with awkwardness. Now, she carried herself with the bearing of a commanding officer.

Even with Her Majesty’s letter mentioning the Big Dipper Guard and their role as her imperial guards, Xie Daoyun hadn’t expected He Song’s transformation to be so striking.

But then again, in these turbulent times—especially after the palace coup that reshaped countless destinies—He Song, who had personally felled Sima Dewen with an arrow, was no ordinary figure.

Xie Daoyun’s gaze quickly refocused on the figure behind He Song.

"General He, she—"

The young woman grinned. "By family ties, I should call you grand-aunt by marriage, but since we now serve Her Majesty, official titles are more fitting. Recently, I joined the Big Dipper Guard’s recruitment with my blade. My adequate riding skills caught Commander He’s eye, earning me a squad of my own."

Xie Daoyun smiled. "Then perhaps soon, I’ll be addressing you as Deputy Commander Xie?"

Xie Yuejing clasped her hands. "Thank you for your kind prediction, Historian Xie."

Xie Daoyun genuinely laughed.

What an amusing scene...

Of the father and daughter, the father—an official—had been sent to guard a tomb for his ambiguous answer, likely ending any hope of official return. Meanwhile, the daughter, who by her marriage to Wang Gong’s son might have borne a grudge against Her Majesty, had chosen a path that granted her a new lease on life.

Then came an interjection: "We joined together—who knows which of us will become deputy commander first?"

The speaker had heavy, dark eyebrows that lent her face a stern look, her cheeks ruddy with health—clearly born for military life.

Still outside the city, the slightly impudent remark didn’t offend Xie Daoyun, who instead asked, "And you are?"

Proudly, the girl replied, "Her Majesty herself named me Liu Yiming—to ‘understand great righteousness and and see with clarity.’"

Xie Daoyun sensed there was more to the story but simply nodded. "Then I wish you rapid promotion."

As they resumed their journey, Xie Yuejing rode alongside and explained that this vivacious young woman of fifteen or sixteen had recently been brought from Jingkou—the only daughter of General Liu Yu.

Liu Yu, in his thirties, had only this one child. Perhaps desperate for a son, he had named her Liu Xingdi ("Liu Brings a Younger Brother"). Having spent little time with her often-absent father, she had been delighted when Her Majesty scolded Liu Yu and renamed her. Now, the girl from humble origins spoke of nothing but Her Majesty, eager to master martial arts and compete with her father for the title of Grand General Liu.

No wonder she radiated such vitality and ambition.

The only pity was her limited schooling. Just yesterday, she had asked Xie Yuejing how to write her new name—the rare moment her head bowed in embarrassment.

These two girls, each with unusual family circumstances, now served under He Song. Who knew how they would grow?

Listening to this, Huan Xuan felt the capital’s political landscape had drastically changed since his last visit.

As the carriage entered Jiankang, he unconsciously held his breath, observing the city anew.

The stability of Jiankang clearly did not rely solely on the patrolling soldiers within the city.

From the expressions of the common folk, Huan Xuan could easily discern a sense of steadfast loyalty with just a glance.

Reflecting further, he realized that Yong'an had taken control of Jiankang not after her ascension but earlier, making him realize how much he’d missed.

Even now, Jiankang wasn’t entirely united, yet he had no doubt that if he tried to rebel and led the Jingzhou troops in a swift assault on the city, these very citizens would serve as Yong'an's reserve force, barring his entry.

Surrender was his only option.

As he dismounted at the palace gates and proceeded on foot, Huan Xuan couldn’t help but observe the guards stationed there. Though not elite soldiers, they were far from just filling space—their sharp, alert eyes matched those of battle-hardened veterans.

Among them, a young officer in command studied him like a predator sizing up prey before solemnly stepping aside, allowing him to proceed under the guidance of a palace attendant.

He had to wonder where Yong'an had dug up such a commander, one who looked like a savage straight off the northern plains.

And then there was the still-unseen "Grand General Liu," Liu Yu, which only made Huan Xuan’s face darken further.

Given all he had witnessed along the way, Huan Xuan had prepared for a cold welcome upon meeting Wang Shenai. Yet, to his surprise, the attendant led him through a winding maze of palace halls, eventually bringing him to what appeared to be a garden.

Calling it a "garden" was a stretch—it looked more like farmland.

The exotic flowers and plants that should have adorned the space had been cleared away, leaving only bare earth meticulously neatly sectioned into tiny plots and furrows.

Huan Xuan paused mid-step, half-convinced he’d stepped outside the palace walls in some wilderness.

Only the distant upturned eaves of palace roofs beyond the trees reminded him he was still within the imperial grounds.

Seeing the attendant continue ahead, he hurried to catch up, watching as the attendant stopped beside one of the plots and addressed a cluster of figures gathered there.

Then, from among them, a sharp, evaluating stare locked onto him.

The owner of that gaze handed an oddly shaped plow to an attendant beside her, brushing dirt from her sleeves, and walked toward Huan Xuan.

He took a deep breath, his chest tightening. No further explanation was needed.

She was still slight of build, her face youthful, yet it bore a maturity and authority far beyond her years. Even clad in plain attire, she was clearly the one in charge here.

And then it struck him—what she had just handed over was no ordinary tool.

That alone was warning enough, a blunt reminder of how late he was.

As Wang Shenai stepped onto the "field ridge," Huan Xuan knelt and bowed his head. "Your servant Huan Xuan begs Your Majesty’s pardon."

A hand still dusted with soil grasped his arm. "The Marquis of Chu is only late. What’s the crime in that?"

Huan Xuan’s eyes widened in shock as he looked up. "...Marquis of Chu?"

This title—why "Marquis of Chu"?

He’d inherited his father’s rank as Duke of Nan Commandery, the highest rank for non-imperial nobility. Being called "Marquis of Chu" was a step down.

Not that he objected to swearing fealty to the new dynasty—but why, of all things, was it still this word, "Chu"?

"Is 'Marquis of Chu' not fitting?" Wang Shenai said coolly, watching as he rose. "During the Warring States era’s end, there was a famous saying: 'Though Chu has but three clans, it is Chu that will destroy Qin.' Now, the Guanzhong region, once the heartland of the Central Plains, is occupied by the Qiang, who have even proclaimed their own empire under the name 'Qin.' I mean for you to lead an attack on Guanzhong. Why should you not bear the name 'Chu'?"

Huan Xuan was speechless. "Your Majesty..."

Wang Shenai smiled. "General Huan, I am not one to break my word. The grand strategy I once offered you remains unchanged. Only this time—"

"You won’t be starting your own dynasty."