Zhou Gui arranged a table of simple home-cooked dishes in his courtyard, following Xiao Chiye’s instructions. When Shen Zechuan entered, he noted that although the courtyard was plainly decorated, it was elegant and close to nature, without any gold or jade ornaments.
Zhou Gui greeted Xiao Chiye and invited him to the main seat. It was the sixth month of the year, and a small stream circled the table, its drooping branches brushing the water, bringing a refreshing coolness. No servants attended them, save for Kong Ling, standing nearby to pour wine.
Xiao Chiye cleaned his hands and observed the cup slowly filling with wine. “Lord Zhou, you’ve gone to great trouble. This wine is Li Bei’s ‘Mashang Xing.’ I’ve been away from home for many years and haven’t had it in a long time.”
This wine was rations wine from Li Bei’s Iron Cavalry, strong and fiery. A few sips in the icy winter warmed the body. It was named “Mashang Xing” because over thirty years ago, Li Bei King Xiao Fangxu received a border incursion report on his wedding night. Without changing from his wedding clothes, he mounted his horse and rode into battle. His queen, still in wedding attire, poured a cup of wine for him to drink astride his horse. This became a common border tale, and ever since, “Three hundred sixty days a year, always riding with sword in hand” came to symbolize Li Bei’s Iron Cavalry.
Seeing Xiao Chiye calm, Zhou Gui relaxed slightly and said, “Our region lies near the Northeast Supply Route. Last month, when transporting military grain, the army sent many jars of wine over. I thought, as Your Lordship returns home, Cizhou has little to offer, so I could only present it humbly.”
Xiao Chiye smiled. “Mountain game and wild vegetables have their own flavor. These dishes, compared to the jade platters of Qu City, show sincerity. No need for modesty, Lord Zhou. Coordinating military provisions is complicated. Cizhou completing packaging in just a few days is thanks to your great assistance. I am the one who should pay respect to you.”
Zhou Gui declined to sit idly, quickly standing to offer a cup of wine, which Xiao Chiye drank before taking his seat. “The Iron Cavalry fights at the front lines against the Hansi Tribe. Military rations are critical. That is my duty, no thanks necessary.”
“Although Cizhou had a good harvest last year, it lent grain continuously to Duanzhou and Li Bei in the spring. That was the sacrifice of Cizhou’s people. For that, I should thank you,” Xiao Chiye said, raising a hand to subtly stop Kong Ling from pouring more wine. “Since this is a private meal, let’s dispense with formalities. Sir, please sit.”
Kong Ling reacted swiftly, bowing before taking a seat.
“Where are you from, sir?” Shen Zechuan asked with a smile.
Kong Ling, quick-thinking, noted Xiao Chiye beginning to eat and understood that Shen Zechuan was the main interlocutor tonight. He lowered his head. “I am but a simple country scholar from Dengzhou.”
“Dengzhou produces many talented people. May I know your name?” Shen Zechuan asked.
“I am Kong Ling, styled Chengfeng.” Kong Ling sat properly, looking at Shen Zechuan. “In the imperial army, Dantai Hu is the younger brother of my closest friend, Dantai Long.”
“Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign place,” Shen Zechuan tilted his head and smiled at Xiao Chiye. “Ce’an, one day you should meet Mr. Chengfeng. Encounters in turbulent times are rare.”
Calling Xiao Chiye “Ce’an” alone caused Kong Ling to reassess this Shen Zechuan. Upon entering Cizhou, Shen Zechuan had seemed unremarkable; Kong Ling initially saw him as a mere companion following Xiao Chiye. Though Shen Zechuan was an imperial officer personally appointed by Emperor Tianchen, leaving Qu City stripped him of authority. In Kong Ling’s eyes, he had no troops, no support, and could not sit as an equal beside Xiao Chiye, much less address him by his courtesy name.
Xiao Chiye poured his own wine. “You make the decisions,” he said.
Zhou Gui glanced at Kong Ling, then at Shen Zechuan. Kong Ling rose to toast. “I have long admired Your Excellency…”
“You are too polite,” Shen Zechuan replied. “Please sit. Let us drink and converse.”
“I am merely a humble scribe under your lordship; how could I discuss strategy with a magistrate? To drink here and hear instruction is already half a lifetime’s blessing,” Kong Ling said.
Shen Zechuan smiled faintly. “You are too modest. I heard you once served Dantai Long in Duanzhou. When the border cavalry invaded, Dantai Hu commanded the main forces, and your strategies guided the battles.”
Even upon entering Cizhou, Shen Zechuan had already gathered the background. Kong Ling’s expression darkened. “I am just theorizing on paper.”
“Unfortunately, Dantai Long fell to Shen Wei,” Shen Zechuan said lightly, “and Duanzhou fell without resistance.”
He spoke so lightly, as if Duanzhou’s fall was merely a torn sheet of paper—neither hate nor grievance worthy.
Kong Ling’s expression darkened further. After a pause, he forced a smile. “Your Excellency lived in comfort in Qu City, never witnessing the suffering after Duanzhou fell. From the Tea-Stone River to Dunzhou, miles of bones went unburied. Shen Wei was cowardly, but he and Shen Zhou Ji held feasts to ambush Dantai Long… I, Kong Chengfeng, could survive by changing masters, but the pro-war faction led by Dantai Long was annihilated. You are right—it is a pity he fell to Shen Wei. He was Zhongbo’s true son.”
Shen Zechuan said, “Sir survived against the odds. With your talent, you could have found a patron in Qu City. Yet you stayed in Cizhou—I don’t understand.”
Kong Ling tried to rise but could not leave unbidden. He looked at Shen Zechuan. “Your Excellency does not understand. How could you? The disaster turned Zhongbo into ruin. Here there is no fame, no wealth. To you it may seem like drifting debris, but to us, Zhongbo still has potential.”
Shen Zechuan gave a faint smile. “Duanzhou’s garrison fell to a band of outlaws. Fields abandoned, villages deserted. The potential you speak of—is it for all six states of Zhongbo, or just for one city, Cizhou? Cizhou straddles Qu City and Li Bei, trying to appease both. I do not understand.”
Kong Ling abruptly rose. “You do not know Cizhou’s difficulty. After Zhongbo fell, Qu City was mired in internal strife. Our repeated petitions went unanswered. Cultivating the fields took three years under Lord Zhou’s guidance to achieve a harvest. Yes, Cizhou is caught between Qu City and Li Bei, but when Li Bei is in need, Cizhou helps fully. To call Cizhou a fair-weather friend is unfair.”
“You are right,” Shen Zechuan shifted tone, serious now. “I came to discuss matters openly. Lord Zhou, you hesitated to let the imperial army pass, fearing Qu City’s reprisal. But the situation has collapsed. Clinging to a broken defense is no strategy. Chancellor Han plotted to harm the emperor; Ce’an and I left Qu City not to flee, but to reclaim what remains. With the empress dowager controlling the court and aristocrats blocking Qu City’s gates, how long can the academy thrive? After Zhongbo’s defeat, your repeated petitions were met with Chancellor Hua’s perfunctory response, ensuring Zhongbo’s revival is impossible. I heard of the bandits in Zhongbo while in Qu City. If the ruffians remain, Zhongbo cannot stabilize. Why not shift tactics and let Zhongbo handle its own affairs?”
Holding his wine, Zhou Gui grasped Kong Ling’s arm. “Since you speak so candidly, I will not beat around the bush. I hesitated because of Qu City’s potential retribution, which could increase taxes in Cizhou. Without troops, support, or backing like Li Bei’s, I cannot risk the lives of Cizhou’s people.”
“On the contrary,” Xiao Chiye gestured for Kong Ling to sit. “Lanzhou is not urging you to act alone. Cizhou lies along the Northeast Supply Route. Though your garrison is incomplete, if you allow my troops free passage, these twenty thousand soldiers can handle patrols until Cizhou’s forces are ready.”
Zhou Gui hesitated. Kong Ling asked, “Lord, though your word is gold, now that Li Bei has rebelled, the Northeast Supply Route is cut off. Where will the Iron Cavalry get supplies—Cizhou?”
“The route was specially opened for the Iron Cavalry. To waste it now would be tragic,” Shen Zechuan said calmly, swirling his cup. “With the Iron Cavalry and the imperial army totaling 140,000 troops, supplies will still move via the Northeast route.”
Zhou Gui and Kong Ling exchanged glances. He exclaimed, “Lord, you carry the crime of regicide! Would the thirteen cities of Juexi dare supply the Iron Cavalry?”
Shen Zechuan smiled. “Juexi is Juexi, Qu City is Qu City. Chengfeng, since I speak thus, I have a plan. As long as Lord Zhou allows the army passage tonight, Cizhou will no longer stand alone.”
Zhou Gui hesitated, voice steady. “I trust your character, Lord, but not the sudden change of circumstances. You promise to suppress bandits after passage, but what if you break your word? Cizhou will fall into a real crisis!”
“No rush,” Shen Zechuan set down his cup, calm. “I will remain alone in Cizhou until the bandits are subdued. If you still fear, we can hand over Han Jin now. Then, even if we later reneged, you could use Han Jin’s life to appease Qu City’s wrath.”
With Li Jianheng dead and Qu City without a new ruler, unrest was spreading. Unlike Cizhou, which lies close to the Iron Cavalry, military aid would free it from subservience to aristocratic orders.
“News of my arrival has already reached Qu City,” Xiao Chiye said steadily. “Whether you allow us passage or not, the Empress Dowager will hold Cizhou in check from tonight.”
Zhou Gui’s face paled. “Lord, Shen Zechuan, you—”
“Furthermore,” Shen Zechuan continued softly, “to build a full garrison, recruiting and training troops is urgent. Cizhou lives off its fields; trade with Juexi and the ports is cut off. Taxes alone would take years to fund. I have some savings and am willing to contribute. Lord Zhou, may the imperial army pass?”