Qinmen Pass was very close to Chang’an, only two or three hundred li away.
In the early years of the dynasty, when the founding emperor had just established the Great Yong, the northern Xiongnu frequently invaded the borders. At the time, Great Yong’s foundations were still unstable, and the Turks had breached the border passes on several occasions, advancing all the way toward Chang’an.
Back then, Qinmen Pass had been Chang’an’s final line of defense.
By the time the previous emperor died, his death had come unexpectedly. Several princes had each gathered their own factions within the court, and fierce power struggles had broken out, even leading to a military coup. It was also at that time that the Turks launched a major invasion, advancing all the way to the outskirts of Qinmen Pass.
It was then that Xu Zonglun had saved Emperor Qingping’s life.
As people grew older, they tended to become nostalgic.
That day, the sky was clear and the air crisp. Emperor Qingping stood atop Chang’an’s southern city gate, watching the soldiers assemble outside the city to prepare for departure. Before long, he found himself recalling the events of years past.
Back then, he had finally managed to defeat his brothers and had only just ascended the throne when an urgent memorial arrived from the north, reporting that Qinmen Pass was in grave danger.
He had been young and impetuous then, and impatient with the factions left behind by the various princes throughout the imperial court. Thus, he had personally selected the troops and decided to lead the expedition himself, heading to Qinmen Pass to repel the enemy.
It had been his first time facing the bloodshed of a battlefield, his first time seeing corpses strewn across the ground and smoke rising in all directions.
It was also during that campaign, while pursuing the retreating Turks, that his forces had been surrounded by a large Turkic army lying in ambush along the way. He had nearly died beneath a stray arrow.
Xu Zonglun had arrived with reinforcements and rescued him from the encirclement. To shield him from that arrow, Xu Zonglun had taken the hit himself, the stray arrow piercing the right side of his chest and nearly costing him his life.
Emperor Qingping had never forgotten the debt he owed Xu Zonglun for risking his life to save him.
Therefore, even though the Xu family had not sided with him during the struggle for the throne, he had not made things particularly difficult for them. Later, whenever he lacked capable men in the imperial court, he had readily entrusted members of the Xu family with positions of power and lucrative appointments.
It was only after the Xu family gradually grew stronger and began acting with arrogance, looking down on everyone and stirring up trouble, that he had sought to curb their influence. Even then, he had merely used the method of balancing competing factions. He had never truly punished them.
The Xu family had received far too many favors from him.
However, the commander overseeing the troop assembly today was not Xu Zonglun. Following his original arrangements, Emperor Qingping had placed all the soldiers under Xu Zonglun’s command into the hands of a military officer who had only recently been transferred from the frontier back to the capital.
After all, Emperor Qingping knew that once the army marched south and passed through Jiangnan, supreme authority would ultimately fall into Xue Yan’s hands. Under those circumstances, there was no need to carefully select a high-ranking, powerful general. Doing so would only invite further complications.
The only task he had assigned this officer was to take over command from Xu Zonglun and then hand the troops over to Xue Yan safely and properly.
Consequently, Emperor Qingping did not keep his gaze on the commander for long. After a brief glance, his eyes settled on Xu Zonglun, who was standing by on the left side of the formation.
“How long has it been since I last saw Zonglun?” Emperor Qingping asked mildly after a brief pause.
Lingfu, standing beside him, hesitated before answering promptly, “Your Majesty, it has been four years.”
Emperor Qingping smiled faintly, his tone tinged with nostalgia. “He doesn’t seem to have aged much.”
Lingfu found himself at a loss for words.
The previous day, he had received a secret letter from Chancellor Xu, along with a packet of powder wrapped up tightly.
Only then had he learned what the Xu family intended to do—and what they wanted him to do.
Lingfu had hoped to leave himself a way out. But at present, he was the most influential and prominent eunuch in the palace. To personally topple the very pillar supporting him was practically an act of self-destruction.
Yet by now, there was no turning back.
He had already joined the Xu family’s faction. Previously, he had passed along information from the Embroidered Uniform Guards simply to give the Xu family a chance to protect themselves, so they would not drag him down with them.
He had never expected the Xu family to be so audacious—or so greedy.
Now, Xu Zonglun’s army was already at the gates of Chang’an. Whether or not Lingfu agreed to cooperate with the Xu family, Emperor Qingping would be difficult to save. If he refused and allowed the Xu family to launch their coup, he would not survive when the army stormed the imperial city.
On the other hand, if he confessed everything to Emperor Qingping, then even if he managed to save the emperor, Lingfu knew from experience that he himself would still die.
He understood better than anyone how suspicious the emperor could be.
Emperor Qingping would never allow a servant who had once betrayed him to remain by his side.
At this point, the only way to preserve his own life was to obey the Xu family and drug Emperor Qingping.
After weighing both options, Lingfu made his choice.
He quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts, put on a smile, and joined the emperor in making small talk.
“Military officers spend their lives practicing martial arts and maintaining strong physiques. They tend to look younger for longer.”
Emperor Qingping laughed a few times.
“Your Majesty is truly benevolent. Even after all these years, you still remember General Xu,” Lingfu remarked, studying the emperor’s expression as he cautiously tested the waters.
Emperor Qingping naturally enjoyed hearing such flattering words. He smiled and said, “After all, Zonglun once saved my life.”
Seeing his expression, Lingfu felt more confident.
“Then… since General Xu is scheduled to depart tomorrow, would Your Majesty like this servant to make some arrangements…?” he asked.
Ordinarily, for a servant to arrange such a matter on behalf of his master would have been presumptuous. But at that moment, a hundred thousand troops stood beneath the city tower, their war drums thundering and the atmosphere charged with excitement. Emperor Qingping had also been reminiscing about the past, and his emotions had been stirred.
Lingfu was exceptionally skilled at reading people. He knew precisely when it was best to approach his master with a suggestion.
Sure enough, Emperor Qingping did not give it much thought before replying, “We should hold a farewell banquet for the commander.”
The person he actually wanted to see was Xu Zonglun. However, he had already demoted Xu Zonglun to the position of deputy, meaning he no longer counted as the commanding general.
After a brief moment of consideration, Emperor Qingping gave his instructions. “Go and arrange it. Simply say that I am holding a farewell banquet for the commander. Have several of the army’s principal officers attend as well.”
Lingfu hurriedly agreed.
——
Night fell.
Lights were lit throughout the imperial palace, illuminating the buildings and reflecting against the vast river of stars overhead.
The banquet was once again being held in Yongle Hall.
Emperor Qingping had not yet arrived, but the military officers who were about to march south had already taken their seats. Military men were always lively when gathered together. The group chatted and laughed among themselves, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
Looking around, all the officers present were old subordinates whom Xu Zonglun had brought back from Qinmen Pass. Every one of them had served under him for decades.
Yet Xu Zonglun, who should originally have been seated in the place of honor at the head of the table, was now sitting to the left of the commanding general.
The commander’s surname was Hu. He had originally served as an officer at Yumeng Pass, a post that had always been peaceful and orderly. The garrison commander there was Jun Huailang’s maternal uncle, who had managed the pass so competently that not a single serious incident had occurred in decades.
This General Hu was an unremarkable man by nature. Under Jun Huailang’s uncle, he had managed to scrape together the qualifications for a third-rank position through seniority alone. Now in his forties, he had been transferred back to the capital.
For an officer like him, returning to the capital usually meant being given some leisurely, undemanding post where he could coast toward retirement. Even General Hu himself had never dared imagine that, after accomplishing so little at Yumeng Pass, he would return to Chang’an only to have such an enormous opportunity fall straight into his lap.
He had actually been personally appointed by the emperor as the commanding general, and would soon lead a hundred thousand troops from Qinmen Pass south to suppress the rebellious vassal princes.
Even though he would have to follow the Guangling Prince’s orders once he reached the south, the title of commanding general would still belong to him.
The garrison at Yumeng Pass had always maintained a clean and upright atmosphere. After decades there, General Hu had developed a rather guileless temperament and had absolutely no understanding of the complicated political maneuvering among officials in the capital.
When the emperor appointed him, he simply assumed that he had finally earned the emperor’s trust. He was like an unpolished gem that had long been overlooked, and now, at last, his time to shine had arrived.
As for General Xu, the former commander of Qinmen Pass, he was also a very amiable man.
The position of commanding general should originally have gone to Xu, but it had fallen into Hu’s hands instead. At first, Hu had been somewhat apprehensive. However, General Xu had sought him out immediately and invited him to share a few drinks.
General Xu explained that some things had happened within his family, and he had fallen out of the emperor’s favor. Having troops under his command was now more of a burden than a blessing. Fortunately, Hu had come along to take over his military authority, allowing him to avoid further suspicion from the emperor. For that, he said, he ought to thank Hu.
General Hu had naturally been overwhelmed by the honor.
Xu Zonglun had also promised that, as Hu’s deputy, he would do his utmost to assist and support him, so Hu need not worry.
Hearing this, General Hu had been so grateful that he immediately regarded Xu Zonglun as a kindred spirit. The two had drunk together until late into the night, talking about everything under the sun.
Hu had simply assumed that General Xu was an open-minded, reasonable, and good-hearted man.
Then, two days ago, General Xu had sought him out again.
“I’ve thought it over, and I believe it’s best to tell you,” Xu Zonglun had said. “You know that His Majesty appointed you as commanding general this time because he trusts you. I also had some personal dealings with His Majesty in the past, so I understand him reasonably well. After thinking it through, I feel you ought to give His Majesty something as a token of your goodwill.”
“Give him something?” General Hu had asked in confusion. “But His Majesty possesses the entire realm. What could he possibly lack?”
Xu Zonglun had burst into laughter.
“Of course, what he lacks is a show of sincere devotion from you, his subject,” he said. “It doesn’t need to be expensive. You only just returned from Yumeng Pass, didn’t you? Did you bring back any fine liquor or local specialties that are rarely seen in the capital?”
General Hu had thought for a moment. “I did bring back a few jars of good liquor. But the wine we drink at the frontier is rather rough. How could it compare with the fine brews of Chang’an?”
Xu Zonglun had shaken his head.
“How much fine liquor from the capital has His Majesty not tasted? But frontier liquor is something he has never tried,” he said. “As it happens, there will be wine at the banquet. When the time comes, you can personally pour a cup for His Majesty. It will be something novel for him to try, and everyone will be happy. Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?”
General Hu had agreed wholeheartedly, convinced that Xu Zonglun made perfect sense.
He had nodded repeatedly.
“I’m a simple soldier and have never thought of things so thoroughly. I must thank General Xu for your guidance,” he had said.
Xu Zonglun had merely smiled. “There’s no need to be so formal, General. I’m your subordinate now. You can just address me by my courtesy name.”
General Hu had felt that their relationship had grown even closer.
And so, the day of the banquet arrived.
The emperor had yet to appear, but the officers from Qinmen Pass were already treating Hu with great enthusiasm, chatting with him one after another. General Hu responded with smiles, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself.
He had the emperor’s trust and cooperative subordinates. As a commanding general, what more could he ask for?
All he needed to do was carry out the emperor’s orders, protect the lands of Great Yong, and lead his brothers in earning promotions and honors.
General Hu felt that his future was bright.
Just then, a eunuch arrived to announce that the emperor would be there shortly.
Everyone immediately straightened up and sat properly.
Xu Zonglun, seated beside Hu, gently nudged him.
“Did you bring it?” Xu Zonglun asked in a low voice.
He was referring, of course, to the jar of liquor he had told General Hu to bring.
Thinking Xu Zonglun was simply checking on him out of concern, General Hu nodded repeatedly. He even shifted aside to show Xu Zonglun the jar sitting beside his feet.
“I brought it, I brought it! A whole jar!”
Xu Zonglun smiled faintly and nodded meaningfully.
“Good. As long as you brought it,” he said.