Fang Linyuan could no longer refuse the imperial edict.

As he left the Qianyuan Palace with the decree in hand, a thousand soldiers awaited him outside the city. These troops, drawn from the garrison near the capital, were assembled under their commander and gatekeeper Zhu Song, ready to send him off.

The decree ordered immediate action, leaving Fang Linyuan only enough time to instruct Yan Ting, who was waiting by the palace gates, to inform his household of his mission and expected return in three to five days.

The eunuch who delivered the decree accompanied Fang Linyuan to the city gates, soothingly saying, “General, the emperor had no other choice. The realm is in turmoil, and His Majesty is anxious.” His tone suggested an intent to console Fang Linyuan, who had dared to voice dissent in court earlier. Recognizing the rare trust placed in him, Fang Linyuan responded only with a restrained acknowledgment.

The eunuch handed over the tiger tally (NT: military symbol used to represent a general's authority under the emperor's approval) with both hands. Seeing that Fang Linyuan had taken the tiger talisman, the eunuch smiled and leaned closer to him, lowering his voice as he added, “His Majesty truly values you. Among all the generals raised in the capital, His Majesty trusts only you for such a critical task.”

Fang Linyuan accepted the tally, bowed toward the imperial palace, and solemnly pledged, “This subject will not fail the imperial mandate.”

Yet, as he spoke, an inner conflict stirred. What did it mean to "not fail the imperial mandate"? No one had ever taught him that a soldier’s blade could or should be turned on unarmed civilians.

*

Yan Ting, carrying Fang Linyuan’s instructions, first relayed the message to Song Zhaojin at Jiyue Hall before proceeding to Huaiyu Pavilion. The lush surroundings of the pavilion stood vibrant, especially the blooming crabapple trees by the entrance. However, Yan Ting found himself blocked from entering.

"The Princess is resting inside. If you have anything to say, tell me, and I will relay it to him," said Juan Su. Outside Huaiyu Pavilion, the other maids were bustling about, trimming flower branches under the trees.

"It's a message from the Marquis," Yan Ting quickly explained. "The Marquis went to the palace today, received an imperial command, and will be leaving the capital. He should return in three to five days."

"Understood. I’ll inform His Highness once she wakes up in a while," Juan Su replied with a nod.

Yan Ting smiled and bowed. "Many thanks, Miss Juan Su."

Juan Su nodded and watched him leave before turning back inside, closing the door behind her. She swiftly moved through the hall, past layers of gauze curtains and the interplay of light and shadows, until she reached the innermost bedchamber.

There, Zhao Chu was not resting as expected but was seated at a desk, writing rapidly on sheets of paper. Wu Xinghai stood silently by his side.

Seeing Zhao Chu’s intense focus, his brush moving swiftly with bold strokes, Juan Su didn’t dare to interrupt and stood quietly.

Zhao Chu had received Yan Ting’s message about Fang Linyuan a quarter of an hour earlier. By now, Fang Linyuan was already outside the city gates.

On the desk before Zhao Chu lay three separate letters.

One was addressed to Shi Shen, ordering a thorough investigation into the root causes of the northern unrest and preservation of evidence to ensure that when Fang Linyuan returned, the blame would not fall solely on him.

The other two letters were for trusted ministers—one a censor and the other from a humble background—both secretly loyal to Zhao Chu despite their outward association with the Sang faction.

Meanwhile, the official responsible for the failed suppression, a protégé of Minister Su and aligned with the Third Prince, would bear the brunt of the fallout.

Under Zhao Chu’s instructions, by tomorrow morning, the Sang faction would impeach this individual on the court floor, turning the matter into a political struggle between the Sang and Su factions. Neither side would remain passive, especially as the Ministry of Revenue faced accusations regarding his handling of public welfare amidst the unrest.

This turmoil would consume the court for the next three to five days, ensuring that blame would not touch Fang Linyuan.

As Zhao Chu finished writing, Wu Xinghai carefully handled the completed letter, passing it through incense smoke to mark it with Zhao Chu’s scent, a distinctive seal of authenticity.

“Who was just here?” Zhao Chu asked, picking up the first letter he had written.

"A servant from Fugang Pavilion, reporting that the Marquis has left the capital," Juan Su answered.

Zhao Chu nodded. "No need to stand idly. Fetch my travel clothes."

Juan Su hesitated, glancing between Zhao Chu and Wu Xinghai. Wu Xinghai gave her a meaningful look with his sinister, single-eyed gaze.

“Yes,” Juan Su responded quickly.

At the desk, Zhao Chu reread the letter one final time before sealing it in an envelope.

"I'll be gone for no more than three days," Zhao Chu said. "You handle everything in the capital, and tell others I'm sick."

"Yes," Wu Xinghai nodded but hesitated before asking, "Your Highness, you will only bring Zhu Wu and a few people? There are still some people in the transport department you could take with you."

Zhao Chu thought for a moment and replied, "These people were just assigned; if I bring too many, it may expose our movements. Teach Zhu Jia to train them quicker, and leave everything else for now."

"…Yes," Wu Xinghai said reluctantly, but seeing Zhao Chu’s firm decision, he had no choice but to agree.

Zhao Chu sealed the envelope, and the room fell silent.

He didn't need to take too many people; this trip was for Fang Linyuan alone.

Although Zhao Chu had made arrangements in the capital, he knew how soft Fang Linyuan’s heart was.

He feared Fang Linyuan might hurt himself or become a scapegoat for others.

But Zhao Chu's hands were tied with limited manpower, and he hadn't received clear information about the situation in Jibei. He didn't know how to deal with the commoners' unrest, so he had to go personally to adapt to the changing circumstances.

After all, Zhao Chu remembered when Fang Linyuan chased after the bandits alone that night ...

Zhao Chu didn’t want to experience that kind of urgency again.

*

Jibei was just over a hundred miles from the capital, and with cavalry, it would take less than a day to reach.

However, since Fang Linyuan set out in the afternoon, and marching at night was unsafe for cavalry, he ordered the troops to rest outside the city as the evening approached.

The lieutenant general, who had been in the army for many years, had never experienced such hard marching.

It was one thing to march quickly during the day, but when they were about to set up camp, Fang Linyuan did not let them enter the city. Instead, he had them retreat a mile and camp on a nearby hill.

The soldiers under him were all well-fed and privileged in the capital, so many of them privately complained, but they dared not speak out because of Fang Linyuan’s high rank and achievements.

The lieutenant general had no choice but to send someone into the city to buy fresh vegetables and meat for the soldiers, preparing a small meal for them.

Once the food was ready and the smell of cooking wafted through the air, the lieutenant general sat down next to Fang Linyuan, trying to please him by offering a large jar of wine he had bought in the city.

“General Fang, the Fenju wine (NT: renowned sorghum wine) of Wuling City is famous throughout the land. Since we are passing through here, we should try it,” the lieutenant general said with a smile.

Fang Linyuan glanced at him indifferently, his eyes sweeping over the wine jar without speaking.

The lieutenant general’s smile immediately faded.

“I understand. It is against the rules to drink wine during a military march, a rule set since the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty,” he said. “I was being careless.”

With that, he hurriedly opened the jar and poured all the wine out, and immediately, the strong aroma of alcohol rose into the night air.

The lieutenant general felt uneasy.

He had heard that General Fang was strict with military discipline, but now he was witnessing it first-hand...

“I know that this place is peaceful and stable. We are not facing foreign enemies or putting down a rebellion,” Fang Linyuan’s calm voice broke the silence.

This was a hint!

The lieutenant general quickly turned to look at him.

Around them, the soldiers were all happily cooking meat in the pot, but Fang Linyuan was sitting alone with a water jug, eating dry rations.

He had spent many years in the capital and had dealt with all kinds of high-ranking officials. If he still needed Fang Linyuan to spell things out for him, then all his years would have been wasted.

He stood up to speak.

“I understand! We shouldn’t be extravagant during a military march. What’s the point of cooking meat and soup? I will...”

Fang Linyuan grabbed him and pulled him back with an exasperated expression.

“You want to make them pour it out?” Fang Linyuan asked. “Isn’t this extravagance?”

The lieutenant general didn’t expect Fang Linyuan to react this way.

What... should he not pour it out then? What should he do now?

Fang Linyuan looked at him, and the lieutenant general didn’t know where to place his hands.

As the commanding officer of the capital’s garrison, the lieutenant general was clearly more practiced in social etiquette than military strategy, as evident by his bulging belly and the folds of his armour when he sat down.

"I wasn't referring to eating," Fang Linyuan clarified. He couldn't help frowning, so he had to quickly remove his eyes from the other’s stomach. "There's nothing in the military orders prohibiting soldiers from eating meat on the march, right?"

The lieutenant general scratched the back of his head. "No..."

Fang Linyuan continued, "What I mean is, even if the situation isn't urgent, as a general, you shouldn't be drinking alcohol at this time. Are you going to follow your own orders?"

This was the first time the lieutenant general had encountered such a request.

The influential figures in the capital were all seasoned and shrewd, skilled in the art of conversation and always attentive to the unspoken words.

But this... The general who had returned from the border was truly exceptional.

The lieutenant general, taken aback, hesitated before sitting back down, his belly folding into three layers.

After a while, Fang remarked, “I heard in the capital that you’re one of the most accomplished officers, with notable achievements in quelling bandits and unrest.” The lieutenant general, flattered but modest, felt immediately a little embarrassed. It ass nothing compared to the story of the person in front of him . Many generals regarded him as a living legend.

"It's nothing." He waved his hand repeatedly.

Fang then asked, “Has the countryside always faced these disturbances?”

The lieutenant general was caught off guard by the question. After a brief pause, he answered candidly, "Well, it's usually the same everywhere. There are always some beggars, bandits, or similar people, and they follow the usual routes the court has set. There's nothing that can't be handled."

"Routes?" Fang Linyuan tilted his head in confusion.

"Yes," the lieutenant general replied. "As for bandits, we simply surround their village and eliminate them, sometimes even setting it on fire. As for the homeless, they’re terrified of the officers and soldiers. Once they’re intimidated, they’ll naturally fall in line and settle down."

“What if intimidation fails?” Fang pressed. “I heard this time the usual warnings didn’t work.”

The vice general, now animated, explained, “For leaders of revolts, imperial law is clear—they’re executed, male relatives exiled, and female family members enslaved. Such measures ensure control.”

"The general doesn't know," the lieutenant general said, suddenly becoming more animated as he spoke.

"Among rebellious vagrants, there are always leaders. The laws of Daxuan are crystal clear: for rebellion and treason, all involved are executed, male family members exiled, and women enslaved as state servants."

He smiled at Fang Linyuan. "Those farmers, don’t they all have families? Once a few are killed or captured, the rest quickly behave."

After sharing this insight, he took a discreet sip of smuggled wine, while Fang Linyuan said nothing, turning his gaze to the rustling black forest, lost in thought.

*

The next morning, Fang Linyuan led his troops and reached Jianyang County by noon.

This county, closest to the capital among Jibei's seven counties, was a key grain producer but also the epicenter of the current uprising.

Jianyang County was the leading grain producer in Jibei, not only supplying the capital’s grain and fodder each year but also contributing substantial taxes, which were not included in the imperial treasury.

As dawn broke, the summer breeze stirred the lush green wheat fields, creating a picturesque and thriving scene from afar.

"These crops look fine. Why would the farmers rebel?" a soldier murmured.

"Taxes," another reasoned. "If taxes are waived, they save a fortune. With last year’s poor harvest, grain prices soared. Selling it could bring a windfall."

When the soldiers nearby heard this, they believed it to be true and shook their heads in agreement.

Fang, overhearing, glanced at the fertile fields and the bent figures of peasants making way for the troops. These peasants, emaciated and worn, seemed out of place among the thriving crops.

An old woman's face was deeply wrinkled, with drooping skin that folded in layers, and her frail back resembled a brittle, decayed piece of wood. The child in her basket had a pale, gaunt face, with the hollows of the eye sockets clearly visible. The others around them stood motionless, like scarecrows in the field—just bodies with heads, their tattered clothes fluttering in the wind.

The lush fields clearly served someone other than the people working them.

And who was it ?

Fang Linyuan’s gaze lingered on them until he passed by, leaving them behind. He then turned his attention forward, where he saw the soldiers marching with pride. Their armor gleamed in the sunlight, and the horses beneath them appeared robust and well-fed, brimming with energy.

*

Leading 1,000 soldiers and horses, Fang entered Jianyang’s city gates. The county magistrate didn’t welcome them; he was holed up in his office, besieged by rebels for days.

And the Beijing official, who was dragged off his horse by the homeless people and almost trampled to death, also hid there.

The road to the magistrate’s office was eerily silent, the city's homes shuttered. Curious eyes peeked through cracks but quickly vanished at the sight of armed cavalry.

As they approached the office, Fang saw a mass of people outside, dusty and huddled together like discarded pebbles at the foot of a mountain, small and insignificant.

Hearing the sound of hooves, the people lying or sitting in the street quickly stood, albeit sluggishly. Some, too slow to react, were nudged by others to get up.

Fang Linyuan approached, observing their wary faces. They held farm tools—sickles and the like—some barely gripped, trembling in the air. The group, composed entirely of men, young and old, were dressed in ragged shirts, ribs visibly protruding beneath thin fabrics stained with sweat and dirt.

Fang Linyuan halted his horse a yard away, his soldiers forming a line behind him.

The ragged men hesitated, retreating while attempting to feign courage. The stand-off was tense until the lieutenant general, without orders, unsheathed his blade.

The soldiers behind him followed, a thousand blades gleaming in the sunlight, their sharpness intimidating. The sight caused the ragged crowd to shrink back in fear, their raised tools shaking.

Fang Linyuan frowned and glanced at the lieutenant general, silently rebuking him. Confused, the lieutenant general couldn't understand Fang’s hesitation.

Wouldn’t killing a few, capturing some, and spreading fear quell the unrest across Jibei's seven counties?

Suddenly, someone among the crowd shouted, “We just want a way to live!”

The lieutenant general gestured urgently to Fang Linyuan, signaling they’d found a leader to arrest. Yet Fang Linyuan remained still, merely watching as the crowd, emboldened, raised their voices into a crescendo:

“We want to live!”
“We have no food! We can’t pay taxes!”

From inside the government office, terrified officials peeked out. If the mob stormed the gates, their lives would be at risk.

At that moment, Fang Linyuan raised his hand.

Instead of ordering his troops to advance, Fang Linyuan gestured for them to sheathe their blades and hold their positions. His soldiers, confused, hesitated before slowly complying, while the desperate cries of the peasants began to fade.

Fang Linyuan dismounted, leaving his sword on the saddle, and strode toward the crowd unarmed. Startled, the lieutenant general exclaimed: “general!”.

He saw Fang Linyuan turn around.

"What are you doing, General!" The lieutenant general was busy. "It's a mob, they're going to kill!"

But Fang Linyuan calmly responded, "Didn't you hear them? They have no food."

Fang Linyuan halted in his tracks, then turned and walked directly toward the group of homeless people.

As they took a few steps back, their uncertainty grew—seeing that he was unarmed, they hesitated. Gradually, the farm tools they held lowered. There were hundreds of them, yet Fang Linyuan wasn’t intimidated.

If someone truly wanted to cause trouble, it would be hard to imagine a person so thin and emaciated from hunger doing so. People fight to survive, and no matter how kind or generous they may be, when pushed to the edge, they can't always be expected to behave peacefully or remain submissive. Desperation can drive people to act out when they see no other option.

Fang Linyuan thought through everything, and now his mind was clear.

Faced with desperate people just trying to survive, he couldn’t bring himself to draw his sword, even if it meant his own death.

As he stood before them, the group in front of him where those who had called for the leader. They appeared to have never encountered an official like Fang Linyuan before. For a while, they simply stared at him, filled with both fear and caution, not uttering a word.

Fang took out an imperial edict. “I am the General of the Sixteen Guard, tasked with quelling the rebellion in the seven counties of Longxi.” He said in a loud voice.

"Sixteen Guard General..."

"He's the one from Longxi, the Anping general who reclaimed the eighteen cities!"

"Fang Linyuan, he's General Fang Linyuan..."

Soft whispers spread among the homeless.

After a long hesitation, one person finally found the courage to ask, "Are you here to arrest us?"

Immediately, the others tensed up, gripping their farming tools tightly once again.

Fang Linyuan, holding the imperial edict, calmly shook his head. "Arrest? The matter isn’t settled yet. It’s too early for that."

The crowd fell silent, and a soft commotion stirred in the government office behind them.

Fang raised his voice, addressing not the peasants but the officials hiding inside the walls: "If you want a tax reduction, we should start from here."

"Besides the gifts from His Majesty, Daxuan has its own regulations regarding tax reductions and exemptions. Let me check the harvests from last year and this year, the taxes paid, and what remains in your possession."

The peasants, stunned, began murmuring with relief and hope. "Last year, the crops halved, but we paid all the taxes!"

"Did you have to cut the full rent last year? Can we return the grain we handed over?"

"After paying taxes last year, we could barely survive the winter with the little food left, and the children were starving..."

The murmurs from the crowd grew louder.

Fang Linyuan quickly assessed the situation.

He had noticed how emaciated the people looked, and a plan formed in his mind.

Daxuan’s laws stipulated rent reductions and grain relief when the harvest is poor. Clearly, Jianyang County had not followed these laws, and the people were obviously squeezed out of their blood .

As for the falsified records—

He had already asked the lieutenant general and learned that the officers had only intervened to maintain order, not to investigate the local officials’ accounting.

Raising his hand to silence them, Fang Linyuan spoke: "Since you've agreed, Ilet me find a way to help you. After all, how else could the officials in the mansion release the account books?"

The peasants, reluctantly, parted to create a path.

Inside, an official shouted angrily, "Fang Linyuan! The emperor sent you to suppress the rebellion. How dare you defy the order!"

The people around him exchanged nervous glances, their faces filled with fear.

They knew all too well that speaking out would lead to severe punishment—death.

Fang smiled, unfazed. "Yes, the imperial edict clearly states to quell the rebellion. Am I not doing just that? I prefer to solve problems at the root."

As he spoke, it seemed that something came to his mind. He raised his hand and issued a military order.

"Someone, surround the entire county office. If any news of today leaks out of Jianyang County, the entire army will be punished."

The soldiers quickly dispersed and surrounded the entire county office. The lieutenant general hesitated, but seeing Fang Linyuan's unyielding expression, he gave up on speaking.

Forget it, generals are no better than civilian officials. If they get angry, they'll just behead you.

The county office gates slowly opened, and Fang Linyuan, holding the imperial edict, walked up the steps. Halfway through, he turned and glanced back.

Outside, the long street was eerily empty. Aside from armoured soldiers and ragged refugees, there was no one in sight.

Strange...

As he walked all the way , Fang Linyuan had felt that someone had been secretly following him.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Zhao Chu: Observing secretly.jpg

Wu Xinghai: Sob, Master, why has it come to this QAQ

Zhao Chu: ? What do you understand? A qualified wife always creates opportunities to be in the same frame as her husband, no matter the circumstances!

Translator : DarNan