Where Immortals Once Walked

Just from the state of the grain ledgers alone, it was clear that He Chunhua’s new post in Xia Province would be anything but easy.

Supporting the northern front was a duty the province could not refuse. With the situation at the front so dire, He Chunhua would have to scrape together every last man, horse, and grain sack—no matter what hole he had to dig into.

“Old Master Zhu wrote that the new governor-general will soon need to raise troops?”

“Yes, and quickly,” replied He Chunhua. He had only brought three hundred men from Heishui City, and even after absorbing Wu Shaoyi’s army along the way, they only came out to about six hundred men.

Their current numbers were still far from enough for real warfare. Once they reached Xia Province, they needed to begin recruiting immediately.

When Great Yuan was first founded, local senior officials had no right to raise private troops; all forces were dispatched by the central administration. But times had changed, and the royal court was perpetually entangled in its own troubles, uprisings had become routine, and local officials were now tacitly allowed to recruit and supply their own soldiers.

In Qiansong Commandery, He Chunhua had started from nothing and built up a disciplined, self-sustaining force of his own. That experience would now serve him well in Xia Province.

Manager Qian said respectfully, “Then, Governor-General He should be aware that Dunyu City and its surrounding seven counties are dominated by four great families. Their ties are deeply intertwined; together, they control the lifeblood of the provincial capital. The other noble families all defer to them. Among these four, the Li and the Shu families have been rooted here since the eighth year of Great Yuan’s founding. Each maintains its own private troops. The past two Governors-General of Xia Province both chose to keep on good terms with them. Without their support, my lord, it will be very hard to get anything done.”

He Chunhua raised an eyebrow. “So, the four families are iron, while the governor-generals are but passing water?”

Manager Qian smiled weakly, at a loss for words. He went to the door and fetched several thick ledgers. “These are the documents you requested on Dunyu and the four families—population, assets, connections. I gathered all I could, though some hidden dealings remain beyond my reach.”

“Good.” He Chunhua flipped through them. “First, tell me, who’s currently in charge of military affairs in Dunyu on my behalf?”

“The military affairs officer, Peng Ju’an,” Manager Qian answered promptly. “He commands about a thousand and six hundred men.”

“Where does he reside?”

“In Qingping Township, barely five kilometers from Dunyu.”

He Chunhua nodded again. “Has word of my arrival in Xia Province reached them yet?”

“Everyone knows the new governor-general is coming, but not when exactly. Since you’ve stayed here in Ru County for two days already, I expect the news has spread on its own. The four families all have businesses and people stationed here, too.”

“As I expected.” He Chunhua exhaled. “Thank you. You’ve done well, and I’ll be sure to commend you personally to Old Master Zhu.”

Delighted, Manager Qian quickly bowed. “You honor me, my lord. Ah, one more thing. Recently, not only commoners but wealthy households have begun fleeing south. The difference is that some poor folk even run north into Xun Province, while the rich can only retreat south. Two of the four great families, the Xie and the Zhan families, have started selling their estates and dismissing their servants. Their own household staff say the masters are preparing to withdraw.”

Mozhe Jingxuan shook his head. “If they’re the first to run, morale will crumble.”

“Indeed,” Manager Qian sighed. “Lord Governor-General has accepted the post at a most perilous time. I wish you the best of luck.” He bowed again and withdrew.

He Lingchuan stretched lazily, pointing at the ledgers and saying, “Father, reading’s not exactly my strong suit.”

“You don’t need to look through them.” He Chunhua turned to the others and said, “The situation in Dunyu is more or less as Manager Qian described, matching our intelligence closely. Now, our journey is nearing its end. Let’s plan our next move for when we enter Dunyu.”

That strategy session behind closed doors lasted well over two hours.

Old Steward Mo came in once to add charcoal to the brazier, once more to bring dinner, and a third time to refill the oil lamp.

When the meeting finally ended, He Chunhua was still bright-eyed and vigorous. “Unless anything changes, we’ll proceed exactly as decided.”

Everyone gave solemn assent and dispersed.

* * *

When the room was clear of everyone, including the He brothers, Old Steward Mo quietly ushered Manager Qian back inside.

Now, only three people remained.

Manager Qian, having dozed a little to shake off travel fatigue, blinked in surprise as the steward handed him a ten-tael silver ingot. Governor-General He then spoke in a gentle tone, “It wasn’t an easy errand. You’ve earned this.”

“Ah, I dare not accept—” Yet his hands still closed around the silver.

“I just need to confirm something.” He Chunhua leaned forward. “The Li Family of Dunyu, are they still led by Li Zhao? He’s Minister of War Li’s second uncle, correct?”

“Indeed, his second uncle,” Manager Qian said. “If you can get through to him, the Li Family will be no problem.”

“I suspect he is the problem.” He Chunhua rubbed his chin. “If I recall right, he’s nearly seventy now?”

“He just celebrated his seventieth birthday a few days ago,” Manager Qian said with a grin. “Locals all say Old Master Li Zhao is the real ruler of Dunyu. The family may let the younger generation handle daily business, but whenever a major issue arises, everyone still goes to him. In Dunyu, no matter how big the mess, if Old Master Li steps in, it’ll be resolved.”

“Impressive,” He Chunhua murmured. “Even if the mess involves the burning of the grain depot?”

“I heard he flew into a rage over that incident. In the end, the two scapegoats—the grain officer and an unfortunate clerk—were sent to the capital for trial. They’re scheduled for execution this autumn.”

“Sending them off so boldly means he’s sure they’ll keep their mouths shut,” He Chunhua said with a nod. “Well, with Minister Li still in the capital, they can rest easy. I just hope they’re as capable when facing Nian Zanli’s army.”

Manager Qian gave a wry chuckle. “War’s not their strong suit.”

“In other words, Li Zhao is the pillar and anchor of the entire Li Family.”

“Indeed.”

He Chunhua smiled faintly. “And how’s Old Master Li’s health?”

“He’s sturdy as an ox, his eyes are sharp, and his back is straight. He’s always taken great care of himself,” Manager Qian said with a rueful laugh. “Honestly, I think he’ll outlive me.”

“Good, then I have two more favors to ask.” He Chunhua raised a finger. “First, I need you to find out whether Old Master Li has ever done something that weighs on his conscience, something so shameful he can’t forget it even in old age.”

“Something that haunts his sleep?” Manager Qian thought hard, then sucked in a breath. “Actually, yes, I believe there really is something!”

He Chunhua reminded him, “A man that old and shrewd has likely done plenty of unsavory things, but most won’t trouble him. Fleas don’t bite when you have too many.”

“Right, right. Well, this first story is one I heard from the elderly of Dunyu. When Old Master Li was in his forties, his third son insisted on marrying a common woman. Somehow, before the wedding, Li Zhao ended up having an affair with his future daughter-in-law and got her pregnant.

There was no way to hush it up, so the woman became his seventh concubine instead.” Manager Qian could not help but wince as he continued, “But she soon ‘fell ill’ and died. She was seven months pregnant at the time. Two lives were lost then. Rumors later spread that she hadn’t died of illness at all, but because the child in her belly wasn’t Old Master Li’s either. When he found out, he flew into a rage and had her dragged out and buried alive, while telling everyone she’d died of sickness and been buried with honors. They say her dying screams cursed him, wishing he’d die badly.”

He Chunhua’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter. “So vivid, how reliable is it?”

“A few days later, stray dogs dug up a woman’s corpse from the paupers’ graveyard,” said Manager Qian. “There were rope marks on her wrists and dirt in her throat. The timing fits perfectly.”

He Chunhua grunted. “Anything else?”

“Old Master Li once had an older twin brother. They were inseparable, the closest of siblings. When they were about ten, they went swimming in a river during the summer. A flash flood came out of nowhere, and both were swept away. Only a small tree offered any footing. Old Master Li seized the chance—or stole it, rather—by stepping on his brother’s shoulders to leap upward. The adults saved him, but the tree snapped, and his older brother was carried off by the current.”

He Chunhua’s tone turned cautious. “Where did you hear that? Li Zhao is already seventy. Who’s even left alive that could remember something from his childhood?”

The average life expectancy in Great Yuan barely exceeded thirty-three, and reaching fifty would already be considered a stroke of luck for a commoner.

“It came from his third son, the very same one whose bride he took.” Manager Qian grimaced. “He got drunk one night and blurted it out, saying that everyone in the family knew, and that it was hardly a secret.”

“Excellent.” He Chunhua took out a gold ingot and placed it on the table. “I have one more task for you. When it’s done, there’ll be another just like this waiting.”

“My lord, you’re the Zhu Family’s benefactor and honored guest. I’ll serve you with all my heart, no reward needed!”

Zhu Xiyan had anticipated that He Chunhua would make his mark in Xia Province and had instructed Manager Qian to cooperate fully.

He Chunhua leaned closer and whispered his next instruction.

Manager Qian blinked, startled. “You mean—?”

“Can it be done?”

“I’ll do my best, my lord. Please give me a few days.”

.* * *

The next day, the Coordinating Army did not continue north as planned, because Governor-General He had fallen ill.

A passing dignitary stricken on the road drew immediate attention. The magistrate of Ru County personally came to visit when he heard. He Chunhua, his face pale, received him from his bed, claiming exhaustion and a cold caught during the journey. He said he needed several days of rest.

The county magistrate readily agreed and arranged the best accommodations and service.

Meanwhile, He Lingchuan and the others learned that He Chunhua had secretly sent scouts ahead to Dunyu again. The trip would take time, but none of them minded.

They were in no rush to fight a battle unprepared. What was a few days’ wait?

By day, He Lingchuan either practiced the Meridian Art or swaggered around the county city with his medicine ape and rock wolf in tow, making quite the spectacle.

By night, he slipped into the Panlong Dreamscape as usual to train, to patrol, to earn merit, and to bask in the praise of his comrades.

Massive battles like the one at Guizhen Stone Forest were rare. Hence, his life in the dreamscape proceeded at its steady rhythm.

Next door, Sun Fuling was still nowhere to be seen. Who knew where she had gone?

* * *

On the fourth evening, a visitor arrived at the Li Family’s residence in Dunyu City.

He was Shu Qian, the second brother of the head of the Shu Family. After exchanging polite greetings with Li Zhao, he presented gifts for the visit, brushing the snow from his collar. “Forgive the intrusion, Old Master. My brother sent me with a message. The new Governor-General of Xia Province, He Chunhua, has fallen ill at the post station in Ru County.”