The rain continued to fall as the carriage departed from the nearby street. As the curtain was lifted and the driver turned the vehicle, Xi Junyu glanced back at the Su family's grand mansion in the rainy night. All he could see were two lanterns still glowing beneath the eaves of the side door. The rest of the place was shrouded in darkness, the outlines of the courtyard walls barely visible. Occasionally, a faint light would flicker within the shadows. He sighed softly.
"If I'd known you wouldn't listen..." he murmured, a smile appearing on his face. "Well then, don't say I didn't warn you."
Regarding the issue of the royal merchants, Xi Junyu had briefly mentioned it after Ning Yi had arrived. Of course, he wasn't sure if Ning Yi understood the full situation, so his words had been a bit indirect, but the meaning was still conveyed. What he could do and should do in front of Su Tan'er had been done. There was nothing more to it.
The carriage left the area, and at the same time, Ning Yi had already accompanied Su Tan'er and Juan'er to the small courtyard not far from the house, where they were to wait for dinner. Ning Yi had long suspected something about the imperial matter but wasn't fully aware of all the details. At this moment, he hadn't heard the earlier part of their conversation. He only heard Su Tan'er talk about the state of the nation, and he jokingly teased her.
Su Tan'er laughed, half-reproaching him: "What I said just now, a lot of it was from what you mentioned last time. Now you're saying that I'm unpatriotic? You're not a good person."
"It's not the same context. You can't generalize," Ning Yi responded with a laugh, casually making up excuses, while Juan'er followed behind.
After being away for several days, things felt almost the same upon returning. Although his relationship with Xiao Chan seemed a bit different now, the evenings were still spent together—eating, talking, and discussing matters like the recent trip to Nanting Village. After the departure of Guard Geng and Dong Zhu, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er walked back to their own small courtyard under the rain. Juan'er and Xiao Chan busied themselves preparing hot water for washing, and Xing'er was cleaning inside and outside the house. Su Tan'er returned to her room, where she continued handling the accounts that Xi Junyu had been working on before his visit.
The heavy rain in the courtyard had nearly turned into a flowing stream. Ning Yi stood under the eaves for a while, looking toward the window of Su Tan'er's room, where her figure could be seen seated at the desk, still busy with calculations. It was just like any other day. When he turned to leave, he saw Juan'er standing behind him, holding a small basin of hot water.
Juan'er, usually calm and reserved, smiled softly. "Young Master, you should rest early tonight."
Ning Yi thought for a moment. "Hmm?"
"Miss has been staying up late every night since you've been gone. It's just to settle the accounts, but no matter how much I or Xing'er tried to persuade her, she wouldn't listen."
Juan'er lowered her head slightly and walked off, still holding the basin.
"Tch." Ning Yi looked at the figure in the window and shrugged. "I can't persuade her either."
Later that night, after reading a book for a while, Ning Yi estimated it was around midnight. He looked toward the light across the courtyard, which was still burning. He put the book down, blew out the candle, and went to bed. In the room opposite, Su Tan'er glanced toward the window, her eyes still focused on the account books. She furrowed her brows slightly.
She propped her chin in one hand and looked once more, her gaze inevitably drifting to the dark room. After a moment, she turned the page, then closed the book with a quiet snap.
"Almost done. Time to turn off the light and sleep," she thought to herself.
In the adjacent servant's room, Juan'er, wearing a thin garment, leaned out from the window to look at Ning Yi's room. After glancing back at Su Tan'er's window, she sighed while resting her chin on the windowsill. "Young Master really is impressive…"
After a series of soft rustling noises, the courtyard fell silent, save for the sound of the rain pouring down.
At the same time, far away in the capital of the Wu Dynasty, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The night was clear, with a bright waxing crescent moon shining coldly, casting a jade-like glow. Stars dotted the sky, forming a vast river of light. The city, still bustling with activity, was lit by countless lanterns in the markets, brothels, and large estates. The most lively street, the Imperial Street, led straight to the palace's main gate, the Xuande Gate. From this vantage point, one could see the wide street lined with lights, and the towering Imperial City was shrouded in a sea of lanterns.
Though the palace gates had already closed for the night, the area still maintained its grandeur. Few knew, however, that a secret and significant event was quietly unfolding that very night within the palace.
In the Inner Court, some of the most powerful officials in the court were gathered. Li Gang, Tong Guan, Wu Min, Tang Ke, Geng Nanzhong, Zhang Bangchang, Qin Hui, Gao Qiu, Zhou Zhi… These officials, of various ranks and factions, had come together for a private, secret meeting. They were on a break during a major, confidential discussion, some in groups of two or three, sipping tea and chatting in hushed tones. Though their voices were low, the excitement in their hearts was impossible to suppress.
"The Liao people recently sent us a diplomatic letter, requesting further discussions on the tribute, even offering to give up the tribute in exchange for our help in attacking the Jin state. I'm sure you've heard about this through your channels, right?"
"That's true. The Liao envoys asked me to speak well of their case during court, and sent many gifts, including a particularly valuable incense burner. The rest of the gifts... well, not much to speak of…"
"The Liao people are desperate. It's not easy to see them in this state."
"'When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold.' I still think we shouldn't send troops. The Jurchens have the upper hand now. Once they destroy the Liao, who's to say they won't come after us?"
"That's too alarmist. The Jurchens are few in number. Even if they destroy the Liao, their total fighting force is only about 100,000. They still need to stabilize their own nation. They won't be able to launch a distant campaign against us."
"Zhong Shidao also shares this view. He told me that we shouldn't attack both Jin and Liao at once. We should only target the Liao, as the Jin state is a much more dangerous enemy. Besides, we have Deng Xunwu's support…"
"Nonsense! The rule has always been to strike at those farthest from us while maintaining alliances with those closer. We must reclaim Yanyun soon. It's been hundreds of years. If we succeed, we will all be remembered in history…"
"Zhong Shidao is the truly foolish one…"
"The Liao state's fate is sealed. We must follow the will of heaven. The Wu Dynasty will rise!"
"It's a pity that Lord Tong is preparing to leave the capital to handle the Fang La affair…"
"A eunuch…"
"Shut up! Lower your voice!"
Buzzing whispers continued in the air. No matter what, the proposal to attack the Jin state and Liao was now progressing from the initial stage to discussions of the finer details.
The true foreshadowing of events may have already been set seven years ago, during the Blackwater Alliance, especially four years ago when the Liao Emperor Tianzuo personally led an army of 700,000 to invade the Jin, only to be almost completely annihilated by the 20,000 soldiers of Wanyan Aguda at Hubuda Gang. Since then, the call for resistance against Liao in the country had been growing louder. Although there were some who believed that the Wu Dynasty should not involve itself in this war, or should rather ally with Liao to resist the Jin—such as the famous northwest general, Zhong Shidao.
Moreover, the Chief Minister of the Privy Council, Deng Xunwu, had also offered advice on the matter, saying something like: "What is this nonsense about 'attacking the weak and embracing the obscure'? I believe we should support the weak and suppress the strong. Our nation's military is weak, our finances are exhausted, and our people are worn out. This is known to everyone, but no one dares speak of it. I fail to understand: is it better to be neighbors with the strong Jin, or with the weak Liao?" The King of Goryeo also secretly sent word: "Liao is a brotherly country, keeping it would stabilize our borders; Jin, however, is a country of wolves and tigers, we cannot trust them!"
Of course, today, this view was held by only a few. Since Shi Jingtang lost the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun more than two hundred years ago, the temptation of reclaiming Yanyun had been irresistible to every emperor.
Though the Liao people had begun to realize the looming danger and sought the Wu Dynasty's assistance, even offering to cancel the annual tribute as a condition to form an alliance against the Jin, the Wu Dynasty had, for years, been in contact with the Jin via sea routes. After several back-and-forth negotiations, the Jin sent a few emissaries this time, bringing more concrete responses. Discussions of the terms had already begun, and it seemed to have entered the formal stage of negotiations.
The Jin emissaries who had arrived this time were only expressing a general intent to agree, lacking the authority to finalize the details of the negotiations. Once the terms were settled on the Wu side, someone would still need to travel to Jin and meet with Wanyan Aguda directly. Meanwhile, discussions were ongoing in the imperial city, and at a tavern near the Imperial Street, two members of the Jin emissary group were having drinks. One was a middle-aged man, likely in his early forties, and the other was a young man, around twenty, both exuding the characteristic fierceness of the Jurchens. However, the older man gazed out at the bustling street with a somewhat complex expression. They appeared to be mere attendants in the emissary group, lacking high rank, and had not yet entered the palace. Yet, their conversation carried an unusual meaning.
"Lord Valley God, since you are here, why not show yourself and finalize the agreement soon? If the Wu Dynasty's army moves north, the Khitan dogs will surely be left in a difficult position, and we will have less burden on our side."
If someone truly familiar with the Jin situation had heard this term, "Valley God" (谷神), they would have been shocked. Valley God, also known as Wanyan Xiyin, was the most important strategist beside Wanyan Aguda. Since Aguda began his rebellion against the Liao, Xiyin had been involved in many major decisions. Not only was he a brilliant military strategist, but he was also a well-known scholar among the Jurchens. A few years ago, when Aguda declared himself emperor, he believed that the Jurchens lacked their own script. So, he tasked Xiyin with creating a written language. Last year, Xiyin created a script based on Han calligraphy, and it was now being promoted within the Jin Dynasty. As he gazed out at the lights, he shook his head.
"Although we considered Wu Dynasty's assistance when we first raised our banners, the request actually came from Wu first. Since Wu seeks our help, we cannot appear too eager. I came to the Central Plains this time to see for myself the prosperity of the Wu Dynasty and the sight of Bianjing. What I have seen so far has been well worth the trip. Look at the scene in Bianjing, it's far superior to the five capitals of Liao."
"The excessiveness here is somewhat excessive," said Mei Liye, "It's soft and lacks the fierce energy we're used to. Lord Valley God, some of the people in the group have said that the Wu Dynasty, beyond their luxury, has little to offer. They've been oppressed by the Liao for a hundred years with nothing to show for it. Even if we were to ally with them, it would not bring us any substantial benefit. Though it might attract some attention, they are dispensable. Without them, my Jurchen warriors could still take Liao by ourselves and not lose out."
"Don't be so arrogant," replied Wanyan Xiyin, frowning. "The Wu Dynasty controls the Central Plains, a vast and resource-rich land. Before the Jurchens appeared, the Han people had already lived here for a thousand years. Though they seem to have been oppressed by Liao, if they were truly that weak, would Liao have not already annexed them? How could they have allowed them to grow to this extent?"
He shook his head, and in his eyes was a hint of uncertainty. "In these past years, as I created our script and studied Han culture, the deeper I delved, the more I respected its profound heritage. Mei Liye, even His Majesty and the senior ministers have great respect when speaking of the Wu Dynasty. The Central Plains nation should not be underestimated. Once we ally and conquer Liao, we will share a border, and they could eventually become our enemies. How can we afford to underestimate our enemies?"
Having said this, he looked again at the lively night scene outside. Mei Liye lowered his head in thought. While others might have been swayed by his words, Mei Liye knew that Valley God was not only courageous and wise but also a brilliant strategist, and his words carried weight. So, he too cast his gaze outwards, thinking about how formidable these Han people might be.
Perhaps one day... he thought, they would meet on the battlefield.
As the night in Kaifeng unfolded, years later, this moment might be remembered in history, recorded in the annals. But for now, it was just one small episode in a series of events that would unfold over the next several years. Everyone at this time was simply doing what they believed to be right.
Fang La and some of the rebel armies in the southeast of the Wu Dynasty had begun to gain widespread influence. General Tong Guan, while advocating for the alliance with Jin to resist Liao, was also considering how to swiftly quell these peasant uprisings before marching north to reclaim Yanyun and restore the empire. Meanwhile, Wanyan Xiyin, in Bianjing, and Wanyan Aguda, at the front lines against Liao, were both contemplating how the Wu Dynasty's northward campaign might assist their cause, as well as the future political landscape. The Jurchen population and military forces were far too small. After taking Liao, they would have to figure out how to maintain a balance with the Wu Dynasty to avoid being consumed by them in the future...
Of course, Ning Yi knew nothing of this.
He was still asleep, and when he woke in the morning, he saw the rain had stopped, so he went for his usual run. During his run, he practiced his internal cultivation according to the breathing methods that Luo Hong had taught him. He went all the way to Nie Yunzhu's small house, drank some tea, and chatted. It had been a few days since they last saw each other, so they exchanged pleasantries. As they sat quietly, Nie Yunzhu was considering how to tell him that she had met with Old Qin, who might become her adoptive father. As Ning Yi poured himself some tea, a hand holding a teacup appeared from behind.
"Hey, give me a cup too."
The hand was delicate and fair. Ning Yi blinked, surprised, and poured the tea, then looked back to see a woman, dressed in what seemed like Nie Yunzhu's clothes, sitting on the second step behind him. She blew on the tea and slowly drank it.
They must have known each other by now. Nie Yunzhu turned around in surprise, not sure whether to introduce her. After a moment, Yuan Jin'er placed her teacup down, clicked her tongue, and noticed Ning Yi still staring at her. She raised her eyebrows, then leaned back slightly.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Oh," Ning Yi blinked and nodded, then turned to drink his tea again, no longer looking at her. After a while, he shrugged. "I saw a woman climb out of the river yesterday, then it started raining heavily. She was soaked, really soaked. Probably wasn't you, though."
His tone was casual. Yuan Jin'er's eyes widened, and Nie Yunzhu, with a slight "Hmm?" looked at her. She remembered the scene when Jin'er had entered and, later, when she helped her bathe to avoid her catching a cold.
Yuan Jin'er blinked at Nie Yunzhu. "Of course it wasn't me!" she said, then tugged at her skirt and ran off. Nie Yunzhu, slightly taller than her, had a longer skirt and nearly tripped as she ran inside, exclaiming.
Nie Yunzhu smiled helplessly, turned to glance at Ning Yi, who was still drinking tea with an indifferent expression. She then gave him another sideways look.
"Why are you staring at me like that? She already said it wasn't her!"
"...You are a lecherous man!"
Nie Yunzhu shook her head, and with a playful smile, turned away.