The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 12: Total Annihilation

Chapter 12: Total Annihilation

“Retreat, retreat”

Xu Lang demonstrated strong execution, swiftly transferring the palace maids serving around Xu Ying, leaving a batch of positions vacant.

The inexplicably transferred maids were filled with trepidation, suspecting they had somehow revealed their true intentions. After comparing notes with several other informants, they realized they had indeed been exposedthe Empress was pulling out the nails.

But as more people were gradually transferred until all were cleared out, the maids grew puzzled: what was this about?

Xu Lang selected the first batch of candidates and presented the name list to Xu Ying’s desk.

Xu Ying skimmed through it casually but paused when she noticed one name crossed out. She guessed it was likely because this Sun Wanyun had some issue with her background.

At this thought, Xu Ying’s nonchalance vanished. She straightened her posture and continued reading carefully, saying as she went, “I trust Fourth Sister’s judgment in these matters, but why was this person named Sun Wanyun crossed out?”

Xu Lang explained, “I initially selected over twenty people, but during the final verification, I discovered that Sun Wanyun was actually a camp prostitute, so I removed her.”

“A camp prostitute?” Xu Ying leaned forward, pulling out the roster submitted by the Governor of Youzhou from the mountain of memorials.

After a while, Xu Ying found Sun Wanyun’s name on the list. Her father had held a minor official post but was favored by the former Prime Minister Meng Ji. When Meng Ji’s reforms failed, her family was implicated: the men were exiled to the southwest, and the women were forced into military camps as prostitutes. During the journey, Sun Wanyun’s mother and sisters fell ill and died, leaving her as the sole survivor to reach the Youzhou military camp.

“She is Sun Yi’s daughter. To think that those who once followed Prime Minister Meng have fallen to such a state.” Xu Ying couldn’t help but sigh.

Meng Ji’s reforms were not entirely misguided; his only mistake was misjudging the previous Emperor. Reforms required the emperor’s support, and if the emperor’s stance wavered, even the best policies could not be implemented.

Xu Lang was astonished, “One of Prime Minister Meng’s people?”

Meng Ji was a legendary figureborn into a humble family, he achieved the top honors in the imperial examinations and, by the age of thirty, had entered the central government based on his substantial achievements. Yet, as brilliant as the first half of his life was, the latter half was equally tragic.

First, he was slandered by petty men and repeatedly demoted. Instead of succumbing to defeat, Meng Ji rallied to suppress bandits and successfully returned to court, earning even greater appreciation from the previous Emperor. He then proposed eight reform measures covering various aspects of people’s livelihoods. Unfortunately, the reforms faced fierce opposition and were eventually abandoned.

Undaunted, Meng Ji refined his policies over the years and proposed reforms once more.

This time, the reforms were broader in scope, shaking the entire court. Meng Ji’s wife and children were kidnapped and brutally murdered, and he himself gave his life for the cause.

Once he was gone, his influence faded. Meng Ji’s appearance was like a stone thrown into a lakeit created slight ripples but eventually settled into calm.

They had thought the reforms were a distant memory, but suddenly encountering the descendant of someone involved in those events made them realize it had only been a little over a decade. A strange sense of temporal dislocation arose.

Xu Ying said, “In court struggles, the guilt should not extend to her. Let her come. It would also be good to earn a reputation for treating Prime Minister Meng’s former associates kindly.”

Xu Lang pondered for a moment and accepted Xu Ying’s arrangement.

“And what about the palace maid who risked her life to save you? Where should she be placed?”

Keeping her close would mean having a Chang’an informant by her side; yet transferring her away directly might seem ungrateful.

Xu Ying fell into thought. Now that she no longer kept fixed attendants, this maid was indeed a troublesome matter. Making an exception for her was possible, but it wasn’t necessary.

“How are her injuries?”

Xu Lang replied, “It’s manageable. The imperial physician has examined her. Fortunately, no internal organs were injured. With a month of proper rest, she should recover fully.”

“Let her focus on recuperating for now. Once she’s healed, have her come see me. I have other plans for her.” After much deliberation, Xu Ying had thought of a suitable placement but decided to keep Xu Lang in suspense for the moment.

Xu Lang nodded in acknowledgment and went out to announce the rotation arrangements.

The announcement astonished everyone, as they had never heard of such a thing as “rotation.” They all gazed at Xu Lang with curiosity as he patiently explained the system to the palace maids. In the courtyard, he set up a wooden board and posted the names of the first group selected for rotationwhat Xu Ying called a “public notice.”

Besides Xu Lang reading the names aloud during the announcement, literate maids among them were also chosen to help check the list.

Most of the palace maids who had accompanied Xu Ying had somewhat ambiguous backgrounds; many were even professional, high-level spiesexceptionally talented individuals skilled in playing the qin and flute, reciting poetry, and painting. Reading names was practically beneath their capabilities.

Sun Wanyun, sleeves rolled up, was swinging an axe to chop firewood. Not far off, two maids hurried past, and Sun Wanyun overheard their discussion: “Sister Zhao is reading the names now, hurry, we mustn’t be late…”

Sun Wanyun set down the axe and took two curious steps toward them. Just as she was about to take a third, a woman carrying wateralso a former camp prostituteapproached and stopped, saying to her, “No need to go. It has nothing to do with us. Being allowed to do these menial tasks here is already the highest grace we could hope for. Serving His Majesty is not for lowly people like us.”

“Serving His Majesty?” Sun Wanyun’s eyes widened in surprise, but then, reminded of her status, disappointment quickly overshadowed her joy, and her gaze dimmed.

Since leaving the camp, she had realized how naive she had beenshe had no chance to escape this confined space or even see the emperor.

Sun Wanyun sighed and rallied herself, “Never mind, it’s fine here. As long as I don’t have to go back, I’d be willing to chop firewood for a lifetime.”

Everyone present hung their heads. Though they agreed with her words, they couldn’t help feeling enviousenvious of how much easier everything was for those palace maids.

Lost in melancholy, Sun Wanyun suddenly heard someone shout from outside the gate, “Where is Sun Wanyun?”

“I am Sun Wanyun. May I ask what this is about?” Suppressing her shock and doubt, she stepped forward.

“You have been selected for this rotation. Pack your belongings and come with me.”

Sun Wanyun’s eyes widened, and soft, startled gasps arose from the cluttered little courtyard.

***

Tanmuhu reorganized his troops and, defying the royal court’s order to surrender, led his army to attack Youzhou.

Under the cover of deep night, Tanmuhu prepared for a surprise assault. His soldiers moved swiftly and orderly through the darkness.

A scout returned to report, “Tegin, the terrain ahead is prone to ambushes. We must proceed with caution.”

Tanmuhu dismissed the concern, “The Jin army is no match for us. Unless Xia Chenglie returns, they stand no chance against our cavalry.”

Xia Chenglie was still at the royal court at that time and couldn’t make it back. Tanmuhu tugged the reins, and his steed snorted and broke into a quick trot.

As the army reached the high ground, it wasn’t long before the rear of Tanmuhu’s forces also entered the vulnerable range of the elevated terrain. Gripping the reins, Tanmuhu scanned the surroundingsif anything seemed amiss, he could swiftly spur his horse to escape.

The night was windless, tranquil as still water. The air carried only the rhythmic clopping of hooves, the snorts of horses, the rustle of clothing, and the crisp clatter of weaponsnothing seemed amiss.

Tanmuhu laughed at himself for becoming as timid as Yanjie. Even if the Jin army dared to set an ambush, he could still crush them utterly.

“Pick up the pace!” Tanmuhu commanded loudly.

No sooner had he spoken than an arrow sliced through the chilly air, grazing his shoulder. The force of the shot shoved him hard, nearly throwing him from his horse.

Meanwhile, following Tanmuhu’s order, the cavalry spurred their horses faster. But in the next moment, tripwires snapped taut across the ground. Unprepared, the riders tumbled from their mounts amidst a chorus of equine screams.

“Tegin, it’s an ambush!”

Tanmuhu cursed, “I know! No need to tell me.”

A dense rain of arrows descended. In the darkness where vision failed, Tanmuhu relied on instinct to deflect a stray bolt with his blade. He made a swift decision: “Retreat! Retreat”

Wheeling his horse around, Tanmuhu yanked the reins so hard they nearly snapped. The horse whinnied in pain as its hooves flew across the ground.

Arrows threw the soldiers into disarray, but Tanmuhu had no time to care for them. He fled back through the gaps in the chaos.

Unexpectedly, torches flared at the rear of the Northern Barbarians’ formation. Tanmuhu found himself face-to-face with a Red Tasseled Spear. Instinctively, he raised his blade to block the sudden attack.

Clang

In the flickering torchlight, Xia Chenglie’s eyes shone with intensity. He stared straight at Tanmuhu and said coldly, “The Khan of Beidi has signed the instrument of surrender. Where does the Tegin think he’s leading these troops?”

Tanmuhu gaped, eyes wide with shock. “How are you here?!”

“Is that so strange?” Xia Chenglie replied. “With the Northern Barbarians pacified, naturally I’m returning to court in triumph.”

Tanmuhu’s heart hammered. For Xia Chenglie to intercept him here, he must have captured the Khan and immediately turned backmoving at incredible speed. Even a half-moment’s delay would have made him miss this encounter.

Suddenly, Tanmuhu recalled the old epithet for Xia Chenglie: the Elusive Little War God. So the rumors were truehe really could move this swiftly.

Cornered, Tanmuhu resolved to fight to the death. Glaring viciously at Xia Chenglie, he raised his blade. “In that case, let us settle this today! I, Tanmuhu, will never be taken prisoner!”

He lunged at Xia Chenglie with all his strength. Xia Chenglie met him spear for blade, and the two fought with ferocious intensity. But then a long sword stabbed from behind, piercing clean through Tanmuhu’s shoulder.

As the blade withdrew, blood gushed from the wound. Tanmuhu cried out in pain and fell from his horse. He stared in disbelief at Xia Chenglie. “You dishonorable coward! Attacking from behindwhere is your martial honor?!”

Xia Chenglie saw who had struck the blow and suppressed his surprise. With solemn gravity, he replied to Tanmuhu, “Likewise, Tegin. You flatter me.”

After all, Tanmuhu himself had intended to ambush the Jin armynow he’d merely suffered the same treatment. There was no justice in forbidding others what you’d do yourself.

“Big brother, how many ranks will a Tegin’s head get me? Can you let me have his?” Niu Liu, on his first battlefield, was ecstatic at catching a Tegin.

Tanmuhu gritted his teeth against the pain. Hearing this nobody eagerly planning to claim his head for a promotion filled him with rage. Losing to Xia Chenglie was one thingbut this scavenger? What right did he have?

He glanced at Xia Chenglie, who seemed to be genuinely considering whether to grant the request.

Tanmuhu panicked. If he truly died at the hands of a mere foot soldier, his lifelong reputation would be utterly destroyed. If word got back to the Northern Barbarians, he’d become a laughingstock!

“I surrender, I surrender! The Jin Dynasty cannot kill prisoners.” Tanmuhu immediately dropped his blade and raised his hands.

After all, his father, the Khan, had already surrendered. He was merely following his father’s examplethis way, it would appear that his father was the more disgraceful one, and fewer people would focus their attention on him.