The Three-Border Governor, Yang He, arrived beneath the walls of Yan'an with a sizeable army at his back.
This force was anything but ordinary. Its commanding general was Du Wenhuan—a man skilled in horsemanship and archery, adept in military strategy, and well read in the Zuo Commentary, as well as the writings of the Hundred Schools. He was equally accomplished in poetry, versed in styles from the Six Dynasties through Early Tang. His works included Collected Writings of the Taixia Grotto, Outline of the Five Sacred Peaks, Idle Notes from Dining on Clouds, Expanded Meanings of the Six Stratagems, Selected Taixia Anthology, Eight Streams Collection, and Complete Works on the Way of Arms.
A true civil-and-military polymath.
During the Wanli era, Du Wenhuan had repeatedly defeated Mongol tribes. Later, he distinguished himself again by suppressing the She Chongming rebellion in Chongqing. He was a man who possessed both capability and battle record—rare, and dangerous.
When Yang He took charge of pacifying the northwest, Du Wenhuan happened to be "ill at home recuperating." Yang He personally summoned him back into service to handle bandit suppression.
The two pursued the largest rebel force—led by Wang Jiayin—all the way from the northern frontier, chasing them relentlessly until they reached Yan'an.
Outside the city, the land lay barren. Yang He could not help sighing.
"Four years of severe drought. No harvests. Supply lines broken. Hungry soldiers and starving civilians—more than half driven into rebellion…"
Du Wenhuan, however, was observing something else.
"Governor Yang," he said quietly, "along our route, several county seats captured by Wang Jiayin no longer have city walls. Did you notice?"
Yang He blinked. "Now that you mention it… yes. Why is that?"
"Those cities originally had walls," Du Wenhuan replied. "After looting them, the rebels tore the walls down before withdrawing."
A question mark practically floated above Yang He's head.
"City walls favor defenders," Du Wenhuan continued calmly. "Destroying them during retreat makes the next raid easier."
Yang He's expression darkened. "Outrageous. We must catch Wang Jiayin as soon as possible and bring this lawless wretch to justice."
Before he could say more, a fast rider galloped in. The messenger dismounted in one motion and knelt.
"Urgent report! After taking Huangfu, Qingshui, and Mugua, Wang Jiayin seized Fugu. Rebel leader Shen Yiyuan captured Xin'an, Ningse, and Liushujian. His younger brother Shen Yikui laid siege to Qingyang and has taken Heshui…"
The moment Du Wenhuan heard Ningse, his face went black. His entire body trembled.
"Ningse… Ningse is my home."
The messenger lowered his voice. "General Du… your clan members were almost entirely slaughtered by Shen Yiyuan."
Du Wenhuan exploded with rage.
Yang He frowned deeply. "We are pursuing Wang Jiayin here, but Shen Yiyuan rises elsewhere. Meanwhile, Bu Zhan Ni wreaks havoc around Luochuan. With the Five Garrisons' commanders gone to the capital, our current forces are insufficient to eliminate all rebel bands."
Du Wenhuan was still furious.
"At this point," Yang He continued, "full-scale pacification is no longer feasible. We can only rely on appeasement."
Du Wenhuan remained furious.
"Issue my orders," Yang He said. "All regional commanders, prefects, and magistrates are to pacify the rebels where possible. Offer ranks and rewards. Encourage surrender. I will personally issue pardons and resettlement arrangements."
Du Wenhuan finally erupted.
"Governor Yang! Did you not hear me just now? The rebels butchered my entire clan—and you want to pardon them? Grant them immunity from death? Were my family meant to die for nothing?!"
Yang He sighed. "With insufficient troops, appeasement is the only way to stabilize the situation."
Du Wenhuan laughed coldly. "Very well. You may appease them if you wish. I will take my men and settle this in blood—to avenge my kin."
With that, he turned and left.
His household guards and elite troops followed immediately. A large portion of the army departed with him, ignoring Yang He's shouted commands. They gave him no face at all.
Yang He was left with little more than a collection of second-rate troops, shivering in the cold wind.
Heyang County.
County Magistrate Feng Jun, after making a circuit through Xi'an, once again returned to Gao Family Village.
Although the shortest route from Chengcheng to Heyang passed through Quangou Village, distance did not determine speed.
Trains did.
Thus, looping through Gao Family Village—though seemingly indirect—was actually the fastest route home.
Shansier, Gao Yiye, and Bai Yuan came out together to receive Feng Jun and escorted him into the council hall of Gao Fort.
"I have delivered Fan Shanyue's head to the Provincial Governor," Feng Jun said. "He was very pleased."
Despite his words, his face showed not a trace of joy.
Shansier and Bai Yuan immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What happened?" they asked quietly. "Why do you look like this?"
Feng Jun sighed. "With Fan Shanyue dealt with—and with your promise of grain aid—I should be celebrating. But in Xi'an, I heard deeply troubling news."
Everyone tensed.
"Wang Jiayin of Fugu grows more rampant by the day," Feng Jun said gravely. "Several days ago, he began moving south along the Yellow River. He now has a fleet—an actual fleet—and has sent ships to attack Hequ County in Shanxi."
The room went silent.
Outside the box, Li Daoxuan frowned slightly.
So it's beginning, he thought. The rebellion started in Shaanxi, but history always pushes it into Shanxi next. From there—Huguang, Sichuan… until half the empire collapses.
"Fortunately," Feng Jun continued, "Shanxi's Commander Wang Guoliang deployed Western cannons from the city walls and managed to repel the rebel ships."
Shansier, unfamiliar with military matters, frowned. "Hequ is still far from Heyang, Magistrate Feng. This seems… excessive worry."
Bai Yuan snapped his fan open with a flick. "Third Steward, land marches and river advances are entirely different matters. If they attack Hequ today, they could reach Qiachuan Wharf tomorrow."
Shansier froze. "What?"
Bai Yuan smiled thinly. "A thousand miles downstream in a single day."
Shansier covered his face. "When you talk like that, it really makes me want to hit you."
"Oh?" Bai Yuan replied. "So you do know how irritating it sounds. I was just imitating you."
"…."
Feng Jun rubbed his temples. "Sir Bai is correct. Now that Wang Jiayin has a fleet, Qiachuan is exposed at any moment. Heyang has only just survived Fan Shanyue. We have not recovered. If Wang Jiayin strikes next, I have no Western cannons—nor a powerful militia to rely on. I truly do not know what to do."
He sighed deeply.