Chapter 62: We've All Been Deceived He Lingchuan sneered, “Didn’t you notice how State Preceptor Sun insisted that we rush back to the southern gate after we’re done with our sides, with all his warnings and even a strict two-hour deadline? Doesn’t that seem a little too considerate? They’ve always treated you no differently from a beast of burden. Why would that suddenly be so concerning for you?”
Mao Tao instantly remembered Sun Fuping’s repeated, stern reminders.
“But what if—”
“What if what?” He Lingchuan cut him off. “Whenever someone suddenly acts concerned, there’s always something they’re hiding. If something really does go wrong, what difference does it make if we’re here or at the southern gate? If we truly need their protection, we can just run over when the time comes.”
He Lingchuan added, “Do those two look like they actually care whether we live or die? With that being the case, why should we care about their plans?”
Mao Tao thought about it, then nodded. “You’re right. I’ll listen to you!”
* * *
Meanwhile, He Yue was hard at work in the government office.
The weather in Qiansong Commandery was far better than in the Panlong Desert, but even at the end of August, it was stiflingly hot. Everyone was hoping for a thunderstorm to finally cool Heishui City down.
Today felt especially muggy. As he reviewed documents, He Yue kept wiping sweat from his brow.
A servant behind him noticed and brought over a big palm-leaf fan. “Let me help you, Second Young Master.”
He had barely started fanning when news rushed in from outside.
News had come that the Panlong Desert was acting up, and the season of mad sand had arrived early.
Thud. The brush in He Yue’s hand slipped, staining several documents on the table.
The season of mad sand had begun, but his father and older brother still had not returned.
This was real, unmistakably bad news.
The servant called him softly several times before He Yue finally came back to himself and said hoarsely, “Increase patrols. The city probably won’t be peaceful these next few days.”
Every time the season of mad sand arrived early, it meant more property losses and even more disputes—injured parties, bereaved families, quarrels between merchants and caravans all shot up.
In years past, He Chunhua had often had to deal with murder cases and violent incidents in the wake of the season of mad sand.
Thinking of his father, a chill settled over He Yue’s heart.
Madame Ying was at home, anxiously awaiting news day after day. Should he break it to her?
That afternoon, he spent hours in the government office, yet he barely made a dent in his paperwork.
It was not until night had fallen that the young man finally stood up, dragging his feet as he went home.
Never had returning home felt so taxing.
Just then, a courier arrived, delivering eleven wrinkled, wax-sealed letters all at once.
“The eastern road is open. These had piled up at Jiaxin Pass. They’ve ended up being sent through together.”
He Yue’s heart sank at the sight of so many letters. What on earth is happening in the east? Qiansong Commandery was remote, and with no direct waterway from the east to the west, all letters from the capital had to pass through Woling Pass and Jiaxin Pass to even get to Heishui City.
The mountains along the route were treacherous, and detouring would take three extra months on terrible roads, so no one ever did it.
Before leaving for the Panlong Desert, He Chunhua had worried day and night about the eastern front. Now, even just to fulfill his father’s last wishes, He Yue had to read through all these letters.
He tore one open and scanned a few lines, then his brow immediately furrowed. He quickly opened another.
He Yue tore open the following letter.
“Outrageous!” He slammed his fist onto the desk with a bang, startling all the clerks nearby.
Second Young Master He had always been known for his gentle manners; he had always been seen as a miniature version of Commandery Administrator He. Thus, they could not help but wonder what exactly had set him off like this.
He Yue’s eyes were red with fury. For the first time in his life, he felt such deep grief and hatred.
“Father, brother, your deaths were for nothing!” he gritted out. “We’ve all been deceived!”
The young man sprang to his feet and stormed outside.
Now, he had two pieces of terrible news to bring home.
* * *
Nian Songyu hauled the last crate of ballista bolts up to the battlements.
Each crate weighed hundreds of catties, and even with his training in martial arts, after hauling forty crates up onto the battlements, his arms felt leaden and his legs were like stone.
Sun Fuping was already on the wall, peering into the distance. “Have you brought everything up?” He was older, higher in status, and naturally did not have to do menial work.
With He Lingchuan and Mao Tao absent, all the labor fell to Nian Songyu.
“Yeah, that should be all of them.” Nian Songyu panted. “Where are those two idiots? Why are they so slow?!”
He paused for a breather, then started coating the weapons with a special oil called fire oil.
Whether on ballistae or catapults, setting the projectiles aflame made them far deadlier and, right now, much more effective for burning down the city.
Nian Songyu opened a crate and paused, then grinned with delight. “They’re spiked shells!”
Cannons had long existed in the mortal realm, but they were not that powerful. They were slow to reload, and they had turned into machines more for making noise than causing real damage. However, these “spiked shells” were filled with iron nails that, when they landed, exploded in fire and shrapnel, wounding people and spreading infection.
Nian Songyu loaded a shell and brushed dust from his hands. “Hasn’t it already been two hours?”
“Almost.” Sun Fuping sat atop a crate, gazing forward. “But the north never caught fire.”
“The north was left to that sand bandit, but it doesn’t look like anything’s even been set aflame. Did he run off?” Nian Songyu shaded his eyes and peered out. “Should we just start setting things on fire?”
“Wait a bit longer.”
If the state preceptor wanted to wait, then wait they must.
Half an hour more slipped by.
The main street below the wall was still empty.
Nian Songyu gulped some water, then asked, “What do you think?”
“Shall we give them a reminder?”
Nian Songyu shrugged, then gathered his breath and shouted, “He Lingchuan, get to the southern gate—now!” As for shouting for the sand bandit, well, he had already forgotten the guy’s name.
He called three times, his voice echoing through the southern part of Panlong City.
In such an empty space, there were echoes. If He Lingchuan was on his way, he ought to have heard his call.
They waited a good while, but the street stayed deserted.
He bellowed again, “We’re going to start setting the southern region aflame! Live or die, it shall be up to your own fates!”
Once the fire starts, even if nothing else happens, the blaze itself would probably roast those two alive! Another half-hour passed before Sun Fuping finally stood up and said, “The sand bandit and He Lingchuan should be together. They’re probably wary and won’t be coming.”
None of the northern side was even set aflame. If that sand bandit had not run into trouble, he must have gone to join He Lingchuan. “That brat from the He Family never trusted me,” Nian Songyu said. “What now?”
“The eastern and western regions of the city are both burning, and nothing unusual has happened, so the key must be in the south, just as I suspected. Those two boys—no, that He Family brat must have caught on. He’s not as reckless as we thought.” The distant firelight seemed to dance in Sun Fuping’s eyes. “Does he think he’s safe now? Naive. Start the fire.”
The last words were addressed to Nian Songyu.
Nian Songyu hesitated briefly. “What about Heishui City’s troops?”
“They’re standing right inside my array.”
With that, all Nian Songyu’s doubts vanished. He loaded the weapons and got ready to launch flaming projectiles.