Wind howled, and the golden eagle circled. In the valley below, fallen corpses lay in disarray, their blood staining the ground red. Wanyan Yuchi rode his jet-black warhorse over the bodies, passing greenwood heroes with blood-streaked faces who had finally chosen to surrender to live.

His gaze swept over them, then pressed on towards the hill ahead.

It was a scene that had been repeating for more than a decade. When the army charged, the greenwood heroes, gathered with a surge of passion, could hardly withstand such organized slaughter. Their defensive formations were often shattered at the first moment, with only a few managing to inflict harm on the Jurchen soldiers.

However, the premature discovery of Dai Jincheng's plot had bought the assembled heroes a brief window to escape. The signs of the battle stretched along the mountain ridge towards the northeast, through peaks and forests, as Jurchen cavalry pursued them relentlessly. The forest wasn't large, but it effectively hampered the Jurchen cavalry's charge. Some soldiers, rushing in rashly, were ambushed by the fleeing greenwood heroes, suffering considerable casualties.

As Wanyan Yuchi crested the hill, the cavalry began lighting torches, preparing to set the forest ablaze. Others sought paths to bypass the woods, intending to intercept the fleeing heroes on the opposite side.

Deep within the woods, Scarface, half-covered in blood, dragged a Jurchen knight to the ground and slashed him to death. He then seized the knight's warhorse, but the horse was untamed, neighing and kicking wildly. After Scarface mounted, the horse threw him off. As the horse tried to flee, he rolled, pounced, and viciously hacked at its neck.

The horse's blood spurted, splattering him. He looked around. Not far away, a woman disguised as an old crone was running towards him. He waved her over. "Granny! The Golden Dogs can't get into the forest for a while. Set up the snake formation; let's fight them!"

"The Golden Dogs will set fire to the forest; we can't stay long!" the old crone said. Scarface paused, then said, "The forest is so big, how long will it take to burn it down? Going outside is certain death anyway. Let's find the others first—"

He turned to leave, but a flash of blade erupted from behind a tree. The blade reached his face in an instant. The old crone lunged forward. Scarface retreated quickly. Three figures clashed in the forest. The old crone's three fingers flew into the air, and Scarface's right chest was grazed by the blade, tearing his clothes and drawing blood.

The attacker was a wiry Jurchen scout. The Jurchens, after all, had risen from hunting, and many in the scout teams were lifelong hunters. The middle-aged scout held a long blade, his eyes sharp and sinister, radiating danger. If Scarface hadn't reacted quickly, and if the old crone hadn't blocked the blow at the cost of three fingers, that strike would likely have cleaved Scarface in two. Now that the initial blow hadn't been fatal, Scarface raised his blade to attack, but the scout moved with astonishing agility, creating distance and attempting to vanish into the other side of the forest.

At that moment, a figure roared in. The Jurchen scout, seeing the numerous enemies, retreated hastily. The figure thrust out a spear, the spearhead following the scout's movements, piercing his heart before being withdrawn. The spear seemed ordinary, yet it crossed several *zhang* in an instant, a thrust and withdrawal that was seemingly clumsy, but in fact, a stroke of perfect skill, returning to simplicity. Scarface and the old crone recognized the newcomer instantly.

"Senior Fulu, why are you still here!"

"It's best if I stay." Fulu glanced at them. "You two, leave quickly."

"We'll stay!" Scarface said, producing a medicine pack and quickly bandaging the old crone's lost fingers and treating her wound. "Senior Fulu, you are the mainstay of the greenwood heroes. You cannot die. We'll stay here and try to hold off the Golden Dogs for a while. For the greater good, you must leave quickly."

"You're the ones who should leave quickly." Fulu's gaze was serious. "We heard earlier that Wanyan Yuchi was leading the troops to attack Xicheng County. Now, Wanyan Yuchi is here, with only a small force. Where is the main force? Who is leading them? If Dai Mengwei truly harbors evil intentions, what is the situation in Xicheng County? Old Eight, you have always been clear about the big picture and know when to advance and retreat. I'll stay here; I can hold off Wanyan Yuchi. I may not even die. The more people who escape from here, the more hope there will be for the future."

"You are the mainstay of the greenwood heroes!"

"Thousands upon thousands of heroes in Xicheng County are going to die. What does the greenwood mean?" Fulu walked away. "Those with backbone will stand up even without being told!"

Scarface's chest wound wasn't serious. While bandaging the old crone, they quickly treated his chest wound as well. Seeing Fulu's figure about to disappear, the old crone waved. "My injury is severe; I can't travel. Senior Fulu, I'll set up an ambush in the forest and help you a little."

"Thank you," Fulu's voice drifted back.

Scarface stood there for a moment, stunned. The old crone nudged him. "Go, send the message."

He bit his lip, finally clasped his fist in salute, and roared, "I, Old Eight, swear to the heavens that if I don't die today, I will slaughter Dai Mengwei's entire clan!"

From somewhere, an echo came: "Me too!"

…

"I, Old Eight, swear to the heavens that if I don't die today, I will slaughter Dai Mengwei's entire clan…"

The shouting echoed in the forest. Fulu, his hair already white, hurried through the trees. He had already persuaded several bands of heroes, who believed their chances of escape were slim and had decided to stay and kill more Golden Dogs, to leave. Some he knew, like Jin Chenghu, who had joined him and spent some time with him. Others, like Old Eight, he had dealt with before. And then there were countless heroes whose names he didn't know.

These men should not die. Every life saved was a glimmer of hope for the world.

For most of his life, he had lived in this world as Zhou Tong's servant. His nature was calm, his manner gentle, and his actions yielding. Even when he practiced martial arts and killed men alongside Zhou Tong, it was only at Zhou Tong's command. Even among those close to him, his wife, Zuo Wenying, possessed a more decisive and resolute character.

Zhou Tong's personality was upright and stern, often quite serious and unyielding. Looking back, the first half of Fulu's life was completely different from Zhou Tong's. But in the year or so since Zhou Tong's death, Fulu had answered Ning Yi's call, risen up to mobilize the greenwood heroes to resist the Jurchens, constantly issuing commands and thinking of escape routes for the others. He often wondered: if my master were still here, what would he do? Without realizing it, he had become more and more like the Zhou Tong of his past.

At the edge of the forest, flames flickered. The old man, holding his spear, began to run forward. A rider on the edge of the forest was holding a torch, setting fire to the trees. Suddenly, the piercing wind of a spear swept through the air.

The rider was still on his horse when his throat was pierced with a *poof*. The spear was withdrawn. Two other riders nearby noticed the commotion and charged over. The old man moved forward, the spear steady as a mountain in the central stance. In an instant, blood rained in the air, and the riderless warhorse brushed past the old man.

The old man looked up and saw Wanyan Yuchi on the distant mountain peak. At that moment, Wanyan Yuchi, mounted on his jet-black warhorse, was also looking in his direction. A moment later, he issued an order.

Archers with flaming arrows aimed at him. The old man held his spear and retreated into the forest.

The fiery arrows rose into the sky and rained down on the forest. The old man, holding his spear, walked deeper into the forest. Behind him, smoke and flames rose.

The forest wasn't too large, but it would take time to burn it all. Flames were already burning in several other parts of the forest. The old man stood in the forest, listening to the distant sounds of battle and the roar of flames. In his ears, he heard the sounds of the battle to assassinate Wanyan Zonghan more than a decade ago, the shouts, the low humming of the Azure Dragon Subduing stance… That battle had never ceased in his mind.

Wenying…

He thought.

Sooner or later, everyone dies. Some just sooner than others…

In the sky, the wind howled, and the golden eagle circled.

In the forest below, they, along with Zhou Tong and Zuo Wenying from more than a decade ago, were fighting side by side in the same war…

…

Scarface seized a slightly more docile warhorse and fought his way out, fleeing.

It was near dusk when he approached Xicheng County. As he neared the southern forests, his heart sank. There were signs of Jurchen scouts in the forest, and a golden eagle flew in the sky.

He abandoned his horse and carefully advanced through the forest. But halfway through, he was discovered by two Jurchen scouts. He fought desperately, killing one of them, but as the other Jurchen scout tried to kill him, someone else burst out of the forest and saved him.

The newcomer was also a weary warrior: "I am Jin Chenghu. I joined the righteousness yesterday. I have met Eighth Master before."

Scarface clasped his fist in salute.

Both had fought their way out of the valley, concerned about the situation there, but even more worried about the situation in Xicheng County. They exchanged few pleasantries and headed north through the forest together. The further they went beyond the mountain ridge, the colder their hearts became. In the distance, an abnormal commotion could be heard, and occasionally through the gaps in the trees, they seemed to see smoke in the sky. When they emerged from the edge of the forest, they should have hidden themselves carefully, but Scarface, leaning against a tree, exhausted, collapsed to his knees…

More than a year after the southern regions had fallen, with the turn of the tide in the southwest, Dai Mengwei and Wang Zainan's call to arms had inspired several Han Chinese troops to revolt and gather in the direction of Xicheng County. This was a spark that had been painstakingly ignited by many. But at this moment, Jurchen cavalry were tearing through the Han army's camps, and the battle was nearing its end.

Waving on the battlefield was the banner of Wanyan Xiyin, who should have been hundreds of *li* away…

***************

The evening wind howled along the riverbank in summer, accompanied by the horns on the battlefield, playing a desolate and ancient dirge. Wanyan Xiyin, mounted on his horse, watched as the Han Chinese army gradually collapsed piece by piece before him.

Large numbers of troops had already laid down their weapons and knelt on the ground in patches. Some resisted stubbornly, some tried to flee, but the cavalry mercilessly struck them down. These troops had once surrendered to the Great Jin, and seeing the situation turn against them, had been emboldened by some to rebel again. But their morale and courage were long gone.

Even the few cavalry he had brought were able to easily rout the tens of thousands of troops gathered here, given the advance intelligence they possessed. This also proved once again that although there were many Han Chinese soldiers, they were nothing but cowards.

Nearby, some ragged Han soldiers knelt there weeping, but most wore expressions of numbness and despair. Some cried out in the blood, their cries muffled, as wounded soldiers still feared attracting the attention of the Jurchen soldiers. Wanyan Xiyin watched all this. Occasionally, a cavalryman would come to report the killing of a Han general, bringing his head as proof.

Seven or eight heads that had belonged to generals had already been thrown on the ground. Those captured alive were being brought over. Another group approached, coming to pay their respects. It was the great Confucian scholar Dai Mengwei, who had orchestrated the revolt. He was over sixty years old, and his face looked sorrowful and grim. Xiyin had once admired him, even telling Wanyan Yuchi about the value of Confucianism after his rebellion. But now, he had a different view.

He received Dai Mengwei's salute, then dismounted and helped him up. The last time they met, Dai Mengwei, though a surrendered man, had always stood upright. But after this greeting, he remained slightly bowed. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two walked along the mountain ridge.

"...To be honest, Lord Dai made such a commotion, but ultimately wrote to me, betraying them. If this happened with someone else, I would believe that the Great Jin was destined to rule and that the wise submit to fate. But with Lord Dai, I am somewhat puzzled. The letter was brief. I ask Lord Dai to enlighten me."

Dai Mengwei remained slightly bowed, his hands always hidden in his sleeves as he walked. He looked ahead and said calmly, "As long as *Gushen* agrees to the conditions previously agreed upon, their deaths will be worthwhile... Moreover, they colluded with the Black Banner, and their deaths are deserved."

"Lord Dai is so wary of the Black Banner? Even more than the Great Jin?"

"The Great Jin is the enemy of our Han people, but eventually, there will be a day when they retreat. After Marshal and *Gushen* return north, the Black Banner will cross the southwest and advance directly, swallowing my Wu Dynasty's lands. Ning Yi once said that he would destroy Confucianism. Although he has not taken any clear action, in my humble opinion, this only shows that he is not reckless. Once he acts, the harm will be even greater. *Gushen*, Ning Yi cannot destroy Confucianism, but he can plunge the world into years, even decades, of turmoil. How many people will die because of this?"

"Oh?"

"Perhaps *Gushen* does not agree with my view and looks down on my actions. This is human nature. The Great Jin is a newly risen, sharp, and vigorous nation. Although *Gushen* has studied Confucianism all his life, you still cannot stand my outdated views. But *Gushen*, if the Jin country lasts long in this world, it will eventually become like this."

Dai Mengwei, with his hands in his sleeves, always walked half a step behind Xiyin, his steps and words equally calm, yet exuding an indescribable aura, like the aura of death or an ominous prophecy. This slightly bowed body, sorrowful face, and ominous words were the true inner self of the old man. He listened as the other continued.

"...In the Qin Dynasty, there was the theory of the cycle of the Five Elements. Later, it was said that a true king will rise every five hundred years. Five hundred years is too long. This world, this nation, has a turmoil every two or three hundred years. This turmoil lasts for decades or even centuries, then unites again. This is the law of nature, and human power cannot stop it. Those who are fortunate enough to live in a time of peace can enjoy a few good days. Those who are unfortunate enough to live in a time of chaos are no different from ants."

"...This cycle of heaven cannot be changed. We scholars can only make the era of peace longer and the era of chaos shorter. Do not meddle blindly, and that will be the merit of thousands of people. *Gushen*, to speak from the heart, if this world can still be ruled by the Han people, I can die with a smile on my face. But if the Han people cannot secure this world, and this world belongs to the Great Jin, then Confucianism must be used to govern it sooner or later, and then the Han people can look forward to an era of peace and suffer less."

He looked at the Han soldiers kneeling on the battlefield: "But the Black Banner will not do... Ning Yi calls himself *Huaxia*, and his actions are indeed vigorous and self-improving, which is admirable. He is a hero, but not a king. A hero's initial intentions will not change, and he will never give up. But a king must know when to advance and retreat, and know how to weigh things. From the beginning, he set the goal of destroying Confucianism and wanted to start over with his so-called contracts, fairness, and equality. This is very much like a strong man who breaks easily."

"...Think about it, he defeated Marshal Zonghan. As his strength expands, his policies cannot be as simple as they are in the mountains. He cannot change the world, nor can the world change him. The more he perseveres, the longer the world will remain in chaos. He brought the study of material science, using clever tricks to make his weapons more powerful. Everyone in this world is learning from him. This is the atmosphere of a great struggle. This sounds heroic, but in the end, it will only lead to the destruction of the world and the suffering of the people."

Xiyin, with his hands behind his back, walked forward, then said, "Lord Dai's words are unprecedented, but they are indeed thought-provoking."

" *Gushen* is wise and will perhaps understand my helplessness in the future. But in any case, suppressing the Black Banner is something that both you and I must do and cannot avoid. Actually, when Ning Yi talked about destroying Confucianism in the past, everyone thought it was just the wild ranting of a young man. But *Gushen*, since March, the situation in the world has been different. Ning Yi is strong and may be able to occupy the southwest and emerge from Jian'ge, but after that, every step he takes will be several times more difficult. Confucianism has benefited the world for thousands of years. The Confucian scholars who did not rise up to contend with him before will now begin to oppose him. *Gushen* can wait and see."

Xiyin turned his head and looked at the battlefield: "In that case, you do have a reason to cooperate with my Great Jin. Very well, I will give you double of what I promised before. But after we leave, you may not live long. I assume you have thought this through?"

"I am not worth regretting, and I trust Lord *Gushen*. As long as *Gushen* gives me the manpower, food, and supplies that the southwest army cannot take away, I can allow tens of millions of Han slaves to remain and use the supplies to relieve the disaster, allowing millions of people in this thousand-*li* land to survive. Then I will be a savior to all families. If the Black Banner army wants to kill me at this time, then let them kill me. Let the people of the world see the true face of the Black Banner army. Let the people of the world know that they call themselves the *Huaxia* army, but they are only fighting for power and not for the welfare of the people. It would be a good thing if I die under their blades."

Xiyin was silent for a moment: "The food, supplies, and military equipment that cannot be taken away will be given to you. The cities occupied by my Great Jin's Western Route Army will be given to you. The Han army under my Great Jin's banner will be under your command. The more than 800,000 Han slaves that we captured and were originally going to send back will be given to you, and I will not kill a single one. I also promise you that during the retreat, my Great Jin's army will never wantonly slaughter cities to vent their anger unless there is a necessary reason. You can explain to the outside world that this is an agreement between you and me... But these people today..."

He pointed to the battlefield.

Dai Mengwei said calmly: "The surrendered soldiers today are Han people of my Wu Dynasty, but they colluded with the Black Banner rebels. Their crime is unforgivable. Considering that they abandoned their weapons and surrendered, kill one out of every three as a warning to others. I will do this well. Please rest assured, *Gushen*."

"Good..." Xiyin nodded. He looked ahead and wanted to say something else, but at the moment, he couldn't think of too much to say, and he waved for someone to bring him his warhorse.

"From today onward, Lord Dai will be the next Liu Yu. I do not agree with what Lord Dai is doing, but I have to admit that Lord Dai is much more difficult to deal with than Liu Yu. Ning Yi is indeed unlucky to have an enemy like Lord Dai."

"I, on behalf of the millions of people south of the Nanjiang River, thank you, *Gushen*, for sparing their lives."

"There's no need to thank me."

Xiyin replied. At this time, a scout brought intelligence. It was a change in the situation on another battlefield. The Tushan Guard army, divided into several routes, was joining the puppet army in encircling the Han River, blocking the path of Qi Xinhan and Wang Zainan's forces. Among them, Wang Zainan's troops had weak combat strength, but the Black Banner army led by Qi Xinhan's brigade was truly tough. Even if their path was blocked, they would not be easy to chew.

From the reported news, seeing Dai Mengwei's defection and the difficulty in getting through all the surrounding roads, Qi Xinhan, who had been deceived, had narrowed the scope of his actions and began to build defenses based on the terrain, seeming to defend to the death with 3,000 main troops, combined with the 10,000 Han troops under Wang Zainan.

The same situation had occurred more than a decade ago in the Xia Village defense battle during the first Bianliang defense battle. It was also in that battle that the spirit of the entire Black Banner army was shaped. Everyone in the Black Banner army was clear about this battle, and Wanyan Xiyin was no stranger to it. Therefore, he was unwilling to let this battle drag on into a long and difficult rhythm.

Fortunately, Wang Zainan's troops may not be trusted by the Black Banner army after Dai Mengwei's defection. And they were not facing Guo Yaoshi's Ever-Victorious Army, but the Tushan Guard he had led.

After Xiyin left, Dai Mengwei turned his gaze to the entire battlefield, to the tens of thousands of kneeling compatriots, ragged, numb, pale, and despairing, compatriots who were wandering and sinking in hell. Even the soldiers being escorted nearby were looking at him with hatred. He was unmoved by it.

How could fools understand the laws of heaven? Compared to the lives of ten million, what did the deaths of tens of thousands matter?

At this moment, the old man was one of the most powerful men south of the Han River.