Following Aguda's uprising, Wanyan Wenqin accumulated military merits and was posthumously granted the title of Duke. Although his family in Yunzhong Prefecture was considered impoverished, it was only in comparison to other公子哥儿 of the same rank. With the ability to enter the palace for audiences at any time and greet all the prominent figures, the family received annual rewards that were enough for many ordinary people to live happily for a lifetime.

However, in the early days of the Jin Dynasty, many affairs and rules were in a state of flux. Enthusiastic overtures were welcomed, while cold shoulders were given. Wanyan Wenqin's Duke grandfather had passed away, and being the only heir and physically weak, the family's decline was foreseeable. In such an environment, a grand title only brought resentment and frustration.

Wanyan Wenqin grew up in this environment. Unable to practice martial arts, he could only write, but to be honest, growing up among the Jurchen people, where everyone admired courage, he didn't have the environment for scholarly pursuits. Although Gu Shen was knowledgeable, it was because of his martial prowess that he was respected. Wanyan Wenqin was neglected and ridiculed from a young age—at least, that's what he believed—and his interest in learning gradually faded.

But he loved listening to storytellers, listening to stories.

In the early years, when the Jurchens rose to power, they destroyed the Liao and attacked the Wu. Among both the Liao and Wu people, there were knowledgeable individuals. The family found him some teachers, but the irritable Wanyan Wenqin grew tired of listening, scolded and drove them away, even killing a few old men. But he always maintained the habit of listening to storytellers. A few years earlier, an old scholar abducted from the Wu Dynasty gradually gained Wanyan Wenqin's favor.

This old scholar from the Wu Dynasty told stories that were captivating and never vulgar. He occasionally taught him some idioms or vocabulary from the South. Wanyan Wenqin didn't initially notice, casually uttering a few phrases when interacting with others, and explaining them. The family thought the young master was clever and that the family had hope, praising and admiring him. Only then did Wanyan Wenqin realize the benefits of reading and having knowledge.

He slowly valued the old scholar and learned that the old man was named Dai Mo, who had also been somewhat famous and influential in Bianliang. Wanyan Wenqin had Dai Mo tell him stories, and in addition to storytelling, he occasionally talked about various knowledge, insights, and views on the world and the surroundings. Wanyan Wenqin's various ideas "matured" from then on.

Growing up in the northern environment, Wanyan Wenqin had felt hopeless since childhood. In the past, he was merely irritable and casually scolded people. Dai Mo sorted things out for him one by one and told many stories of weak scholars who also achieved success. Wanyan Wenqin was excited and found a path. He gradually understood that the Jurchens had established their country through martial force, but after the country was stable, knowledgeable scholars were what the country needed most. Fists could no longer solve problems; only one's own mind could.

Seeing hope, when the old man named Dai Mo fell seriously ill last year, Wanyan Wenqin was afraid that he would no longer have stories to listen to, and demanded that his family cure him at all costs, even parting with a treasured possession of the family. After the old man recovered, he revealed the truth to Wanyan Wenqin. He was a successor to the ways of the Guigu School and the School of Diplomacy, inheriting the knowledge of the Spring and Autumn period. His scholarship emphasized the art of human interaction, but unfortunately, the power of knowledge was limited. His understanding was not deep enough, and the Wu Dynasty had deep-rooted problems. He had wanted to serve his country but was unable to do so. After being abducted to the Jin Dynasty, he had intended to take his knowledge to the grave, but he had never expected to meet such a generous young master...

In Dai Mo's words, the Guigu School and the School of Diplomacy studied the knowledge of the world, emphasizing flexible thinking and adaptability, which could not be learned by simply reading books. Wanyan Wenqin thought that he was naturally suited to be a successor to this path.

The Jin Dynasty had been stable for ten years, and it had always admired the literary affairs of the Wu Dynasty. Wanyan Wenqin, who had been frustrated for nearly twenty years, finally encountered such a miraculous event. In the various stories he had heard, the protagonist was a virtuous person, and encountering such a miraculous event was inevitable. Moreover, looking at the other Jurchens' oppression of Han slaves and his own attitude towards Dai Mo, he felt that he had nothing to be ashamed of. In the following year, he listened to Dai Mo talk about various treacherous events in the world, the intricacies of the human heart, and the methods of creating and breaking situations, opening up a new world in his mind. Dai Mo would occasionally tell him various inspirational stories to encourage him to move forward.

At the end of last year, Wanyan Wenqin showed respect for talent and took the initiative to ask Dai Mo to be his teacher, treating him as a teacher and father from then on. Dai Mo was grateful. He originally had only one daughter, who had died in the war, but he never expected that in his old age, he would have such a son and successor who could take care of him in his old age.

In Dai Mo's explanations, Wanyan Wenqin gradually realized various problems within the Jurchen country and his own problems. Relying on his grandfather's title as Duke to live for a lifetime or several lifetimes was something only the unambitious would do, and it was not realistic. A man's fame and fortune should be earned himself. Since he could not go to the battlefield, he needed to have his own possessions and power to gain a foothold in Yunzhong.

At this time, Yunzhong Prefecture was full of people who had risen to power after the founding of the country. Wanyan Wenqin, in his disadvantaged position, could not reach out to others. However, with the arrival of the Qi family, he saw hope. For more than half a year, Dai Mo analyzed the situation and studied feasible plans for Wanyan Wenqin every day, and secretly investigated the intelligence of various underworld forces around Yunzhong Prefecture.

When the news that the Black Flag Army prisoners were to be sent arrived, the entire plan to deal with the Qi family finally had a focal point. Xiao Shuqing and others outside Yunzhong Prefecture thought they were the leaders, pulling him into the game, but they did not know that the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes was his side.

Half a month before the entire plan was finalized, the old man, who had spent half a year's effort and racking his brains, finally reached the end of his life. On his deathbed, Dai Mo told Wanyan Wenqin that he would not be able to see him rise in the Jin Dynasty, and only hoped that he would walk a glorious path in the future and carry forward the Guigu School and the School of Diplomacy.

Seeing that the old man was dead, Wanyan Wenqin no longer had any concerns or hesitation. He no longer feared the method of putting himself in the game to dispel everyone's doubts. A man's fame and fortune should be earned himself. He wanted to use the world as a chessboard. If he didn't dare to risk his life, what could he accomplish in the future!

And so, on this day, everything finally fell into place smoothly. Wanyan Wenqin left Qingyingfang in a sedan, waiting for the arrival of tomorrow.

At the same time, Tang Minjie had already driven the vegetable cart out of the city. Through his operations in recent days, he had daily dealings with the guards at the city gate, and the searches were not strict. After leaving the city limits, the carriage turned towards a desolate mountain outside the city. When it stopped, a thin, dusty woman crawled out of the cart.

Tang Minjie led her up the mountain, through the woods, and saw a cemetery at the edge of the forest. One of the tombstones read "Tomb of Dai Shuyuan." The woman's face was instantly filled with tears, and she knelt in front of the grave.

Tang Minjie looked around.

"When Duke Dai was alive, he was very concerned about you. I wanted to bring him to see you, but he said that he was feeding himself to tigers and wolves, afraid that his heart would become weak. After things were done, there would naturally be a chance to meet. But unexpectedly, he suddenly fell ill a month ago. Perhaps he had a premonition, he repeatedly mentioned you to me, saying he regretted not being able to see you again, that he was sorry for you... Duke Dai once said that as a man, he had caused such great suffering to his wife and children, and as an official, the country and the people suffered. The millions of men in the Wu Dynasty had committed an unpardonable crime. He lived the rest of his life to atone for his sins, but this... makes him even more sorry for you. Of course, it was also because he knew that you had been living relatively peacefully in recent years that he could feel at ease. If he knew that you were still suffering, he would definitely prioritize you."

The woman on the ground kowtowed, then shook her head constantly, sobbing uncontrollably. Tang Minjie was silent for a moment.

"Duke Dai did remarkable things. Everything that the Jurchens inflicted on you will be slowly avenged... But you can't stay here anymore. I've arranged for carriages and manpower for you to go south ahead of time. Any later, and all the checkpoints will be under strict surveillance..."

A figure came over from the mountain path and made a gesture. Tang Minjie patted the woman's shoulder:

"Miss Dai, it's time to leave..."

After a while, the woman got up from the ground, wiped away her tears, then turned around, reached out and pressed on Tang Minjie's chest, making a hoarse and weak sound: "Promise me, don't let them go... Don't let my father die in vain..."

Tang Minjie looked at her and tilted his head.

At this moment, his gaze was gentle, revealing a pure and clear smile.

"Take care on your journey."

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

On the fifth day of the seventh month of the thirteenth year of Jintianhui, it was an ordinary but also unusual day. In Yunzhong Prefecture, a faint sense of impending doom was gathering. Many people were unaware, but some had sensed these omens in advance.

In Wanyan Xiyin's Yu Prince's mansion, his second son, Wanyan Youyi, was dressing up. Chen Wenjun came in from outside and looked at him for a while: "What's wrong? Dressing up so beautifully, are you going to meet some young lady?"

"Mother." Wanyan Youyi bowed to her, but hesitated slightly, "I dare not deceive you, Mother. Your son wants to go to the Qi residence for a banquet."

Chen Wenjun frowned. Although she was of Han ethnicity, she had always disliked the Qi family, who had betrayed the Wu and surrendered to the Jin. The great scholar Qi Yan had sent several letters of invitation to visit her, a younger woman, but Chen Wenjun had not agreed. Of course, in many public settings, she would naturally not explicitly say that she disliked the Qi family.

"Is the Qi family holding another banquet today? What is it that you can't resist?"

Wanyan Youyi laughed: "The Qi family has really spared no expense today, inviting people to come and admire the *Jinqiao Tu* (Golden Bridge Painting). It is rumored to be the authentic piece. Your son just wants to go and take a look."

"A work by the Sage of Painting, no wonder you are so eager." Chen Wenjun smiled. Among Xiyin's two sons, Wanyan Dezong was excellent at calligraphy, and Wanyan Youyi loved to study painting. It was no wonder he couldn't resist. She frowned and thought for a moment, then lowered her gaze.

"Don't go to the Qi residence today. Something is strange. Just be patient."

"Mother..."

"Alright." Chen Wenjun laughed, "Like this, I promise you, if you don't go to the Qi residence these few days, one day, your mother will personally go to the Qi residence to request the *Jinqiao Tu* for you, so that you can take it home and admire it privately for a few days, okay?"

"But... why? Is something going to happen to the Qi family?"

"Who knows? The Qi family has old ties with the Black Flag. This time, they've gone too far, capturing the Black Flag prisoners and bringing them to Yunzhong, saying they will be subjected to slow slicing and torture. Watch, someone is going to go crazy. The Qi family will be unlucky sooner or later... Your father used to teach you, a gentleman establishes himself with virtue, and abundant virtue can bear all things. No matter what, he is a Wu person, and his family has been a prominent family in the Wu Dynasty for a hundred years, taking up all the advantages, and has not suffered any crimes. To not remember the old country at all, the hearts of the people of the world will not tolerate it..."

Chen Wenjun began to ramble on. Later, her face gradually darkened, and Wanyan Youyi's expression also became solemn, listening attentively.

The sun rose to its highest point, then gradually fell. As evening approached, Wanyan Wenqin left his home and headed towards the Qi residence with several young masters he had greeted in advance. On the streets outside the Qi residence, pedestrians who were scouting the area had also arrived. In an inconspicuous location at the back door, Tang Minjie drove a carriage, pulling the last half-cart of vegetables and fruits into the Qi residence. Outside the city, in a place called Xinzhuang, the Black Flag Army prisoners had been escorted to the place, and many forces inside and outside the city had placed their eyes there.

The fifth day of the seventh month was the eighth day after the start of the Jiangnan War. The siege of Yangzhou had entered a white-hot state, and the clash in Xiangyang had already had its first wave of victories and defeats. Nearly two million troops had either already entered or were about to enter the war. The whole world had been dragged into a huge vortex. At Haishi hour in the evening (9-11pm), the Yunzhong massacre, which shocked the world, erupted.