"Knock, knock." The two raps carried unusual force, sounding anything but ordinary.
Pei Huizhou stopped mid-sentence and moved to answer, only to be held back by Pei Ying.
"Yingying?" Pei Huizhou looked at her, puzzled.
Pei Ying lowered her voice. "Elder Brother, let me open the door."
She couldn’t let him go—what if Huo Tingshan decided to throw a punch?
Without waiting for a reply, Pei Ying stepped forward. The door creaked softly as she opened it, revealing Huo Tingshan standing outside, just as she’d expected.
The towering man loomed like a mountain, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes were like storm-laden skies, flickering with the occasional flash of lightning.
Pei Huizhou hadn’t anticipated Huo Tingshan’s sudden return—this ambush left him frozen in place.
Pei Ying, however, curved her almond-shaped eyes into a smile. "General, did you forget something in the room?"
Huo Tingshan’s gaze darkened. Ignoring her question, he cut straight to the point. "Do you want to return to Bingzhou with your brother?"
He asked if she wanted to—her wishes mattered. Whether she could was another matter entirely.
Pei Ying shook her head. "I have no plans to return to Bingzhou at present."
With Nannan still studying in the military camp, she wouldn’t go anywhere.
Huo Tingshan studied her for a long moment.
Her eyes were too honest—he could always tell when she was lying. His expression softened slightly. "If Sizhou sent scouts once, they’ll send them again. And it’s not just Sizhou—Yanzhou, Yongzhou, they’re all eyeing the Pei family’s soap. You’d do best to stay by my side, Madam. If you’re captured, you might suffer more than a little hardship. Others won’t be as… accommodating as I am."
Whatever his motives, Pei Ying couldn’t deny the truth in his words.
Some might treat her with courtesy, but gambling on fate was risky. One wrong move, and she could end up with a cruel captor.
Huo Tingshan then turned to Pei Huizhou. "As I recall, your father is still alive. Since he is, you can’t play the role of elder brother and father. Seven years—men and women don’t share meals or seats. Even siblings must observe propriety. A man your age, meddling in your sister’s private affairs? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?"
Pei Huizhou’s refined face paled, then flushed with anger.
He hadn’t spoken that loudly—how had Huo Tingshan heard?
"Plenty of fine gentlemen in Bingzhou?" Huo Tingshan’s lips curled in a cold smirk. "If you’re not afraid of bringing ruin upon their families, go ahead and find her a match."
Pei Huizhou’s expression darkened further. He opened his mouth to retort, but the words died in his throat.
A palpable killing intent pressed down on him.
Huo Tingshan’s black eyes were like frozen steel, radiating a terrifying pressure that made sweat bead on Pei Huizhou’s palms. His throat burned with an inexplicable sting.
Only when Pei Huizhou seemed on the verge of collapse did Huo Tingshan finally look away. "Breakfast is ready. Come with me, Madam."
His tone was calm now, devoid of any emotion.
Pei Ying hesitated but decided to follow. She needed to escort him out—if he stayed any longer, things might escalate.
She nodded, then turned to Pei Huizhou with a gentle voice. "Elder Brother, would you like breakfast in your room, or will you join us in the hall?"
Pei Huizhou swallowed. "In… in the room."
Pei Ying smiled. "Very well. I’ll have the maids bring it to you shortly."
Before she could say more, Huo Tingshan’s hand closed around her wrist. He pulled her forward, striding away without a backward glance. Pei Ying shot Pei Huizhou one last reassuring look—words were unnecessary now.
Once outside, Huo Tingshan spoke again, uncaring if his voice carried back into the room. "If your brother lands in trouble again, Madam, don’t ask me to save him. That man and I are incompatible. The only reason he’s still breathing is out of respect for you."
Pei Ying thought to herself—There won’t be a next time. My brother will stay safe from now on.
Still, gratitude was due. "Regardless, thank you, General."
Huo Tingshan slowed his steps slightly. "Then behave. What I said earlier wasn’t an empty threat."
Pei Ying knew he meant the warning about "bringing ruin upon families." She had no intention of remarrying anyway, so the words didn’t faze her. In fact, they might even serve as a useful shield against future matchmaking pressure. She nodded. "I understand."
Huo Tingshan glanced at her, his gaze sweeping from the crown of her dark hair, down to her thick lashes, then to the faint pink dusting her fair cheeks. Delicate brows arched over eyes bright with intelligence—a stark contrast to her infuriating brother.
How could two from the same nest be so different?
No—perhaps not the same nest after all.
Pei Ying noticed his footsteps had slowed again—this time she could easily keep pace.
The two had breakfast together on the first floor.
As the meal neared its end, Huo Tingshan remarked, "Madam, since the scouts from Sizhou have already traced your elder brother, it won’t be long before scouts from other regions do the same. The 'Pei' behind 'Pei’s Fragrant Soap' can no longer be concealed."
Pei Ying’s slender fingers tightened around her jade chopsticks. "Then I’ll have my brother leave Qiaoding County discreetly."
"As long as I haven’t taken Bingzhou, or as long as the Pei family remains there without relocating, there’s no absolute safety." Huo Tingshan met her gaze. "Madam, moving your entire family to Youzhou would ensure their security."
Pei Ying’s delicate brows furrowed.
Huo Tingshan paused, then added, "Or they could return to Jizhou. They were originally from there—only later moving to Bingzhou for business. Business can be done anywhere. Returning to Jizhou would offer even greater opportunities. Staying in Bingzhou for petty profits isn’t worth risking their lives. Regret would come too late."
Pei Ying pressed her lips together.
The matter of the scouts had indeed served as a wake-up call. "Pei’s Fragrant Soap" was too conspicuous; without powerful protection, disaster would inevitably follow.
Huo Tingshan’s words suggested he even intended to support the Pei family. His plan was thorough, leaving no stone unturned.
Yet, Pei Ying harbored a private concern she couldn’t voice.
If the Pei family truly relocated to Youzhou or Jizhou, they would be entirely within Huo Tingshan’s grasp. Her relatives might even become involved in the soap trade.
And inevitably, the ties between the Pei family and Huo Tingshan, the regional governor, would deepen. If she ever wished to take Ling'er to Chang’an in the future, the obstacles would be far greater than they were now.
After a moment, Pei Ying murmured, "Let me think about it."
Huo Tingshan replied lazily, "No rush. After all, they’re not my family. If tragedy strikes, it won’t be my pillow soaked with tears."
Pei Ying: "..."
His mouth truly knew no restraint.
The Youzhou army was still on the march, with Qiaoding County merely a stopover. After a night’s rest, they set off again.
Pei Huizhou had his own affairs to attend to, and Huo Tingshan forbade him from joining the army. Thus, he could only arrange with Pei Ying to use Qiaoding County as their correspondence point for now.
Letters would be left at the county’s courier station. When sending a letter, one could check for replies and retrieve them on the spot.
"Yingying, I’ll discuss the relocation matter seriously with Father and the others. Whatever the final decision, I’ll write to you." Pei Huizhou gazed at his younger sister with mixed emotions. "You and Ling'er must take care."
Pei Ying nodded. "You as well, Elder Brother."
Sizhou, Governor’s Residence.
"Ah—!"
A piercing shriek echoed far and wide, startling the guards at the governor’s estate.
They rushed to the scene, only to pale at the sight of scattered limbs and bones strewn across the ground.
The dismembered remains reeked of decay, and upon closer inspection, white maggots could be seen wriggling within—proof that the victim had been dead for some time.
A maid collapsed in terror, fainting on the spot.
"Four severed heads were found here," reported another guard. "Preserved with lime—their faces are still recognizable."
Though they didn’t recognize the heads, the fact that they had been thrown into the governor’s estate meant they undoubtedly belonged to someone from Sizhou.
"There’s also a cloth here—with writing on it," a guard exclaimed, his expression darkening as he read the message. "This must be reported to Governor Li immediately!"
...
Li Xiaotian stared at the heads on the table, then at the blood-stained silk cloth, his fury erupting. "Huo Tingshan, how dare you spout such insolence!"
Li Kangshun, directly named in the message, was equally enraged. "Father, we cannot let this stand. If we do, what will become of Sizhou’s dignity?"
Li Xiaotian stroked his beard. "My son, has there been any reply from Bingzhou regarding our earlier letter?"
Li Kangshun said there had been none yet.
"Strange. By my calculations, we should have received a response by now. Shi Bingzhou may be cunning, but he’s not so shortsighted." Li Xiaotian frowned.
He walked to the wall where a large goatskin map hung, tapping a specific location. "My son, if the Youzhou army advances from Qiaoding County without taking the Tianhu or Dihu passes, their only path is through Zhonggu Valley. Though not as treacherous as the Twin Tiger Passes, the terrain there is still formidable. We must hold it."
The three passes formed a line from west to east, with Zhonggu Valley being the weakest link. Losing any one would open a breach in Sizhou’s northern defenses.
"Father, send me to defend Zhonggu Valley," Li Kangshun volunteered, bowing deeply. "Huo Tingshan’s arrogance must be crushed. I’ll bring back his head to amuse Eldest Sister."
Ever since her husband Liu Baiquan had his arm severed, his elder sister had been weeping constantly, her figure growing thinner than a chrysanthemum in autumn. Later, when Liu Baiquan’s younger brother Liu Qianbiao marched off to war in Jizhou, he never returned—another son lost to their allied Liu family.
“Report—”
A guard arrived outside the study: “My lord Li, a letter from the Governor of Bingzhou.”
Li Xiaotian was overjoyed and ordered his son to fetch it at once.
When the letter was brought and its wax seal broken, Li Xiaotian read it and threw his head back in laughter. “Excellent, excellent!”
Li Kangshun hurried closer to take a look.
The reply was brief but to the point.
First, the other party agreed to the alliance. Second, they stated that when the Youzhou army clashed with Sizhou’s forces, the Bingzhou army would advance eastward through alternate routes into Jizhou to strike Youzhou’s rear.
At that point, the Sizhou army would press from the front while the Bingzhou army attacked from behind, trapping the Youzhou forces in the middle.
Beyond that, the letter also mentioned that the Youzhou army, stationed at the border between Sizhou and Jizhou, had stretched its supply lines too far from its home base in Youzhou. If they could successfully cut off those supply lines, no matter how fierce the Youzhou army was, it would be like a tiger with its fangs pulled.
Finally, the letter stated that once Youzhou was defeated, the previously occupied Jizhou would be split in two—half to Bingzhou, the other half to Sizhou.
Li Kangshun was equally delighted. “Father, this Shi Bingzhou is indeed shrewd. Crushing the Youzhou army and claiming half of Jizhou is within our grasp.”
Li Xiaotian turned to study the large map behind him, his initial joy slowly fading. “If we’ve thought of cutting their supply lines, so too must Huo Tingshan. That man is cunning beyond measure. I fear unforeseen complications may arise.”
Li Kangshun’s gaze also shifted to the map. “Father, I don’t think we need to worry too much. Bingzhou lies to the west, Jizhou to the east, and our Sizhou to the south. Let them fight it out above us—we need only hold the three key passes.”
Li Xiaotian studied the map a while longer before nodding slowly. “You speak wisely, my son.”
The Youzhou army advanced at a steady pace, and just as they reached the edge of Jizhou’s Weizhuang County, a man arrived in their camp.
This man came from Bingzhou, named Ke Zuo, formerly a strategist under Shi Bingzhou.
In these times, men of talent were highly prized. Warlords and powerful families competed to recruit such strategists, using their counsel to strengthen their own forces.
Gongsun Liang received the man and even had his guards serve fine tea—for Ke Zuo was a man of some renown.
His reputation, however, was mixed. He was brilliant and resourceful, but his loyalty was questionable at best.
Ke Zuo had first served the Governor of Xuzhou. When conflict arose between Xuzhou and its northern neighbor Qingzhou, he devised a scheme to outmaneuver Qingzhou—only to defect there soon after, joining the Governor of Qingzhou’s ranks.
Later, after some disagreement with the Qingzhou ruler, Ke Zuo fled again, this time to the Governor of Jizhou, Yuan Ding, under whom he served for three years.
Three years later, after clashing with a Jizhou general, he was no longer welcome there and fled once more—this time to Bingzhou.
From Xuzhou to Qingzhou, then Jizhou, and now Bingzhou.
Having served four masters, the strategist circles mockingly called him the “Servant of Four Houses.”
Gongsun Liang listened with a faint smile as Ke Zuo stated his purpose, thinking to himself that this man now seemed intent on becoming the “Servant of Five Houses.”
Indeed, Ke Zuo had come to pledge his allegiance.
According to him, he could no longer endure serving under Shi Bingzhou and thus sought a new lord.
Gongsun Liang stroked his goatee, addressing Ke Zuo by his courtesy name. “Ke Quanshui, I understand your intent. But at this critical moment, even if I relay your message truthfully to our lord, he may not accept you.”
Ke Zuo sighed softly. “The timing is indeed less than ideal. But I simply cannot work alongside that cousin of Shi Bingzhou’s. Gongsun Taihe, might I request an audience with Lord Huo of Youzhou? I have urgent matters to discuss with him.”
“Our lord is currently occupied,” Gongsun Liang replied with a smile. “Ke Quanshui, if you have urgent business, you may tell me, and I will convey it for you.”
Ke Zuo spoke earnestly. “This matter also concerns Sizhou and cannot be delayed. I beg you, Taihe, to arrange a meeting.”
Gongsun Liang studied him for two breaths before finally saying, “Wait here a moment.”
With that, he left the tent and headed for the command tent.
Inside, Huo Tingshan was reading a letter from Youzhou. Upon hearing Gongsun Liang’s report, the man raised an eyebrow.
“My lord, shall we go and see what he wants?” Gongsun Liang asked.
Huo Tingshan set the letter aside. “Of course. Let’s see what trick he’s playing.”
Gongsun Liang cautioned, “This man comes to surrender yet brings no family. You should be wary, my lord—this could be a trap.”
Huo Tingshan nodded. “I know.”
It was only a short walk before Huo Tingshan met Ke Zuo. At first glance, without even discussing anything, Huo Tingshan could tell the man was far too shrewd.
Ke Zuo had narrow, elongated eyes, a sharp nose, pointed ears, and thin lips. When he smiled, his pupils nearly vanished, making it impossible to read the emotions in his gaze.
He had the unmistakable appearance of a rat.
Ke Zuo, upon seeing Huo Tingshan, immediately rose and bowed deeply: "This humble one, Ke Quanshui, pays respects to the Grand General of Heavenly Strategy. The Grand General's service to the people of Jizhou is truly admirable. It is said that one who rules by virtue earns genuine loyalty—this humble one sincerely submits to the Grand General and begs for the honor of serving under you."
Huo Tingshan personally helped him up. "Master Ke, there is no need for such courtesy. I have already heard of your intentions from Taihe. But let us set that aside for now—I wish to discuss another matter concerning Sizhou."
Ke Zuo straightened his expression. "The Grand General's march into Sizhou is known to all. Governor Li of Sizhou is in a state of panic and has sent word to Governor Shi of Bingzhou to form an alliance against Youzhou."
A faint smile played on Huo Tingshan's lips—this was no surprise.
If he were Governor Li, he too would seek alliances with neighboring provinces. Given the terrain, Yanzhou and Bingzhou were both viable options.
Previously, the Youzhou army had seized Beichuan County ahead of Bingzhou, creating tension between the two regions. Thus, of the two, Bingzhou was the more likely choice for an alliance.
"So you mean to tell me that Sizhou and Bingzhou have already formed an alliance?" Huo Tingshan chuckled.
Ke Zuo's eyes flickered. "Yes, but that is not all. From what I know, the two provinces are plotting to target Youzhou's grain supply lines."
Huo Tingshan's smile remained unchanged. "Thank you for the information, Master Ke. If you have no objections, you may stay with our army for the time being."
He summoned a guard to arrange accommodations, placing Ke Zuo in the same tent as Xiong Mao.
After Ke Zuo left, Gongsun Liang spoke up. "My lord, while the news about the grain supply lines seems useful, it is not something we couldn't have deduced ourselves."
An army marches on its stomach. If provisions must be hauled from afar, soldiers will go hungry; if they must forage for firewood and wild greens, they will often be left unfed.
The importance of grain needed no further explanation.
"Ke Zuo is a man of talent. Let us observe him further. If his loyalty proves true, he will have a place in our ranks. If not—" Huo Tingshan snorted lightly, "—we can always kill him later. And when we do, we should gouge out those beady little eyes of his. Since they’re already afflicted with disease and barely see, they’re of no use anyway."
If that old fool Shi Lianhu dared to feign surrender and deceive him, then surely Ke Zuo’s eyes were diseased—how else could he fail to recognize Huo Tingshan’s superiority?
A day later.
The Youzhou army mobilized, clashing with the forces of Sizhou south of Weizhuang County.
The first battle was led by Huo Tingshan himself, facing off against Li Kangshun, the son of Li Xiaotian.
As the two armies met, war banners fluttered in the wind, battle cries erupted, and the clamor of combat spread like waves through the valley. The stench of blood soon thickened the air.
Arrows littered the ground, and soldiers who had lost their armor fled in panic. The initial skirmish ended with Huo Tingshan’s forces pushing the front lines slightly forward—a minor victory for Youzhou.
The signal to retreat sounded.
Huo Tingshan rode back to camp on his steed, Wu Ye. As night fell, the man strode into his command tent and ordered the guards, "Summon Xiong Mao."
Xiong Mao arrived promptly. "Grand General, you called for me?"
Huo Tingshan said, "Starting tomorrow, you will lead the troops."
Xiong Mao straightened with determination. "I will give my all and not disappoint your expectations."
Huo Tingshan abruptly changed the subject. "How have you been getting along with Ke Zuo these past two days?"
Xiong Mao’s face fell. "That man speaks with a sharp tongue—his words are far from pleasant. I suspect his habit of switching masters so often has much to do with that mouth of his. Grand General, could you assign him elsewhere? I’d rather not share a tent with him."
Huo Tingshan was amused. "How exactly is his speech unpleasant?"
If Xiong Mao, usually so dull-witted, could say such a thing, the past two days must have been quite entertaining.
Xiong Mao recounted everything. Had he been from later times, he might have described Ke Zuo with one word: "troll"—venomous-tongued and argumentative about everything.
Listening to this, Huo Tingshan found himself thinking of Pei Ying, who was currently stationed at the rear supply depot.
Sometimes, when she thought he couldn’t hear, she would mutter complaints about his harsh words. Once his thoughts wandered in that direction, they refused to return.
"Xiong Mao, from tomorrow onward, the army is in your hands. Consult Gongsun Liang if anything arises. I will be heading to the rear," Huo Tingshan declared.
Xiong Mao was stunned. "You won’t be staying at the front?"
Huo Tingshan only said, "Keep a close watch on Ke Zuo. Ensure he sends no messages out."
Xiong Mao bowed. "As you command."
...
Pei Ying only realized Huo Tingshan had come to the rear when she woke the next morning. He had invited her to join him for breakfast.
In the end, she went.
Camping in the wild was far from comfortable, and one often ended up covered in dust. Pei Ying had expected Huo Tingshan to look disheveled after returning from the front, but surprisingly, he appeared quite tidy.
He still wore his black robes, his belt clean, with a small dark blue pouch hanging from it.
Huo Tingshan lifted his gaze. "My lady has arrived."
The tent flap lifted, and a radiant glow spilled in as she entered. Her skin was pale, her hair luxuriantly dark, and the delicate features of the beautiful woman resembled an ink-wash painting steeped in the mist of a hot spring—her silhouette cast in chiaroscuro, exuding an otherworldly tenderness.
Pei Ying was startled to see him there. "General, why have you returned at this hour?"
As the commander-in-chief, he had only spent a single day on the battlefield before retreating to the rear. Wouldn’t this embolden the Sizhou army if word got out?
After all, changing commanders mid-battle was a grave military taboo.
Pei Ying left the rest unsaid, but Huo Tingshan understood. He wasn’t surprised that she grasped such matters. "It’s fine. Yesterday’s skirmish was a minor victory. Even if we switch commanders today, our morale won’t suffer much. Besides, Zhonggu Dao is easily defended but hard to attack. If they dare to venture out, they’ll lose their advantage."
Pei Ying pondered his words. "You intend to stall them here?"
What good would that do him?
A prolonged war would only exhaust Youzhou’s forces.
Huo Tingshan smiled. "Conditions in the camp are rough. For now, make do with these flatbreads. In a few days, I’ll take you north to feast on roasted venison."
Pei Ying frowned.
North? Did he mean to return to Youzhou?
That couldn’t be. If he wanted to go back, he could have done so after conquering Jizhou. Why wait until now?
She took a bite of the flatbread, and suddenly, a thought struck her like lightning. Given Weizhuang County’s current position, if the army marched north without heading to Youzhou, their destination could only be Bingzhou.
He planned to attack Bingzhou.
Pei Ying’s eyes widened in shock, meeting Huo Tingshan’s gaze.
In those clear, rounded almond eyes, Huo Tingshan saw the answer. The curve of his lips deepened. "Exactly as you’ve guessed."
Sizhou was merely a decoy—his true target had never been Sizhou.
Sizhou lay below Jizhou, and Jizhou below Youzhou. If he took Sizhou, the three territories—You, Ji, and Si—would form a narrow strip, flanked by hostile forces on either side. That was untenable.
But if he seized Bingzhou, the lands would consolidate into a solid block rather than a vulnerable ribbon. Moreover, Bingzhou held an iron mine.
"Pei Ying," Huo Tingshan asked, "has your elder brother given you an answer regarding the relocation?"
She shook her head.
Huo Tingshan lazily narrowed his eyes. "If they truly refuse to move, so be it. Bingzhou will fall into my hands sooner or later. The Pei family will have free rein across the three provinces."
Pei Ying’s breath hitched. Though he spoke of Bingzhou as his inevitable prize, his dark eyes bore into her, deep and fathomless as an abyssal trench.
For some reason, an indescribable unease welled up in her chest.
Her throat felt dry. She lifted her teacup and took a sip.
It did little to soothe her. She drained the cup slowly before murmuring, "General, only two meetings remain in our agreement. When do you intend for me to fulfill them?"
Better to end things quickly. Once she severed their tangled relationship, she could finally rest easy.
Huo Tingshan paused, his expression inscrutable.
