Chapter 114: A Completely Different Person

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The Prince Qing Estate by the Apricot River.
Cao Yao ultimately never got the chance to prove that the times had changed.
Instead, it was the Han brothers who demonstrated that the era remained the same—it was just that others were not strong enough.
Meanwhile, the minor leaders within the estate gave Liu Chengzong a profound lesson.
Despite facing armored cavalry, the villagers had the courage to confront the enemy and even spontaneously stationed themselves atop the unfinished mountain fortress. Yet, these minor leaders, who kowtowed before Liu Qian and bossed around behind Liu, persuaded them to surrender.
The entire estate quickly returned to a peaceful state.
What does it mean when they say “Er Gouzi can hold off a hundred thousand troops”?
Liu Chengzong stood atop the unfinished mountain fortress, peering through a monocular telescope into the distance, without turning his head, he asked, “You say that scholar insulted his lord—so it was just a domestic quarrel, and he ended up sentenced to exile?”
The cost of a marital quarrel is remarkably high.
A servant behind him shook his head like a rattle: “Not a wife. His wife is the Lord of Shajing Township; he insulted the General of the Feng Kingdom. That’s considered unfilial.”
Oh, the General of Feng Kingdom—the township lord’s father.
Liu Chengzong nodded in understanding: “He quarreled with his father-in-law.”
Surely they didn’t come to blows—if they had, he would be dead by now.
Among all sins, none is greater than unfilial conduct.
If one commits other crimes and is brought to court, there is still a chance to plead one’s case. But unfilial conduct is not only a violation of law; it also carries moral condemnation.
Not just the township lord’s consort, even a princess’s consort who dares to strike their parents—if the county magistrate finds out and the evidence is solid, with parents wounded—there is no trial.
They are tied to the steps of the government office, and the officials and townsfolk collectively beat them to death. No one wishes to live in the same world as such a person.
Moral condemnation is straightforward and blunt: irreconcilable hatred.
Liu Chengzong knew little about royal family affairs—they were like two different worlds—but now his curiosity was piqued, and he asked, “Why did he quarrel with his father-in-law?”
Just as he asked, Han Shipan, standing behind, whispered, “General, the supply outpost leader Chengyun has arrived.”
Liu Chengyun was nominally the leader of the logistics outpost, but in reality, he was a one-man command; the entire outpost had only him.
Under him were five squad leaders: the front leader was a male donkey, the rear leader a female horse, and the three middle squad leaders were their mule offspring—the mountain guardian beasts of Heilong Mountain.
“Brother.”
Chengyun greeted him, and Liu Chengzong first smiled and said, “This place isn’t bad, is it?”
Then he asked, “Have you accounted for all the goods?”
Chengyun shook his head, glanced at several estate servants nearby, and said to Liu Chengzong, “There’s too much to count all at once, but I found a sealed letter sent by General Wu Zimian from Yulin, requesting horses and grain from the estate.”
Liu Chengzong chuckled, “Heh, General Wu still carries the same prestige as before!”
As a former border soldier stationed at Yulin, Liu Chengzong had no good impression of the corrupt General Wu Zimian; but he had never imagined that Wu would demand grain and horses from the estate.
The annual season for border burning had come again.
But Chengyun appeared worried: “He’s not important. It’s Li Bei, brother. Li Bei is about to assume the post of Deputy General of Yan’an. The horses and grain are intended for suppressing us.”
Li Bei?
Liu Chengzong’s heart skipped a beat; he quickly took out the letter to read.
The letter said that the Chahan Tiger Dun Tu tribe was leading 200,000 troops to assault the fortress. During the deployment of troops at Yulin, the court had promoted Li Bei to Deputy General of Yan’an. Wu Zimian sought to procure warhorses and forage for his old troops and thus turned to the estate for assistance.
The gist was that Li Bei had pacified bandits, which was also beneficial to the Prince Qing Estate, and they should endure hardships together.
The so-called Chahan tribe was in fact the Chahar Mongols, led by Lindan Khan.
However, the Great Khan was not allowed a personal name in the Han lands; official Ming documents referred to him and the Chahar tribe as “Tiger Dun Tu” and “Chahan” respectively.
Sometimes they were simply called the Eight Great Camps of Chahan Tiger Dun Tu. They had migrated from the east, driving out the former Shunyi King Busitu of Tumochuan.
The westward migration of the Chahar Mongols was mainly due to famine.
After Lindan Khan moved west, the eastern region still had the five great camps of Neikarkha—Nuantu, Guiying, and others—well-known Mongol leaders in Han territory. The court often bribed them to threaten the Later Jin from the flanks during the wars.
During the 1622 Battle of Guangning in the Tianqi era, the Nuantu and Guiying tribes lent 20,000 cavalry to General Zu Dashou to hold off the Later Jin.
But now the situation was different.
In the first year of Chongzhen, famine struck the borderlands, and the tribes petitioned the court for millet; Emperor Chongzhen resolutely refused.

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But the Later Jin’s Huang Taiji did provide it.
Thus, the Later Jin forces could now directly threaten Xuanfu and Datong.
Previously, the pressure from the Chahan tribe, scattered along the Yulin-Xuanfu-Datong line, was now concentrated entirely at Yulin Town.
From Bansheng, traveling 500 li, Tiger Dun Tu could reach Fugu and knock on the door, inquiring if Wu Zimian was home.
Liu Chengzong was not worried about Wu Zimian; the external environment around Yulin did not permit Wu to dispatch troops to attack the interior.
But Li Bei assuming the post of Deputy General of Yan’an was a different matter—this was a position specifically meant to deal with them, and he knew Li Bei was ruthless.
Although Liu Chengzong vaguely felt that the troops who had marched 400 li in two days under Li Bei’s command were likely decimated or crippled and might no longer be reliable.
But Liu Chengzu had said that if a raiding squad could swiftly cover a hundred li a day beyond the border, then it was fair to estimate their daily movement at that speed.
Calculations can be wrong, but the battlefield never grants a second chance to those who err.
“Zha Shi, send the Xintang cavalryman Wei Qian’er to set up posts at Gaoqiao ten li southeast and Tangping twenty li; dispatch another cavalryman familiar with the route to Yan’an to depart immediately. They must reach Zuantianmao by tomorrow morning to report on Li Bei’s appointment as Deputy General of Yan’an.”
“The remaining cavalry will go to Yan’an County to inform Chief Gao.”
Liu Chengzong paused, then patted Guo Zha Shi’s shoulder: “Remember to notify all villages and townships that if Li Bei enters Fushi County, we must be immediately informed.”
Having an enemy is like having a sword hanging over your head.
If that enemy is known for rapid marching, it means the sword is invisible; even if seen, no one knows when or where it will strike.
Liu Chengzong breathed onto the telescope’s lens and wiped it clean with his sleeve. Chengyun then asked, “Brother, Li Bei is coming as Deputy General—what shall we do?”
What to do? For now, there was no solution.
He exhaled, packed away the telescope, and said, “Right now, we have the best intelligence in Yan’an Prefecture. We haven’t yet heard of Li Bei entering Fushi County; I believe he’s still in the north, not yet departed.”
So he patted Chengyun lightly and said with feigned ease, “No worries. Continue counting the estate’s goods. I’ll go ask the steward.”
This stone fortress built on a mountain ridge platform on the north bank of the river was truly impressive.
Its location and construction were excellent.
Two hundred steps from the river valley farmland, six hundred steps from the mountain cliffs across the river, the valley was flanked by well-cultivated fields—eleven qing and forty-three mu of prime farmland.
On the west side of the northern mountain fortress, a small path led to mountain kilns.
Surrounding mountains, separated by Beiyao and Dongyao areas, numbered about thirty small peaks, with terraced fields and slopes cultivated on the mountains, and alfalfa and horse forage planted below.
Several small tributaries of the Apricot River on the southern mountains also had villages with irrigation capacity.
Three earthen mound foundations were built two or three li to the southeast, working with the mountain fortress to guard the main road—a position easy to defend but hard to attack.
According to Cao Yao, placing a few large Buddha wolf machines or thousand-pound general cannons on the fortress would prevent any unfamiliar enemy from entering the valley and escaping.
Liu Chengzong had visited the earth fortress built by Prince Qin—this fortress was similar in size, with stone walls stronger than rammed earth but lower, only about twelve or thirteen feet high.
However, the interior of the Qing Prince Estate mountain fortress was quite different—it resembled a military stronghold.
Not as many hidden soldier caves or winding passages as a military fortress, but the austere overall impression was very much like a military garrison, something a talented northwestern garrison officer would build.
The stone houses along the fortress walls in the front courtyard resembled tightly packed barracks, with only rammed earth kang beds inside, no water wells, and no water pits within the fortress.
The rear courtyard’s main hall was dimly lit and quite dark.
Outside this main hall, Liu Chengzong saw Lin Wei bound and guarded.
This scholar from Gansu looked strange—neither cowering nor defiantly seeking death, but simply bound aside, seemingly lost in thought.
Liu Chengzong asked, “When was this letter from Wu Zimian delivered?”
The conversation went smoothly; no intimidation was needed. Lin Wei spoke as if in a normal dialogue: “The day before yesterday. Li Bei is coming. This fortress isn’t finished yet. You should seize what you can and leave quickly; it can’t be held.”
His attitude amused Liu Chengzong: “Oh? You don’t hate me for raiding your estate? You’re much more magnanimous than the steward at Prince Qin’s estate.”
Lin Wei sighed and turned to ask, “Were the goods sent to Gansu all plundered by the prince’s men?”
Seeing Liu Chengzong nod, Lin Wei briefly closed his eyes, understanding fully.
When he saw Liu Chengzong, Lin Wei already knew those goods destined for the prince’s mansion were likely lost.
He was not careless; rather, he clearly knew there was no way out, no chance for recovery.
Whether the goods were plundered or the estate captured, either event would be disastrous for any other steward.
But for him, even one of these events meant certain death.
So when both happened, it barely caused any emotional fluctuation.
Since it was unchangeable, the only option was to accept it calmly.
Three days had passed since Wu Zimian sent the letter, so Liu Chengzong thought Li Bei might still not have departed.
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He should still have time to strategize.
At that moment, Lin Wei seemed to be waiting for him to say something. Seeing his silence, Lin Wei spoke first: “What does the prince intend to do with me?”
Liu Chengzong found this man strange and remarkably calm.
Not everyone could deflect arrows with a sword, but in border areas, if the bow’s draw weight was light and the marksman skilled, there was a good chance to deflect arrows.
This rare skill was often practiced at Yuhe Fort by the recruits when idle, shooting blunt arrows for fun.
But in battle, it was rarely used—if you missed, it could mean death.
Compared to deflecting arrows with a sword, a shield was far more reliable.
Yet Lin Wei dared to show that posture when no other choice existed—he had courage.
Liu Chengzong asked, “Why did you block the horse with your sword before, but now you seem like a different person?”
“That was a moment of anger. I am already a criminal. Now that the estate and kilns are taken by the prince, I won’t survive.” Lin Wei replied, “The more I think about it, if the prince spares me, I might as well serve him loyally and try to live a little longer.”
This was the first time Liu Chengzong had seen a scholar so cleanly and decisively defect.
Compared to himself, this was a true traitor—like Cao Yao, both with flexible moral boundaries.
Thinking this, Liu Chengzong glanced around and easily spotted Cao Yao’s figure. The old man had climbed onto a rooftop, standing behind a half wall, aiming a three-barreled musket at the fortress wall.
He wondered what the old man was playing at alone.
Regaining his composure, he asked, “Why did you insult your father-in-law?”
Lin Wei was startled, then realized someone must have inquired about him. He sighed, “Unfilial conduct. I never wanted to be a consort, but couldn’t resist the powerful. My parents are gravely ill, and as a consort, I cannot fulfill filial duties. I drank and cursed—there’s nothing more to say.”
Lin Wei thought it unimportant and did not elaborate. He simply told Liu Chengzong, “I am a student from Zhongwei in Ningxia, familiar with classics and martial skills—I can handle bow, crossbow, musket, and cannon. Your troops are well-disciplined; I won’t say I’m a great asset, but I can serve.”
Liu Chengzong considered for a moment and nodded: “Do you know who I am?”
Lin Wei looked again and again, glanced at the “Liu” banner atop the fortress gatehouse, and lowered his head: “I dare not know.”
“I am Liu Chengzong. You say I am to take you away…”
Liu Chengzong paused and asked, “What if I say I don’t intend to take you?”
“No, you don’t intend to take me?”
For the first time, surprise flashed across Lin Wei’s calm face. He hurriedly said, “We can’t hold this. The fortress isn’t finished, and even if it were, it can’t be defended. Although your forces are elite, they are only half the strength of the official army.
Li Bei, newly appointed Deputy General of Yan’an, faces banditry throughout the region. He might not recruit troops near the city but could be organizing forces along the border wall, leading them south along the Suide-Yanchuan-Yanchang line, blocking our southeast passage.
Then we can only flee northwest into Bao’an County—that’s a death trap. North are the camps of Dingbian and Anbian, southeast the elite troops of Deputy General Li Bei, and southwest blocked by the second border wall, unable to enter Qingyang.”
Lin Wei spoke rapidly, then sighed and glanced cautiously at Liu Chengzong: “If you don’t leave and don’t kill me, please let me go. I am a man marked for death. I won’t report you; I only want a chance to live.”
Liu Chengzong smiled. Lin Wei’s words were not far from his own thoughts.
This fortress and estate were good places, but with official troops threatening nearby, they could not be held.
“Get up. Regardless of what I think, tell me: How much farmland does this fortress have, and how many people can it support?”
Liu Chengzong ordered Lin Wei’s bonds loosened. Though Lin Wei possessed martial skills, he carried no weapons and was watched by the Han brothers, so there was no concern.
Lin Wei said, “Eleven qing of valley farmland and over fifty qing of terraced mountain fields belong to the prince; villagers on the north and south mountains have donated over sixty qing of land. The rent is four dou per mu, and no more grain tax will be paid to the government. Annual grain harvest exceeds ten thousand shi.”
“You pay taxes? Why would villagers donate land to the estate?”
“It’s about levies. The court’s grain tax is worth only a few silver coins. Compared to the heavier levies by prefectures and counties, the estate’s rent is lower, so villagers prefer to donate land to the estate.”
While they spoke, Cao Yao jumped down from the roof and shouted, “General, the cavalry has returned, bringing one rider—seems to be Liu En.”
Liu En was a horse handler from Heilong Mountain. Hearing this, Liu Chengzong left Lin Wei behind and hurried outside the fortress.
He saw Liu En, horse foaming at the mouth, dismount and kneel unsteadily, gasping before saying, “Second Master, the lord says people carrying the ‘Chuang’ banner have reached Great King Mountain from Yanchang. The message must be told to you. The Mixed Heavenly King of Yanchuan was defeated by Deputy General Li Bei and fled into Yanchang.”
Liu Chengzong said nothing but clenched his fist.
Li Bei—Li Bei has arrived.