diymy Chapter 51 Amazing Salamander
Chapter 51 Amazing Salamander
The Yan State hostage residence was located in the east of Handan City, far from the bustling market, and was a relatively quiet courtyard. The residence was not large, with two courtyards in the front and back, surrounded by high walls. Guards brought by the Yan State guarded the entrance, and soldiers sent by the Zhao State also patrolled routinely.
The morning light was just right, shining through the window covered with plain silk, casting a half-light and half-dark atmosphere inside.
Yan Dan sat cross-legged on the futon, her eyes slightly closed, her breathing long and slow.
With each breath, his chest rose and fell slightly, and his body seemed to be enveloped in a very faint, almost invisible aura.
This is a daily routine for him.
Although the State of Yan was located in the north, it had a strong martial spirit, and the royal family members were required to practice martial arts to strengthen their bodies from a young age. However, in the last hundred years, the Yan court became increasingly extravagant, and the skills of archery and horsemanship became merely formalities or were regarded as crude. Very few people were truly willing to put in the hard work to hone their physical strength.
In the past, King Zhao of Yan worked diligently to govern the country, building the Golden Terrace to recruit talented individuals, which briefly revived the military spirit of the time, but alas, it was short-lived. Later generations of his descendants mostly indulged in pleasure, and the ancestral methods of strengthening the body and calming the mind have long been abandoned.
As the crown prince, Yan Dan witnessed the decline of the country and the threat of powerful neighbors from a young age, and thus secretly resolved to revitalize it.
What ordinary people consider drudgery and disdain, he would pursue with even greater intensity, using it to temper his will and strengthen his body. Being a hostage in a foreign land, this kind of training was an important way for him to stay clear-headed and accumulate strength.
However, just as his breath reached the key point of the circulation and his mind gradually became clear, a soft knocking sound suddenly rang out from outside.
Yan Dan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He had a strict order that morning meditation should not be interrupted unless it was an extremely urgent matter. The person outside was his trusted confidant, well aware of the rules, and now he was knocking…
However, considering that the Yan Kingdom delegation had just left Zhao and returned north, he slowly stopped his practice, guiding the warm energy in his dantian back to its source, circulating it through his meridians, and finally letting it sink into his dantian.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man bowed as he entered, closing the door behind him. This was Gao Ran, a trusted confidant Yan Dan had brought from Jicheng. He had been following Yan Dan ever since Yan Dan came to Handan as a hostage, and he was very reliable in his work.
"Your Highness," Gao Ran approached and lowered her voice, "the people you ordered to search for have news."
Yan Dan suddenly stood up.
"Tell me quickly, who exactly is Zhao Heng's teacher?"
"Your Highness, the tutor of Prince Heng of Zhao is named Wei Jia. On the surface, he seems to be unknown in Zhao in recent years, merely a tutor to a prince. However, according to my investigation and verification, he is truly a gem, possessing profound knowledge and exceptional insight."
Yan Dan's gaze was intense, signaling him to continue.
"When the Qin army besieged Handan, the situation was critical. Wei Jia was ordered by the King of Zhao to risk breaking through the siege with Lord Pingyuan and go south to Yingdu, the capital of Chu, to seek help."
At that time, the Chu court was embroiled in a heated debate over whether to rescue Zhao. Ultimately, although Mao Sui, a remarkable advisor to Lord Pingyuan, persuaded King Kaolie of Chu and Lord Chunshen to agree to send troops, Lord Chunshen's initial intention was to appoint Lord Linwu, a general of Chu, as the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, leading the troops of Chu and Zhao.
Gao Ran paused for a moment, then continued, "The problem is that this Lord Linwu had fought against the Qin army in his early years and suffered a defeat."
Yan Dan nodded.
"At that time, Mr. Wei Jia met with Lord Chunshen and cleverly persuaded him by using the metaphor of 'a bird startled by the twang of a bow.'"
"A bird startled by the twang of a bow?" Yan Dan repeated softly.
"Yes."
Gao Ran explained:
"Mr. Wei Jia said that he once saw Geng Ying draw his bow without firing, and a wild goose in the sky fell to the ground in response. Geng Ying explained that the goose's old wound had not yet healed, and it was still shaken. Hearing the false sound of the bowstring, it thought it had been shot again, and flew high, causing its wound to reopen, thus falling to its death. He used this as an analogy to say that Lord Linwu had been wounded by the Qin army, like a wounded goose, and that the mere mention of the name of the Qin army might instill fear in him, making him unsuitable to be a general against Qin. Lord Chunshen deeply agreed with this and ultimately decided to personally lead the army to rescue Zhao. This analogy was once widely circulated and praised among the strategists of the various states."
Yan Dan's eyes lit up when she heard this.
"Excellent... excellent! Your advice in this critical moment is incisive and profound, using simple language to illustrate complex ideas, truly awakening people. No wonder you were able to persuade someone like Lord Chunshen to change his ways and personally don armor—a perfect example of a 'bird startled by the twang of a bow'!"
He couldn't help but clap his hands, paced back and forth in the room a couple of times, and exclaimed, "A bird startled by the twang of a bow, a bird startled by the twang of a bow... Indeed, only someone with such outstanding insight and skill in diplomacy could teach such a remarkable person as Zhao Heng."
At this point, he stopped and looked at Gao Ran, a look of regret on his face:
"What a pity! Such a great talent was used by the State of Zhao, his life was buried by the teacher of mere children. It's a pity I didn't recognize him sooner; if I had had his assistance, it would have been so beneficial to my State of Yan..."
Before he could finish speaking, Gao Ran's expression turned somewhat strange. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, perhaps... there is no need for regret. This person is most likely already within the borders of our Great Yan Kingdom."
Yan Dan was startled and turned her head sharply.
What does this mean?
Gao Ran then revealed all the information she had gathered.
"It is said that, as a gesture of courtesy, the State of Zhao dispatched a deputy envoy to accompany the prime minister back to the State of Yan. This appointed deputy envoy from Zhao was none other than Wei Jia, the tutor of Prince Heng. Judging from the journey, they should have already approached or entered Yan territory by now."
Yan Dan was taken aback, her face showing surprise and delight, but then she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Since Wei Jia held no official position in the Zhao state and had been teaching Zhao Heng in seclusion for many years, why did the Zhao state suddenly send him as a deputy envoy? Is there something fishy about this?"
Gao Ran shook her head.
"The specific details are not yet fully known to our spies in Zhao. However, it is absolutely true that Wei Jia returned north with our delegation. At a normal pace, he should have already reached around the Yi River."
So Yan Dan paced back and forth in the room again, his hands behind his back.
This time, he walked slowly, as if weighing something. After a moment, he stopped, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.
"Regardless of the inside story, the fact that such talented individuals have entered our Yan state is a sign of Heaven's will; how can we let this opportunity slip by?"
Gao Ran lowered her head: "What is the Crown Prince's intention?"
Yan Dan walked to the desk, picked up his brush to write, then stopped and began to dictate: "Immediately find a reliable way to send a message back to my teacher Ju Wu in Ji City. Ask him to do everything he can to keep Mr. Wei Jia in Yan."
Gao Ran looked up.
"We may offer them substantial benefits or high positions, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, to ensure they are put to our use. We can emphasize our eagerness to recruit talented individuals, our willingness to treat them with the respect due to a teacher, and that upon my return to the country, we will rely on them as our pillars of support."
Gao Ran hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Highness, if we forcibly detain or place him under house arrest, what if it provokes a reaction from the Zhao state, or what if this person would rather die than submit..."
Yan Dan smiled slightly.
That smile held a depth beyond its years, and a fierce determination to succeed.
"What's there to be afraid of?" He walked to the window, pushed it open halfway, and looked out at the clear spring sky over Handan. "We won't be staying in Handan for long."
He pondered for a moment, then looked at Gao Ran, his tone turning serious.
"Furthermore, convey a message to the teacher: if Mr. Wei Jia strongly resists, under no circumstances should his life be taken or he be humiliated. He must be protected and treated with utmost courtesy. I will handle everything personally after I return to my country."
Seeing that Yan Dan had made up her mind, Gao Ran said no more and bowed to accept the order.
"I will take care of it immediately."
"Wait a minute," Yan Dan called out to him, adding, "Also, have our men be cautious lately, and avoid taking any unnecessary actions to prevent alerting the enemy."
Gao Ran nodded solemnly and left through the door.
Yan Dan stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant street scene.
Outside the window, the palace walls of the distant Zhao capital gleamed with an earthy yellow light in the sunlight. Further away, the rooftops and streets stretched endlessly. This city, where he had lived for several years, would soon become a thing of the past.
The sky was a clear blue, and the clouds drifted lazily by; it was a beautiful day.
After a long silence, Yan Dan murmured to herself again.
"Zhao Heng, it seems that although we have shared a friendly chat, we are each serving our own country and bearing our own fates. In the end, some things are simply impossible to reconcile."
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Since the Zhou dynasty's ancestral temple was destroyed by the powerful Qin, and the state of Lu was trampled flat by Lord Chunshen's iron hooves, the world is now divided into seven powerful states, each vying for survival, except for the state of Wei, which barely survives in Puyang and still barely retains its status as a state, and the uncivilized Baiyue tribes in the malaria-ridden southeast.
In the area where the territories of Qi and Wei intersected, there was a rich land called "Tao".
This place was once the fiefdom of Wei Ran, the powerful prime minister of the Qin state. After decades of his painstaking efforts, it became a hub of commerce and wealth, attracting merchants from all over the world.
Because of its abundant resources and strategic location, as an exclave of the Qin state in the eastern heartland, it was like a sharp blade pressed against the back of the Wei state, causing the rulers and ministers of Daliang to be restless and unable to eat or sleep.
Fortunately, four years ago, the Qin army suffered a crushing defeat at the walls of Handan and was forced to retreat across the board. The fertile territory of Tao was finally seized by the State of Wei and incorporated into its territory.
Times have changed. Today, Taodi, located at a crucial point on land and water routes in the Central Plains, has become a hub for the exchange of goods and information from all directions, and has evolved into a gray area where various forces and individuals from all over the world are active.
Trade in Qi silk, Chu brocade, Zhao horses, and Wei salt flowed continuously here. Accompanying this was the frequent appearance of outlaws, spies, fugitives, and even secret agents from various countries, making this place the underground intelligence center with the most complex and fastest-spreading information from all over the world.
Northeast of Taoqiu lies Juye Marsh.
Juye Marsh was formed by the confluence of the ancient Ji River, with the middle reaches of the Ji River passing through it. To the west, the marsh connects to Leize Marsh; to the southwest, it receives the Ji River and connects to Heze Marsh; to the northeast, it flows out of the Ji River, then northeast through the Jinan River into the sea; to the southeast, it flows out of the Yellow River into the He River, connects to the Si River, flows into the Huai River, and finally into the sea.
Because of its convenient waterways and abundant aquatic products, with fish and shrimp swarming everywhere, this vast marshland has been a coveted treasure land for our ancestors since ancient times.
Because the lake is so vast, with endless reeds and a maze-like network of waterways, it conceals far more than just the evening songs of fishing boats; it also holds countless secrets and figures unknown to the world.
Deep within the vast marshland lies mostly low-lying, densely networked swamps and wetlands, overgrown with reeds, and shrouded in mist year-round. Even during the day, the light and shadows are hazy, making it difficult to see far.
The setting sun's last rays, struggling to pierce through the thick twilight and damp fog, were fragmented and unable to paint a mark on the dark, oily surface of the swamp or the pale reeds swaying in the wind.
A tall and agile figure stood still in the mud.
She wore a cold, hard iron mask that covered her entire face. The mask was plain and unadorned, revealing only two emotionless slits around her eyes.
A tight-fitting, sleek metal soft armor, with a deep purple base, outlines breathtaking curves and is decorated with simple white stripes. On the breastplate, a fish-shaped pattern is faintly visible in the dim light, shimmering with a cold luster.
Most remarkably, her legs were not covered by armor, but only by a pair of light-colored stockings with a fine, net-like pattern that extended directly into a pair of high-heeled boots. She stood steadily on the edge of the filthy mud, the toes of her boots touching the ground, her posture upright, and the surrounding mud and filth did not touch her at all.
At this moment, she held a long, slender sword in her hand, pointing it diagonally at the ground. The last drop of thick, warm blood was slowly sliding down the narrow, sharp blade and falling into the murky puddle below, quietly spreading a faint crimson hue.
More than a dozen corpses lay scattered around her in the swampy shallows, among the reeds, and even at the edge of the sparse woodland not far away.
These people were dressed in a mixed style, with a rough and unruly air about them. Their weapons were scattered around, but they were now lifeless. Blood stained the mud and grass beneath them, and the heavy smell of blood mixed with the earthy smell of the swamp permeated the damp air.
The woman seemed oblivious to the horrific scene, simply raising her arm indifferently and flicking her wrist slightly.
The longsword drew an arc in the air, cleanly and neatly discarding the remaining blood. Then, without any obvious movement from her, the longsword slid into the ornate scabbard at her waist.
In the final instant before the sword was completely sheathed, in the last sliver of dim light, two sharp small seal script characters could be faintly seen on the blade near the guard.
Jing Ni.
After sheathing her sword, the woman showed no interest whatsoever in surveying the battlefield and turned to leave.
Just then, a figure emerged silently from the shadows of the dense forest not far away, like a ghost.
The newcomer wore a black cloth covering his face and a wide straw hat, just like the woman, concealing his appearance.
He moved swiftly, and in a few leaps he was already about ten feet behind the woman. He then knelt on one knee, his posture respectful, and took out a small, sealed copper letter tube from his bosom, which he presented with both hands.
The woman did not turn around or stop, but simply extended her right hand, which was covered with a metal gauntlet, and made a grasping motion in mid-air.
The brass letter tube seemed to be drawn by an invisible thread, suddenly escaping the masked man's hand, tracing a short arc, and landing steadily in her palm. Then, with a slight exertion of her fingertips, the intricate mechanism clicked softly, and the letter tube sprang open.
The woman pulled out the plain silk scroll inside and quickly scanned the few lines of cryptic text on it.
A moment later, she closed her five fingers, and the tough plain silk was quietly shattered into dust in her palm by an invisible force, falling down in a flurry.
"I'm going to Handan. Who will take over the rural tourism route?"
The masked man remained kneeling on one knee. Upon hearing this, he slightly turned his straw hat and quickly scanned the chaotic battlefield around him. The corpses, dressed in peasant clothes or connected to peasants, looked particularly desolate in the twilight.
He looked away and replied in a low voice:
"The leader has decreed that from now on, you need not trouble yourself with this matter. Ever since the Farmer's Clan orchestrated the assassination of Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, during the siege of Handan, their leader, Tian Guang, has mysteriously disappeared, his whereabouts unknown. The various branches of the Farmer's Clan have long been suspicious of each other, and their power has greatly declined. Continuing to investigate these lower-ranking disciples and peripheral members is of little use. The leader has other arrangements and channels to monitor Tian Guang's whereabouts and the Farmer's Clan."
The matter of Handan has been personally designated by the leader as the "top priority," the highest honor. Upon your arrival in Handan, someone will contact you to deliver specific instructions and provide necessary support. You only need to focus on your objective in Handan.
The woman remained indifferent after hearing this, and said nothing more, only nodding slightly as if she understood.
The next moment, her dark purple figure swayed gently amidst the increasingly thick and viscous twilight and the surging milky white mist of the swamp.
Like a phantom, or a drop of ink merging into the deeper darkness, it vanished completely into the depths of the reeds in an instant, leaving no trace.
All that remained was the thick, unyielding stench of blood, and the masked messenger who quietly rose and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
The swamp returned to deathly silence, with only the night wind beginning to howl, sweeping across the water and reeds, swirling a few tattered pieces of clothing, and lingering around the gradually cooling corpses, making a rustling sound that was both a sigh and a mockery.