Chapter 4: Map of Mountains and Rivers

"The masters in the palace do not risk their lives; only the wanderers of the rivers and lakes would gamble with their lives." Fei Kouer’s final words fell like a bucket of ice water, instantly freezing the atmosphere

Several months ago, the King of Jian'nan, who held dominion over the land of Shu, conspired to rebel, raising an army and causing great turmoil in Shu.

Yin Changge, born into a family of Daoism, lacks the Daoist's indifference. Upon hearing these words, he slammed the table and exclaimed, "What a traitor to the nation! If foreign enemies are truly invited in, a thousand deaths would not be enough to atone for this crime"

Shang Wan seemed to be pondering something, her brows slightly furrowed. After a moment, she coldly said: "I, Shang, am willing to give it a try."

Shen Manqing glanced at Yin Changge and said gently, "Since the master has commanded us to come here, we must certainly comply."

The urgency of time has caught everyone by surprise, and the reasons are quite sufficient, leaving no room for anyone to refute.

The continuous promises made several individuals feel a sense of closeness, yet one person remained silent throughout. The gazes of the crowd gradually settled on the boy in gray, and the stirred emotions slowly cooled down

The intangible gaze contained profound pressure, and Wen Siyuan coughed lightly: "Young Master, please allow me to speak with him privately."

The oppressive atmosphere eased, and Lu Lanshan fell silent for a moment before sighing, "There is no need for the young master to say more. Whether it be the treacherous mountains and rivers or the peril of life and death, this matter is something I, Lu, shall undertake."

At this point, Wen Siyuan has also made clear the purpose of gathering everyone. Lu Lanshan pondered for a moment, "This map is the source of chaos; if the ruler had any sense, he would not take it lightly. However, with such a precious treasure in the hands of the bandits, how could they be willing to give it up?"

The topography of Shu resembles a basin, with perilous mountains and rivers controlling the Ba and Yi regions, and its resources are abundant. The King of Jiannan has been enfeoffed for many years and holds absolute power locally. The Miao and Yi people in Shu are numerous, and there are often disturbances. The King of Jiannan imposed heavy taxes under the pretext of quelling these disturbances, accumulating wealth over the years and stockpiling weapons and provisions, which ultimately aroused the suspicion of the high-ranking officials, who jointly submitted a memorial expressing their alarm.

The Emperor summoned the light cavalry to the capital for inquiries, but the King of Jiannan refused to accept the imperial edict. In fact, he executed the imperial envoy and, under the pretext of clearing the court of corrupt officials, led his troops to attack. Initially, he achieved frequent victories, which greatly angered the Emperor. The Emperor then summoned great generals to mobilize troops for a siege and assault, ultimately using fire attacks to heavily damage the rebel forces. The King of Jiannan's army was defeated like a mountain, and during the retreat, he was consumed by anger and died from a festering sore on his back, leaving only a few remnants of his forces scattered and fleeing.

Wen Siyuan's words eased the minds of the crowd, "It is rumored that Duan Yan indeed presented this map, attempting to incite the desire for invasion among the Tuhuo people. Fortunately, the sovereign has no such intention at present and has only received him as an esteemed guest due to the precious gifts he brought.

Zuo Qingci remained expressionless and did not respond.

Shang Wan had always looked unfavorably upon the thief. Seeing that all attempts at persuasion were in vain, he coldly stated: "According to the rules of the jianghu, if one hears what should not be heard and then wishes to withdraw, one must leave something behind."

Zuo Qingci did not utter a word, his gaze sweeping towards Wen Siyuan

Fei Kouer shook her head, "I cannot owe you anything, nor do I need you to owe me."

Yin Changge has always looked down upon thieves, and interrupted, saying: "Why say more? To achieve great things, one must go through extraordinary dangers. It is better for those who are timid and avoidant to stay away."

Fei Kouer rubbed her side, her tone somewhat weary, "You have always been profit-driven; if there were any leads, you would have surely quoted a price by now, how could you have waited until now"

The text reads: "The world believes that the great calamity has passed, yet they are unaware of the endless poison left by this person. The King of Jiannan had a son named Duan Yan, who was granted the title of heir apparent and was held as a hostage in Chang'an. At the time of raising troops, the King of Jiannan secretly instructed him to escape from Chang'an ahead of time. When he fled, he took with him the embroidered map of mountains and rivers stolen from the palace. This map was made using a secret technique, as thin as silk, depicting the terrain and military defenses of various regions, and could be folded to a size no larger than a square inch, yet when unfolded, it extended over three zhang in length. The mountains, rivers, and streams were vividly depicted, and all the crucial passes and strategic points were detailed. Fortunately, the army was blocked, preventing Duan Yan from entering Shu. After the death of the King of Jiannan, he stealthily made his way and managed to cross the border into the country of Tocharia."

On the third floor, it was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Wen Si Yuan's expression changed slightly as he glanced at the Young Master Zuo beside him and deliberately sighed, "I know you are unwilling to go, so why exaggerate with false words."

The lake breeze carried the moisture, gently stirring the sleeves of Left Qingci's garments. His words were like a gentle wind, capable of dispelling all concerns: "What Brother Lu said is indeed correct. As the saying goes, one should plan thoroughly before taking action. I have already sent someone to gather information several months ago and have made meticulous preparations. As long as we set out immediately to reach Tokharistan, we will surely succeed."

Yin Changge, feeling moved, responded with great enthusiasm: "Jing'an Hou has long fought valiantly on the battlefield to protect the peace of this region, and I have admired him for a long time. Now that I have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of such a noble figure and contribute my share, how could I dare to decline?"

Yin Changge raised his sword-like eyebrows and then said, "Including me and my senior sister."

Fei Kouer no longer spoke, and everyone except him was looking at Zuo Qingci

Wensi Yuan directly ignored the other party's response: "How about I owe you one."

Lu Lanshan discerned the gravity of the situation, his brows furrowing tightly: "Since this map is so important and hidden deep within the imperial palace, how could it have been stolen by Duan Yan?"

Immediate departure? No one expected it to be so urgent, and Shang Wan couldn't help but question, "So hasty?"

Shen Manqing still had doubts, yet Yin Changge had already made a spirited promise, so she felt it was inappropriate to say more and could only smile. Fortunately, Lu Lanshan had also thought of the same point and directly asked: "What is the situation in the Tokharian Kingdom? We know nothing about it, and the customs and manners are completely unfamiliar to us. Even if we are willing, rushing in recklessly may not be beneficial."

As the discourse continued, the expressions of those present gradually became somewhat unfavorable.

Wensi Yuan did not pay any attention and approached the young man, saying: "Half an hour ago, you had already given your promise"

With a long gaze, quietly observing, Zuo Qingci took everything in.

Fei Kouer was originally sitting by the railing, but upon hearing this sentence, she was about to rise. Wen Siyuan's expression tightened, and he raised his arm to block her, whispering a few words in her ear.

After a moment of silence, Fei Kou'er uttered three words, "I withdraw"

Wen Si Yuan clearly understood that in order to persuade these individuals, he must be sufficiently detailed and provide thorough answers. When Duan Yan Chu first arrived in the capital, he was still young and was appointed to accompany the prince. He was skilled in flattery, appearing humble and submissive on the surface, and he showed great respect to those above and below him. He was very close to the prince and the nobility, frequently entering and exiting the palace. This incident arose suddenly, and there was no time for precaution, which led to the emperor's anger affecting countless others. Fortunately, he was unable to escape to the Northern Di tribe; otherwise, when the smoke of war arises next year, the Northern Di would surely advance straight in.

This explanation is reasonable; however, Shen Manqing, being meticulous, raised another question: "I wonder whether your invitation this time is truly the intention of the Duke of Jing'an, or a command from the palace?"

Wensi Yuan seemed to have uttered another phrase, suddenly falling silent in the waterside pavilion

Zuo Qingci took over the conversation, smiling faintly with an extraordinary grace, "Indeed, Duan Yan is temporarily residing in Tuhuo Luo. Once there is no hope, he will surely take a detour through Selan to stir up trouble in various countries in succession"

Fei Kouer lowered his head, his speech somewhat slow and clumsy, as if he was not accustomed to speaking so much at once. "The Congling region experiences a long winter; after October, commercial travelers vanish, and the ice and snow seal everything. The cold is unimaginably severe for ordinary people, with many areas being salt flats that never thaw. The mountain passes are covered in snow, devoid of any human presence. The slightest sound can cause the snow to collapse and the ice to shatter, resulting in a cascade of frost and ice falling from great heights, making it difficult for birds to escape"

The faintly hoarse voice of Fei Kouer came through, clearly expressing displeasure: "Since you are already aware of the reason, why must you still force me to go."

Zuo Qingci's long gaze flickered as he explained in a calm and unhurried manner. "Miss Shen's concerns are indeed justified. Firstly, he is accompanied by three formidable experts, making assassination no easy task; secondly, Duan Yan has long resided in the imperial palace, is astute and cautious, and is quite familiar with the people within the palace; thirdly, the King of Tokharistan is ambitious and has promised protection in exchange for substantial bribes. If the inner court were to intervene, it could easily escalate into a conflict between the two nations. Tokharistan holds significant influence in the Western Regions, and if this matter leads him to ally with a hostile nation, it would bring about even greater calamity. In contrast, the actions of wandering heroes are much more discreet.

It is both yes and no; at this moment, I cannot respond to everyone, so consider it a request from my Jing'an Marquisate. However, I can assure you that once the matter is accomplished, the palace will surely be informed. Left Minister's words were profound and enigmatic, and he did not provide a direct answer, saying, "There are some matters that are inconvenient to speak of, yet must be acted upon. When duty calls, even if it means facing a thousand or ten thousand people, what does Lady Shen think of this?"

Fei Kouer spoke in a low voice, "At that time, you did not mention the Tocharian, nor did you clarify with whom you were traveling."

It seems they were using a method of whispering, making it impossible for others to hear the content, only that the two were very close to each other. In a moment of urgency, Wen Siyuan's posture appeared somewhat unusual; he supported himself with one hand on the railing, his body lowered significantly, almost encircling the young man within his arms.

Well said! The words resonate deeply with Yin Changge's aspirations, stirring his spirit, and he subsequently praises: "Wherever righteousness leads, even if it is against a thousand or ten thousand, I shall go. This is how heroes of our generation should be."

If I had made it clear in advance, you would have long since vanished without a trace. Ignoring those around him, Wen Siyuan patiently persuaded, "You can move freely in Mount Taibai, so what fear do you have of the dangers of the snowy region? What the young master relies on is the art of disguise, and when encountering enemies, you may not even need to lift a finger."

Zuo Qingci appeared calm, his handsome face shining like fine jade, devoid of any shadow of gloom. "You speak well. If this matter were simple and easy, why would I need to go to such lengths to invite you all? The snow-capped mountains are an insurmountable barrier for ordinary people, but each of you possesses exceptional skills, allowing you to traverse dangers with ease. I have prepared an experienced guide who will lead the way throughout the climbing journey, ensuring that there will be no mistakes whatsoever"

These matters have been widely discussed for several months, and they are heard in every street and alley; naturally, the assembly is no exception. Yin Changge once again posed the question: "The Wang court has achieved a great victory, and the King of Jianan has died; this matter is known throughout the world. What is its relevance?"

Fei Kou walked with his head down, with several noticeable stains on his sleeves that made him appear disheveled and weary, much like his softly spoken words: "I do not wish to go to such a cold place again, nor do I have the time to waste outside the borders."

The words are both sincere and noble, and they come from the remarkably distinguished son of the Hou family, which makes them particularly moving

Although the words are subtle, Zuo Qingci possesses an air of elegance and nobility that makes it impossible not to trust him

The arena fell silent for a moment, and Fei Kouer, who had not spoken until now, finally began to speak. "Traveling through Longxi Road to Jincheng, passing through four counties to Yangguan, traversing Bailongdui to Loulan, Shanshan to Shule, and then crossing the Congling Mountains to reach Tokharistan."

The calm demeanor combined with his words naturally gave Zuo Qingci an impressive presence. "If it were for personal gain, I would never ask you all to risk your lives. However, this concerns the common people, and the court cannot send its internal experts to venture into foreign lands. We can only rely on the strength of the martial world. My father once said that once the matter is accomplished, all of you heroes could be recommended as court offerings. Yet, I believe this matter should not be measured by profit or loss, but should rely solely on our hearts. The fate of countless common people rests on a single thought, and your decisions also hang by a thread of thought."

Even someone as eloquent as Wen Si Yuan could not find words for a moment. Yin Chang Ge, growing impatient, said, "When paths diverge, there is no need for collaboration. Brother Wen, why must you persuade further? Let the petty ones go their own way."

Yin Changge, stirred by righteous indignation, listened quietly for a while before expressing her doubts, "Does the young master hope that we go to Tuhuo to retrieve the map of the beautiful mountains and rivers? This matter endangers the state and is of extraordinary significance. Why does the court not send skilled individuals to address it?"

Zuo Qingci's tone was gentle yet firm: "It is imperative to arrive before spring. Duan Yan still harbors hopes for the King of Tokharistan. Once it is confirmed that the other party has no intention of invading the Central Plains, he will undoubtedly seek refuge in another country. The only delay is the winter roads being frozen. If we wait until the snow melts in spring, he will have already escaped to Selan, and when the beautiful landscape map disperses among the countries of the Western Regions, this journey will lose all significance."

Wensi Yuan also said, "The matters you are concerned about have already taken some shape; perhaps there will be good news upon returning from the Tocharian region"

Lu Lanshan is upright and principled, while Yin Changge hails from a prestigious family, both possessing a chivalrous heart. After hearing the details, Lu Lanshan felt somewhat moved. He sighed deeply, saying, "Traveling thousands of miles and launching an attack in a foreign land is certainly not something one person can accomplish."

His speech was impassioned and fervent, leaving Shen Manqing momentarily speechless. Zuo Qingci then took the opportunity to say: "If that is the case, does Young Hero Yin wish to go? On behalf of the common people, I express my gratitude here."

Yin Changge's demeanor was solemn. "Has this map already fallen into the hands of the Tokharian king?"

The previous sentence was relatively bland, but the latter one was somewhat piercing. The assembled heroes possess keen hearing, each one can hear it clearly, and a sense of displeasure immediately arises.