Chapter 4, Crisis Looms

The South Courtyard has only five inverted rooms, which also serve as the entrance to the mountain villa, blocking the valley mouth that leads in and out of the villa, and is usually guarded by family soldiers

Not only was he sent to the Qiu Lake Mountain villa, but he was also ordered to be closely monitored by that old cur, Fan Xicheng, who kept an eye on his every move. His daily life was managed by the ugly maid Qingyun, who had a birthmark covering her face and was frail and weak. He was confined in the study all day long, without a moment of freedom, which made him long for the days in Xuanzhou when he was unrestrained and could bully others with his power

According to the laws of Chu, these household soldiers were affiliated with his father Han Daoxun, and the family members of the household soldiers were also incorporated into the Han family register, serving as servants

The family soldiers of the Han family, apart from a few who remained in Xuanzhou under the command of his second uncle Han Daochang, were mostly following his elder uncle Han Daoming, who was appointed as the governor of Chizhou at that time

The night before, Han Qian was still filled with resentment towards his father, Han Daoxun, for his strict control over him

He had been confined in the courtyard for over a month, feeling extremely irritable, constantly thinking about leaving and escaping back to Xuanzhou. However, at this moment, he recalled that Jingniang was a maid sent to him by his second uncle Han Daochang, and that Zhao Zhi was a servant sent to him by the same uncle. He even remembered that three years ago, he had stumbled upon the affair between Jingniang and his cousin Han Jun, which was inadvertently revealed by the seemingly careless Zhao Zhi.

This made him seriously reflect on the past six years in Xuanzhou for the first time, leaving him so frightened that his hands and feet turned cold

At this moment, Han Qian wished he could wield the black cloud bow and rush out to shoot down each of the family soldiers in the mountain villa.

Emperor Tianyou relied on the great generals and noble families to establish the foundation of the State of Chu. With the newly created State of Chu surrounded by formidable enemies yet to be vanquished, Emperor Tianyou was hesitant to easily alter the military system. He even occasionally awarded military households as rewards to his meritorious generals and ministers.

Family soldier

Among the household soldiers or servants in the villa, is there someone who is in collusion with Yao Xishui to relay information?

On the north and south sides of the training ground, two courtyards have been built, which, along with the eastern courtyard where Han Qian resides, collectively form the Qiu Hu Shan Villa

Han Qian sat in a daze for half a day, as the sky brightened significantly. At this moment, he faintly heard the sound of shouting coming from a distance. He knew that this was the family soldiers residing in the villa, who had come out in the early morning to practice their martial arts and archery.

... ...

At merely twelve years of age, he had naturally never witnessed the malice of human nature. Before this, how could he have imagined that his six years of neglect and his current obstinacy were, in fact, the result of his second uncle Han Daochang's deliberate actions

The East Courtyard is the most exquisite, with twenty to thirty rooms designated for the master and his personal servants. However, at night, only Han Qian resides there

After the onset of autumn, the early morning was slightly cool. Han Qian draped a thin garment over himself and stepped out, taking the black cloud bow as he followed the sounds of the family soldiers practicing, crossing through the western courtyard.

... ...

In the ancestral land of Xuanzhou, there was a desire to raise troops, but along the way, the family soldiers were captured and delivered to the authorities, and they were torn apart by chariots in the market

When he woke up, his consciousness was still somewhat hazy, but he heard a few key phrases

What could he say at this moment, that one day within the next four years, his father would be killed by the Heavenly Protector's staff in front of the Wenying Hall, and that he would be betrayed by these family soldiers while fleeing to Xuanzhou

Although it is referred to as a villa, it is actually located in a valley on the southern slope of Baohua Mountain

At this time, Fan Xicheng was arranging for workers to build a protective wall, intending to enclose the entire estate. However, the project was quite large, and there were few available hands. Currently, they had only constructed a yellow earth wall along the southern edge of the training ground in the southern courtyard to guard against large groups of bandits invading from the valley.

... ...

Han Qian was so enraged that he found it hard to contain his feelings, wishing he could smash everything in the study to alleviate the hatred in his heart

His thoughts gradually became calm and delicate, no longer characterized by the previous impatience and recklessness

Second Uncle Han Daochang was far from the gentle and harmless figure one might imagine

Recalling this passage from his dream, Han Qian's forehead veins could not help but throb violently, thinking to himself that he had not been wrong at all in cursing those old scoundrels like Fan Xicheng on ordinary days

These household soldiers, at this moment, consume his family's resources, utilize his family's provisions, and ultimately experience a dramatic change in the Han family. Not to mention their unwavering loyalty in escorting him to Xuanzhou, they even delivered him to the authorities for execution along the way. What else could they be but ungrateful, wild dogs that turn against their master?

This is the training ground where the soldiers of the mountain villa practice their martial skills. Along the edge of the field, there are weapon racks displaying spears, staffs, halberds, longbows, and other arms, as well as several stone locks used for strength training

His father, Han Daoxun, took up a position in the capital, and the residence established in Jinling was too small to accommodate many people. Therefore, he purchased a villa outside the city, where most of the family servants and dependents were settled...

Therefore, it is common in the present age for noble families to possess private soldiers

Although Qiuhushan Villa is only about 30 to 40 li away from the capital city of Jinling, during this time, bandits are rampant, and the area around Jinling is not peaceful. The nearby estates and large residences often suffer from plundering by robbers, and one must be extremely cautious; otherwise, it is truly perilous.

In the villa, Han Qian lived alone in the eastern courtyard. Moreover, because his father feared that he would become infatuated with matters of love, even the ugly maid Qingyun was prohibited from entering the eastern courtyard at night. Therefore, as long as they did not make loud noises, it was indeed possible that Fan Xicheng and the others were unaware of Yao Xishui's visit at night

Yao Xishui and that man, the schemes they are employing are not merely aimed at poisoning him; rather, they seek to create the illusion that he has died from a sudden illness

However, his father Han Daoxun has served in local government over the years and has personally accumulated merits, receiving rewards equivalent to twenty military households

Yao Xishui and that man were startled and fled when Fan Xicheng and others, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, arrived. From Fan Xicheng's reaction afterwards, it seems they were completely unaware of Yao Xishui's visit.

The northern courtyard is the largest, consisting of fifty to sixty rooms, which serve as residences for soldiers and their families, as well as housing for the kitchen, stables, and other auxiliary buildings. However, all of these structures are quite rudimentary, made of thatch and earthen walls

Han Qian took a deep breath, secretly feeling that worrying about future matters at this moment was of no use; he must first resolve the current crisis!

To the west of the training ground, a stream flows down from the mountains, flanked by bamboo and trees, with piles of rocks creating a division in the valley. To the east lies the villa, while the west is more open, having cultivated three to four hundred acres of farmland. These fields, along with the hills behind the villa, also belong to the estate, where some scattered thatched huts have been built to accommodate the tenants dependent on the villa.

After a long time, Han Qian gradually calmed down

That night, the ugly maid Qingyun was first driven out by his outburst. After nightfall, Yao Xishui suddenly came to visit, preparing wine and drinks to share with him in the study. Subsequently, he was poisoned and collapsed onto the desk, losing consciousness and falling into that strange dream.

However, how could Yao Xishui know all this, so that she dared to walk into the study calmly to drink with him, without fearing to disturb the others in the villa

... ...

On the west side of the yard, a clear area of about 3 to 4 acres has been leveled using a stone roller

Han Qian sat there in shock, beads of sweat streaming down his forehead, and the thin garment draped over him was almost instantly soaked with perspiration

His father was still a minister in the court and had not yet been killed by Emperor Tianyou's staff in front of the palace. Han Qian did not believe that all the family soldiers had betrayed his family, but who exactly had the audacity to collude secretly with Yao Xishui and leak information?

The brook flows through the earthen wall of the southern courtyard, descending quite steeply. Two to three miles away, there lies a vast lake, its waters stretching out in a misty expanse, visible for about thirteen to fourteen miles in length and breadth.

Perhaps the dream was too vivid, so vivid that it felt as if Han Qian was living an alternative life within the dream, so real that the life memories of Zhai Xinping in the dream had already merged into his very marrow, causing him to unconsciously contemplate issues from perspectives he had never considered before.

The Han family is certainly no exception

Han Qian stood at the edge of the training ground, his gaze crossing over the low wall made of rammed earth. He could see several boats docked in Chishan Lake, and a few brightly painted pleasure boats were particularly eye-catching. He thought to himself that Yao Xishui, the courtesan of the Late Red Pavilion, might be hiding among those pleasure boats, not having left, waiting for another opportunity to strike at him

Han Qian's hands and feet were icy cold, and even taking a few deep breaths could not suppress the shock within.

Thinking of this, Han Qian could not help but reflect on the many details that occurred the night Yao Xishui came to his door to poison him

At this time, no dramatic changes had occurred in his family, and the household soldiers had not betrayed him. Not to mention that even if he wanted to execute these household soldiers, who would ultimately be of no use, his father, Han Daoxun, would never agree to him expelling them from the Han family.

In his dreams, the person Zhai Xinping not only experienced an abundance of deceit and treachery in his brief life, but also found that the historical texts he enjoyed reading were filled with various astonishing plots and schemes

This large lake is Chishan Lake, located to the southeast of Jinling City. It gathers streams flowing from the southern foothills of Baohua Mountain, and there are waterways that lead northwest, eventually merging into Qiupu River at the southwestern corner of Jinling City. It enters Jinling City through the Water Gate and ultimately flows into the Yangtze River from the northern city water gate

He is not even sure whether all of his household soldiers will betray him in the future

These individuals are all veterans who have gradually followed Han Daoxun in recent years