Xing Muzheng immediately ordered the army to return to Pengzhou for Xu Meng’s burial.
When Qian Jiaoniang saw her husband return safe and whole, her heart finally eased. Though Xing Muzheng had been wary of Meng Rang and had his own guards and secret sentries following him, so he was never in real danger, Qian Jiaoniang’s heart had hung suspended the entire time. Only when she saw him return did the heavy stone drop from her chest.
Naturally, she was more than glad to hear the news that Xu Meng had “died heroically saving another.”
Xing Muzheng drafted a memorial to Emperor Yongtai, while He Tan wrote to the Xu household with the obituary. Even before the memorial reached the capital, reinforcements had already arrived at Pengzhou. The commander was Xu Yizhao, once Xing Muzheng’s own left-wing general in the great army. A man of valor and skill, he could stand on his own in command. Back when rewards were granted, he had been enfeoffed as General of the Left and stationed at Jianan Pass. This time he happened to be rotating back through Yongan and thus had been ordered to bring a hundred thousand Xie troops.
When Emperor Yongtai received the dire news, he was stricken with grief. Never had he imagined that so soon after Xing Muzheng departed, Xu Meng would already be dead! And to hear from his spy within the Xu household that Xu Meng had indeed died on his own initiative—sacrificing himself to save Xing Muzheng—what a fool!
Xu Meng’s death stirred no small waves in court. Yet the most urgent matter was to give the border army a new commander. Without one, the host was like a headless dragon, bound to fall apart. Still, the ministers argued, there was no need to panic—for was not the former Grand Marshal himself sitting in Pengzhou? That Xu Meng had died protecting Marquis Xing only showed that even he believed Marquis Xie to be the more vital man.
The very thing Emperor Yongtai dreaded most had come to pass. The more he resisted placing Xing Muzheng in the Grand Marshal’s seat, the faster fate pushed him into it. Generals could be found, but a true commander was hard to come by. Xu Meng had lacked both virtue and ability, squandering tens of thousands of lives. If the emperor now appointed another incompetent, he feared memorials would rain down upon his desk like snow.
The only one barely capable of matching Xing Muzheng was Hong Tai. But the emperor feared sending him even more—for then the tiger would grow wings, and his own throne would be in peril.
He tossed and turned all night before finally proposing in court that Xing Muzheng, though unwell, could temporarily act as Grand Marshal. The ministers fell into heavy silence.
“Grand Marshal is Grand Marshal—what is this ‘temporary’ nonsense? Do you mean for him to drag his sick body into battle, only to hand his victory to some other figurehead later? Such petty suspicion, treating ministers as thieves—how can that not chill hearts?”
Hang Zhi was the first to argue forcefully; soon the other officials all voiced their support. Emperor Yongtai had no choice but to remove the word “temporary,” and issued an edict formally appointing Xing Muzheng as Grand Marshal, with command seals in hand.
When Xing Muzheng received the decree, he exhaled a breath so faint it was almost inaudible. He said to Qian Jiaoniang, “I feared the emperor would send Brother Hong instead.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Brother Hong is loyal and righteous, utterly devoted to the Xie dynasty. If he came as marshal, I would be placed in a difficult position.”
Qian Jiaoniang frowned. “But you and he are close. Wouldn’t he understand your burdens?”
Xing Muzheng shook his head. “Each man follows his own path. Brother Hong’s loyalty to the sovereign runs marrow-deep.”
“Even if that sovereign is a muddle-headed tyrant?”
Xing Muzheng gave a helpless smile.
Qian Jiaoniang was silent for a while. She thought, perhaps there will be a battle between them one day. But glancing at Xing Muzheng, she kept her thoughts to herself.
The appointment went through smoothly. Who could question the War God of Xie? Besides, most of the generals were his old subordinates and knew well his skill. So even if he was gravely ill and unable to stand on the frontlines, the soldiers’ morale soared.
Qian Jiaoniang now truly witnessed her husband’s godlike command, as though Heaven itself aided him. Where the Xie army had previously suffered defeat after defeat, under his formations the Xili army found their hands and feet bound, unable to exert their might. Even the ferocious Xili wolf troops were like trapped beasts, encircled by the hunter’s net.
Two battles fought, two battles lost—the Xili were beaten back again and again. Meng Rang withdrew overnight to Shinan Prefecture, dispatching part of his force to Tongzhou. Clearly, he meant to defend Shinan while striking at Tongzhou.
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