Chapter 697: The World of Today

In the north, where there lay a thousand of li of sealed ice, and ten thousand li of whirling snow

[1].

For Zhao Changhe, whose literary repertoire often failed him when most needed, this time was different. As he galloped through the vast expanse beneath an endless sky, this well-known verse appeared clear in his mind.

It was partly because the author of the poem was someone he respected. But more than that, it resonated with his mood in this moment, perfectly capturing the grandeur of the world he rode through.

After every meeting with Tang Wanzhuang, he found his mind inexplicably becoming steadier, regardless of the tension or urgency of his circumstances. She had that kind of calming magic about her.

In Qinghe and Langya, his travels had been rushed, flitting from place to place as though flying above the clouds without even sparing a glance at the mountains and rivers below. But this time, departing from the capital, though his pace remained swift, his heart felt lighter, at peace. Riding atop Snow-Treading Crow, he found himself with the leisure to take in the scenery, and poetry naturally rose to his thoughts.

A realm so vast, majestic, grand,

Breathtaking rivers, resplendent land.

The beauteous nation, dazzling, rare,

Luring countless heroes to its snare.

Zhao Changhe wondered if there was anyone in the world of today who could be called a hero. None could compare to the author of those lines[2]. And even among the emperors celebrated in poetry, not one could hold a candle to those lofty ideals.

He had once declared himself disillusioned with the

jianghu

, with only Yue Hongling embodying his dream of what it ought to be.

From the perspective of the

jianghu

, figures like Yuxu or Li Shentong might qualify as paragons of the world. They were, after all, people of undeniably impressive bearing and reputation. In this light, the

jianghu

was not all that bad. Yet when viewed through the lens of the greater realm, their ambitions and scope suddenly seemed smaller in scale, their horizons constrained. The “world” they sought to master was itself disheartening, and, ironically, the

jianghu

began to seem almost romantic by comparison.

But thankfully, the world still had people like Tang Wanzhuang—whether before or now, they were steady and unwavering.

The Four Idols Cult, now transitioning from a demonic cult to the state religion, was showing promising signs of reform. Xia Chichi was determined to achieve what her father could not, vowing to restore peace and order to the world. Vermillion Bird, too, had turned her focus inward, working to stabilize internal unrest and resist external threats. Although the current dynasty was fragile—lacking money, food, soldiers, and officials—it was infused with a newfound vitality, a shared determination among all to work toward a common goal.

What of the

jianghu

? What of the world? The Rankings of Troubled Times of the older generation were already fading into history. Even the blind woman might soon revise the Rankings of Troubled Times with the coming of new times...

Let us see what the new dynasty will bring.

As Snow-Treading Crow hovered between Hangu Pass[3] and Tong Pass[4], Zhao Changhe looked down at the increasing fortifications of Tong Pass, his gaze frosty.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the aftermath of widespread rebellion, power had splintered along geographical lines. The Wang Clan held Qilu, the Cui Clan controlled Hebei, the Yang Clan dominated Henan, and the Li Clan ruled all of Guanzhong. The dividing line between the Yang Clan and the Li Clan was marked by these two strategic passes.

The two passes—Hangu and Tong—were not far apart. From his vantage point high in the sky, Zhao Changhe could see both at the same time.

West of Tong Pass lay Li Clan territory, while east of Hangu Pass belonged to the Yang Clan. Each side controlled one pass, maintaining a tenuous balance. Though the two families were allies, they were not a unified force, and both had stationed troops to guard against the other, albeit lightly.

Ever since the Yang Clan’s retreat, instigated by Cui Wenjing, the Li Clan had shown remarkable foresight. They did not need to know exactly what decisions Yang Jingxiu had made. It was enough to note that during the battle of Langya, the Yang Clan had not launched their promised attack on the Cui Clan. Sensing a shift, the Li Clan had reinforced Tong Pass, bolstering its defenses.

As Zhao Changhe observed the strategic deployment below, a chill, colder than the surrounding winter air, settled in his heart. The fractures in this realm were evident, and the path to restoration would not be easy. But it was a path he had committed to, no matter how treacherous it might prove to be.

Meanwhile, the Yang Clan’s troops had taken up position at Hangu Pass, standing opposite the Li Clan at Tong Pass. Technically, the Yang Clan’s troops could no longer be called the Yang Clan’s, due to the ongoing reforms, but for now, they remained under the management of the Yang Clan, and this went for logistics and supplies as well.

On the surface, it appeared to be a standoff. But in reality, the Yang Clan was at a disadvantage. First, Hangu Pass had long been neglected and could barely be considered a proper fortress anymore. Its crumbling walls were no match for the formidable Tong Pass. This was something Zhao Changhe could readily understand—geography dictated such outcomes, and similar patterns emerged across worlds and cultures.

Second, the Yang Clan had never been deeply invested in secession or domination. Their preparations and resources were far less extensive than those of the Li Clan, which had spent years quietly amassing power. The disparity in troops and supplies made it unrealistic to expect the Yang Clan to hold the line effectively. If Hangu Pass fell, it would leave the path to Luoyang wide open.

Fortunately, the Li Clan had suffered heavy losses recently. Their attempt to bypass the Taihang Mountains and march on the capital had resulted in a devastating ambush. Vermillion Bird’s flames had left their forces in disarray, and they lacked the strength to mount another offensive in the short term. But their own strength was not the main threat—it was their alliance with the northern barbarians.

While the northern barbarians had lost many cavalry units, these losses were hardly crippling. They remained a looming, oppressive force in the north, an ever-present dark cloud that suffocated the region.

Before leaving the capital, Zhao Changhe had received intelligence from Lady Three, relayed from further north.

Batu had suffered a catastrophic defeat, losing the allegiance of several smaller tribes who quickly switched their loyalty to Khagan Timur. Batu’s Warring Lion Tribe had been decimated, leaving him to flee with the remnants into the desolate northwestern deserts. Stranded in the bitter cold of winter, their survival through the lunar new year seemed uncertain.

Batu’s misfortune aside, his presence had been a critical buffer in Monan, safeguarding Yanmen. The imperial capital itself was essentially a front line, with Xia Longyuan being stationed there like a general guarding the frontier. But now, with Xia Longyuan gone and Batu forced to flee, Guanzhong had become a gateway for invaders.

Yanmen Pass alone could no longer hold the line.

The only silver lining was that Batu himself had survived. As long as the Warring Lion Tribe was not completely wiped out—freezing or starving to death—they remained a thorn in Timur’s side. Positioned at Timur’s rear, they would force the northern barbarians to tread carefully, unable to launch an unrestrained southern campaign.

The harsh winter brought a temporary reprieve. Striking down Batu was one thing; launching an assault on the treacherous Yanmen Pass or traversing the mountains to attack the capital was a different challenge altogether. No force could withstand another ambush from Batu.

With spring fast approaching, Timur’s focus would likely shift toward finishing off Batu. Only once that task was complete would he plan a proper southern campaign. After all, the erratic battles of recent months had already defied conventional military wisdom—no one could sustain such a pace indefinitely.

Lady Three’s timely intervention prevented Batu’s annihilation. Without her, the Warring Lion Tribe might have been wiped out entirely, and the situation would be far more dire. For now, the reprieve provided a crucial opportunity for the fledgling dynasty to consolidate its gains, recover from Langya’s victory, and rebuild the capital’s shattered administration.

It also allowed Zhao Changhe and Vermillion Bird to leave the capital and carry out their plans.

As Zhao Changhe gazed down at the torchlit Tong Pass, he lingered for a long time. His hand tightened on the reins as he fought the impulse to descend and wreak havoc on the defenders below. His restraint ultimately prevailed and he nudged Snow-Treading Crow to continue heading southwest.

Agreements like the tacit understanding between the warring factions had to be honored. If he could slaughter the defenders of Tong Pass, the other side would feel justified in retaliating elsewhere, plunging the region into chaos. Their experts outnumbered his. Any further violations of the fragile balance would only invite disaster.

Hangu’s defenses, weak as they were, did have some backup. Yangyang was currently in Hongnong, not far from the pass. Perhaps the Yang Clan could yet surprise the Li Clan.

The journey to Miaojiang was still long, even with Snow-Treading Crow’s speed. The horse still needed rest and sustenance, after all. By nightfall, Zhao Changhe descended in Xiangyang.

Xiangyang was his own territory. After the death of Lu Shiheng, Tang Wanzhuang took over, appointing a new prefectural governor, and part of the city’s garrison remained staffed by members of the Blood God Cult. While Xue Canghai had taken most of his forces north, a small contingent stayed behind to manage a branch.

Zhao Changhe had intended only to spend the night and move on, but even a brief stop revealed a new complication awaiting him.

1. This is Qinyuan Spring (沁园春雪) by Mao Zedong (毛泽东). Yes,

that

Mao Zedong. ☜

2. I believe the author is referring to himself, or at least his raw poem in Chinese. I find my translation of it to be quite alright, though it’s honestly not some groundbreaking poem. ☜

3. Hangu Pass is a mountain pass situated in the western part of present-day Lingbao County, Henan Province. ☜

4. Tong Pass is located in slightly west of Hangu Pass in present-day Tongguan County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. ☜